,,george ,,muller ,,of ,,bristol ,,and ,,his ,,witness ,,to ,a ,,prayer-,,hearing ,,god ,,by ,,arthur ,t4 ,,pierson ,author of ,the ,crisis of ,missions1 ,the ,new ,acts of the ,apostles1 ,many ,infallible ,proofs1 etc42 editor of ,the ,missionary ,review of the ,world1 etc4 ,,with ,,an ,,introduction ,,by ,,james ,,wright ,son-in-law and successor in the work of ,george ,muller ,illustrated ,,new ,,york ,,chicago ,,toronto ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company ,,london ,,and ,,edinburgh ,copyright1 #ahii1 ,,by ,,the ,,baker ,,and ,,taylor ,,co4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,george ,muller's family name is ,germanic in origin4 ,everywhere that his name appears in the printed text1 the letter u is marked with two dots above it 7called an 'umlaut'7 to show that it is pronounced differently from the way the unmarked vowel is normally pronounced4 ,so his name is usually pronounced in ,english as ,myew-ler1 not as ,mool-ler or ,mull-ler4 ,introduction ,,very soon after the decease of my beloved father-in-law ,i began to receive letters pressing upon me the desirableness of issuing as soon as possible a memoir of him and his work4 ,the well-known autobiography1 entitled ,narrative of the ,lord's ,dealings with ,george ,muller1 had been1 and was still being1 so greatly used by ,god in the edification of believers and the conversion of unbelievers that ,i hesitated to countenance any attempt to supersede or even supplement it4 ,but as1 with prayer1 ,i reflected upon the subject1 several considerations impressed me3 #ast4 ,the last volume of the ,narrative ends with the year #ahhe1 so that there is no record of the last thirteen years of ,mr4 ,muller's life excepting what is contained in the yearly reports of ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution4 #b;d4 ,the last three volumes of the ,narrative1 being mainly a condensation of the yearly reports during the period embraced in them1 contain much unavoidable repetition4 #c;d4 ,a book of1 say1 four hundred and fifty pages1 containing the substance of the four volumes of the ,narrative1 and carrying on the history to the date of the decease of the founder of the institution1 would meet the desire of a large class of readers4 #dth4 ,several brief sketches of ,mr4 ,muller's career had issued from the press within a few days after the funeral2 and one 7written by ,mr4 ,f4 ,warne and published by ,w4 ,f4 ,mack ,co41 ,bristol71 a very accurate and truly appreciative sketch1 had had a large circulation2 but ,i was convinced by the letters that reached me that a more comprehensive memoir was called for1 and would be produced1 so ,i was led especially to pray for guidance that such a book might be entrusted to the author fitted by ,god to undertake it4 ,while waiting for the answer to this definite petition1 though greatly urged by publishers to proceed1 ,i steadily declined to take any step until ,i had clearer light4 ,moreover1 ,i was1 personally1 occupied during ,may and ,june in preparing the ,annual ,report of ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 and could not give proper attention to the other matter4 ,just then ,i learned from ,dr4 ,arthur ,t4 ,pierson1 of ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 that he had been led to undertake the production of a memoir of ,mr4 ,muller for ,american readers1 and requesting my aid by furnishing him with some materials needed for the work4 ,having complied with this request ,i was favoured by ,dr4 ,pierson with a syllabus of the method and contents of his intended work4 ,the more ,i thought upon the subject the more satisfied ,i became that no one could be found more fitted to undertake the work which had been called for on this side of the ,atlantic also than this my well-known and beloved friend4 ,he had had exceptional opportunities twenty years ago in the ,united ,states1 and in later years when visiting ,great ,britain1 for becoming intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,muller1 with the principles on which the ,orphanage and other branches of ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution were carried on1 and with many details of their working4 ,i knew that ,dr4 ,pierson most thoroughly sympathized with these principles as being according to the mind of ,god revealed in ,his word2 and that he could1 therefore1 present not merely the history of the external facts and results of ,mr4 ,muller's life and labours1 but could and would1 by ,god's help1 unfold1 with the ardour and force of conviction1 the secret springs of that life and of those labours4 ,i therefore intimated to my dear friend that1 provided he would allow me to read the manuscript and have thus the opportunity of making any suggestions that ,i felt necessary1 ,i would1 as my beloved father-in-law's executor and representative1 gladly endorse his work as the authorized memoir for ,british as well as ,american readers4 ,to this ,dr4 ,pierson readily assented2 and now1 after carefully going through the whole1 ,i confidently recommend the book to esteemed readers on both sides of the ,atlantic1 with the earnest prayer that the result1 in relation to the subject of this memoir1 may be identical with that produced by the account of the ,apostle ,paul's manner of life upon the churches of ,judea which were in ,christ 7,gal4 i4 #bd71 viz41 ,they glorified ,,god in him4 ,,james ,,wright4 #ac ,,charlotte ,,street1 ,,park ,,street1 ,,bristol1 ,,eng41 ,march1 #ahii4 ,a ,prefatory ,word ,,dr4 ,,oliver ,w4 ,,holmes wittily said that an autobiography is what every biography ought to be4 ,the four volumes of ,the ,narrative of the ,lord's ,dealings with ,george ,muller1 already issued from the press and written by his own hand1 with a fifth volume covering his missionary tours1 and prepared by his wife1 supplemented by the ,annual ,reports since published1 constitute essentially an autobiography--,mr4 ,muller's own life-story1 stamped with his own peculiar individuality1 and singularly and minutely complete4 ,to those who wish the simple journal of his life with the details of his history1 these printed documents make any other sketch of him from other hands so far unnecessary4 ,there are1 however1 two considerations which have mainly prompted the preparation of this brief memoir3 first1 that the facts of this remarkable life might be set forth not so much with reference to the chronological order of their occurrence1 as events1 as for the sake of the lessons in living which they furnish1 illustrating and enforcing grand spiritual principles and precepts3 and secondly1 because no man so humble as he would ever write of himself what1 after his departure1 another might properly write of him that others might glorify ,god in him4 ,no one could have undertaken this work of writing ,mr4 ,muller's life-story without being deeply impressed with the opportunity thus afforded for impressing the most vital truths that concern holy living and holy serving2 nor could any one have completed such a work without feeling overawed by the argument which this narrative furnishes for a present1 living1 prayer-hearing ,god1 and for a possible and practical daily walk with ,him and work with ,him4 ,it has been a great help in the preparation of this book that the writer has had such frequent converse with ,mr4 ,james ,wright1 who was so long ,mr4 ,muller's associate and knew him so intimately4 ,so prominent was the word of ,god as a power in ,mr4 ,muller's life that1 in an appendix1 we have given peculiar emphasis to the great leading texts of ,scripture which inspired and guided his faith and conduct1 and1 so far as possible1 in the order in which such texts became practically influential in his life2 and so many wise and invaluable counsels are to be found scattered throughout his journal that some of the most striking and helpful have been selected1 which may also be found in the appendix4 ,this volume has1 like the life it sketches1 but one aim4 ,it is simply and solely meant to extend1 emphasize1 and perpetuate ,george ,muller's witness to a prayer-hearing ,god2 to present1 as plainly1 forcibly1 and briefly as is practicable1 the outlines of a human history1 and an experience of the ,lord's leadings and dealings1 which furnish a sufficient answer to the question3 ,,where ,,is ,,the ,,lord ,,god ,,of ,,elijah8 ,table of ,contents ,,page ,,introduction ,,by ,,mr4 ,,james ,,wright 44444444 ,a ,,prefatory ,,word 44444 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,from ,,his ,,birth ,,to ,,his ,,new ,,birth 444444444 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,new ,,birth ,,and ,,the ,,new ,,life 444444 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,making ,,ready ,,the ,,chosen ,,vessel 444444 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,new ,,steps ,,and ,,stages ,,of ,,preparation 4444 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,pulpit ,,and ,,the ,,pastorate 4444444444 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,narrative ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,dealings 444444 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,led ,,of ,,god ,,into ,a ,,new ,,sphere 44444444 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,a ,,tree ,,of ,,god',s ,,own ,,planting 44444444 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,god',s ,,own ,,plant 44444444 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,prayer 44444 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,trials ,,of ,,faith ,,and ,,helpers ,,to ,,faith 4444444 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,new ,,lessons ,,in ,,god',s ,,school ,,of ,,prayer 444444 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,following ,,the ,,pillar ,,of ,,cloud ,,and ,,fire 444444 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,god',s ,,building3 ,,the ,,new ,,orphan ,,houses 44444 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,the ,,manifold ,,grace ,,of ,,god 44444444444 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,shadow ,,of ,a ,,great ,,sorrow 44444 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,period ,,of ,,world-,,wide ,,witness 44444444 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,faith ,,and ,,patience ,,in ,,serving 4444444444 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,at ,,evening-,,time-,,light 4444444444444 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,the ,,summary ,,of ,,the ,,life-,,work 444444 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,church ,,life ,,and ,,growth 444 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,a ,,glance ,,at ,,the ,,gifts ,,and ,,the ,,givers 444 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,god',s ,,witness ,,to ,,the ,,work 44444444 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,last ,,looks1 ,,backward ,,and ,,forward 4444 ,,appendix4 ,a4 ,,scripture ,,texts ,,that ,,moulded ,,george ,,muller 4444 ,b4 ,,apprehension ,,of ,,truth 444444444444 ,c4 ,,separation ,,from ,,the ,,london ,,society1 ,,etc4 4444 ,d4 ,,the ,,scriptural ,,knowledge ,,institution ,,for ,,home ,,and ,,abroad 4444 ,e4 ,,reasons ,,which ,,led ,,mr4 ,,muller ,,to ,,establish ,,an ,,orphan ,,house 4444 ,f4 ,,arguments ,,in ,,prayer ,,for ,,the ,,orphan ,,work 4444 ,g4 ,,the ,,purchase ,,of ,a ,,site1 ,,etc4 444444444 ,h4 ,,god',s ,,faithfulness ,,in ,,providing 44444444 ,k4 ,,further ,,recollections ,,of ,,mr4 ,,muller 44444 ,l4 ,,church ,,fellowship1 ,,baptism1 ,,etc4 44444444 ,m4 ,,church ,,conduct 444444444444444 ,n4 ,,the ,,wise ,,sayings ,,of ,,george ,,muller 444 ,george ,muller of ,bristol ,,chapter ,i ,,from ,,his ,,birth ,,to ,,his ,,new ,,birth ,a ,,human life1 filled with the presence and power of ,god1 is one of ,god's choicest gifts to ,his church and to the world4 ,things which are unseen and eternal seem1 to the carnal man1 distant and indistinct1 while what is seen and temporal is vivid and real4 ,practically1 any object in nature that can be seen or felt is thus more real and actual to most men than the ,living ,god4 ,every man who walks with ,god1 and finds ,him a present ,help in every time of need2 who puts ,his promises to the practical proof and verifies them in actual experience2 every believer who with the key of faith unlocks ,god's mysteries1 and with the key of prayer unlocks ,god's treasuries1 thus furnishes to the race a demonstration and an illustration of the fact that ,he is1 and is a ,rewarder of them that diligently seek ,him4 ,george ,muller was such an argument and example incarnated in human flesh4 ,here was a man of like passions as we are and tempted in all points like as we are1 but who believed ,god and was established by believing2 who prayed earnestly that he might live a life and do a work which should be a convincing proof that ,god hears prayer and that it is safe to trust ,him at all times2 and who has furnished just such a witness as he desired4 ,like ,enoch1 he truly walked with ,god1 and had abundant testimony borne to him that he pleased ,god4 ,and when1 on the tenth day of ,march1 #ahih1 it was told us of ,george ,muller that he was not1 we knew that ,god had taken him3 it seemed more like a translation than like death4 ,to those who are familiar with his long life-story1 and1 most of all1 to those who intimately knew him and felt the power of personal contact with him1 he was one of ,god's ripest saints and himself a living proof that a life of faith is possible2 that ,god may be known1 communed with1 found1 and may become a conscious companion in the daily life4 ,george ,muller proved for himself and for all others who will receive his witness that1 to those who are willing to take ,god at ,his word and to yield self to ,his will1 ,he is the same yesterday and to-day and forever3 that the days of divine intervention and deliverance are past only to those with whom the days of faith and obedience are past--in a word1 that believing prayer works still the wonders which our fathers told of in the days of old4 ,the life of this man may best be studied1 perhaps1 by dividing it into certain marked periods1 into which it naturally falls1 when we look at those leading events and experiences which are like punctuation-marks or paragraph divisions1--as1 for example3 #a4 ,from his birth to his new birth or conversion3 #ahje-ahbe4 #b4 ,from his conversion to full entrance on his life-work3 #ahbe-ce4 #c4 ,from this point to the period of his mission tours3 #ahce-ge4 #d4 ,from the beginning to the close of these tours3 #ahge-ib4 #e4 ,from the close of his tours to his death3 #ahib-ih4 ,thus the first period would cover twenty years2 the second1 ten2 the third1 forty2 the fourth1 seventeen2 and the last1 six4 ,however thus unequal in length1 each forms a sort of epoch1 marked by certain conspicuous and characteristic features which serve to distinguish it and make its lessons peculiarly important and memorable4 ,for example1 the first period is that of the lost days of sin1 in which the great lesson taught is the bitterness and worthlessness of a disobedient life4 ,in the second period may be traced the remarkable steps of preparation for the great work of his life4 ,the third period embraces the actual working out of the divine mission committed to him4 ,then for seventeen or eighteen years we find him bearing in all parts of the earth his world-wide witness to ,god2 and the last six years were used of ,god in mellowing and maturing his ,christian character4 ,during these years he was left in peculiar loneliness1 yet this only made him lean more on the divine companionship1 and it was noticeable with those who were brought into most intimate contact with him that he was more than ever before heavenly-minded1 and the beauty of the ,lord his ,god was upon him4 ,the first period may be passed rapidly by1 for it covers only the wasted years of a sinful and profligate youth and early manhood4 ,it is of interest mainly as illustrating the sovereignty of that ,grace which abounds even to the chief of sinners4 ,who can read the story of that score of years and yet talk of piety as the product of evolution8 ,in his case1 instead of evolution1 there was rather a revolution1 as marked and complete as ever was found1 perhaps1 in the annals of salvation4 ,if ,lord ,george ,lyttelton could account for the conversion of ,saul of ,tarsus only by supernatural power1 what would he have thought of ,george ,muller's transformation6 ,saul had in his favor a conscience1 however misguided1 and a morality1 however pharisaic4 ,george ,muller was a flagrant sinner against common honesty and decency1 and his whole early career was a revolt1 not against ,god only1 but against his own moral sense4 ,if ,saul was a hardened transgressor1 how callous must have been ,george ,muller6 ,he was a native of ,prussia1 born at ,kroppenstaedt1 near ,halberstadt1 ,september #bg1 #ahje4 ,less than five years later his parents removed to ,heimersleben1 some four miles off1 where his father was made collector of the excise1 again removing about eleven years later to ,schoenebeck1 near ,magdeburg1 where he had obtained another appointment4 ,george ,muller had no proper parental training4 ,his father's favoritism toward him was harmful both to himself and to his brother1 as in the family of ,jacob1 tending to jealousy and estrangement4 ,money was put too freely into the hands of these boys1 hoping that they might learn how to use it and save it2 but the result was1 rather1 careless and vicious waste1 for it became the source of many childish sins of indulgence4 ,worse still1 when called upon to render any account of their stewardship1 sins of lying and deception were used to cloak wasteful spending4 ,young ,george systematically deceived his father1 either by false entries of what he had received1 or by false statements of what he had spent or had on hand4 ,when his tricks were found out1 the punishment which followed led to no reformation1 the only effect being more ingenious devices of trickery and fraud4 ,like the ,spartan lad1 ,george ,muller reckoned it no fault to steal1 but only to have his theft found out4 ,his own brief account of his boyhood shows a very bad boy and he attempts no disguise4 ,before he was ten years old he was a habitual thief and an expert at cheating2 even government funds1 entrusted to his father1 were not safe from his hands4 ,suspicion led to the laying of a snare into which he fell3 a sum of money was carefully counted and put where he would find it and have a chance to steal it4 ,he took it and hid it under his foot in his shoe1 but1 he being searched and the money being found1 it became clear to whom the various sums previously missing might be traced4 ,his father wished him educated for a clergyman1 and before he was eleven he was sent to the cathedral classical school at ,halberstadt to be fitted for the university4 ,that such a lad should be deliberately set apart for such a sacred office and calling1 by a father who knew his moral obliquities and offences1 seems incredible--but1 where a state church exists1 the ministry of the ,gospel is apt to be treated as a human profession rather than as a divine vocation1 and so the standards of fitness often sink to the low secular level1 and the main object in view becomes the so-called living1 which is1 alas1 too frequently independent of holy living4 ,from this time the lad's studies were mixed up with novel-reading and various vicious indulgences4 ,card-playing and even strong drink got hold of him4 ,the night when his mother lay dying1 her boy of fourteen was reeling through the streets1 drunk2 and even her death failed to arrest his wicked course or to arouse his sleeping conscience4 ,and--as must always be the case when such solemn reminders make one no better--he only grew worse4 ,when he came to the age for confirmation ,he had to attend the class for preparatory religious teaching2 but this being to him a mere form1 and met in a careless spirit1 another false step was taken3 sacred things were treated as common1 and so conscience became the more callous4 ,on the very eve of confirmation and of his first approach to the ,lord's ,table he was guilty of gross sins2 and on the day previous1 when he met the clergyman for the customary confession of sin1 he planned and practised another shameless fraud1 withholding from him eleven-twelfths of the confirmation fee entrusted to him by his father6 ,in such frames of mind and with such habits of life ,george ,muller1 in the ,easter season of #ahbj1 was confirmed and became a communicant4 ,confirmed1 indeed6 but in sin1 not only immoral and unregenerate1 but so ignorant of the very rudiments of the ,gospel of ,christ that he could not have stated to an inquiring soul the simple terms of the plan of salvation4 ,there was1 it is true about such serious and sacred transactions1 a vague solemnity which left a transient impression and led to shallow resolves to live a better life2 but there was no real sense of sin or of repentance toward ,god1 nor was there any dependence upon a higher strength3 and1 without these1 efforts at self-amendment never prove of value or work lasting results4 ,the story of this wicked boyhood presents but little variety1 except that of sin and crime4 ,it is one long tale of evil-doing and of the sorrow which it brings4 ,once1 when his money was all recklessly wasted1 hunger drove him to steal a bit of coarse bread from a soldier who was a fellow lodger2 and looking back1 long afterward1 to that hour of extremity1 he exclaimed1 ,what a bitter thing is the service of ,satan1 even in this world6 ,on his father's removal to ,schoenebeck in #ahba he asked to be sent to the cathedral school at ,magdeburg1 inwardly hoping thus to break away from his sinful snares and vicious companions1 and1 amid new scenes1 find help in self-reform4 ,he was not1 therefore1 without at least occasional aspirations after moral improvement2 but again he made the common and fatal mistake of overlooking the ,source of all true betterment4 ,god was not in all his thoughts4 ,he found that to leave one place for another was not to leave his sin behind1 for he took himself along4 ,his father1 with a strange fatuity1 left him to superintend sundry alterations in his house at ,heimersleben1 arranging for him meanwhile to read classics with the resident clergyman1 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,nagel4 ,being thus for a time his own master1 temptation opened wide doors before him4 ,he was allowed to collect dues from his father's debtors1 and again he resorted to fraud1 spending large sums of this money and concealing the fact that it had been paid4 ,in ,november1 #ahba1 he went to ,magdeburg and to ,brunswick1 to which latter place he was drawn by his passion for a young ,roman ,catholic girl1 whom he had met there soon after confirmation4 ,in this absence from home he took one step after another in the path of wicked indulgence4 ,first of all1 by lying to his tutor he got his consent to his going2 then came a week of sin at ,magdeburg and a wasting of his father's means at a costly hotel in ,brunswick4 ,his money being gone1 he went to the house of an uncle until he was sent away2 then1 at another expensive hotel1 he ran up bills until1 payment being demanded1 he had to leave his best clothes as a security1 barely escaping arrest4 ,then1 at ,wolfenbuttel1 he tried the same bold scheme again1 until1 having nothing for deposit1 he ran off1 but this time was caught and sent to jail4 ,this boy of sixteen was already a liar and thief1 swindler and drunkard1 accomplished only in crime1 a companion of convicted felons and himself in a felon's cell4 ,this cell1 a few days later1 a thief shared3 and these two held converse as fellow thieves1 relating their adventures to one another1 and young ,muller1 that he might not be outdone1 invented lying tales of villainy to make himself out the more famous fellow of the two6 ,ten or twelve days passed in this wretched fellowship1 until disagreement led to a sullen silence between them4 ,and so passed away twenty-four dark days1 from ,december #ah1 #ahba1 until the #abth of ,january ensuing1 during all of which ,george ,muller was shut up in prison and during part of which he sought as a favour the company of a thief4 ,his father learned of his disgrace and sent money to meet his hotel dues and other costs and pay for his return home4 ,yet such was his persistent wickedness that1 going from a convict's cell to confront his outraged but indulgent parent1 he chose as his companion in travel an avowedly wicked man4 ,he was severely chastised by his father and felt that he must make some effort to reinstate himself in his favour4 ,he therefore studied hard and took pupils in arithmetic and ,german1 ,french and ,latin4 ,this outward reform so pleased his father that he shortly forgot as well as forgave his evil-doing2 but again it was only the outside of the cup and platter that was made clean3 the secret heart was still desperately wicked and the whole life1 as ,god saw it1 was an abomination4 ,george ,muller now began to forge what he afterward called a whole chain of lies4 ,when his father would no longer consent to his staying at home1 he left1 ostensibly for ,halle1 the university town1 to be examined1 but really for ,nordhausen to seek entrance into the gymnasium4 ,he avoided ,halle because he dreaded its severe discipline1 and foresaw that restraint would be doubly irksome when constantly meeting young fellows of his acquaintance who1 as students in the university1 would have much more freedom than himself4 ,on returning home he tried to conceal this fraud from his father2 but just before he was to leave again for ,nordhausen the truth became known1 which made needful new links in that chain of lies to account for his systematic disobedience and deception4 ,his father1 though angry1 permitted him to go to ,nordhausen1 where he remained from ,october1 #ahbb1 till ,easter1 #ahbe4 ,during these two and a half years he studied classics1 ,french1 history1 etc41 living with the director of the gymnasium4 ,his conduct so improved that he rose in favour and was pointed to as an example for the other lads1 and permitted to accompany the master in his walks1 to converse with him in ,latin4 ,at this time he was a hard student1 rising at four ,a4,m4 the year through1 and applying himself to his books till ten at night4 ,nevertheless1 by his own confession1 behind all this formal propriety there lay secret sin and utter alienation from ,god4 ,his vices induced an illness which for thirteen weeks kept him in his room4 ,he was not without a religious bent1 which led to the reading of such books as ,klopstock's works1 but he neither cared for ,god's word1 nor had he any compunction for trampling upon ,god's law4 ,in his library1 now numbering about three hundred books1 no ,bible was found4 ,cicero and ,horace1 ,moliere and ,voltaire1 he knew and valued1 but of the ,holy ,scriptures he was grossly ignorant1 and as indifferent to them as he was ignorant of them4 ,twice a year1 according to prevailing custom1 he went to the ,lord's ,supper1 like others who had passed the age of confirmation1 and he could not at such seasons quite avoid religious impressions4 ,when the consecrated bread and wine touched his lips he would sometimes take an oath to reform1 and for a few days refrain from some open sins2 but there was no spiritual life to act as a force within1 and his vows were forgotten almost as soon as made4 ,the old ,satan was too strong for the young ,muller1 and1 when the mighty passions of his evil nature were roused1 his resolves and endeavours were as powerless to hold him as were the new cords which bound ,samson1 to restrain him1 when he awoke from his slumber4 ,it is hard to believe that this young man of twenty could lie without a blush and with the air of perfect candor4 ,when dissipation dragged him into the mire of debt1 and his allowance would not help him out1 he resorted again to the most ingenious devices of falsehood4 ,he pretended that the money wasted in riotous living had been stolen by violence1 and1 to carry out the deception he studied the part of an actor4 ,forcing the locks of his trunk and guitar-case1 he ran into the director's room half dressed and feigning fright1 declaring that he was the victim of a robbery1 and excited such pity that friends made up a purse to cover his supposed losses4 ,suspicion was1 however1 awakened that he had been playing a false part1 and he never regained the master's confidence2 and though he had even then no sense of sin1 shame at being detected in such meanness and hypocrisy made him shrink from ever again facing the director's wife1 who1 in his long sickness1 had nursed him like a mother4 ,such was the man who was not only admitted to honourable standing as a university student1 but accepted as a candidate for holy orders1 with permission to preach in the ,lutheran establishment4 ,this student of divinity knew nothing of ,god or salvation1 and was ignorant even of the gospel plan of saving grace4 ,he felt the need for a better life1 but no godly motives swayed him4 ,reformation was a matter purely of expediency3 to continue in profligacy would bring final exposure1 and no parish would have him as a pastor4 ,to get a valuable cure and a good living he must make attainments in divinity1 pass a good examination1 and have at least a decent reputation4 ,worldly policy urged him to apply himself on the one hand to his studies and on the other to self-reform4 ,again he met defeat1 for he had never yet found the one source and secret of all strength4 ,scarce had he entered ,halle before his resolves proved frail as a spider's web1 unable to restrain him from vicious indulgences4 ,he refrained indeed from street brawls and duelling1 because they would curtail his liberty1 but he knew as yet no moral restraints4 ,his money was soon spent1 and he borrowed till he could find no one to lend1 and then pawned his watch and clothes4 ,he could not but be wretched1 for it was plain to what a goal of poverty and misery1 dishonour and disgrace1 such paths lead4 ,policy loudly urged him to abandon his evil-doing1 but piety had as yet no voice in his life4 ,he went so far1 however1 as to choose for a friend a young man and former schoolmate1 named ,beta1 whose quiet seriousness might1 as he hoped1 steady his own course4 ,but he was leaning on a broken reed1 for ,beta was himself a backslider4 ,again he was taken ill4 ,god made him to possess the iniquities of his youth4 ,after some weeks he was better1 and once more his conduct took on the semblance of improvement4 ,the true mainspring of all well-regulated lives was still lacking1 and sin soon broke out in unholy indulgence4 ,george ,muller was an adept at the ingenuity of vice4 ,what he had left he pawned to get money1 and with ,beta and two others went on a four days' pleasure-drive1 and then planned a longer tour in the ,alps4 ,barriers were in the way1 for both money and passports were lacking2 but fertility of invention swept all such barriers away4 ,forged letters1 purporting to be from their parents1 brought passports for the party1 and books1 put in pawn1 secured money4 ,forty-three days were spent in travel1 mostly afoot2 and during this tour ,george ,muller1 holding1 like ,judas1 the common purse1 proved1 like him1 a thief1 for he managed to make his companions pay one third of his own expenses4 ,the party were back in ,halle before the end of ,september1 and ,george ,muller went home to spend the rest of his vacation4 ,to account plausibly to his father for the use of his allowance a new chain of lies was readily devised4 ,so soon and so sadly were all his good resolves again broken4 ,when once more in ,halle1 he little knew that the time had come when he was to become a new man in ,christ ,jesus4 ,he was to find ,god1 and that discovery was to turn into a new channel the whole current of his life4 ,the sin and misery of these twenty years would not have been reluctantly chronicled but to make the more clear that his conversion was a supernatural work1 inexplicable without ,god4 ,there was certainly nothing in himself to 'evolve' such a result1 nor was there anything in his 'environment4' ,in that university town there were no natural forces that could bring about a revolution in character and conduct such as he experienced4 ,twelve hundred and sixty students were there gathered1 and nine hundred of them were divinity students1 yet even of the latter number1 though all were permitted to preach1 not one hundredth part1 he says1 actually feared the ,lord4 ,formalism displaced pure and undefiled religion1 and with many of them immorality and infidelity were cloaked behind a profession of piety4 ,surely such a man1 with such surroundings1 could undergo no radical change of character and life without the intervention of some mighty power from without and from above6 ,what this force was1 and how it wrought upon him and in him1 we are now to see4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,new ,,birth ,,and ,,the ,,new ,,life ,,the lost days of sin1 now forever past1 the days of heaven upon earth began to dawn1 to grow brighter till the perfect day4 ,we enter the second period of this life we are reviewing4 ,after a score of years of evil-doing ,george ,muller was converted to ,god1 and the radical nature of the change strikingly proves and displays the sovereignty of ,almighty ,grace4 ,he had been kept amid scenes of outrageous and flagrant sin1 and brought through many perils1 as well as two serious illnesses1 because divine purposes of mercy were to be fulfilled in him4 ,no other explanation can adequately account for the facts4 ,let those who would explain such a conversion without taking ,god into account remember that it was at a time when this young sinner was as careless as ever2 when he had not for years read the ,bible or had a copy of it in his possession2 when he had seldom gone to a service of worship1 and had never yet even heard one gospel sermon2 when he had never been told by any believer what it is to believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and to live by ,god's help and according to ,his ,word2 when1 in fact1 he had no conception of the first principles of the doctrine of ,christ1 and knew not the real nature of a holy life1 but thought all others to be as himself1 except in the degree of depravity and iniquity4 ,this young man had thus grown to manhood without having learned that rudimental truth that sinners and saints differ not in degree but in kind2 that if any man be in ,christ1 he is a new creation2 yet the hard heart of such a man1 at such a time and in such conditions1 was so wrought upon by the ,holy ,spirit that he suddenly found entrance into a new sphere of life1 with new adaptations to its new atmosphere4 ,the divine ,hand in this history is doubly plain when1 as we now look back1 we see that this was also the period of preparation for his life-work--a preparation the more mysterious because he had as yet no conception or forecast of that work4 ,during the next ten years we shall watch the divine ,potter1 to ,whom ,george ,muller was a chosen vessel for service1 moulding and fitting the vessel for ,his use4 ,every step is one of preparation1 but can be understood only in the light which that future casts backward over the unique ministry to the church and the world1 to which this new convert was all unconsciously separated by ,god and was to become so peculiarly consecrated4 ,one ,saturday afternoon about the middle of ,november1 #ahbe1 ,beta said to ,muller1 as they were returning from a walk1 that he was going that evening to a meeting at a believer's house1 where he was wont to go on ,saturdays1 and where a few friends met to sing1 to pray1 and to read the word of ,god and a printed sermon4 ,such a programme held out nothing fitted to draw a man of the world who sought his daily gratifications at the card-table and in the wine-cup1 the dance and the drama1 and whose companionships were found in dissipated young fellows2 and yet ,george ,muller felt at once a wish to go to this meeting1 though he could not have told why4 ,there was no doubt a conscious void within him never yet filled1 and some instinctive inner voice whispered that he might there find food for his soul-hunger--a satisfying something after which he had all his life been unconsciously and blindly groping4 ,he expressed the desire to go1 which his friend hesitated to encourage lest such a gay and reckless devotee of vicious pleasures might feel ill at ease in such an assembly4 ,however1 he called for young ,muller and took him to the meeting4 ,during his wanderings as a backslider1 ,beta had both joined and aided ,george ,muller in his evil courses1 but1 on coming back from the ,swiss tour1 his sense of sin had so revived as to constrain him to make a full confession to his father2 and1 through a ,christian friend1 one ,dr4 ,richter1 a former student at ,halle1 he had been made acquainted with the ,mr4 ,wagner at whose dwelling the meetings were held4 ,the two young men therefore went together1 and the former backslider was used of ,god to convert a sinner from the error of his way and save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins4 ,that ,saturday evening was the turning-point in ,george ,muller's history and destiny4 ,he found himself in strange company1 amid novel surroundings1 and breathing a new atmosphere4 ,his awkwardness made him feel so uncertain of his welcome that he made some apology for being there4 ,but he never forgot brother ,wagner's gracious answer3 ,come as often as you please6 house and heart are open to you4 ,he little knew then what he afterward learned from blessed experience1 what joy fills and thrills the hearts of praying saints when an evil-doer turns his feet1 however timidly1 toward a place of prayer6 ,all present sat down and sang a hymn4 ,then a brother--who afterward went to ,africa under the ,london ,missionary ,society--fell on his knees and prayed for ,god's blessing on the meeting4 ,that kneeling before ,god in prayer made upon ,muller an impression never lost4 ,he was in his twenty-first year1 and yet he had never before seen any one on his knees praying1 and of course had never himself knelt before ,god1--the ,prussian habit being to stand in public prayer4 ,a chapter was read from the word of ,god1 and--all meetings where the ,scriptures were expounded1 unless by an ordained clergyman1 being under the ban as irregular--a printed sermon was read4 ,when1 after another hymn1 the master of the house prayed1 ,george ,muller was inwardly saying3 ,i am much more learned than this illiterate man1 but ,i could not pray as well as he4 ,strange to say1 a new joy was already springing up in his soul for which he could have given as little explanation as for his unaccountable desire to go to that meeting4 ,but so it was2 and on the way home he could not forbear saying to ,beta3 ,all we saw on our journey to ,switzerland1 and all our former pleasures1 are as nothing compared to this evening4 ,whether or not1 on reaching his own room1 he himself knelt to pray he could not recall1 but he never forgot that a new and strange peace and rest somehow found him as he lay in bed that night4 ,was it ,god's wings that folded over him1 after all his vain flight away from the true nest where the divine ,eagle flutters over ,his young8 ,how sovereign are ,god's ways of working6 ,in such a sinner as ,muller1 theologians would have demanded a great 'law work' as the necessary doorway to a new life4 ,yet there was at this time as little deep conviction of guilt and condemnation as there was deep knowledge of ,god and of divine things1 and perhaps it was because there was so little of the latter that there was so little of the former4 ,our rigid theories of conversion all fail in view of such facts4 ,we have heard of a little child who so simply trusted ,christ for salvation that she could give no account of any 'law work4' ,and as one of the old examiners1 who thought there could be no genuine conversion without a period of deep conviction1 asked her1 ,but1 my dear1 how about the ,slough of ,despond8 she dropped a courtesy and said1 ,please1 sir1 ,i didn't come that way6 ,george ,muller's eyes were but half opened1 as though he saw men as trees walking2 but ,christ had touched those eyes1 ,he knew little of the great ,healer1 but somehow he had touched the hem of ,his garment of grace1 and virtue came out of ,him who wears that seamless robe1 and who responds even to the faintest contact of the soul that is groping after salvation4 ,and so we meet here another proof of the infinite variety of ,god's working which1 like the fact of that working1 is so wonderful4 ,that ,saturday evening in ,november1 #ahbe1 was to this young student of ,halle the parting of the ways4 ,he had tasted that the ,lord is gracious1 though he himself could not account for the new relish for divine things which made it seem too long to wait a week for another meal2 so that thrice before the ,saturday following he sought the house of brother ,wagner1 there1 with the help of brethren1 to search the ,scriptures4 ,we should lose one of the main lessons of this life-story by passing too hastily over such an event as this conversion and the exact manner of it1 for here is to be found the first great step in ,god's preparation of the workman for his work4 ,nothing is more wonderful in history than the unmistakable signs and proofs of preadaptation4 ,our life-occurrences are not disjecta membra--scattered1 disconnected1 and accidental fragments4 ,in ,god's book all these events were written beforehand1 when as yet there was nothing in existence but the plan in ,god's mind--to be fashioned in continuance in actual history--as is perhaps suggested in ,psalm cxxxix4 #af 7margin74 ,we see stones and timbers brought to a building site--the stones from different quarries and the timbers from various shops--and different workmen have been busy upon them at times and places which forbade all conscious contact or cooperation4 ,the conditions oppose all preconcerted action1 and yet1 without chipping or cutting1 stone fits stone1 and timber fits timber--tenons and mortises1 and proportions and dimensions1 all corresponding so that when the building is complete it is as perfectly proportioned and as accurately fitted as though it had been all prepared in one workshop and put together in advance as a test4 ,in such circumstances no sane man would doubt that one presiding mind--one architect and master builder--had planned that structure1 however many were the quarries and workshops and labourers4 ,and so it is with this life-story we are writing4 ,the materials to be built into one structure of service were from a thousand sources and moulded into form by many hands1 but there was a mutual fitness and a common adaptation to the end in view which prove that ,he whose mind and plan span the ages had a supreme purpose to which all human agents were unconsciously tributary4 ,the awe of this vision of ,god's workmanship will grow upon us as we look beneath and behind the mere human occurrences to see the divine ,hand shaping and building together all these seemingly disconnected events and experiences into one life-work4 ,for example1 what have we found to be the initial step and stage in ,george ,muller's spiritual history8 ,in a little gathering of believers1 where for the first time he saw a child of ,god pray on his knees1 he found his first approach to a pardoning ,god4 ,let us observe3 this man was henceforth to be singularly and peculiarly identified with simple scriptural assemblies of believers after the most primitive and apostolic pattern--meetings for prayer and praise1 reading and expounding of the ,word1 such as doubtless were held at the house of ,mary the mother of ,john ,mark--assemblies mainly and primarily for believers1 held wherever a place could be found1 with no stress laid on consecrated buildings and with absolutely no secular or aesthetic attractions4 ,such assemblies were to be so linked with the whole life1 work1 and witness of ,george ,muller as to be inseparable from his name1 and it was in such an assembly that the night before he died he gave out his last hymn and offered his last prayer4 ,not only so1 but prayer1 on the knees1 both in secret and in such companionship of believers1 was henceforth to be the one great central secret of his holy living and holy serving4 ,upon this corner-stone of prayer all his life-work was to be built4 ,of ,sir ,henry ,lawrence the native soldiers during the ,lucknow mutiny were wont to say that1 when he looked twice up to heaven1 once down to earth1 and then stroked his beard1 he knew what to do4 ,and of ,george ,muller it may well be said that he was to be1 for more than seventy years1 the man who conspicuously looked up to heaven to learn what he was to do4 ,prayer for direct divine guidance in every crisis1 great or small1 was to be the secret of his whole career4 ,is there any accident in the exact way in which he was first led to ,god1 and in the precise character of the scenes which were thus stamped with such lasting interest and importance8 ,the thought of a divine plan which is thus emphasized at this point we are to see singularly illustrated as we mark how stone after stone and timber after timber are brought to the building site1 and all so mutually fitted that no sound of any human tool is to be heard while the life-work is in building4 ,of course a man that had been so profligate and prodigal must at least begin at conversion to live a changed life4 ,not that all at once the old sins were abandoned1 for such total transformation demands deeper knowledge of the word and will of ,god than ,george ,muller yet had4 ,but within him a new separating and sanctifying ,power was at work4 ,there was a distaste for wicked joys and former companions2 the frequenting of taverns entirely ceased1 and a lying tongue felt new and strange bands about it4 ,a watch was set at the door of the lips1 and every word that went forth was liable to a challenge1 so that old habits of untamed speech were arrested and corrected4 ,at this time he was translating into ,german for the press a ,french novel1 hoping to use the proceeds of his work for a visit to ,paris1 etc4 ,at first the plan for the pleasure-trip was abandoned1 then the question arose whether the work itself should not be4 ,whether his convictions were not clear or his moral courage not sufficient1 he went on with the novel4 ,it was finished1 but never published4 ,providential hindrances prevented or delayed the sale and publication of the manuscript until clearer spiritual vision showed him that the whole matter was not of faith and was therefore sin1 so that he would neither sell nor print the novel1 but burned it--another significant step1 for it was his first courageous act of self-denial in surrender to the voice of the ,spirit--and another stone or timber was thus ready for the coming building4 ,he now began in different directions a good fight against evil4 ,though as yet weak and often vanquished before temptation1 he did not habitually 'continue in sin1' nor offend against ,god without godly sorrow4 ,open sins became less frequent and secret sins less ensnaring4 ,he read the word of ,god1 prayed often1 loved fellow disciples1 sought church assemblies from right motives1 and boldly took his stand on the side of his new ,master1 at the cost of reproach and ridicule from his fellow students4 ,george ,muller's next marked step in his new path was the discovery of the preciousness of the word of ,god4 ,at first he had a mere hint of the deep mines of wealth which he afterward explored4 ,but his whole life-history so circles about certain great texts that whenever they come into this narrative they should appear in capitals to mark their prominence4 ,and1 of them all1 that 'little gospel' in ,john iii4 #af is the first1 for by it he found a full salvation3 ,,god ,,so ,,loved ,,the ,,world ,,that ,,he ,,gave ,,his ,,only-,,begotten ,,son1 ,,that ,,whosoever ,,believeth ,,in ,,him ,,should ,,not ,,perish1 ,,but ,,have ,,everlasting ,,life4 ,from these words he got his first glimpse of the philosophy of the plan of salvation--why and how the ,lord ,jesus ,christ bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree as our vicarious ,substitute and suffering ,surety1 and how ,his sufferings in ,gethsemane and ,golgotha made it forever needless that the penitent believing sinner should bear his own iniquity and die for it4 ,truly to grasp this fact is the beginning of a true and saving faith--what the ,spirit calls laying hold4 ,he who believes and knows that ,god so loved him first1 finds himself loving ,god in return1 and faith works by love to purify the heart1 transform the life1 and overcome the world4 ,it was so with ,george ,muller4 ,he found in the word of ,god one great fact3 the love of ,god in ,christ4 ,upon that fact faith1 not feeling1 laid hold2 and then the feeling came naturally without being waited for or sought after4 ,the love of ,god in ,christ constrained him to a love--infinitely unworthy1 indeed1 of that to which it responded1 yet supplying a new impulse unknown before4 ,what all his father's injunctions1 chastisements1 entreaties1 with all the urgent dictates of his own conscience1 motives of expediency1 and repeated resolves of amendment1 utterly failed to effect1 the love of ,god both impelled and enabled him to do--renounce a life of sinful self-indulgence4 ,thus early he learned that double truth1 which he afterwards passionately loved to teach others1 that in the blood of ,god's atoning ,lamb is the ,fountain of both forgiveness and cleansing4 ,whether we seek pardon for sin or power over sin1 the sole source and secret are in ,christ's work for us4 ,the new year #ahbf was indeed a new year to this newborn soul4 ,he now began to read missionary journals1 which kindled a new flame in his heart4 ,he felt a yearning--not very intelligent as yet--to be himself a messenger to the nations1 and frequent praying deepened and confirmed the impression4 ,as his knowledge of the world-field enlarged1 new facts as to the destitution and the desolation of heathen peoples became as fuel to feed this flame of the mission spirit4 ,a carnal attachment1 however1 for a time almost quenched this fire of ,god within4 ,he was drawn to a young woman of like age1 a professed believer1 whom he had met at the ,saturday-evening meetings2 but he had reason to think that her parents would not give her up to a missionary life1 and he began1 half-unconsciously1 to weigh in the balance his yearning for service over against his passion for a fellow creature4 ,inclination1 alas1 outweighed duty4 ,prayer lost its power and for the time was almost discontinued1 with corresponding decline in joy4 ,his heart was turned from the foreign field1 and in fact from all self-denying service4 ,six weeks passed in this state of spiritual declension1 when ,god took a strange way to reclaim the backslider4 ,a young brother1 ,hermann ,ball1 wealthy1 cultured1 with every promising prospect for this world to attract him1 made a great self-sacrifice4 ,he chose ,poland as a field1 and work among the ,jews as his mission1 refusing to stay at home to rest in the soft nest of self-indulgent and luxurious ease4 ,this choice made on young ,muller a deep impression4 ,he was compelled to contrast with it his own course4 ,for the sake of a passionate love for a young woman he had given up the work to which he felt drawn of ,god1 and had become both joyless and prayerless3 another young man1 with far more to draw him worldward1 had1 for the sake of a self-denying service among despised ,polish ,jews1 resigned all the pleasures and treasures of the world4 ,hermann ,ball was acting and choosing as ,moses did in the crisis of his history1 while he1 ,george ,muller1 was acting and choosing more like that profane person ,esau1 when for one morsel of meat he bartered his birthright4 ,the result was a new renunciation--he gave up the girl he loved1 and forsook a connection which had been formed without faith and prayer and had proved a source of alienation from ,god4 ,here we mark another new and significant step in preparation for his life-work--a decided step forward1 which became a pattern for his after-life4 ,for the second time a decision for ,god had cost him marked self-denial4 ,before1 he had burned his novel2 now1 on the same altar1 he gave up to the consuming fire a human passion which had over him an unhallowed influence4 ,according to the measure of his light thus far1 ,george ,muller was fully1 unreservedly given up to ,god1 and therefore walking in the light4 ,he did not have to wait long for the recompense of the reward1 for the smile of ,god repaid him for the loss of a human love1 and the peace of ,god was his because the ,god of peace was with him4 ,every new spring of inward joy demands a channel for outflow1 and so he felt impelled to bear witness4 ,he wrote to his father and brother of his own happy experience1 begging them to seek and find a like rest in ,god1 thinking that they had but to know the path that leads to such joy to be equally eager to enter it4 ,but an angry response was all the reply that his letter evoked4 ,about the same time the famous ,dr4 ,tholuck took the chair of professor of divinity at ,halle1 and the advent of such a godly man to the faculty drew pious students from other schools of learning1 and so enlarged ,george ,mullers circle of fellow believers1 who helped him much through grace4 ,of course the missionary spirit revived1 and with such increased fervor1 that he sought his father's permission to connect himself with some missionary institution in ,germany4 ,his father was not only much displeased1 but greatly disappointed1 and dealt in reproaches very hard to bear4 ,he reminded ,george of all the money he had spent on his education in the expectation that he would repay him by getting such a 'living' as would insure to the parent a comfortable home and support for his old age2 and in a fit of rage he exclaimed that he would no longer look on him as a son4 ,then1 seeing that son unmoved in his quiet steadfastness1 he changed tone1 and from threats turned to tears of entreaty that were much harder to resist than reproaches4 ,the result of the interview was a third significant step in preparation for his son's life's mission4 ,his resolve was unbroken to follow the ,lord's leading at any cost1 but he now clearly saw that he could be independent of man only by being more entirely dependent on ,god1 and that henceforth he should take no more money from his father4 ,to receive such support implied obedience to his wishes1 for it seemed plainly wrong to look to him for the cost of his training when he had no prospect nor intention of meeting his known expectations4 ,if he was to live on his father's money1 he was under a tacit obligation to carry out his plans and seek a good living as a clergyman at home4 ,thus early in life ,george ,muller learned the valuable lesson that one must preserve his independence if he would not endanger his integrity4 ,god was leading ,his servant in his youth to cast himself upon ,him for temporal supplies4 ,this step was not taken without cost1 for the two years yet to be spent at the university would require more outlay than during any time previous4 ,but thus early also did he find ,god a faithful ,provider and ,friend in need4 ,shortly after1 certain ,american gentlemen1 three of whom were college professors199 being in ,halle and wishing instruction in ,german1 were by ,dr4 ,tholuck recommended to employ ,george ,muller as tutor2 and the pay was so ample for the lessons taught them and the lectures written out for them1 that all wants were more than met4 ,thus also in his early life was written large in the chambers of his memory another golden text from the word of ,god3 ,o ,,fear ,,the ,,lord1 ,,ye ,,his ,,saints6 ,,for ,,there ,,is ,,no ,,want ,,to ,,them ,,that ,,fear ,,him4 7,psalm xxxiv4 #i47 99 ,one of them1 the ,rev4 ,charles ,hodge1 afterward so well known as professor at ,princeton ,theological ,seminary1 etc4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,making ,,ready ,,the ,,chosen ,,vessel ,,the workman of ,god needs to wait on ,him to know the work he is to do and the sphere where he is to serve ,him4 ,mature disciples at ,halle advised ,george ,muller for the time thus quietly to wait for divine guidance1 and meanwhile to take no further steps toward the mission field4 ,he felt unable1 however1 to dismiss the question1 and was so impatient to settle it that he made the common blunder of attempting to come to a decision in a carnal way4 ,he resorted to the lot1 and not only so1 but to the lot as cast in the lap of the lottery6 ,in other words1 he first drew a lot in private1 and then bought a ticket in a royal lottery1 expecting his steps to be guided in a matter so solemn as the choice of a field for the service of ,god1 by the turn of the 'wheel of fortune'6 ,should his ticket draw a prize he would go2 if not1 stay at home4 ,having drawn a small sum1 he accordingly accepted this as a 'sign1' and at once applied to the ,berlin ,missionary ,society1 but was not accepted because his application was not accompanied with his father's consent4 ,thus a higher ,hand had disposed while man proposed4 ,god kept out of the mission field1 at this juncture1 one so utterly unfit for ,his work that he had not even learned that primary lesson that he who would work with ,god must first wait on ,him and wait for ,him1 and that all undue haste in such a matter is worse than waste4 ,he who kept ,moses waiting forty years before ,he sent him to lead out captive ,israel1 who withdrew ,saul of ,tarsus three years into ,arabia before he sent him as an apostle to the nations1 and who left even ,his own ,son thirty years in obscurity before ,his manifestation as ,messiah--this ,god is in no hurry to put other servants at work4 ,he says to all impatient souls3 ,my time is not yet full come1 but your time is always ready4 ,only twice after this did ,george ,muller ever resort to the lot3 once at a literal parting of the ways when he was led by it to take the wrong fork of the road1 and afterward in a far more important matter1 but with a like result3 in both cases he found he had been misled1 and henceforth abandoned all such chance methods of determining the mind of ,god4 ,he learned two lessons1 which new dealings of ,god more and more deeply impressed3 ,first1 that the safe guide in every crisis is believing prayer in connection with the word of ,god4 ,secondly1 that continued uncertainty as to one's course is a reason for continued waiting4 ,these lessons should not be lightly passed over1 for they are too valuable4 ,the flesh is impatient of all delay1 both in decision and action2 hence all carnal choices are immature and premature1 and all carnal courses are mistaken and unspiritual4 ,god is often moved to delay that we may be led to pray1 and even the answers to prayer are deferred that the natural and carnal spirit may be kept in check and self-will may bow before the will of ,god4 ,in a calm review of his course many years later ,george ,muller saw that he ran hastily to the lot as a shorter way of settling a doubtful matter1 and that1 especially in the question of ,god's call to the mission field1 this was shockingly improper4 ,he saw also how unfit he had been at that time for the work he sought3 he should rather have asked himself how one so ignorant and so needing to be taught could think of teaching others6 ,though a child of ,god1 he could not as yet have given a clear statement or explanation of the most elementary gospel truths4 ,the one thing needful was therefore to have sought through much prayer and ,bible study to get first of all a deeper knowledge and a deeper experience of divine things4 ,impatience to settle a matter so important was itself seen to be a positive disqualification for true service1 revealing unfitness to endure hardship as a good soldier of ,jesus ,christ4 ,there is a constant strain and drain on patient waiting which is a necessary feature of missionary trial and particularly the trial of deferred harvests4 ,one who1 at the outset1 could not brook delay in making his first decision1 and wait for ,god to make known ,his will in ,his own way and time1 would not on the field have had long patience as a husbandman1 waiting for the precious fruit of his toil1 or have met with quietness of spirit the thousand perplexing problems of work among the heathen6 ,moreover the conviction grew that1 could he have followed the lot1 his choice would have been a life-mistake4 ,his mind1 at that time1 was bent upon the ,east ,indies as a field4 ,yet all subsequent events clearly showed that ,god's choice for him was totally different4 ,his repeated offers met as repeated refusals1 and though on subsequent occasions he acted most deliberately and solemnly1 no open door was found1 but he was in every case kept from following out his honest purpose4 ,nor could the lot be justified as an indication of his ultimate call to the mission field1 for the purpose of it was definite1 namely1 to ascertain1 not whether at some period of his life he was to go forth1 but whether at that time he was to go or stay4 ,the whole after-life of ,george ,muller proved that ,god had for him an entirely different plan1 which ,he was not ready yet to reveal1 and which ,his servant was not yet prepared to see or follow4 ,if any man's life ever was a plan of ,god1 surely this life was2 and the ,lord's distinct1 emphatic leading1 when made known1 was not in this direction4 ,he had purposed for ,george ,muller a larger field than the ,indies1 and a wider witness than even the gospel message to heathen peoples4 ,he was 'not suffered' to go into ',bithynia' because ',macedonia' was waiting for his ministry4 ,with increasing frequency1 earnestness1 and minuteness1 was ,george ,muller led to put before ,god1 in prayer1 all matters that lay upon his mind4 ,this man was to be peculiarly an example to believers as an intercessor2 and so ,god gave him from the outset a very simple1 childlike disposition toward ,himself4 ,in many things he was in knowledge and in strength to outgrow childhood and become a man1 for it marks immaturity when we err through ignorance and are overcome through weakness4 ,but in faith and in the filial spirit1 he always continued to be a little child4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,hudson ,taylor well reminds us that while in nature the normal order of growth is from childhood to manhood and so to maturity1 in grace the true development is perpetually backward toward the cradle3 we must become and continue as little children1 not losing1 but rather gaining1 childlikeness of spirit4 ,the disciple's maturest manhood is only the perfection of his childhood4 ,george ,muller was never so really1 truly1 fully a little child in all his relations to his ,father1 as when in the ninety-third year of his age4 ,being thus providentially kept from the ,indies1 he began definite work at home1 though yet having little real knowledge of the divine art of coworking with ,god4 ,he spoke to others of their soul's welfare1 and wrote to former companions in sin1 and circulated tracts and missionary papers4 ,nor were his labours without encouragement1 though sometimes his methods were awkward or even grotesque1 as when1 speaking to a beggar in the fields about his need of salvation1 he tried to overcome apathetic indifference by speaking louder and louder1 as though1 mere bawling in his ears would subdue the hardness of his heart6 ,in #ahbf he first attempted to preach4 ,an unconverted schoolmaster some six miles from ,halle he was the means of turning to the ,lord2 and this schoolmaster asked him to come and help an aged1 infirm clergyman in the parish4 ,being a student of divinity he was at liberty to preach1 but conscious ignorance had hitherto restrained him4 ,he thought1 however1 that by committing some other man's sermon to memory he might profit the hearers1 and so he undertook it4 ,it was slavish work to prepare1 for it took most of a week to memorize the sermon1 and it was joyless work to deliver it1 for there was none of the living power that attends a man's ,god-given message and witness4 ,his conscience was not yet enlightened enough to see that he was acting a false part in preaching another's sermon as his own2 nor had he the spiritual insight to perceive that it is not ,god's way to set up a man to preach who knows not enough of either ,his word or the life of the ,spirit within him1 to prepare his own discourse4 ,how few even among preachers feel preaching to be a divine vocation and not a mere human profession2 that a ministry of the truth implies the witness of experience1 and that to preach another man's sermon is1 at the best1 unnatural walking on stilts6 ,george ,muller 'got through' his painful effort of ,august #bg1 #ahbf1 reciting this memoriter sermon at eight ,a4,m4 in the chapel of ease1 and three hours later in the parish church4 ,being asked to preach again in the afternoon1 but having no second sermon committed to memory1 he had to keep silent1 or depend on the ,lord for help4 ,he thought he could at least read the fifth chapter of ,matthew1 and simply expound it4 ,but he had no sooner begun the first beatitude than he felt himself greatly assisted4 ,not only were his lips opened1 but the ,scriptures were opened too1 his own soul expanded1 and a peace and power1 wholly unknown to his tame1 mechanical repetitions of the morning1 accompanied the simpler expositions of the afternoon1 with this added advantage1 that he talked on a level with the people and not over their heads1 his colloquial1 earnest speech riveting their attention4 ,going back to ,halle1 he said to himself1 ',this is the true way to preach1' albeit he felt misgivings lest such a simple style of exposition might not suit so well a cultured refined city congregation4 ,he had yet to learn how the enticing words of man's wisdom make the cross of ,christ of none effect1 and how the very simplicity that makes preaching intelligible to the illiterate makes sure that the most cultivated will also understand it1 whereas the reverse is not true4 ,here was another very important step in his preparation for subsequent service4 ,he was to rank throughout life among the simplest and most scriptural of preachers4 ,this first trial of pulpit-work led to frequent sermons1 and in proportion as his speech was in the simplicity that is in ,christ did he find joy in his work and a harvest from it4 ,the committed sermon of some great preacher might draw forth human praise1 but it was the simple witness of the ,word1 and of the believer to the ,word1 that had praise of ,god4 ,his preaching was not then much owned of ,god in fruit4 ,doubtless the ,lord saw that he was not ready for reaping1 and scarcely for sowing3 there was yet too little prayer in preparation and too little unction in delivery1 and so his labours were comparatively barren of results4 ,about this same time he took another step--perhaps the most significant thus far in its bearing on the precise form of work so closely linked with his name4 ,for some two months he availed himself of the free lodgings furnished for poor divinity students in the famous ,orphan ,houses built by ,a4 ,h4 ,francke4 ,this saintly man1 a professor of divinity at ,halle1 who had died a hundred years before 7#agbg71 had been led to found an orphanage in entire dependence upon ,god4 ,half unconsciously ,george ,muller's whole life-work at ,bristol found both its suggestion and pattern in ,francke's orphanage at ,halle4 ,the very building where this young student lodged was to him an object lesson--a visible1 veritable1 tangible proof that the ,living ,god hears prayer1 and can1 in answer to prayer alone1 build a house for orphan children4 ,that lesson was never lost1 and ,george ,muller fell into the apostolic succession of such holy labour6 ,he often records how much his own faith-work was indebted to that example of simple trust in prayer exhibited by ,francke4 ,seven years later he read his life1 and was thereby still more prompted to follow him as he followed ,christ4 ,george ,muller's spiritual life in these early days was strangely chequered4 ,for instance1 he who1 as a ,lutheran divinity student1 was essaying to preach1 hung up in his room a framed crucifix1 hoping thereby to keep in mind the sufferings of ,christ and so less frequently fall into sin4 ,such helps1 however1 availed him little1 for while he rested upon such artificial props1 it seemed as though he sinned the oftener4 ,he was at this time overworking1 writing sometimes fourteen hours a day1 and this induced nervous depression1 which exposed him to various temptations4 ,he ventured into a confectioner's shop where wine and beer were sold1 and then suffered reproaches of conscience for conduct so unbecoming a believer2 and he found himself indulging ungracious and ungrateful thoughts of ,god1 who1 instead of visiting him with deserved chastisement1 multiplied ,his tender mercies4 ,he wrote to a rich1 liberal and titled lady1 asking a loan1 and received the exact sum asked for1 with a letter1 not from her1 but from another into whose hands his letter had fallen by a peculiar providence1 and who signed it as ,an adoring worshipper of the ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,while led to send the money asked for1 the writer added wise words of caution and counsel--words so fitted to ,george ,muller's exact need that he saw plainly the higher ,hand that had guided the anonymous writer4 ,in that letter he was urged to seek by watching and prayer to be delivered from all vanity and self-complacency1 to make it his chief aim to be more and more humble1 faithful1 and quiet1 and not to be of those who say ',lord1 ,lord1' but have ,him not deeply in their hearts4 ,he was also reminded that ,christianity consists not in words but in power1 and that there must be life in us4 ,he was deeply moved by this message from ,god through an unknown party1 and the more as it had come1 with its enclosure1 at the time when he was not only guilty of conduct unbecoming a disciple1 but indulging hard thoughts of his heavenly ,father4 ,he went out to walk alone1 and was so deeply wrought on by ,god's goodness and his own ingratitude that he knelt behind a hedge1 and1 though in snow a foot deep1 he forgot himself for a half-hour in praise1 prayer1 and self-surrender4 ,yet so deceitful is the human heart that a few weeks later he was in such a backslidden state that1 for a time1 he was again both careless and prayerless1 and one day sought to drown the voice of conscience in the wine-cup4 ,the merciful ,father gave not up his child to folly and sin4 ,he who once could have gone to great lengths in dissipation now found a few glasses of wine more than enough2 his relish for such pleasures was gone1 and so was the power to silence the still small voice of conscience and of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,such vacillations in ,christian experience were due in part to the lack of holy associations and devout companionships4 ,every disciple needs help in holy living1 and this young believer yearned for that spiritual uplift afforded by sympathetic fellow believers4 ,in vacation times he had found at ,gnadau1 the ,moravian settlement some three miles from his father's residence1 such soul refreshment1 but ,halle itself supplied little help4 ,he went often to church1 but seldom heard the ,gospel1 and in that town of over #cj1jjj1 with all its ministers1 he found not one enlightened clergyman4 ,when1 therefore1 he could hear such a preacher as ,dr4 ,tholuck1 he would walk ten or fifteen miles to enjoy such a privilege4 ,the meetings continued at ,mr4 ,wagner's house2 and on the ,lord's day evenings some six or more believing students were wont to gather1 and both these assemblies were means of grace4 ,from ,easter1 #ahbg1 so long as he remained in ,halle1 this latter meeting was held in his own room1 and must rank alongside those little gatherings of the ,holy ,club in ,lincoln ,college1 ,oxford1 which a hundred years before had shaped the ,wesleys and ,whitefield for their great careers4 ,before ,george ,muller left ,halle the attendance at this weekly meeting in his room had grown to twenty4 ,these assemblies were throughout very simple and primitive4 ,in addition to prayer1 singing1 and reading of ,god's word1 one or more brethren exhorted or read extracts from devout books4 ,here young ,muller freely opened his heart to others1 and through their counsels and prayers was delivered from many snares4 ,one lesson1 yet to be learned1 was that the one fountain of all wisdom and strength is the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,many disciples practically prefer religious books to the ,book of ,god4 ,he had indeed found much of the reading with which too many professed believers occupy their minds to be but worthless chaff--such as ,french and ,german novels2 but as yet he had not formed the habit of reading the word of ,god daily and systematically as in later life1 almost to the exclusion of other books4 ,in his ninety-second year1 he said to the writer1 that for every page of any other reading he was sure he read ten of the ,bible4 ,but1 up to that ,november day in #ahbe when he first met a praying band of disciples1 he had never to his recollection read one chapter in the ,book of books2 and for the first four years of his new life he gave to the works of uninspired men practical preference over the ,living ,oracles4 ,after a true relish for the ,scriptures had been created1 he could not understand how he could ever have treated ,god's ,book with such neglect4 ,it seemed obvious that ,god's having condescended to become an ,author1 inspiring holy men to write the ,scriptures1 ,he would in them impart the most vital truths2 ,his message would cover all matters which concern man's welfare1 and therefore1 under the double impulse of duty and delight1 we should instinctively and habitually turn to the ,bible4 ,moreover1 as he read and studied this ,book of ,god1 he felt himself admitted to more and more intimate acquaintance with the ,author4 ,during the last twenty years of his life he read it carefully through1 four or five times annually1 with a growing sense of his own rapid increase in the knowledge of ,god thereby4 ,such motives for ,bible study it is strange that any true believer should overlook4 ,ruskin1 in writing ,of the ,king's ,treasuries1 refers to the universal ambition for 'advancement in life1' which means 'getting into good society4' ,how many obstacles one finds in securing an introduction to the great and good of this world1 and even then in getting access to them1 in securing an audience with the kings and queens of human society6 ,yet there is open to us a society of people of the very first rank who will meet us and converse with us so long as we like1 whatever our ignorance1 poverty1 or low estate--namely1 the society of authors2 and the key that unlocks their private audience-chamber is their books4 ,so writes ,ruskin1 and all this is beautifully true2 but how few1 even among believers1 appreciate the privilege of access to the great ,author of the universe through ,his word6 ,poor and rich1 high and low1 ignorant and learned1 young and old1 all alike are welcomed to the audience-chamber of the ,king of kings4 ,the most intimate knowledge of ,god is possible on one condition--that we search ,his ,holy ,scriptures1 prayerfully and habitually1 and translate what we there find1 into obedience4 ,of him who thus meditates on ,god's law day and night1 who looks and continues looking into this perfect law of liberty1 the promise is unique1 and found in both ,testaments3 ,whatsoever he doeth shall prosper2 that man shall be blessed in his deed4 7,comp4 ,psalm i4 #c2 ,joshua i4 #h2 ,james i4 #be47 ,so soon as ,george ,muller found this well-spring of delight and success1 he drank habitually at this fountain of living waters4 ,in later life he lamented that1 owing to his early neglect of this source of divine wisdom and strength1 he remained so long in spiritual infancy1 with its ignorance and impotence4 ,so long and so far as his growth in knowledge of ,god was thus arrested his growth in grace was likewise hindered4 ,his close walk with ,god began at the point where he learned that such walk is always in the light of that inspired word which is divinely declared to be to the obedient soul a lamp unto the feet and a light unto the path4 ,he who would keep up intimate converse with the ,lord must habitually find in the ,scriptures the highway of such companionship4 ,god's aristocracy1 ,his nobility1 the princes of ,his realm1 are not the wise1 mighty1 and high-born of earth1 but often the poor1 weak1 despised of men1 who abide in ,his presence and devoutly commune with ,him through ,his inspired word4 ,blessed are they who have thus learned to use the key which gives free access1 not only to the ,king's ,treasuries1 but to the ,king ,himself6 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,new ,,steps ,,and ,,stages ,,of ,,preparation ,,passion for souls is a divine fire1 and in the heart of ,george ,muller that fire now began to burn more brightly1 and demanded vent4 ,in ,august1 #ahbg1 his mind was more definitely than before turned toward mission work4 ,hearing that the ,continental ,society of ,britain sought a minister for ,bucharest1 he offered himself through ,dr4 ,tholuck1 who1 in behalf of the ,society1 was on the lookout for a suitable candidate4 ,to his great surprise his father gave consent1 though ,bucharest was more than a thousand miles distant and as truly missionary ground as any other field4 ,after a short visit home he came back to ,halle1 his face steadfastly set toward his far-off field1 and his heart seeking prayerful preparation for expected self-sacrifice and hardship4 ,but ,god had other plans for ,his servant1 and he never went to ,bucharest4 ,in ,october following1 ,hermann ,ball1 passing through ,halle1 and being at the little weekly meeting in ,muller's room1 told him how failing health forbade his continuing his work among ,polish ,jews2 and at once there sprang up in ,george ,muller's mind a strong desire to take his place4 ,such work doubly attracted him1 because it would bring him into close contact with ,god's chosen but erring people1 ,israel2 and because it would afford opportunity to utilize those ,hebrew studies which so engrossed him4 ,at this very time1 calling upon ,dr4 ,tholuck1 he was asked1 to his surprise1 whether he had ever felt a desire to labour among the ,jews--,dr4 ,tholuck then acting as agent for the ,london ,missionary ,society for promoting missions among them4 ,this question naturally fanned the flame of his already kindled desire2 but1 shortly after1 ,bucharest being the seat of the war then raging between the ,russians and ,turks1 the project of sending a minister there was for the time abandoned4 ,but a door seemed to open before him just as another shut behind him4 ,the committee in ,london1 learning that he was available as a missionary to the ,jews1 proposed his coming to that city for six months as a missionary student to prepare for the work4 ,to enter thus on a sort of probation was trying to the flesh1 but1 as it seemed right that there should be opportunity for mutual acquaintance between committee and candidate1 to insure harmonious cooperation1 his mind was disposed to accede to the proposal4 ,there was1 however1 a formidable obstacle4 ,prussian male subjects must commonly serve three years in the army1 and classical students who have passed the university examinations1 at least one year4 ,george ,muller1 who had not served out even this shorter term1 could not1 without royal exemption1 even get a passport out of the country4 ,application was made for such exemption1 but it failed4 ,meanwhile he was taken ill1 and after ten weeks suffered a relapse4 ,while at ,leipzig with an ,american professor with whom he went to the opera1 he unwisely partook of some refreshments between the acts1 which again brought on illness4 ,he had broken a blood-vessel in the stomach1 and he returned to ,halle1 never again to enter a theatre4 ,subsequently being asked to go to ,berlin for a few weeks to teach ,german1 he went1 hoping at the ,prussian capital to find access to the court through persons of rank and secure the desired exemption4 ,but here again he failed4 ,there now seemed no way of escaping a soldier's term1 and he submitted himself for examination1 but was pronounced physically unfit for military duty4 ,in ,god's providence he fell into kind hands1 and1 being a second time examined and found unfit1 he was thenceforth completely exempted for life from all service in the army4 ,god's lines of purpose mysteriously converged4 ,the time had come2 the ,master spake and it was done3 all things moved in one direction--to set ,his servant free from the service of his country1 that1 under the ,captain of his salvation1 he might endure hardness as a good soldier of ,christ1 without entanglement in the affairs of this life4 ,aside from this1 his stay at the capital had not been unprofitable1 for he had preached five times a week in the poorhouse and conversed on the ,lord's days with the convicts in the prison4 ,in ,february1 #ahbi1 he left for ,london1 on the way visiting his father at ,heimersleben1 where he had returned after retirement from office2 and he reached the ,english metropolis ,march #aith4 ,his liberty was much curtailed as a student in this new seminary1 but1 as no rule conflicted with his conscience1 he submitted4 ,he studied about twelve hours daily1 giving attention mainly to ,hebrew and cognate branches closely connected with his expected field4 ,sensible of the risk of that deadness of soul which often results from undue absorption in mental studies1 he committed to memory much of the ,hebrew ,old ,testament and pursued his tasks in a prayerful spirit1 seeking ,god's help in matters1 however minute1 connected with daily duty4 ,tempted to the continual use of his native tongue by living with his ,german countrymen1 he made little progress in ,english1 which he afterward regretted2 and he was wont1 therefore1 to counsel those who propose to work among a foreign people1 not only to live among them in order to learn their language1 but to keep aloof as far as may be from their own countrymen1 so as to be compelled to use the tongue which is to give them access to those among whom they labour4 ,in connection with this removal to ,britain a seemingly trivial occurrence left upon him a lasting impress--another proof that there are no little things in life4 ,upon a very small hinge a huge door may swing and turn4 ,it is1 in fact1 often the apparently trifling events that mould our history1 work1 and destiny4 ,a student incidentally mentioned a dentist in ,exeter--a ,mr4 ,groves--who for the ,lord's sake had resigned his calling with fifteen hundred pounds a year1 and with wife and children offered himself as a missionary to ,persia1 simply trusting the ,lord for all temporal supplies4 ,this act of self-denying trust had a strange charm for ,mr4 ,muller1 and he could not dismiss it from his mind2 indeed1 he distinctly entered it in his journal and wrote about it to friends at home4 ,it was another lesson in faith1 and in the very line of that trust of which for more than sixty years he was to be so conspicuous an example and illustration4 ,in the middle of ,may1 #ahbi1 he was taken ill and felt himself to be past recovery4 ,sickness is often attended with strange self-disclosure4 ,his conviction of sin and guilt at his conversion was too superficial and shallow to leave any after-remembrance4 ,but1 as is often true in the history of ,god's saints1 the sense of guilt1 which at first seemed to have no roots in conscience and scarce an existence1 struck deeper into his being and grew stronger as he knew more of ,god and grew more like ,him4 ,this common experience of saved souls is susceptible of easy explanation4 ,our conceptions of things depend mainly upon two conditions3 first1 the clearness of our vision of truth and duty2 and secondly1 the standard of measurement and comparison4 ,the more we live in ,god and unto ,god1 the more do our eyes become enlightened to see the enormity and deformity of sin1 so that we recognize the hatefulness of evil more distinctly3 and the more clearly do we recognize the perfection of ,god's holiness and make it the pattern and model of our own holy living4 ,the amateur musician or artist has a false complacency in his own very imperfect work only so far as his ear or eye or taste is not yet trained to accurate discrimination2 but1 as he becomes more accomplished in a fine art1 and more appreciative of it1 he recognizes every defect or blemish of his previous work1 until the musical performance seems a wretched failure and the painting a mere daub4 ,the change1 however1 is wholly in the workman and not in the work3 both the music and the painting are in themselves just what they were1 but the man is capable of something so much better1 that his standard of comparison is raised to a higher level1 and his capacity for a true judgment is correspondingly enlarged4 ,even so a child of ,god who1 like ,elijah1 stands before ,him as a waiting1 willing1 obedient servant1 and has both likeness to ,god and power with ,god1 may get under the juniper-tree of despondency1 cast down with the sense of unworthiness and ill desert4 ,as godliness increases the sense of ungodliness becomes more acute1 and so feelings never accurately gauge real assimilation to ,god4 ,we shall seem worst in our own eyes when in ,his we are best1 and conversely4 ,a ,mohammedan servant ventured publicly to challenge a preacher who1 in an ,indian bazaar1 was asserting the universal depravity of the race1 by affirming that he knew at least one woman who was immaculate1 absolutely without fault1 and that woman1 his own ,christian mistress4 ,the preacher bethought himself to ask in reply whether he had any means of knowing whether that was her opinion of herself1 which caused the ,mohammedan to confess that there lay the mystery3 she had been often overheard in prayer confessing herself the most unworthy of sinners4 ,to return from this digression1 ,mr4 ,muller1 not only during this illness1 but down to life's sudden close1 had a growing sense of sin and guilt which would at times have been overwhelming1 had he not known upon the testimony of the ,word that whoso covereth his sins shall not prosper1 but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy4 ,from his own guilt he turned his eyes to the cross where it was atoned for1 and to the mercy-seat where forgiveness meets the penitent sinner2 and so sorrow for sin was turned into the joy of the justified4 ,this confidence of acceptance in the ,beloved so stripped death of its terrors that during this illness he longed rather to depart and to be with ,christ2 but after a fortnight he was pronounced better1 and1 though still longing for the heavenly rest1 he submitted to the will of ,god for a longer sojourn in the land of his pilgrimage1 little foreseeing what joy he was to find in living for ,god1 or how much he was to know of the days of heaven upon earth4 ,during this illness1 also1 he showed the growing tendency to bring before the ,lord in prayer even the minutest matters which his later life so signally exhibited4 ,he constantly besought ,god to guide his physician1 and every new dose of medicine was accompanied by a new petition that ,god would use it for his good and enable him with patience to await ,his will4 ,as he advanced toward recovery he sought rest at ,teignmouth1 where1 shortly after his arrival1 ,ebenezer chapel was reopened4 ,it was here also that ,mr4 ,muller became acquainted with ,mr4 ,henry ,craik1 who was for so many years not only his friend1 but fellow labourer4 ,it was also about this time that1 as he records1 certain great truths began to be made clear to him and to stand out in much prominence4 ,this period of personal preparation is so important in its bearing on his whole after-career that the reader should have access to his own witness499 99 ,see ,appendix ,b4 ,on returning to ,london1 prospered in soul-health as also in bodily vigor1 he proposed to fellow students a daily morning meeting1 from #f to #h1 for prayer and ,bible study1 when each should give to the others such views of any passage read as the ,lord might give him4 ,these spiritual exercises proved so helpful and so nourished the appetite for divine things that1 after continuing in prayer late into the evening hours1 he sometimes at midnight sought the fellowship of some like-minded brother1 and thus prolonged the prayer season until one or two o'clock in the morning2 and even then sleep was often further postponed by his overflowing joy in ,god4 ,thus1 under his great ,teacher1 did this pupil1 early in his spiritual history1 learn that supreme lesson that to every child of ,god the word of ,god is the bread of life1 and the prayer of faith the breath of life4 ,mr4 ,muller had been back in ,london scarcely ten days before health again declined1 and the conviction took strong hold upon him that he should not spend his little strength in confining study1 but at once get about his work2 and this conviction was confirmed by the remembrance of the added light which ,god had given him and the deeper passion he now felt to serve ,him more freely and fully4 ,under the pressure of this persuasion that both his physical and spiritual welfare would be promoted by actual labours for souls1 he sought of the ,society a prompt appointment to his field of service2 and that they might with the more confidence commission him1 he asked that some experienced man might be sent out with him as a fellow counsellor and labourer4 ,after waiting in vain for six weeks for an answer to this application1 he felt another strong conviction3 that to wait on his fellow men to be sent out to his field and work was unscriptural and therefore wrong4 ,barnabas and ,saul were called by name and sent forth by the ,holy ,spirit1 before the church at ,antioch had taken any action2 and he felt himself so called of the ,spirit to his work that he was prompted to begin at once1 without waiting for human authority1--and why not among the ,jews in ,london8 ,accustomed to act promptly upon conviction1 he undertook to distribute among them tracts bearing his name and address1 so that any who wished personal guidance could find him4 ,he sought them at their gathering-places1 read the ,scriptures at stated times with some fifty ,jewish lads1 and taught in a ,sunday-school4 ,thus1 instead of lying like a vessel in dry-dock for repairs1 he was launched into ,christian work1 though1 like other labourers among the despised ,jews1 he found himself exposed to petty trials and persecutions1 called to suffer reproach for the name of ,christ4 ,before the autumn of #ahbi had passed1 a further misgiving laid hold of him as to whether he could in good conscience remain longer connected in the usual way with this ,london ,society1 and on ,december #abth he concluded to dissolve all such ties except upon certain conditions4 ,to do full justice both to ,mr4 ,muller and the ,society1 his own words will again be found in the ,appendix499 99 ,see ,appendix ,c4 ,early in the following year it was made clear that he could labour in connection with such a society only as they would consent to his serving without salary and labouring when and where the ,lord might seem to direct4 ,he so wrote1 eliciting a firm but kind response to the effect that they felt it inexpedient to employ those who were unwilling to submit to their guidance with respect to missionary operations1 etc4 ,thus this link with the ,society was broken4 ,he felt that he was acting up to the light ,god gave1 and1 while imputing to the ,society no blame1 he never afterward repented this step nor reversed this judgment4 ,to those who review this long life1 so full of the fruits of unusual service to ,god and man1 it will be quite apparent that the ,lord was gently but persistently thrusting ,george ,muller out of the common path into one where he was to walk very closely with ,himself2 and the decisions which1 even in lesser matters furthered ,god's purpose were wiser and weightier than could at the time be seen4 ,one is constantly reminded in reading ,mr4 ,muller's journal that he was a man of like frailties as others4 ,on ,christmas morning of this year1 after a season of peculiar joy1 he awoke to find himself in the ,slough of ,despond1 without any sense of enjoyment1 prayer seeming as fruitless as the vain struggles of a man in the mire4 ,at the usual morning meeting he was urged by a brother to continue in prayer1 notwithstanding1 until he was again melted before the ,lord--a wise counsel for all disciples when the ,lord's presence seems strangely withdrawn4 ,steadfast continuance in prayer must never be hindered by the want of sensible enjoyment2 in fact1 it is a safe maxim that the less joy1 the more need4 ,cessation of communion with ,god1 for whatever cause1 only makes the more difficult its resumption and the recovery of the prayer habit and prayer spirit2 whereas the persistent outpouring of supplication1 together with continued activity in the service of ,god1 soon brings back the lost joy4 ,whenever1 therefore1 one yields to spiritual depression so as to abandon1 or even to suspend1 closet communion or ,christian work1 the devil triumphs4 ,so rapid was ,mr4 ,muller's recovery out of this ,satanic snare1 through continuance in prayer1 that1 on the evening of that same ,christmas day whose dawn had been so overcast1 he expounded the ,word at family worship in the house where he dined by invitation1 and with such help from ,god that two servants who were present were deeply convicted of sin and sought his counsel4 ,here we reach another mile-stone in this life-journey4 ,george ,muller had now come to the end of the year #ahbi1 and he had been led of the ,lord in a truly remarkable path4 ,it was but about four years since he first found the narrow way and began to walk in it1 and he was as yet a young man1 in his twenty-fifth year4 ,yet already he had been taught some of the grand secrets of a holy1 happy1 and useful life1 which became the basis of the whole structure of his after-service4 ,indeed1 as we look back over these four years1 they seem crowded with significant and eventful experiences1 all of which forecast his future work1 though he as yet saw not in them the ,lord's sign4 ,his conversion in a primitive assembly of believers where worship and the word of ,god were the only attractions1 was the starting-point in a career every step of which seems a stride forward4 ,think of a young convert1 with such an ensnaring past to reproach and retard him1 within these few years learning such advanced lessons in renunciation3 burning his manuscript novel1 giving up the girl he loved1 turning his back on the seductive prospect of ease and wealth1 to accept self-denial for ,god1 cutting loose from dependence on his father and then refusing all stated salary lest his liberty of witness be curtailed1 and choosing a simple expository mode of preaching1 instead of catering to popular taste6 ,then mark how he fed on the word of ,god2 how he cultivated the habits of searching the ,scriptures and praying in secret2 how he threw himself on ,god1 not only for temporal supplies1 but for support in bearing all burdens1 however great or small2 and how thus early he offered himself for the mission field and was impatiently eager to enter it4 ,then look at the sovereign love of ,god1 imparting to him in so eminent a degree the childlike spirit1 teaching him to trust not his own variable moods of feeling1 but the changeless word of ,his promise2 teaching him to wait patiently on ,him for orders1 and not to look to human authority or direction2 and so singularly releasing him from military service for life1 and mysteriously withholding him from the far-off mission field1 that ,he might train him for his unique mission to the race and the ages to come6 ,these are a few of the salient points of this narrative1 thus far1 which must1 to any candid mind1 demonstrate that a higher ,hand was moulding this chosen vessel on ,his potter's wheel1 and shaping it unmistakably for the singular service to which it was destined6 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,pulpit ,,and ,,the ,,pastorate ,no work for ,god surpasses in dignity and responsibility the ,christian ministry4 ,it is at once the consummate flower of the divine planting1 the priceless dower of ,his church1 and through it works the power of ,god for salvation4 ,though ,george ,muller had begun his 'candidacy for holy orders' as an unconverted man1 seeking simply a human calling with a hope of a lucrative living1 he had heard ,god's summons to a divine vocation1 and he was from time to time preaching the ,gospel1 but not in any settled field4 ,while at ,teignmouth1 early in #ahcj1 preaching by invitation1 he was asked to take the place of the minister who was about to leave1 but he replied that he felt at that time called of ,god1 not to a stationary charge1 but rather to a sort of itinerant evangelism4 ,during this time he preached at ,shaldon for ,henry ,craik1 thus coming into closer contact with this brother1 to whom his heart became knit in bonds of love and sympathy which grew stronger as the acquaintance became more intimate4 ,certain hearers at ,teignmouth1 and among them some preachers1 disliked his sermons1 albeit they were owned of ,god2 and this caused him to reflect upon the probable causes of this opposition1 and whether it was any indication of his duty4 ,he felt that they doubtless looked for outward graces of oratory in a preacher1 and hence were not attracted to a foreigner whose speech had no rhetorical charms and who could not even use ,english with fluency4 ,but he felt sure of a deeper cause for their dislike1 especially as he was compelled to notice that1 the summer previous1 when he himself was less spiritually minded and had less insight into the truth1 the same parties who now opposed him were pleased with him4 ,his final conclusion was that the ,lord meant to work through him at ,teignmouth1 but that ,satan was acting1 as usual1 the part of a hinderer1 and stirring up brethren themselves to oppose the truth4 ,and as1 notwithstanding the opposers1 the wish that he should minister at the chapel was expressed so often and by so many1 he determined to remain for a time until he was openly rejected as ,god's witness1 or had some clear divine leading to another field of labour4 ,he announced this purpose1 at the same time plainly stating that1 should they withhold salary1 it would not affect his decision1 inasmuch as he did not preach as a hireling of man1 but as the servant of ,god1 and would willingly commit to ,him the provision for his temporal needs4 ,at the same time1 however1 he reminded them that it was alike their duty and privilege to minister in carnal things to those who served them in things spiritual1 and that while he did not desire a gift1 he did desire fruit that might abound to their account4 ,these experiences at ,teignmouth were typical3 ,some believed the things which were spoken1 and some believed not2 some left the chapel1 while others stayed2 and some were led and fed1 while others maintained a cold indifference1 if they did not exhibit an open hostility4 ,but the ,lord stood by him and strengthened him1 setting ,his seal upon his testimony2 and ,jehovah ,jireh also moved two brethren1 unasked1 to supply all the daily wants of ,his servant4 ,after a while the little church of eighteen members unanimously called the young preacher to the pastorate1 and he consented to abide with them for a season1 without abandoning his original intention of going from place to place as the ,lord might lead4 ,a stipend1 of fifty-five pounds annually1 was offered him1 which somewhat increased as the church membership grew2 and so the university student of ,halle was settled in his first pulpit and pastorate4 ,while at ,sidmouth1 preaching1 in ,april1 #ahcj1 three believing sisters held in his presence a conversation about 'believers' baptism1' which proved the suggestion of another important step in his life1 which has a wider bearing than at first is apparent4 ,they naturally asked his opinion on the subject about which they were talking1 and he replied that1 having been baptized as a child1 he saw no need of being baptized again4 ,being further asked if he had ever yet prayerfully searched the word of ,god as to its testimony in this matter1 he frankly confessed that he had not4 ,at once1 with unmistakable plainness of speech and with rare fidelity1 one of these sisters in ,christ promptly said3 ,i entreat you1 then1 never again to speak any more about it till you have done so4 ,such a reply ,george ,muller was not the man either to resent or to resist4 ,he was too honest and conscientious to dismiss without due reflection any challenge to search the oracles of ,god for their witness upon any given question4 ,moreover1 if1 at that very time1 his preaching was emphatic in any direction1 it was in the boldness with which he insisted that all pulpit teaching and ,christian practice must be subjected to one great test1 namely1 the touchstone of the word of ,god4 ,already an ,elijah in spirit1 his great aim was to repair the broken-down altar of the ,lord1 to expose and rebuke all that hindered a thoroughly scriptural worship and service1 and1 if possible1 to restore apostolic simplicity of doctrine and life4 ,as he thought and prayed about this matter1 he was forced to admit to himself that he had never yet earnestly examined the ,scriptures for their teaching as to the position and relation of baptism in the believer's life1 nor had he even prayed for light upon it4 ,he had nevertheless repeatedly spoken against believers' baptism1 and so he saw it to be possible that he might himself have been opposing the teaching of the ,word4 ,he therefore determined to study the subject until he should reach a final1 satisfactory1 and scriptural conclusion2 and thenceforth1 whether led to defend infant baptism or believers' baptism1 to do it only on scriptural grounds4 ,the mode of study which he followed was characteristically simple1 thorough1 and business-like1 and was always pursued afterward4 ,he first sought from ,god the ,spirit's teaching that his eyes might be opened to the ,word's witness1 and his mind illumined2 then he set about a systematic examination of the ,new ,testament from beginning to end4 ,so far as possible he sought absolutely to rid himself of all bias of previous opinion or practice1 prepossession or prejudice2 he prayed and endeavoured to be free from the influence of human tradition1 popular custom1 and churchly sanction1 or that more subtle hindrance1 personal pride in his own consistency4 ,he was humble enough to be willing to retract any erroneous teaching and renounce any false position1 and to espouse that wise maxim3 ,don't be consistent1 but simply be true6 ,whatever may have been the case with others who claim to have examined the same question for themselves1 the result in his case was that he came to the conclusion1 and1 as he believed1 from the word of ,god and the ,spirit of ,god1 that none but believers are the proper subjects of baptism1 and that only immersion is its proper mode4 ,two passages of ,scripture were very marked in the prominence which they had in compelling him to these conclusions1 namely3 ,acts viii4 #cf-ch1 and ,romans vi4 #c-e4 ,the case of the ,ethiopian eunuch strongly convinced him that baptism is proper1 only as the act of a believer confessing ,christ2 and the passage in the ,epistle to the ,romans equally satisfied him that only immersion in water can express the typical burial with ,christ and resurrection with ,him1 there and elsewhere made so prominent4 ,he intended no assault upon brethren who hold other views1 when he thus plainly stated in his journal the honest and unavoidable convictions to which he came2 but he was too loyal both to the word of ,god and to his own conscience to withhold his views when so carefully and prayerfully arrived at through the searching of the ,scriptures4 ,conviction compelled action1 for in him there was no spirit of compromise2 and he was accordingly promptly baptized4 ,years after1 in reviewing his course1 he records the solemn conviction that of all revealed truths1 not one is more clearly revealed in the ,scriptures--not even the doctrine of justification by faith--and that the subject has only become obscured by men not having been willing to take the ,scriptures alone to decide the point4 ,he also bears witness incidentally that not one true friend in the ,lord had ever turned his back upon him in consequence of his baptism1 as he supposed some would have done2 and that almost all such friends had1 since then1 been themselves baptized4 ,it is true that in one way he suffered some pecuniary loss through this step taken in obedience to conviction1 but the ,lord did not suffer him to be ultimately the loser even in this respect1 for ,he bountifully made up to him any such sacrifice1 even in things that pertain to this life4 ,he concludes this review of his course by adding that through his example many others were led both to examine the question of baptism anew and to submit themselves to the ordinance4 ,such experiences as these suggest the honest question whether there is not imperative need of subjecting all current religious customs and practices to the one test of conformity to the scripture pattern4 ,our ,lord sharply rebuked the ,pharisees of ,his day for making the commandment of ,god of none effect by their tradition1 and1 after giving one instance1 ,he added1 and many other such like things do ye499 ,it is very easy for doctrines and practices to gain acceptance1 which are the outgrowth of ecclesiasticism1 and neither have sanction in the word of ,god1 nor will bear the searching light of its testimony4 ,cyprian has forewarned us that even antiquity is not authority1 but may be only vetustas erroris--the old age of error4 ,what radical reforms would be made in modern worship1 teaching and practice1--in the whole conduct of disciples and the administration of the church of ,god1--if the one final criterion of all judgment were3 ,what do the ,scriptures teach8' ,and what revolutions in our own lives as believers might take place1 if we should first put every notion of truth and custom of life to this one test of scripture authority1 and then with the courage of conviction dare to do according to that word--counting no cost1 but studying to show ourselves approved of ,god6 ,is it possible that there are any modern disciples who reject the commandment of ,god that they may keep their own tradition8 99 ,matthew xv4 #f4 ,mark vii4 #i-ac4 ,this step1 taken by ,mr4 ,muller as to baptism1 was only a precursor of many others1 all of which1 as he believed1 were according to that ,word which1 as the lamp to the believer's feet1 is to throw light upon his path4 ,during this same summer of #ahcj the further study of the ,word satisfied him that1 though there is no direct command so to do1 the scriptural and apostolic practice was to break bread every ,lord's day4 7,acts xx #g1 etc47 ,also1 that the ,spirit of ,god should have unhindered liberty to work through any believer according to the gifts ,he had bestowed1 seemed to him plainly taught in ,romans xii42 #a ,cor4 xii42 ,ephes4 iv41 etc4 ,these conclusions likewise this servant of ,god sought to translate at once into conduct1 and such conformity brought increasing spiritual prosperity4 ,conscientious misgivings1 about the same time1 ripened into settled convictions that he could no longer1 upon the same principle of obedience to the word of ,god1 consent to receive any stated salary as a minister of ,christ4 ,for this latter position1 which so influenced his life1 he assigns the following grounds1 which are here stated as showing the basis of his life-long attitude3 #a4 ,a stated salary implies a fixed sum1 which cannot well be paid without a fixed income through pew-rentals or some like source of revenue4 ,this seemed plainly at war with the teaching of the ,spirit of ,god in ,james ii4 #a-f1 since the poor brother cannot afford as good sittings as the rich1 thus introducing into church assemblies invidious distinctions and respect of persons1 and so encouraging the caste spirit4 #b4 ,a fixed pew-rental may at times become1 even to the willing disciple1 a burden4 ,he who would gladly contribute to a pastor's support1 if allowed to do so according to his ability and at his own convenience1 might be oppressed by the demand to pay a stated sum at a stated time4 ,circumstances so change that one who has the same cheerful mind as before may be unable to give as formerly1 and thus be subjected to painful embarrassment and humiliation if constrained to give a fixed sum4 #c4 ,the whole system tends to the bondage of the servant of ,christ4 ,one must be unusually faithful and intrepid if he feels no temptation to keep back or in some degree modify his message in order to please men1 when he remembers that the very parties1 most open to rebuke and most liable to offence1 are perhaps the main contributors toward his salary4 ,whatever others may think of such reasons as these1 they were so satisfactory to his mind that he frankly and promptly announced them to his brethren2 and thus1 as early as the autumn of #ahcj1 when just completing his twenty-fifth year1 he took a position from which he never retreated1 that he would thenceforth receive no fixed salary for any service rendered to ,god's people4 ,while calmly assigning scriptural grounds for such a position he1 on the same grounds1 urged voluntary offerings1 whether of money or other means of support1 as the proper acknowledgment of service rendered by ,god's minister1 and as a sacrifice acceptable1 well-pleasing to ,god4 ,a little later1 seeing that1 when such voluntary gifts came direct from the givers personally1 there was a danger that some might feel self-complacent over the largeness of the amount given by them1 and others equally humbled by the smallness of their offerings1 with consequent damage to both classes1 of givers1 he took a step further3 he had a box put up in the chapel1 over which was written1 that whoever had a desire to do something for his support might put such an offering therein as ability and disposition might direct4 ,his intention was1 that thus the act might be wholly as in ,god's sight1 without the risk of a sinful pride or false humility4 ,he further felt that1 to be entirely consistent1 he should ask no help from man1 even in bearing necessary costs of travel in the ,lord's service1 nor even state his needs beforehand in such a way as indirectly to appeal for aid4 ,all of these methods he conceived to be forms of trusting in an arm of flesh1 going to man for help instead of going at once1 always and only1 to the ,lord4 ,and he adds3 ,to come to this conclusion before ,god required more grace than to give up my salary4 ,these successive steps are here recorded explicitly and in their exact order because they lead up directly to the ultimate goal of his life-work and witness4 ,such decisions were vital links connecting this remarkable man and his ,father's business1 upon which he was soon more fully to enter2 and they were all necessary to the fulness of the world-wide witness which he was to bear to a prayer-hearing ,god and the absolute safety of trusting in ,him and in ,him alone4 ,on ,october #g1 #ahcj1 ,george ,muller1 in finding a wife1 found a good thing and obtained new favour from the ,lord4 ,miss ,mary ,groves1 sister of the self-denying dentist whose surrender of all things for the mission field had so impressed him years before1 was married to this man of ,god1 and for forty blessed years proved an help meet for him4 ,it was almost1 if not quite1 an ideal union1 for which he continually thanked ,god2 and1 although her kingdom was one which came not with observation1' the sceptre of her influence was far wider in its sway than will ever be appreciated by those who were strangers to her personal and domestic life4 ,she was a rare woman and her price was above rubies4 ,the heart of her husband safely trusted1 in her1 and the great family of orphans who were to her as children rise up even to this day to call her blessed4 ,married life has often its period of estrangement1 even when temporary alienation yields to a deeper love1 as the parties become more truly wedded by the assimilation of their inmost being to one another4 ,but to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller there never came any such experience of even temporary alienation4 ,from the first1 love grew1 and with it1 mutual confidence and trust4 ,one of the earliest ties which bound these two in one was the bond of a common self-denial4 ,yielding literal obedience to ,luke xii4 #cc1 they sold what little they had and gave alms1 henceforth laying up no treasures on earth 7,matthew vi4 #ai-cd2 xix4 #ba47 ,the step then taken--accepting1 for ,christ's sake1 voluntary poverty--was never regretted1 but rather increasingly rejoiced in2 how faithfully it was followed in the same path of continued self-sacrifice will sufficiently appear when it is remembered that1 nearly sixty-eight years afterward1 ,george ,muller passed suddenly into the life beyond1 a poor man2 his will1 when admitted to probate1 showing his entire personal property1 under oath1 to be but one hundred and sixty pounds6 ,and even that would not have been in his possession had there been no daily need of requisite comforts for the body and of tools for his work4 ,part of this amount was in money1 shortly before received and not yet laid out for his ,master1 but held at ,his disposal4 ,nothing1 even to the clothes he wore1 did he treat as his own4 ,he was a consistent steward4 ,this final farewell to all earthly possessions1 in #ahcj1 left this newly married husband and wife to look only to the ,lord4 ,thenceforth they were to put to ample daily test both their faith in the ,great ,provider and the faithfulness of the ,great ,promiser4 ,it may not be improper here to anticipate1 what is yet to be more fully recorded1 that1 from day to day and hour to hour1 during more than threescore years1 ,george ,muller was enabled to set to his seal that ,god is true4 ,if few men have ever been permitted so to trace in the smallest matters ,god's care over ,his children1 it is partly because few have so completely abandoned themselves to that care4 ,he dared to trust ,him1 with whom the hairs of our head are all numbered1 and who touchingly reminds us that ,he cares for what has been quaintly called the odd sparrow4 ,matthew records 7x4 #bi7 how two sparrows are sold for a farthing1 and ,luke 7xii4 #f7 how five are sold for two farthings2 and so it would appear that1 when two farthings were offered1 an odd sparrow was thrown in1 as of so little value that it could be given away with the other four4 ,and yet even for that one sparrow1 not worth taking into account in the bargain1 ,god cares4 ,not one of them is forgotten before ,god1 or falls to the ground without ,him4 ,with what force then comes the assurance3 ,fear ye not therefore2 ye are of more value than many sparrows6 ,so ,george ,muller found it to be4 ,he was permitted henceforth to know as never before1 and as few others have ever learned1 how truly ,god may be approached as ,thou that hearest prayer4 ,god can keep ,his trusting children not only from falling but from stumbling2 for1 during all those after-years that spanned the lifetime of two generations1 there was no drawing back4 ,those precious promises1 which in faith and hope were laid hold of in #ahcj1 were held fast until the end4 7,heb4 vi4 #ah1 x4 #bc47 ,and the divine faithfulness proved a safe anchorage-ground in the most prolonged and violent tempests4 ,the anchor of hope1 sure and steadfast1 and entering into that within the veil1 was never dragged from its secure hold on ,god4 ,in fifty thousand cases1 ,mr4 ,muller calculated that he could trace distinct answers to definite prayers2 and in multitudes of instances in which ,god's care was not definitely traced1 it was day by day like an encompassing passing but invisible presence or atmosphere of life and strength4 ,on ,august #i1 #ahca1 ,mrs4 ,muller gave birth to a stillborn babe1 and for six weeks remained seriously ill4 ,her husband meanwhile laments that his heart was so cold and carnal1 and his prayers often so hesitating and formal2 and he detects1 even behind his zeal for ,god1 most unspiritual frames4 ,he especially chides himself for not having more seriously thought of the peril of child-bearing1 so as to pray more earnestly for his wife2 and he saw clearly that the prospect of parenthood had not been rejoiced in as a blessing1 but rather as implying a new burden and hindrance in the ,lord's work4 ,while this man of ,god lays bare his heart in his journal1 the reader must feel that as in water face answereth to face1 so the heart of man to man4 ,how many a servant of ,god has no more exalted idea of the divine privilege of a sanctified parenthood6 ,a wife and a child are most precious gifts of ,god when received1 in answer to prayer1 from ,his hand4 ,not only are they not hindrances1 but they are helps1 most useful in fitting a servant of ,christ for certain parts of his work for which no other preparation is so adequate4 ,they serve to teach him many most valuable lessons1 and to round out his character into a far more symmetrical beauty and serviceableness4 ,and when it is remembered how a godly association in holiness and usefulness may thus be supplied1 and above all a godly succession through many generations1 it will be seen how wicked is the spirit that treats holy wedlock and its fruits in offspring1--with lightness and contempt4 ,nor let us forget that promise3 ,if two of you agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask1 it shall be done for them of ,my ,father which is in heaven4 7,matt4 xviii4 #ai47 ,the ,greek word for agree is symphonize1 and suggests a musical harmony where chords are tuned to the same key and struck by a master hand4 ,consider what a blessed preparation for such habitual symphony in prayer is to be found in the union of a husband and wife in the ,lord6 ,may it not be that to this the ,spirit refers when ,he bids husband and wife dwell in unity1 as heirs together of the grace of life1 and adds1 that your prayers be not hindered8 7#a ,peter iii4 #g47 ,god used this severe lesson for permanent blessing to ,george ,muller4 ,he showed him how open was his heart to the subtle power of selfishness and carnality1 and how needful was this chastisement to teach him the sacredness of marital life and parental responsibility4 ,henceforth he judged himself1 that he might not be judged of the ,lord4 7#a ,cor4 xi4 #ca47 ,a crisis like his wife's critical illness created a demand for much extra expense1 for which no provision had been made1 not through carelessness and improvidence1 but upon principle4 ,mr4 ,muller held that to lay by in store is inconsistent with full trust in ,god1 who in such case would send us to our hoardings before answering prayer for more supplies4 ,experience in this emergency justified his faith2 for not only were all unforeseen wants supplied1 but even the delicacies and refreshments needful for the sick and weak2 and the two medical attendants graciously declined all remuneration for services which extended through six weeks4 ,thus was there given of the ,lord more than could have been laid up against this season of trial1 even had the attempt been made4 ,the principle of committing future wants to the ,lord's care1 thus acted upon at this time1 he and his wife consistently followed so long as they lived and worked together4 ,experience confirmed them in the conviction that a life of trust forbids laying up treasures against unforeseen foreseen needs1 since with ,god no emergency is unforeseen and no want unprovided for2 and ,he may be as implicitly trusted for extraordinary needs as for our common daily bread4 ,yet another law1 kindred to this and thoroughly inwrought into ,mr4 ,muller's habit of life1 was never to contract debt1 whether for personal purposes or the ,lord's work4 ,this matter was settled on scriptural grounds once for all 7,romans xiii4 #h71 and he and his wife determined if need be to suffer starvation rather than to buy anything without paying for it when bought4 ,thus they always knew how much they had to buy with1 and what they had left to give to others or use for others' wants4 ,there was yet another law of life early framed into ,mr4 ,muller's personal decalogue4 ,he regarded any money which was in his hands already designated for1 or appropriated to1 a specific use1 as not his to use1 even temporarily1 for any other ends4 ,thus1 though he was often reduced to the lowest point of temporal supplies1 he took no account of any such funds set apart for other outlays or due for other purposes4 ,thousands of times he was in straits where such diversion of funds for a time seemed the only and the easy way out1 but where this would only have led him into new embarrassments4 ,this principle1 intelligently adopted1 was firmly adhered to1 that what properly belongs to a particular branch of work1 or has been already put aside for a certain use1 even though yet in hand1 is not to be reckoned on as available for any other need1 however pressing4 ,trust in ,god implies such knowledge on ,his part of the exact circumstances that ,he will not constrain us to any such misappropriation4 ,mistakes1 most serious and fatal1 have come from lack of conscience as well as of faith in such exigencies--drawing on one fund to meet the overdraught upon another1 hoping afterward to replace what is thus withdrawn4 ,a well-known college president had nearly involved the institution of which he was the head1 in bankruptcy1 and himself in worse moral ruin1 all the result of one error--money given for endowing certain chairs had been used for current expenses until public confidence had been almost hopelessly impaired4 ,thus a life of faith must be no less a life of conscience4 ,faith and trust in ,god1 and truth and faithfulness toward man1 walked side by side in this life-journey in unbroken agreement4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,narrative ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,dealings ,,things which are sacred forbid even a careless touch4 ,the record written by ,george ,muller of the ,lord's dealings reads1 especially in parts1 almost like an inspired writing1 because it is simply the tracing of divine guidance in a human life--not this man's own working or planning1 suffering or serving1 but the ,lord's dealings with him and workings through him4 ,it reminds us of that conspicuous passage in the ,acts of the ,apostles where1 within the compass of twenty verses1 ,god is fifteen times put boldly forward as the one ,actor in all events4 ,paul and ,barnabas rehearsed1 in the ears of the church at ,antioch1 and afterward at ,jerusalem1 not what they had done for the ,lord1 but all that ,he had done with them1 and how ,he had opened the door of faith unto the ,gentiles2 what miracles and wonders ,god had wrought among the ,gentiles by them4 ,and1 in the same spirit1 ,peter before the council emphasizes how ,god had made choice of his mouth1 as that whereby the ,gentiles should hear the word of the ,gospel and believe2 how ,he had given them the ,holy ,ghost and put no difference between ,jew and ,gentile1 purifying their hearts by faith2 and how ,he who knew all hearts had thus borne them witness4 ,then ,james1 in the same strain1 refers to the way in which ,god had visited the ,gentiles to take out of them a people for ,his name2 and concludes by two quotations or adaptations from the ,old ,testament1 which fitly sum up the whole matter3 ,the ,lord who doeth all these things4 ,known unto ,god are all ,his works from the beginning of the world4 7,acts xiv4 #bg to xv4 #ah47 ,the meaning of such repeated phraseology cannot be mistaken4 ,god is here presented as the one agent or actor1 and even the most conspicuous apostles1 like ,paul and ,peter1 as only ,his instruments4 ,no twenty verses in the word of ,god contain more emphatic and repeated lessons on man's insufficiency and nothingness1 and ,god's all-sufficiency and almightiness4 ,it was ,god that wrought upon man through man4 ,it was ,he who chose ,peter to be ,his mouthpiece1 ,he whose key unlocked shut doors1 ,he who visited the nations1 who turned sinners into saints1 who was even then taking out a people for ,his name1 purifying hearts and bearing them witness2 it was ,he and ,he alone who did all these wondrous things1 and according to ,his knowledge and plan of what ,he would do1 from the beginning4 ,we are not reading so much the ,acts of the ,apostles as the acts of ,god through the apostles4 ,was it not this very passage in this inspired book that suggested1 perhaps1 the name of this journal3 ,the ,lord's dealings with ,george ,muller8 ,at this narrative or journal1 as a whole1 we can only rapidly glance4 ,in this shorter account1 purposely condensed to secure a wider reading even from busy people1 that narrative could not be more fully treated1 for in its original form it covers about three thousand printed pages1 and contains close to one million words4 ,to such as can and will read that more minute account it is accessible at a low rate199 and is strongly recommended for careful and leisurely perusal4 ,but for the present purpose the life-story1 as found in these pages1 takes both a briefer and a different form4 99 ,five volumes at #afs4 ,published by ,jas4 ,nisbet ,co41 ,london4 ,with subsequent ,annual ,reports at #c;d4 each4 ,the journal is largely composed of1 condensed from1 and then supplemented by1 annual reports of the work1 and naturally and necessarily includes1 not only thousands of little details1 but much inevitable repetition year by year1 because each new report was likely to fall into the hands of some who had never read reports of the previous years4 ,the desire and design of this briefer memoir is to present the salient points of the narrative1 to review the whole life-story as from the great summits or outlooks found in this remarkable journal2 so that1 like the observer who from some high mountain-peak looks toward the different points of the compass1 and thus gets a rapid1 impressive1 comparative1 and comprehensive view of the whole landscape1 the reader may1 as at a glance1 take in those marked features of this godly man's character and career which incite to new and advance steps in faith and holy living4 ,some few characteristic entries in the journal will find here a place2 others1 only in substance2 while of the bulk of them it will be sufficient to give a general survey1 classifying the leading facts1 and under each class giving a few representative examples and illustrations4 ,looking at this narrative as a whole1 certain prominent peculiarities must be carefully noted4 ,we have here a record and revelation of seven conspicuous experiences3 #a4 ,an experience of frequent and at times prolonged financial straits4 ,the money in hand for personal needs1 and for the needs of hundreds and thousands of orphans1 and for the various branches of the work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 was often reduced to a single pound1 or even penny1 and sometimes to nothing4 ,there was therefore a necessity for constant waiting on ,god1 looking to ,him directly for all supplies4 ,for months1 if not years1 together1 and at several periods in the work1 supplies were furnished only from month to month1 week to week1 day to day1 hour to hour6 ,faith was thus kept in lively exercise and under perpetual training4 #b4 ,an experience of the unchanging faithfulness of the ,father-,god4 ,the straits were long and trying1 but never was there one case of failure to receive help2 never a meal-time without at least a frugal meal1 never a want or a crisis unmet by divine supply and support4 ,mr4 ,muller said to the writer3 ,not once1 or five times1 or five hundred times1 but thousands of times in these threescore years1 have we had in hand not enough for one more meal1 either in food or in funds2 but not once has ,god failed us2 not once have we or the orphans gone hungry or lacked any good thing4 ,from #ahch to #ahdd was a period of peculiar and prolonged straits1 yet when the time of need actually came the supply was always given1 though often at the last moment4 #c4 ,an experience of the working of ,god upon the minds1 hearts1 and consciences of contributors to the work4 ,it will amply repay one to plod1 step by step1 over these thousands of pages1 if only to trace the hand of ,god touching the springs of human action all over the world in ways of ,his own1 and at times of great need1 and adjusting the amount and the exact day and hour of the supply1 to the existing want4 ,literally from the earth's ends1 men1 women1 and children who had never seen ,mr4 ,muller and could have known nothing of the pressure at the time1 have been led at the exact crisis of affairs to send aid in the very sum or form most needful4 ,in countless cases1 while he was on his knees asking1 the answer has come in such close correspondence with the request as to shut out chance as an explanation1 and compel belief in a prayer-hearing ,god4 #d4 ,an experience of habitual hanging upon the unseen ,god and nothing else4 ,the reports1 issued annually to acquaint the public with the history and progress of the work1 and give an account of stewardship to the many donors who had a right to a report--these made no direct appeal for aid4 ,at one time1 and that of great need1 ,mr4 ,muller felt led to withhold the usual annual statement1 lest some might construe the account of work already done as an appeal for aid in work yet to be done1 and thus detract from the glory of the ,great ,provider499 ,the ,living ,god alone was and is the ,patron of these institutions2 and not even the wisest and wealthiest1 the noblest and the most influential of human beings1 has ever been looked to as their dependence4 99 ,for example1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 #ajb1 records that the report given is for #ahdf-ahdh1 no report having been issued for #ahdg2 and on page #aac1 under date of ,may #beth1 occur these words3 not being nearly enough to meet the housekeeping expenses1 etc42 and1 ,may #bhth and #cjth1 such other words as these3 now our poverty1 in this our great need1 in these days of straitness4 ,mr4 ,wright thinks that on that very account ,mr4 ,muller did not publish the report for #ahdg4 #e4 ,an experience of conscientious care in accepting and using gifts4 ,here is a pattern for all who act as stewards for ,god4 ,whenever there was any ground of misgiving as to the propriety or expediency of receiving what was offered1 it was declined1 however pressing the need1 unless or until all such objectionable features no more existed4 ,if the party contributing was known to dishonour lawful debts1 so that the money was righteously due to others2 if the gift was encumbered and embarrassed by restrictions that hindered its free use for ,god2 if it was designated for endowment purposes or as a provision for ,mr4 ,muller's old age1 or for the future of the institutions2 or if there was any evidence or suspicion that the donation was given grudgingly1 reluctantly1 or for self-glory1 it was promptly declined and returned4 ,in some cases1 even where large amounts were involved1 parties were urged to wait until more prayer and deliberation made clear that they were acting under divine leading4 #f4 ,an experience of extreme caution lest there should be even a careless betrayal of the fact of pressing need1 to the outside public4 ,the helpers in the institutions were allowed to come into such close fellowship and to have such knowledge of the exact state of the work as aids not only in common labours1 but in common prayers and self-denials4 ,without such acquaintance they could not serve1 pray1 nor sacrifice intelligently4 ,but these associates were most solemnly and repeatedly charged never to reveal to those without1 not even in the most serious crises1 any want whatsoever of the work4 ,the one and only resort was ever to be the ,god who hears the cry of the needy2 and the greater the exigency1 the greater the caution lest there should even seem to be a looking away from divine to human help4 #g4 ,an experience of growing boldness of faith in asking and trusting for great things4 ,as faith was exercised it was energized1 so that it became as easy and natural to ask confidently for a hundred1 a thousand1 or ten thousand pounds1 as once it had been for a pound or a penny4 ,after confidence in ,god had been strengthened through discipline1 and ,god had been proven faithful1 it required no more venture to cast himself on ,god for provision for two thousand children and an annual outlay of at least twenty-five thousand pounds for them than in the earlier periods of the work to look to ,him to care for twenty homeless orphans at a cost of two hundred and fifty pounds a year4 ,only by using faith are we kept from practically losing it1 and1 on the contrary1 to use faith is to lose the unbelief that hinders ,god's mighty acts4 ,this brief resume of the contents of thousands of entries is the result of a repeated and careful examination of page after page where have been patiently recorded with scrupulous and punctilious exactness the innumerable details of ,mr4 ,muller's long experience as a coworker with ,god4 ,he felt himself not only the steward of a celestial ,master1 but the trustee of human gifts1 and hence he sought to provide things honest in the sight of all men4 ,he might never have published a report or spread these minute matters before the public eye1 and yet have been an equally faithful steward toward ,god2 but he would not in such case have been an equally faithful trustee toward man4 ,frequently1 in these days1 men receive considerable sums of money from various sources for benevolent work1 and yet give no account of such trusteeship4 ,however honest such parties may be1 they not only act unwisely1 but1 by their course1 lend sanction to others with whom such irresponsible action is a cloak for systematic fraud4 ,mr4 ,muller's whole career is the more without fault because in this respect his administration of his great trust challenges the closest investigation4 ,the brief review of the lessons taught in his journal may well startle the incredulous and unbelieving spirit of our skeptical day4 ,those who doubt the power of prayer to bring down actual blessing1 or who confound faith in ,god with credulity and superstition1 may well wonder and perhaps stumble at such an array of facts4 ,but1 if any reader is still doubtful as to the facts1 or thinks they are here arrayed in a deceptive garb or invested with an imaginative halo1 he is hereby invited to examine for himself the singularly minute records which ,george ,muller has been led of ,god to put before the world in a printed form which thus admits no change1 and to accompany with a bold and repeated challenge to any one so inclined1 to subject every statement to the severest scrutiny1 and prove1 if possible1 one item to be in any respect false1 exaggerated1 or misleading4 ,the absence of all enthusiasm in the calm and mathematical precision of the narrative compels the reader to feel that the writer was almost mechanically exact in the record1 and inspires confidence that it contains the absolute1 naked truth4 ,one caution should1 like ,habakkuk's gospel message--,the just shall live by his faith--be written large and plain so that even a cursory glance may take it in4 ,let no one ascribe to ,george ,muller such a miraculous gift of faith as lifted him above common believers and out of the reach of the temptations and infirmities to which all fallible souls are exposed4 ,he was constantly liable to satanic assaults1 and we find him making frequent confession of the same sins as others1 and even of unbelief1 and at times overwhelmed with genuine sorrow for his departures from ,god4 ,in fact he felt himself rather more than usually wicked by nature1 and utterly helpless even as a believer3 was it not this poverty of spirit and mourning over sin1 this consciousness of entire unworthiness and dependence1 that so drove him to the throne of grace and the all-merciful and all-powerful ,father8 ,because he was so weak1 he leaned hard on the strong arm of ,him whose strength is not only manifested1 but can only be made perfect1 in weakness499 99 #a ,cor4 xii4 #a-aj4 ,to those who think that no man can wield such power in prayer or live such a life of faith who is not an exception to common mortal frailties1 it will be helpful to find in this very journal that is so lighted up with the records of ,god's goodness1 the dark shadows of conscious sin and guilt4 ,even in the midst of abounding mercies and interpositions he suffered from temptations to distrust and disobedience1 and sometimes had to mourn their power over him1 as when once he found himself inwardly complaining of the cold leg of mutton which formed the staple of his ,sunday dinner6 ,we discover as we read that we are communing with a man who was not only of like passions with ourselves1 but who felt himself rather more than most others subject to the sway of evil1 and needing therefore a special keeping power4 ,scarce had he started upon his new path of entire dependence on ,god1 when he confessed himself so sinful as for some time to entertain the thought that it would be of no use to trust in the ,lord in this way1 and fearing that he had perhaps gone already too far in this direction in having committed himself to such a course499 ,true1 this temptation was speedily overcome and ,satan confounded2 but from time to time similar fiery darts were hurled at him which had to be quenched by the same shield of faith4 ,never1 to the last hour of life1 could he trust himself1 or for one moment relax his hold on ,god1 and neglect the word of ,god and prayer1 without falling into sin4 ,the 'old man1' of sin always continued too strong for ,george ,muller alone1 and the longer he lived a 'life of trust' the less was his trust placed upon himself4 99 ,vol4 ,i4 #gc4 ,another fact that grows more conspicuous with the perusal of every new page in his journal is that in things common and small1 as well as uncommon and great1 he took no step without first asking counsel of the oracles of ,god and seeking guidance from ,him in believing prayer4 ,it was his life-motto to learn the will of ,god before undertaking anything1 and to wait till it is clear1 because only so can one either be blessed in his own soul or prospered in the work of his hands499 ,many disciples who are comparatively bold to seek ,god's help in great crises1 fail to come to ,him with like boldness in matters that seem too trivial to occupy the thought of ,god or invite the interposition of ,him who numbers the very hairs of our heads and suffers not one hair to perish4 ,the writer of this journal escaped this great snare and carried even the smallest matter to the ,lord4 99 ,vol4 ,i4 #gd4 ,again1 in his journal he constantly seeks to save from reproach the good name of ,him whom he serves3 he cannot have such a ,god accounted a hard ,master4 ,so early as ,july1 #ahca1 a false rumour found circulation that he and his wife were half-starving and that certain bodily ailments were the result of a lack of the necessities of life2 and he is constrained to put on record that1 though often brought so low as not to have one penny left and to have the last bread on the table1 they had never yet sat down to a meal unprovided with some nourishing food4 ,this witness was repeated from time to time1 and until just before his departure for the ,father's house on high2 and it may therefore be accepted as covering that whole life of faith which reached over nearly threescore years and ten4 ,a kindred word of testimony1 first given at this same time and in like manner reiterated from point to point in his pilgrimage1 concerns the ,lord's faithfulness in accompanying ,his word with power1 in accordance with that positive and unequivocal promise in ,isaiah lv4 #aa3 ,my word shall not return unto ,me void2 but it shall accomplish that which ,i please1 and it shall prosper in the thing whereto ,i sent it4 ,it is very noticeable that this is not said of man's word1 however wise1 important1 or sincere1 but of ,god's word4 ,we are therefore justified in both expecting and claiming that1 just so far as our message is not of human invention or authority1 but is ,god's message through us1 it shall never fail to accomplish ,his pleasure and its divine errand1 whatever be its apparent failure at the time4 ,mr4 ,muller1 referring to his own preaching1 bears witness that in almost if not quite every place where he spoke ,god's word1 whether in larger chapels or smaller rooms1 the ,lord gave the seal of ,his own testimony4 ,he observed1 however1 that blessing did not so obviously or abundantly follow his open-air services3 only in one instance had it come to his knowledge that there were marked results1 and that was in the case of an army officer who came to make sport4 ,mr4 ,muller thought that it might please the ,lord not to let him see the real fruit of his work in open-air meetings1 or that there had not been concerning them enough believing prayer2 but he concluded that such manner of preaching was not his present work1 since ,god had not so conspicuously sealed it with blessing4 ,his journal makes very frequent reference to the physical weakness and disability from which he suffered4 ,the struggle against bodily infirmity was almost life-long1 and adds a new lesson to his life-story4 ,the strength of faith had to triumph over the weakness of the flesh4 ,we often find him suffering from bodily ills1 and sometimes so seriously as to be incapacitated for labour4 ,for example1 early in #ahcb he broke a blood-vessel in the stomach and lost much blood by the hemorrhage4 ,the very day following was the ,lord's day1 and four outside preaching stations needed to be provided for1 from which his disablement would withdraw one labourer to take his place at home4 ,after an hour of prayer he felt that faith was given him to rise1 dress1 and go to the chapel2 and1 though very weak1 so that the short walk wearied him1 he was helped to preach as usual4 ,after the service a medical friend remonstrated against his course as tending to permanent injury2 but he replied that he should himself have regarded it presumptuous had not the ,lord given him the faith4 ,he preached both afternoon and evening1 growing stronger rather than weaker with each effort1 and suffering from no reaction afterward4 ,in reading ,mr4 ,muller's biography and the record of such experiences1 it is not probable that all will agree as to the wisdom of his course in every case4 ,some will commend1 while others will1 perhaps1 condemn4 ,he himself qualifies this entry in his journal with a wholesome caution that no reader should in such a matter follow his example1 who has not faith given him2 but assuring him that if ,god does give faith so to undertake for ,him1 such trust will prove like good coin and be honoured when presented4 ,he himself did not always pursue a like course1 because he had not always a like faith1 and this leads him in his journal to draw a valuable distinction between the gift of faith and the grace of faith1 which deserves careful consideration4 ,he observed that repeatedly he prayed with the sick till they were restored1 he asking unconditionally for the blessing of bodily health1 a thing which1 he says1 later on1 he could not have done4 ,almost always in such cases the petition was granted1 yet in some instances not4 ,once1 in his own case1 as early as #ahbi1 he had been healed of a bodily infirmity of long standing1 and which never returned4 ,yet this same man of ,god subsequently suffered from disease which was not in like manner healed1 and in more than one case submitted to a costly operation at the hands of a skilful surgeon4 ,some will doubtless say that even this man of faith lacked the faith necessary for the healing of his own body2 but we must let him speak for himself1 and especially as he gives his own view of the gift and the grace of faith4 ,he says that the gift of faith is exercised1 whenever we do or believe a thing where the not doing or not believing would not be sin2 but the grace of faith1 where we do or believe what not to do or believe would be sin2 in one case we have no unequivocal command or promise to guide us1 and in the other we have4 ,the gift of faith is not always in exercise1 but the grace must be1 since it has the definite word of ,god to rest on1 and the absence or even weakness of faith in such circumstances implies sin4 ,there were instances1 he adds1 in which it pleased the ,lord at times to bestow upon him something like the gift of faith so that he could ask unconditionally and expect confidently4 ,this journal we may now dismiss as a whole1 having thus looked at the general features which characterize its many pages4 ,but let it be repeated that to any reader who will for himself carefully examine its contents its perusal will prove a means of grace4 ,to read a little at a time1 and follow it with reflection and self-examination1 will be found most stimulating to faith1 though often most humiliating by reason of the conscious contrast suggested by the reader's unbelief and unfaithfulness4 ,this man lived peculiarly with ,god and in ,god1 and his senses were exercised to discern good and evil4 ,his conscience became increasingly sensitive and his judgment singularly discriminating1 so that he detected fallacies where they escape the common eye1 and foresaw dangers which1 like hidden rocks ahead1 risk damage and1 perhaps1 destruction to service if not to character4 ,and1 therefore1 so far is the writer of this memoir from desiring to displace that journal1 that he rather seeks to incite many who have not read it to examine it for themselves4 ,it will to such be found to mark a path of close daily walk with ,god1 where1 step by step1 with circumspect vigilance1 conduct and even motive are watched and weighed in ,god's own balances4 ,to sum up very briefly the impression made by the close perusal of this whole narrative with the supplementary annual reports1 it is simply this3 ,,confidence ,,in ,,god4 ,in a little sketch of ,beate ,paulus1 the ,frau ,pastorin pleads with ,god in a great crisis not to forsake her1 quaintly adding that she was willing to be the second whom ,he might forsake1 but she was determined not to be the first499 ,george ,muller believed that1 in all ages1 there had never yet been one true and trusting believer to whom ,god had proven false or faithless1 and he was perfectly sure that ,he could be safely trusted who1 if we believe not1 yet abideth faithful3 ,he cannot deny ,himself49999 ,god has not only spoken1 but sworn2 ,his word is confirmed by ,his oath3 because ,he could swear by no greater ,he sware by ,himself4 ,and all this that we might have a strong consolation2 that we might have boldness in venturing upon ,him1 laying hold and holding fast ,his promise4 ,unbelief makes ,god a liar and1 worse still1 a perjurer1 for it accounts ,him as not only false to ,his word1 but to ,his oath4 ,george ,muller believed1 and because he believed1 prayed2 and praying1 expected2 and expecting1 received4 ,blessed is he that believes1 for there shall be a performance of those things which are spoken of the ,lord4 99 ,faith's ,miracles1 p4 #dc4 9999 #b ,timothy ii4 #ac4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,led ,,of ,,god ,,into ,a ,,new ,,sphere ,,if much hangs and turns upon the choice of the work we are to do and the field where we are to do it1 it must not be forgotten how much also depends on the time when it is undertaken1 the way in which it is performed1 and the associates in the labour4 ,in all these matters the true workman will wait for the ,master's beck1 glance1 or signal1 before a step is taken4 ,we have come now to a new fork in the road where the path ahead begins to be more plain4 ,the future and permanent centre of his life-work is at this point clearly indicated to ,god's servant by divine leading4 ,in ,march1 #ahcb1 his friend ,mr4 ,henry ,craik left ,shaldon for four weeks of labour in ,bristol1 where ,mr4 ,muller's strong impression was that the ,lord had for ,mr4 ,craik some more lasting sphere of work1 though as yet it had not dawned upon his mind that he himself was to be a co-worker in that sphere1 and to find in that very city the place of his permanent abode and the centre of his life's activities4 ,god again led the blind by a way he knew not4 ,the conviction1 however1 had grown upon him that the ,lord was loosing him from ,teignmouth1 and1 without having in view any other definite field1 he felt that his ministry there was drawing to a close2 and he inclined to go about again from place to place1 seeking especially to bring believers to a fuller trust in ,god and a deeper sense of ,his faithfulness1 and to a more thorough search into ,his word4 ,his inclination to such itinerant work was strengthened by the fact that outside of ,teignmouth his preaching both gave him much more enjoyment and sense of power1 and drew more hearers4 ,on ,april #acth a letter from ,mr4 ,craik1 inviting ,mr4 ,muller to join in his work at ,bristol1 made such an impression on his mind that he began prayerfully to consider whether it was not ,god's call1 and whether a field more suited to his gifts was not opening to him4 ,the following ,lord's day1 preaching on the ,lord's coming1 he referred to the effect of this blessed hope in impelling ,god's messenger to bear witness more widely and from place to place1 and reminded the brethren that he had refused to bind himself to abide with them that he might at any moment be free to follow the divine leading elsewhere4 ,on ,april #bjth ,mr4 ,muller left for ,bristol4 ,on the journey he was dumb1 having no liberty in speaking for ,christ or even in giving away tracts1 and this led him to reflect4 ,he saw that the so-called 'work of the ,lord' had tempted him to substitute action for meditation and communion4 ,he had neglected that still hour' with ,god which supplies to spiritual life alike its breath and its bread4 ,no lesson is more important for us to learn1 yet how slow are we to learn it3 that for the lack of habitual seasons set apart for devout meditation upon the word of ,god and for prayer1 nothing else will compensate4 ,we are prone to think1 for example1 that converse with ,christian brethren1 and the general round of ,christian activity1 especially when we are much busied with preaching the ,word and visits to inquiring or needy souls1 make up for the loss of aloneness with ,god in the secret place4 ,we hurry to a public service with but a few minutes of private prayer1 allowing precious time to be absorbed in social pleasures1 restrained from withdrawing from others by a false delicacy1 when to excuse ourselves for needful communion with ,god and his word would have been perhaps the best witness possible to those whose company was holding us unduly6 ,how often we rush from one public engagement to another without any proper interval for renewing our strength in waiting on the ,lord1 as though ,god cared more for the quantity than the quality of our service6 ,here ,mr4 ,muller had the grace to detect one of the foremost perils of a busy man in this day of insane hurry4 ,he saw that if we are to feed others we must be fed2 and that even public and united exercises of praise and prayer can never supply that food which is dealt out to the believer only in the closet--the shut-in place with its closed door and open window1 where he meets ,god alone4 ,in a previous chapter reference has been made to the fact that three times in the word of ,god we find a divine prescription for a true prosperity4 ,god says to ,joshua1 ,this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth2 but thou shalt meditate therein day and night1 that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein3 for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous1 and then thou shalt have good success 7,joshua i4 #h47 ,five hundred years later the inspired author of the first ,psalm repeats the promise in unmistakable terms4 ,the ,spirit there says of him whose delight is in the law of the ,lord and who in ,his law doth meditate day and night1 that he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water1 that bringeth forth his fruit in his season2 his leaf also shall not wither2 and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper4 ,here the devout meditative student of the blessed book of ,god is likened to an evergreen tree planted beside unfailing supplies of moisture2 his fruit is perennial1 and so is his verdure--and whatsoever he doeth prospers6 ,more than a thousand years pass away1 and1 before the ,new ,testament is sealed up as complete1 once more the ,spirit bears essentially the same blessed witness4 ,whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth 7i4e4 continueth looking--meditating on what he there beholds1 lest he forget the impression received through the mirror of the ,word71 this man shall be blessed in his deed 7,james i4 #be47 ,here then we have a threefold witness to the secret of true prosperity and unmingled blessing3 devout meditation and reflection upon the ,scriptures1 which are at once a book of law1 a river of life1 and a mirror of self--fitted to convey the will of ,god1 the life of ,god1 and the transforming power of ,god4 ,that believer makes a fatal mistake who for any cause neglects the prayerful study of the word of ,god4 ,to read ,god's holy book1 by it search one's self1 and turn it into prayer and so into holy living1 is the one great secret of growth in grace and godliness4 ,the worker for ,god must first be a worker with ,god3 he must have power with ,god and must prevail with ,him in prayer1 if he is to have power with men and prevail with men in preaching or in any form of witnessing and serving4 ,at all costs let us make sure of that highest preparation for our work--the preparation of our own souls2 and for this we must take time to be alone with ,his word and ,his ,spirit1 that we may truly meet ,god1 and understand ,his will and the revelation of ,himself4 ,if we seek the secrets of the life ,george ,muller lived and the work he did1 this is the very key to the whole mystery1 and with that key any believer can unlock the doors to a prosperous growth in grace and power in service4 ,god's word is ,his ,,word--the expression of ,his thought1 the revealing of ,his mind and heart4 ,the supreme end of life is to know ,god and make ,him known2 and how is this possible so long as we neglect the very means ,he has chosen for conveying to us that knowledge6 ,even ,christ1 the ,living ,word1 is to be found enshrined in the written word4 ,our knowledge of ,christ is dependent upon our acquaintance with the ,holy ,scriptures1 which are the reflection of ,his character and glory--the firmament across the expanse of which ,he moves as the ,sun of righteousness4 ,on ,april #bb1 #ahcb1 ,george ,muller first stood in the pulpit of ,gideon ,chapel4 ,the fact and the date are to be carefully marked as the new turning-point in a career of great usefulness4 ,henceforth1 for almost exactly sixty-six years1 ,bristol is to be inseparably associated with his name4 ,could he have foreseen1 on that ,lord's day1 what a work the ,lord would do through him in that city2 how from it as a centre his influence would radiate to the earth's ends1 and how1 even after his departure1 he should continue to bear witness by the works which should follow him1 how his heart would have swelled and burst with holy gratitude and praise1--while in humility he shrank back in awe and wonder from a responsibility and an opportunity so vast and overwhelming6 ,in the afternoon of this first ,sabbath he preached at ,pithay ,chapel a sermon conspicuously owned of ,god4 ,among others converted by it was a young man1 a notorious drunkard4 ,and1 before the sun had set1 ,mr4 ,muller1 who in the evening heard ,mr4 ,craik preach1 was fully persuaded that the ,lord had brought him to ,bristol for a purpose1 and that for a while1 at least1 there he was to labour4 ,both he and his brother ,craik felt1 however1 that ,bristol was not the place to reach a clear decision1 for the judgment was liable to be unduly biassed when subject to the pressure of personal urgency1 and so they determined to return to their respective fields of previous labour1 there to wait quietly upon the ,lord for the promised wisdom from above4 ,they left for ,devonshire on the first of ,may2 but already a brother had been led to assume the responsibility for the rent of ,bethesda ,chapel as a place for their joint labours1 thus securing a second commodious building for public worship4 ,such blessing had rested on these nine days of united testimony in ,bristol that they both gathered that the ,lord had assuredly called them thither4 ,the seal of ,his sanction had been on all they had undertaken1 and the last service at ,gideon ,chapel on ,april #bith had been so thronged that many went away for lack of room4 ,mr4 ,muller found opportunity for the exercise of humility1 for he saw that by many his brother's gifts were much preferred to his own2 yet1 as ,mr4 ,craik would come to ,bristol only with him as a yokefellow1 ,god's grace enabled him to accept the humiliation of being the less popular1 and comforted him with the thought that two are better than one1 and that each might possibly fill up some lack in the other1 and thus both together prove a greater benefit and blessing alike to sinners and to saints--as the result showed4 ,that same grace of ,god helped ,mr4 ,muller to rise higher--nay1 let us rather say1 to sink lower and1 in honor preferring one another1 to rejoice rather than to be envious2 and1 like ,john the ,baptist1 to say within himself3 ,a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above4 ,such a humble spirit has even in this life oftentimes its recompense of reward4 ,marked as was the impress of ,mr4 ,craik upon ,bristol1 ,mr4 ,muller's influence was even deeper and wider4 ,as ,henry ,craik died in #ahff1 his own work reached through a much longer period2 and as he was permitted to make such extensive mission tours throughout the world1 his witness was far more outreaching4 ,the lowly-minded man who bowed down to take the lower place1 consenting to be the more obscure1 was by ,god exalted to the higher seat and greater throne of influence4 ,within a few weeks the ,lord's will1 as to their new sphere1 became so plain to both these brethren that on ,may #bc;d ,mr4 ,muller left ,teignmouth for ,bristol1 to be followed next day by ,mr4 ,craik4 ,at the believers' meeting at ,gideon ,chapel they stated their terms1 which were acceded to3 that they were to be regarded as accepting no fixed relationship to the congregation1 preaching in such manner and for such a season as should seem to them according to the ,lord's will2 that they should not be under bondage to any rules among them2 that pew-rents should be done away with2 and that they should1 as in ,devonshire1 look to the ,lord to supply all temporal wants through the voluntary offerings of those to whom they ministered4 ,within a month ,bethesda ,chapel had been so engaged for a year as to risk no debt1 and on ,july #fth services began there as at ,gideon4 ,from the very first1 the ,spirit set ,his seal on the joint work of these two brethren4 ,ten days after the opening service at ,bethesda1 an evening being set for inquirers1 the throng of those seeking counsel was so great that more than four hours were consumed in ministering to individual souls1 and so from time to time similar meetings were held with like encouragement4 ,august #ac1 #ahcb1 was a memorable day4 ,on that evening at ,bethesda ,chapel ,mr4 ,muller1 ,mr4 ,craik1 one other brother1 and four sisters--only seven in all--sat down together1 uniting in church fellowship without any rules1--desiring to act only as the ,lord should be pleased to give light through ,his word4 ,this is a very short and simple entry in ,mr4 ,mailer's journal1 but it has most solemn significance4 ,it records what was to him separation to the hallowed work of building up a simple apostolic church1 with no manual of guidance but the ,new ,testament2 and in fact it introduces us to the ,,third ,,period of his life1 when he entered fully upon the work to which ,god had set him apart4 ,the further steps now followed in rapid succession4 ,god having prepared the workman and gathered the material1 the structure went on quietly and rapidly until the life-work was complete4 ,cholera was at this time raging in ,bristol4 ,this terrible 'scourge of ,god' first appeared about the middle of ,july and continued for three months1 prayer-meetings being held often1 and for a time daily1 to plead for the removal of this visitation4 ,death stalked abroad1 the knell of funeral-bells almost constantly sounding1 and much solemnity hanging like a dark pall over the community4 ,of course many visits to the sick1 dying1 and afflicted became necessary1 but it is remarkable that1 among all the children of ,god among whom ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik laboured1 but one died of this disease4 ,in the midst of all this gloom and sorrow of a fatal epidemic1 a little daughter was born to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller ,september #ag1 #ahcb4 ,about her name1 ,lydia1 sweet fragrance lingers1 for she became one of ,god's purest saints and the beloved wife of ,james ,wright4 ,how little do we forecast at the time the future of a new-born babe who1 like ,samuel1 may in ,god's decree be established to be a prophet of the ,lord1 or be set apart to some peculiar sphere of service1 as in the case of another ,lydia1 whose heart the ,lord opened and whom ,he called to be the nucleus of the first ,christian church in ,europe4 ,mr4 ,mullers unfeigned humility1 and the docility that always accompanies that unconscious grace1 found new exercise when the meetings with inquirers revealed the fact that his colleague's preaching was much more used of ,god than his own1 in conviction and conversion4 ,this discovery led to much self-searching1 and he concluded that three reasons lay back of this fact3 first1 ,mr4 ,craik was more spiritually minded than himself2 second1 he was more earnest in prayer for converting power2 and third1 he oftener spoke directly to the unsaved1 in his public ministrations4 ,such disclosures of his own comparative lack did not exhaust themselves in vain self-reproaches1 but led at once to more importunate prayer1 more diligent preparation for addressing the unconverted1 and more frequent appeals to this class4 ,from this time on1 ,mr4 ,muller's preaching had the seal of ,god upon it equally with his brother's4 ,what a wholesome lesson to learn1 that for every defect in our service there is a cause1 and that the one all-sufficient remedy is the throne of grace1 where in every time of need we may boldly come to find grace and help6 ,it has been already noted that ,mr4 ,muller did not satisfy himself with more prayer1 but gave new diligence and study to the preparation of discourses adapted to awaken careless souls4 ,in the supernatural as well as the natural sphere1 there is a law of cause and effect4 ,even the ,spirit of ,god works not without order and method2 ,he has ,his chosen channels through which ,he pours blessing4 ,there is no accident in the spiritual world4 ,the ,spirit bloweth where ,he listeth1 but even the wind has its circuits4 ,there is a kind of preaching1 fitted to bring conviction and conversion1 and there is another kind which is not so fitted4 ,even in the faithful use of truth there is room for discrimination and selection4 ,in the armory of the word of ,god are many weapons1 and all have their various uses and adaptations4 ,blessed is the workman or warrior who seeks to know what particular implement or instrument ,god appoints for each particular work or conflict4 ,we are to study to keep in such communion with ,his word and ,spirit as that we shall be true workmen that need not to be ashamed1 rightly dividing the word of truth4 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #ae47 ,this expression1 found in ,paul's second letter to ,timothy1 is a very peculiar one 7,transcriber's ,note3 ,greek source text for the ,english phrase quoted in the paragraph immediately above appears here74 ,it seems to be nearly equivalent to the ,latin phrase recte viam secare--to cut a straight road--and to hint that the true workman of ,god is like the civil engineer to whom it is given to construct a direct road to a certain point4 ,the hearer's heart and conscience is the objective point1 and the aim of the preacher should be1 so to use ,god's truth as to reach most directly and effectively the needs of the hearer4 ,he is to avoid all circuitous routes1 all evasions1 all deceptive apologies and by-ways of argument1 and seek by ,god's help to find the shortest1 straightest1 quickest road to the convictions and resolutions of those to whom he speaks4 ,and if the road-builder1 before he takes any other step1 first carefully surveys his territory and lays out his route1 how much more should the preacher first study the needs of his hearers and the best ways of successfully dealing with them1 and then with even more carefulness and prayerfulness study the adaptation of the word of ,god and the gospel message to meet those wants4 ,early in the year #ahcc1 letters from missionaries in ,baghdad urged ,messrs4 ,muller and ,craik to join them in labours in that distant field1 accompanying the invitation with drafts for two hundred pounds for costs of travel4 ,two weeks of prayerful inquiry as to the mind of the ,lord1 however1 led them to a clear decision not to go--a choice never regretted1 and which is here recorded only as part of a complete biography1 and as illustrating the manner in which each new call for service was weighed and decided4 ,we now reach another stage of ,mr4 ,muller's entrance upon his complete life-work4 ,in ,february1 #ahcb1 he had begun to read the biography of ,a4 ,h4 ,francke1 the founder of the ,orphan ,houses of ,halle4 ,as that life and work were undoubtedly used of ,god to make him a like instrument in a kindred service1 and to mould even the methods of his philanthropy1 a brief sketch of ,francke's career may be helpful4 ,august ,h4 ,francke was ,muller's fellow countryman4 ,about #afif1 at ,halle in ,prussia1 he had commenced the largest enterprise for poor children then existing in the world4 ,he trusted in ,god1 and ,he whom he trusted did not fail him1 but helped him throughout abundantly4 ,the institutions1 which resembled rather a large street than a building1 were erected1 and in them about two thousand orphan children were housed1 fed1 clad1 and taught4 ,for about thirty years all went on under ,francke's own eyes1 until #agbg1 when it pleased the ,master to call the servant up higher2 and after his departure his like-minded son-in-law became the director4 ,two hundred years have passed1 and these ,orphan ,houses are still in existence1 serving their noble purpose4 ,it is needful only to look at these facts and compare with ,francke's work in ,halle ,george ,muller's monuments to a prayer-hearing ,god on ,ashley ,down1 to see that in the main the latter work so far resembles the former as to be in not a few respects its counterpart4 ,mr4 ,muller began his orphan work a little more than one hundred years after ,francke's death2 ultimately housed1 fed1 clothed1 and taught over two thousand orphans year by year2 personally supervised the work for over sixty years--twice as long a period as that of ,francke's personal management--and at his decease likewise left his like minded son-in-law to be his successor as the sole director of the work4 ,it need not be added that1 beginning his enterprise like ,francke in dependence on ,god alone1 the founder of the ,bristol ,orphan ,houses trusted from first to last only in ,him4 ,it is very noticeable how1 when ,god is preparing a workman for a certain definite service1 ,he often leads him out of the beaten track into a path peculiarly ,his own by means of some striking biography1 or by contact with some other living servant who is doing some such work1 and exhibiting the spirit which must guide if there is to be a true success4 ,meditation on ,franeke's life and work naturally led this man who was hungering for a wider usefulness to think more of the poor homeless waifs about him1 and to ask whether he also could not plan under ,god some way to provide for them2 and as he was musing the fire burned4 ,as early as ,june #ab1 #ahcc1 when not yet twenty-eight years old1 the inward flame began to find vent in a scheme which proved the first forward step toward his orphan work4 ,it occurred to him to gather out of the streets1 at about eight o'clock each morning1 the poor children1 give them a bit of bread for breakfast1 and then1 for about an hour and a half1 teach them to read or read to them the ,holy ,scriptures2 and later on to do a like service to the adult and aged poor4 ,he began at once to feed from thirty to forty such persons1 confident that1 as the number increased1 the ,lord's provision would increase also4 ,unburdening his heart to ,mr4 ,craik1 he was guided to a place which could hold one hundred and fifty children and which could be rented for ten shillings yearly2 as also to an aged brother who would gladly undertake the teaching4 ,unexpected obstacles1 however1 prevented the carrying out of this plan4 ,the work already pressing upon ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik1 the rapid increase of applicants for food1 and the annoyance to neighbours of having crowds of idlers congregating in the streets and lying about in troops--these were some of the reasons why this method was abandoned4 ,but the central thought and aim were never lost sight of3 ,god had planted a seed in the soil of ,mr4 ,mullers heart1 presently to spring up in the orphan work1 and in the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution with its many branches and far-reaching fruits4 ,from time to time a backward glance over the ,lord's dealings encouraged his heart1 as he looked forward to unknown paths and untried scenes4 ,he records at this time--the close of the year #ahcc--that during the four years since he first began to trust in the ,lord alone for temporal supplies he had suffered no want4 ,he had received during the first year one hundred and thirty pounds1 during the second one hundred and fifty-one1 during the third one hundred and ninety-five1 and during the last two hundred and sixty-seven--all in free-will offerings and without ever asking any human being for a penny4 ,he had looked alone to the ,lord1 yet he had not only received a supply1 but an increasing supply1 year by year4 ,yet he also noticed that at each year's close he had very little1 if anything1 left1 and that much had come through strange channels1 from distances very remote1 and from parties whom he had never seen4 ,he observed also that in every case1 according as the need was greater or less1 the supply corresponded4 ,he carefully records for the benefit of others that1 when the calls for help were many1 the ,great ,provider showed ,himself able and willing to send help accordingly499 ,the ways of divine dealing which he had thus found true of the early years of his life of trust were marked and magnified in all his after-experience1 and the lessons learned in these first four years prepared him for others taught in the same school of ,god and under the same ,teacher4 99 ,vol4 ,i4 #aje4 ,thus ,god had brought ,his servant by a way which he knew not to the very place and sphere of his life's widest and most enduring work4 ,he had moulded and shaped ,his chosen vessel1 and we are now to see to what purposes of world-wide usefulness that earthen vessel was to be put1 and how conspicuously the excellency of the power was to be of ,god and not of man4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,a ,,tree ,,of ,,god',s ,,own ,,planting ,,the time was now fully come when the divine ,husbandman was to glorify ,himself by a product of ,his own husbandry in the soil of ,bristol4 ,on ,february #bj1 #ahcd1 ,george ,muller was led of ,god to sow the seed of what ultimately developed into a great means of good1 known as ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 for ,home and ,abroad4 ,as in all other steps of his life1 this was the result of much prayer1 meditation on the ,word1 searching of his own heart1 and patient waiting to know the mind of ,god4 ,a brief statement of the reasons for founding such an institution1 and the principles on which it was based1 will be helpful at this point4 ,motives of conscience controlled ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik in starting a new work rather than in uniting with existing societies already established for missionary purposes1 ,bible and tract distribution1 and for the promotion of ,christian schools4 ,as they had sought to conform personal life and church conduct wholly to the scriptural pattern1 they felt that all work for ,god should be carefully carried on in exact accordance with ,his known will1 in order to have ,his fullest blessing4 ,many features of the existing societies seemed to them extra-scriptural1 if not decidedly anti-scriptural1 and these they felt constrained to avoid4 ,for example1 they felt that the end proposed by such organizations1 namely1 the conversion of the world in this dispensation1 was not justified by the ,word1 which everywhere represents this as the age of the outgathering of the church from the world1 and not the ingathering of the world into the church4 ,to set such an end before themselves as the world's conversion would therefore not only be unwarranted by ,scripture1 but delusive and disappointing1 disheartening ,god's servants by the failure to realize the result1 and dishonoring to ,god ,himself by making ,him to appear unfaithful4 ,again1 these existing societies seemed to ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik to sustain a wrong relation to the world--mixed up with it1 instead of separate from it4 ,any one by paying a certain fixed sum of money might become a member or even a director1 having a voice or vote in the conduct of affairs and becoming eligible to office4 ,unscriptural means were commonly used to raise money1 such as appealing for aid to unconverted persons1 asking for donations simply for money's sake and without regard to the character of the donors or the manner in which the money was obtained4 ,the custom of seeking patronage from men of the world and asking such to preside at public meetings1 and the habit of contracting debts1--these and some other methods of management seemed so unscriptural and unspiritual that the founders of this new institution could not with a good conscience give them sanction4 ,hence they hoped that by basing their work upon thoroughly biblical principles they might secure many blessed results4 ,first of all1 they confidently believed that the work of the ,lord could be best and most successfully carried on within the landmarks and limits set up in ,his word2 that the fact of thus carrying it on would give boldness in prayer and confidence in labour4 ,but they also desired the work itself to be a witness to the living ,god1 and a testimony to believers1 by calling attention to the objectionable methods already in use and encouraging all ,god's true servants in adhering to the principles and practices which ,he has sanctioned4 ,on ,march #eth at a public meeting a formal announcement of the intention to found such an institution was accompanied by a full statement of its purposes and principles199 in substance as follows3 99 ,appendix ,d4 ,journal ,i4 #ajg-aac4 #a4 ,every believer's duty and privilege is to help on the cause and work of ,christ4 #b4 ,the patronage of the world is not to be sought after1 depended upon1 or countenanced4 #c4 ,pecuniary aid1 or help in managing or carrying on its affairs1 is not to be asked for or sought from those who are not believers4 #d4 ,debts are not to be contracted or allowed for any cause in the work of the ,lord4 #e4 ,the standard of success is not to be a numerical or financial standard4 #f4 ,all compromise of the truth or any measures that impair testimony to ,god are to be avoided4 ,thus the word of ,god was accepted as counsellor1 and all dependence was on ,god's blessing in answer to prayer4 ,the objects of the institution were likewise announced as follows3 #a4 ,to establish or aid day-schools1 ,sunday-schools1 and adult-schools1 taught and conducted only by believers and on thoroughly scriptural principles4 #b4 ,to circulate the ,holy ,scriptures1 wholly or in portions1 over the widest possible territory4 #c4 ,to aid missionary efforts and assist labourers1 in the ,lord's vineyard anywhere1 who are working upon a biblical basis and looking only to the ,lord for support4 ,to project such a work1 on such a scale1 and at such a time1 was doubly an act of faith2 for not only was the work already in hand enough to tax all available time and strength1 but at this very time this record appears in ,mr4 ,muller's journal3 ,we have only one shilling left4 ,surely no advance step would have been taken1 had not the eyes been turned1 not on the empty purse1 but on the full and exhaustless treasury of a rich and bountiful ,lord6 ,it was plainly ,god's purpose that1 out of such abundance of poverty1 the riches of ,his liberality should be manifested4 ,it pleased ,him1 from whom and by whom are all things1 that the work should be begun when ,his servants were poorest and weakest1 that its growth to such giant proportions might the more prove it to be a plant of ,his own right hand's planting1 and that ,his word might be fulfilled in its whole history3 ,i the ,lord do keep it3 ,i will water it every moment3 ,lest any hurt it1 ,i will keep it night and day3 7,isa4 xxvii4 #c47 ,whatever may be thought as to the need of such a new organization1 or as to such scruples as moved its founders to insist even in minor matters upon the closest adherence to scripture teaching1 this at least is plain1 that for more than half a century it has stood upon its original foundation1 and its increase and usefulness have surpassed the most enthusiastic dreams of its founders2 nor have the principles first avowed ever been abandoned4 ,with the ,living ,god as its sole patron1 and prayer as its only appeal1 it has attained vast proportions1 and its world-wide work has been signally owned and blessed4 ,on ,march #aith ,mrs4 ,muller gave birth to a son1 to the great joy of his parents2 and1 after much prayer1 they gave him the name ,elijah--,my ,god is ,jah--the name itself being one of ,george ,mullers life-mottoes4 ,up to this time the families of ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik had dwelt under one roof1 but henceforth it was thought wise that they should have separate lodgings4 ,when1 at the close of #ahcd1 the usual backward glance was cast over the ,lord's leadings and dealings1 ,mr4 ,muller gratefully recognized the divine goodness which had thus helped him to start upon its career the work with its several departments4 ,looking to the ,lord alone for light and help1 he had laid the corner-stone of this little institution2 and in ,october1 after only seven months' existence1 it had already begun to be established4 ,in the ,sunday-school there were one hundred and twenty children2 in the adult classes1 forty2 in the four day-schools1 two hundred and nine boys and girls2 four hundred and eighty-two ,bibles and five hundred and twenty ,testaments had been put into circulation1 and fifty-seven pounds had been spent in aid of missionary operations4 ,during these seven months the ,lord had sent1 in answer to prayer1 over one hundred and sixty-seven pounds in money1 and much blessing upon the work itself4 ,the brothers and sisters who were in charge had likewise been given by the same prayer-hearing ,god1 in direct response to the cry of need and the supplication of faith4 ,meanwhile another object was coming into greater prominence before the mind and heart of ,mr4 ,muller3 it was the thought of making some permanent provision for fatherless and motherless children4 ,an orphan boy who had been in the school had been taken to the poorhouse1 no longer able to attend on account of extreme poverty2 and this little incident set ,mr4 ,muller thinking and praying about orphans4 ,could not something be done to meet the temporal and spiritual wants of this class of very poor children8 ,unconsciously to himself1 ,god had set a seed in his soul1 and was watching and watering it4 ,the idea of a definite orphan work had taken root within him1 and1 like any other living germ1 it was springing up and growing1 he knew not how4 ,as yet it was only in the blade1 but in time there would come the ear and the full-grown corn in the ear1 the new seed of a larger harvest4 ,meanwhile the church was growing4 ,in these two and a half years over two hundred had been added1 making the total membership two hundred and fifty-seven2 but the enlargement of the work generally neither caused the church life to be neglected nor any one department of duty to suffer declension--a very noticeable fact in this history4 ,the point to which we have now come is one of double interest and importance1 as at once a point of arrival and of departure4 ,the work of ,god's chosen servant may be considered as fairly if not fully inaugurated in all its main forms of service4 ,he himself is in his thirtieth year1 the age when his divine ,master began to be fully manifest to the world and to go about doing good4 ,through the preparatory steps and stages leading up to his complete mission and ministry to the church and the world1 ,christ's humble disciple has likewise been brought1 and his fuller career of usefulness now begins1 with the various agencies in operation whereby for more than threescore years he was to show both proof and example of what ,god can do through one man who is willing to be simply the instrument for ,him to work with4 ,nothing is more marked in ,george ,muller1 to the very day of his death1 than this1 that he so looked to ,god and leaned on ,god that he felt himself to be nothing1 and ,god everything4 ,he sought to be always and in all things surrendered as a passive tool to the will and hand of the ,master ,workman4 ,this point of arrival and of departure is also a point of prospect4 ,here1 halting and looking backward1 we may take in at a glance the various successive steps and stages of preparation whereby the ,lord had made ,his servant ready for the sphere of service to which ,he called1 and for which ,he fitted him4 ,one has only1 from this height1 to look over the ten years that were past1 to see beyond dispute or doubt the divine design that lay back of ,george ,mullers life1 and to feel an awe of the ,god who thus chooses and shapes1 and then uses1 ,his vessels of service4 ,it will be well1 even if it involves some repetition1 to pass in review the more important steps in the process by which the divine ,potter had shaped ,his vessel for ,his purpose1 educating and preparing ,george ,muller for ,his work4 #a4 ,first of all1 his conversion4 ,in the most unforeseen manner and at the most unexpected time ,god led him to turn from the error of his way1 and brought him to a saving knowledge of ,jesus ,christ4 #b4 ,next1 his missionary spirit4 ,that consuming flame was kindled within him which1 when it is fanned by the ,spirit and fed by the fuel of facts1 inclines to unselfish service and makes one willing to go wherever1 and to do whatever1 the ,lord will4 #c4 ,next1 his renunciation of self4 ,in more than one instance he was enabled to give up for ,christ's sake an earthly attachment that was idolatrous1 because it was a hindrance to his full obedience and single-eyed loyalty to his heavenly ,master4 #d4 ,then his taking counsel of ,god4 ,early in his ,christian life he formed the habit1 in things great and small1 of ascertaining the will of the ,lord before taking action1 asking guidance in every matter1 through the ,word and the ,spirit4 #e4 ,his humble and childlike temper4 ,the ,father drew ,his child to ,himself1 imparting to him the simple mind that asks believingly and trusts confidently1 and the filial spirit that submits to fatherly counsel and guidance4 #f4 ,his method of preaching4 ,under this same divine tuition he early learned how to preach the ,word1 in simple dependence on the ,spirit of ,god1 studying the ,scriptures in the original and expounding them without wisdom of words4 #g4 ,his cutting loose from man4 ,step by step1 all dependence on man or appeals to man for pecuniary support were abandoned1 together with all borrowing1 running into debt1 stated salary1 etc4 ,his eyes were turned to ,god alone as the ,provider4 #h4 ,his satisfaction in the ,word4 ,as knowledge of the ,scriptures grew1 love for the divine oracles increased1 until all other books1 even of a religious sort1 lost their charms in comparison with ,god's own text-book1 as explained and illumined by the divine ,interpreter4 #i4 ,his thorough ,bible study4 ,few young men have ever been led to such a systematic search into the treasures of ,god's truth4 ,he read the ,book of ,god through and through1 fixing its teachings on his mind by meditation and translating them into practice4 #aj4 ,his freedom from human control4 ,he felt the need of independence of man in order to complete dependence on ,god1 and boldly broke all fetters that hindered his liberty in preaching1 in teaching1 or in following the heavenly ,guide and serving the heavenly ,master4 #aa4 ,his use of opportunity4 ,he felt the value of souls1 and he formed habits of approaching others as to matters of salvation1 even in public conveyances4 ,by a word of witness1 a tract1 a humble example1 he sought constantly to lead some one to ,christ4 #ab4 ,his release from civil obligations4 ,this was purely providential4 ,in a strange way ,god set him free from all liability to military service1 and left him free to pursue his heavenly calling as ,his soldier1 without entanglement in the affairs of this life4 #ac4 ,his companions in service4 ,two most efficient coworkers were divinely provided3 first his brother ,craik so like-minded with himself1 and secondly1 his wife1 so peculiarly ,god's gift1 both of them proving great aids in working and in bearing burdens of responsibility4 #ad4 ,his view of the ,lord's coming4 ,he thanked ,god for unveiling to him that great truth1 considered by him as second to no other in its influence upon his piety and usefulness2 and in the light of it he saw clearly the purpose of this gospel age1 to be not to convert the world but to call out from it a believing church as ,christ's bride4 #ae4 ,his waiting on ,god for a message4 ,for every new occasion he asked of ,him a word in season2 then a mode of treatment1 and unction in delivery2 and1 in godly simplicity and sincerity1 with the demonstration of the ,spirit1 he aimed to reach the hearers4 #af4 ,his submission to the authority of the ,word4 ,in the light of the holy oracles he reviewed all customs1 however ancient1 and all traditions of men1 however popular1 submitted all opinions and practices to the test of ,scripture1 and then1 regardless of consequences1 walked according to any new light ,god gave him4 #ag4 ,his pattern of church life4 ,from his first entrance upon pastoral work1 he sought to lead others only by himself following the ,shepherd and ,bishop of ,souls4 ,he urged the assembly of believers to conform in all things to ,new ,testament models so far as they could be clearly found in the ,word1 and thus reform all existing abuses4 #ah4 ,his stress upon voluntary offerings4 ,while he courageously gave up all fixed salary for himself1 he taught that all the work of ,god should be maintained by the freewill gifts of believers1 and that pew-rents promote invidious distinctions among saints4 #ai4 ,his surrender of all earthly possessions4 ,both himself and his wife literally sold all they had and gave alms1 henceforth to live by the day1 hoarding no money even against a time of future need1 sickness1 old age1 or any other possible crisis of want4 #bj4 ,his habit of secret prayer4 ,he learned so to prize closet communion with ,god that he came to regard it as his highest duty and privilege4 ,to him nothing could compensate for the lack or loss of that fellowship with ,god and meditation on ,his word which are the support of all spiritual life4 #ba4 ,his jealousy of his testimony4 ,in taking oversight of a congregation he took care to guard himself from all possible interference with fulness and freedom of utterance and of service4 ,he could not brook any restraints upon his speech or action that might compromise his allegiance to the ,lord or his fidelity to man4 #bb4 ,his organizing of work4 ,god led him to project a plan embracing several departments of holy activity1 such as the spreading of the knowledge of the word of ,god everywhere1 and the encouraging of world-wide evangelization and the ,christian education of the young2 and to guard the new ,institution from all dependence on worldly patronage1 methods1 or appeals4 #bc4 ,his sympathy with orphans4 ,his loving heart had been drawn out toward poverty and misery everywhere1 but especially in the case of destitute children bereft of both parents2 and familiarity with ,francke's work at ,halle suggested similar work at ,bristol4 #bd4 ,beside all these steps of preparation1 he had been guided by the ,lord from his birthplace in ,prussia to ,london1 ,teignmouth1 and ,bristol in ,britain1 and thus the chosen vessel1 shaped for its great use1 had by the same divine ,hand been borne to the very place where it was to be of such signal service in testimony to the ,living ,god4 ,surely no candid observer can survey this course of divine discipline and preparation1 and remember how brief was the period of time it covers1 being less than ten years1 and mark the many distinct steps by which this education for a life of service was made singularly complete1 without a feeling of wonder and awe4 ,every prominent feature1 afterward to appear conspicuous in the career of this servant of ,god1 was anticipated in the training whereby he was fitted for his work and introduced to it4 ,we have had a vivid vision of the divine ,potter sitting at ,his wheel1 taking the clay in ,his hands1 softening its hardness1 subduing it to ,his own will2 then gradually and skilfully shaping from it the earthen vessel2 then baking it in ,his oven of discipline till it attained the requisite solidity and firmness1 then filling it with the rich treasures of ,his word and ,spirit1 and finally setting it down where ,he would have it serve ,his special uses in conveying to others the excellency of ,his power6 ,to lose sight of this sovereign shaping ,hand is to miss one of the main lessons ,god means to teach us by ,george ,muller's whole career4 ,he himself saw and felt that he was only an earthen vessel2 that ,god had both chosen and filled him for the work he was to do2 and1 while this conviction made him happy in his work1 it made him humble1 and the older he grew the humbler he became4 ,he felt more and more his own utter insufficiency4 ,it grieved him that human eyes should ever turn away from the ,master to the servant1 and he perpetually sought to avert their gaze from himself to ,god alone4 ,for of ,him1 and through ,him1 and to ,him are all things--to ,whom be glory for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,there are several important episodes in ,mr4 ,muller's history which may be lightly passed by1 because not so characteristic of him as that they might not have been common to many others1 and therefore not constituting features so distinguishing this life from others as to make it a special lesson to believers4 ,for example1 early in #ahce he made a visit to ,germany upon a particular errand4 ,he went to aid ,mr4 ,groves1 who had come from the ,east ,indies to get missionary recruits1 and who asked help of him1 as of one knowing the language of the country1 in setting the claims of ,india before ,german brethren1 and pleading for its unsaved millions4 ,when ,mr4 ,muller went to the alien office in ,london to get a passport1 he found that1 through ignorance1 he had broken the law which required every alien semi-annually to renew his certificate of residence1 under penalty of fifty pounds fine or imprisonment4 ,he confessed to the officer his non-compliance1 excusing himself only on the ground of ignorance1 and trusted all consequences with ,god1 who graciously inclined the officer to pass over his non-compliance with the law4 ,another hindrance which still interfered with obtaining his passport1 was also removed in answer to prayer2 so that at the outset he was much impressed with the ,lord's sanction of his undertaking4 ,his sojourn abroad continued for nearly two months1 during which time he was at ,paris1 ,strasburg1 ,basle1 ,tubingen1 ,wurtemberg1 ,sehaffhausen1 ,stuttgart1 ,halle1 ,sandersleben1 ,aschersleben1 ,heimersleben1 ,halberstadt1 and ,hamburg4 ,at ,halle1 calling on ,dr4 ,tholuck after seven years of separation1 he was warmly welcomed and constrained to lodge at his house4 ,from ,dr4 ,tholuck he heard many delightful incidents as to former fellow students who had been turned to the ,lord from impious paths1 or had been strengthened in their ,christian faith and devotion4 ,he also visited ,francke's orphan houses1 spending an evening in the very room where ,god's work of grace had begun in his heart1 and meeting again several of the same little company of believers that in those days had prayed together4 ,he likewise gave everywhere faithful witness to the ,lord4 ,while at his father's house the way was opened for him to bear testimony indirectly to his father and brother4 ,he had found that a direct approach to his father upon the subject of his soul's salvation only aroused his anger1 and he therefore judged that it was wiser to refrain from a course which would only repel one whom he desired to win4 ,an unconverted friend of his father was visiting him at this time1 before whom he put the truth very frankly and fully1 in the presence of both his father and brother1 and thus quite as effectively gave witness to them also4 ,but he was especially moved to pray that he might by his whole life bear witness at his home1 manifesting his love for his kindred and his own joy in ,god1 his satisfaction in ,christ1 and his utter indifference to all former fascinations of a worldly and sinful life1 through the supreme attraction he found in ,him2 for this1 he felt sure1 would have far more influence than any mere words3 our walk counts for more than our talk1 always4 ,the effect was most happy4 ,god so helped the son to live before the father that1 just before his leaving for ,england1 he said to him3 ,my son1 may ,god help me to follow your example1 and to act according to what you have said to me6 ,on ,june #bb1 #ahce1 ,mr4 ,muller's father-in-law1 ,mr4 ,groves1 died2 and both of his own children were very ill1 and four days later little ,elijah was taken4 ,both parents had been singularly prepared for these bereavements1 and were divinely upheld4 ,they had felt no liberty in prayer for the child's recovery1 dear as he was2 and grandfather and grandson were laid in one grave4 ,henceforth ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller were to have no son1 and ,lydia was to remain their one and only child4 ,about the middle of the following month1 ,mr4 ,muller was quite disabled from work by weakness of the chest1 which made necessary rest and change4 ,the ,lord tenderly provided for his need through those whose hearts ,he touched1 leading them to offer him and his wife hospitalities in the ,isle of ,wight1 while at the same time money was sent him which was designated for 'a change of air4' ,on his thirtieth birthday1 in connection with specially refreshing communion with ,god1 and for the first time since his illness1 there was given him a spirit of believing prayer for his own recovery2 and his strength so rapidly grew that by the middle of ,october he was back in ,bristol4 ,it was just before this1 on the ninth of the same month1 that the reading of ,john ,newton's ,life stirred him up to bear a similar witness to the ,lord's dealings with himself4 ,truly there are no little things in our life1 since what seems to be trivial may be the means of bringing about results of great consequence4 ,this is the second time that a chance reading of a book had proved a turning-point with ,george ,muller4 ,franke's life stirred his heart to begin an orphan work1 and ,newton's life suggested the narrative of the ,lord's dealings4 ,to what is called an accident are owing1 under ,god1 those pages of his life-journal which read like new chapters in the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and will yet be so widely read1 and so largely used of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,god',s ,,own ,,plant ,,the last great step of full entrance upon ,mr4 ,muller's life-service was the founding of the orphan work1 a step so important and so prominent that even the lesser particulars leading to it have a strange significance and fascination4 ,in the year #ahce1 on ,november #bjth1 in taking tea at the house of a ,christian sister1 he again saw a copy of ,francke's life4 ,for no little time he had thought of like labours1 though on no such scale1 nor in mere imitation of ,francke1 but under a sense of similar divine leading4 ,this impression had grown into a conviction1 and the conviction had blossomed into a resolution which now rapidly ripened into corresponding action4 ,he was emboldened to take this forward step in sole reliance on ,god1 by the fact that at that very time1 in answer to prayer1 ten pounds more had been sent him than he had asked for other existing work1 as though ,god gave him a token of both willingness and readiness to supply all needs4 ,nothing is more worthy of imitation1 perhaps1 than the uniformly deliberate1 self-searching1 and prayerful way in which he set about any work which he felt led to undertake4 ,it was preeminently so in attempting this new form of service1 the future growth of which was not then even in his thought4 ,in daily prayer he sought as in his ,master's presence to sift from the pure grain of a godly purpose to glorify ,him1 all the chaff of selfish and carnal motives1 to get rid of every taint of worldly self-seeking or lust of applause1 and to bring every thought into captivity to the ,lord4 ,he constantly probed his own heart to discover the secret and subtle impulses which are unworthy of a true servant of ,god2 and1 believing that a spiritually minded brother often helps one to an insight into his own heart1 he spoke often to his brother ,craik about his plans1 praying ,god to use him as a means of exposing any unworthy motive1 or of suggesting any scriptural objections to his project4 ,his honest aim being to please ,god1 he yearned to know his own heart1 and welcomed any light which revealed his real self and prevented a mistake4 ,mr4 ,craik so decidedly encouraged him1 and further prayer so confirmed previous impressions of ,god's guidance1 that on ,december #b1 #ahce1 the first formal step was taken in ordering printed bills announcing a public meeting for the week following1 when the proposal to open an orphan house was to be laid before brethren1 and further light to be sought unitedly as to the mind of the ,lord4 ,three days later1 in reading the ,psalms1 he was struck with these nine words3 ,,open ,,thy ,,mouth ,,wide1 ,,and ,i ,,will ,,fill ,,it4 7,psalm lxxxi4 #aj47 ,from that moment this text formed one of his great life-mottoes1 and this promise became a power in moulding all his work4 ,hitherto he had not prayed for the supply of money or of helpers1 but he was now led to apply this scripture confidently to this new plan1 and at once boldly to ask for premises1 and for one thousand pounds in money1 and for suitable helpers to take charge of the children4 ,two days after1 he received1 in furtherance of his work1 the first gift of money--one shilling--and within two days more the first donation in furniture--a large wardrobe4 ,the day came for the memorable public meeting--,december #ith4 ,during the interval ,satan had been busy hurling at ,mr4 ,muller his fiery darts1 and he was very low in spirit4 ,he was taking a step not to be retraced without both much humiliation to himself and reproach to his ,master3 and what if it were a misstep and he were moving without real guidance from above6 ,but as soon as he began to speak1 help was given him4 ,he was borne up on the ,everlasting ,arms1 and had the assurance that the work was of the ,lord4 ,he cautiously avoided all appeals to the transient feelings of his hearers1 and took no collection1 desiring all these first steps to be calmly taken1 and every matter carefully and prayerfully weighed before a decision4 ,excitement of emotion or kindlings of enthusiasm might obscure the vision and hinder clear apprehension of the mind of ,god4 ,after the meeting there was a voluntary gift of ten shillings1 and one sister offered herself for the work4 ,the next morning a statement concerning the new orphan work was put in print1 and on ,january #af1 #ahcf1 a supplementary statement appeared499 99 ,appendix ,e4 ,narrative #a3adc-adf1 #adh-aeb1 #aed1 #aee4 ,at every critical point ,mr4 ,muller is entitled to explain his own views and actions2 and the work he was now undertaking is so vitally linked with his whole after-life that it should here have full mention4 ,as to his proposed orphan house he gives three chief reasons for its establishment3 #a4 ,that ,god may be glorified in so furnishing the means as to show that it is not a vain thing to trust in ,him4 #b4 ,that the spiritual welfare of fatherless and motherless children may be promoted4 #c4 ,that their temporal good may be secured4 ,he had frequent reminders in his pastoral labours that the faith of ,god's children greatly needed strengthening2 and he longed to have some visible proof to point to1 that the heavenly ,father is the same faithful ,promiser and ,provider as ever1 and as willing to ,,prove ,himself the ,,living ,,god to all who put their trust in ,him1 and that even in their old age ,he does not forsake those who rely only upon ,him4 ,remembering the great blessing that had come to himself through the work of faith of ,francke1 he judged that he was bound to serve the ,church of ,christ in being able to take ,god at ,his word and rely upon it4 ,if he1 a poor man1 without asking any one but ,god1 could get means to carry on an orphan house1 it would be seen that ,god is ,,faithful ,,still and ,,still ,,hears ,,prayer4 ,while the orphan work was to be a branch of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 only those funds were to be applied thereto which should be expressly given for that purpose2 and it would be carried on only so far and so fast as the ,lord should provide both money and helpers4 ,it was proposed to receive only such children as had been bereft of both parents1 and to take in such from their seventh to their twelfth year1 though later on younger orphans were admitted2 and to bring up the boys for a trade1 and the girls for service1 and to give them all a plain education likely to fit them for their life-work4 ,so soon as the enterprise was fairly launched1 the ,lord's power and will to provide began at once and increasingly to appear2 and1 from this point on1 the journal is one long record of man's faith and supplication and of ,god's faithfulness and interposition4 ,it only remains to note the new steps in advance which mark the growth of the work1 and the new straits which arise and how they are met1 together with such questions and perplexing crises as from time to time demand and receive a new divine solution4 ,a foremost need was that of able and suitable helpers1 which only ,god could supply4 ,in order fully to carry out his plans1 ,mr4 ,muller felt that he must have men and women like-minded1 who would naturally care for the state of the orphans and of the work4 ,if one ,achan could disturb the whole camp of ,israel1 and one ,ananias or ,saphira1 the whole church of ,christ1 one faithless1 prayerless1 self-seeking assistant would prove not a helper but a hinderer both to the work itself and to all fellow-workers4 ,no step was therefore hastily taken4 ,he had patiently waited on ,god hitherto1 and he now waited to receive at ,his hands ,his own chosen servants to join in this service and give to it unity of plan and spirit4 ,before he called1 the ,lord answered4 ,as early as ,december #ajth a brother and sister had willingly offered themselves1 and the spirit that moved them will appear in the language of their letter3 ,we propose ourselves for the service of the intended orphan house1 if you think us qualified for it2 also to give up all the furniture1 etc41 which the ,lord has given us1 for its use2 and to do this without receiving any salary whatever2 believing that1 if it be the will of the ,lord to employ us1 ,he will supply all our need4 ,other similar self-giving followed1 proving that ,god's people are willing in the day of ,his power4 ,he who wrought in ,his servant to will and to work1 sent helpers to share his burdens1 and to this day has met all similar needs out of ,his riches in glory4 ,there has never yet been any lack of competent1 cheerful1 and devoted helpers1 although the work so rapidly expanded and extended4 ,the gifts whereby the work was supported need a separate review that many lessons of interest may find a record4 ,but it should here be noted that1 among the first givers1 was a poor needlewoman who brought the surprising sum of one hundred pounds1 the singular self-denial and whole-hearted giving exhibited making this a peculiarly sacred offering and a token of ,god's favour4 ,there was a felt significance in ,his choice of a poor sickly seamstress as ,his instrument for laying the foundations for this great work4 ,he who worketh all things after the counsel of ,his own will1 passing by the rich1 mighty1 and noble somethings of this world1 chose again the poor1 weak1 base1 despised nothings1 that no flesh should glory in ,his presence4 ,for work among orphans a house was needful1 and for this definite prayer was offered2 and ,april #a1 #ahcf1 was fixed as the date for opening such house for female orphans1 as the most helplessly destitute4 ,the building1 ,no4 #f ,wilson ,street1 where ,mr4 ,muller had himself lived up to ,march #beth1 having been rented for one year1 was formally opened ,april #bast1 the day being set apart for prayer and praise4 ,the public generally were informed that the way was open to receive needy applicants1 and the intimation was further made on ,may #ahth that it was intended shortly to open a second house for infant children--both boys and girls4 ,we now retrace our steps a little to take special notice of a fact in ,mr4 ,muller's experience which1 in point of time1 belongs earlier4 ,though he had brought before the ,lord even the most minute details about his plans for the proposed orphan work and house and helpers1 asking in faith for building and furnishing1 money for rent and other expenses1 etc41 he confesses that he had never once asked the ,lord to send the orphans6 ,this seems an unaccountable omission2 but the fact is he had assumed that there would be applications in abundance4 ,his surprise and chagrin cannot easily be imagined1 when the appointed time came for receiving applications1 ,february #crd1 and not one application was made6 ,everything was ready except the orphans4 ,this led to the deepest humiliation before ,god4 ,all the evening of that day he literally lay on his face1 probing his own heart to read his own motives1 and praying ,god to search him and show him ,his mind4 ,he was thus brought so low that from his heart he could say that1 if ,god would thereby be more glorified1 he would rejoice in the fact that his whole scheme should come to nothing4 ,the very next day the first application was made for admission2 on ,april #aath orphans began to be admitted2 and by ,may #ahth there were in the house twenty-six1 and more daily expected4 ,several applications being made for children under seven1 the conclusion was reached that1 while vacancies were left1 the limit of years at first fixed should not be adhered to2 but every new step was taken with care and prayer1 that it should not be in the energy of the flesh1 or in the wisdom of man1 but in the power and wisdom of the ,spirit4 ,how often we forget that solemn warning of the ,holy ,ghost1 that even when our whole work is not imperilled by a false beginning1 but is well laid upon a true foundation1 we may carelessly build into it wood1 hay1 and stubble1 which will be burned up in the fiery ordeal that is to try every man's work of what sort it is6 ,the first house had scarcely been opened for girls when the way for the second was made plain1 suitable premises being obtained at ,no4 #a in the same street1 and a well-fitted matron being given in answer to prayer4 ,on ,november #bhth1 some seven months after the opening of the first1 this second house was opened4 ,some of the older and abler girls from the first house were used for the domestic work of the second1 partly to save hired help1 and partly to accustom them to working for others and thus give a proper dignity to what is sometimes despised as a degrading and menial form of service4 ,by ,april #h1 #ahcg1 there were in each house thirty orphan children4 ,the founder of this orphan work1 who had at the first asked for one thousand pounds of ,god1 tells us that1 in his own mind1 the thing was as good as done1 so that he often gave thanks for this large sum as though already in hand4 7,mark xi4 #bd2 #a ,john v4 #ac1 #ad47 ,this habit of counting a promise as fulfilled had much to do with the triumphs of his faith and the success of his labour4 ,now that the first part of his ,narrative of the ,lord's ,dealings was about to issue from the press1 he felt that it would much honour the ,master whom he served if the entire amount should be actually in hand before the ,narrative should appear1 and without any one having been asked to contribute4 ,he therefore gave himself anew to prayer2 and on ,june #aeth the whole sum was complete1 no appeal having been made but to the ,living ,god1 before whom1 as he records with his usual mathematical precision1 he had daily brought his petition for eighteen months and ten days4 ,in closing this portion of his narrative he hints at a proposed further enlargement of the work in a third house for orphan boys above seven years1 with accommodations for about forty4 ,difficulties interposed1 but as usual disappeared before the power of prayer4 ,meanwhile the whole work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution prospered1 four day-schools having been established1 with over one thousand pupils1 and more than four thousand copies of the word of ,god having been distributed4 ,george ,muller was careful always to consult and then to obey conviction4 ,hence his moral sense1 by healthy exercise1 more and more clearly discerned good and evil4 ,this conscientiousness was seen in the issue of the first edition of his ,narrative4 ,when the first five hundred copies came from the publishers1 he was so weighed down by misgivings that he hesitated to distribute them4 ,notwithstanding the spirit of prayer with which he had begun1 continued1 and ended the writing of it and had made every correction in the proof2 notwithstanding the motive1 consciously cherished throughout1 that ,god's glory might be promoted in this record of ,his faithfulness1 he reopened with himself the whole question whether this published ,narrative might not turn the eyes of men from the great ,master ,workman to ,his human instrument4 ,as he opened the box containing the reports1 he felt strongly tempted to withhold from circulation the pamphlets it held2 but from the moment when he gave out the first copy1 and the step could not be retraced1 his scruples were silenced4 ,he afterward saw his doubts and misgivings to have been a temptation of ,satan1 and never thenceforth questioned that in writing1 printing1 and distributing this and the subsequent parts of the ,narrative he had done the will of ,god4 ,so broad and clear was the divine seal set upon it in the large blessing it brought to many and widely scattered persons that no room was left for doubt4 ,it may be questioned whether any like journal has been as widely read and as remarkably used1 both in converting sinners and in quickening saints4 ,proofs of this will hereafter abundantly appear4 ,it was in the year #ahcg that ,mr4 ,muller1 then in his thirty-second year1 felt with increasingly deep conviction that to his own growth in grace1 godliness1 and power for service two things were quite indispensable3 first1 more retirement for secret communion with ,god1 even at the apparent expense of his public work2 and second1 ampler provision for the spiritual oversight of the flock of ,god1 the total number of communicants now being near to four hundred4 ,the former of these convictions has an emphasis which touches every believer's life at its vital centre4 ,george ,muller was conscious of being too busy to pray as he ought4 ,his outward action was too constant for inward reflection1 and he saw that there was risk of losing peace and power1 and that activity even in the most sacred sphere must not be so absorbing as to prevent holy meditation on the ,word and fervent supplication4 ,the ,lord said first to ,elijah1 ,go1 ,,hide ,,thyself2 then1 ,go1 ,,show ,,thyself4 ,he who does not first hide himself in the secret place to be alone with ,god1 is unfit to show himself in the public place to move among men4 ,mr4 ,muller afterward used to say to brethren who had too much to do to spend proper time with ,god1 that four hours of work for which one hour of prayer prepares1 is better than five hours of work with the praying left out2 that our service to our ,master is more acceptable and our mission to man more profitable1 when saturated with the moisture of ,god's blessing--the dew of the ,spirit4 ,whatever is gained in quantity is lost in quality whenever one engagement follows another without leaving proper intervals for refreshment and renewal of strength by waiting on ,god4 ,no man1 perhaps1 since ,john ,wesley has accomplished so much even in a long life as ,george ,muller2 yet few have ever withdrawn so often or so long into the pavilion of prayer4 ,in fact1 from one point of view his life seems more given to supplication and intercession than to mere action or occupation among men4 ,at the same time he felt that the curacy of souls must not be neglected by reason of his absorption in either work or prayer4 ,both believers and inquirers needed pastoral oversight2 neither himself nor his brother ,craik had time enough for visiting so large a flock1 many of whom were scattered over the city2 and about fifty new members were added every year who had special need of teaching and care4 ,again1 as there were two separate congregations1 the number of meetings was almost doubled2 and the interruptions of visitors from near and far1 the burdens of correspondence1 and the oversight of the ,lord's work generally1 consumed so much time that even with two pastors the needs of the church could not be met4 ,at a meeting of both congregations in ,october1 these matters were frankly brought before the believers1 and it was made plain that other helpers should be provided1 and the two churches so united as to lessen the number of separate meetings4 ,in ,october1 #ahcg1 a building was secured for a third orphan house1 for boys2 but as the neighbours strongly opposed its use as a charitable institution1 ,mr ,muller1 with meekness of spirit1 at once relinquished all claim upon the premises1 being mindful of the maxim of ,scripture3 ,as much as lieth in you1 live peaceably with all men4 7,rom4 xiii4 #ah47 ,he felt sure that the ,lord would provide1 and his faith was rewarded in the speedy supply of a building in the same street where the other two houses were4 ,infirmity of the flesh again tried the faith and patience of ,mr4 ,muller4 ,for eight weeks he was kept out of the pulpit4 ,the strange weakness in the head1 from which he had suffered before and which at times seemed to threaten his reason1 forced him to rest2 and in ,november he went to ,bath and ,weston-super-,mare1 leaving to higher ,hands the work to which he was unequal4 ,one thing he noticed and recorded3 that1 even during this head trouble1 prayer and ,bible-reading could be borne better than anything else4 ,he concluded that whenever undue carefulness is expended on the body1 it is very hard to avoid undue carelessness as to the soul2 and that it is therefore much safer comparatively to disregard the body1 that one may give himself wholly to the culture of his spiritual health and the care of the ,lord's work4 ,though some may think that in this he ran to a fanatical extreme1 there is no doubt that such became more and more a law of his life4 ,he sought to dismiss all anxiety1 as a duty2 and1 among other anxious cares1 that most subtle and seductive form of solicitude which watches every change of symptoms and rushes after some new medical man or medical remedy for all ailments real or fancied4 ,mr4 ,muller was never actually reckless of his bodily health4 ,his habits were temperate and wholesome1 but no man could be so completely wrapped up in his ,master's will and work without being correspondingly forgetful of his physical frame4 ,there are not a few1 even among ,god's saints1 whose bodily weaknesses and distresses so engross them that their sole business seems to be to nurse the body1 keep it alive and promote its comfort4 ,as ,dr4 ,watts would have said1 this is living at a poor dying rate4 ,when the year #ahch opened1 the weakness and distress in the head still afflicted ,mr4 ,muller4 ,the symptoms were as bad as ever1 and it particularly tried him that they were attended by a tendency to irritability of temper1 and even by a sort of satanic feeling wholly foreign to him at other times4 ,he was often reminded that he was by nature a child of wrath even as others1 and that1 as a child of ,god1 he could stand against the wiles of the devil only by putting on the whole armour of ,god4 ,the pavilion of ,god is the saint's place of rest2 the panoply of ,god is his coat of mail4 ,grace does not at once remove or overcome all tendencies to evil1 but1 if not eradicated1 they are counteracted by the ,spirit's wondrous working4 ,peter found that so long as his eye was on ,his ,master he could walk on the water4 ,there is always a tendency to sink1 and a holy walk with ,god1 that defies the tendency downward1 is a divine art that can neither be learned nor practised except so long as we keep 'looking unto ,jesus'3 that look of faith counteracts the natural tendency to sink1 so long as it holds the soul closely to ,him4 ,this man of ,god felt his risk1 and1 sore as this trial was to him1 he prayed not so much for its removal as that he might be kept from any open dishonour to the name of the ,lord1 beseeching ,god that he might rather die than ever bring on ,him reproach4 ,mr4 ,muller's journal is not only a record of his outer life of consecrated labour and its expansion1 but it is a mirror of his inner life and its growth4 ,it is an encouragement to all other saints to find that this growth was1 like their own1 in spite of many and formidable hindrances1 over which only grace could triumph4 ,side by side with glimpses of habitual conscientiousness and joy in ,god1 we have revelations of times of coldness and despondency4 ,it is a wholesome lesson in holy living that we find this man setting himself to the deliberate task of cultivating obedience and gratitude2 by the culture of obedience growing in knowledge and strength1 and by the culture of gratitude growing in thankfulness and love4 ,weakness and coldness are not hopeless states3 they have their divine remedies which strengthen and warm the whole being4 ,three entries1 found side by side in his journal1 furnish pertinent illustration and most wholesome instruction on this point4 ,one entry records his deep thankfulness to ,god for the privilege of being permitted to be ,his instrument in providing for homeless orphans1 as he watches the little girls1 clad in clean warm garments1 pass his window on their way to the chapel on the ,lord's day morning4 ,a second entry records his determination1 with ,god's help1 to send no more letters in parcels because he sees it to be a violation of the postal laws of the land1 and because he desires1 as a disciple of the ,lord ,jesus1 to submit himself to all human laws so far as such submission does not conflict with loyalty to ,god4 ,a third entry immediately follows which reveals this same man struggling against those innate tendencies to evil which compel a continual resort to the throne of grace with its sympathizing ,high ,priest4 ,this morning1 he writes1 ,i greatly dishonoured the ,lord by irritability manifested towards my dear wife2 and that1 almost immediately after ,i had been on my knees before ,god1 praising ,him for having given me such a wife4 ,these three entries1 put together1 convey a lesson which is not learned from either of them alone4 ,here is gratitude for divine mercy1 conscientious resolve at once to stop a doubtful practice1 and a confession of inconsistency in his home life4 ,all of these are typical experiences and suggest to us means of gracious growth4 ,he who lets no mercy of ,god escape thankful recognition1 who never hesitates at once to abandon an evil or questionable practice1 and who1 instead of extenuating a sin because it is comparatively small1 promptly confesses and forsakes it1--such a man will surely grow in ,christlikeness4 ,we must exercise our spiritual senses if we are to discern things spiritual4 ,there is a clear vision for ,god's goodness1 and there is a dull eye that sees little to be thankful for2 there is a tender conscience1 and there is a moral sense that grows less and less sensitive to evil2 there is an obedience to the ,spirit's rebuke which leads to immediate confession and increases strength for every new conflict4 ,mr4 ,muller cultivated habits of life which made his whole nature more and more open to divine impression1 and so his sense of ,god became more and more keen and constant4 ,one great result of this spiritual culture was a growing absorption in ,god and jealousy for ,his glory4 ,as he saw divine things more clearly and felt their supreme importance1 he became engrossed in the magnifying of them before men2 and this is glorifying ,god4 ,we cannot make ,god essentially any more glorious1 for ,he is infinitely perfect2 but we can help men to see what a glorious ,god ,he is1 and thus come into that holy partnership with the ,spirit of ,god whose office it is to take of the things of ,christ and show them unto men1 and so glorify ,christ4 ,such fellowship in glorifying ,god ,mr4 ,muller set before him3 and in the light of such sanctified aspiration we may read that humble entry in which1 reviewing the year #ahcg with all its weight of increasing responsibility1 he lifts his heart to his divine ,lord and ,master in these simple words3 ,lord1 ,thy servant is a poor man2 but he has trusted in ,thee and made his boast in ,thee before the sons of men2 therefore let him not be confounded6 ,let it not be said1 ',all this is enthusiasm1 and therefore it is come to naught4' ,one is reminded of ,moses in his intercession for ,israel1 of ,elijah in his exceeding jealousy for the ,lord of hosts1 and of that prayer of ,jeremiah that so amazes us by its boldness3 ,do not abhor us for ,thy name's sake6 ,do not disgrace the throne of ,thy glory699 99 ,comp4 ,numbers xiv4 #ac-ai2 #a ,kings xix4 #aj2 ,jer4 xiv4 #ba4 ,looking back over the growth of the work at the end of the year #ahcg1 he puts on record the following facts and figures3 ,three orphan houses were now open with eighty-one children1 and nine helpers in charge of them4 ,in the ,sunday-schools there were three hundred and twenty1 and in the day-schools three hundred and fifty2 and the ,lord had furnished over three hundred and seven pounds for temporal supplies4 ,from this same point of view it may be well to glance back over the five years of labour in ,bristol up to ,july1 #ahcg4 ,between himself and his brother ,craik uninterrupted harmony had existed from the beginning4 ,they had been perfectly at one in their views of the truth1 in their witness to the truth1 and in their judgment as to all matters affecting the believers over whom the ,holy ,ghost had made them overseers4 ,the children of ,god had been kept from heresy and schism under their joint pastoral care2 and all these blessings ,mr4 ,muller and his true yoke-fellow humbly traced to the mercy and grace of the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls4 ,thus far over one hundred and seventy had been converted and admitted to fellowship1 making the total number of communicants three hundred and seventy1 nearly equally divided between ,bethesda and ,gideon4 ,the whole history of these years is lit up with the sunlight of ,god's smile and blessing4 ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,prayer ,,habit both shows and makes the man1 for it is at once historic and prophetic1 the mirror of the man as he is and the mould of the man as he is to be4 ,at this point1 therefore1 special attention may properly be given to the two marked habits which had principally to do with the man we are studying4 ,early in the year #ahch1 he began reading that third biography which1 with those of ,francke and ,john ,newton1 had such a singular influence on his own life--,philip's ,life of ,george ,whitefield4 ,the life-story of the orphan's friend had given the primary impulse to his work2 the life-story of the converted blasphemer had suggested his narrative of the ,lord's dealings2 and now the life-story of the great evangelist was blessed of ,god to shape his general character and give new power to his preaching and his wider ministry to souls4 ,these three biographies together probably affected the whole inward and outward life of ,george ,muller more than any other volumes but the ,book of ,god1 and they were wisely fitted of ,god to co-work toward such a blessed result4 ,the example of ,francke incited to faith in prayer and to a work whose sole dependence was on ,god4 ,newton's witness to grace led to a testimony to the same sovereign love and mercy as seen in his own case4 ,whitefield's experience inspired to greater fidelity and earnestness in preaching the ,word1 and to greater confidence in the power of the anointing ,spirit4 ,particularly was this impression deeply made on ,mr4 ,muller's mind and heart3 that ,whitefield's unparalleled success in evangelistic labours was plainly traceable to two causes and could not be separated from them as direct effects2 namely1 his unusual prayerfulness1 and his habit of reading the ,bible on his knees4 ,the great evangelist of the last century had learned that first lesson in service1 his own utter nothingness and helplessness3 that he was nothing1 and could do nothing1 without ,god4 ,he could neither understand the ,word for himself1 nor translate it into his own life1 nor apply it to others with power1 unless the ,holy ,spirit became to him both insight and unction4 ,hence his success2 he was filled with the ,spirit3 and this alone accounts both for the quality and the quantity of his labours4 ,he died in #aggj1 in the fifty-sixth year of his age1 having preached his first sermon in ,gloucester in #agcf4 ,during this thirty-four years his labours had been both unceasing and untiring4 ,while on his journeyings in ,america1 he preached one hundred and seventy-five times in seventy-five days1 besides travelling1 in the slow vehicles of those days1 upwards of eight hundred miles4 ,when health declined1 and he was put on 'short allowance1' even that was one sermon each week-day and three on ,sunday4 ,there was about his preaching1 moreover1 a nameless charm which held thirty thousand hearers half-breathless on ,boston ,common and made tears pour down the sooty faces of the colliers at ,kingswood4 ,the passion of ,george ,muller's soul was to know fully the secrets of prevailing with ,god and with man4 ,george ,whitefield's life drove home the truth that ,god alone could create in him a holy earnestness to win souls and qualify him for such divine work by imparting a compassion for the lost that should become an absorbing passion for their salvation4 ,and--let this be carefully marked as another secret of this life of service--he now began himself to read the word of ,god upon his knees1 and often found for hours great blessing in such meditation and prayer over a single psalm or chapter4 ,here we stop and ask what profit there can be in thus prayerfully reading and searching the ,scriptures in the very attitude of prayer4 ,having tried it for ourselves1 we may add our humble witness to its value4 ,first of all1 this habit is a constant reminder and recognition of the need of spiritual teaching in order to the understanding of the holy ,oracles4 ,no reader of ,god's word can thus bow before ,god and ,his open book1 without a feeling of new reverence for the ,scriptures1 and dependence on their ,author for insight into their mysteries4 ,the attitude of worship naturally suggests sober-mindedness and deep seriousness1 and banishes frivolity4 ,to treat that ,book with lightness or irreverence would be doubly profane when one is in the posture of prayer4 ,again1 such a habit naturally leads to self-searching and comparison of the actual life with the example and pattern shown in the ,word4 ,the precept compels the practice to be seen in the light of its teaching2 the command challenges the conduct to appear for examination4 ,the prayer1 whether spoken or unspoken1 will inevitably be3 ,search me1 ,o ,god1 and know my heart1 ,try me1 and know my thoughts2 ,and see if there be any wicked way in me1 ,and lead me in the way everlasting6 7,psalm cxxxix4 #bc1 #bd47 ,the words thus reverently read will be translated into the life and mould the character into the image of ,god4 ,beholding as in a glass the glory of the ,lord1 we are changed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as by the ,lord the ,spirit499 99 #b ,cor4 iii4 #ah4 ,but perhaps the greatest advantage will be that the ,holy ,scriptures will thus suggest the very words which become the dialect of prayer4 ,we know not what we should pray for as we ought--neither what nor how to pray4 ,but here is the ,spirit's own inspired utterance1 and1 if the praying be moulded on the model of ,his teaching1 how can we go astray8 ,here is our ,god-given liturgy and litany--a divine prayer-book4 ,we have here ,god's promises1 precepts1 warnings1 and counsels1 not to speak of all the ,spirit-inspired literal prayers therein contained2 and1 as we reflect upon these1 our prayers take their cast in this matrix4 ,we turn precept and promise1 warning and counsel into supplication1 with the assurance that we cannot be asking anything that is not according to ,his will199 for are we not turning ,his own word into prayer8 99 #a ,john v4 #ac4 ,so ,mr4 ,muller found it to be4 ,in meditating over ,hebrews xiii4 #h3 ,jesus ,christ the same yesterday and to-day and for ever1 translating it into prayer1 he besought ,god1 with the confidence that the prayer was already granted1 that1 as ,jesus had already in ,his love and power supplied all that was needful1 in the same unchangeable love and power ,he would so continue to provide4 ,and so a promise was not only turned into a prayer1 but into a prophecy--an assurance of blessing--and a river of joy at once poured into and flowed through his soul4 ,the prayer habit1 on the knees1 with the ,word open before the disciple1 has thus an advantage which it is difficult to put into words3 ,it provides a sacred channel of approach to ,god4 ,the inspired ,scriptures form the vehicle of the ,spirit in communicating to us the knowledge of the will of ,god4 ,if we think of ,god on the one side and man on the other1 the word of ,god is the mode of conveyance from ,god to man1 of ,his own mind and heart4 ,it therefore becomes a channel of ,god's approach to us1 a channel prepared by the ,spirit for the purpose1 and unspeakably sacred as such4 ,when therefore the believer uses the word of ,god as the guide to determine both the spirit and the dialect of his prayer1 he is inverting the process of divine revelation and using the channel of ,god's approach to him as the channel of his approach to ,god4 ,how can such use of ,god's word fail to help and strengthen spiritual life8 ,what medium or channel of approach could so insure in the praying soul both an acceptable frame and language taught of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,if the first thing is not to pray but to hearken1 this surely is hearkening for ,god to speak to us that we may know how to speak to ,him4 ,it was habits of life such as these1 and not impulsive feelings and transient frames1 that made this man of ,god what he was and strengthened him to lift up his hands in ,god's name1 and follow hard after ,him and in ,him rejoice499 ,even his sore affliction1 seen in the light of such prayer--prayer itself illuminated by the word of ,god--became radiant2 and his soul was brought into that state where he so delighted in the will of ,god as to be able from his heart to say that he would not have his disease removed until through it ,god had wrought the blessing it was meant to convey4 ,and when his acquiescence in the will of ,god had become thus complete he instinctively felt that he would speedily be restored to health4 99 ,psalm lxiii4 #d1 #h1 #aa4 ,subsequently1 in reading ,proverbs iii4 #e-ab1 he was struck with the words1 ,neither be weary of ,his correction4 ,he felt that1 though he had not been permitted to despise the chastening of the ,lord1 he had at times been somewhat weary of ,his correction1 and he lifted up the prayer that he might so patiently bear it as neither to faint nor be weary under it1 till its full purpose was wrought4 ,frequent were the instances of the habit of translating promises into prayers1 immediately applying the truth thus unveiled to him4 ,for example1 after prolonged meditation over the first verse of ,psalm lxv1 ,o ,thou that hearest prayer1 he at once asked and recorded certain definite petitions4 ,this writing down specific requests for permanent reference has a blessed influence upon the prayer habit4 ,it assures practical and exact form for our supplications1 impresses the mind and memory with what is thus asked of ,god1 and leads naturally to the record of the answers when given1 so that we accumulate evidences in our own experience that ,god is to us personally a prayer-hearing ,god1 whereby unbelief is rebuked and importunity encouraged4 ,on this occasion eight specific requests are put on record1 together with the solemn conviction that1 having asked in conformity with the word and will of ,god1 and in the name of ,jesus1 he has confidence in ,him that ,he heareth and that he has the petitions thus asked of ,him499 ,he writes3 99 #a ,john v4 #ac4 ,i believe ,he has heard me4 ,i believe ,he will make it manifest in ,his own good time that ,he has heard me2 and ,i have recorded these my petitions this fourteenth day of ,january1 #ahch1 that when ,god has answered them ,he may get1 through this1 glory to ,his name4 ,the thoughtful reader must see in all this a man of weak faith1 feeding and nourishing his trust in ,god that his faith may grow strong4 ,he uses the promise of a prayer-hearing ,god as a staff to stay his conscious feebleness1 that he may lean hard upon the strong ,word which cannot fail4 ,he records the day when he thus takes this staff in hand1 and the very petitions which are the burdens which he seeks to lay on ,god1 so that his act of committal may be the more complete and final4 ,could ,god ever dishonour such trust8 ,it was in this devout reading on his knees that his whole soul was first deeply moved by that phrase1 ,a ,,father ,,of ,,the ,,fatherless4 7,psalm lxviii4 #e47 ,he saw this to be one of those names of ,jehovah which ,he reveals to ,his people to lead them to trust in ,him1 as it is written in ,psalm ix4 #aj3 ,they that know ,thy name ,will put their trust in ,thee4 ,these five words from the sixty-eighth psalm became another of his life-texts1 one of the foundation stones of all his work for the fatherless4 ,these are his own words3 ,by the help of ,god1 this shall be my argument before ,him1 respecting the orphans1 in the hour of need4 ,he is their ,father1 and therefore has pledged ,himself1 as it were1 to provide for them2 and ,i have only to remind ,him of the need of these poor children in order to have it supplied4 ,this is translating the promises of ,god's word1 not only into praying1 but into living1 doing1 serving4 ,blessed was the hour when ,mr4 ,muller learned that one of ,god's chosen names is the ,father of the fatherless6 ,to sustain such burdens would have been quite impossible but for faith in such a ,god4 ,in reply to oft-repeated remarks of visitors and observers who could not understand the secret of his peace1 or how any man who had so many children to clothe and feed could carry such prostrating loads of care1 he had one uniform reply3 ,by the grace of ,god1 this is no cause of anxiety to me4 ,these children ,i have years ago cast upon the ,lord4 ,the whole work is ,his1 and it becomes me to be without carefulness4 ,in whatever points ,i am lacking1 in this point ,i am able by the grace of ,god to roll the burden upon my heavenly ,father499 99 ,journal #a3bhe ,in tens of thousands of cases this peculiar title of ,god1 chosen by ,himself and by ,himself declared1 became to ,mr4 ,muller a peculiar revelation of ,god1 suited to his special need4 ,the natural inferences drawn from such a title became powerful arguments in prayer1 and rebukes to all unbelief4 ,thus1 at the outset of his work for the orphans1 the word of ,god put beneath his feet a rock basis of confidence that he could trust the almighty ,father to support the work4 ,and1 as the solicitudes of the work came more and more heavily upon him1 he cast the loads he could not carry upon ,him who1 before ,george ,muller was born1 was the ,father of the fatherless4 ,about this time we meet other signs of the conflict going on in ,mr4 ,mullers own soul4 ,he could not shut his eyes to the lack of earnestness in prayer and fervency of spirit which at times seemed to rob him of both peace and power4 ,and we notice his experience1 in common with so many saints1 of the paradox of spiritual life4 ,he saw that such fervency of spirit is altogether the gift of ,god1 and yet he adds1 ,i have to ascribe to myself the loss of it4 ,he did not run divine sovereignty into blank fatalism as so many do4 ,he saw that ,god must be sovereign in ,his gifts1 and yet man must be free in his reception and rejection of them4 ,he admitted the mystery without attempting to reconcile the apparent contradiction4 ,he confesses also that the same book1 ,philip's ,life of ,whitefield1 which had been used of ,god to kindle such new fires on the altar of his heart1 had been also used of ,satan to tempt him to neglect for its sake the systematic study of the greatest of books4 ,thus1 at every step1 ,george ,mullers life is full of both encouragement and admonition to fellow disciples4 ,while away from ,bristol he wrote in ,february1 #ahch1 a tender letter to the saints there1 which is another revelation of the man's heart4 ,he makes grateful mention of the mercies of ,god1 to him1 particularly ,his gentleness1 long-suffering1 and faithfulness and the lessons taught him through affliction4 ,the letter makes plain that much sweetness is mixed in the cup of suffering1 and that our privileges are not properly prized until for a time we are deprived of them4 ,he particularly mentions how secret prayer1 even when reading1 conversation1 or prayer with others was a burden1 always brought relief to his head4 ,converse with the ,father was an indispensable source of refreshment and blessing at all times4 ,as ,j4 ,hudson ,taylor says ,satan1 the ,hinderer1 may build a barrier about us1 but he can never roof us in1 so that we cannot look up4 ,mr4 ,muller also gives a valuable hint that has already been of value to many afflicted saints1 that he found he could help by prayer to fight the battles of the ,lord even when he could not by preaching4 ,after a short visit to ,germany1 partly in quest of health and partly for missionary objects1 and after more than twenty-two weeks of retirement from ordinary public duties1 his head was much better1 but his mental health allowed only about three hours of daily work4 ,while in ,germany he had again seen his father and elder brother1 and spoken with them about their salvation4 ,to his father his words brought apparent blessing1 for he seemed at least to feel his lack of the one thing needful4 ,the separation from him was the more painful as there was so little hope that they should meet again on earth4 ,in ,may he once more took part in public services in ,bristol1 a period of six months having elapsed since he had previously done so4 ,his head was still weak1 but there seemed no loss of mental power4 ,about three months after he had been in ,germany part of the fruits of his visit were gathered1 for twelve brothers and three sisters sailed for the ,east ,indies4 ,on ,june #ac1 #ahch1 ,mrs4 ,muller gave birth to a stillborn babe1--another parental disappointment1--and for more than a fortnight her life hung in the balance4 ,but once more prayer prevailed for her and her days were prolonged4 ,one month later another trial of faith confronted them in the orphan work4 ,a twelvemonth previous there were in hand seven hundred and eighty pounds2 now that sum was reduced to one thirty-ninth of the amount--twenty pounds4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller1 with ,mr4 ,craik and one other brother1 connected with the ,boys' ,orphan ,house1 were the only four persons who were permitted to know of the low state of funds2 and they gave themselves to united prayer4 ,and let it be carefully observed that ,mr4 ,muller testifies that his own faith was kept even stronger than when the larger sum was on hand a year before2 and this faith was no mere fancy1 for1 although the supply was so low and shortly thirty pounds would be needed1 notice was given for seven more children to enter1 and it was further proposed to announce readiness to receive five others6 ,the trial-hour had come1 but was not past4 ,less than two months later the money-supply ran so low that it was needful that the ,lord should give by the day and almost by the hour if the needs were to be met4 ,in answer to prayer for help ,god seemed to say1 ,mine hour is not yet come4 ,many pounds would shortly be required1 toward which there was not one penny in hand4 ,when1 one day1 over four pounds came in1 the thought occurred to ,mr4 ,muller1 ,why not lay aside three pounds against the coming need8 ,but immediately he remembered that it is written3 ,,sufficient ,,unto ,,the ,,day is ,,the ,,evil ,,thereof499 ,he unhesitatingly cast himself upon ,god1 and paid out the whole amount for salaries then due1 leaving himself again penniless4 99 ,matt4 vi4 #cd4 ,at this time ,mr4 ,craik was led to read a sermon on ,abraham1 from ,genesis xii1 making prominent two facts3 first1 that so long as he acted in faith and walked in the will of ,god1 all went on well2 but that1 secondly1 so far as he distrusted the ,lord and disobeyed ,him1 all ended in failure4 ,mr4 ,muller heard this sermon and conscientiously applied it to himself4 ,he drew two most practical conclusions which he had abundant opportunity to put into practice3 ,first1 that he must go into no byways or paths of his own for deliverance out of a crisis2 ,and1 secondly1 that in proportion as he had been permitted to honour ,god and bring some glory to ,his name by trusting ,him1 he was in danger of dishonouring ,him4 ,having taught him these blessed truths1 the ,lord tested him as to how far he would venture upon them4 ,while in such sore need of money for the orphan work1 he had in the bank some two hundred and twenty pounds1 intrusted to him for other purposes4 ,he might use this money for the time at least1 and so relieve the present distress4 ,the temptation was the stronger so to do1 because he knew the donors and knew them to be liberal supporters of the orphans2 and he had only to explain to them the straits he was in and they would gladly consent to any appropriation of their gift that he might see best6 ,most men would have cut that ,gordian knot of perplexity without hesitation4 ,not so ,george ,muller4 ,he saw at once that this would be finding a way of his own out of difficulty1 instead of waiting on the ,lord for deliverance4 ,moreover1 he also saw that it would be forming a habit of trusting to such expedients of his own1 which in other trials would lead to a similar course and so hinder the growth of faith4 ,we use italics here because here is revealed one of the tests by which this man of faith1 was proven2 and we see how he kept consistently and persistently to the one great purpose of his life--to demonstrate to all men that to rest solely on ,i the promise of a faithful ,god is the only way to know for one's self and prove to others1 ,his faithfulness4 ,at this time of need--the type of many others--this man who had determined to risk everything upon ,god's word of promise1 turned from doubtful devices and questionable methods of relief to pleading with ,god4 ,and it may be well to mark his manner of pleading4 ,he used argument in prayer1 and at this time he piles up eleven reasons why ,god should and would send help4 ,this method of holy argument--ordering our cause before ,god1 as an advocate would plead before a judge--is not only almost a lost art1 but to many it actually seems almost puerile4 ,and yet it is abundantly taught and exemplified in ,scripture4 ,abraham in his plea for ,sodom is the first great example of it4 ,moses excelled in this art1 in many crises interceding in behalf of the people with consummate skill1 marshalling arguments as a general-in-chief marshals battalions4 ,elijah on ,carmel is a striking example of power in this special pleading4 ,what holy zeal and jealousy for ,god6 ,it is probable that if we had fuller records we should find that all pleaders with ,god1 like ,noah1 ,job1 ,samuel1 ,david1 ,daniel1 ,jeremiah1 ,paul1 and ,james1 have used the same method4 ,of course ,god does not need to be convinced3 no arguments can make any plainer to ,him the claims of trusting souls to ,his intervention1 claims based upon ,his own word1 confirmed by ,his oath4 ,and yet ,he will be inquired of and argued with4 ,that is ,his way of blessing4 ,he loves to have us set before ,him our cause and ,his own promises3 ,he delights in the well-ordered plea1 where argument is piled upon argument4 ,see how the ,lord ,jesus ,christ commended the persistent argument of the woman of ,canaan1 who with the wit of importunity actually turned his own objection into a reason4 ,he said1 ,it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the little dogs499 ,truth1 ,lord1 she answered1 yet the little dogs under the master's tables eat of the crumbs which fall from the children's mouths6 ,what a triumph of argument6 ,catching the ,master ,himself in ,his words1 as ,he meant she should1 and turning ,his apparent reason for not granting into a reason for granting her request6 ,o woman1 said ,he1 great is thy faith6 ,be it unto thee even as thou wilt--thus1 as ,luther said1 flinging the reins on her neck4 99 ,cf4 ,matt4 vii4 #f1 xv4 #bf1 #bg4 ,not ,transcriber's note3 ,greek word here1 but ,transcriber's note3 another ,greek word here1 the diminutive for little pet dogs4 ,this case stands unique in the word of ,god1 and it is this use of argument in prayer that makes it thus solitary in grandeur4 ,but one other case is at all parallel1--that of the centurion of ,capernaum199 who1 when our ,lord promised to go and heal his servant1 argued that such coming was not needful1 since ,he had only to speak the healing word4 ,and notice the basis of his argument3 if he1 a commander exercising authority and yielding himself to higher authority1 both obeyed the word of his superior and exacted obedience of his subordinate1 how much more could the ,great ,healer1 in his absence1 by a word of command1 wield the healing ,power that in ,his presence was obedient to ,his will6 ,of him likewise our ,lord said3 ,i have not found so great faith1 no1 not in ,israel6 99 ,matt4 viii4 #h4 ,we are to argue our case with ,god1 not indeed to convince ,him1 but to convince ourselves4 ,in proving to ,him that1 by ,his own word and oath and character1 ,he has bound ,himself to interpose1 we demonstrate to our own faith that ,he has given us the right to ask and claim1 and that ,he will answer our plea because ,he cannot deny ,himself4 ,there are two singularly beautiful touches of the ,holy ,spirit in which the right thus to order argument before ,god is set forth to the reflective reader4 ,in ,micah4 vii4 #bj we read3 ,thou wilt perform the truth to ,jacob1 ,the mercy to ,abraham1 ,which thou hast sworn unto our fathers1 ,from the days of old4 ,mark the progress of the thought4 ,what was mercy to ,abraham was truth to ,jacob4 ,god was under no obligation to extend covenant blessings2 hence it was to ,abraham a simple act of pure mercy2 but1 having so put ,himself under voluntary bonds1 ,jacob could claim as truth what to ,abraham had been mercy4 ,so in #a ,john i4 #i3 ,if we confess our sins ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 ,and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,plainly1 forgiveness and cleansing are not originally matters of faithfulness and justice1 but of mercy and grace4 ,but1 after ,god had pledged ,himself thus to forgive and cleanse the penitent sinner who confesses and forsakes his sins199 what was originally grace and mercy becomes faithfulness and justice2 for ,god owes it to ,himself and to ,his creature to stand by ,his own pledge1 and fulfil the lawful expectation which ,his own gracious assurance has created4 99 ,proverbs xxviii4 #ac4 ,thus we have not only examples of argument in prayer1 but concessions of the living ,god ,himself1 that when we have ,his word to plead we may claim the fulfillment of ,his promise1 on the ground not of ,his mercy only1 but of ,his truth1 faithfulness1 and justice4 ,hence the 'holy boldness with which we are bidden to present our plea at the throne of grace4 ,god owes to ,his faithfulness to do what ,he has promised1 and to ,his justice not to exact from the sinner a penalty already borne in his behalf by ,his own ,son4 ,no man of his generation1 perhaps1 has been more wont to plead thus with ,god1 after the manner of holy argument1 than he whose memoir we are now writing4 ,he was one of the elect few to whom it has been given to revive and restore this lost art of pleading with ,god4 ,and if all disciples could learn the blessed lesson1 what a period of renaissance of faith would come to the church of ,god6 ,george ,muller stored up reasons for ,god's intervention1 ,as he came upon promises1 authorized declarations of ,god concerning ,himself1 names and titles ,he had chosen to express and reveal ,his true nature and will1 injunctions and invitations which gave to the believer a right to pray and boldness in supplication--as he saw all these1 fortified and exemplified by the instances of prevailing prayer1 he laid these arguments up in memory1 and then on occasions of great need brought them out and spread them before a prayer-hearing ,god4 ,it is pathetically beautiful to follow this humble man of ,god into the secret place1 and there hear him pouring out his soul in these argumentative pleadings1 as though he would so order his cause before ,god as to convince ,him that ,he must interpose to save ,his own name and word from dishonour6 ,these were ,his orphans1 for had ,he not declared ,himself the ,father of the fatherless8 ,this was ,his work1 for had ,he not called ,his servant to do ,his bidding1 and what was that servant but an instrument that could neither fit itself nor use itself8 ,can the rod lift itself1 or the saw move itself1 or the hammer deal its own blow1 or the sword make its own thrust8 ,and if this were ,god's work1 was ,he not bound to care for ,his own work8 ,and was not all this deliberately planned and carried on for ,his own glory8 ,and would ,he suffer ,his own glory to be dimmed8 ,had not ,his own word been given and confirmed by ,his oath1 and could ,god allow ,his promise1 thus sworn to1 to be dishonoured even in the least particular8 ,were not the half-believing church and the unbelieving world looking on1 to see how the ,living ,god would stand by ,his own unchanging assurance1 and would ,he supply an argument for the skeptic and the scoffer8 ,would ,he not1 must ,he not1 rather put new proofs of ,his faithfulness in the mouth of ,his saints1 and furnish increasing arguments wherewith to silence the cavilling tongue and put to shame the hesitating disciple899 99 ,mr4 ,muller himself tells how he argued his case before the ,lord at this time4 7,appendix ,f4 ,narrative1 vol4 #a1 #bdc1 #bdd7 ,in some such fashion as this did this lowly-minded saint in ,bristol plead with ,god for more than threescore years1 and prevail--as every true believer may who with a like boldness comes to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need4 ,how few of us can sincerely sing3 ,i believe ,god answers prayer1 ,answers always1 everywhere2 ,i may cast my anxious care1 ,burdens ,i could never bear1 ,on the ,god who heareth prayer4 ,never need my soul despair ,since ,he bids me boldly dare ,to the secret place repair1 ,there to prove ,he answers prayer4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,trials ,,of ,,faith1 ,,and ,,helpers ,,to ,,faith ,,god has ,his own mathematics3 witness that miracle of the loaves and fishes4 ,our ,lord said to ,his disciples3 ,give ye them to eat1 and as they divided1 ,he multiplied the scanty provision2 as they subtracted from it ,he added to it2 as they decreased it by distributing1 ,he increased it for distributing4 ,and it has been beautifully said of all holy partnerships1 that griefs shared are divided1 and joys shared are multiplied4 ,we have already seen how the prayer circle had been enlarged4 ,the founder of the orphan work1 at the first1 had only ,god for his partner1 telling ,him alone his own wants or the needs of his work4 ,later on1 a very few1 including his own wife1 ,mr4 ,craik1 and one or two helpers1 were permitted to know the condition of the funds and supplies4 ,later still1 in the autumn of #ahch1 he began to feel that he ought more fully to open the doors of his confidence to his associates in the ,lord's business4 ,those who shared in the toils should also share in the prayers1 and therefore in the knowledge of the needs which prayer was to supply2 else how could they fully be partakers of the faith1 the work1 and the reward8 ,or1 again1 how could they feel the full proof of the presence and power of ,god in the answers to prayer1 know the joy of the ,lord which such answers inspire1 or praise ,him for the deliverance which such answers exhibit8 ,it seemed plain that1 to the highest glory of ,god1 they must know the depths of need1 the extremities of want out of which ,god had lifted them1 and then ascribe all honour and praise to ,his name4 ,accordingly ,mr4 ,muller called together all the beloved brothers and sisters linked with him in the conduct of the work1 and fully stated the case1 keeping nothing back4 ,he showed them the distress they were in1 while he bade them be of good courage1 assuring them of his own confidence that help was nigh at hand1 and then united them with himself and the smaller praying circle which had previously existed1 in supplication to ,jehovah ,jireh4 ,the step thus taken was of no small importance to all concerned4 ,a considerable number of praying believers were henceforth added to the band of intercessors that gave ,god no rest day nor night4 ,while ,mr4 ,muller withheld no facts as to the straits to which the work was reduced1 he laid down certain principles which from time to time were reiterated as unchanging laws for the conduct of the ,lord's business4 ,for example1 nothing must be bought1 whatever the extremity1 for which there was not money in hand to pay3 and yet it must be equally a settled principle that the children must not be left to lack anything needful2 for better that the work cease1 and the orphans be sent away1 than that they be kept in a nominal home where they were really left to suffer from hunger or nakedness4 ,again1 nothing was ever to be revealed to outsiders of existing need1 lest it should be construed into an appeal for help2 but the only resort must be to the living ,god4 ,the helpers were often reminded that the supreme object of the institutions1 founded in ,bristol1 was to prove ,god's faithfulness and the perfect safety of trusting solely to ,his promises2 jealousy for ,him must therefore restrain all tendency to look to man for help4 ,moreover1 they were earnestly besought to live in such daily and hourly fellowship with ,god as that their own unbelief and disobedience might not risk either their own power in prayer1 or the agreement1 needful among them1 in order to common supplication4 ,one discordant note may prevent the harmonious symphony of united prayer1 and so far hinder the acceptableness of such prayer with ,god4 ,thus informed and instructed1 these devoted coworkers1 with the beloved founder of the orphan work1 met the crisis intelligently4 ,if1 when there were no funds1 there must be no leaning upon man1 no debt incurred1 and yet no lack allowed1 clearly the only resort or resource must be waiting upon the unseen ,god2 and so1 in these straits and in every succeeding crisis1 they went to ,him alone4 ,the orphans themselves were never told of any existing need2 in every case their wants were met1 though they knew not how4 ,the barrel of meal might be empty1 yet there was always a handful when needed1 and the cruse of oil was never so exhausted that a few drops were not left to moisten the handful of meal4 ,famine and drought never reached the ,bristol orphanage3 the supplies might come slowly and only for one day at a time1 but somehow1 when the need was urgent and could no longer wait1 there was enough--though it might be barely enough to meet the want4 ,it should be added here1 as completing this part of the ,narrative1 that1 in ,august1 #ahdj1 this circle of prayer was still further enlarged by admitting to its intimacies of fellowship and supplication the brethren and sisters who laboured in the day-schools1 the same solemn injunctions being repeated in their case against any betrayal to outsiders of the crises that might arise4 ,to impart the knowledge of affairs to so much larger a band of helpers brought in every way a greater blessing1 and especially so to the helpers themselves4 ,their earnest1 believing1 importunate prayers were thus called forth1 and ,god only knows how much the consequent progress of the work was due to their faith1 supplication1 and self-denial4 ,the practical knowledge of the exigencies of their common experience begat an unselfishness of spirit which prompted countless acts of heroic sacrifice that have no human record or written history1 and can be known only when the pages of the ,lord's own journal are read by an assembled universe in the day when the secret things are brought to light4 ,it has1 since ,mr4 ,muller's departure1 transpired how large a share of the donations received are to be traced to him2 but there is no means of ascertaining as to the aggregate amount of the secret gifts of his coworkers in this sacred circle of prayer4 ,we do know1 however1 that ,mr4 ,muller was not the only self-denying giver1 though he may lead the host4 ,his true yoke-fellows often turned the crisis by their own offerings1 which though small were costly6 ,instrumentally they were used of ,god to relieve existing want by their gifts1 for out of the abundance of their deep poverty abounded the riches of their liberality4 ,the money they gave was sometimes like the widow's two mites--all their living2 and not only the last penny1 but ornaments1 jewels1 heirlooms1 long-kept and cherished treasures1 like the alabaster flask of ointment which was broken upon the feet of ,jesus1 were laid down on ,god's altar as a willing sacrifice4 ,they gave all they could spare and often what they could ill spare1 so that there might be meat in ,god's house and no lack of bread or other needed supplies for ,his little ones4 ,in a sublime sense this work was not ,mr4 ,mullers only1 but theirs also1 who with him took part in prayers and tears1 in cares and toils1 in self-denials and self-offerings1 whereby ,god chose to carry forward ,his plans for these homeless waifs6 ,it was in thus giving that all these helpers found also new power1 assurance1 and blessing in praying2 for1 as one of them said1 he felt that it would scarcely be upright to pray1 except he were to give what he had499 99 ,narrative1 #a3 #bdf4 ,the helpers1 thus admitted into ,mr4 ,muller's confidence1 came into more active sympathy with him and the work1 and partook increasingly of the same spirit4 ,of this some few instances and examples have found their way into his journal4 ,a gentleman and some ladies visiting the orphan houses saw the large number of little ones to be cared for4 ,one of the ladies said to the matron of the ,boys' ,house3 ,of course you cannot carry on these institutions without a good stock of funds2 and the gentleman added1 ,have you a good stock8 ,the quiet answer was1 ,our funds are deposited in a bank which cannot break4 ,the reply drew tears from the eyes of the lady1 and a gift of five pounds from the pocket of the gentleman--a donation most opportune1 as there was not one penny then in hand4 ,fellow labourers such as these1 who asked nothing for themselves1 but cheerfully looked to the ,lord for their own supplies1 and willingly parted with their own money or goods in the hour of need1 filled ,mr4 ,muller's heart with praise to ,god1 and held up his hands1 as ,aaron and ,hur sustained those of ,moses1 till the sun of his life went down4 ,during all the years of his superintendence these were the main human support of his faith and courage4 ,they met with him in daily prayer1 faithfully kept among themselves the secrets of the ,lord's work in the great trials of faith2 and1 when the hour of triumph came1 they felt it to be both duty and privilege in the annual report to publish their deliverance1 to make their boast in ,god1 that all men might know ,his love and faithfulness and ascribe unto ,him glory4 ,from time to time1 in connection with the administration of the work1 various questions arose which have a wider bearing on all departments of ,christian service1 for their solution enters into what may be called the ethics and economics of the ,lord's work4 ,at a few of these we may glance4 ,as the ,lord was dealing with them by the day1 it seemed clear that they were to live by the day4 ,no dues ,transcriber's note3 unpaid debts should be allowed to accumulate1 even such as would naturally accrue from ordinary weekly supplies of bread1 milk1 etc4 ,from the middle of ,september1 #ahch1 it was therefore determined that every article bought was to be paid for at the time4 ,again1 rent became due in stated amounts and at stated times4 ,this want was therefore not unforeseen1 and1 looked at in one aspect1 rent was due daily or weekly1 though collected at longer intervals4 ,the principle having been laid down that no debt should be incurred1 it was considered as implying that the amount due for rent should be put aside daily1 or at least weekly1 even though not then payable4 ,this rule was henceforth adopted1 with this understanding1 that money thus laid aside was sacred to that end1 and not to be drawn upon1 even temporarily1 for any other4 ,notwithstanding such conscientiousness and consistency the trial of faith and patience continued4 ,money came in only in small sums1 and barely enough with rigid economy to meet each day's wants4 ,the outlook was often most dark and the prospect most threatening2 but no real need ever failed to be supplied3 and so praise was continually mingled with prayer1 the incense of thanksgiving making fragrant the flame of supplication4 ,god's interposing power and love could not be doubted1 and in fact made the more impression as unquestionable facts1 because help came so frequently at the hour of extremity1 and in the exact form or amount needed4 ,before the provision was entirely exhausted1 there came new supplies or the money wherewith to buy1 so that these many mouths were always fed and these many bodies always clad4 ,to live up to such principles as had been laid down was not possible without faith1 kept in constant and lively exercise4 ,for example1 in the closing months of #ahch ,god seemed purposely putting them to a severe test1 whether or not they did trust ,him alone4 ,the orphan work was in continual straits3 at times not one half-penny was in the hands of the matrons in the three houses4 ,but not only was no knowledge of such facts ever allowed to leak out1 or any hint of the extreme need ever given to outsiders1 but even those who inquired1 with intent to aid1 were not informed4 ,one evening a brother ventured to ask how the balance would stand when the next accounts were made up1 and whether it would be as great in favour of the orphans as when the previous balance-sheet had been prepared4 ,mr4 ,mutter's calm but evasive answer was3 ,it will be as great as the ,lord pleases4 ,this was no intentional rudeness4 ,to have said more would have been turning from the one ,helper to make at least an indirect appeal to man for help2 and every such snare was carefully avoided lest the one great aim should be lost sight of3 to prove to all men that it is safe to trust only in the ,living ,god4 ,while admitting the severity of the straits to which the whole work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution was often brought1 ,mr4 ,muller takes pains to assure his readers that these straits were never a surprise to him1 and that his expectations in the matter of funds were not disappointed1 but rather the reverse4 ,he had looked for great emergencies as essential to his full witness to a prayer-hearing ,god4 ,the almighty ,hand can never be clearly seen while any human help is sought for or is in sight4 ,we must turn absolutely away from all else if we are to turn fully unto the living ,god4 ,the deliverance is signal1 only in proportion as the danger is serious1 and is most significant when1 without ,god1 we face absolute despair4 ,hence the exact end for which the whole work was mainly begun could be attained only through such conditions of extremity and such experiences of interposition in extremity4 ,some who have known but little of the interior history of the orphan work have very naturally accounted for the regularity of supplies by supposing that the public statements1 made about it by word of mouth1 and especially by the pen in the printed annual reports1 have constituted appeals for aid4 ,unbelief would interpret all ,god's working however wonderful1 by 'natural laws1' and the carnal mind1 refusing to see in any of the manifestations of ,god's power any supernatural force at work1 persists in thus explaining away all the 'miracles of prayer4' ,no doubt humane and sympathetic hearts have been strongly moved by the remarkable ways in which ,god has day by day provided for all these orphans1 as well as the other branches of work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution2 and believing souls have been drawn into loving and hearty sympathy with work so conducted1 and have been led to become its helpers4 ,it is a well-known fact that ,god has used these annual reports to accomplish just such results4 ,yet it remains true that these reports were never intended or issued as appeals for aid1 and no dependence has been placed upon them for securing timely help4 ,it is also undeniable that1 however frequent their issue1 wide their circulation1 or great their influence1 the regularity and abundance of the supplies of all needs must in some other way be accounted for4 ,only a few days after public meetings were held or printed reports issued1 funds often fell to their lowest ebb4 ,mr4 ,muller and his helpers were singularly kept from all undue leaning upon any such indirect appeals1 and frequently and definitely asked ,god that they might never be left to look for any inflow of means through such channels4 ,for many reasons the ,lord's dealings with them were made known1 the main object of such publicity always being a testimony to the faithfulness of ,god4 ,this great object ,mr4 ,muller always kept foremost1 hoping and praying that1 by such records and revelations of ,god's fidelity to ,his promises1 and of the manner in which ,he met each new need1 his servant might awaken1 quicken1 and stimulate faith in ,him as the ,living ,god4 ,one has only to read these reports to see the conspicuous absence of any appeal for human aid1 or of any attempt to excite pity1 sympathy and compassion toward the orphans4 ,the burden of every report is to induce the reader to venture wholly upon ,god1 to taste and see that the ,lord is good1 and find for himself how blessed are all they that put their trust in ,him4 ,only in the light of this supreme purpose can these records of a life of faith be read intelligently and intelligibly4 ,weakness of body again1 in the autumn of #ahci1 compelled1 for a time1 rest from active labour1 and ,mr4 ,muller went to ,trowbridge and ,exeter1 ,teignmouth and ,plymouth4 ,god had precious lessons for him which ,he could best teach in the school of affliction4 ,while at ,plymouth ,mr4 ,muller felt anew the impulse to early rising for purposes of devotional communion4 ,at ,halle he had been an early riser1 influenced by zeal for excellence in study4 ,afterwards1 when his weak head and feeble nerves made more sleep seem needful1 he judged that1 even when he rose late1 the day would be long enough to exhaust his little fund of strength2 and so often he lay in bed till six or even seven o'clock1 instead of rising at four2 and after dinner took a nap for a quarter-hour4 ,it now grew upon him1 however1 that he was losing in spiritual vigour1 and that his soul's health was declining under this new regimen4 ,the work now so pressed upon him as to prevent proper reading of the ,word and rob him of leisure for secret prayer4 ,a 'chance remark'--there is no chance in a believer's life6--made by the brother at whose house he was abiding at ,plymouth1 much impressed him4 ,referring to the sacrifices in ,leviticus1 he said that1 as the refuse of the animals was never offered up on the altar1 but only the best parts and the fat1 so the choicest of our time and strength1 the best parts of our day1 should be especially given to the ,lord in worship and communion4 ,george ,muller meditated much on this2 and determined1 even at the risk of damage to bodily health1 that he would no longer spend his best hours in bed4 ,henceforth he allowed himself but seven hours' sleep and gave up his after-dinner rest4 ,this resumption of early rising secured long seasons of uninterrupted interviews 'with ,god1 in prayer and meditation on the ,scriptures1 before breakfast and the various inevitable interruptions that followed4 ,he found himself not worse but better1 physically1 and became convinced that to have lain longer in bed as before would have kept his nerves weak2 and1 as to spiritual life1 such new vitality and vigour accrued from thus waiting upon ,god while others slept1 that it continued to be the habit of his after-life4 ,in ,november1 #ahci1 when the needs were again great and the supplies very small1 he was kept in peace3 ,i was not1 he says1 looking at the little in hand1 'but at the fulness of ,god4 ,it was his rule to empty himself of all that he had1 in order to greater boldness in appealing for help from above4 ,all needless articles were sold if a market could be found4 ,but what was useful in the ,lord's work he did not reckon as needless1 nor regard it right to sell1 since the ,father knew the need4 ,one of his fellow labourers had put forward his valuable watch as a security for the return of money laid by for rent1 but drawn upon for the time2 yet even this plan was not felt to be scriptural1 as the watch might be reckoned among articles needful and useful in the ,lord's service1 and1 if such1 expedients were quite abandoned1 the deliverance would be more manifest as of the ,lord4 ,and so1 one by one1 all resorts were laid aside that might imperil full trust and sole dependence upon the one and only ,helper4 ,when the poverty of their resources seemed most pinching1 ,mr4 ,muller still comforted himself with the daily proof that ,god had not forgotten1 and would day by day feed them with 'the bread of their convenience4' ,often he said to himself1 ,if it is even a proverb of the world that ,man's necessity is ,god's opportunity1 how much more may ,god's own dear children in their great need look to ,him to make their extremity the fit moment to display ,his love and power6 ,in ,february1 #ahdj1 another attack of ill health combined with a mission to ,germany to lead ,mr4 ,muller for five weeks to the ,continent4 ,at ,heimersleben1 where he found his father weakened by a serious cough1 the two rooms in which he spent most time in prayer and reading of the ,word1 and confession of the ,lord1 were the same in which1 nearly twenty years before1 he had passed most time as an unreconciled sinner against ,god and man4 ,later on1 at ,wolfenbuttel1 he saw the inn whence in #ahba he ran away in debt4 ,in taking leave once more of his father he was pierced by a keen anguish1 fearing it was his last farewell1 and an unusual tenderness and affection were now exhibited by his father1 whom he yearned more and more to know as safe in the ,lord ,jesus1 and depending no longer on outward and formal religiousness1 or substituting the reading of prayers and of ,scripture for an inward conformity to ,christ4 ,this proved the last interview1 for the father died on ,march #cjth of the same year4 ,the main purpose of this journey to ,germany was to send forth more missionaries to the ,east4 ,at ,sandersleben ,mr4 ,muller met his friend1 ,mr4 ,stahlschmidt1 and found a little band of disciples meeting in secret to evade the police4 ,those who have always breathed the atmosphere of religious liberty know little of such intolerance as1 in that nominally ,christian land1 stifled all freedom of ,worship4 ,eleven years before1 when ,mr4 ,stahlschmidt's servant had come to this place1 he had found scarce one true disciple beside his master4 ,the first meetings had been literally of but two or three1 and1 when they had grown a little larger1 ,mr4 ,kroll was summoned before the magistrates and1 like the apostles in the first days of the church1 forbidden to speak in ,his name4 ,but again1 like those same primitive disciples1 believing that they were to obey ,god rather than men1 the believing band had continued to meet1 notwithstanding police raids which were so disturbing1 and government fines which were so exacting4 ,so secret1 however1 were their assemblies1 as to have neither stated place nor regular time4 ,george ,muller found these persecuted believers1 meeting in the room of a humble weaver where there was but one chair4 ,the twenty-five or thirty who were present found such places to sit or stand as they might1 in and about the loom1 which itself filled half the space4 ,in ,halberstadt ,mr4 ,muller found seven large ,protestant churches without one clergyman who gave evidence of true conversion1 and the few genuine disciples there were likewise forbidden to meet together4 ,a few days after returning to ,bristol from his few weeks in ,germany1 and at a time of great financial distress in the work1 a letter reached him from a brother who had often before given money1 as follows3 ,have you any present need for the ,institution under your care8 ,i know you do not ask1 except indeed of ,him whose work you are doing2 but to answer when asked seems another thing1 and a right thing4 ,i have a reason for desiring to know the present state of your means towards the objects you are labouring to serve3 viz41 should you not have need1 other departments of the ,lord's work1 or other people of the ,lord1 may have need4 ,kindly then inform me1 and to what amount1 i4e4 what amount you at this present time need or can profitably lay out4 ,to most men1 even those who carry on a work of faith and prayer1 such a letter would have been at least a temptation4 ,but ,mr4 ,muller did not waver4 ,to announce even to an inquirer the exact needs of the work would1 in his opinion1 involve two serious risks3 #a4 ,it would turn his own eyes away from ,god to man2 #b4 ,it would turn the minds of saints away from dependence solely upon ,him4 ,this man of ,god had staked everything upon one great experiment--he had set himself to prove that the prayer which resorts to ,god only will bring help in every crisis1 even when the crisis is unknown to ,his people whom ,he uses as the means of relief and help4 ,at this time there remained in hand but twenty-seven pence ha'penny1 in all1 to meet the needs of hundreds of orphans4 ,nevertheless this was the reply to the letter3 ,whilst ,i thank you for your love1 and whilst ,i agree with you that1 in general1 there is a difference between asking for money and answering when asked1 nevertheless1 in our case1 ,i feel not at liberty to speak about the state of our funds1 as the primary object of the work in my hands is to lead those who are weak in faith to see that there is reality in dealing with ,god alone4 ,consistently with his position1 however1 no sooner was the answer posted than the appeal went up to the ,living ,god3 ,lord1 thou knowest that1 for ,thy sake1 ,i did not tell this brother about our need4 ,now1 ,lord1 show afresh that there is reality in speaking to ,thee only1 about our need1 and speak therefore to this brother so that he may help us4 ,in answer1 ,god moved this inquiring brother to send one hundred pounds1 which came when not one penny was in hand4 ,the confidence of faith1 long tried1 had its increasing reward and was strengthened by experience4 ,in ,july1 #ahde1 ,mr4 ,muller gave this testimony reviewing these very years of trial3 ,though for about seven years1 our funds have been so exhausted that it has been comparatively a rare case that there have been means in hand to meet the necessities of the orphans for three days together1 yet ,i have been only once tried in spirit1 and that was on ,september #ah1 #ahch1 when for the first time the ,lord seemed not to regard our prayer4 ,but when ,he did send help at that time1 and ,i saw that it was only for the trial of our faith1 and not because ,he had forsaken the work1 that we were brought so low1 my soul was so strengthened and encouraged that ,i have not only not been allowed to distrust the ,lord since that time1 but ,i have not even been cast down when in the deepest poverty4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,new ,,lessons ,,in ,,god',s ,,school ,,of ,,prayer ,,the teacher must also be a learner1 and therefore only he who continues to learn is competent to continue to teach4 ,nothing but new lessons1 daily mastered1 can keep our testimony fresh and vitalizing and enable us to give advance lessons4 ,instead of being always engaged in a sort of review1 our teaching and testimony will thus be drawn each day from a new and higher level4 ,george ,muller's experiences of prevailing prayer went on constantly accumulating1 and so qualified him to speak to others1 not as on a matter of speculation1 theory1 or doctrinal belief1 but of long1 varied1 and successful personal experiment4 ,patiently1 carefully and frequently1 he seeks to impress on others the conditions of effective supplication4 ,from time to time he met those to whom his courageous1 childlike trust in ,god was a mystery2 and occasionally unbelief's secret misgivings found a voice in the question1 what he would do if ,god did not send help6 what1 if a meal-time actually came with no food1 and no money to procure it2 or if clothing were worn out1 and nothing to replace it8 ,to all such questions there was always ready this one answer3 that such a failure on ,god's part is inconceivable1 and must therefore be put among the impossibilities4 ,there are1 however1 conditions necessary on man's part3 the suppliant soul must come to ,god in the right spirit and attitude4 ,for the sake of such readers as might need further guidance as to the proper and acceptable manner of approach to ,god1 he was wont to make very plain the scripture teaching upon this point4 ,five grand conditions of prevailing prayer were ever before his mind3 #a4 ,entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 as the only ground of any claim for blessing4 7,see ,john xiv4 #ac1 #ad2 xv4 #af1 etc47 #b4 ,separation from all known sin4 ,if we regard iniquity in our hearts1 the ,lord will not hear us1 for it would be sanctioning sin4 7,psalm lxvi4 #ah47 #c4 ,faith in ,god's word of promise as confirmed by ,his oath4 ,not to believe ,him is to make ,him both a liar and a perjurer4 7,hebrews xi4 #f2 vi4 #ac-bj47 #d4 ,asking in accordance with ,his will4 ,our motives must be godly3 we must not seek any gift of ,god to consume it upon our own lusts4 7#a ,john v4 #ad2 ,james iv4 #c47 #e4 ,importunity in supplication4 ,there must be waiting on ,god and waiting for ,god1 as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest4 7,james v4 #g2 ,luke xviii4 #a-aj47 ,the importance of firmly fixing in mind principles such as these cannot be overstated4 ,the first lays the basis of all prayer1 in our oneness with the great ,high ,priest4 ,the second states a condition of prayer1 found in abandonment of sin4 ,the third reminds us of the need of honouring ,god by faith that ,he is1 and is the ,rewarder of the diligent seeker4 ,the fourth reveals the sympathy with ,god that helps us to ask what is for our good and ,his glory4 ,the last teaches us that1 having laid hold of ,god in prayer1 we are to keep hold until ,his arm is outstretched in blessing4 ,where these conditions do not exist1 for ,god to answer prayer would be both a dishonour to ,himself and a damage to the suppliant4 ,to encourage those who come to ,him in their own name1 or in a self-righteous1 self-seeking1 and disobedient spirit1 would be to set a premium upon continuance in sin4 ,to answer the requests of the unbelieving would be to disregard the double insult put upon ,his word of promise and ,his oath of confirmation1 by persistent doubt of ,his truthfulness and distrust of ,his faithfulness4 ,indeed not one condition of prevailing prayer exists which is not such in the very nature of things4 ,these are not arbitrary limitations affixed to prayer by a despotic will2 they are necessary alike to ,god's character and man's good4 ,all the lessons learned in ,god's school of prayer made ,mr4 ,muller's feelings and convictions about this matter more profound and subduing4 ,he saw the vital relation of prayer to holiness1 and perpetually sought to impress it upon both his hearers and readers2 and1 remembering that for the purpose of persuasion the most effective figure of speech is repetition1 he hesitated at no frequency of restatement by which such truths might find root in the minds and hearts of others4 ,there has never been a saint1 from ,abel's day to our own1 who has not been taught the same essential lessons4 ,all prayer which has ever brought down blessing has prevailed by the same law of success--the inward impulse of ,god's ,holy ,spirit4 ,if1 therefore1 that ,spirit's teachings be disregarded or disobeyed1 or ,his inward movings be hindered1 in just such measure will prayer become formal or be altogether abandoned4 ,sin1 consciously indulged1 or duty1 knowingly neglected1 makes supplication an offence to ,god4 ,again1 all prayer prevails only in the measure of our real1 even if not conscious1 unity with the ,lord ,jesus ,christ as the ground of our approach1 and in the degree of our dependence on ,him as the medium of our access to ,god4 ,yet again1 all prayer prevails only as it is offered in faith2 and the answer to such prayer can be recognized and received only on the plane of faith2 that is1 we must maintain the believing frame1 expecting the blessing1 and being ready to receive it in ,god's way and time and form1 and not our own4 ,the faith that thus expects cannot be surprised at answers to prayer4 ,when1 in ,november1 #ahdj1 a sister gave ten pounds for the orphans1 and at a time specially opportune1 ,mr4 ,muller records his triumphant joy in ,god as exceeding and defying all expression4 ,yet he was free from excitement and not in the least surprised1 because by grace he had been trustfully waiting on ,god for deliverance4 ,help had been so long delayed that in one of the houses there was no bread1 and in none of them any milk or any money to buy either4 ,it was only a few minutes before the milkman's cart was due1 that this money came4 ,however faithful and trustful in prayer1 it behooves us to be none the less careful and diligent in the use of all proper means4 ,here again ,mr4 ,muller's whole life is a lesson to other believers4 ,for example1 when travelling in other lands1 or helping other brethren on their way1 he besought the ,lord's constant guardianship over the conveyances used1 and even over the luggage so liable to go astray4 ,but he himself looked carefully to the seaworthiness of the vessel he was to sail in1 and to every other condition of safe and speedy transportation for himself and others4 ,in one case where certain ,german brethren and sisters were departing for foreign shores1 he noticed the manner in which the cabman stored away the small luggage in the fly2 and observed that several carpetbags were hastily thrust into a hind boot4 ,he also carefully counted the pieces of luggage and took note of the fact that there were seventeen in all4 ,on arriving at the wharf1 where there is generally much hurry and flurry1 the dishonest cabman would have driven off with a large part of the property belonging to the party1 but for this man of ,god who not only prayed but watched4 ,he who trusted ,god implicitly1 no less faithfully looked to the cabman's fidelity1 who1 after he pretended to have delivered all the luggage to the porters1 was compelled to open that hind boot and1 greatly to his own confusion1 deliver up the five or six bags hidden away there4 ,mr4 ,muller adds in his ,narrative that such a circumstance should teach one to make the very smallest affairs a subject of prayer1 as1 for instance1 that all the luggage might be safely taken out of a fly4 ,may we not add that such a circumstance teaches us that companion lesson1 quite as important in its way1 that we are to be watchful as well as prayerful1 and see that a dishonest cab-driver does not run off with another's goods6 ,this praying saint1 who watched man1 most of all watched ,god4 ,even in the lesser details of his work1 his eye was ever looking for ,god's unfailing supplies1 and taking notice of the divine leadings and dealings2 and1 afterward1 there always followed the fruit of the lips1 giving thanks to ,his name4 ,here is another secret revealed3 prayerfulness and thankfulness--those two handmaidens ,of ,god--always go together1 each helping the other4 ,pray without ceasing3 in everything give thanks4 7#a ,thess4 v4 #ag1 #ah47 ,these two precepts stand side by side where they belong1 and he who neglects one will find himself disobeying the other4 ,this man who prayed so much and so well1 offered the sacrifice of praise to ,god continually4 ,for example1 on ,september #ba1 #ahdj1 a specific entry was made in the ,narrative1 so simple1 childlike1 and in every way characteristic1 that every word of it is precious4 ,the ,lord1 to show ,his continued care over us1 raises up new helpers4 ,they that trust in the ,lord shall never be confounded4 ,some who helped for a while may fall asleep in ,jesus2 others grow cold in the service of the ,lord2 others be as desirous as ever to help1 but no longer able2 or1 having means1 feel it to be ,his will to lay them out in another way4 ,but in leaning upon ,god1 the ,living ,god alone1 we are ,,beyond ,,disappointment and ,,beyond being forsaken because of death1 or want of means1 or want of love1 or because of the claims of other work4 ,how precious to have learned1 in any measure1 to be content to stand with ,god alone in the world1 and to know that surely no good thing shall be withheld from us1 whilst we walk uprightly6 ,among the gifts received during this long life of stewardship for ,god some deserve individual mention4 ,to an offering received in ,march1 #ahci1 a peculiar history attaches4 ,the circumstances attending its reception made upon him a deep impression4 ,he had given a copy of the ,annual ,report to a believing brother who had been greatly stirred up to prayer by reading it2 and knowing his own sister1 who was also a disciple1 to possess sundry costly ornaments and jewels1 such as a heavy gold chain1 a pair of gold bracelets1 and a superb ring set with fine brilliants1 this brother besought the ,lord so to show her the uselessness of such trinkets that she should be led to lay them all upon ,his altar as an offering for the orphan work4 ,this prayer was literally answered4 ,her sacrifice of jewels proved of service to the work at a time of such pressing need that ,mr4 ,muller's heart specially rejoiced in ,god4 ,by the proceeds of the sale of these ornaments he was helped to meet the expenses of a whole week1 and besides to pay the salaries due to the helpers4 ,but1 before disposing of the diamond ring1 he wrote with it upon the window-pane of his own room that precious name and title of the ,lord--,,jehovah ,,jireh--and henceforth whenever1 in deep poverty1 he cast his eyes upon those two words1 imperishably written with the point of a diamond upon that pane1 he thankfully remembered that ,,the ,,lord ,,will ,,provide4 ,how many of his fellow believers might find unfailing refreshment and inspiration in dwelling upon the divine promises6 ,ancient believers were bidden to write ,god's words on the palms of their hands1 the doorposts of their houses1 and on their gates1 so that the employments of their hands1 their goings out and comings in1 their personal and home life1 might be constant reminders of ,jehovah's everlasting faithfulness4 ,he who inscribed this chosen name of ,god upon the window-pane of his dwelling1 found that every ray of sunlight that shone into his room lit up his ,lord's promise4 ,he thus sums up the experiences of the year #ahdj3 #a4 ,notwithstanding multiplied trials of faith1 the orphans have lacked nothing4 #b4 ,instead of being disappointed in his expectations or work1 the reverse had been true1 such trials being seen to be needful to demonstrate that the ,lord was their ,helper in times of need4 #c4 ,such a way of living brings the ,lord very near1 as one who daily inspects the need that ,he may send the more timely aid4 #d4 ,such constant1 instant reliance upon divine help does not so absorb the mind in temporal things as to unfit for spiritual employments and enjoyments2 but rather prompts to habitual communion with the ,lord and ,his ,word4 #e4 ,other children of ,god may not be called to a similar work1 but are called to a like faith1 and may experience similar interposition if they live according to ,his will and seek ,his help4 #f4 ,the incurring of debt1 being unscriptural1 is a sin needing confession and abandonment if we desire unhindered fellowship with ,god1 and experience of ,his interposition4 ,it was in this year #ahdj1 also1 that a further object was embraced in the work of the ,scripture ,knowledge ,institution1 namely1 the circulation of ,christian books and tracts4 ,but1 as the continuance and enlargement of these benevolent activities made the needs greater1 so1 in answer to prayer1 the ,hand of the great ,provider bestowed larger supplies4 ,divine interposition will never be doubted by one who1 like ,george ,muller1 gives himself to prayer1 for the coincidences will prove too exact and frequent between demand and supply1 times and seasons of asking and answering1 to allow of doubt that ,god has helped4 ,the 'ethics of language' embody many lessons4 ,for example1 the term 'poetic retribution' describes a visitation of judgment where the penalty peculiarly befits the crime4 ,as poetic lines harmonize1 rhyme and rhythm showing the work of a designing hand1 so there is often harmony between an offense and its retribution1 as when ,adonibezek1 who had afflicted a like injury upon threescore and five captive kings1 had his own thumbs and great toes cut off1 or as when ,haman was himself hung on the gallows that he built for ,mordecai4 ,we read in ,psalm ix4 #af3 ,the ,lord is known by the judgment which ,he executeth3 ,the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands4 ,the inspired thought is that the punishment of evil-doers is in such exact correspondence with the character of their evil doings as to show that it is the ,lord executing vengeance--the penalty shows a designing hand4 ,he who watches the peculiar retributive judgments of ,god1 how ,he causes those who set snares and pitfalls for others to fall into them themselves1 will not doubt that behind such 'poetic retribution' there is an intelligent ,judge4 ,somewhat so the poetic harmony between prayer and its answer silences all question as to a discriminating ,hearer of the suppliant soul4 ,a single case of such answered prayer might be accounted accidental2 but1 ever since men began to call upon the name of the ,lord1 there have been such repeated1 striking1 and marvelous correspondences between the requests of man and the replies of ,god1 that the inference is perfectly safe1 the induction has too broad a basis and too large a body of particulars to allow mistake4 ,the coincidences are both too many and too exact to admit the doctrine of chance4 ,we are compelled1 not to say justified1 to conclude that the only sufficient and reasonable explanation must be found in a ,god who hears and answers prayer4 ,mr4 ,muller was not the only party to these transactions1 nor the only person thus convinced that ,god was in the whole matter of the work and its support4 ,the donors as well as the receiver were conscious of divine leading4 ,frequent were the instances also when those who gave most timely help conveyed to ,mr4 ,muller the knowledge of the experiences that accompanied or preceded their offerings2 as1 for example1 when1 without any intimation being given them from man that there was special need1 the heart was impressed in prayer to ,god that there was an emergency requiring prompt assistance4 ,for example1 in ,june1 #ahda1 fifty pounds were received with these words3 ,i am not concerned at my having been prevented for so many days from sending this money2 ,i am confident it has not been needed4 ,this last sentence is remarkable1 says ,mr4 ,muller4 ,it is now nearly three years since our funds were for the first time exhausted1 and only at this period1 since then1 could it have been said in truth1 so far as ,i remember1 that a donation of fifty pounds was not needed4 ,from the beginning in ,july1 #ahch1 till now1 there never had been a period when we so abounded as when this donation came2 for there were then1 in the orphan fund and the other funds1 between two and three hundred pounds6 ,the words of our brother are so much the more remarkable as1 on four former occasions1 when he likewise gave considerable donations1 we were always in need1 yea1 great need1 which he afterwards knew from the printed accounts4 ,prevailing prayer is largely conditioned on constant obedience4 ,whatsoever we ask we receive of ,him1 because we keep ,his commandments1 and do those things which are well pleasing in ,his sight4 7#a ,john iii4 #bb47 ,there is no way of keeping in close touch with ,god unless a new step is taken in advance whenever new light is given4 ,here is another of the life-secrets of ,george ,muller4 ,without unduly counting the cost1 he followed every leading of ,god4 ,in ,july1 #ahda1 both ,mr4 ,craik and ,mr4 ,muller were impressed that the existing mode of receiving free-will offerings from those among whom they laboured was inexpedient4 ,these contributions were deposited in boxes1 over which their names were placed with an explanation of the purpose to which such offerings were applied4 ,but it was felt that this might have the appearance of unduly elevating them above others1 as though they were assuming official importance1 or excluding others from full and equal recognition as labourers in word and doctrine4 ,they therefore decided to discontinue this mode of receiving such offerings4 ,such an act of obedience may seem to some1 over-scrupulous1 but it cost some inward struggles1 for it threatened a possible and probable decrease in supplies for their own needs1 and the question naturally arose how such lack should be supplied4 ,happily ,mr4 ,muller had long ago settled the question that to follow a clear sense of duty is always safe4 ,he could say1 in every such crisis1 ,o ,god1 my heart is fixed1 my heart is fixed1 trusting in ,thee4 7,psalm cxii4 #g47 ,once for all having made such a decision1 such apparent risks did not for a moment disturb his peace4 ,somehow or other the ,lord would provide1 and all he had to do was to serve and trust ,him and leave the rest to ,his ,fatherhood4 ,in the autumn of #ahda it pleased ,god that1 beyond any previous period1 there should be a severe test of faith4 ,for some months the supplies had been comparatively abundant1 but now1 from day to day and from meal to meal1 the eye of faith had to be turned to the ,lord1 and1 notwithstanding continuance in prayer1 help seemed at times to fail1 so much so that it was a special sign of ,god's grace that1 during this long trial of delay1 the confidence of ,mr4 ,muller and his helpers did not altogether give way4 ,but he and they were held up1 and he unwaveringly rested on the fatherly pity of ,god4 ,on one occasion a poor woman gave two pence1 adding1 ,it is but a trifle1 but ,i must give it to you4 ,yet so opportune was the gift of these 'two mites' that one of these two pence was just what was at that time needed to make up the sum required to buy bread for immediate use4 ,at another time eight pence more being necessary to provide for the next meal1 but seven pence were in hand2 but on opening one of the boxes1 one penny only was found deposited1 and thus a single penny was traced to the ,father's care4 ,it was in ,december of this same year1 #ahda1 that1 in order to show how solely dependence was placed on a heavenly ,provider1 it was determined to delay for a while both the holding of any public meeting and the printing of the ,annual ,report4 ,mr4 ,muller was confident that1 though no word should be either spoken or printed about the work and its needs1 the means would still be supplied4 ,as a matter of fact the report of #ahda-b was thus postponed for five months2 and so1 in the midst of deep poverty and partly because of the very pressure of such need1 another bold step was taken1 which1 like the cutting away of the ropes that held the life-boat1 in that ,mediterranean shipwreck1 threw ,mr4 ,muller1 and all that were with him in the work1 more completely on the promise and the providence of ,god4 ,it might be inferred that1 where such a decision was made1 the ,lord would make haste to reward at once such courageous confidence4 ,and yet1 so mysterious are ,his ways1 that never1 up to that time1 had ,mr4 ,muller's faith been tried so sharply as between ,december #ab1 #ahda1 and ,april #ab1 #ahdb4 ,during these four months1 again1 it was as though ,god were saying1 ,i will now see whether indeed you truly lean on ,me and look to ,me4 ,at any time during this trial1 ,mr4 ,muller might have changed his course1 holding the public meeting and publishing the report1 for1 outside the few who were in his councils1 no one knew of the determination1 and in fact many children of ,god1 looking for the usual year's journal of ',the ,lord's ,dealings1' were surprised at the delay4 ,but the conclusion conscientiously reached was1 for the glory of the ,lord1 as steadfastly pursued1 and again ,jehovah ,jireh revealed ,his faithfulness4 ,during this four months1 on ,march #i1 #ahdb1 the need was so extreme that1 had no help come1 the work could not have gone on4 ,but1 on that day1 from a brother living near ,dublin1 ten pounds came3 and the hand of the ,lord clearly appeared in this gift1 for when the post had already come and no letter had come with it1 there was a strong confidence suggested to ,mr4 ,muller's mind that deliverance was at hand2 and so it proved1 for presently the letter was brought to him1 having been delivered at one of the other houses4 ,during this same month1 it was necessary once to delay dinner for about a half-hour1 because of a lack of supplies4 ,such a postponement had scarcely ever been known before1 and very rarely was it repeated in the entire after-history of the work1 though thousands of mouths had to be daily fed4 ,in the spring of #ahdc1 ,mr4 ,muller felt led to open a fourth orphan house1 the third having been opened nearly six years before4 ,this step was taken with his uniform conscientiousness1 deliberation1 and prayerfulness4 ,he had seen many reasons for such enlargement of the work1 but he had said nothing about the matter even to his beloved wife4 ,day by day he waited on ,god in prayer1 preferring to take counsel only of ,him1 lest he might do something in haste1 move in advance of clear leading1 or be biassed unduly by human judgment4 ,unexpected obstacles interfered with his securing the premises which had already been offered and found suitable2 but he was in no way 'discomforted4' ,the burden of his prayer was1 ,lord1 if ,thou hast no need of another orphan house1 ,i have none2 and he rightly judged that the calm deliberation with which he had set about the whole matter1 and the unbroken peace with which he met new hindrances1 were proofs that he was following the guidance of ,god and not the motions of self-will4 ,as the public meeting and the publication of the ,annual ,report had been purposely postponed to show that no undue dependence was placed even on indirect appeals to man1 much special prayer went up to ,god1 that1 before ,july #ae1 #ahdd1 when the public meeting was to be held1 ,he would so richly supply all need that it might clearly appear that1 notwithstanding these lawful means of informing ,his servants concerning the work had for a time not been used1 the prayer of faith had drawn down help from above4 ,as the financial year had closed in ,may1 it would be more than two years since the previous report had been made to the public4 ,george ,muller was jealous for the ,lord ,god of hosts1 ,he desired that even the shadow of ground might be cut off for persons to say1 ',they cannot get any more money2 and therefore they now publish another report4' ,hence1 while1 during the whole progress of the work1 he desired to stand with his ,master1 without heeding either the favourable or unfavourable judgments of men1 he felt strongly that ,god would be much honoured and glorified as the prayer-hearing ,god if1 before the public had been at all apprised of the situation1 an ample supply might be given4 ,in such case1 instead of appearing to ask aid of men1 he and his associates would be able to witness to the church and the world1 ,god's faithfulness1 and offer ,him the praise of joyful and thankful hearts4 ,as he had asked1 so was it done unto him4 ,money and other supplies came in1 and1 on the day before the accounts were closed1 such liberal gifts1 that there was a surplus of over twenty pounds for the whole work4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,following ,,the ,,pillar ,,of ,,cloud ,,and ,,fire ,,the steps of a good man are ordered by the ,lord4 7,psalm xxxvii4 #bc47 ,some one quaintly adds1 ,yes1 and the stops1 too6 ,the pillar of cloud and fire is a symbol of that divine leadership which guides both as to forward steps and intervals of rest4 ,mr ,muller found it blessed to follow1 one step at a time1 as ,god ordered his way1 and to stand still and wait when ,he seemed to call for a halt4 ,at the end of ,may1 #ahdc1 a crisis was reached1 which was a new example of the experiences to which faith is liable in the walk with ,god2 and a new illustration of the duty and delight of depending upon ,him in everything and for everything1 habitually waiting upon ,him1 and trusting in ,him to remove all hindrances in the way of service4 ,some eighteen months previously1 a ,german lady from ,wurtemberg had called to consult him as to her own plans1 and1 finding her a comparative stranger to ,god1 he spoke to her about her spiritual state1 and gave her the first two parts of his ,narrative4 ,the perusal of these pages was so blest to her that she was converted to ,god1 and felt moved to translate the ,narrative into her own tongue as a channel of similar blessing to other hearts4 ,this work of translation she partially accomplished1 though somewhat imperfectly2 and the whole occurrence impressed ,mr4 ,muller as an indication that ,god was once more leading him in the direction of ,germany1 for another season of labour in his native land4 ,much prayer deepened his persuasion that he had not misread ,god's signal1 and that ,his time had now fully come4 ,he records some of the motives which led to this conclusion4 #a4 ,first1 he yearned to encourage believing brethren who for conscience' sake had felt constrained to separate themselves from the state churches1 and meet for worship in such conditions as would more accord with ,new ,testament principles1 and secure greater edification4 #b4 ,being a ,german himself1 and therefore familiar with their language1 customs1 and habits of thought1 he saw that he was fitted to wield a larger influence among his fellow countrymen than otherwise4 #c4 ,he was minded to publish his ,narrative in his own tongue wherein he was born1 not so much in the form of a mere translation1 as of an independent record of his life's experiences such as would be specially suited to its new mission4 #d4 ,an effectual door was opened before him1 and more widely than ever1 especially at ,stuttgart2 and although there were many adversaries1 they only made his help the more needful to those whose spiritual welfare was in peril4 #e4 ,a distinct burden was laid on his heart1 as from the ,lord1 which prayer1 instead of relieving1 increased--a burden which he felt without being able to explain--so that the determination to visit his native land gave him a certain peace which he did not have when he thought of remaining at home4 ,to avoid mistake1 with equal care he records the counter-arguments4 #a4 ,the new orphan house1 ,no4 #d1 was about to be opened1 and his presence was desirable if not needful4 #b4 ,a few hundred pounds were needed1 to be left with his helpers1 for current expenses in his absence4 #c4 ,money was also required for travelling expenses of himself and his wife1 whose health called for a change4 #d4 ,funds would be needful to publish four thousand copies of his ,narrative and avoid too high a market-price4 #e4 ,a matron for the new orphan house was not yet found1 suitable for the position4 ,in this careful weighing of matters many sincere disciples fail1 prone to be impatient of delay in making decisions4 ,impulse too often sways1 and self-willed plans betray into false and even disastrous mistakes4 ,life is too precious to risk one such failure4 ,there is given us a promise of deep meaning3 ,the meek will ,he guide in judgment2 ,and the meek will ,he teach ,his way4 7,psalm xxv4 #i47 ,here is a double emphasis upon meekness as a condition of such guidance and teaching4 ,meekness is a real preference for ,god's will4 ,where this holy habit of mind exists1 the whole being becomes so open to impression that1 without any outward sign or token1 there is an inward recognition and choice of the will of ,god4 ,god guides1 not by a visible sign1 but by swaying the judgment4 ,to wait before ,him1 weighing candidly in the scales every consideration for or against a proposed course1 and in readiness to see which way the preponderance lies1 is a frame of mind and heart in which one is fitted to be guided2 and ,god touches the scales and makes the balance to sway as ,he will4 ,but our hands must be off the scales1 otherwise we need expect no interposition of ,his1 in our favour4 ,to return to the figure with which this chapter starts1 the meek soul simply and humbly waits1 and watches the moving of the ,pillar4 ,one sure sign of this spirit of meekness is the entire restfulness with which apparent obstacles to any proposed plan or course are regarded4 ,when waiting and wishing only to know and do ,god's will1 hindrances will give no anxiety1 but a sort of pleasure1 as affording a new opportunity for divine interposition4 ,if it is the ,pillar of ,god we are following1 the ,red ,sea will not dismay us1 for it will furnish but another scene for the display of the power of ,him who can make the waters to stand up as an heap1 and to become a wall about us as we go through the sea on dry ground4 ,mr4 ,muller had learned this rare lesson1 and in this case he says3 ,i had a secret satisfaction in the greatness of the difficulties which were in the way4 ,so far from being cast down on account of them1 they delighted my soul2 for ,i only desired to do the will of the ,lord in this matter4 ,here is revealed another secret of holy serving4 ,to him who sets the ,lord always before him1 and to whom the will of ,god is his delight1 there pertains a habit of soul which1 in advance settles a thousand difficult and perplexing questions4 ,the case in hand is an illustration of the blessing found in such meek preference for ,god's pleasure4 ,if it were the will of the ,lord that this ,continental tour should be undertaken at that time1 difficulties need not cast him down2 for the difficulties could not be of ,god2 and1 if not of ,god1 they should give him no unrest1 for1 in answer to prayer1 they would all be removed4 ,if1 on the other hand1 this proposed visit to the ,continent were not ,god's plan at all1 but only the fruit of self-will2 if some secret1 selfish1 and perhaps subtle motive were controlling1 then indeed hindrances might well be interferences of ,god1 designed to stay his steps4 ,in the latter case1 ,mr4 ,muller rightly judged that difficulties in the way would naturally vex and annoy him2 that he would not like to look at them1 and would seek to remove them by his own efforts4 ,instead of giving him an inward satisfaction as affording ,god an opportunity to intervene in his behalf1 they would arouse impatience and vexation1 as preventing self-will from carrying out its own purposes4 ,such discriminations have only to be stated to any spiritual mind1 to have their wisdom at once apparent4 ,any believing child of ,god may safely gauge the measure of his surrender to the will of ,god1 in any matter1 by the measure of impatience he feels at the obstacles in the way2 for in proportion as self-will sways him1 whatever seems to oppose or hinder his plans will disturb or annoy2 and1 instead of quietly leaving all such hindrances and obstacles to the ,lord1 to deal with them as ,he pleases1 in ,his own way and time1 the wilful disciple will1 impatiently and in the energy of the flesh1 set himself to remove them by his own scheming and struggling1 and he will brook no delay4 ,whenever ,satan acts as a hinderer 7#a ,thess4 ii4 #ah7 the obstacles which he puts in our way need not dismay us2 ,god permits them to delay or deter us for the time1 only as a test of our patience and faith1 and the satanic hinderer will be met by a divine ,helper who will sweep away all his obstacles1 as with the breath of ,his mouth4 ,mr4 ,muller felt this1 and he waited on ,god for light and help4 ,but1 after forty days' waiting1 the hindrances1 instead of decreasing1 seemed rather to increase4 ,much more money was spent than was sent in2 instead of finding another suitable matron1 a sister1 already at work1 was probably about to withdraw1 so that two vacancies would need to be filled instead of one4 ,yet his rest and peace of mind were unbroken4 ,being persuaded that he was yielded up to the will of ,god1 faith not only held him to his purpose1 but saw the obstacles already surmounted1 so that he gave thanks in advance4 ,because ,caleb followed the ,lord fully1 even the giant sons of ,anak with their walled cities and chariots of iron had for him no terrors4 ,their defence was departed from them1 but the ,lord was with ,his believing follower1 and made him strong to drive them out and take possession of their very stronghold as his own inheritance4 ,during this period of patient waiting1 ,mr4 ,muller remarked to a believing sister3 ,well1 my soul is at peace4 ,the ,lord's time is not yet come2 but1 when it is come1 ,he will blow away all these obstacles1 as chaff is blown away before the wind4 ,a quarter of an hour later1 a gift of seven hundred pounds became available for the ends in view1 so that three of the five hindrances to this ,continental tour were at once removed4 ,all travelling expenses for himself and wife1 all necessary funds for the home work for two months in advance1 and all costs of publishing the ,narrative in ,german1 were now provided4 ,this was on ,july #abth2 and so soon afterward were the remaining impediments out of the way that1 by ,august #ith1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller were off for ,germany4 ,the trip covered but seven months3 and on ,march #f1 #ahdd1 they were once more in ,bristol4 ,during this sojourn abroad no journal was kept1 but ,mr4 ,muller's letters serve the purpose of a record4 ,rotterdam1 ,weinheim1 ,cologne1 ,mayence1 ,stuttgart1 ,heidelberg1 etc41 were visited1 and ,mr4 ,muller distributed tracts and conversed with individuals by the way2 but his main work was to expound the ,word in little assemblies of believers1 who had separated themselves from the state church on account of what they deemed errors in teaching1 practice1 modes of worship1 etc4 ,the first hour of his stay at ,stuttgart brought to him one of the sharpest trials of faith he had ever thus far experienced4 ,the nature of it he does not reveal in his journal1 but it now transpires that it was due to the recalling of the seven hundred pounds1 the gift of which had led to his going to ,germany4 ,this fact could not at the time be recorded because the party would feel it a reproach4 ,nor was this the only test of faith during his sojourn abroad2 in fact so many1 so great1 so varied1 and so prolonged were some of these trials1 as to call into full exercise all the wisdom and grace which he had received from ,god1 and whatever lessons he had previously learned in the school of experience became now of use4 ,yet not only was his peace undisturbed1 but he bears witness that the conviction so rooted itself in his inmost being that in all this ,god's goodness was being shown1 that he would have had nothing different4 ,the greatest trials bore fruit in the fullest blessings and sometimes in clusters of blessings4 ,it particularly moved him to adoring wonder and praise to see ,god's wisdom in having delayed his visit until the very time when it occurred4 ,had he gone any earlier he would have gone too soon1 lacking the full experience necessary to confront the perplexities of his work4 ,when darkness seemed to obscure his way1 faith kept him expectant of light1 or at least of guidance in the darkness2 and he found that promise to be literally fulfilled3 ,as thou goest1 step by step1 the way shall open up before thee4 7,see the ,hebrew1 of ,prov4 iv4 #ab47 ,at ,stuttgart he found and felt1 like ,jude1 that it was needful earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints4 ,even among believers1 errors had found far too deep root4 ,especially was undue stress laid upon baptism1 which was made to occupy a prominence and importance out of all due proportion of faith4 ,one brother had been teaching that without it there is no new birth1 and that1 consequently1 no one could1 before baptism1 claim the forgiveness of sins2 that the apostles were not born from above until the day of ,pentecost1 and that our ,lord ,himself had not been new-born until ,his own baptism1 and had thence1 for the rest of ,his mortal life1 ceased to be under the law6 ,many other fanciful notions were found to prevail1 such as that baptism is the actual death of the old man by drowning1 and that it is a covenant with the believer into which ,god enters2 that it is a sin to break bread with unbaptized believers or with members of the state church2 and that the bread and the cup used in the ,lord's ,supper not only mean but are the very body and blood of the ,lord1 etc4 ,a more serious and dangerous doctrine which it was needful to confront and confute was what ,mr4 ,muller calls that awful error1 spread almost universally among believers in that land1 that at last all will be saved1 not-sinful men only1 but even the devils themselves4 ,calmly and courteously1 but firmly and courageously1 these and kindred errors were met with the plain witness of the ,word4 ,refutation of false teaching aroused a spirit of bitterness in opposers of the truth1 and1 as is too often the case1 faithful testimony was the occasion of acrimony2 but the ,lord stood by ,his servant and so strengthened him that he was kept both faithful and peaceful4 ,one grave practical lack which ,mr4 ,muller sought to remedy was ignorance of those deeper truths of the ,word1 which relate to the power and presence of the ,holy ,spirit of ,god in the church1 and to the ministry of saints1 one to another1 as fellow members in the body of ,christ1 and as those to whom that same ,spirit divides severally1 as ,he will1 spiritual gifts for service4 ,as a natural result of being untaught in these important practical matters1 believers' meetings had proved rather opportunities for unprofitable talk than godly edifying which is in faith4 ,the only hope of meeting such errors and supplying such lack lay in faithful scripture teaching1 and he undertook for a time to act as the sole teacher in these gatherings1 that the word of ,god might have free course and be glorified4 ,afterward1 when there seemed to be among the brethren some proper apprehension of vital spiritual truths1 with his usual consistency and humility he resumed his place as simply a brother among fellow believers1 all of whom had liberty to teach as the ,spirit might lead and guide4 ,there was1 however1 no shrinking from any duty or responsibility laid upon him by larger1 clearer acquaintance with truth1 or more complete experience of its power4 ,when called by the voice of his brethren to expound the ,word in public assemblies1 he gladly embraced all opportunities for further instruction out of ,holy ,scripture and of witness to ,god4 ,with strong emphasis he dwelt upon the presiding presence of the ,blessed ,spirit in all assemblies of saints1 and upon the duty and privilege of leaving the whole conduct of such assemblies to ,his divine ordering2 and in perfect accord1 with such teaching he showed that the ,holy ,spirit1 if left free to administer all things1 would lead such brethren to speak1 at such times and on such themes as ,he mighty please2 and that1 whenever their desires and preferences were spiritual and not carnal1 such choice of the ,spirit would always be in harmony with their own4 ,these views of the ,spirit's administration in the assemblies of believers1 and of ,his manifestation in all believers for common profit1 fully accord with scripture teaching4 7#a ,cor4 xii41 ,romans xii41 ,ephes4 iv41 etc47 ,were such views practically held in the church of this day1 a radical revolution would be wrought and a revival of apostolic faith and primitive church life would inevitably follow4 ,no one subject is perhaps more misunderstood1 or less understood1 even among professed believers1 than the person1 offices1 and functions of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,john ,owen1 long since1 suggested that the practical test of soundness in the faith1 during the present gospel age1 is the attitude of the church toward the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if so1 the great apostasy cannot be far off1 if indeed it is not already upon us1 for there is a shameful ignorance and indifference prevalent1 as to the whole matter of ,his claim to holy reverence and obedience4 ,in connection with this visit to ,germany1 a curious misapprehension existed1 to which a religious periodical had given currency1 that ,mr4 ,muller was deputed by the ,english ,baptists to labour among ,german ,baptists to bring them back to the state church4 ,this rumour was of course utterly unfounded1 but he had no chance to correct it until just before his return to ,britain1 as he had not until then heard of it4 ,the ,lord had allowed this false report to spread and had used it to serve ,his own ends1 for it was due in part to this wrong impression of ,mr4 ,muller's mission that he was not molested or interfered with by the officers of the government4 ,though for months openly and undisguisedly teaching vital gospel truths among believers who had separated from the established church1 he had suffered no restraint1 for1 so long as it was thought that his mission in ,germany was to reclaim to the fold of the state church those who had wandered away1 he would of course be liable to no interference from state officials4 ,the ,lord went before ,his servant also in preparing the way for the publishing of his ,narrative1 guiding him to a bookseller who undertook its sale on commission1 enabling the author to retain two thousand copies to give away1 while the rest were left to be sold4 ,mr4 ,muller1 about this time1 makes special mention of his joy and comfort in the spiritual blessing attending his work1 and the present and visible good1 wrought through the publication of his ,narrative4 ,many believers had been led to put more faith in the promises of the great ,provider1 and unbelievers had been converted by their perusal of the simple story of the ,lord's dealings2 and these tidings came from every quarter where the ,narrative had as yet found its way4 ,the name of ,henry ,craik1 hitherto affixed to every report together with ,george ,muller's1 appears for the last time in the ,report of #ahdd4 ,this withdrawal of his name resulted1 not from any division of feeling or diminution of sympathy1 but solely from ,mr4 ,craik's conviction that the honour of being used of ,god as ,his instrument in forwarding the great work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution belonged solely to ,george ,muller4 ,the trials of faith ceased not although the occasions of praise were so multiplied4 ,on ,september #d1 #ahdd1 day-dawn1 but one farthing was left on hand1 and hundred and forty mouths were to be fed at breakfast6' ,the lack of money and such supplies was1 however1 only one form of these tests of faith and incentives to prayer4 ,indeed he accounted these the lightest of his burdens1 for there were other cares and anxieties that called for greater exercise of faith resolutely to cast them on ,him who1 in exchange for solicitude1 gives ,his own perfect peace4 ,what these trials were1 any thoughtful mind must at once see who remembers how these many orphans were needing1 not only daily supplies of food and clothing1 but education1 in mind and in morals2 preparation for1 and location in1 suitable homes2 careful guards about their health and every possible precaution and provision to prevent disease2 also the character of all helpers must be carefully investigated before they were admitted1 and their conduct carefully watched afterward lest any unworthy or unqualified party should find a place1 or be retained1 in the conduct of the work4 ,these and other matters1 too many to be individually mentioned1 had to be borne daily to the great ,helper1 without whose ,everlasting ,arms they could not have been carried4 ,and ,mr4 ,muller seeks constantly to impress on all who read his pages or heard his voice1 the perfect trustworthiness of ,god4 ,for any and all needs of the work help was always given1 and it never once came too late4 ,however poor1 and however long the suppliant believer waits on ,god1 he never fails to get help1 if he trusts the promises and is in the path of duty4 ,even the delay in answered prayer serves a purpose4 ,god permits us to call on ,him while ,he answers not a word1 both to test our faith and importunity1 and to encourage others who hear of ,his dealings with us4 ,and so it was that1 whether there were on hand much or little1 by ,god's grace the founder of these institutions remained untroubled1 confident that deliverance would surely come in the best way and time1 not only with reference to temporal wants1 but in all things needful4 ,during the history of the ,institution thus far1 enlargement had been its law4 ,mr4 ,muller's heart grew in capacity for larger service1 and his faith in capacity for firmer confidence1 so that while he was led to attempt greater things for ,god1 he was led also to expect greater things from ,god4 ,those suggestive words of ,christ to ,nathanael have often prompted like larger expectations3 ,believest thou8 thou shalt see greater things than these4 7,john i4 #ej47 ,in the year #ahdf1 the wants of the mission field took far deeper hold of him than ever before4 ,he had already been giving aid to brethren abroad1 in ,british ,guiana and elsewhere1 as well as in fields nearer at home4 ,but he felt a strong yearning to be used of ,god more largely in sending to their fields and supporting in their labours1 the chosen servants of the ,lord who were working on a scriptural basis and were in need of help4 ,he had observed that whenever ,god had put into his heart to devise liberal things1 ,he had put into his hand the means to carry out such liberal purposes2 and from this time forth he determined1 as far as ,god should enable him1 to aid brethren of good report1 labouring in word and doctrine1 throughout the ,united ,kingdom1 who were faithful witnesses to ,god and were receiving no regular salary4 ,the special object he had in view was to give a helping hand to such as for the sake of conscience and of ,christ had relinquished former stipends or worldly emoluments4 ,whatever enlargement took place in the work1 however1 it was no sign of surplus funds4 ,every department of service or new call of duty had separate and prayerful consideration4 ,advance steps were taken only when and where and so fast as the ,pillar moved1 and fresh work was often undertaken at a time when there was a lack rather than an abundance of money4 ,some who heard of ,mr4 ,muller's absence in ,germany inferred plenty of funds on hand--a conclusion that was neither true nor legitimate4 ,at times when poverty was most pressing1 additional expenditure was not avoided nor new responsibility evaded if1 after much prayer1 the ,lord seemed plainly leading in that direction4 ,and it was beautiful to see how ,he did not permit any existing work to be embarrassed because at ,his bidding new work was ,undertaken4 ,one great law for all who would be truly led by ,god's ,pillar of cloud and fire1 is to take no step at the bidding of self-will or without the clear moving of the heavenly ,guide4 ,though the direction be new and the way seem beset with difficulty1 there is never any risk1 provided we are only led of ,god4 ,each new advance needs separate and special authority from ,him1 and yesterday's guidance is not sufficient for to-day4 ,it is important also to observe that1 if one branch of the work is in straits1 it is not necessarily a reason for abandoning another form of service4 ,the work of ,god depends on ,him alone4 ,if the whole tree is ,his planting1 we need not cut off one limb to save another4 ,the whole body is ,his1 and1 if one member is weak1 it is not necessary to cut off another to make it strong1 for the strength of the whole body is the dependence of every part4 ,in our many-branching service each must get vitality and vigour from the same source in ,god4 ,nevertheless let us not forget that the stops1 as well as the steps1 of a good man are ordered of the ,lord4 ,if the work is ,his work1 let ,him control it1 and1 whether we expand or contract1 let it be at ,his bidding1 and a matter of equal satisfaction to ,his servant4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,god',s ,,building3 ,,the ,,new ,,orphan ,,houses ,how complex are the movements of ,god's providence6 ,some events are themselves eventful4 ,like the wheels in ,ezekiel's vision--a wheel in the middle of a wheel1--they involve other issues within their mysterious mechanism1 and constitute epochs of history4 ,such an epochal event was the building of the first of the ,new ,orphan ,houses on ,ashley ,down4 ,after ,october1 #ahde1 it became clear to ,mr4 ,muller that the ,lord was leading in this direction4 ,residents on ,wilson ,street had raised objections to the noise made by the children1 especially in play hours2 the playgrounds were no longer large enough for so many orphans2 the drainage was not adequate1 nor was the situation of the rented houses favourable1 for proper sanitary conditions2 it was also desirable to secure ground for cultivation1 and thus supply outdoor work for the boys1 etc4 ,such were some of the reasons which seemed to demand the building of a new orphan house2 and the conviction steadily gained ground that the highest well-being of all concerned would be largely promoted if a suitable site could be found on which to erect a building adapted to the purpose4 ,there were objections to building which were carefully weighed3 money in large sums would be needed2 planning and constructing would severely tax time and strength2 wisdom and oversight would be in demand at every stage of the work2 and the question arose whether such permanent structures befit ,god's pilgrim people1 who have here no continuing city and believe that the end of all things is at hand4 ,continuance in prayer1 however1 brought a sense of quiet and restful conviction that all objections were overbalanced by other and favourable considerations4 ,one argument seemed particularly weighty3 ,should ,god provide large amounts of money for this purpose1 it would still further illustrate the power of prayer1 offered in faith1 to command help from on high4 ,a lot of ground1 spacious enough1 would1 at the outset1 cost thousands of pounds2 but why should this daunt a true child of ,god whose ,father was infinitely rich8 ,mr4 ,muller and his helpers sought day by day to be guided of ,god1 and1 as faith fed on this daily bread of contact with ,him1 the assurance grew strong that help would come4 ,shortly ,mr4 ,muller was as sure of this as though the building already stood before his eyes1 though for five weeks not one penny had been sent in for this purpose4 ,meanwhile there went on that searching scrutiny of his own heart by which he sought to know whether any hidden motive of a selfish sort was swaying his will2 but as strict self-examination brought to light no conscious purpose but to glorify ,god1 in promoting the good of the orphans1 and provoking to larger trust in ,god all who witnessed the work1 it was judged to be ,god's will that he should go forward4 ,in ,november of this year1 he was much encouraged by a visit from a believing brother99 who bade him go on in the work1 but wisely impressed on him the need of asking for wisdom from above1 at every step1 seeking ,god's help in showing him the plan for the building1 that all details might accord with the divine mind4 ,on the thirty-sixth day after specific prayer had first been offered about this new house1 on ,december #aj1 #ahde1 ,mr4 ,muller received one thousand pounds for this purpose1 the largest sum yet received in one donation since the work had begun1 ,march #e1 #ahcd4 ,yet he was as calm and composed as though the gift had been only a shilling2 having full faith in ,god1 as both guiding and providing1 he records that he would not have been surprised had the amount been five or ten times greater4 99 ,robert ,c4 ,chapman1 of ,barnstaple1 yet living--and whom ,mr4 ,muller cherished as his oldest friend4 ,three days later1 a ,christian architect in ,london voluntarily offered not only to draught the plans1 but gratuitously to superintend the building6 ,this offer had been brought about in a manner so strange as to be naturally regarded as a new sign and proof of ,god's approval and a fresh pledge of ,his sure help4 ,mr4 ,muller's sister-in-law1 visiting the metropolis1 had met this architect2 and1 finding him much interested to know more of the work of which he had read in the narrative1 she had told him of the purpose to build2 whereupon1 without either solicitation or expectation on her part1 this cheerful offer was made4 ,not only was this architect not urged by her1 but he pressed his proposal1 himself1 urged on by his deep interest in the orphan work4 ,thus1 within forty days1 the first thousand pounds had been given in answer to prayer1 and a pious man1 as yet unseen and unknown by ,mr4 ,muller1 had been led to offer his services in providing plans for the new building and superintending its erection4 ,surely ,god was moving before ,his servant4 ,for a man1 personally penniless1 to attempt to erect such a house1 on such a scale1 without appeal to man and in sole dependence on ,god was no small venture of faith4 ,the full risk involved in such an undertaking1 and the full force of the testimony which it has since afforded to a prayer-hearing ,god1 can be felt only as the full weight of the responsibility is appreciated and all the circumstances are duly considered4 ,first of all1 ground must be bought1 and it must comprise six or seven acres1 and the site must be in or near ,bristol2 for ,mr4 ,muller's general sphere of work was in the city1 the orphans and their helpers should be within reasonable reach of their customary meeting-place1 and on many other accounts such nearness to the city was desirable4 ,but such a site would cost from two thousand to three thousand pounds4 ,next the building must be constructed1 fitted up1 and furnished1 with accommodations for three hundred orphans and their overseers1 teachers1 and various helpers4 ,however plain the building and its furnishings1 the total cost would reach from three to four times the price of the site4 ,then1 the annual cost of keeping such house open and of maintaining such a large body of inmates would be four or five thousand pounds more4 ,here1 then1 was a prospective outlay of somewhere between ten thousand and fifteen thousand pounds1 for site and building1 with a further expense of one third as much more every year4 ,no man so poor as ,george ,muller1 if at the same time sane1 would ever have thought of such a gigantic scheme1 much less have undertaken to work it out1 if his faith and hope were not fixed on ,god4 ,mr4 ,muller himself confesses that here lay his whole secret4 ,he was not driven onward by any self-seeking1 but drawn onward by a conviction that he was doing the will of ,god4 ,when ,constantine was laying out on a vast scale the new capital on the ,bosphorus1 he met the misgivings of those about him who wondered at his audacity1 by simply saying1 ,i am following ,one who is leading me4 ,george ,muller's scheme was not self-originated4 ,he followed ,one who was leading him2 and1 because confident and conscious of such guidance1 he had only to follow1 trust1 and wait4 ,in proportion as the undertaking was great1 he desired ,god's hand to be very clearly seen4 ,hence he forbore even to seem prominent3 he issued no circular1 announcing his purpose1 and spoke of it only to the few who were in his councils1 and even then only as conversation led in that direction4 ,he remembered the promise1 ,i will guide thee with ,mine eye1 and looking up to ,god1 he took no step unless the divine glance or beck made duty clear as daylight4 ,as he saw the matter1 his whole business was to wait on ,god in prayer with faith and patience4 ,the assurance became doubly sure that ,god would build for ,himself a large orphan house near ,bristol1 to show to all1 near and far1 what a blessed privilege it is to trust in ,him4 ,he desired ,god ,himself so manifestly to act as that he should be seen by all men to be nothing but ,his instrument1 passive in ,his hands4 ,meanwhile he went on with his daily search into the ,word1 where he found instruction so rich1 and encouragement so timely1 that the ,scriptures seemed written for his special use--to convey messages to him from above4 ,for example1 in the opening of the ,book of ,ezra1 he saw how ,god1 when ,his time had fully come for the return of ,his exiled people to their own land and for the rebuilding of ,his ,temple1 used ,cyrus1 an idolatrous king1 to issue an edict1 and to provide means for carrying out ,his own unknown purpose4 ,he saw also how ,god stirred up the people to help the returning exiles in their work2 and he said to himself1 this same ,god can and will1 in ,his own way1 supply the money and all the needed help of man1 stirring up the hearts of ,his own children to aid as ,he may please4 ,the first donations toward the work themselves embody a suggestive lesson4 ,on ,december #ajth1 one thousand pounds had been given in one sum2 twenty days later1 fifty pounds more2 and the next day1 three and sixpence1 followed1 the same evening1 by a second gift of a thousand pounds4 ,shortly after1 a little bag1 made of foreign seeds1 and a flower wrought of shells1 were sent to be sold for the fund2 and1 in connection with these last gifts1 of very little inherent value1 a promise was quoted1 which had been prominently before the giver's mind1 and which brought more encouragement to ,mr4 ,muller than any mere sum of money3 ,who art thou1 ,o great mountain8 ,before ,zerubbabel1 thou shalt become a plain6 7,zech4 iv4 #g47 ,gifts1 however large1 were never estimated by intrinsic worth1 but as tokens of ,god's working in the minds of ,his people1 and of ,his gracious working with and through ,his servant2 and1 for this reason1 a thousand pounds caused no more sincere praise to ,god and no more excitement of mind than the fourpence given subsequently by a poor orphan4 ,specially asking the ,lord to go before him1 ,mr4 ,muller now began to seek a suitable site4 ,about four weeks passed in seemingly fruitless search1 when he was strongly impressed that very soon the ,lord would give the ground1 and he so told his helpers on the evening of ,saturday1 ,january #ca1 #ahdf4 ,within two days1 his mind was drawn to ,ashley ,down1 where he found lots singularly suited for his needs4 ,shortly after1 he called twice on the owner1 once at his house and again at his office2 but on both occasions failing to find him1 he only left a message4 ,he judged that ,god's hand was to be seen even in his not finding the man he sought1 and that1 having twice failed the same day1 he was not to push the matter as though self-willed1 but patiently wait till the morrow4 ,when he did find the owner1 his patience was unexpectedly rewarded4 ,he confessed that he had spent two wakeful hours in bed1 thinking about his land1 and about what reply he should make to ,mr4 ,muller's inquiry as to its sale for an orphan house2 and that he had determined1 if it were applied for1 to ask but one hundred and twenty pounds an acre1 instead of two hundred1 his previous price4 ,the bargain was promptly completed2 and thus the ,lord's servant1 by not being in a hurry1 saved1 in the purchase of the site of seven acres1 five hundred and sixty pounds6 ,mr4 ,muller had asked the ,lord to go before him1 and ,he had done so in a sense he had not thought of1 first speaking about the matter to the owner1 holding his eyes waking till ,he had made clear to him1 as ,his servant and steward1 what ,he would have him do in the sale of that property499 99 ,appendix ,g4 ,six days after1 came the formal offer from the ,london architect of his services in surveying1 in draughting plans1 elevations1 sections1 and specifications1 and in overseeing the work of construction2 and a week later he came to ,bristol1 saw the site1 and pronounced it in all respects well fitted for its purpose4 ,up to ,june #d1 #ahdf1 the total sum in hand for the building was a little more than twenty-seven hundred pounds1 a small part only of the sum needful2 but ,mr4 ,muller felt no doubt that in ,god's own time all that was required would be given4 ,two hundred and twelve days he had been waiting on ,god for the way to be opened for building1 and he resolved to wait still further until the whole sum was in hand1 using for the purpose only such gifts as were specified or left free for that end4 ,he also wisely decided that others must henceforth share the burden1 and that he would look out ten brethren of honest report1 full of the ,holy ,ghost and of wisdom1 to act as trustees to hold and administer this property in ,god's name4 ,he felt that1 as this work was now so enlarging1 and the foundations of a permanent ,institution were to be laid1 the ,christian public1 who would aid in its erection and support1 would be entitled to a representation in its conduct4 ,at such a point as this many others have made a serious mistake1 forfeiting confidence by administering public benefactions in a private manner and an autocratic spirit--their own head being the office1 and their own pocket the treasury1 of a public and benevolent institution4 ,satan again acted as a hinderer4 ,after the ground for the new orphan house had been found1 bought and paid for1 unforeseen obstacles prevented prompt possession2 but ,mr4 ,muller's peace was not disturbed1 knowing even hindrances to be under ,god's control4 ,if the ,lord should allow one piece of land to be taken from him1 it would only be because ,he was about to give him one still better2 and so the delay only proved his faith and perfected his patience4 ,on ,july #fth1 two thousand pounds were given--twice as large a gift as had yet come in one donation2 and1 on ,january #be1 #ahdg1 another like offering1 so that1 on ,july #eth following1 the work of building began4 ,six months later1 after four hundred days of waiting upon ,god for this new orphan house1 nine thousand pounds had been given in answer to believing prayer4 ,as the new building approached completion1 with its three hundred large windows1 and requiring full preparation for the accommodation of about three hundred and thirty inmates1 although above eleven thousand pounds had been provided1 several thousand more were necessary4 ,but ,mr4 ,muller was not only helped1 but far beyond his largest expectations4 ,up to ,may #bf1 #ahdh1 these latter needs existed1 and1 had but one serious difficulty remained unremoved1 the result must have been failure4 ,but all the necessary money was obtained1 and even more1 and all the helpers were provided for the oversight of the orphans4 ,on ,june #ah1 #ahdi1 more than twelve years after the beginning of the work1 the orphans began to be transferred from the four rented houses on ,wilson ,street to the new orphan house on ,ashley ,down4 ,five weeks passed before fresh applicants were received1 that everything about the new institution might first be brought into complete order by some experience in its conduct4 ,by ,may #bf1 #ahej1 however1 there were in the house two hundred and seventy-five children1 and the whole number of inmates was three hundred and eight4 ,the name--,the ,new ,orphan ,house rather than ,asylum--was chosen to distinguish it from another institution1 near by2 and particularly was it requested that it might never be known as ,mr4 ,muller's ,orphan ,house1 lest undue prominence be given to one who had been merely ,god's instrument in its erection4 ,he esteemed it a sin to appropriate even indirectly1 or allow others to attribute to him1 any part of the glory which belonged solely to ,him who had led in the work1 given faith and means for it1 and helped in it from first to last4 ,the property was placed in the hands of eleven trustees1 chosen by ,mr4 ,muller1 and the deeds were enrolled in chancery4 ,arrangements were made that the house should be open to visitors only on ,wednesday afternoons1 as about one hour and a half were necessary to see the whole building4 ,scarcely were the orphans thus housed on ,ashley ,down1 before ,mr4 ,muller's heart felt enlarged desire that one thousand1 instead of three hundred1 might enjoy such privileges of temporal provision and spiritual instruction2 and1 before the new year1 #ahea1 had dawned1 this yearning had matured into a purpose4 ,with his uniform carefulness and prayerfulness1 he sought to be assured that he was not following self-will1 but the will of ,god2 and again in the scales of a pious judgment the reasons for and against were conscientiously weighed4 ,would he be going 'beyond his measure1' spiritually1 or naturally8 ,was not the work1 with its vast correspondence and responsibility1 already sufficiently great8 ,would not a new orphan house for three hundred orphans cost another fifteen thousand pounds1 or1 if built for seven hundred1 with the necessary ground1 thirty-five thousand8 ,and1 even when built and fitted and filled1 would there not be the providing for daily wants1 which is a perpetual care1 and cannot be paid for at once like a site and a building8 ,it would demand eight thousand pounds annual outlay to provide for another seven hundred little ones4 ,to all objections the one all-sufficient answer was the all-sufficient ,god2 and1 because ,mr4 ,muller's eye was on ,his power1 wisdom1 and riches1 his own weakness1 folly1 and poverty were forgotten4 ,another objection was suggested3 ,what if he should succeed in thus housing and feeding a thousand poor waifs1 what would become of the institution after his death8 ,the reply is memorable3 ,my business is1 with all my might1 to serve my own generation by the will of ,god3 in so doing ,i shall best serve the next generation1 should the ,lord ,jesus tarry4 ,were such objection valid1 it were as valid against beginning any work likely to outlive the worker4 ,and ,mr4 ,muller remembered how ,francke at ,halle had to meet the same objection when1 now over two hundred years ago1 he founded the largest charitable establishment which1 up to #ahea1 existed in the world4 ,but when1 after about thirty years of personal superintendence1 ,francke was taken away1 his son-in-law1 as we have seen1 became the director4 ,that fellow countryman who had spoken to ,mr4 ,muller's soul in #ahbf1 thus twenty-five years later encouraged him to go forward1 to do his own duty and leave the future to the ,eternal ,god4 ,several reasons are recorded by ,mr4 ,muller as specially influencing still further advance3 the many applications that could not1 for want of room1 be accepted2 the low moral state of the poorhouses to which these children of poverty were liable to be sent2 the large number of distressing cases of orphanhood1 known to be deserving of help2 the previous experiences of the ,lord's gracious leading and of the work itself2 his calmness in view of the proposed expansion2 and the spiritual blessing possible to a larger number of homeless children4 ,but one reason overtopped all others3 an enlarged service to man1 attempted and achieved solely in dependence upon ,god1 would afford a correspondingly weightier witness to the ,hearer of prayer4 ,these reasons1 here recorded1 will need no repetition in connection with subsequent expansions of the work1 for1 at every new stage of advance1 they were what influenced this servant of ,god4 ,on ,january #d1 #ahea1 another offering was received1 of three thousand pounds--the largest single donation up to that date--which1 being left entirely to his own disposal1 encouraged him to go forward4 ,again1 he kept his own counsel4 ,up to ,january #beth1 he had not mentioned1 even to his own wife1 his thought of a further forward movement1 feeling that1 to avoid all mistakes1 he must first of all get clear light from ,god1 and not darken it by misleading human counsel4 ,not until the ,twelfth ,report of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution was issued1 was the public apprised of his purpose1 with ,god's help to provide for seven hundred more needy orphans4 ,up to ,october #b1 #ahea1 only about eleven hundred pounds had been given directly toward the second proposed orphan house1 and1 up to ,may #bfth following1 a total of some thirty-five hundred pounds4 ,but ,george ,muller remembered one who1 after he had patiently endured1 obtained the promise4 ,he had waited over two years before all means needful for the first house had been supplied1 and could wait still longer1 if so ,god willed it1 for the answers to present prayers for means to build a second4 ,after waiting upwards of nineteen months for the building fund for the second house1 and receiving1 almost daily1 something in answer to prayer1 on ,january #d1 #ahec1 he had intimation that there were about to be paid him1 as the joint donation of several ,christians1 eighty-one hundred pounds1 of which he appropriated six thousand for the building fund4 ,again he was not surprised nor excited1 though exceeding joyful and triumphant in ,god4 ,just two years previous1 when recording the largest donation yet received1--three thousand pounds1--he had recorded also his expectation of still greater things2 and now a donation between two and three times as large was about to come into his hands4 ,it was not the amount of money1 however1 that gave him his overflowing delight1 but the fact that not in vain had he made his boast in ,god4 ,as now some four hundred and eighty-three orphans were waiting for admission1 he was moved to pray that soon the way might be opened for the new building to be begun4 ,james i4 #d was deeply impressed upon him as the injunction now to be kept before him3 ,but let patience have her perfect work1 that ye may be perfect1 and entire1 wanting nothing4 ,on ,may #bf1 #ahec1 the total sum available for the new building was about twelve thousand five hundred pounds1 and over five hundred orphans had applied4 ,twice this sum would be needed1 however1 before the new house could be begun without risk of debt4 ,on ,january #h1 #ahee1 several ,christian friends united in the promise that fifty-seven hundred pounds should be paid to him for the work of ,god1 and of this1 thirty-four hundred was by him set apart for the building fund4 ,as there were now between seven hundred and eight hundred applicants1 it seemed of ,god that1 at least1 a site should be secured for another new orphan house2 and a few weeks later ,mr4 ,muller applied for the purchase of two fields adjoining the site of the first house4 ,as they could not1 however1 be sold at that time1 the only resource was to believe that the ,lord had other purposes1 or would give better ground than that on which ,his servant had set his mind4 ,further thought and prayer suggested to him that two houses could be built instead of one1 and located on each side of the existing building1 upon the ground already owned4 ,accordingly it was determined to begin1 on the south side1 the erection of a house to accommodate four hundred orphans1 there being money in the bank1 or soon to be available1 sufficient to build1 fit up1 and furnish it4 ,on ,may #bf1 #ahef1 nearly thirty thousand pounds were in hand for the new ,orphan ,house ,no4 #b2 and on ,november #ab1 #aheg1 this house was opened for four hundred additional orphans1 and there was a balance of nearly twenty-three hundred pounds4 ,the ,god who provided the building furnished the helpers1 without either difficulty or advertising4 ,with the beginning of the new year1 ,mr4 ,muller began to lay aside six hundred pounds as the first of the appropriations for the third orphan house1 and the steps which led to the accomplishment of this work1 also1 were identical with those taken hitherto4 ,a purchase was made of additional ground1 adjoining the two buildings2 and1 as there were so many applicants and the cost of providing for a larger number would be but little more1 it was determined to build so as to receive four hundred and fifty instead of three hundred1 rejoicing that1 in every enlargement of the work1 it would be more apparent how much one poor man1 simply trusting in ,god1 can bring about by prayer2 and that thus other children of ,god might be led to carry on the work of ,god in dependence solely on ,him1 and generally to trust ,him more in all circumstances and positions4 ,orphan ,house ,no4 #c was opened ,march #ab1 #ahfb1 and with over ten thousand pounds in hand for current expenses4 ,all the helpers needed had not then been supplied1 but this delay was only a new incentive to believing prayer3 and1 instead of once1 thrice1 a day1 ,god was besought to provide suitable persons4 ,one after another was thus added1 and in no case too late1 so that the reception of children was not hindered nor was the work embarrassed4 ,still further enlargement seemed needful1 for the same reasons as previously4 ,there was an increasing demand for accommodation of new applicants1 and past experience of ,god's wondrous dealings urged him both to attempt and to expect greater things4 ,orphan ,houses ,nos4 #d and #e began to loom up above his horizon of faith4 ,by ,may #bf1 #ahfb1 he had over sixty-six hundred pounds to apply on their erection4 ,in ,november1 #ahfd1 a large donation of five thousand pounds was received from a donor who would let neither his name nor residence be known1 and by this time about twenty-seven thousand pounds had thus accumulated toward the fifty thousand required4 ,as more than half the requisite sum was thus in hand1 the purchase of a site might safely be made and the foundations for the buildings be laid4 ,mr4 ,muller eyes had1 for years1 been upon land adjoining the three houses already built1 separated from them only by the turnpike road4 ,he called to see the agent1 and found that the property was subject to a lease that had yet two years to run4 ,this obstacle only incited to new prayer1 but difficulties seemed to increase3 the price asked was too high1 and the ,bristol ,waterworks ,company was negotiating for this same piece of land for reservoir purposes4 ,nevertheless ,god successively removed all hindrances1 so that the ground was bought and conveyed to the trustees in ,march1 #ahfe2 and1 after the purchase-money was paid1 about twenty-five thousand pounds yet remained for the structures4 ,both the cost and the inconvenience of building would be greatly lessened by erecting both houses at the same time2 and ,god was therefore asked for ample means speedily to complete the whole work4 ,in ,may1 #ahff1 over thirty-four thousand pounds being at ,mr4 ,muller's disposal1 ,no4 #d was commenced2 and in ,january following1 ,no4 #e also4 ,up to the end of ,march1 #ahfg1 over fifty thousand pounds had been supplied1 leaving but six thousand more needful to fit and furnish the two buildings for occupancy4 ,by the opening of ,february1 #ahfh4 fifty-eight thousand pounds in all had been donated2 so that1 on ,november #e1 #ahfh1 new ,orphan ,house ,no4 #d1 and on ,january #f1 #ahgj1 ,no4 #e1 were thrown open1 a balance of several thousand pounds remaining for general purposes4 ,thus1 early in #ahgj1 the orphan work had reached its complete outfit1 in five large buildings on ,ashley ,down with accommodations for two thousand orphans and for all needed teachers and assistants4 ,thus have been gathered1 into one chapter1 the facts about the erection of this great monument to a prayer-hearing ,god on ,ashley ,down1 though the work of building covered so many years4 ,between the first decision to build1 in #ahde1 and the opening of the third house1 in #ahfb1 nearly seventeen years had elapsed1 and before ,no4 #e was opened1 in #ahgj1 twenty-five years4 ,the work was one in its plan and purpose4 ,at each new stage it supplies only a wider application and illustration of the same laws of life and principles of conduct1 as1 from the outset of the work in ,bristol1 had with growing power controlled ,george ,muller4 ,his one supreme aim was the glory of ,god2 his one sole resort1 believing prayer2 his one trusted oracle1 the inspired ,word2 and his one divine ,teacher1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,one step taken in faith and prayer had prepared for another2 one act of trust had made him bolder to venture upon another1 implying a greater apparent risk and therefore demanding more implicit trust4 ,but answered prayer was rewarded faith1 and every new risk only showed that there was no risk in confidently leaning upon the truth and faithfulness of ,god4 ,one cannot but be impressed1 in visiting the orphan houses1 with several prominent features1 and first of all their magnitude4 ,they are very spacious1 with about seventeen hundred large windows1 and accommodations for over two thousand inmates4 ,they are also very substantial1 being built of stone and made to last4 ,they are scrupulously plain2 utility rather than beauty seems conspicuously stamped upon them1 within and without4 ,economy has been manifestly a ruling law in their construction2 the furniture is equally unpretentious and unostentatious2 and1 as to garniture1 there is absolutely none4 ,to some few1 they are almost too destitute of embellishment1 and ,mr4 ,muller has been blamed for not introducing some aesthetic features which might relieve this bald utilitarianism and serve to educate the taste of these orphans4 ,to all such criticisms1 there are two or three adequate answers4 ,first1 ,mr4 ,muller subordinated everything to his one great purpose1 the demonstration of the fact that the ,living ,god is the ,hearer of prayer4 ,second1 he felt himself to be the steward of ,god's property1 and he hesitated to spend one penny on what was not necessary to the frugal carrying on of the work of ,god4 ,he felt that all that could be spared without injury to health1 a proper mental training1 and a thorough scriptural and spiritual education1 should be reserved for the relief of the necessities of the poor and destitute elsewhere4 ,and again1 he felt that1 as these orphans were likely to be put at service in plain homes1 and compelled to live frugally1 any surroundings which would accustom them to indulge refined tastes1 might by contrast make them discontented with their future lot4 ,and so he studied to promote simply their health and comfort1 and to school them to contentment when the necessities of life were supplied4 ,but1 more than this1 a moment's serious thought will show that1 had he surrounded them with those elegancies which elaborate architecture and the other fine arts furnish1 he might have been even more severely criticised4 ,he would have been spending the gifts of the poor who often sorely denied themselves for the sake of these orphans1 to purchase embellishments or secure decorations which1 if they had adorned the humble homes of thousands of donors1 would have made their gifts impossible4 ,when we remember how many offerings1 numbering tens of thousands1 were1 like the widow's mites1 very small in themselves1 yet1 relatively to ability1 very large1 it will be seen how incongruous it would have been to use the gifts1 saved only by limiting even the wants of the givers1 to buy for the orphans what the donors could not and would not afford for themselves4 ,cleanness1 neatness1 method1 and order1 however1 everywhere reign1 and honest labour has always had1 at the orphan houses1 a certain dignity4 ,the tracts of land1 adjoining the buildings1 are set apart as vegetable-gardens1 where wholesome exercise is provided for the orphan boys1 and1 at the same time1 work that helps to provide daily food1 and thus train them in part to self-support4 ,throughout these houses studious care is exhibited1 as to methodical arrangement4 ,each child has a square and numbered compartment for clothes1 six orphans being told off1 at a time1 in each section1 to take charge4 ,the boys have each three suits1 and the girls1 five dresses each1 the girls being taught to make and mend their own garments4 ,in the nursery1 the infant children have books and playthings to occupy and amuse them1 and are the objects of tender maternal care4 ,several children are often admitted to the orphanage from one family1 in order to avoid needless breaking of household ties by separation4 ,the average term of residence is about ten years1 though some orphans have been there for seventeen4 ,the daily life is laid out with regularity and goes on like clockwork in punctuality4 ,the children rise at six and are expected to be ready at seven1 the girls for knitting and the boys for reading1 until eight o'clock1 when breakfast is served4 ,half an hour later there is a brief morning service1 and the school begins at ten4 ,half an hour of recreation on the playground prepares for the one-o'clock dinner1 and school is resumed1 until four2 then comes an hour and a half of play or outdoor exercise1 a half-hour service preceding the six-o'clock meal4 ,then the girls ply the needle1 and the boys are in school1 until bedtime1 the younger children going to rest at eight1 and the older1 at nine4 ,the food is simple1 ample1 and nutritious1 consisting of bread1 oatmeal1 milk1 soups1 meat1 rice1 and vegetables4 ,everything is adjusted to one ultimate end2 to use ,mr4 ,muller's own words3 ,we aim at this3 that1 if any of them do not turn out well1 temporally or spiritually1 and do not become useful members of society1 it shall not at least be our fault4 ,the most thorough and careful examination of the whole methods of the institution will only satisfy the visitor that it will not be the fault of those who superintend this work1 if the orphans are not well fitted1 body and soul1 for the work of life1 and are not prepared for a blessed immortality4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,the ,,manifold ,,grace ,,of ,,god ,,some one has quaintly said1 in commenting upon the ,twenty-third ,psalm1 that the coach in which the ,lord's saints ride has not only a driver1 but two footmen--goodness and mercy shall follow me4 ,surely these two footmen of the ,lord1 in their celestial livery of grace1 followed ,george ,muller all the days of his life4 ,wonderful as is the story of the building of those five orphan houses on ,ashley ,down1 many other events and experiences no less showed the goodness and mercy of ,god1 and must not be unrecorded in these pages1 if we are to trace1 however imperfectly1 ,his gracious dealings2 and having1 by one comprehensive view1 taken in the story of the orphan homes1 we may retrace our steps to the year when the first of these houses was planned1 and1 following another path1 look at ,mr4 ,muller's personal and domestic life4 ,he himself loved to trace the ,lord's goodness and mercy1 and he saw abundant proofs that they had followed him4 ,a few instances may be given1 from different departments of experience1 as representative examples4 ,the ,lord's tender care was manifest as to his beloved daughter ,lydia4 ,it became clear in the year #ahdc1 that1 both for the relief of the mother and the profit of the daughter1 it would be better that ,lydia should be taught elsewhere than at home2 and in answer to prayer1 her father was divinely directed to a ,christian sister1 whose special gifts in the way of instructing and training children were manifestly from the ,spirit1 who divides unto all believers severally as ,he will4 ,she seemed to be marked of ,god1 as the woman to whom was to be intrusted the responsible task of superintending the education of ,lydia4 ,mr4 ,muller both expected and desired to pay for such training1 and asked for the account1 which in the first instance he paid1 but the exact sum was returned to him anonymously2 and1 for the six remaining years of his daughter's stay1 he could get no further bills for her schooling4 ,thus ,god provided for the board and education of this only child1 not only without cost to her parents1 but to their intense satisfaction as being under the true nurture and admonition of the ,lord2 for while at this school1 in ,april1 #ahdf1 ,lydia found peace in believing1 and began that beautiful life in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that1 for forty-four years afterward1 so singularly exhibited ,his image4 ,many ,christian parents have made the fatal mistake of intrusting their children's education to those whose gifts were wholly intellectual and not spiritual1 and who have misled the young pupils entrusted to their care1 into an irreligious or infidel life1 or1 at best1 a career of mere intellectualism and worldly ambition4 ,in not a few instances1 all the influences of a pious home have been counteracted by the atmosphere of a school which1 if not godless1 has been without that fragrance of spiritual devoutness and consecration which is indispensable to the true training of impressible children during the plastic years when character is forming for eternity6 ,goodness and mercy followed ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller conspicuously in their sojourn in ,germany in #ahde1 which covered about three months1 from ,july #aith to ,october #aath4 ,god plainly led to ,stuttgart1 where brethren had fallen into grievous errors and needed again a helping hand4 ,when the strong impression laid hold of ,mr4 ,muller1 more than two months before his departure for the ,continent1 that he was to return there for a season1 he began definitely to pray for means to go with1 on ,may #crd1 and1 within a quarter hour after1 five hundred pounds were received1 the donor specifying that the money was given for all expenses needful1 preparatory to1 and attendant upon this proposed journey4 ,the same goodness and mercy followed all his steps while abroad4 ,provision was made1 in ,god's own strange way1 for suitable lodgings in ,stuttgart1 at a time when the city was exceptionally crowded1 a wealthy retired surgeon1 who had never before rented apartments1 being led to offer them4 ,all ,mr4 ,muller's labours were attended with blessing3 during part of the time he held as many as eight meetings a week2 and he was enabled to publish eleven tracts in ,german1 and judiciously to scatter over two hundred and twenty thousand of them1 as well as nearly four thousand of his ,narrative1 and yet evade interference from the police4 ,one experience of this sojourn abroad should have special mention for the lesson it suggests1 both in charity for others' views and loving adaptation to circumstances4 ,a providential opening occurred to address meetings of about one hundred and fifty members of the state church4 ,in his view the character of such assemblies was not wholly conformed to the ,scripture pattern1 and hence did not altogether meet his approval2 but such opportunity was afforded to bear testimony for the truth's sake1 and to exhibit ,christian unity upon essentials1 for love's sake1 that he judged it of the ,lord that he should enter this open door4 ,those who knew ,mr4 ,muller but little1 but knew his positive convictions and uncompromising loyalty to them1 might suspect that he would have little forbearance with even minor errors1 and would not bend himself from his stern attitude of inflexibility to accommodate himself to those who were ensnared by them4 ,but those who knew him better1 saw that he held fast the form of sound words with faith and love which are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,like ,paul1 ever ready to be made all things to all men that by all means he might save some1 in his whole character and conduct nothing shone more radiantly beautiful1 than ,love4 ,he felt that he who would lift up others must bow himself to lay hold on them2 that to help brethren we must bear with them1 not insisting upon matters of minor importance as though they were essential and fundamental4 ,hence his course1 instead of being needlessly repellant1 was tenderly conciliatory2 and it was a conspicuous sign of grace that1 while holding his own views of truth and duty so positively and tenaciously1 the intolerance of bigotry was so displaced by the forbearance of charity that1 when the ,lord so led and circumstances so required1 he could conform for a time to customs whose propriety he doubted1 without abating either the earnestness of his conviction or the integrity of his testimony4 ,god's goodness and mercy were seen in the fact that1 whenever more liberal things were devised for ,him1 ,he responded in providing liberally means to carry out such desires4 ,this was abundantly illustrated not only in the orphan work1 but in the history of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution2 when1 for years together1 the various branches of this work grew so rapidly1 until the point of full development was reached4 ,the time indeed came when1 in some departments1 it pleased ,god that contraction should succeed expansion1 but even here goodness ruled1 for it was afterward seen that it was because other brethren had been led to take up such branches of the ,lord's work1 in all of which developments ,mr4 ,muller as truly rejoiced as though it had been his work alone that was honoured of ,god4 ,the aiding of brethren in the mission fields grew more and more dear to his heart1 and the means to indulge his unselfish desires were so multiplied that1 in #ahdf1 he found1 on reviewing the history of the ,lord's dealings1 that he had been enabled to expend about seven times as much of late years as previously4 ,it may here be added1 again by way of anticipation1 that when1 nineteen years later1 in #ahfe1 he sat down to apportion to such labourers in the ,lord as he was wont to assist1 the sums he felt it desirable to send to each1 he found before him the names of one hundred and twenty-two such6 ,goodness and mercy indeed6 ,here was but one branch of his work1 and yet to what proportions and fruitfulness it had grown6 ,he needed four hundred and sixty-six pounds to send them to fill out his appropriations1 and he lacked ninety-two of this amount4 ,he carried the lack to the ,lord1 and that evening received five pounds1 and the next morning a hundred more1 and a further birthday memorial of fifty1 so that he had in all thirty-seven more than he had asked4 ,what goodness and mercy followed him in the strength he ever had to bear the heavy loads of care incident to his work6 ,the ,lord's coach bore him and his burdens together4 ,day by day his gracious ,master preserved his peace unbroken1 though disease found its way into this large family1 though fit homes and work must be found for outgoing orphans1 and fit care and training for incoming orphans2 though crises were constantly arising and new needs constantly recurring1 grave matters daily demanded prayer and watching1 and perpetual diligence and vigilance were needful2 for the ,lord was his ,helper1 and carried all his loads4 ,during the winter of #ahdf-g there was a peculiar season of dearth4 ,would ,god's goodness and mercy fail8 ,there were those who looked on1 more than half incredulous1 saying to themselves if not to others1 ,i wonder how it is now with ,mr4 ,muller and his orphans6 ,if he is able to provide for them now as he has been1 we will say nothing4 ,but all through this time of widespread want his witness was1 ,we lack nothing3 ,god helps us4 ,faith led when the way was too dark for sight2 in fact the darker the road the more was the ,hand felt that leads the blind by a way they know not4 ,they went through that winter as easily as through any other from the beginning of the work6 ,was it no sign that ,god's 'footmen' followed ,george ,muller that the work never ceased to be both a work of faith and of prayer8 that no difficulties or discouragements1 no successes or triumphs1 ever caused for an hour a departure from the sublime essential principles on which the work was based1 or a diversion from the purpose for which it had been built up8 ,we have heard it said of a brother1 much honoured of ,god in beginning a work of faith1 that1 when it had grown to greater proportions1 he seemed to change its base to that of a business scheme4 ,how it glorifies ,god that the holy enterprise1 planted in ,bristol in #ahcd1 has known no such alteration in its essential features during all these years6 ,though the work grew1 and its needs with it1 until the expenses were twofold1 threefold1 fourfold1 and1 at last1 seventyfold what they were when that first ,orphan ,house was opened in ,wilson ,street1 there has been no change of base1 never any looking to man for patronage or support1 never any dependence upon a regular income or fixed endowment4 ,god has been1 all through these years1 as at first1 the sole ,patron and ,dependence4 ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution has not been wrecked on the rocks of financial failure1 nor has it even drifted away from its original moorings in the safe anchorage-ground of the ,promises of ,jehovah4 ,was it not goodness and mercy that kept ,george ,muller ever grateful as well as faithful6 ,he did not more constantly feel his need of faith and prayer than his duty and privilege of abounding joy and praise4 ,some might think that1 after such experiences of answered prayer1 one would be less and less moved by them1 as the novelty was lost in the uniformity of such interpositions4 ,but no4 ,when1 in ,june1 #ahec1 at a time of sore need1 the ,lord sent1 in one sum1 three hundred pounds1 he could scarcely contain his triumphant joy in ,god4 ,he walked up and down his room for a long time1 his heart overflowing and his eyes too1 his mouth filled with laughter and his voice with song1 while he gave himself afresh to the faithful ,master he served4 ,god's blessings were to him always new and fresh4 ,answered prayers never lost the charm of novelty2 like flowers plucked fresh every hour from the gardens of ,god1 they never got stale1 losing none of their beauty or celestial fragrance4 ,and what goodness and mercy was it that never suffered prayerfulness and patience to relax their hold1 either when answers seemed to come fast and thick like snow-flakes1 or when the heavens seemed locked up and faith had to wait patiently and long6 ,every day brought new demands for continuance in prayer4 ,in fact1 as ,mr4 ,muller testifies1 the only difference between latter and former days was that the difficulties were greater in proportion as the work was larger4 ,but he adds that this was to be expected1 for the ,lord gives faith for the very purpose of trying it for the glory of ,his own name and the good of him who has the faith1 and it is by these very trials that trust learns the secret of its triumphs4 ,goodness and mercy not only guided but also guarded this servant of ,god4 ,god's footmen bore a protecting shield which was always over him4 ,amid thousands of unseen perils1 occasionally some danger was known1 though generally after it was passed4 ,while at ,keswick labouring in #ahdg1 for example1 a man1 taken deranged while lodging in the same house1 shot himself4 ,it afterward transpired that he had an impression that ,mr4 ,muller had designs on his life1 and had he met ,mr4 ,muller during this insane attack he would probably have shot him with the loaded pistol he carried about on his person4 ,the pathway of this man of ,god sometimes led through deep waters of affliction1 but goodness and mercy still followed1 and held him up4 ,in the autumn of #aheb1 his beloved brother-in-law1 ,mr4 ,a4 ,n4 ,groves1 came back from the ,east ,indies1 very ill2 and in ,may of the next year1 after blessed witness for ,god1 he fell asleep at ,mr4 ,muller's house4 ,to him ,mr4 ,muller owed much through grace at the outset of his labours in #ahbi4 ,by his example his faith had been stimulated and helped when1 with no visible support or connection with any missionary society1 ,mr4 ,groves had gone to ,baghdad with wife and children1 for the sake of mission work in this far-off field1 resigning a lucrative practice of about fifteen hundred pounds a year4 ,the tie between these men was very close and tender and the loss of this brother-in-law gave keen sorrow4 ,in ,july following1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller went through a yet severer trial4 ,lydia1 the beloved daughter and only child1--born in #ahcb and new-born in #ahdf1 and at this time twenty years old and a treasure without price1--was taken ill in the latter part of ,june1 and the ailment developed into a malignant typhoid which1 two weeks later1 brought her to the gates of death4 ,these parents had to face the prospect of being left childless4 ,but faith triumphed and prayer prevailed4 ,their darling ,lydia was spared to be1 for many years to come1 a blessing beyond words1 not only to them and to her future husband1 but to many others in a wider circle of influence4 ,mr4 ,muller found1 in this trial1 a special proof of ,god's goodness and mercy1 which he gratefully records1 in the growth in grace1 evidenced in his entire and joyful acquiescence in the ,father's will1 when1 with such a loss apparently before him1 his confidence was undisturbed that all things would work together for good4 ,he could not but contrast with this experience of serenity1 that broken peace and complaining spirit with which he had met a like trial in ,august1 #ahca1 twenty-one years before4 ,how1 like a magnet among steel filings1 the thankful heart finds the mercies and picks them out of the black dust of sorrow and suffering6 ,the second volume of ,mr4 ,muller's ,narrative closes with a paragraph in which he formally disclaims as impudent presumption and pretension all high rank as a miracle-worker1 and records his regret that any work1 based on scriptural promises and built on the simple lines of faith and prayer1 should be accounted either phenomenal or fanatical4 ,the common ways of accounting for its success would be absurdly ridiculous and amusing were they not so sadly unbelieving4 ,those who knew little or nothing1 either of the exercise of faith or the experience of ,god's faithfulness1 resorted to the most ,god-dishonouring explanations of the work4 ,some said3 ,mr4 ,muller is a foreigner2 his methods are so novel as to attract attention4 ,others thought that the ,annual ,reports brought in the money1 or suggested that he had a secret treasure4 ,his quiet reply was1 that his being a foreigner would be more likely to repel than to attract confidence2 that the novelty would scarcely avail him after more than a score of years2 that other institutions which issued reports did not always escape want and debt2 but1 as to the secret treasure to which he was supposed to have access1 he felt constrained to confess that there was more in that supposition than the objectors were aware of4 ,he had indeed a ,treasury1 inexhaustible--in the promises of a ,god unchangeably faithful--from which he admits that he had already in #ahef drawn for twenty-two years1 and in all over one hundred and thirteen thousand pounds4 ,as to the ,reports1 it may be worth while to notice that he never but once in his life advertised the public of any need1 and that was the need of more orphans--more to care for in the name of the ,lord--a single and singular ease of advertising1 by which he sought not to increase his income1 but his expenditure--not asking the public to aid him in supporting the needy1 but to increase the occasion of his outlay6 ,so far was he from depending upon any such sources of supply as the unbelieving world might think1 that it was in the drying up of all such channels that he found the opportunity of his faith and of ,god's power4 ,the visible treasure was often so small that it was reduced to nothing1 but the invisible ,treasure was ,god's riches in glory1 and could be drawn from without limit4 ,this it was to which he looked alone1 and in which he felt that he had a river of supply that can never run dry499 99 ,appendix ,h4 ,the orphan work had1 to ,mr4 ,muller1 many charms which grew on him as he entered more fully into it4 ,while his main hope was to be the means of spiritual health to these children1 he had the joy of seeing how ,god used these homes for the promotion of their physical welfare also1 and1 in cases not a few1 for the entire renovation of their weak and diseased bodies4 ,it must be remembered that most of them owed their orphan condition to that great destroyer1 ,consumption4 ,children were often brought to the orphan houses thoroughly permeated by the poison of bad blood1 with diseased tendencies1 and sometimes emaciated and half-starved1 having had neither proper food nor medical care4 ,for example1 in the spring of #ahee1 four children from five to nine years old1 and of one family1 were admitted to the orphanage1 all in a deplorable state from lack of both nursing and nutrition4 ,it was a serious question whether they should be admitted at all1 as such cases tended to turn the institution into a hospital1 and absorb undue care and time4 ,but to dismiss them seemed almost inhuman1 certainly inhumane4 ,so1 trusting in ,god1 they were taken in and cared for with parental love4 ,a few weeks later these children were physically unrecognizable1 so rapid had been the improvement in health1 and probably there were with ,god's blessing four graves less to be dug4 ,the trials incident to the moral and spiritual condition of the orphans were even greater1 however1 than those caused by ill health and weakness4 ,when children proved incorrigibly bad1 they were expelled1 lest they should corrupt others1 for the institution was not a reformatory1 as it was not a hospital4 ,in #ahdi1 a boy1 of less than eight years1 had to be sent away as a confirmed liar and thief1 having twice run off with the belongings of other children and gloried in his juvenile crimes4 ,yet the forbearance exercised even in his case was marvelously godlike1 for1 during over five years1 he had been the subject of private admonitions and prayers and all other methods of reclamation2 and1 when expulsion became the last resort1 he was solemnly and with prayer1 before all the others1 sent away from the orphan house1 that if possible such a course might prove a double blessing1 a remedy to him and a warning to others2 and even then this young practised sinner was followed1 in his expulsion1 by loving supplication4 ,towards the end of ,november1 #aheg1 it was found that a serious leak in the boiler of the heating apparatus of house ,no4 #a would make repairs at once necessary1 and as the boilers were encased in bricks and a new boiler might be required1 such repairs must consume time4 ,meanwhile how could three hundred children1 some of them very young and tender1 be kept warm8 ,even if gas-stoves could be temporarily set up1 chimneys would be needful to carry off the impure air2 and no way of heating was available during repairs1 even if a hundred pounds were expended to prevent risk of cold4 ,again ,mr4 ,muller turned to the ,living ,god1 and1 trusting in ,him1 decided to have the repairs begun4 ,a day or so before the fires had to be put out1 a bleak north wind set in4 ,the work could no longer be delayed2 yet weather1 prematurely cold for the season1 threatened these hundreds of children with hurtful exposure4 ,the ,lord was boldly appealed to4 ,lord1 these are ,thy orphans3 be pleased to change this north wind into a south wind1 and give the workmen a mind to work that the job may be speedily done4 ,the evening before the repairs actually began1 the cold blast was still blowing2 but on that day a south wind blew1 and the weather was so mild that no fire was needful6 ,not only so1 but1 as ,mr4 ,muller went into the cellar with the overseer of the work1 to see whether the repairs could in no way be expedited1 he heard him say1 in the hearing of the men1 they will work late this evening1 and come very early again to-morrow4 ,we would rather1 sir1 was the reply1 work all night4 ,and so1 within about thirty hours1 the fire was again burning to heat the water in the boiler2 and1 until the apparatus was again in order1 that merciful soft south wind had continued to blow4 ,goodness and mercy were following the ,lord's humble servant1 made the more conspicuous by the crises of special trial and trouble4 ,every new exigency provoked new prayer and evoked new faith4 ,when1 in #ahfb1 several boys were ready to be apprenticed1 and there were no applications such as were desired1 prayer was the one resort1 as advertising would tend to bring applications from masters who sought apprentices for the sake of the premium4 ,but every one of the eighteen boys was properly bound over to a ,christian master1 whose business was suitable and who would receive the lad into his own family4 ,about the same time one of the drains was obstructed which runs about eleven feet underground4 ,when three holes had been dug and as many places in the drain tapped in vain1 prayer was offered that in the fourth case the workmen might be guided to the very spot where the stoppage existed--and the request was literally answered4 ,three instances of marked deliverance1 in answer to prayer1 are specially recorded for the year between ,may #bf1 #ahfd1 and the same date in #ahfe1 which should not be passed by without at least a mention4 ,first1 in the great drought of the summer of #ahfd1 when the fifteen large cisterns in the three orphan houses were empty1 and the nine deep wells1 and even the good spring which had never before failed1 were almost all dry4 ,two or three thousand gallons of water were daily required1 and daily prayer was made to the ,god of the rain4 ,see how ,god provided1 while pleased to withhold the supply from above6 ,a farmer1 near by1 supplied1 from his larger wells1 about half the water needful1 the rest being furnished by the half-exhausted wells on ,ashley ,down2 and1 when he could no longer spare water1 without a day's interval1 another farmer offered a supply from a brook which ran through his fields1 and thus there was abundance until the rains replenished cisterns and wells499 99 ,about twenty years later the ,bristol ,water ,works ,co4 introduced pipes and thus a permanent and unfailing supply4 ,second1 when1 for three years1 scarlet and typhus fevers and smallpox1 being prevalent in ,bristol and the vicinity threatened the orphans1 prayer was again made to ,him who is the ,god of health as well as of rain4 ,there was no case of scarlet or typhus fever during the whole time1 though smallpox was permitted to find an entrance into the smallest of the orphan houses4 ,prayer was still the one resort4 ,the disease spread to the other houses1 until at one time fifteen were ill with it4 ,the cases1 however1 were mercifully light1 and the ,lord was besought to allow the epidemic to spread no further4 ,not another child was taken2 and when1 after nine months1 the disease altogether disappeared1 not one child had died of it1 and only one teacher or adult had had an attack1 and that was very mild4 ,what ravages the disease might have made among the twelve hundred inmates of these orphan houses1 had it then prevailed as later1 in #ahgb6 ,third1 tremendous gales visited ,bristol and neighbourhood in ,january1 #ahfe4 ,the roofs of the orphan houses were so injured as to be laid open in at least twenty places1 and large panes of glass were broken4 ,the day was ,saturday1 and no glazier and slater could be had before ,monday4 ,so the ,lord of wind and weather was besought to protect the exposed property during the interval4 ,the wind calmed down1 and the rain was restrained until midday of ,wednesday1 when the repairs were about finished1 but heavy rainfalls drove the slaters from the roof4 ,one exposed opening remained and much damage threatened2 but1 in answer to prayer1 the rain was stayed1 and the work resumed4 ,no damage had been done while the last opening was unrepaired for it had exposed the building from the south1 while the rain came from the north4 ,mr4 ,muller records these circumstances with his usual particularity1 as part of his witness to the ,living ,god1 and to the goodness and mercy that closely and continually followed him4 ,during the next year1 #ahfe-f1 scarlet fever broke out in the orphanage4 ,in all thirty-nine children were ill1 but all recovered4 ,whooping-cough also made its appearance2 but though1 during that season1 it was not only very prevalent but very malignant in ,bristol1 in all the three houses there were but seventeen cases1 and the only fatal one was that of a little girl with constitutionally weak lungs4 ,during this same year1 however1 the ,spirit of ,god wrought mightily among the girls1 as in the previous year among the boys1 so that over one hundred became deeply earnest seekers after salvation2 and so1 even in tribulation1 consolation abounded in ,christ4 ,mr4 ,muller and his wife and helpers now implored ,god to deepen and broaden this work of ,his ,spirit4 ,towards the end of the year closing in ,may1 #ahff1 ,emma ,bunn1 an orphan girl of seventeen1 was struck with consumption4 ,though1 for fourteen years1 she had been under ,mr4 ,muller's care1 she was1 in this dangerous illness1 still careless and indifferent2 and1 as she drew near to death1 her case continued as hopeless as ever4 ,prayer was unceasing for her2 and it pleased ,god suddenly to reveal ,christ to her as her ,saviour4 ,great self-loathing now at once took the place of former indifference2 confession of sin1 of previous callousness of conscience2 and unspeakable joy in the ,lord1 of former apathy and coldness4 ,it was a spiritual miracle--this girl's sudden transformation into a witness for ,god1 manifesting deepest conviction for past sin and earnest concern for others4 ,her thoughtless and heedless state had been so well known that her conversion and dying messages were now the ,lord's means of the most extensive and ,god-glorifying work ever wrought up to that time among the orphans4 ,in one house alone three hundred and fifty were led to seek peace in believing4 ,what lessons lie hidden--nay1 lie on the very surface--to be read of every willing observer of these events6 ,prayer can break even a hard heart2 a memory1 stored with biblical truth and pious teaching1 will prove1 when once ,god's grace softens the heart and unlooses the tongue1 a source of both personal growth in grace and of capacity for wide service to others4 ,we are all practically too careless of the training of children1 and too distrustful of young converts4 ,mr4 ,muller was more and more impressed by the triumphs of the grace of ,god as seen in children converted at the tender age of nine or ten and holding the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end4 ,these facts and experiences1 gleaned1 like handfuls of grain1 from a wide field1 show the character both of the seed sown and the harvest reaped1 from the sowing4 ,again1 when1 in #ahff1 cholera developed in ,england1 in answer to special prayer not one case of this disease was known in the orphan houses2 and when1 in the same autumn1 whooping-cough and measles broke out1 though eight children had the former and two hundred and sixty-two1 the latter1 not one child died1 or was afterward debilitated by the attack4 ,from ,may1 #ahff1 to ,may1 #ahfg1 out of over thirteen hundred children under care1 only eleven died1 considerably less than one per cent4 ,that severe and epidemic disease should find its way into the orphanages at all may seem strange to those who judge ,god's faithfulness by appearances1 but many were the compensations for such trials4 ,by them not only were the hearts of the children often turned to ,god1 but the hearts of helpers in the ,institution were made more sympathetic and tender1 and the hearts of ,god's people at large were stirred up to practical and systematic help4 ,god uses such seeming calamities as 'advertisements' of ,his work2 many who would not have heard of the ,institution1 or on whom what they did hear would have made little impression1 were led to take a deep interest in an orphanage where thousands of little ones were exposed to the ravages of some malignant and dangerous epidemic4 ,looking back1 in #ahfe1 after thirty-one years1 upon the work thus far done for the ,lord1 ,mr4 ,muller gratefully records that1 during the entire time1 he had been enabled to hold fast the original principles on which the work was based on ,march #e1 #ahcd4 ,he had never once gone into debt2 he had sought for the ,institution no patron but the ,living ,god2 and he had kept to the line of demarcation between believers and unbelievers1 in all his seeking for active helpers in the work4 ,his grand purpose1 in all his labours1 having been1 from the beginning1 the glory of ,god1 in showing what could be done through prayer and faith1 without any leaning upon man1 his unequivocal testimony is3 ,hitherto hath the ,lord helped us4 ,though for about five years they had1 almost daily1 been in the constant trial of faith1 they were as constantly proving ,his faithfulness4 ,the work had rapidly grown1 till it assumed gigantic proportions1 but so did the help of ,god keep pace with all the needs and demands of its growth4 ,in ,january1 #ahff1 ,mr4 ,henry ,craik1 who had for thirty-six years been ,mr4 ,muller's valued friend1 and1 since #ahcb1 his coworker in ,bristol1 fell asleep after an illness of seven months4 ,in ,devonshire these two brethren had first known each other1 and the acquaintance had subsequently ripened1 through years of common labour and trial1 into an affection seldom found among men4 ,they were nearly of an age1 both being a little past sixty when ,mr4 ,craik died4 ,the loss was too heavy to have been patiently and serenely borne1 had not the survivor known and felt beneath him the ,everlasting ,arms4 ,and even this bereavement1 which in one aspect was an irreparable loss1 was seen to be only another proof of ,god's love4 ,the look ahead might be a dark one1 the way desolate and even dangerous1 but goodness and mercy were still following very close behind1 and would in every new place of danger or difficulty be at hand to help over hard places and give comfort and cheer in the night season4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,the ,,shadow ,,of ,a ,,great ,,sorrow ,,with clouds ,he covereth the light4 ,no human life is without some experience of clouded skies and stormy days1 and sometimes the clouds return after the rain4 ,it is a blessed experience to recognize the silver lining on the darkest storm cloud1 and1 better still1 to be sure of the shining of ,god's light behind a sky that seems wholly and hopelessly overcast4 ,the year #ahgj was made forever pathetically memorable by the decease of ,mrs4 ,muller1 who lived just long enough to see the last of the ,new ,orphan ,houses opened4 ,from the outset of the work in ,november1 #ahce1 for more than thirty-four years1 this beloved1 devoted wife had been also a sympathetic helper4 ,this wedded life had approached very near to the ideal of connubial bliss1 by reason of mutual fitness1 common faith in ,god and love for ,his work1 and long association in prayer and service4 ,in their case1 the days of courtship were never passed2 indeed the tender and delicate mutual attentions of those early days rather increased than decreased as the years went on2 and the great maxim was both proven and illustrated1 that the secret of winning love is the secret of keeping it4 ,more than that1 such affection grows and becomes more and more a fountain of mutual delight4 ,never had his beloved ,mary been so precious to her husband as during the very year of her departure4 ,this marriage union was so happy that ,mr4 ,muller could not withhold his loving witness that he never saw her at any time after she became his wife1 without a new feeling of delight4 ,and day by day they were wont to find at least a few moments of rest together1 sitting after dinner1 hand in hand1 in loving intercourse of mind and heart1 made the more complete by this touch of physical contact1 and1 whether in speech or silence1 communing in the ,lord4 ,their happiness in ,god and in each other was perennial1 perpetual1 growing as the years fled by4 ,mr4 ,muller's solemn conviction was that all this wedded bliss was due to the fact that she was not only a devoted ,christian1 but that their one united object was to live only and wholly for ,god2 that they had always abundance of work for ,god1 in which they were heartily united2 that this work was never allowed to interfere with the care of their own souls1 or their seasons of private prayer and study of the ,scriptures2 and that they were wont daily1 and often thrice a day1 to secure a time of united prayer and praise when they brought before the ,lord the matters which at the time called for thanksgiving and supplication4 ,mrs4 ,muller had never been a very vigorous woman1 and more than once had been brought nigh unto death4 ,in ,october1 #ahei1 after twenty-nine years of wedded life and love1 she had been laid aside by rheumatism and had continued in great suffering for about nine months1 quite helpless and unable to work2 but it was felt to be a special mark of ,god's love and faithfulness that this very affliction was used by ,him to reestablish her in health and strength1 the compulsory rest made necessary for the greater part of a year being in ,mr4 ,muller's judgment a means of prolonging her life and period of service for the ten years following4 ,thus a severe trial met by them both in faith had issued in much blessing both to soul and body4 ,the closing scenes of this beautiful life are almost too sacred to be unveiled to common eyes4 ,for some few years before her departure1 it was plain that her health and vitality were declining4 ,with difficulty could she be prevailed on1 however1 to abate her activity1 or1 even when a distressing cough attacked her1 to allow a physician to be called4 ,her husband carefully guarded and nursed her1 and by careful attention to diet and rest1 by avoidance of needless exposure1 and by constant resort to prayer1 she was kept alive through much weakness and sometimes much pain4 ,but1 on ,saturday night1 ,february #eth1 she found that she had not the use of one of her limbs1 and it was obvious that the end was nigh4 ,her own mind was clear and her own heart at peace4 ,she herself remarked1 ,he will soon come4 ,and a few minutes after four in the afternoon of the ,lord's day1 ,february #f1 #ahgj1 she sweetly passed from human toils and trials1 to be forever with the ,lord4 ,under the weight of such a sorrow1 most men would have sunk into depths of almost hopeless despair4 ,but this man of ,god1 sustained by a divine love1 at once sought for occasions of thanksgiving2 and1 instead of repining over his loss1 gratefully remembered and recorded the goodness of ,god in taking such a wife1 releasing her saintly spirit from the bondage of weakness1 sickness1 and pain1 rather than leaving her to a protracted suffering and the mute agony of helplessness2 and1 above all1 introducing her to her heart's desire1 the immediate presence of the ,lord ,jesus1 and the higher service of a celestial sphere4 ,is not that grief akin to selfishness which dwells so much on our own deprivations as to be oblivious of the ecstatic gain of the departed saints who1 withdrawn from us and absent from the body1 are at home with the ,lord8 ,it is only in those circumstances of extreme trial which prove to ordinary men a crushing weight1 that implicit faith in the ,father's unfailing wisdom and love proves its full power to sustain4 ,where self-will is truly lost in the will of ,god1 the life that is hidden in ,him is most radiantly exhibited in the darkest hour4 ,the death of this beloved wife afforded an illustration of this4 ,within a few hours after this withdrawal of her who had shared with him the planning and working of these long years of service1 ,mr4 ,muller went to the ,monday-evening prayer meeting1 then held in ,salem ,chapel1 to mingle his prayers and praises as usual with those of his brethren4 ,with a literally shining countenance1 he rose and said3 ,beloved brethren and sisters in ,christ1 ,i ask you to join with me in hearty praise and thanksgiving to my precious ,lord for ,his loving kindness in having taken my darling1 beloved wife out of the pain and suffering which she has endured1 into ,his own presence2 and as ,i rejoice in everything that is for her1 happiness1 so ,i now rejoice as ,i realize how far happier she is1 in beholding her ,lord whom she loved so well1 than in any joy she has known or could know here4 ,i ask you also to pray that the ,lord will so enable me to have fellowship in her joy that my bereaved heart may be occupied with her blessedness instead of my unspeakable loss4 ,these remarkable words are supplied by one who was himself present and on whose memory they made an indelible impression4 ,this occurrence had a marked effect upon all who were at that meeting4 ,mrs4 ,muller was known by all as a most valuable1 lovely1 and holy woman and wife4 ,after nearly forty years of wedded life and love1 she had left the earthly home for the heavenly4 ,to her husband she had been a blessing beyond description1 and to her daughter ,lydia1 at once a wise and tender mother and a sympathetic companion4 ,the loss to them both could never be made up on earth4 ,yet in these circumstances this man of ,god had grace given to forget his own and his daughter's irreparable loss1 and to praise ,god for the unspeakable gain to the departed wife and mother4 ,the body was laid to rest on ,february #aath1 many thousands of sorrowing friends evincing the deepest sympathy4 ,twelve hundred orphans mingled in the funeral procession1 and the whole staff of helpers so far as they could be spared from the houses4 ,the bereaved husband strangely upheld by the arm of the ,almighty ,friend in whom he trusted1 took upon himself the funeral service both at chapel and cemetery4 ,he was taken seriously ill afterward1 but1 as soon as his returning strength allowed1 he preached his wife's funeral sermon--another memorable occasion4 ,it was the supernatural serenity of his peace in the presence of such a bereavement that led his attending physician to say to a friend1 ,i have never before seen so unhuman a man4 ,yes1 unhuman indeed1 though far from inhuman1 lifted above the weakness of mere humanity by a power not of man4 ,that funeral sermon was a noble tribute to the goodness of the ,lord even in the great affliction of his life4 ,the text was3 ,thou art good and doest good4 7,psalm cxix4 #fh47 ,its three divisions were3 ,the ,lord was good and did good3 first1 in giving her to me2 second in so long leaving her to me2 and third1 in taking her from me4 ,it is happily preserved in ,mr4 ,muller's journal1 and must be read to be appreciated499 99 ,narrative1 ,,iii4 #ege-eid4 ,this union1 begun in prayer1 was in prayer sanctified to the end4 ,mrs4 ,muller's chief excellence lay in her devoted piety4 ,she wore that one ornament which is in the sight of ,god of great price--the meek and quiet spirit2 the beauty of the ,lord her ,god was upon her4 ,she had sympathetically shared her husband's prayers and tears during all the long trial-time of faith and patience1 and partaken of all the joys and rewards of the triumph hours4 ,mr4 ,muller's own witness to her leaves nothing more to be added1 for it is the tribute of him who knew her longest and best4 ,he writes3 ,she was ,god's own gift1 exquisitely suited to me even in natural temperament4 ,thousands of times ,i said to her1 ',my darling1 ,god ,himself singled you out for me1 as the most suitable wife ,i could possibly wish to have had4' ,as to culture1 she had a basis of sensible practical education1 surmounted and adorned by ladylike accomplishments which she had neither time nor inclination to indulge in her married life4 ,not only was she skilled in the languages and in such higher studies as astronomy1 but in mathematics also2 and this last qualification made her for thirty-four years an invaluable help to her husband1 as month by month she examined all the account-books1 and the hundreds of bills of the matrons of the orphan houses1 and with the eye of an expert detected the least mistake4 ,all her training and natural fitness indicated a providential adaptation to her work1 like the round peg in the round hole4 ,her practical education in needlework1 and her knowledge of the material most serviceable for various household uses1 made her competent to direct both in the purchase and manufacture of cloths and other fabrics for garments1 bed-linen1 etc4 ,she moved about those orphan houses like an angel of ,love1 taking unselfish delight in such humble ministries as preparing neat1 clean beds to rest the little ones1 and covering them with warm blankets in cold weather4 ,for the sake of ,him who took little children in ,his arms1 she became to these thousands of destitute orphans a nursing mother4 ,shortly after her death1 a letter was received from a believing orphan some seventeen years before sent out to service1 asking1 in behalf also of others formerly in the houses1 permission to erect a stone over ,mrs4 ,muller's grave as an expression of love and grateful remembrance4 ,consent being given1 hundreds of little offerings came in from orphans who during the twenty-five years previous had been under her motherly oversight--a beautiful tribute to her worth and a touching offering from those who had been to her as her larger family4 ,the dear daughter ,lydia had1 two years before ,mrs4 ,muller's departure1 found in one of her mother's pocketbooks a sacred memorandum in her own writing1 which she brought to her bereaved father's notice two days after his wife had departed4 ,it belongs among the precious relics of her history4 ,it reads as follows3 ,should it please the ,lord to remove ,m4 ,m4 ,mary ,muller by a sudden dismissal1 let none of the beloved survivors consider that it is in the way of judgment1 either to her or to them4 ,she has so often1 when enjoying conscious nearness to the ,lord1 felt how sweet it would be now to depart and to be forever with ,jesus1 that nothing but the shock it would be to her beloved husband and child1 etc4 has checked in her the longing desire that thus her happy spirit might take its flight4 ,precious ,jesus6 ,thy will in this as in everything else1 and not hers1 be done6 ,these words were to ,mr4 ,muller her last legacy2 and with the comfort they gave him1 the loving sympathy of his precious ,lydia who did all that a daughter could do to fill a mother's place1 and with the remembrance of ,him who hath said1 ',i will never leave thee nor forsake thee1' he went on his lonely pilgrim way1 rejoicing in the ,lord1 feeling nevertheless a wound in his heart1 that seemed rather to deepen than to heal4 ,sixteen months passed1 when ,mr4 ,james ,wright1 who like ,mr4 ,muller had been bereft of his companion1 asked of him the hand of the beloved ,lydia in marriage4 ,the request took ,mr4 ,muller wholly by surprise1 but he felt that1 to no man living1 could he with more joyful confidence commit and intrust his choicest remaining earthly treasure2 and1 ever solicitous for others' happiness rather than his own1 he encouraged his daughter to accept ,mr4 ,wright's proffered love1 when she naturally hesitated on her father's account4 ,on ,november #af1 #ahga1 they were married1 and began a life of mutual prayer and sympathy which1 like that of her father and mother1 proved supremely and almost ideally happy1 helpful1 and useful4 ,while as yet this event was only in prospect1 ,mr4 ,muller felt his own lonely condition keenly1 and much more in view of his daughter's expected departure to her husband's home4 ,he felt the need of some one to share intimately his toils and prayers1 and help him in the ,lord's work1 and the persuasion grew upon him that it was ,god's will that he should marry again4 ,after much prayer1 he determined to ask ,miss ,susannah ,grace ,sangar to become his wife1 having known her for more than twenty-five years as a consistent disciple1 and believing her to be well fitted to be his helper in the ,lord4 ,accordingly1 fourteen days after his daughter's marriage to ,mr4 ,wright1 he entered into similar relations with ,miss ,sangar1 who for years after joined him in prayer1 unselfish giving1 and labours for souls4 ,the second ,mrs4 ,muller was of one mind with her husband as to the stewardship of the ,lord's property4 ,he found her poor1 for what she had once possessed she had lost2 and had she been rich he would have regarded her wealth as an obstacle to marriage1 unfitting her to be his companion in a self-denial based on scriptural principle4 ,riches or hoarded wealth would have been to both of them a snare1 and so she also felt2 so that1 having still1 before her marriage1 a remnant of two hundred pounds1 she at once put it at the ,lord's disposal1 thus joining her husband in a life of voluntary poverty2 and although subsequent legacies were paid to her1 she continued to the day of her death to be poor for the ,lord's sake4 ,the question had often been asked ,mr4 ,muller what would become of the work when he1 the master workman1 should be removed4 ,men find it hard to get their eyes off the instrument1 and remember that there is only1 strictly speaking1 one ,,agent1 for an agent is one who works1 and an instrument is what the agent works with4 ,though provision might be made1 in a board of trustees1 for carrying on the orphan work1 where would be found the man to take the direction of it1 a man whose spirit was so akin to that of the founder that he would trust in ,god and depend on ,him just as ,mr4 ,muller had done before him8 ,such were the inquiries of the somewhat doubtful or fearful observers of the great and many-branched work carried on under ,mr4 ,muller's supervision4 ,to all such questions he had always one answer ready--his one uniform solution of all cares and perplexities3 the ,living ,god4 ,he who had built the orphan houses could maintain them2 ,he who had raised up one humble man to oversee the work in ,his name1 could provide for a worthy successor1 like ,joshua who not only followed but succeeded ,moses4 ,jehovah of hosts is not limited in resources4 ,nevertheless much prayer was offered that the ,lord would provide such a successor1 and1 in ,mr4 ,james ,wright1 the prayer was answered4 ,he was not chosen1 as ,mr4 ,muller's son-in-law1 for the choice was made before his marriage to ,lydia ,muller was even thought of by him4 ,for more than thirty years1 even from his boyhood1 ,mr4 ,wright had been well known to ,mr4 ,muller1 and his growth in the things of ,god had been watched by him4 ,for thirteen years he had already been his right hand in all most important matters2 and1 for nearly all of that time1 had been held up before ,god as his successor1 in the prayers of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller1 both of whom felt divinely assured that ,god would fit him more and more to take the entire burden of responsibility4 ,when1 in #ahgj1 the wife fell asleep in ,jesus1 and ,mr4 ,muller was himself ill1 he opened his heart to ,mr4 ,wright as to the succession4 ,humility led him to shrink from such a post1 and his then wife feared it would prove too burdensome for him2 but all objections were overborne when it was seen and felt to be ,god's call4 ,it was twenty-one months after this1 when1 in ,november1 #ahga1 ,mr4 ,wright was married to ,mr4 ,muller's only daughter and child1 so that it is quite apparent that he had neither sought the position he now occupies1 nor was he appointed to it because he was ,mr4 ,muller's son-in-law1 for1 at that time1 his first wife was living and in health4 ,from ,may1 #ahgb1 therefore1 ,mr4 ,wright shared with his father-in-law the responsibilities of the ,institution1 and gave him great joy as a partner and successor in full sympathy with all the great principles on which his work had been based4 ,a little over three years after ,mr4 ,muller's second marriage1 in ,march1 #ahgd1 ,mrs4 ,muller was taken ill1 and became1 two days later1 feverish and restless1 and after about two weeks was attacked with hemorrhage which brought her also very near to the gates of death4 ,she rallied2 but fever and delirium followed and obstinate sleeplessness1 till1 for a second time1 she seemed at the point of death4 ,indeed so low was her vitality that1 as late as ,april #agth1 a most experienced ,london physician said that he had never known any patient to recover from such an illness2 and thus a third time all human hope of restoration seemed gone4 ,and yet1 in answer to prayer1 ,mrs4 ,muller was raised up1 and in the end of ,may1 was taken to the seaside for change of air1 and grew rapidly stronger until she was entirely restored4 ,thus the ,lord spared her to be the companion of her husband in those years of missionary touring which enabled him to bear such worldwide witness4 ,out of the shadow of his griefs this beloved man of ,god ever came to find that divine refreshment which is as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land4 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,the ,,period ,,of ,,world-,,wide ,,witness ,,god',s real answers to prayer are often seeming denials4 ,beneath the outward request ,he hears the voice of the inward desire1 and ,he responds to the mind of the ,spirit rather than to the imperfect and perhaps mistaken words in which the yearning seeks expression4 ,moreover1 ,his infinite wisdom sees that a larger blessing may be ours only by the withholding of the lesser good which we seek2 and so all true prayer trusts ,him to give ,his own answer1 not in our way or time1 or even to our own expressed desire1 but rather to ,his own unutterable groaning within us which ,he can interpret better than we4 ,monica1 mother of ,augustine1 pleaded with ,god that her dissolute son might not go to ,rome1 that sink of iniquity2 but he was permitted to go1 and thus came into contact with ,ambrose1 bishop of ,milan1 through whom he was converted4 ,god fulfilled the mother's desire while denying her request4 ,when ,george ,muller1 five times within the first eight years after conversion1 had offered himself as a missionary1 ,god had blocked his way2 now1 at sixty-five1 ,he was about to permit him1 in a sense he had never dreamed of1 to be a missionary to the world4 ,from the beginning of his ministry he had been more or less an itinerant1 spending no little time in wanderings about in ,britain and on the ,continent2 but now he was to go to the regions beyond and spend the major part of seventeen years in witnessing to the prayer-hearing ,god4 ,these extensive missionary tours occupied the evening of ,mr4 ,muller's useful life1 from #ahge to #ahib4 ,they reached1 more or less1 over ,europe1 ,america1 ,asia1 ,africa1 and ,australia2 and would of themselves have sufficed for the work of an ordinary life4 ,they had a singular suggestion4 ,while1 in #ahgd1 compelled by ,mrs4 ,muller's health to seek a change of air1 he was preaching in the ,isle of ,wight1 and a beloved ,christian brother for whom he had spoken1 himself a man of much experience in preaching1 told him how 'that day had been the happiest of his whole life'2 and this remark1 with others like it previously made1 so impressed him that the ,lord was about to use him to help on believers outside of ,bristol1 that he determined no longer to confine his labours in the ,word and doctrine to any one place1 but to go wherever a door might open for his testimony4 ,in weighing this question he was impressed with seven reasons or motives1 which led to these tours3 #a4 ,to preach the gospel in its simplicity1 and especially to show how salvation is based1 not upon feelings or even upon faith1 but upon the finished work of ,christ2 that justification is ours the moment we believe1 and we are to accept and claim our place as accepted in the ,beloved without regard to our inward states of feeling or emotion4 #b4 ,to lead believers to know their saved state1 and to realize their standing in ,christ1 great numbers not only of disciples1 but even preachers and pastors1 being themselves destitute of any real peace and joy in the ,lord1 and hence unable to lead others into joy and peace4 #c4 ,to bring believers back to the ,scriptures1 to search the ,word and find its hidden treasures2 to test everything by this divine touchstone and hold fast only what will stand this test2 to make it the daily subject of meditative and prayerful examination in order to translate it into daily obedience4 #d4 ,to promote among all true believers1 brotherly love2 to lead them to make less of those non-essentials in which disciples differ1 and to make more of those great essential and foundation truths in which all true believers are united2 to help all who love and trust one ,lord to rise above narrow sectarian prejudices1 and barriers to fellowship4 #e4 ,to strengthen the faith of believers1 encouraging a simpler trust1 and a more real and unwavering confidence in ,god1 and particularly in the sure answers to believing prayer1 based upon ,his definite promises4 #f4 ,to promote separation from the world and deadness to it1 and so to increase heavenly-mindedness in children of ,god2 at the same time warning against fanatical extremes and extravagances1 such as sinless perfection while in the flesh4 #g4 ,and finally to fix the hope of disciples on the blessed coming of our ,lord ,jesus2 and1 in connection therewith1 to instruct them as to the true character and object of the present dispensation1 and the relation of the church to the world in this period of the out-gathering of the ,bride of ,christ4 ,these seven objects may be briefly epitomized thus3 ,mr4 ,muller's aim was to lead sinners to believe on the name of the ,son of ,god1 and so to have eternal life2 to help those who have thus believed1 to know that they have this life2 to teach them so to build up themselves on their most holy faith1 by diligent searching into the word of ,god1 and praying in the ,holy ,ghost1 as that this life shall be more and more a real possession and a conscious possession2 to promote among all disciples the unity of the ,spirit and the charity which is the bond of perfectness1 and to help them to exhibit that life before the world2 to incite them to cultivate an unworldly and spiritual type of character such as conforms to the life of ,god in them2 to lead them to the prayer of faith which is both the expression and the expansion of the life of faith2 and to direct their hope to the final appearing of the ,lord1 so that they should purify themselves even as ,he is pure1 and occupy till ,he comes4 ,mr4 ,muller was thus giving himself to the double work of evangelization and edification1 on a scale commensurate with his love for a dying world1 as opportunity afforded doing good unto all men1 and especially to them who are of the household of faith4 ,of these long and busy missionary journeys1 it is needful to give only the outline1 or general survey4 ,march #bfc #ahge1 is an important date1 for it marks the starting-point4 ,he himself calls this the beginning of his missionary tours4 ,from ,bristol he went to ,brighton1 ,lewes1 and ,sunderland--on the way to ,sunderland preaching to a great audience in the ,metropolitan ,tabernacle1 at ,mr4 ,spurgeon's request--then to ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 and back to ,london1 where he spoke at the ,mildmay ,park ,conference1 ,talbot ,road ,tabernacle1 and ',edinburgh ,castle4' ,this tour closed1 ,june #eth1 after seventy addresses in public1 during about ten weeks4 ,less than six weeks passed1 when1 on ,august #adth1 the second tour began1 in which case the special impulse that moved him was a desire to follow up the revival work of ,mr4 ,moody and ,mr4 ,sankey4 ,their short stay in each place made them unable to lead on new converts to higher attainments in knowledge and grace1 and there seemed to be a call for some instruction fitted to confirm these new believers in the life of obedience4 ,mr4 ,muller accordingly followed these evangelists in ,england1 ,ireland1 and ,scotland1 staying in each place from one week to six1 and seeking to educate and edify those who had been led to ,christ4 ,among the places visited on this errand in #ahge1 were ,london2 then ,kilmarnock1 ,saltwater1 ,dundee1 ,perth1 ,glasgow1 ,kirkentilloch in ,scotland1 and ,dublin in ,ireland2 then1 returning to ,england1 he went to ,leamington1 ,warwick1 ,kenilworth1 ,coventry1 ,rugby1 etc4 ,in some cases1 notably at ,mildmay ,park1 ,dundee and ,glasgow1 ,liverpool and ,dublin1 the audiences numbered from two thousand to six thousand1 but everywhere rich blessing came from above4 ,this second tour extended into the new year1 #ahgf1 and took in ,liverpool1 ,york1 ,kendal1 ,carlisle1 ,annan1 ,edinburgh1 ,arbroath1 ,montrose1 ,aberdeen1 and other places2 and when it closed in ,july1 having lasted nearly eleven months1 ,mr4 ,muller had preached at least three hundred and six times1 an average of about one sermon a day1 exclusive of days spent in travel4 ,so acceptable and profitable were these labours that there were over one hundred invitations urged upon him which he was unable to accept4 ,the third tour was on the ,continent4 ,it occupied most of the year closing ,may #bf1 #ahgg1 and embraced ,paris1 various places in ,switzerland1 ,prussia and ,holland1 ,alsace1 ,wurtemberg1 ,baden1 ,hesse ,darmstadt1 etc4 ,altogether over three hundred addresses were given in about seventy cities and villages to all of which he had been invited by letter4 ,when this tour closed more than sixty written invitations remained unaccepted1 and ,mr4 ,muller found that1 through his work and his writings1 he was as well known in the continental countries visited1 as in ,england4 ,turning now toward ,america1 the fourth tour extended from ,august1 #ahgg1 to ,june of the next year4 ,for many years invitations had been coming with growing frequency1 from the ,united ,states and ,canada2 and of late their urgency led him to recognize in them the call of ,god1 especially as he thought of the many thousands of ,germans across the ,atlantic1 who as they heard him speak in their own native tongue would keep the more silence4 7,acts xxii4 #b47 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller1 landing at ,quebec1 thence went to the ,united ,states1 where1 during ten months1 his labours stretched over a vast area1 including the ,states of ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 ,massachusetts1 ,pennsylvania1 ,maryland1 ,district of ,columbia1 ,virginia1 ,south ,carolina1 ,georgia1 ,florida1 ,alabama1 ,louisiana1 and ,missouri4 ,thus having swept round the ,atlantic sea-border1 he crossed to the ,pacific coast1 and returning visited ,salt ,lake ,city in ,utah--the very centre and stronghold of ,mormonism--,illinois1 ,ohio1 etc4 ,he spoke frequently to large congregations of ,germans1 and1 in the ,southern ,states1 to the coloured population2 but he regarded no opportunity for service afforded him on this tour as so inspiring as the repeated meetings with and for ministers1 evangelists1 pastors1 and ,christian workers2 and1 next to them in importance1 his interviews with large bodies of students and professors in the universities1 colleges1 theological seminaries1 and other higher schools of education4 ,to cast the salt of the gospel into the very springs of social influence1 the sources whence power flows1 was to him a most sacred privilege4 ,his singular catholicity1 charity1 and humility drew to him even those who differed with him1 and all denominations of ,christians united in giving him access to the people4 ,during this tour he spoke three hundred times1 and travelled nearly ten thousand miles2 over one hundred invitations being declined1 for simple lack of time and strength4 ,after a stay in ,bristol of about two months1 on ,september #e1 #ahgh1 he and his wife began the fifth of these missionary tours4 ,in this case1 it was on the ,continent1 where he ministered in ,english1 ,german1 and ,french2 and in ,spain and ,italy1 when these tongues were not available1 his addresses were through an interpreter4 ,many open doors the ,lord set before him1 not only to the poorer and humbler classes1 but to those in the middle and higher ranks4 ,in the ,riviera1 he had access to many of the nobility and aristocracy1 who from different countries sought health and rest in the equable climate of the ,mediterranean1 and at ,mentone he and ,mr4 ,spurgeon held sweet converse4 ,in ,spain ,mr4 ,muller was greatly gladdened by seeing for himself the schools1 entirely supported by the funds of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 and by finding that1 in hundreds of cases1 even popish parents so greatly valued these schools that they continued to send their children1 despite both the threats and persuasions of the ,romish priests4 ,he found1 moreover1 that the pupils frequently at their homes read to their parents the word of ,god and sang to them the gospel hymns learned at these schools1 so that the influence exerted was not bounded by its apparent horizon1 as diffused or refracted sunlight reaches with its illumining rays far beyond the visible track of the orb of day4 ,the work had to contend with governmental opposition4 ,when a place was first opened at ,madrid for gospel services1 a sign was placed outside1 announcing the fact4 ,official orders were issued that the sign should be painted over1 so as to obliterate the inscription4 ,the painter of the sign1 unwilling both to undo his own work and to hinder the work of ,god1 painted the sign over with water-colours1 which would leave the original announcement half visible1 and would soon be washed off by the rains2 whereupon the government sent its own workman to daub the sign over with thick oil-colour4 ,mr4 ,muller1 ready to preach the gospel to those at ,rome also1 felt his spirit saddened and stirred within him1 as he saw that city wholly given to idolatry--not pagan but papal idolatry--the ,rome not of the ,caesars1 but of the popes4 ,while at ,naples he ascended ,vesuvius4 ,those masses of lava1 which seemed greater in bulk than the mountain itself1 more impressed him with the power of ,god than anything else he had ever seen4 ,as he looked upon that smoking cone1 and thought of the liquid death it had vomited forth1 he said within himself1 ,what cannot ,god do6 ,he had before felt somewhat of ,his ,almightiness in love and grace1 but he now saw its manifestation in judgment and wrath4 ,his visit to the ,vaudois valleys1 where so many martyrs had suffered banishment and imprisonment1 loss of goods and loss of life for ,jesus' sake1 moved him to the depths of his being and stimulated in him the martyr spirit4 ,when he arrived again in ,bristol1 ,june #ah1 #ahgi1 he had been absent nine months and twelve days1 and preached two hundred and eighty-six times and in forty-six towns and cities4 ,after another ten weeks in ,bristol1 he and his wife sailed again for ,america1 the last week of ,august1 #ahgi1 landing at ,new ,york the first week in ,september4 ,this visit took in the ,states lying between the ,atlantic ,ocean and the valley of the ,mississippi--,new ,york and ,new ,jersey1 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,michigan and ,illinois1 ,wisconsin1 ,iowa1 ,minnesota--and1 from ,london and ,hamilton to ,quebec1 ,canada also shared the blessing4 ,this visit covered only two hundred and seventy-two days1 but he preached three hundred times1 and in over forty cities4 ,over one hundred and fifty written invitations still remained without response1 and the number increased the longer his stay4 ,mr4 ,muller therefore assuredly gathered that the ,lord called him to return to ,america1 after another brief stay at ,bristol1 where he felt it needful to spend a season annually1 to keep in close touch with the work at home and relieve ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,wright of their heavy responsibilities1 for a time4 ,accordingly on ,september #ae1 #ahhj1 again turning from ,bristol1 these travellers embarked the next day on their seventh mission tour1 landing1 ten days later1 at ,quebec4 ,mr4 ,muller had a natural antipathy to the sea1 in his earlier crossing to the ,continent having suffered much from sea-sickness2 but he had undertaken these long voyages1 not for his own pleasure or profit1 but wholly on ,god's errand2 and he felt it to be a peculiar mark of the loving-kindness of the ,lord that1 while he was ready to endure any discomfort1 or risk his life for ,his sake1 he had not in his six crossings of the ,atlantic suffered in the least1 and on this particular voyage was wholly free from any indisposition4 ,from ,quebec he went to ,massachusetts1 ,connecticut1 ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 and ,pennsylvania4 ,among other places of special interest were ,boston1 ,plymouth--the landing-place of the ,pilgrims1--,wellesley and ,south ,hadley colleges--the great schools for woman's higher education1--and the centres farther westward1 where he had such wide access to ,germans4 ,this tour extended over a smaller area than before1 and lasted but eight months2 but the impression on the people was deep and permanent4 ,he had spoken about two hundred and fifty times in all2 and ,mrs4 ,muller had availed herself of many opportunities of personal dealing with inquirers1 and of distributing books and tracts among both believers and unbelievers4 ,she had also written for her husband more than seven hundred letters1--this of itself being no light task1 inasmuch as it reaches an average of about three a day4 ,on ,may #cj1 #ahha1 they were again on ,british shores4 ,the eighth long preaching tour1 from ,august #bc1 #ahha1 to ,may #cj1 #ahhb1 was given to the ,continent of ,europe1 where again ,mr4 ,muller felt led by the low state of religious life in ,switzerland and ,germany4 ,this visit was extended to the ,holy ,land in a way strikingly providential4 ,after speaking at ,alexandria1 ,cairo1 and ,port ,said1 he went to ,jaffa1 and thence to ,jerusalem1 on ,november #bh4 ,with reverent feet he touched the soil once trodden by the feet of the ,son of ,god1 visiting1 with pathetic interest1 ,gethsemane and ,golgotha1 and crossing the ,mount of ,olives to ,bethany1 thence to ,bethlehem and back to ,jaffa1 and so to ,haipha1 ,mt4 ,carmel1 and ,beirut1 ,smyrna1 ,ephesus1 ,constantinople1 ,athens1 ,brindisi1 ,rome1 and ,florence4 ,again were months crowded with services of all sorts whose fruit will appear only in the ,day of the ,lord ,jesus1 addresses being made in ,english1 ,german1 and ,french1 or by translation into ,arabic1 ,armenian1 ,turkish1 and modern ,greek4 ,sightseeing was always but incidental to the higher service of the ,master4 ,during this eighth tour1 covering some eight months1 ,mr4 ,muller spoke hundreds of times1 with all the former tokens of ,god's blessing on his seed-sowing4 ,the ninth tour1 from ,august #h1 #ahhb1 to ,june #a1 #ahhc1 was occupied with labours in ,germany1 ,austria1 and ,russia1 including ,bavaria1 ,hungary1 ,bohemia1 ,saxony1 and ,poland4 ,his special joy it was to bear witness in ,kroppenstadt1 his birthplace1 after an absence of about sixty-four years4 ,at ,st4 ,petersburg1 while the guest of ,princess ,lieven1 at her mansion he met and ministered to many of high rank2 he also began to hold meetings in the house of ,colonel ,paschkoff1 who had suffered not only persecution but exile for the ,lord's sake4 ,while the ,scriptures were being read one day in ,buss1 with seven poor ,russians1 a policeman summarily broke up the meeting and dispersed the little company4 ,at ,lodz in ,poland1 a letter was received1 in behalf of almost the whole population begging him to remain longer2 and so signs seemed to multiply1 as he went forward1 that he was in the path of duty and that ,god was with him4 ,on ,september #bf1 #ahhc1 the tenth tour began1 this time his face being turned toward the ,orient4 ,nearly sixty years before he had desired to go to the ,east ,indies as a missionary2 now the ,lord permitted him to carry out the desire in a new and strange way1 and ,india was the twenty-third country visited in his tours4 ,he travelled over #ba1jjj miles1 and spoke over two hundred times1 to missionaries and ,christian workers1 ,european residents1 ,eurasians1 ,hindus1 ,moslems1 educated natives1 native boys and girls in the orphanage at ,colar1 etc4 ,thus1 in his seventy-ninth year1 this servant of ,god was still in labours abundant1 and in all his work conspicuously blessed of ,god4 ,after some months of preaching in ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,wales1 on ,november #ai1 #ahhe1 he and his wife set out on their fourth visit to the ,united ,states1 and their eleventh longer mission tour4 ,crossing to the ,pacific1 they went to ,sydney1 ,new ,south ,wales1 and1 after seven months in ,australia1 sailed for ,java1 and thence to ,china1 arriving at ,hong ,kong1 ,september #abth2 ,japan and the ,straits of ,malacca were also included in this visit to the ,orient4 ,the return to ,england was by way of ,nice2 and1 after travelling nearly #ch1jjj miles1 in good health ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller reached home on ,june #ad1 #ahhg1 having been absent more than one year and seven months1 during which ,mr4 ,muller had preached whenever and wherever opportunity was afforded4 ,less than two months later1 on ,august #ab1 #ahhg1 he sailed for ,south ,australia1 ,tasmania1 ,new ,zealand1 ,ceylon1 and ,india4 ,this twelfth long tour closed in ,march1 #ahij1 having covered thousands of miles4 ,the intense heat at one time compelled ,mr4 ,muller to leave ,calcutta1 and on the railway journey to ,darjeeling his wife feared he would die4 ,but he was mercifully spared4 ,it was on this tour and in the month of ,january1 #ahij1 while at ,jubbulpore1 preaching with great help from the ,lord1 that a letter was put into ,mr4 ,muller's hands1 from a missionary at ,agra1 to whom ,mr4 ,wright had sent a telegram1 informing his father-in-law of his dear ,lydia's death4 ,for nearly thirty years she had laboured gratuitously at the orphan houses and it would he difficult to fill that vacancy2 but for fourteen years she had been her husband's almost ideal companion1 and for nearly fifty-eight years her father's unspeakable treasure--and here were two other voids which could never be filled4 ,but ,mr4 ,muller's heart1 as also ,mr4 ,wright's1 was kept at rest by the strong confidence that1 however mysterious ,god's ways1 all ,his dealings belong to one harmonious spiritual mechanism in which every part is perfect and all things work together for good4 7,romans viii4 #bh47 ,this sudden bereavement led ,mr4 ,muller to bring his mission tour in the ,east to a close and depart for ,bristol1 that he might both comfort ,mr4 ,wright and relieve him of undue pressure of work4 ,after a lapse of two months1 once more ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller left home for other extensive missionary journeys4 ,they went to the ,continent and were absent from ,july1 #ahij1 to ,may1 #ahib4 ,a twelvemonth was spent in ,germany and ,holland1 ,austria and ,italy4 ,this absence in fact included two tours1 with no interval between them1 and concluded the series of extensive journeys reaching through seventeen years4 ,this man--from his seventieth to his eighty-seventh year--when most men are withdrawing from all activities1 had travelled in forty-two countries and over two hundred thousand miles1 a distance equivalent to nearly eight journeys round the globe6 ,he estimated that during these seventeen years he had addressed over three million people2 and from all that can be gathered from the records of these tours1 we estimate that he must have spoken1 outside of ,bristol1 between five thousand and six thousand times4 ,what sort of teaching and testimony occupied these tours1 those who have known the preacher and teacher need not be told4 ,while at ,berlin in #ahia1 he gave an address that serves as an example of the vital truths which he was wont to press on the attention of fellow disciples4 ,we give a brief outline3 ,he first urged that believers should never1 even under the greatest difficulties1 be discouraged1 and gave for his position sound scriptural reasons4 ,then he pointed out to them that the chief business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in ,god4 ,then he showed how1 from the word of ,god1 all saved believers may know their true standing in ,christ1 and how in circumstances of particular perplexity they might ascertain the will of ,god4 ,he then urged disciples to seek with intense earnestness to become acquainted with ,god ,himself as revealed in the ,holy ,scriptures1 and carefully to form and maintain godly habits of systematic ,bible study and prayer1 holy living and consecrated giving4 ,he taught that ,god alone is the one all-satisfying portion of the soul1 and that we must determine to possess and enjoy ,him as such4 ,he closed by emphasizing it as the one1 single1 all-absorbing1 daily aim to glorify ,god in a complete surrender to ,his will and service4 ,in all these mission tours1 again1 the faithfulness of ,god conspicuously seen1 in the bounteous supply of every need4 ,steamer fares and long railway journeys2 hotel accommodations1 ordinarily preferred to private hospitality1 which seriously interfered with private habits of devotion1 public work1 and proper rest--such expenses demanded a heavy outlay2 the new mode of life1 now adopted for the ,lord's sake1 was at least three times as costly as the former frugal housekeeping2 and yet1 in answer to prayer and without any appeal to human help1 the ,lord furnished all that was required4 ,accustomed to look1 step by step1 for such tokens of divine approval1 as emboldened him to go forward1 ,mr4 ,muller records how1 when one hundred pounds was sent to him for personal uses1 this was recognized as a foretoken from his great ,provider1 by which1 he writes1 ,god meant to say to my own heart1 ',i am pleased with thy work and service in going about on these long missionary tours4 ,i will pay the expenses thereof1 and ,i give thee here a specimen of what ,i am yet willing to do for thee4' ,two other facts ,mr4 ,muller specially records in connection with these tours3 first1 ,god's gracious guiding and guarding of the work at ,bristol so that it suffered nothing from his absence2 and secondly1 the fact that these journeys had no connection with collecting of money for the work or even informing the public of it4 ,no reference was made to the ,institution at ,bristol1 except when urgently requested1 and not always even then2 nor were collections ever made for it4 ,statements found their way into the press that in ,america large sums were gathered1 but their falsity is sufficiently shown by the fact that in his first tour in ,america1 for example1 the sum total of all such gifts was less than sixty pounds1 not more than two thirds of the outlay of every day at the orphan houses4 ,these missionary tours were not always approved even by the friends and advisers of ,mr4 ,muller4 ,in #ahhb1 while experiencing no little difficulty and trial1 especially as to funds1 there were not a few who felt a deep interest in the ,institution on ,ashley ,down1 who would have had ,god's servant discontinue his long absences1 as to them it appeared that these were the main reason for the falling off in funds4 ,he was always open to counsel1 but he always reserved to himself an independent decision2 and1 on weighing the matter well1 these were some of the reasons that led him to think that the work of ,god at home did not demand his personal presence3 #a4 ,he had observed year after year that1 under the godly and efficient supervision of ,mr4 ,wright and his large staff of helpers1 every branch of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution had been found as healthy and fruitful during these absences as when ,mr4 ,muller was in ,bristol4 #b4 ,the ,lord's approval of this work of wider witness had been in manner conclusive and in measure abundant1 as in the ample supply of funds for these tours1 in the wide doors of access opened1 and in the large fruit already evident in blessing to thousands of souls4 #c4 ,the strong impression upon his mind that this was the work which was to occupy the 'evening of his life1' grew in depth1 and was confirmed by so many signs of ,god's leading that he could not doubt that he was led both of ,god's providence and ,spirit4 #d4 ,even while absent1 he was never out of communication with the helpers at home4 ,generally he heard at least weekly from ,mr4 ,wright1 and any matters needing his counsel were thus submitted to him by letter2 prayer to ,god was as effectual at a distance from ,bristol as on the spot2 and his periodical returns to that city for some weeks or months between these tours kept him in close touch with every department of the work4 #e4 ,the supreme consideration1 however1 was this3 ,to suppose it necessary for ,mr4 ,muller himself to be at home in order that sufficient means should be supplied1 was a direct contradiction of the very principles upon which1 and to maintain which1 the whole work had been begun4 ,real trust in ,god is above circumstances and appearances4 ,and this had been proven2 for1 during the third year after these tours began1 the income for the various departments of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution was larger than ever during the preceding forty-four years of its existence2 and therefore1 notwithstanding the loving counsel of a few donors and friends who advised that ,mr4 ,muller should stay at home1 he kept to his purpose and his principles1 partly to demonstrate that no man's presence is indispensable to the work of the ,lord4 ,them that honour ,me ,i will honour4 7#a ,samuel ii4 #ci47 ,he regarded it the greatest honour of his life to bear this wide witness to ,god1 and ,god correspondingly honoured ,his servant in bearing this testimony4 ,it was during the first and second of these ,american tours that the writer had the privilege of coming into personal contact with ,mr4 ,muller4 ,while ,i was at ,san ,francisco1 in #ahgh1 he was to speak on ,sabbath afternoon1 ,may #abth1 at ,oakland1 just across the bay1 but conscientious objections to needless ,sunday travel caused me voluntarily to lose what then seemed the only chance of seeing and hearing a man whose career had been watched by me for over twenty years1 as he was to leave for the ,east a few days earlier than myself and was likely to be always a little in advance4 ,on reaching ,ogden1 however1 where the branch road from ,salt ,lake ,city joins the main line1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller boarded my train and we travelled to ,chicago together4 ,i introduced myself1 and held with him daily converse about divine things1 and1 while tarrying at ,chicago1 had numerous opportunities for hearing him speak there4 ,the results of this close and frequent contact were singularly blessed to me1 and at my invitation he came to ,detroit1 ,michigan1 in his next tour1 and spoke in the ,fort ,street ,presbyterian ,church1 of which ,i was pastor1 on ,sundays1 ,january #ah and #be1 #ahhj1 and on ,monday and ,friday evenings1 in the interval4 ,in addition to these numerous and favourable opportunities thus providentially afforded for hearing and conversing with ,mr4 ,muller1 he kindly met me for several days in my study1 for an hour at a time1 for conference upon those deeper truths of the word of ,god and deeper experiences of the ,christian life1 upon which ,i was then very desirous of more light4 ,for example1 ,i desired to understand more clearly the ,bible teaching about the ,lord's coming4 ,i had opposed with much persistency what is known as the premillennial view1 and brought out my objections1 to all of which he made one reply3 ,my beloved brother1 ,i have heard all your arguments and objections against this view1 but they have one fatal defect3 not one of them is based upon the word of ,god4 ,you will never get at the truth upon any matter of divine revelation unless you lay aside your prejudices and like a little child ask simply what is the testimony of ,scripture4 ,with patience and wisdom he unravelled the tangled skein of my perplexity and difficulty1 and helped me to settle upon biblical principles all matters of so-called expediency4 ,as he left me1 about to visit other cities1 his words fixed themselves in my memory4 ,i had expressed to him my growing conviction that the worship in the churches had lost its primitive simplicity2 that the pew-rent system was pernicious2 that fixed salaries for ministers of the gospel were unscriptural2 that the church of ,god should be administered only by men full of the ,holy ,ghost1 and that the duty of ,christians to the non-church-going masses was grossly neglected1 etc4 ,he solemnly said to me3 ,my beloved brother1 the ,lord has given you much light upon these matters1 and will hold you correspondingly responsible for its use4 ,if you obey ,him and walk in the light1 you will have more2 if not1 the light will be withdrawn4 ,it is a singular lesson on the importance of an anointed tongue1 that forty simple words1 spoken over twenty years ago1 have had a daily influence on the life of him to whom they were spoken4 ,amid subtle temptations to compromise the claims of duty and hush the voice of conscience1 or of the ,spirit of ,god1 and to follow the traditions of men rather than the word of ,god1 those words of that venerated servant of ,god have recurred to mind with ever fresh force4 ,we risk the forfeiture of privileges which are not employed for ,god1 and of obscuring convictions which are not carried into action4 ,god's word to us is use or lose4 ,to him that hath shall be given3 from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have4 ,it is the hope and the prayer of him who writes this memoir that the reading of these pages may prove to be an interview with the man whose memorial they are1 and that the witness borne by ,george ,muller may be to many readers a source of untold and lifelong blessing4 ,it need not be said that to carry out conviction into action is a costly sacrifice4 ,it may make necessary renunciations and separations which leave one to feel a strange sense both of deprivation and loneliness4 ,but he who will fly as an eagle does into the higher levels where cloudless day abides1 and live in the sunshine of ,god1 must consent to live a comparatively lonely life4 ,no bird is so solitary as the eagle4 ,eagles never fly in flocks3 one1 or at most two1 and the two1 mates1 being ever seen at once4 ,but the life that is lived unto ,god1 however it forfeits human companionship1 knows divine fellowship1 and the child of ,god who like his ,master undertakes to do always the things that please ,him1 can like his ,master say1 ,the ,father hath not left me alone4 ,i am alone2 yet not alone1 for the ,father is with me4 ,whosoever will promptly follow whatever light ,god gives1 without regard to human opinion1 custom1 tradition1 or approbation1 will learn the deep meaning of these words3 ,then shall we know1 if we follow on to know the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,,faith ,,and ,,patience ,,in ,,serving ,,quantity of service is of far less importance than quality4 ,to do well1 rather than to do much1 will be the motto of him whose main purpose is to please ,god4 ,our ,lord bade ,his disciples tarry until endued with power from on high1 because it is such enduement that gives to all witness and work the celestial savour and flavour of the ,spirit4 ,before we come to the closing scenes1 we may well look back over the life-work of ,george ,muller1 which happily illustrates both quantity and quality of service4 ,it may be doubted whether any other one man of this century accomplished as much for ,god and man1 and yet all the abundant offerings which he brought to his ,master were characterized by a heavenly fragrance4 ,the orphan work was but one branch of that tree--the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution--which owed its existence to the fact that its founder devised large and liberal things for the ,lord's cause4 ,he sought to establish or at least to aid ,christian schools wherever needful1 to scatter ,bibles and ,testaments1 ,christian books and tracts2 to aid missionaries who were witnessing to the truth and working on a scriptural basis in destitute parts2 and though each of these objects might well have engrossed his mind1 they were all combined in the many-sided work which his love for souls suggested4 ,an aggressive spirit is never content with what has been done1 but is prompt to enter any new door that is providentially opened4 ,when the ,paris ,exposition of #ahfg offered such rare opportunities1 both for preaching to the crowds passing through the ,french capital1 and for circulating among them the ,holy ,scriptures1 he gladly availed himself of the services of two brethren whom ,god had sent to labour there1 one of whom spoke three1 and the other1 eight1 modern languages2 and through them were circulated1 chiefly at the ,exposition1 and in thirteen different languages1 nearly twelve thousand copies of the word of ,god1 or portions of the same4 ,it has been estimated that at this ,international ,exhibition there were distributed in all over one and a quarter million ,bibles1 in sixteen tongues1 which were gratefully accepted1 even by ,romish priests4 ,within six months those who thus entered ,god's open door scattered more copies of the ,book of ,god than in ordinary circumstances would have been done by ten thousand colporteurs in twenty times that number of months1 and thousands of souls are known to have found salvation by the simple reading of the ,new ,testament4 ,of this glorious work1 ,george ,muller was permitted to be so largely a promoter4 ,at the ,havre ,exhibition of the following year1 #ahfh1 a similar work was done2 and in like manner1 when a providential door was unexpectedly opened into the ,land of the ,inquisition1 ,mr4 ,muller promptly took measures to promote the circulation of the ,word in ,spain4 ,in the streets of ,madrid the open ,bible was seen for the first time1 and copies were sold at the rate of two hundred and fifty in an hour1 so that the supply was not equal to the demand4 ,the same facts were substantially repeated when free ,italy furnished a field for sowing the seed of the ,kingdom4 ,this wide-awake servant of ,god watched the signs of the times and1 while others slept1 followed the ,lord's signals of advance4 ,one of the most fascinating features of the ,narrative is found in the letters from his ,bible distributors4 ,it is interesting also to trace the story of the growth of the tract enterprise1 until1 in #ahgd1 the circulation exceeded three and three-quarter millions1 ,god in ,his faithfulness supplying abundant means499 99 ,narrative1 ,,iv4 #bdd4 ,the good thus effected by the distributors of evangelical literature must not be overlooked in this survey of the many useful agencies employed or assisted by ,mr4 ,muller4 ,to him the world was a field to be sown with the seed of the ,kingdom1 and opportunities were eagerly embraced for widely disseminating the truth4 ,tracts were liberally used1 given away in large quantities at open-air services1 fairs1 races and steeplechases1 and among spectators at public executions1 or among passengers on board ships and railway trains1 and by the way4 ,sometimes1 at a single gathering of the multitudes1 fifteen thousand were distributed judiciously and prayerfully1 and this branch of the work has1 during all these years1 continued with undiminished fruitfulness to yield its harvest of good4 ,all this was1 from first to last1 and of necessity1 a work of faith4 ,how far faith must have been kept in constant and vigorous exercise can be appreciated only by putting one's self in ,mr4 ,muller's place4 ,in the year #ahgd1 for instance1 about forty-four thousand pounds were needed1 and he was compelled to count the cost and face the situation4 ,two thousand and one hundred hungry mouths were daily to be fed1 and as many bodies to be clad and cared for4 ,one hundred and eighty-nine missionaries were needing assistance2 one hundred schools1 with about nine thousand pupils1 to be supported2 four million pages of tracts and tens of thousands of copies of the ,scriptures to be yearly provided for distribution2 and1 beside all these ordinary expenses1 inevitable crises or emergencies1 always liable to arise in connection with the conduct of such extensive enterprises1 would from time to time call for extraordinary outlay4 ,the man who was at the head of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution had to look at this array of unavoidable expenses1 and at the same time face the human possibility and probability of an empty treasury whence the last shilling had been drawn4 ,let him tell us how he met such a prospect3 ,god1 our infinitely rich ,treasurer1 remains to us4 ,it is this which gives me peace4444 ,invariably1 with this probability before me1 ,i have said to myself3 ',god who has raised up this work through me2 ,god who has led me generally year after year to enlarge it2 ,god1 who has supported this work now for more than forty years1 will still help and will not suffer me to be confounded1 because ,i rely upon ,him4 ,i commit the whole work to ,him1 and ,he will provide me with what ,i need1 in future also1 though ,i know not whence the means are to come4'99 99 ,narrative1 ,,iv4 #chf1 #chg4 ,thus he wrote in his journal1 on ,july #bh1 #ahgd4 ,since then twenty-four years have passed1 and to this day the work goes on1 though he who then had the guidance of it sleeps in ,jesus4 ,whoever has had any such dealings with ,god1 on however small a scale1 cannot even think of the ,lord as failing to honour a faith so simple1 genuine1 and childlike a faith which leads a helpless believer thus to cast himself and all his cares upon ,god with utter abandonment of all anxiety4 ,this man put ,god to proof1 and proved to himself and to all who receive his testimony that it is blessed to wait only upon ,him4 ,the particular point which he had in view1 in making these entries in his journal is the object also of embodying them in these pages1 namely1 to show that1 while the annual expenses of this ,institution were so exceedingly large and the income so apparently uncertain1 the soul of this believer was1 to use his own words1 ,,throughout1 without the least wavering1 stayed upon ,god1 believing that ,he who had through him begun the ,institution1 enlarged it almost year after year1 and upheld it for forty years in answer to prayer by faith1 would do this still and not suffer this servant of ,his to be confounded499 ,believing that ,god would still help1 and supply the means1 ,george ,muller was willing1 and ,,thoroughly in heart prepared1 if necessary1 to pass again through similar severe and prolonged seasons of trial as he had already endured4 99 ,narrative1 ,,iv4 #chi4 ,the ,living ,god had kept him calm and restful1 amid all the ups and downs of his long experience as the superintendent and director of this many-sided work1 though the tests of faith had not been light or short of duration4 ,for more than ten years at a time--as from ,august1 #ahch1 to ,april1 #ahdi1 day by day1 and for months together from meal to meal--it was necessary to look to ,god1 almost without cessation1 for daily supplies4 ,when1 later on1 the ,institution was twentyfold larger and the needs proportionately greater1 for months at a time the ,lord likewise constrained ,his servant to lean from hour to hour1 in the same dependence1 upon ,him4 ,all along through these periods of unceasing want1 the ,eternal ,god was his refuge and underneath were the ,everlasting ,arms4 ,he reflected that ,god was aware of all this enlargement of the work and its needs2 he comforted himself with the consoling thought that he was seeking his ,master's glory2 and that if in this way the greater glory would accrue to ,him for the good of ,his people and of those who were still unbelievers1 it was no concern of the servant2 nay1 more than this1 it behooved the servant to be willing to go on in this path of trial1 even unto the end of his course1 if so it should please his ,master1 who guides ,his affairs with divine discretion4 ,the trials of faith did not cease even until the end4 ,july #bh1 #ahha1 finds the following entry in ,mr4 ,muller's journal3 ,the income has been for some time past only about a third part of the expenses4 ,consequently all we have for the support of the orphans is nearly gone2 and for the first four objects of the ,institution we have nothing at all in hand4 ,the natural appearance now is that the work cannot be carried on4 ,but ,i ,,believe that the ,lord will help1 both with means for the orphans and also for other objects of the ,institution1 and that we shall not be confounded2 also that the work shall not need to be given up4 ,i am fully expecting help1 and have written this to the glory of ,god1 that it may be recorded hereafter for the encouragement of ,his children4 ,the result will be seen4 ,i expect that we shall not be confounded1 though for some years we have not been so poor4 ,while faith thus leaned on ,god1 prayer took more vigorous hold4 ,six1 seven1 eight times a day1 he and his dear wife were praying for means1 looking for answers1 and firmly persuaded that their expectations would not be disappointed4 ,since that entry was made1 seventeen more years have borne their witness that this trust was not put to shame4 ,not a branch of this tree of holy enterprise has been cut off by the sharp blade of a stern necessity4 ,though faith had thus tenaciously held fast to the promises1 the pressure was not at once relieved4 ,when1 a fortnight after these confident records of trust in ,god had been spread on the pages of the journal1 the balance for the orphans was less than it had been for twenty-five years1 it would have seemed to human sight as though ,god had forgotten to be gracious4 ,but1 on ,august #bbnd1 over one thousand pounds came in for the support of the orphans and thus relief was afforded for a time4 ,again1 let us bear in mind how in the most unprecedented straits ,god alone was made the confidant1 even the best friends of the ,institution1 alike the poor and the rich1 being left in ignorance of the pressure of want4 ,it would have been no sin to have made known the circumstances1 or even to have made an appeal for aid to the many believers who would gladly have come to the relief of the work4 ,but the testimony to the ,lord was to be jealously guarded1 and the main object of this work of faith would have been imperilled just so far as by any appeal to men this witness to ,god was weakened4 ,in this crisis1 and in every other1 faith triumphed1 and so the testimony to a prayer-hearing ,god grew in volume and power as the years went on4 ,it was while as yet this period of testing was not ended1 and no permanent relief was yet supplied1 that ,mr4 ,muller1 with his wife1 left ,bristol on ,august #bcrd1 for the ,continent1 on his eighth long preaching tour4 ,thus1 at a time when1 to the natural eye1 his own presence would have seemed well-nigh indispensable1 he calmly departed for other spheres of duty1 leaving the work at home in the hands of ,mr4 ,wright and his helpers4 ,the tour had been already arranged for1 under ,god's leading1 and it was undertaken1 with the supporting power of a deep conviction that ,god is as near to those who in prayer wait on ,him in distant lands1 as on ,ashley ,down1 and needs not the personal presence of any man in any one place1 or at any time1 in order to carry on ,his work4 ,in an ,american city1 a half-idiotic boy who was bearing a heavy burden asked a drayman1 who was driving an empty cart1 for a ride4 ,being permitted1 he mounted the cart with his basket1 but thinking he might so relieve the horse a little1 while still himself riding1 lifted his load and carried it4 ,we laugh at the simplicity of the idiotic lad1 and yet how often we are guilty of similar folly6 ,we profess to cast ourselves and our cares upon the ,lord1 and then persist in bearing our own burdens1 as if we felt that ,he would be unequal to the task of sustaining us and our loads4 ,it is a most wholesome lesson for ,christian workers to learn that all true work is primarily the ,lord's1 and only secondarily ours1 and that therefore all 'carefulness' on our part is distrust of ,him1 implying a sinful self-conceit which overlooks the fact that ,he is the one ,worker and all others are only ,his instruments4 ,as to our trials1 difficulties1 losses1 and disappointments1 we are prone to hesitate about committing them to the ,lord1 trustfully and calmly4 ,we think we have done well if we take refuge in the ,lord's promise to his reluctant disciple ,peter1 ,what ,i do thou knowest not now1 but thou shalt know hereafter1 referring this 'hereafter' to the future state where we look for the solution of all problems4 ,in ,peter's case the hereafter appears to have come when the feet-washing was done and ,christ explained its meaning2 and it is very helpful to our faith to observe ,mr4 ,muller's witness concerning all these trying and disappointing experiences of his life1 that1 without one exception1 he had found already in this life that they worked together for his good2 so that he had reason to praise ,god for them all4 ,in the ninetieth psalm we read3 ,make us glad according to the days wherein ,thou hast afflicted us ,and the years wherein we have seen evil4 7,psalm xc4 #ae47 ,this is an inspired prayer1 and such prayer is a prophecy4 ,not a few saints have found1 this side of heaven1 a divine gladness for every year and day of sadness1 when their afflictions and adversities have been patiently borne4 ,faith is the secret of both peace and steadfastness1 amid all tendencies to discouragement and discontinuance in well-doing4 ,james was led by the ,spirit of ,god to write that the unstable and unbelieving man is like the wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed4 ,there are two motions of the waves--one up and down1 which we call undulation1 the other to and fro1 which we call fluctuation4 ,how appropriately both are referred to--tossed up and down1 driven to and fro6 ,the double-minded man lacks steadiness in both respects3 his faith has no uniformity of experience1 for he is now at the crest of the wave and now in the trough of the sea2 it has no uniformity of progress1 for whatever he gains to-day he loses to-morrow4 ,fluctuations in income and apparent prosperity did not take ,george ,muller by surprise4 ,he expected them1 for if there were no crises and critical emergencies how could there be critical deliverances8 ,his trust was in ,god1 not in donors or human friends or worldly circumstances3 and because he trusted in the ,living ,god who says of ,himself1 ,i am the ,lord1 ,i change not1 amid all other changes1 his feet were upon the one ,rock of ,ages that no earthquake shock can move from its eternal foundations4 ,two facts ,mr4 ,muller gratefully records at this period of his life3 7,narrative1 ,,iv4 #daa1 #dah47 ,first4 ,for above fifty years ,i have now walked1 by ,his grace1 in a path of complete reliance upon ,him who is the faithful one1 for everything ,i have needed2 and yet ,i am increasingly convinced that it is by ,his help alone ,i am enabled to continue in this course2 for1 if left to myself1 even after the precious enjoyment so long experienced of walking thus in fellowship with ,god1 ,i should yet be tempted to abandon this path of entire dependence upon ,him4 ,to ,his praise1 however1 ,i am able to state that for more than half a century ,i have never had the least desire to do so4 ,second4 ,from ,may1 #ahhj1 to ,may #ahha1 a gracious work of the ,spirit had visited the orphans on ,ashley ,down and in many of the schools4 ,during the three months spent by ,mr4 ,muller at home before sailing for ,america in ,september1 #ahhj1 he had been singularly drawn out in prayer for such a visitation of grace1 and had often urged it on the prayers of his helpers4 ,the ,lord is faithful1 and ,he cheered the heart of ,his servant in his absence by abundant answers to his intercessions4 ,before he had fairly entered on his work in ,america1 news came from home of a blessed work of conversion already in progress1 and which went on for nearly a year1 until there was good ground for believing that in the five houses five hundred and twelve orphans had found ,god their ,father in ,christ1 and nearly half as many more were in a hopeful state4 ,the ,lord did not forget ,his promise1 and ,he did keep the plant ,he had permitted ,his servant to set in ,his name in the soil on ,ashley ,down4 ,faith that was tried1 triumphed4 ,on ,june #g1 #ahhd1 a legacy of over eleven thousand pounds reached him1 the largest single gift ever yet received1 the largest donations which had preceded being respectively one thousand1 two thousand1 three thousand1 five thousand1 eight thousand one hundred1 and nine thousand and ninety-one pounds4 ,this last amount1 eleven thousand1 had been due for over six years from an estate1 but had been kept back by the delays of the ,chancery ,court4 ,prayer had been made day by day that the bequest might be set free for its uses1 and now the full answer had come2 and ,god had singularly timed the supply to the need1 for there was at that time only forty-one pounds ten shillings in hand1 not one half of the average daily expenses1 and certain sanitary improvements were just about to be carried out which would require an outlay of over two thousand pounds4 ,as ,mr4 ,muller closed the solemn and blessed records of #ahhd1 he wrote3 ,thus ended the year #ahhd1 during which we had been tried1 greatly tried1 in various ways1 no doubt for the exercise of our faith1 and to make us know ,god more fully2 but during which we had also been helped and blessed1 and greatly helped and blessed4 ,peacefully1 then1 we were able to enter upon the year #ahhe1 fully assured that1 as we had ,god ,,for us and ,,with us1 ,,all1 ,,all would be well4 ,john ,wesley had in the same spirit said a century before1 ,best of all1 ,god is with us4 ,of late years the orphanage at ,ashley ,down has not had as many inmates as formerly1 and some four or five hundred more might now be received4 ,mr4 ,m,uller felt constrained1 for some years previous to his death1 to make these vacancies known to the public1 in hopes that some destitute orphans might find there a home4 ,but it must be remembered that the provision for such children has been greatly enlarged since this orphan work was begun4 ,in #ahcd the total accommodation for all orphans1 in ,england1 reached thirty-six hundred1 while the prisons contained nearly twice as many children under eight years of age4 ,this state of things led to the rapid enlargement of the work until over two thousand were housed on ,ashley ,down alone2 and this colossal enterprise stimulated others to open similar institutions until1 fifty years after ,mr4 ,muller began his work1 at least one hundred thousand orphans were cared for in ,england alone4 ,thus ,god used ,mr4 ,muller to give such an impetus to this form of philanthropy1 that destitute children became the object of a widely organized charity both on the part of individuals and of societies1 and orphanages now exist for various classes4 ,in all this manifold work which ,mr4 ,muller did he was1 to the last1 self-oblivious4 ,from the time when1 in ,october1 #ahcj1 he had given up all stated salary1 as pastor and minister of the gospel1 he had never received any salary1 stipend nor fixed income1 of any sort1 whether as a pastor or as a director of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution4 ,both principle and preference led him to wait only upon ,god for all personal needs1 as also for all the wants of his work4 ,nevertheless ,god put into the hearts of ,his believing children in all parts of the world1 not only to send gifts in aid of the various branches of the work which ,mr4 ,muller superintended1 but to forward to him money for his own uses1 as well as clothes1 food1 and other temporal supplies4 ,he never appropriated one penny which was not in some way indicated or designated as for his own personal needs1 and subject to his personal judgment4 ,no straits of individual or family want ever led him to use1 even for a time1 what was sent to him for other ends4 ,generally gifts intended for himself were wrapped up in paper with his name written thereon1 or in other equally distinct ways designated as meant for him4 ,thus as early as #ahgd his year's income reached upwards of twenty-one hundred pounds4 ,few nonconformist ministers1 and not one in twenty of the clergy of the establishment1 have any such income1 which averages about six pounds for every day in the year--and all this came from the ,lord1 simply in answer to prayer1 and without appeal of any sort to man or even the revelation of personal needs4 ,if we add legacies paid at the end of the year #ahgc1 ,mr4 ,muller's entire income in about thirteen months exceeded thirty-one hundred pounds4 ,of this he gave1 out and out to the needy1 and to the work of ,god1 the whole amount save about two hundred and fifty1 expended on personal and family wants2 and thus started the year #ahge as poor as he had begun forty-five years before2 and if his personal expenses were scrutinized it would be found that even what he ate and drank and wore was with equal conscientiousness expended for the glory of ,god1 so that in a true sense we may say he spent nothing on himself4 ,in another connection it has already been recorded that1 when at ,jubbulpore in #ahij1 ,mr4 ,muller received tidings of his daughter's death4 ,to any man of less faith that shock might have proved1 at his advanced age1 not only a stunning but a fatal blow4 ,his only daughter and only child1 ,lydia1 the devoted wife of ,james ,wright1 had been called home1 in her fifty-eighth year1 and after nearly thirty years of labour at the orphan houses4 ,what this death meant to ,mr4 ,muller1 at the age of eighty-four1 no one can know who has not witnessed the mutual devotion of that daughter and that father3 and what that loss was to ,mr4 ,wright1 the pen alike fails to portray4 ,if the daughter seemed to her father humanly indispensable1 she was to her husband a sort of inseparable part of his being2 and over such experiences as these it is the part of delicacy to draw the curtain of silence4 ,but it should be recorded that no trait in ,mrs4 ,wright was more pathetically attractive than her humility4 ,few disciples ever felt their own nothingness as she did1 and it was this ornament of a meek and quiet spirit--the only ornament she wore--that made her seem so beautiful to all who knew her well enough for this 'hidden man of the heart' to be disclosed to their vision4 ,did not that ornament in the ,lord's sight appear as of great price8 ,truly the beauty of the ,lord her ,god was upon her4 ,james ,wright had lived with his beloved ,lydia for more than eighteen years1 in unmarred and unbroken felicity4 ,they had together shared in prayers and tears before ,god1 bearing all life's burdens in common4 ,weak as she was physically1 he always leaned upon her and found her a tower of spiritual strength in time of heavy responsibility4 ,while1 in her lowly-mindedness1 she thought of herself as a 'little useless thing1' he found her both a capable and cheerful supervisor of many most important domestic arrangements where a competent woman's hand was needful3 and1 with rare tact and fidelity1 she kept watch of the wants of the orphans as her dear mother had done before her4 ,after her decease1 her husband found among her personal effects a precious treasure--a verse written with her own hand3 ,i have seen the face of ,jesus1 ,tell me not of aught beside2 ,i have heard the voice of ,jesus1 ,all my soul is satisfied4 ,this invaluable little fragment1 like that other writing found by this beloved daughter among her mother's effects1 became to ,mr4 ,wright what that had been to ,mr4 ,muller1 a sort of last legacy from his departed and beloved wife4 ,her desires were fulfilled2 she had seen the face and heard the voice of ,him who alone could satisfy her soul4 ,in the ,fifty-third ,report1 which extends to ,may #bf1 #ahib1 it is stated that the expenses exceeded the income for the orphans by a total of over thirty-six hundred pounds1 so that many dear fellow labourers1 without the least complaint1 were in arrears as to salaries4 ,this was the second time only1 in fifty-eight years1 that the income thus fell short of the expenses4 ,ten years previous1 the expenses had been in excess of the income by four hundred and eighty-eight pounds1 but1 within one month after the new financial year had begun1 by the payment of legacies three times as much as the deficiency was paid in2 and1 adding donations1 six times as much4 ,and now the question arose whether ,god would not have ,mr4 ,muller contract rather than expand the work4 ,he says3 ,the ,lord's dealings with us during the last year indicate that it is ,his will we should contract our operations1 and we are waiting upon ,him for directions as to how and to what extent this should be done2 for we have but one single object--the glory of ,god4 ,when ,i founded this ,institution1 one of the principles stated was1 'that there would be no enlargement of the work by going into debt'3 and in like manner we cannot go on with that which already exists if we have not sufficient means coming in to meet the current expenses4 ,thus the godly man who loved to expand his service for ,god was humble enough to bow to the will of ,god if its contraction seemed needful4 ,prayer was much increased1 and faith did not fail under the trial1 which continued for weeks and months1 but was abundantly sustained by the promises of an unfailing ,helper4 ,this distress was relieved in ,march by the sale of ten acres of land1 at one thousand pounds an acre1 and at the close of the year there was in hand a balance of over twenty-three hundred pounds4 ,the exigency1 however1 continued more or less severe until again1 in #ahic-d1 after several years of trial1 the ,lord once more bountifully supplied means4 ,and ,mr4 ,muller is careful to add that though the appearance during those years of trial was many times as if ,god had forgotten or forsaken them and would never care any more about the ,institution1 it was only in appearance1 for he was as mindful of it as ever1 and he records how by this discipline faith was still further strengthened1 ,god was glorified in the patience and meekness whereby ,he enabled them to endure the testing1 and tens of thousands of believers were blessed in afterward reading about these experience's of divine faithfulness499 99 ,fifty-fifth ,report1 p4 #cb4 ,five years after ,mrs4 ,wright's death1 ,mr4 ,muller was left again a widower4 ,his last great mission tour had come to an end in #ahib1 and in #ahie1 on the #acth of ,january1 the beloved wife who in all these long journeys had been his constant companion and helper1 passed to her rest1 and once more left him peculiarly alone1 since his devoted ,lydia had been called up higher4 ,yet by the same grace of ,god which had always before sustained him he was now upheld1 and not only kept in unbroken peace1 but enabled to kiss the ,hand which administered the stroke4 ,at the funeral of his second wife1 as at that of the first1 he made the address1 and the scene was unique in interest4 ,seldom does a man of ninety conduct such a service4 ,the faith that sustained him in every other trial held him up in this4 ,he lived in such habitual communion with the unseen world1 and walked in such uninterrupted fellowship with the unseen ,god1 that the exchange of worlds became too real for him to mourn for those who had made it1 or to murmur at the infinite ,love that numbers our days4 ,it moved men more deeply than any spoken word of witness to see him manifestly borne up as on everlasting ,arms4 ,i remember ,mr4 ,muller remarking that he waited eight years before he understood at all the purpose of ,god in removing his first wife1 who seemed so indispensable to him and his work4 ,his own journal explains more fully this remark4 ,when it pleased ,god to take from him his second wife1 after over twenty-three years of married life1 again he rested on the promise that ,all things work together for good to them that love ,god and reflected on his past experiences of its truth4 ,when he lost his first wife after over thirty-nine years of happy wedlock1 while he bowed to the ,father's will1 how that sorrow and bereavement could work good had been wholly a matter of faith1 for no compensating good was apparent to sight2 yet he believed ,god's word and waited to see how it would be fulfilled4 ,that loss seemed one that could not be made up4 ,only a little before1 two orphan houses had been opened for nine hundred more orphans1 so that there were total accommodations for over two thousand2 she1 who by nature1 culture1 gifts1 and graces1 was so wonderfully fitted to be her husband's helper1 and who had with motherly love cared for these children1 was suddenly removed from his side4 ,four years after ,mr4 ,muller married his second wife1 he saw it plainly to be ,god's will that he should spend life's evening-time in giving witness to the nations4 ,these mission tours could not be otherwise than very trying to the physical powers of endurance1 since they covered over two hundred thousand miles and obliged the travellers to spend a week at a time in a train1 and sometimes from four to six weeks on board a vessel4 ,mrs4 ,muller1 though never taking part in public1 was severely taxed by all this travel1 and always busy1 writing letters1 circulating books and tracts1 and in various ways helping and relieving her husband4 ,all at once1 while in the midst of these fatiguing journeys and exposures to varying climates1 it flashed upon ,mr4 ,muller that his first wife1 who had died in her seventy-third year1 could never have undertaken these tours1 and that the ,lord had thus1 in taking her1 left him free to make these extensive journeys4 ,she would have been over fourscore years old when these tours began1 and1 apart from age1 could not have borne the exhaustion1 because of her frail health2 whereas the second ,mrs4 ,muller1 who1 at the time1 was not yet fifty-seven1 was both by her age and strength fully equal to the strain thus put upon her4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,,at ,,evening-,,time--,,light ,,the closing scene of this beautiful and eventful life-history has an interest not altogether pathetic4 ,mr4 ,muller seems like an elevated mountain1 on whose summit the evening sun shines in lingering splendour1 and whose golden peak rises far above the ordinary level and belongs to heaven more than earth1 in the clear1 cloudless calm of ,god4 ,from ,may1 #ahib1 when the last mission tour closed2 he devoted himself mainly to the work of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 and to preaching at ,bethesda and elsewhere as ,god seemed to appoint4 ,his health was marvelous1 especially considering how1 when yet a young man1 frequent and serious illnesses and general debility had apparently disqualified him from all military duty1 and to many prophesied early death or hopeless succumbing to disease4 ,he had been in tropic heat and arctic cold1 in gales and typhoons at sea1 and on journeys by rail1 sometimes as continuously long as a sea-voyage4 ,he had borne the pest of fleas1 mosquitoes1 and even rats4 ,he had endured changes of climate1 diet1 habits of life1 and the strain of almost daily services1 and come out of all unscathed4 ,this man1 whose health was never robust1 had gone through labours that would try the mettle of an iron constitution2 this man1 who had many times been laid aside by illness and sometimes for months and who in #ahcg had feared that a persistent head trouble might unhinge his mind1 could say1 in his ninety-second year3 ,i have been able1 every day and all the day1 to work1 and that with ease1 as seventy years since4 ,when the writer was holding meetings in ,bristol in #ahif1 on an anniversary very sacred to himself1 he asked his beloved father ,muller to speak at the closing meeting of the series1 in the ,y4,m4,c4,a4 ,hall2 and he did so1 delivering a powerful address of forty-five minutes1 on ,prayer in connection with ,missions1 and giving his own life-story in part1 with a vigour of voice and manner that seemed a denial of his advanced age499 99 ,appendix ,k4 ,the marvelous preservation of such a man at such an age reminds one of ,caleb1 who at eighty-five could boast in ,god that he was as strong even for war as in the day that he was sent into the land as one of the spies2 and ,mr4 ,muller himself attributed this preservation to three causes3 first1 the exercising of himself to have always a conscience void of offence both toward ,god and toward men2 secondly to the love he felt for the ,scriptures1 and the constant recuperative power they exercised upon his whole being2 and third1 to that happiness he felt in ,god and ,his work1 which relieved him of all anxiety and needless wear and tear in his labours4 ,the great fundamental truth that this heroic man stamped on his generation was that the ,living ,god is the same to-day and forever as yesterday and in all ages past1 and that1 with equal confidence with the most trustful souls of any age1 we may believe ,his word1 and to every promise add1 like ,abraham1 our ',amen'--,,it ,,shall ,,be ,,so699 ,when1 a few days after his death1 ,mr4 ,e4 ,h4 ,glenny1 who is known to many as the beloved and self-sacrificing friend of the ,north ,african ,mission1 passed through ,barcelona1 he found written in an album over his signature the words3 ,jesus ,christ1 the same yesterday and to-day and for ever4 ,and1 like the writer of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 quoting from the #ajbnd ,psalm1 we may say of ,jehovah1 while all else changes and perishes3 ,,thou ,,remainest2 ,,thou ,,art ,,the ,,same4 ,toward the close of life ,mr4 ,muller1 acting under medical advice1 abated somewhat of his active labours1 preaching commonly but once a ,sunday4 ,it was my privilege to hear him on the morning of the ,lord's day1 ,march #bb1 #ahif4 ,he spoke on the #ggth ,psalm2 of course he found here his favourite theme--prayer2 and1 taking that as a fair specimen of his average preaching1 he was certainly a remarkable expositor of ,scripture even at ninety-one years of age4 ,later on the outline of this discourse will be found4 99 ,gen4 xv4 #f4 7,hebrew47 ,on ,sunday morning1 ,march #f1 #ahih1 he spoke at ,alma ,road ,chapel1 and on the ,monday evening following was at the prayer service at ,bethesda1 on both occasions in his usual health4 ,on ,wednesday evening following1 he took his wonted place at the ,orphan ,house prayer meeting and gave out the hymns3 ,the countless multitude on high4 and ,we'll sing of the ,shepherd that died4 ,when he bade his beloved son-in-law good-night1 there was no outward sign of declining strength4 ,he seemed to the last the vigorous old man1 and retired to rest as usual4 ,it had been felt that one so advanced in years should have some night-attendant1 especially as indications of heart-weakness had been noticed of late1 and he had yielded to the pressure of love and consented to such an arrangement after that night4 ,but the consent came too late4 ,he was never more to need human attendance or attention4 ,on ,thursday morning1 ,march #ajth1 at about seven o'clock1 the usual cup of tea was taken to his room4 ,to the knock at the door there was no response save an ominous silence4 ,the attendant opened the door1 only to find that the venerable patriarch lay dead1 on the floor beside the bed4 ,he had probably risen to take some nourishment--a glass of milk and a biscuit being always put within reach--and1 while eating the biscuit1 he had felt faint1 and fallen1 clutching at the table-cloth as he fell1 for it was dragged off1 with certain things that had lain on the table4 ,his medical adviser1 who was promptly summoned1 gave as his opinion that he had died of heart-failure some hour or two before he had been found by his attendant4 ,such a departure1 even at such an age1 produced a worldwide sensation4 ,that man's moral and spiritual forces reached and touched the earth's ends4 ,not in ,bristol1 or in ,britain alone1 but across the mighty waters toward the sunrise and sunset was felt the responsive pulse-beat of a deep sympathy4 ,hearts bled all over the globe when it was announced1 by telegraph wire and ocean cable1 that ,george ,muller was dead4 ,it was said of a great ,englishman that his influence could be measured only by parallels of latitude2 of ,george ,muller we may add1 and by meridians of longitude4 ,he belonged to the whole church and the whole world1 in a unique sense2 and the whole race of man sustained a loss when he died4 ,the funeral1 which took place on the ,monday following1 was a popular tribute of affection1 such as is seldom seen4 ,tens of thousands of people reverently stood along the route of the simple procession2 men left their workshops and offices1 women left their elegant homes or humble kitchens1 all seeking to pay a last token of respect4 ,bristol had never before witnessed any such scene4 ,a brief service was held at ,orphan ,house ,no4 #c1 where over a thousand children met1 who had for a second time lost a 'father'2 in front of the reading-desk in the great dining-room1 a coffin of elm1 studiously plain1 and by request without floral offerings1 contained all that was mortal of ,george ,muller1 and on a brass plate was a simple inscription1 giving the date of his death1 and his age4 ,mr4 ,james ,wright gave the address1 reminding those who were gathered that1 to all of us1 even those who have lived nearest ,god1 death comes while the ,lord tarries2 that it is blessed to die in the ,lord2 and that for believers in ,christ there is a glorious resurrection waiting4 ,the tears that ran down those young cheeks were more eloquent than any words1 as a token of affection for the dead4 ,the procession silently formed4 ,among those who followed the bier were four who had been occupants of that first orphan home in ,wilson ,street4 ,the children's grief melted the hearts of spectators1 and eyes unused to weeping were moistened that day4 ,the various carriages bore the medical attendants1 the relatives and connections of ,mr4 ,muller1 the elders and deacons of the churches with which he was associated1 and his staff of helpers in the work on ,ashley ,down4 ,then followed forty or fifty other vehicles with deputations from various religious bodies1 etc4 ,at ,bethesda1 every foot of space was crowded1 and hundreds sought in vain for admission4 ,the hymn was sung which ,mr4 ,muller had given out at that last prayer meeting the night before his departure4 ,dr4 ,maclean of ,bath offered prayer1 mingled with praise for such a long life of service and witness1 of prayer and faith1 and ,mr4 ,wright spoke from ,hebrews xiii4 #g1 #h3 ,remember them which have the rule over you1 ,who have spoken unto you the word of ,god3 ,whose faith follow1 ,considering the end of their conversation3 ,jesus ,christ1 the same yesterday and to-day and forever4 ,he spoke of those spiritual rulers and guides whom ,god sets over his people2 and of the privilege of imitating their faith1 calling attention to the two characteristics of his beloved father-in-law's faith3 first1 that it was based on that immovable ,rock of ,ages1 ,god's written word2 and secondly1 that it translated the precepts and promises of that word into daily life4 ,mr4 ,wright made very emphatic ,mr4 ,muller's acceptance of the whole ,scriptures1 as divinely inspired4 ,he had been wont to say to young believers1 ,put your finger on the passage on which your faith rests1 and had himself read the ,bible from end to end nearly two hundred times4 ,he fed on the ,word and therefore was strong4 ,he found the centre of that ,word in the living ,person it enshrines1 and his one ground of confidence was ,his atoning work4 ,always in his own eyes weak1 wretched1 and vile1 unworthy of the smallest blessing1 he rested solely on the merit and mediation of ,his great ,high ,priest4 ,george ,muller cultivated faith4 ,he used to say to his helpers in prayer and service1 ,never let enter your minds a shadow of doubt as to the love of the ,father's heart or the power of the ,father's arm4 ,and he projected his whole life forward1 and looked at it in the light of the ,judgment ,day4 ,mr4 ,wright's address made prominent one or two other most important lessons1 as1 for example1 that the ,spirit bids us imitate1 not the idiosyncrasies or philanthropy of others1 but their faith4 ,and he took occasion to remind his hearers that philanthropy was not the foremost aim or leading feature of ,mr4 ,muller's life1 but above all else to magnify and glorify ,god1 as still the living ,god who1 now as well as thousands of years ago1 hears the prayers of ,his children and helps those who trust ,him4 ,he touchingly referred to the humility that led ,mr4 ,muller to do the mightiest thing for ,god without self-consciousness1 and showed that ,god can take up and use those who are willing to be only instruments4 ,mr4 ,wright further remarked3 ,i have been asked again and again lately as to whether the orphan work would go on4 ,it is going on4 ,since the commencement of the year we have received between forty and fifty fresh orphans1 and this week expect to receive more4 ,the other four objects of the ,institution1 according to the ability ,god gives us1 are still being carried on4 ,we believe that whatever ,god would do with regard to the future will be worthy of ,him4 ,we do not know much more1 and do not want to4 ,he knows what ,he will do4 ,i cannot think1 however1 that the ,god who has so blessed the work for so long will leave our prayers as to the future unanswered4 ,mr4 ,benjamin ,perry then spoke briefly1 characterizing ,mr4 ,muller as the greatest personality ,bristol had known as a citizen4 ,he referred to his power as an expounder of ,scripture1 and to the fact that he brought to others for their comfort and support what had first been food to his own soul4 ,he gave some personal reminiscences1 referring1 for instance1 to his ability at an extreme old age still to work without hindrance either mental or physical1 free from rheumatism1 ache1 or pain1 and seldom suffering from exhaustion4 ,he briefly described him as one who1 in response to the infinite love of ,god1 which called him from a life of sin to a life of salvation and service1 wholly loved ,god above everybody and everything1 so that his highest pleasure was to please and serve ,him4 ,as an illustration of his humility1 he gave an incident4 ,when of late a friend had said1 ,when ,god calls you home1 it will be like a ship going into harbour1 full sail4--,oh no6 said ,mr4 ,muller1 it is poor ,george ,muller who needs daily to pray1 ',hold ,thou me up in my goings1 that my footsteps slip not4' ,the close of such lives as those of ,asa and ,solomon were to ,mr4 ,muller a perpetual warning1 leading him to pray that he might never thus depart from the ,lord in his old age4 ,after prayer by ,mr4 ,j4 ,l4 ,stanley1 ,col4 ,molesworth gave out the hymn1 ',tis sweet to think of those at rest4 ,and after another prayer by ,mr4 ,stanley ,arnot1 the body was borne to its resting-place in ,arno's ,vale ,cemetery1 and buried beside the bodies of ,mr4 ,muller's first and second wives1 some eighty carriages joining in the procession to the grave4 ,everything from first to last was as simple and unostentatious as he himself would have wished4 ,at the graveside ,col4 ,molesworth prayed1 and ,mr4 ,george ,f4 ,bergin read from #a ,cor4 xv4 and spoke a few words upon the tenth verse1 which so magnifies the grace of ,god both in what we are and what we do4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,k4 ,groves1 nephew of ,mr4 ,muller1 announced as the closing hymn the second given out by him at that last prayer meeting at the orphanage4 ,we'll sing of the ,shepherd that died4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,t4 ,davies then offered prayer1 and the body was left to its undisturbed repose1 until the ,lord shall come4 ,other memorial services were held at the ,y4,m4,c4,a4 ,hall1 and very naturally at ,bethesda ,chapel1 which brought to a fitting close this series of loving tributes to the departed4 ,on the ,lord's day preceding the burial1 in nearly all the city pulpits1 more or less extended reference had been made to the life1 the character1 and the career of the beloved saint who had for so many years lived his irreproachable life in ,bristol4 ,also the daily and weekly press teemed with obituary notices1 and tributes to his piety1 worth1 and work4 ,it was touchingly remarked at his funeral that he first confessed to feeling weak and weary in his work that last night of his earthly sojourn2 and it seemed specially tender of the ,lord not to allow that sense of exhaustion to come upon him until just as ,he was about to send ,his chariot to bear him to ,his presence4 ,mr4 ,muller's last sermon at ,bethesda ,chapel1 after a ministry of sixty-six years1 had been from #b ,cor4 v4 #a3 ,for we know that1 if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved1 we have a building of ,god1 a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 ,it was as though he had some foretokens of his being about shortly to put off this his tabernacle4 ,evidently he was not taken by surprise4 ,he had foreseen that his days were fast completing their number4 ,seven months before his departure1 he had remarked to his medical attendant1 in connection with the irregularity of his pulse3 ,it means death4 ,many of the dear orphans--as when the first ,mrs4 ,muller died--wrote1 asking that they might contribute toward the erection of a monument to the memory of their beloved benefactor4 ,already one dear young servant had gathered1 for the purpose1 over twenty pounds4 ,in conformity with the known wishes of his father-in-law that only the simplest headstone be placed over his remains1 ,mr4 ,wright thought necessary to check the inflow of such gifts1 the sum in hand being quite sufficient4 ,further urgent appeals were made both from ,british and ,american friends1 for the erection of some statue or other large visible monument or memorial1 and in these appeals the local newspapers united4 ,at length private letters led ,mr4 ,wright to communicate with the public press1 as the best way at once to silence these appeals and express the ground of rejecting such proposals4 ,he wrote as follows3 ,you ask me1 as one long and closely associated with the late ,mr4 ,george ,muller1 to say what ,i think would be most in accordance with his own wishes as a fitting memorial of himself4 ,will not the best way of replying to this question be to let him speak for himself8 #ast4 ,when he erected ,orphan ,house ,no4 #a1 and the question came what is the building to be called1 he deliberately avoided associating his own name with it1 and named it ',the ,new ,orphan ,house1 ,ashley ,down4' ,n4,b4--,to the end of his life he disliked hearing or reading the words ',muller's ,orphanage4' ,in keeping with this1 for years1 in every ,annual ,report1 when referring to the ,orphanage he reiterated the statement1 ',the ,new ,orphan ,houses on ,ashley ,down1 ,bristol1 are not my ,orphan ,houses1444 they are ,god's ,orphan ,houses4' 7,see1 for example1 the ,report for #ahig1 p4 #fi47 #bnd4 ,for years1 in fact until he was nearly eighty years old1 he steadily refused to allow any portrait of himself to be published2 and only most reluctantly 7for reasons which he gives with characteristic minuteness in the preface to ',preaching ,tours'7 did he at length give way on this point4 #crd4 ,in the last published ,report1 at page #ff1 he states3 ',the primary object ,i had in view in carrying on this work1' viz41 'that it might be seen that now1 in the nineteenth century1 ,god is still the ,living ,god1 and that now1 as well as thousands of years ago1 ,he listens to the prayers of ,his children and helps those who trust in ,him4' ,from these words and ways of acting1 is it not evident1 that the only 'memorial' that ,george ,muller cared about was that which consists in the effect of his example1 ,godward1 upon his fellow men8 ,every soul converted to ,god 7instrumentally7 through his words or example constitutes a permanent memorial to him as the father in ,christ of such an one4 ,every believer strengthened in faith 7instrumentally7 through his words or example constitutes a similar memorial to his spiritual teacher4 ,he knew that ,god had1 already1 in the riches of ,his grace1 given him many such memorials2 and he departed this life1 as ,i well know1 cherishing the most lively hope that he should greet above thousands more to whom it had pleased ,god to make him a channel of rich spiritual blessing4 ,he used often to say to me1 when he opened a letter in which the writer poured out a tale of sore pecuniary need1 and besought his help to an extent twice or three or ten times exceeding the sum total of his 7,mr4 ,muller's7 earthly possessions at the moment1 ',ah6 these dear people entirely miss the lesson ,i am trying to teach them1 for they come to me1 instead of going to ,god4' ,and if he could come back to us for an hour1 and listen to an account of what his sincerely admiring1 but mistaken1 friends are proposing to do to perpetuate his memory1 ,i can hear him1 with a sigh1 exclaiming1 ',ah6 these dear friends are entirely missing the lesson that ,i tried for seventy years to teach them1' viz41 ',that a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above1' and that1 therefore1 it is the ,blessed ,giver1 and not the poor receiver1 that is to be glorified4 ,yours faithfully1 ,,james ,,wright4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,,the ,,summary ,,of ,,the ,,life-,,work ,,death shuts the door upon earthly service1 whatever door it may open to other forms and spheres of activity4 ,there are many intimations that service beyond the grave is both unceasing and untiring3 the blessed dead rest indeed from their labours--toilsome and painful tasks--but their works--activities for ,god--do follow them1 where exertion is without exhaustion4 ,this is therefore a fit point for summing up the results of the work over which1 from its beginning1 one man had specially had charge4 ,one sentence from ,mr4 ,muller's pen marks the purpose which was the very pivot of his whole being3 ,i have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith4 ,this prepared both for the development of the character of him who had such singleness of aim1 and for the development of the work in which that aim found action4 ,mr4 ,muller's oldest friend1 ,robert ,c4 ,chapman of ,barnstaple1 beautifully says that when a man's chief business is to serve and please the ,lord1 all his circumstances become his servants2 and we shall find this maxim true in ,mr4 ,muller's life-work4 ,the ,fifty-ninth ,report1 issued ,may #bf1 #ahih1 was the last up to the date of the publication of this volume1 and the first after ,mr4 ,muller's death4 ,in this1 ,mr4 ,wright gives the brief but valuable summary not only of the whole work of the year preceding1 but of the whole work from its beginning1 and thus helps us to a comprehensive survey4 ,this report is doubly precious as it contains also the last contribution of ,mr4 ,muller's own pen to the record of the ,lord's dealings4 ,it is probable that on the afternoon of ,march #ith he laid down his pen1 for the last time1 all unconscious that he was never again to take it up4 ,he had made1 in a twofold sense1 his closing entry in life's solemn journal6 ,in the evening of that day he took his customary part in the prayer service in the orphan house--then went to sleep for the last time on earth2 there came a waking hour1 when he was alone with ,god1 and suddenly departed1 leaving his body to its long sleep that knows no waking until the day of the ,lord's coming1 while his spirit returned unto ,god who gave it4 ,the afternoon of that day of death1 and of 'birth' into the heavenly life--as the catacomb saints called it--found the helpers again assembled in the same prayer room to commit the work to him who only hath immortality1 and who1 amid all changes of human administration1 ever remains the divine ,master ,workman1 never at a loss for ,his own chosen instruments4 ,mr4 ,wright1 in this report1 shows himself ,god's chosen successor in the work1 evidently like-minded with the departed director4 ,the first paragraph1 after the brief and touching reference to his father-in-law1 serves to convey to all friends of this work the assurance that he to whom ,mr4 ,muller left its conduct has also learned the one secret of all success in coworking with ,god4 ,it sounds1 as the significant keynote for the future1 the same old keynote of the past1 carrying on the melody and harmony1 without change1 into the new measures4 ,it is the same oratorio1 without alteration of theme1 time1 or even key3 the leading performer is indeed no more1 but another hand takes up his instrument and1 trembling with emotion1 continues the unfinished strain so that there is no interruption4 ,mr4 ,wright says3 ,it is written 7,job xxvi4 #g73 ',he hangeth the earth upon nothing'--that is1 no visible support4 ,and so we exult in the fact that 'the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution for ,home and ,abroad' hangs1 as it has ever hung1 since its commencement1 now more than sixty-four years ago1 'upon nothing1' that is1 upon no ,,visible support4 ,it hangs upon no human patron1 upon no endowment or funded property1 but solely upon the good pleasure of the blessed ,god4 ,blessed lesson to learn6 that to hang upon the invisible ,god is not to hang upon nothing1 though it be upon nothing visible4 ,the power and permanence of the invisible forces that hold up the earth after sixty centuries of human history are sufficiently shown by the fact that this great globe still swings securely in space and is whirled through its vast orbit1 and that1 without variation of a second1 it still moves with divine exactness in its appointed path4 ,we can therefore trust the same invisible ,god to sustain with ,his unseen power all the work which faith suspends upon ,his truth and love and unfailing word of promise1 though to the natural eye all these may seem as nothing4 ,mr4 ,wright records also a very striking answer to long-continued prayer1 and a most impressive instance of the tender care of the ,lord1 in the providing of an associate1 every way like-minded1 and well fitted to share the responsibility falling upon his shoulders at the decease of his father-in-law4 ,feeling the burden too great for him1 his one resource was to cast his burden on the ,lord4 ,he and ,mr4 ,muller had asked of ,god such a companion in labour for three years before his departure1 and ,mr4 ,wright and his dear wife had1 for twenty-five years before that--from the time when ,mr4 ,muller's long missionary tours began to withdraw him from ,bristol--besought of the ,lord the same favour4 ,but to none of them had any name been suggested1 or1 if so1 it had never been mentioned4 ,after that day of death1 ,mr4 ,wright felt that a gracious ,father would not long leave him to sustain this great burden alone1 and about a fortnight later he felt assured that it was the will of ,god that he should ask ,mr4 ,george ,frederic ,bergin to join him in the work1 who seemed to him a true yoke-fellow4 ,he had known him well for a quarter-century2 he had worked by his side in the church2 and though they were diverse in temperament1 there had never been a break in unity or sympathy4 ,mr4 ,bergin was seventeen years his junior1 and so likely to survive and succeed him2 he was very fond of children1 and had been much blessed in training his own in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord1 and hence was fitted to take charge of this larger family of orphans4 ,confident of being led of ,god1 he put the matter before ,mr4 ,bergin1 delighted but not surprised to find that the same ,god had moved on his mind also1 and in the same direction2 for not only was he ready to respond to ,mr4 ,wright's appeal1 but he had been led of ,god to feel that he should1 after a certain time1 go to ,mr4 ,wright and offer himself4 ,the ,spirit who guided ,philip to the ,eunuch and at the same time had made the ,eunuch to inquire after guidance2 who sent men from ,cornelius and1 while they were knocking at ,simon's house1 was bidding ,peter go with them1 still moves in a mysterious way1 and simultaneously1 on those whom ,he would bring together for cooperation in loving service4 ,and thus ,mr4 ,wright found the ,living ,god the same ,helper and ,supplier of every need1 after his beloved father-in-law had gone up higher2 and felt constrained to feel that the ,god of ,elijah was still at the crossing of the ,jordan and could work the same wonders as before1 supplying the need of the hour when the need came4 ,mr4 ,muller's own gifts to the service of the ,lord find in this posthumous report their first full record and recognition4 ,readers of the ,annual ,reports must have noticed an entry1 recurring with strange frequency during all these thirty or forty years1 and therefore suggesting a giver that must have reached a very ripe age3 from a servant of the ,lord ,jesus1 who1 constrained by the love of ,christ1 seeks to lay up treasure in heaven4 ,if that entry be carefully followed throughout and there be added the personal gifts made by ,mr4 ,muller to various benevolent objects1 it will be found that the aggregate sum from this servant reaches1 up to ,march #a1 #ahih1 a total of eighty-one thousand four hundred and ninety pounds eighteen shillings and eightpence4 ,mr4 ,wright1 now that this servant of the ,lord ,jesus is with his ,master1 who promised1 ,where ,i am there shall also ,my servant be1 feels free to make known that this donor was no other than ,george ,muller himself who thus gave out of his own money--money given to him for his own use or left to him by legacies--the total sum of about sixty-four thousand five hundred pounds to the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 and1 in other directions1 seventeen thousand more4 ,this is a record of personal gifts to which we know no parallel4 ,it reminds us of the career of ,john ,wesley1 whose simplicity and frugality of habits enabled him not only to limit his own expenditure to a very small sum1 but whose ,christian liberality and unselfishness prompted him to give all that he could thus save to purely benevolent objects4 ,while he had but thirty pounds a year1 he lived on twenty-eight and gave away forty shillings4 ,receiving twice as much the next year1 he still kept his living expenses down to the twenty-eight pounds and had thirty-two to bestow on the needy2 and when the third year his income rose to ninety pounds1 he spent no more than before and gave away sixty-two4 ,the fourth year brought one hundred and twenty1 and he disbursed still but the same sum for his own needs1 having ninety-two to spare4 ,it is calculated that in the course of his life he thus gave away at least thirty thousand pounds1 and four silver spoons comprised all the silver plate that he possessed when the collectors of taxes called upon him4 ,such economy on the one hand and such generosity on the other have seldom been known in human history4 ,but ,george ,muller's record will compare favourably with this or any other of modern days4 ,his frugality1 simplicity1 and economy were equal to ,wesley's1 and his gifts aggregated eighty-one thousand pounds4 ,mr4 ,muller had received increasingly large sums from the ,lord which he invested well and most profitably1 so that for over sixty years he never lost a penny through a bad speculation6 ,but his investments were not in lands or banks or railways1 but in the work of ,god4 ,he made friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness that when he failed received him into everlasting habitations4 ,he continued1 year after year1 to make provision for himself1 his beloved wife and daughter1 by laying up treasure--in heaven4 ,such a man had certainly a right to exhort others to systematic beneficence4 ,he gave--as not one in a million gives--not a tithe1 not any fixed proportion of annual income1 but all that was left after the simplest and most necessary supply of actual wants4 ,while most ,christians regard themselves as doing their duty if1 after they have given a portion to the ,lord1 they spend all the rest on themselves1 ,god led ,george ,muller to reverse this rule and reserve only the most frugal sum for personal needs1 that the entire remainder might be given to him that needeth4 ,the utter revolution implied in our habits of giving which would be necessary were such a rule adopted is but too obvious4 ,mr4 ,muller's own words are3 ,my aim never was1 how much ,i could obtain1 but rather how much ,i could give4 ,he kept continually before him his stewardship of ,god's property2 and sought to make the most of the one brief life on earth1 and to use for the best and largest good the property held by him in trust4 ,the things of ,god were deep realities1 and1 projecting every action and decision and motive into the light of the judgment-seat of ,christ1 he asked himself how it would appear to him in the light of that tribunal4 ,thus he sought prayerfully and conscientiously so to live and labour1 so to deny himself1 and1 by love1 serve ,god and man1 as that he should not be ashamed before ,him at ,his coming4 ,but not in a spirit of fear was this done2 for if any man of his generation knew the perfect love that casts out fear1 it was ,george ,muller4 ,he felt that ,god is love1 and love is of ,god4 ,he saw that love manifested in the greatest of gifts--,his only-begotten ,son at ,calvary--he knew and believed the ,love that ,god hath to us2 he received it into his own heart2 it became an abiding presence1 manifested in obedience and benevolence1 and1 subduing him more and more1 it became perfected so as to expel tormenting fear and impart a holy confidence and delight in ,god4 ,among the texts which strongly impressed and moulded ,mr4 ,muller's habits of giving was ,luke vi4 #ch3 ,give and it shall be given unto you4 ,good measure1 pressed down1 shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom4 ,he believed this promise and he verified it4 ,his testimony is3 ,i had ,,given1 and ,god had caused to be ,,given ,,to ,,me ,,again1 and bountifully4 ,again he read3 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive4 ,he says that he ,,believed what he found in the word of ,god1 and by ,his grace sought to ,,act ,,accordingly1 and thus again records that he was blessed abundantly and his peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost increased more and more4 ,it will not be a surprise1 therefore1 that1 as has been already noted1 ,mr4 ,muller's entire personal estate at his death1 as sworn to1 when the will was admitted to probate1 was only #afi pounds #is4 #d;d41 of which books1 household furniture1 etc41 were reckoned at over one hundred pounds1 the only money in his possession being a trifle over sixty pounds1 and even this only awaiting disbursement as ,god's steward4 ,the will of ,mr4 ,muller contains a pregnant clause which should not be forgotten in this memorial4 ,it closes with a paragraph which is deeply significant as meant to be his posthumous word of testimony--a last testament3 ,i cannot help admiring ,god's wondrous grace in bringing me to the knowledge of the ,lord ,jesus when ,i was an entirely careless and thoughtless young man1 and that ,he has kept me in ,his fear and truth1 allowing me the great honour1 for so long a time1 of serving ,him4 ,in the comprehensive summary contained in this ,fifty-ninth ,report1 remarkable growth is apparent during the sixty-four years since the outset of the work in #ahcd4 ,during the year ending ,may #bf1 #ahih1 the number of day-schools was #g1 and of pupils1 #ced2 the number of children in attendance from the beginning1 #ha1eja4 ,the number of home ,sunday-schools1 #ab1 and of children in them1 #acda2 but from the beginning1 #cb1idd4 ,the number of ,sunday-schools aided in ,england and ,wales1 #be4 ,the amount expended in connection with home schools1 #gcf pounds #acs4 #aj;d42 from the outset1 #aji1iib pounds #ais4 #aj;d4 ,the ,bibles and parts thereof circulated1 #ae1daa2 from the beginning1 #a1ihi1bff4 ,money expended for this purpose the past year1 #dci pounds2 from the first1 #da1jij pounds #acs4 #c;d4 ,missionary labourers aided1 #aae4 ,money expended1 #bjhb pounds #is4 #f;d2 from the outset1 #bfa1hei pounds #gs4 #d;d4 ,circulation of books and tracts1 #c1aja1cch4 ,money spent1 #ajja pounds #cs42 and from the first1 #dg1ahh pounds #aas4 #aj;d4 ,the number of orphans on ,ashley ,down1 #afbj2 and from the first1 #aj1jbd4 ,money spent in orphan houses1 last year1 #bb1ebc pounds #acs4 #a;d42 and from the beginning1 #ihh1hbi pounds4 ,to carry out conviction into action is sometimes a costly sacrifice2 but whatever ,mr4 ,muller's fidelity to conviction cost in one way1 he had stupendous results of his life-work to contemplate1 even while he lived4 ,let any one look at the above figures and facts1 and remember that here was one poor man who1 dependent on the help of ,god only in answer to prayer1 could look back over threescore years and see how he had built five large orphan houses and taken into his family over ten thousand orphans1 expending1 for their good1 within twelve thousand pounds of a round million4 ,he had given aid to day-schools and ,sunday-schools1 in this and other lands1 where nearly one hundred and fifty thousand children have been taught1 at a cost of over one hundred and ten thousand pounds more4 ,he had circulated nearly two million ,bibles and parts thereof at the cost of over forty thousand pounds2 and over three million books and tracts1 at a cost of nearly fifty thousand pounds more4 ,and besides all this he had spent over two hundred and sixty thousand pounds to aid missionary labourers in various lands4 ,the sum total of the money thus spent during sixty years has thus reached very nearly the astonishing aggregate of one and a half million of pounds sterling 7#g1ejj1jjj74 ,to summarize ,mr4 ,muller's service we must understand his great secret4 ,such a life and such a work are the result of one habit more than all else1--daily and frequent communion with ,god4 ,unwearied in supplications and intercessions1 we have seen how1 in every new need and crisis1 prayer was the one resort1 the prayer of faith4 ,he first satisfied himself that he was in the way of duty2 then he fixed his mind upon the unchanging word of promise2 then1 in the boldness of a suppliant who comes to a throne of grace in the name of ,jesus ,christ and pleads the assurance of the immutable ,promiser1 he presented every petition4 ,he was an unwearied intercessor4 ,no delay discouraged him4 ,this is seen particularly in the case of individuals for whose conversion or special guidance into the paths of full obedience he prayed4 ,on his prayer list were the names of some for whom he had besought ,god1 daily1 by name1 for one1 two1 three1 four1 six1 ten years before the answer was given4 ,the year just before his death1 he told the writer of two parties for whose reconciliation to ,god he had prayed1 day by day1 for over sixty years1 and who had not as yet to his knowledge turned unto ,god3 and he significantly added1 ,i have not a doubt that ,i shall meet them both in heaven2 for my ,heavenly ,father would not lay upon my heart a burden of prayer for them for over threescore years1 if ,he had not concerning them purposes of mercy4 ,this is a sufficient example of his almost unparalleled perseverance and importunity in intercession4 ,however long the delay1 he held on1 as with both hands clasping the very horns of the altar2 and his childlike spirit reasoned simply but confidently1 that the very fact of his own spirit being so long drawn out in prayer for one object1 and of the ,lord's enabling him so to continue patiently and believingly to wait on ,him for the blessing1 was a promise and prophecy of the answer2 and so he waited on1 so assured of the ultimate result that he praised ,god in advance1 believing that he had practically received that for which he asked4 ,it is most helpful here to add that one of the parties for whom for so many years he unceasingly prayed has recently died in faith1 having received the promises and embraced them and confessed ,jesus as his ,lord4 ,just before leaving ,bristol with this completed manuscript of ,mr4 ,muller's life1 ,i met a lady1 a niece of the man referred to1 through whom ,i received a knowledge of these facts4 ,he had1 before his departure1 given most unequivocal testimony to his faith and hope in the ,saviour of sinners4 ,if ,george ,muller could still speak to us1 he would again repeat the warning so frequently found in his journal and reports1 that his fellow disciples must not regard him as a miracle-worker1 as though his experience were to be accounted so exceptional as to have little application in our ordinary spheres of life and service4 ,with patient repetition he affirms that in all essentials such an experience is the privilege of all believers4 ,god calls disciples to various forms of work1 but all alike to the same faith4 ,to say1 therefore1 ,i am not called to build orphan houses1 etc41 and have no right to expect answers to my prayers as ,mr4 ,muller did1 is wrong and unbelieving4 ,every child of ,god1 he maintained1 is first to get into the sphere appointed of ,god1 and therein to exercise full trust1 and live by faith upon ,god's sure word of promise4 ,throughout all these thousands of pages written by his pen1 he teaches that every experience of ,god's faithfulness is both the reward of past faith and prayer1 and the preparation of the servant of ,god for larger work and more efficient service and more convincing witness to his ,lord4 ,no man can understand such a work who does not see in it the supernatural power of ,god4 ,without that the enigma defies solution2 with that all the mystery is at least an open mystery4 ,he himself felt from first to last that this supernatural factor was the key to the whole work1 and without that it would have been even to himself a problem inexplicable4 ,how pathetically we find him often comparing himself and his work for ,god to the ,burning ,bush in the ,wilderness which1 always aflame and always threatened with apparent destruction1 was not consumed1 so that not a few turned aside wondering to see this great sight4 ,and why was it not burnt8 ,because ,jehovah of hosts1 who was in the ,bush1 dwelt in the man and in his work3 or1 as ,wesley said with almost his last breath1 ,best of all1 ,god is with us4 ,this simile of the ,burning ,bush is the more apt when we consider the rapid growth of the work4 ,at first so very small as to seem almost insignificant1 and conducted in one small rented house1 accommodating thirty orphans1 then enlarged until other rented premises became necessary2 then one1 two1 three1 four1 and even five immense structures being built1 until three hundred1 seven hundred1 eleven hundred and fifty1 and finally two thousand and fifty inmates could find shelter within them1--how seldom has the world seen such vast and1 at the same time1 rapid enlargement6 ,then look at the outlay6 ,at first a trifling expenditure of perhaps five hundred pounds for the first year of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 and of five hundred pounds for the first twelve month of the orphan work1 and in the last year of ,mr4 ,muller's life a grand total of over twenty-seven thousand five hundred1 for all the purposes of the ,institution4 ,the cost of the houses built on ,ashley ,down might have staggered a man of large capital1 but this poor man only cried and the ,lord helped him4 ,the first house cost fifteen thousand pounds2 the second1 over twenty-one thousand2 the third1 over twenty-three thousand2 and the fourth and fifth1 from fifty thousand to sixty thousand more--so that the total cost reached about one hundred and fifteen thousand4 ,besides all this1 there was a yearly expenditure which rose as high as twenty-five thousand for the orphans alone1 irrespective of those occasional outlays made needful for emergencies1 such as improved sanitary precautions1 which in one case cost over two thousand pounds4 ,here is a burning bush indeed1 always in seeming danger of being consumed1 yet still standing on ,ashley ,down1 and still preserved because the same presence of ,jehovah burns in it4 ,not a branch of this many-sided work has utterly perished1 while the whole bush still challenges unbelievers to turn aside and see the great sight1 and take off the shoes from their feet as on holy ground where ,god manifests ,himself4 ,any complete survey of this great life-work must include much that was wholly outside of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution2 such as that service which ,mr4 ,muller was permitted to render to the church of ,christ and the world at large as a preacher1 pastor1 witness for truth1 and author of books and tracts4 ,his preaching period covered the whole time from #ahbf to #ahih1 the year of his departure1 over seventy years2 and from #ahcj1 when he went to ,teignmouth1 his preaching continued1 without interruption except from ill health1 until his life closed1 with an average through the whole period of probably three sermons a week1 or over ten thousand for his lifetime4 ,this is probably a low estimate1 for during his missionary tours1 which covered over two hundred thousand miles and were spread through' seventeen years1 he spoke on an average about once a day notwithstanding already advanced age4 ,his church life was much blessed even in visible and tangible results4 ,during the first two and a half years of work in ,bristol1 two hundred and twenty-seven members were added1 about half of whom were new converts1 and it is probable that1 if the whole number brought to the knowledge of ,christ by his preaching could now be ascertained1 it would be found to aggregate full as many as the average of those years1 and would thus reach into the thousands1 exclusive of orphans converted on ,ashley ,down4 ,then when we take into account the vast numbers addressed and impressed by his addresses1 given in all parts of the ,united ,kingdom1 on the ,continent of ,europe1 and in ,america1 ,asia1 and ,australia1 and the still vaster numbers who have read his ,narrative1 his books and tracts1 or who have in various other ways felt the quickening power of his example and life1 we shall get some conception--still1 at best1 inadequate--of the range and scope of the influence he wielded by his tongue and pen1 his labours1 and his life4 ,much of the best influence defies all tabulated statistics and evades all mathematical estimates2 it is like the fragrance of the alabaster flask which fills all the house but escapes our grosser senses of sight1 hearing1 and touch4 ,this part of ,george ,muller's work we cannot summarize3 it belongs to a realm where we cannot penetrate4 ,but ,god sees1 knows1 and rewards it4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,the ,,church ,,life ,,and ,,growth ,,throughout ,mr4 ,muller's journal we meet scattered and fragmentary suggestions as to the true conception of ,christian teaching and practice1 the nature and office of the ,christian ministry1 the principles which should prevail in church conduct1 the mutual relations of believers1 and the ,spirit's relation to the ,body of ,christ1 to pure worship1 service1 and testimony4 ,these hints will be of more value if they are crystallized into unity so as to be seen in their connection with each other4 ,the founder of the orphan houses began and ended his public career as a preacher1 and1 for over sixty years1 was so closely related to one body of believers that no review of his life can be complete without a somewhat extended reference to the church in ,bristol of which he was one of the earliest leaders1 and1 of all who ministered to it1 the longest in service4 ,his church-work in ,bristol began with his advent to that city and ended only with his departure from it for the continuing city and the ,father's ,house4 ,the joint ministry of himself and ,mr4 ,henry ,craik has been traced already in the due order of events2 but the development of church-life1 under this apostolic ministry1 furnishes instructive lessons which yield their full teaching only when gathered up and grouped together so as to secure unity1 continuity1 and completeness of impression4 ,when ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik began joint work in ,bristol1 foundations needed to be relaid4 ,the church-life1 as they found it1 was not on a sufficiently scriptural basis1 and they waited on ,god for wisdom to adjust it more completely to ,his word and will4 ,this was the work of time1 for it required the instruction of fellow believers so that they might be prepared to cooperate1 by recognizing scriptural and spiritual teaching2 it required also the creation of that bond of sympathy which inclines the flock to hear and heed the shepherd's voice1 and follow a true pastoral leadership4 ,at the outset of their ministry1 these brethren carefully laid down some principles on which their ministry was to be based4 ,on ,may #bc1 #ahcb1 they frankly stated1 at ,gideon ,chapel1 certain terms on which alone they could take charge of the church3 they must be regarded as simply ,god's servants to labour among them so long as1 and in such way as might be ,his will1 and under no bondage of fixed rules2 they desired pew-rents to be done away with1 and voluntary offerings substituted1 etc4 ,there was already1 however1 a strong conviction that a new start was in some respects indispensable if the existing church-life was to be thoroughly modelled on a scriptural pattern4 ,these brethren determined to stamp upon the church certain important features such as these3 ,apostolic simplicity of worship1 evangelical teaching1 evangelistic work1 separation from the world1 systematic giving1 and dependence on prayer4 ,they desired to give great prominence to the simple testimony of the ,word1 to support every department of the work by free-will offerings1 to recognize the ,holy ,spirit as the one presiding and governing ,power in all church assemblies1 and to secure liberty for all believers in the exercise of spiritual gifts as distributed by that ,spirit to all members of the ,body of ,christ for service4 ,they believed it scriptural to break bread every ,lord's day1 and to baptize by immersion2 and1 although this latter has not for many years been a term of communion or of fellowship1 believers have always been carefully taught that this is the duty of all disciples4 ,it has been already seen that in ,august1 #ahcb1 seven persons in all1 including these two pastors1 met at ,bethesda ,chapel to unite in fellowship1 without any formal basis or bond except that of loyalty to the ,word and ,spirit of ,god4 ,this step was taken in order to start anew1 without the hindrance of customs already prevailing1 which were felt to be unscriptural and yet were difficult to abolish without discordant feeling2 and1 from that date on1 ,bethesda ,chapel has been the home of an assembly of believers who have sought steadfastly to hold fast the ,new ,testament basis of church-life4 ,such blessed results are largely due to these beloved colleagues in labour who never withheld their testimony1 but were intrepidly courageous and conscientiously faithful in witnessing against whatever they deemed opposed to the ,word4 ,love ruled1 but was not confounded with laxity in matters of right and wrong2 and1 as they saw more clearly what was taught in the ,word1 they sought to be wholly obedient to the ,lord's teaching and leading1 and to mould and model every matter1 however minute1 in every department of duty1 private or public1 according to the expressed will of ,god4 ,in ,january1 #ahcd1 all teachers who were not believers were dismissed from the ,sunday-school2 and1 in the ,dorcas ,society1 only believing sisters were accepted to make clothes for the destitute4 ,the reason was that it had been found unwise and unwholesome to mix up or yoke together believers and unbelievers499 ,such association proved a barrier to spiritual converse and injurious to both classes1 fostering in the unbelievers a false security1 ensnaring them in a delusive hope that to help in ,christian work might somehow atone for rejection of ,jesus ,christ as a ,saviour1 or secure favour from ,god and an open door into heaven4 ,no doubt all this indiscriminate association of children of ,god with children of the world in a mixed multitude is unscriptural4 ,unregenerate persons are tempted to think there is some merit at least in mingling with worshippers and workers1 and especially in giving to the support of the gospel and its institutions4 ,the devil seeks to persuade such that it is acceptable to ,god to conform externally to religious rites1 and forms1 and take part in outward acts of service and sacrifice1 and that ,he will deal leniently with them1 despite their unbelief and disobedience4 ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik felt keenly that this danger existed and that even in minor matters there must be a line of separation1 for the sake of all involved4 99 #b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ah4 ,when1 in #ahcg1 in connection with the congregation at ,bethesda1 the question was raised--commonly known as that of close communion--whether believers who had not been baptized as such should be received into fellowship1 it was submitted likewise to the one test of clear scripture teaching4 ,some believers were conscientiously opposed to such reception1 but the matter was finally and harmoniously settled by receiving all who love our ,lord ,jesus into full communion1 irrespective of baptism1 and ,mr4 ,muller1 looking back forty-four years later upon this action1 bears witness that the decision never became a source of dissension499 99 ,appendix ,l4 ,in all other church matters1 prayer and searching the ,word1 asking counsel of the ,holy ,oracles and wisdom from above1 were the one resort1 and the resolution of all difficulties4 ,when1 in the spring of #ahch1 sundry questions arose somewhat delicate and difficult to adjust1 ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik quietly withdrew from ,bristol for two weeks1 to give themselves to prayer and meditation1 seeking of ,god definite direction4 ,the matters then at issue concerned the scriptural conception1 mode of selection and appointment1 scope of authority and responsibility1 of the ,eldership2 the proper mode of observance of the ,lord's ,supper1 its frequency1 proper subjects1 etc4 ,nothing is ever settled finally until settled rightly1 nor settled rightly until settled scripturally4 ,a serious peril confronted the church--not of controversy only1 but of separation and schism2 and in such circumstances mere discussion often only fans the embers of strife and ends in hopeless alienation4 ,these spiritually minded pastors followed the apostolic method1 referring all matters to the ,scriptures as the one rule of faith and practice1 and to the ,holy ,spirit as the presiding ,presence in the church of ,god2 and they purposely retired into seclusion from the strife of tongues and of conflicting human opinion1 that they might know the mind of the ,lord and act accordingly4 ,the results1 as might be foreseen1 were clear light from above for themselves1 and a united judgment among the brethren2 but more than this1 ,god gave them wisdom so to act1 combining the courage of conviction with the meekness and gentleness of ,christ1 as that all clouds were dispelled and peace restored499 99 ,appendix ,m4 ,for about eight years1 services had been held in both ,gideon and ,bethesda chapels2 but on ,april #ai1 #ahdj1 the last of the services conducted by ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik was held at ,gideon1--,bethesda1 from this time on1 becoming the central place of assembly4 ,the reasons for this step were somewhat as follows3 ,these joint pastors strongly felt1 with some others1 that not a few of the believers who assembled at ,gideon ,chapel were a hindrance to the clear1 positive1 and united testimony which should be given both to the church and world2 and it was on this account that1 after many meetings for prayer and conference1 seeking to know ,god's mind1 it was determined to relinquish ,gideon as a place of worship4 ,the questions involved affected the preservation of the purity and simplicity of apostolic worship1 and so the conformity of church-life to the ,new ,testament pattern4 ,these well-yoked pastors were very jealous for the ,lord ,god of hosts1 that1 among the saints to whom they ministered1 nothing should find a lodgment which was not in entire accord with scriptural principles1 precepts1 and practices4 ,perhaps it is well here to put on record1 even at risk of repetition1 the principles which ,mr4 ,muller and his colleague were wont to enforce as guards or landmarks which should be set up and kept up1 in order to exclude those innovations which always bring spiritual declension4 #a4 ,believers should meet1 simply as such1 without reference to denominational lines1 names1 or distinctions1 as a corrective and preventive of sectarianism4 #b4 ,they should steadfastly maintain the ,holy ,scriptures as the divine rule and standard of doctrine1 deportment1 and discipline4 #c4 ,they should encourage freedom for the exercise of whatever spiritual gifts the ,lord might be pleased by ,his ,spirit to bestow for general edification4 #d4 ,assemblies on the ,lord's day should be primarily for believers1 for the breaking of bread1 and for worship2 unbelievers sitting promiscuously among saints would either hinder the appearance of meeting for such purposes1 or compel a pause between other parts of the service and the ,lord's ,supper4 #e4 ,the pew-rent system should be abolished1 as promoting the caste spirit1 or at least the outward appearance of a false distinction between the poorer and richer classes1 especially as pew-holders commonly look on their sittings as private property4 #f4 ,all money contributed for pastoral support1 church work1 and missionary enterprises at home and abroad should be by free-will offerings4 ,it was because some of these and other like scriptural principles were thought to be endangered or compromised by practices prevailing at ,gideon ,chapel before ,mr4 ,muller and ,mr4 ,craik took charge1 that it seemed best on the whole to relinquish that chapel as a place of worship4 ,as certain customs there obtaining had existed previously1 it seemed to these godly-minded brethren that it would be likely to cause needless offence and become a root of bitterness should they require what they deemed unscriptural to be renounced2 and it seemed the way of love to give up ,gideon ,chapel after these eight years of labour there1 and to invite such as felt called on to separate from every sectarian system1 and meet for worship where free exercise would be afforded for every spiritual gift1 and where ,new ,testament methods might be more fully followed1 to assemble with other believers at ,bethesda1 where previous hindering conditions had not existed4 ,mr4 ,muller remained very intimately connected with ,bethesda and its various outgrowths1 for many years1 as the senior pastor1 or elder1--though only primus inter pares1 i4e41 leader among equals4 ,his opinions about the work of the ministry and the conduct of church-life1 which did so much to shape the history of these churches1 therefore form a necessary part of this sketch of the development of church-life4 ,it was laid upon his heart frequently to address his brethren in the ministry of the ,word and the curacy of souls4 ,everywhere1 throughout the world1 he welcomed opportunities for interviews1 whether with many or few1 upon whom he could impress his own deep convictions as to the vital secrets of effective service in the pulpit and pastorate4 ,such meetings with brethren in the ministry numbered hundreds and perhaps thousands in the course of his long life1 and as his testimony was essentially the same on all occasions1 a single utterance may be taken as the type of all4 ,during his ,american tours1 he gave an hour's address which was reported and published1 and the substance of which may therefore be given4 ,first of all he laid great stress upon the need of conversion4 ,until a man is both truly turned unto ,god and sure of this change in himself he is not fitted to convert others4 ,the ministry is not a human profession1 but a divine vocation4 ,the true preacher is both a herald and a witness1 and hence must back up his message by his personal testimony from experience4 ,but even conversion is not enough3 there must be an intimate knowledge of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,one must know the ,lord as coming near to himself1 and know the joy and strength found in hourly access4 ,however it be done1 and at any cost1 the minister of ,christ must reach this close relationship4 ,it is an absolute necessity to peace and power4 ,growth in happiness and love was next made very prominent4 ,it is impossible to set limits to the experience of any believer who casts himself wholly on ,god1 surrenders himself wholly to ,god1 and cherishes deep love for ,his word and holy intimacy with ,himself4 ,the first business of every morning should be to secure happiness in ,god4 ,he who is to nourish others must carefully feed his own soul4 ,daily reading and study of the ,scriptures1 with much prayer1 especially in the early morning hours1 was strenuously urged4 ,quietness before ,god should be habitually cultivated1 calming the mind and freeing it from preoccupation4 ,continuous reading of the ,word1 in course1 will throw light upon the general teaching of the ,word1 and reveal ,god's thoughts in their variety and connection1 and go far to correct erroneous views4 ,holiness must be the supreme aim3 prompt obedience to all known truth1 a single eye in serving ,god1 and zeal for ,his glory4 ,many a life has been more or less a failure because habits of heart well pleasing to ,god have been neglected4 ,nothing is more the crowning grace than the unconscious grace of humility4 ,all praise of man robs ,god of ,his own honour4 ,let us therefore be humble and turn all eyes unto ,god4 ,the message must be gotten from ,god1 if it is to be with power4 ,ask ,god for it1 said ,mr4 ,muller1 and be not satisfied until the heart is at rest4 ,when the text is obtained ask further guidance in meditating upon it1 and keep in constant communion so as to get ,god's mind in the matter and ,his help in delivery4 ,then1 after the work is done1 pray much for blessing1 as well as in advance4 ,he then told some startling facts as to seed sown many years before1 but even now yielding fruit in answer to prayer4 ,he laid also special emphasis upon expounding the ,scripture4 ,the word of ,god is the staple of all preaching2 ,christ and nothing else the centre of all true ministry of the ,word4 ,whoever faithfully and constantly preaches ,christ will find ,god's word not returning to him void4 ,preach simply4 ,luther's rule was to speak so that an ignorant maid-servant could understand2 if she does1 the learned professor certainly will2 but it does not hold true that the simple understand all that the wise do4 ,mr4 ,muller seldom addressed his brethren in the ministry without giving more or less counsel as to the conduct of church-life1 giving plain witness against such hindrances as unconverted singers and choirs1 secular methods of raising money1 pew-rents and caste distinctions in the house of prayer1 etc42 and urging such helps as inquirers' meetings1 pastoral visits1 and1 above all else1 believing prayer4 ,he urged definite praying and importunate praying1 and remarked that ,satan will not mind how we labour in prayer for a few days1 weeks1 or even months1 if he can at last discourage us so that we cease praying1 as though it were of no use4 ,as to prayers for past seed-sowing1 he told the writer of this memoir how in all supplication to ,god he looked not only forward but backward4 ,he was wont to ask that the ,lord would be pleased to bless seed long since sown and yet apparently unfruitful2 and he said that1 in answer to these prayers1 he had up to that day evidence of ,god's loving remembrance of his work of faith and labour of love in years long gone by4 ,he was permitted to know that messages delivered for ,god1 tracts scattered1 and other means of service had1 after five1 ten1 twenty1 and even sixty years1 at last brought forth a harvest4 ,hence his urgency in advising fellow labourers to pray unceasingly that ,god would work mightily in the hearts of those who had once been under their care1 bringing to their remembrance the truth which had been set before them4 ,the humility ,mr4 ,muller enjoined he practised4 ,he was ever only the servant of the ,lord4 ,mr4 ,spurgeon1 in one of his sermons1 describes the startling effect on ,london ,bridge when he saw one lamp after another lit up with flame1 though in the darkness he could not see the lamplighter2 and ,george ,muller set many a light burning when he was himself content to be unseen1 unnoticed1 and unknown4 ,he honestly sought not his own glory1 but had the meek and quiet spirit so becoming a minister of ,jesus ,christ4 ,mr4 ,henry ,craik's death in #ahff1 after thirty-four years of co-labour in the ,lord1 left ,mr4 ,muller comparatively alone with a double burden of responsibility1 but his faith was equal to the crisis and his peace remained unbroken4 ,a beloved brother1 then visiting ,bristol1 after crowded services conducted by him at ,bethesda1 was about leaving the city2 and he asked ,mr4 ,muller1 ,what are you going to do1 now that ,mr4 ,craik is dead1 to hold the people and prevent their scattering8 ,my beloved brother1 was the calm reply1 we shall do what we have always done1 look only to the ,lord4 ,this ,god has been the perpetual helper4 ,mr4 ,muller almost totally withdrew from the work1 during the seventeen years of his missionary tours1 between #ahge and #ahib1 when he was in ,bristol but a few weeks or months at a time1 in the intervals between his long journeys and voyages4 ,this left the assembly of believers still more dependent upon the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls4 ,but ,bethesda has never1 in a sense1 been limited to any one or two men1 as the only acknowledged leaders2 from the time when those seven believers gathered about the ,lord's table in #ahcb1 the ,new ,testament conception of the equality of believers in privilege and duty has been maintained4 ,the one supreme ,leader is the ,holy ,ghost1 and under ,him those whom ,he calls and qualifies4 ,one of the fundamental principles espoused by these brethren is that the ,spirit of ,god controls in the assemblies of the saints2 that ,he sets the members1 every one of them1 in the ,body as it pleaseth ,him1 and divides unto them1 severally as ,he will1 gifts for service in the ,body2 that the only true ordination is ,his ordination1 and that the manifestation of ,his gifts is the sufficient basis for the recognition of brethren as qualified for the exercise of an office or function1 the possession of spiritual gifts being sufficient authority for their exercise4 ,it is with the ,body of ,christ as with the human body3 the eye is manifestly made for seeing and the ear for hearing1 the hand and foot for handling and walking2 and this adaptation both shows the design of ,god and their place in the organism4 ,and so for more than threescore years the ,holy ,spirit has been safely trusted to supply and qualify all needed teachers1 helpers1 and leaders in the assembly4 ,there has always been a considerable number of brethren and sisters fitted and disposed to take up the various departments of service to which they were obviously called of the ,spirit1 so that no one person has been indispensable4 ,various brethren have been able to give more or less time and strength to preaching1 visiting1 and ruling in the church2 while scores of others1 who1 like ,paul1 ,priscilla and ,aquila1 the tent-makers1 have their various business callings and seek therein to abide with ,god1 are ready to aid as the ,lord may guide in such other forms of service as may consist with their ordinary vocations4 ,the prosperity of the congregation1 its growth1 conduct1 and edification1 have therefore been dependent only on ,god1 who1 as ,he has withdrawn one worker after another1 has supplied others in their stead1 and so continues to do4 ,to have any adequate conception of the fruits of such teaching and such living in church-life1 it is needful to go at least into one of the ,monday-night prayer meetings at ,bethesda4 ,it is primitive and apostolic in simplicity4 ,no one presides but the unseen ,spirit of ,god4 ,a hymn is suggested by some brother1 and then requests for prayer are read1 usually with definite mention of the names of those by and for whom supplication is asked4 ,then prayer1 scripture reading1 singing1 and exhortation follow1 without any prearrangement as to subject1 order in which or persons by whom1 the exercises are participated in4 ,the fullest liberty is encouraged to act under the ,spirit's guidance2 and the fact of such guidance is often strikingly apparent in the singular unity of prayer and song1 scripture reading and remarks1 as well as in the harmonious fellowship apparent4 ,after more than half a century these ,monday-night prayer services are still a hallowed centre of attraction1 a rallying-point for supplication1 and a radiating-point for service1 and remain unchanged in the method of their conduct4 ,the original congregation has proved a tree whose seed is in itself after its kind4 ,at the time of ,mr4 ,muller's decease it was nearly sixty-six years since that memorable evening in #ahcb when those seven believers met to form a church2 and the original body of disciples meeting in ,bethesda had increased to ten1 six of which are now independent of the mother church1 and four of which still remain in close affiliation and really constitute one church1 though meeting in ,bethesda1 ,alma ,road1 ,stokes ,croft1 and ,totterdown chapels4 ,the names of the other churches which have been in a sense offshoots from ,bethesda are as follows3 ,unity1 ,bishopston1 ,cumberland ,hall1 ,charleton ,hall1 ,nicholas ,road1 and ,bedminster4 ,at the date of ,mr4 ,muller's decease the total membership of the four affiliated congregations was upwards of twelve hundred4 ,in this brief compass no complete outline could be given of the church life and work so dear to him1 and over which he so long watched and prayed4 ,this church has been and is a missionary church4 ,when on ,march #a1 #ahcf1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,groves1 with ten helpers1 left ,bristol to carry on mission work in the ,east ,indies1 ,mr4 ,muller felt deeply moved to pray that the body of disciples to whom he ministered might send out from their own members labourers for the wide world-field4 ,that prayer was not forgotten before ,god1 and has already been answered exceeding abundantly above all he then asked or thought4 ,since that time some sixty have gone forth to lands afar to labour in the gospel1 and at the period of ,mr4 ,muller's death there were at work1 in various parts of the world1 at least twenty1 who are aided by the free-will offerings of their ,bristol brethren4 ,when1 in #ahgd1 ,mr4 ,muller closed the third volume of his ,narrative1 he recorded the interesting fact that1 of the many nonconformist ministers of the gospel resident in ,bristol when he took up work there more than forty-two years before1 not one remained1 all having been removed elsewhere or having died2 and that1 of all the ,evangelical clergy of the establishment1 only one survived4 ,yet he himself1 with very rare hindrance through illness1 was permitted to preach and labour with health and vigour both of mind and body2 over a thousand believers were already under his pastoral oversight1 meeting in three different chapels1 and over three thousand had been admitted into fellowship4 ,it was the writer's privilege to hear ,mr4 ,muller preach on the morning of ,march #bb1 #ahif1 in ,bethesda ,chapel4 ,he was in his ninety-first year1 but there was a freshness1 vigour1 and terseness in his preaching that gave no indication of failing powers2 in fact1 he had never seemed more fitted to express and impress the thoughts of ,god4 ,his theme was the seventy-seventh psalm1 and it afforded him abundant scope for his favourite subject--prayer4 ,he expounded the psalm verse by verse1 clearly1 sympathetically1 effectively1 and the outline of his treatment strongly engraved itself on my memory and is here reproduced4 ,i cried unto ,god with my voice4 ,prayer seeks a voice--to utter itself in words3 the effort to clothe our desires in language gives definiteness to our desires and keeps the attention on the objects of prayer4 ,in the day of my trouble4 ,the ,psalmist was in trouble2 some distress was upon him1 perhaps physical as well as mental1 and it was an unceasing burden night and day4 ,my soul refused to be comforted4 ,the words1 my sore ran in the night1 may be rendered1 my hand reached out--that is in prayer4 ,but unbelief triumphed1 and his soul refused all comfort--even the comfort of ,god's promises4 ,his trouble overshadowed his faith and shut out the vision of ,god4 ,i remembered1 or thought of ,god1 and was troubled4 ,even the thought of ,god1 instead of bringing peace1 brought distress2 instead of silencing his complaint1 it increased it1 and his spirit was overwhelmed--the sure sign1 again1 of unbelief4 ,if in trouble ,god's promises and the thought of ,god bring no relief1 they will only become an additional burden4 ,thou holdest mine eyes waking4 ,there was no sleep because there was no rest or peace4 ,care makes wakeful4 ,anxiety is the foe of repose4 ,his spirit was unbelieving and therefore rebellious4 ,he would not take ,god at ,his word4 ,i have considered the days of old4 ,memory now is at work4 ,he calls to remembrance former experiences of trouble and of deliverance4 ,he had often sought ,god and been heard and helped1 and why not now8 ,as he made diligent search among the records of his experience and recollected all ,god's manifest and manifold interpositions1 he began to ask whether ,god could be fickle and capricious1 whether ,his mercy was exhausted and ,his promise withdrawn1 whether ,he had forgotten ,his covenant of grace1 and shut up ,his fountains of love4 ,thus we follow the ,psalmist through six stages of unbelief3 #a4 ,the thought of ,god is a burden instead of a blessing4 #b4 ,the complaining spirit increases toward ,god4 #c4 ,his spirit is agitated instead of soothed and calmed4 #d4 ,sleep departs1 and anxiety forbids repose of heart4 #e4 ,trouble only deepens and ,god seems far off4 #f4 ,memory recalls ,god's mercies1 but only to awaken distrust4 ,at last we reach the turning-point in the psalm3 he asks as he reviews former experiences1 ,,where ,,is ,,the ,,difference8 ,,is ,,the ,,change ,,in ,,god ,,or ,,in ,,me8 ,selah--the pause marks this turning-point in the argument or experience4 ,and ,i said1 ,this is my infirmity4 ,in other words1 ,i ,,have ,,been ,a ,,fool6 ,god is faithful4 ,he never casts off4 ,his children are always dear to ,him4 ,his grace is exhaustless and ,his promise unfailing4 ,instead of fixing his eyes on his trouble he now fixes his whole mind on ,god4 ,he remembers ,his work1 and meditates upon it2 instead of rehearsing his own trials1 he talks of ,his doings4 ,he gets overwhelmed now1 not with the greatness of his troubles1 but the greatness of his ,helper4 ,he recalls ,his miracles of power and love1 and remembers the mystery of ,his mighty deeds--,his way in the sea1 ,his strange dealings and leadings and their gracious results--and so faith once more triumphs4 ,what is the conclusion1 the practical lesson8 ,unbelief is folly4 ,it charges ,god foolishly4 ,man's are the weakness and failure1 but never ,god's4 ,my faith may be lacking1 but not ,his power4 ,memory and meditation1 when rightly directed1 correct unbelief4 ,god has shown ,himself great4 ,he has always done wonders4 ,he led even an unbelieving and murmuring people out of ,egypt and for forty years through the wilderness1 and ,his miracles of power and love were marvelous4 ,the psalm contains a great lesson4 ,affliction is inevitable4 ,but our business is never to lose sight of the ,father who will not leave ,his children4 ,we are to roll all burdens on ,him and wait patiently1 and deliverance is sure4 ,behind the curtain ,he carries on ,his plan of love1 never forgetting us1 always caring for ,his own4 ,his ways of dealing we cannot trace1 for ,his footsteps are in the trackless sea1 and unknown to us4 ,but ,,he ,,is ,,surely ,,leading1 and ,,constantly ,,loving4 ,let us not be fools1 but pray in faith to a faithful ,god4 ,this is the substance of that morning exposition1 and is here given very inadequately1 it is true1 yet it serves not only to illustrate ,mr4 ,muller's mode of expounding and applying the ,word1 but the exposition of this psalm is a sort of exponent also of his life4 ,it reveals his habits of prayer1 the conflicts with unbelief1 and how out of temptations to distrust ,god he found deliverance2 and thus is doubly valuable to us as an experimental commentary upon the life-history we are studying4 ,,chapter ,,xxii ,a ,,glance ,,at ,,the ,,gifts ,,and ,,the ,,givers ,,there is ,one who still sits over against the ,treasury1 watching the gifts cast into it1 and impartially weighing their worth1 estimating the rich man's millions and the widow's mites1 not by the amount given1 but by the motives which impel and the measure of self-sacrifice accepted for the ,lord's sake4 ,the ample supplies poured into ,mr4 ,muller's hands came alike from those who had abundance of wealth and from those whose only abundance was that of deep poverty1 but the rills as well as the rivers were from ,god4 ,it is one of the charms of this life-story to observe the variety of persons and places1 sums of money and forms of help1 connected with the donations made to the ,lord's work2 and the exact adaptation between the need and the supply1 both as to time and amount4 ,some instances of this have been given in the historic order2 but to get a more complete view of the lessons which they suggest it is helpful to classify some of the striking and impressive examples1 which are so abundant1 and which afford such valuable hints as to the science and the art of giving4 ,valuable lessons may be drawn from the beautiful spirit shown by givers and from the secret history of their gifts4 ,in some cases the facts were not known till long after1 even by ,mr4 ,muller himself2 and when known1 could not be disclosed to the public while the parties were yet alive4 ,but when it became possible and proper to unveil these hidden things they were revealed for the glory of ,god and the good of others1 and shine on the pages of this record like stars in the sky4 ,paul rejoiced in the free-will offerings of ,philippian disciples1 not because he desired a gift1 but fruit that might abound to their account2 not because their offerings ministered to his necessity1 but because they became a sacrifice of a sweet smell acceptable1 well pleasing to ,god4 ,such joy constantly filled ,mr4 ,muller's heart4 ,he was daily refreshed and reinvigorated by the many proofs that the gifts received had been first sanctified by prayer and self-denial4 ,he lived and breathed amid the fragrance of sweet-savour offerings1 permitted for more than threescore years to participate in the joy of the ,lord ,himself over the cheerful though often costly gifts of ,his people4 ,by reason of identification with his ,master1 the servant caught the sweet scent of these sacrifices as their incense rose from ,his altars toward heaven4 ,even on earth the self-denials of his own life found compensation in thus acting in the ,lord's behalf in receiving and disbursing these gifts2 and1 he says1 the ,lord thus impressed on me from the beginning that the orphan houses and work were ,,his1 not ,,mine4 ,many a flask of spikenard1 very precious1 broken upon the feet of the ,saviour1 for the sake of the orphans1 or the feeding of starving souls with the ,bread of ,life1 filled the house with the odour of the ointment1 so that to dwell there was to breathe a hallowed atmosphere of devotion4 ,among the first givers to the work was a poor needlewoman1 who1 to ,mr4 ,muller's surprise1 brought one hundred pounds4 ,she earned by her work only an average1 per week1 of three shillings and sixpence1 and was moreover weak in body4 ,a small legacy of less than five hundred pounds from her grandmother's estate had come to her at her father's death by the conditions of her grandmother's will4 ,but that father had died a drunkard and a bankrupt1 and her brothers and sisters had settled with his creditors by paying them five shillings to the pound4 ,to her conscience1 this seemed robbing the creditors of three fourths of their claim1 and1 though they had no legal hold upon her1 she privately paid them the other fifteen shillings to the pound1 of the unpaid debts of her father4 ,moreover1 when her unconverted brother and two sisters gave each fifty pounds to the widowed mother1 she as a child of ,god felt that she should give double that amount4 ,by this time her own share of the legacy was reduced to a small remainder1 and it was out of this that she gave the one hundred pounds for the orphan work6 ,as ,mr4 ,muller's settled principle was never to grasp eagerly at any gift whatever the need or the amount of the gift1 before accepting this money he had a long conversation with this woman1 seeking to prevent her from giving either from an unsanctified motive or in unhallowed haste1 without counting the cost4 ,he would in such a case dishonour his ,master by accepting the gift1 as though ,god were in need of our offerings4 ,careful scrutiny1 however1 revealed no motives not pure and ,christlike2 this woman had calmly and deliberately reached her decision4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 she said1 has given ,his last drop of blood for me1 and should ,i not give ,him this hundred pounds8 ,he who comes into contact with such givers in his work for ,god finds therein a means of grace4 ,this striking incident lends a pathetic interest to the beginnings of the orphan work1 and still more as we further trace the story of this humble needlewoman4 ,she had been a habitual giver1 but so unobtrusively that1 while she lived1 not half a dozen people knew of either the legacy or of this donation4 ,afterward1 however1 it came to the light that in many cases she had quietly and most unostentatiously given food1 clothing1 and like comforts to the deserving poor4 ,her gifts were so disproportionate to her means that her little capital rapidly diminished4 ,mr4 ,muller was naturally very reluctant to accept what she brought1 until he saw that the love of ,christ constrained her4 ,he could then do no less than to receive her offering1 in his ,master's name1 while like the ,master he exclaimed1 ,o woman1 great is thy faith6 ,five features made her benevolence praiseworthy4 ,first1 all these deeds of charity were done in secret and without any show2 and she therefore was kept humble1 not puffed up with pride through human applause2 her personal habits of dress and diet remained as simple after her legacy as before1 and to the last she worked with her needle for her own support2 and1 finally1 while her earnings were counted in shillings and pence1 her givings were counted in sovereigns or five-pound notes1 and in one case by the hundred pounds4 ,her money was entirely gone1 years before she was called higher1 but the faithful ,god never forgot ,his promise3 ,i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4 ,never left to want1 even after bodily weakness forbade her longer to ply her needle1 she asked no human being for help1 but in whatever straits made her appeal to ,god1 and was not only left to suffer no lack1 but1 in the midst of much bodily suffering1 her mouth was filled with holy song4 ,mr4 ,muller records the first bequest as from a dear lad who died in the faith4 ,during his last illness1 he had received a gift of some new silver coins2 and he asked that this1 his only treasure in money1 might be sent for the orphans4 ,with pathetic tenderness ,mr4 ,muller adds that this precious little legacy of six shillings sixpence halfpenny1 received ,september #ae1 #ahcg1 was the first they ever had4 ,those who estimate all donations by money-worth can little understand how welcome such a bequest was2 but to such a man this small donation1 bequeathed by one of ,christ's little ones1 and representing all he possessed1 was of inestimable worth4 ,in ,may1 #ahdb1 a gold watch and chain were accompanied by a brief note1 the contents of which suggest the possibilities of service1 open to us through the voluntary limitation of artificial or imaginary wants4 ,the note reads thus3 ,a pilgrim does not want such a watch as this to make him happy2 one of an inferior kind will do to show him how swiftly time flies1 and how fast he is hastening on to that ,canaan where time will be no more3 so that it is for you to do with this what it seemeth good to you4 ,it is the last relic of earthly vanity1 and1 while ,i am in the body1 may ,i be kept from all idolatry6 ,in ,march1 #ahhd1 a contribution reached ,mr4 ,muller from one who had been enabled in a like spirit to increase the amount over all previous gifts by the sale of some jewelry which had been put away in accordance with #a ,peter iii4 #c4 ,how much superfluous ornament1 worn by disciples1 might be blessedly sacrificed for the ,lord's sake6 ,the one ornament which is in ,his sight of great price would shine with far more lustre if it were the only one worn4 ,another instance of turning all things to account was seen in the case of a giver who sent a box containing four old crown pieces which had a curious history4 ,they were the wedding-day present of a bridegroom to his bride1 who1 reluctant to spend her husband's first gift1 kept them until she passed them over1 as heirlooms1 to her four grand-children4 ,they were thus at last put out to usury1 after many years of gathering rust in hoarded idleness and uselessness4 ,little did bridegroom or bride foresee how these coins1 after more than a hundred years1 would come forth from their hiding-place to be put to the ,lord's uses4 ,few people have ever calculated how much is lost to every good cause by the simple withdrawal of money from circulation4 ,those four crown pieces had they been carefully invested1 so as to double in value1 by compound interest1 every ten years1 would have increased to one thousand pounds during the years they had lain idle6 ,one gift was sent in1 as an offering to the ,lord1 instead of being used to purchase an engagement-ring by two believers who desired their lives to be united by that highest bond1 the mutual love of the ,lord who spared not ,his own blood for them4 ,at another time1 a box came containing a new satin jacket1 newly bought1 but sacrificed as a snare to pride4 ,its surrender marked an epoch1 for henceforth the owner determined to spend in dress only what is needful1 and not waste the ,lord's money on costly apparel4 ,enlightened believers look on all things as inalienably ,god's1 and1 even in the voluntary diversion of money into sacred rather than selfish channels1 still remember that they give to ,him only what is ,his own6 ,the little child feels proud that he can drop the money into the box after the parent has supplied the means1 and told him to do so2 and so ,god's children are sometimes tempted to think that they are giving of their own1 and to be proud over their gifts1 forgetting the divine ,father who both gives us all we have and bids us give all back to ,him4 ,a gift of two thousand pounds on ,january #bi1ahgb1 was accompanied by a letter confessing that the possession of property had given the writer much trouble of mind1 and it had been disposed of from a conviction that the ,lord saw it not good for him to hold so much and therefore allowed its possession to be a curse rather than a blessing4 ,fondness for possessions always entails curse1 and external riches thus become a source of internal poverty4 ,it is doubtful whether any child of ,god ever yet hoarded wealth without losing in spiritual attainment and enjoyment4 ,greed is one of the lowest and most destructive of vices and turns a man into the likeness of the coin he worships1 making him hard1 cold1 metallic1 and unsympathetic1 so that1 as has been quaintly said1 he drops into his coffin with a chink4 ,god estimates what we give by what we keep1 for it is possible to bestow large sums and yet reserve so much larger amounts that no self-denial is possible4 ,such giving to the ,lord costs us nothing4 ,in #ahec1 a brother in the ,lord took out of his pocket a roll of bank-notes1 amounting to one hundred and ten pounds1 and put it into ,mr4 ,muller's hand1 it being more than one half of his entire worldly estate4 ,such giving is an illustration of self-sacrifice on a large scale1 and brings corresponding blessing4 ,the motives prompting gifts were often unusually suggestive4 ,in ,october1 #aheg1 a donation came from a ,christian merchant who1 having sustained a heavy pecuniary loss1 wished to sanctify his loss by a gift to the ,lord's work4 ,shortly after1 another offering was handed in by a young man in thankful remembrance that twenty-five years before ,mr4 ,muller had prayed over him1 as a child1 that ,god would convert him4 ,yet another gift1 of thirty-five hundred pounds1 came to him in #aheh1 with a letter stating that the giver had further purposed to give to the orphan work the chief preference in his will1 but had now seen it to be far better to act as his own executor and give the whole amount while he lived4 ,immense advantage would accrue1 both to givers and to the causes they purpose to promote1 were this principle generally adopted6 ,there is many a slip betwixt the cup of the legator and the lip of the legatee4 ,even a wrong wording of a will has often forfeited or defeated the intent of a legacy4 ,mr4 ,muller had to warn intending donors that nothing that was reckoned as real estate was available for legacies for charitable institutions1 nor even money lent on real estate or in any other way derived therefrom4 ,these conditions no longer exist1 but they illustrate the ease with which a will may often be made void1 and the design of a bequest be defeated4 ,many donors were led to send thank-offerings for avoided or averted calamities3 as1 for example1 for a sick horse1 given up by the veterinary surgeon as lost1 but which recovered in answer to prayer4 ,another donor1 who broke his left arm1 sends grateful acknowledgment to ,god that it was not the right arm1 or some more vital part like the head or neck4 ,the offerings were doubly precious because of the unwearied faithfulness of ,god who manifestly prompted them1 and who kept speaking to the hearts of thousands1 leading them to give so abundantly and constantly that no want was unsupplied4 ,in #ahei1 so great were the outlays of the work that if day by day1 during the whole three hundred and sixty-five1 fifty pounds had been received1 the income would not have been more than enough4 ,yet in a surprising variety and number of ways1 and from persons and places no less numerous and various1 donations came in4 ,not one of twenty givers was personally known to ,mr4 ,muller1 and no one of all contributors had ever been asked for a gift1 and yet1 up to ,november1 #aheh1 over six hundred thousand pounds had already been received1 and in amounts varying from eighty-one hundred pounds down to a single farthing4 ,unique circumstances connected with some donations made them remarkable4 ,while resting at ,ilfracombe1 in ,september1 #ahfe1 a gentleman gave to ,mr4 ,muller a sum of money1 at the same time narrating the facts which led to the gift4 ,he was a hard-working business man1 wont to doubt the reality of spiritual things1 and strongly questioned the truth of the narrative of answered prayers which he had read from ,mr4 ,muller's pen4 ,but1 in view of the simple straightforward story1 he could not rest in his doubts1 and at last proposed to himself a test as to whether or not ,god was indeed with ,mr4 ,muller1 as he declared4 ,he wished to buy a certain property if rated at a reasonable valuation2 and he determined1 if he should secure it at the low price which he set for himself1 he would give to him one hundred pounds4 ,he authorized a bid to be put in1 in his behalf1 but1 curious to get the earliest information as to the success of his venture1 he went himself to the place of sale1 and was surprised to find the property actually knocked off to him at his own price4 ,astonished at what he regarded as a proof that ,god was really working with ,mr4 ,muller and for him1 he made up his mind to go in person and pay over the sum of money to him1 and so make his acquaintance and see the man whose prayers ,god answered4 ,not finding him at ,bristol1 he had followed him to ,ilfracombe4 ,having heard his story1 and having learned that he was from a certain locality1 ,mr4 ,muller remarked upon the frequent proofs of ,god's strange way of working on the minds of parties wholly unknown to him and leading them to send in gifts2 and he added3 ,i had a letter from a lawyer in your very neighbourhood1 shortly since1 asking for the proper form for a bequest1 as a client of his1 not named1 wished to leave one thousand pounds to the orphan work4 ,it proved that the man with whom he was then talking was this nameless client1 who1 being convinced that his doubts were wrong1 had decided to provide for this legacy4 ,in ,august1 #ahhd1 a ,christian brother from the ,united ,states called to see ,mr4 ,muller4 ,he informed him how greatly he had been blessed of ,god through reading his published testimony to ,god's faithfulness2 and that having1 through his sister's death1 come into the possession of some property1 he had come across the sea1 that he might see the orphan houses and know their founder1 for himself1 and hand over to him for the ,lord's work the entire bequest of about seven hundred pounds4 ,only seventeen days later1 a letter accompanying a donation gave further joy to ,mr4 ,muller's heart4 ,it was from the husband of one of the orphans who1 in her seventeenth year1 had left the institution1 and to whom ,mr4 ,muller himself1 on her departure1 had given the first two volumes of the ,reports4 ,her husband had read them with more spiritual profit than any volume except the ,book of books1 and had found his faith much strengthened4 ,being a lay preacher in the ,methodist ,free ,church1 the blessed impulses thus imparted to himself were used of ,god to inspire a like self-surrender in the class under his care4 ,these are a few examples of the countless encouragements that led ,mr4 ,muller1 as he reviewed them1 to praise ,god unceasingly4 ,a ,christian physician enclosed ten pounds in a letter1 telling how first he tried a religion of mere duty and failed2 then1 after a severe illness1 learned a religion of love1 apprehending the love of ,god to himself in ,christ and so learning how to love others4 ,in his days of darkness he had been a great lover of flowers and had put up several plant-houses2 flower-culture was his hobby1 and a fine collection of rare plants1 his pride4 ,he took down and sold one of these conservatories and sent the proceeds as the price of an idol1 cast down by ,god's power4 ,another giver enclosed a like amount from the sale of unnecessary books and pictures2 and a poor man his half-crown1 the fruit of a little tree in his garden4 ,a poor woman1 who had devoted the progeny of a pet rabbit to the orphan work1 when the young became fit for sale changed her mind and kept back a part of the price2 that part1 however1 two rabbits1 she found dead on the day when they were to be sold4 ,in ,july1 #ahgg1 ten pounds from an anonymous source were accompanied by a letter which conveys another instructive lesson4 ,years before1 the writer had resolved before ,god to discontinue a doubtful habit1 and send the cost of his indulgence to the ,institution4 ,the vow1 made in time of trouble1 was unpaid until ,god brought the sin to remembrance by a new trouble1 and by a special message from the ,word3 ,grieve not the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the victory was then given over the habit1 and1 the practice having annually cost about twenty-six shillings1 the full amount was sent to cover the period during which the solemn covenant had not been kept1 with the promise of further gifts in redemption of the same promise to the ,lord4 ,this instance conveys more than one lesson4 ,it reminds us of the costliness of much of our self-indulgence4 ,sir ,michael ,hicks-,beach1 in submitting the ,budget for #ahig1 remarked that what is annually wasted in the unsmoked remnants of cigars and cigarettes in ,britain is estimated at a million and a quarter pounds--the equivalent of all that is annually spent on foreign missions by ,british ,christians4 ,and many forms of self-gratification1 in no way contributing to either health or profit1 would1 if what they cost were dedicated to the ,lord1 make ,his treasuries overflow4 ,again1 this incident reminds us of the many vows1 made in time of trouble1 which have no payment in time of relief4 ,many sorrows come back1 like clouds that return after the rain1 to remind of broken pledges and unfulfilled obligations1 whereby we have grieved the ,holy ,spirit of ,god4 ,pay that which thou hast vowed2 for ,god hath no pleasure in fools4 ,and again we are here taught how a sensitive and enlightened conscience will make restitution to ,god as well as to man2 and that past unfaithfulness to a solemn covenant cannot be made good merely by keeping to its terms for the future4 ,no honest man dishonours a past debt1 or compromises with his integrity by simply beginning anew and paying as he goes4 ,reformation takes a retrospective glance and begins in restitution and reparation for all previous wrongs and unfaithfulness4 ,it is one of the worst evils of our day that even disciples are so ready to bury the financial and moral debts of their past life in the grave of a too-easy oblivion4 ,one donor1 formerly living in ,tunbridge ,wells1 followed a principle of giving1 the reverse of the worldly way4 ,as his own family increased1 instead of decreasing his gifts1 he gave1 for each child given to him of ,god1 the average cost of maintaining one orphan1 until1 having seven children1 he was supporting seven orphans4 ,an anonymous giver wrote3 ,it was my idea that when a man had sufficient for his own wants1 he ought then to supply the wants of others1 and consequently ,i never had sufficient4 ,i now clearly see that ,god expects us to give of what we have and not of what we have not1 and to leave the rest to ,him4 ,i therefore give in faith and love1 knowing that if ,i first seek the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness1 all other things will be added unto me4 ,another sends five pounds in fulfillment of a secret promise that1 if he succeeded in passing competitive examination for civil service1 he would make a thank-offering4 ,and he adds that ,satan had repeatedly tried to persuade him that he could not afford it yet1 and could send it better in a little while4 ,many others have heard the same subtle suggestion from the same master of wiles and father of lies4 ,postponement in giving is usually its practical abandonment1 for the habit of procrastination grows with insensibly rapid development4 ,habitual givers generally witnessed to the conscious blessedness of systematic giving4 ,many who began by giving a tenth1 and perhaps in a legal spirit1 felt constrained1 by the growing joy of imparting1 to increase1 not the amount only1 but the proportion1 to a fifth1 a fourth1 a third1 and even a half of their profits4 ,some wholly reversed the law of appropriation with which they began2 for at first they gave a tithe to the ,lord's uses1 reserving nine tenths1 whereas later on they appropriated nine tenths to the ,lord's uses1 and reserved for themselves only a tithe4 ,those who learn the deep meaning of our ,lord's words1 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive1 find such joy in holding all things at ,his disposal that even personal expenditures are subjected to the scrutiny of conscience and love1 lest anything be wasted in extravagance or careless self-indulgence4 ,frances ,ridley ,havergal in her later years felt herself and all she possessed to be so fully and joyfully given up to ,god1 that she never went into a shop to spend a shilling without asking herself whether it would be for ,god's glory4 ,gifts were valued by ,mr4 ,muller only so far as they were the ,lord's money1 procured by lawful means and given in the ,lord's own way4 ,to the last his course was therefore most conscientious in the caution with which he accepted offerings even in times of sorest extremity4 ,in ,october1 #ahdb1 he felt led to offer aid to a sister who seemed in great distress and destitution1 offering to share with her1 if need be1 even his house and purse4 ,this offer drew out the acknowledgment that she had some five hundred pounds of her own2 and her conversation revealed that this money was held as a provision against possible future want1 and that she was leaning upon that instead of upon ,god4 ,mr4 ,muller said but little to her1 but after her withdrawal he besought the ,lord to make so real to her the exhaustless riches she possessed in ,christ1 and her own heavenly calling1 that she might be constrained to lay down at ,his feet the whole sum which was thus a snare to her faith and an idol to her love4 ,not a word spoken or written passed between him and her on the subject1 nor did he even see her2 his express desire being that if any such step were to be taken by her1 it might result from no human influence or persuasion1 lest her subsequent regret might prove both a damage to herself and a dishonour to her ,master4 ,for nearly four weeks1 however1 he poured out his heart to ,god for her deliverance from greed4 ,then she again sought an interview and told him how she had been day by day seeking to learn the will of ,god as to this hoarded sum1 and had been led to a clear conviction that it should be laid entire upon ,his altar4 ,thus the goodly sum of five hundred pounds was within so easy reach1 at a time of very great need1 that a word from ,mr4 ,muller would secure it4 ,instead of saying that word1 he exhorted her to make no such disposition of the money at that time1 but to count the cost2 to do nothing rashly lest she should repent it1 but wait at least a fortnight more before reaching a final decision4 ,his correspondence with this sister may be found fully spread out in his journal199 and is a model of devout carefulness lest he should snatch at a gift that might be prompted by wrong motives or given with an unprepared heart4 ,when finally given1 unexpected hindrances arose affecting her actual possession and transfer1 so that more than a third of a year elapsed before it was received2 but meanwhile there was on his part neither impatience nor distrust1 nor did he even communicate further with her4 ,to the glory of ,god let it be added that she afterward bore cheerful witness that never for one moment did she regret giving the whole sum to ,his service1 and thus transferring her trust from the money to the ,master4 99 ,narrative1 ,i4 #dhg et seq4 ,in ,august1 #ahec1 a poor widow of sixty1 who had sold the little house which constituted her whole property1 put into an orphan-house box elsewhere1 for ,mr4 ,muller1 the entire proceeds1 ninety pounds4 ,those who conveyed it to ,mr4 ,muller1 knowing the circumstances1 urged her to retain at least a part of this sum1 and prevailed on her to keep five pounds and sent on the other eighty-five4 ,mr4 ,muller1 learning the facts1 and fearing lest the gift might result from a sudden impulse to be afterward regretted1 offered to pay her travelling expenses that he might have an interview with her4 ,he found her mind had been quite made up for ten years before the house was sold that such disposition should be made of the proceeds4 ,but he was the more reluctant to accept the gift lest1 as she had already been prevailed on to take back five pounds of the original donation1 she might wish she had reserved more2 and only after much urgency had failed to persuade her to reconsider the step would he accept it4 ,even then1 however1 lest he should be evil spoken of in the matter1 he declined to receive any part of the gift for personal uses4 ,in ,october1 #ahfg1 a small sum was sent in by one who had years before taken it from another1 and who desired thus to make restitution1 believing that the ,christian believer from whom it was taken would approve of this method of restoring it4 ,mr4 ,muller promptly returned it1 irrespective of amount1 that restitution might be made directly to the party who had been robbed or wronged1 claiming that such party should first receive it and then dispose of it as might seem fit4 ,as it did not belong to him who took it1 it was not his to give even in another's behalf4 ,during a season of great straits ,mr4 ,muller received a sealed parcel containing money4 ,he knew from whom it came1 and that the donor was a woman not only involved in debt1 but frequently asked by creditors for their lawful dues in vain4 ,it was therefore clear that it was not her money1 and therefore not hers to give2 and without even opening the paper wrapper he returned it to the sender--and this at a time when there was not in hand enough to meet the expenses of that very day4 ,in ,june1 #ahch1 a stranger1 who confessed to an act of fraud1 wished through ,mr4 ,muller to make restitution1 with interest2 and1 instead of sending the money by post1 ,mr4 ,muller took pains to transmit it by bank orders1 which thus enabled him1 in case of need1 to prove his fidelity in acting as a medium of transmission--an instance of the often-quoted maxim that it is the honest man who is most careful to provide things honest in the sight of all men4 ,money sent as proceeds of a musical entertainment held for the benefit of the orphans in the south of ,devon was politely returned1 ,mr4 ,muller had no doubt of the kind intention of those who set this scheme on foot1 but he felt that money for the work of ,god should not be obtained in this manner1 and he desired only money provided in ,god's way4 ,friends who asked that they might know whether their gifts had come at a particularly opportune time were referred to the next ,report for answer4 ,to acknowledge that the help came very seasonably would be an indirect revelation of need1 and might be construed into an indirect appeal for more aid--as help that was peculiarly timely would soon be exhausted4 ,and so this man of ,god consistently avoided any such disclosure of an exigency1 lest his chief object should be hindered1 namely1 to show how blessed it is to deal with ,god alone1 and to trust ,him in the darkest moments4 ,and though the need was continual1 and one demand was no sooner met than another arose1 he did not find this a trying life nor did he ever tire of it4 ,as early as ,may1 #ahdf1 a letter from a brother contained the following paragraph3 ,with regard to property1 ,i do not see my way clearly4 ,i trust it is all indeed at the disposal of the ,lord2 and1 if you would let me know of any need of it in ,his service1 any sum under two hundred pounds shall be at your disposal at about a week's notice4 ,the need at that time was great4 ,how easy and natural to write back that the orphan work was then in want of help1 and that1 as ,mr4 ,muller was just going away from ,bristol for rest1 it would be a special comfort if his correspondent would send on1 say a hundred and ninety pounds or so6 ,but to deal with the ,lord alone in the whole matter seemed so indispensable1 both for the strengthening of his own faith and for the effectiveness of his testimony to the church and the world1 that at once this temptation was seen to be a snare1 and he replied that only to the ,lord could the need of any part of the work be confided4 ,money to be laid up as a fund for his old age or possible seasons of illness or family emergencies was always declined4 ,such a donation of one hundred pounds was received ,october #ab1 #ahef1 with a note so considerate and ,christian that the subtle temptation to lay up for himself treasures on earth would have triumphed but for a heart fixed immovably in the determination that there should be no dependence upon any such human provision4 ,he had settled the matter beyond raising the question again1 that he would live from day to day upon the ,lord's bounty1 and would make but one investment1 namely1 using whatever means ,god gave1 to supply the necessities of the poor1 depending on ,god richly to repay him in the hour of his own need1 according to the promise3 ,he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the ,lord2 ,and that which he hath given will ,he pay him again4 ,proverbs xix4 #ag4 ,god so owned1 at once1 this disposition on ,mr4 ,muller's part that his courteous letter1 declining the gift for himself1 led the donor not only to ask him to use the hundred pounds for the orphan work1 but to add to this sum a further gift of two hundred pounds more4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,god',s ,,witness ,,to ,,the ,,work ,,the eleventh chapter of ,hebrews--that ,westminster ,abbey where ,old ,testament saints have a memorial before ,god--gives a hint of a peculiar reward which faith enjoys1 even in this life1 as an earnest and foretaste of its final recompense4 ,by faith the elders obtained a good report1 that is1 they had witness borne to them by ,god in return for witness borne to ,him4 ,all the marked examples of faith here recorded show this twofold testimony4 ,abel testified to his faith in ,god's ,atoning ,lamb1 and ,god testified to his gifts4 ,enoch witnessed to the unseen ,god by his holy walk with ,him1 and ,he testified to ,enoch1 by his translation1 and even before it1 that he pleased ,god4 ,noah's faith bore witness to ,god's word1 by building the ark and preaching righteousness1 and ,god bore witness to him by bringing a flood upon a world of the ungodly and saving him and his family in the ark4 ,george ,muller's life was one long witness to the prayer-hearing ,god2 and1 throughout1 ,god bore him witness that his prayers were heard and his work accepted4 ,the pages of his journal are full of striking examples of this witness--the earnest or foretaste of the fuller recompense of reward reserved for the ,lord's coming4 ,compensations for renunciations1 and rewards for service1 do not all wait for the judgment-seat of ,christ1 but1 as some men's sins are open beforehand1 going before to judgment1 so the seed sown for ,god yields a harvest that is 'open beforehand' to joyful recognition4 ,divine love graciously and richly acknowledged these many years of self-forgetful devotion to ,him and ,his needy ones1 by large and unexpected tokens of blessing4 ,toils and trials1 tears and prayers1 were not in vain even this side of the ,hereafter4 ,for illustrations of this we naturally turn first of all to the orphan work4 ,ten thousand motherless and fatherless children had found a home and tender parental care in the institution founded by ,george ,muller1 and were there fed1 clad1 and taught1 before he was called up higher4 ,his efforts to improve their state physically1 morally1 and spiritually were so manifestly owned of ,god that he felt his compensation to be both constant and abundant1 and his journal1 from time to time1 glows with his fervent thanksgivings4 ,this orphan work would amply repay all its cost during two thirds of a century1 should only its temporal benefits be reckoned4 ,experience proved that1 with ,god's blessing1 one half of the lives sacrificed among the children of poverty would be saved by better conditions of body--such as regularity and cleanliness of habits1 good food1 pure air1 proper clothing1 and wholesome exercise4 ,at least two thirds1 if not three fourths1 of the parents whose offspring have found a shelter on ,ashley ,down had died of consumption and kindred diseases2 and hence the children had been largely tainted with a like tendency4 ,and yet1 all through the history of this orphan work1 there has been such care of proper sanitary conditions that there has been singular freedom from all sorts of ailments1 and especially epidemic diseases2 and when scarlet fever1 measles1 and such diseases have found entrance1 the cases of sickness have been comparatively few and mild1 and the usual percentage of deaths exceedingly small4 ,this is not the only department of training in which the recompense has been abundant4 ,ignorance is everywhere the usual handmaid of poverty1 and there has been very careful effort to secure proper mental culture4 ,with what success the education of these orphans has been looked after will sufficiently appear from the reports of the school inspector4 ,from year to year these pupils have been examined in reading1 writing1 arithmetic1 ,scripture1 dictation1 geography1 history1 grammar1 composition1 and singing2 and ,mr4 ,horne reported in #ahhe an average per cent of all marks as high as #ia4a1 and even this was surpassed the next year when it was #id1 and1 two years later1 when it was #if4a4 ,but in the moral and spiritual welfare of these orphans1 which has been primarily sought1 the richest recompense has been enjoyed4 ,the one main aim of ,mr4 ,muller and his whole staff of helpers1 from first to last1 has been to save these children--to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,the hindrances were many and formidable4 ,if the hereditary taint of disease is to be dreaded1 what of the awful legacy of sin and crime6 ,many of these little ones had no proper bringing up till they entered the orphan houses2 and not a few had been trained indeed1 but only in ,satan's schools of drink and lust4 ,and yet1 notwithstanding all these drawbacks1 ,mr4 ,muller records1 with devout thankfulness1 that the ,lord had constrained them1 on the whole1 to behave exceedingly well1 so much so as to attract the attention of observers4 ,better still1 large numbers have1 throughout the whole history of this work1 given signs of a really regenerate state1 and have afterwards maintained a consistent character and conduct1 and in some cases have borne singular witness to the grace of ,god1 both by their complete transformation and by their influence for good4 ,in ,august1 #aheh1 an orphan girl1 ,martha ,pinnell1 who had been for over twelve years under ,mr4 ,muller's care1 and for more than five years ill with consumption1 fell asleep in ,jesus4 ,before her death1 she had1 for two and a half years1 known the ,lord1 and the change in her character and conduct had been remarkable4 ,from an exceedingly disobedient and troublesome child with a pernicious influence1 she had become both very docile and humble and most influential for good4 ,in her unregenerate days she had declared that1 if she should ever be converted1 she would be a thorough ,christian1 and so it proved4 ,her happiness in ,god1 her study of ,his word1 her deep knowledge of the ,lord ,jesus1 her earnest passion for souls1 seemed almost incredible in one so young and so recently turned to ,god4 ,and ,mr4 ,muller has preserved in the pages of his ,journal four of the precious letters written by her to other inmates of the orphan houses499 99 ,narrative1 ,,iii4 #bec-beg4 ,at times1 and frequently1 extensive revivals have been known among them when scores and hundreds have found the ,lord4 ,the year ending ,may #bf1 #aheh was especially notable for the unprecedented greatness and rapidity of the work which the ,spirit of ,god had wrought1 in such conversions4 ,within a few days and without any special apparent cause except the very peaceful death of a ,christian orphan1 ,caroline ,bailey1 more than fifty of the one hundred and forty girls in ,orphan ,house ,no4 #a were under conviction of sin1 and the work spread into the other departments1 till about sixty were shortly exercising faith4 ,in ,july1 #ahei1 again1 in a school of one hundred and twenty girls more than half were brought under deep spiritual concern2 and1 after a year had passed1 shewed the grace of continuance in a new life4 ,in ,january and ,february1 #ahfj1 another mighty wave of ,holy ,spirit power swept over the institution4 ,it began among little girls1 from six to nine years old1 then extended to the older girls1 and then to the boys1 until1 inside of ten days1 above two hundred were inquiring and in many instances found immediate peace4 ,the young converts at once asked to hold prayer meetings among themselves1 and were permitted2 and not only so1 but many began to labour and pray for others1 and1 out of the seven hundred orphans then in charge1 some two hundred and sixty were shortly regarded as either converted or in a most hopeful state4 ,again1 in #ahgb1 on the first day of the week of prayer1 the ,holy ,spirit so moved that1 without any unusual occasion for deep seriousness1 hundreds were1 during that season1 hopefully converted4 ,constant prayer for their souls made the orphan homes a hallowed place1 and by ,august #ast1 it was believed1 after careful investigation1 that seven hundred and twenty-nine might be safely counted as being disciples of ,christ1 the number of believing orphans being thus far in excess of any previous period4 ,a series of such blessings have1 down to this date1 crowned the sincere endeavours of all who have charge of these children1 to lead them to seek first the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness4 ,by far the majority of orphans sent out for service or apprenticeship1 had for some time before known the ,lord2 and even of those who left the ,institution unconverted1 the after-history of many showed that the training there received had made impossible continuance in a life of sin4 ,thus1 precious harvests of this seed-sowing1 gathered in subsequent years1 have shown that ,god was not unrighteous to forget this work of faith1 and labour of love1 and patience of hope4 ,in ,april1 #ahgd1 a letter from a former inmate of the orphanage enclosed a thank offering for the excellent ,bible-teaching there received which had borne fruit years after4 ,so carefully had she been instructed in the way of salvation that1 while yet herself unrenewed1 she had been ,god's instrument of leading to ,christ a fellow servant who had long been seeking peace1 and so1 became1 like a sign-board on the road1 the means of directing another to the true path1 by simply telling her what she had been taught1 though not then following the path herself4 ,another orphan wrote1 in #ahgf1 that often1 when tempted to indulge the sin of unbelief1 the thought of that six years' sojourn in ,ashley ,down came across the mind like a gleam of sunshine4 ,it was remembered how the clothes there worn1 the food eaten1 the bed slept on1 and the very walls around1 were the visible answers to believing prayer1 and the recollection of all these things proved a potent prescription and remedy for the doubts and waverings of the child of ,god1 a shield against the fiery darts of satanic suggestion4 ,during the thirty years between #ahfe and #ahie1 two thousand five hundred and sixty-six orphans were known to have left the institution as believers1 an average of eighty-five every year2 and1 at the close of this thirty years1 nearly six hundred were yet in the homes on ,ashley ,down who had given credible evidence of a regenerate state4 ,mr4 ,muller was permitted to know that not only had these orphans been blessed in health1 educated in mind1 converted to ,god1 and made useful ,christian citizens1 but many of them had become fathers or mothers of ,christian households4 ,one representative instance may be cited4 ,a man and a woman who had formerly been among these orphans became husband and wife1 and they have had eight children1 all earnest disciples1 one of whom went as a foreign missionary to ,africa4 ,from the first1 ,god set ,his seal upon this religious training in the orphan houses4 ,the first two children received into ,no4 #a both became true believers and zealous workers3 one1 a ,congregational deacon1 who1 in a benighted neighbourhood1 acted the part of a lay preacher2 and the other1 a laborious and successful clergyman in the ,church of ,england1 and both largely used of ,god in soul-winning4 ,could the full history be written of all who have gone forth from these orphan homes1 what a volume of testimony would be furnished1 since these are but a few scattered examples of the conspicuously useful service to which ,god has called those whose after-career can be traced6 ,in his long and extensive missionary tours1 ,mr4 ,muller was permitted to see1 gather1 and partake of many widely scattered fruits of his work on ,ashley ,down4 ,when preaching in ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 in ,september1 #ahgg1 he learned that in ,philadelphia a legacy of a thousand pounds was waiting for him1 the proceeds of a life-insurance1 which the testator had willed to the work1 and in city after city he had the joy of meeting scores of orphans brought up under his care4 ,he minutely records the remarkable usefulness of a ,mr4 ,wilkinson1 who1 up to the age of fourteen and a half years1 had been taught at the orphanage4 ,twenty years had elapsed since ,mr4 ,muller had seen him1 when1 in #ahgh1 he met him in ,calvary ,church1 ,san ,francisco1 six thousand five hundred miles from ,bristol4 ,he found him holding fast his faith in the ,lord ,jesus1 a happy and consistent ,christian4 ,he further heard most inspiring accounts of this man's singular service during the ,civil ,war in ,america4 ,being on the gunboat ,louisiana1 he had there been the leading spirit and recognized head of a little ,bethel church among his fellow seamen1 who were by him led so to engage in the service of ,christ as to exhibit a devotion that1 without a trace of fanatical enthusiasm1 was full of holy zeal and joy4 ,their whole conversation was of ,god4 ,it further transpired that1 months previous1 when the cloud of impending battle overhung the ship's company1 he and one of his comrades had met for prayer in the 'chain-locker'2 and thus began a series of most remarkable meetings which1 without one night's interruption1 lasted for some twenty months4 ,wilkinson alone among the whole company had any previous knowledge of the word of ,god1 and he became not only the leader of the movement1 but the chief interpreter of the ,scriptures as they met to read the ,book of ,god and exchange views upon it4 ,nor was he satisfied to do thus much with his comrades daily1 but at another stated hour he1 with some chosen helpers1 gathered the coloured sailors of the ship to teach them reading1 writing1 etc4 ,a member of the ,christian ,commission1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,hammond1 who gave these facts publicity1 and who was intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,wilkinson and his work on shipboard1 said that he seemed to be a direct product of ,mr4 ,muller's faith1 his calm confidence in ,god1 the method in his whole manner of life1 the persistence of purpose1 and the quiet spiritual power1 which so characterized the founder of the ,bristol orphanage1 being eminently reproduced in this young man who had been trained under his influence4 ,when in a sail-loft ashore1 he was compelled for two weeks to listen to the lewd and profane talk of two associates detailed with him for a certain work4 ,for the most part he took refuge in silence2 but his manner of conduct1 and one sentence which dropped from his lips1 brought both those rough and wicked sailors to the ,saviour he loved1 one of whom in three months read the word of ,god from ,genesis to ,revelation4 ,mr4 ,muller went nowhere without meeting converted orphans or hearing of their work1 even in the far-off corners of the earth4 ,sometimes in great cities ten or fifteen would be waiting at the close of an address to shake the hand of their father1 and tell him of their debt of gratitude and love4 ,he found them in every conceivable sphere of service1 many of them having households in which the principles taught in the orphan homes were dominant1 and engaged in the learned professions as well as humbler walks of life4 ,god gave ,his servant also the sweet compensation of seeing great blessing attending the day-schools supported by the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution4 ,the master of the school at ,clayhidon1 for instance1 wrote of a poor lad1 a pupil in the day-school1 prostrate with rheumatic fever1 in a wretched home and surrounded by bitter opposers of the truth4 ,wasted to a skeleton1 and in deep anxiety about his own soul1 he was pointed to ,him who says1 ,come unto ,me1444 and ,i will give you rest4 ,while yet this conversation was going on1 as though suddenly he had entered into a new world1 this emaciated boy began to repeat texts such as ,suffer the little children to come unto me1 and burst out singing3 ,jesus loves me1 this ,i know1 ,for the ,bible tells me so4 ,he seemed transported with ecstasy1 and recited text after text and hymn after hymn1 learned at that school4 ,no marvel is it if that schoolmaster felt a joy1 akin to the angels1 in this one proof that his labour in the ,lord was not in vain4 ,such examples might be indefinitely multiplied1 but this handful of first-fruits of a harvest may indicate the character of the whole crop4 ,letters were constantly received from missionary labourers in various parts of the world who were helped by the gifts of the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution4 ,the testimony from this source alone would fill a good-sized volume1 and therefore its incorporation into this memoir would be impracticable4 ,those who would see what grand encouragement came to ,mr4 ,muller from fields of labour where he was only represented by others1 whom his gift's aided1 should read the annual reports4 ,a few examples may be given of the blessed results of such wide scattering of the seed of the kingdom1 as specimens of thousands4 ,mr4 ,albert ,fenn1 who was labouring in ,madrid1 wrote of a civil guard who1 because of his bold witness for ,christ and renunciation of the ,romish confessional1 was sent from place to place and most cruelly treated1 and threatened with banishment to a penal settlement4 ,again he writes of a convert from ,borne who1 for trying to establish a small meeting1 was summoned before the governor4 ,who pays you for this8 ,no one4 ,what do you gain by it8 ,nothing4 ,how do you live8 ,i work with my hands in a mine4 ,why do you hold meetings8 ,because ,god has blessed my soul1 and ,i wish others to be blessed4 ,you8 you were made a miserable day-labourer2 ,i prohibit the meetings4 ,i yield to force1 was the calm reply1 but as long as ,i have a mouth to speak ,i shall speak for ,christ4 ,how like those primitive disciples who boldly faced the rulers at ,jerusalem1 and1 being forbidden to speak in ,jesus' name1 firmly answered3 ,we ought to obey ,god rather than men4 ,whether it be right in the sight of ,god to hearken unto you more than unto ,god judge ye3 for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard4 ,a missionary labourer writes from ,india1 of three ,brahman priests and scores of ,santhals and ,hindus1 sitting down with four ,europeans to keep the supper of the ,lord--all fruits of his ministry4 ,within a twelvemonth1 sixty-two men and women1 including head men of villages1 and four ,brahman women1 wives of priests and of head men1 were baptized1 representing twenty-three villages in which the gospel had been preached4 ,at one time more than one hundred persons were awakened in one mission in ,spain2 and such harvests as these were not infrequent in various fields to which the founder of the orphan work had the joy of sending aid4 ,in #ahhe1 a scholar of one of the schools at ,carrara1 ,italy1 was confronted by a priest4 ,in the ,bible1 said he1 you do not find the commandments of the church4 ,no1 sir1 said the child1 for it is not for the church of ,god to command1 but to obey4 ,tell me1 then1 said the priest1 these commandments of ,god4 ,yes1 sir1 replied the child2 ,i am the ,lord thy ,god4 ,thou shalt have no other ,god before me4 ,neither shalt thou make any graven image4 ,stop6 stop6 cried the priest1 ,i do not understand it so4 ,but so1 quietly replied the child1 it is written in ,god's word4 ,this simple incident may illustrate both the character of the teaching given in the schools1 and the character often developed in those who were taught4 ,out of the many pages of ,mr4 ,muller's journal1 probably about one-fifth are occupied wholly with extracts from letters like these from missionaries1 teachers1 and helpers1 which kept him informed of the progress of the ,lord's work at home and in many lands where the labourers were by him enabled to continue their service4 ,bible-carriages1 open-air services1 ,christian schools1 tract distribution1 and various other forms of holy labour for the benighted souls near and far1 formed part of the many-branching tree of life that was planted on ,ashley ,down4 ,another of the main encouragements and rewards which ,mr4 ,muller enjoyed in this life was the knowledge that his example had emboldened other believers to attempt like work for ,god1 on like principles4 ,this he himself regarded as the greatest blessing resulting from his life-work1 that hundreds of thousands of children of ,god had been led in various parts of the world to trust in ,god in all simplicity2 and when such trust found expression in similar service to orphans1 it seemed the consummation of his hopes1 for the work was thus proven to have its seed in itself after its kind1 a self-propagating life1 which doubly demonstrated it to be a tree of the ,lord's own planting1 that ,he might be glorified4 ,in ,december1 #ahgf1 ,mr4 ,muller learned1 for instance1 that a ,christian evangelist1 simply through reading about the orphan work in ,bristol1 had it laid on his heart to care about orphans1 and encouraged by ,mr4 ,muller's example1 solely in dependence on the ,lord1 had begun in #ahfc with three orphans at ,nimwegen in ,holland1 and had at that date1 only fourteen years after1 over four hundred and fifty in the institution4 ,it pleased the ,lord that he and ,mrs4 ,muller should1 with their own eyes1 see this institution1 and he says that in almost numberless instances the ,lord permitted him to know of similar fruits of his work4 ,at his first visit to ,tokyo1 ,japan1 he gave an account of it1 and as the result1 ,mr4 ,ishii1 a native ,christian ,japanese1 started an orphanage upon a similar basis of prayer1 faith1 and dependence upon the ,living ,god1 and at ,mr4 ,muller's second visit to the ,island ,empire he found this orphan work prosperously in progress4 ,how generally fruitful the example thus furnished on ,ashley ,down has been in good to the church and the world will never be known on earth4 ,a man living at ,horfield1 in sight of the orphan buildings1 has said that1 whenever he felt doubts of the ,living ,god creeping into his mind1 he used to get up and look through the night at the many windows lit up on ,ashley ,down1 and they gleamed out through the darkness as stars in the sky4 ,it was the witness of ,mr4 ,muller to a prayer-hearing ,god which encouraged ,rev4 ,j4 ,hudson ,taylor1 in #ahfc1 thirty years after ,mr4 ,muller's great step was taken1 to venture wholly on the ,lord1 in founding the ,china ,inland ,mission4 ,it has been said that to the example of ,a4 ,h4 ,francke in ,halle1 or ,george ,muller in ,bristol1 may be more or less directly traced every form of 'faith work1' prevalent since4 ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution was made in all its departments a means of blessing4 ,already in the year ending ,may #bf1 #ahfj1 a hundred servants of ,christ had been more or less aided1 and far more souls had been hopefully brought to ,god through their labours than during any year previous4 ,about six hundred letters1 received from them1 had cheered ,mr4 ,muller's heart during the twelvemonth1 and this source of joy overflowed during all his life4 ,in countless cases children of ,god were lifted to a higher level of faith and life1 and unconverted souls were turned to ,god through the witness borne to ,god by the institutions on ,ashley ,down4 ,mr4 ,muller has summed up this long history of blessing by two statements which are worth pondering4 ,first1 that the ,lord was pleased to give him far beyond all he at first expected to accomplish or receive4 ,and secondly1 that he was fully persuaded that all he had seen and known would not equal the thousandth part of what he should see and know when the ,lord should come1 ,his reward with ,him1 to give every man according as his work shall be4 ,the circulation of ,mr4 ,muller's ,narrative was a most conspicuous means of untold good4 ,in ,november1 #ahef1 ,mr4 ,james ,mc,quilkin1 a young ,irishman1 was converted1 and early in the next year1 read the first two volumes of that ,narrative ,he said to himself3 ,mr4 ,muller obtains all this simply by prayer2 so may ,i be blessed by the same means1 and he began to pray4 ,first of all he received from the ,lord1 in answer1 a spiritual companion1 and then two more of like mind2 and they four began stated seasons of prayer in a small schoolhouse near ,kells1 ,antrim1 ,ireland1 every ,friday evening4 ,on the first day of the new year1 #aheh1 a farm-servant was remarkably brought to the ,lord in answer to their prayers1 and these five gave themselves anew to united supplication4 ,shortly a sixth young man was added to their number by conversion1 and so the little company of praying souls slowly grew1 only believers being admitted to these simple meetings for fellowship in reading of the ,scriptures1 prayer1 and mutual exhortation4 ,about ,christmas1 that year1 ,mr4 ,mc,quilkin1 with the two brethren who had first joined him--one of whom was ,mr4 ,jeremiah ,meneely1 who is still at work for ,god--held a meeting by request at ,ahoghill4 ,some believed and some mocked1 while others thought these three converts presumptuous2 but two weeks later another meeting was held1 at which ,god's ,spirit began to work most mightily and conversions now rapidly multiplied4 ,some converts bore the sacred coals and kindled the fire elsewhere1 and so in many places revival flames began to burn2 and in ,ballymena1 ,belfast1 and at other points the ,spirit's gracious work was manifest4 ,such was the starting-point1 in fact1 of one of the most widespread and memorable revivals ever known in our century1 and which spread the next year in ,england1 ,wales1 and ,scotland4 ,thousands found ,christ1 and walked in newness of life2 and the results are still manifest after more than forty years4 ,as early as #ahfh it was found that one who had thankfully read this ,narrative had issued a compendium of it in ,swedish4 ,we have seen how widely useful it has been in ,germany2 and in many other languages its substance at least has been made available to native readers4 ,knowledge came to ,mr4 ,muller of a boy of ten years who got hold of one of these ,reports1 and1 although belonging to a family of unbelievers1 began to pray3 ,god1 teach me to pray like ,george ,muller1 and hear me as ,thou dost hear ,george ,muller4 ,he further declared his wish to be a preacher1 which his widowed mother very strongly opposed1 objecting that the boy did not know enough to get into the grammar-school1 which is the first step toward such a high calling4 ,the lad1 however1 rejoined3 ,i will learn and pray1 and ,god will help me through as ,he has done ,george ,muller4 ,and soon1 to the surprise of everybody1 the boy had successfully passed his examination and was received at the school4 ,a donor writes1 ,september #bj1 #ahgi1 that the reading of the ,narrative totally changed his inner life to one of perfect trust and confidence in ,god4 ,it led to the devoting of at least a tenth of his earnings to the ,lord's purposes1 and showed him how much more blessed it is to give than to receive2 and it led him also to place a copy of that ,narrative on the shelves of a ,town ,institute library where three thousand members and subscribers might have access to it4 ,another donor suggests that it might be well if ,prof4 ,huxley and his sympathisers1 who had been proposing some new arbitrary prayer-gauge would1 instead of treating prayer as so much waste of breath1 try how long they could keep five orphan houses running1 with over two thousand orphans1 and without asking any one for help1--either ,,god or ,,man4 ,in ,september1 #ahhb1 another donor describes himself as simply astounded at the blessed results of prayer and faith1 and many others have found this brief narrative the most wonderful and complete refutation of skepticism it had ever been their lot to meet with--an array of facts constituting the most undeniable evidences of ,christianity4 ,there are abundant instances of the power exerted by ,mr4 ,muller's testimony1 as when a woman who had been an infidel1 writes him that he was the first person by whose example she learned that there are some men who live by faith1 and that for this reason she had willed to him all that she possessed4 ,another reader found these ,reports more faith-strengthening and soul-refreshing than many a sermon1 particularly so after just wading through the mire of a speech of a ,french infidel who boldly affirmed that of all of the millions of prayers uttered every day1 not one is answered4 ,we should like to have any candid skeptic confronted with ,mr4 ,muller's unvarnished story of a life of faith1 and see how he would on any principle of' compound probability' and 'accidental coincidences1' account for the tens of thousand's of answers to believing prayer6 ,the fact is that one half of the infidelity in the world is dishonest1 and the other half is ignorant of the daily proofs that ,god is1 and is a ,rewarder of them that diligently seek ,him4 ,from almost the first publication of his ,narrative1 ,mr4 ,muller had felt a conviction that it was thus to be greatly owned of ,god as a witness to ,his faithfulness2 and1 as early as #ahdb1 it was laid on his heart to send a copy of his ,annual ,report gratuitously to every ,christian minister of the land1 which the ,lord helped him to do1 his aim being not to get money or even awaken interest in the work1 but rather to stimulate faith and quicken prayer499 99 ,the author of this memoir purposes to give a copy of it to every foreign missionary1 and to workers in the home fields1 so far as means are supplied in answer to prayer4 ,his hope is that the witness of this life may thus have still wider influence in stimulating prayer and faith4 ,the devout reader is asked to unite his supplications with those of many others who are asking that the ,lord may be pleased to furnish the means whereby this purpose may be carried out4 ,already about one hundred pounds sterling have been given for this end1 and part of it1 small in amount but rich in self-denial1 from the staff of helpers and the orphans on ,ashley ,down4 ,a4 ,t4 ,p4 ,twenty-two years later1 in #ahfh1 it was already so apparent that the published accounts of the ,lord's dealings was used so largely to sanctify and edify saints and even to convert sinners and convince infidels1 that he records this as the greatest of all the spiritual blessings hitherto resulting from his work for ,god4 ,since then thirty years more have fled1 and1 during this whole period1 letters from a thousand sources have borne increasing witness that the example he set has led others to fuller faith and firmer confidence in ,god's word1 power1 and love2 to a deeper persuasion that1 though ,elijah has been taken up1 ,god1 the ,god of ,elijah1 is still working ,his wonders4 ,and so1 in all departments of his work for ,god1 the ,lord to whom he witnessed bore witness to him in return1 and anticipated his final reward in a recompense of present and overflowing joy4 ,this was especially true in the long tours undertaken1 when past threescore and ten1 to sow in lands afar the seeds of the ,kingdom6 ,as the sower went forth to sow he found not fallow fields only1 but harvest fields also1 from which his arms were filled with sheaves4 ,thus1 in a new sense the reaper overtook the ploughman1 and the harvester1 him that scattered the seed4 ,in every city of the ,united ,kingdom and in the sixty-eight cities where1 up to #ahgg1 he had preached on the continents of ,europe and ,america1 he had found converted orphans1 and believers to whom abundant blessing had come through reading his reports4 ,after this date1 twenty-one years more yet remained crowded with experiences of good4 ,thus1 before the ,lord called ,george ,muller higher1 ,he had given him a foretaste of his reward1 in the physical1 intellectual and spiritual profit of the orphans2 in the fruits of his wide seed-sowing in other lands as well as ,britain2 in the scattering of ,god's word and ,christian literature2 in the ,christian education of thousands of children in the schools he aided2 in the assistance afforded to hundreds of devoted missionaries2 in the large blessing imparted by his published narrative1 and in his personal privilege of bearing witness throughout the world to the gospel of grace4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,last ,,looks1 ,,backward ,,and ,,forward4 ,,the mountain-climber1 at the sunset hour1 naturally takes a last lingering look backward at the prospect visible from the lofty height1 before he begins his descent to the valley4 ,and1 before we close this volume1 we as naturally cast one more glance backward over this singularly holy and useful life1 that we may catch further inspiration from its beauty and learn some new lessons in holy living and unselfish serving4 ,george ,muller was divinely fitted for1 fitted into his work1 as a mortise fits the tenon1 or a ball of bone its socket in the joint4 ,he had adaptations1 both natural and gracious1 to the life of service to which he was called1 and these adaptations made possible a career of exceptional sanctity and service1 because of his complete self-surrender to the will of ,god and his childlike faith in ,his word4 ,three qualities or characteristics stand out very conspicuous in him3 truth1 faith1 and love4 ,our ,lord frequently taught ,his disciples that the childlike spirit is the soul of discipleship1 and in the ideal child these three traits are central4 ,truth is one centre1 about which revolve childlike frankness and sincerity1 genuineness and simplicity4 ,faith is another1 about which revolve confidence and trust1 docility and humility4 ,love is another centre1 around which gather unselfishness and generosity1 gentleness and restfulness of spirit4 ,in the typical or perfect child1 therefore1 all these beautiful qualities would coexist1 and1 in proportion as they are found in a disciple1 is he worthy to be called a child of ,god4 ,in ,mr4 ,muller these traits were all found and conjoined in a degree very seldom found in any one man1 and this fact sufficiently accounts for his remarkable likeness to ,christ and fruitfulness in serving ,god and man4 ,no pen-portrait of him which fails to make these features very prominent can either be accurate in delineation or warm in colouring4 ,it is difficult to overestimate their importance in their relation to what ,george ,muller was and did4 ,truth is the corner-stone of all excellence1 for without it nothing else is true1 genuine1 or real4 ,from the hour of his conversion his truthfulness was increasingly dominant and apparent4 ,in fact1 there was about him a scrupulous exactness which sometimes seemed unnecessary4 ,one smiles at the mathematical precision with which he states facts1 giving the years1 days1 and hours since he was brought to the knowledge of ,god1 or since he began to pray for some given object2 and the pounds1 shillings1 pence1 halfpence1 and even farthings that form the total sum expended for any given purpose4 ,we see the same conscientious exactness in the repetitions of statements1 whether of principles or of occurrences1 which we meet in his journal1 and in which oftentimes there is not even a change of a word4 ,but all this has a significance4 ,it inspires absolute confidence in the record of the ,lord's dealings4 ,first1 because it shows that the writer has disciplined himself to accuracy of statement4 ,many a falsehood is not an intentional lie1 but an undesigned inaccuracy4 ,three of our human faculties powerfully affect our veracity3 one is memory1 another is imagination1 and another is conscience4 ,memory takes note of facts1 imagination colours facts with fancies1 and conscience brings the moral sense to bear in sifting the real from the unreal4 ,where conscience is not sensitive and dominant1 memory and imagination will become so confused that facts and fancies will fail to be separated4 ,the imagination will be so allowed to invest events and experiences with either a halo of glory or a cloud of prejudice that the narrator will constantly tell1 not what he clearly sees written in the book of his remembrance1 but what he beholds painted upon the canvas of his own imagination4 ,accuracy will be1 half unconsciously perhaps1 sacrificed to his own imaginings2 he will exaggerate or depreciate--as his own impulses lead him2 and a man who would not deliberately lie may thus be habitually untrustworthy3 you cannot tell1 and often he cannot tell1 what the exact truth would be1 when all the unreality with which it has thus been invested is dissipated like the purple and golden clouds about a mountain1 leaving the bare crag of naked rock to be seen1 just as it is in itself4 ,george ,muller felt the immense importance of exact statement4 ,hence he disciplined himself to accuracy4 ,conscience presided over his narrative1 and demanded that everything else should be scrupulously sacrificed to veracity4 ,but1 more than this1 ,god made him1 in a sense1 a man without imagination--comparatively free from the temptations of an enthusiastic temperament4 ,he was a mathematician rather than a poet1 an artisan rather than an artist1 and he did not see things invested with a false halo4 ,he was deliberate1 not impulsive2 calm and not excitable4 ,he naturally weighed every word before he spoke1 and scrutinized every statement before he gave it form with pen or tongue4 ,and therefore the very qualities that1 to some people1 may make his narrative bare of charm1 and even repulsively prosaic1 add to its value as a plain1 conscientious1 unimaginative1 unvarnished1 and trustworthy statement of facts4 ,had any man of a more poetic mind written that journal1 the reader would have found himself constantly and unconsciously making allowance for the writer's own enthusiasm1 discounting the facts1 because of the imaginative colouring4 ,the narrative might have been more readable1 but it would not have been so reliable2 and1 in this story of the ,lord's dealings1 nothing was so indispensable as exact truth4 ,it would be comparatively worthless1 were it not undeniable4 ,the ,lord fitted the man who lived that life of faith and prayer1 and wrote that life-story1 to inspire confidence1 so that even skeptics and doubters felt that they were reading1 not a novel or a poem1 but a history4 ,faith was the second of these central traits in ,george ,muller1 and it was purely the product of grace4 ,we are told1 in that first great lesson on faith in the ,scripture1 that 7,genesis xv4 #f7 ,abram believed in ,jehovah--literally1 ,amened ,jehovah4 ,the word ,amen means not ',let it be so1' but rather 'it shall be so4' ,the ,lord's word came to ,abram1 saying this 'shall not be1' but something else 'shall be'2 and ,abram simply said with all his heart1 ',amen'--'it shall be as ,god hath said4' ,and ,paul seems to be imitating ,abram's faith when1 in the shipwreck off ,malta1 he said1 ,i believe ,god1 that it shall be even as it was told me4 ,that is faith in its simplest exercise and it was ,george ,muller's faith4 ,he found the word of the ,lord in ,his blessed ,book1 a new word of promise for each new crisis of trial or need2 he put his finger upon the very text and then looked up to ,god and said3 ,thou hast spoken4 ,i believe4 ,persuaded of ,god's unfailing truth1 he rested on ,his word with unwavering faith1 and consequently he was at peace4 ,nothing is more noticeable1 in the entire career of this man of ,god1 reaching through sixty-five years1 than the steadiness of his faith and the steadfastness it gave to his whole character4 ,to have a word of ,god was enough4 ,he built upon it1 and1 when floods came and beat against that house1 how could it fall6 ,he was never confounded nor obliged to flee4 ,even the earthquake may shake earth and heaven1 but it leaves the true believer the inheritor of a kingdom which cannot be moved2 for the object of all such shaking is to remove what can be shaken1 that what cannot be shaken may remain4 ,if ,mr4 ,muller had any great mission1 it was not to found a world-wide institution of any sort1 however useful in scattering ,bibles and books and tracts1 or housing and feeding thousands of orphans1 or setting up ,christian schools and aiding missionary workers4 ,his main mission was to teach men that it is safe to trust ,god's word1 to rest implicitly upon whatever ,he hath said1 and obey explicitly whatever ,he has bidden2 that prayer offered in faith1 trusting ,his promise and the intercession of ,his dear ,son1 is never offered in vain2 and that the life lived by faith is a walk with ,god1 just outside the very gates of heaven4 ,love1 the third of that trinity of graces1 was the other great secret and lesson of this life4 ,and what is love8 ,not merely a complacent affection for what is lovable1 which is often only a half-selfish taking of pleasure in the society and fellowship of those who love us4 ,love is the principle of unselfishness3 love 'seeketh not her own'2 it is the preference of another's pleasure and profit over our own1 and hence is exercised toward the unthankful and unlovely1 that it may lift them to a higher level4 ,such love is benevolence rather than complacence1 and so it is of ,god1 for ,he loveth the unthankful and the evil3 and he that loveth is born of ,god and knoweth ,god4 ,such love is obedience to a principle of unselfishness1 and makes self-sacrifice habitual and even natural4 ,while ,satan's motto is ',spare thyself6' ,christ's motto is to ,deny thyself6' ,the sharpest rebuke ever administered by our ,lord was that to ,peter when he became a ,satan by counselling his ,master to adopt ,satan's maxim499 ,we are bidden by ,paul1 ,remember ,jesus ,christ19999 and by ,peter1 ,follow ,his steps4999999 ,if we seek the inmost meaning of these two brief mottoes1 we shall find that1 about ,jesus ,christ's character1 nothing was more conspicuous than the obedience of faith and self-surrender to ,god3 and in ,his career1 which we are bidden to follow1 the renunciation of love1 or self-sacrifice for man4 ,the taunt was sublimely true3 ,he saved others1 ,himself ,he cannot save2 it was because he saved others that ,he could not save ,himself4 ,the seed must give up its own life for the sake of the crop2 and he who will be life to others must1 like his ,lord1 consent to die4 99 ,matt4 xvi4 9999 #b ,tim4 ,,ii4 7,greek74 999999 #a ,pet4 ,,ii4 #ba4 ,here is the real meaning of that command1 ,let him deny himself and take up his cross4 ,self-denial is not cutting off an indulgence here and there1 but laying the axe at the root of the tree of self1 of which all indulgences are only greater or smaller branches4 ,self-righteousness and self-trust1 self-seeking and self-pleasing1 self-will1 self-defence1 self-glory--these are a few of the myriad branches of that deeply rooted tree4 ,and what if one or more of these be cut off1 if such lopping off of some few branches only throws back into others the self-life to develop more vigorously in them8 ,and what is cross-bearing8 ,we speak of our 'crosses'--but the word of ,god never uses that word in the plural1 for there is but one cross--the cross on which the self-life is crucified1 the cross of voluntary self-renunciation4 ,how did ,christ come to the cross8 ,we read in ,philippians the seven steps of his descent from heaven to ,calvary4 ,he had everything that even the ,son of ,god could hold precious1 even to the actual equal sharing of the glory of ,god4 ,yet for man's sake what did he do8 ,he did not hold fast even ,his equality with ,god1 ,he emptied ,himself1 took on ,him the form of a servant1 was made in the likeness of fallen humanity2 even more than this1 ,he humbled ,himself even as a man1 identifying ,himself with our poverty and misery and sin2 ,he accepted death for our sakes1 and that1 the death of shame on the tree of curse4 ,every step was downward until ,he who had been worshipped by angels was reviled by thieves1 and the crown of glory was displaced by the crown of thorns6 ,that is what the cross meant to ,him4 ,and ,he says3 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself1 and take up the cross and follow ,me4 ,this cross is not forced upon us as are many of the little vexations and trials which we call 'our crosses'2 it is taken up by us1 in voluntary self-sacrifice for ,his sake4 ,we choose self-abnegation1 to lose our life in sacrifice that we may find it again in service4 ,that is the self-oblivion of love4 ,and ,mr4 ,muller illustrated it4 ,from the hour when he began to serve the ,crucified ,one he entered more and more fully into the fellowship of ,his sufferings1 seeking to be made conformable unto ,his death4 ,he gave up fortune-seeking and fame-seeking2 he cut loose from the world with its snares and joys2 he separated himself from even its doubtful practices1 he tested even churchly traditions and customs by the word of ,god1 and step by step conformed to the pattern showed in that word4 ,every such step was a new self-denial1 but it was following ,him4 ,he chose voluntary poverty that others might be rich1 and voluntary loss that others might have gain4 ,his life was one long endeavour to bless others1 to be the channel for conveying ,god's truth and love and grace to them4 ,like ,paul he rejoiced in such sufferings for others1 because thus he filled up that which is behind of the afflictions of ,christ in his flesh for ,his body's sake which is the church499 ,and unless ,love's voluntary sacrifice be taken into account1 ,george ,muller's life will still remain an enigma4 ,loyalty to truth1 the obedience of faith1 the sacrifice of love--these form the threefold key that unlocks to us all the closed chambers of that life1 and these will1 in another sense1 unlock any other life to the entrance of ,god1 and present to ,him an open door into all departments of one's being4 ,george ,muller had no monopoly of holy living and holy serving4 ,he followed his ,lord1 both in self-surrender to the will of ,god and in self-sacrifice for the welfare of man1 and herein lay his whole secret4 99 ,coloss4 #a3 #bd4 ,to one who asked him the secret of his service he said3 ,there was a day when ,i died1 utterly died2 and1 as he spoke1 he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor--died to ,george ,muller1 his opinions1 preferences1 tastes and will--died to the world1 its approval or censure--died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends--and since then ,i have studied only to show myself approved unto ,god4 ,when ,george ,muller trusted the blood for salvation1 he took ,abel's position2 when he undertook a consecrated walk he took ,enoch's2 when he came into fellowship with ,god for his life-work he stood beside ,noah2 when he rested only on ,god's word1 he was one with ,abraham2 and when he died to self and the world1 he reached the self-surrender of ,moses4 ,the godlike qualities of this great and good man made him none the less a man4 ,his separation unto ,god implied no unnatural isolation from his fellow mortals4 ,like ,terence1 he could say3 ,i am a man1 and nothing common to man is foreign to me4 ,to be well known1 ,mr4 ,muller needed to be known in his daily1 simple1 home life4 ,it was my privilege to meet him often1 and in his own apartment at ,orphan ,house ,no4 #c4 ,his room was of medium size1 neatly but plainly furnished1 with table and chairs1 lounge and writing-desk1 etc4 ,his ,bible almost always lay open1 as a book to which he continually resorted4 ,his form was tall and slim1 always neatly attired1 and very erect1 and his step firm and strong4 ,his countenance1 in repose1 might have been thought stern1 but for the smile which so habitually lit up his eyes and played over his features that it left its impress on the lines of his face4 ,his manner was one of simple courtesy and unstudied dignity3 no one would in his presence1 have felt like vain trifling1 and there was about him a certain indescribable air of authority and majesty that reminded one of a born prince2 and yet there was mingled with all this a simplicity so childlike that even children felt themselves at home with him4 ,in his speech1 he never quite lost that peculiar foreign quality1 known as accent1 and he always spoke with slow and measured articulation1 as though a double watch were set at the door of his lips4 ,with him that unruly member1 the tongue1 was tamed by the ,holy ,spirit1 and he had that mark of what ,james calls a 'perfect man1 able also to bridle the whole body4' ,those who knew but little of him and saw him only in his serious moods might have thought him lacking in that peculiarly human quality1 humour4 ,but neither was he an ascetic nor devoid of that element of innocent appreciation of the ludicrous and that keen enjoyment of a good story which seem essential to a complete man4 ,his habit was sobriety1 but he relished a joke that was free of all taint of uncleanness and that had about it no sting for others4 ,to those whom he best knew and loved he showed his true self1 in his playful moods1--as when at ,ilfracombe1 climbing with his wife and others the heights that overlook the sea1 he walked on a little in advance1 seated himself till the rest came up with him1 and then1 when they were barely seated1 rose and quietly said1 ,well now1 we have had a good rest1 let us go on4 ,this one instance may suffice to show that his sympathy with his divine ,master did not lessen or hinder his complete fellow feeling with man4 ,that must be a defective piety which puts a barrier between a saintly soul and whatsoever pertains to humanity4 ,he who chose us out of the world sent us back into it1 there to find our sphere of service2 and in order to such service we must keep in close and vital touch with human beings as did our divine ,lord ,himself4 ,service to ,god was with ,george ,muller a passion4 ,in the month of ,may1 #ahig1 he was persuaded to take at ,huntly a little rest from his constant daily work at the orphan houses4 ,the evening that he arrived he said1 ,what opportunity is there here for services for the ,lord8 ,when it was suggested to him that he had just come from continuous work1 and that it was a time for rest1 he replied that1 being now free from his usual labours1 he felt he must be occupied in some other way in serving the ,lord1 to glorify whom was his object in life4 ,meetings were accordingly arranged and he preached both at ,huntly and at ,teignmouth4 ,as we cast this last glance backward over this life of peculiar sanctity and service1 one lesson seems written across it in unmistakable letters3 ,,prevailing ,,prayer4 ,if a consecrated human life is an example used by ,god to teach us the philosophy of holy living1 then this man was meant to show us how prayer1 offered in simple faith1 has power with ,god4 ,one paragraph of ,scripture conspicuously presents the truth which ,george ,muller's living epistle enforces and illustrates2 it is found in ,james v4 #af-ah3 ,the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much1 is the sentence which opens the paragraph4 ,no translation has ever done it justice4 ,rotherham renders it3 ,much avails a righteous man's supplication1 working inwardly4 ,the ,revised ,version translates1 avails much in its working4 ,the difficulty of translating lies not in the obscurity but in the fulness of the meaning of the original4 ,there is a ,greek middle participle here 7,transcriber's note3 ,the ,greek word appears here in parentheses71 which may indicate either the cause or the time of the effectiveness of the prayer1 and may mean1 through its working1 or while it is actively working4 ,the idea is that such prayer has about it supernatural energy4 ,perhaps the best key to the meaning of these ten words is to interpret them in the light of the whole paragraph3 ,elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are1 and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain2 and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months4 ,and he prayed again1 and the heaven gave rain1 and the earth brought forth her fruit4 ,two things are here plainly put before us3 first1 that ,elijah was but a man1 of like nature with other men and subject to all human frailties and infirmities2 and1 secondly1 that this man was such a power because he was a man of prayer3 he prayed earnestly2 literally he prayed with prayer2 prayed habitually and importunately4 ,no man can read ,elijah's short history as given in the word of ,god1 without seeing that he was a man like ourselves4 ,under the juniper-tree of doubt and despondency1 he complained of his state and wished he might die4 ,in the cave of a morbid despair1 he had to be met and subdued by the vision of ,god and by the still1 small voice4 ,he was just like other men4 ,it was not1 therefore1 because he was above human follies and frailties1 but because he was subject to them1 that he is held up to us as an encouraging example of power that prevails in prayer4 ,he laid hold of the ,almighty ,arm because he was weak1 and he kept hold because to lose hold was to let weakness prevail4 ,nevertheless1 this man1 by prayer alone1 shut up heaven's floodgates for three years and a half1 and then by the same key unlocked them4 ,yes1 this man tested the meaning of those wonderful words3 concerning the work of ,my hands command ye ,me4 7,isaiah xlv4 #aa47 ,god put the forces of nature for the time under the sway of this one man's prayer--one frail1 feeble1 foolish mortal locked and unlocked the springs of waters1 because he held ,god's key4 ,george ,muller was simply another ,elijah4 ,like him1 a man subject to all human infirmities1 he had his fits of despondency and murmuring1 of distrust and waywardness2 but he prayed and kept praying4 ,he denied that he was a miracle-worker1 in any sense that implies elevation of character and endowment above other fellow disciples1 as though he were a specially privileged saint2 but in a sense he was a miracle-worker1 if by that is meant that he wrought wonders impossible to the natural and carnal man4 ,with ,god all things are possible1 and so are they declared to be to him that believeth4 ,god meant that ,george ,muller1 wherever his work was witnessed or his story is read1 should be a standing rebuke1 to the practical impotence of the average disciple4 ,while men are asking whether prayer can accomplish similar wonders as of old1 here is a man who answers the question by the indisputable logic of facts4 ,powerlessness always means prayerlessness4 ,it is not necessary for us to be sinlessly perfect1 or to be raised to a special dignity of privilege and endowment1 in order to wield this wondrous weapon of power with ,god2 but it is necessary that we be men and women of prayer--habitual1 believing1 importunate prayer4 ,george ,muller considered nothing too small to be a subject of prayer1 because nothing is too small to be the subject of ,god's care4 ,if ,he numbers our hairs1 and notes a sparrow's fall1 and clothes the grass in the field1 nothing about ,his children is beneath ,his tender thought4 ,in every emergency1 his one resort was to carry his want to his ,father4 ,when1 in #aheh1 a legacy of five hundred pounds was1 after fourteen months in chancery1 still unpaid1 the ,lord was besought to cause this money soon to be placed in his hands2 and he prayed that legacy out of the bonds of chancery as prayer1 long before1 brought ,peter out of prison4 ,the money was paid contrary to all human likelihood1 and with interest at four per cent4 ,when large gifts were proffered1 prayer was offered for grace to know whether to accept or decline1 that no money might be greedily grasped at for its own sake2 and he prayed that1 if it could not be accepted without submitting to conditions which were dishonouring to ,god1 it might be declined so graciously1 lovingly1 humbly1 and yet firmly1 that the manner of its refusal and return might show that he was acting1 not in his own behalf1 but as a servant under the authority of a higher ,master4 ,these are graver matters and might well be carried to ,god for guidance and help4 ,but ,george ,muller did not stop here4 ,in the lesser affairs1 even down to the least1 he sought and received like aid4 ,his oldest friend1 ,robert ,c4 ,chapman of ,barnstaple1 gave the writer the following simple incident3 ,in the early days of his love to ,christ1 visiting a friend1 and seeing him mending a quill pen1 he said3 ,brother ,h----1 do you pray to ,god when you mend your pen8 ,the answer was3 ,it would be well to do so1 but ,i cannot say that ,i do pray when mending my pen4 ,brother ,muller replied3 ,i always do1 and so ,i mend my pen much better4 ,as we cast this last backward glance at this man of ,god1 seven conspicuous qualities stand out in him1 the combination of which made him what he was3 ,stainless uprightness1 child-like simplicity1 business-like precision1 tenacity of purpose1 boldness of faith1 habitual prayer1 and cheerful self-surrender4 ,his holy living was a necessary condition of his abundant serving1 as seems so beautifully hinted in the seventeenth verse of the ninetieth ,psalm3 ,let the beauty of the ,lord our ,god be upon us1 ,and establish ,thou the work of our hands upon us4 ,how can the work of our hands be truly established by the blessing of our ,lord1 unless ,his beauty also is upon us--the beauty of ,his holiness transforming our lives and witnessing to ,his work in us8 ,so much for the backward look4 ,we must not close without a forward look also4 ,there are two remarkable sayings of our ,lord which are complements to each other and should be put side by side3 ,transcriber's note3 ,the following two paragraphs are printed side-by-side in two columns4 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow ,me4 ,if any man serve ,me1 let him follow ,me2 and where ,i am1 there shall also my servant be4 ,if any man serve ,me1 him will ,my ,father honour4 ,one of these presents the cross1 the other the crown2 one the renunciation1 the other the compensation4 ,in both cases it is1 ,let him follow ,me2 but in the second of these passages the following of ,christ goes further than the cross of ,calvary2 it reaches through the sepulchre to the ,resurrection ,life1 the ,forty ,days' ,holy ,walk in the ,spirit1 the ,ascension to the ,heavenlies1 the session at the ,right ,hand of ,god1 the ,reappearing at ,his ,second ,coming1 and the fellowship of ,his final ,reign in ,glory4 ,and two compensations are especially made prominent3 first1 the ,eternal ,home with ,christ2 and1 second the ,exalted ,honour from the ,father4 ,we too often look only at the cross and the crucifixion1 and so see our life in ,christ only in its oneness with ,him in suffering and serving2 we need to look beyond and see our oneness with ,him in recompense and reward1 if we are to get a complete view of ,his promise and our prospect4 ,self-denial is not so much an impoverishment as a postponement3 we make a sacrifice of a present good for the sake of a future and greater good4 ,even our ,lord ,himself was strengthened to endure the cross and despise the shame by the joy that was set before ,him and the glory of ,his final victory4 ,if there were seven steps downward in humiliation1 there are seven upward in exaltation1 until beneath ,his feet every knee shall bow in homage1 and every tongue confess ,his universal ,lordship4 ,he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens1 that ,he might fill all things4 ,george ,muller counted all as loss that men count gain1 but it was for the excellency of the knowledge of ,jesus1 his ,lord4 ,he suffered the loss of all things and counted them as dung1 but it was that he might win ,christ and be found in ,him2 that he might know ,him1 and not only the fellowship of ,his sufferings and conformity to ,his death1 but the power of ,his resurrection1 conformity to ,his life1 and fellowship in ,his glory4 ,he left all behind that the world values1 but he reached forth and pressed forward toward the goal1 for the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,let us1 therefore1 as many as be perfect1 be thus minded4 ,when the ,lord ,jesus was upon earth1 there was one disciple whom ,he loved1 who also leaned on ,his breast1 having the favoured place which only one could occupy4 ,but now that ,he is in heaven1 every disciple may be the loved one1 and fill the favoured place1 and lean on ,his bosom4 ,there is no exclusive monopoly of privilege and blessing4 ,he that follows closely and abides in ,him knows the peculiar closeness of contact1 the honour of intimacy1 that are reserved for such as are called and chosen and faithful1 and follow the ,lamb whithersoever ,he goeth4 ,god's self-denying servants are on their way to the final sevenfold perfection1 at home with ,him1 and crowned with honour3 ,and there shall be no more curse2 ,but the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb shall be in it2 ,and ,his servants shall serve ,him2 ,and they shall see ,his face2 ,and ,his name shall be in their foreheads1 ,and there shall be no night there1 ,and they shall reign for ever and ever4 ,amen6 ,,appendix ,a ,,scripture ,,texts ,,that ,,moulded ,,george ,,muller ,,certain marked ,scripture precepts and promises had such a singular influence upon this man of ,god1 and so often proved the guides to his course1 that they illustrate ,psalm cxix4 #aje3 ,thy word is a lamp unto my feet1 ,and a light unto my path4 ,those texts which1 at the parting of the way1 became to him ,god's signboards1 showing him the true direction1 are here given1 as nearly as may be in the order in which they became so helpful to him4 ,the study of them will prove a kind of spiritual biography1 outlining his career4 ,some texts1 known to have been very conspicuous in their influence1 we put in capitals4 ,the italics are his own4 ,,god ,,so ,,loved ,,the ,,world ,,that ,,he ,,gave ,,his ,,only-,,begotten ,,son1 ,,that ,,whosoever ,,believeth ,,in ,,him ,,should ,,not ,,perish1 ,,but ,,have ,,everlasting ,,life4 7,john iii4 #af47 ,cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm4 7,jeremiah xvii4 #e47 ,o1 fear the ,lord1 ye ,his saints2 for there is no want to them that fear ,him4 7,psa4 xxxiv4 #i47 ,owe no man anything1 but to love one another4 7,rom4 xiii4 #h47 ,,seek ,,ye ,,first ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,his ,,righteousness2 ,,and ,,all ,,these ,,things ,,shall ,,be ,,added ,,unto ,,you4 7,matt4 vi4 #cc47 ,the holy scriptures1 which are able to make thee wise unto salvation4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #ae47 ,ask1 and it shall be given you2 seek1 and ye shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened unto you3 for every one that asketh receiveth2 and he that seeketh findeth2 and to him that knocketh it shall be opened4 7,matt4 vii4 #g1 #h47 ,,whatsoever ,,ye ,,shall ,,ask ,,in ,,my ,,name1 ,,that ,,will ,i ,,do1 ,,that ,,the ,,father ,,may ,,be ,,glorified ,,in ,,the ,,son3 ,,if ,,ye ,,shall ,,ask ,,anything ,,in ,,my ,,name ,i ,,will ,,do ,,it4 7,john xiv4 #ac1 #ad47 ,therefore ,i say unto you1 ,take no thought for your life1 what ye shall eat1 and what ye shall drink1 nor yet for your body what ye shall put on4444 ,take1 therefore1 no thought for the morrow4 7,matt4 vi4 #be-cd47 ,if any man will do ,his will1 he shall know of the doctrine4 7,john vii4 #ag47 ,if ye continue in ,my word1 then are ye ,my disciples indeed2 and ye shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4 7,john viii4 #ca1 #cb47 ,and the eunuch said1 ,see1 here is water3 what doth hinder me to be baptized8 ,and ,philip said1 ,if thou believest with all thine heart1 thou mayest4 ,and he answered and said1 ,i believe that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,gad4 ,and they went down both into the water1 both ,philip and the eunuch1 and he baptized him4 7,acts viii1 #cf-ch47 ,know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into ,jesus ,christ were baptized into ,his death8 ,therefore we are buried with ,him by baptism into death4 7,rom4 vi4 #c1 #d47 ,upon the first day of the week1 when the disciples came together to break bread4 7,acts xx4 #g47 ,my brethren1 have not the faith of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,lord of glory1 with respect of persons4 ,for if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring1 in goodly apparel1 and there come in also a man in vile raiment2 and ye have respect unto him that weareth the gay clothing1 and say unto him1 ,sit thou here in a good place2 and say to the poor1 ,stand thou there1 or sit here under my footstool1 are ye not then partial in yourselves1 and are become judges of evil thoughts8 7,james ii4 #a-f47 ,having1 then1 gifts differing according to the grace that is given us4 7,rom4 xii4 #f47 ,all these worketh that one and the selfsame ,spirit1 dividing to every man severally as he will4 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #aa47 ,not because ,i desire a gift1 but ,i desire fruit that may abound to your account4 7,philip1 iv4 #ag47 ,take no thought for your life1 what ye shall eat1 or what ye shall drink2 nor yet for your body what ye shall put on44444 ,behold the fowls of the air4444 ,consider the lilies of the field4444 ,for your heavenly ,father knoweth that ye have need of these things4 7,matt4 vi4 #be-cb47 ,lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth4 7,matt4 vi4 #ai47 ,,sell ,,that ,,ye ,,have ,,and ,,give ,,alms4 7,luke xii4 #cc47 ,a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven4 7,john iii4 #bg47 ,simeon hath declared how ,god at the first did visit the ,gentiles1 to take out of them a people for ,his name4 7,acts xv4 #ad4 ,comp4 ,matt4 xiii4 #bd-cj1 #cf-dc47 ,this know also1 that in the last days perilous times shall come4444 ,evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse1 deceiving and being deceived4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #a1 #ac47 ,come out from among them1 and be ye separate1 saith the ,lord1 and touch not the unclean thing4 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ah47 ,not by might1 nor by power1 but by ,my spirit1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 7,zech4 iv4 #f47 ,,my ,,grace ,,is ,,sufficient ,,for ,,thee4 7#b ,cor4 xii4 #i47 ,let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called4 ,let every man1 wherein he is called1 therein abide with ,god4 7#a ,cor4 vii4 #bj1 #bd47 ,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #af47 ,,open ,,thy ,,mouth ,,wide1 ,,and ,i ,,will ,,fill ,,it4 7,psa4 lxxxi4 #aj47 ,mine hour is not yet come4 7,john ii4 #d47 ,he took a child1 and set him in the midst of them2 and when ,he had taken him in ,his arms1 ,he said unto them1 ,whosoever shall receive one of such children in ,my name1 receiveth ,me2 and whosoever shall receive ,me1 receiveth not ,me1 but ,him that sent ,me4 7,mark ix4 #cf1 #cg47 ,if it be possible1 as much as lieth in you1 live peaceably with all men4 7,rom4 xii4 #ah47 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure2 but ,he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of ,his holiness4 ,now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous2 nevertheless1 afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby4 7,heb4 xii4 #aj1 #aa47 ,,what ,,things ,,soever ,,ye ,,desire1 ,,when ,,ye ,,pray1 ,,believe ,,that ,,ye ,,receive ,,them1 ,,and ,,ye ,,shall ,,have ,,them4 7,mark xi4 #bd47 ,he that believeth on ,him shall not be confounded4 7#a ,pet4 ii4 #f47 ,o ,thou that hearest prayer1 unto ,thee shall all flesh come4 7,psa4 lxv4 #b47 ,come and hear1 all ye that fear ,god1 and ,i will declare what ,he hath done for my soul4 7,psa4 lxvi4 #af47 ,a ,,father ,,of ,,the ,,fatherless4 7,psa4 lxviii4 #e47 ,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord2 neither be weary of ,his correction4 7,prov4 iii4 #aa47 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear ,him4 7,psa4 ciii4 #ac47 ,,jesus ,,christ ,,the ,,same ,,yesterday1 ,,and ,,to-,,day1 ,,and ,,for ,,ever4 7,heb4 xiii4 #h47 ,to-morrow shall take thought for the things of itself4 ,sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof4 7,matt1 vi4 #cd47 ,hitherto hath the ,lord helped us4 7#a ,sam4 vii4 #ab47 ,oh taste and see that the ,lord is good3 ,blessed is the man that trusteth in ,him6 7,psalm xxxiv4 #h47 ,all the fat is the ,lord's4 7,lev4 iii4 #af47 ,i am poor and needy2 yet the ,lord thinketh upon me4 7,psa4 xl4 #ag47 ,delight thyself also in the ,lord1 and ,he shall give thee the desires of thine heart4 7,psa4 xxxvii4 #d47 ,if ,i regard iniquity in my heart1 the ,lord will not hear me4 7,psa4 lxvi4 #ah47 ,know that the ,lord hath set apart him that is godly for ,himself3 ,the ,lord will hear when ,i call unto ,him4 7,psa4 iv4 #c47 ,,jehovah ,,jireh4 7,the ,lord will provide47 7,gen4 xxii4 #ad47 ,,he ,,hath ,,said1 ,i ,,will ,,never ,,leave ,,thee1 ,,nor ,,forsake ,,thee2 ,,so ,,that ,,we ,,may ,,boldly ,,say1 ,,the ,,lord ,,is ,,my ,,helper4 7,heb4 xiii4 #e1 #f47 ,be thou not one of them that strike hands1 or of them that are sureties for debts4 7,prov4 xxii4 #bf47 ,he that hateth suretyship is sure4 7,prov4 xi4 #ae47 ,i will very gladly spend and be spent for you2 though the more abundantly ,i love you1 the less ,i be loved4 7#b ,cor4 xii4 #ae47 ,ye are all children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4 7,gal4 iii4 #bf47 ,,casting ,,all ,,your ,,care ,,upon ,,him ,,for ,,he ,,careth ,,for ,,you4 7#a ,pet4 v4 #g47 ,be careful for nothing1 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto ,god4 7,phil4 iv4 #f47 ,said ,i not unto thee1 that1 if thou wouldest believe1 thou shouldest see the glory of ,god8 7,john xi4 #dj47 ,,we ,,know ,,that ,,all ,,things ,,work ,,together ,,for ,,good ,,to ,,them ,,that ,,love ,,god4 7,rom4 viii4 #bh47 ,shall not the judge of all the earth do right8 7,gen4 xviii4 #be47 ,of such 7little children7 is the kingdom of heaven4 7,matt4 xix4 #ad47 ,he that spared not ,his own ,son1 but delivered ,him up for us all1 how shall ,he not with ,him also freely give us all things8 7,rom4 viii4 #cb47 ,every good gift and every perfect gift is from above4 7,james i4 #ag47 ,the young lions do lack and suffer hunger2 but they that seek the ,lord shall not want any good thing4 7,psa4 xxxiv4 #aj47 ,there is that scattereth and yet increaseth2 and there is that withholdeth more than is meet1 but it tendeth to poverty4 ,the liberal soul shall be made fat1 and he that watereth shall be watered also himself4 7,prov4 xi4 #bd1 #be47 ,give and it shall be given unto you3 good measure1 pressed down and shaken together1 and running over1 shall men give unto your bosom4 ,for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again4 7,luke vi4 #ch47 ,the liberal deviseth liberal things2 and by liberal things shall he stand4 7,isa4 xxxii4 #h47 ,for ye have the poor with you always1 and whensoever ye will ye may do them good4 7,mark xiv4 #g47 ,let not then your good be evil spoken of4 7,rom4 xiv4 #af47 ,let your moderation 7yieldingness7 be known unto all men4 7,phil4 iv4 #e47 ,,my ,,brethren1 ,,count ,,it ,,all ,,joy ,,when ,,ye ,,fall ,,into ,,divers ,,temptations 7i4e4 ,,trials72 ,,knowing ,,this1 ,,that ,,the ,,trying ,,of ,,your ,,faith ,,worketh ,,patience4 ,,but ,,let ,,patience ,,have ,,her ,,perfect ,,work1 ,,that ,,ye ,,may ,,be ,,perfect ,,and ,,entire1 ,,wanting ,,nothing4 7,james i4 #b-d47 ,trust in the ,lord with all thine heart2 and lean not unto thine own understanding4 ,in all thy ways acknowledge ,him1 and ,he shall direct thy paths4 7,prov4 iii4 #e1f47 ,the integrity of the upright shall guide them2 but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them4 7,prov4 xi4 #c47 ,commit thy works unto the ,lord and thy thoughts shall be established4 7,prov4 xvi4 #c47 ,for ,i say through the grace given unto me1 to every man that is among you1 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think2 but to think soberly1 according as ,god has dealt to every man the measure of faith4 7,rom4 xii4 #c47 ,wait on the ,lord2 be of good courage1 and he shall strengthen thine heart3 ,wait1 ,i say1 on the ,lord4 7,psa4 xxvii4 #ad47 ,after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise4 7,heb4 vi4 #ae47 ,,verily1 ,,verily1 ,i ,,say ,,unto ,,you1 ,,whatsoever ,,ye ,,shall ,,ask ,,the ,,father ,,in ,,my ,,name1 ,,he ,,will ,,give ,,it ,,you4 7,john xvi4 #bc47 ,he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly2 and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully4 7#b ,cor4 ix4 #f47 ,ye are bought with a price3 therefore1 glorify ,god in your body1 and in your spirit1 which are ,god's4 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #bj47 ,,they ,,that ,,know ,,thy ,,name ,,will ,,put ,,their ,,trust ,,in ,,thee3 ,,for ,,thou1 ,,lord1 ,,hast ,,not ,,forsaken ,,them ,,that ,,trust ,,thee4 7,psa4 ix4 #aj47 ,thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ,thee1 because he trusteth in ,thee4 ,trust ye in the ,lord forever2 for in the ,lord ,jehovah is everlasting strength4 7,isa4 xxvi4 #c1 #d47 ,if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not4 7#b ,cor viii4 #ab47 ,,be ,,ye ,,steadfast1 ,,unmovable1 ,,always ,,abounding ,,in ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,lord1 ,,forasmuch ,,as ,,ye ,,know ,,that ,,your ,,labour ,,is ,,not ,,in ,,vain ,,in ,,the ,,lord4 7#a ,cor4 xv4 #eh47 ,let us not be weary in well doing1 for in due season we shall reap if we faint not4 7,gal4 vi4 #i47 ,oh how great is ,thy goodness1 which ,thou hast laid up for them that fear ,thee2 which ,thou 'hast wrought for them that trust in ,thee before the sons of men6 7,psa4 xxxi4 #ai47 ,,thou ,,art ,,good ,,and ,,doest ,,good4 7,psa4 cxix4 #fh47 ,i know1 ,o ,lord1 that ,thy judgments are right1 and that ,thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me4 7,psa4 cxix4 #ge47 ,my times are in ,thy hand4 7,psa4 xxxi4 #ae47 ,the ,,lord ,god is a sun and shield3 the ,,lord will give grace and glory3 no good thing will ,he withhold from them that walk uprightly4 7,psa4 lxxxiv4 #aa47 ,hold ,thou me up and ,i shall be safe4 7,psa4 cxix4 #aag47 ,behold ,i come quickly1 and ,my reward is with ,me1 to give every man according as his work shall be4 7,rev4 xxii4 #ab47 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive4 7,acts xx4 #ce47 ,give us this day our daily bread4 7,matt4 vi4 #aa47 ,able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think4 7,eph4 iii4 #bj47 ,them that honour ,me ,i will honour4 7#a ,sam4 ii4 #cj47 ,that the trial of your faith1 being much more precious than of gold that perisheth1 though it be tried with fire1 might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of ,jesus ,christ4 7#a ,peter i4 #g47 ,,appendix ,b ,,apprehension ,,of ,,truth ,,some points which ,god began to show ,mr4 ,muller while at ,teignmouth in #ahbi3 #a4 ,that the word of ,god alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things2 that it can be explained only by the ,holy ,spirit2 and that in our day1 as well as in former times1 ,he is the teacher of ,his people4 ,the office of the ,holy ,spirit ,i had not experimentally understood before that time4 ,indeed1 of the office of each of the blessed persons1 in what is commonly called the ,trinity1 ,i had no experimental apprehension4 ,i had not before seen from the ,scriptures that the ,father chose us before the foundation of the world2 that in ,him that wonderful plan of our redemption originated1 and that ,he also appointed all the means by which it was to be brought about4 ,further1 that the ,son1 to save us1 had fulfilled the law1 to satisfy its demands1 and with it also the holiness of ,god2 that ,he had borne the punishment due to our sins1 and had thus satisfied the justice of ,god4 ,and further1 that the ,holy ,spirit alone can teach us about our state by nature1 show us the need of a ,saviour1 enable us to believe in ,christ1 explain to us the ,scriptures1 help us in preaching1 etc4 ,it was my beginning to understand this latter point in particular1 which had a great effect on me2 for the ,lord enabled me to put it to the test of experience1 by laying aside commentaries1 and almost every other book1 and simply reading the word of ,god and studying it4 ,the result of this was1 that the first evening that ,i shut myself into my room1 to give myself to prayer and meditation over the ,scriptures1 ,i learned more in a few hours than ,i had done during a period of several months previously4 ,but the particular difference was that ,i received real strength for my soul in doing so4 ,i now began to try by the test of the ,scriptures the things which ,i had learned and seen1 and found that only those principles which stood the test were really of value4 #b4 ,before this period ,i had been much opposed to the doctrines of election1 particular redemption1 and final persevering grace3 so much so that1 a few days after my arrival at ,teignmouth ,i called election a devilish doctrine4 ,i did not believe that ,i had brought myself to the ,lord1 for that was too manifestly false2 but yet ,i held1 that ,i might have resisted finally4 ,and further1 ,i knew nothing about the choice of ,god's people1 and did not believe that the child of ,god1 when once made so2 was safe for ever4 ,in my fleshly mind ,i had repeatedly said1 ,if once ,i could prove that ,i am a child of ,god for ever1 ,i might go back into the world for a year or two1 and then return to the ,lord1 and at last be saved4 ,but now ,i was brought to examine these precious truths by the word of ,god4 ,being made willing to have no glory of my own in the conversion of sinners1 but to consider myself merely as an instrument2 and being made willing to receive what the ,scriptures said2 ,i went to the ,word1 reading the ,new ,testament from the beginning1 with a particular reference to these truths4 ,to my great astonishment ,i found that the passages which speak decidedly for election and persevering grace were about four times as many as those which speak apparently against these truths2 and even those few1 shortly after1 when ,i had examined and understood them1 served to confirm me in the above doctrines4 ,as to the effect which my belief in these doctrines had on me1 ,i am constrained to state1 for ,god's glory1 that though ,i am still exceedingly weak1 and by no means so dead to the lusts of the flesh1 and the lust of the eyes1 and the pride of life1 as ,i might and as ,i ought to be1 yet1 by the grace of ,god1 ,i have walked more closely with ,him since that period4 ,my life has not been so variable1 and ,i may say that ,i have lived much more for ,god than before4 ,and for this have ,i been strengthened by the ,lord1 in a great measure1 through the instrumentality of these truths4 ,for in the time of temptation1 ,i have been repeatedly led to say3 ,should ,i thus sin8 ,i should only bring misery into my soul for a time1 and dishonour ,god2 for1 being a son of ,god for ever1 ,i should have to be brought back again1 though it might be in the way of severe chastisement4 ,thus1 ,i say1 the electing love of ,god in ,christ 7when ,i have been able to realize it7 has often been1 the means of producing holiness1 instead of leading me into sin4 ,it is only the notional apprehension of such truths1 the want of having them in the heart1 whilst they are in the head1 which is dangerous4 #c4 ,another truth1 into which1 in a measure1 ,i was led1 respected the ,lord's coming4 ,my views concerning this point1 up to that time1 had been completely vague and unscriptural4 ,i had believed what others told me1 without trying it by the ,word4 ,i thought that things were getting better and better1 and that soon the whole world would be converted4 ,but now ,i found in the ,word that we have not the least ,scriptural warrant to look for the conversion of the world before the return of our ,lord4 ,i found in the ,scriptures that that which will usher in the glory of the church1 and uninterrupted joy to the saints1 is the return of the ,lord ,jesus1 and that1 till then1 things will be more or less in confusion4 ,i found in the ,word1 that the return of ,jesus1 and not death1 was the hope of the apostolic ,christians2 and that it became me1 therefore1 to look for ,his appearing4 ,and this truth entered so into my heart that1 though ,i went into ,devonshire exceedingly weak1 scarcely expecting that ,i should return again to ,london1 yet ,i was immediately1 on seeing this truth1 brought off from looking for death1 and was made to look for the return of the ,lord4 ,having seen this truth1 the ,lord also graciously enabled me to apply it1 in some measure at least1 to my own heart1 and to put the solemn question to myself--,what may ,i do for the ,lord1 before ,he returns1 as ,he may soon come8 #d4 ,in addition to these truths1 it pleased the ,lord to lead me to see a higher standard of devotedness than ,i had seen before4 ,he led me1 in a measure1 to see what is my true glory in this world1 even to be despised1 and to be poor and mean with ,christ4 ,i saw then1 in a measure1 though ,i have seen it more fully since1 that it ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich1 and great1 and honoured in that world where his ,lord was poor1 and mean1 and despised4 ,,appendix ,c ,,separation ,,from ,,the ,,london ,,society ,,for ,,promoting ,,christianity ,,among ,,the ,,jews4 ,,it became a point of solemn consideration with me1 whether ,i could remain connected with the ,society in the usual way4 ,my chief objections were these3 #a4 ,if ,i were sent out by the ,society1 it was more than probable1 yea1 almost needful1 if ,i were to leave ,england1 that ,i should labour on the ,continent1 as ,i was unfit to be sent to eastern countries on account of my health1 which would probably have suffered1 both on account of the climate1 and of my having to learn other languages4 ,now1 if ,i did go to the ,continent1 it was evident that without ordination ,i could not have any extensive field of usefulness1 as unordained ministers are generally prevented from labouring freely there2 but ,i could not conscientiously submit to be ordained by unconverted men1 professing to have power to set me apart for the ministry1 or to communicate something to me for this work which they do not possess themselves4 ,besides this1 ,i had other objections to being connected with any state church or national religious establishment1 which arose from the increased light which ,i had obtained through the reception of this truth1 that the word of ,god is our only standard1 and the ,holy ,spirit our only teacher4 ,for as ,i now began to compare what ,i knew of the establishment in ,england and those on the ,continent with this only true standard1 the word of ,god1 ,i found that all establishments1 even because they are establishments1 i4e41 the world and the church mixed up together1 not only contain in them the principles which necessarily must lead to departure from the word of ,god2 but also1 as long as they remain establishments1 entirely preclude the acting throughout according to the ,holy ,scriptures4--,then again1 if ,i were to stay in ,england1 the ,society would not allow me to preach in any place indiscriminately1 where the ,lord might open a door for me2 and to the ordination of ,english bishops ,i had still greater objections than to the ordination of a ,prussian ,consistory4 #b4 ,i further had a conscientious objection against being led and directed by men in my missionary labours4 ,as a servant of ,christ1 it appeared to me ,i ought to be guided by the ,spirit1 and not by men1 as to time and place2 and this ,i would say1 with all deference to others1 who may be much more taught and much more spiritually minded than myself4 ,a servant of ,christ has but one ,master4 #c4 ,i had love for the ,jews1 and ,i had been enabled to give proofs of it2 yet ,i could not conscientiously say1 as the committee would expect from me1 that ,i would spend the greater part of my time only among them4 ,for the scriptural plan seemed to me that1 in coming to a place1 ,i should seek out the ,jews1 and commence my labour particularly among them2 but that1 if they rejected the gospel1 ,i should go to the nominal ,christians4--,the more ,i weighed these points1 the more it appeared to me that ,i should be acting hypocritically1 were ,i to suffer them to remain in my mind1 without making them known to the committee4 ,,appendix ,d ,,the ,,scriptural ,,knowledge ,,institution ,,for ,,home ,,and ,,abroad ,i4 ,,the ,,principles ,,of ,,the ,,institution4 #a4 ,,we consider every believer bound1 in one way or other1 to help the cause of ,christ1 and we have scriptural warrant for expecting the ,lord's blessing upon our work of faith and labour of love3 and although1 according to ,matt4 xiii4 #bd-dc1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #a-ac1 and many other passages1 the world will not be converted before the coming of our ,lord ,jesus1 still1 while ,he tarries1 all scriptural means ought to be employed for the ingathering of the elect of ,god4 #b4 ,the ,lord helping us1 we do not mean to seek the patronage of the world2 i4e41 we never intend to ask unconverted persons of rank or wealth to countenance this ,institution1 because this1 we consider1 would be dishonourable to the ,lord4 ,in the name of our ,god we set up our banners1 ,psa4 xx4 #e2 ,he alone shall be our ,patron1 and if ,he helps us we shall prosper1 and if ,he is not on our side1 we shall not succeed4 #c4 ,we do not mean to ask unbelievers for money 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad--ah72 though we do not feel ourselves warranted to refuse their contributions1 if they1 of their own accord should offer them4 7,acts xxviii4 #b-aj47 #d4 ,we reject altogether the help of unbelievers in managing or carrying on the affairs of the ,institution4 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ah47 #e4 ,we intend never to enlarge the field of labour by contracting debts 7,rom4 xiii4 #h71 and afterwards appealing to the ,church of ,god for help1 because this we consider to be opposed both to the letter and the spirit of the ,new ,testament2 but in secret prayer1 ,god helping us1 we shall carry the wants of the ,institution to the ,lord1 and act according to the means that ,god shall give4 #f4 ,we do not mean to reckon the success of the ,institution by the amount of money given1 or the number of ,bibles distributed1 etc41 but by the ,lord's blessing upon the work 7,zech4 iv4 #f72 and we expect this1 in the proportion in which ,he shall help us to wait upon ,him in prayer4 #g4 ,while we would avoid aiming after needless singularity1 we desire to go on simply according to ,scripture1 without compromising the truth2 at the same time thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced believers1 after prayer1 upon scriptural ground1 may have to give us concerning the ,institution4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,objects ,,of ,,the ,,institution ,,are3 #a4 ,to assist day-schools1 ,sunday-schools1 and adult-schools1 in which instruction is given upon scriptural principles1 and1 as far as the ,lord may give the means1 and supply us with suitable teachers1 and in other respects make our path plain1 to establish schools of this kind4 a4 ,by day-schools upon scriptural principles1 we understand day-schools in which the teachers are godly persons1--in which the way of salvation is scripturally pointed out1--and in which no instruction is given opposed to the principles of the gospel4 b4 ,sunday-schools1 in which all the teachers are believers1 and in which the ,holy ,scriptures alone are the foundation of instruction1 are such only as the ,institution assists with the supply of ,bibles1 ,testaments1 etc42 for we consider it unscriptural that any persons who do not profess to know the ,lord themselves should be allowed to give religious instruction4 c4 ,the ,institution does not assist any adult-schools with the supply of ,bibles1 ,testaments1 spelling-books1 etc41 except the teachers are believers4 #b4 ,to circulate the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,we sell ,bibles and ,testaments to poor persons at a reduced price4 ,but while we1 in general1 think it better that the ,scriptures should be sold1 and not given altogether gratis1 still1 in cases of extreme poverty1 we think it right to give1 without payment1 a cheap edition4 #c4 ,the third object of this ,institution is to aid missionary efforts4 ,we desire to assist those missionaries whose proceedings appear to be most according to the ,scriptures4 ,it is proposed to give such a portion of the amount of the donations to each of the fore-mentioned objects as the ,lord may direct2 but if none of the objects should claim a more particular assistance1 to lay out an equal portion upon each2 yet so that if any donor desires to give for one of the objects exclusively the money shall be appropriated accordingly4 ,,appendix ,e ,,reasons ,,which ,,led ,,mr4 ,,muller ,,to ,,establish ,,an ,,orphan ,,house ,i ,,had constantly cases brought before me which proved that one of the especial things which the children of ,god needed in our day was to have their faith strengthened4 ,for instance3 ,i might visit a brother who worked fourteen or even sixteen hours a day at his trade1 the necessary result of which was that not only his body suffered1 but his soul was lean1 and he had no enjoyment in the things of ,god4 ,under such circumstances ,i might point out to him that he ought to work less1 in order that his bodily health might not suffer1 and that he might gather strength for his inner man by reading the word of ,god1 by meditation over it1 and by prayer4 ,the reply1 however1 ,i generally found to be something like this3 ,but if ,i work less1 ,i do not earn enough for the support of my family4 ,even now1 whilst ,i work so much1 ,i have scarcely enough4 ,the wages are so low1 that ,i must work hard in order to obtain what ,i need4 ,there was no trust in ,god4 ,no real belief in the truth of that word3 ,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god1 and ,his righteousness3 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,i might reply something like this3 ,my dear brother1 it is not your work which supports your family1 but the ,lord2 and ,he who has fed you and your family when you could not work at all1 on account of illness1 would surely provide for you and yours if1 for the sake of obtaining food for your inner man1 you were to work only for so many hours a day as would allow you proper time for retirement4 ,and is it not the case now1 that you begin the work of the day after having had only a few hurried moments for prayer2 and when you leave off your work in the evening1 and mean then to read a little of the word of ,god1 are you not too much worn out in body and mind to enjoy it1 and do you not often fall asleep whilst reading the ,scriptures1 or whilst on your knees in prayer8 ,the brother would allow it was so2 he would allow that my advice was good2 but still ,i read in his countenance1 even if he should not have actually said so1 ,how should ,i get on if ,i were to carry out your advice8 ,i longed1 therefore1 to have something to point the brother to1 as a visible proof that our ,god and ,father is the same faithful ,god as ever ,he was2 as willing as ever to ,,prove ,himself to be the ,,living ,,god1 in our day as formerly1 to all who put their trust in ,him4--,again1 sometimes ,i found children of ,god tried in mind by the prospect of old age1 when they might be unable to work any longer1 and therefore were harassed by the fear of having to go into the poor-house4 ,if in such a case ,i pointed out to them how their ,heavenly ,father has always helped those who put their trust in ,him1 they might not1 perhaps1 always say that times have changed2 but yet it was evident enough that ,god was not looked upon by them as the ,,living ,god4 ,my spirit was ofttimes bowed down by this1 and ,i longed to set something before the children of ,god whereby they might see that ,he does not forsake1 even in our day1 those who rely upon ,him4--,another class of persons were brethren in business1 who suffered in their souls1 and brought guilt on their consciences1 by carrying on their business almost in the same way as unconverted persons do4 ,the competition in trade1 the bad times1 the over-peopled country1 were given as reasons why1 if the business were carried on simply according to the word of ,god it could not be expected to do well4 ,such a brother1 perhaps1 would express the wish that he might be differently situated2 but very rarely did ,i see that there was a stand made for ,god1 that there was the holy determination to trust in the living ,god1 and to depend on ,him1 in order that a good conscience might be maintained4 ,to this class likewise ,i desired to show1 by a visible proof1 that ,god is unchangeably the same4--,then there was another class of persons1 individuals who were in professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience1 or persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual things2 but both classes feared1 on account of the consequences1 to give up the profession in which they could not abide with ,god1 or to leave their position1 lest they should be thrown out of employment4 ,my spirit longed to be instrumental in strengthening their faith by giving them not only instances from the word of ,god of ,his willingness and ability to help all those who rely upon ,him1 but to show them by proofs that ,he is the same in our day4 ,i well knew that the word of ,god ought to be enough1 and it was1 by grace1 enough to me2 but still1 ,i considered that ,i ought to lend a helping hand to my brethren1 if by any means1 by this visible proof to the unchangeable faithfulness of the ,lord ,i might strengthen their hands in ,god2 for ,i remembered what a great blessing my own soul had received through the ,lord's dealings with ,his servant1 ,a4 ,h4 ,francke1 who1 in dependence upon the living ,god alone1 established an immense orphan house1 which ,i had seen many times with my own eyes4 ,i1 therefore1 judged myself bound to be the servant of the ,church of ,god1 in the particular point on which ,i had obtained mercy3 namely1 in being able to take ,god by ,his word and to rely upon it4 ,all these exercises of my soul1 which resulted from the fact that so many believers1 with whom ,i became acquainted1 were harassed and distressed in mind1 or brought guilt on their consciences1 on account of not trusting in the ,lord1 were used by ,god to awaken in my heart the desire of setting before the church at large1 and before the world1 a proof that ,he has not in the least changed2 and this seemed to me best done by the establishing of an orphan house4 ,it needed to be something which could be seen1 even by the natural eye4 ,now if ,i1 a poor man1 simply by prayer and faith1 obtained1 without asking any individual1 the means for establishing and carrying on an orphan house1 there would be something which1 with the ,lord's blessing1 might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children of ,god1 besides being a testimony to the consciences of the unconverted of the reality of the things of ,god4 ,this1 then1 was the primary reason for establishing the orphan house4 ,i certainly did from my heart desire to be used by ,god to benefit the bodies of poor children bereaved of both parents1 and seek1 in other respects1 with the help of ,god1 to do them good for this life2--,i also particularly longed to be used by ,god in getting the dear orphans trained up in the fear of ,god2--but still1 the first and primary object of the work was 7and still is7 that ,god might be magnified by the fact that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need only by prayer and faith1 without any one being asked by me or my fellow labourers1 whereby it may be seen that ,god is ,,faithful ,,still1 and ,,hears ,,prayer ,,still4 ,the three chief reasons for establishing an orphan house are3 #a4 ,that ,god may be glorified1 should ,he be pleased to furnish me with the means1 in its being seen that it is not a vain thing to trust in ,him2 and that thus the faith of ,his children may be strengthened4 #b4 ,the spiritual welfare of fatherless and motherless children4 #c4 ,their temporal welfare4 ,that to which my mind has been particularly directed is to establish an orphan house in which destitute fatherless and motherless children may be provided with food and raiment1 and scriptural education4 ,concerning this intended orphan house ,i would say3 #a4 ,it is intended to be in connection with the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution for ,home and ,abroad1 in so far as it respects the reports1 accounts1 superintendence1 and the principles on which it is conducted1 so that1 in one sense1 it may be considered as a new object of the ,institution1 yet with this difference1 that only those funds shall be applied to the orphan house which are expressly given for it4 ,if1 therefore1 any believer should prefer to support either those objects which have been hitherto assisted by the funds of this ,institution1 or the intended orphan house1 it need only be mentioned1 in order that the money may be applied accordingly4 #b4 ,it will only be established if the ,lord should provide both the means for it and suitable persons to conduct it4 ,as to the means1 ,i would make the following remarks3 ,the reason for proposing to enlarge the field is not because we have of late particularly abounded in means2 for we have been rather straitened4 ,the many gracious answers1 however1 which the ,lord had given us concerning this ,institution led brother ,c----r and me to give ourselves to prayer1 asking ,him to supply us with the means to carry on the work1 as we consider it unscriptural to contract debts4 ,during five days1 we prayed several times1 both unitedly and separately4 ,after that time1 the ,lord began to answer our prayers1 so that1 within a few days1 about #eja4 was given to us4 ,i would further say that the very gracious and tender dealings of ,god with me1 in having supplied1 in answer to prayer1 for the last five years1 my own temporal wants without any certain income1 so that money1 provisions1 and clothes have been sent to me at times when ,i was greatly straitened1 and that not only in small but large quantities2 and not merely from individuals living in the same place with me1 but at a considerable distance2 and that not merely from intimate friends1 but from individuals whom ,i have never seen3 all this1 ,i say1 has often led me to think1 even as long as four years ago1 that the ,lord had not given me this simple reliance on ,him merely for myself1 but also for others4 ,often1 when ,i saw poor neglected children running about the streets at ,teignmouth1 ,i said to myself3 ,may it not be the will of ,god that ,i should establish schools for these children1 asking ,him to give me the means8 ,however1 it remained only a thought in my mind for two or three years4 ,about two years and six months since ,i was particularly stirred up afresh to do something for destitute children1 by seeing so many of them begging in the streets of ,bristol1 and coming to our door4 ,it was not1 then1 left undone on account of want of trust in the ,lord1 but through an abundance of other things calling for all the time and strength of my brother ,craik and myself2 for the ,lord had both given faith1 and had also shown by the following instance1 in addition to very many others1 both what ,he can and what ,he will do4 ,one morning1 whilst sitting in my room1 ,i thought about the distress of certain brethren1 and said thus to myself3 ,oh1 that it might please the ,lord to give me the means to help these poor brethren6 ,about an hour afterwards ,i had #fj pounds sent as a present for myself from a brother whom up to this day ,i have never seen1 and who was then1 and is still1 residing several thousand miles from this4 ,should not such an experience1 together with promises like that one in ,john xiv4 #ac1 #ad1 encourage us to ask with all boldness1 for ourselves and others1 both temporal and spiritual blessings8 ,the ,lord1 for ,i cannot but think it was ,he1 again and again brought the thought about these poor children to my mind1 till at last it ended in the establishment of ,the ,scriptural ,knowledge ,institution1 for ,home and ,abroad2 since the establishment of which1 ,i have had it in a similar way brought to my mind1 first about fourteen months ago1 and repeatedly since1 but especially during these last weeks1 to establish an orphan house4 ,my frequent prayer of late has been1 that if it be of ,god1 ,he would let it come to pass2 if not1 that ,he would take from me all thoughts about it4 ,the latter has not been the case1 but ,i have been led more and more to think that the matter may be of ,him4 ,now1 if so1 ,he can influence ,his people in any part of the world 7for ,i do not look to ,bristol1 nor even to ,england1 but to the living ,god1 whose is the gold and the silver71 to intrust me and brother ,c----r1 whom the ,lord has made willing to help me in this work with the means4 ,till we have them1 we can do nothing in the way of renting a house1 furnishing it1 etc4 ,yet1 when once as much as is needed for this has been sent us1 as also proper persons to engage in the work1 we do not think it needful to wait till we have the orphan house endowed1 or a number of yearly subscribers for it2 but we trust to be enabled by the ,lord1 who has taught us to ask for our daily bread1 to look to ,him for the supply of the daily wants of those children whom ,he may be pleased to put under our care4 ,any donations will be received at my house4 ,should any believers have tables1 chairs1 bedsteads1 bedding1 earthenware1 or any kind of household furniture to spare1 for the furnishing of the house2 or remnants1 or pieces of calico1 linen1 flannel1 cloth1 or any materials useful for wearing apparel2 or clothes already worn1 they will be thankfully received4 ,respecting the persons who are needed for carrying on the work1 a matter of no less importance than the procuring of funds1 ,i would observe that we look for them to ,god ,himself1 as well as for the funds2 and that all who may be engaged as masters1 matrons1 and assistants1 according to the smallness or largeness of the ,institution1 must be known to us as true believers2 and moreover1 as far as we may be able to judge1 must likewise be qualified for the work4 #c4 ,at present nothing can be said as to the time when the operations are likely to commence2 nor whether the ,institution will embrace children of both sexes1 or be restricted either to boys or girls exclusively2 nor of what age they will be received1 and how long they may continue in it2 for though we have thought about these things1 yet we would rather be guided in these particulars by the amount of the means which the ,lord may put into our hands1 and by the number of the individuals whom ,he may provide for conducting the ,institution4 ,should the ,lord condescend to use us as instruments1 a short printed statement will be issued as soon as something more definite can be said4 #d4 ,it has appeared well to us to receive only such destitute children as have been bereaved of both parents4 #e4 ,the children are intended1 if girls1 to be brought up for service2 if boys1 for a trade2 and therefore they will be employed1 according to their ability and bodily strength1 in useful occupations1 and thus help to maintain themselves2 besides this1 they are intended to receive a plain education2 but the chief and the special end of the ,institution will be to seek1 with ,god's blessing1 to bring them to the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ by instructing them in the ,scriptures4 ,,further ,,account ,,respecting ,,the ,,orphan ,,house1 ,,etc4 ,when1 of late1 the thoughts of establishing an orphan house1 in dependence upon the ,lord1 revived in my mind1 during the first two weeks ,i only prayed that if it were of the ,lord ,he would bring it about2 but if not1 that ,he graciously would be pleased to take all thoughts about it out of my mind4 ,my uncertainty about knowing the ,lord's mind did not arise from questioning whether it would be pleasing in ,his sight that there should be an abode and scriptural education provided for destitute fatherless and motherless children2 but whether it were ,his will that ,i should be the instrument of setting such an object on foot1 as my hands were already more than filled4 ,my comfort1 however1 was1 that1 if it were ,his will1 ,he would provide not merely the means1 but also suitable individuals to take care of the children1 so that my part of the work would take only such a portion of my time as1 considering the importance of the matter1 ,i might give1 notwithstanding my many other engagements4 ,the whole of those two weeks ,i never asked the ,lord for money or for persons to engage in the work4 ,on ,december #eth1 however1 the subject of my prayer all at once became different4 ,i was reading ,psalm lxxxi41 and was particularly struck1 more than at any time before1 with verse #aj3 ,open thy mouth wide and ,i will fill it4 ,i thought a few moments about these words1 and then was led to apply them to the case of the orphan house4 ,it struck me that ,i had never asked the ,lord for anything concerning it1 except to know ,his will respecting its being established or not2 and ,i then fell on my knees1 and opened my mouth wide1 asking him for much4 ,i asked in submission to ,his will1 and without fixing a time when ,he should answer my petition4 ,i prayed that ,he would give me a house1 i4e41 either as a loan1 or that some one might be led to pay the rent for one1 or that one might be given permanently for this object2 further1 ,i asked ,him for #ajjj pounds2 and likewise for suitable individuals to take care of the children4 ,besides this1 ,i have been since led to ask the ,lord to put into the hearts of ,his people to send me articles of furniture for the house1 and some clothes for the children4 ,when ,i was asking the petition ,i was fully aware what ,i was doing1 i4e41 that ,i was asking for something which ,i had no natural prospect of obtaining from the brethren whom ,i know1 but which was not too much for the ,lord to grant4 ,,appendix ,f ,,arguments ,,in ,,prayer ,,for ,,the ,,orphan ,,work ,,the arguments which ,i plead with ,god are3 #a4 ,that ,i set about the work for the glory of ,god1 i4e41 that there might be a visible proof1 by ,god supplying1 in answer to prayer only1 the necessities of the orphans1 that ,he is the living ,god1 and most willing1 even in our day1 to answer prayer3 and that1 therefore1 ,he would be pleased to send supplies4 #b4 ,that ,god is the ,father of the fatherless1 and that ,he1 therefore1 as their ,father1 would be pleased to provide4 7,psalm lxviii4 #e47 #c4 ,that ,i have received the children in the name of ,jesus1 and that1 therefore1 ,he1 in these children1 has been received1 and is fed1 and is clothed2 and that1 therefore1 ,he would be pleased to consider this4 7,mark ix4 #cf1 #cg47 #d4 ,that the faith of many of the children of ,god has been strengthened by this work hitherto1 and that1 if ,god were to withhold the means for the future1 those who are weak in faith would be staggered2 whilst1 by a continuance of means1 their faith might still further be strengthened4 #e4 ,that many enemies would laugh1 were the ,lord to withhold supplies1 and say1 did we not foretell that this enthusiasm would come to nothing8 #f4 ,that many of the children of ,god1 who are uninstructed1 or in a carnal state1 would feel themselves justified to continue their alliance with the world in the work of ,god1 and to go on as heretofore1 in their unscriptural proceedings respecting similar institutions1 so far as the obtaining of means is concerned1 if ,he were not to help me4 #g4 ,that the ,lord would remember that ,i am ,his child1 and that ,he would graciously pity me1 and remember that ,i cannot provide for these children1 and that therefore ,he would not allow this burden to lie upon me long without sending help4 #h4 ,that ,he would remember likewise my fellow labourers in the work1 who trust in ,him1 but who would be tried were ,he to withhold supplies4 #i4 ,that ,he would remember that ,i should have to dismiss the children from under our scriptural instruction to their former companions4 #aj4 ,that ,he would show that those were mistaken who said that1 at the first1 supplies might be expected1 while the thing was new1 but not afterwards4 #aa4 ,that ,i should not know were ,he to withhold means1 what construction ,i should put upon all the many most remarkable answers to prayer which ,he has given me heretofore in connection with this work1 and which most fully have shown to me that it is of ,god4 ,,appendix ,g ,,the ,,purchase ,,of ,a ,,site1 ,,etc4 ,,mr4 ,,benjamin ,,perry gives an account of the circumstances under which the land was purchased1 prior to the erection of the orphan houses on ,ashley ,down1 as he heard it from ,mr4 ,muller's own mouth1 showing how directly the ,lord worked on the mind of the owner4 ,mr4 ,muller had been making inquiries respecting the purchase of land much nearer ,bristol1 the prices asked being not less than #ajjj pounds per acre1 when he heard that the land upon which the ,orphan ,houses ,nos4 #a and #b stand was for sale1 the price being #bjj pounds per acre4 ,he therefore called at the house of the owner1 and was informed that he was not at home1 but that he could be seen at his place of business in the city4 ,mr4 ,muller went there1 and was informed that he had left a few minutes before1 and that he would find him at home4 ,most men would have gone off to the owner's house at once2 but ,mr4 ,muller stopped and reflected1 ,peradventure the ,lord1 having allowed me to miss the owner twice in so short a time1 has a purpose that ,i should not see him to-day2 and lest ,i should be going before the ,lord in the matter1 ,i will wait till the morning4 ,and accordingly he waited and went the next morning1 when he found the owner at home2 and on being ushered into his sitting-room1 he said3 ,ah1 ,mr4 ,muller1 ,i know what you have come to see me about4 ,you want to buy my land on ,ashley ,down4 ,i had a dream last night1 and ,i saw you come in to purchase the land1 for which ,i have been asking #bjj pounds per acre2 but the ,lord told me not to charge you more than #abj pounds per acre1 and therefore if you are willing to buy at that price the matter is settled4 ,and within ten minutes the contract was signed4 ,thus1 ,mr4 ,muller pointed out1 by being careful to follow the ,lord1 instead of going before ,his leading1 ,i was permitted to purchase the land for #hj pounds per acre less than ,i should have paid if ,i had gone to the owner the evening before4 ,,appendix ,h ,,god',s ,,faithfulness ,,in ,,providing ,,mr4 ,,perry writes3 ,at one meeting at ,huntly1 by special request ,mr4 ,muller gave illustrations of ,god's faithfulness in answer to prayer1 connected with the orphan work1 of which the following are examples3 a4 ,he stated that at various times1 not only at the beginning of the work1 but also in later years1 ,god had seen fit to try his faith to the utmost1 but only to prove to him the more definitely that ,he would never be other than his faithful covenant-keeping ,god4 ,in illustration he referred to a time when1 the children having had their last meal for the day1 there was nothing left in money or kind for their breakfast the following morning4 ,mr4 ,muller went home1 but nothing came in1 and he retired for the night1 committing the need to ,god to provide4 ,early the next morning he went for a walk1 and while praying for the needed help he took a turn into a road which he was quite unconscious of1 and after walking a short distance a friend met him1 and said how glad he was to meet him1 and asked him to accept #e pounds for the orphans4 ,he thanked him1 and without saying a word to the donor about the time of need1 he went at once to the orphan houses1 praising ,god for this direct answer to prayer4 b4 ,on another occasion1 when there were no funds in hand to provide breakfast for the orphans1 a gentleman called before the time for breakfast and left a donation that supplied all their present needs4 ,when that year's report was issued1 this proof of ,god's faithfulness in sending help just when needed was recorded1 and a short time after the donor called and made himself known1 saying that as his donation had been given at such a special time of need he felt he must state the circumstances under which he had given the money1 which were as follows3 ,he had occasion to go to his office in ,bristol early that morning before breakfast1 and on the way the thought occurred to him3 ,i will go to ,mr4 ,muller's orphan house and give them a donation1 and accordingly turned and walked about a quarter of a mile toward the orphanage1 when he stopped1 saying to himself1 ,how foolish of me to be neglecting the business ,i came out to attend to6 ,i can give money to the orphans another time1 and he turned round and walked back towards his office1 but soon felt that he must return4 ,he said to himself3 ,the orphans may be needing the money now4 ,i may be leaving them in want when ,god had sent me to help them2 and so strong was this impression that he again turned round and walked back till he reached the orphanages1 and thus handed in the money which provided them with breakfast4 ,mr4 ,mullets comment on this was3 ,just like my gracious heavenly ,father6 and then he urged his hearers to trust and prove what a faithful covenant-keeping ,god ,he is to those who put their trust in ,him4 ,,appendix ,k ,,further ,,recollections ,,of ,,mr4 ,,muller ,,mr4 ,,perry furnishes also the following reminiscences3 ,as ,george ,muller was engaged in free1 homely conversation with his friends on a ,sunday afternoon within about three weeks of his departure to be with the ,lord1 he referred to two visits he had made during the previous week to two old and beloved friends4 ,he had fully appreciated that1 though they were about ten years younger than himself1 his power to walk1 and specially his power to continue his service for his ,lord1 was far greater than theirs4 ,so that he playfully said1 with a bright smile3 ,i came away from both these beloved brethren feeling that ,i was quite young by comparison as to strength1 though so much older1 and then at once followed an ascription of praise to ,god for ,his goodness to him3 ,oh1 how very kind and good my heavenly ,father has been to me6 ,i have no aches or pains1 no rheumatism1 and now in my ninety-third year ,i can do a day's work at the orphan houses with as much ease and comfort to myself as ever4 ,one sentence aptly sets forth a striking feature in his ,christian character1 viz43 ,george ,muller1 nothing4 ,in himself worse than nothing4 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 everything4 ,by grace1 in ,christ1 the son of the ,king4 ,and as such he lived2 for all those who knew and loved this beloved and honoured servant of ,christ best would testify that his habitual attitude towards the ,lord was to treat ,him as an ever-present1 almighty1 loving ,friend1 whose love was far greater to him than he could ever return1 and who delighted in having his entire confidence about everything1 and was not only ready at hand to listen to his prayers and praises about great and important matters1 but nothing was too small to speak to ,him about4 ,so real was this that it was almost impossible to be enjoying the privilege of private1 confidential intercourse with him without being conscious that at least to him the ,lord was really present1 ,one to whom he turned for counsel1 in prayer1 or in praise1 as freely as most men would speak to a third person present2 and again and again most marked answers to prayer have been received in response to petitions thus unitedly presented to the ,lord altogether apart from his own special work4 ,,appendix ,l ,,church ,,fellowship1 ,,baptism1 ,,etc4 ,,when brother ,craik and ,i began to labour in ,bristol1 and consequently some believers united with us in fellowship1 assembling together at ,bethesda1 we began meeting together on the basis of the written ,word only1 without having any church rules whatever4 ,from the commencement it was understood that1 as the ,lord should help us1 we would try everything by the word of ,god1 and introduce and hold fast that only which could be proved by ,scripture4 ,when we came to this determination on ,aug4 #ac1 #ahcb1 it was indeed in weakness1 but it was in uprightness of heart4--,on account of this it was that1 as we ourselves were not fully settled as to whether those only who had been baptized after they had believed1 or whether all who believed in the ,lord ,jesus1 irrespective of baptism1 should be received into fellowship1 nothing was determined about this point4 ,we felt free to break bread and be in communion with those who were not baptized1 and therefore could with a good conscience labour at ,gideon1 where the greater part of the saints1 at least at first1 were unbaptized2 but1 at the same time1 we had a secret wish that none but believers who were baptized might be united with us at ,bethesda4 ,our reason for this was that we had witnessed in ,devonshire much painful disunion1 resulting as we thought1 from baptized and unbaptized believers being in fellowship4 ,without1 then1 making it a rule1 that ,bethesda ,church was to be one of close communion1 we nevertheless took care that those who applied for fellowship should be instructed about baptism4 ,for many months there occurred no difficulty as none applied for communion but such as had either been already baptized1 or wished to be1 or who became convinced of the scriptural character of believers' baptism1 after we had conversed with them2 afterwards1 however1 three sisters applied for fellowship1 none of whom had been baptized2 nor were their views altered after we had conversed with them4 ,as1 nevertheless1 brother ,craik and ,i considered them true believers1 and we ourselves were not fully convinced what was the mind of the ,lord in such a case1 we thought it right that these sisters should be received2 yet so that it might be unanimously1 as all our church acts then were done2 but we knew by that time that there were several in fellowship with us who could not conscientiously receive unbaptized believers4 ,we mentioned1 therefore1 the names of the three sisters to the church1 stating that they did not see believers' baptism to be scriptural1 and that1 if any brother saw1 on that account1 a reason why they should not be received1 he should let us know4 ,the result was that several objected1 and two or three meetings were held1 at which we heard the objections of the brethren1 and sought for ourselves to obtain acquaintance with the mind of ,god on the point4 ,whilst several days thus passed away before the matter was decided1 one of those three sisters came and thanked us that we had not received her1 before being baptized1 for she now saw that it was only shame and the fear of man which had kept her back1 and that the ,lord had now made her willing to be baptized4 ,by this circumstance those brethren who considered it scriptural that all ought to be baptized before being received into fellowship1 were confirmed in their views2 and as to brother ,craik and me1 it made us1 at least1 still more question whether those brethren might not be right2 and we felt1 therefore1 that in such a state of mind we could not oppose them4 ,the one sister1 therefore1 who wished to be baptized was received into fellowship1 but the two others not4 ,our consciences were the less affected by this because all1 though not baptized1 might take the ,lord's supper with us at ,bethesda1 though not be received into full fellowship2 and because at ,gideon1 where there were baptized and unbaptized believers1 they might even be received into full fellowship2 for we had not then clearly seen that there is no scriptural distinction between being in fellowship with individuals and breaking bread with them4 ,thus matters stood for many months1 i4e41 believers were received to the breaking of bread even at ,bethesda1 though not baptized1 but they were not received to all the privileges of fellowship4--,in ,august of #ahcf ,i had a conversation with brother ,k4 ,c4 on1 the subject of receiving the unbaptized into communion1 a subject about which1 for years1 my mind had been more or less exercised4 ,this brother put the matter thus before me3 either unbaptized believers come under the class of persons who walk disorderly1 and1 in that case1 we ought to withdraw from them 7#b ,thess4 iii4 #f72 or they do not walk disorderly4 ,if a believer be walking disorderly1 we are not merely to withdraw from him at the ,lord's table1 but our behaviour towards him ought to be decidedly different from what it would be were he not walking disorderly1 on all occasions when we may have intercourse with him1 or come in any way into contact with him4 ,now this is evidently not the case in the conduct of baptized believers towards their unbaptized fellow believers4 ,the ,spirit does not suffer it to be so1 but ,he witnesses that their not having been baptized does not necessarily imply that they are walking disorderly2 and hence there may be the most precious communion between baptized and unbaptized believers4 ,the ,spirit does not suffer us to refuse fellowship with them in prayer1 in reading or searching the ,scriptures1 in social and intimate intercourse1 and in the ,lord's work2 and yet this ought to be the case1 were they walking disorderly4--,this passage1 #b ,thess4 iii4 #f1 to which brother ,e4 ,c4 referred1 was the means of showing me the mind of the ,lord on the subject1 which is1 that we ought to receive all whom ,christ has received 7,rom4 xv4 #g71 irrespective of the measure of grace or knowledge which they have attained unto4--,some time after this conversation1 in ,may1 #ahcg1 an opportunity occurred1 when we 7for brother ,craik had seen the same truth7 were called upon to put into practice the light which the ,lord had been pleased to give us4 ,a sister1 who neither had been baptized1 nor considered herself under any obligation to be baptized1 applied for fellowship4 ,we conversed with her on this as on other subjects and proposed her for fellowship1 though our conversation had not convinced her that she ought to be baptized4 ,this led the church again to the consideration of the point4 ,we gave our reasons1 from ,scripture1 for considering it right to receive this unbaptized sister to all the privileges of the children of ,god2 but a considerable number1 one-third perhaps1 expressed conscientious difficulty in receiving her4 ,the example of the ,apostles1 in baptizing the first believers upon a profession of faith1 was especially urged1 which indeed would be an unsurmountable difficulty had not the truth been mingled with error for so long a time1 so that it does not prove wilful disobedience if any one in our day should refuse to be baptized after believing4 ,the ,lord1 however1 gave us much help in pointing out the truth to the brethren1 so that the number of those who considered that only baptized believers should be in communion decreased almost daily4 ,at last1 only fourteen brethren and sisters out of above #ahj thought it right1 this ,august #bh1 #ahcg1 to separate from us1 after we had had much intercourse with them4 ,i am glad to be able to add that1 even of these fourteen1 the greater part afterwards saw their error1 and came back again to us1 and that the receiving of all who love our ,lord ,jesus into full communion1 irrespective of baptism1 has never been the source of disunion among us1 though more than fifty-seven years have passed away since4 ,,appendix ,m ,,church ,,conduct ,i4--,,questions ,,respecting ,,the ,,eldership4 7#a7 ,how does it appear to be the mind of ,god that1 in every church1 there should be recognized ,elders8 ,ans4 ,from the following passages compared together3 ,matt4 xxiv4 #de2 ,luke xii4 #db4 ,from these passages we learn that some are set by the ,lord ,himself in the office of rulers and teachers1 and that this office 7in spite of the fallen state of the church7 should be in being1 even down to the close of the present dispensation4 ,accordingly1 we find from ,acts xiv4 #bc1 xx4 #ag2 ,tit4 i4 #e2 and #a ,pet4 v4 #a1 that soon after the saints had been converted1 and had associated together in a church character1 ,elders were appointed to take the rule over them and to fulfil the office of under-shepherds4 ,this must not be understood as implying that1 when believers are associated in church fellowship1 they ought to elect ,elders according to their own will1 whether the ,lord may have qualified persons or not2 but rather that such should wait upon ,god1 that ,he ,himself would be pleased to raise up such as may be qualified for teaching and ruling in ,his church4 7#b7 ,how do such come into office8 ,ans4 ,by the appointment of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,acts xx4 #bh4 7#c7 ,how may this appointment be made known to the individuals called to the office1 and to those amongst whom they may be called to labour8 ,ans4 ,by the secret call of the ,spirit1 #a ,tim4 iii4 #a1 confirmed by the possession of the requisite qualifications1 #a ,tim4 iii4 #b-g2 ,tit4 i4 #f-i1 and by the ,lord's blessing resting upon their labours1 #a ,cor4 ix4 #b4 ,in #a ,cor4 ix4 #b1 ,paul condescends to the weakness of some1 who were in danger of being led away by those factious persons who questioned his authority4 ,as an ,apostle--appointed by the express word of the ,lord--he needed not such outward confirmation4 ,but if he used his success as an argument in confirmation of his call1 how much more may ordinary servants of the ,lord ,jesus employ such an argument1 seeing that the way in which they are called for the work is such as to require some outward confirmation6 7#d7 ,is it incumbent upon the saints to acknowledge such and to submit to them in the ,lord8 ,ans4 ,yes4 ,see #a ,cor4 xvi4 #ae1 #af2 #a ,thess4 v4 #ab1 #ac2 ,heb4 xiii4 #g1 #ag2 and #a ,tim4 v4 #ag4 ,in these passages obedience to pastoral authority is clearly enjoined4 ,,ii4--,ought matters of discipline to be finally settled by the ,elders in private1 or in the presence of the church1 and as the act of the whole body8 ,ans4 7#a7 ,such matters are to be finally settled in the presence of the church4 ,this appears from ,matt4 xviii4 #ag2 #a ,cor4 v4 #d1 #e2 #b ,cor4 ii4 #f-h2 #a ,tim4 v4 #bj4 7#b7 ,such matters are to be finally settled as the act of the whole body1 ,matt4 xviii4 #ag1 #ah4 ,in this passage the act of exclusion is spoken of as the act of the whole body4 #a ,cor4 v4 #d1 #e1 v4 #ab1 #ac4 ,in this passage ,paul gives the direction1 respecting the exercise of discipline1 in such a way to render the whole body responsible3 verse #g1 ,purge out the old leaven that ye may be a new lump2 and verse #ac1 ,therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person4 ,from #b ,cor4 ii4 #f-h we learn that the act of exclusion was not the act of the ,elders only1 but of the church3 ,sufficient to such a man is this punishment rather1 public censure which was inflicted of many4 ,from verse #h we learn that the act of restoration was to be a public act of the brethren3 ,wherefore ,i beseech you that ye would confirm rather1 ratify by a public act your love towards him4 ,as to the reception of brethren into fellowship1 this is an act of simple obedience to the ,lord1 both on the part of the elders and the whole church4 ,we are bound and privileged to receive all those who make a credible profession of faith in ,christ1 according to that ,scripture1 ,receive ye one another1 as ,christ also received us1 to the glory of ,god4 7,rom4 xv4 #g47 ,,iii4--,when should church acts 7such as acts of reception1 restoration1 exclusion1 etc47 be attended to8 ,ans4 ,it cannot be expressly proved from ,scripture whether such acts were attended to at the meeting for the breaking of bread1 or at any other meeting2 therefore this is a point on which1 if different churches differ1 mutual forbearance ought to be exercised4 ,the way in which such matters have hitherto been managed amongst us has been by the church coming together on a week-evening4 ,before we came to ,bristol we had been accustomed to this mode1 and1 finding nothing in ,scripture against it1 we continued the practice4 ,but1 after prayer and more careful consideration of this point1 it has appeared well to us that such acts should be attended to on the ,lord's days1 when the saints meet together for the breaking of bread4 ,we have been induced to make this alteration by the following reasons3 7#a7 ,this latter mode prevents matters from being delayed4 ,there not being a sufficiency of matter for a meeting on purpose every week1 it has sometimes happened that what would better have been stated to the church at once has been kept back from the body for some weeks4 ,now1 it is important that what concerns the whole church should be made known as soon as possible to those who are in fellowship1 that they may act accordingly4 ,delay1 moreover1 seems inconsistent with the pilgrim-character of the people of ,god4 7#b7 ,more believers can be present on the ,lord's days than can attend on week-evenings4 ,the importance of this reason will appear from considering how everything which concerns the church should be known to as many as possible4 ,for how can the saints pray for those who may have to be excluded1--how can they sympathize in cases of peculiar trial1--and how can they rejoice and give thanks on account of those who may be received or restored1 unless they are made acquainted with the facts connected with such cases8 7#c7 ,a testimony is thus given that all who break bread are church members4 ,by attending to church acts in the meeting for breaking of bread1 we show that we make no difference between receiving into fellowship at the ,lord's ,supper1 and into church membership1 but that the individual who is admitted to the ,lord's table is therewith also received to all the privileges1 trials1 and responsibilities of church membership4 7#d7 ,there is a peculiar propriety in acts of reception1 restoration1 and exclusion being attended to when the saints meet together for the breaking of bread1 as1 in that ordinance especially1 we show forth our fellowship with each other4 ,objections answered4 7#a7 ,this alteration has the appearance of changeableness4 ,reply4 ,such an objection would apply to any case in which increased light led to any improvement1 and is1 therefore1 not to be regarded4 ,it would be an evil thing if there were any change respecting the foundation truths of the ,gospel2 but the point in question is only a matter of church order4 7#b7 ,more time may thus be required than it would be well to give to such a purpose on the ,lord's day4 ,reply4 ,as1 according to this plan1 church business will be attended to every ,lord's day1 it is more than probable that the meetings will be thereby prolonged for a few minutes only2 but1 should circumstance require it1 a special meeting may still be appointed during the week1 for all who break bread with us4 ,this1 however1 would only be needful1 provided the matters to be brought before the brethren were to require more time than could be given to them at the breaking of bread499 99 ,the practice1 later on1 gave place to a week-night meeting1 on ,tuesday1 for transaction of such church acts4--,a4 ,t4 ,p4 ,n4,b4 7#a7 ,should any persons be present who do not break bread with us1 they may be requested to withdraw whenever such points require to be stated as it would not be well to speak of in the presence of unbelievers4 7#b7 ,as there are two places in which the saints meet for the breaking of bread1 the matters connected with church acts must be brought out at each place4 ,,iv4--,,questions ,,relative ,,to ,,the ,,lord',s ,,supper4 7#a7 ,how frequently ought the breaking of bread to be attended to8 ,ans4 ,although we have no express command respecting the frequency of its observance1 yet the example of the apostles and of the first disciples would lead us to observe this ordinance every ,lord's day4 7,acts xx4 #g47 7#b7 ,what ought to be the character of the meeting at which the saints are assembled for the breaking of bread8 ,ans4 ,as in this ordinance we show forth our common participation in all the benefits of our ,lord's death1 and our union to ,him and to each other 7#a ,cor4 x4 #af1 #ag71 opportunity ought to be given for the exercise of the gifts of teaching or exhortation1 and communion in prayer and praise4 7,rom4 xii4 #d-h2 ,eph4 iv4 #aa-af47 ,the manifestation of our common participation in each other's gifts cannot be fully given at such meetings1 if the whole meeting is1 necessarily1 conducted by one individual4 ,this mode of meeting does not1 however1 take off from those who have the gifts of teaching or exhortation the responsibility of edifying the church as opportunity may be offered4 7#c7 ,is it desirable that the bread should be broken at the ,lord's ,supper by one of the elders1 or should each individual of the body break it for himself8 ,ans4 ,neither way can be so decidedly proved from ,scripture that we are warranted in objecting to the other as positively unscriptural1 yet-- 7#a7 ,the letter of ,scripture seems rather in favour of its being done by each brother and sister 7#a ,cor4 x4 #af1 #ag73 ,the bread which we break4 7#b7 ,its being done by each of the disciples is more fitted to express that we all1 by our sins1 have broken the body of our ,lord4 7#c7 ,by attending to the ordinance in this way1 we manifest our freedom from the common error that the ,lord's ,supper must be administered by some particular individual1 possessed of what is called a ministerial character1 instead of being an act of social worship and obedience4 ,,appendix ,n ,,the ,,wise ,,sayings ,,of ,,george ,,muller ,,few who have not carefully read the ,narrative of ,mr4 ,muller and the subsequent ,reports issued year by year1 have any idea of the large amount of wisdom which there finds expression4 ,we give here a few examples of the sagacious and spiritual counsels and utterances with which these pages abound4 ,,the ,,body4 ,,care ,,of ,,the ,,body4 ,i find it a difficult thing1 whilst caring for the body1 not to neglect the soul4 ,it seems to me much easier to go on altogether regardless of the body1 in the service of the ,lord1 than to take care of the body1 in the time of sickness1 and not to neglect the soul1 especially in an affliction like my present one1 when the head allows but little reading or thinking4--,what a blessed prospect to be delivered from this wretched evil nature6 ,,habits ,,of ,,sleep4 ,my own experience has been1 almost invariably1 that if ,i have not the needful sleep1 my spiritual enjoyment and strength is greatly affected by it4 ,i judge it of great moment that the believer1 in travelling1 should seek as much as possible to refrain from travelling by night1 or from travelling in such a way as that he is deprived of the needful night's rest2 for if he does not1 he will be unable with renewed bodily and mental strength to give himself to prayer and meditation1 and the reading of the ,holy ,scriptures1 and he will surely feel the pernicious effects of this all the day long4 ,there may occur cases when travelling by night cannot be avoided2 but1 if it can1 though we should seem to lose time by it1 and though it should cost more money1 ,i would most affectionately and solemnly recommend the refraining from night-travelling2 for1 in addition to our drawing beyond measure upon our bodily strength1 we must be losers spiritually4 ,the next thing ,i would advise with reference to travelling is1 with all one's might to seek morning by morning1 before setting out1 to take time for meditation and prayer1 and reading the word of ,god2 for although we are always exposed to temptation1 yet we are so especially in travelling4 ,travelling is one of the devil's especial opportunities for tempting us4 ,think of that1 dear fellow believers4 ,seek always to ascertain carefully the mind of ,god1 before you begin anything2 but do so in particular before you go on a journey1 so that you may be quite sure that it is the will of ,god that you should undertake that journey1 lest you should needlessly expose yourself to one of the special opportunities of the devil to ensnare you4 ,so far from envying those who have a carriage and horses at their command1 or an abundance of means1 so that they are not hindered from travelling for want of means1 let us who are not thus situated rather thank ,god that in this particular we are not exposed to the temptation of needing to be less careful in ascertaining the will of ,god before we set out on a journey4 ,,children4 ,,conversion ,,of ,,children4 ,as far as my experience goes1 it appears to me that believers generally have expected far too little of present fruit upon their labours among children4 ,there has been a hoping that the ,lord some day or other would own the instruction which they give to children1 and would answer at some time or other1 though after many years only1 the prayers which they offer up on their behalf4 ,now1 while such passages as ,proverbs xxii4 #f1 ,ecclesiastes xi4 #a1 ,galatians vi4 #i1 #a ,cor4 xv4 #eh1 give unto us assurance not merely respecting everything which we do for the ,lord1 in general1 but also respecting bringing up children in the fear of the ,lord1 in particular1 that our labour is not in vain in the ,lord2 yet we have to guard against abusing such passages1 by thinking it a matter of little moment whether we see present fruit or not2 but1 on the contrary1 we should give the ,lord no rest till we see present fruit1 and therefore1 in persevering1 yet submissive1 prayer1 we should make known our requests unto ,god4 ,i add1 as an encouragement to believers who labour among children1 that during the last two years seventeen other young persons or children1 from the age of eleven and a half to seventeen1 have been received into fellowship among us1 and that ,i am looking out now for many more to be converted1 and that not merely of the orphans1 but of the ,sunday-school and day-school children4 ,,neglect ,,of ,,children4 ,the power for good or evil that resides in a little child is great beyond all human calculation4 ,a child rightly trained may be a world-wide blessing1 with an influence reaching onward to eternal years4 ,but a neglected or misdirected directed child may live to blight and blast mankind1 and leave influences of evil which shall roll on in increasing volume till they plunge into the gulf of eternal perdition4 ,a remarkable instance was related by ,dr4 ,harris1 of ,new ,york1 at a recent meeting of the ,state ,charities ,aid ,association4 ,in a small village in a county on the upper ,hudson1 some seventy years ago1 a young girl named ',margaret' was sent adrift on the casual charity of the inhabitants4 ,she became the mother of a long race of criminals and paupers1 and her progeny has cursed the county ever since4 ,the county records show two hundred of her descendants who have been criminals4 ,in one single generation of her unhappy line there were twenty children2 of these1 three died in infancy1 and seventeen survived to maturity4 ,of the seventeen1 nine served in the ,state prison for high crimes an aggregate term of fifty years1 while the others were frequent inmates of jails and penitentiaries and almshouses4 ,of the nine hundred descendants1 through six generations1 from this unhappy girl who was left on the village streets and abandoned in her childhood1 a great number have been idiots1 imbeciles1 drunkards1 lunatics1 paupers1 and prostitutes3 but two hundred of the more vigorous are on record as criminals4 ,this neglected little child has thus cost the county authorities1 in the effects she has transmitted1 hundreds of thousands of dollars1 in the expense and care of criminals and paupers1 besides the untold damage she has inflicted on property and public morals4 ,,training ,,of ,,children4 ,seek to cherish in your children early the habit of being interested about the work of ,god1 and about cases of need and distress1 and use them too at suitable times1 and under suitable circumstances1 as your almoners1 and you will reap fruit from doing so4 ,,christian ,,life4 ,,beginning ,,of ,,life1 ,,etc4 ,god alone can give spiritual life at the first1 and keep it up in the soul afterwards4 ,,cross-,,bearing4 ,the ,christian1 like the bee1 might suck honey out of every flower4 ,i saw upon a snuffer-stand in bas-relief1 ,a heart1 a cross under it1 and roses under both4 ,the meaning was obviously this1 that the heart which bears the cross for a time meets with roses afterwards4 ,,keeping ,,promises4 ,it has been often mentioned to me1 in various places1 that brethren in business do not sufficiently attend to the keeping of promises1 and ,i cannot therefore but entreat all who love our ,lord ,jesus1 and who are engaged in a trade or business1 to seek for ,his sake not to make any promises1 except they have every reason to believe they shall be able to fulfil them1 and therefore carefully to weigh all the circumstances1 before making any engagement1 lest they should fail in its accomplishment4 ,it is even in these little ordinary affairs of life that we may either bring much honour or dishonour to the ,lord2 and these are the things which every unbeliever can take notice of4 ,why should it be so often said1 and sometimes with a measure of ground1 or even much ground3 ,believers are bad servants1 bad tradesmen1 bad masters8 ,surely it ought not to be true that we1 who have power with ,god to obtain by prayer and faith all needful grace1 wisdom1 and skill1 should be bad servants1 bad tradesmen1 bad masters4 ,,the ,,lot ,,and ,,the ,,lottery4 ,it is altogether wrong that ,i1 a child of ,god1 should have anything to do with so worldly a system as that of the lottery4 ,but it was also unscriptural to go to the lot at all for the sake of ascertaining the ,lord's mind1 and this ,i ground on the following reasons4 ,we have neither a commandment of ,god for it1 nor the example of our ,lord1 nor that of the apostles1 after the ,holy ,spirit had been given on the day of ,pentecost4 #a4 ,we have many exhortations in the word of ,god to seek to know ,his mind by prayer and searching the ,holy ,scriptures1 but no passage which exhorts us to use the lot4 #b4 ,the example of the apostles 7,acts i47 in using the lot1 in the choice of an apostle in the room of ,judas ,iscariot1 is the only passage which can be brought in favour of the lot from the ,new ,testament 7and to the ,old we have not to go1 under this dispensation1 for the sake of ascertaining how we ought to live as disciples of ,christ74 ,now concerning this circumstance we have to remember that the ,spirit was not yet given 7,john vii4 #ci2 xiv4 #af1 #ag2 xvi4 #g1 #ac71 by whose teaching especially it is that we may know the mind of the ,lord2 and hence we find that1 after the day of ,pentecost1 the lot was no more used1 but the apostles gave themselves to prayer and fasting to ascertain how they ought to act4 ,,new ,,tastes4 ,what a difference grace makes6 ,there were few people1 perhaps1 more passionately fond of travelling1 and seeing fresh places1 and new scenes1 than myself2 but now1 since1 by the grace of ,god1 ,i have seen beauty in the ,lord ,jesus1 ,i have lost my taste for these things4444 ,what a different thing1 also1 to travel in the service of the ,lord ,jesus1 from what it is to travel in the service of the flesh6 ,,obedience4 ,every instance of obedience1 from right motives1 strengthens us spiritually1 whilst every act of disobedience weakens us spiritually4 ,,separation ,,unto ,,god4 ,may the ,lord grant that the eyes of many of ,his children may be opened1 so that they may seek1 in all spiritual things1 to be separated from unbelievers 7#b ,cor4 vi4 #ad-ah71 and to do ,god's work according to ,god's mind6 ,,service ,,to ,,one',s ,,generation4 ,my business is1 with all my might to serve my own generation2 in doing so ,i shall best serve the next generation1 should the ,lord ,jesus tarry4444 ,the longer ,i live1 the more ,i am enabled to realize that ,i have but one life to live on earth1 and that this one life is but a brief life1 for sowing1 in comparison with eternity1 for reaping4 ,,surety ,,for ,,debt4 ,how precious it is1 even for this life1 to act according to the word of ,god6 ,this perfect revelation of ,his mind gives us directions for everything1 even the most minute affairs of this life4 ,it commands us1 ,be thou not one of them that strike hands1 or of them that are sureties for debts4 7,prov4 xxii4 #bf47 ,the way in which ,satan ensnares persons1 to bring them into the net1 and to bring trouble upon them by becoming sureties1 is1 that he seeks to represent the matter as if there were no danger connected with that particular case1 and that one might be sure one should never be called upon to pay the money2 but the ,lord1 the faithful ,friend1 tells us in ,his own word that the only way in such a matter to be sure is to hate suretyship4 7,prov4 xi4 #ae47 ,the following points seem to me of solemn moment for consideration1 if ,i were called upon to become surety for another3 #a4 ,what obliges the person1 who wishes me to become surety for him1 to need a surety8 ,is it really a good cause in which ,i am called upon to become surety8 ,i do not remember ever to have met with a case in which in a plain1 and godly1 and in all respects scriptural matter such a thing occurred4 ,there was generally some sin or other connected with it4 #b4 ,if ,i become surety1 notwithstanding what the ,lord has said to me in ,his word1 am ,i in such a position that no one will be injured by my being called upon to fulfil the engagements of the person for whom ,i am going to be surety8 ,in most instances this alone ought to keep one from it4 #c4 ,if still ,i become surety1 the amount of money for which ,i become responsible must be so in my power that ,i am able to produce it whenever it is called for1 in order that the name of the ,lord may not be dishonoured4 #d4 ,but if there be the possibility of having to fulfil the engagements of the person in whose stead ,i have to stand1 is it the will of the ,lord that ,i should spend my means in that way8 ,is it not rather ,his will that my means should be spent in another way8 #e4 ,how can ,i get over the plain word of the ,lord1 which is to the contrary1 even if the first four points could be satisfactorily settled8 ,,church ,,life4 ,,assembly ,,of ,,believers4 ,it has been my own happy lot1 during the last thirty-seven years1 to become acquainted with hundreds of individuals1 who were not inferior to apostolic ,christians4 ,that the disciples of ,jesus should meet together on the first day of the week for the breaking of bread1 and that that should be their principal meeting1 and that those1 whether one or several1 who are truly gifted by the ,holy ,spirit for service1 be it for exhortation1 or teaching1 or rule1 etc41 are responsible to the ,lord for the exercise of their gifts--these are to me no matters of uncertainty1 but points on which my soul1 by grace1 is established1 through the revealed will of ,god4 ,,formalism4 ,i have often remarked the injurious effects of doing things because others did them1 or because it was the custom1 or because they were persuaded into acts of outward self-denial1 or giving up things whilst the heart did not go along with it1 and whilst the outward act ,,was ,,not the result of the inward powerful working of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the happy entering into our fellowship with the ,father and with the ,son4 ,everything that is a mere form1 a mere habit and custom in divine things1 is to be dreaded exceedingly3 life1 power1 reality1 this is what we have to aim after4 ,things should not result from without1 but from within4 ,the sort of clothes ,i wear1 the kind of house ,i live in1 the quality of the furniture ,i use1 all such like things should not result from other persons' doing so and so1 or because it is customary among those brethren with whom ,i associate to live in such and such a simple1 inexpensive self-denying way2 but whatever be done in these things1 in the way of giving up1 or self-denial1 or deadness to the world1 should result from the joy we have in ,god1 from the knowledge of our being the children of ,god1 from the entering into the preciousness of our future inheritance1 etc4 ,far better that for the time being we stand still1 and do not take the steps which we see others take1 than that it is merely the force of example that leads us to do a thing1 and afterwards it be regretted4 ,not that ,i mean in the least by this to imply we should continue to live in luxury1 self-indulgence1 and the like1 whilst others are in great need2 but we should begin the thing in a right way1 i4e41 aim after the right state of heart2 begin inwardly instead of outwardly4 ,if otherwise1 it will not last4 ,we shall look back1 or even get into a worse state than we were before4 ,but oh1 how different if joy in ,god leads us to any little act of self-denial6 ,how gladly do we do it then6 ,how great an honour then do we esteem it to be6 ,how much does the heart then long to be able to do more for ,him who has done so much for us6 ,we are far then from looking down in proud self-complacency upon those who do not go as far as we do1 but rather pray to the ,lord that ,he would be pleased to help our dear brethren and sisters forward who may seem to us weak in any particular point2 and we also are conscious to ourselves that if we have a little more light or strength with reference to one point1 other brethren may have more light or grace in other respects4 ,,helping ,,one ,,another4 ,as to the importance of the children of ,god's opening their hearts to each other1 especially when they are getting into a cold state1 or are under the power of a certain sin1 or are in especial difficulty2 ,i know from my own experience how often the snare of the devil has been broken when under the power of sin2 how often the heart has been comforted when nigh to be overwhelmed2 how often advice1 under great perplexity1 has been obtained1--by opening my heart to a brother in whom ,i had confidence4 ,we are children of the same family1 and ought therefore to be helpers one of another4 ,,inquiry ,,meetings4 #a4 ,many persons1 on account of timidity1 would prefer coming at an appointed time to the vestry to converse with us1 to calling on us in our own house4 #b4 ,the very fact of appointing a time for seeing people1 to converse with them in private concerning the things of eternity1 has brought some who1 humanly speaking1 never would have called on us under other circumstances2 yea1 it has brought even those who1 though they thought they were concerned about the things of ,god1 yet were completely ignorant2 and thus we have had an opportunity of speaking to them4 #c4 ,these meetings have also been a great encouragement to ourselves in the work2 for often1 when we thought that such and such expositions of the ,word had done no good at all1 it was1 through these meetings1 found to be the reverse2 and likewise1 when our hands were hanging down1 we have been afresh encouraged to go forward in the work of the ,lord1 and to continue sowing the seed in hope1 by seeing at these meetings fresh cases1 in which the ,lord had condescended to use us as instruments1 particularly as in this way instances have sometimes occurred in which individuals have spoken to us about the benefit which they derived from our ministry1 not only a few months before1 but even as long as two1 three1 and four years before4 ,for the above reasons ,i would particularly recommend to other servants of ,christ1 especially to those who live in large towns1 if they have not already introduced a similar plan1 to consider whether it may not be well for them also to set apart such times for seeing inquirers4 ,those meetings1 however1 require much prayer1 to be enabled to speak aright1 to all those who come1 according to their different need2 and one is led continually to feel that one is not sufficient of one's self for these things1 but that our sufficiency can be alone of ,god4 ,these meetings also have been by far the most wearing-out part of all our work1 though at the same time the most refreshing4 ,,pastoral ,,visitation4 ,an unvisited church will sooner or later become an unhealthy church4 ,,pew-,,rents4 #a4 ,pew-rents are1 according to ,james ii4 #a-f1 against the mind of the ,lord1 as1 in general1 the poor brother cannot have so good a seat as the rich4 #b4 ,a brother may gladly do something towards my support if left to his own time2 but when the quarter is up1 he has perhaps other expenses1 and ,i do not know whether he pays his money grudgingly1 and of necessity1 or cheerfully2 but ,god loveth a cheerful giver4 ,i knew it to be a fact that sometimes it had not been convenient to individuals to pay the money1 when it had been asked for by the brethren who collected it4 #c4 ,though the ,lord had been pleased to give me grace to be faithful1 so that ,i had been enabled not to keep back the truth1 when ,he had shown it to me2 still ,i felt that the pew-rents were a snare to the servant of ,christ4 ,it was a temptation to me1 at least for a few minutes1 at the time when the ,lord had stirred me up to pray and search the ,word respecting the ordinance of baptism1 because #cj pounds of my salary was at stake if ,i should be baptized4 ,,state ,,churches4 ,all establishments1 even because they are establishment1 i4e41 the world and the church mixed up together1 not only contain in them the principles which necessarily must lead to departure from the word of ,god2 but also1 as long as they remain establishments1 entirely preclude the acting throughout according to the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,,faith4 ,,anxiety4 ,where ,faith begins1 anxiety ends2 ,where anxiety begins1 ,faith ends4 ,ponder these words of the ,lord ,jesus1 ,only believe4 ,as long as we are able to trust in ,god1 holding fast in heart1 that he is able and willing to help those who rest on the ,lord ,jesus for salvation1 in all matters which are for ,his glory and their good1 the heart remains calm and peaceful4 ,it is only when we practically let go faith in ,his power or ,his love1 that we lose our peace and become troubled4 ,this very day ,i am in great trial in connection with the work in which ,i am engaged2 yet my soul was calmed and quieted by the remembrance of ,god's power and love2 and ,i said to myself this morning3 ,as ,david encouraged himself in ,jehovah his ,god1 when he returned to ,ziklag1 so will ,i encourage myself in ,god2 and the result was peace of soul4444 ,it is the very time for faith to work1 when sight ceases4 ,the greater the difficulties1 the easier for faith4 ,as long as there remain certain natural prospects1 faith does not get on even as easily 7if ,i may say so71 as when all natural prospects fail4 ,,dependence ,,on ,,god4 ,observe two things6 ,we acted for ,god in delaying the public meetings and the publishing of the ,report2 but ,god's way leads always into trial1 so far as sight and sense are concerned4 ,nature always will be tried in ,god's ways4 ,the ,lord was saying by this poverty1 ,i will now see whether you truly lean upon me1 and whether you truly look to me4 ,of all the seasons that ,i had ever passed through since ,i had been living in this way1 up to that time1 ,i never knew any period in which my faith was tried so sharply1 as during the four months from ,dec4 #ab1 #ahda1 to ,april #ab1 #ahdb4 ,but observe further3 ,we might even now have altered our minds with respect to the public meetings and publishing the ,report2 for no one knew our determination1 at this time1 concerning the point4 ,nay1 on the contrary1 we knew with what delight very many children of ,god were looking forward to receive further accounts4 ,but the ,lord kept us steadfast to the conclusion1 at which we had arrived under ,his guidance4 ,,gift ,,and ,,grace ,,of ,,faith4 ,it pleased the ,lord1 ,i think1 to give me in some cases something like the gift 7not grace7 of faith1 so that unconditionally ,i could ask and look for an answer4 ,the difference between the gift and the grace of faith seems to me this4 ,according to the gift of faith ,i am able to do a thing1 or believe that a thing will come to pass1 the not doing of which1 or the not believing of which would not be sin2 according to the grace of faith ,i am able to do a thing1 or believe that a thing will come to pass1 respecting which ,i have the word of ,god as the ground to rest upon1 and1 therefore1 the not doing it1 or the not believing it would be sin4 ,for instance1 the gift of faith would be needed1 to believe that a sick person should be restored again1 though there is no human probability3 for there is no promise to that effect2 the grace of faith is needed to believe that the ,lord will give me the necessaries of life1 if ,i first seek the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness3 for there is a promise to that effect4 7,matt4 vi4 #cc47 ,,self-,,will4 ,the natural mind is ever prone to reason1 when we ought to believe2 to be at work1 when we ought to be quiet2 to go our own way1 when we ought steadily to walk on in ,god's ways1 however trying to nature4 ,,trials ,,of ,,faith4 ,the ,lord gives faith1 for the very purpose of trying it for the glory of ,his own name1 and for the good of him who has it2 and1 by the very trial of our faith1 we not only obtain blessing to our own souls1 by becoming the better acquainted with ,god1 if we hold fast our confidence in ,him1 but our faith is also1 by the exercise1 strengthened3 and so it comes1 that1 if we walk with ,god in any measure of uprightness of heart1 the trials of faith will be greater and greater4 ,it is for the church's benefit that we are put in these straits2 and if1 therefore1 in the hour of need1 we were to take goods on credit1 the first and primary object of the work would be completely frustrated1 and no heart would be further strengthened to trust in ,god1 nor would there be any longer that manifestation of the special and particular providence of ,god1 which has hitherto been so abundantly shown through this work1 even in the eyes of unbelievers1 whereby they have been led to see that there is1 after all1 reality in the things of ,god1 and many1 through these printed accounts1 have been truly converted4 ,for these reasons1 then1 we consider it our precious privilege1 as heretofore1 to continue to wait upon the ,lord only1 instead of taking goods on credit1 or borrowing money from some kind friends1 when we are in need4 ,nay1 we purpose1 as ,god shall give us grace1 to look to ,him only1 though morning after morning we should have nothing in hand for the work--yea1 though from meal to meal we should have to look to ,him2 being fully assured that ,he who is now 7#ahde7 in the tenth year feeding these many orphans1 and who has never suffered them to want1 and that ,he who is now 7#ahde7 in the twelfth year carrying on the other parts of the work1 without any branch of it having had to be stopped for want of means1 will do so for the future also4 ,and here ,i do desire in the deep consciousness of my natural helplessness and dependence upon the ,lord to confess that through the grace of ,god my soul has been in peace1 though day after day we have had to wait for our daily provisions upon the ,lord2 yea1 though even from meal to meal we have been required to do this4 ,,giving4 ,,asking ,,gifts1 ,,etc4 ,it is not enough to obtain means for the work of ,god1 but that these means should be obtained in ,god's way4 ,to ask unbelievers for means is not ,god's way2 to press even believers to give1 is not ,god's way2 but the duty and the privilege of being allowed to contribute to the work of ,god should be pointed out1 and this should be followed up with earnest prayer1 believing prayer1 and will result in the desired end4 ,,claims ,,of ,,god4 ,it is true1 the ,gospel demands our ,all2 but ,i fear that1 in the general claim on ,all1 we have shortened the claim on everything4 ,we are not under law4 ,true2 but that is not to make our obedience less complete1 or our giving less bountiful3 rather1 is it not1 that after all claims of law are settled1 the new nature finds its joy in doing more than the law requires8 ,let us abound in the work of the ,lord more and more4 ,,giving ,,in ,,adversity4 ,at the end of the last century a very godly and liberal merchant in ,london was one day called on by a gentleman1 to ask him for some money for a charitable object4 ,the gentleman expected very little1 having just heard that the merchant had sustained heavy loss from the wreck of some of his ships4 ,contrary1 however1 to expectation1 he received about ten times as much as he had expected for his object4 ,he was unable to refrain from expressing his surprise to the merchant1 told him what he had heard1 how he feared he should scarcely have received anything1 and asked whether after all there was not a mistake about the shipwreck of the vessels4 ,the merchant replied1 ,it is quite true1 ,i have sustained heavy loss1 by these vessels being wrecked1 but that is the very reason1 why ,i give you so much2 for ,i must make better use than ever of my stewardship1 lest it should be entirely taken from me4 ,how have we to act if prosperity in our business1 our trade1 our profession1 etc41 should suddenly cease1 notwithstanding our having given a considerable proportion of our means for the ,lord's work8 ,my reply is this3 ,in the day of adversity consider4 ,it is the will of ,god that we should ponder our ways2 that we should see whether there is any particular reason1 why ,god has allowed this to befall us4 ,in doing so1 we may find1 that we have too much looked on our prosperity as a matter of course1 and have not sufficiently owned and recognized practically the hand of ,god in our success4 ,or it may be1 while the ,lord has been pleased to prosper us1 we have spent too much on ourselves1 and may have thus1 though unintentionally1 abused the blessing of ,god4 ,i do not mean by this remark to bring any children of ,god into bondage1 so that1 with a scrupulous conscience1 they should look at every penny1 which they spend on themselves2 this is not the will of ,god concerning us2 and yet1 on the other hand1 there is verily such a thing as propriety or impropriety in our dress1 our furniture1 our table1 our house1 our establishment1 and in the yearly amount we spend on ourselves and family4 ,,giving ,,and ,,hoarding4 ,i have every reason to believe1 that1 had ,i begun to lay up1 the ,lord would have stopped the supplies1 and thus1 the ability of doing so was only apparent4 ,let no one profess to trust in ,god1 and yet lay up for future wants1 otherwise the ,lord will first send him to the hoard he has amassed1 before ,he can answer the prayer for more4 ,there is that scattereth1 and yet increaseth2 and there is that withholdeth more than is meet1 but it tendeth to poverty4 7,prov4 xi4 #bd47 ,notice here the word more than is meet2 it is not said1 withholdeth all2 but more than is meet viz41 while he gives1 it is so little1 in comparison with what it might be1 and ought to be1 that it tendeth to poverty4 ,,motives ,,to ,,giving4 ,believers should seek more and more to enter into the grace and love of ,god1 in giving ,his only-begotten ,son1 and into the grace and love of the ,lord ,jesus1 in giving ,himself in our room1 in order that1 constrained by love and gratitude1 they may be increasingly led to surrender their bodily and mental strength1 their time1 gifts1 talents1 property1 position in life1 rank1 and all they have and are to the ,lord4 ,by this ,i do not mean that they should give up their business1 trade1 or profession1 and become preachers2 nor do ,i mean that they should take all their money and give it to the first beggar who asks for it2 but that they should hold all they have and are1 for the ,lord1 not as owners1 but as stewards1 and be willing1 at ,his bidding1 to use for ,him part or all they have4 ,however short the believer may fall1 nothing less than this should be his aim4 ,,stewardship4 ,it is the ,lord's order1 that in whatever way ,he is pleased to make us ,his stewards1 whether as to temporal or spiritual things1 if we are indeed acting as stewards and not as owners1 ,he will make us stewards over more4 ,even in this life1 and as to temporal things1 the ,lord is pleased to repay those who act for ,him as stewards1 and who contribute to ,his work or to the poor1 as ,he may be pleased to prosper them8 ,but how much greater is the spiritual blessing we receive1 both in this life and in the world to come1 if constrained by the love of ,christ1 we act as ,god's stewards1 respecting that with which ,he is pleased to intrust us6 ,,systematic ,,giving4 ,only fix even the smallest amount you purpose to give of your income1 and give this regularly2 and as ,god is pleased to increase your light and grace1 and is pleased to prosper you more1 so give more4 ,if you neglect an habitual giving1 a regular giving1 a giving from principle and upon scriptural ground1 and leave it only to feeling and impulse1 or particular arousing circumstances1 you will certainly be a loser4 ,a merchant in the ,united ,states said in answer to inquiries relative to his mode of giving1 ,in consecrating my life anew to ,god1 aware of the ensnaring influence of riches and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity1 before wealth should bias my judgment1 ,i adopted the following system3 ,i decided to balance my accounts as nearly as ,i could every month1 reserving such portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover probable losses1 and to lay aside1 by entry on a benevolent account1 one tenth of the remaining profits1 great or small1 as a fund for benevolent expenditure1 supporting myself and family on the remaining nine tenths4 ,i further determined that if at any time my net profits1 that is profits from which clerk-hire and store expenses had been deducted1 should exceed five hundred dollars in a month1 ,i would give #ab per cent42 if over seven hundred dollars1 #ae per cent42 if over nine hundred dollars1 #ag per cent42 if over thirteen hundred dollars1 #bb per cent4--thus increasing the proportion of the whole as ,god should prosper me1 until at fifteen hundred dollars ,i should give #be per cent1 or #cge dollars a month4 ,as capital was of the utmost importance to my success in business1 ,i decided not to increase the foregoing scale until ,i had acquired a certain capital1 after which ,i would give one quarter of all net profits1 great or small1 and1 on the acquisition of another certain amount of capital1 ,i decided to give half1 and1 on acquiring what ,i determined would be a full sufficiency of capital1 then to give the whole of my net profits4 ,it is now several years since ,i adopted this plan1 and under it ,i have acquired a handsome capital1 and have been prospered beyond my most sanguine expectations4 ,although constantly giving1 ,i have never yet touched the bottom of my fund1 and have repeatedly been surprised to find what large drafts it would bear4 ,true1 during some months1 ,i have encountered a salutary trial of faith1 when this rule has led me to lay by the tenth while the remainder proved inadequate to my support2 but the tide has soon turned1 and with gratitude ,i have recognized a heavenly hand more than making good all past deficiencies4 ,the following deeply interesting particulars are recorded in the memoir of ,mr4 ,cobb1 a ,boston merchant4 ,at the age of twenty-three1 ,mr4 ,cobb drew up and subscribed the following remarkable document3 ,by the grace of ,god ,i will never be worth more than #ej1jjj dollars1 ,by the grace of ,god ,i will give one fourth of the net profits of my business to charitable and religious uses4 ,if ,i am ever worth #bj1jjj dollars ,i will give one half of my net profits2 and if ever ,i am worth #cj1jjj dollars1 ,i will give three fourths2 and the whole after #ej1jjj dollars4 ,so help me ,god1 or give to a more faithful steward1 and set me aside4 ,to this covenant1 says his memoir he adhered with conscientious fidelity4 ,he distributed the profits of his business with an increasing ratio1 from year to year1 till he reached the point which he had fixed as a limit to his property1 and then gave to the cause of ,god all the money which he earned4 ,at one time1 finding that his property had increased beyond #ej1jjj dollars1 he at once devoted the surplus #g1ejj dollars4 ,on his death-bed he said1 'by the grace of ,god--nothing else--by the grace of ,god ,i have been enabled1 under the influence of these resolutions to give away more than #dj1jjj dollars4' ,how good the ,lord has been to me6 ,mr4 ,cobb was also an active1 humble1 and devoted ,christian1 seeking the prosperity of feeble churches2 labouring to promote the benevolent institutions of the day2 punctual in his attendance at prayer meetings1 and anxious to aid the inquiring sinner2 watchful for the eternal interests of those under his charge2 mild and amiable in his deportment2 and1 in the general tenor of his life and character1 an example of consistent piety4 ,his last sickness and death were peaceful1 yea triumphant4 ,it is a glorious thing1 said he1 to die4 ,i have been active and busy in the world--,i have enjoyed as much as any one--,god has prospered me--,i have everything to bind me here--,i am happy in my family--,i have property enough--but how small and mean does this world appear on a sick-bed6 ,nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven4 ,my hope in ,christ is worth infinitely more than all other things4 ,the blood of ,christ--the blood of ,christ--none but ,christ6 ,oh6 how thankful ,i feel that ,god has provided a way that ,i1 sinful as ,i am1 may look forward with joy to another world1 through ,his dear ,son4 ,,god4 ,,approval ,,of ,,god4 ,in the whole work we desire to stand with ,god1 and not to depend upon the favourable or unfavourable judgment of the multitude4 ,,chastisements ,,of ,,god4 ,our ,heavenly ,father never takes any earthly thing from ,his children except ,he means to give them something better instead4 ,the ,lord1 in ,his very love and faithfulness1 will not1 and cannot1 let us go on in backsliding1 but ,he will visit us with stripes1 to bring us back to ,himself6 ,the ,lord never lays more on us1 in the way of chastisement1 than our state of heart makes needful2 so that whilst ,he smites with the one hand1 ,he supports with the other4 ,if1 as believers in the ,lord ,jesus1 we see that our ,heavenly ,father1 on account of wrong steps1 or a wrong state of heart1 is dealing with us in the way of discipline or correction1 we have to be grateful for it2 for ,he is acting thus towards us according to that selfsame love1 which led ,him not to spare ,his only begotten ,son1 but to deliver ,him up for us2 and our gratitude to ,him is to be expressed in words1 and even by deeds4 ,we have to guard against practically despising the chastening of the ,lord1 though we may not do so in word1 and against fainting under chastisement3 since all is intended for blessing to us4 ,,faithfulness ,,of ,,god4 ,perhaps you have said in your heart3 ,how would it be1 suppose the funds of the orphans were reduced to nothing1 and those who are engaged in the work had nothing of their own to give1 and a meal-time were to come1 and you had no food for the children4 ,thus indeed it may be1 for our hearts are desperately wicked4 ,if ever we should be so left to ourselves1 as that either we depend no more upon the living ,god1 or that we regard iniquity in our hearts1 then such a state of things1 we have reason to believe1 would occur4 ,but so long as we shall be enabled to trust in the living ,god1 and so long as1 though falling short in every way of what we might be1 and ought to be1 we are at least kept from living in sin1 such a state of things cannot occur4 ,the ,lord1 to show ,his continued care over us1 raises up new helpers4 ,they that trust in the ,lord shall never be confounded6 ,some who helped for a while may fall asleep in ,jesus2 others may grow cold in the service of the ,lord2 others may be as desirous as ever to help1 but have no longer the means2 others may have both a willing heart to help1 and have also the means1 but may see it the ,lord's will to lay them out in another way2--and thus1 from one cause or another1 were we to lean upon man1 we should surely be confounded2 but1 in leaning upon the living ,god alone1 we are ,,beyond disappointment1 and ,,beyond being forsaken because of death1 or want of means1 or want of love1 or because of the claims of other work4 ,how precious to have learned in any measure to stand with ,god alone in the world1 and yet to be happy1 and to know that surely no good thing shall be withheld from us whilst we walk uprightly6 ,,partnership ,,with ,,god4 ,a brother1 who is in about the same state in which he was eight years ago1 has very little enjoyment1 and makes no progress in the things of ,god4 ,the reason is that1 against his conscience1 he remains in a calling1 which is opposed to the profession of a believer4 ,we are exhorted in ,scripture to abide in our calling2 but only if we can abide in it with ,god4 7#a ,cor4 vii4 #bd47 ,,power ,,of ,,god4 ,there is a worldly proverb1 dear ,christian reader1 with which we are all familiar1 it is this1 ,where there is a will there is a way4 ,if this is the proverb of those who know not ,god1 how much more should believers in the ,lord ,jesus1 who have power with ,god1 say3 ,where there is a will there is a way4 ,,trust ,,in ,,god4 ,only let it be trust in ,god1 not in man1 not in circumstances1 not in any of your own exertions1 but real trust in ,god1 and you will be helped in your various necessities4444 ,not in circumstances1 not in natural prospects1 not in former donors1 but solely in ,god4 ,this is just that which brings the blessing4 ,if we say we trust in ,him1 but in reality do not1 then ,god1 taking us at our word1 lets us see that we do not really confide in ,him2 and hence failure arises4 ,on the other hand1 if our trust in the ,lord is real1 help will surely come1 ,according unto thy faith be it unto thee4 ,it is a source of deep sorrow to me1 that1 notwithstanding my having so many times before referred to this point1 thereby to encourage believers in the ,lord ,jesus1 to roll all their cares upon ,god1 and to trust in ,him at all times1 it is yet1 by so many1 put down to mere natural causes1 that ,i am helped2 as if the ,living ,god were no more the ,living ,god1 and as if in former ages answers to prayers might have been expected1 but that in the nineteenth century they must not be looked for4 ,,will ,,of ,,god4 ,how important it is to ascertain the will of ,god1 before we undertake anything1 because we are then not only blessed in our own souls1 but also the work of our hands will prosper4 ,just in as many points as we are acting according to the mind of ,god1 in so many are we blessed and made a blessing4 ,our manner of living is according to the mind of the ,lord1 for ,he delights in seeing ,his children thus come to ,him 7,matt4 vi72 and therefore1 though ,i am weak and erring in many points1 yet ,he blesses me in this particular4 ,first of all1 to see well to it1 that the work in which he desires to be engaged is ,god's work2 secondly1 that he is the person to be engaged in this work2 thirdly1 that ,god's time is come1 when he should do this work2 and then to be assured1 that1 if he seeks ,god's help in ,his own appointed way1 ,he will not fail him4 ,we have ever found it thus1 and expect to find it thus1 on the ground of the promises of ,god1 to the end of our course4 #a4 ,be slow to take new steps in the ,lord's service1 or in your business1 or in your families4 ,weigh everything well2 weigh all in the light of the ,holy ,scriptures1 and in the fear of ,god4 #b4 ,seek to have no will of your own1 in order to ascertain the mind of ,god1 regarding any steps you propose to take1 so that you can honestly say1 you are willing to do the will of ,god1 if ,he will only please to instruct you4 #c4 ,but when you have found out what the will of ,god is1 seek for ,his help1 and seek it earnestly1 perseveringly1 patiently1 believingly1 and expectingly3 and you will surely1 in ,his own time and way1 obtain it4 ,we have not to rush forward in self-will and say1 ,i will do the work1 and ,i will trust the ,lord for means1 this cannot be real trust1 it is the counterfeit of faith1 it is presumption2 and though ,god1 in great pity and mercy1 may even help us finally out of debt2 yet does this1 on no account1 prove that we were right in going forward before ,his time was come4 ,we ought1 rather1 under such circumstances to say to ourselves3 ,am ,i indeed doing the work of ,god8 ,and if so1 ,i may not be the person to do it2 or if ,i am the person1 ,his time may not yet be come for me to go forward2 it may be ,his good pleasure to exercise my faith and patience4 ,i ought1 therefore1 quietly to wait ,his time2 for when it is come1 ,god will help4 ,acting on this principle brings blessing4 ,to ascertain the ,lord's will we ought to use scriptural means4 ,prayer1 the word of ,god1 and ,his ,spirit should be united together4 ,we should go to the ,lord repeatedly in prayer1 and ask ,him to teach us by ,his ,spirit through ,his word4 ,i say by ,his ,spirit through ,his word4 ,for if we should think that ,his ,spirit led us to do so and so1 because certain facts are so and so1 and yet ,his word is opposed to the step which we are going to take1 we should be deceiving ourselves4444 ,no situation1 no business will be given to me by ,god1 in which ,i have not time enough to care about my soul4 ,therefore1 however outward circumstances may appear1 it can only be considered as permitted of ,god1 to prove the genuineness of my love1 faith1 and obedience1 but by no means as the leading of ,his providence to induce me to act contrary to ,his revealed will4 ,,marriage4 ,to enter upon the marriage union is one of the most deeply important events of life4 ,it cannot be too prayerfully treated4 ,our happiness1 our usefulness1 our living for ,god or for ourselves after wards1 are often most intimately connected with our choice4 ,therefore1 in the most prayerful manner1 this choice should be made4 ,neither beauty1 nor age1 nor money1 nor mental powers1 should be that which prompts the decision2 but #ast1 ,much waiting upon ,god for guidance should be used2 #bnd1 ,a hearty purpose to be willing to be guided by ,him should be aimed after2 #crd1 ,true godliness without a shadow of doubt1 should be the first and absolutely needful qualification1 to a ,christian1 with regard to a companion for life4 ,in addition to this1 however1 it ought to be1 at the same time1 calmly and patiently weighed1 whether1 in other respects1 there is a suitableness4 ,for instance1 for an educated man to choose an entirely uneducated woman1 is unwise2 for however much on his part love might be willing to cover the defect1 it will work very unhappily with regard to the children4 ,,prayer4 ,,answers ,,to ,,prayer4 ,i myself have for twenty-nine years been waiting for an answer to prayer concerning a certain spiritual blessing4 ,day by day have ,i been enabled to continue in prayer for this blessing4 ,at home and abroad1 in this country and in foreign lands1 in health and in sickness1 however much occupied1 ,i have been enabled1 day by day1 by ,god's help1 to bring this matter before ,him2 and still ,i have not the full answer yet4 ,nevertheless1 ,i look for it4 ,i expect it confidently4 ,the very fact that day after day1 and year after year1 for twenty-nine years1 the ,lord has enabled me to continue1 patiently1 believingly1 to wait on ,him for the blessing1 still further encourages me to wait on2 and so fully am ,i assured that ,god hears me about this matter1 that ,i have often been enabled to praise ,him beforehand for the full answer1 which ,i shall ultimately receive to my prayers on this subject4 ,thus1 you see1 dear reader1 that while ,i have hundreds1 yea1 thousands of answers1 year by year1 ,i have also1 like yourself and other believers1 the trial of faith concerning certain matters4 ,,anxiety ,,avoided ,,by ,,prayer4 ,though all believers in the ,lord ,jesus are not called upon to establish orphan houses1 schools for poor children1 etc41 and trust in ,god for means2 yet all believers1 according to the will of ,god concerning them in ,christ ,jesus1 may cast1 and ought to cast1 all their care upon ,him who careth for them1 and need not be anxiously concerned about anything1 as is plainly to be seen from #a ,peter v4 #g2 ,philippians iv4 #f2 ,matthew vi4 #be-cd4 ,my ,lord is not limited2 ,he can again supply2 ,he knows that this present case has been sent to me2 and thus1 this way of living1 so far from leading to anxiety1 as it regards possible future want1 is rather the means of keeping from it4444 ,this way of living has often been the means of reviving the work of grace in my heart1 when ,i have been getting cold2 and it also has been the means of bringing me back again to the ,lord1 after ,i have been backsliding4 ,for it will not do1--it is not possible1 to live in sin1 and at the same time1 by communion with ,god1 to draw down from heaven everything one needs for the life that now is4444 ,answer to prayer1 obtained in this way1 has been the means of quickening my soul1 and filling me with much joy4 ,i met at a brother's house with several believers1 when a sister said that she had often thought about the care and burden ,i must have on my mind1 as it regards obtaining the necessary supplies for so many persons4 ,as this may not be a solitary instance1 ,i would state that1 by the grace of ,god1 this is no cause of anxiety to me4 ,the children ,i have years ago cast upon the ,lord4 ,the whole work is ,his1 and it becomes me to be without carefulness4 ,in whatever points ,i am lacking1 in this point ,i am able1 by the grace of ,god1 to roll the burden upon my heavenly ,father4 ,though now 7,july #ahde7 for about seven years our funds have been so exhausted1 that it has been comparatively a rare case that there have been means in hand to meet the necessities of the orphans for three days together2 yet have ,i been only once tried in spirit1 and that was on ,sept4 #ah1 #ahch1 when for the first time the ,lord seemed not to regard our prayer4 ,but when ,he did send help at that time1 and ,i saw that it was only for the trial of our faith1 and not because ,he had forsaken the work that we were brought so low1 my soul was so strengthened and encouraged1 that ,i have not only not been allowed to distrust the ,lord since that time1 but ,i have not even been cast down when in the deepest poverty4 ,nevertheless1 in this respect also am ,i now1 as much as ever1 dependent on the ,lord2 and ,i earnestly beseech for myself and my fellow-labourers the prayers of all those1 to whom the glory of ,god is dear4 ,how great would be the dishonour to the name of ,god1 if we1 who have so publicly made our boast in ,him1 should so fall as to act in these very points as the world does6 ,help us1 then1 brethren1 with your prayers1 that we may trust in ,god to the end4 ,we can expect nothing but that our faith will yet be tried1 and it may be more than ever2 and we shall fall1 if the ,lord does not uphold us4 ,,borrowing ,,and ,,praying4 ,as regards borrowing money1 ,i have considered that there is no ground to go away from the door of the ,lord to that of a believer1 so long as ,he is willing to supply our need4 ,,communion ,,with ,,god ,,in ,,prayer4 ,how truly precious it is that every one who rests alone upon the ,lord ,jesus for salvation1 has in the living ,god a father1 to whom he may fully unbosom himself concerning the most minute affairs of his life1 and concerning everything that lies upon his heart6 ,dear reader1 do you know the living ,god8 ,is ,he1 in ,jesus1 your ,father8 ,be assured that ,christianity is something more than forms and creeds and ceremonies3 there is life1 and power1 and reality1 in our holy faith4 ,if you never yet have known this1 then come and taste for yourself4 ,i beseech you affectionately to meditate and pray over the following verses3 ,john iii4 #af2 ,rom4 x4 #i1 #aj2 ,acts x4 #dc2 #a ,john v4 #a4 ,,conditions ,,of ,,prayer4 ,go for yourself1 with all your temporal and spiritual wants1 to the ,lord4 ,bring also the necessities of your friends and relatives to the ,lord4 ,only make the trial1 and you will perceive how able and willing ,he is to help you4 ,should you1 however1 not at once obtain answers to your prayers1 be not discouraged2 but continue patiently1 believingly1 perseveringly to wait upon ,god3 and as assuredly as that which you ask would be for your real good1 and therefore for the honour of the ,lord2 and as assuredly as you ask it solely on the ground of the worthiness of our ,lord ,jesus1 so assuredly you will at last obtain the blessing4 ,i myself have had to wait upon ,god concerning certain matters for years1 before ,i obtained answers to my prayers2 but at last they came4 ,at this very time1 ,i have still to renew my requests daily before ,god1 respecting a certain blessing for which ,i have besought ,him for eleven years and a half1 and which ,i have as yet obtained only in part1 but concerning which ,i have no doubt that the full blessing will be granted in the end4444 ,the great point is that we ask only for that which it would be for the glory of ,god to give to us2 for that1 and that alone1 can be for our real good4 ,but it is not enough that the thing for which we ask ,god be for ,his honour and glory1 but we must secondly ask it in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 viz41 expect it only on the ground of ,his merits and worthiness4 ,thirdly1 we should believe that ,god is able and willing to give us what we ask ,him for4 ,fourthly1 we should continue in prayer till the blessing is granted2 without fixing to ,god a time when1 or the circumstances under which1 ,he should give the answer4 ,patience should be in exercise1 in connection with our prayer4 ,fifthly1 we should1 at the same time1 look out for and expect an answer till it comes4 ,if we pray in this way1 we shall not only have answers1 thousands of answers to our prayers2 but our own souls will be greatly refreshed and invigorated in connection with these answers4 ,if the obtaining of your requests were not for your real good1 or were not tending to the honour of ,god1 you might pray for a long time1 without obtaining what you desire4 ,the glory of ,god should be always before the children of ,god1 in what they desire at ,his hands2 and their own spiritual profit1 being so intimately connected with the honour of ,god1 should never be lost sight of1 in their petitions4 ,but now1 suppose we are believers in the ,lord ,jesus1 and make our requests unto ,god1 depending alone on the ,lord ,jesus as the ground of having them granted2 suppose1 also1 that1 so far as we are able honestly and uprightly to judge1 the obtaining of our requests would be for our real spiritual good and for the honour of ,god2 we yet need1 lastly1 to continue in prayer1 until the blessing is granted unto us4 ,it is not enough to begin to pray1 nor to pray aright2 nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray2 but we must patiently1 believingly continue in prayer1 until we obtain an answer2 and further1 we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end1 but we have also to believe that ,god does hear us1 and will answer our prayers4 ,most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained and in not expecting the blessing4 ,,faith1 ,,prayer1 ,,and ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god4 ,prayer and faith1 the universal remedies against every want and every difficulty2 and the nourishment of prayer and faith1 ,god's holy word1 helped me over all the difficulties4--,i never remember1 in all my ,christian course1 a period now 7in ,march #ahie7 of sixty-nine years and four months1 that ,i ever ,,sincerely and ,,patiently sought to know the will of ,god by the teaching of the ,holy ,ghost1 through the instrumentality of the word of ,god1 but ,i have been ,,always directed rightly4 ,but if honesty of heart and uprightness before ,god were lacking1 or if ,i did not patiently wait upon ,god for instruction1 or if ,i preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the word of the living ,god1 ,i made great mistakes4 ,,secret ,,prayer4 ,let none expect to have the mastery over his inward corruption in any degree1 without going in his weakness again and again to the ,lord for strength4 ,nor will prayer with others1 or conversing with the brethren1 make up for secret prayer4 ,,snares ,,of ,,satan ,,as ,,to ,,prayer4 ,it is a common temptation of ,satan to make us give up the reading of the ,word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone2 as if it were of no use to read the ,scriptures when we do not enjoy them1 and as if it were of no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer2 whilst the truth is1 in order to enjoy the ,word1 we ought to continue to read it1 and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying2 for the less we read the word of ,god1 the less we desire to read it1 and the less we pray1 the less we desire to pray4 ,,work ,,and ,,prayer4 ,often the work of the ,lord itself may be a temptation to keep us from that communion with ,him which is so essential to the benefit of our own souls4444 ,let none think that public prayer will make up for closet communion4 ,here is the great secret of success4 ,work with all your might2 but trust not in the least in your work4 ,pray with all your might for the blessing of ,god2 but work1 at the same time1 with all diligence1 with all patience1 with all perseverance4 ,pray then1 and work4 ,work and pray4 ,and still again pray1 and then work4 ,and so on all the days of your life4 ,the result will surely be1 abundant blessing4 ,whether you see much fruit or little fruit1 such kind of service will be blessed4444 ,speak also for the ,lord1 as if everything depended on your exertions2 yet trust not the least in your exertions1 but in the ,lord1 who alone can cause your efforts to be made effectual1 to the benefit of your fellow men or fellow believers4 ,remember1 also1 that ,god delights to bestow blessing1 but1 generally1 as the result of earnest1 believing prayer4 ,,preaching4 ,it came immediately to my mind that such sort of preaching might do for illiterate country people1 but that it would never do before a well-educated assembly in town4 ,i thought1 the truth ought to be preached at all hazards1 but it ought to be given in a different form1 suited to the hearers4 ,thus ,i remained unsettled in my mind as it regards the mode of preaching2 and it is not surprising that ,i did not then see the truth concerning this matter1 for ,i did not understand the work of the ,spirit1 and therefore saw not the powerlessness of human eloquence4 ,further1 ,i did not keep in mind that if the most illiterate persons in the congregation can comprehend the discourse1 the most educated will understand it too2 but that the reverse does not hold true4 ,,restitution4 ,restitution is the revealed will of ,god4 ,if it is omitted1 while we have it in our power to make it1 guilt remains on the conscience1 and spiritual progress is hindered4 ,even though it should be connected with difficulty1 self-denial1 and great loss1 it is to be attended to4 ,should the persons who have been defrauded be dead1 their heirs are to be found out1 if this can be done1 and restitution is to be made to them4 ,but there may be cases when this cannot be done1 and then only the money should be given to the ,lord for ,his work or ,his poor4 ,one word more4 ,sometimes the guilty person may not have grace enough1 if the rightful owners are living1 to make known to them the sin2 under such circumstances1 though not the best and most scriptural way1 rather than have guilt remaining on the conscience1 it is better to make restitution anonymously than not at all4 ,about fifty years ago1 ,i knew a man under concern about his soul1 who had defrauded his master of two sacks of flour1 and who was urged by me to confess this sin to his late employer1 and to make restitution4 ,he would not do it1 however1 and the result was that for twenty years he never obtained real peace of soul till the thing was done4 ,,rewards4 ,christians do not practically remember that while we are saved by grace1 altogether by grace1 so that in the matter of salvation works are altogether excluded2 yet that so far as the rewards of grace are concerned1 in the world to come1 there is an intimate connection between the life of the ,christian here and the enjoyment and the glory in the day of ,christ's appearing4 ,,sin ,,and ,,salvation4 ,rumblings last our whole life4 ,jesus came not to save painted but real sinners2 but ,he has saved us1 and will surely make it manifest4 ,,spirit ,,of ,,god4 ,at ,stuttgart1 the dear brethren had been entirely uninstructed about the truths relating to the power and presence of the ,holy ,ghost in the church of ,god1 and to our ministering one to another as fellow members in the body of ,christ2 and ,i had known enough of painful consequences when brethren began to meet professedly in dependence upon the ,holy ,spirit without knowing what was meant by it1 and thus meetings had become opportunities for unprofitable talking rather than for godly edifying4444 ,all these matters ought to be left to the ordering of the ,holy ,ghost1 and that if it had been truly good for them1 the ,lord would have not only led me to speak at that time1 but also on the very subject on which they desired that ,i should speak to them4 ,,truth--,,proportion ,,of ,,faith4 ,whatever parts of truth are made too much of1 though they were even the most precious truths connected with our being risen in ,christ1 or our heavenly calling1 or prophecy1 sooner or later those who lay an undue stress upon these parts of truth1 and thus make them too prominent1 will be losers in their own souls1 and1 if they be teachers1 they will injure those whom they teach4 ,,universalism4 ,in reference to universal salvation1 ,i found that they had been led into this error because 7#a7 ,they did not see the difference between the earthly calling of the ,jews1 and the heavenly calling of the believers in the ,lord ,jesus in the present dispensation1 and therefore they said that1 because the words everlasting1 etc41 are applied to the possession of the land of ,canaan and the priesthood of ,aaron1 therefore1 the punishment of the wicked cannot be without end1 seeing that the possession of ,canaan and the priesthood of ,aaron are not without end4 ,my endeavour1 therefore1 was to show the brethren the difference between the earthly calling of ,israel and our heavenly one1 and to prove from ,scripture that1 whenever the word everlasting is used with reference to things purely not of the earth1 but beyond time1 it denotes a period without end4 7#b7 ,they had laid exceeding great stress upon a few passages where1 in ,luther's translation of the ,german ,bible1 the word hell occurs1 and where it ought to have been translated either hades in some passages1 or grave in others1 and where they saw a deliverance out of hell1 and a being brought up out of hell1 instead of out of the grave4 ,,word ,,of ,,god4 ,the word of ,god is our only standard1 and the ,holy ,spirit our only teacher4 ,besides the ,holy ,scriptures1 which should be always ,,the book1 ,,the ,,chief book to us1 not merely in theory1 but also in practice1 such like books seem to me the most useful for the growth of the inner man4 ,yet one has to be cautious in the choice1 and to guard against reading too much4 ,,work ,,for ,,god4 ,when ,he orders something to be done for the glory of ,his name1 ,he is both able and willing to find the needed individuals for the work and the means required4 ,thus1 when the ,tabernacle in the ,wilderness was to be erected1 ,he not only fitted men for the work1 but ,he also touched the hearts of the ,israelites to bring the necessary materials and gold1 silver1 and precious stones2 and all these things were not only brought1 but in such abundance that a proclamation had to be made in the camp1 that no more articles should be brought1 because there were more than enough4 ,and again1 when ,god for the praise of ,his name would have the ,temple to be built by ,solomon1 ,he provided such an amount of gold1 silver1 precious stones1 brass1 iron1 etc41 for it1 that all the palaces or temples which have been built since have been most insignificant in comparison4 ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america