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ANSWERS TO PRAYER
From George Müller's Narratives
Compiled by A. E. C. Brooks.
The Moody Press
153 Institute Place
Chicago
"I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now (in March,
1895) of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and
PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by _the teaching of the Holy
Ghost_, through the instrumentality of the _Word of God_, but I have
been ALWAYS directed rightly. But if _honesty of heart_ and _uprightness
before God_ were lacking, or if I did not _patiently_ wait upon God for
instruction, or if I preferred _the counsel of my fellow men_ to the
declarations of _the Word of the living God_, I made great mistakes."
GEORGE MÜLLER.
Printed in United States of America
[Illustration: Fac simile of Mr. Müller's permission for the compilation
of this book.]
PREFACE
Mr. Brooks, in this compilation, has endeavored to select those incidents
and practical remarks from Mr. Müller's Narratives, that show in an
unmistakeable way, both to believers and unbelievers, the secret of
believing prayer, the manifest hand of a living God, and His unfailing
response, in His own time and way, to every petition which is according
to His will.
The careful perusal of these extracts will thus further the great object
which Mr. Müller had in view, without the necessity of reading through
the various details of his "Narratives," details which Mr. Müller felt
bound to give when writing periodically the account of God's dealings
with him.
For those who have the opportunity, an examination of the "Autobiography
of George Müller, or, a Million and a Half in Answer to Prayer" will
richly repay the time spent upon it.
Mr. Müller's permission for the compilation of this volume is shown in
the accompanying facsimile, (see p. 2), in the following words:
"If the extracts are given exactly as printed, and the punctuation
exactly as in the book and in the connection in which the facts stand, I
have no objection."
HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD
I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no
will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble
with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are
overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it
may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way
to the knowledge of what His will is.
2.--Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple
impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
3.--I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with,
the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to
the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions
also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the
Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4.--Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often
plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5.--I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
6.--Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection,
I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and
knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two
or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and
in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this
method always effective.
GEORGE MÜLLER.
ANSWERS TO PRAYER
CHAPTER I
BEGINNING AND EARLY DAYS OF THE ORPHAN WORK.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ."--1 Peter, i. 7.
Mr. George Müller, the founder of the New Orphan-Houses, Ashley Down,
Bristol (institutions that have been for many years the greatest
monuments of modern times to a prayer-answering God), gives in that most
valuable and instructive book, "A Narrative of Some of the Lord's
Dealings with George Müller," Vol. I., among other reasons for
establishing an Orphan-House, the following:--
"Sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect of old
age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore were
harassed by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such a
case I pointed out to them, how their Heavenly Father has always helped
those who put their trust in Him, they might not, perhaps, always say,
that times have changed; but yet it was evident enough, that God was not
looked upon by them as the LIVING God. My spirit was ofttimes bowed down
by this, and I longed to set something before the children of God,
whereby they might see, that He does not forsake, even in our day, those
who rely upon Him.
"Another class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in
their souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on
their business, almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The
competition in trade, the bad times, the over-peopled country, were
given as reasons why, if the business were carried on simply according
to the word of God, it could not be expected to do well. Such a brother,
perhaps, would express the wish, that he might be differently situated;
but very rarely did I see _that there was a stand made for God, that
there was the holy determination to trust in the living God, and to
depend on Him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained_. To
this class likewise I desired to show, by a visible proof, that God is
unchangeably the same.
"Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in
professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or
persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual
things; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give
up the profession in which they could not abide with God, or to leave
their position, lest they should be thrown out of employment. 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 Him, but _to show them by proofs_, that
He is the same in our day. I well knew _that the Word of God ought to be
enough_, and it was, by grace, enough, to me; but still, I considered
that I ought to lend a helping hand to my brethren, if by any means, by
this visible proof to the unchangeable faithfulness of the Lord, I might
strengthen their hands in God; for I remembered what a great blessing my
own soul had received through the Lord's dealings with His servant A. H.
Franke, who in dependence upon the living God alone, established an
immense Orphan-House, which I had seen many times with my own eyes. I,
therefore, judged myself bound to be the servant of the Church of God,
in the particular point on which I had obtained mercy: namely, _in being
able to take God by His word and to rely upon it_. All these exercises
of my soul, which resulted from the fact that so many believers, with
whom I became acquainted, were harassed and distressed in mind, or brought
guilt on their consciences, on account of not trusting in the Lord; were
used by God to awaken in my heart the desire of setting before the
church at large, and before the world, a proof that He has not in the
least changed; and this seemed to me best done, by the establishing of
an Orphan-House. It needed to be something which could be seen, even by
the natural eye. Now, if I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith,
obtained _without asking any individual_, the means for establishing and
carrying on an Orphan-House, there would be something which, with the
Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the
children of God, besides being a testimony to the consciences of the
unconverted, of the reality of the things of God. This, then, was the
primary reason for establishing the Orphan-House. I certainly did from
my heart desire to be used by God to benefit the bodies of poor children,
bereaved of both parents, and seek in other respects, with the help of
God, to do them good for this life;--I also particularly longed to be
used by God in getting the dear orphans trained up in the fear of
God;--but still, the first and primary object of the work was (and still
is:) that God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under my
care are provided with all they need, only by _prayer and faith_ without
anyone being asked by me or my fellow-laborers whereby it may be seen,
that God is FAITHFUL STILL, and HEARS PRAYER STILL. That I was not
mistaken, has been abundantly proved since November, 1835, both by the
conversion of many sinners who have read the accounts, which have been
published in connection with this work, and also by the abundance of
fruit that has followed in the hearts of the saints, for which from my
inmost soul, I desire to be grateful to God, and the honor and glory of
which not only is due to Him alone, but, which I, by His help, am
enabled to ascribe to Him."
"OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE."
In the account written by Mr. Müller dated Jan. 16, 1836, respecting the
Orphan-House intended to be established in Bristol in connection with
the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, we read:--
"When, of late, the thoughts of establishing an Orphan-House, in
dependence upon the Lord, revived in my mind, during the first two weeks
I only prayed that if it were of the Lord, he would bring it about, but
if not that He graciously would be pleased to take all thoughts about it
out of my mind. 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 children; but whether it were His will that I
should be the instrument of setting such an object on foot, as my hands
were already more than filled. My comfort, however, was, that, if it
were His will, He would provide not merely the means, but also suitable
individuals to take care of the children, so that my part of the work
would take only such a portion of my time, as, considering the importance
of the matter, I might give, notwithstanding my many other engagements.
The whole of those two weeks I never asked the Lord for money or for
persons to engage in the work.
"On December 5th, however, the subject of my prayer all at once became
different. I was reading Psalm lxxxi., and was particularly struck, more
than at any time before, with verse 10: "_Open thy month wide, and I
will fill it_." I thought a few moments about these words, and then was
led to apply them to the case of the Orphan-House. It struck me that I
had never asked the Lord for anything concerning it, except to know His
will, respecting its being established or not; and I then fell on my
knees and opened my mouth wide, asking Him for much. I asked in submission
to His will, and without fixing a time when He should answer my petition.
I prayed that He would give me a house, _i. e._, either as a loan, or
that someone might be led to pay the rent for one, or that one might be
given permanently for this object; further, I asked Him for £1000; and
likewise for suitable individuals to take care of the children. Besides
this, 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 house, and some
clothes for the children. When I was asking the petition, I was fully
aware what I was doing, _i. e._, that I was asking for something which I
had no natural prospect of obtaining from the brethren whom I know, but
which was not too much for the Lord to grant."
"December 10, 1835.--This morning I received a letter, in which a
brother and sister wrote thus:--"We propose ourselves for the service of
the intended Orphan-House, if you think us qualified for it; also to
give up all the furniture, &c., which the Lord has given us, for its
use; and to do this without receiving any salary whatever; believing
that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, He will supply all our
needs, &c."
"Dec. 13.--A brother was influenced this day to give 4s. per week, or
£10 8s. yearly, as long as the Lord gives the means; 8s. was given by
him as two weeks' subscriptions. To-day a brother and sister offered
themselves, with all their furniture, and all the provisions which they
have in the house, if they can be usefully employed in the concerns of
the Orphan-House."
A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.
"Dec. 17.--I was rather cast down last evening and this morning about
the matter, questioning whether I ought to be engaged in this way, and
was led to ask the Lord to give me some further encouragement. Soon
after were sent by a brother two pieces of print, the one seven and the
other 23¾ yards, 6¾ yards of calico, four pieces of lining, about four
yards altogether, a sheet, and a yard measure. This evening another
brother brought a clothes horse, three frocks, four pinafores, six
handkerchiefs, three counterpanes, one blanket, two pewter salt cellars,
six tin cups, and six metal tea spoons; he also brought 3s. 6d. given
to him by three different individuals. At the same time he told me that
it had been put into the heart of an individual to send to-morrow £100."
ONE THOUSAND POUNDS.
"June 15, 1837.--To-day I gave myself once more earnestly to prayer
respecting the remainder of the £1000. This evening £5 was given, so
that now the whole sum is made up. To the Glory of the Lord, whose I am,
and whom I serve, I would state again, that every shilling of this
money, and all the articles of clothing and furniture, which have been
mentioned in the foregoing pages, have been given to me, _without one
single individual having been asked by me for anything_."
ORPHANS FOR THE BUILDING.
In a third statement, containing the announcement of the opening of the
Orphan-House, for destitute female children, and a proposal for the
establishment of an Infant Orphan-House, which was sent to the press on
May 18, 1836, Mr. Müller wrote:--
"So far as I remember, I brought even the most minute circumstances
concerning the Orphan-House before the Lord in my petitions, being
conscious of my own weakness and ignorance. There was, however, one
point I never had prayed about, namely that the Lord would send children;
for I naturally took it for granted that there would be plenty of
applications. The nearer, however, the day came which had been appointed
for receiving applications, the more I had a secret consciousness, that
the Lord might disappoint my natural expectations, and show me that I
could not prosper in one single thing without Him. The appointed time
came, and not even one application was made. I had before this been
repeatedly tried, whether I might not, after all, against the Lord's
mind, have engaged in the work. This circumstance now led me to lie low
before my God in prayer the whole of the evening, February 3, and to
examine my heart once more as to all the motives concerning it; and
being able, as formerly, to say, that His glory was my _chief aim_,
_i. e._, that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing to trust in
the living God,--and that my _second aim_ was the spiritual welfare of
the orphan-children,--and the _third_ their bodily welfare; and still
continuing in prayer, I was at last brought to this state, that I could
say _from my heart_, that I should rejoice in God being glorified in
this matter, though it were by _bringing the whole to nothing_. But as
still, after all, it seemed to me more tending to the glory of God, to
establish and prosper the Orphan-House, I could then ask Him heartily,
to send applications. I enjoyed now a peaceful state of heart concerning
the subject, and was also more assured than ever that God would
establish it. _The very next day_, February 4, the first application
was made, and since then 42 more have been made."
"JUST FOR TO-DAY."
Later on, when there were nearly 100 persons to be maintained, and the
funds were reduced to about £20, Mr. Müller writes:--
"July 22 [1838].--This evening I was walking in our little garden,
meditating on Heb. xiii. 8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day,
and for ever." Whilst meditating on His unchangeable love, power, wisdom,
&c.--and turning all, as I went on, into prayer respecting myself; and
whilst applying likewise His unchangeable love, and power and wisdom,
&c., both to my present spiritual and temporal circumstances:--all at
once the present need of the Orphan-House was brought to my mind.
Immediately I was led to say to myself, Jesus in His love and power has
hitherto supplied me with what I have needed for the Orphans, and in the
same unchangeable love and power He will provide me with what I may need
for the future. A flow of joy came into my soul whilst realising thus
the unchangeableness of our adorable Lord. About one minute after, a
letter was brought me, enclosing a bill for £20. In it was written:
"Will you apply the amount of the enclosed bill to the furtherance of
the objects of your Scriptural Knowledge Society, or of your Orphan
Establishment, or in the work and cause of our Master in any way that
He Himself, on your application to Him, may point out to you. It is not
a great sum, but it is a sufficient provision for the exigency of
to-day; and it is for _to-day's_ exigencies, that, ordinarily, the Lord
provides. To-morrow, as it brings its demands, will find its supply,
etc."
"[Of this £20 I took £10 for the Orphan fund, and £10 for trip other
objects, and was thus enabled to meet the expenses of about £34 which,
in connection with the Orphan-Houses, came upon me within four days
afterwards, and which I knew beforehand would come.]"
WAITING FOR HELP.
"Nov. 21, 1838.--Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day. There was
not a single halfpenny in hand between the matrons of the three houses.
Nevertheless there was a good dinner, and by managing so as to help one
another with bread, etc., there was a prospect of getting over this day
also; but for none of the houses had we the prospect of being able to
take in bread. When I left the brethren and sisters at one o'clock,
after prayer, I told them that we must wait for help, and see how the
Lord would deliver us this time. I was sure of help, but we were indeed
straitened. When I came to Kingsdown, I felt that I needed more exercise,
being very cold; wherefore I went not the nearest way home, but round by
Clarence Place. About twenty yards from my house, I met a brother who
walked back with me, and after a little conversation gave me £10 to be
handed over to the brethren, the deacons, towards providing the poor
saints with coals, blankets and warm clothing; also £5 for the Orphans,
and £5 for the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.
The brother had called twice while I was gone to the Orphan-Houses, and
had I now been _one half minute_ later, I should have missed him. But
the Lord knew our need, and therefore allowed me to meet him. I sent off
the £5 immediately to the matrons."
BEYOND DISAPPOINTMENT.
"Sept. 21 [1840], Monday. By what was in hand for the Orphans, and by what
had come in yesterday, the need of to-day is more than supplied, as there
is enough for to-morrow also. To-day a brother from the neighbourhood of
London gave me £10, to be laid out as it might be most needed. As we
have been praying many days for the School,--Bible,--and Missionary
Funds, I took it all for them. This brother knew nothing about our work,
when he came three days since to Bristol. Thus the Lord, to show His
continued care over us, raises up new helpers. They that trust in the
Lord shall never be confounded! Some who helped for a while may fall
asleep in Jesus; others may grow cold in the service of the Lord; others
may be as desirous as ever to help, but have no longer the means; others
may have both a willing heart to help, and have also the means, but may
see it the Lord's will to lay them out in another way;--and thus, from
one cause or another, were we to lean upon man, we should surely be
confounded; but, in leaning upon the living God alone, we are _BEYOND
disappointment, and BEYOND being forsaken because of death_, or _want of
means_, or _want of love_, or _because of the claims of other work_. How
precious to have learned in any measure to stand with God alone in the
world, and yet to be happy, and to know that surely no good thing shall
be withheld from us whilst we walk uprightly!"
A GREAT SINNER CONVERTED.
In his REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1841, Mr. Müller writes:--
"During this year I was informed about the conversion of one of the very
greatest sinners, that I ever heard of in all my service for the Lord.
Repeatedly I fell on my knees with his wife, and asked the Lord for his
conversion, when she came to me in the deepest distress of soul, on
account of the most barbarous and cruel treatment that she received from
him, in his bitter enmity against her for the Lord's sake, and because
he could not provoke her to be in a passion, and _she would not_ strike
him again, and the like. At the time when it was at its worst I pleaded
especially on his behalf the promise in Matthew xviii. 19: 'Again I say
unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in
heaven.' And now this awful persecutor is converted."
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BLESSING AMONG THE SAINTS.
"On May 25th, I began to ask the Lord for greater real spiritual
prosperity among the saints, among whom I labour in Bristol, than there
ever yet had been among them; and now I have to record to the praise of
the Lord that truly He has answered this request; for, considering all
things, at no period has there been more manifestation of grace and
truth, and spiritual power among us, than there is now while I am
writing this for the press (1845). Not that we have attained to what we
might; we are far, very far from it; but the Lord has been very, very
good to us, and we have most abundant cause for thanksgiving."
WITHHOLDING THE REPORT.
"Dec. 9 [1841].--To-day came in for the Orphans by the sale of stockings
10s. 10d.--We are now brought to the close of the sixth year of this
part of the work, _having only in hand the money which has been put by
for the rent_; but during the whole of this year we have been supplied
with all that was needed.
"During the last three years we had closed the accounts on this day, and
had, a few days after, some public meetings, at which, for the benefit
of the hearers, we stated how the Lord had dealt with us during the
year, and the substance of what had been stated at these meetings was
afterwards printed for the benefit of the church at large. This time,
however, it appeared to us better to delay for a while both the public
meetings and the publishing of the Report. Through grace we had learned
to lean upon the Lord only, being assured, that, if we were never to
speak or write one single word more about this work, yet should we be
supplied with means, as long as He should enable us to depend on Himself
alone. But whilst we neither had had those public meetings for the
purpose of exposing our necessity, nor had had the account of the Lord's
dealings with us published for the sake of working thereby upon the
feelings of the readers, and thus inducing them to give money, but only
that we might by our experience benefit other saints; yet it might have
appeared to some that, in making known our circumstances, we were
actuated by some such motives. What better proof, therefore, could we
give of our depending upon the living God alone, and not upon public
meetings or printed Reports, than that, _in the midst of our deep
poverty_, instead of being glad for the time to have come when we could
make known our circumstances, we still went on quietly for some time
longer, without saying anything. We therefore determined, as we sought
and still seek in this work to act for the profit of the saints
generally, to delay both the public meetings and the Report for a few
months. _Naturally_ we should have been, of course, as glad as anyone to
have exposed our poverty at that time; but _spiritually_ we were unable
to delight even then in the prospect of the increased benefit that might
be derived by the church at large from our acting as we did.
* * * * *
"Dec. 18. Saturday morning. There is now the greatest need, and only 4d.
in hand, which I found in the box at my house; yet I fully believe the
Lord will supply us this day also with all that is required.--Pause a
few moments, dear reader! Observe two things! We acted _for God_ in
delaying the public meetings and the publishing of the Report; but _God's
way leads always into trial, so far as sight and sense are concerned_.
_Nature_ always will be tried _in God's ways_. The Lord was saying by
this poverty, 'I will now see whether you truly lean upon me, and
whether you truly look to me.' Of all the seasons that I had ever passed
through since I had been living in this way, _up to that time_, I never
knew any period in which my faith was tried so sharply, as during the
four months from Dec. 12, 1841, to April 12, 1842. But observe further:
We might even now have altered our minds with respect to the public
meetings and publishing the Report; _for no one knew our determination,
at this time_, concerning the point. Nay, on the contrary, we knew with
what delight very many children of God were looking forward to receive
further accounts. But the Lord kept us steadfast to the conclusion, at
which we had arrived under His guidance."
"HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL."
Under the date Jan. 25, 1842, Mr. Müller writes:--
"Perhaps, dear reader, you have said in your heart before you have read
thus far: 'How would it be, suppose the funds for the Orphans were
reduced to nothing, and those who are engaged in the work had nothing of
their own to give, and a meal time were come, and you had no food for
the children.'
"Thus indeed it may be, for our hearts are desperately wicked. If ever
we should be so left to ourselves, as that either we depend no more upon
the living God, or that 'we regard iniquity in our hearts,' then such a
state of things, we have reason to believe, would occur. But so long as
we shall be enabled to trust in the living God, and so long as, though
falling short in every way of what we might be, and ought to be, we are
at least kept from living in sin, such a state of things cannot occur.
Therefore, dear reader, if you yourself walk with God, and if, on that
account, His glory is dear to you, I affectionately and earnestly
entreat you to beseech Him to uphold us; for how awful would be the
disgrace brought upon His holy name if we, who have so publicly made our
boast in Him, and have spoken well of Him, should be left to disgrace
Him, either by unbelief in the hour of trial, or by a life of sin in
other respects."
DELAYED BUT SURE.
"March 9 [1842].--At a time of the greatest need, both with regard to
the Day-Schools and the Orphans, so much so that we could not have gone
on any longer without help, I received this day £10 from a brother who
lives near Dublin. The money was divided between the Day-Schools and the
Orphan-Houses. The following little circumstance is to be noticed
respecting this donation:--As our need was so great, and my soul was,
through grace, truly waiting upon the Lord, I looked out for supplies in
the course of this morning. The post, however, was out, and no supplies
had come. This did not in the least discourage me. I said to myself, the
Lord can send means without the post, or even now, though the post is
out, by this very delivery of letters He may have sent means, though the
money is not yet in my hands. It was not long after I had thus spoken to
myself, when, according to my hope in God, we were helped; for the
brother who sent us the £10, had this time directed his letter to the
Boys' Orphan-House, whence it was sent to me."
"LIKE AS A FATHER."
"March 17.--From the 12th to the 16th had come in £4 5s. 11½d. for the
Orphans. This morning our poverty, which now has lasted more or less
for several months, had become exceedingly great. I left my house a few
minutes after seven to go to the Orphan-Houses, to see whether there was
money enough to take in the milk, which is brought about eight o'clock.
On my way it was specially my request that the Lord would be pleased to
pity us, even as a father pitieth his children, and that He would not
lay more upon us than He would enable us to bear, I especially entreated
Him that He would now be pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us
help. I likewise reminded Him of the consequences that would result,
both in reference to believers and unbelievers, if we should have to
give up the work because of want of means, and that He therefore would
not permit of its coming to nought. I moreover again confessed before
the Lord that I deserved not that He should continue to use me in this
work any longer. While I was thus in prayer, about two minutes' walk
from the Orphan-Houses, I met a brother who was going at this early hour
to his business. After having exchanged a few words with him, I went on;
but he presently ran after me, and gave me £1 for the Orphans. Thus the
Lord speedily answered my prayer. Truly, it is worth being poor and
greatly tried in faith, for the sake of having day by day such precious
proofs of the loving interest which our kind Father takes in everything
that concerns us. And how should our Father do otherwise? He that has
given us the greatest possible proof of His love which He could have
done, in giving us His own Son, surely He will with Him also freely give
us all things."
TRUST IN THE LORD BETTER THAN MAN'S PROMISES.
"May 6 [1845].--About six weeks ago intimation was kindly given by a
brother that he expected a certain considerable sum of money, and that,
if he obtained it, a certain portion of it should be given to the Lord,
so that £100 of it should be used for the work in my hands, and the other
part for Brother Craik's and my own personal expenses. However, day
after day passed away, and the money did not come. I did not trust in
this money, yet, as during all this time, with scarcely any exception,
we were more or less needy, I thought again and again about this
brother's promise; though I did not, by the grace of God, trust in the
brother who had made it, but in the Lord. Thus week after week passed
away, and the money did not come. Now this morning it came to my mind,
that such promises ought to be valued, in a certain sense, as nothing,
_i. e._, that the mind ought never for a moment to be directed to them,
but to the living God, and to the living God only. I saw that such
promises ought not to be of the value of one farthing, so far as it
regards thinking about them for help. I therefore asked the Lord, when,
as usual, I was praying with my beloved wife about the work in my hands
that He would be pleased to take this whole matter, about that promise,
completely out of my mind, and to help me, not to value it in the
least, yea, to treat it as if not worth one farthing, but to keep my eye
directed only to Himself. I was enabled to do so. We had not yet
finished praying when I received the following letter:
----May 5, 1845
Beloved Brother,
Are your bankers still Messrs. Stuckey and Co. of Bristol, and
are their bankers still Messrs. Robarts and Co. of London?
Please to instruct me on this; and if the case should be so,
please to regard this as a letter of advice that £70 are paid
to Messrs. Robarts and Co., for Messrs. Stuckey and Co., for
you. This sum apply as the Lord may give you wisdom. I shall
not send to Robarts and Co. until I hear from you.
Ever affectionately yours,
* * * *
"Thus the Lord rewarded at once this determination to endeavour not to
look in the least to that promise from a brother, but only to Himself.
But this was not all. About two o'clock this afternoon I received from
the brother, who had more than forty days ago, made that promise, £166
18s., as he this day received the money, on the strength of which he had
made that promise. Of this sum £100 are to be used for the work in my
hands, and the remainder for brother Craik's and my own personal
expenses."
Under date 1842 Mr. Müller writes:--
"I desire that all the children of God, who may read these details, may
thereby be lead to increased and more simple confidence in God for
everything which they may need under any circumstances, and that these
many answers to prayer may encourage them to pray, particularly as it
regards the conversion of their friends and relatives, their own progress
in grace and knowledge, the state of the saints whom they may know
personally, the state of the church of God at large, and the success of
the preaching of the Gospel. Especially I affectionately warn them against
being led away by the device of Satan, to think that these things are
peculiar to me, and cannot be enjoyed by all the children of God; for
though, as has been stated before, every believer is not called upon to
establish Orphan-Houses, Charity Schools, etc., and trust in the Lord
for means; yet all believers are called upon, in the simple confidence
of faith, to cast all their burdens upon Him, to trust in Him for
everything, and not only to make every thing a subject of prayer, but to
expect answers to their petitions which they have asked according to His
will, and in the name of the Lord Jesus.--Think not, dear reader, that I
have _the gift of faith_, that is, that gift of which we read in 1 Cor.
xii. 9, and which is mentioned along with 'the gifts of healing,' 'the
working of miracles,' 'prophecy,' and that on that account I am able to
trust in the Lord. _It is true_ that the faith, which I am enabled to
exercise, is altogether God's own gift; it is true that He alone
supports it, and that He alone can increase it; it is true that, moment
by moment, I depend upon Him for it, and that, if I were only one
moment left to myself, my faith would utterly fail; but _it is not true_
that my faith is that gift of faith which is spoken of in 1 Cor. xii. 9
for the following reasons:--
"1. The faith which I am enabled to exercise with reference to the
Orphan-Houses and my own temporal necessities, is not that 'faith' of
which it is said in 1 Cor. xiii. 2 (evidently in allusion to the faith
spoken of in 1 Cor. xii. 9), 'Though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing'; but it is
the self-same faith which is found in _every believer_, and the growth
of which I am most sensible of to myself; for, by little and little, it
has been increasing for the last sixty-nine years.
"2. This faith which is exercised respecting the Orphan-Houses and my
own temporal necessities, shows itself in the same measure, for instance
concerning the following points: I have never been permitted to doubt
during the last sixty-nine years that my sins are forgiven, that I am a
child of God, that I am beloved of God, and that I shall be finally
saved; because I am enabled, by the grace of God, to exercise faith upon
the word of God, and believe what God says in those passages which
settle these matters (1 John v. 1--Gal. iii. 26--Acts x. 43--Romans x.
9, 10--John iii. 16, etc.).... Further, when sometimes all has been
dark, exceedingly dark, with reference to my service among the saints,
judging from natural appearances; yea, when I should have been
overwhelmed indeed in grief and despair, had I looked at things after
the outward appearance; at such times I have sought to encourage myself
in God, by laying hold in faith on His mighty power, His unchangeable
love, and His infinite wisdom, and I have said to myself: God is able
and willing to deliver me, if it be good for me; for it is written: "He
that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. viii. 32. This,
this it was which, being believed by me through grace, kept my soul in
peace.--Further, when in connection with the Orphan-Houses, Day Schools,
etc., trials have come upon me which were far heavier than the want of
means when lying reports were spread that the Orphans had not enough to
eat, or that they were cruelly treated in other respects, and the like;
or when other trials, still greater, but which I cannot mention, have
befallen me in connexion with this work, and that at a time when I was
nearly a thousand miles absent from Bristol, and had to remain absent
week after week: at such times my soul was stayed upon God; I believed
His word of promise which was applicable to such cases; I poured out my
soul before God, and arose from my knees in peace, because the trouble
that was in the soul was in believing prayer cast upon God, and thus I
was kept in peace, though I saw it to be the will of God to remain far
away from the work.--Further, when I needed houses, fellow-labourers,
masters and mistresses for the Orphans or for the Day Schools, I have
been enabled to look for all to the Lord and trust in Him for
help.--Dear reader, I may seem to boast; but, by the grace of God, I do
not boast in thus speaking. From my inmost soul I do ascribe it to God
alone that He has enabled me to trust in Him, and that hitherto He has
not suffered my confidence in Him to fail. But I thought it needful to
make these remarks, lest anyone should think that my depending upon God
was a particular gift given to me, which other saints have no right to
look for; or lest it should be thought that this my depending upon Him
had _only to do with the obtaining of MONEY by prayer and faith_. By the
grace of God I desire that my faith in God should extend towards EVERY
thing, the smallest of my own temporal and spiritual concerns, and the
smallest of the temporal and spiritual concerns of my family, towards
the saints among whom I labour, the church at large, everything that has
to do with the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution, etc. Dear reader, do not think that I have
attained in faith (and how much less in other respects!) to that degree
to which I might and ought to attain; but thank God for the faith which
He has given me, and ask Him to uphold and increase it. And lastly, once
more, let not Satan deceive you in making you think that you could not
have the same faith but that it is only for persons who are situated as
I am. When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord to direct me to
it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person with whom I have
made an appointment does not come, according to the fixed time, and I
begin to be inconvenienced by it, I ask the Lord to be pleased to hasten
him to me and I look for an answer; when I do not understand a passage
of the word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord, that He would be
pleased, by His Holy Spirit to instruct me, and I expect to be taught,
though I do not fix the time when, and the manner how it should be; when
I am going to minister in the Word, I seek help from the Lord, and while
I, in the consciousness of natural inability as well as utter unworthiness
begin this His service, I am not cast down, but of good cheer, because I
look for His assistance, and believe that He, for His dear Son's sake
will help me. And thus in other of my temporal and spiritual concerns I
pray to the Lord, and expect an answer to my requests; and may not _you_
do the same, dear believing reader? Oh! I beseech you, do not think me
an extraordinary believer, having privileges above other of God's dear
children, which they cannot have; nor look on my way of acting as
something that would not do for other believers. Make but trial! Do but
stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the help of God, if
you trust in Him. But there is so often a forsaking the ways of the Lord
in the hour of trial, and thus the _food of faith_, the means whereby
our faith may be increased, is lost. This leads me to the following
important point. You ask, How may I, a true believer, have my faith
strengthened? The answer is this:--
"I.--Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh
down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning." James i. 17. As the increase of faith is a good
gift, it must come from God, and therefore He ought to be asked for this
blessing.
"II.--The following means, however, ought to be used:--1, _The careful
reading of the word of God, combined with meditation on it._ Through
reading of the word of God, and especially through meditation on the
word of God, the believer becomes more and more acquainted with the
nature and character of God, and thus sees more and more, besides His
holiness and justice, what a kind, loving, gracious, merciful, mighty,
wise, and faithful Being He is, and, therefore, in poverty, affliction
of body, bereavement in his family, difficulty in his service, want of a
situation or employment, he will repose upon the _ability_ of God to
help him, because he has not only learned from His word that He is of
almighty power and infinite wisdom, but he has also seen instance upon
instance in the Holy Scriptures in which His almighty power and infinite
wisdom have been actually exercised in helping and delivering His
people; and he will repose upon the _willingness_ of God to help him,
because he has not only learned from the Scriptures what a kind, good,
merciful, gracious, and faithful being God is, but because he has also
seen in the word of God how, in a great variety of instances He has
proved Himself to be so. And the consideration of this, if _God has
become known to us through prayer and meditation on His own word_, will
lead us, in general at least, with a measure of confidence to rely upon
Him: and thus the reading of the word of God, together with meditation
on it, will be one especial means to strengthen our faith. 2, As with
reference to the growth of every grace of the Spirit, it is of the
utmost importance that we seek to maintain an upright heart and a good
conscience, and, therefore, do not knowingly and habitually indulge in
those things which are contrary to the mind of God, so it is also
particularly the case with reference to the _growth in faith_. How can I
possibly continue to act faith upon God, concerning anything, if I am
habitually grieving Him, and seek to detract from the glory and honour
of Him in whom I profess to trust, upon whom I profess to depend? All my
confidence towards God, all my leaning upon Him in the hour of trial
will be gone, if I have a guilty conscience, and do not seek to put away
this guilty conscience, but still continue to do the things which are
contrary to the mind of God. And if, in any particular instance, I
cannot trust in God, because of the guilty conscience, then my faith is
weakened by that instance of distrust; for faith with every fresh trial
of it either increases by trusting God, and thus getting help, or it
decreases by not trusting Him; and then there is less and less power of
looking simply and directly to Him, and a habit of self-dependence is
begotten or encouraged. One or the other of these will always be the
case in each particular instance. Either we trust in God, and in that
case we neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in
circumstances, nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of
these, and in that case do NOT trust in God. 3, If we, indeed, desire
our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities
where our faith may be tried, and, therefore, through the trial, be
strengthened. In our natural state we dislike dealing with God alone.
Through our natural alienation from God we shrink from Him, and from
eternal realities. This cleaves to us more or less, even after our
regeneration. Hence it is, that more or less, even as believers, we have
the same shrinking from standing with God alone,--from depending upon
Him alone,--from looking to Him alone:--and yet this is the very
position in which we ought to be, if we wish our faith to be
strengthened. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith with
reference to my body, my family, my service for the Lord, my business,
etc., the more shall I have opportunity of seeing God's help and
deliverance; and every fresh instance, in which He helps and delivers
me, will tend towards the increase of my faith. On this account,
therefore, the believer should not shrink from situations, positions,
circumstances, in which his faith may be tried; but should cheerfully
embrace them as opportunities where he may see the hand of God stretched
out on his behalf, to help and deliver him, and whereby he may thus
have his faith strengthened. 4, The last important point for the
strengthening of our faith is, that we let God work for us, when the
hour of the trial of our faith comes, and do not work a deliverance of
our own. Wherever God has given faith, it is given, among other reasons,
for the very purpose of being tried.
"Yea, however weak our faith may be, God will try it; only with this
restriction, that as in every way, He leads on gently, gradually,
patiently, so also with reference to the trial of our faith. At first
our faith will be tried very little in comparison with what it may be
afterwards; for God never lays more upon us that He is willing to enable
us to bear. Now when the trial of faith comes, we are naturally inclined
to distrust God, and to trust rather in ourselves, or in our friends, or
in circumstances.
"We will rather work a deliverance of our own somehow or other, than
simply look to God and wait for His help. But if we do not patiently
wait for God's help, if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the
next trial of our faith it will be thus again, we shall be again
inclined to deliver ourselves; and thus with every fresh instance of
that kind, our faith will decrease; whilst on the contrary, were we to
stand still, in order to see the salvation of God, to see His hand
stretched out on our behalf, trusting in Him alone, then our faith would
be increased, and with every fresh case in which the hand of God is
stretched out on our behalf in the hour of the trial of our faith, our
faith would be increased yet more.
"Would the believer, therefore, have his faith strengthened, he must
especially, _give time to God_, who tries his faith in order to prove to
His child, in the end, how willing He is to help and deliver him, the
moment it is good for him."
In the early years of the Institution Mr. Müller and his fellow
labourers had to endure many severe trials of faith, as some of these
instances show.
Mr. Müller when writing of this period says:--
"Though now (July, 1845) for about seven years our funds have been so
exhausted, that it has been a _rare_ case that there have been means in
hand to meet the necessities of more than 100 persons for _three days_
together; yet I have been only once tried in spirit, and that was on
September 18, 1838, when, for the first time the Lord seemed not to
regard our prayer. But when He did send help at that time, and I saw
that it was only for the trial of our faith, and not because He had
forsaken the work, that we were brought so low, my soul was so
strengthened and encouraged, that I have not only not been allowed to
distrust the Lord, but _I have not been even cast down when in the
deepest poverty_ since that time."
A GIFT OF £12.
"Aug. 20 [1838].--The £5 which I had received on the 18th. had been
given for house-keeping, so that to-day I was again penniless. But my
eyes were up to the Lord. I gave myself to prayer this morning, knowing
that I should want again this week at least £13, if not above £20.
To-day I received £12 in answer to prayer, from a lady who is staying at
Clifton, whom I had never seen before. Adorable Lord, grant that this
may be a fresh encouragement to me!"
A SOLEMN CRISIS.
Regarding one of the sharpest times of trial Mr. Müller writes:--
"Sept. 10 [1838]. Monday morning. Neither Saturday nor yesterday had any
money come in. It appeared to me now needful to take some steps on
account of our need, _i. e._, to go to the Orphan-Houses, call the
brethren and sisters together, (who, except brother T----, had never
been informed about the state of the funds), state the case to them, see
how much money was needed for the present, tell them that amidst all
this trial of faith I still believed that God would help, and to pray
with them. Especially, also, I meant to go for the sake of telling them
that no more articles must be purchased than we have the means to pay
for, but to let there be nothing lacking in any way to the children as
it regards nourishing food and needful clothing; for I would rather at
once send them away than that they should lack. I meant to go for the
sake also of seeing whether there were still articles remaining which
had been sent for the purpose of being sold, or whether there were any
articles really needless, that we might turn them into money. I felt
that the matter was now come to a solemn crisis. About half-past nine
sixpence came in, which had been put anonymously into the box at Gideon
Chapel. This money seemed to me like an earnest, that God would have
compassion and send more. About ten, after I had returned from brother
Craik, to whom I had unbosomed my heart again, whilst once more in
prayer for help, a sister called who gave two sovereigns to my wife for
the Orphans, stating that she had felt herself stirred up to come and
that she had delayed coming already too long. A few minutes after, when
I went into the room where she was, she gave me two sovereigns more, and
all this without knowing the least about our need. Thus the Lord most
mercifully has sent us a little help, to the great encouragement of my
faith. A few minutes after I was called on for money from the Infant
Orphan-House, to which I sent £2, and £1 0s. 6d. to the Boys'
Orphan-House, and £1 to the Girls' Orphan-House."
A PRECIOUS DELIVERANCE.
"Sept. 17 [1838].--The trial still continues. It is now more and more
trying, even to faith, as each day comes. Truly, the Lord has wise
purposes in allowing us to call so long upon Him for help. But I am sure
God will send help, if we can but wait. One of the labourers had had a
little money come in of which he gave 12s. 6d.; another labourer gave
11s. 8d., being all the money she had left; this, with 17s. 6d., which,
partly, had come in, and, partly was in hand, enabled us to pay what
needed to be paid, and to purchase provisions, so that nothing yet, in
any way, has been lacking. This evening I was rather tired respecting
the long delay of larger sums coming; but being led to go to the
Scriptures for comfort, my soul was greatly refreshed, and my faith
again strengthened, by the xxxivth Psalm, so that I went very cheerfully
to meet with my dear fellow-labourers for prayer. I read to them the
Psalm, and sought to cheer their hearts through the precious promises
contained in it."
"Sept. 18.--Brother T. had 25s. in hand, and I had 3s. This £1 8s.
enabled us to buy the meat and bread, which was needed; a little tea for
one of the houses, and milk for all; no more than this is needed. Thus
the Lord has provided not only for this day; for there is bread for two
days in hand. Now, however, we are come to an extremity. The funds are
exhausted. The labourers, who had a little money, have given as long as
they had any left. Now observe how the Lord helped us! A lady from the
neighbourhood of London who brought a parcel with money from her
daughter, arrived four or five days since in Bristol, and took lodgings
next door to the Boys' Orphan-House. This afternoon she herself kindly
brought me the money, amounting to £3 2s. 6d. We had been reduced so
low as to be on the point of selling those things which could be spared;
but this morning I had asked the Lord, if it might be, to prevent the
necessity, of our doing so. That the money had been so near the
Orphan-Houses for several days without being given, is a plain proof
that it was from the beginning in the heart of God to help us; but
because He delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to
pray so long; also to try our faith, and to make the answer so much the
sweeter. It is indeed a precious deliverance. I burst out into loud
praises and thanks the first moment I was alone, after I had received
the money. I met with my fellow-labourers again this evening for prayer
and praise; their hearts were not a little cheered. This money was this
evening divided, and will comfortably provide for all that will be
needed to-morrow."