gentleman and lady, who saw the Institution, left six chemises, seven
pocket handkerchiefs, two flannel petticoats, four pairs of stockings, and
four pairs of gloves; there were also sent 18 thimbles, a gross of
buttons, a gross of hooks and eyes. May 5. 2s. 6d., 1s. May 6. 15 pairs of
worsted stockings. May 7. 5s., 2s. 6d. May 8. 5s., 6d., 2s. 6d. May 9.
4s., 10s., 6d., 4d., 4d., 4d. May 10. 6d., 4d., 6d., 6d., 4d., 1d., 4d.,
2s. May 11. 1l., 2s. 6d., 1s. May 13. A bonnet, also a dish, sent by a
poor person in an almshouse; a well-wisher sent, for little orphan boys,
six frock pinafores, six little shirts, six frocks and trousers. May 14. 9
pounds of soap. May 15. S. S. 2s. 6d. May 16. 4s. May 17. Out of the box
in the Orphan-House, 3s. 0 1/2d., also 1s.
1. It may be well to state, that the above results have followed in
answer to prayer, without any one having been asked by me for one single
thing, from which I have refrained, not on account of want of confidence
in the brethren, or because I doubted their love to the Lord, but that I
might see the hand of God so much the more clearly. For as the work has
been begun without any visible support, in dependence only upon the living
God, it was of the utmost importance to be sure of His approbation at the
very commencement.
2. From this statement, and from that contained in the last printed
account, it will be seen how the Lord, in a great measure, has already
answered the petition of December 5, 1835; for a house has been given,
suitable individuals have offered themselves to take care of the children,
and much more furniture, and many more articles of clothing have been sent
than I ever had expected. The only part of the prayer, which has not been
as yet quite fulfilled, is, that which respects the 1000l., which,
however, the Lord, I doubt not, will likewise send in His own time. In the
meantime, let my brethren help me to praise Him, that He has sent already
more than one half of that sum, and therefore more than for the present
has been needed.
3. 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.
4. The house mentioned in the last printed account, which we had intended
to rent, having been let before any applications had been made, and
nothing more having been done about the premises offered as a gift, on
account of the want of money needed to complete the building, I rented, at
least for one year, the house No. 6, Wilson Street, as being, on account
of its cheapness and largeness, very suitable, and in which, up to March
25th, I had been living myself. Having furnished it for 30 children, we
began an April 11th, 1836, to take them in, and on April 21st the
Institution was opened by a day being set apart for prayer and
thanksgiving. There are now 26 children in the house, and a few more are
expected daily. They are under the care of a matron and governess.
5. In the last printed account it was mentioned that we intended to take
in the children from the seventh to the twelfth year. But after six
applications had been made for children between four and six years of age,
it became a subject of solemn and prayerful consideration, whether, as
long as there were vacancies, such children should not be received, though
so young. For it appeared to me, that if it becomes the saints to care in
this way, according to their ability, for those whom God has bereaved of
both parents, when they become seven years of age, that it becomes them
equally so, to take care of them whilst they are under seven years, and
therefore completely unable to help themselves. Further, orphan children
are often left to themselves, and thus, at the age of 11 or 12 years, have
already made much progress in wickedness. Therefore I came at last to the
conclusion to take in the little girls under seven years of age, for whom
application had been made. Further, there are exceedingly few institutions
in the kingdom, in which infant orphans are received, and provided with
scriptural education. Further, it has been repeatedly brought before me,
how desirable it would be to establish also in this city an orphan-house
for male children, and there were even the above-mentioned articles sent
for little orphan boys. Partly, then, on account of these reasons; and
partly, because the Institution already opened will be quite filled in a
few days, and applications continue to be made; and partly, because the
Lord has done hitherto far above what I could have expected: I have at
last, after repeated prayer, come to the conclusion, in the name of the
Lord, and in dependence upon Him alone for support, to propose the
establishment of an Infant-Orphan-House. It is intended to open this
Institution, as soon as suitable premises and individuals, to take care of
the children, &c., have been obtained.
a. It is intended to receive into this Infant-Orphan-House destitute male
and female infants bereaved of both parents, from their earliest days up
to the seventh year, and to provide them with food, clothing, needful
attendance, and Scriptural education.
b. It is intended to let the female children stay up to the seventh year
in the Infant-Orphan-House, and then to remove them to the Institution
already opened, till they are able to go to service.
c. It is also intended, as far as the Lord may help, to provide for the
boys, when they are above seven years, though we cannot at present say in
what manner.
In proposing the establishment of this second Orphan-House, I do it in
the same simple dependence upon God alone, as in the case of the former.
And feeling my own weakness, and knowing that it is not in my power to
give faith to myself, I ask the brethren to help me with their prayers,
that my faith may not fail.
6. To avoid misunderstandings, I would expressly state, that both the
last mentioned Institution, and the one already opened, are for orphan
children living in any part of the United. Kingdom.
GEORGE MÜLLER.
Bristol, May 18, 1836.
June 3. From May 16 up to this day I have been confined to the house, and
a part of the time to my bed, on account of a local inflammation, which
keeps me from walking. Almost every day during this time I have been able
to continue writing a narrative of the Lord's dealings with me, which had
been again laid aside after May 7, on account of a number of pressing
engagements. It is very remarkable, that the greatest objection against
writing it for the press was want of time. Now, through this affliction,
which leaves my mind free, and gives me time, on account of confinement to
the house, I have been able to write about 100 quarto pages. May the Lord
in mercy teach me about this matter!
June 8. I am still getting better. The abscess is now open. This
affliction has been, by the mercy of the Lord, an exceedingly light one.
Not one day have I had severe pain, and not one day have I been kept
altogether from working. June 9. I was able to go again today to the
Orphan-House, and to read the Scriptures with the children. This day came
three more children, who have made up our number, so that there are now
thirty in the house.
June 11. I am, by the mercy of God, still getting better, but, as yet,
unable to walk about. All this week I have been again enabled to go on
writing for the press. June 12. Today the Lord very kindly allowed me to
preach again, and that most undeservedly, and much sooner than I could
have expected. June 14. This morning, brother C-r and I prayed unitedly,
chiefly about the schools and the circulation of the Scriptures. Besides
asking for blessings upon the work, we have also asked the Lord for the
means which are needed; for on July 1, 17l. 10s. will be due for the rent
of school-rooms, and, besides this, we want at least 40l. more to go on
with the circulation of the Scriptures, to pay the salaries of the
masters, &c. Towards all this we have only about 7l. I also prayed for the
remainder of the 1000l. for the Orphan-House.
June 18. We have had, for many weeks past, generally little money for our
personal expenses, which has been a trial to us, not on our own account,
but because we have thus been able to do but very little for the poor
brethren. Today, Saturday, we have 3s. left, just enough to pay for a fly
to take me to and bring me back from Bethesda tomorrow, as I am unable to
walk. This money we should not have had, but for our baker, a brother, who
refused today to take money for the usual quantity of bread, which we
daily take.
June 21. This evening brother C-r and I found, that the Lord has not only
been pleased to send us, through the offerings which have come in during
the last week, in answer to our prayers, the 17l. 10s. which will be due
for the rent of two school-rooms on July 1st, but that we have 5l. more
than is needed. Thus the Lord once more has answered our prayers.
June 25. Saturday. We have been again helped through this week, as it
regards our personal need, and have 3s. left, though we had many shillings
to pay for driving about. Now the Lord has put it into the hearts of some
of His children, to provide me with a fly every Lord's-day, as long as I
may need it.
July 1. Today a suit of new clothes was given to me, which came very
seasonably. May this fresh instance of the Lord's loving-kindness lead me
to love Him more; and may He also be pleased richly to reward those
brethren, who have thus ministered to my need! July 16. Today a brother
sent me a new hat, the seventh which in succession has been given to me.
July 28. For some weeks past we have not been able to pay the salary of
the masters and governesses a month in advance, but have been obliged to
pay it weekly. Brother C-r and I have lately prayed repeatedly together
respecting the funds, but we were now brought so low, that we should not
have been able to pay even this weekly salary of the teachers, had not the
Lord most remarkably helped us again today. For besides 1l. which was
given to us, this evening a brother gave 8l., which sum had been made up
by a number of his workmen paying weekly one penny each, of their own
accord, towards our funds. The money had been collecting for many months,
and, in this our necessity, it had been put into the heart of this brother
to bring it. My faith has been greatly strengthened through this
circumstance. For before today, though I have never been in the least
allowed to doubt the Lord's faithfulness, I did not understand His purpose
in His dealings with us of late, in not sending us more than we have
needed just to be kept from stopping; and I have sometimes thought,
whether it might not be His will, on account of my want of faithfulness in
His work, to decrease the field; but now I see, that notwithstanding my
unworthiness, His allowing us to pray so frequently, was only that the
deliverance might be felt so much the more when it came.
July 29. This evening from six to half-past nine we had again a meeting
for inquirers. There came twelve fresh cases before us, and there were six
more than we could see. Thus we saw, that the work of the Lord, even as it
regards conversion, is still going on among us.
October 1. Today, in dependence upon the Lord alone for means, we engaged
a brother as a master for a sixth day school. Last Saturday, for the first
time, we were so low in funds, that we needed 1l. more than we had, to pay
the salaries a week in advance; but one sister, on account of the death of
her father, as we afterwards learned, was kept from calling for her money,
and on the next day we received more than was needed to pay her. On
account, therefore, of the many deliverances which we have had of late, we
have not hesitated to enlarge the field, as another boys' school was
greatly needed, there having been many applications for admission standing
these several months past.
October 5. This evening 25l. was given to me for the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution. Thus the Lord has already given the means of defraying the
expenses of the new boys' school for some months to come.
October 19. Today, after having many times prayed respecting this matter,
I have at last engaged a sister as matron for the Infant-Orphan-House,
never having been able, up to this day, to meet with an individual who
seemed suitable: though there has been money enough in hand for some time
past for commencing this work, and there have been also applications made
for several infant orphans.
October 25. Today we obtained without, any trouble, through the kind hand
of God, very suitable premises for the Infant-Orphan-House. If we had laid
out many hundred pounds in building a house, we could scarcely have built
one more suitable for the purpose. How evident is the hand of God in all
these matters! How important to leave our concerns, great and small, with
Him; for He arranges all things well! If our work be His work, we shall
prosper in it.
November 30. On account, as I suppose, of many pressing engagements, I
had not been led for some time past to pray respecting the funds. But
being in great need, I was led yesterday morning, earnestly to ask the
Lord, and in answer to this petition a brother gave me last evening 10l.
He had had it in his heart for several months past, to give this sum, but
had been hitherto kept from it, not having the means. Just now, in this
our great necessity, the Lord furnished him with the means, and we were
helped in this way. In addition to this 10l., I received last evening a
letter with 5l., from a sister whom I never saw, and who has been several
times used by God as an instrument to supply our wants. She writes thus:
"It has been so much on my mind lately to send you some money, that I feel
as if there must be some need, which the Lord purposes to honour me by
making me the instrument of supplying. I therefore enclose you 5l., all I
have in the house at this moment; but if you have occasion for it, and
will let me know, I will send you as much more." Besides these two
donations, I received today 3l. 3s.
December 15. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving
respecting the Infant-Orphan-House, which was opened on November 28. In
the morning we had a prayer-meeting. In the afternoon, besides prayer and
thanksgiving, I addressed the children of our day-schools and the orphans,
about 350, on Ecclesiastes xii. 1. In the evening I gave a further account
of the Orphan-Houses, commencing from the time when the last printed
account had been issued, dated May 18, 1836. The substance of this account
was printed, and is reprinted here for the sake of those who are as yet
unacquainted with it.
Further account of the Orphan-House for Female Orphans above Seven Years
of Age; and Opening of the Infant-Orphan-House, for destitute Male and
Female Orphans under Seven Years of Age.
It is now a twelve-month since the proposal for the establishment of an
Orphan-House was first made. Since then the Lord has given me almost all I
requested of Him, and in some respects even more. This was in part stated
in the last two papers which were printed on this subject dated January
16, and May 18, 1836. Of the 1,000l. which I had asked of God on December
5, 1835, I had actually received on May 18, 1836, 450l. 13s. 6 3/4d.; and
besides this, 70l. had been promised by two brethren. As it regards
premises, articles of clothing, furniture, &c., I had received even beyond
my petition. I have now the pleasure of detailing, still further, how God
has continued to answer my prayer since May 18, 1836.