1, Through anonymous offerings in money,
put up in paper, and directed to me,
and placed in the boxes for the
poor saints, or the rent,
at the two chapels. £117 11 9
2, Through presents in money,
from believers in Bristol, not given
anonymously 56 0 6
3, Through presents in money,
from believers not residing in
Bristol . .
. . 81 14 6
4, In presents in provisions, clothes,
etc., worth to us at least 12 0 0
£267 6 9
To this is to be added, that, for the first two months and six days of
this year, my expenses, and those of my dear wife, during our stay in
Germany, were met, as also our traveling expenses back, as stated in.
the third part of my Narrative. Also during the whole of this year a
Christian lady gave to our dear child board and schooling without any
remuneration, a present worth to us not less than 50l. On this point I
cannot help making a few remarks. I had clearly seen it to be the will
of God that my daughter should be brought up at school, and not at home.
My reasons for it were these: 1, My dear wife, though well qualified, to
instruct our daughter, so far as knowledge goes, was unable, on account
of being engaged as my wife in a variety of things connected with the
Lord's service, to give herself uninterruptedly to this work; and to
do it partially we judged to be injurious to our daughter. 2, I had seen
instances in which a home education, for an only child, had turned out
very badly. 3, I judged that the mixing with other children would be
beneficial to our daughter, provided that intercourse was under proper
oversight; as thus a child is in early life introduced into a little
world, and things do not all at once come upon a young person, when at
last obliged to leave the parental roof. 4, But that which most of all
led me to this decision was, that, as in the Church of Christ the Lord
has qualified the members of the body for the performance of certain
work, and all have not the same gift and service, so, in the same way,
certain believers are called and qualified above others, for instructing
children, and give themselves to this particular service, and that,
therefore, I ought to make use of the qualifications of such, and of
their having given their whole time to this particular service.--
These reasons led us to place our dear daughter at school, instead of
educating her at home, and we have never had cause to regret the step we
took, but on the contrary, have had abundant reason to praise God for it
I have purposely made these remarks, as I am fully aware that some
believers have different views on this subject, and I desire to serve
them with the measure of light and experience I have obtained.
After our daughter had been at school for half a year, I asked for the
account, when it was stated to me by the Christian lady in whose
establishment she was, that she had a pleasure in educating her
gratuitously. However, as I pressed the matter, I obtained the account.
It was paid, but the exact sum was returned to me anonymously, which, of
course, I found out at once to be from the Christian sister at whose
school my daughter was. From that time I could never more obtain the
account, though my dear child was about six years longer at school. I
refer to this point for this especial reason: God had laid it on my
heart to care about poor destitute Orphans. To this service I had been
led to give myself; He, in return, as a recompense even for this life,
took care that my own beloved child should have a very good education,
free of expense to me. I was able, and well able to pay for her
education, and most willing to do so; but the Lord gave it gratuitously;
thus also showing how ready He is, abundantly to help me and to supply
my wants.
January 6, 1845. Today I received the most painful information that a
false teacher from Switzerland had found his way among the brethren and
sisters at Stuttgart, and that through him several, yea almost all, to a
greater or less degree had been drawn aside, and shaken as to the very
foundations of their faith.
I cannot describe how bitter the trial was to me to see the Lord thus
dishonoured, and my painful service for seven months during the previous
year, to all appearance, entirely frustrated. The Lord, however, laid
these brethren and sisters on my heart in prayer, so that I was day by
day enabled to bring them before God, and also to resolve, that, as soon
as my path was made plain, I would go again to Stuttgart for a season.
May 3, 1845. I have seen it more and more clearly of late, that the time
is drawing near, when I shall go again to Germany, to labour there for a
time; for the brethren who had fallen into grievous errors are now
recovering out of them, but need a helping hand to restore them fully,
or at least to confirm them in the truth. In addition to this I purpose
to publish some tracts in German. But though it is now four months,
since I have been daily praying respecting this object, I never had been
led to ask the Lord to give me means for it, because I felt assured,
that, when His time was come for me to go, He would provide the means;
and also because I had never felt myself led to pray about it. Today,
however, I asked the Lord that He would provide the means for all that
is necessary in connexion with this service; and I had a secret
satisfaction in feeling that so much was required, i.e. means for the
journey to and fro, means for our stay there, means for the publication
of Tracts, means to be left behind for the work in Bristol, to supply
the need at least for a time, for I did not wish to go, unless it were
the Lord's will, and if so, He would give the means. Now see how the
Lord dealt with me! About a quarter of an hour after 1 had been in
prayer with my dear wife respecting this object, and I had now, for the
first time, asked Him for means to carry it out, though for four months
we had daily prayed together respecting spiritual success in this
service, I received a letter containing an order for 500l. In the letter
this was written:
"I enclose * * * * 500l., which will be more useful in your hands than
in mine. I mean it in the first place for all that is needed preparatory
to and attendant upon your journey to Germany, and, whatever the surplus
may be, you will apply as you find there is need in the different parts
of service under your care." Thus the Lord has fully answered our
requests for means, and that so speedily!
On July 19th my dear wife and I left Bristol for Stuttgart. As the
letters, which I wrote to the church in Bristol, in which I gave some
account of my labours on the Continent, have been preserved, I give them
here, as they will furnish the reader with an outline of the Lord's
dealings with me during that period.
Stuttgart, Aug. 16, 1845.
To the Saints, meeting in the name of the Lord Jesus at Bethesda and
Salem Chapels, Bristol.
Dear Brethren,
It is today four weeks since we left you. As I know that your love to us
would like to know how the Lord has been dealing with us since, and as I
have abundant reason to speak well of Him on account of His goodness and
mercy to us since our departure; I gladly relate to you how it has been
with us since we left Bristol It was on Saturday afternoon, July 19th,
that we started for London. On the next day, the Lord's day, I
ministered twice in London, as also on Monday evening. I was much helped
in doing so, especially on the evening of the Lord's day and on Monday
evening, and I could not but recognize the hand of the Lord even in
this, with reference to my leaving Bristol for a season. On Monday and
Tuesday we were much occupied in procuring our passports, and on
Wednesday at twelve o'clock we went on board the steamer for Ostend.
The Lord mercifully carried us over the sea, although we were both very
sea-sick, and about five o'clock the next morning we went on shore at
Ostend. Having in a very little time, without any difficulty, obtained
our luggage out of the Customhouse, we left by the first train for
Cologne, at half-past six, travelled all that day, a distance of about
240 miles, and reached Cologne between nine and ten o'clock in the
evening. We then travelled either in the Rhine steamers, on the
rail-road, or in an omnibus, the four following days also, yet so that
we arranged to have time to ourselves, and reached Stuttgart about eight
o'clock on Monday evening, July 28th. Of the journey I would mention
no more, than that on the last day we travelled with a most lovely and
gracious brother, an English clergyman from Sussex, with whom, after two
or three hours I was so one in heart, that on getting out of the
omnibus, in which we travelled together about 30 miles, in order to walk
up a long hill, we walked together arm-in-arm. It was most refreshing to
our spirits to find so lovely a brother in this dark land. We spent a
few hours together at Stuttgart, and then this dear brother left for the
neighbourhood of Munich, the capital of the kingdom of Bavaria, where
his family is for a season.--I had written from Bristol to one of the
brethren at Stuttgart, Brother M, an Englishman, to look out for furnished
lodgings for us, and I
therefore called on him the next morning, July 29th, to see how far he
had succeeded. I now learned that he had made every inquiry for me, and
also advertised in the paper, and applied at an intelligence office, but
that he had heard only of three apartments, and even these were
unfurnished; for all the lodgings which were to be had were occupied by
the deputies of the people, a sort of Parliament in Wirtemberg, who have
once every three years their assemblies, and who had been for the last
six months assembled in Stuttgart. This was no small difficulty, as to
stay at an hotel would have been very expensive, especially just now, as
the assembly of the deputies has made a great difference in the hotels
also. However, our comfort was, that, as we had come in the name of the
Lord, and according to His bidding, and that, after having daily prayed
about the matter since the latter part of November last year, He would
help in this thing also. We now went to the only lodging out of the
three which was at all likely to suit; but we found that this was only
to be had on Nov. 10th, and not now, a lady having taken a whole floor
of seven rooms, and wishing to let two of them. We saw the two rooms
which had been offered, found them furnished, and asked to whom they
belonged, when we learned that they were in the use of the owner of the
house, who had sold the house, but would have the use of these rooms, as
well as those in which he lived, till Nov. 1st. 1 now affectionately
asked him, whether he would not let an have these rooms for a time,
offering to pay any price, and give the money before-hand, as I was a
stranger to him. He said he would consider it with his wife a few hours.
My dear wife and I now gave ourselves to prayer, that, if it were good
for us, the Lord would be pleased to incline the hearts of these persons
to let us have those two rooms, but I told Him, at the same time, that I
should not now press the matter further, having offered what I had; for
after all He might have another place for us, where. He wished us to be.
After two or three hours I went again, and as we required little as to
attendance, and were of quiet habits, and required little alteration to
be made in the way of furniture, these persons agreed to let us have
those rooms; and that same afternoon we were able to leave the hotel and
enter our lodging. And now hear the Lord's goodness in this
particular. The dear persons with whom we lodge are both Christians, who
are most kind to us, and obliging in every way. Their servant also who
waits on us is a most kind person. The house is in a healthy and quiet
situation, and not far from our meeting-place, though without the city
gates. In a word, we could not have wished better lodgings. And how did
we get them? Because all the apartments, usually let out as lodgings,
were occupied by these 90 or 100 gentlemen of the Parliament. Moreover,
to this house we came, through a mistake having been made; for the rooms
we now live in were only intended to be let on Nov. 10th. More, the
persons with whom we live are evidently wealthy persons, a surgeon who
has retired from his profession, and his wife, and who never had let
lodgings. Oh! how kind of the Lord, to let circumstances be as they
were, in order that we might, through this very difficulty, obtain such
a dwelling-place. Daily we feel the comfort of living with Christians,
though these dear persons belong to the State Church. May this little
matter lead us all, dear brethren, to leave all our affairs in the hands
of our loving Father; He arranges matters as they are best for us.--
During the first three or four days in Stuttgart, I was especially poor
and needy, and required every particle of courage not to be overwhelmed
by the state of things here. Everything seemed most dark. On Tuesday
evening when I went to the meeting, there were but eight present, and
all I saw and heard gave me the impression of spiritual desolation,
resulting from that false teacher from Switzerland having come among the
brethren here. In addition to this, my dear wife was taken very ill
during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, July 29 to 30, so that for
two days she kept her bed, and only on the fourth day was pretty well
again. It was the result of sea-sickness and the great fatigue of the
journey, I think. But the Lord had mercy and brightened the prospect by
increasing my faith. In addition to this, circumstances looked better
almost immediately after my arrival, and I was constantly comforted by
the knowledge, that only according to the Lord's will we were here,
and that He would not have sent us, if He had not some purpose to be
accomplished by it. The first thing that occurred was, that, in answer
to our many prayers in England, on the journey, and here, and also in
answer to your prayers, dear brethren, the police gave me permission to
stay here, a thing which, looking at it naturally, could not have been
expected. Still, this had always been my hope, because to Stuttgart I
felt to be my mission. The next thing was, that the moment my arrival
became known, the poor scattered sheep were again drawn together, and
other persons also, believers and unbelievers, came to the meetings, so
that the first evening it was known I should hold a meeting, there were
about 20 persons present, and since then there have been repeatedly 40
and upwards. This is a small number for England, but large here, and for
our position in particular. The next thing was, our landlady told me
that every Monday afternoon a number of pious females met at her house,
for two or three hours, to knit stockings for the Moravian missionaries,
and requested me to come and speak to them. This I now do every Monday
afternoon, expounding the Scriptures to 20 or 25 of these females and
our landlord and to an aged brother, who has been in the habit of
attending these meetings. This is a new field entirely, and something
else to show how the hand of God was in the matter of our lodgings.
Still more. On the last two Friday evenings I have attended a meeting,
at which about 150 persons, belonging to the State Church, meet
together, most of them probably converted, and the others either seeking
the Lord, or religiously inclined. To this meeting I have gone for
love's sake, to show that I really desire to be united, in spirit,
with all who love our Lord Jesus. Now at this meeting also, I have had
opportunity to speak both times. In future also, the Lord willing, I
purpose to go to this meeting, and to embrace the opportunity which thus
I may have of speaking what may be suitable under the circumstances. The
character of the meeting is not in every way that which is according to
the Holy Scriptures, but these dear brethren must be borne with, in
order to help them on. About 8 brethren sit round a table, being more
intimately known to each other. They lead the whole meeting as to
prayer, giving out a hymn, proposing the portion of the Word of God for
consideration, &c. They make remarks on it, and all the other 100 or
200, or more or less, that may be present, listen. As I had called on
one of these leading brethren, he asked me to sit at that table, and
thus I have the right of speaking, which yet must be used very wisely,
as these dear children of God may be able to bear it. But even if I were
not to speak at all, my very presence would do good, with God's
blessing, as they would see that I am desirous of being united with all
who love our Lord Jesus; and I cannot but hope that thus prejudices will
wear away, they will come to our meetings, and read my book. The
Continent is not like England. Every particle of progress one is able to
make here, is highly to be prized. The state of things is most
interesting here. Infidelity is most awfully showing itself,
regardlessly trampling under foot God's word, and shamelessly and most
impudently denouncing the whole as a fabrication; but, on the other
side, there is evidently an inquiry after truth, and a seeking to know
the truth from the Scriptures themselves, and a beginning to be
dissatisfied with cold dead forms. The Lord also begins to work for us
in other respects. The parliament of Wirtemberg has also publicly
considered the matter of the brother and sister who would not be married
at the State Church, and have recommended to the government of the
country to consider the matter once more, and also to grant to us the
privilege of being able to marry, without going to the State Church, as
they had already granted us "the administration of the Lord's Supper
and Baptism," as they call it. Thus, with God's blessing, help will
come in that way also; and I cannot but hope that this poor little
gathering here, in which the devil has recently made such havoc, will
yet be to the praise of the Lord, and to the benefit of His church in
the German States.--God has blessed my being here in bringing brother
R. out of the errors into which he had fallen, having been led away by
that false teacher from Switzerland; but this brother reaps now bitterly
the fruits of his want of watchfulness: that dear young sister who was
converted while I was here before, his youngest daughter, is among those
persons in Switzerland, and another of his daughters is engaged to one
of these persons--Oh! how important, dear brethren, carefully and
prayerfully to compare what we hear with the Word of God. Five days
following, three times each day, this false teacher held meetings, and
thus overpowered these dear saints completely; for they had no time left
to consider and to pray over, and compare with the Holy Scriptures, what
they heard, as, in addition to three meetings a day, they lasted till
after 11 o'clock at night.--I now attend eight meetings every week.
Sunday mornings at nine o'clock, exposition of the Word, and in the
afternoon at two we meet for the breaking of bread. The dear brethren
have gone back to these unsuitable hours. On Monday afternoon at three
the exposition of the Scriptures to those who meet together to knit for
the missionaries, and on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 8 to 10
o'clock, Scripture reading meetings, with the saints only who break
bread. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings from eight to half-past nine,
public exposition of the Word. And on Friday evening from half-past
eight to a quarter before ten, I meet with the brethren who belong to
the State Church. Besides this, my time has hitherto been much occupied
in seeing brethren and sisters privately and the rest of my time,
besides prayer and meditation, for my own soul and the work, has been
occupied in preparing tracts for the press. Five are already finished. I
have translated into German: "The love of God to poor sinners," "The
Serpent of brass," and "The two thieves;" and I have written myself two
tracts, on "Lydia's conversion," and "The conversion of the jailer at
Philippi." In this work I purpose to continue, the Lord willing, while
we remain here, either writing or translating tracts, and then seeking
myself, as much as I can, whilst here, to circulate them--Oh! help me,
beloved brethren, yet more and more with your prayers in all this
important service. My position here is more important, and more
interesting than ever; for God, "who comforteth those who are cast
down," has comforted me, after the first three days of trial, and has
given me a larger field for service than I had before.--We remember
you daily in prayer, and gladly do so, and shall be truly glad to return
to you, as soon as we can see it to be the will of the Lord. Farewell,
beloved brethren. My dear wife sends to you her love in Christ. Should
any of you wish to write to me, I shall be glad to hear from you; but
please to write on very thin paper, on account of the heavy postage. The
letters may be left at my house.
Your affectionate brother and servant in the Lord,
George Müller.
Stuttgart, Sept. 13, 1845.
To the Brethren in Christ, meeting in the name of the Lord Jesus at
Bethesda and Salem Chapels, Bristol.
My dear brethren,
It is eight weeks today since we left Bristol, and we have still
abundant reason to say, that goodness and mercy have followed us every
day. This I have in particular also to say in reference to the last four
weeks, even since I wrote to you last. As we desire your thanksgiving to
the Lord for His goodness to us, and as we earnestly crave the
continuance of your prayers, I write again, especially also as I judge
that your love will be desirous of knowing further particulars about us
and the work of the Lord in my hands. Since I wrote to you, I have
continued to attend eight meetings a week, that is, three for exposition
of the Scriptures at our usual in meeting-place on Lord's day mornings
and Tuesday and Thursday evenings; the breaking of bread on the Lord's
day evenings (as we have altered the hour from 2 in the afternoon to 8
in the evening); two Scripture reading meetings on Monday and Wednesday,
at which, as well as at all our other meetings, there is given to every
brother as much room for prayer, as there may be a desire for it. Then I
attend two other meetings a week, among believers or inquirers who are
in connexion with the State Church, one on Monday afternoon at the house
where we live, which has increased from about ten to about forty. At
this meeting I lead entirely, and am the only speaker. Then there is
every Friday evening another meeting, at which about 150 persons
assemble, which I have continued to attend, and where I have regularly
spoken, together with other brethren. The shyness which there was at
first is evidently wearing off, and last evening, when I took leave of
them, having been there for the last time before our departure, the
brethren were quite cordial. In addition to this, the Lord has opened
another new and important field. At the house of an elderly lady of
title, of one of the ancient noble families of this kingdom, there is a
meeting for ladies who work for charitable purposes. This meeting I have
also been requested to attend for the purpose of expounding the
Scriptures, whilst the ladies work. I was there last Tuesday afternoon,
and shall be there again, the Lord willing, neat Tuesday. To all who
attend this meeting I have therefore an opportunity of giving a copy of
my Narrative in German, about forty in all, as well as a copy of the
eleven tracts which I have published, and thus the truth, with God's
blessing, may be carried into the higher circles of this city, if not of
this kingdom. Truly, the Lord gave, at the beginning of my sojourn here,
to everything apparently the death-blow, that He might give me a larger
field than I had had before. Still it is even now but little in
comparison with England, yet it is much for Germany. Indeed I have now
as much work day by day as I can do. Persons from the establishment come
to see mind converse with me, and I might visit as many as I have time
and strength for, and many more, and should be welcome.
Sept. 14. Thus far I had written yesterday morning, when a pious
gentleman of rank called on me, who, with his wife, feels the deepest
interest about the work of the Lord in Bristol, of which they have
gathered information through my Narrative in German. This gentleman has
been this morning to our poor meeting place also, and has invited me to
his house to meet his friends. Thus a new opening has been given. The
remainder of yesterday was spent in seeing visitors, and the evening I
spent among brethren belonging to the State Church.--I have now been
able to publish eleven different Gospel tracts in German. They are as
follows; 1."The love of God to poor sinners," translation from the
English, 4 pages. 2. "The Serpent of brass," translation, 4 pages. 3.
"The two thieves," translation, 8 pages. 4. "Lydia, the seller of
purple," written by me, 4 pages. 5. "The jailer at Philippi," written by
me, 12 pages. 6. "The four most important questions answered," written
by me, 12 pages. 7. "Grace," translation, 4 pages. 8. "The poor man's
best medicine," translation, 6 pages. 9. "Almost and Altogether,"
translation, 6 pages. 10. "What is a Christian?" translation, 6 pages.
11. "A just God and a Saviour," translation, 6 pages.--Of each of
these tracts twenty thousand copies have been printed, there are
therefore two hundred and twenty thousand copies ready to be used by the
Lord. I tell you all these particulars, dear brethren, that you may now
help me with your prayers, that God may be pleased to use and bless
them. The especial intention respecting these tracts is, to state the
Gospel in a plain and distinct way. Now one of my particular reasons for
leaving you for a season, and labouring here was, to publish these
tracts, and to circulate myself as many of them as I could. The latter I
am now about to do in the following way. I have had a box made which
will hold about thirty thousand tracts. This box will be filled and
fastened behind the conveyance which I purpose hiring. Our portmanteaus
and other packages, as much as room permits, will be filled with copies
of my German Narrative. Thus stored we purpose to leave on Wednesday or
Thursday, Sept. 17 or 18, giving to each person we meet on the road a
tract, and giving away in the towns and villages as many as may be wise,
without raising a mob around us. In addition to this, as far as
opportunity may allow, I purpose to speak with persons on the road. In
this way we purpose to travel on, day after day, giving away tracts, and
also my Narrative, so that in every village and town, of a journey of
500 or 600 miles, at least a few copies of my Narrative will be left,
besides giving them to passengers on the road, and as many tracts as we
can. In order to fill our stores again, I purpose to send to Frankfort a
large bale of tracts and books before us, also to Eisleben, where Luther
was born, and to Cassel. In this way I hope to be able to give away
about 900 copies of my Narrative, and fifty or sixty thousand tracts. In
addition to this, I am seeking to place with trustworthy brethren in
this country, in Switzerland, and in Prussia, smaller quantities, to be
given away as opportunity may occur. Our route, as far as I can see at
present, will be this: To Heilbronn, Heidelberg, Darmstadt, Frankfort,
Fulda, Erfurt, Eisenach, Eisleben. The last place will be the furthest
part of our journey. Then we mean to return towards England by way of
Nordhausen, Gottingen, Cassel, Elberfeld, Dusseldorf, and Cologne. The
whole tour may take from 20 to 25 days, travelling day after day. All
this I write to you, earnestly asking your prayers for us, on account of
the following particulars: 1. That the Lord would be pleased so to
strengthen us in body, as that we may be able to continue travelling day
after day for 20 days or more. 2. That the Lord would be pleased to give
us suitable and kind drivers, that we may not have difficulty in our
work in that way. 3. That the police may not be permitted to obstruct
our service. 4. That our own souls may not suffer through this work, but
rather be benefited. 5. That the Lord would be pleased to direct the
Tracts and Narratives into the hands of those very persons whom He means
to bless by them.
6. That He would also be pleased to allow the weather to be of that
kind, if it seem good to Him, that our work may not be hindered.--
Great unforseen hindrances and difficulties we may meet with in this
service, yet it has now been with me the subject of prayer for several
months, and in the name of the Lord I enter upon it.--The especial
reason why I go towards the North of Germany is, because there this
service is mostly needed, and there my Narrative is not at all, or
scarcely at all known, as the 200 copies which I sent to a beloved
brother in those parts for circulation, he could not conscientiouisly,
as he says, circulate; I therefore mean myself to circulate the book
there. And further, in those parts public meetings in abundance are
held, in which the foundation truths of the Gospel are openly attacked
by persons who call themselves "the Friends of Light." There then I mean
to distribute among the common people as many thousands of Tracts as I
can.--Germany is in great agitation. Light is increasing, there is a
shaking in establishments; but there infidelity is also increasing, as
well as democracy in politics. I watch with deep interest the state of
things in Germany, and were not my position in Bristol what it is, I
should remain longer here; but I judge it well to be back again, if the
Lord prosper our way, about the 12th of October. Gladly should I have
written many more Tracts, they are also greatly needed, especially on
subjects which are more particularly of importance for believers; but I
cannot now stay longer, and must leave it to a time when the Lord may
honour me again to labour for a season in Germany.
Sept. 15. Yesterday I was again interrupted by visitors, so that I could
not finish my letter. The gentleman, who called the day before
yesterday, called again also yesterday. He was Professor of Medicine in
the University of Moscow in Russia, and President of the Evangelical
Consistory in that City. He seems deeply interested in the service in my
hands. He was twice yesterday at our poor meeting place, and has invited
me this evening to his house to meet some friends of his, clergymen and
others. Last evening there were present at the meeting for the breaking
of bread about 40 persons; besides those who broke bread. Our departure
is now fixed for Thursday, Sept. 18th; but after a dry season for 4 or 5
weeks, the Lord has now sent rain, and we are entirely in His hands as
to the weather, as a rainy season ill suit our intended service; but our
Lord, whose work it is, and not ours, will order this matter also as it
shall be for His glory and our welfare. I reckon, beloved brethren, on
the continuance of your prayers. We also, by the grace of God, continue
to remember you day after day. We shall be glad indeed to behold your
faces again, and yet we desire to be happy here, because we are in our
Lord's work: and indeed we are happy here also, though so far absent
from the hundreds of dear saints whom we have so much reason to love.
The little church here consists of 19, of whom 6 do not live in this
city, but in two villages at some distance, who can only from time to
time come to the breaking of bread. That which they especially now need
is, that one or more brethren should labour among them, and I would
particularly commend this matter to your prayer, that the Lord would be
pleased to appear on their behalf in this particular; for it is not
likely that things will go on well among them without pastoral care and
without oversight. In some little measure order has now been restored
among them, and I hope that the coming of that false teacher among them,
nine months since, will finally be used by the Lord for their
furtherance. And now, greatly loved brethren, farewell. May the Lord, as
we continually pray, give to each of you according to your individual
need. My dear wife, who helps me much in the work here in one way or
other, sends her love in Christ to you.
Your affectionate brother and servant in our Lord,
George Müller.
Cassel, Capital of the Electorate of Hesse Cassel, Oct. 1, 1845.
To the saints, assembling in the name of the Lord Jesus at Salem and
Bethesda Chapels, Bristol.
My very dear brethren,
I long to tell you of the Lord's goodness to us, since last I wrote
you, and though this letter may reach you only three or four days before
our arrival among you, still I would wish you to help us in praising the
Lord for His goodness to us. I now record His kindness in our service,
as far as I remember it, from the day where my last letter heft off. I
think it was on Sept. 15th that my last letter was finished. On that
afternoon I had the last meeting among the working females in my house.
It had then increased to at least sixty, from about 10 at the beginning.
The evening of that day I spent among gentlemen and ladies of Stuttgart,
at the house of a gentleman who had invited me. There the Lord gave me
opportunity of testifying for Him about 2 hours and a half. The next
afternoon I had a meeting at which about 25 ladies were working for
charitable purposes, at the house of a lady of title. To these and to
their absent friends, I gave a copy of my Narrative, 40 in number, as
well as a copy of each of the 11 Tracts which I have published. Thus,
with the Lord's blessing, the Narrative and the Tracts may work among
the higher or highest classes of the kingdom of Wirtemberg. I simply
mention this to show, dear brethren, what open doors the Lord has given
me, after the apparent death-blow upon everything at the beginning. How
important that we should not be discouraged by appearances in the
Lord's service! On the same evening the last public meeting among the
brethren at Stuttgart was attended by about 80 persons more than any
previous time, either at this or my former visit. Thus also the Lord
gave still further encouragement. On the following day, Wednesday, Sept.
17th, I took leave of various believers, not in communion with us; among
the rest, of two pious clergymen at Stuttgart, who treated me most
kindly. This day was occupied with making all the arrangements for our
journey, as I had to send many thousands of tracts before us to several
places, not being able to carry in our carriage all the books and
tracts, which we hoped to circulate on the journey. In the evening that
gentleman called once more to see me, in whose house I had spent the
Monday evening, and with whom I had become acquainted a few days before,
and who, since then, had attended all our meetings. I think I told you
before, that he was Professor of Medicine at the Russian University at
Moscow, and also President of the Protestant Consistory in that city.
This dear brother takes a deep interest in my service, and has offered
to circulate 50 copies of my book, and 50 copies of each of the 11
tracts. We parted like old friends.--Our prayer had been for a
suitable carriage, and an obliging driver, on which so much of our
service depended; but we were so occupied, that I could only order a
carriage on the morning of our departure, Thursday, Sept. 18th, and the
Lord most signally answered our prayers; for we obtained a driver who
was one of a hundred. He drove us three days, and was most obliging, so
that we could not have desired a better driver; the carriage also was as
if made for our work. At 10 o'clock on Thursday morning we set out,
furnished with many thousands of tracts, and about 24,000 sent before
us; also carrying with us about 450 copies of my Narrative, and having
to take up 350 copies on the way. About 350 copies I was able to
circulate at Stuttgart whilst there. I should also say that I found
several brethren with whom I could leave smaller quantities of tracts
for circulation at Stuttgart and else-where, especially an English
brother, Dr. M., who lives at Basle, and who spends his whole time in
circulating religious books and tracts, written in German and French.
This brother came, three days before our departure, to Stuttgart, so
that I could arrange with him. Indeed step by step has the Lord
prospered me in my feeble endeavours, mixed with sin as every one of
them has been, and made it manifest, that, this time also, He bad sent
me to Germany. On Thursday, September 18th, then, we set out, and while
yet driving through the city of Stuttgart I began giving away tracts,
thus to begin the service at once, lest my hands should be weakened
through delay. Whilst going on, we continued offering tracts to the
passengers on the road, and giving away now and then a copy of my book,
and seeking especially to put some copies of it into every village and
town. Thus we went on the first day from Stuttgart to Heilbronn, a
distance of about 35 English miles. All went on most quietly. We were
able to give away many hundreds of tracts, and about 50 copies of my
Narrative, and to a few persons I had the opportunity of speaking a
little. The second day's journey was from Heilbronn to Heidelberg. In
the large towns we went on most quietly, lest there should be a running
together of the people, and the appearance be a political disturbance.
On this account I never give away tracts and books in towns, but on the
road, or just before I come to towns, or after I have passed through
them. Yet now and then I have also given them away in towns in a quiet
way; for instance, by going to a baker's shop, and buying a trifle and
then giving a book. The second day from Heilbronn to Heidelberg we went
on as before in our service, but in the afternoon we were tried in
spirit. We observed a carriage at a distance behind us, with a gentleman
in it, and his coachman before. He stopped more than once to converse
with the people to whom I had given tracts. At last he obtained sight of
my book also. Thus he kept on driving behind us. Our nerves were greatly
tried by this. By the grace of God we were willing to suffer for His
name's sake, even greatly, in this work; yet this matter greatly tried
us, not knowing what the result might be. At last the carriage drove
before us. Then it stopped, and the gentleman lifted himself up, to have
a full look at me, then he ordered his coachman to drive on, and they
were soon out of sight. The next thing to be expected was, that in the
next town the police would stop us in our service. However, we continued
the work, and at last arrived at Heidelberg, without having been
stopped, and having given away more books and tracts than even on the
previous day. The steady even course of service, under all difficulties,
without any one's encouragement, and with the discouragement of many,
requires not a little faith! We felt how weak our faith was! The third
day's journey was from Heidelberg. We continued again our blessed
service. I had opportunity this day to put my Narrative and tracts into
the hands of ladies and gentlemen as well as poor persons. Our
opportunities for service were very many this day, and things went on
quietly in the morning. In the afternoon, however, we were even more
tried than the day before. We had travelled through Wirtemberg and also
the Grand Duchy of Baden, and were now in the country of
Hesse-Darmstadt, when I gave some tracts to some lads of a Grammar
School, whom we met before a town. But these lads followed us,
accompanied the carriage through the whole town, and some distance out
of the town, ridiculing us. We sat quiet, saying nothing at all. Then I
was addressed by a mail-guard who had seen me give away tracts and
books, and who, having stopped the mail, asked for tracts for himself
and the passengers, but evidently in a sneering way. This carried the
news of our service before us, as the mail went much faster than we, and
therefore our work was known in the next place, and a man ran out on our
arrival to ask for books, and in consequence of this the attention of
persons was arrested. Nevertheless the Lord helped us to continue the
work, though somewhat tried in mind, being aware how much such work is
opposed on the Continent. A little while after, a light wagon drove
quickly after us, and as I was walking by the side of the carriage, up a
hill, a man got out, joined me, and asked for a tract. He then said:
"Who has allowed you to distribute these books?" I replied. "Nobody, but
I am a servant of Jesus, and I desire to serve my Lord. If, however, you
can show me that what I am now doing is against the laws of the country
I will give it up. As far as I am aware, it is not." He then asked me,
what religion was contained in the tracts. I said not any one in
particular, but that there were in them the truths of Christianity,
about which alone I cared, as I did not design by these books to
increase any particular party. A few words more of this kind passed, and
he then left me, drove on before us, and presently turned off from the
turnpike road into a little bye road in the wood, where he stopped and
read the tract which I had given him, which was, "The conversion of the
jailer at Philippi." I went on as before with the work, not tried in
spirit, but yet my nerves were much affected by it. We meant only to
have gone that day as far as Darmstadt, the capital of Hesse-Darmstadt,
but I engaged the driver 15 miles further, to Frankfort-on-the-Main, in
order that we might be out of the dominion of Hesse-Darmstadt, if
through the mail-guard, or the last-mentioned person, who, to judge from
his dress, was a government officer, the matter should be coming before
the magistrates. At Frankfort we arrived after ten on Saturday evening,
Sept. 20th, having now been able for 3 days to go on with the service.
The next day, being the Lord's day, we purposed to rest at Frankfort
which we much needed for body and spirit, especially also for the sake
of asking the Lord's blessing upon the work up till then, and to ask
guidance for our future steps, mud His help and blessing for what
remained of our work. We had intended, before we left Stuttgart, to go
to Eisleben, such a distance from Frankfort, as would require 4 or 5
days more travelling, and then all the way back to Cologne. But on
account of what had occurred the two previous days, we now began again
to consider our steps, whether we should go on still further or not.
Nature wished to get back to England at once. Nature shrank greatly from
the continuance of this service. But after having strengthened ourselves
in God, we came to the conclusion, that our first purpose was of God,
and that we ought not to alter our plans, except we saw it most clearly
to be the will of God; we therefore purposed (as we could only look upon
the desire of discontinuing our tour as a temptation), to go on with our
service, till by the order of the police we were prohibited. Blessed be
God who enabled us to triumph over the temptation! But to Him is all the
praise due; for had He not strengthened us in that hour, we should have
been as those who, having put their hand to the plough, draw it back. I
now set about making arrangements for the journey, as the carriage and
horses, which I had engaged for the three previous days, had to return
to Stuttgart. Our prayer was for another suitable driver, upon which so
very much depended in our service. In this again we experienced most
evidently the Lord's willingness to answer prayer; for in the same inn
at which our Stuttgart driver had put up, it happened, by the ordering
of the Lord, that there was a driver from Cassel, the place where I am
now writing, who had taken a family to Frankfort, and who was looking
out for a job. With this coachman I agreed, to take us to Eisleben, to
stop there a day and a half, while I saw brethren in that neighbourhood,
and then to take us to Cassel. This engagement was for eight days. It
was the more kind of the Lord to allow me to find this person, as I went
from place to place in Frankfort to obtain a conveyance, but could not
succeed in that large city; and the only one I could have had, would
have been nearly twice as expensive as the one which I hired. On Monday
morning, then, Sept. 22nd, we left Frankfort, determined by the help of
God to pursue our service, and, if need be, to suffer and to endure
hardship in it. Many tracts and books also were given away this day, and
in the evening we reached Schlüchtern, a small town before Fulda. The
next day at Fulda I took up a large bale of tracts and books which I had
sent before, and on Tuesday evening we reached Vacha. Up to that time we
had had fine weather; but we reached Vacha in a heavy storm, it having
rained heavily for 2 hours, and lightened and thundered exceedingly. All
night the rain continued, and in rain we left Vacha for Eisenach. Our
service now seemed over; but yet I managed now and then to put a copy
of my book out of the carriage, when I saw an opportunity
that it could be kept pretty dry. By the time
we reached Eisenach, which stands on the foot of the hill on which is
the old castle called the Wartburg, where Luther translated the Bible,
the rain ceased and we had a fine afternoon, and in a few hours were
able to give away more than 50 books and many tracts. In the evening we
reached Gotha, capital of the small dukedom of Saxe Gotha. On Thursday,
Sept. 28th, we came as far as a small town called Arthern, and on
Friday, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, we reached Eisleben. All
these five days and a half we went on quietly in our service, none
hindering us, giving away many books and tracts. Here now we stopped two
days, had some intercourse with brethren, and then left for Cassel,
which we reached in two days and a half, arriving here last evening.
This morning I have been writing this letter and doing some other things
needful for the journey, whilst my dear wife has been all the morning
engaged in putting up tracts for the journey. If we can obtain a
suitable conveyance, we purpose to leave this afternoon on our way to
Elberfeld, and, if the Lord gives us grace, to pursue our service till
we come to the Rhine, and then by way of Ostend to cross the sea for
England, so that about 3 or 4 days after this reaches you we may have
the joy of seeing you again face to face. It will be joy to us indeed to
see you all again. Farewell, beloved brethren. My dear wife sends her
love in Christ to you all.
Your affectionate brother and servant in our Lord,
George Müller.