2. In anonymous offerings in money, put up in paper and directed to me,
and put into the boxes for the poor saints
or the rent, at the chapels . . 191 1 11 ½
3. In presents in money, from believers in
Bristol, not given anonymously. . 143 12 10
4. In money, from believers not residing
in Bristol . . . . . 854 2 7 ½
-----------
£697 11 5
-----------
Some of my readers may be ready to exclaim, 697l. 11s. 5d.! What a large
sum! Not one out of a hundred ministers has such a large salary, nor one
out of twenty clergymen such a good living! Should you, esteemed reader,
say so, my reply is: Indeed mine is a happy way for the obtaining of my
temporal supplies; but if any one desires to go this way, he must--
1. Not merely say that he trusts in God, but must really do so. Often
individuals profess to trust in God, but they embrace every opportunity,
directly or indirectly, to expose their need, and thus seek to induce
persons to help them. I do not say it is wrong to make known our wants;
but I do say it ill agrees with trust in God, to expose our wants for
the sake of inducing persons to help us. God will take us at our word.
If we say we trust in Him, He will try whether we really do so, or only
profess to do so; and if indeed we trust in Him, we are satisfied to
stand with Him alone.
2. The individual who desires to go this way must be willing to be rich
or poor, as the Lord pleases. He must be willing to know what it is to
have an abundance or scarcely anything. He must be willing to leave this
world without any possessions.
3. He must be willing to take the money in God's way, not merely in
large sums but in small.--Again and again have I had a single
shilling given or sent to me. To have refused such tokens of Christian
love, would have been ungracious.
4. He must be willing to live as the Lord's steward.--If any one
were to begin this way of living, and did not communicate out of that
which the Lord gives to him, but hoard it up; or, if he would live up to
his income, as it is called, then the Lord, who influences the hearts of
His children, to help him with means, would soon cause those channels to
be dried up. How it came that my already good income still more
increased, so as to come to what it is, has been stated in the early
part of this volume; it was when I determined that, by God's help, His
poor and His work should more than ever partake of my means. From that
time the Lord was pleased more and more to intrust me with means for my
own purse. I request the reader carefully to read over once more all I
have said in the first volume of this Narrative, third part, from page
575 to 604, on Matthew 6, 19-21, on Matthew 6, 33, and on
"Stewardship."
Various reasons might have kept me from publishing these accounts; but I
have for my object in writing, the glory of God, and therefore delight
in thus showing what a loving master I serve, and how bountifully He
supplies my necessities; and I write for the comfort and encouragement
of my fellow believers, that they may be led to trust in God more and
more, and therefore I feel it due to them to state, how, even with
regard to this life, I am amply provided for, though that is not what I
seek after.
Further account respecting the intended Orphan Houses for Seven Hundred
Poor Children, bereaved of both parents by death, from May 26, 1855, to
May 26, 1856.
On May 20, 1855, I had in hand for this object 23,059l. 17s. 8 ¼ d., as
stated in the last chapter on this subject. I now relate how the Lord
was pleased to supply me further with means, but must confine myself,
for the sake of brevity, to some of the more remarkable donations.
June. 20. A silver medal "given to the donor for being engaged in the
taking of Java; but he desires to lay down his honour at the feet of the
Lord Jesus, and to have this medal used to lay a stone in the new
building."
Aug. 4. From S. S. 5l., with 5l. for the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures, 5l. for Missions, and 5l. and the following articles for the
support of the Orphans: A pair of gold mounted bracelets, a pair of jet
bracelets, an iron watch guard, a pair of iron bracelets and waist
buckle, a small gold seal, a ring, 2 pencil cases, a gold brooch, a
purse and some mock pearls and beads.
Aug. 22. From Devonshire 100l.
Nov. 21. From Ipswich 2l., "The property of a dear child now in
heaven."
Nov. 23. From London 50l., with 5l. for the circulation of Bibles and
Tracts, 5l. for the Schools, 10l. for Missions, 10l. for the Orphans,
10l. for Mr. Craik, and 10l. for my own expenses.
Dec. 5. This evening I had the kind offer, unsolicited, that all the
glass required, for about 300 large windows in the new house, which is
now being built, should be gratuitously supplied. It is worthy of notice
that the glass was not contracted for, this time, as in the case of the
house already built. This, no doubt, was under the ordering of our
Heavenly Father, who knew beforehand that this offer would be made.
Jan. 10, 1850. From Liverpool: A ring set with a brilliant, a gold
bracelet, a Maltese bracelet, a brooch, a Maltese silver clasp and belt,
a garnet ring, a pair of gold ear-rings, a box of whist markers, and
German cross and chain.
Feb. 19. Now at last the Lord has been pleased, in answer to many
prayers, to give me today 3000l., which being left to my disposal for
the work of the Lord, I took for the Building Fund 1700l., for the
support of the Orphans 300l., and for Missionary objects, the
circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and the support of the
various Schools in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution
1000l. How I feel at such times cannot be described, when in
answer to many prayers, the Lord is pleased to
open His bountiful hands, and to prove so abundantly how willing He is
to listen to the supplications of His children who put their trust in
Him, though it may be needful, for their own good and that of others,
that for a season He seem but little or not at all to regard their
supplications.
March 18. Received 4000l., which was left at my disposal as the work of
the Lord might require it. I took of this sum 3000l. for the Building
Fund, and 1000l. for Missions, the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and
the various schools, supported by the Institution.--This donation is
the fruit of many prayers, and of much looking to the Lord for answers.
His holy name be magnified for it. I am thus drawing nearer and nearer
the time when I shall have obtained from the Lord everything needed for
this object. I have not had, from the beginning, by God's grace, one
moment's doubt, that in His own time, He would give me all that is
required.
May 26. By sale of a publication in French 3l.--By sale of a
publication in English 69l. 1s. 10d.--To these donations is to be
added 911l. 8s. 1d., received during this year for interest.