My advice is, 1. Commence at once, delay it not. Tomorrow begin to
rise. 2. But do not depend upon your own strength. This may be the
reason why, before this, you may have begun to rise early, but have
given it up. As surely as you depend upon your own strength in this
matter, it will come to nothing. In every good work we depend upon
the Lord, and in this thing we shall feel especially how weak we are.
If any one rises that he may give the time which he takes from sleep,
to prayer and meditation, let him be sure that Satan will try to put
obstacles in the way. 3. Do trust in the Lord for help, You will
honour Him, if you expect help from Him in this matter. Give yourself
to prayer for help, expect help, and you will have it. 4. Use,
however, in addition to this, the following means: a, Go early to
bed. If you stay up late, you cannot rise early. Let no society and
no pressure of engagements keep you from going habitually early to
bed. If you fail in this, you neither can nor ought to get up early,
as your body requires rest. Keep also particularly in mind, that
neither for the body nor the soul is it the same thing, whether you
go to bed late and rise late, or whether you go to bed early and rise
early. Even medical persons will tell you how injurious it is to sit
up late, and to spend the morning hours in bed; but how much more
important still is it to retire early and to rise early, in order to
make sure of time for prayer and meditation before the business of
the day commences, and to devote to those exercises that part of our
time, when the mind and the body are most fresh, in order thus to
obtain spiritual strength for the conflict, the trials, and the work
of the day. b, Let some one call you, if possible, at the time which
you have determined before God that you will rise; or procure, what
is still better, an alarum, by which you may regulate almost to a
minute the time when you wish to rise. For about 12s. a little German
clock, with an alarum, may be bought almost in every town. Though I
have very many times been awakened by the Lord, in answer to prayer,
almost to the minute when I desired to rise; yet I thought it well to
procure an alarum, to assist me in my purpose of rising early: not
indeed as if it could give the least help, without the Lords
blessing, for I should remain in bed, notwithstanding the noise of
the alarum, were He not to give me grace to rise; but simply looking
upon it as a means. c, Rise at once when you are awake. Remain not a
minute longer in bed, else you are likely to fall asleep again. d, Be
not discouraged by feeling drowsy and tired in consequence of your
rising early. This will soon wear off. You will after a few days feel
yourself stronger and fresher than when you used to lie an hour or
two longer than you needed. e, Allow yourself always the same hours
for sleep. Make no change, except sickness oblige you. .
Plymouth, Oct. 1. Today my soul was again especially drawn out in
prayer for the dear Orphans. I not merely asked the Lord that He
would still continue to supply their need, but I was so fully assured
that He had sent the necessary means since I last heard, that I was
enabled to praise Him for having done so. Immediately after I had
praised Him, but while I was yet on my knees, came another letter
from brother T., dated Bristol, Sept. 29, in which he writes thus:
"The Lords help has been graciously continued to us since I wrote
last. Ever since your absence, the supplies have come in so
seasonably, that I have not had occasion, until now, of opening the
boxes in the Orphan-Houses. There came in, since my last account,
from a sister 2s. 6d., with Ecclesiastes ix. 10, 1l.. 1s. 6d.,
through Mr. C. of Bath, 2l. 3s. 4d., from the boxes 14s. 6 1/2d.,
from A. M. B. 5s. Some apples besides have been given, some old
clothes, and a large bath to be sold or used. I gave on Thursday to
the sisters 10l., and today for the Boys-Orphan-House 1l. 10s. After
this I have in hand 1l. 3s. 8 3/4d., to be multiplied as the Lord
wills. I had written thus far, and was on the point of writing that
we expected sister E. home this evening, when the door-bell rang, and
sister E. came in, bringing a little packet of money, directed to
you, from Hereford, enclosing a letter and ten sovereigns "for your
labours of faith and love;" so that the remainder of the barrel of
meal has been multiplied somewhat already. It is most seasonable
help! It rejoices me that it has come in time, for you to have the
intelligence with this letter. I have in hand l9s. for the other
funds, therefore it seems well to me, if it should be needed before I
hear from you, to take only 5l. for the Orphans; but, if it pleases
the Lord to enable us to do without, I shall leave it untouched until
you write. In addition to what I have written, I have just received
10s. and 1l. 9s. 3d. How gracious!"
The time from October 6th to the 17th I spent among the brethren at
Bideford and Barnstaple, with great refreshment to my own soul, and
was also allowed by the Lord to minister to them. The whole of my
stay among the children of God in Devonshire has been very profitable
to me. May my soul not lose the blessing of it! How the Lord uses our
infirmity of body for the blessing of our souls! In my case also it
was instrumental in communicating blessing to others. I was able to
speak more frequently in public, while absent from Bristol, than I
should have done under ordinary circumstances, had I remained in
Bristol.
Barnstaple, Oct. 10. The day before yesterday I had 10s. given to me
here for the Orphans; and yesterday 3l., which came in most
seasonably, as will appear from the following letter which I received
this evening from brother T.
Bristol, Oct. 8th, 1839.
"My dear Brother, we have continued to enjoy the gracious help of the
Lord since I last wrote to you. Nearly up to that time the supplies
had come in so seasonably, that the previous disbursements had
scarcely ever been expended, before I was again able to make a fresh
one. Since then, however, we have been twice a little straitened. On
Friday evening we were in prospect of Saturdays necessities, and had
nothing to meet them, except the money about which I was in doubt
from not having received directions from you. I had already used 5l.
out of the 10l. which had been sent, and now, after waiting till it
was actually needed, we thought it an indication, as none had been
sent, that this should all go to the Orphan-Houses. On Monday again
more money was needed than I had in hand, but we were in expectation
of help. After dinner, as nothing had come in, I thought it well to
open the boxes, thinking, that, although I had opened them so
recently, I had no right to presume that the Lord had not had time to
pour into them. The expectation was not in vain; for in the box at
the Boys-Orphan-House I found 1l. 0s. 1 1/2d., in the box at the
Girls-Orphan-House 7s. 1d. At the latter place I met sister A. who
gave me 3s. for things that she had sold. Thus we were most
graciously helped through Monday. Then, in the evening, at the
meeting I received from sister B. 2s., and through sister C. 11s. I
had opened the box at the Infant-Orphan-House on Monday, and found it
empty. But today, finding the 13s. insufficient, and being told that
something had been put in, I opened it, and found 3s. 6d., which
nicely helped us through. And we are now looking to the Lord for
more. In the mean time I shall this morning attend to the sale of
whatever has been given to be sold. It comforts us to know you are
praying for us," &c.
The money which I had received yesterday and the day before yesterday
here, at Barnstaple, and two weeks ago at Teignmouth, enabled me now
to send off at once 5l.
On Oct. 17th I returned to Bristol, with renewed strength, for active
service.
Oct. 17. Bristol. The Lord has been again very gracious as it regards
the funds; for during the last three days, while I was at Barnstaple,
I received from a sister 5s., two rings, and a brooch. From another
sister a gold watch, to be sold for the Orphans. From a brother a
seal, two ear-rings, and a brooch. From a third sister sixteen books
to be sold; also 4l., the produce of a veil. From a fourth sister 2l.
10s., and from a fifth 1l., and from five others 8s. 9d. In addition
to this I found when I came home, that though my fellow-labourers had
been greatly tried a few days previous to my return, so much so,
that, when the 5l. arrived which I sent from Barnstaple, they were in
greater poverty than they ever had been; yet, within the last days,
several pounds had come in, and yesterday, over and above all this,
arrived 15l. from London for some articles which had been sent there
to be sold. What can we render unto the Lord for all His benefits!
Oct. 19. The Lord is still pouring in bountifully! This morning 10l.
was sent from Worcester, and a sister brought 7l., being the produce
of the sale of ladies baskets, which she and some other sisters are
making for the benefit of the Orphans. This last case shows what
various means the Lord uses to provide for our need; yet all comes
without one single individual being asked to give help; for to the
Lord alone we speak about our need. We are now again comparatively
rich, i. e. we have means in hand to meet the current expenses of
about eight days, which has been only two or three times the case
during the last fifteen months.
Oct. 30. A little boy brought me a letter, given to him by a
gentleman and lady in the street, as he said, to take to my house.
The letter contained these words with a five pound note: "The
enclosed 5l. accept for the benefit of the Orphans, in the name of
the Lord Jesus."
Nov. 5. Today an Orphan was brought from Bath, and a lady sent by her
servant, the aunt of the child, a sovereign for the Orphans, when
there was but 3s. 11d. in hand. It has been thus repeatedly, that
when orphans have been brought, and we had no money, or scarcely any,
that the Lord sent a little with these poor children. It never is
with us any question, whether there is much or little money in hand,
so far as it regards the reception of children; but only, whether
there is room.
Nov. 8. We are now again quite poor. The Lord gave us to know more
than usually from Oct. 17th to Oct. 31st what it is to abound, and
now we know again what it is to be poor. It would have been desirable
to have had 3l. today, but only 1l. 3s. 11d, was in hand, which I
sent off. In our need we were led to open the boxes in the
Orphan-Houses, which had not been done for some weeks, and in them
was found 16s. 2 1/2d. To this one of the labourers added 9s. By this
2l. 9s. 1 1/2d. we could meet those expenses which needed to be met,
and we were thus helped through the day.
Nov. 9. Saturday. 3l. 0s. 6d. was required today, in order
comfortably to meet the present demands, but not one penny was in
hand. Between ten and eleven I went to the Girls-Orphan-House, to
meet with my fellow-labourers for prayer. Only 2s. had come in. This
was all I could leave. There was every thing in the houses which was
required for the moment, and I proposed that we should meet again for
prayer in the afternoon at four. When we did so, one of the labourers
gave 8s. 6d., another 10s., another 5s. 6d., so that I had as much to
give to the matrons as would provide comfortably all the necessaries
for the children till Monday morning; only the usual quantity of
bread could not be taken in. About half an hour, after we had
separated, came in 1l. 10s., the produce of the sale of a shawl,
which a sister from Devonshire had given for that purpose some days
since. Thus we had altogether 2l. 16s., whereas when the day
commenced we had no natural prospect of any thing. This is a new
sweet encouragement. Besides this, our Father has given us another
proof of His continued care, in that twenty sacks of potatoes and a
small barrel of herrings have been sent for the Orphans.
Nov. 11. Monday morning. Yesterday, when, as just related, there was
not a penny in hand, there was given to me, with Ecclesiastes ix. 10,
ten shillings. This morning came in 1l. 10s, more, Soon afterwards a
note was sent to me from the Orphan-Houses, to say that the need of
today would be 3l. JUST WHILE I WAS READING THE NOTE I received
another, including a sovereign, which a sister from Devonshire had
given to one of the brethren for the Orphans. Thus I had just the 3l.
which was needed. A few minutes after came in 1s. more.
Nov. 12. The need of today was 2l. As only 1s. had been left in hand
yesterday, and no more than 6s. had come in, we were again in a
strait. But I was not looking at the little in hand, but at the
fulness of God. I sent off the little which I had. In the afternoon
we met for prayer. I then found that 2s. 6d. had been taken out of
the box in the Infant-Orphan-House, and that 4s. more had come in by
the sale of some old books. To this one of the labourers added 2s.
3d., all she had of her own. After prayer came in 2s. 6d., which had
been given while we were in prayer. In the evening we met again for
prayer, when another labourer gave 3s. 4d. Thus, in our deep poverty,
we got together this day 1l. 0s. 7d., which supplied our absolute
necessities. We were this afternoon so reduced, till the Lord sent a
little help, that there were no means to provide breakfast for
tomorrow, for the children in the Boys-Orphan-House.
Nov. 13. Nothing has come in. Our need is even greater today than
yesterday, on account of our not having been able yesterday to take
in the usual quantity of provisions. In this our need I packed up the
books, which had been intended for sale on Aug. 22, when the Lord
sent such a rich, supply, before they were actually disposed of. To
them one of the labourers added some of his own, and a few other
articles. Also some old jackets, which had been sent, were packed up
to be disposed of. At twelve I met with my fellow-labourers for
prayer.
There was every thing in the houses which was needed for dinner, but
there were no means to get milk for tea. (The children have milk and
water at tea time.) Three of my helpers went out to dispose of the
articles. At four in the afternoon I received the information that
14s. had come in, for some of the things which were disposed of. One
of my fellow-labourers had besides disposed of an article of his own
for 1l. 5s. This 1l. 19s. enabled us to take in bread as usual, and
to defray the other necessary expenses. We had never been lower in
means than yesterday and today. Yet my soul, thanks to the Lord! was
also yesterday and today in perfect peace. My helpers seem also quite
in peace. This evening I received 2s. 6d., and 11s. with Ecclesiastes
ix. 10. This little money is as precious, as at other times 100l.
would have been, because it is a fresh proof that our Father still
cares for us. The money was given to me just after I had been
speaking on these words: "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord
thinketh upon me." Whilst speaking I was able, in a measure, to
realize the preciousness of the truth contained in those words, and
after speaking my Father gave me a fresh proof that He is thinking
upon me.
Nov. 14. I took the 13s. 6d. which was given last evening, early this
morning, to the Orphan-Houses, where I found that 10s. 6d. had come
in by the sale of a Hebrew Old and a Greek New Testament, which a
brother had given who had more than one copy; and 1s. 6d. for another
book. This 1l. 5s. 6d. has been divided, in the hope that our kind
Father will remember us before the day is over, and send in more.
This afternoon, when we met for prayer, I found that 18s. more had
come in for some articles which had been sold. We have had thus 2l.
3s. 6d. this day to divide for housekeeping. By the good hand of the
Lord upon us, there has been every thing really needful. May the Lord
look upon us, and help us further! Surely, He will do it!
Nov. 15. We are still in deep poverty. Nothing had come in by four
oclock in the afternoon, when I went to meet with my fellow-labourers
for prayer. I did not go in the morning, because I knew that
there was every thing which was needed till the afternoon. When
I came I found that a sister had given 2s. 6d.; a new Bible
which one of the labourers had given, who had more than one old copy,
had been sold for 10s.; also 2s. had come in, and 1s. 4d. for some
other articles which had been sold. This 15s. 10d. supplied that
which was absolutely needed for today. We are still of good courage.
We are sure that the Lord, in His own time, will deliver us out of
the trial; for were our poverty more than a trial of faith, had the
Lord in anger shut up His hands, we should not receive any thing at
all. But this is not the case. For even this very day two sacks of
potatoes were sent by the same brother who sent twenty sacks a few
days since, with the promise to send still more. We have no means to
lay in a stock for the winter, else we should have bought, perhaps,
fifty or sixty sacks; but our kind Father does it for us. There has
been also a toy chest of drawers promised for sale.
Nov. 16. Our prayer was last evening, in particular, respecting the
necessities of today, as two days provisions would be needed, it
being Saturday. Besides this, about 2l. 10s. was needed to pay the
weekly salaries of the brethren and sisters who labour in the
Day-Schools. For all these demands there was nothing in hand, nor
have we any more needless articles to dispose of; and useful ones we
do not consider it right to sell, as our Father knows our need. When
we met about twelve oclock this morning, I found that last evening
there had been Bibles unexpectedly sold to the amount of 1l. 11s.
6d., and about 10s. had been given besides. Thus we had nearly enough
for the School-Fund. Moreover, 15s. had come in for the Orphan-Fund.
A large sea-chest was given by a brother several months since, for
the benefit of the Orphans, which had never been disposed of, and
which, in this our great need, was sold for 15s. Yet this 15s. was
needed to pay what was due for washing; and, therefore, we had still
nothing to take in provisions with. It occurred to one of the
labourers, that there might be a little advanced on his watch, of the
money which had been laid by for rent, as had once or twice before
been done; and that the watch might be sold at quarter-day, in case
there should not come in enough to make up the deficiency. Yet even
this plan we did not any longer think to be quite Scriptural, as he
needs the watch in the Lords service, and as our Lord is so kind,
that He would otherwise send us means, were it well for us. In short,
it appeared to us quite clear, that while we ought, in such a strait,
to dispose of things which we do not need, nothing ought to be
disposed of which is needed, in order that the Lords own deliverance
might be so much the more manifest. All we could think of for sale
was five pewter dishes, which had been given nearly four years ago,
but which were never used, as they were not convenient. These we
agreed should be sold. About four oclock this afternoon I received
2l. 2s., which a brother and sister had brought from Leicestershire.
With this I went joyfully to the Orphan-Houses. There I found that
9s. 6d. had come in for the pewter dishes; one of the labourers had
given 10s. for the Orphans, and 10s. for the School-Fund. (There had
come in 2s. more for the other funds. All demands were met, and there
was 1s. 6d. over.) Besides this, one of the labourers had sold a book
of his own for 4s., and another labourer gave two pairs of new
gloves, and four gentlemens stocks. One pair of the gloves had been
sold. Thus altogether had come in 4l. 2s. 3d., and therefore about
1l. 10s. more than was needed. We are now brought to the close of one
more week. This has been, perhaps, of all the weeks the most trying.
So much prayer, and so little coming in, I never knew. Yet, by the
grace of God, I was sure that help would come, after the trial of
faith was over. During the whole of this week, greatly as we have
been tried, and though twice no stock of bread could be taken in, yet
there has been nourishing food at every meal, and neither the
children nor any other person can have perceived our poverty. About
13l. has been spent even this week for housekeeping in the three
Orphan-Houses.
Nov. 18. Monday. The Lord has kindly sent in since Saturday evening
3l. 18s. 3 1/4d., and thus our need for today is supplied. On
Saturday evening the produce of an orphan-box, 5s. 1 1/4d., was
given; and last evening a sister gave two sovereigns to brother
Craik, waiting for him a long time in the chapel, till she could see
him. She might have delayed giving it till another time, as she had
to wait so long; but the Lord knew our need. There were also sent
eight sack of potatoes, by the same brother who had sent twenty-two
sacks before.
Nov. 19. As there was not enough money in hand for the necessities of
today, we were again as poor as on Saturday. Between three and four
in the afternoon the milk is generally taken in; but in the
Boys-Orphan-House there was not money enough to meet this small
expense. However, the Lord knew our need, and sent us at two oclock
13s., which helped us comfortably through the day. A sister had
purposed in her heart to give 3d. a week for the Orphans, and she
felt herself stirred up to bring the yearly amount now, in this our
extremity.
Nov. 20. This has been a day of deep poverty. Nothing but the 13s.,
above referred to, came in yesterday, which was scarcely enough to
meet yesterdays usual need. My mind, by the grace of God, was not at
all cast down; but I felt it rather trying, that the abundance of my
other engagements had not allowed me to meet with my fellow-labourers,
either yesterday or today, for prayer. This evening I had a
note from the Boys-Orphan-House, to state that a lady had
sent two dozen of boys shirts, which she had made herself, with
which she sent 5s. to get them washed. This 5s, enabled us to meet
that which was absolutely needful. [I mention here, that while our
usual current expenses are about 2l. 10s. daily for housekeeping in
the three houses; yet we might, in case of need, do for one or two
days with as little as yesterday and today, as there are generally
potatoes and meat in the house, and a stock of bread for two days, in
order that the children may eat stale bread.] Without this 5s. we
should have been unable to procure all that was absolutely needed.
This our kind Father knew, and therefore He sent it. There were also
given two quarterns of bread by one of the bakers, which made up the
usual quantity. Moreover five and a half sacks of potatoes were sent
by the brother who sent the others, making in all 35 1/2 sacks.
Nov. 21. This morning one of the labourers gave 7s., in order that
there might be means to take in milk. Between ten and eleven oclock
we met for prayer, and I found that 10s. had come in for a toy chest
of drawers, which in this our great need had been sent for sale.
Besides this 6d. had been taken out of the box in the Infant-Orphan-House.
This 17s. 6d. enabled us to provide the dinner, and to take in a
little bread in two houses, even as much as would be enough for
breakfast tomorrow; but there was 4s. 6d. needed to buy bread
for the Boys-Orphan-House, as there was only enough for today.
When we met again this afternoon, 3s. had come in, as one of the
labourers had sold a few old books. Another labourer gave 1s. 6d.,
and thus we had also the 4s. 6d., which was needed for bread. After
prayer, it was mentioned that a sister, a servant, who is out of a
situation, had been this afternoon to see the Orphan-Houses, and had
put something into the box at the Girls-Orphan-House. The box was
opened, and half-a-crown was found in it. This money was, in our deep
poverty, as acceptable as 50l. at other times might have been. We
rejoiced when we saw it, for it was a fresh proof to us, that, not in
anger, but only for the trial of our faith, we are so poor. This 2s.
6d. provides us with the means to take in milk tomorrow morning, so
that we shall have everything which is needed till after breakfast
tomorrow, but then there is neither bread, nor meat, etc. remaining
for dinner. Our comfort, however, is: "The morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof." Matt. vi. 34. We separated very happy in God, though very
poor, and our faith much tried.