produce of the work of a sister, and 2s. from a poor afflicted
sister. This 6s. 6d. was very precious in my esteem, because it
showed me afresh our Fathers heart towards us, and it was a little
to begin the day with. No more has come in this morning, when at
twelve I heard from the Orphan-Houses that 1s. 6d. had been received
for knitting, and that about eleven this morning a sovereign was
left, anonymously, at the Girls-Orphan House. The paper in which the
sovereign was enclosed contained only the letters "A. U. S."--This was
a precious deliverance. We have thus enough for today.--Evening.
There came in still further today for knitting 3s., and a little girl
sent 1s. When I came home this evening, I found that a boys jacket
and a sovereign had been left anonymously at my house. Truly, these
deliverances today have been very precious! We have now enough for
tomorrow also.
Nov. 14. Trowbridge. Saturday. That which came in the evening before
last supplied our need yesterday; but since then nothing has been
received, and therefore there were no means to meet this days
demands. I had to go this morning in the Lords service to
Trowbridge, feeling assured that His time had now come for my going,
and it required indeed looking at the power, wisdom, and love of our
Father, comfortably to leave my dear fellow-labourers, there being
nothing in hand. My comfort was that the same kind Father who had
provided would provide.
Nov. 16. Trowbridge. Monday. This morning I received a letter from
Bristol, in which I was informed that on Saturday came in 12s. 6d;
also 9s. was given by one of the labourers. Besides this were
received 3s. by sale of articles, and three small donations,
amounting to 5s. Thus the Lord most mercifully sent in 1l. 9s. 6d.,
which was enough to supply the absolute need.
Nov. 17. Trowbridge. This morning I had again the report from Bristol
about yesterday, in order that, though unable to send means, I might
help with my prayers. In a note written in the morning by brother B.,
and sent to my wife, he writes thus: "I know not whether the Lord has
sent in any money for the Orphans or not. I have received none.
Sister ---- (one of the labourers) has given half a ton of coals to
the Boys-Orphan-House.
There are coals needed at the Girls-Orphan-House, and much money for
the ordinary expenses. There is sufficient in all the houses for
dinner. He has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so
that we may boldly say, the Lord is MY helper." In the afternoon of
the same day he writes: "I have delayed writing as long as I could.
The Lord has not sent any thing, but the sisters can do without
taking in bread, and they had money enough to pay for the milk,
except sister ----, who has, however, received a few shillings for some
articles of her own, that she sold. Thus we are supplied with the
absolute necessities for today." In reference to the last lines I
make a few remarks. At first sight it might appear as if it were a
failure of the principles on which we act, that now and then
individuals who are connected with the work have been obliged to sell
articles of their own to procure things which were needed. But let it
be remembered, that under no circumstances prayer for temporal
supplies can be expected to prevail with the Lord, except we are
willing to part with money or any needless articles which we may have
of our own. Indeed an Institution like the one under my care should
not be carried on by any rich believer, on the principles on which
we, by grace, are enabled to act, except it be that he were made
willing himself to give of his own property, as long as he has any
thing, whenever the Institution is in real need.
Nov. 18. Bristol. This morning at twelve I returned from Trowbridge,
where I had been very happy, and where the Lord evidently used me
this time. How happy a thing it is to go and to stay with the Lord!--I
found that yesterday some money had been put into the orphan-box at
my house, which my wife had reason to believe was at least 1l. She
therefore sent 1l. which had come in for the rent of the
Orphan-Houses, in consideration of this, as she had not the key to
the box. This 1l. met the necessities of yesterday, and with 1s.
additional, which one of the labourers gave, was also enough for the
dinner of today. There came in also yesterday from Clapham, as a
token that the Lord allows us only to be poor for the trial of our
faith, but not in anger, the following articles of clothing: 6
frocks, 7 pinafores, 4 chemises, 3 pocket handkerchiefs, 2
petticoats, 3 night caps, 4 work bags (all new) a yard of merino, and
12 silk papers. On my arrival at home I opened the box in my house,
in which I found 2l. 0s. 6d., so that I had 1l. 0s. 6d. to send off,
whereby the usual quantity of bread could be taken in.
Nov. 19. Since Sept. 18, 1838, this has been, perhaps, of all the
days the most trying. The poverty has been exceedingly great for the
last six days. There had come in no money since yesterday. On this
account no bread could be taken in, as far as the natural prospect
went. Nor was there any money at three in the afternoon to take in
milk for tea, when brother B. came to me. However, we prayed
together, and the Lord had mercy. For one of the labourers found that
he was able, which he knew not before, to give of his own 10s., so
that there were the means to take in the milk, by the time that it is
usually brought. This evening about six there came in still further
10s. 3d. by the sale of Reports. Thus, by the good hand of our God
upon us, we were able to take in bread as usual. How very kind of the
Lord that He sent us an abundance of potatoes and two large sacks of
oatmeal, before this season of deep poverty, as to pecuniary means,
commenced! May the Lord now in great pity look upon us, for we are in
deeper poverty than ever, as with every day it increases, whilst
there is no full deliverance. Thanks be to the Lord that my mind has
been in peace this day also, though our faith has been so very much
tried! Thanks to Him that my mind is in peace now, though there is
nothing but want on every side before me, respecting tomorrow!
Surely, the Lord will again, in His own time, more fully stretch
forth His helping hand!
Nov. 20. Nothing more had come in this morning. It was nearly three
oclock this afternoon, when brother B. called on me, to see whether
any thing had come in; but I had received nothing. I was obliged to
go out with a brother from Devonshire, and therefore requested him to
wait till I returned. About a quarter past three I came back, when,
among several persons who were waiting at my house to converse with
me, there was a sister whom I much desired to see about some church
affair. I did so. When I had ended the conversation with her, about
half-past three, she gave me 10l. for the Orphans. More sweet, and
more needed, were none of the previous deliverances. Language cannot
express the real joy in God which I had. I was free from, excitement.
The circumstance did not un-fit me even for a single moment to attend
to my other engagements. I was not in the least surprised, because,
by grace, my soul had been waiting on God for deliverance. Never had
help been so long delayed. In none of the houses was milk for tea,
and in one even no bread, and there was no money to purchase either.
It was only a few minutes before the milkman came, when brother B.
arrived at the Orphan-Houses with the money. Yet even now it was more
than an hour before the usual tea time. The Lord be praised for this
deliverance! Such a week of deep poverty, as we have had since Nov.
13, we never had before. Yet, thanks to the Lord! we have lacked
nothing, and we have been kept from dishonouring Him by unbelief. I
further notice respecting this day, that before this 10l. was
received there was sent to the Infant-Orphan-House a cart load of
clumps of wood, when there were neither coals, nor money to buy any.
Nov. 21. Saturday evening. The 10l. which came in yesterday afternoon
is all expended. Again I have not a penny in hand. We are, however,
brought to the close of another week, and have now, a little at
least, replenished our provision stock; and should the Lord permit us
to enter upon another week, He will surely provide according to our
need.
Nov. 22. Lords day. The Lord has been again mindful of our need, and
has sent us in the means to meet the demands of two days. Besides the
1l. 10s. which came in for rent, a brother gave me this morning two
sovereigns, a sister from a distance sent it., and a brother, who
spent this day with us, put 12s. 6d. into the box at my house, which
our need soon brought out.
Nov. 23. This evening were given, after all the money had been again
disbursed, 2 gold rings, 5 small silver coins, a silver ring, 5
silver studs, a silver buckle, a pair of ear-rings, a necklace, and a
little box.
Nov. 25. As only 3s. 6d. had come in for knitting since the 22nd, we
were now again very poor. The boxes in the Orphan-Houses were opened,
but only 1s. was found in them. In this our poverty 6l. came in this
afternoon for some of the articles which had been sent from Stafford
on Oct. 3rd, and which had been sold some time since. This money had
been expected for some time, but came in only now, in this our great
need. In the evening came in still further 2l. from the East Indies.
Nov. 26. Today were sent from Newport, near Barnstaple, 2 rings, a
brooch and 4s.
Nov. 27. This morning I received 4l. from a sister in Dublin, before
we were really in need; but this donation came very seasonably to
meet the large demands of tomorrow, Saturday, for which there is
nothing in hand. There was also taken out of the boxes in the
Orphan-Houses, this afternoon, 2l. 12s. 6d.
Nov. 28. Saturday. There has come in again 1l. today. Thus the Lord
has bountifully supplied our need during this week, always sending
the means without allowing us to be so deeply tried as during the two
previous weeks.
Nov. 29. The Lords loving hand has again today provided richly for
the Orphans, for at least two days. There came in altogether 6l. 19s.
6d.
Dec. 1. Today we were so poor as to the Orphan-Fund, that we should
not have been able to meet the demands of the day; but the Lords
loving heart remembered us. There came in this morning 5l. 7s. for
some of the articles which were sent some time since from Stafford. I
have purposely again and again mentioned how the help, which the love
of some saints at Leeds and Stafford sent, delivered us, that it
might be manifest that those donors were directed by the Lord in this
matter.
Dec. 2. When today there was again but little money in hand, because
of the disbursements of yesterday, D. C. brought me 2l., which his
wife a sister had saved out of housekeeping, for the benefit of the
Orphans. About an hour, after I had received this 2l., there was
sent, in two post-office-orders, 6l. 4s. 6d. by a sister, being the
produce of the sale of some trinkets; of which sum one half is to be
used for the benefit of the Orphans, and the other half for my own
personal necessities. Thus the Lord has by this donation also
provided for myself and family, when we were in much need.
Dec. 5. Saturday morning. Yesterday afternoon a sister left two
sovereigns at my house for the Orphans. The Lord in the love of His
heart, remembered our Saturdays necessities, and sent in this
supply; for there was only 18s. 6d. in hand when this money came, and
2l. 12s. is needed for this day. Evening. As there was now again only
6s. 6d. in hand, I gave myself to prayer, and immediately after I had
risen from my knees, 1l. 5s. 6d. was given to me, for things which
had been sold, being chiefly articles which had been sent from
Stafford. There was also a flute left anonymously at my house, this
evening.
Dec. 6. Today there came in still further 2l. 2s. 6d.
Dec. 7. Again 1l. 11s. has come in.
Dec. 9. Morning. This is the last day of the fifth year of the Orphan
work. Hitherto the Lord has helped us! This morning there was only
1l. 1s. 9d. in hand, but 1l. 7s. was needed for the supply of today.
I therefore opened the box in my house, in which 2s. 6d. was found.
This 1l. 4s. 3d. I sent off to the Orphan-Houses. Evening. There came
in during this day 1l. 6s. 6d.; out of this I had to pay away 1l.
2s., so that now, at the close of the year, though the balance
amounts to 15l. 0s. 6 1/4d., there is only 4s. 6 1/4d. in hand, as
the rest has been put by for the rent, which is due up to this time.
With this 4s. 6 1/4d. we have now to commence the sixth year, leaning
upon the living God, who most assuredly during this year also will
help us in every way, as our circumstances may call for it.
At the close of these details (with reference to the year from Dec.
9, 1839, to Dec. 9, 1840) I make a few remarks in connexion with them.
1. Though our trials of faith during this year also have been many,
and recurring more frequently than during any previous year, and
though we have been often reduced to the greatest extremity, yet the
Orphans have lacked nothing; for they have always had good nourishing
food, and the necessary articles of clothing, etc.
2. Should it be supposed by any one in reading the plain details of
our trials of faith during this year, that on account of them we have
been disappointed in our expectations, or are discouraged in the
work, my answer is, that the very reverse is the fact. Such days were
expected from the commencement of the work; nay, more than this, the
chief end for which the Institution was established is, that the
Church of Christ at large might be benefited by seeing manifestly the
hand of God stretched out on our behalf in the hour of need, in
answer to prayer. Our desire, therefore, is not that we may be
without trials of faith, but that the Lord graciously would be
pleased to support us in the trial, that we may not dishonour Him by
distrust.
3. This way of living brings the Lord remarkably near, He is, as it
were, morning by morning inspecting our stores, that accordingly He
may send help. Greater and more manifest nearness of the Lords
presence I have never had, than when after breakfast there were no
means for dinner, and then the Lord provided the dinner for more than
one hundred persons; or when, after dinner, there were no means for
the tea, and yet the Lord provided the tea; and all this without one
single human being having been informed about our need. This moreover
I add, that although we, who have been eye witnesses of these
gracious interpositions of our Father, have not been so benefited by
them as we might and ought to have been, yet we have in some measure
derived blessing from them. One thing is certain, that we are not
tired of doing the Lords work in this way.
4. It has been more that once observed, that such a way of living
must lead the mind continually to think whence food, clothes, etc.,
are to come, and so unfit for spiritual exercises. Now, in the first
place, I answer, that our minds are very little tried about the
necessaries of life, just because the care respecting them is laid
upon our Father, who, because we are His children, not only allows us
to do so, but will have us to do so. Secondly, it must be remembered,
that, even if our minds were much tried about the supplies for the
children, and the means for the other work, yet, because we look to
the Lord alone for these things, we should only be brought, by our
sense of need, into the presence of our Father, for the supply of it;
and that is a blessing, and no injury to the soul. Thirdly, our souls
realize that for the glory of God and for the benefit of the church
at large, it is that we have these trials of faith, and that leads
again to God, to ask Him for fresh supplies of grace, to be enabled
to be faithful in this service.
5. My hearts desire and prayer to God is, that all believers, who
read this, may by these many answers to prayer be encouraged to pray,
particularly as it regards the conversion of their friends and
relations, their own state of heart, the state of the Church at
large, and the success of the preaching of the gospel. Do not think,
dear reader, that these things are peculiar to us, and cannot be
enjoyed by all the saints. Although every child of God is not called
by the Lord to establish Schools and Orphan-Houses, and to trust in
the Lord for means for them; yet there is nothing on the part of the
Lord to hinder, why you may not know by experience, far more
abundantly than we do now, His willingness to answer the prayers of
His children. Do but prove the faithfulness of God. Do but carry your
every want to Him. Only maintain an upright heart. But if you live in
sin; if you wilfully and habitually do things, respecting which you
know that they are contrary to the will of God, then you cannot
expect to be heard by Him. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear me: but verily God hath heard me; He hath attended
to the voice of my prayer." Psalm lxvi. 18, 19.
6. As it regards the children of God, who by the labour of their
hands, or in any business or profession, earn their bread,
particularly the poorer classes of them, I give my affectionate yet
solemn advice, to carry into practice the principles on which this
Institution is conducted, as it regards not going in debt. Are you in
debt? then make confession of sin respecting it. Sincerely confess to
the Lord that you have sinned against Rom. xiii. 8. And if you are
resolved no more to contract debt, whatever may be the result, and
you are waiting on the Lord, and truly trust in Him, your present
debts will soon be paid. Are you out of debt? then whatever your
future want may be, be resolved, in the strength of Jesus, rather to
suffer the greatest privation, whilst waiting upon God for help, than
to use unscriptural means, such as borrowing, taking goods on credit,
etc., to deliver yourselves. This way needs but to be tried, in order
that its excellency may be enjoyed.
On Dec. 14, 15, 16, and 25, we had public meetings, at which the
account of the Lords dealings with us during the last year, in
respect of the Orphan-Houses, Schools, etc., was given, for the
benefit of any who desired to come. The preceding part of the
Narrative gives the substance of what was stated at those meetings,
in reference to the many answers to prayer which the Lord has granted
to us during the past year. There are a few points more, which may be
of interest to the believing reader, and which were then mentioned,
which I shall now add.
1. There have been, during this year also, six Day Schools for poor
children, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, all of
which have been established by us.
Besides this, the rent for the school room of a seventh School,
carried on by a sister, who is known to us, has been paid and two
other such Schools, out of Bristol, have been assisted with Bibles
and Testaments.
The number of all the children that have had schooling in the Day
Schools through the medium of the Institution, since its formation,
amounts to 2216; the number of those at present in the six Day
Schools is 303.
These Day Schools have defrayed, by the payments of the children,
about the sixth part of their own expenses.
2. There is one Sunday School entirely supported by the funds of the
Institution.
3. There has been since the formation of the Institution one Adult
School connected with it, in which, on the Lords day afternoons,
since that time, about 150 adults have been instructed.
This School has been discontinued at the close of this year, and
instead of it it is purposed to have a regular Evening School for
adults who cannot read. It is purposed to instruct them for about an
hour and a half in reading and writing twice a week, and afterwards
to read the Scriptures for a short time to them, and to bring the
truth before them. The School will commence at seven oclock in the
evening, and the instruction will be altogether free.
4. The number of Bibles and Testaments which have been circulated
through the medium of the Institution, during the last year, amounts
to 452 copies.
There have been circulated, since March 5, 1834, six thousand and
forty-four copies of the Scriptures.
5. There have been laid out during the last year, of the funds of the
Institution, 120l. 10s. 2d. for Missionary purposes.
6. There are at present 91 Orphans in the three houses. The total
number of the Orphans who have been under our care from April 11,
1836, to Dec. 9, 1840, amounts to 129.
I notice further the following points in connexion with the
Orphan-Houses.
1. Without any one having been asked for any thing by us, the sum of
3,937l. 1s. 1d. has been given to us, as the result of prayer to God,
since the commencement of the work. 2. Besides this also, a great
variety of provisions, clothes, furniture, etc. 3. Though there has
been during this year as much, or more sickness, in the
Orphan-Houses, than during any previous year; yet I own to the praise
of the Lord publicly, that it has been very little, considering the
number of the children.
For the future we purpose, according to the time, means, etc., which
the Lord may be pleased to give us, to attend to a fifth object, the
circulation of such publications, as may be beneficial, with the
blessing of God, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. We
purpose either to buy or print tracts for unbelievers, and to sell
them, or have them distributed, as opportunity maybe given; and to
buy or print such publications, for circulation, as may be
instrumental in directing the minds of believers to those truths
which in these last days are more especially needed, or have been
particularly lost sight of, and which may lead believers to return to
the written word of God.
THE BLESSING OF THE LORD UPON THE WORK IN REFERENCE TO THE SOULS OF
THE CHILDREN.
1. During the last fourteen months there have been meetings purposely
for children, at which the Scriptures have been expounded to them. At
these meetings an almost universal attention is manifested by them,
which I thankfully ascribe to the Lord, and upon which I look as a
forerunner of greater blessing.
2. During the last year three of the Sunday School children have been
received into fellowship.
3. At the end of last year there had been eight Orphans received into
communion: during the present year fourteen have been received: in
all twenty-two.
4. Of those two who died during this year, one was an infant, and the
other a girl about twelve years old. The latter, on the whole, a well
behaved child, was for months ill in consumption before she died. The
nearer she came to the end of her life, the greater was the
solicitude of those under whose care she was, respecting the state of
her heart, as she was evidently unprepared for eternity. But now we
saw, what never had been witnessed in any other of the children to
such a degree. This, on the whole, naturally amiable, meek, and quiet
child, manifested not merely complete indifference to the truth, the
nearer she came to the close of her life; but also showed much
aversion, and, as far as she could, great enmity to the truth. At
last she was evidently dying, yet altogether unprepared for death. In
this state all the Orphans in the Girls-Orphan-House were assembled
together, and the awful state of this dying child was pointed out to
the unbelieving Orphans as a warning, and to the believing Orphans as
a subject for gratitude to God on behalf of themselves, that they, by
grace, were in a different state; and it was laid on their hearts to
give themselves to prayer for their dying companion. The labourers in
the work were sustained to hope still, and to pray still, though
Charlotte Lee remained opposed to the truth while in this dying
state. However, unexpectedly she lived ten days longer, and about two
days before her death she was so altogether different, that we have
hope in her end.