fruit upon our labours as it regards the conversion of the children,
as the Lord had given to us a measure of earnestness in praying for
them. The Lord has dealt with us according to our expectations. But I
expect far more than what we have seen. While the chief object of our
work has been, and is still, the manifestation of the heart of God
towards His children, and the reality of power with God in prayer;
yet, as we hoped, and as it has been our prayer, the Lord gives to us
also the joy of seeing one child after another brought to stand
openly on the Lords side.--As far as my experience goes, it appears
to me that believers generally have expected far too little of
present fruit upon their labours among children. There has been a
hoping that the Lord some day or other would own the instruction
which they give to children, and would answer at some time or other,
though after many years only, the prayers which they offer up on
their behalf. Now, while such passages as Proverbs xxii. 6,
Ecclesiastes xi. 1, Galatians vi. 9, 1 Cor. xv. 58, give unto us
assurance not merely respecting every thing which we do for the Lord,
in general, but also respecting bringing up children in the fear of
the Lord, in particular, that our labour is not in vain in the Lord;
yet we have to guard against abusing such passages, by thinking it a
matter of little moment whether we see present fruit or not; but, on
the contrary, we should give the Lord no rest till we see present
fruit, and therefore in persevering, yet submissive, prayer, we
should make known our requests unto God. I add, as an encouragement
to believers who labour among children, that during the last two
years, seventeen other young persons or children, from the age of
eleven and a half to seventeen, have been received into fellowship
among us, and that I am looking out now for many more to be
converted, and that not merely of the Orphans, but of the Sunday and
Day School children. As in so many respects we live in remarkable
times, so in this respect also, that the Lord is working greatly
among the children in many places.
I most earnestly solicit all who know the reality of our privilege as
the children of God, even that we have power with God, to help us
with their prayers, that many more of the children may soon be
converted, and that those who have made a profession of faith in the
Lord Jesus may be enabled so to walk, as that the name of Jesus may
be magnified by them. The believing reader must know how great the
aim of Satan will be to lead those children, who, from nine years
old, and upward, have been received into fellowship, back again into
the world, and thereby seek to lead believers to give up looking for
real conversion among children.
The total of the expenses connected with the objects of-the
Institution, exclusive of the Orphan-Houses, from Nov. 19, 1839, to
Nov. 19, 1840, is 622l. 2s. 6 1/2d. The balance in hand on Nov. 19,
1840, was 13l. 2s. 9 3/4d.
The total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan-Houses,
from Dec. 9, 1839, to Dec. 9, 1840, is 900l. 11s. 2 1/2d. The balance
in hand on Dec. 9, 1840, was 15l. 0s. 6 1/4d.
Dec. 23. There was sent to us for ourselves, anonymously, a piece of
beef, which came very seasonably, as we are just now again very poor.
Dec. 26. This morning a poor brother, who, like ourselves, lives in
dependence upon the Lord for his temporal supplies, whilst serving
the Lord in the ministry of the Word, and who has been several days
staying with us, gave to my wife 3s. 6d., for our own personal
necessities, saying, that we might need it. This is indeed a most
remarkable donation, both because of the individual from whom it
came, and because of its having been given just now; for without it
we should not have been able to provide for our temporal necessities
this day.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1840.
I. As to the church.
68 brethren and sisters brother Craik and I found in communion, when
we came to Bristol.
687 have been admitted into communion since we came to Bristol.
755 would be, therefore, the total number of those in fellowship with
us, had there been no changes. But
79 have left Bristol.
55 have left us, but are still in Bristol.
44 are under church discipline.
52 have fallen asleep.
230 are therefore to be deducted from 755, so that there are only 525
at present in communion.
114 have been added during the past year, of whom 47 have been
brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us, 24 besides, though
they knew the Lord, had never been in fellowship any where; 43 had
been at some time or other in fellowship, but most of them with
saints not residing in Bristol.
II. As to the supply of my temporal necessities:
1. The Lord has been pleased to send me by the Freewill Offerings of
the saints among whom I labour, through the instrumentality of the
boxes £128 5s. 10 1/2d.
2. Through saints in and out of Bristol, by presents in money £100
5s. 1d.
3. Through family connection £8 18s. 0d.
4. In provisions, clothes, etc. worth to us at least £5 0s. 0d.
Altogether £242 8s. 11 1/2d.