HOME FOR DESTITUTE ORPHANS.
1835-1836.
FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED--REASONS
FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE
LAID UP IN HEAVEN--IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH, THE WORK IS BEGUN.
November 20. This evening I took tea at a sister's house, where I found
Franke's life. I have frequently, for a long time, thought of laboring
in a similar way, on a much smaller scale; not to imitate Franke, but in
reliance upon the Lord. May God make it plain! November 21. To-day I
have had it very much impressed on my heart, no longer merely to _think_
about the establishment of an orphan house, but actually to set about
it, and I have been very much in prayer respecting it, in order to
ascertain the Lord's mind. November 23. To-day I had ten pounds sent
from Ireland, for our Institution. The Lord, in answer to prayer, has
given me, in a few days, about fifty pounds. I had asked only for forty
pounds. This has been a great encouragement to me, and has still more
stirred me up to think and pray about the establishment of an orphan
house. Nov. 25. I have been again much in prayer yesterday and to-day
about the orphan house, and am more and more convinced that it is of
God. May he in mercy guide me!
It may be well to enter somewhat minutely upon the reasons which led me
to establish an orphan house. Through my pastoral labors, through my
correspondence, and through brethren who visited Bristol, I had
constantly cases brought before me, which proved that one of the
especial things which the children of God needed in our day, was, _to
have their faith strengthened_. I might visit a brother who worked
fourteen or even sixteen hours a day at his trade, the necessary result
of which was, that not only his body suffered, but his soul was lean,
and he had no enjoyment in God. I might point out to him that he ought
to work less, in order that his bodily health might not suffer, and that
he might gather strength for his inner man, by reading the word of God,
by meditation over it, and by prayer. The reply, however, I generally
found to be something like this: "But if I work less, I do not earn
enough for the support of my family. Even now, whilst I work so much, I
have scarcely enough." There was no trust in God, no real belief in the
truth of that word, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." I might
reply something like this: "My dear brother, it is not your work which
supports your family, but the Lord; and he who has fed you and your
family when you could not work at all, on account of illness, would
surely provide for you and yours; if, for the sake of obtaining food for
your inner man, you were to work only for so many hours a day as would
allow you proper time for retirement. And is it not the case now that
you begin the work of the day after having had only a few hurried
moments for prayer; and when you leave off your work in the evening, and
mean then to read a little of the word of God, are you not too much worn
out in body and mind to enjoy it, and do you not often fall asleep
whilst reading the Scriptures, or whilst on your knees in prayer?" The
brother would allow it was so; he would allow that my advice was good;
but still I read in his countenance, even if he should not have actually
said so, "How should I get on, if I were to _carry out_ your advice?" I
longed, therefore, to have something to point the brother to, as a
visible proof that our God and Father is the same faithful God that he
ever was,--as willing as ever to PROVE himself the LIVING GOD, in our
day as formerly, _to all who put their trust in him_.
Again, sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect
of old age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore
were harassed by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such
a case I pointed out to them how their heavenly Father has always helped
those who put their trust in him, they might not _say_ that times have
changed; but yet it was evident enough that God was not looked upon by
them as the LIVING God. I longed to set something before the children of
God whereby they might see that he does not forsake, even in our day,
those who rely upon him.
Another class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in
their souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on
their business almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The
competition in trade, the bad times, the over-peopled country, were
given as reasons why, if the business were carried on simply according
to the word of God, it could not be expected to do well. Such a brother,
perhaps, would express the wish that he might be differently situated,
but very rarely did I see _that there was a stand made for God, that
there was the holy determination to trust in the living God, and to
depend on him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained_. To
this class, likewise, I desired to show by a visible proof that God is
unchangeably the same.
Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in
professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or
persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual
things; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give
up the profession in which they could not abide with God, or to leave
their position, lest they should be thrown out of employment. My spirit
longed to be instrumental in strengthening their faith, by giving them
not only instances from the word of God of his willingness and ability
to help all those who rely upon him, but _to show them by proofs_ that
he is the same in our day. I well knew _that the word of God ought to be
enough_; but I considered that I ought to lend a helping hand to my
brethren, if by any means, by this visible proof to the unchangeable
faithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen their hands in God; for I
remembered what a great blessing my own soul had received through the
Lord's dealings with his servant A. H. Franke, who, in dependence upon
the living God alone, established an immense orphan house, which I had
seen many times with my own eyes. I therefore judged myself bound to be
the servant of the church of Christ in the particular point on which I
had obtained mercy; namely, _in being able to take God by his word, and
to rely upon it_.
All these exercises of my soul, which resulted from the fact that so
many believers with whom I became acquainted were harassed and
distressed in mind, or brought guilt on their consciences on account of
not trusting in the Lord, were used by God to awaken in my heart the
desire of setting before the church at large, and before the world, a
proof that he has not in the least changed; and this seemed to me best
done by the establishing of an orphan house. It needed to be something
which could be seen, even by the natural eye. Now, if I, a poor man,
simply by prayer and faith, obtained, _without asking any individual_,
the means for establishing and carrying on an orphan house, there would
be something which, with the Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in
strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a
testimony to the consciences of the unconverted of the reality of the
things of God.
This, then, was the primary reason for establishing the orphan house. I
certainly did from my heart desire to be used by God to benefit the
bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and seek in other
respects, with the help of God, to do them good for this life. I also
particularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans
trained up in the fear of God; but still, the first and primary object
of the work was, and still is, that God might be magnified by the fact
that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only
_by prayer and faith_, without any one being asked by me or my
fellow-laborers, whereby it may be seen that God is FAITHFUL STILL, and
HEARS PRAYER STILL. That I was not mistaken, has been abundantly proved
since November, 1835, both by the conversion of many sinners who have
read the accounts which have been published in connection with this
work, and also by the abundance of fruit that has followed in the hearts
of the saints, for which, from my inmost soul, I desire to be grateful
to God, and the honor and glory of which not only is due to him alone,
but which I, by his help, am enabled to ascribe to him.
November 28. I have been, every day this week, very much in prayer
concerning the orphan house, chiefly entreating the Lord to take away
every thought concerning it out of my mind if the matter be not of him;
and have also repeatedly examined my heart concerning my motives in the
matter. But I have been more and more confirmed that it is of God.
December 2. I have again these last days prayed much about the orphan
house, and have frequently examined my heart, that if it were at all my
desire to establish it for the sake of gratifying myself I might find it
out. To that end I have also conversed with brother Craik about it, that
he might be instrumental in showing me any hidden corruption of my heart
concerning the matter, or any other scriptural reason against my
engaging in it. The one only reason which ever made me at all doubt as
to its being of God that _I_ should engage in this work, is the
multiplicity of engagements which I have already. But if the matter be
of God, he will in due time send suitable individuals, so that
comparatively little of my time will be taken up in this service.
This morning I asked the Lord especially that he would be pleased to
teach me through the instrumentality of brother C.; and I went to him,
that he might have an opportunity of probing my heart. For as I desire
only the Lord's glory, I should be glad to be instructed through the
instrumentality of any brother, if the matter be not of him. But brother
C., on the contrary, greatly encouraged me in it. Therefore, I have this
day taken the first actual step in the matter, in having ordered bills
to be printed, announcing a public meeting on December 9, at which I
intend to lay before the brethren my thoughts concerning the orphan
house, as a means of ascertaining more clearly the Lord's mind
concerning the matter. December 5. This evening I was struck, in reading
the Scriptures, with these words: "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill
it." I was led to apply this Scripture to the orphan house, and asked
the Lord for premises, one thousand pounds, and suitable individuals to
take care of the children. December 7. To-day I received the first
shilling for the orphan house.
December 9. This afternoon the first piece of furniture was given,--a
large wardrobe. This afternoon and evening I was low in spirit as it
regards the orphan house, but as soon as I began to speak at the meeting
I received peculiar assistance from God. After the meeting, ten
shillings was given to me. _There was purposely no collection_, nor did
any one speak besides myself; for it was not in the least intended to
work upon the feelings, for I sought to be quite sure concerning the
mind of God. After the meeting, a sister offered herself for the work. I
went home, happy in the Lord, and full of confidence that the matter
will come to pass, though but ten shillings has been given. December 10.
I have sent to the press a statement, which contains the substance of
what I said at the meeting last evening. I have received a letter, in
which a brother and sister wrote thus: "We propose ourselves for the
service of the intended orphan house, if you think us qualified for it;
also to give up all the furniture, etc., which the Lord has given us,
for its use; and to do this without receiving any salary whatever,
believing that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, he will
supply all our need," etc. In the evening a brother brought, from
several individuals, three dishes, twenty-eight plates, three basins,
one jug, four mugs, three salt-stands, one grater, four knives, and five
forks.
December 12. While I was praying this morning that the Lord would give
us a fresh token of his favor concerning the orphan house, a brother
brought three dishes, twelve plates, one basin, and one blanket. After
this had been given, I thanked God, and asked him to give even this day
another encouragement. Shortly after, fifty pounds was given, and that
by an individual from whom, for several reasons, I could not have
expected this sum. Thus the hand of God appeared so much the more
clearly. Even then I was led to pray that this day the Lord would give
still more. In the evening, accordingly, there was sent, by a sister,
twenty-nine yards of print. Also a sister offered herself for the work.
December 13. A brother was influenced this day to give four shillings
per week, as long as the Lord gives the means: eight shillings was given
by him as two weeks' subscription. To-day a brother and sister offered
themselves, with all their furniture, and all their provisions which
they have in the house, if they can be usefully employed in the concerns
of the orphan house.
December 14. To-day a sister offered her services for the work. In
the evening another sister offered herself for the institution.
December 15. A sister brought, from several friends, ten basins, eight
mugs, one plate, five dessert spoons, six teaspoons, one skimmer, one
toasting-fork, one flour-dredge, three knives and forks, one sheet, one
pillow-case, one table-cloth; also one pound. In the afternoon were sent
fifty-five yards of sheeting, and twelve yards of calico. December 16. I
took out of the box in my room one shilling. December 17. I was rather
cast down last evening and this morning about the matter; questioning
whether I ought to be engaged in this way, and was led to ask the Lord
to give me some further encouragement. Soon after were sent by a brother
two pieces of print, the one seven and the other twenty-three and three
fourths yards, six and three fourths yards of calico, four pieces of
lining, about four yards altogether, a sheet, and a yard measure. This
evening another brother brought a quantity of household articles, and
told me that it had been put into the heart of an individual to send
to-morrow one hundred pounds.
December 18. This afternoon the same brother brought, from a sister, a
counterpane, a flatiron-stand, eight cups and saucers, a sugar-basin, a
milk jug, a teacup, sixteen thimbles, five knives and forks, six
dessert-spoons, twelve teaspoons, four combs, and two little graters;
from another friend a flatiron, and a cup and saucer. At the same time
he brought the hundred pounds above referred to. Since the publication
of the second edition, it has pleased the Lord to take to himself the
donor of this hundred pounds, and I therefore give, in this present
edition, some further account of the donation and the donor.
A. L. was known to me almost from the beginning of my coming to Bristol,
in 1832. She earned her bread by needle-work, by which she gained from
two shillings to five shillings per week; the average, I suppose, was
not more than three shillings sixpence, as she was weak in body. But I
do not remember ever to have heard her utter a word of complaint on
account of earning so little. Some time before I had been led to
establish an orphan house, her father had died, through which event she
had come in possession of four hundred and eighty pounds, which sum had
been left to her (and the same amount to her brother and two sisters) by
her grandmother, but of which her father had had the interest during his
lifetime. The father, who had been much given to drinking, died in debt,
which debts the children wished to pay; but the rest, besides A. L., did
not like to pay in full, and offered to the creditors twenty-five per
cent, which they gladly accepted, as they had not the least legal claim
upon the children. After the debts had been paid according to this
agreement, sister A. L. said to herself, "However sinful my father may
have been, yet he was my father, and as I have the means of paying his
debts to the full amount, I ought, as a believing child, to do so,
seeing that my brother and sisters will not do it." She then went to all
the creditors secretly, and paid the full amount of the debts, which
took forty pounds more of her money, besides her share, which she had
given before: Her brother and two sisters now gave fifty pounds each of
their property to their mother; but A. L. said to herself, "I am a
_child of God_; surely I ought to give my mother twice as much as my
brothers and sisters." She therefore gave her mother one hundred pounds.
Shortly after this she sent me the hundred pounds towards the orphan
house. I was not a little surprised when I received this money from her,
for I had always known her as a poor girl, and I had never heard
anything about her having come into the possession of this money, and
her dress had never given me the least indication of an alteration in
her circumstances. Before, however, accepting this money from her, I had
a long conversation with her, in which I sought to probe her as to her
motives, and in which I sought to ascertain whether, as I had feared,
she might have given this money in the feeling of the moment, without
having counted the cost. But I had not conversed long with this beloved
sister, before I found that she was, in this particular, a quiet, calm,
considerate follower of the Lord Jesus, and one who desired, in spite of
what human reason might say, to act according to the words of our Lord,
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." "Sell that ye have,
and give alms." When I remonstrated with her, in order that I might see
whether she had counted the cost, she said to me, "The Lord Jesus has
given his _last_ drop of blood for me, and should I not give him this
hundred pounds?" She would also have me take five pounds for the poor
saints in communion with us. I mention here particularly that this dear
sister kept all these things to herself, and did them as much as
possible in secret; and during her lifetime, I suppose, not six brethren
and sisters among us knew that she had ever possessed four hundred and
eighty pounds, or that she had given one hundred pounds towards the
orphan house.
I relate one instance more. August 4, 1836, seven months and a half
after she had given the hundred pounds, she came one morning to me, and
said: "Last evening I felt myself particularly stirred up to pray about
the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but whilst praying, I
thought, _what good is it for me to pray for means, if I do not give
when I have the means_, and I have therefore brought you this five
pounds." As I had reason to believe that, by this time, by far the
greater part of her money was gone, I again had a good deal of
conversation with her, to see whether she really did count the cost, and
whether this donation also was given unto the Lord, or from momentary
excitement, in which case it was better not to give the money. However,
she was at this time also steadfast, grounded upon the word of God; and
evidently constrained by the love of Christ; and all the effect my
conversation had upon her was, that she said, "You must take five
shillings in addition to the five pounds, as a proof that I give the
five pounds cheerfully." And thus she constrained me to take the five
pounds and five shillings.--Four things are especially to be noticed
about this beloved sister, with reference to all this period of her
earthly pilgrimage: 1. She did all these things in secret, avoiding to
the utmost all show about them, and thus proved that she did not desire
the praise of man. 2. She remained, as before, of an humble and lowly
mind, and she proved thus that she had done what she did unto the Lord,
and not unto man. 3. Her dress remained, during all the time that she
had this comparative abundance, the same as before. It was clean, yet as
simple and as inexpensive as it was at the time when all her income
consisted of three shillings and sixpence, or at most five shillings per
week. There was not the least difference as to her lodging, dress,
manner of life, etc. She remained in every way the poor handmaid of the
Lord, as to all outward appearance. 4. But that which is as lovely as
the rest, she continued working at her needle all this time. She earned
her two shillings-sixpence, or three shillings, or a little more, a
week, by her work, as before; whilst she gave away the money in
sovereigns or five-pound notes. At last all her money was gone, and that
some years before she fell asleep; and as her bodily health never had
been good as long as I had known her, and was now much worse, she found
herself peculiarly dependent upon the Lord, who never forsook her, up to
the last moments of her earthly course. Her body became weaker and
weaker, in consequence of which she was able to work very little, for
many months before she died; but the Lord supplied her with all she
needed, though she never asked for anything. For instance, a sister in
communion With us sent her, for many months, all the bread she used. Her
mouth was full of thanksgiving, even in the midst of the greatest bodily
sufferings.
December 20. A sister gave five pounds. December 21. A friend sent one
pound. Weekly subscription of four shillings. December 22. A sister gave
me one pound, and a friend sent two shillings and sixpence. December 23.
A brother gave, this evening, a piece of blind line and a dozen of blind
tassels. About ten in the evening, a gentleman brought me from an
individual, whose name he was not to mention, four pounds, of which I
was allowed to take two pounds for the orphan house, and to give the
other two pounds to poor believers. December 31. This evening we had a
special meeting for prayer and praise. There have been received into the
church, during the past year, 59. There are men in communion with us,
95. I have received for my temporal wants, in freewill offerings,
presents, etc., L285 1s. 11/4d.
During January to May of 1836, numerous donations were made of
furniture, provisions, half-worn clothing, and money (varying
from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny). Encouraged by these
_unsolicited_ offerings, Mr. Mueller determined to open the
Orphan House.
April, 21. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving concerning
the Orphan House, as it is now opened. In the morning, several brethren
prayed, and brother Craik spoke on the last verses of Psalm xx. In the
afternoon, I addressed our day and Sunday school children, the orphans,
and other children present. In the evening we had another prayer
meeting. There are now seventeen children in the Orphan House.
May 6. I have now been for some years, and especially these last few
months, more or less thinking and praying respecting publishing a short
account of the Lord's dealings with me. To-day I have at last settled to
do so, and have begun to write.
May 16. For these several weeks our income has been little; and though I
had prayed many times that the Lord would enable us to put by the taxes,
yet the prayer remained unanswered. In the midst of it all, my comfort
was, that the Lord would send help by the time it would be needed. One
thing particularly has been a trial to us of late, far more than our own
temporal circumstances, which is, that we have scarcely, in any measure,
been able to relieve the distress among the poor saints. To-day, the
Lord, at last, after I had many times prayed to him for these weeks
past, answered my prayers, there being seven pounds twelve shillings and
one farthing given to me as my part of the freewill offerings through
the boxes,--two five-pound notes having been put in yesterday, one for
brother Craik and one for me. Thus the Lord has again delivered us, and
answered our prayers, and that _not one single hour too late_; for the
taxes have not as yet been called for. May he fill my heart with
gratitude for this fresh deliverance, and may he be pleased to enable me
more and more to trust in him, and to wait patiently for his help?