ASKING AND RECEIVING.
1839.
HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS
EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--"HE KNOWETH OUR
FRAME"--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL
THINGS.
January 1, 2, and 3, 1839. We have had three especial church prayer
meetings these three days. The year commenced with mercies. _In the
first hour_ of the year there came in for the orphans two pounds seven
shillings, which was given after our usual prayer meeting on December
31, which this time lasted from seven in the evening till after
midnight.
Jan. 5. To-day I received another new hat, the eleventh which in
succession has been given to me since I have been in England.
Jan. 20. For some time past it has appeared to me that the words, "Ye
have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them
good," which the Lord spoke to his disciples, _who were themselves very
poor_, imply that the children of God, as such, have power with God to
bring temporal blessings upon poor saints or poor unbelievers through
the instrumentality of prayer. Accordingly, I have been led to ask the
Lord for means to assist poor saints; and at different times he has
stirred up his children to intrust me with sums, both large and small,
_for that especial object_; or has, by some means or other, put money at
my disposal, which I might so use. In like manner I had been asking
again for means, a few days since, to be able more extensively to assist
the poor saints in communion with us, as just now many of them are not
merely tried by the _usual_ temporal difficulties arising from its being
winter, but especially from the high price of bread. And now this
evening the Lord has given me the answer to my prayer. When I came home
from the meeting I found a brother at my house who offered to give me
ten pounds a week, for twelve weeks, towards providing the poor saints
with coals and needful articles of clothing, but chiefly with bread.
[Accordingly, this brother sent me, two days afterwards, one hundred and
twenty pounds, whereby very many, especially poor widows, were greatly
assisted, chiefly with flour and bread. This money just lasted till the
price of bread was reduced from ninepence halfpenny to sevenpence
halfpenny.]
Feb. 7. This day has been one of the most remarkable days as it regards
the funds. There was no money in hand. I was waiting upon God. I had
asked him repeatedly, but no supplies came. Brother T. called, between
eleven and twelve o'clock, to tell me that about one pound two shillings
would be needed, to take in bread for the three houses and to meet the
other expenses; but we had only two shillings ninepence, which yesterday
had been taken out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses. He went to Clifton
to make arrangements for the reception of the three orphans of our
sister Loader, who fell asleep on the 4th; for, though we have no funds
in hand, the work goes on, and our confidence is not diminished. I
therefore requested him to call, on his way back from Clifton, to see
whether the Lord might have sent any money in the mean time. When he
came I had received nothing, but one of the laborers, having five
shillings of his own, gave it. It was now four o'clock. I knew not how
the sisters had got through the day. Toward the close of the day I went
to the Girls' Orphan House, to meet with the brethren for prayer. When I
arrived there I found that a box had come for me from Barnstable. The
carriage was paid, else there would have been no money to pay for it.
(See how the Lord's hand is in the smallest matters!) The box was
opened, and it contained, in a letter from a sister, ten pounds, of
which eight pounds was for the orphans, and two pounds for the Bible
Fund; from brethren at Barnstable, two pounds eleven shillings twopence;
and from another brother, five shillings. Besides this, there were in
the box four yards of merino, three pairs of new shoes, two pairs of new
socks; also six books for sale; likewise a gold pencil-case, two gold
rings, two gold drops of earrings, a necklace, and a silver pencil-case.
On inquiry how the sisters had been carried through the day, I found it
thus: Everything was in the houses which was needed for dinner. After
dinner a lady from Thornbury came and bought one of my Narratives and
one of the Reports, and gave three shillings besides. About five minutes
afterwards the baker came to the Boys' Orphan House. The matron of the
Girls' Orphan House seeing him, went immediately with the six shillings
sixpence which she had just received (to prevent his being sent away, as
there was no money in hand at the Boys' Orphan House), and bought bread
to the amount of four shillings sixpence. The two remaining shillings,
with the little which was in hand, served to buy bread for the Girls'
Orphan House. By the donations sent in the box I was enabled to give a
rich supply to the matrons before the close of the day.
February 13. This evening five pounds was given me, which had come in
under the following circumstances: A gentleman and lady visited the
Orphan Houses, and met at the Boys' Orphan House two ladies who were
likewise visiting. One of the ladies said to the matron of the Boys'
Orphan House, "Of course you cannot carry on these Institutions without
a good stock of funds." The gentleman, turning to the matron, said,
"Have you a good stock?" She replied, "Our funds are deposited in a bank
which cannot break." The tears came into the eyes of the inquiring lady.
The gentleman, on leaving, gave to the master of the boys five pounds,
which came in _when I had not a penny in hand_.
March 5. To-day, however, I knew that there would be again several
pounds required, as, besides the daily provisions, there were coals
needed, the treacle casks in two houses were empty, and there was but
five shillings in hand. I gave myself therefore to prayer this morning.
WHILST I WAS IN PRAYER Q. Q. sent a check for seven pounds ten
shillings.
March 23. To-day I received a letter from brother T., who is, on account
of his health, in Devonshire, to inform me that a heavy gold chain, a
ring set with ten brilliants, a pair of gold bracelets, and two pounds,
have been given to him. He gave a Report to a brother, who, having read
it, was thereby stirred up to prayer, and knowing that his believing
sister possessed these trinkets, he asked the Lord to incline her heart
to give them up for the benefit of our orphans, which she soon after
did. By means of these donations I am able both to meet the remaining
expenses of this week, and also to pay fifteen pounds, which still
remains due on account of the salaries. My fellow-laborers not only
never ask me for anything, but are willing to part with money, or
anything else, in the hour of need; nevertheless, I asked the Lord about
this point frequently, and he has now given me my request, whereof I am
glad.
April 13. I conversed with another of the orphans, who seems to have
been truly converted, and who has walked consistently for many months.
To-morrow she will be united with the saints in communion.
April 14. To-day five pounds eightpence came in for the orphans, one
pound of which is one of the most remarkable gifts that we have ever
had. A poor brother, with a large family and small wages,--there are
eight in the family, and he had fifteen shillings wages till lately,
when they were raised to eighteen shillings--put by this money by little
and little of what was given him by his master for beer. This brother,
who was converted about five years ago, was before that time a notorious
drunkard.
July 2. To-day was given to me, _when there was not one shilling in
hand_, fifty pounds, for the school, Bible, and missionary fund.
July 15. Monday. To-day two pounds seven shillings threepence was needed
for the orphans, but we had nothing. How to obtain the means for a
dinner, and for what else was needed, I knew not. My heart was perfectly
at peace, and unusually sure of help, though I knew not in the least
whence it was to come. Before brother T. came, I received a letter from
India, written in May, with an order for fifty pounds for the orphans. I
had said last Saturday to brother T. that it would be desirable to have
fifty pounds, as the salaries of all my fellow-laborers are due, the
three treacle casks empty, all the provision stores exhausted, several
articles of clothing needed, and worsted for the boys to go on with
their knitting.
August 19. Monday. This has been again a day in which our faith has been
particularly tried; but even this day we have not been confounded. Not
one penny was in hand when the day began. We had, therefore, now, for
more than one hundred persons, again to look to the Lord. But this I
must say, to the praise of the Lord, my soul was perfectly at peace. I
meant to have gone very early to the Orphan Houses to meet with my
fellow-laborers for prayer; but as one person after the other called
upon me, I was kept from it the whole morning. When brother T. called
upon me, between twelve and one o'clock, for money, I had none to give.
In the afternoon at four I was able to meet with the brethren and
sisters. When I came to the Girls' Orphan House, I found that one of
those children, for the reception of whom we had given notice, had been
brought from Bath, and with him was sent one pound five shillings. After
the meeting was over one of the laborers gave ten shillings. By means of
this one pound fifteen shillings we were able for this day also to
provide everything needful.
August 22. In my morning walk, when I was reminding the Lord of our
need, I felt assured that he would send help this day. My assurance
sprang from our need; for there seemed no way to get through the day
without help being sent. After breakfast I considered whether there was
anything which might be turned into money for the dear children. Among
other things there came under my hands a number of religious pamphlets
which had been given for the benefit of the orphans; but all seemed not
nearly enough to meet the necessities of the day. In this our deep
poverty, after I had gathered together the few things for sale, a
sister, _who earns her bread by the labor of her hands_, brought
eighty-two pounds. This sister had seen it to be binding upon believers
in our Lord Jesus to act out his commandments: "Sell that ye have (sell
your possessions) and give alms," Luke xii. 33; and "Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth," Matt. vi. 19. Accordingly, she had
drawn her money out of the bank and stocks, being two hundred and fifty
pounds, and had brought it to me at three different times, for the
benefit of the orphans, the Bible, missionary, and school fund, and the
poor saints. About two months ago she brought me one hundred pounds
more, being the produce of some other possession which she had sold,
the half of which was to be used for the school Bible, and missionary
fund, and the other half for the poor saints. This eighty-two pounds
which she has brought to-day is the produce of the sale of her last
earthly possession. [At the time I am preparing this fifth edition for
the press, more than sixteen years have passed away, and this sister has
never expressed the least regret as to the step she took, but goes on
quietly laboring with her hands to earn her bread.]
September 4. I have been led to pray whether it is the Lord's will that
I should leave Bristol for a season, as I have for the last fortnight
been suffering from indigestion, by which my whole system is weakened,
and thus the nerves of my head are more than usually affected. There
are, however, two hindrances in the way--want of means for the orphans,
and want of means for my own personal expenses. To-day I have received a
check from Q. Q. for seven pounds ten shillings for the orphans, which
came, therefore, very seasonably. Also four pounds besides have come in
since the day before yesterday.
September 5. To-day a sister sent me five pounds for myself, to be used
for the benefit of my health. She had heard that my health is again
failing. I do not lay by money for such purposes; but whenever I really
need means, whether for myself or others, the Lord sends them, in answer
to prayer; for he had in this case again given me prayer respecting
means for myself, and for the orphans, that my way might be made plain
as to leaving Bristol for a season.
September 7. Trowbridge. This has been a very good day. I have had much
communion with the Lord. How kind to take me from the work in Bristol
for a season, to give me more communion with himself. I remembered the
Lord's especial goodness to me in this place at the commencement of last
year. How kind has he also been since! I prayed much for myself, for
the church at large, for the saints here and in Bristol, for my
unconverted relatives, for my dear wife, and that the Lord would supply
my own temporal necessities, and those of the orphans; and _I know that
he has heard me_. I am surrounded with kind friends in the dear saints,
under whose roof I am, and feel quite at home. My room is _far better_
than I need: yet an easy chair, _in this my weak state of body_, to
kneel before in prayer, would have added to my comfort. In the
afternoon, without having a hint about it, I found an easy chair put
into my room. I was struck with the kindness, the especial kindness of
my heavenly Father, in being mindful of the smallest wants and comforts
of his child. Having had more prayer than usual, I found that my
intercourse with the saints at tea was with unction, and more than
usually profitable.
September 9. I returned to Bristol, to go from hence to-morrow to
Exeter, if the Lord permit, on account of my health. I had been
earnestly asking the Lord while I was staying at Trowbridge that he
would be pleased to send in supplies for the orphans before I go into
Devonshire, and I had the fullest assurance that means would come in
before I left Bristol. I therefore asked my wife, on my return, how much
had come in, and found that it was only eight pounds nine shillings
seven and three-fourths pence. This was not nearly as much as I had
expected, and would not answer the end for which I had particularly
asked means, _i. e._ that I might be able to leave enough for several
days. My reply, therefore, was according to the faith given to me, and
judging from the earnestness and confidence of my prayer _that the Lord
would send more before I left_. About an hour after, brother Craik
brought me ten pounds, and also a letter, in which the arrival of a
large box full of articles, to be sold for the benefit of the orphans,
is announced.
Upon his return from his journey, Mr. M. writes:--
During my stay at Plymouth, I was stirred up afresh to early rising, a
blessing, the results of which I have not lost since. That which led me
to it was the example of the brother in whose house I was staying, and a
remark which he made in speaking on the sacrifices in Leviticus, "that
as not the refuse of the animals was to be offered up, _so the best part
of our time_ should be especially given to communion with the Lord." I
had been, on the whole, rather an early riser during former years. But
since the nerves of my head had been so weak, I thought that, as the day
was long enough for my strength, it would be best for me not to rise
early, in order that thus the nerves of my head might have the longer
quiet. On this account I rose only between six and seven, and sometimes
after seven. For the same reason also I brought myself _purposely_ into
the habit of sleeping a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, after
dinner: as I thought I found benefit from it, in quieting the nerves of
my head. In this way, however, my soul had suffered more or less every
day, and sometimes considerably, as now and then unavoidable work came
upon me before I had had sufficient time for prayer and reading the
word. After I had heard the remark to which I have alluded, I determined
that, whatever my body might suffer, I would no longer let the most
precious part of the day pass away while I was in bed. By the grace of
God I was enabled to begin the very next day to rise earlier; and have
continued to rise early since that time. I allow myself now about seven
hours' sleep, which, though I am far from being strong, and have much to
tire me mentally, I find is quite sufficient to refresh me. In addition
to this I gave up the sleeping after dinner. The result has been that I
have thus been able to procure long and precious seasons for prayer and
meditation before breakfast; and as to my body, and the state of the
nervous system in particular, I have been _much better_ since. Indeed, I
believe that the very worst thing I could have done for my weak nerves
was to have lain an hour or more longer in bed than I used to do before
my illness; for it was the very way to keep them weak. As this may fall
into the hands of some children of God who are not in the habit of
rising early, I make a few more remarks on the subject.
I. It might be asked, How much time shall I allow myself for rest? The
answer is, that no rule of universal application can be given, as all
persons do not require the same measure of sleep, and also the same
persons, at different times, according to the strength or weakness of
their body, may require more or less. Females also, being generally
weaker in body, require more sleep than males. Yet, from what I can
learn, it is the opinion of medical persons that men in health do not
require more than between six and seven hours' sleep, and females no
more than between seven and eight hours; so that it would be rather _an
exception_ for a man to require more than seven and a woman more than
eight hours. But my decided advice, at the same time, is, that children
of God would be careful not to allow themselves _too little_ sleep, as
there are few men who can do with less than six hours' sleep, and yet be
well in body and mind, and few females who can do with less than seven
hours. Certain it is that for a long time, as a young man, before I went
to the university, I went to bed regularly at ten and rose at four,
studied hard, and was in good health; and certain also, that since I
have allowed myself only about seven hours, from the time of my visit at
Plymouth in Oct. 1839, I have been much better in body, and in my nerves
in particular, than when I was eight or eight hours and a half in bed.
II. If it be asked, But why should I rise early? The reply is, "To
remain too long in bed" is, 1. _Waste of time_, which is unbecoming a
saint, who is bought by the precious blood of Jesus, with his _time_ and
all he has, to be used for the Lord. If we sleep more than is needful
for the refreshment of the body, it is wasting the time with which the
Lord has intrusted us as a talent, to be used for his glory, for our own
benefit, and the benefit of the saints and the unbelievers around us. 2.
To remain too long in bed _injures the body_. Just as when we take too
much food, we are injured thereby, so as it regards sleep. Medical
persons would readily allow that the lying longer in bed than is needful
for the strengthening of the body does _weaken_ it. 3. _It injures the
soul._ The lying too long in bed not merely keeps us from giving the
most precious part of the day to prayer and meditation, but this sloth
leads also to _many other evils_. Any one need but make the experiment
of spending one, two, or three hours in prayer and meditation before
breakfast, either in his room, or with his Bible in his hand in the
fields, and he will soon find out the beneficial effect which early
rising has upon the outward and inward man. I beseech all my brethren
and sisters into whose hands this may fall, and who are not in the habit
of rising early, to make the trial, and they will praise the Lord for
having done so.
III. It may lastly be said, But how shall I set about rising early? My
advice is, 1. Commence at once, delay it not. To-morrow 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 into the way. 3.
Do trust in the Lord for help. You will honor 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 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 twelve
shillings 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
Lord's 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.
On December 10, 11, and 12 we had public meetings, at which the account
of the Lord's dealings with us in reference to the Orphan Houses and the
other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution was given. It is
now--December 10, 1839--five years and nine months since the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution has been in operation.
During the last year also. 1. We have been enabled to continue to
provide all the needful expenses connected with the six-day schools,
three for boys and three for girls. The number of the children who are
at present in them amounts to 286. 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 1,795. 2. There are at
present 226 children in the Sunday school. 3. There are 14 taught to
read in the adult school, and there have been about 130 adults
instructed in that school since the formation of the Institution. 4.
There have been circulated, during the last year, 514 copies of the
Scriptures, and 5,592 since March 5, 1834. 5. There has been laid out,
during the last year, L91, 6s. for missionary purposes. 6. There have
been received into the three Orphan Houses, from December 9, 1838, to
December 9, 1839, 16 orphans. There are at present 96 orphans in the
three houses. The number of all the orphans who have been under our care
from April 11, 1836, to December 9, 1839, amounts to 126.
For the Orphan Houses, _without any one having been asked for anything
by us_, the sum of L3,067, 8s. 91/4d. has been given, _entirely as the
result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to
December 9, 1839.
The total of the expenses connected with the objects of the Institution,
exclusive of the Orphan Houses, from November 19, 1838, to November 19,
1839, is L542, 13s. The balance in hand on November 19, 1839, was 18s.
5d.
The total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan Houses, from
December 9, 1838, to December 9, 1839, is L960, 9s. 23/4d. The balance
in hand on December 9, 1839, was L46, 8s. 1d.
December 31. My health is much better than for years. My mental powers
also are as good as they have been at any time during the last three
years. I ascribe this to God's blessing, through the instrumentality of
early rising, and plunging my head into cold water when I rise.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1839.
1. As to the church: During the last year have been added 115; of whom
34 have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us.
2. As to my temporal supplies, the Lord has been pleased to give me,
during the past year, L313, 2s. 5d.