REAPING IN JOY.
1852-1854.
EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT DONATION--INCREASING
USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO
GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT
OF WAITING GOD'S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY
RELIANCE--"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY
ALL"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICIPATED--COUNSEL TO
TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH.
On May 26, 1852, there was in hand toward the erection of the
second new Orphan House three thousand five hundred and thirty
pounds nine shillings sixpence and one farthing. Donations
varying in amount from three hundred pounds to fourpence
continued to be received in answer to prayer. On the 4th of Jan.
1853, Mr. M. writes:--
From London two shillings sixpence. Day by day I have now been waiting
upon God for means for the building fund for more than nineteen months,
and almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These
donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the
amount which will be required for the completion of this object;
nevertheless, they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of his dear
Son, listens to my supplications, and to those of my fellow-laborers and
helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to
continue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the
Lord, in his own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for
this I have been more and more earnestly entreating him during the last
months. Now at last he has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered
my request. I received to-day the promise that, as _the joint donation
of several Christians_, there should be paid me a donation of eight
thousand and one hundred pounds, for the work of the Lord in my hands.
It is impossible to describe the spiritual refreshment which my heart
received through this donation. Day by day, for nineteen months, I had
been looking out for more abundant help than I had had. I was fully
assured that God would help me with larger sums; yet the delay was long.
See how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so are not
confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but
in the end it will most assuredly be seen that those who honor God he
will honor, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness
of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in
the least surprise me; _for I expect_ GREAT _things from God_. Have I
been boasting in God in vain? Is it not manifest that it is most
precious in every way to depend upon God? Do I serve God for naught? Is
it not obvious that the principles on which I labor are not only
applicable to the work of God _on a small scale_, but also, as I have so
many times affirmed during the past nineteen years, _for the most
extensive operations for God_?
During the year ending May 26, 1853, nine thousand and one
pounds three shillings was received toward the building fund,
making the present amount of that fund twelve thousand five
hundred and thirty-one pounds twelve shillings one farthing.
For the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, viz.
for school, missionary, Bible, and tract purposes, I had to expend
during the year from May, 1852, to May, 1853, about six hundred pounds
per month, or above seven thousand pounds in all; but I had sufficient
to meet every demand; and over and above I was helped by the Lord to
increase the building fund nine thousand pounds. The current expenses of
the Institution were never so great during the previous nineteen years;
but the extent of its operations, and the means which the Lord was
pleased to send in, were also never so great.
You see, dear reader, that we are richly recompensed for our waiting
upon God. You perceive the readiness of his heart to listen to the
supplications of his children who put their trust in him. If you have
never made trial of it, do so now. But in order to have your prayers
answered, you need to make your requests unto God on the ground of the
merits and worthiness of the Lord Jesus. You must not depend upon your
own worthiness and merits, but solely on the Lord Jesus, as the ground
of acceptance before God, for your person, for your prayers, for your
labors, and for everything else. Do you really believe in Jesus? Do you
verily depend upon him alone for the salvation of your soul? See to it
well, that not the least degree of your own righteousness is presented
unto God as a ground of acceptance. But then, if you believe in the Lord
Jesus, it is further necessary, in order that your prayers may be
answered, that the things which you ask God should be of such a kind
that God can give them to you, because they are for his honor and your
real good. If the obtaining of your requests were not for your real
good, or were not tending to the honor of God, you might pray for a long
time without obtaining what you desire. The glory of God should be
always before the children of God, in what they desire at his hands; and
their own spiritual profit, being so intimately connected with the honor
of God, should never be lost sight of in their petitions. But now,
suppose we are believers in the Lord Jesus, and suppose we make our
requests unto God, depending alone on the Lord Jesus as the ground of
having them granted; suppose also, that, so far as we are able honestly
and uprightly to judge, the obtaining of our requests would be for our
real spiritual good, and for the honor of God; we yet need, lastly, to
_continue_ in prayer until the blessing is granted unto us. It is not
enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to
continue _for a time_ to pray; but we must patiently, believingly
continue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and, further, we have not
only _to continue_ in prayer unto the end, but we have also _to believe_
that God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we
fail _in not continuing_ in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and
_in not expecting_ the blessing. As assuredly as in any individual these
various points are found united together, so assuredly will answers be
granted to his requests.
During the year 1852-53, the expense of the support of the orphans was
fully met by unsolicited donations. Two or three particulars only will
be given.
June 29, 1852. To-day I received one of the most remarkable donations
which I ever had. I give the whole account, without the name of the
donor.
LYONS, JUNE 24, 1852,
DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST:
It is now several years that I read with great interest, and I
hope with some benefit to my soul, the account of your labors
and experiences. Ever since then your work was the object of
many thoughts and prayers, and I gave many copies of your book
to Christian friends. One of them has read it in Syria, on Mount
Lebanon, where he is for commercial business; and, whilst
praying for you and your dear orphans, the Lord put it in his
heart to send you two pounds, to which my husband added two
others; and we beg you to accept that small offering in the name
of the Lord. If you have published anything of the Lord's
dealings with you since the year 1844, we shall be very happy to
receive it. You could forward it to Messrs. * * * *, London, for
* * * * of Lyons. And now, dear brother, may the grace and peace
of the Lord rest on you and your dear home's inhabitants.
Affectionately yours in the Lord,
* * * *
I have had donations from Australia, the East Indies, the West Indies,
the United States, Canada, from the Cape of Good Hope, from France,
Switzerland, Germany, Italy, etc.; and now comes also this donation from
Mount Lebanon, with the prayer of a Christian brother whose name I never
heard nor know even now. See, dear reader, this is the way in which the
Lord has helped me in this precious service for twenty-two years. With
my fellow-laborers, or without them, and they without me, our prayers
are offered up unto the Lord for help, and he is pleased, for Jesus'
sake, to listen to our supplications, and to influence the hearts of
some of his children, known to us or not, to send us help. The donors
may be rich or poor; they may live near, or at a distance of more than
ten thousand miles; they may give much or little; they may have often
given before, or never; they may be well known to us, or not at all: in
these and many other things there may be constant variations; but God
continually helps us; we are never confounded. And why not? Simply
because we are enabled by the grace of God to put our trust in him for
what we need.
Oct. 9. This morning Luke vii. came in the course of my reading before
breakfast. While reading the account about the centurion and the raising
from death of the widow's son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord
Jesus thus: "Lord Jesus, thou hast the same power now. Thou canst
provide me with means for thy work in my hands. Be pleased to do so."
About half an hour afterwards I received two hundred and thirty pounds
fifteen shillings; also one shilling. This two hundred and thirty pounds
fifteen shillings was left at my disposal, as most needed. I took one
half of it for the current expenses for the orphans, and the other half
for the other objects. I am now amply provided for meeting the demands
of this day.
The joy which such answers to prayer afford cannot be described. I was
determined to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural
deliverance for myself. I have thousands of pounds for the building
fund; but I would not take of it, because it was once set apart for that
object. There is also a legacy of one hundred pounds for the orphans two
months overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might
be naturally inclined to use some money from the building fund, to be
replaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus
step out of God's way of obtaining help. At the very time when this
donation arrived, I had packed up one hundred pounds which I happened to
have in hand, received for the building fund, in order to take it to the
bank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon God. My soul
does magnify the Lord for his goodness!
This last paragraph is copied out of my journal, written down at the
time. I add a few words more to the last sentences.
The natural mind is ever prone _to reason_, when we ought _to believe_;
to be _at work_, when we ought to be _quiet_; to go our own way, when we
ought steadily to walk on in God's ways, however trying to nature. When
I was first converted, I should have said, What harm can there be to
take some of the money which has been put by for the building fund? God
will help me again after some time with means for the orphans, and then
I can replace it. Or, there is this money due for the legacy of one
hundred pounds. This money is quite sure; may I not, therefore, on the
strength of it, take some of the money from the building fund, and, when
the legacy is paid, replace the money which I have taken? From what I
have seen of believers, I know that many would act thus. But how does it
work, when we thus anticipate God, by going our own way? We bring, in
many instances, guilt on our conscience; but if not, we certainly weaken
faith instead of increasing it; and each time we work thus a deliverance
of our own we find it more and more difficult to trust in God, till at
last we give way entirely to our natural fallen reason, and unbelief
prevails. How different, if one is enabled to wait God's own time, and
to look alone to him for help and deliverance! When at last help comes,
after many seasons of prayer it may be, and after much exercise of faith
and patience it may be, how sweet it is, and what a present recompense
does the soul at once receive for trusting in God, and waiting patiently
for his deliverance! Dear Christian reader, if you have never walked in
this path of obedience before, do so now, and you will then know
experimentally the sweetness of the joy which results from it.
Oct. 12. By sale of rags and bones twelve shillings sixpence. I copy
literally from the receipt book. We seek to make the best of
everything. As a steward of public money, I feel it right that even
these articles should be turned into money; nor could we expect answers
to our prayers if _knowingly_ there were any waste allowed in connection
with this work. For just because the money is received from God, simply
in answer to prayer only, therefore it becomes us the more to be careful
in the use of it.
From Dec. 20, 1852, to Jan. 4, 1853, we had nothing in advance of our
wants. Means came in only as they were required for pressing needs. But
on the 4th January, we received, as stated under another head, the
largest donation I ever had, of which I took six hundred pounds for the
support of the orphans. These facts I state, in order to give a
practical illustration that those are entirely mistaken who suppose that
the work is now _no longer_ a work of faith, as it used to be in former
years. It is true, we have now a larger income than we used to have in
the years 1838, 1839, and 1840; but it is also true that our expenses
are three times as great. We have no regular income now, even as we had
not then. We ask no human being now for help; even as we did not then.
We depend alone upon God, by his grace; even as we did then. Who is
there in the whole world who will state that I ever asked him for help
in this orphan work, from its commencement, on Dec. 9, 1835, up till
now? Now, as we have no funds to live upon; as we have no regular
subscribers or donors upon whom we could depend; as we never ask help
from man, but God alone; and as, finally, we never did go into debt for
this work, nor do we now: why is it not now a work of faith, as
formerly? Will those who say it is not, place themselves in the position
in which I was, when, at the close of the year 1852, I had not two
pounds left, and about three hundred and thirty persons were day by day
to be provided for, with all they need, and prove whether it is now
anything else than a work of faith? But perhaps I have said too much
about this. For every one, except those who are _determined_ not to see,
will have no difficulty in perceiving that now, as formerly, one could
only be kept from being overwhelmed in such a position by looking day by
day to the Lord, and that not merely for pecuniary supplies, but for
help under the numberless difficulties which continually are met with in
such a work.
How can I sufficiently praise, and adore, and magnify the Lord for his
love and faithfulness in carrying me thus from year to year through this
his service, supplying me with all I need in the way of means,
fellow-laborers, mental strength, and, above all, spiritual support! But
for his help and support I should be completely overpowered in a very
short time; yet, by his help I go on, and am very happy, spiritually, in
my service; nor am I now generally worse in health than I was twenty
years ago, but rather better.
During the year 1852-53, there were four day schools, with 235 children
in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Further,
one Sunday school in Bristol, with 150 children, was entirely supported,
and three others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with
280 children, were assisted. Lastly, one adult school, with 103 adult
scholars, was entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. There
were under our care, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1853, in the various
day schools 5,686 children, in the Sunday schools 2,673 children, and in
the adult school 2,132 persons. There was expended of the funds of the
Institution during this year, for the various schools, L349, 12s. 11d.
During this year there was laid out of the funds of the Institution, on
the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, L431, 5s, 11/2d., and there
were circulated 1,666 Bibles and 1,210 New Testaments. There were
circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1853, 10,476 Bibles, and
6,061 New Testaments.
For several years past this part of the work has appeared more and more
important to me on account of the fearful attempts which have been made
by the powers of darkness to rob the church of Christ of the Holy
Scriptures. I have on this account sought to embrace every opportunity
to circulate the Holy Scriptures in England, Ireland, Canada, British
Guiana, the East Indies, China, Australia, etc. Every open door which
the Lord was pleased to set before me in these or other parts of the
world, I have joyfully entered; yea, I have counted it a privilege,
indeed, to be permitted of God to send forth his Holy Word. Many
servants of Christ, in various parts of the world, have assisted me in
this service, through whose instrumentality copies of the Holy
Scriptures have been circulated.
During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution for
missionary objects L2,234, 2s. 6d. By this sum fifty-four laborers in
the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater
or less degree assisted.
There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1852, to
May 26, 1853, the sum of L555, 16s. 71/2d.; and there were circulated
within this year 733,674 tracts.
The total number of tracts which were circulated up to May 26, 1853, was
1,820,040. From Nov. 19, 1840, to May 10, 1842, the first period that
the circulation of tracts was in operation in connection with the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, there were
circulated 19,609; from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, 489,136; and
during this period 733,674.
At the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan
House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into
it 13 orphans, making 313 in all. The total number of orphans who were
under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1853, was 528.
_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,
the sum of L55,408, 17s. 53/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as
the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to
May 26, 1853. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the
total amount which was given for the other objects, from the
commencement of the work up to May 26, 1853, amounted to L19,163, 14s.
11/2d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by
the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to L3,490, 7s.
11/4d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of
clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given _for the use_ of the
orphans.
The expenses in connection with the support of the 300 orphans and the
apprentices during this year were L3,453, 15s. 11/2d.
Dec. 31, 1852. During this year there have been received into fellowship
35 believers. The Lord has been pleased to give unto me L445, 8s.
81/2d.
My brother-in-law, Mr. A. N. Groves, of whom mention has been made in
the first part of this Narrative, as having been helpful to me by his
example when I began my labors in England in 1829, in that he, without
any visible support, and without being connected with any missionary
society, went with his wife and children to Bagdad, as a missionary,
after having given up a lucrative practice of about one thousand five
hundred pounds per year, returned in autumn 1852, from the East Indies,
a third time, being exceedingly ill. He lived, however, till May 20,
1853, when, after a most blessed testimony for the Lord, he fell asleep
in Jesus in my house.
I have already stated that on May 26, 1853, I had on hand toward
building premises large enough for the accommodation of 700 children,
the sum of L12,531, 12s. 01/4d.
A single circumstance will illustrate the widely diverse sources
from which donations are received, as well as the great
disparity in amount.
Jan. 17, 1854. From S. R. and E. R., two poor factory girls, near
Stroud, 1s. 7d. This day I also received the promise that there should
be paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, L5,207, to be
disposed of as I might consider best.
The whole amount received for the new Orphan House, during the year
closing May 26, 1854, was L5,285, 17s. 5d., which made the total of
L17,816, 19s. 51/4d. in hand on May 26, 1854.
During this year the current expenses for the various objects of the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad amounted to L7,507,
0s. 111/2d., being L471, 8s. 11d. more than during any previous year;
yet the Lord not only enabled me to meet them all, but to add the sum of
L5,285, 7s. 5d. to the building fund.
There is yet a large sum required before I shall be enabled to build
another house for 700 orphans; nor have I now, any more than at the
first, any natural prospect of obtaining what is yet needed; but my hope
is in the living God. When I came to the conclusion that it was the will
of God that I should build another Orphan House, I had not only no
natural prospect of obtaining the L35,000 which would be needed for this
object, but also I had no natural prospect of being able to provide for
the necessities of the three hundred orphans already under my care.
Three years have elapsed since then, and I have had all I needed for
them, amounting to about L10,500; and L17,816, 19s. 51/4d. I have
received for the building fund. May I not well trust in the Lord for
what is yet needed for the building fund? By his grace I will do so, and
delight in doing so; for I know that at last all my prayers will be
turned into praises concerning this part of the service.
There is one point which is particularly an encouragement to me to go on
waiting upon the Lord for the remainder of the means which are required,
viz: applications for the admission of orphans _continue_ to be made. On
May 26, 1853, there were 480 orphans waiting for admission. Since then
181 more have been applied for, making in all 661. These children are
from three months old and upwards, and all bereaved of both parents by
death.
During the year now under review I received the following donation for
the missionary laborers, under circumstances of peculiar interest.
On Aug. 9, 1853, I received a letter from a Christian brother,
accompanied with an order for eighty-eight pounds two shillings sixpence
on his bankers, of which three pounds two shillings sixpence were the
proceeds of an orphan box in a meeting-place of believers, and
eighty-five pounds from a poor widow who had sold her little house,
being all her property, and who had put ninety pounds, the total amount
of what she had received, into that orphan box two months before, on
June 9, 1853. In this box the money had been for some time, without its
being known, till the orphan box was opened, and the ninety pounds with
a few lines without name were found in it. As, however, the fact of her
intending to sell the little house, and her intention of sending me the
money for the Lord's work, had been known to the brother who sent me the
money, he did not feel free to send it to me without remonstrating with
her through two brethren, whom he sent with the money, offering it again
to her; for he knew her to be very poor, and feared that this might be
an act of excitement, and therefore be regretted afterwards. These
brethren could not prevail on her to receive back the money, but they
did _persuade_ her to receive back five pounds of the amount, and then
the brother referred to felt no longer free to keep the money from me,
and hence sent me the eighty-five pounds.
On the receipt of this, I wrote at once to the poor godly widow,
offering her the travelling expenses for coming to Bristol, that I might
have personal intercourse with her; for I feared lest this should be an
act of excitement, and the more so, as she had received back five pounds
of the sum. This sister in the Lord, a widow of about sixty years of
age, came to Bristol, and told me in all simplicity how that ten years
before, in the year 1843, she had purposed that if ever she should come
into the possession of the little house in which she lived with her
husband, she would sell it, and give the proceeds of it to the Lord.
About five years afterwards her husband died, and she, having no
children, nor any one having particular claim upon her, then sought to
dispose of her little property, as had been her mind all those years
before. However, one difficulty after another prevented her being able
to effect a sale. At last she felt in particular difficulty on account
of her inability to pay the yearly ground-rent of the little house and
garden, and she asked the Lord to enable her to sell the property, in
order that she might be able to carry out her desire which she had had
for ten years, to give to him the proceeds of this her possession. He
now helped her. The house was sold, the money paid, and she put the
whole ninety pounds into the orphan box for me, being assured that the
Lord would direct me how best the money might be used for him. I still
questioned her again and again, to find out whether it was not
excitement which had led her to act as she had done; but I not only saw
that her mind had been fully decided about this act for ten years
before, but that she also was able to answer from the word of God all
the objections which I purposely made, in order to probe her, whether
she had intelligently and from right motives acted in what she had done.
At last I was fully satisfied that it was not from impulse, nor under
excitement, that she had given the money. I next stated to her something
like this: "You are poor, and you are about sixty years old, therefore
decreasing in strength, and may you not therefore keep this money for
yourself?" Her reply was, as nearly as I remember, something like this:
"God has always provided for me, and I have no doubt he will do so in
future also. I am able to work and to earn my bread as well as others,
and am willing to work as a nurse, or in any other way." What could I
say against this? This is just what a child of God would say, and should
say. But the greatest of all the difficulties to the accepting of the
eighty-five pounds remained in my mind, and I state it, as I relate the
whole for the profit of the reader. It was this. The house had been sold
for ninety pounds. The whole amount had been put into the box, but, on
the persuasion of those two brethren who were requested to remonstrate
with this widow, she had been induced to take back five pounds out of
the ninety pounds. I therefore said to myself, might she not be willing,
after a time, to take back the whole ninety pounds; how, therefore, can
I feel happy in accepting this money? On this account I particularly
laid stress upon this point, and told her that I feared she might regret
her act altogether after some time, as she had taken back this five
pounds. I now learned the circumstances under which she had been induced
to take back this five pounds.
The two brethren who had called on her for the purpose of pointing out
to her the propriety of receiving back again the ninety pounds, or part
of it, told her that Barnabas sold his land, but afterwards lived with
others on that which he and others had thrown into the common stock,
and that, therefore, she might receive at least part of the ninety
pounds back again, if she would not take the whole. She then said to
herself that, "as a child of God, she might take the children's
portion," and, as she had given to God this ninety pounds, she might
receive five pounds back again. She told me that she considered the
brethren had shown her from the Holy Scriptures what she might do, and
therefore she had taken this five pounds. I did not myself agree with
the judgment of those brethren who had said this (as there is no
evidence that Barnabas ever was supported out of the common stock, the
proceeds of the sale of houses and lands, out of which the poor were
supported); but I purposely said nothing to the widow, lest she should
at once be induced to give me this five pounds also. She had, however,
this five pounds untouched, and showed it to me; and before she left she
would make me take one pound of it for the benefit of the orphans, which
I did not refuse, as I had no intention of keeping the eighty-five
pounds. She also gave me a sixpence for the orphans, which some one had
given her for herself, a few days before.
I now asked her, as this matter concerning the retaining of the five
pounds was satisfactorily explained, as far as it respected her own
state of heart, what she wished me to do with the money, in case I saw
it right to keep it. Her reply was that she would leave that with me,
that God would direct me concerning it; but that, if she said anything
at all about it, she should most like it to be used for the support of
brethren who labor in the word without any salary, and who hazard their
lives for the name of Christ. She wished _me_ to have a part of the
money; but this I flatly refused, lest I should be evil spoken of in
this matter. I then offered to pay her travelling expenses, as she had
come to me, which she would not accept, as she did not stand in need of
it. In conclusion, I told her that I would now further pray respecting
this matter, and consider what to do concerning it. I then prayed with
this dear, godly woman, commended her to God, separated from her, and
have not seen her since.
I waited from Aug. 9, 1853, to March 7, 1854, when I wrote to her,
offering her back again the whole eighty-five pounds, or a part of it.
On March 9, 1854, just seven months after I had received the money, and
just nine months after she had actually given it, and ten years and nine
months after she had made the resolution to give her house and garden to
God, I heard from her, stating that she was of the same mind as she had
been for years. I therefore disposed of the money, to aid such foreign
missionary brethren as, according to the best of my knowledge, resembled
most the class of men whom she wished to assist.
The reasons why I have so minutely dwelt upon this circumstance are: 1.
If, as a steward of the bounties of the children of God, I should be
blamed for receiving from a poor widow almost literally her all, it may
be seen in what manner I did so. To have refused on March 9, 1854, also,
would be going beyond what I should be warranted to do. 2. I desired,
also, to give a practical illustration that I only desire donations in
God's way. It is not the money only I desire; but the money received in
answer to prayer, in God's order. 3. This circumstance illustrates how
God helps me often in the most unexpected manner. 4. I have also related
this instance that there may be a fresh proof that even in these last
days the love of Christ is of constraining power, and may work mightily,
as in the days of the apostles. I have witnessed _many_ such instances
as this, in the twenty years during which I have been occupied in this
my service. Let us give thanks to God for such cases, and let us seek
for grace rather to imitate such godly men and women, than think that
they are going too far. I cannot, however, dismiss this subject,
without commending this poor widow to the prayers of all who love our
Lord Jesus, that she may be kept humble, lest, thinking highly of
herself, on account of what she has been enabled to do, by the grace of
God, she should not only lose blessing in her own soul, but this
circumstance should become a snare to her. Pray also, believing reader,
that she may never be allowed to regret what she has done for the Lord.
After giving in detail the sources and manner of supply for the
maintenance of the orphans during twenty-four days, Mr. M. adds:--
The particular end why I have been so minute, is, _to show that the work
is now, as much as ever, a work carried on entirely in dependence upon
the living God, who alone is our hope, and to whom alone we look for
help, and who never has forsaken us in the hour of need_. There is,
however, one thing different with reference to this year, when compared
with former years, and that is, that, while our trials of faith during
this year were just as great as in previous years, the amount needed in
former times was never so great as during this year, especially as the
bread during the greater part of this year was about twice as dear as
for several years before.
But then, it may be said, If you have had this trial of faith, with
these three hundred orphans, why do you seek to build another Orphan
House for seven hundred more, and thus have a thousand to care for? Will
you not have still greater trials of faith?
My reply is: 1. God has never failed me all the twenty years of this my
service. 2. I am going on as easily now, with three hundred orphans, as
with thirty, the number with which I commenced. Their number is ten
times as large as it was at the first; but God has always helped me. 3.
Trials of faith were anticipated, yea, were one chief end of the work,
for the profit of the church of Christ at large. 4. I had courage given
me to go forward, solely in dependence upon God, being assured that he
would help me; yet I waited in secret upon him for six months before I
made this my intention known, in order that I might not take a hasty
step; and I have never regretted my having gone forward. 5. But it needs
to be added that the very abundance which the Lord gave me at the time,
when my mind was exercised about this matter, was a great confirmation
to me that I had not mistaken his mind. And even during this year, how
great has been his help; for the income for the work altogether has been
twelve thousand seven hundred and eighty-five pounds fifteen shillings
sevenpence halfpenny. I am, therefore, assured that the Lord will, in
his own time, not only allow me to build another Orphan House, but that
he will also, when he shall have been pleased to fill it, find the means
to provide for these children.
During this year four day schools, with 202 children, were _entirely
supported_ by the funds of the Institution. Further, one Sunday school
in Bristol, with 137 children, was _entirely supported_, and three
others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with 300
children, were _assisted_. Lastly, one adult school, with 154 adult
scholars, was _entirely_ supported. The total amount which was spent
during this year in connection with these schools was L359, 15s.
101/2d. The number of all the children who were under our care merely
in the schools which were _entirely_ supported by this Institution, from
March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1854, was 5,817 in the day schools, 2,748 in
the Sunday schools, and 2,315 persons in the adult school.
During this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures,
of the funds of the Institution, L433, 2s. 9d. There were circulated
during this year 1,890 Bibles and 1,288 New Testaments; and from the
commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, 12,366 Bibles and 7,349
Testaments.
During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for
missionary objects, the sum of L2,249, 10s. 81/2d. By this sum
fifty-six laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the
world, were to a greater or less degree assisted.
During this year, the Lord was pleased to bless again abundantly the
labors of many of those servants of Christ who were assisted through the
funds of this Institution, and this has been the case in foreign
countries as well as at home.
There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1853, to
May 26, 1854, the sum of L563, 5s. 01/2d.; and there were circulated
869,636 tracts.
The total number of all the tracts which were circulated from the
beginning up to May 26, 1854, was 2,689,676.
We desire to be grateful to the Lord that during no period previously we
were enabled to circulate more tracts, and more copies of the Holy
Scriptures, and to aid to a greater degree missionary labors, than
during this period; yet we would not rest in that. It is the blessing of
the Lord upon our labors which we need, which we desire, and which by
his grace we also seek.
If any of the Christian readers are in the habit of circulating tracts,
and yet have never seen fruit, may I suggest to them the following hints
for their prayerful consideration. 1. Seek for such a state of heart,
through prayer and meditation on the Holy Scriptures, as that you are
willing to let God have all the honor, if any good is accomplished by
your service. If you desire for yourself the honor, yea, though it were
in part only, you oblige the Lord, so to speak, to put you as yet aside
as a vessel not meet for the Master's use. One of the greatest
qualifications for usefulness in the service of the Lord is a heart
truly desirous of getting honor for him. 2. Precede all your labors with
earnest, diligent prayer; go to them in a prayerful spirit; and follow
them by prayer. Do not rest on the number of tracts you have given. A
million of tracts may not be the means of converting one single soul;
and yet how great, beyond calculation, may be the blessing which results
from one single tract. Thus it is also with regard to the circulation of
the Holy Scriptures, and the ministry of the word itself. Expect, then,
everything from the blessing of the Lord, and nothing at all from your
own exertions. 3. And yet, at the same time, labor, press into every
open door, be instant in season and out of season, as if everything
depended upon your labors. This, as has been stated before, is one of
the great secrets in connection with successful service for the Lord: to
work, as if everything depended upon our diligence, and yet not to rest
in the least upon our exertions, but upon the blessing of the Lord. 4.
This blessing of the Lord, however, should not merely be sought in
prayer, but it should also be _expected, looked for, continually looked
for_; and the result will be that we shall surely have it. 5. But
suppose that, for the trial of our faith, this blessing were for a long
time withheld from our sight; or suppose, even, that we should have to
fall asleep before we see much good resulting from our labors; yet will
our labors, if carried on in such a way and spirit as has been stated,
be at last abundantly owned, and we shall have a rich harvest in the day
of Christ.
At the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan
House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into
it 30 orphans, making 330 in all. The total number of orphans who were
under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1854, was 558.
The expenses during this year for the support of the orphans were
L3,897, 2s. 01/2d.
_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,
the sum of L64,591, 6s. 111/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as
the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to
May 26, 1854. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the
total amount which was given for the other objects, from the
commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L22,268, 2s.
111/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and
by the payments of the children in the day schools, from the
commencement up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L3,989, 4s. 53/4d.
Our labors continued to be blessed among the orphans. We saw also again
fruit of our labors, during this year, with regard to orphans who
formerly were under our care.
In July, 1853, it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which
before it had not been tried. My beloved daughter, an only child, and a
believer since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June
20. This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3
there seemed no hope of her recovery. Now was the trial of faith. But
faith triumphed. My beloved wife and I were enabled to give her up into
the hands of the Lord. He sustained us both exceedingly. But I will only
speak about myself. Though my only and beloved child was brought near
the grave, yet was my soul in perfect peace, satisfied with the will of
my heavenly Father, being assured that he would only do that for her and
her parents which in the end would be the best. She continued very ill
till about July 20, when restoration began. On Aug. 18 she was so far
restored that she could be removed to Clevedon, for change of air,
though exceedingly weak. It was then fifty-nine days since she was first
taken ill.
While I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at
peace, as far as the Lord's dispensation was concerned, I also felt
perfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. When in
August, 1831, the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me in my family,
as related in the first part of this Narrative, I had not the least
hesitation in knowing that it was the Father's rod, applied in infinite
wisdom and love for the restoration of my soul from a state of
lukewarmness. At this time, however, I had no such feeling. Conscious as
I was of my manifold weaknesses, failings, and shortcomings, so that I
too would be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, "O wretched man than I
am!" yet I was assured that this affliction was not upon me in the way
of the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith. Persons often have,
no doubt, the idea respecting me, that all my trials of faith regard
matters connected with money, though the reverse has been stated by me
very frequently; now, however, the Lord would try my faith concerning
one of my dearest earthly treasures, yea, next to my beloved wife, the
dearest of all my earthly possessions. Parents know what an only child,
a beloved child, is, and what to believing parents an only child, a
believing child, must be. Well, the Father in heaven said, as it were,
by this his dispensation, Art thou willing to give up this child to me?
My heart responded, As it seems good to thee, my heavenly Father. Thy
will be done. But as our hearts were made willing to give back our
beloved child to him who had given her to us; so he was ready to leave
her to us, and she lived. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he
shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm xxxvii. 4. The
desires of my heart were, to retain the beloved daughter, if it were the
will of God; the means to return her were, to be satisfied with the will
of the Lord.
Of all the trials of faith that as yet I have had to pass through, this
was the greatest; and, by God's abundant mercy, I own it to his praise,
I was enabled to delight myself in the will of God; for I felt
perfectly sure that if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be
best for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of God
than if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my
heart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment's anxiety. Thus
would it be under all circumstances, however painful, were the believer
exercising faith.
Dec. 31, 1853. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me L638,
11s. 81/2d.