left after the necessities of yesterday were met. A brother in the
Lord from Bath called yesterday at one of the Orphan-Houses and gave
5l. as a donation, besides 8s. 3d. for reports. Also by a clergyman
near Cirencester was sent 5s., and this morning came a post office
order for 10s. from Crediton, and 6d, was given by a sister in
Bristol. My dear Reader, pause and admire the hand of the Lord! Day
after day He helps us! His help never fails, nor is it ever too late!
We may be poor, very poor; but when the help is really needed, the
Lord opens His bountiful hand and supplies our need! The help may
come in a variety of ways, but it is certain! It may be that He
allows us to wait long on Him, and pray very often, whilst He appears
not to be mindful of us; yet in the end, in His own appointed and
best time, the help comes. Dear Reader, if you know the Lord, and you
have not a similar experience, be it known to you, that you may have
the same in your sphere of labour or service, though you may not be
called by the Lord to establish Orphan-Houses, or Day Schools, or
Adult Schools, or Sunday Schools, or circulate Bibles and Tracts in
an extensive way. Make but trial of this way, and you will see how
truly precious it is to wait upon the Lord for every thing, even for
the bread which perishes. Should you, dear Reader, not be reconciled
with God through faith in the Lord Jesus, then you may know, that
this precious privilege belongs to him who becomes a child of God by
faith in the Lord Jesus, that he may come to his Heavenly Father for
everything, and that his Father delights in giving him all he can
need, while here in the world.
On. Oct. 12th came in 2l. 7s., and Oct. 13th 6s.
Oct. 15. Saturday. Yesterday arrived from Gloucestershire the
following letter:--Oct. 13, 1842.
"My dear Brother,
As I have no doubt on my own mind, but the Orphans are in present
need, the enclosed 5l. is sent by the constraining power of the Lord
through me.
Yours affectionately,
*****"
The money came indeed in a time of need; for though we had about
enough for yesterdays necessities, there was nothing for todays
demands, which are 5l. 5s. There came in besides, yesterday
afternoon, from a brother in. Bristol 1l., and from an individual in
his employment 10s. Thus we could meet both yesterdays and todays
need, and are brought to the close of another week. Evening. There
came in still further this evening, by sale of articles 2l. 11s. 8d.,
from Ledbury 1s., and from two sisters in. Bristol 11s. Thus we have
something towards the need of another week.
Oct. 19. Wednesday. As only 1l. 2s. had come in since Saturday
evening, there was now again not sufficient money in hand for the
need of today. I therefore opened an Orphan box in my house, in which
I found two sovereigns. The Lord was pleased to send still further,
in the course of the day, from the neighbourhood of Droitwich, 8s.;
by profit from the sale of ladies bags, made by a sister for the
benefit of the Orphans, 10s.; by a donation 2l. 10s.; by Reports 1s.
3d.; and by another donation, from two ladies, three-pence. These
ladies, sisters in the Lord, had it much in their hearts to give
considerable sums, and had given in former times gold chains, a
brilliant, and many other valuable articles for the benefit of the
Orphans, besides money; but now, having no means, through particular
family circumstances, they were not ashamed to offer these
three-pence. I doubt not that I have their prayers, and I value them
more than gold; and I know, that if they had gold for the Orphans,
they would give that also. The child of God ought to consider that
word for his comfort: "If there be first a willing mind, it is
accepted, according to that a man hath, and not according to that he
hath not." 2 Cor. viii. 12.
On October 21st came in 1l. 9s. 8 1/2d.
Oct. 24. Monday. The necessities of the 22nd, being Saturday, called
for all the money that was left, about 3l. Not one farthing was then
remaining in my hands. And now observe, dear Reader, how the Lord
helped, and praise Him with me, that He always causes the stream to
flow again, when there is need. On the same day on which the last
money was given out, the day before yesterday, there was handed over
to me 1l. 2s. 9d. for sale of articles. Yesterday I received through
a sister, from an Indian gentleman and lady, two sovereigns, and one
from herself, being the produce of a piece of work, which she had
done for the benefit of the Orphans. A poor brother also gave me 3s.
Today I received the following anonymous note:--Oct. 22, 1842.
"Beloved Brother,
The enclosed 35l. was given to the Lord some time since. It was
received for service done according to Eph. vi. 7; and believing that
laying up treasures for myself upon earth (having enough for my own
necessities without it) would be disobedience to Matthew vi. 19, I
put it into your hands. You will kindly dispose of it as the Lord may
direct you.
Yours in the Lord Jesus.
You will oblige me by receiving 10l. of the enclosed for your own
need, or that of your family."
This money came indeed most seasonably; for though, by the donations
of yesterday, todays need had been supplied, nevertheless as about
100 yards of flannel and materials for the boys clothes are needed,
and as many other expenses require to be met, besides the regular
daily expenses; we are thus in some measure provided. Half of this
money I took for the Orphans and half for the other objects, as they
also were in great need. There was likewise yesterday put anonymously
into the boxes at Bethesda 1s. and 1l. Still further came in, through
the boxes in the Orphan-Houses, 6s. 5 1/2d., from a poor widow 2s.
6d., from another individual 1l., in eight donations through a
brother 10s. 3d., and a box of worn clothes.
Oct. 29. The need of today is 5l. 5s. We should not have had enough,
humanly speaking, had there not been sent yesterday afternoon 5l.
from Hull, as on the 26th and 28th only 3l. 5s. 5d. had come in.; so
that there was only 3l. 0s. 6 1/2d. in hand, when this 5l. came.
There came in still further today 1l. 12s. 4d. How kindly does the
Lord, as it were, day by day inspect our stores! He, in general, does
not supply our need for many months at once; in order both that He
Himself may often have the Joy of our calling upon Him for the
supplies we need; and that He may give unto us the joy of obtaining
our supplies day by day in answer to prayer; and that thus also other
children of God might be encouraged, to wait upon Him for all they
may need.
On Oct. 30 was given 11s.
Nov. 1. There would have been again nothing in hand, for the need of
this day, had not the Lord kindly sent in yesterday afternoon three
donations of 1l., 2l., and 2s. Besides this there came in by sale of
stockings 3s. 7d.
Nov. 2. After the demands of yesterday had been met, there remained
only 16s. 9 1/2d. in hand, I therefore again besought the Lord, that
He would be pleased to send in fresh supplies. Accordingly, about one
oclock, a brother left a note at my house, containing a cheque for
7l., of which 1l. was for the Orphans, 1l. for the other objects, and
5l. for my own necessities. Between two and three oclock I met
another brother in my walk in Redland Fields, who gave me a sovereign
for the Orphans; and at four oclock a sister sent a sovereign for
the Orphans. Thus our need for today is supplied and something left.
Nov. 7. Monday. Since the afternoon of the 2nd I received 8l. 9s.
10d. After the necessities of Saturday, the 6th, had been supplied,
amounting to between 3l. and 4l., there was once more nothing at all
left in my hands, which led me afresh to the Lord in prayer. On the
same evening I received, as the answer to my prayers, from a sister
10s., and by sale of articles 1l. l6s. 10d., and this morning there
came in still further, by several donations, 2l. 15s. 7 1/2d.
Nov. 9. Again all our money was spent after the expenses of today had
been met, when this evening there came in 4l. 1s. by sale of
articles, 7s. 9d. by sale of Reports, and 3d. as a donation. A parcel
was also given to me this evening, sent by two sisters in the Lord,
in Bath, containing the following articles: 5 gold rings, a locket,
a gold seal, 15 brooches, a pair of ear-rings, a gold pin, a small
telescope, an ornamental comb, 4 pairs of clasps, 2 head brooches,
some ornaments of mock pearls, 9 necklaces, 11 bracelets, 4 waist
buckles, and a few other articles.
Nov. 15, Yesterday came in from W. D. B. 1l. 1s., from a sister 2s.,
and through an Orphan box 4s. This 1l. 7s. was all there was in hand,
and with out it we should not have been able to provide for the need
of today.
Nov. 16. After the need of yesterday had been provided for, and I now
again had nothing in hand, I received for Reports 1s., and from a
believing clergyman 1l.--When, this morning, after I had been asking
the Lord for means, the post brought none, I fell again on my knees,
further beseeching Him to supply me with fresh means, as for several
days little had come in. I especially also told Him, that, though the
post was now out, yet He could in various ways send help. It was ONLY
A FEW MINUTES AFTER, when brother C. B. brought me 1l. 3s. which just
then had been given to him for the Orphans. About an hour afterwards
two brethren called on me, the one from Wiltshire, the other from
Essex, who stayed with me some time, and on leaving gave me 2l. 10s.
for the Orphans. In the evening I saw still further that the Lord had
not only not disregarded my prayers in the morning, but also that He
was not confined to sending means by the post. A sister called on me,
and brought me, for several purposes, twelve sovereigns, of which six
are to be applied for the benefit of the Orphans. This was not all. A
brother brought me 9 silver forks and a silver butter knife, the
produce of which I might use as most needed. This also, therefore,
might have been applied for the Orphans, but I put it to the funds
for the other objects as being more in need. In the evening was still
further given to me with Eccles. ix. 10, 4s., and as the profit from
the sale of ladies baskets, 1l.; so that a rich supply has been
received this day from the hand of our loving Father.
Nov. 20. When we were now again in very great need on account of
means for the other objects, there came in this day from a sister in
the Lord, a servant in Dorsetshire, 10l., which sum being left at my
disposal, to use in any way I thought best, I took it for the
School-Bible-Missionary and Tract-Fund.
Nov. 26. Saturday. Only 7l. 16s. 11 1/2d. had come in since the 16th
for the Orphans. The day began without any thing in hand. In the
course of the morning came in by sale of stockings, 6s. 4d., and
through the box at the Boys-Orphan-House 8d. At two oclock in the
afternoon a believing clergyman sent to two of the labourers in the
work 2 sovereigns, of which the one was able to give half the
sovereign, and the other the whole sovereign. By this means we were
supplied with what was needed today.
Nov. 28. Monday. Yesterday came in from Cheltenham 5s.; with Eccles.
ix. 10, 5s.; anonymously was left at the Girls-Orphan-House a paper,
containing the letters E.V. with a crown piece; and anonymously was
put into the boxes at Bethesda 1s. There was sent also from Bath, a
coral necklace and a gold necklace clasp. By these donations we were
supplied today.
Nov. 29. This morning I took a shilling out of an Orphan-box at my
house, which was all we had wherewith to commence the day. JUST AT
THE MOMENT when the letter bag was sent to me from the Orphan-Houses,
with the statement of what would be required for this day, I received
a post-office order from Barnstaple for 1l. Thus the Lord, in His
faithful love, has sent a little, for which I had been waiting upon
Him. Through His grace my heart is looking out for more, for I am
sure He will never forsake us.
Nov. 30. Nothing at all has come in since yesterday. But as one of
the labourers was able to give 17s., we were supplied with bread and
a few other little things, which were needed.
Dec. 1. Nothing had come in, except 5s. for needlework of the
Orphans. The labourers had nothing to give of their own, except one
of them 1s. 6d.; yet this little supplied the absolute need, which
was only milk. We were unable to take in the usual quantity of bread.
(The bread is eaten by the children on the third day after it is
baked. If we are unable to take in the usual daily quantity of bread,
for want of means, we afterwards seek to procure stale bread.) Should
it be said that the not taking in the usual quantity of bread would
at once prove to the bakers that we are poor; my reply is, that that
does not follow, because bread has often been sent as a present, as
may be seen in the list of articles, given for the Orphans, at the
end of the printed Reports. But perhaps it may be stated: Why do you
not take the bread on credit? What does it matter, whether you pay
immediately for it, or at the end of the month, or the quarter, or
the half-year? Seeing that the Orphan-Houses are the work of the
Lord, may you not trust in Him, that He will supply you with means,
to pay the bills which you contract with the butcher, baker, grocer,
&c., as the things which you purchase are needful? My reply is this:
1, If the work in which we are engaged is indeed the work of God,
then He, whose work it is, is surely able and willing to provide the
means for it. 2, But not only so, He will also provide the means at
the time when they are needed. I do not mean that He will provide
them, when we think that they are needed; but yet, that, when there
is real need, such as the necessaries of life being required, He will
give them; and on the same ground on which we suppose we do trust in
God to help us to pay the debt which we now contract, we may and
ought to trust in the Lord to supply us with what we require at
present, so that there may be no need for going in debt. 3, It is
true, I might have goods on credit, and to a very considerable
amount; but, then, the result would be, that the next time we were
again in straits, the mind would involuntarily be turned to further
credit which I might have, instead of being turned to the Lord, and
thus faith, which is kept up and strengthened only by being
EXERCISED, would become weaker and weaker, till at last, according to
all human probability, I should find myself deeply in debt, and have
no prospect of getting out of it. 4, Faith has to do with the word of
God,--rests upon the written word of God; but there is no promise that
He will pay our debts,--the word says rather: "Owe no man any thing;"
whilst there is the promise given to His children.: "I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee," and "Whosoever believeth on. Him shall
not be confounded." On this account we could not say upon the ground
of the Holy Scriptures: Why do you not trust in God that He will
supply you with means to pay your debts, which you contract in His
service for the necessaries of the Orphans? 5, The last reason why we
do not take goods on credit is this: The chief and primary object of
the work was not the temporal welfare of the children, nor even their
spiritual welfare (blessed and glorious as it is, and much as,
through grace, we seek after it and pray for it); but the first and
primary object of the work was: To show before the whole world and
the whole church of Christ, that even in these last evil days the
living God is ready to prove Himself as the living God, by being ever
willing to help, succour, comfort, and answer the prayers of those
who trust in Him: so that we need not go away from Him to our
fellow-men, or to the ways of the world, seeing that He is both able
and willing to supply us with all we can need in His service. From
the beginning, when God put this service into my heart, I had
anticipated trials and straits; but knowing, as I did, the heart of
God, through the experience of several years previously, I also knew
that He would listen to the prayers of His child who trusts in Him,
and that He would not leave him in the hour of need, but listen to
his prayers, and deliver him out of the difficulty, and that then,
this being made known in print for the benefit of both believers and
unbelievers, others would be led to trust in the Lord. Thus it has
now been for more than nine years (i.e. in. 1845, when the third part
was first published). These accounts have been greatly owned by the
Lord. We discern, therefore, more and more clearly, that it is for
the churchs benefit that we are put into these straits; and if,
therefore, in the hour of need, we were to take goods on credit, the
first and primary object of the work would be completely frustrated,
and no heart would be further strengthened to trust in God, nor would
there be any longer that manifestation of the special and particular
providence of God, which has hitherto been so abundantly shown
through this work, even in the eyes of unbelievers, whereby they have
been led to see that there is, after all, reality in the things of
God, and many, through these printed accounts, have been truly
converted. For these reasons, then, we consider it our precious
privilege, as heretofore, to continue to wait upon the Lord only,
instead of taking goods on credit, or borrowing money from some kind
friends, when we are in need. Nay, we purpose, as God shall give us
grace, to look to Him only, though morning after morning we should
have nothing in hand for the work--yea, though from meal to meal we
should have to look to Him; being fully assured that He, who is now
(1845) in the tenth year feeding these many Orphans, and who has
never suffered them to want, and that He who is now (1845) in the
twelfth year carrying on the other parts of the work, without any
branch of it having had to be stopped for want of means, will do so
for the future also. And here I do desire, in the deep consciousness
of my natural helplessness and dependence upon the Lord, to confess
that through the grace of God my soul has been in peace, though day
after day we have had to wait for our daily provisions upon the Lord;
yea, though even from meal to meal we have been required to do
this.--I now go on with extracts from my journal.
Dec. 2, 1842. By the produce of six old silver coins, which I
received last evening, and by 9s. 6d. which came in besides, we were
able to meet the expenses of today; but now there were before us the
heavy expenses of tomorrow, Saturday, which I knew would be
particularly great, and there was nothing at all in hand to meet
them. In this our need there came in this evening from Lutterworth
and its neighbourhood two donations, one of 5l., and the other of 1l.
The 1l. was for the Orphans, and the 5l. was left to my disposal, as
it might be most needed. I took of it 3l. l2s. 3d. for the Orphans,
and 1l. 7s. 9d. for the Day Schools. This afternoon a gentleman
passed the Girls-Orphan-House. The house door being opened, he
rolled half a crown into the house. This half crown came in when
there was nothing at all in hand. There came in also by knitting of
the Infants 6d., by knitting of the Boys 6d., from a poor believing
widow 6d., and by sale of a Report 3d. Thus we have 4l. l5s. for the
necessities of the Orphans tomorrow (the other little sums have been
spent today).
Dec. 5. Monday. On Saturday, Dec. 3, 10s. came in from Brighton., and
yesterday 1l. with Eccles. ix. 10, and by a sister from Nailsworth
10s. Also by sale of articles 11s, 6d. Thus we had 2l. 11s. 6d.,
which was nearly but not quite enough for the necessities of today,
as it would be desirable to have a few shillings more. I went,
therefore, to see whether there was any money in the two boxes at my
house, and I found a sovereign. Thus we had more than sufficient for
the need of today, which is 3l. This evening I received 1l. 10s. for
articles which had been sold.
Dec. 8. A few little donations which came in on the 6th, together
with the little there was in hand, supplied our need on the 7th. On
the 6th a shilling was anonymously left on the mantel piece in the
Infant-Orphan-House; and one of the Orphans, formerly under our care,
but now in service, gave 2s. 6d. These two small donations were most
seasonable towards the supply of our need on the 7th. Now this day
commenced without our having anything in hand. Just while the
Orphan-Boy, who had been sent to my house for money, was waiting, I
received from the neighbourhood of Droitwich 10s. This, with 3s. 9d.
for Reports, and 6d. for knitting of the Infant-Orphans, and 4s. 6d.
which one of the labourers was able to give of his own, helped us
through this day.
Dec. 9. There was again nothing at all in hand this morning to meet
the expenses of the day. A little after ten oclock an Orphan arrived
from Northam, with whom there was sent for my own personal
necessities 10s., and 2l. 2s. 4d. besides. As about this latter sum
nothing had been written, I put it to the Orphan-Fund, whereby we are
supplied for today, and have a little left towards the need of
tomorrow. There was also 6d. in the boxes at my house.
Dec. 10. 1l. was left, after the need of yesterday had been met. This
morning, Saturday, when I knew that again several pounds would be
needed, and I had therefore been waiting on the Lord, I received
about nine oclock 1l. from a brother, who, on his return from Spain
to Devonshire, had been intrusted with it for the Orphans, by a
sister in the Lord who lives in London. A few minutes after I had
received this sovereign, I had to pay on behalf of one of the
apprentices 2l., which took exactly all the money I had, so that
there was still nothing to meet the ordinary housekeeping expenses of
this day, which I knew would be at least 3l. I gave myself therefore
still further to prayer, being fully assured, by grace, that my
loving faithful Father would this day also provide me His child with
everything I needed. Scarcely was I risen from my knees, when I
received a bank post bill from Torquay for 10l.; of which 2l. is
intended by the kind donor for my own temporal necessities, and 8l.
for the Orphans, so that we have more than enough for this day.--There
came in still further this evening, in five small donations, 6s.
10d., by needlework 6s., and by sale of articles 1l. 6s. 6d.
Dec. 11. Anonymously put into the box at Bethesda, 2s. 6d., and from
C. M. W. 1l.
Dec. 14. There was now again only ONE PENNY in my hands this morning.
About eleven oclock I received a note, enclosing 2s. and 10s. The
brother who kindly brought the note which contained the money, gave
at the same time 2s. 6d. for the Orphans. As only 16s. was needed to
purchase the necessary provisions for this day, and one of the
labourers was able to add 1s. 5d. of his own, we were supplied.
Dec. 15. Only 2s. 3d., the contents of an Orphan-box, 1l. by sale of
stockings, and 2s. l 1/2d. from the boxes in the Orphan-Houses, have
come in. This, with 5s. which one of the labourers was able to give,
supplied the need of today.
Dec. 16. Nothing has come in. 3s. 5d., which one of the labourers was
able to give, was all we had. At six oclock this evening, our need
being now very great, not only with reference to the Orphan-Houses,
but also the Day Schools, &c., I gave myself with two of the
labourers to prayer. There needed some money to come in before eight
oclock tomorrow morning, as there was none to take in milk for
breakfast (the children have oatmeal porridge with milk for
breakfast), to say nothing about the many other demands of tomorrow,
being Saturday. Our hearts were at peace, while asking the Lord, and
assured that our Father would supply our need. WE HAD SCARCELY RISEN
FROM OUR KNEES, when I received a letter containing a sovereign for
the Orphans, half of which was from a young East India officer, and
the other half the produce of the sale of a piece of work, which the
sister, who sent the money, had made for the benefit of the Orphans.
She wrote: "I love to send these little gifts. They so often come in
season." Truly, thus it was at this time.--About five minutes later I
received from a brother the promise of 50l. for the Orphans, to be
given during the next week; and a quarter of an hour after that,
about seven oclock, a brother gave me a sovereign, which an Irish
sister in the Lord had left this day, on her departure for Dublin,
for the benefit of the Orphans. How sweet and precious to see thus so
manifestly the willingness of the Lord to answer the prayers of His
needy children!