for that business, with reference to the married brother and sister
about whom I wrote to you. Both of them are sentenced to fourteen
days imprisonment, and their marriage is declared to be illegal and
only concubinage, so that when the imprisonment is over, they will be
separated by the police, and sent back to prison, should they still
seek to live together as they must do, being married in the sight of
God. Further, the brother who lodged them after their marriage, is
sentenced to four days imprisonment, because he helped on, as it is
said, concubinage. Finally, the husband is sentenced to pay 4/6 of
the legal expenses, his wife 1/6 and the other brother 1/6. If here
were only the question about money, or suffering imprisonment, we
must bear it, and account it an honour, to suffer for Christs sake;
but as the sentence is, that this marriage is concubinage, which
according to God and to man it is not, and as the liberty of the
Wirtemberg subjects allows them to appeal to a higher court, and as
brother R. can do all this business, I have with brother R. and some
other brethren judged, that in this case, like Paul, we ought to
appeal to a higher court, if by any means we may keep the government
from committing this grievous sin of unjustly punishing those godly
persons. Should this, however, be in vain, we must yield to the
power, the brethren must bear the imprisonment, and this dear couple
must leave the country.
Our position here as saints was unquestionably known from the
beginning by the police, who watch us closely; but nothing was
officially done in the matter till very recently, which was
occasioned in the following way. The Baptist church here have two or
three times a year, or as often as the city director (the head of the
police) requires it, to give in the list of names of those who belong
to the church, who have been added, and who have been separating
themselves or have been excluded. At the close of the year that was
now done again, when the considerable number who had left it on my
account, were noticed by the city director, who then sent for the
teaching elder or president of the Baptist church, who told him all
about me, and that I had occasioned this business. This now drew
forth an order from the city director to brother R., in which he was
requested to state--1. Who had separated themselves with him, (names,
station in life, and place of abode)?--2. Whether we meant to form a
separate church?--3. Who were the elders?--4. And who at present
belonged to our number? This was very briefly replied to by giving
the names of those who separated themselves, the additional two names
of those who have been added since, that we meant to be in communion
with all who love our Lord Jesus, and that this was the reason, why
we had separated ourselves from the Baptist church. To this no reply
has been sent; nor has any one as yet put the least hinderance to my
freely teaching and preaching Jesus Christ, though it is now five
months and six days since I have been labouring here.
The Lord is also now beginning to work among the brethren belonging
to the Baptist church here, in answer to our and your prayers, and
those of many other dear saints in England, Switzerland, &c. Several
are beginning to feel that their position is not a right one, but
none have yet fully and publicly renounced their errors, which, I
trust, will soon be the case. May we continue to pray concerning this
matter. Moreover, the prejudices against us are wearing off on the
part of some other persons, so that the number who attend our
meetings is rather increasing. There seem also several who are
somewhat concerned about their souls, and a few children of God
belonging to the state church come. Another brother was also added to
our number about a fortnight ago, so that we are now two-and-twenty
altogether, who break bread. This is a small company certainly, but
though it be only like a taper on a candlestick, yet there is some
light, however little, and I trust that, with Gods blessing, this
light will be more and more bright in Germany, where it is so much
needed. The Lord is also blessing my labours among the dear brethren
here, so that they grow in knowledge, and, I trust, in grace also;
likewise those errors, of which I wrote to you, are giving way, but
they are not overcome fully yet, and I shall have a conflict still
about them, before I leave: still the Lord has kept us in peace, by
giving me wisdom to deal gently with the brethren, remembering the
years in which they were built up in error. Help me also with your
prayers, that I may find a bookseller to take my book on commission
for sale; for I have offered it to three, and they have refused it.
One glimpse was enough for one, in seeing that I did not belong to a
State Church. Surely I have conflict here step by step; but God
helps, and through Him I shall do valiantly in this thing also;
nevertheless I beg your prayers.--And now, finally, I entreat you,
beloved pilgrims, help me with your prayers, that I may do and suffer
all the will of God here gladly, that I may live to His honour while
remaining here, that I may be helped in the remainder of my work,
that I may not leave a day before, nor stay a day beyond the Lords
time, and that the Lord would give us a prosperous journey and voyage
in His own time. My dear wife unites with me in love to all the dear
brethren and sisters. We often pray for you, and remember by name
those who are in particular trial through bereavement, or from other
causes. Farewell.
Your affectionate brother and servant in the Lord,
GEORGE MÜLLER
I add a few remarks in connexion with this letter:--
I. The wisdom of our brother R., in being present at the judicial
settlement of the money affairs of the sister, who was legally
divorced from her husband, may be questioned, on account of the
expressions used by the husband. As to myself, knowing the
particulars more fully than the reader can, I do not for a moment
think that the man thought our brother had any intention of marrying
his divorced wife, for all these expressions were evidently only used
to insult Dr. R.; but my objection would rather spring from this,
that I question whether a christian has any business at all with such
concerns. The Lord in a most remarkable way protected Dr. R.; but
this by no means proves that he was in his proper place.
II. I also say a few words more about the brother and sister whose
marriage was considered illegal. The appeal to the highest court was
of no avail, also the final appeal to the King was useless, and about
July, 1844, the brother and sister were imprisoned for fourteen days,
and the brother, who had taken them in, four days. The Lord was with
them, and blessed them much in the prison, as they wrote me. The
brethren had free access to them, and once even the greater part of
them met in the prison and broke bread together. This exceeding great
leniency was granted to them, I think, through the judge who had to
investigate their affairs. When their imprisonment was expired, they
were ordered to separate, which however they did not do, considering
themselves married in the sight of God. For a long time the
government only threatened, without separating them by force; at
last, however, in March, 1845, after having taken from him his right
of citizenship at Stuttgart, and having thus deprived him of the
privilege of carrying on his business as a master cabinet-maker, the
husband was taken by force from his wife, and escorted by a policeman
to his parish, which is about nine miles distant. This was done after
the government had suffered them to live together as husband and wife
above twenty months, and after they had had a child more than ten
months old, which however the Lord took to Himself about a week
before the parents were thus separated. This affair has occasioned
the loss of the business of this brother; and if an alteration be not
shortly made in the laws of the country, with reference to liberty of
conscience concerning marriage, (which they hope for, as they mean to
appeal to the representatives of the people,) they purpose to
emigrate to England.
Though our brother and sister might have acted more wisely, and not
have brought the matter to this public act at the church; yet we must
keep in mind that their position had been trying, as for more than a
twelve-month they had delayed being married, in hope of obtaining
permission from the government not to have to go to the State Church;
and as no one of the brethren had ever been thus situated; and as
they themselves had not much light, yet wished to maintain a good
conscience: on these accounts, I say, we cannot but feel for our
brother and sister in their trial, and remember them in love.
Were it again to occur, that a brother and sister of the little
church at Stuttgart should desire to be united in marriage, and have
conscientious objection to be married in the State Church, I gave it
as my judgment to the brethren, that they should humbly and meekly
make known their intentions to the city director, have their banns
called in the Church, pay the fees of the clergyman, etc., and
afterwards make known to the whole little Church that they took each
other in marriage, signify the same to the city director, and not go
to the State Church. If after this they should not be suffered to
live together, then to emigrate.
III. After I had been between two and three months at Stuttgart, and
the brethren had been instructed in some measure, both at the public
meetings and at the Scripture Reading Meetings, about many important
truths, I at last began decidedly to go forward at our private
meetings, after much prayer, to the exposing of the fearful errors,
which they almost all held, in thinking that at last all men would be
saved, and even the devils themselves. We had not, however, had more
than two or three meetings on this subject, when Dr. R. was shot; and
as this occasioned his absence for some time, I thought it better not
to go on with the subject; and when he was sufficiently restored, it
was wished that we should consider all the passages connected with
the Lords supper. As on this point also the brethren needed
instruction, I readily yielded the point, judging that I had to show
them, by being willing to wait, that I sought not my own
gratification, in considering their views about universal salvation.
Thus five or six meetings were spent in considering all the portions
of the Holy Scriptures which speak about the Lords Supper. But now,
this having been finished, I proposed that we should resume
considering the Scriptures, with reference to universal salvation,
and I found that they had been led into this error, because 1, They
did not see the difference between the earthly calling of the Jews,
and the heavenly calling of the believers in the Lord Jesus in the
present dispensation, and therefore they said, that, because the
words "everlasting," etc., are applied to "the possession of the land
of Canaan," and the "priesthood of Aaron," that therefore the
punishment of the wicked cannot be without end, seeing that the
possession of Canaan and the priesthood of Aaron are not without end.
My endeavour, therefore, was, to show the brethren the difference
between the earthly calling of Israel and our heavenly one, and to
prove from Scripture, that whenever, the word "everlasting" is used
with reference to things purely not of the earth, but beyond time, it
denotes a period without end. 2, They had laid exceeding great stress
upon a few passages where, in Luthers translation of the German
Bible, the word hell occurs, and where it ought to have been
translated either "hades" in some passages, or "grave" in others, and
where they saw a deliverance out of hell, and a being brought up out
of hell, instead of "out of the grave." 3, They had taken passages
out of their connexion.--The mode which I now pursued was, to refer to
all the very many passages which they had written down, and to
expound them according to the connexion in which they stood, seeking
to show the brethren this connexion. In addition to this, I requested
them to allow me to speak on those passages without being
interrupted, in order that, being able pretty fully to enter upon
this subject, there might be free opportunity given to the Holy Ghost
to work conviction in their hearts; and, as they were greatly in
favour of universal salvation, they might thus be kept from
controversy, to which they would have been inclined, without having
heard what I had to say from the Word of God against universal
salvation; for I had previously given them full opportunity to bring
out their own views. After having thus proceeded for several evenings
in our private meetings, I saw that the greater part were fully
convinced about the errors they had held, and the others had no
desire to contradict, though they had perhaps not grace enough to say
plainly that they had been in error. Nor did I in the least enforce
that any acknowledgment should be made to me. These meetings took
place during the last three weeks of my stay at Stuttgart. Thus, by
having received grace from the Lord to deal patiently with the
brethren, and to wait upon God even for the right time to attack
these errors, I was helped to conquer in this thing also.
IV. I add also a few words more with reference to my Narrative, which
I published at Stuttgart. When I had proceeded a considerable way in
preparing it for the press, I found especial help from God, in being
directed through a kind brother, whom I had known eight years before
at Stuttgart, to a paper manufacturer, from whom I could buy the
paper for 4,000 copies on advantageous terms, and also to a very
honourable and promise-keeping printer. The printer engaged to print
two sheets a week and kept his word to the end, so that as long as
six weeks before my departure, I was able to say that, if the Lord
would, I should depart on the 26th of February, and on that very day
I was able to depart. Important as it was, for many reasons, that I
should return to my service in Bristol when I did, I cannot but see
the hand of God in directing me to so honourable a person as the
printer was, in whom also, I trust, is somewhat of the fear of God.--
It has been often mentioned to me in various places, that brethren in
business do not sufficiently attend to the keeping of promises, and I
cannot therefore but entreat all who love our Lord Jesus, and who are
engaged in a trade or business, to seek for His sake not to make any
promises, except they have every reason to believe they shall be able
to fulfil them, and therefore carefully to weigh all the
circumstances, before making any engagement, lest they should fail in
its accomplishment. It is even in these little ordinary affairs of
life that we may either bring much honour or dishonour to the Lord;
and these are the things which every unbeliever can take notice of.
Why should it be so often said, and sometimes with a measure of
ground, or even much ground: "Believers are bad servants, bad
tradesmen, bad masters?" Surely it ought not to be true that we, who
have power with God to obtain by prayer and faith all needful grace,
wisdom and shill, should be bad servants, bad tradesmen, bad masters.
When now the Narrative was nearly printed, I had to look out for a
bookseller who would undertake the sale of the book on commission. My
reason for this was, not the money which might thus be obtained, for
truly glad should I have been to have given away all the 4,000 copies
at once, had I known of suitable opportunities; but in order that by
means of the book-trade the Narrative might be circulated even a
thousand miles off or more, where I had no opportunity of reaching.
Here now it was again that I met with difficulty, as I had done step
by step in the other parts of my service in Germany. Three
booksellers refused to undertake the sale of the book. The objection
evidently was, that I did not belong to the State Church, and one of
them plainly told me so. But by the help of God I was not
discouraged. I knew the Lord had sent me to Germany: I knew also that
it was His will that I should publish an account of His dealings with
me in the German language; for He had so unexpectedly laid this
matter upon my heart; He had so remarkably provided the means for it,
without my asking any one but Himself for them; He had given me such
especial help in preparing the book for the press; He had given me
such an abundance of prayer about this part of my service, both many
weeks before I left England, and day by day all the months that I had
been in Germany. For these reasons it was that I had the fullest
assurance that this difficulty also would be overcome. I therefore
now began to give myself to prayer with my dear wife concerning this
very matter. Day by day we waited upon the Lord for about four weeks,
and then I applied to another bookseller, who without any hesitation
undertook the sale of the book on commission, so that I retained
2,000 copies for gratuitous distribution, and 2,000 he was to have.
Dear reader, there is no difficulty which may not be overcome. Let us
but use the power which we have with God as his children by prayer
and faith, and abundant blessings may be drawn down from Him.
V. On my departure from Stuttgart, the number of the brethren who met
for the breaking of bread was twenty-five. On the very last Lords
day I had the joy of seeing the third elder of the Baptist Church,
who had at first thought me so much in error, come among us, and
unite with us in the breaking of bread, having for some time had his
mind more and more opened to the truth. The day before I departed,
not only the brethren and sisters among whom I had laboured took
leave of me with many tears, but also nineteen brethren and sisters
of the close Baptist Church came to my lodgings, and affectionately
bade me farewell, and many with tears. The Lord indeed, in His rich
mercy, had so far answered my prayer concerning this my service, that
I left a testimony behind in their consciences.
On Feb. 26, 1844, my dear wife and I departed from Stuttgart, and on
March 6th, we reached Bristol. Exceedingly as we had longed to return
to Bristol, as soon as we could see it to be the Lords will; yet so
greatly had our hearts been knit to the dear saints whom we left
behind, that it was a sad pleasure to depart, and our only comfort
was, that we left them in the hands of the good Shepherd.
I resume now the account about the Orphan-Houses, and other objects
of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.
During all the time of my absence from Bristol, the Lord bountifully
supplied our need. For though the money, which I was able to leave
behind on my departure, would not have supplied the Orphan-Houses
with more than about one-half of what was needed, yet the Lord helped
so seasonably, and sent in so many donations, that there was not
once, during all this time, the least difficulty with reference to
means. There came in for the Orphans, between Aug. 9, 1843, and Mach
6, 1844, about 450l., besides very many articles of clothing, pro
visions, books, trinkets, old silver, etc.
On Aug. 11th, 1843, A. B. sent 50l., which, being left to my
disposal, was put to the School-Bible-Missionary and Tract Fund. I
received information about this donation on the evening of Aug. 22nd,
during the first hour after my arrival at Stuttgart. It was a
precious earnest, that the Lord would also be mindful of the need of
the Institution during my absence from England. Indeed, it cannot be
described, how sweet to me just then, under the circumstances in
which I found myself, in an especial trial of faith to which the Lord
called me in that very hour, as before stated, was this fresh proof
of the Lords watchful care over His work in my hands.
Nov. 21, 1843. At a time when all means were exhausted, and
when for many reasons large supplies were needed for the
School-Bible-Missionary and Tract Fund, whilst I was daily waiting
upon the Lord with my dear wife in Germany, bringing the work in
Bristol before Him, and beseeching Him also to give us pecuniary
means for it, that His enemies might have no cause for triumphing,
was sent to me a letter from Bristol, containing another from the
East Indies, in which the writer gave me an order for 100l. for the
work of the Lord in my hands, giving me at the same time full liberty
to use the money as most needed.
A few days after A. B. sent another 50l. for the work of the Lord in
my hands. By these two donations, both of which I put entirely to the
funds for these objects, we were not only helped to meet all present
demands, but were richly supplied.--Thus, at so great a distance from
the work, we were yet able by our prayers effectually to serve the
Institution!--Truly, it is precious in this way to hang upon God! It
brings its abundant reward with it! Every donation, thus received, so
manifestly comes out of the hands of the Lord Himself.
Dear Reader, just look once more upon this circumstance! Hundreds of
miles we were from Bristol, and by our bowing our knees before our
Heavenly Father at Stuttgart, we not only could bring down spiritual
blessings upon the work in Bristol, but also temporal means. Thus,
simply by prayer, we obtained whilst in Germany, for the work of God
in Bristol, within about one week, nearly 200l.; for there came in
some other donations for the Orphans also.
On Jan. 6, 1844, there came in 50l. from one who is VERY FAR PROM
BEING RICH, of which 10l. was given for the School Fund, and 40l. for
the Orphans. The donor is satisfied with food and raiment, labouring
cheerfully, and wishing rather to spend than to keep, or lay up
treasure on earth.
March 25, 1844. After a comparatively great abundance with regard to
the Orphans, for a whole year and seventeen days, during which time
we were not once in difficulty as to means, which had not been the
case for nearly five years previous to the commencement of this
period, we are now again quite poor, there being NOTHING AT ALL left
in my hands, after I have paid out this day more than 50l. for rent
and salaries. But through the grace of God I am able to trust as
heretofore in the Lord, and therefore my heart is in peace.--Evening.
I received this afternoon 11s. 2 1/2d., 2s. 7d., by sale of articles
came in 1l.19s. 9d., by sale of Reports 3s., and by a donation 2s. 2d.
March 26. This morning my wife and I besought the Lord unitedly for
means, and received almost immediately afterwards 5l. from
Birmingham, in answer to our prayer.
March 27. I received 8s., and there was anonymously put into the box
at Bethesda 2s. 6d. This morning at half-past nine a sister came to
me, and brought me a sovereign for the Orphans, saying: "Whilst I was
lying this morning at six oclock on my bed, I thought, here I am so
comfortable, and perhaps the Orphans may be in need, and I resolved
to bring you this." The donation came most seasonably and as the
fruit of our prayer.--I received also 1l., the profit of the sale of
ladies bags.
March 30. Saturday. There is 6l. 19s. 9d. in hands This will be at
least enough till Monday morning.--There came in this morning 1l. 1s.
by a donation, before the money was sent off to the Orphan-Houses, so
that I had 8l. 0s. 9d. to send, which will be enough, I suppose, till
Tuesday morning.
April 1. There came in since the day before yesterday 1l., which was
anonymously put into the box at Salem Chapel, 15s. was given by a
young sister as the produce of some work which she had done for the
benefit of the Orphans, and I 6s. came in by sale of articles. Having
had this 2l. 11s. coming in I was able to meet extraordinary expenses
which came upon me today, not having expected that anything beyond
the ordinary housekeeping money would have been needed.
April 2. The need of today was 3l. 0s. 6d. Yesterday I had paid away
all the money in hand, but in the afternoon came in by sale of
articles 2l. 17s. 5d., by the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 5s. 6d., and
by needle-work of the Orphans 4s. 3 1/2d.: so that we were able to
meet the demands of today.
April 3. Today 1l. 14s. was required. I opened the boxes in my house,
in which I found 3s. 1 1/2d. Thus I had 8s. 10d. with what was left
yesterday, and the remainder, being 1l. 5s. 2d., one of the labourers
was able to give of his own.
April 4. Last evening was given to me 11s, and 10s.; and this morning
5s. came in. Thus we have 1l. 6s., and the need of today is 1l. 7s.
One of the labourers was able to add the 1s.
April 5. Yesterday came in by sale of articles 3l., and this morning
I received from Clapham 1l. 10s., and through a believer in Bristol
2l. 6s. This afternoon came in still further from a brother in Bath
5l. We have therefore received altogether this day 11l. 14s. from the
bountiful hand of our Heavenly Father.
April 6. One of the labourers in the Orphan-Houses gave me still
further today 5l., and from Kensington I received 1l. 6s. We are thus
again provided for the probable expenses of two or three days.
April 7. Today a sister gave me 2l. for the express purpose of
providing a little treat for the dear Orphans, and 15s. 6d. came in
besides.