A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com 0 A NARRATIVE OF SOME OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE MULLER. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. FIFTH PART. J. NISBET & CO., BERNERS STREET, LONDON. TO BE HAD ALSO IN BEISTOL, AT W. WHEBEAT'S, No. 7, COBN STEEET, AND AT THE BIBLE AND TRACT WABEHOUsE OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION FOR HOME AND ABROAD, Bo. 34, PABK STREET ; AND THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1874. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Enlargement of the Orphan Work, by the building of the New Orphan Houses No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, on Ashley Down, near Bristol. Practical remarks, letters from donors and Orphans, &c. . . . . . 7—105 CHAPTER II. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Mission ary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874. Practical remarks, letters from donors, &c. . 106—226 CHAPTER III. The Lord's way of providing for the thousands of Orphans who were in the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874 ; practical remarks, letters of donors and of Orphans, &c. . . . 226—378 VI CONTENTS. • CHAPTER IV. PAGE In this chapter will be found the statistics of tho Institution, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874, as to the number of the attendants, year after year, in the Day Schools, Sunday Schools, and Adult Schools ; also how much was expended year by year on the schools, and the results of our labours, in the way of spiritual blessing, in so far as they are known. Further, it will be stated how many copies of the Holy Scriptures were circulated year by year, at what cost, and the spiritual results of these operations, if any have come before us. Further, how many Missionaries at Home and Abroad were assisted, year after year ; how much was expended on this part of the work ; and what were the spiritual results of these Operations. Further, it will be stated, how many religious Tracts and Books were circulated, year by year, at what costs, and what has been the spiritual result of these labours, in so far as it is known. Lastly, how many Orphans were received and dismissed, year by year, how many each year were under our care, at what cost, and what were the spiritual results of this part of the work. In addition to these various points, things of a miscellaneous character will be added, which may be of interest to the Reader. .... 378-563 CHAPTER V. Matters more particularly connected with my own personal affairs, or those of my family, from May 26, 1856, to June, 1874 . . 563—615 INTBODUCTION. FOR more than ten years I have asked the Lord daily, and often repeatedly in the course of a day, to allow me the honour and privilege, to write the continuation of the Narrative of the Lord's dealings with me, which was carried on to May 26, 1856 ; but I was never so situated as to time, as to be able to do so, till of late. Now, how ever, I feel not only particularly led to this service, but am also, through particular providential circumstances, able to do it, so far as it regards time. The reasons, which have induced me, year after year, and especially of late years, to desire to publish the continuation of my Narrative, are the following : — 1, When the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad was formed on the 5th of March, 1834, its beginning was, as to outward appearance, most insig nificant ; and, though year after year it was enlarged, still it was small, comparatively, after ten years, in 1844; and though from 1844 to 1856, when the last part of my Narrative was published, the Institution had in all its five Objects been very much enlarged, it was even then small, in comparison with what it is now, in 1874. My desire, therefore, is to carry on the history of the Institution in this volume to the end of the fortieth year of its existence, and to show, how the very self- same principles, on which it was established, and carried on, when small, are in practice now, and only these, while the Institution is large, very large, and very comprehensive; that with the same ease we go forward, and find faith and prayer sufficient for everything, though the Institution is a hundred times larger than in 1834 and 1835, and though it is even five times larger than it was in May 1856, the time to which the account is carried on in the second Volume of this Narrative. I desire, therefore, to give the continuation of the Narrative for the encouragement of the disciples of the Lord Jesus in general, and particularly for the encouragement of those who labour more especially for the Lord, and for the comfort of those who are in particular trials and difficulties. 2, A further reason why I desire to publish the con tinuation of this Narrative, is, that those, who have read the first volume of it, and who saw, how in the year 1830 I took two momentous steps, (in beginning my service as I did in Devonshire in January of that year, solely in dependance upon the Living God, and how, in October of that year, I gave up my emolument in con nexion with the ministry of the Word) may see, that verily I was guided by the Lord, and that He not only owned and helped me up to 1856, but that more than ever He has been pleased to make it manifest, since May 1856, how blessed is the man that trusts in Him and in Him alone. 3, The reader of the first two volumes of this Narrative, and especially the readers of the last fifteen Reports of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, will remember, how I have written again and again in my publications " about Stewardship," " conse cration of our means to the Lord, together with all we have and are," and also about " systematic giving to the Lord's Work, and the poor." When writing on these subjects for the press, during the last thirty years, I have hinted at my own seeking to carry out these principles, but I have refrained till now, from giving a practical illustration from my own experience. Now, however, I purpose, in this volume, to bring before the reader, how I have acted myself with regard to these various points, and how the Lord has not only blessed me in my own soul in doing so, but how He also beyond the highest conception of most, in all probability, has recompensed me temporally, and intrusted me so abundantly with means for myself, that the reader will marvel, except he is much himself acquainted with God, when he comes to the part of my Narrative where I write on this subject. I shall give minutely the account of my life in this respect during the last 43 years. But there remains lastly, one more reason. 4, When I began the Orphan Work, one of the especial objects, which I had in view, was to benefit the Church of Christ at large, by the accounts which I might be enabled to write in connexion with this service ; for I expected, from the beginning, to have many answers 3 to prayer granted to me; and I confidently anticipated, that the recording of them would be beneficial to believers, in leading them to look for answers to their own prayers, and in encouraging them to bring all their own necessities before God in prayer. I likewise firmly believed, that many unconverted persons would, by means of such writings, be led to see the reality of the things of God. For the same reasons I began afterwards to publish " The Narrative of the Lord's Dealings" with me. As I expected, so it has been. In very many instances the reading of the Reports of the Institution, or the " Narrative of the Lord's Dealings " with me, has been blessed by God to the conversion of those who knew not our Lord Jesus. In many thousands of instances, likewise, believers have been benefited through them, being thereby comforted, encouraged, led more simply to the Holy Scriptures, led more fully to trust in God for everything, in a word, led in a greater or less degree, to walk in the same path of faith, in which the writer, by the help of God, is walking. The many thousands of instances of blessing which have been brought before me during the past 36 years (for almost daily I have heard of fresh cases), have only still further led me to earnestness in prayer, that the Lord would condescend to use these publications still more, and make them a blessing to many tens of thousands of His children, and to many tens of thousands of the unconverted. And now the reader will rejoice with me, when he reads what follows. I am led to relate the following, that the Godly reader more than ever may be encouraged to prayer, and also, that an acc,urate statement may be given of this fact, which has been referred to in many public places in connexion with Revival meetings, and which likewise has been several times stated in print. In November, 1856, a young Irishman, Mr. James McQuilkin, was brought to the knowledge oflihe .Lord. Soon afterliis conversion he saw my Narrative advertised, viz. : the first two volumes of this book. He had a great desire to read it, and procured it accordingly, about January, 1857. God blessed it greatly to his soul, espe- cially in showing to him, what could be obtained by prayer. | He said to himself something like this : " See what Mr. ] Miiller obtains simply by prayer. Thus I may obtain blessing by prayer. He now set himseli to pray, that- 6 instruments, but to the Holy Spirit alone ; yet these facts are stated, in order that it may be seen, what delight God has in answering abundantly the believing prayer of His children. Seeing, then, how greatly God has condescended to own these records in my Narrative, regarding His willingness to listen to prayer, made to Him in the name of the Lord Jesus, I am delighted to give the continuation of this Narrative, because it contains numberless other such. instances, in order that thus further glory may redound to God, and that the readers may still further be en couraged to expect great things from God, and to trust in Him at all times, and under all circumstances. This volume will be divided into Five Chapters. The first will especially give particulars in connexion with the enlargement of the Orphan Work, by the building of the New Orphan Houses No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, thus providing accommodation for 2,050 Orphans, instead of the 300 only, who were in the New Orphan House No. 1. The Second Chapter will refer to the way in which it pleased the Lord to supply the means for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract-Fund, from May 26, 1856 to March 5, 1874. The Third Chapter will give the Lord's way in providing for the thousands of Orphans, who were in the Five Orphans Houses on Ashley Down, from May 26, 1856 to March 5, 1874. The Fourth Chapter will give the statistics from May 26, 1856 to March 5, 1874, with reference to the Schools connected with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, the circula tion of the Holy Scriptures, Missionary operations, Tract circulation and Orphan Work, as to numbers, amount of means expended and blessing resulting from these opera tions, as far as it is known, &c. The Fifth Chapter will refer to the Lord's Dealings with myself personally. The whole volume, however, will be mixed with practical remarks, instructive for young believers, as the subjects may lead to them. A.D. 1856.] CHAPTER I. Enlargement of the Orphan Work, by the building of the New Orphan-Houses No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, on Ashley Down, near Bristol. Practical remarks, letters from donors and Orphans, &c. In the Fourth Part of this Narrative, Third Edition, from page 206 to 2'27, I gave minutely the reasons, which led me to seek to build, in dependance upon the Living God, premises large enough to be able to accommodate 700 more Orphans, in addition to the 300 already under our care. I afterwards detailed minutely, how the Lord had been pleased, in answer to prayer, to send one donation after another ; and how, on May 26, 1856, I had actually in hand for this object £29,297. 18s. 11½d. I now proceed to relate, how, since then, God was pleased further to provide me with means for the Building Fund, but refer only to the more remarkable donations. June 19, 1856. Received £1700., the disposal of which being left to me, I took for each of the various objects an equal portion, i.e. for the Building Fund £283. 6s. 8d., for the support of the Orphans £ 283. 6s. 8d., for the various Day Schools, the Sunday Schools, and Adult Schools of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, £283. 6s. 8d., for the gratuitous circulation of the Holy Scriptures among the Poor £ 283. 6s. 8d., for Missions £ 283. 6s. 8d., and for the gratuitous circulation of Gospel Tracts £ 283. 6s. 8d. July 4. Received £ 500., the disposal of which was left to me. I therefore took £ 83. 6s. 8d. for the Building Fund, the same amount for the support of the Orphans, and the same amount for the various Schools of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, also £ 83. 6s. 8d. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £ 83. 6s. 8d. for Missions, and £83. 6s. 8d. for the gratuitous circulation of Gospel Tracts. July 5. £245. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Aug. 26. Anonymously 31 old Guinea pieces, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, The produce of the 8 [A.D. 1857. inclosed coins to be applied as donations in the following proportions: £10. for Missionary labours, £ 10. towards your Building Fund, £5. for the Orphans, and what remains divide between Mr. Craik and yourself. A thank- offering for restoration to health." This is not only an answer to prayer for means, but especially also another answer to my oft repeated prayer, that the Lord would be pleased to incline the hearts of His children to send me their old gold and silver coins for His work, as well as diamonds, jewellery, costly apparel, and other valuable but needless articles. Jan. 20, 1857. Received £500., the disposal of which was left to me. I divided, therefore, the amount equally between the Building Fund and the five different Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, taking £83. 6s. 8d. for each.—£ 148. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Feb. 21. Received the following letter:—"Beloved Sir, I enclose you £ 10., as ' The fruit from seed sown.' 1 wish it appropriated for the support of the Orphans, unless the Building Fund still needs it, in which case half to each. In my deep humiliation last year, I consecrated a certain portion of my year's income to the Lord's sei vice, and sent you £ 10. in anticipation of it, and the result is, that I have nearly £ 100. to devote to Him during the present year. I have other objects dear to Him in view ; •but if He so directs me, you will probably hear from me again. I rejoice in being able to sympathize with you in the happiness resulting from trusting in, and working for, the Lord. I am, affectionately yours, " * * * * *." The donation was taken half for the Building Fund, and half for the support of the Orphans. Let us ponder this letter, dear reader. The writer says, that the £10. sent is "The fruit from seed sown." Remember in connexion with this : 1. There is such a thing as sowing and reaping in this way, according__to 2 Cor, ix. 6. Teaching children, visiting from house to house, tor the sake of benefiting persons naturally or ^spiritually ; giving money, bread, clothes, etc., to the poor ; using our money in any way for the Lord's honour and glory, is called according to this passage, sowing ; and, the recompense given by the Lord to Him who sows, A.D. 1857.] 9 in time and eternity, is called reaping. The recompense may be, and generally is, more or less, given even in time; often ten fold, yea, a hundred fold, as the Lord repays even in temporal things, through raising up friends for us, or giving his manifest blessing upon our earthly vocation, etc. But suppose, that, for some particular purposes, the Lord did not allow such reaping to take place here on earth, there will be, most assuredly, the reaping,in the world to come. I have moved among children of God above 48 years; I have become ac- quainted with many thousands of them, and I have Known very many, who sowed, and sowed bountifally, and I have not yet met with one single instance in which, | even as to this life, the Lord has not acted according to His | Word, so that as the sowing was, so was the reaping. This leads me to the seeond point of the verse: 2, “ But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” These are the words of the Holy Spirit by the Apostle Paul. The figure here used is easily understood by every one. The farmer who sows sparingly, reaps sparingly. The two go together. Thus any Chris- tians, who, according to their time, talents, opportunities, and means, do little for the saints temporally or spiritually ; or, for unbelievers, temporally or spiritually, will reap little either in this life or in the life to come. God says so: I believe it. In my inmost soul I believe it. Now let any one seek to sow, on the contrary, bountifully, and such a one will reap bountifully, both now and hereafter, if the sowing be done to the Lord, and not from earthly motives, such as the desire of man’s applause, etc. And; now, it may be asked, 3, How much of our money, coming im by the labour of our hands, or by our business, or by our profession, etc., should we give to the Lord, for His work, or His poor saints, or in aiding unconverted desti- tute persons? No rule can be laid down concerning this. It would be unscriptural to say you mast give a tenth, or fifth, or a fourth, or a third, or one half, of all the Lord may be pleased to give you; because, under this dispensa- | yy tion, no rule of this kind is laid down. Yet, while there ; ~ is no such rule laid down, we have the word of the Lord : speaking to us thus: “Ye know the grace of our Lord { Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes ' B3 , 10 [A.D. 1857. He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. viii, 9.—" Ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's/' 1 Cor, vi. 20.—From Peter i, 18, 19; "2 Feter ii, 1 ; Rev. v, 9 ; etc., we learn that the precious blood of the Lord Jesus bought us, and redeemed us. Now, if we have been bought by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, and if we are not, therefore, our own (1 Cor. vi, 19), but belong to Him, with all we have and are ; does it not appear most manifest, that our money, as well as every thing else we have, belongs to Him, together with ourselves ? What, then, according to this, is the right state of heart for a disciple of the Lord Jesus, concerning his possessions? Is it not obviously this, to present himself with all he has before the Lord, and to say : all this is Thine, for I not merely receive all from Thee, but I myself belong to Thee ; command, therefore, what Thou wouldest have me, Thy servant, Thy steward, Thy child, and Thy redeemed one, to do with what I possess. After such a state of heart we should seek ; and not only to have it now and then, but habitually ; so that not merely the twentieth part of what we may obtain should be His, nor the tenth, nor the fifth, nor a third, nor even one half, but all, if He call for it. But while I say this, yet would 1 give my counsel further. If the Christian reader has not grace at present, or has not light, to give himself with all his means to the Lord, after which he should aim, even to be ready, should the Lord call for it, to lay down all at His feet, he should, at least, as far as his love to the Lord leads him, dedicate a portion of his earnings or income to Him, a tenth, a fifth, a fourth, a third, or the half, so that, as the Lord may give to him, he should use the dedicated portion for Him. This plan helps the believer greatly. He will thus more easily be able to give, and to give even much, because that which he gives was dedicated by him to the Lord previously ; it is His portion ; he will feel it is not his own. In thus giving, say at first the tenth part, he will find how the seed sown produces fruit, how his soul is blessed in thus communicating of God's bounty, and he will also generally find, that, even in temporal things, he is no loser in thus acting, but, on the contrary, a great gainer, and this will lead such a Christian, after a A.D. 1857.] 11 time, gladly to dedicate the fifth part of all his income to the Lord. In doing so, provided it is done to Him, still more abundant: blessing will come to the soul, and still more abundant temporal recompense in return, 80 that it may lead even to a fourth, a third, or the half of all the Lord may give, to be given back to Him; yea, at last, such a child of God may see it to be his privilege, to call nothing his own, but to hold all as a steward for the Lord. Not that, ordinarily, the Lord calls for all, but rather, ordinarily, such a child of His will obtain more and more even in temporal things. The reason why I propose this plan to my brethren in Christ, is, not to bring their souls into bondage, but to lead them into true liberty. Without some sack plan, if there is not grace to Word very thing only for the Lord, there is often very little, yea, scarcely any thing done for Him, by many Christians. Many children of God have not only no desire that all they have should be the Lord’s if He should call for it, but they have not reached even so far as Jacob had, who did not live under the present dispensation, and who at the first dawning of spiritual light, said to God, “ Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto V5 Thee” Gon Exvit-22-—They do nat give even the tenth 46 part of all the Lord is pleased to give them back again to Him. They can readily lay out £5000. in the purchase of a house, £ 200. a year upon the education of each of their two or three sons, keep five servants besides, and live in other respects in proportion with this, and spend, strictly speaking, not £100. directly for the work of God, } or for the support of poor saints, or in feeding hungry | unconverted persons near them, who cannot earn their} bread. What is the consequence: ag they live more for ! themselves, or for their children, than for God, they are | not really happy in God, as the real zd Tor whieh God | has felt then here Or earth is lost. But this has not merely to do with the rich or the middle classes of the children of God, but even with the poorgrclagges. The Christian man with a small sala Lu Tr | the journeyman who only ear SREY se) Vas so little, I cannot spare anyting, or, if LEER, it caf be only the merest trifle. And what' ROC Ee all, or almost all, is spent upen hime A » is | not needed is put by for future apy FW Noi uence * | £w yore 12 [A.D. 1857. is, that snch individuals are not happy spiritually, and often also do not prosper temporally, because, as they are not faithful over the little with which God is pleased to intrust them, He cannot intrust them with more, except He do it as to Israel (Psalm cvi, 15) in the way of chastisement, and send leanness into their soul, or to lead them to see the vanity of such things. Often also, both in the case of the poorer classes, the middle classes, and the richer classes, God is obliged to send sickness, heavy losses, loss of business, etc., in order that He may take from His children what they would not gladly, constrained by the love of Christ, lay down at His feet. And now let me in the 4th and last place, tell the reader a little of what I have become acquainted with. A Godly man in London, in the employ of the Government, with 20 shillings per week, and eight in the family, had put by a little money for old age. About 26 years ago, he became acquainted with my Narrative and the Reports. God was pleased to bless them greatly to his soul. He felt that he had scarcely done anything for the work of God. His care about his family ; his saying, how shall I provide for my family, had so filled his mind, that he had scarcely ever allowed himself to give away anything but the merest trifle. He now resolved, being greatly blessed in his soul, that he would send me £ 5. for the Orphans at once, and that he would give back to the Lord for His work one tenth of what He gave him. This was about 26 years since. What was the result ? Immediately after, he was informed that his wages were raised Two-shillings per week," anil that 'for the past sixteen"'wee¥s""this increase should be paid to him at once. So he immediately received £ 1. 12s. for the £5. which he had given, and this increase of wages since then, (to 1856), has amounted to about £ 50. From that time, yearly, once or twice, this dear man, whom I have never seen, has sent me something He had found it difficult before to spare a sixpence ; now he had the means to spare half crowns, half sovereigns, yea, sovereigns. About two or three years afterwards, he sent me another £ 5. for the support of the Orphans. Shortly after he was informed that his wages had been raised another two shillings per week. This has brought him, since then, between £30. and £40. more. No A.D. 1857.] 13 doubt, in other ways also, God has blessed him and prospered him: by keeping away sickness, by making a little go far, by prospering the endeavours of his children to earn something, etc. On May 8th, 1856, I received from this same dear man £10. for the work in which I am engaged: so much had God helped him, and prospered him temporally and spiritually, that, constrained by the love of Christ, this offering was made. In such a way life has its sweetness, even the life of a journeyman, or a day labourer. We feel, then, that we live for others, care about others, serve others. As for myself, I freely own, that while I am ready to depart, if this be the will of the Lord; on the other hand, if He would only give me grace to live to Him, I would gladly stay fifty years longer in the world, and have the privilege of serving Him, and thus to sow seed for eternity. I fear that many true Christians do not practically remember, that, while we are saved by grace, altogether by grace, so that in the matter Lag of salvation works are altogether excluded; yet, that so far as the rewards of grace are concerned, in the world to x come, there is an intimate connexion between the lite of the Christian here, and the enjoyment and the glory in the Tayo CHR Spe I give another instance. I knew about 40 years ago a very poor lad. This lad worked at that time at a factory. After some time he was converted, and, by his Godly deportment and attention to his business obtained a better place in the factory, till, at last he, together with another Godly young man, became one of the managers of this factory. After some time the one, to whom I refer, entered into a little business on his own account, in which soon the Lord began to prosper him, and has prospered him now for more than 25 years. And what, dear reader, do you suppose is the secret of his success? Itis this, that, as God has been pleased to prosper him, this dear man has opened his hand and communicated to the poor, or to the Lord’s work, bountifully, out of that which the Lord has given him. This Godly tradesman, whom I well knew as a lad without a sixpence in his pocket, has, through liberality, after he had entered upon a little business, been able to give away many hundreds of pounds. Again, I know such, in the higher and richer classes, both in business, and out of business, more than one or 14 [A.D. 1857. two or three, who, having given thousands of pounds, yea many thousands of pounds, to the work of the Lord, have had repayment from the Lord, in tens of thousands of pounds, yea, many tens of thousands of pounds. The following deeply interesting particulars are recorded r-in the memoir of Mr. Cobb, a Boston merchant, which I judge so very valuable in illustrating what I have said above, that I insert them here. At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Cobb drew up and subscribed the following remarkable document : — " By the grace of God, I will never be worth more than 50,000 dollars. " By the grace. of God, I will give one-fourth of the nett profits of my business to charitable and religious uses. " If I am ever worth 20,000 dollars, I will give one- half of my nett profits ; and if ever I am worth 30,000 dollars, I will give three-fourths ; and the whole after 50,000 dollars. So help me God, or give to a more faithful steward, and set me aside." " To this covenant," says his memoir, " he adhered with conscientious fidelity. He distributed the profits of his business with an increasing ratio, from year to year, till he reached the point which he had fixed as a limit to his property, and then gave to the cause of God, all the money which he earned. At one time, finding that his property had increased beyond 50,000 dollars, he at once devoted the surplus, 7500 dollars. " On his death -bed he said to a friend, in allusion to the resolutions quoted above, ' by the grace of God— nothing else—by the grace of God I have been enabled, under the influence of these resolutions, to give away more than 40,000 dollars.' How good the Lord has been to me ! " Mr. Cobb was also an active, humble, and devoted Christian, seeking the prosperity of feeble churches ; labouring to promote the benevolent institutions of the day ; punctual in his attendance at prayer-meetings, and anxious to aid the inquiring sinner ; watchful for the eternal interests of those under his charge ; mild and amiable in his deportment ; and, in the general tenor of his life and character, an example of consistent piety. His last sickness and death were peaceful, yea, trium phant. " It is a glorious thing," said he, " to die. I A.D. 1857.] 15 have been active and busy in the world—I have enjoyed as much as any one— God has prospered me—I have every thing to bind me here—I am happy in my family —I have property enough—but how small and mean does this world appear on a sick bed ! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ—the blood of Christ — none but Christ! Oh! how thankful I feel that God has provided a way that I, sinful as I am, may look forward with joy to another world, through His dear Son." I have spent more than 46 years in service for the Lord. During this period, especially during the last 40 years, I have become acquainted with many thousands of believers, many hundreds of whom I have known intimately as well as their private affairs. Moreover, many, very many, have honoured me with desiring my counsel and advice in their private and secret affairs. What have I learnt, among other points, by this ? That " there is that scat- tereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat : and he that watereth shall Be watered also himself." Prov. xi. 24, 25. Many instances have I seen in which the children of God scattered, and yet increased ; yea, scattered much, and yet abundantly increased ; but far more have I seen, in which they with held more than was meet, but it did tend to poverty. "With all the desire to get on, very many were not able to do so, just because they only lived to themselves, they withheld more than was meet, and it tended to make or keep them poor. Bad debts, unexpected and unaccount able loss of custom, heavy family afflictions, &c., took away the money, which they sought to keep for themselves, contrary to the will of God. (I speak here of the chil dren of God, and not of the world. " Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." The world is judged and condemned at the judgment day. 1 Cor. xi. 32.) — Again it is written : " Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase : so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov. iii. 9, 10. There is nothing Jewish in these two passages. They are, as to the principles contained in them, deeply important for the believer nnder the present 16 [A.D. 1857. dispensation. If any man will do the Lord’s will, contained in them, he shall know, by happy experience, that to apply them to the present dispensation is scriptural. The natural mind in many professed disciples of the Lord may put aside such passages; but be not you robbed, esteemed reader, of the blessings connected with acting according to them, which blessings I have myself known for many years, whilst seeking to practice them. The reader who desires further information on this deeply important subject, may obtain some more hints by reading from page 575 to page 604, in the first volume of this Narrative. Seventh Edition. I now return to the income for the Building Fund, Feb, 21, 1857. £98. from a servant of the Lord Y, I Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven—April 11. From Staffordshire, 2100 — May 26. £48. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I add the following information :— a. Up to this day, May 26 1857, the total income for the Building Fund, is £31,817. 1s. 11d., so that only about £3200. more will be required, as far as I am able | to judge, to accomplish to the full my purpose respecting the accommodation for 700 more Orphans. b. The house for 400 Female Orphans, commenced in August 1855, is now, with God’s blessing, so far advanced, that it is shortly expected to be finished. The new house is intended for 200 Infant Female Orphans from their earliest days, and for 200 Female Orphans, from about eight years of age, up to the time they are fit to go to service. I now give a few instances, out of the many donations, received between May 26, 1857 and May 26, 1858 for the Building Fund. July 15,1847. £10. from Bombay.—Sept.18. Thad just returned home from the newly-built house for 400 more Orphans, where I had tried the efficiency of the gas-apparatus with its 150 burners, when I found a cheque for One Thousand Pounds from a brother in the ~ Lord, who desires to spend the whole of his large income a for the Lord, laying up no treasure on earth, and spending very little upon his own necessities. He writes: ‘“ Desiring A.D. 1857.] 17 that our heavenly Father will guide me, as & steward of His bounty ; and, after seeking His direction, I conclude it is good and profitable to invest a little in the Orphan Houses. Will you please to put the inclosed sum towards the Building Fund." I make the following remarks in connexion with this donation : 1, When I felt led to enlarge the Orphan-work, so that a thousand, instead of 300 Orphans, might be provided for, I had no natural prospect whatever, of obtaining the means. But while I had no natural prospects of accom plishing my desire, I had faith in God, and was assured that He would help me through all the difficulties. Accordingly He sent me one donation after the other, and by large and small sums encouraged me yet further and further to look to Him. This donor, at that time, had not the ability, however willing he might have been, to help me to such an extent ; but God knew already, that He would give him the means, and make him one of the many helpers to carry out my plans, made after much prayer, concerning this enlargement. 2, The donor sent this donation, as he writes, after prayer, and concludes it is " good and profitable to invest a little in the Orphan Houses." Even as to the way of spending our money, we should not be led by mere feeling, much less be influenced by its becoming known, and our thus getting esteem from our fellow-men ; nor should we do things, because others do them ; but as the stewards of God, we should contribute the much or the little we have to give, as we are led after prayer, doing always what we do to God and not to man. 3, The donor writes he considers it " profitable to invest a little in the Orphan Houses." Do all the readers understand the meaning of this ? The donor has not received any interest from me, nor will he have any from me on this £1000. ; and yet, I doubt not, this investment will be profitable to him. In such cases I have found that the Lord, even in this life, has taken notice of such deeds, and given ample repayment, often tenfold, twenty- fold, yea, in not a few instances, even a hundredfold, according to that word : " Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure" pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your I bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete witual ; ; 18 [ A.D. 1857. it shall be measured to you_again.”—Loke vi, 38. ‘ He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountfully shall reap also bountifally."— 2 Cor. ix, 6, But while even as to this life we shall not be losers by acting faithfully as the Lord’s stewards, yet | what shall we say when looking at the Day of Christ, when even the cup of cold water, given to a disciple in the name of a disciple, shall be rewarded. Were it more habitually before our minds, how brief this present life is in comparison with eternity, and how bright and glorious, and unspeakably precious the blessings are which await the believer in the day of Christ; how gladly should we seek habitually to spend and be spent for Him. Let the believer only realize the vanity of earthly things, and the _ preciousness of heavenly treasures, and he will seek to , live for eternity, and among other things will be delighted to lay up treasure in heaven. It may not be that the money is given to an Orphan-Establishment, nor even to Missionary objects; but in some way or other such a one will consider it an honour and a privilege to be allowed by the Lord to use his means for Him. This donation helped me another step nearer the full : accomplishment of my desires respecting the enlargement of the Orphan- Work. ‘Nov. 12, 1857. The long looked for, and long prayed for, day had now arrived, when the desire of my heart was granted to me, to be able to open the New Orphan- House No. 2 for 400 additional Orphans Much bad T Jaboured-in prayer and active engagements, to accomplish what was to be done, previously ; and now things were so ' far advanced, as that the new house was ready for use; and a few days after we began to receive the children into it. How precious this was to me, will be understood by those, who, having day by day prayed for a blessing for seven years, and often repeatedly on the same day, at last obtain the desire of their heart. Yet this blessing came not unexpectedly to me, but had been looked for, and had, in the full assurance of faith, been expected in God’s own time. In connexion with this I also mention, that, for several years previously, yea, years before a stone bad been laid for the building, I had daily asked God, that He would be pleased, by His providential government, and by the working of His Holy Spirit, to fit and qualify 7 helpers for the work: and now, when the house was A.D. 1858.] 19 ready, the helpers also were ready, so that without diffi culty, and without advertising, they were obtained. Thus these thousands of prayers reaped a precious harvest in this particular also. Only continue, dear Christian reader, patiently to wait on God, and, as assuredly as your request is for the Glory of God, for your real good, and you ask in the name of the Lord Jesus, believing that God hears you, the answer will be granted. You may have to pray long, as I had in this case for nearly seven years ; but the answer is certain. I now relate further how the Lord was pleased to supply me with means, and how, at last He gave me the amount needed for accom plishing fully the intended enlargement of the Orphan Work, not for 400 only, but for 700 additional Orphans. Jan. 19, 1858. Received £3000., which was left to my disposal. I took of it for the Building Fund £ 600., for the support of the Orphans £600., and for the other objects of the Institution, viz. for Missions, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and for the varions Schools £ 1800.—Yesterday I received a letter, stating that a stranger had offered to pay One Hundred Guineas to the funds of the Institution, if, together with an Orphan girl, who was to be received, I would at the same time, admit her brother, whose turn was not come. This was, of course, declined, as the cases of the Orphans are considered, in the order in which applications are made, and according to the vacancies which occur for boys and girls, and money never influences me in the least.—Now see, Christian reader, how God recompensed this acting in His fear, irrespective of the loss of the money.—But I must further add, in connexion with this, that the lady, who had offered the One Hundred Guineas, and who received this negative reply, an entire stranger to me, very kindly sent me £ 300. a little while after, though the little boy was not admitted, because his turn was not yet come. Feb. 16. Received £800., and from another donor £700. Both these donations were left at my disposal, to to be used as might appear best to me for the Lord's work. Of the £800. I took, therefore, for the Building Fund £ 200., for the support of the Orphans £ 200., and for the various other objects of the Institution, viz., Missions, the circulation of the Scriptures and Tracts, and the 20 [A.D. 1858. various Schools, £400. Of the £700. I took for the Building Fund £200., for the support of the Orphans £ 200., and for all the other various objects of the Insti- tiution £300.— Feb. 17. f 245. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks iio lay up treasure in heaven.— As far as I am able to jiudge, I have now all that is required in the way of pecuniary means for the third house also, so that I am able to accomplish the full enlargement of the Orphan work to One Thousand Orphans. . Pause, esteemed reader ! Nearly seven years had I been, day by day, asking the Lord for the needed means, to carry out the desire of my heart, concerning the Thou- s'and Orphans. Not a single day had elapsed since first I began to pray for means, in which I had not been enabled in the full assurance of faith that it would be granted, to bring my request before God, and generally I had prayed more than once a day concerning this matter. When I began my request for means, viz. to entreat the Lord to give me Thirty Five Thousand Pounds, I knew well what difficulty there was in the way of my obtaining this sum, looking at it naturally. I am .too calm, too calculating a person, too much in the habit of weighing all the difficulties of a case, to be carried away by excitement or imagination. I knew I had no ground naturally to expect this large sum. For months, therefore, I had not prayed at all for means for this enlargement, but had only asked the Lord to show me very clearly whether it was His will that I should go forward ; but having once come fully to this conclusion on the grounds stated at large in the Fourth part of this Narrative, from page 206 to page 227 of the Third Edition, I was as certain that the Lord would give me all I needed, as if I had had the money already in hand. It might, at that time, have been naturally said to me, and indeed it was said to me. " How will you be likely to obtain this large sum of Thirty Five Thousand Pounds for the Building Fund, and at the same time be ab'e to meet the current expenses of the work already in exis tence ? " The reply of faith was, 1 know not whence the money is to come, but I know that God, on whom I depend, is able to provide we with all I need, for the current expenses, and also to give me money for the Building Fund. When in November 1845, contrary to all my former desires, I was led as by an unseen hand, to decide A.D. 1858.] 21 npon leaving the four rented houses, and to build the New Orphan House No. 1 for 300 children, it was considered strange that I should think of enlarging the work from 120 to 300 Orphans, when for years previously I had had almost habitually to wait upon the Lord day by day for daily supplies. Yet so it was, that the Lord gave uie all J needed for the Building Fnnd, although that was no less than £15,055. 3s. 2½d., and I had £776. 14s. 3½d. more than I required. Moreover, all the current expenses were met in the meantime, and we were able to begin house keeping at the New Orphan House No. 1 with about Five Hundred Pounds in hand, whilst, before I had thought about building that large house, we had had very rarely as much as £ 100. in hand, and very often scarcely 100 pence. So this time, whilst the means for the Building Fund were coming in, I had to meet the current expenses, which for the Orphans alone amounted to £26,249. 10s. from May 26, 1851 to Feb. 17, 1858, and for the other objects, in the same time, £25,670. 9s. 6½d. being alto gether £51,919. 19s. 6½d., and when the new house for 400 Orphans was opened on Nov. 12, 1857, I had in hand £ 2,292. 0s. 11½d. for the current expenses of the Orphans. See, esteemed reader, how unbelief is put to shame, and natural reasoning is confounded. Had I, at my own bidding, or for my own honour, or for the gratification of self in some way or other begun this enlargement, I could have expected nothing but to be confounded. Or, good though my intentions had been, had I not been called for the work, I could have expected nothing but to be confounded. Or, had I regarded iniquity in my heart, whilst seeking to carry out this enlargement, I might have prayed much outwardly, but I should not have had my desires granted as to the obtaining of means. I dwell upon these matters fur the profit ot the reader, especially the young Christian reader, or even older believers whose faith is weak, in order that thus they may be helped on in the divine life. Up to May 26, 1858, I had received for the intended enlargement of the Orphan Work, to be able to accomo- date 1000 Orphans instead of 300, the sum of £35,335. 9s. 3d., being actually £ 335. 9s. 3d. more than I had been from the commencement praying for. Let this encourage the reader ! I add the following remarks 22 [A.D. 1858; respecting the intended further enlargement of the Orphan work : For some time previous to May 26th, 1858, I had judged it to be far better to keep the ground belonging to the Orphan Houses free from buildings, and to purchase land for the intended third house. As soon, therefore, as I had obtained in January and February 1858 the large donations referred to, which furnished me with all I yet needed, I took active measures towards purchasing a field near the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. The purchase was made ; there arose, however, certain diffi culties regarding the matter, which, for many weeks, it was hoped would be removed ; but, on June 2nd, 1858 it was finally decided, that it would be undesirable to go on with the completion of the purchase. I could therefore do nothing, in going forward with the New Orphan House No. 3, until I had obtained suitable land. I refer now to some other donations, as specimens, how the Lord was pleased, over and above the Thirty Five Thousand Pounds, earnestly sought at His hands by prayer and faith, abundantly to supply us with means. Sep. 27, 1858. £ 95. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. It has been stated before, that when I had received the means required for the third house, I was looking out for land for it. Regarding this I waited day by day upon God, but for many months it pleased Him to exercise my faith and patience. When, more than once I seemed to have obtained my desire, I again appeared further from it than ever. However, I continued to pray and to exercise faith, being fully assured that the Lord's time was not yet come, and that when it was, He would help. And so it proved. At last, in September 1858, 1 obtained 11^ acres of land, quite close to the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2, and only separated from them by the road. On these 11£ acres of land a house was built. The price for house and land was £3631. 15s. 0d., being more money than I should have seen it right to expend on the site, had it not been of the utmost importance, that the third house should be quite near the other two, to facilitate the euperintendance and direction of the establishment. Thus, at last this prayer also was answered, concerning which I had A.D. 1858.] 23 been waiting upon God for so many months, and concerning which the difficulties as to sight and reason seemed so great, but respecting which my mind was continually at peace ; for I was sure, that as I was doing God's work, He would, in His own time, help me in this particular also. The longer I go on in this service, the more I find that prayer and faith can overcome every difficulty. Having now obtained land, and so much, my desire was to make the best use of it, and to build for 400 Orphans, instead of for 300, as I had previously purposed to do. After having had several meetings with the architects, and finding that it was possible to accommo date with comparatively little more expense 450 Orphans, instead of 400, I finally determined on that number, so as to have eventually 1150 Orphans under my care, instead of 1000, as for several years previously had been contem plated. The greatness of the number of destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death ; —together with the greatness of the Lord's blessing, which had during all the many years previously rested upon my service in this way ; —and the greatness of the Lord's help in giving me assistants and helpers in the work as well as means ; and, above all, the deep realization that I have but one life to spend for God on earth, and that that one life is but a brief life :—these were the reasons which led me to this further enlargement. To this determination of a still further enlargement, / came solely in dependance upon the Living God for help, though the increase of expense for the Building Fund, on account of the purchase of the land, and accommodation to be built for the additional 150 Orphans, more than had been from the beginning contemplated, would not be less than from £ 6000. to £7500. more than I had originally expected the total of the premises, which were to be erected, would cost ; and though, in addition to this, the yearly additional expendi ture for the maintenance of these 150 Orphans, beyond the intended number of 1000, could not be less than £1800. a year. But none of these difficulties discouraged me. It will now be interesting to the reader to see how the Lord dealt with me, since I came to this decision. I therefore go on to refer to at least a few of the donations, which came in for the Building Fund since October 29, 1858. 24 [A.D. 1859. Dec. 26. Received information that a glass manufac turer and a glass merchant will kindly supply gratuitously all the glass required for the New Orphan House No. 3, which is expected to contain about 350 large windows. Jan. 4, 1859. Received £ 7000., which, being entirely left at my disposal, I took £ 4000. for the Building Fund, f 1000. for the support of the Orphans, £ 1500. for Missions, £ 400. for the circulation of the Holy Scrip tures and Tracts, and £ 100. for the various Schools.— When I decided at the end of October, 1858, to build for 450 Orphans, instead of 300, I needed several thousand pounds more, and was fully assured that God would give me the required means, because in reliance upon Him, and for the honour of His name, I had determined on this enlargement ; and now see, esteemed Reader, how the Lord honoured this my faith. in Him !—Jan. 6. From Brixton £2., as " A thank-offering to God for an unbroken family at the beginning of the year." From an anony mous donor at Manchester £300., with the very kind promise to send me £ 900. more, in the course of this year, for the Building Fund. Feb. 1. Received £1700., the application of which being left entirely to myself, I took for the Building Fund £400., for the support of the Orphans £ 300., for Home Missions £350., for Foreign Missions £350., for the circulation of Bibles £100., for the circulation of Tracts £ 100 , and for the School Fund £ 100.—Received likewise this day £1000., of which the application was left to myself, and of which I took for the Building Fund £ 300., for the support of the Orphans £ 200., for Foreign Missions £ 200., for Home Missions £ 100., for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures £ 100., for the cir culation of Tracts, £ 50., and for the School Fund £ 50. Do you perceive, esteemed Reader, how precious it is to trust in God ? Do you see, that, if we ask God for that which is according to His mind, and ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus, and believe that He hears us, we do not wait upon Him in vain? Make but trial of this blessed way for yourself, in your own individual sphere, and under your own individual trials and necessities, and you will find, as we have, times without number, that you do not wait upon God in vain. But you must previously have decided, upon Scriptural ground, that that, regard A.D. 1860.] 25 ing which you pray, is for the glory of God; you must further ask it at His hands on the ground of the merits and worthiness of the Lord Jesus as a believer in Him for the salvation of your soul; and you must believe that God hears you, and will in His own time and way attend to your request. . Feb, 8, 1859. £245. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. May 26,1859. Up to this day has been received, to- wards the enlargement of the Orphan work, the sum of £41911. 15s. 11d. The New Orphan House No. 3 is in- tended for 450 girls from eight years old and upward, to remain till they are fit to be sent to service. The plans of the building of No. 3 are all completed, and in a few weeks it is expected that the building will be commenced, God willing. July 11. Received from A. B., anonymonsly, £400. Dec. 31. From Lancashire £300. Jan. 1, 1860. From Lancashire £200.—Jan. 31. - Received £3000, left entirely at my disposal, to be used for the various objects of the Institution. I took, therefore, £500. for the Building Fund, £500. for the support of the Orphans, and £2000. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. The previously mentioned large donations from A, B. and from Lanca- shire, together with this last one, and many smaller donations, not mentioned, received for the Building Fund, furnished me to the full with means for accomplishing the — whole of the enlargement, though the amount required was somewhat more, when the estimates for No. 3 came in, than had been anticipated. ; May 16. £270 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constraind by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 22. £200. out of a donation of £2700., left at my disposal, was taken for the Building Fund, the rest for the other objects of the Institution. —May 26, 1860. Up to this day I had received, altogether, for the contemplated enlargement, £ 45,113. 148. 44d. The building of the New Orphan House No. 8 was commenced in July, 1859, and has been steadily _ going on up to this day. 7 Apr. 9, 1861. Received anonymously a gold ring, set Cc - 26 [4.D. 1861. with five diamonds and two sapphires, a gold necklet with locket, a gold locket brooch, a gold pencil case, a gold. cross, anchor and heart, a silver vinaigrette and a pair of silver bracelets—Apr. 17. £270. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 17. A glass manu- ; facturer and glass merchant kindly gave all the glass required for the 390 large windows of No. 3.—May 26, 1861. Upto this day had been received for the enlarge- ment of the Orphan work, originally intended for 700 more Orphans, but afterwards extended to 850 Orphans, the sum of £ 46,660. 17s. 3d., so that the amount first prayed for, was exceeded by £11,660. 178. 8d. The . reader will have, therefore, in this a fresh proof of the blessedness of committing our matters, great and small, temporal and spiritual, into the hands of our Heavenly ~- Father, waiting patiently for the answer to our prayers. We did not obtain the answer to our prayers at once. Thousands of times, many thousands of times our request - had to be repeated before our Heavenly Father, and faith and patience were exercised year after year, before the full answer regarding this matter was granted ; but at last our prayers were not only answered to the full, but £ 11,660. 178. 3d. were received more than had been at first asked for. Contemplated further enlargement of the Orphan Work. The following statement was published in the Twenty- Second Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, in 1861, and is reprinted here: ‘¢ Tt is now ten years, when, as by an unseen hand, I was led to that enlargement of the Orphan work, which is now, with the Lord’s blessing, all but completed. The exercise of spirit I passed through, and the reasons which finally led me to that enlargement of the work from 300 to 1000 Orphans, and which, in 1858, was finally still further extended to 1150, may be fully seen in the fourth part of this Narrative, from page 206 to 227, of the Third Edition. I have now to inform the reader, that, as ten years ago, so again during the last months, day by day, my spirit has been exercised about a still further enlargement of the Orphan -work, so that there should not only be 1150 destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death, cared for, in A.D. 1861. ] 27, connexion with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, but 2000; and that still further premises should be built, as two separate establishments, for 850 more Orphans, being a fourth and fifth Orphan House, in addition to the three already built. The reasons | which, after daily prayer for guidance, self-examination, and looking steadfastly at all the many difficulties connected with this further enlargement have finally decided me, are the following : 1, The longer I go on in this service, and the more it becomes known, the greater is the number of destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death, who are applied for to be admitted into the Orphan Houses under my direction. Almost daily fresh cases are brought before me, and sometimes 3 or 4 or more at once; and it is not a rare thing, that in each such case there are 3, 4, or even more young children. I am, therefore, willing, to be yet further the servant of the Lord in this particula: work, although I am unworthy, most unworthy, that He should condescend thus to use me. 2, But that which at first especially was used by the — Lord to direct my mind to this further enlargement, was not only the greatness of the number of applications for Orphans in general, but for boys in particular. For girls we had the prospect of doing something more, when the house for 450 should be opened; but for boys we had no such prospect, nor anything like it, though about 400 were waiting for admission, and hundreds of applications } for boys had been declined, as there was no. prospect of \ being able to admit them. The reasons which have led me to care for girls to a greater extent with regard to numbers, than for boys, are these: a, Girls are the weaker sex, and therefore call more particularly for Christian sympathy. 4, If neglected, they are still more exposed to the danger of being utterly ruined. c, Girls we have employment for, and can keep them without difficulty till they are 18 or 19 years of age, whilst boys need to be apprenticed when 14 or 15. But I have generally found, that the age from 14 to 18 or 19 is the most important in young persons, with regard to their spiritual state. They are, if cared for, at that age, generally speaking, more in earnest about the things of God, than when younger. This has been my experience during the past - c2 28 [AD. 1861. 27 years, though God has made numberless exceptions during the last three years, while His Holy Spirit has been so mightily at work ; and we ourselves have had very many children brought to the knowledge of the Lord, before they were 14 years old.—Because, then, girls are the weaker sex ; and are still more exposed than boys to utter ruin if neglected ; and we can easily keep them 'till they are 18 or 19 years of age ; I was led more especially to care for them. But now, having to a considerable extent, by the help of God, been enabled to provide for them, I was led to consider whether something more might not be done for boys also, to prevent, if possible, the necessity of refusing the boys of a family, when the girls could be received. I do not mean to say that the whole of the intended enlargement is for boys, yet a part at least, should be appropriated to them. Though, then, my mind has been, and is still led more particularly to care for girls, yet the desire to provide for boys also, to a greater extent than hitherto, was that which, in the first instance, particularly led my mind to this further enlarge ment. 3, The third reason, which has led me to this enlarge ment, is, the entirely inadequate accommodation in the Orphan Institutions already in existence in the United Kingdom. If they were multiplied many times, yet would there be an abundance of destitute Orphans to fill them. But even if there were room in them, which is not the case, still, the existing rules of admission by votes, which are in use in most of them, make it difficult, if not impossible, for the poorest and most destitute persons, to avail themselves of them. In referring to the practice of admission by votes, I do not blame any one ; for I have reason to believe that many, who use this practice, wish it were otherwise ; but I mention it simply as an existing fact. Thousands of votes, sometimes even many thousands, are required, in order that the candidate be successful. But the really poor and destitute have neither time, money, ability, nor influence, to set about canvassing for votes ; and therefore, with rare exceptions, they derive no benefit from such Institutions. Some time since I had an appli cation for some Orphans, whose mother, a widow, in attempting to obtain votes for one of her fatherless children, was actually so worn out, that one day she came home, A.D. 1861.] 29 over-fatigued by canvassing for votes, sat down and died. I repeat it, I blame no one, yet I would humbly but solemnly entreat presidents, vice-presidents, and commit tees of such Institutions, to consider in the fear of God, whether it is right to impose such overwhelming work, and such heavy expense on the poor applicants, and whether it is not more Christ-like to bestow the bounty, which is to be bestowed, in a more easy way. I do not know whether it may please God to use this feeble word of suggestion, or not ; but this I must say, I do feel myself called upon, to the utmost of my power, to make an easy way for the admission of poor destitute Orphans into an Orphan Establishment; and this, as well as the want of room in the already existing Orphan Institutions, has led me to contemplate this further enlargement by seeking to build for 850 more Orphans, BO as to have altogether 2000 under my care. 4, In intimate connexion with this latter point stands the question, What is to become of the Orphans, who are left destitute, if they cannot be received into Orphan Houses, for want of room, or on account of the voting system ? There remain the Unions, it may be answered. Yes ; but have you considered, esteemed reader, what the moral and spiritual state of the Unions is ? Vice abounds in them, on account of the kind of inmates, who, generally speaking, are found there. For this reason, and justly so, many of the respectable, and especially religious, poor, cannot bear the idea that their nephews, or nieces, or grand children, who are Orphans, should go to a Union. So they would rather keep them, though themselves most poor. But the result is, generally speaking, they can neither provide for them the necessary food, nor proper education ; and the end is often an early grave for want of proper food, or a neglected, uncultivated mind and heart. By the help of God I will seek, therefore, yet further, to be the Orphan's friend, and have not only accommodation for 1150, but for 2000. 5. In addition to these reasons, the physical, mental, and spiritual benefit, which many Orphans have derived during a quarter of a century, from being under our care, has weighed especially with me, in seeking, to the utmost of my power, to extend my services still further in this particular. As to the health of the children, the reader needs to 30 [A.D. 1861. keep in mind, that the very fact of young children being bereaved of both parents by death, except through causality, shows, humanly speaking, that they are the offspring of parents with bad constitutions, and that, therefore, ordinarily, they are themselves unhealthy. Thus we find it, with rare exceptions. And yet, not withstanding this, so abundantly has God been pleased, especially during the last 20 years, to bless the means which we employ for the invigoration of the constitution of the children, by a healthy locality, thorough cleanliness, perfectly regular habits, plain but nourishing food, exer cise, etc., that, a few months after their reception, a marked difference for the better is perceived in their countenances, except they were already sunk too low ; and as to the mortality among the children, it is so exceedingly small, especially remembering who these children are, that it is the surprise of all who have con sidered it. la all this we own the hand of God, without whose blessing all these means would avail nothing ; yet we cannot hide it from ourselves, that He is pleased to use these means, and that, for want of them, humanly speaking, one half of the children of the poor die very young, who perhaps would not have died, had they been situated as the children are under our care. Further, many of the children whom we have received, though thirteen years old, or older, could not even read. Their minds had been utterly uncultivated. In this state, humanly speaking, they would have remained, but for our receiving them. We have had, thus, the joy of educating hundreds, who otherwise might have had no mental culti vation ; besides teaching them a great variety of other things which are profitable for this life, in order to make them useful members of society. But further, and most of all, our chief aim concerning the Orphans, from the begin ning of the work on Dec. 9, 1835, has been their spiritual welfare. All physical and mental improvement regarding them could never satisfy us. All would be exceedingly little in our estimation, if they were not spiritually bene fited. We aim, by the help of God, after the former two points with earnestness ; but we labour day by day in spirit for the latter. And this blessing has been granted to us, not concerning 20 or 50 of the Orphans, but con cerning hundreds. Yea, so assured am I, that we do not labour in vain concerning this point, judging from tho A.D. 1861.] 31 we use, and the earnestness in prayer God gives us, that I expect but very few of the Orphans to be want ing in heaven. The longer I have gone on in this service, the more abundantly God has blessed the work regarding the Orphans in all these three particulars, as to their bodily and mental improvement, but especially as to their spiritual state ; and with reference to the last, within the past three years in particular. This abundant blessing, then, which God has caused to rest upon our labours among the Orphans, year after year. has greatly encouraged me, among other reasons, to seek yet more to enlarge this work. The longer I live, the more I am enabled to realize, that I have but one life to live on earth, and that this one life is but a brief life, for sowing, in comparison with eternity, for reaping. The consideration of these truths, while they have a practical influence upon my life, in general, also lead me in, par ticular, to labour for Orphans, poor destitute Orphans, who have no helper and friend, and whose helper and friend, under God, I seek to be yet further and further, unworthy though I am, to be thus highly honoured. 6, In connexion with the foregoing reasons stands also the fact, that the Lord has been pleased to give me gift for this work. I do not take credit to myself for this. There is not the least honour due to me on account of it. The germ was first implanted by the Lord, and He caused it to grow and to increase. The gift which He had been pleased to impart, for such service, was used, at first, while the work was small; for I began with 30 Orphans. Afterwards were added 36 more, and then after a year again 30 more, and finally after the lapse of several years 30 more. Thus, for above 13 years, the number of Orphans under my care never exceeded 126 ; but then it grew to 300, with the opening of the New Orphan House No. 1 , and with the opening of No. 2 to 700 ; and now, with God's blessing, it will shortly be 1150. Thus, with the enlargement of the work, the gift, which the Lord had been pleased to give me, was further and further developed, as the whole work grew up under my sole and immediate direction. No president, vice-president, or committee stand in this position. However wise, Godly, and in other respects suitable they may be for their post, except they hav« been 32 [A.D. 1861. in a similar position to mine, as the sole and immediate director of such establishments, they cannot have gathered the experience that I have gathered for this work. Now, as I said, while there is not the least honour due to me for all this, as God called me for the work, fitted me for it, has sustained me in it, and caused my experience to grow with the work ; yet, on the other hand, I feel responsi bility laid on me, still further, to the utmost of my power, to make use of this gift and experience, and therefore to enlarge the work, as here proposed. 7, I am further encouraged to enlarge the work, by the help which the Lord has given me regarding assistants. Had I been helped never so much in the way of pecuniary supplies, and had help in this particular been wanting, the work never would have been, what it has been and is now. But as, in every other respect, I have proved the power of prayer and faith in God, so in this particular also. I have waited on God for assistants, and He has given them to me. When, for instance, I had before me the prospect of the enlargement of the Orphan work, in 1851, I began soon after to pray for suitable helpers in the work, and thus prayed day by day, long before a stone was laid in connexion with the New Orphan House No. 2. I con tinued day by day to pray concerning this object ; and when at last this house was opened in 1857, the needed helpers were found without any difficulty. And now again, with regard to No. 3, I have heen daily praying for helpers, for more than two years, and doubt not, that, when this house shall be quite ready, I shall again abundantly see the answer to prayer in this particular. But there is one point further especially to be noticed regarding fellow- labourers. When I was led in 1851 to the enlargement of the Orphan work, the chief, and almost only real diffi culty I had in my own mind, was the inability of under taking myself any more work, as my hands were filled to the utmost, having, up to that time, without a secretary or other immediate assistant to myself, except the help of my dear wife in the matter of accounts, &c., carried on the large correspondence of the Institution, and seen myself to the dispatch of Tracts and Bibles, &c. Since then, however, the Lord has been pleased to give me three assistants, who entirely relieve me of several branches of the correspondence, see to the issue of Bibles and Tracts,. A.D. 1861.] 33 keep the accounts, help in the superintendence of certain matters, Ac. ; so that, though the Institution is now at least three times as large as it was, when I was led to its en largement, I go with the same ease and quietness of mind through my engagements as then, though the work cer tainly requires my attention every day, and all the day, with the exception of the time taken for spiritual exercises. Now, the great help, which the Lord hath given me in this particular, encourages me to the still further enlarge ment, hoping in God that He will be pleased to give me yet further suitable assistants, and to help me in the dis covery of other methods and ways, whereby, notwithstand ing the enlargement, I shall be able to accomplish the work. 8, The pecuniary help, which the Lord has given me hitherto, is another voice as from Himself to me, to go forward. To pass by the former enlargements of the work, I will only refer to the last great enlargement, first contemplated by me at the end of 1850. The state of the Institution was then such, that the expenditure for all the various objects thereof amounted to about £6000. a year. To obtain this sum, year by year, simply by prayer and faith ; without regular subscribers, without agents for col lecting, without asking any one, without any visible pros- spect whatever, seemed a large sum indeed, looking at it naturally. But, by this contemplated enlargement, when carried out, the expenses would not be only £6000. but £15,000. a year. Many were startled by it. And so should I have been, had I simply looked at matters with natural reasoning power ; but I looked to the Lord, and to Him alone. I trusted not in circumstances; I "I trusted not in donors, nor even in donors who gave largely, j And now, how have matters been, and how has the Lord f dealt with His servant who trusted in Him ? Has He ' said by His dealings with him, thou hast been presump- f tuous ; or, thou hast expected too much from me ? Nay, the very reverse. Hear, esteemed reader, how I have fared. During the 17 years which had elapsed since the formation of the Institution, before the contemplation of this great enlargement of the Orphan work, the total of the income, for the various objects of the Institution, had been Forty Thousand Pounds; but since then, during 10 years only, it has been about One Hundred and Fifty C 3 , 34 [a.D. 1861. Thousand Pounds. See how unbelief has been put to shame, My full persuasion was, at the time, as expressed in the Report of 1851, and reprinted in the second volume of my Narrative, that as I had come to the decision re- garding this intended enlargement, on the ground that I , judged it to be the will of God, for the reasons there given, I was sure God would help me with means; and so it has been. For I never, during the past 27 years, have gone on more easily, regarding means, than since May 1851. Thus, by what God has done hitherto, I am en- couraged to go forward, to this still greater enlargement, though without any natural prospect whatever of obtaining the means needed. But my hope is in God, and in Him alone. The premises contemplated for 850 more Orphans, connot cost with the ground less than Fifty Thousand Pounds, especially as a large field for cultivation by the boys will be required. Now whence shall I get this _ £50,000., especially when it is considered, that, in the mean time, the amount needed for the current expenses . will be at least £20,000. year by year? And how, - natural reason would say, will you be able to keep up the work, provided you were able to accomplish the building, as then the regular current expenses would amount to about £35,000. a year? I feel the force of all this, looking at it naturally. I am not a fanatic or enthusiast, but, as all, who know me are well aware, a calm, cool, quiet, calculating business man ; and therefore I should be utterly overwhelmed, looking at it naturally; but as the whole of this work was commenced, and ever has been gone on with in faith, trusting in the Living God alone for every thing, so it is also regarding this intended enlargement. I look to the Lord alone for helpers, land, means, and every-thing else needed. - I have pondered the difficulties for months, and have looked steadily at every one of them; but faith in God has put every one of them aside. 9, But the following consideration operates with me more powerfully than all the previous eight reasons which I have given for the contemplated enlargement. When I began the Orphan work in 1835, (as may be seen at full length in my Narrative, Vol. I. p. 148—146, 7th edit., where I state the reasons which led me to it,) my chief object was the glory of God, by giving a practical demon- ~~ A.B 1861.] 35 stration as to what could be accomplished simply through the instrumentality of prayer and faith, in order thus to benefit the Church of Christ at large, and to lead a care less world to see the reality of the things of God, by showing them, in this work, that the Living God is still, as 4000 years ago, the Living God. This my aim has been abundantly honoured. Multitudes of sinners have been thus converted, multitudes of the children of God in all parts of the world have been benefited by this work, even as I had anticipated. But the larger the work has grown, the greater has been the blessing, bestowed in the very way in which I looked for blessing ; for the attention of hundreds of thousands has been drawn to the work ; and many tons of thousands have come to see it. All this leads me to desire further and further to labour on in this way, in order to bring yet greater glory to the name of the Lord. That He may be looked at, magnified, admired, trusted in, relied on at all times, is my aim in this service, and so particularly in this intended enlarge ment. That it may be seen how much one poor man, simplyby trustinje^m God^ can bring_alK>ut by prayer ; ana that thus otlier chilclren of Cfod may bo led to carry on ll>e work" of God in dependence upon Him, and that children of God "may be led Increasingly to trust in Him in their individual positions and circumstances, therefore I am led to this further enlargement.—Lastly, 10, Much, however, as the nine previous • reasons weigh with me, yet they would not decide me, were there not one more. It is this. After having for months pondered the matter ; and having looked at it in all its bearings, and with all its difficulties ; and then having been finally led, after much prayer, to decide on this enlargement, my mind is at peace. The child who has again and again besought his Heavenly Father, not to allow him to be deluded, nor even to make a mistake, is at peace, perfectly at peace concerning this decision ; and has thus the assurance, that the decision come to, after much prayer during weeks and months, is the leading of the Holy Spirit ; and there fore purposes to go forward, assuredly believing that he will not be confounded, for he trusts in God. Many and great may be his difficulties ; thousands and tens of thousands of prayers may have to ascend to God, before the full answer may be obtained ; much exercise of faith and pa,^ 36 [A.D. 1861. tience mny be required ; but, in the end, it will again be seen, that His servant, who trusts in Him, has not been confounded. Further particulars, God willing, shall -be given in due time. I only now say, that these intended New Orphan Houses Nos. 4 and 5 will also be vested in the hands of trustees and eurolled in Chancery, as has been done regard ing Nos. 1, 2, and 3." The Christian reader will now feel interested in learn ing, how the Lord was pleased to deal with me, in refer ence to this contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work; and I refer, therefore, to some of the donations which came in towards this object, and shall, periodically, give the totals, which were received. June 6, 1861. Have received the first donation towards the needed Fifty Thousand Pounds, which consists of 5 rupees, 6 annas, 3 senams, 3 Spanish coins, and three other silver coins. —July 17. £30 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Aug. 1. £50. from a servant of the Lord . Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Aug. 15. In the course of my reading through the Holy Scriptures came this morning the last part of II Chronicles, and the beginning of the book of Ezra, where Cyrus's decree, concerning the building of the temple, is referred to. In reading this portion, I remembered, how, in the prospect of the building of the New Orphan House No. 1, this passage was a great comfort to me, by showing, how, through the most unlikely persons, God can sup ply the means. It also again came before me in the course of reading, when No. 2 and 3 were to be built, and means needed, and had the same effect. Now, all 3 houses being built, I thanked God again, for the means which He had kindly given me for these 3 houses, and told Him, at the same time, in prayer, that I expected from His faithful love all the means for the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5 also. While still thus engaged, there came the postman's knock, and many letters arrived. The first I opened contained an order from Chelmsford for £100., for " The Orphan Institution," the applica tion of which was left to my discretion. I took, there fore, this £100. for the Building Fund, as God's answer • A.D. 1861.] 37 to my prayers.—Sep. 10. From Greenock, £40.—Sep1. 16. £30. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasures in heaven.—Oct. 15. £30. from the same donor.—Nov. 2. £30. from the same donor. Nov 15. £150. from a donor who sent only a week since £ 1 50., with the following letter. " Dear brother in the Lord, as the former £150. was put to the Missionary—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, you will please to put the enclosed £150. towards the Orphan work, as I am more than ever impressed with the blessed ness of this work, and its results. I praise the Lord con tinually for it, and trust you will long be spared, and preserved from all adversaries ; for they are many and mighty ; and still, in faith in a living Christ, in whom all the promises centre, triumph over all, bearing testimony to the end of your course to the faithfulness of a covenant God. I have been expecting for years the extension of the work, and that 2000 dear children would be provided for. Jehovah far exceed our desires, as He certainly will, and give us to have abundant and large expectations from Him alone ! " I am he that liveth and was dead." Yours in Christ * * * *."— Dec. 4. From Scotland 10s., with 10s. for the Orphans, accompanied by the following letter : " Dear Sir, I am glad to say that I am able to continue to give account of prosperity, since I began to give a stated proportion of my income to the work of Christ throughout the earth. It is a few years since I began that plan, of which I now testify that I have found it so profitable, particularly to my soul, and also to the increase of my gains. The Lord is now enabling me to give away as much as I used to earn a few years ago altogether. At that time my income was small, and the work hard ; but the Lord opened the way for me to begin business on my own account; and although I have to work hard, yet I am well remunerated, and have been able to give away 24 per cent. of my free income "during the last year. I enclose you a Post-office order for 10s. for the benefit of the Orphans, and 10s. for the new building. I would like to have a stone or a few bricks in that house. I remain, yours respectfully * * *." Allow me, esteemed Reader, to draw your attention to i this letter. The writer states, 1, that he gives a stated proportion of his income. I aejain commend this subject) to the solemn and prayerful consideration of the reader./ 38 [a.D. 1861. A rule, how much each should give, of what the Lord in-~ trusts to him, ought not to be laid down; but it is Scrip- tural that we shonld communicate to the poor and to the Lord’s work, as He prospers us. And here, though the highest and most blessed state concerning this matter is, that unreservedly, with all we have and are, we present | ourselves before God, as His stewards, being bought by the blood of Christ; yet, to by far the greater part of believers, by reason of their not having as yet attained to this, it will be found most helpful spiritually, to fix, at least, the lowest proportion which they wi!l give of their earnings, the income of their business, profession, situa- tion, or property; lest, through the infirmity of the flesh, and carnal reasoning, and anxious cares, they should be almost entirely deprived of the honour and the privilege, neglect the duty of caring for the poor, and helping on the work of God. They may, however, continually pass - the bounds of this lowest proportion which they deter- mined to give, as the love of Christ may constrain them, and as the Lord prospers them. And it is certain, that, if they give to Him and not to man, they will increase in spiritual enjoyment, and they will also increase as to the ability of giving, and thus be led more and more to pass ~ the bounds. This very person, whose letter is before us, has increased more and more as to what he gives now in comparison with what he gave a few yearssince. And thus I know many Christians, who, from giving 10 per cent. at first, have iucreased to 15 and 20 per cent., yea, 25 and 331 percent., and I know even of 60 and 75 per cent. being given of the whole income ; because these Christians long to lay up treasure in heaven, and not on earth. The writer of the letter says, 2, “I am glad to say that Iam able to ~ continue to give account of prosperity, since I began to give a stated proportion of my income.” Though we should never give, for the sake of being repaid by the Lord; still, this will be the case, if we give from right 4 Bla motives. It is God’s own declaration, that it will be so. This is plainly to be gathered from the following passages: “ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first- fruits of all thy increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” - iii, 9, 10. ive, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with A.D. 1861.] 39 the same measure, that ye mete withal it shall be mea- sured to you again.” Luke vi. 38. ‘“ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he lee, hath given will He pay him again.” Prov. xix., 17. ‘“ He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. ix., 6—3, This Scotch donor, a working-man, gives *“to the work of Christ throughout the earth.” The heart becomes in this way enlarged, and God also gives us the ability to carry out the desires of our heart, if indeed we desire to live as His stewards, and not as owners of what we possess. 4, He says, “ It is a few years since I began that plan.” He has tried, therefore, the blessed- ness of it for some years, and he is more and more satis- fied with it. I know persons. who have for many years, to a very considerable extent, acted according to this plan, and who have found it do good to them, both spiritually and temporally. 5, The writer says that he has found this plan profitable to himself spiritually as well as tem- porally. It is the former I would here especially urge upon the believing reader for consideration. It will surely be thus. If we give statedly, as God prospers us, we act according to His mind; and, whilst doing so, we are | ° blessed in the deed. very instance of obedience, from Gor. right motives, strengthens us spiritually, whilst every act of P disobedience weakens us spiritually. 6, He says, “ The Lord is now enabling me to give away as much as I earned a few years ago altogether.” Think of the enjoy- ment, to be intrusted by the Lord with more and more, if we act as faithful stewards for Him, so that a person not rich, a common man in the eyes of many, it may be, can give away to the needy and to the work of God as much as the rich, it may be much more; yea, that thus an ordinary man, because he is a faithful steward to the Lord, may after a time be intrusted by God with very large sums. 7, Lastly, he says that “he has been able to give away 24 per cent. of his free income during the past year.” Consider this. A hard working man to be able to give away £1. 4s. out of every £5., and £24. out of every £100. If this principle were carried out, and universally acted on, in the Church of Christ, how different it would be as to the amount of means with which the children of God would find themselves intrusted by Him. I have again made these few remarks on this important y “ 40 [4.D. 1862. subject, as I have had very many letters during the last twenty-eight years, expressive of the blessing which be- lievers have derived from acting according to my advice, with reference to this matter, to which they had been led , through my publications. The reader who desires to read more on the subject, is referred to page 575 to 604 of the | first volume of my Narrative, seventh edition. Dec. 9, 1861. It is now about six months since my in- tention of enlarging the Orphan work still further, so as to be able to accommodate 2000: orphans, instead of 1150, became known. Since then I have done nothing, except seeking, day by day, to follow up the printed statement with prayer. The result is, that I have received £941. 6s. 63d. already, towards the £50,000. which will be needed. When it is considered that no personal appeals 4, bave been made to any one, and that I have received about “£7000. besides, during the six months, towards the cur- Ss ‘rent expenses of the work, simply as the result of prayer : to God, it is no smallsum. Still, after this rate, it would take about twenty-five years before all that is needed for the Building Fund would come in. However, I am . not discouraged. I believe in God. After much prayer, self-examination, and looking at all the difficulties in the way, I was led, as fully stated before, to determine on this further enlargement; and I am sure, that when God’s own time has come, He will send me larger sums, yea all that is needed, and that in the meantime, I have to con-- sider this delay and trial of faith and patience to be for my good, and the good of the Church of Christ, who after- . wards may be benefited by these His dealings with me. Dee. 28. £30. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea- sure in heaven. Jan. 11, 1862. I had again had my usual long season for prayer this evening for all the various objects of the Institution, and a variety of subjects in connexion with them, as also for individuals for whom I daily pray, and, amidst other things, also asked the Lord again for means for the Building Fund, when, about half an hour after- wards, I found at my house a crossed cheque for £2000., with the following lines : ‘I enclose cheque, value £2000., \ which accept with my best love and the expression of my heartfelt thankfulness to God for the privilege of being fellow-helper in the work of caring for orphans. I would A.D. 1862.] 41 like it to be applied towards the building you propose (D.V.) erecting. I sball consider as though I had £1000. in each building ; but you are at liberty to use the whole for the first, if you wish. Inasmuch as it is done to the Lord, I know it is well spent." Do you see, esteemed reader, how blessed it is to wait upon God? "We may have to pray, and to pray long, before the answer comes; but we do not wait upon the Lord in vain. Our faith aud patience may be tried, greatly tried ; but in the end all will be well, and faith will be recompensed. Above seven months I had now, day by day, requested the Lord to send me means for this object, but all this time only £1064. as yet had come in. Now the Lord gives me by one donation nearly twice as much as had come in during more than seven months pre viously. Be encouraged by this, my fellow-believer. The great point is, that we ask only for that which it would be for the glory of God to give to us ; for that, and that alone, can be for our real good. But it is not enough, that the thing for which we ask God be for His honour and glory, but we must secondly ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus, viz., expect it only on the ground of His merits and worthiness. Thirdly, we should believe that God is able and willing to give us what we ask Him for. Fourthly, we should continue in prayer till the blessing is granted ; without fixing to God a time when, or the circum stances, under which He should give the answer. Pati ence should be in exercise, in connexion with our prayer. Fifthly, we should, at the same time, look out for and expect an answer till it comes. If we pray in this way, we shall not only have answers, thousands of answers to our prayers ; but our own souls will be greatly refreshed and invigorated in connexion with these answers. One word more, in connexion with this donation of £2000. Do you think, dear reader, that I was greatly ex- excited when I received it, or greatly surprised ? Not in the least. I look out for answers to prayer, I expect then), daily and hourly expect them ; and therefore, when God is pleased to grant them, the answer does not surprise me. Seek, dear reader, to ponder that word of our adorable Lord Jesus : " What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." JM ark xi. 24. In attending to this consists real power in prayer. 42 [4.D. 1862. Jan. 14. Received £2000., left at my disposal, of which £800. was placed to the Building Fund, and £1200. to the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. Jan. 27. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Jan. 28. Received £2500., the disposal of which being left to me, I took £1000. for the Building Fund—, and £1500 for the School—, Bible—, Mission- ary and Tract Fund.—Feb. 8. £290. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. March 12, 1862. It was in November, 1850, that my mind became exercised about enlarging the Orphan work from 300 Orphans to 1000, and subsequently to 1150; and it was in June, 1851, that this my purpose be- came known, having kept it secret for more than seven months, whilst day by day praying about it. From the end of November, 1850, to this day, March 12, 1862, not one single day has been allowed to pass, without this contemplated enlargement being brought before God in prayer, and generally more than once a day. But only now, this dey, the New Orphan House No. 3 was so far advanced, that it could be opened. Observe then, first, esteemed Reader, how long it may be, before a full answer to our prayers, even to thousands and tens of thousands of prayers, is granted; yea, though those prayers may be believing prayers, earnest prayers, and offered up in the name of the Lord Jesus, and though we may only for the sake of the honour of our Lord desire the answer: for I did, by the grace of God, without the least doubt and — wavering look for more than eleven years for the full answer; I earnestly importuned the Lord; I looked for the answer only on the ground of the worthiness of the Lord Jesus, judging myself entirely unworthy of an answer; andI sought only in this matter the glory of God. If then, you also, dear Reader, have to wait long, yea even twice or thrice as long as I have had to wait in this mat- ter, be not discouraged, provided your petitions are of that character that you are warranted, by the word of God, to look for an answer. I myself have been bringing certain ; requests before God now for seventeen years and six | months, and never a day has passed without praying con- \ cerning them, all this time; yet the full answer is not A.D. 1862] 43 come, up to the present; but I look for it, I confidently expect it. In connexion with the opening of the New Orphan House No. 8 observe, Secondly, the large amount of money in hand, with which we were allowed to begin housekeeping there, Before the New Orphan House No. 1 was thought of, and the Orphans were living in four rented houses in Wilson Street, Bristol, we were almost daily, for a period of five years, exposed to great trials of faith, with reference to means for meeting the expenses for the Orphans. Yet, though we were almost habitually very. - poor, the Lord helped, always helped. At last I was led to see plainly, that it was the mind of God that I should leave the rented houses, and build a large house, not only large enough for the 120 Orphans then under my care, but for 300. Looking at it naturally, and judging simply from the trial of faith through which we had passed in previous years, it might have been said, and was said by unbelief, How strange, that you should seek to extend the work from 120 to 300 Orphans, when you have had so many difficulties in meeting the expenses for 120; and how - strange, that you should expect to obtain all the Thou- sands of Pounds needed for this large house, Faith, how- ever, replied, God, who plainly points it out to be His will that I should build (for the reasons fully given in the Report of 1846, and in the second volume of my Narrative. ) will supply the means, And thus it was, He gave me . al] the means needed for the building and fitting up and furnishing The New Orphan House No. 1, though’ the expenses were more than £15,000., and I had several hun- dred pounds balance left of the Building Fund, and was, moreover, able to begin housekeeping in the new build- ing with above £500. in hand for current expenses. This abundance, however, did not always continue; for in this new large house also we became again poor with our 300 Orphans to be provided for. Still, scarcely was the house quite filled, after we had only occupied it for about 18 months, when my mind was led to a greater enlargement an before, even to build for 700 more ans, 80 as to Rave a thousand. Years pass, at last a rouse for 400 more is opened in November, 1807, and I am enabled to bégin housekeeping in the New Orphan House No. 2 with £00,000. had been disbursed for current expenses. Now, 44 [A.D. 1862. at last, The New Orphan House No. 3 is opened ; 700 Orphans had been supported for some years, and the other objects had been year by year greatly enlarged ; still, faith further triumphs, and the third house is opened with £10,309. 1s. 10. in hand for the current the Orphans! Do you not perceive, esteemed Reader, how precious the principles are on which we act ? I dwell npon this, in order that you also may lean upon God, and trust in Him for everything, should you not do so already. After having walked in this precious road of trusting in God in all temporal and spiritual necessities for myself, my family, and the service in which I am engaged, for thirty- two years; and after having most abundantly for thirty-two years proved the efficiency of this way of obtaining help from God, I commend it most heartily to my fellow-believers. • But there remains, thirdly, another point in connexion with the opening of the new house to be noticed. As in the case of No. 2, so also in the case of the New Orphan House No. 3, I had daily prayed for the needed helpers and assistants for the various departments. Before a stone was laid, I began to pray for this ; and, as the building progressed, I continued day by day to bring this matter before God, feeling assured, that, as in every thing else, so in this particular also, He would graciously be pleased to appear on our behalf and -help us, as the whole work is intended for His honour and glory. At last the time was near when the house could be opened, and the time therefore near when the applications, which Lad been made in writing during more than two years previously, should be considered, for the filling up of the various posts. It now, however, was found. that, whilst there had been about 50 applications made for the various situations, some places could not be filled up, because either the individuals, who had applied for them, were married, or were, on examination, found unsuitable. This was no small trial of faith ; for day by day, for years, had I asked God to help me in this particular, even as He had done in the case of the New Orphan House No. 2 ; I had also expected help, confidently expected help : and yet now, when help seemed needed, it was wanting. What was now to be done, dear Reader ? Would it have been right to charge God with unfaithfulness ? Would it have been right to distrust Him ? Would it have been right to say, - A.D. 1862.] 45 it is useless to pray ? By no means. This, on the con trary, I did ; I thanked God for all the help He had given me in connexion with the whole of the enlargement ; I thanked Him for enabling me to overcome so many and such great difficulties ; I thanked Him for the helpers He had given me for No. 2 ; I thanked him, also, for the helpers He had given me already for No. 3 ; and instead of distrusting God, I looked upon this delay of the full answer to prayer, only as a trial of i'ailh, and therefore resolved, that, instead of praying once a day with my dear wife about this matter, as we had been doing day by day for years, we should now meet daily three times, to bring this before God. I also brought the matter before the whole staff of my helpers in the work, requesting their prayers. Thus I have now continued for about four months longer in prayer, day by day calling upon God 3 times on account of this need, and the result has been, that one helper after the other has been given, without the help coming too late, or the work getting into confusion ; or the reception of the children being hindered ; and I am fully assured, that the few who are yet needed will also be found, when they are really required. I notice, lastly, in connexion with the opening of the New Orphan House No. 3, that its completion was several months later than had been expected, not on account of any thing over wnicn 1 had control ; but there was a difficulty in the summer of 1861 on the part of one of the contractors in obtaining a sufficient number of men, and thus the work was protracted beyond what might have been at first expected. To this were added other difficulties, connected with another contractor, over which likewise I had no con trol, and in which I recognized the hand of God, and therefore felt that it became me to seek to glorify Him by patient submission, being assured, that, as the work was His and not mine, and as He cared far more for the good of the Orphans who were waiting to be admitted than I did, He would allow me, in His own time, the joy and privilege of opening the new house for the reception of these destitute children. And thus it was, after faith and patience had been abundanly exercised. I now return to the account :— March 26, 1862. £60. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay 46 [A.D. 1862. up treasure in heaven.—April 8. £3. 3s. " from a dying bed," sent with the following letter. " My dear Sir, My dear wife felt a very strong desire to send something more than the few stamps she sent you, and the Lord has met her wish in a remarkable manner. She has been disowned by several of her rich relatives, because of her attachment to the cross of her Lord. An uncle, who at one time pro mised large things, turned against her. He is recently deceased, and left her £3. 3s. This has just come to hand. She sends it to you. Please to use it for the new Orphan Houses. This conies, as far as we can judge, with almost her last breath, and that breath is prayer for you and the work of God in your hands.—In much sorrow, I am, dear Mr. Miiller, faithfully and devotedly yours in Jesus * * * *." April 19. From London £25., with £5. for myself, with the following statement : " This £30. is a thank- offering to the God and Father of all mercies for a wonder ful answer to the prayer of faith, which I have been daily, and almost hourly, laying before the Throne of Grace, since the middle of December last, that the ever Living God would be pleased, if according to His will, for the glory of His name, and FOE MY GOOD, to extricate me from a loss, arising from a mistake ; and yesterday an answer by the removal of the burthen, was graciously vouchsafed. The reading of your Reports, and the carry ing out of your recommendations, by the grace of God, have enabled me to do this." May 13. £60. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 26, 1862. The total amount received for this contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work, from May 26, 1861 to May 26, 1862, is £6598. 11s. 5½d. In connexion with the contemplated New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, 1 make the following remarks. " 1, During the past year also very many applications have been made for the admission of Orphans ; yea, several hundreds have been applied for, and the applications have been more numerous than ever. Indeed there has been a steady increase of applications ever since the Orphan work first commenced. The more it has become known, the greater the number of applications. It is an exception if a day now passes, on which no fresh application is made for A.D. 1862.] 47 the admission of destitute children, bereaved of both pa rents. The numerous applications for admission of destitute Orphans point out more and more the importance of the enlargement of this work, which, by God's continued help, I purpose to effect. And therefore I continue in prayer regarding this object. 2, 1 do not mean to wait till I have the whole £50,000. which will be needed for the contemplated enlargement, but to take steps towards the erection of No. 4, if God will, when there shall be about £ 25,000. in hand. To wards this £ 25,000 has come in during the past year £ 6598. 11s. 5½d. ; and I hope further to have available, out of the balance of £4471. 16s. 1d. left in hand from the former Building Fund for No. 2 and No. 3, about £ 2500., as only about £ 2200. more will be required for additional fittings and furniture, and the payment of the balance due to some of the contractors, whose accounts could not be wound up in time for the Report ; so that, when it shall have pleased the Lord to give me about £ 16,000. more, by His help steps may be taken for the erection of No. 4 . 3, Observe, esteemed Reader, that the Lord not only has given me the means needed for the erection of No. 2 and No. 3, but after these two Orphan Houses for 850 children have been built, and almost all the fitting up and furnishing has been completed, I have the prospect of a balance in hand of about £ 2500. Is not this a precious way ? Will you not yourself try it, fellow believer, if you need means for the work of God, or means for any thing, which you can honestly bring before God iu prayer ? The following statement will show the Reader, how the Lord was pleased further to send in means for this en largement of the Orphan Work. July 12, 1862. £60. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Aug. 15. From Herefordshire 2s. 6d., with the fol lowing letter :—" Dear Sir, Having read your Report, I see the Lord has put it into your heart to enlarge your work. I beg you to accept my mite toward the contem plated building. It is a part of the produce from the sale of celery plants, raised in my garden. May the Lord bless and prosper your undertaking, and spare you many 48 [A.D. 1862. years for His work. To Him be all the glory. From a poor working man, your obedient * * * *."—See, esteemed reader, in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to help me. I receive donations of £ 5., £ 10., £ 20., £ 50., £ 100., £ 500., £ 1000., and I have received even £ 2000., £ 3000., £ 4000., £ 5000., £ 7000., and £ 8100. in one donation ; and here a poor working man gives 2s. 6d. Sometimes poor widows have laid aside their farthings or halfpence weekly, and have sent them to me when amounting to a shilling or more. But all these donations, whether farthings and halfpence, or hundreds and thousands of pounds, are the result of prayer to God, and the exercise of faith ; for the hearts of all, rich and poor, are in the hands of our Heavenly Father, and He is pleased to listen to the supplications of His children, who call upon Him in believing prayer. And thus, with out appealing personally to any one, but simply following up the Reports by prayer, the Lord has been pleased to give me altogether the sum of £ 250,000. from the beginning of the work up to this day, August 15, 1862. See how easily the donations are obtained ; for we do not write letters to request them, nor call on persons, and thus expend much time on this part of the work. See how they are obtained without much expenditure of money ; for all we do is, to print and circulate the Report of the work, which is followed up by prayer ; and even these Reports are sold for the benefit of the Orphans, and bring in the greater part of what they cost, so that the total expenditure, in connexion with the obtaining of the money is not even one per cent. See how successful a way this is for obtaining means ; for the Lord has enabled me more and more to enlarge the work, and He has not obliged me to give up certain parts of it for want" of funds, though the expenses 01 the various departments of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home ana Abroad are now so great. See what a happy way it is, both with regard to man and God; for we never meet with a cold reception from our fellow men, as we never apply to them for anything ; and, so far as it regards God, it brings Him very near to us experi mentally, when, in answer to prayer to Him only, we receive the means. The reason why I dwell on this, is not to find fault with other modes ; but to encourage my ""- A.D. 1862.] 49 fellow believers, fully, uureservedly, and habitually, to depend upon God, and upon Him alone, for everything. This is the privilege, yea, the duty of the child of God. Thereby would God be glorified and our hearts become increasingly acquainted with Him. I relate here, for the encouragement of my fellow believers, two answers to jarayer, which, in addition to numberless others, we had in connexion with the work during the past year. In the early part of the summer, 1862, it was found that we had several boys ready to be apprenticed ; but there were no applications made by masters for appren tices. - As all our boys are invariably sent out as in-door apprentices, this was no small difficulty; for we not only look for Christian masters, but consider their business, and examine into their position, to see whether they are suitable ; and the master must also be willing to receive the apprentice into his own family. Under these circum stances, we again gave ourselves to prayer, as we had done for more than twenty years before, concerning this thing, instead of advertising, which, in all probability, would only bring before us masters who desire appren tices for the sake of the premium. We remembered how good the Lord had been to us, in having helped us hundreds of times before, in this very matter. Some weeks passed, but the difficulty remained. We continued, however, in prayer, and then one application was made, and then another ; and since we first began to pray about this matter, last summer, we have been able to send out altogether 18 boys up to May 26, 1863 ; the difficulty was thus again entirely overcome by prayer, as every one of the boys, whom it was desirable to send out, has been sent out. The other instance is this. One of the drains at the New Orphan Houses was stopped up. ' It runs about elevenreSTTfleep "under'"ground. A place was opened, but in vain. A second and third place were opened, but in vain. The difficulty was very great ; for the drain not only ran under the foundations of one of the houses, but it appeared also needful to lay open the ground for nearly one hundred feet long and eleven feet deep, which not only would hare been connected with very heavy ex pense, but would also have been most undesirable for many reasons. Under these trying and difficult circumstances, D 50 [A.D. 1862. our hope, however, was in God, and to Him we betook ourselves, calling daily on Him at least three times for help. One more place was now opened, and the Lord, in His pity and compassion, ordered it so that the opening was made at the very sgot where the obstruction^fst'ed ; and in a few hours 'more aTTlEe SiffiraKies wef^'ovef, with comparatively little expense. Be then, dear Christian reader, encouraged to roll all your burdens and cares upon God, in believing prayer, and you will not look to Him in vain. I have now tried this blessed way for very many years, and have never been confounded. We proceed with the income for the Building Fund. Sep. 3, 1862. From Upper Norwood £ 300.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £ 35.— Each donation was received by me with deep interest, whether the £ 300. mentioned under Sep. 3rd, or smaller donations, which have not been mentioned ; because each of these donations came to me in answer to daily be lieving prayer, and as a further proof that God is willing, in His own time and way, to give me the full amount needed. Moreover, I labour on cheerfully in prayer, looking at the three Orphan Houses, now in operation, with 1060 Orphans in them, which have been paid for in full, also all the furniture contained in them, and all the machinery and fittings, and yet a considerable balance was left, though the total expense was nearly Sixty Thousand Pounds. Further, I gladly labour on in prayer, and am refreshed by every donation for the Building Fund, on account of having the sweet privilege before me, of being permitted to do yet more for poor destitute children, be reaved of both parents ; for though I have received, during the last five years and a half, no less than 1021, and within the last 14 months alone 441, applications continue to be made. Almost daily fresh cases come before me, of a distressing character, so that I long to be able to provide more accommodation for Orphans, and especially for boys, as we have not been able to hold out any hope for even the twentieth part of the boys, who, within the last three years, have been applied for. And lastly, I am encouraged to go on in prayer for this object, because I seek God's honour in this service, and for Him do I purpose to build the intended houses, No. 4 and No. A.D. 1863.] 51 , . 5; and therefore, though I know not when He will give me the money yet needed, and whom He will honour in employing as the instruments, whether many or few, or only one; yet I am assured that in the end He will give all, as in the case of the three houses now in operation: Oct. 11, 1862. From Scotland £20.—Oct. 25. £20. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— Nov. 6. From India, from a staff-officer, £5. Jan. 10, 1863, From a physician in Scotland, £10., with the following lines: ‘I came to the resolution last year to return to the Lord the half of all I could save of my income, and I shall be able to give more than ever I have given before.’”—Jan. 15. From Hong Kong £ 25.— Jan. 28. Received also £1200., which, being left entirely at my disposal, I took £400. for the Building Fund and £800 for the School—, Bible—, Missiotary—and Tract Fund. Thus I have £400. towards the object for which Iam daily labouring in prayer, viz. to build accommodation for 850 more Orphans. Feb. 2. From Moulmein, Burmah, 50 rupees for the Building Fund and 50 rupees for the Orphans ; also, from the same place, 50 rupees besides, for the Orphans.—Feb, 4. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Feb. 10. Received £1000. which, being left at my disposal, I took £400. for the Building Fund and £600. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. I have thus £400. ad- ditional for the Building Fund, which is no small joy. The Christian reader will not wonder at my joy, when I give the following extract from a letter, recéived on this very day, while I am writing this for the press, containing an application for the admission of two very’ young infants, bereaved of both parents: ‘‘I have heard much lately of the great benefit derived from your Asylum for Orphans, and am anxious to know whether such a case as the following would be thought wortliy of your charitable consideration. About six weeks ago, two little babes were given birth to by a mother, whose husband was at the time lying ill with his arm broken. The birth took place at a time when the mother was distracted by the death of a daughter, who, simply saying she had a head- : D2 52 [A.D. 1863. ache, had lain down to rest on her bed, and never rose from it again. The birth of the twin children, sorrow at the sudden death of her daughter, and anxiety for her husband so possessed her, that, from the moment of her delivery to the time of her death she was unconscious. Meantime the husband's arm mortified, amputation was tried in vain, and he had gone to. the grave before his wife. Thus these poor little children are orphans ; and, if I were not afraid of wearying you, I could tell you of the deaths, within these six weeks, of a grandfather and grandmother, a brother and two other sisters, stripping them, in their hour of greatest need, of their nearest friends. There are four other little children and no one to provide for them except two elder sisters, both of whom are servants, living on their wages. Therefore, in spite of an intense repug nance to send these little Orphans to the workhouse, that has become their home. I scarcely know a case in which such a home has been so little deserved, or in which charity could find fitter scope, etc."—I have just now received four very young children, one of whom is less than eleven months old. With these facts before me, none of my readers who feel as Christians, and enter in any degree into the distress which surrounds them, will be surprised that I labour with earnest longing in prayer, to be allowed of God the joy and honour and precious privilege of I caring for more Orphans still ; and that, when I receive ; additional means for the Building Fund, I am so greatly 1 delighted.—Feb. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, I who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up I treasure in heaven, £145., with £145. for the School—, I Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund.—March 27. £40. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —May 4. From one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, and now in business on his own account, £3. towards the building of the New Orphan House No. 4, with the following letter : " My dear Sir,—It affords me much pleasure to send you the enclosed cheque as a thank- offering for an amount of success I did not expect. And I would take this opportunity of again thanking you for the great kindness bestowed upon me during the six years I was under your care, and for the fatherly interest you have ever taken in me since that time, which is nearly A.D. 1863.] 58 sixteen Phan Please to accept these expressions of my gratitude, and believe me yours very respectfully * * # *.” —May 22. £32. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in hheaven.— May 26, 1863, In connexion with the contem- plated New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, I state the following: I do not purpose to wait till I have the whole £50,000., needed for the contemplated enlargement, but to take steps towards the erection of No. 4, if God will, when there shall be about £25,000. in hand. Towards this £25,000 has come in during the past two years altogether £9773. 10s. 63d. There was left, after all the expenses in connexion with the building, fitting up, and furnishing of the New Orphan Houses No. 2 and No. 38, had been met, a balance of £2904. 7s. 5d., which was carried to the present Building Fund account, and made the total of £12,677. 17s. 11}d. in hand on this day, towards the ex- tension of the Orphan Work. The reader has to keep in mind, that, in addition to the £9773. 10s. 6}d., received during the two years, from May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1863, towards the contemplated enlargement of the Orphan Work, there was also received for the current expenses of the various Objects, already in operation, the sum of Thirty Two Thousand Six Hundred and Five Pounds. In the following pages I now relate, how the Lord was pleased to supply us further with means for the Building Fund, without however doing more, than singling out a few donations, and periodically referring to the total in hand, just as I have done, with reference to the last two years. July 31, 1868. Two months and five days of this period have already passed away, and during this time only £161.11s. 4d. has been received towards the Building Fund. After this rate, it would be a very long time before I should be able to take active measures towards the contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work. But I am not discouraged. Fresh applications for the admission of Orphans continue to be made. A considerable number of boys we have not been able even to register, because we have no prospect of being able to provide for them, while they are of an age suitable for reception. Many female Infant Orphans also, though registered, will have to wait a considerable time, before their turn for admission comes. All this, however, leads 54 [A.D. 1863. me the more earnestly to labour in prayer, that it would please the Lord to allow me the joy and precious privilege of providing further accommodation for the admission of destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death ; and I am fully assured, that God will condescend to use me in this service still further, and that, when His time is come, He will also send larger sums for the Building Fund.—I go on now to state how the Lord was pleased to send in the means after July 31, 1863. Aug. 1. £30. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained hy the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea sure in Heaven.—Aug. 3. From Birmingham £100.— Aug. 12. From a shipowner, who, instead of insuring his vessels, gives the amount, which he would have to pay, to the work of God, £50., with £ 1 50. for Missions, and £10. for myself.—Aug. 14. £90. with the following letter :— " Dear Sir : Enclosed you will find a cheque for Ninety Pounds for the Building Fund, from a friend of mine, who is giving a seventh of his property to the support of the cause of Christ—Yours in the Lord * * * * " —Aug. 26. £50. from the north of England.—Aug. 31. The total income during this month was £581 1s. 3d. But in answer to daily prayer the Lord helped further. Sept. 3. From Birmingham £100.—From Essex £100., with £100. for the support of the Orphans, and the fol lowing letter : " Beloved Brother in Christ,—I have to fulfil what has long been on my mind, but I lacked opportunity. A dear sister of mine, both in the flesh and in the Lord, died nearly 11 years since, leaving me, by her will, 10 acres of pasture land ; but I was to pay to surviving relatives £200., an annuity to a faithful ser vant, and £200. to you, for the benefit of the Orphan Establishment. At this time I had no funds to fall back upon ; but, by a hard struggle, I managed to pay the money which could be lawfully demanded of me, and have kept up the annuity to this time. When the will came into the hands of the Proctor, he immediately decided that the £200. to the Institution would be null and void, owing to the Mortmain Act. This suited me well at the time, for reasons already stated, having exhausted what little money I had, in paying other lawful demands ; but I thought, probably there would come a day when I might manage to pay the other. Up to this year, however, I A.D. 1863.] 55 have never had £200. I could call my own ; but in May last an aged relative died, leaving me the residue of her property, after paying more than 20 legacies. Having nearly paid them all, I have felt at liberty to-day, to send you the £200., which my dear sister intended you to have, more than 10 years since, and it will be some relief or comfort to my mind to know, you have received it safely. I think it might be taken £100. for the Orphans, and £100. for the Building-Fund, unless you like to divide it differently, * * * *." I have given as much of this letter, as more immediately refers to the subject, because many persons are not aware, that no houses nor lands, nor in come from houses or lands, nor anything that is considered real estate can be left lawfully to Charitable Institutions, and that, if this is done, all is null and void. Several legacies, left to the New Orphan-Houses, have either in part, or altogether, been lost, because this was not at tended to, in making the will. I have, therefore, and because I am often asked for a proper form for a bequest, placed at the end of the Reports, a form for a bequest, drawn up by an experienced legal practitioner. And I have also given this letter, on account of the grace mani fested by the Christian donor, who, without being in the least bound to do so, pays the £200. the first moment he can, that thus he might carry out the intention of that Godly sister of his, whq^nore than ten years since entered into her rest. I give also here the form for legacies to be left to the Institution, as the reader may not possess a copy of any of the Reports. Form of a Legacy for the Orphan work : —" I give to George Miiller of Bristol, or such other person or persons as shall, when this legacy shall become payable, be the director or directors of the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, Bristol, the sum of , to be paid out of such part of my personal estate as shall be legally applicable thereto ; and to be applied by the said George Miiller, or such other director or directors for the purpose of such New Orphan Houses, and his or their receipt shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors." Form of a Legacy for the other objects of the Scrip tural Knowledge Institution : — "I give to George Miiller of Bristol, or such other person or persons as 56 [4.D, 1863. shall when this legacy shall become payable, be the director or directors of the Scriptural Knowledge Institu- tion for Home and Abroad (of which the said George Miiller is now the director), the sum of ’ to be paid out of such part of my personal estate as shall be legally applicable thereto; and to be applied by the said George Miiller, or such other director or directors, for the following four objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, viz.—assisting Schools, circulating the Holy Scriptures, aiding Missionary efforts, and circulating religious publications, or for any of those objects; and the receipt of the said George Miller, or such other director or directors, shall be a sufficient dis- charge to my executors.” ; Sept. 30. Another month has passed away, and the Building Fund is somewhat further increased, though much is needed yet, before I can feel warranted to take active steps, towards the contemplated enlargement. Nevertheless every donation, even the smallest, brings me nearer this time. I therefore feel grateful to the Lord for every donation, even the smallest, and take it as an encouragement from Him, to continue in prayer, and to expect, in His own time, which is always the best, the full amount. Meanwhile the constant applications for the admission of Orphans, speaks loudly as to the need of more accommodation for these destitute ghildren, During. this month of September, among many others, 3 Orphans . were applied for, both of whose parents were dead, the eldest not three years old, the second 14 months, and the youngest 3 days old. . I notice here, when the New. Orphan House No. 2 was being built, and- No. 3 was in contemplation, I often was: asked, Do you think that you will have Orphans enough to fill these houses? Since No. 2 was opened, on Nov. 12, 1857, to May 26, 1864, we received altogether 1202 Orphans; and only from March 12, 1862, to May 26, 1864, we received 727. It is now (May 26, 1864) several months since the New Orphan House No. 3 was entirely filled, and we had 1150 Orphans under Sur care, #. e.not a single vacancy left. The more you labour in caring for poor destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death, the more yéu will see, that there are still many thousands remainirig who weed to be cared fer. ~ A.T>. 1863.] 57 We have now (May 26, 1864) on our books 990 Baiting for admission, of whom 473 are boys ; though, as stated, 1202 have been received since Nov. 12, 1857, and 727 since March 12, 1862. But this number, in all proba bility, would be 4 times as great, had we not been obliged to decline registering so many hundreds of boys, because we had no prospect of being able to provide for them, whilst they were of an age suited for such an Institution. I now return to the Income for the Building Fund. Oct. 3, 1863. £35. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—From Birmingham £100.—Nov. 3. From Birmingham £100.—Nov. 13. From Honduras £1. Do you notice, esteemed Beader^the variety of places, jea the variety of countries, from whence the donations are received ? The last donation referred to came from a yery poor servant of Christ in Honduras, where he lives for the purpose of winning souls from among the very poor people, by whom he is surrounded. I never saw him. I never had heard of him. God in a remarkable way directed my Narrative into his hands in that far-oft land, made it a blessing to him, and led him, out of his great poverty, to send me £1. a year, or more, for several years past. There is scarcely a country, from whence I have not received donations ; yet all come un solicited, often anonymously, and in by far the greater number of cases from entire strangers, who are led by God, in answer to our prayers, to help on this work, which was commenced, and is carried on, only in dependance on the Living God, in whose hands are the hearts of all men. Did all know the blessedness of this way, and the power there is in prayer and faith, they would, for themselves, gladly pursue this course, and act habitually on these principles ; for the doing so brings abundant blessing to the soul, as well as procures the needed help in answer to prayer. No one, however, can act on these principles, and know the power of them in his own experience, except he be reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, and have thus the guilt removed from his conscience ; and, it this has been done, it is necessary to continue to walk in uprightness of heart : for if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. Psalm lxvi. 18. Nov. 18, 18(53. £50 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, D 3 58 [A.D. 1863. who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay tip treasure in heaven.—Dec. 2. From Birmingham £100.— Dec. 31. £30 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained hy the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Thus I saw the close of another year, with reference to this part of the work. The full answer to my daily prayers was far from being realized ; yet there was abun dant encouragement granted by the Lord, to continue in prayer. But suppose, even, that far less had come in, than was received, still, after having come to the conclu sion, upon Scriptural ground, and after much prayer and self-examination, as stated at full length before, 1 ought to have gone on without wavering, in the exercise of faith and patience concerning this object; and thus, all the children of God, when once satisfied, that any thing, which they bring before God in prayer, is according to His will, ought to continue in believing, expecting, per severing prayer, until the blessing is granted. Thus am I myself now [viz. in 1864] waiting upon God for certain blessings, for which I have daily besought Him for 19 years and 6 months, without one day's intermission. Still the full answeFis not" yet given concermri'gTihe conversion pf certain jndividuals. though,_in the mean time, I have received many thousands of answers to" prayer. I have also prayedHaily, withoiitrintermTssion, Tor the conversion of other individuals about ten years, for others six or seven years, for others four, three and two years, for pthers about eighteen months ; and still the answer is not yet granted, concerning these persons : whilst, in the mean time, many thousands of my prayers have been answered, and, also souls converted, for whom I had been praying. I lay particular stress upon this, for the benefit of a cer tain class of readers, who may suppose, that I need only to ask God, and receive at once ; or that I might pray concerning any thing, and the answer would surely come. One can only expect to obtain answers to prayers which are according to the mind of God ; and even then, patience and faith may be exercised for many years, even as mine are exercised, in the matter to which I have referred ; and yet am I daily continuing in prayer, and expecting the answer, and so certainly expecting the answer, that I have often thanked God that He will surely give it, A.D. 1864.] 59 though now for 19 years and 6 months faith and patience have thus been exercised. Be encouraged, dear Christian reader, with fresh earnestness to give yourself to prayer, if you can only be sure that you ask for things, which are for the glory of God.—I now go on to relate, how the Lord was pleased to help further, in sending in means for the Building Fund. Jan. 2, 1864. £100 from Birmingham.—Jan. 26. From Weston - super - Mare £50.—Jan. 28. From Clevedon £14. 10s. as " The Proceeds of a Christmas Tree."—Jan. SO. Above eight months have passed away since May 26, 1863, and though generally daily donations have been received towards the Building Fund, yet the total amount, received during these eight months, amounts only to £2,018. Were I to reason, naturally, under such cir cumstances, I should be greatly discouraged; for it •would take about seventeen years, after this rate, before the whole £50,000, which is required for the Building Fund, would be obtained. That, which comforts me, is the consideration that God can give in a short time not only larger sums, but even by one donation the whole amount which is required. I therefore, without the least discouragement, continue my supplications, being assured, that the Lord will, in His own time and way, give me the whole amount needed, and that, as the applications for the admission of Orphans, for whom we have no room, continue to be made, He will surely enable me to pro vide more accommodation for destitute Orphans, so that 2,000 may be cared for, instead of 1,150. Feb. 2. £100. from Birmingham.—Feb. 10. Received £2700., of which, as the application of the donation was kindly left to me, I took £1350. for the Building Fund and £1350 for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract^Fund.—Feb. 22. From Greenock £50, with £50. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract- Fund, £20. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. In the previous part of the Narrative reference has been repeatedly made, as in connexion with the last dona tion, to presents which were kindly sent by the donors for my own use. These instances 1 have gladly recorded, as they came in connexion with the donations referred to,_ because they afforded me an opportunity of speaking well of the kindness and faithfulness of the Lord, in supplying 60 [A.D. 1864; my own personal or family need. It is now about Forty Four years, since I have had any regular income what ever. In the year 1830, I saw it to be the Lord's will to give up my regular income in connexion with th'e ministry of the Word, and to trust in Sim alone for the supply of all my temporal necessities. I have been en abled to continue in this path, and have not been allowed to regret the step which I then took. Thus it is also in my position as director of the various Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. I have no salary in this position; but the Lord abundantly supplies my need; yea, though there are many expenses connected with this very position, He abundantly meets all my wants, and gives me far more than I need. If I had earnestly sought to obtain a lucrative place, either as preacher of the Gospel, or in some other way, I should not have had nearly as much, 1 have reason to believe, as, unsought, unasked for (so far as it regards man), I receive day by day out of the loving hand of my Heavenly Father. When I look at His kindness to me in saving my guilty soul, I am over whelmed with the boundlessness of His love and grace towards me in Christ Jesus ; and when I look at His kindness to me, even as it regards temporal things, I know not where to begin, nor where to end, in speaking well of His name, I do desire to magnify Him, and therefore I declare in this public way His great goodness to me in thus so abundantly supplying my temporal ne cessities ; and I do so also, if it may please God, by this means, to encourage the hearts of His children, more and more unreservedly to trust in Him. It is now about Forty Four years since I have asked help for myself from any human being ; but God has been indeed my helper. And now the very work, respecting which I had every reason to believe, when I commenced it, that it would be connected with great expenses to myself, as well as be the means, looking at it naturally, of decreasing my own income, God has (though unsought for on my part) used as the instrument to bring along with it many supplies for myself also ; thus not only abundantly meeting my increased expenses, but giving me far more than I need for myself. How great is His goodness ! Dear Christian Reader, be encouraged by this ! Do but trust in God with all your heart, and you will find that you will not A.D. 1864.] 61 be confounded. Only let it be trust in God, not in man, not in circumstances, not in any of your own "exertions, but real__ trust in God, ~ 'm your various necessities. But I cannot send this forth, without again cautioning any who may read it, against doing the same by way of imitation. Let any one trust in God, as I by His grace did, and have Scriptural warrant for doing so ; and the Lord will snrely honour this confidence in Himself; but, as as suredly as any one professes to trust in God, his pro fession of faith will be tested, and greatly tested, even as mine was ; and then it will be soon seen, whether the trust in God is real or not. When I took this step, in November, 1830, 1 determined, really, truly, solely, habi tually, by God's help, to look to Him, and under no circumstances, either directly or indirectly, to make known my present position, however needy, to my fellow-men, in order that the hand of God might be seen, when He helped. In this way I have continued ever since ; and, by the help of God, purpose to continue to the end of my course. Now, because many, who have professed to look to the Lord alone for their temporal supplies, have failed in this, and have made their wants known to their fellow- men, to induce them to help them, they have thus failed in obtaining the wholesome food for their faith, and their faith has become weaker instead of stronger. Bnt, fur ther, no one, I judge, can be truly happy in such a path, except he be content, to the end of his course, to remain only a steward for God ; so that, if he be intrusted by Him with more than he needs, he be willing to give it back to God, who gave it to him. Let these two points be carried out, in a humble prayerful state of heart, and happy and blessed will that servant of God be. All I have known who have acted thus have, without a single exception, done well ; but those, who merely said that they trusted in God, without doing it, and who therefore did not act as stated above, sooner or later broke down. God looks for reality. Faith may be weak at first, but it must be real. Feb. 24. Received £2,200., which being kindly left at my disposal, I took £1,100. for the Building Fund, and £1,100. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund.—Feb. 26. " From a Presbyterian Missionary, 62 [a.D. 1864. sent from Cape Town,” anonymously, £5.—From Ciren- cester £10., with £10. for Missions.—From Chatham £10., with £5 for myself.—From Wiltshire £5., with £10. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself, “ As a tribute of affection to a father’s memory.”—From a Christian Merchant £20., with £50. for the Orphans, £10. for Missions, £10. for the Bible Fund, £5. for the Tract Fund, and £5. for myself, with the following interesting communication :— “ You will notice, dear brother, that I am sending you much more than hitherto. I some time ago made the resolution to increase my contribution for the Lord’s work, on a per-centage, increasing with increased receipts, fol- lowing the examples named in your Reports; and the Lord so blessed me last year that I have had to ascend four steps in the scale I had laid down at a time when 1 Tittle thought I should ever use the higher amounts. Imerely notice this for your comfort, as you may like to know it asthe result of reading your Reports.” ‘In con- nexion with this letter, which I request the Reader to peruse once more, I make the following remarks :— Many of the children of God lose in a great measure, the privilege, and also the blessing to their own souls, of communicating to the Lord’s work, and to the necessities of the poor, for want of a regular habit of giving. They may not be covetous, they may not be loving again this present evil world, and yet they scarcely in-any degree act as stewards for the Lord, but as if they were already owners, because they only give from feeling, or particular circumstances; and thus it comes that life is gone, before they are aware of it, without good use having been made of that one brief life here on earth, in using their means for the Lord, as they might have done. But this one brief life is now for ever gone. This sowing time will never return. The harvest is now before them with that word of the Lord, “ He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.” How then, the Christian says, shall I act, in order that I may best use my means for the Lord? My reply is this: 1, Seek to keep before you, that the Lord Jesus has redeemed us, and that, therefore, we are not our own, because we are bought with a price, even the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. All, then, we have and are, belongs to Him, is at His disposal; and we A.D. 1864.] 63 have to look at our possessions as a faithful steward would, who is intrusted with goods or money by a rich proprietor. 2, The habitually using our means, the regularly communicating as the Lord prospers us, is next to be attended to. As much as it is practicable, we should seek to do this weekly, according to that word, " Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." 1 Cor. xvi. 2. If, through particular circumstances, this is impossible, then the first time we are able to ascertain how our busi ness stands, how much our profession has brought us in, &c., we should settle before God, how much, accordingly, we can spare for the work of God, or for the poor. .3, With regard to the amount to be given, no rule can be laid down for others, because the whole ought to be done, not in a legal spirit, but from the con straint of love and gratitude to the Blessed One who died for our sins, and to God the Father who spared not His only begotten Son, but delivered Hitu up for us. But take heed, esteemed Christian reader, that you do not lose the blessing, because it is not said you must give the tenth part, or the fifth part, or the third part, or half, or three-fourths of what God gives to you. The writer would set before himself nothing less than to stand habitually, with all he has, and with all the Lord is pleased to intrust him, as God's steward before Him, and .to say, Lord, thine is all I have ; use it as Thou pleasest. On this principle he has, by God's grace, been enabled to act for Forty-Four years ; and the unspeakable happiness and blessedness resulting from thus acting, he is unable to describe. If, however, the reader says, I cannot do this ; the reply is, then do what you can, and have grace for. Give the tenth part, or the fifth part, or the third part, or the half, of what God gives you, even as you have now light and grace on the subject; only^o; even the smallest amount you purpose to give of your income, and give this regularly ; and as God is pleased to increase your light and grace, and is pleased to prosper you more, FO give more. If you neglect an habitual giving, a regular giving, a giving from principle and upon Scriptural ground, and leave it only to feeling and impulse, or particular arousing circumstances, you will certainly be a loser. The smallest amount which is fixed to be given, may be 64 [A.D. 1864. continually gone beyond ; but it is well you should fix this lowest amount, lest you should do nothing at all, or scarcely anything. These hints are affectionately commended to the children of God, by one who, through the ordering of God, has met with numberless instances in which was verified the word of God, which says, " There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs xi. 24, 25. " Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke vi. 38. Feb. 29. From a dear Orphan, who on Feb. 26th died of consumption, as a believer, 5s. 3d., which she gave to her Christian nurse, with these words : " Please to give this to Mr. Milller for the Building Fund, with my kind and grateful love, and thank him and Mrs. Miiller for all the kindness shown to me." With such cases before me, yea, with the hundreds of Orphans before me, who have not only been benefited bodily, mentally, and morally, but also spiritually, the Christian reader will not be surprised, that I labour with my might in prayer, that the Lord would allow me yet further the honour and privilege of providing accommodation for the reception of destitute children ; and I have not the least doubt, that, as He was pleased to allow me to build the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, and to fill them with 1,150 Orphans, though years had to pass away before all was completed, and the full answer given to the many thou sands of prayers offered ; so God will help me to the full in the building of No. 4 and No. 5 also, and thus provide accommodation for 850 more Orphans. I therefore con tinue in believing prayer. I have not been allowed to have a shadow of doubt as to whether God can or will give me the means ; but day by day, in the full assurance of faith, I renew my requests before God; and generally day by day the amount of the Building Fund is to a greater or less degree increased. I then give thanks, and ask for more ; and as the days come, I look out for answers to my prayers. The reader will remember that I A.D. 1864. ] 65 stated, before entering upon the income during the month of February, 1864, that during the previous 8 -months and 5 days only £2,018. altogether had come in for the Building Fund; but during the month of February, alone came in £2,815. Thus the Lord showed, that ‘when He is pleased to work, it is not necessary that a very long period should elapse, but that by a few donations, yea by one, if He pleased, He could give me the whole amount yet needed. I therefore went on, day by day, renewing my requests, with thanksgiving for what He had given me already; and I now go on to relate, what further it pleased Him to send me, in answer to prayer. March 1. From Birmihgham £100.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £148.—-March 15. From a shipowner £50., instead of insuring his vessels.— March 16. £120. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea- sure in heaven. April 2. From Birmingham £100.—May 3. From Birmingham £100.—May 13. To-day an application was made for the admission of 5 Orphans. The father was drowned ; the mother had just died in consumption. Both corpses were laid on the same bed. The eldest child is 5 years and 7 months old, the second 4 years and 2 months, the third 2 years and 9 months, the fourth 1 year and 7 months, and the youngest 7 weeks old. Many such whole families have we received during the past 28 years ; and delighted I am to be able to receive them, in order that the brothers and sisters of the same family may not be separated from each other. At present, however, we can only register these children, till their turn comes, or the Lord allows me to provide further accommodation for Orphans. But the reader will not be surprised that, with such cases, constantly coming before me, I feel deeply interested about being able to provide more accommoda- tion, by building two other houses,- for which I am now almost daily receiving donations out of the hands of God, through the instrumentality of His children. Nor have I the least doubt that, in His own time, I shall have all I need. The abundant blessing, also, which hitherto has 66 [A.D. 1864. rested on this work, encourages me greatly further to enlarge it. May 18. From New Zealand £40., with £50. for Mis sions, and £10. for myself.—May 23. From Greenock £15., with £20. for Missions.— May 24. From .Torquay £40.—May 26. £120 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—I have thus, out of the hundreds of donations, which came in between May 26, 1863, and May 26, 1864, referred to a few. On May 26, 1864, there was iu hand for the Building Fund £19,321. 7s. 1½d. towards the £50,000. required. In the 25th Report, published in 1864, I added the following : — I do not mean to wait till I have the whole £50,000. needed for the contemplated enlargement, but to take steps towards the erection of No. 4, if Gpd will, when there shall be about £25,000. in hand, that is, when I shall have about £5,700. more than I have now. The following will show to the reader, how the Lord was pleased to help us further, in answer to prayer. June 2. £100. from Birmingham.—From Holland 121 florins.—June 2. From Barcelona, in Spain, £5.—June 24. From Ootacamund, East Indies, £20.—July 5. From Birmingham £100.—Aug. 3. From Birmingham £100. —Aug. 5. From Hong Kong, China, £30.—Aug. 19. From Greenock £100.—Aug. 23. £50 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Aug. 23. From London £50.— Sept. 2. From Birmingham £100. —From J. C. £50.—Sept. 13. Received 5s. from one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, with the following letter : " Dear and Respected Sir,—May I be permitted the privilege of sending you but a short note, knowing how precious every moment is to you. I feel that to attempt to express my heart-felt gratitude to you for all your parental care is more than pen can write, and it is only when I reach Home that I shall be able sufficiently to praise my Heavenly Father for having placed me in the dear Orphan House, where I learnt to love Jesus at an early age. Now I can say from the depth of my heart, that I would not part with my Saviour for all that the world could give ; and seeing that the Lord has been A.D. 1864.] 67 pleased to remove my dearest earthly treasure, I trust that it may be the means of leading me into closer communion with Himself and making me more devoted to His Name and glory. May I have the privilege of asking you to put the inclosed 5s. to the building of No. 4 ; for I should be happy, if I could be the means of raising but one stone towards another Home for poor Orphans ; and my humble prayer is, that you may have the joy of seeing yet very many brought to Jesus. I am, Dear and Eespected Sir, Yours very gratefully and respectfully, * * * *." The writer was some years since sent to service, having been 12 years •and 5 months under our care, and 5 years a believer, be fore she left us.—Sep. 16. From the North of England £100.—Sep. 17. " From the estate of the late Miss 0. H., through her brother T. H. Esq.," £1,000. T. H., Esq. desires to spend the property of his departed sister, as he considers she would approve of, were she still living, and therefore sends this £1,000. for the Building Fund.— Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means to be able to take active steps in this part of the work, and I need not say, therefore, how seasonable and precious this donation was. But I confidently expect, in the Lord's time and way, the whole amount yet needed.—Sept. 27. Re- ceived £l. 5s. from the House Girls of No. 2, (viz., the elder girls who are more immediately trained for situations, after having left the School Room), with the following letter : " Beloved and honoured Sir,—May we once more be allowed the privilege of expressing our love and grati tude to you, on this another anniversary of your birthday, which, we sincerely hope, will prove a very happy one ; and that you may be spared to see many more still hap pier, is our earnest desire.—It would give us great plea sure to present you with some trifling article for your own particular use ; but as we are quite at a loss what to select we think, perhaps, it will give you equal pleasure, if we ask your acceptance of this small sum towards the Building Fund.—May we be allowed to embrace this opportunity of thanking you for our pleasant holidays this summer, which we greatly enjoyed. And now, with respectful love to dear Mrs. and Miss Miiller, and hoping you will accept the same yourself, We remain, beloved and honoured Sir, Yours gratefully and affectionately, The House Girls of No. II."—On the same day I 68 [A.D. 1864. received £1. 10s. from the House Girls of No. I, with the following letter : " Dear and Honoured Sir,—Once again may we be allowed the happy privilege and pleasure of wishing you many happy returns of your birthday, and may we ask your acceptance of this trifle, which we should like to put to the Building Fund, with our gra titude and love to you. We feel that we can never repay, or be sufficiently grateful, for all the unceasing care and kindness, which you so constantly manifest towards us ; but we hope, that, if spared to leave the Orphan House, we shall seek to give pleasure and satisfaction, knowing that you are pleased to hear of our welfare after we have left. We hope and trust, that your health is much benefited, by the blessing of God, and that your valuable life may long be spared, and your untiring efforts crowned with great success. We remain, Dear Sir, Yours grate fully and respectfully, • The House Girls of No. I."—I received also from the Orphan Boys £1. 0s. 3½d. with the following letter : " Dear and Honoured Sir,—We, the Orphan Boys, are very glad to have .another opportunity of congratulating you on the return of another anniversary of your birthday, and beg you to accept a small sum of money towards the Building Fund of the New Orphan House No. 4, where we hope many destitute Orphans, like ourselves, may find shelter, and a happy home, which we have found. We also hope that your valuable life will be spared for many years to come, to be the orphans' friend and benefactor, and we hope, the blessing of God will rest upon your labours. We desire to thank you for the years of care you have bestowed upon us, and we hope that our future years will prove, that it has not been in vain. It pleased the Lord in the year 1859 to pour out His Holy Spirit upon us, and He brought some of us to love the Saviour, the fruits of which remain among us to this day. Please to accept our kind regards, and please remember us to dear Mrs. Miiller, Miss Miiller, and Miss Groves. We remain, Dear Sir, Yours very gratefully and affectionately, The Orphan Boys."—Lastly, from the House Girls of No. 3 £1. 1s. was received, with the following letter : " Dear and respected Sir,—Again at this the return of your birthday, we feel it a great pleasure to be permitted to write a few lines to thank you for all your unceasing kindness for so many years. We hope that A.D. 1864.] 69 the change you have so recently taken has been beneficial to the recruiting of your health and strength, and also of those who accompanied you. We sincerely hope, that you may enjoy good health for many years to come, and that you may long be spared to be the Orphans' friend and protector. Dear Sir, we could not think of anything that would be useful to you, and knowing the great desire of your heart to raise another house, will you allow us to place the enclosed sum at your disposal for that purpose. We remain, Dear Sir, Yours gratefully, The House Girls of No. 3."— In addition to these letters, I had also letters from the elder girls and Infant boys and girls of No. 1 ; from the elder girls and the Infants of No. 2 ; and from the elder girls in the two depart ments of No. 3. But though these letters are of the same tone and character and value, they are not given here because they came together with little presents, which these dear children sent to me for myself, while the former came with donations for the Building Fund. The letters which have been given may show to the reader the kind of position in which I stand with re gard to the Orphans whilst they are yet under our care ; and the letters which either have been given or will be given, the writers of which are Orphans, formerly under our care, will show, how we stand towards them after they have left us I received also for the Building Fund on Sept. 27th 10s. 6d. from one of the Orphans, who had been about sixteen years under our care, and several years a believer before she left. In March 1854 she was sent out, and has continued to walk in the fear of the Lord ever since. Oct. 3. £100 from Birmingham.—Oct 12. £40 from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Oct. 14. £100. from a ship owner, instead of insuring his vessels, with £100. for missions.—Nov. 2. £100. from Birming ham.—Nov. 3. From Cambridge £25. 10s.—From Clifton £31 10s.—Received also Five Thousand Pounds for the Building Jj'und, from a donor who desires neither -bta- name nor residence to be known. " • Do you rejoice witn me, dear reader, in the receipt of this last donation ? Does the greatness of the amount surprise you ? Do you think it strange and marvellous, 70 [A.D. 1864. that I should receive such a large sum in one donation ? Well, the donation indeed filled my heart with inexpressible delight, because it was the fruit of thousands of prayers, and it brought me a decided step nearer the time, when all prayers will be fully answered with regard to the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, as they have been fully answered regarding No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 ; but while my heart was filled with joy and gratitude, I remained calm, perfectly calm, without the least excitement. Nor was I in the least surprised at the greatness of the donation, for I look out for answers to my prayers, and I expect much from that bountiful heart, which spared not the Lord Jesus. If £10,000., yea £20,000., had been given to me at once, it would not have surprised me. Nor was it marvellous in my eyes, to receive so much at once ; for God has power as ever to give largely ; and He has still some of His children on earth who are so happy in Himself, and who so lay hold on eternal life, that they can afford to give up a good portion of the possessions of this life, and, if called upon to do so, even all they possess in this world, in order to do good. It has been stated that I did not intend to wait before taking active steps, until I had the whole Fifty Thousand Pounds neededjor the two houses,jntended to be built ;~ tut that when I had qne_half of that amount^! purposed to take steps tor the building of one of the nouses. I had 1 now, through all that had come in since May 26, 1864, ' including this last mentioned donation, above Twenty Seven Thousand Pounds in hand. I had patiently waited • God's time. I had determined to do nothing, until I had the full half of the sum needed for the two houses. But > now, having above Two Thousand Pounds beyond the ', half, I felt, after again seeking counsel from God, quite i happy, in taking steps for the purchase of land. \ My eyes had been for years directed to a beautiful piece of land, only separated by the turnpike-road from the ground on which the New Orphan House No. 3 is erected. The land is about 18 acres, with a small house and out houses built on one end thereof. Hundreds of times had I prayed, within the last years, that God for Jesus' sake would count me worthy, to be allowed to erect on this ground two more Orphan Houses ; and hundreds of times I had with a prayerful eye looked on this land, yea, as it AD. 1864. ] 71 were, bedewed it with my prayers. I might have bought it years ago; but that would have been going before the |. Lord. I had money enough in hand to have paid for it years ago; but I desired patiently, submissively, to wait God’s own time, and fer Him to mark it clearly and distinctly that His time was come, and that I took the step according to His will; for whatever I might ap- parently accomplish, if the work were mine, and not the Lord’s, I could expect no blessing. But now the Lord’s mind was clearly and distinctly made manifest. I had enough money in hand to pay for the land and to build one house, and therefore I went forward, after having still asked. the Lord for guidance, and being assured that it was His will I should take active steps. The first thing I did was, to see the agent who acted for the owner of the land, and to ask him, whether the land was for sale. He replied that it-was, but that it was let till March 25th, 1867. He said that he would write for the price. Here a great difliculty at once presented itself, that the land_was let for two years and four months longer, whilst it appeared desirable that I should be able to take posses- |- sion Of it if about six months, viz., as soon as the con- veyance could be made out, and the plans be ready for the New Orphan House No. 4, and arrangements be made with contractors. But I was not discouraged by this difficulty; for I expected, through prayer, to make happy and satisfactory arrangements with the tenant, being willing to give him a fair compensation for leaving before his time had expired. But, before I had time to see about this, two other great difficulties presented them- selves: the one was, that the owner asked £7,000. for the land, which I judged to be considerably more than its value; and the other, that I heard that the Bristol Water- Works’ Company intended to make an additional reservoir for their water, on this very land, and to get an- Act of Parliament passed to that effect. Pause here for a few moments, esteemed reader. You have seen, how the Lord brought me so far, with regard to pecuniary means, that I felt now warranted to go for- ward ; and I may further add, that I was brought to this point as the result of thousands of timnes praying regarding thts object ; and that there were, also, many hundreds of children waiting for admission;. and yet, after the Lo 72 [A.D. 1861. Himself so manifestly had appeared on our behalf, by the donation of £5,000., He allows this apparent death-blow to come upon the whole. But thus I have found it hundreds of times since I have known the Lord. The difficulties, which He is pleased to allow to arise, are only allowed, under such circumstances, for the exercise of our faith and patience ; and more prayer, more patience, and the exercise of faith, will remove the difficulties. Now, as I knew the Lord, these difficulties were no in surmountable difficulties to me, for I put my trust in Him, according to that word : " The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know tbyname will put their trust in thee : for thou, Lord, hast nort'orsaken taemtliat senk t,aee."_ Psalm ix. 3, ID. I gave myself, therefore, earnestly to prayer con cerning all these three especial difficulties which bad arisen regarding the "land. I prayed several times daily aEbut the matter, and used the following means. 1, I saw the Acting Committee of the Directors of the Bristol Water- Works' Company regarding their intended reservoir on the land, which I was about to purchase, and stated to them, what I had seen in print concerning their intentions. They courteously stated to me, that only a small portion of the land would be required, not enough to interfere with my purpose ; and that, if it could be avoided, even this small portion should not be taken. 2, This being settled, I now saw the tenant, after many prayers ; for I desired, as a Christian, that if this land were bought, it should be done under amicable circumstances with regard to him. At the first interview, 1 stated my intentions to him, at the same time expressing my desire that the matter should be settled pleasantly with regard to himself. He said that he would consider the matter, and desired a few days for that purpose. After a week I saw him again, and he then kindly stated, that, as the land was wanted for such an object, he would not stand in the way ; but that, as he had laid out a good deal on the house and land, he ex pected a compensation for leaving it, before his time was up. As I, of course, was quite willing to give a, fair and reasonable compensation, I considered this a very precious answer to prayer. 3, I now entered upon the third difficulty, the price of the land. I knew well how much the laud was worth to the Orphan Institution; but its A.D. 1865.] 73 value to the Institution was not the market value. I gave myself, therefore, day by day, to prayer, that the Lord would constrain the owner to accept a considerably lower sum than he had asked ; I also pointed out to him why it was not worth as much as he asked. At last he consented tojake £5,500. instead of £7,000., and I accepted the offer ; for I knew that by the level character of the land we should save a considerable sum for the two houses, and that by the new sewer, which only a few months before had been completed, running along under the turnpike road near the field, we should be considerably benefited. In addition to these two points I had to take into the account, that we can have gas from Bristol, as in the three houses already in operation. And lastly, the most important point of all, the nearness of this piece of land to the other three houses, so that all could easily be under the same direction and superintendence. In fact, no other piece of land, near or far off, would present so much advantage to us, as this spot, which the Lord thus so very kindly had given to us. All being now settled, [ proceeded to have the land conveyed to the same trustees who stood trustees for the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3.—I have thus minutely dwelt on these various matters for the encouragement of the reader, that he may not be discouraged by difficulties, however great and many and varied, but give himself to prayer, trusting in the Lord for help, yea, expecting help, which, in His own time and way, He will surely grant. I now refer further to some of the donations, which the Lord was pleased to send me since Nov. 3, 1864, when I received that donation of £5,000. Nov. 28. From London, £ 1 00. —Nov. 26. " From an officer of the Indian army " £10., with £10. for the Orphans, £10. for Missions out of India, £5. for Home Missions, £10. for the Schools, £10. for the Bible Fund, £5. for the Tract Fund, and £10. for myself. This man of God joyfully lays down, year after year, at the feet of the Lord, all that he is intrusted with by Him. Dec. 2. Received 14s. 6d. with the following state ment : " I duly received your Report, for which I am much obliged. Since reading that there were 990 Orphans waiting for admission, and No. 4 not begun, I have laid by one penny on every article sold iu my outfitting de- E 74 [A.D. 1865. partment, and this order is already the result. I had intended waiting till March next, till I had been here a year and taken stock ; bnt the 990 Orphans, left with out any, perhaps, of the many blessings they might receive under your care, prompted this small effort, and I have surely received more than a hundredfold in bless ings in so doing."—From Birmingham £100. Jan. 3, 1865. £100. from Birmingham.—Jan. 17. From Devonshire £64.—Jan. 27. From China £7. 15s. 2d. —From Weston-super-Mare £50.—Feb. 3. £100. from Birmingham. — March 8. From Birmingham £100. — March 9. This day the conveyance of the land, which I had purchased for No. 4 and No. 5, was signed and the money paid. Week after week had passed, and many weeks, before all was completed, and a great many things had to be settled in order to prove the title, in every way, good ; but all these many hindrances were satisfactorily overcome ; and now, in answer to many prayers, I carried off the deeds. But, as I have found hundreds of times in my experience during the last 35 years, since I have in more childlike simplicity sought to trust in God for everything, so it was at this time also, viz., the Lord hnd no sooner answered prayer, and accord ing to my trust in Him helped me, than He allowed cir cumstances to occur, in which faith should be further exercised, and more prayer still called for. When I was on the point of leaving Bristol for Warrington for the signature of the deeds and for obtaining them, I received information, that a donor, who for 20 months, month after month, had sent me £100. for the Building Fund, £28. 8s. for the printing of Tracts, and £28. 8s. for the support of 31 Orphans, had died, and, as one of the very last things be did, he kindly had sent me again this donation, which I received on the 8th. The same donor had, also, pre vious to these last twenty months, sent me for 19 months, month by month, £28. 8s. for the printing of Tracts, and £28. 8s. for the support of the Orphans. And pre vious again to that he had kindly sent me various dona tions, amounting to several hundred pounds besides, so that altogether about £5,000. or nearly so, must have been sent to me by him. This dear Christian donor was now suddenly removed. And what, you ask, dear reader, •was the effect produced upon my mind ? The news found A.D. 1865.] 75 me in peace, the news was read in peace, and the news did not for a moment rob me of my peace. I thanked God, for having continued this dear donor to me so long; I thanked God that He had taken this, His dear servant ' to Himself in peace. Iwas no more disturbed in mind, and no more made anxious by the removal of this donor, who had contributed after the rate of about £1,900.a year, during the last 20 months, than if some one had been removed who had only given a few shillings or a few pounds yearly. Should any one ascribe this to ingrati- tude, such would be entirely mistaken. I felt the kind- ness of the dear departed Christian gentleman much. I had for a very long time prayed daily for him and for each member of his dear family; and I have also con- tinued to pray for the bereaved widow and each of the children since ; and, as long as life is continued to me, I shall remember the kindness of the dear departed one ; but yet I was without the least particle of anxiety. God remained to me. (God who had moved the heart of His servant to help me, remained to me; this was my com- fort; this kept me from even the smallest degree of anxiety. Many times I have been similarly situated. One donor after another, who contributed much, has been removed; many such have been removed; but God, my ' never-failing Friend and Helper, has remained to me. One died who had given me Thousands of Pounds; but God remained, and the work went on. Another died who had given me Thousands of Pounds, but God remained, and the work went on, and was enlarged still more. Another died who had given me Thousands of Pounds ; but the work went on, and was enlarged far more still. And thus, whatever changes have befallen me as to donors, by death, by their alteration of circumstances, by their alteration of heart towards God, He, the Living God, has more and more helped me, and done so more and more manifestly. The reason why I have so particularly dwelt upon this point, is, to show the blessedness of really knowing God, trusting in Him and in Him alone, being satisfied with Him and with Him alone; this, and this alone gives real, true, Scriptural independence. I would desire to be thankful for Two Pence, and even to express this thankfulness ; but a donation of Twenty Thousand Pounds, or even Fifty Thousand Pounds at once would, E2 76 [A.D. 1865. not, by the help of God, lead me to trust in the donor, even in any degree, but alone in God. And thus trusting alone in God, when the Irish famine prevailed from 1846 to 1847, we went on more easily than in any previous year ; because we trusted in God, and were helped though so many charitable contributions were sent to Ireland. The same was the case at the time of the Crimean war, and at the time of the Lancashire distress in the cotton districts, on account of the American war. And thus it has been when one after the other of our donors, and not a few who had considerably contributed, were removed ; because God, who has the hearts of all men in His hands, touched the hearts of others, making them to see the honour and preciousness of the privilege, of contributing to His work ; and so it has come, that we have been always helped, and more and more, instead of less and less, because we were only trusting in God and not in donors, though thankful to each of them for their kind ness in helping us. In this spirit, by the grace of God, we mean to go on to the end of our course, for the sake of honouring God, and for the sake of proving to the Church and to the world, what may be accomplished simply by prayer and faith ; and it were better, that we should soon be removed hence, than depart from this path, which has been happily, satisfyingly, and successfully pur sued since 1834, and, we humbly trust, for the spiritual good of not a few of our fellow disciples. May 26th, 1865. I make the following remarks in con nexion with the Building Fund. • 1, The total income for this object alone, during the past year, was £11,033. 17s. 3½d., so that, with the £19,321. 7s. 1½d. in hand on May 26, 1864, there would have been on May 26, 1865, £30,355. 4s. 5d. ; but, of this sum, £130. 8s. was expended in connecting the drains of the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 with the main-sewer, recently constructed, and in making a small additional drain ; £5,500. was paid for the purchase of the land for the intended New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5 ; and £88. 19s. the conveyance of the land to trustees and enrollment of the deeds in Chancery cost : so that, on May 26, 1865, the amount in hand was £24,635. 17s. 5d. 2, As soon as the conveyance was actually made, the A.D. 1865.] 77 land paid for, and the deeds were in my possession, which took place on March 9^ 1865, I proceeded to the plans for No. 4, when it was found, that serious disadvantages and a considerable additional cost would be connected with building only one house at a time, instead of the two at one time, oi%"at least, commencing them together with as little interval as possible. The points that came before us were these. The land is about 1,500 feet long and about 500 feet wide. In building the two houses it would be necessary, in order to suit our purposes, to build them both the long side of the field, so that both of them would occupy about 1,100 feet. Now in doing so, if that house were built first which would be furthest from the turnpike road, and afterwards the one near the turnpike road, we should have to make a new road, going round the one nearest the road, whilst being built, as it would be impracticable to pass through the ground filled with material, full of dirt and clay, and where about a hundred workmen would be occupied. But this would involve the additional expense of a long temporary road, which would have to be removed again, and the land to be made good again for cultivation, all of which would be connected with considerable expense, time, loss of good arable land for two or three years, besides the expenses connected with fencing off the land. But if the house nearest the road were built first, then, while that house would be ready to be opened, the road must be round that hpuse and land belonging to it, in order to have access to the building spot for the further one. Moreover, in either case, the presence of a hundred workmen, near a newly opened public Institution, would be most undesirable, if it possibly could be avoided. And lastly, if the two houses were built at different times, the double amount of salary for a clerk of the works would have to be paid, whilst one clerk of the works could well superintend the two houses. But by this one item, if the two houses were built at the same time, we should save at least £300., and by having from the commencement only that one road, which we mean finally to use, and keeping the land, which is not needed for the building itself, undisturbed, we should not only save several hundred pounds more, but also save the expenses connected with fencing off, making good the land again, and also avoid the dirt, dust, and disorder, neces 78 [A.D. 1865. sarily near a large building which is being erected, besides not having the many workmen close to the one new house, just opened. After, therefore, looking again and again at these various points, greatly as I longed that the building should commence soon, it appeared to me desirable, yet patiently to wait the Lord's time for some more money, whereby I should be enabled to begin both houses at the same time. From what has been stated about the income, the reader will have seen, that out of the Fifty Thousand Pounds needed for the two houses, above Thirty Thousand Pounds have come in, so that only about Ten Thousand Pounds more are needed, to meet all the expenses connected with the building of the two houses ; for the remaining Ten Thousand Pounds for fittings and furniture would only be needed when the houses are built, or nearly so. Now as the Lord has been pleased to send me during the past year above Eleven Thousand Pounds for the Building Fund, and as by commencing the two bouses at the same time the whole would be completed considerably earlier, than if one house at a time were built, I am by this, in addi tion to all the other reasons given, led to a more decided conviction, that it is better to wait till God shall have in His great kindness, and in pity and compassion to the many hundreds of Orphans now waiting for admis sion, sent me Ten Thousand Pounds more. He can do this in a very lihort timer if He please? v In the mean time I continue to wait on Him, and delighted shall I be to begin actual operations on that very land, so ad mirably in every way suited, which the Lord has so very kindly given, especially as again, from Jan. 1, 1865 to May 26, 1865, the admission of 276 Orphans has been applied for, and generally daily fresh applica tions are being made. From Jan. 1, 1864, to May 26, 1865, viz. in 17 months, altogether 915 Orphans have been applied for to be admitted. The following pages will now show to the reader, how the Lord was pleased further to help us ; but out of the many donations, received for the Building Fund, only a few can be singled out. July 12, 1865. From Devonshire £75.— From New- Zealand £7.—July 17. From Hong Kong, China, £ 50. —July 25. From the neighbourhood of London £ 100., A.D. 1865.] 79 with the following letter: “ My’dear Sir, I believe that it is through the Lord’s actings upon me, that I enclose you a cheque on the Bank of England, Western Branch, for £100. I hope that your affairs are going on well. Yours inthe Lord * * * *.” This Christian gentleman, whom I have never seen, and who is engaged in a very large business in London, had sent me several times before a similar sum. A day or two, before I received this last kind donation, I had asked the Lord, that He would be pleased to influence the heart of this donor to help me again, which I had never done before regarding him; and thus I had the double answer to prayer, in that not only money came ius but money fro hea The reader wil now see the meaning in the donor's Tétier, when he wrote “ T believe that it is through the Lord’s actings upon me that I enclose you a cheque, &c.” Verily it was the Lord who acted npon this gentleman, to send me this sum. Perhaps the reader may think, that in acknowledging the - receipt of the donation, I wrote to the donor what I have here stated. Idid not. My reason for not doing so was, lest he should have thought I was in especial need, and might have been thus influenced to send more. In truly knowing the Lord, in really relying upon Him and upon Him alone, there is no need of giving hints directly or indirectly, whereby individuals may be induced further to help. I might have written to the donor (as was indeed the case), I need a considerable sum day by day for the cur- rent expenses of the various Objects of the Institution, and also might have with truth told him, at that time, that I yet needed about Twenty Thousand Pounds, to enable me to meet all the expenses connected with the contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work. But my practice is, never to allude to any of these things in my correspondence] with donors. When the Report is published, every one can see, Who has a desire to see, how matters stand; and thus , I leave things in the hands of God, to speak for us to the hearts of His stewards. And this He does. Verily we do not wait upon God in vain! On the day I received this £100. from London, (July 25th), I received also, anonymously, for the Building Fund £ 30.—July 26. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay treasure in heaven. 80 [a.D. 1865. Aug 1. A few days since I received the following let- ter, from one of the Missionaries among the heathen, whom I have sought for a number of years to assist with pecuniary supplies, as well as by prayer, in his service for the Lord. “ My dear Brother in Jesus, I just write a line to inform you, that I have written to my father by this mail, requesting him to send you Five Hundred Pounds, being a portion of a legacy left me by an uncle, who de- parted to be, I hope, ath Jesus. Please use it as our dear Lord directs. I feel unworthy of the privilege of contributing to the glorious work in your hands. If you think it right so to do, please do not let it be known who gave it. The other portion of the legacy I have ordered to be sent out here, as there are different objects, for which I feel it is greatly required May the Lord enable me to act as His steward ! etc.” To-day I received, accordingly, from the father of this Missionary, £500., of which I took £ 250. for the Building Fund and £ 250. for Missions. Admire, dear Christian Reader, the hand . of God together with me. Here is a missionary, labour- ing for years under many difficulties, trials, privations, - { and hardships, in order to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to poor benighted idolaters, himself having been repeatedly reduced to the last piece of money. Now all at once he is put into the possession of many Hundreds of - Pounds, and, instead of spending it on himself, or keeping . it laid up in the Bank or otherwise on interest, the love of Christ constrains him to spend it, and gladly too, for the Lord. I love to dwell ou such cases; for though there is much to sorrow over, in these days, in connexion with the Church of Christ, yet there is the bright side too, and there are many things yet to be found among the children of God, to gladden the hearts of those who love the Lord. t has been my own happy lot, during the last thirty- q seven years, to become acquainted with hundreds of in- dividuals, who were not inferior to apostolic Christians. Knd why may nat-all belioveis act inthe spirit of apostolic Christians, seeing that the same blessed Spirit who dwelt in them, dwells in all who believe in the Lord Jesus; and that we have the whole revealed will of God in our posses- sion in the Holy Scriptures; and, like apostolic believers, are looking for the return of the Lord Jesus, with whom A D. 1865.] _ 8 we shall share the glory? Verily, did we wore abundantly enter into what God has done for us, and will do for us, what manner of persons should we be! Let us then. encourage one another to live more fully, more habitually, yea altogether for God, while the honour is continued to us, to be here on earth as His witnesses! On the day I received the above £500. from a Mis- sionary, I received £5. from another Missionary, also habitually assisted out of the funds with which the Lord is pleased to instrust me, and who has been labouring for years in Demerara.—Aug. 2. From one of the former Orphans, who had had a small legacy left to her, £5.— Aug. 5. From Ireland £ 100.—From one of the Orphans, for several years in service, 2s. 6d. with the following letter : “Dear and Respected Sir, Will you please to accept of this small trifle for the Building Fund. I can never feel too grateful for the many blessings I enjoyed during the eleven years 1 was under your care. The Lord has in many ways proved Himself to be the Father of the father- less, since I left the Orphan House. He has indeed cared for me. I desire ever to feel most grateful to this kind Friend, who not only has been so kind to me in temporal things, but has in mercy done good to my soul, in bring- ing me out of nature’s darkness into His marvellous light. It was in the dear Orphan House I was brought first to see and feel what a guilty sinner I was. There I found forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, and now I desire to love Him mnch who has done so much for me. May the Lord reward you for your work of faith and labour of love. I hope dear Mrs. Miller, Miss Miiller, and Miss Groves are quite well. May I ask to be respectfully re- membered to them. Again thanking you for all your kindness, I remain, dear Sir, yours most gratefully and ° respectfully * * * *."—-Aug. 9. From Coventry £4., instead of insuring the donor’s life, and 10s. instead of entering four children in a burial club. — From a for- mer Orphan, then in dying circumstances at her sister’s house, ls. with the following letter: ‘“ Dear Sir, I have just been reading to sister Ruth the last Report you so kindly sent me, and she, with deep gratitude and joy, begs me to send her mite towards the new Orphan House about to be built, with many prayers for you and those connected . with the work, fondly remembering the happy time spent E3 82 [A.D. 1865. in No. 2, under your kind fatherly care ; and the happy day she found Jesus to be her Saviour ; and the last prayer at the time of parting : all is recalled with tears of joy. Also she wishes me to say, all is peace, with the prospect of death before her. She fears no evil. Christ is very precious to her soul, and she hopes to meet you and all loved teachers in heaven, through the blood of Jesus. A friend had given Ruth this 1s. to buy some wine ; but she begged me to send it to Mr. Miiller. I remain, dear Sir, your humble and grateful servant, * * * *." The dear Orphan, referred to in this letter, has since peacefully fallen asleep in Jesus. Her illness was consumption. Sept. 1. From a baronet in the neighbourhood of Bristol £50.—Sept. 4. To-day Ihave received one of the most remarkable donations tKaTI ever received for the work in my hands 1 am staying with my family at Ilfracombe for change of air. After the large packet of letters, which day by day comes to hand from Bristol, had been replied to, I took a walk with my family near the sea on the Capstone. In returning home, two gentlemen, entire strangers, came up to me, one of whom said, " Please excuse me, are you not Mr. Miiller ? " Having replied to him in the affirmative, he said, " I have to give to you some money for the Orphans." I then requested him to step aside, and to seat himself with me on one of the benches close by, that I might learn particulars. He now told me the following, which I give as nearly ver- batim as I can. ""llive in the neighbourhood of M. I am a business man, and, what would be called, a hard working business man. Sometime since one of your Reports fell into my hands, but, I honestly confess it, I could not believe that you did obtain your funds simply in answer to prayer ; I questioned the truth of it. How ever, the thing came up into my mind again and again. While I was thus considering whether God was really with you, and whether you really obtained simply by faith and in answer to prayer these large sums of money, I heard of a certain property to be sold, which I thought I should like to buy, if it were disposed of reasonably. I looked it over, and had it valued by a competent busi ness man, who told me that it was worth so much. I then sa,id to myself, in a kind of sceptical way, I will now see whether God is with Mr. Miiller or not. If I get this A.D. 1865.] 83 property for so much (fixing a low price on it), I will give Mr. Miiller One Hundred Pounds. I then instructed a person to bid for me at the auction, where this property was sold, at a distant place ; but so great was my curi osity to see, whether God really would appear for you in this matter, that by the next train I set off to the place where the auction was, that I might obtain as early as possible information, how the matter would end ; and I found, to my great surprise, that I had actually obtained^ this valuable property, at the exact low price which I liad_ fixed^ 1 was astonished. Uut I began now to reflect more on the principles on which you act, and I wondered, that, as a Christian, I or any one else could call in ques tion what you say about answers to prayer ; and the more I consider the matter, and the more I read your Report, the more I see how right and proper it is, to come to God for all we need, and to trust in Him for everything. The conveyance having been made, and all being now settled about the sale, I felt it right to fulfil my promise ;_so tny friend, whom you saw just now with me, and i iet out on a tour into Devonshire, and then, on our way home, called the day before yesterday (Saturday) at your house ; but found you were from home. We stopped yesterday (Sunday) in Bristol, and having there learnt your address, we came on here to Ilfracombe to-day, for I wished to know you personally." After I had heard all this, I stated to this dear stranger, that I was not at all surprised at God's working thus for me, since day by day I sought His help, and thus, in answer to prayer, obtained from the most unlikely persons, and entire strangers, donations , for the work. " So for instance, 1 said, as you told me that you come from the neighbourhood of M , I had a letter from a lawyer at M , not long since, asking me to send him a proper form for a legacy to be left to the Orphans, as one of his client's (whose name he did not mention) wished to leave a legacy of a £1000. for the Orphans. Now, as far as I know, I am not personally acquainted with a single person at M , nor do I know the name of the individual who purposes to leave this £1000." "About this legacy," replied the stranger at my side, " I can tell you something. After I had got this property, and saw how wrong I had been in looking in such a sceptical way on your work, as if there were no 84 [A.D. 1865. reality in prayer, I decided on helping you further. 1 thought to myself, though I am a man in health, and of middle age, yet it might be well to make my will, and to leave you a £1,000. for the Orphans." Thus I found out, to my surprise, that this stranger himself was the indivi dual on whose account a lawyer at M had written to me. We now separated, the stranger stating he would in an hour call at my lodgings and give me a cheque for the £100. He did so, and wished £70. to be appro priated to the Building Fund, £20. for the support of the Orphans, and £10. for my own personal expenses. Sep. 9. From the neighbourhood of London £200., with £20 for the School and Missionary Fund, £20. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Sep. 16. From the lsle of Man £5. as a " Thank-offering, Birthday gift."—Sep. 20. From the North of England £100.—Sep. 23. From Glasgow £50. — Sep. 27. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Oct. 20. From Sunderland £18., as the value of a diamond ring.—Oct. 31. From Monmouthshire £1., with the following most uncommon letter : " My dear Sir,— I have much pleasure in forward ing you a Post Office Order for £1., as a thank-offering to God for a severe loss of income, which He will, I hope, sanctify to me. Please apply it, as you think fit. Be lieve me, my dear Sir, yours very faithfully, * * * *." All Christians do not look on trials, afflictions, losses, pain, sickness, bereavement, as on dispensations intended by God for their good ; and yet they are invariably in tended for our good. We should seek habitually to recognise the hand of God in all His dealings with us, and believe that all are intended for our real profit, ac cording to Rom. viii. 28. If we do so, we can give to God even a thank-offering for a severe loss ; for it is intended for our good. Moreover, the loss might have been greater still, in most instances ; and therefore, if for no other reason, it becomes us, to give a thank-offering that it was not greater. The loss of £100 might have been £1,000. ; or that of £1,000., £10,000. ; or that of £10,000, £100,000. The sickness of one child might have gone through the whole family ; or the death of one friend might have been the death of all our friends ; and so on. Were we thus to look at the dealings of God A.D. 1865.] 85 with us, seeking to recognise Him habitually, and taking them all as intended for our blessing ; and, in addition to this, were we to remember how much heavier our trials might be, we should be more truly grateful for our lot. Nov. 4. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £50., with £50. for Missions.—Nov. 7. From Palamcottah, India, £10.—From Northamptonshire £1, as " A thank-offering to Almighty God for permitting my only child to attain the age of 5 years, without having one serious illness."—From Yatton £1 , as "A thank- offering for preserving our cattle from this fearful disease." Nov. 14. From a poor widow in London, who suddenly died, 1s., and a penny stamp, with the following letter, which was after her death found in her drawer, with this money, being the only money she possessed. " Kind Sir, With pleasure I take up my pen, to return you my sin cere thanks for the copy of the Report, which you so kindly sent. I find it very interesting. I have sent the enclosed trifle towards the Building Fund, and regret exceedingly, not having it in my power to send a larger sum ; but I feel quite assured that my Divine Master, as well as yourself, will not despise the day of small things. He knows, how I have been straitened in my circum stances in consequence of so much illness. I remain, Sir, your obedient humble servant, * * * *." There are donors, who have contributed to this object Thousands of Pounds, and here is this poor widow, who gives her all, which she possesses in money. Observe, dear Reader, the variety of ways, which God uses, to supply us with means.—Nov. 15. From Yorkshire £22. 10s., with £22. 10s. for Foreign Missions.—Nov. 17. £20., " In memory of a dear departed Friend E.P."—From Australia £22.—Nov. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £40.— Dec. 11. From Wales £22. 10s., with £22. 10s. for Mis sions and £5 for myself, with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I have very great pleasure in bearing my testi mony to the truth of your remarks on the subject of devoting a certain portion of- income or profits to the Lord's work. About eleven years ago I was led to give a 10th, and later on an 8th, and then a 6th ; and I have not had any cause to regret this course ; on the contrary, I have proved the truth of God's word, ' There is that 86 [AD. 1866. scattereth and yet increaseth, &c.' Enclosed I hand you cheque for £50., £5. of which please accept for your own use ; the balance to be devoted as you may deem most desirable. With kind regards, yours sincerely, ****." The £45. was portioned out as above.—Dec. 15. From Worcestershire £35. 10s.—Dec. 26. From the North of England £45. 19s. 6d., with £5 for myself.—Dec. 27. From London £25.— Dec. 30. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £45. Jan. 1, 1866. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £50., with £100. for Missions, £50. for Bible—, Tract— and School Fund.—Jan. 4. From one of the former Orphans, who soven years since was sent out to service, 5s., with the following letter : " Dear and honoured Sir, May I once again take the liberty of writing to thank yon and all my dear friends for the kindness which I, for so many years, experienced in the Orphan House. It is ever with feelings of gratitude I recall the care and love bestowed on me and all my dear companions in that truly favoured Home ; and I trust that my endeavours to do my duty to those who are placed over me, may prove that the lessons learnt there are not thrown away.— Will you please to accept the enclosed five shillings in stamps for the Building Fund. Will you please give my grateful love to dear Mrs. Miiller and Miss Groves, and earnestly wishing your health and life may long be spared to be the Orphans' Friend, I remain, dear and honoured Sir, your grateful and obedient Orphan, * * * *." The writer of the above letter was received in a most deplorably desti tute state, and through poverty greatly neglected, who, after being 9 years and 5 months under our care, was sent seven years since to service, and has given us comfort ever since. I refer to this case as the precious fruit of our service, and to show how the labouring in faith, not looking at the natural appearance, is rewarded. For I remember well the day, when, more than 16 years since, I received this poor girl, in her utter destitution, and how, judging from the way in which she had been living, I expected nothing but difficulty ; but I received her in faith, looking to the Lord for help and wisdom, and had scarcely any difficulty regarding her.—Jan. 6. From Ramsgate £25., with £25. for the School—, Bible—, A.D. 1806.] 87 Missionary— and Tract Fund.—From a servant of^the Lo*d Jesus £1. 5s. and 2 artificial teeth set in gold, with the following statement in his letter : " I heg to acknow ledge with thanks the last Report, received a few months back, and to testify again the benefit I have personally derived from reading its contents, and from following the principles which it is meant to illustrate. Though my expenses at home are now heavier than they were, I have managed to increase the proportion of my income which I devote to God, and find that I am better spiritually for sparing a seventh of the whole, than I used to be in giving a tenth. I begin to feel something of the superior blessed ness which our Lord attributes so truly to giving over receiving."—From London £50.—Jan. 10. From Scot land £25.—From Edinburgh £15.—Jan. 13. From Devonshire £84. 16s. In giving thus to the readers one instance after the other, how it pleased the Lord, to supply me with means, I am unable to convey to them my feelings in receiving one donation after the other as the result of waiting upon God. Day by day, and generally twice a day at least, prayer regarding the obtaining the full amount of means needed for building two other Orphan Houses for 850 more Orphans, is brought before God ; and when, there fore, a donation comes in, whether large or small, it brings me somewhat nearer the point of having the whole amount. I thank God for the donation, but ask for more, ask for the whole yet needed ; and I firmly believe it will be obtained in His own time. From Jan. 1, 1865, to Dec. 31, 1865, therefore during one single year only, Six Hundred and Eleven Orphans were applied for to be admitted, in addition to all the Hundreds we had on the list before Jan. 1, 1865 : the Christian and feeling Reader will therefore not wonder, that I should be in earnest to obtain more accommodation for destitute Orphans. On this account I labour on in prayer, till my prayers shall have been turned into praises, as was the case regarding the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3.—Jan. 15. From Demerara £1.—Jan. 16. From " A friend on the Irawaddy " £10.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Jan. 17. From Devonshire £100.—Jan. 18. From London £50., with £50. for the 88 [a.D. 1866. Orphans.—Jan. 19. From Australia £4.—Jan. 25. From B. 8S. £5.—Jan. 26. From Bath £100. . Feb. 2. From Tunbridge Wells £20.—Feb. 3. From 8. L. £5.—Feb. 8. From Clifton £25 —From Natal £2. —Feb. 13. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure ' jn heaven, £148.—Feb. 24. From Somersetshire £50. —Feb. 28. “ From C. P. and sister” £20. for Missions, and £10. for myself—Froum Weston-super-Mare £50., — with £10. for myself. March 5. From Hong Kong £80.—March 8. From India £30.— March 28. £100. from a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels—April 2. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. May 5. From T. H. Esq., £1,000. as a tribute to the memory of a departed sister.” This gentleman sent me also in Sep. 1864, £1,000., as, having come by the death of his sister into the possession of her property, he wishes to spend it in such a way as she would approve of, if alive-—May 8. From Yorkshire, ‘In memory of May 24th,” £25.—May 10. Prom Pennsylvania, U.S., £5.— May 15. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—May 17. From Leicestershire £200., with £184, 6s. 6d. for Missions—May 18. From an officer of the Indian Army £10., with £20. for Missions, £10. for the Bible Fund, £10. for the School Fund, £10. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself—From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100., with £100. for Missions.— May 26. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £76. I give the following information in connexion with the Building Fund:— 1, The total income for this object alone, during the past year, from May 26, 1865, to May 26, 1866, was £9,366. 4s. 7$d., so that, with the £24,685. 17s. 5d. in hand on May 26, 1865, the sum was increased by May 26, 1866, to £34,002. 2s. Ogd. . 2, By the end of March, 1866, all the plans for the two houses were ready, and in April we received tenders from contractors for the two houses, No. 4 and No. 5. A.D. 1866.] 89 8, According to the estimate I had made about these two houses, judging from the expenses connected with the building of the New Orphan Houses, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, we should have had enough money, for meeting the amount of the contract for No. 4 and No. 5; but when the tenders came in, it was found, that the amount was about £8,000. more than my calculation made in the Spring, 1561; this arose from the fact, that; since then, almost all the building material has risen in price, particularly slates, and that the wages of the workmen are one-fourth higher than they were when the New Orphan Houses No. 2 and 3 were built. The amount of the tenders for both houses, including the Cooking and Heating Appa- ratus and Drying Stove, amounted to £41,147.; but I had not this amount in hand, needing about £8,000. more. Now, what was to be done under these circumstances ? My decision was made instantly. My heart longed to build two more houses to the honour of the Lord for the benefit of poor children, bereaved of both parents by death; I had brought before the Lord many thousands of prayers during the past five years; there were many hun- dreds of Orphans waiting for admission, and their number daily increasing (for during the past year alone 611 were applied for to be admitted) ; but I could not contract debt : T would not sign contracts, which I had not money in hand to meet. Should it be said: But your work is so mani- festly the Lord’s work, it is surely according to His mind, that destitute children, who have lost by death both parents, should be cared for, so that yon need not be afraid to build, though you have not yet all the money in hand, for God will surely help you:” my reply is this. Just because it is the Lord’s work, and manifestly His, therefore I can wait, patiently wait His time. When His time is come, He will give to the last shilling all I need; but if I commence before His time, which I should do, were I to begin that fur which I have not the means, it would be like saying: “God has not money enongh to pay for His own work ;” and, instead of acting in faith, Ishould act presumptuously. I therefore did this. Having ample means to meet the contract for No. 4 (for separate tenders were given in for the two houses), I acceyited it, and a written agreement was made between the contractor and myself, that on Jan. 1, 1867, or at any time pre- 90 [A.D. 1866. yiously, I may accept his tender for No. 5 also, but I shall not be bound to do so. If it shall therefore. please the Lord, by the 1st of Jan. 1867, to give me about £7,000. more, than I have now in hand, the contract for No. 5 will be signed; but I cannot go in debt. For this amount I look and wait on God, and doubt not that He will help further, as He has always done. If it please the Lord to exercise my faith and patience, yet, I will, by His grace, continue to call upon Him, being fully assured, that in the end I shall have enough. In stating that about £7,000. more would be needed, before I could sign the contract for No. 5, no reference is made to the fitting up and furnishing the two houses, which will cost about £10,000. more; but this latter sum will not actually be needed, before entering into an agreement for building No. 5. 4, The contract for the building of No. 4 was signed on May 3, 1866, and on May 7th, J,he operations on the ground commenced, and have been steadily going on up to this day, May 26, 1866. 5, It is necessary here to state, that, if even all the money had been in hand on May 3, 1866, to contract at once for both houses, yet only one could have been gone on with ; for they will be so large, that no contractor in Bristol has sufficient scaffolding to begin the two houses at once, but there must necessarily intervene between the commencement of the one and the other eight or nine months. This difficulty could only have been overcome, had there been sufficient money in haud, by having two different contractors, which was for many reasons very undesirable, or by employing one of the great London con tractors ; but in the latter case the two houses would have cost about £7,000. more than they now will cost. In the following pages will now be given, out of the many donations, which the Lord was pleased further to send in for the Building Fund, a very few specimens. July 17, 1866, From London £105.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £80.—July 21. From Devonshire £190. 2s. 11d.—July 30. From a Bristol donor £200., with £100. for Missions, £100. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £100. for the circulation of Tracts, and £10. for my own expenses.—Sept. 5. £150. from a - A.D. 1866. ] 91 servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Sept. 7. £30. with the following letter: ‘ Dear Sir, I have lately been reading the last Report of your valuable Institution, and am much impressed with the donations and letters therein contained, es- pecially with two of them. One is that of an old Orphan, now in service, who had been enabled to lay by some of her wages, but sent the money to you in preference to its lying useless. Another is‘*that of a poor affiicted widow who had saved some money and acted in a similar way. Being impressed by their example, and by the Divine precept, Matt. vi. 19, I have taken from the Post Office Savings’ Bank the savings of four year’s work, and lay it at your disposal, trusting that you will devote part of it to the Missions, and the rest as you may think best. Hoping that you will receive it safely, that it may be blessed by God to the increase of the Redeemer’s king- dom, and that your own labours may be abundantly re- : warded, I am, Your sincere donor, * * * * .” I took ‘ half of this amount for Missions and the other half for the Building Fund. It has been my happy lot, during the last thirty-eight years especially, to become acquainted with a great number of Christians, who desired in all , childlike simplicity, to take the Lord at His Word, and to carry it out practically, in order that thus they might obtain the blessing, which ever is coupled with obedience to the written Word. The writer of the above letter is an instance of this kind, whom I commend especially to the prayers of Christian readers, that God would give her a full recompense for her obedience, both temporally and spiritually, even in this life; and that she never may be allowed, even for one moment, to regret what she has done for the Lord.—Sept. 19. From Birmingham £200.— Sept. 21. “ From $. Kent,” as “ First dividend from a Bank, which stopped payment, some time since,” £100. with £53. 16s. 3d. for the School—, Bible—, Mission- ary— and Tract Fund, and £10. for myself.—From Blackheath £100.—Sept. 27. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— Oct. 8. From a Shipowner £100.,with £100. for Missions, instead of insuring his ships—Oct. 12. To-day the senior 92 [A.D. 1866. partner of a large firm kindly promised to give himself all the glass that would be required for the 350 large windows of No. 4, and, in the name of his firm, he promised, that the firm jointly would give all the glass which would be required for the 350 large windows of No. 5.—Nov. 17. £120. from aservant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ. seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —Nov. 28. From Colonel £10. " To help in accepting the tender for No. 5." It then wanted 33 days to the time when the matter finally was to be settled about the tender of the contract for No. 5. As yet I had not all in hand for this purpose, though expecting to receive it through the gracious hand of niy Heavenly Father, for whose honour and glory I desired to build this Fifth Orphan House. I therefore continued patiently, believingly and expectingly, "to make my supplication to Him, and, accordingly, He was pleased, day by day, to send in further supplies, as He had done from the time I had signed the contract for No. 4.—Nov. 29. From a soldier, a private in India, £1.—A poor labourer in Staffordshire having a desire to help in the work of God in my hands, sent me half the amount of money he obtained by the sale of the honey of one bee-hive ; and, by being prospered this year more than in any previous year, he was able to send me 15s. Dec. 4. From Bengal £30.—Doc. 7. From the neigh bourhood of Chippenham Ten old guinea pieces. There are yet many of these in existence, and many Christians have sent me some from time to time, so that I have re ceived many hundreds, and during no period more than during the past year!—Dec. 8. From Devonshire, 15 tea spoons, 3 table spoons, a gravy spoon, 3 salt spoons, a table fork, a pair of sugar tongs (all of silver), 3 pairs of spectacles, a compass, an eye glass, a silver top of a pepper box, a gold brooch, 4 pieces of artificial teeth, and a pin cushion.—Dec. 10. From Lincolnshire £8., as the " profit of three lectures"—Dec. 12. £20. from Dorchester— Dec. 14. From Australia £20.—From A. C. S., Scotland, £100.—Dec. 22. From Wishaw, £1. saved by giving up smoking.—Dec. 26. From the House Girls of the New Orphan House No. 1 Ten Shillings.—From a former Christian Orphan, now clerk in a lawyer's office, 10s — Dec. 81. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—From W. C. H. Esq. £25. A.D. 1867.] 93 This was the last day of the year, and the next day was the one to which the accepting of the tender for the contract of the New Orphan House No. 5 had been post poned. On the 26th of May, 1866,' I needed about £7000. more, than I had in hand, to be able to accept the contract for No. 5 without going in debt ; but by the 31st of Dec. 1866, the Lord had so graciously helped, that a little more than £7,000. had come in, so that a day before the first of January, 1867, I was able to accept and sign the contract for No. 5, the contracts for both houses being £41,147. I had now the desire of my heart regarding this point also, and the precious recompense from the Lord, of having received all the money from Him for this object, without going in debt. Thousands of times I had asked the Lord for the means needed for building these two houses, and now I had, to the full, re ceived the answer. On the 15th of Jan. 1867, operations commenced in connexion with building No. 5. In addition to the hundreds of Orphans previously ap plied for, there were from Jan. 1, 1866, to Dec. 31, 1866, altogether 617 Orphans, whose admission had been applied for, from which the reader may easily judge, how great j the delight of my soul was, when I considered myself " warranted to sign the contract for No. 5 also, and thus had before me the delightful prospect of being permitted, to care for many hundreds more of destitute Orphans. I refer now only to a few more specimens of the way in which it pleased the Lord further to supply me with means for the Building Fund. Jan. 1, 1867. From Surrey £50.—From Scotland £100.—From Devonshire £25.—From the neighbour hood of Market Drayton £5. as " A little thank-offering to a gracious God for His preserving care of cattle in the midst of disease and death."—Jan. 9. From one of the believing Orphans, who was many years since sent out to service, £1., with £l. for Missions.—Jan. 16. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £60.—Jan. 24. From Somersetshire £300.—Jan. 26. From Devon, shire £148. 16s.—Notice, dear Reader, that, after the contract for No. 5 also had been signed, as there was yet about Ten Thousand Pounds more needed for fitting up and furnishing the two houses, the Lord was pleased to 94 [A.D. 1867. encourage His servant regarding that amount also, by sending in means towards these expenses soon afterwards. Feb. 13. Received £27., with the following letter. " My dear Sir, May I trouble you with a short history in reference to a sad affliction, which has taken place in my family in the past year.—In the month of June last my daughter was taken ill of fever, which was so severe that all hope was given up of her recovery. The two medical men who were attending her, wished to have further advice, and called in Dr. . My fear on that day was indescribable. I felt so reduced and powerless by reason of the heavy load of trouble on me in reference to my dear child, when these words came powerfully to my mind, ' She shall not die, but live to declare the glory of God.' I was compelled to say in return, ' What can I render to the Lord for such mercy and goodness?'—The response was, ' Give £20. to the dear Orphans.'—I had such a sight of the great work, which you had undertaken and carried on so wonderfully under the blessing of God for so many years, that, when these dear children are left entirely destitute of earthly parents, the Lord has pro vided for them in such a manner, and using you as the instrument in His hands ! What a privilege to be able and willing to give a trifle towards such a work !—When my daughter began to be a little better, my wife was taken ill of the same complaint, and was laid aside for about six weeks. I am happy to say, they are now fully recovered, and have the pleasure of enclosing my pro mised vow unto the Lord for £20., together with my usual gift of £7., making together £27., £5. of which is for the new Buildings and £2. for yourself. That your life may be spared many years to come, still further to pro secute the good work you have so long been enabled to carry on, is the desire of Yours very sincerely * * * *." — Feb. 22. From Somersetshire £25., and £75. for the Bible —, Missionary— and Tract-Fund.— Feb. 28. From Somersetshire £50. —From one of the former Orphans, a Christian, now in Pennsylvania, U.S., £1., with a grate ful letter. March 4. From Devonshire £50.—March 13. From Devonshire £100. Apr. 2. From Pennsylvania, U.S., £14. 6s.—Apr. 4. From New Zealand £2.—Apr. 10. From Scotland A.D. 1867.] 95 £105. 9s. 2d.—Apr. 13. From Bengal 100 Rupees.— Apr. 15. From Demerara £5. and £2.—Apr. 22. From Liverpool £20., with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I enclose you Bank Draft for £20., say £10. for the Build ing Fund, £5. for the support of Orphans, and £5. for your own personal expenses. Not having smoked for twelve months, this is the amount I would have spent otherwise in cigars. Wishing you every success, Truly Yours, ****." This donation not only shows in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means for His work, but also, how much money may be saved by giving up needless and injurious habits. May 3. From a Yorkshire donor £25.—May 6. From the neighbourhood of Bath £500. The kind donor of this sum had several times before sent me £50., and even £300. ; but now he kindly sent £500. As the work in creases, and the outgoings become greater and greater, so the Lord is pleased, not only, in answer to our daily prayers, to raise up new donors, but also to influence the hearts of those, who have given before, to give more than ever. This £500. particularly refreshes my spirit, as it will be a considerable help towards the expenses connected with the fitting up and furnishing the two new houses.— May 9. From a Somersetshire donor £100., with £100. for the Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund.—May 11. £10 for the Building Fund, with £10 for the Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, as " A thank-offering to the Father of all mercies, for innumerable mercies, spiri tual and temporal, to the father and mother of a large family."—May 13. From Berlin £20.—From Madras £40., with £47. 16s. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund.—May 14. From Yorkshire £25.— May 22. From Scotland £50.—May 25. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I have thus given some out of the many donations, which the Lord was pleased to send, in answer to daily prayer, for the Building Fund, up to May 26, 1867. I now make a few remarks in connexion with the Building Fund and the two Orphan Houses in course of erection. 1, The total income for the Building Fund from May 26, 1866, to May 26, 1867, amounted to £11,203. 16s. 8½d. 96 [A.D. 1867. Having thus received about £4,000. more than was re quired for the contract of No. 5, only about £6000. more is required for the fittings and furnishing of the two houses No. 4 and No. 5. 2, As both houses are exactly the size of the New Orphan House No. 3, in which we have healthful accom modation for 450 children, I hope that we shall be enabled to accommodate 900 more Orphans in the two houses, now in course of erection ; so that our total number would then be 2,050, instead of 2,000, as first contemplated. 3, No. 4 is erected and roofed in, and a beginning has been made to plaster the inside. No. 5 was commenced^ as stated before, on Jan. 15. 1867_._ 4, On May 26, 1867, we had all the means in hand, actually required for the erection of the two new houses, and also, as far as could be calculated, about £4,000. towards the fittings, furniture, and other expenses not included in the contracts, so that only about £6,000. more was required. We had, therefore, through patient be lieving prayer and the exercise of faith, received about Fifty-Two Thousand Pounds towards the Fifty-Eight TTiousarid'Pouncis which would be needed altogether. I now give a few instances in the following pages, to show the Reader, how the Lord was pleased to help us further. May 31, 1867. Received the following letter from a donor in Kent, entirely unknown to me, even by name, who had sent me about 3 months before £300. " Dear Sir, I find I have still £200. left of the legacy I men tioned to you, some time back. As every penny of that legacy is " Corban," I cannot touch it, and should like to send it to you, if yon will excuse being troubled again by me. My heart's wish would be, that yon would accept it for yourself and family ; but it is not for me to press so delicate a point, therefore you are free. Doubtless there are calls for help on all sides of you. Would I could make this thousands. Accept my Pseudonym **#*." Of this £200. I took £100. towards fitting up and furnish ing the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, and £100. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund —June 8. From Scotland £20., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, enclosed is Twenty Pounds, which I send to you as a thank-offering to the Lord, to be disposed of by you as you may deem most proper. Last year I sent you A.D. 1867.] 97 Ten Pounds, this year I feel satisfied it is my duty to send you Twenty, being: persuaded there is a withholding more than is meet, which tendeth to poverty.” Etc. I took £10. for the Building Fund, and £10. for the first four objects of the Institution —June 21. From Lance- field, Australia, £1.—From Ballarat, Australia, £2.— From the East Indies £25.—June 27. From Dunedin, New Zealand, £5. : July 13. From Devonshire £144. 19s. 1ld.—July 19. From Scotland £50.—July 24. From the neighbourhood of Bath, £500., from a gentleman who had in May also sent me £500. I have never seen this kind donor, as is the case with perhaps 19 out of 20 of the donors; but the Lord spoke to him, thus to help me to accomplish this enlargement of the Orphan Work.—July 26. From Penang £5. Aug. 13. From a clergyman in Oxfordshire £45 , with £5. for myself— Aug. 14. From Gloucester £25.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Aug. 15. £7. 13s. instead of insuring 306 acres, against hail storms.—Aug. 17. Anonymously from Glasgow £100.— Aug. 23. From London £50. Sep. 27. From some of the Orphans in the three houses, towards fitting up and furnishing the new houses, £4, 13s. 4d.—Sep. 28. From Scotland £100., with £100. for Missions, £42. 10s. for the School —, Bible— and Tract Fund, and £42. 10s. for the Orphans. Oct. 7. From Scotland £50., with £100. for Missions, and £50. for the Orphans.—From a servant of the Lord. Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Oct. 8. From Somer- setshire £10, as “A Thank-offering for having well secured our harvest.”—Oct. 12. From a Hong Kong donor £50.—From Sunderland £10., as “A widow's remembrance of her husband.” Nov.1. From Demerara £3.—Nov.7. Received £53. 19s. with the following letter: “My dear Sir, It affords me much pleasure to send you a cheque for £53. 19s., the Lord’s share in the profits of my business. In July 1858, when I sent you my first cheque for £4, 6s. 4d., I little expected it would ever reach its present amount. I trust you will apply it to that department of your work that F , 98 [a.D. 1867 most stands in need ; and should Five pounds be accept- able to yourself, I hope you will take it. I remain, etc., ***8*” T took of the £53. 19s. for the fitting up and for furnishing No. 4 and No.5 £26., and £27. 19s. for the first four objects of the Institution. As the Lord was pleased to prosper this Christian in business, in 1858 and since, so he contributed to the Lord’s work; and the result was, that the Lord intrusted him with more, made him a steward over more; so that, as he says, his ability to send me help increased from £4. 6s. 4d. to £53. 19s. All believers, who know the enjoyment of giving, will know also how this enjoyment may be increased more and more by a ready heart, to be the Lord’s steward.— Nov. 9. From C. 4s. 6d. “ As a thank-offering for having caught the train several times, when being on important business and having very little time.” From Devonshire £5, “ Instead of going a wedding trip.”—Nov. 14. From an Orphan, now in service, 2s. 6d., with the following letter: ‘“ Be- loved and respected Sir, May I be allowed the privilege and great pleasure of writing a few words to thank you for the Report you so very kindly sent. Oh! dear sir, I think I can never be thankful enough and praise my Heavenly Father for placing me under your kind fatherly care. Oh! how sweet and how precious to think that it was there in the DEAR, DEAR Orphan House, that I found joy and peace in believing. May I ask you to receive this trifle towards the Building Fund, or whatever you think best. I long to see the happy home of my childhood once more. Please to remember me most re- spectfully to beloved Mrs Miiller, Miss Miller and Miss Groves, Trusting yourself and family are well, and that you may be spared many years to be the Orphan’s friend, ‘ [am yours most respectfully and gratefully * * * *,”—: ! The writer of this letter having been 10 years and 10 months under our care, was eight years since sent out to service, after she had been for 14 months a believer, whilst under our care.—Nov. 19. From a seryant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Nov. 29. Received £10. ' from a distance of about™30U miles, with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, A few weeks ago I had the privilege of reading one of your Reports, and, allow me to say, that, while doing so, I had my soul much blessed. Just at A.D. 1868.] 99 that period I was the subject of much depression from financial causes. Trade was very dull, with little or no prospect of its being better for some time to come. But, thank God ! I was enabled to look through the clouds and darkness that surrounded me. Faith lent its realising light ; and the clouds dispersed ; the shadows fled. I promised the Lord, if He would open my way and grant me deliverance, I would send a donation of Ten Pounds to the Institution He has made you the honoured instru ment of raising and sustaining for so many years. All praise be to His blessed name ! deliverance came, and I forward you a Post Office Order for £10. Please accept it from one who desires to render a portion of his income to the cause of God. Use it as you think well. Etc."— The donor is entirely unknown to me. This is one of the thousand different ways, in which the Lord, in answer to my daily prayers, is pleased to influence the minds of persons to help me. Dec. 2. From Clifton £200., with £100. for Missions, £50. for the School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, and £50. for the Orphans.—Dec. 3 1 . From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50. From Jan. 1, 1867, to this day, Dec. 31, 1867, the ad mission of 595 Orphans had been applied for. And thus, year after year, very large numbers of destitute Orphans have been applied for. How great, therefore, the im portance of being able soon to open the two new houses, and to be able to admit 900 more. Jan. 1, 1868. Received from a Shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £50., with £100. for Missions, and £29. 7s. 2d. for the School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, ieb. 1. Only about £20. had been received this morn ing ; a large sum to some, but very little to us, the ex penses of the various objects of the Institution being now so great. After family prayer I united, as usual, with my_deajLJXifejjQ.j?ray_er, and we thanked the Lord for what he had been pleased to send us, at the same time asking Him to send much more, if it might be, even this very day. About twenty minutes after this, I received a letter containing £50., in which the kind Christian donor writes ; " As you soon will receive more Orphans, I send you this sum for them." In the afternoon there/ F 2 100 [A.D. 1868. came in further £3. 1 1s. 6d., and in the evening £10. and £5. from Sunderland, and from Scotland £66. 6s. for the Building Fund ; besides a few other small donations. Thus the day, which began with about £20., closed with a total income of £141. 0s. 6d. But the most remarkable point is this : The £66. 6s. from Scotland supply me, as far as can be known now, with all the means necessary for fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5. Six years and eight months I have been, day by day, and. generally several times daily, asking the Lord to give me the needed means for this enlargement of the Orphan work, which, according to the calculations made in the spring of 1861, appeared tg be nbnnt. Fifty Thousand Founds, but which, ata later period, in consequence of )the rise ot wages and material Tor building since 1861, I was lound to "be about Jj'iTty~ Eight Thousand Pounds. \The total of this amount I had now recefveJ. ~Tpraise land magnify the Lord for putting this enlargement of the work into my heart, and for giving me courage and faith for it ; and, above all, for sustaining my faith regarding it day by day without wavering. When the last portion of the money was received, I was no more assured con cerning the whole, than I was at the time I had not re ceived one single donation towards this large sum. I was at the beginning, after once having ascertained His mind, through most patient and heart-searching waiting upon God, as fully assured that He would bring it about, as if the two houses, with their hundreds of Orphans occupying them, had been already before me. I make a few remarks here for the sake of younger believers, in connexion with this subject : 1, Be slow to take new steps in the Lord's service, or in your business, or in your families. Weigh everything well ; weigh all in the light of the Holy Scrip tures, and in the fear of God. 2, Seek to have no will of your own, in order to ascertain the mind of God, re garding any steps you propose to take, so that you can honestly say, you are willing to do the will of God, if He will only please to instruct you. 3, But when you have found out, what the will of God is, seek for His help, and seek it earnestly, perseveringly, patiently, be- lievingly, and expectingly : and you will surely, in His own time and way, obtain it. iSome individuals, who are unacquainted with me, may A.D. 1868.] 101 suppose that I entered too hastily upon this enlargement, without counting the cost. If so, they are mistaken. I was ready to go forward, if God would have me to go forward ; and I was not only content, but well pleased to stand still, and enlarge the work no further, if this had been the mind of the Lord : I had no will of my own. I further weighed well all the difficulties. I truly counted the cost. The work I had in hand, before this last Orphan enlargement, would require year by year about Twenty Thousand Pounds, and I had reason to believe, that, when the enlargement was carried out, it would require above Thirty Thousand Pounds annually, besides the sum for building the two new houses. But with all this calmly, fully, and patiently looking at all the difficulties, not only with regard to the needed money, but the numberless other matters to be taken into the account; I, at last, became assured, that the Lord would have me to go for ward, as the reader may remember from the previous part of the Narrative, where I have given the reasons, which led me to this conclusion. Now, when once this decision had been made, upon Scriptural ground, and after much prayer, I was of good cheer. The difficulties cast me not down ; for I expected help from (rod. I set myself earnestly to prayer, and help came by little and little ; yet it came. Money was Bent. The land was obtained, and with no little difficulty. The plans were made. The houses were begun. But day by day I went on praying, looking for the full answer. And thus, step by step, the Lord has helped me further. Feb. 19. From Devonshire £50. Aprils. Fromagentleman at Liverpool £10., with £5. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself, "saved in one year, by not smoking cigars."—Apr. 9. From the neighbourhood of Southampton £1., as " A thank-offering for the Lord's goodness in restoring the donor's horses to health."—May 23. All the glass, needed for the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, was given gratuitously. The glass for No. 4 was kindly given by the senior partner of a large firm, and the glass for No. 5 by the same firm conjointly. The promise to do so had been given nearly two years since : but now I learnt from the clerk of the works, that all the glass had been actually supplied. The greatness of the gift will be seen, by its being remem bered that there are above 700 large windows in these two houses.—May 26, 1868. When the last year commenced 102 [A.D. 1868. on May 27, 1867, I needed yet about £6,000, to meet all the expenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the two new houses; but the Lord was pleased to give me, altogether, for this object, £6,633. 17s. 53d. during the year. I have, therefore, reason to believe, that the amount required is in hand. When the Report for 1868 was written, I stated,that, as far as I could see, I had all the money in hand, required for the building, fittings and furnishing of the two new houses. Since then, however, I have received some further dona- tions; and as I could not possibly know whatunexpected ex- penses might occur, I received all those donations (which expressly were given) to meet the expenses connected with this enlargement. The Lord by this has again acted as in former times; for in the case of the New Orphan House No. 1, when all the expenses had been met in full, I had a balance of more than Six Hundred Pounds in hand ; and when all the éxpenses for building, fitting up and fur- nishing No. 2 and No. 3 had been defrayed, there was about Two Thousand Nine Hundred Pounds left. Thus the Lord showed, that He could not only provide the large sums needed for these 3 Orphan Houses, but that He could also give more than was enough, and all simply in answer to prayer, though about Sixty Thousand Pounds had been required. In like manner I expect, that, when all the expenses connected with the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5 shall_have been defrayed, there will be again 4 balance left. This is just like the ways of God. 4, When He orders something to be done for the glory of iE His name, He is both able and willing to find the needed individuals for the work and the means required. Thus, hen the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was to be erected, He not only fitted men for the work, but He also touched vf the hearts of the Israelites to bring the necessary materials : aud gold, silver, and precious stones; and all these things » 4 Were not only brought, but in such abundance, that a pro- ~~. } clamation had to be made in the camp, that no more , articles should be brought, because there were more than enough. And again, when God for the praise of His name would have the Temple to be built by Solomon, He pro- vided such an amount of gold, silver, precious stones, brass, iron, etc., for it, that all the palaces or temples which have been built since, have been most insignificant in comparison AD. 1869.] 108 with that Temple. The reason why I dwell on this is, that it may lead the Christian reader, first of all, to see well to it, that the work in which he desires to bé engaged 1s Gow's work ; séconaty, tat He is the person to be engaged in this work ; thirdly, that God's timé is ‘comne, wher he should do this work; and then to be assured, that, if he sedks God's help in His own appointed wa “He will not fai him: “We have ever found it thus, and expest tote if Thus, on the ground of the promises of God, to the end of our course. I refer now to a very few donations, received for the Building Fund, since May 26,1865. Sep. 11. Received from the neighbourhood of London the following letter, with a cheque for £47. 10s. “ Dear Sir,—More than two years ago, mainly owing to thoughts suggested by reading the annual Reports of the Orphan Houses you have been enabled to establish, [ commenced setting aside a tenth of my income and business earnings, for the purpose of relieving human want and destitution. —I am sincerely thankful that I have been led to this practice, at the same time I am grieved to find, I am not by any means so careful and diligent in the application and distribution of the money thus entrusted to me, as I ought to be.-—My wife and I have lately been considering that we have three children entrusted to us, and with them there has hitherto been given to us abundantly the means of bringing them up according to our position in life ; therefore we think it will be well to provide (from the means above named) for three other children in the Orphan Houses, and this we purpose to do year by year, as our ; Lord permits, and as our family may increase. If you have . --*"’ no objection, please to receive the enclosed cheque for £47. 10s., viz., £37. 10s. for three children at your own moderate estimate of £12. 10s. each, £5. for the Building Fund and £5. for your own family—all for the present year 1868.—Asking you to excuse haste in writing, and humbly praying that our Lord will continue to bless and prosper your work, I am, Yours sincerely, * * * *.” Nov. 2. From Gloucestershire 702 children’s knives and forks, 24 carvers and forks, 36 table knives and forks and 36 dessert knives and forks, to supply the cutlery for the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5. Jan, 29, 1869. From Nelson, New Zealand, £2,— 104 [A.D. 1870. Feb. 11. From C. & M. P. £100., with £81. 8s. 3d. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary,— and Tract Fund, and £20. for myself.— Apr. 20. From Liverpool £10., with £5. for the support of the Orphans and £5. for myself, saved in one year by not smoking cigars. May 26,1869. The New Orphan House No. 4, was opened on Nov. 5, 1868. Since then we have received into No. 4, or to fill up some vacancies in No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, 420 Orphans. In order to accomplish this, and to dispatch all the work, connected with the other three houses for 1,150 Orphans, the amount of labour, which has fallen on my principal assistants, and especially on my dear wife and her sister, Miss Groves, has been so very great, that I have been obliged to delay the opening of the New Orphan House No. 5, until No. 4 shall have been filled. It is difficult for those, who are not acquainted with the prac tical working of such an Institution, to enter into the great amount of labour connected therewith; but were they to see the many thousands of articles of house-linen, and the many thousands of articles of clothing required for only one such Orphan House for 450 children, they would easily understand why we have not yet been able to open No. 5. I only further add, that as we are very particular in investigating the cases of the Orphans, for whose admission application has been made, the filling of only one such house with Orphans, entails several thousand letters. The fitting up and furnishing of No. 5 has been steadily gone on with for about 6 months ; with the help of God it will soon be completed, and that house also will be opened ere long ; for it is the joy and delight of my heart to do to the utmost what can be done to receive yet many more destitute Orphans. May 26, 1870. On Jan. 6. 1870. the long looked for, and the long prayed for day, arrived, when the last house also, the New Orphan House No. 5, could be opened. The immense work connected with sending out Orphans from the other four houses, filling up again the vacancies thus made, and going on with all the other parts of the work, had made it impracticable to open this house sooner. Since the opening of No. 5 there have been received into it 153 Orphans. Receptions into this house since January 6th have been hindered by the measles and scarlet fever, with which it pleased the Lord to visit some of the A.D. 1870.] 105 Orphans ; for, though those diseases were through God’s kindness in a mild form, yet we could not move a number of Infant Girls, intended to be moved into No. 5, until these diseases were gone. In addition to this, it pleased God, tg remove from my side my beloved wife, who for 84 years had been a Tout valtiable helper to me in the Orphan “Work, from its ‘earliest’ beginning, in November v4 1835-——This event, on accotint oMher position in the work, x il addition to the measles and the scarlet fever, has re- tarded the filling up of No. 5. What Mrs. Miller was to the Orphan Work, and how greatly I need the help of God, to have her place supplied, in some degree, by other helpers, the reader may learn from the account I gave of her work in her funeral sermon. “Funeral Sermon of the late Mrs. George Miiller, by her bereaved husband. J. Nisbet & Co., London; Bible and Tract Warehouse of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, 34, Park Street, Bristol. Price, Two Pence.” March 5, 1874. Both houses, No. 4 and No. 5, have now been for years in operation, No. 4 since Nov. 1868 and No. 5 since the beginning of the year 1870, and above 1,200 Orphans have been already received into them, and month after month more are received, as the Orphans are sent out from them as apprentices or servants. More- over, all the expenses in connexion with their being built, fitted up and furnished were met to the full, as the de- mands arose, and, after all had been paid, there was left a balance of geveral_ thousand pounds, which is being used for keeping the houses in repair. Bee, esteemed Reader, how abundantly God answered our prayers, and how plain it is, that we were not mistaken, after we had patiently and prayerfully songht to ascertain His will. |] . Be encouraged, therefore, yet further and further to con- fide in the Living God. We proceed now to the next Chapter. F8 106 [A.D. 1856. CHAPTER II. Supplies for the School—, Bible —, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874. Practical remarks, letters from donors, Sfc. The donations, which it pleased the Lord to send for the support of these four Objects of the Institution, were so many, that I can only refer to such of them, as appear more particularly important to be brought before the reader. June 14, 1856. A private tutor sent me £20. for the Orphans ; £20. for Foreign Missions, and £10. for the other Objects. So contrary to human expectations are the donations and the donors. Dec. 5. During the last 4 weeks the income has been (alogether only about £300., and the expenses have been about £850. Had not the Lord previous to this period sent in more than was needed, we should not have had enough ; but thus He supplied our need before hand. I particularly besought Him this evening, before leaving the Orphan House, that He would be pleased now again to send larger supplies. When I came home, I found a half sovereign from Weston-Super-Mare for the Orphans, and this letter from a private tutor : " Beloved Servant of the Lord, it is my privilege to send you the enclosed cheque for £40., to be expended for the objects of the Institution for Home and Abroad, as you deem best, reserving £3. for yourself, if you will thus suffer me to minister, though seldom, to your need. May the God of all mercies keep and uphold you in His work, and, as it increases, take the care of it." etc. The whole of this £37. was taken for these Objects. This is the donor, who, on June 14, sent me £50. Admire, dear reader, the hand of God in these instances, who, as the work increases, does indeed, as the writer of the letter says, take care of it, in every way, by influencing not merely the wealthy among His children, but also those who have comparatively little, and who labour for that little, to give comparatively much. Dec. 26. For 6 weeks and a half the income has been very small, both for these Objects and for the support of A.D. 1857.] 107 the Orphans ; for there has not come in more than about £450. altogether, while the outgoings have been above £1,000. ; and we should have been needy indeed, had not the Lord previously supplied us with much. Now, how ever, He has been pleased again to send in more bounti fully. On the evening of the 24th I received £10. from a donor whom the Lord raised up three years since, most unexpectedly, and who since then has been the means of supplying the work with hundreds of pounds. This £10. I took for these Objects. Also £1. 5s. for the Orphans from Gotham, and 5s. for Missions. Yesterday morning I received from Yorkshire £50., of which the donor kindly wished me to take £5. for myself, to give to Mr. C. £5., and to use the £40. as most needed. I took, there fore, half of this sum for the support of the Orphans, and the other half for Missions, and the gratuitous circula tion of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts. Also £2. from Bicester, and in the evening £1., which I took for these Objects. In the afternoon I received 5s. for the Orphans ; from Nailsworth 10s. 6d. for Missions and 2s. for the Orphans ; also anonymously in postages from New castle for the Orphans 2s. 6d. This morning I received £183. 15s , which being left to my disposal, I took half of it for the support of the Orphans, and the other half for these objects. Thus, within about 36 hours, after a season of little income, I received £239. 5s. The Lord be magnified for His kindness ! I knew that, after a season of small income, He would again help more abundantly ! Jan. 1. 1857. With a gracious letter from a believing clergyman near Bridgewater, £2. for Missions. Jan. 9. This evening I posted, on my way home, two orders for £40. each for two brethren labouring in China, £10. for a brother labouring in Scotland, and £10. for two brethren labouring in Devonshire. At home I found a •registered letter, containing £100. for foreign labourers, the exact sum I had j ust sent off. Thus, while I am enabled to send out means to brethren who labour in the Gospel, the Lord continues also to supply me with means. £238. have been already spent for missionary objects, during these few days in the new year. Feb. 17. Received £160. As the amount was left at my disposal, I took the whole for Missions and the circula tion of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. 108 [A.D. 1857. May 13. From a Portuguese Christian of Madeira, now residing in Demerara, £20. for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts. May 14. Early this morning a Christian brother from a distance called at my house, and brought me £28., which sum I took, with his approval, for Missions, and the circula tion of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. May 21. From a Christian gentleman of Madras £50 , which being left at my disposal, I took half for the support of the Orphans, and the other half for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts. I have thus out of more than 600 donations, which came in for these Objects, between May 26, 1856, and May 26, 1857, referred to a few.—In the heading of this chapter it is stated " Supplies sent in answer to Prayer." Regarding this I make the following remarks : 1, I never apply by letter or personally to any one for means ; nor have I any agents whom I request directly or indirectly to ask for means for the Institution ; but I spread the wants of this work either alone, or with my fellow- labourers, in prayer before God, or they may pray in secret for help, or many other Christians who feel interested about this work, may pray for its being supplied with means. And thus, alone in answer to prayer, am I sup plied with means. 2, The Reports are written to give an account of my stewardship, to give information of the work as to its enlargement, as to its operations, as to the blessing of the Lord resting upon it, and these Reports He, no doubt, uses frequently as a means of supplying us with funds for the work ; but the Reports are NOT my confidence. Did I trust in them, and not in the Living God, I should soon be confounded. 3, When funds are needed or anything else for the work, I give myself unto prayer ; for every thing needed I give myself unto prayer : for fellow-labourers, for suit able servants, for the preservation of the buildings against fire, for the health of the children, for blessings on the means used when they are ill, for rain when the cisterns get dry, for enlargement of the work as to Missionary (operations, and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures I and Tracts, for spiritual blessing to rest on all the various of the Institution, such as the conversion of the A.D. 1857 ] 109 Orphans, the Day School children, the Sunday School children, and the Adult Scholars now under our care; and for the conversion of the many thousands who were once under our care, if they know not yet the Lord ; or, if they know Him, that they may be kept in His ways and in His truth ; or, if they have departed from Him, that they may be reclaimed by Him. I pray, especially also, day by day, for the preachers of the Gospel, whom I seek to assist with means, that they may be helped in the work of the Lord with bodily, mental and vocal strength ; that they may be happy in their own souls ; that they may be sustained under trial, difficulty, temptation, hardship, and necessity ; and that their labours may be abundantly blessed, both in the conversion of sinners and in the building up of the saints, among whom they labour. —The hundreds of various matters, concerning which we feel we are in need, are brought before the Lord. It is ex pected, concerning them, that God hears us, and that in His own time and way, when and how it would be best for us, He will help us. Answers to prayer are con fidently looked for ; and answers to prayer are obtained in thousands of instances, year by year, not concerning one or the other thing, but concerning all our various necessities. The spiritual prosperity of the work is greater (we may say confidently, to the praise of God) than even its temporal prosperity, though that astonishes thousands. 4. This, then, esteemed reader, is the position of the work as to funds : Suppose the 'outgoings of the work are after the rate of £1,000. per week, and often they have been much greater still ; and suppose little or nothing were to come in for some time ; we should not send out circulars, we should have no agents going through the country, no public meetings in various places, nor should we write letters to friends to make known our wants, nor even in directly give hints to wealthy believers, who are interested in the work, to let them know that we are in need. If we were asked, under such circumstances, how the funds were, we should give no reply whatever whereby an in ference could be drawn, that they were low : we should only give ourselves to prayer for means ; but we should not trust in the Reports, and expect that they would bring in something, but trust in the Living God, who has the hearts of all in His hands, and to whom all the gold and 110 LA-D- 1857- silver belongs. And tins mode we have uniformly pur sued, without the least wavering, from the commencement of the Institution. We began in this way, more especially in connexion with the Orphan work, and we have gone on in this way all these years, in 'order to make ourselves joyfully the helpers of the Church at large, to strengthen the faith of young or weak believers, and to teach saints generally, who know it not already, how blessed it is, really to know God and trust in Him for everything. We have done it, also, to show to an unbelieving world at large, that there is reality fn the tilings of God. As a means to obtain these two ends, I write the Reports ; this is the chief reason why I write them. 5, To suppose that we have difficulty only about money would be a mistake ; there occur hundreds of other wants and of other difficulties. It is a rare thing that a day comes without some difficulty or some want; but often there are many difficulties and many wants to be met and overcome the same day. All these are met by prayer and faith, our universal remedy, and we have never been con founded. Patient, persevering, believing prayer, offered up to God in the name of the Lord Jesus, has always, sooner or later, brought the blessing. I do not despair, by God's grace, of obtaining any blessing, provided I can be sure it would be for my real good, and for the glory of God. I relate here, for the benefit of the reader, one in stance, out of many, to show what are the difficulties under which we give ourselves to prayer ; and under which we are helped. It was towards the end of November of 1857, when I was most unexpectedly informed that the boiler of our heating apparatus at No. 1, leaked very considerably, so that it was impossible to go through the winter with such a leak.— Our heating apparatus consists of a large cylin der boiler, inside of which the fire is kept, and with which boiler the water pipes, that warm the rooms, are connected. Hot air is also connected with this apparatus. — The boiler had been considered suited for the work of the winter. To suspect that it was worn out, and not to do anything towards replacing it by a new one, and to have said, I will trust in God regarding it, would be careless presumption, but not faith in .Gad. It would counterfeit of faith. A.D. 1857 ] 111 The boiler is entirely surrounded by brickwork; its state, therefore, could not be known without taking down the brickwork; this, if needless, would be rather injurious to the boiler, than otherwise ; and as for eight winters we had had no difficulty in this way, we had not anticipated it now. But suddenly, and most unexpectedly, at the comfnencement of the winter, this difficulty occurred. What then was to be done? For the children, especially the younger infants, I felt deeply concerned, that they | might not suffer, through want_of warmth, But how were we to obtain warmth? The introduction of a new boiler would, in all probability, take many. weeks. The repairing of the boiler was a questionable matter, cn account of the greatness of the Teak ; but, if ‘not, nothing could bé said 6f it, til the brick-chamber in which it is enclosed, was, at least in part, removed; but that would, at least, as far as we could judge, take days; and what was to be done in the meantime, to find warm rooms for 800 children ? It naturally occurred to me, to introduce temporary_gas-stoves; but on further weighing the matter, it ‘was found, that we should be unable to heat our very large rooms with gas, except we had many stoves, which we could not introduce, as we had not a sufficient quantity of gas to spare from our lighting apparatus. Moreover, for each of these stoves we needed a small chimney, to carry off the impure air. This mode of heating, there- fore, though applicable to a hall, a staircase, or a shop, would not suit our purpose. I also thought of the tem- porary introduction of Arnott’s stoves; but they would have been unsuitable, requiring long chimneys (as they , would have been of a temporary kind) to go out of the windows. On this account, the uncertainty of their an- swering in our case, and the disfigurement of the rooms, led me to give up this plan also. But what was to be done? Gladly would I have paid £100. if thereby the , difficulty could have been overcome, and the children not be exposed to suffer for many days from being in cold rooms. At last I determined on falling entirely into the hands of God, who is very merciful an ender com- = passion, and I decided on having thebfick. dhayibe BSC to see the extent of the damage, ‘and’ w ‘ether t bgitler” might be repaired, so as /topéarry ts! tbhiugh DN vanes (, THEOLOGICAL sy _SEMINARY * rr Lew voREy . 112 [4.D. 1857. The day was fixed, when the workmen were to come, and all the necessary arrangements were made. The fire, of course, had to be let out while the repairs were going on. But now see. After the day was fixed for the repairs, a bleak North wind set in. It began to blow either on Thursday or Friday" béforé the Wednesday afternoon, when the fire was to be let out. Now came the first really cold weather, which we had in the beginning of that winter, during the first days of December. What _ was tobe done?” The repairs could not be-putoff. I now asked the Lord for oS things, viz., that He would be pleased to change the north wind into a south wind, % and that He would give to the workmen * a mind to work ”; for [remembered how much Nehemiah accomplished in 52 days, whilst building the walls of Jerusalem, because “ the people had a mind to work.” Well, the memorable day came. The evening before, the bleak north wind blew still; but, on the Wednesday, the south wind blew: exactly as I had prayed. The weather was so mild that no fire was needed. The brickwork is removed, the leak is found out very soon, the boiler makers begin to repair in good earnest. About half-past. eight in the evening, when I was going home, I was informed at the lodge, that the acting principal of the firm, whence the boiler makers came, had arrived to see how the work was going ov, and whether he could in any way speed the matter. I went immediately, therefore, into the cellar, to see him with the men, to seek to expedite the business. In speaking to the principal of this, he said in their hearing, “the men will work late this evening, and come very early again to-morrow.” ‘ We would rather, Sir,” said the leader, “work all night.” Then remembered I the second part of my prayer, that God would give the men “a mind to work.” Thus it was: by the morning the repair was accomplished, the leak was stopped, though with great difficulty, and within about 30 hours the brick- work was up again and the fire in the boiler; and all the time the south wind blew so mildly, that there wag nop the Teast-need of a fire. ere, then, is one of our difficulties which was overcome by prayer and faith. For nearly three months all went on well; but at the end of February another leak appeared, which was worse om. a A.D. 1858.] 113 than the previous one. But out of this difficulty also we were helped through prayer, so that without any real inconvenience the repairs were accomplished within about 30 hours. Thus we were carried through that winter, and in the spring a new boiler was ordered to be made. July 1, 1857. Being desirous of sending out again at least £300. to labourers in the Gospel, I had been further praying for means this evening, as usual, hefore leaving the Orphan House. When I came home, I found that a letter had arrived since I left home in the morning, con taining a Bank order for £277. 13s. for the work of the Lord, as it might be needed. I took, therefore, the whole of this sum for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts.—July 19. From Philadelphia, U.S., £12. Aug. 7. From Manchester £100., of which the donor wished me to use £50. for the support of the Orphans, and the other £50. was left at my disposal, which I took for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. This is a new donor, from whom I had only yesterday received £10. for the support of the Orphans. Thus the Lord, as the work increases, is also pleased to raise up new donors. Jan. 15, 1858. For several days past I have especially prayed for more means for Missionary purposes, and for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, as the means in hand are becoming comparatively small, as there are 80 labourers in the Gospel to be helped, and as the circulation of the Holy" Scriptures and Tracts does not diminish. Now to-day I have received from a great dis tance £200., of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20. for myself, and to use the other as most needed. I have, therefore, taken the whole £180, for Missions and for the circulation of the Scriptures and Tracts, and am now again able to send out help through this donation, with what was before in hand. Feb. 8. The following letter, without a name, con taining £25., has been brought to me this afternoon : " Dear and honoured Sir, Accept the enclosed trifle from the writer and admirer of your Christian faith and bene volence, but who, when you read this, will have ceased to be. Please to apply it in any way you may see fit." The confidential servant, who brought me this, said that her 114 [A.D. 1858 mistress had dii'd in December last, and that she herself, who had engaged to deliver it into my own hands, had been ill since then. The £25. was taken for Missions and for the circulation of the Scriptures and Tracts. March 16. From Sonth Australia the following letter, " I inclose a draft for £7. 10s., which you will please to use, as the Lord may direct you. About a year since you will remember I sent you a draft for £5., and have now increased it by half. I feel much pleasure in sending it, and hope, by the Lord's help, to increase the amount every year. Blessed be the Lord who has shown me kindness in a strange land ! Part of the amount is the first-fruits of increase, the other part is fruit of increase, but not first fruit."—March 18. From Kent £50. for Missions, with £50. for the Orphans.—This donor had sent me a few times before donations of about £10., but now has thus more largely helped me. The work increases more and more, and with it the expenses ; therefore the Lord does in His kindness and faithful love, in answer to my daily prayers, raise up many new donors, and also incline the hearts of those who have given before to give again and again, and many to give more largely than formerly. April 16. From Nottinghamshire £20. for Mission aries on the Continent.—April 23. From a Christian gentleman, residing on the Continent, £5., with the fol lowing letter : " When I visited the Asylum lately, the Orphans made such an impression upon my mind, and the whole work, that I determined to give 10s. for every new pupil I get ; and now I have nine, and have never had as many at once before. I enclose the half of £5., and the other half shall follow in another envelope. May the Lord bless it and the whole work ! £3. for the Orphans and £2. for Missions." See, esteemed reader, in what a variety of ways the Lord helps me ; but all comes from the Lord, without my ever either directly or indirectly asking any one for anything; nay, by God's help, I would rather go through the greatest difficulties, hardships, and self-denial, than ask any one but the Living God ; yea, I would rather give up the work en tirely, than ask either directly or indirectly any human being for anything, in order that the testimony be not hindered, that to trust in the Living God is enough. Be therefore encouraged, dear reader, to do this yourself, A.D, 1858. ] 115 regarding every thing. If it would be for your real good and the glory of God, that you should have any want supplied, whatever that want may be, you may trust in God for the supply, nay, you ought to trust in Him for it; and you will not be confounded. ‘herefore, with confidence make your reqnests known to the Lord; be assured that He is able and willing to help you; ask the blessing in the name of the Lord Jesus; continue to wait patiently, yet perseveringly, and it will be granted at last. It may be that you have to wait long for an answer, but it will come at last, I myself have for twenty-nine years been waiting for an answer to prayer concerittfg-a Certain spiritaar blessing. Day by “day have I been enabled to continue in prayer for this blessing. At home and abroad, in this country and in foreign lands, in health and in sickness, however much occupied, I have been enabled, day by day, by God’s help, to bring this matter before Him; and still I have not the full answer yet. Nevertheless, I look for it. I expect it confidently. The very fact that day after day, and yéar alter year, for twenty-nine years, the Lord has enabled EW Witinue, patiently, believingly, to wait on Him for | A the bressing; still Tuither encourages me to wait on; and so Tully am TI assiréd that God” hears me about this matter, that I have often been enabled to praise Him before-hand for the full answer, which I shall ultimately receive to my prayers on this subject. Thus, you see, dear reader, that while I have had hundreds, yea thou- sands of answers to prayer, year by year, I have also, like yourself and other believers, the trial of faith con- cerning certain matters. But are you living in sin, viz. wilfully, knowingly, going on in an evil course? Are you regarding iniquity in your heart, as the Psalmist calls it? Psalm Ixvi. 18. If so, the Lord will not hear you. Or are you asking for things to feed your vanity, pride, love of pleasure, etc.; then you are asking amiss, as James says (chap. iv. 3), that you may consume it upon your lusts, and , therefore you receive not. Perhaps you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus? ‘You may walk on in carelessness about the salvation of your soul, or you may depend upon your own goodness and worthiness as a ground of acceptance before God; if 116 [A.D. 1858. so, do not be surprised if you do not obtain blessings, though you make many prayers. Even to such persons God often gives blessings, when, without really knowing Him, they ask for them ; but they have no ground for expecting an answer to their prayers : for what soever is asked is promised only in the name of the Lord Jesus. To the unbelieving reader, therefore, I would say : flee from the wrath to come ! Believe in the Lord Jesus. Trust in Him alone for the salvation of your soul. Depend on what He did and suffered to save sinners, and your sins shall be forgiven, you shall be saved, and then, through faith in His name, you become a child of God, and all the privileges of the children of • God, regarding prayer, as well as every other blessing, 1 become yours. See John iii. 16. Acts x. 43. John iii. 1 36. Johni. 12. Nov. 10, 1858. From Oxfordshire £15., for Missions and the support of the Orphans Respecting this dona tion I learnt afterwards, that a Christian young lady had this amount left to her as a legacy, and that, two days before she fell asleep in Jesus, she had asked her father, a Christian clergyman, to allow her to send it to me, as she should not want it to buy anything. Before my ac knowledgment of the donation had reached her, this young disciple had fallen asleep, to be with the Lord Jesus. Dec. 8. From a clergyman in Rutlandshire : A gold watch, the bowl of a silver ladle, a barometer, a box of pens, a pair of coat links, a penwiper, a box, and 5 books. — Dec. 9. £5. from a donor as " A thank-offering for the restoration of his sick children.— Dec. 20. From the North of England £25. for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, with £25. for the Orphans.—Dec. 31. This evening between 9 and 10 o'clock I received £5. from a Christian tradesman iu a small way of business. Little only, comparatively, had come in for some time, either for these Objects or for the support of the Orphans, whilst very much had been going out. My hope in God was, that He would again cause the stream of His bounty to flow more abundantly, after having exercised my faith and patience. In the mean time, however, we had enough, yea were amply provided for by what the Lord had been pleased to send in previously. The funds for these Ob A.D. 1859. | 117 , jects, however, had been reduced to about £80. Now the £5. given at the close of the year, was the beginning of such an abundant inpouring of means, as the Lord never had given before, during so short a time, as in the two succeeding months of January and February, 1859. Jan. 1, 1859. This morning I received the following letter from a considerable distance : “ Dear Brother in the Lord Jesus,—It has pleased the Lord to send me very unexpectedly £1,000., which He has led me to devote to His service. I am, therefore, happy to send it to you for the Lord’s work in your hands, and should like it divided thus: £500. for the Orphans, £300. for Missionaries at home and abroad, £120. to be divided between the Schools and the circulation of the Scriptures and Tracts. Will you please to accept £40. for your own use, and give £40. to Mr. Craik.” The donor received this money ‘very unexpectedly,” and is led to send it to me for the Lord’s work in my hands. Do you perceive the hand of God, dear reader? Do you see how blessed it is to wait upon God? I had no more expectation of receiving from this kind donor £1,000. on Jan. 1, 1859, than any of my readers have of receiving £1,000. from me, on the day they read this. Thus did the Lord begin to cause His stream of bounty to flow more widely, more deeply, and continuously for two months than had been the case for the twenty-five years previous. Reference has been made atieady” to seVerat-targedunations in writing about the income for the Building Fund, and further reference will now be made to other donations, especially when writing about the income for the support of the Orphans,—The £1,000. just referred to was especially refreshing to my spirit, because my prayer had been continually, that I might be able to do much for missionary brethren.—On Jan 1st I received also from Guildford £3. 2s. 10d. for Missions, and from Sherborne £1. for Missions. Also £1. from a Bristol donor for Missions.—On Jan. 2. I received £1. from a very aged and poor Christian man, which was taken for these objects. A large donation for him.—On Jan. 4th, receiving £7,000., I took for these objects £2,000., as I desired to the utmost, to do what I could for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. 118 [A.D. 1859. Feb. 1. It has been already stated in writing about the Building Fund, that on this day I received a donation of £1,700. and another of £1,000., of which I took for these objects £1,000 and £500.—Thus I had obtained the full answer to my prayer, brought before the Lord more than a hundred times, that I might be enabled dur ing this period to do as much for missionary objects, and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts as during the last period.—I had thus means even to a considerably greater extent, than during the former period.—How pre cious it is to trust in God, really to trust in Him 1 Only try this way, dear reader, and you will know the sweetness and blessedness of it for yourself. But there must be more than merely saying I trust in God. Your heart must really look to Him alone ; and, if you do so, then, contrary to all natural prospects, you will find how able and how willing He is to help you. As already stated, I had no natural prospect of being able to accomplish as much, regarding these objects, especially missionary opera tions, as before ; natural prospects were all against it ; yet God, the rich Almighty God, whose resources never fail, who is always the Living God, the same Faithful and Unchangeable God, was able to help me : and to Him I betook myself in my need : He did help me : and in Him I desire to make my boast. So fully is my heart assured of His ability and willingness to help me, that, by His grace, no amount of need, difficulties, or natural im probabilities, would discourage me, if I could only see that He would have me to act, and that my acting would be for His honour and glory. To such a conclusion, how ever, I desire to come most slowly, most patiently, most prayerfully, and only upon Scriptural ground. In this way I desire grace to proceed. The very opposite to rashness or enthusiasm, is what I desire to aim after ; and having once come'to the decision, that it is God's will I should act, I have no ground to fear any difficulty. Feb. 8. Received the following letter with £25., from a distance : " I enclose Bank notes to the amount of £25. for your disposal in the blessed services that you are en gaged iu, also hoping, at the same time, that you will not hesitate to spend it upon yourself and yours, if you think fit.—It is part of my little property which last year I dedicated to Him who has given me much blessing, and A.D. 1859.] 119 who has crowned ine with many mercies in our blessed Lord and Saviour, leading me through a troubled and sinful youth into the peace of His children in Christ : so that for all these mercies, including increase of health after my coming of age last year, I wish to give some expression of my gratitude, as an earnest also that I feel all I have and all 1 am is His, who hath loved me and given Himself for tne," etc. The letter of this young dis ciple refreshed my spirit. I took of this sum £15. for Missions and the Bible and Tract Fund, and the remain ing £10. for the support of the Orphans.— Feb. 14. This evening I had drawn a cheque for £55., and another for £220. About 9 o'clock was put into my hand a little packet, containing £75. in bank notes, 29 old guinea pieces, 10 old half guinea pieces, and 3 old seven shilling pieces, with the following lines, from an entire stranger, living at a considerable distance, whose name was not even given : " Tho enclosed is from a steward of the Lord, whose wish is, that Mr. Miiller shall retain £10. for himself, and that the residue be equally divided for the support of the Orphans and for Missions." About half an hour, after having received that valuable packet, when I came home, I found the following letter from a distance of about 500 miles, enclosing an order for £300. " Dear and honoured Sir, I thought of you hot long ago, and recommended a friend to apply to you, and intended to send you nothing. —A few days ago a sad thing was told me about a sick person I had been visiting, and I determined to send you £100. for Missionary purposes, £10. for your own ex penses, and £40. to be applied as might be most needful. This night a happy letter has reached me, so that 1 can offer the gifts I bring to God's altar. Matt. v. 23, 24. Therefore, as I have it to spare, in thankfulness to God, I add another £1 50. for the Missionaries. I give to them in preference to other objects, because, in the case before mentioned, I have felt how precious is one soul saved. We seem to have nothing to compare it with : to be turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, and to have an inheritance among them that are sanctified in His kingdom, through the Saviour. Then, how precious the office of the minister seems ! If in tem poral things, which are but as dung, it is blessed to give, what a precious thing to minister the things of God, 120 [A.D. 1859. whereby a soul may believe and be saved. Dear sir, ac cording to the commandment I send this, and remain, in the name of the Lord Jesus * * * *." Observe I 1, I had paid out much that very evening, and the Lord sent in again much. 2, Both these donors are entire strangers to me. 3, In both cases large donations were again sent for Missionary objects, about which I had been praying so much previously. Of this £290. I took £250. for Missionary objects, and £40. for the Bible and Tract Fund. Feb. 16. From Berkshire £25. for Missions, with £25. for the support of the Orphans. — Feb. 26. From Cornwall £2. for Missions, £1. for the Tract Fund, and £2. for the Orphans. The donor, in sending the £5., writes, that it is sent in order to lay up treasure in heaven.—Have you considered, dear Christian Reader, that you may as really lay up treasure in heaven as the men of the world lay up treasure on earth ? And, if so, do you do so ?—On the same day I received from Glasgow a draft for £20., with the following letter : " Being deeply impressed that it is the duty of the children of God to promote the circulation of the gospel in India, China and other places, which are now open to the Missionary, and having confidence in the labourers whom you are led to select, I send you £10. to assist in their support. I also send £7. for the Orphans and £3. for yourself, which please to accept ; and I pray that our Father in heaven may bless the offering for the purposes that they are respectively sent." March 13. The late P. C., Esquire, of Clifton, in a will dated April 24, 1849, left to the " Scriptural Knowledge Institution, together with its Orphan Establishment," the sum of £100. free of legacy duty. This gentleman, whom I never saw, whose name I never heard whilst living, died a few months since, and this £100. was paid to me on March 1 3th by his executor. I took £50. for these ob jects, and £50. for the support of the Orphans.— See, dear reader, in this legacy another instance of the way in which God helps me ! —March 16. From a hardworking man in Yorkshire £3. 4s. This Christian man has sent me per haps thirty similar donations, and many pounds yearly I receive from him.—March 21. From Yorkshire £20. for foreign Missionaries. April 1. From the neighbourhood of Adelaide, South Australia, £3. and £2.—Apr. 4. From Ireland £12.— A.D. 1859.] 121 Apr. 5. From Manchester 13s. This donor has, periodi- - cally, sent me many times the same amount, which is the fruit of self-denial—aApr. 9. From Wiltshire £10, from an aged and comparatively poor disciple, who has of late repeatedly sent me donations, considering, I suppose, that the privilege of using his means for the Lord may be but short. May 5. From Port Elizabeth, Africa, £5.—May 7. From London £10. for Missions in Inudia.—May 24. Anonymously from the neighbourhood of Exmouth £10. for Missions. I have thus, out of 828 donations for these Objects, which were received between May 26, 1858, and May 26, 1859, referred to a few as specimens, to show in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means. I receive donations not only from England, Ireland and Scotland, but also from the East Indies, the West Indies, Australia, New Zealaud, the United States, Nova Scotia, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, etc. For the most part these donors are entire strangers to me; I am not personally acqnainted with the twentieth part of them; and in many instances the donations are given anonymously, and that not merely in the case of small but even large sums. Out of the 828 sums entered as donations for these Objects in the account books, be- tween May 26, 1858, and May 26, 1859, I find that 452 were under £1.—115 of £1.—78 between £1. and £2.— 119 between £2. and £5.—32 between £5. and £10.— 12 between £10, and £20.—10 between £20. and £50.— one between £50. and £100.—three of £100., one of £150., one of £290., one of £420., one of £500., one of £1,000., and one of £2,000. I now go on, giving a few specimens of the donations, received for the first four Objects of the Institution, be- tween May 26, 1859, and May 26, 1860. When the year, just now referred to, began, I had for these objects £2,009. 11s. 24d. in hand, a balance far greater than I ever had had before. This arose not from unwillingness to spend the means with which the Lord had been pleased to intrust me, but chiefly from the fact that some large donations had come in during the last part of the previous year; and I had not, as a steward who desires to act in the fear of God, had opportunities G 122 [AD. 1859- brought before me, to spend all. Bnt much as the balance was, all the various schools, directly or indirectly con nected with the Institution, required means ; the circu lation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts needed much, in order to enter every suitable open door ; and lastly, and especially, the 91 preachers of the Gospel in various parts of the world, on my list on May 26, 1859, required a large sum to aid them. All these various, objects, there fore, needed so much, that the balance, large as it was, would have lasted but a short time, had not the Living God, who has been my helper from the beginning, and to whom I have looked alone, opened, in answer to our prayers, His bountiful hands, and sent in more, before the balance was expended ; so that, though without any human proba bility of meeting even one-half of the probable expenses in connexion with these objects, not only were we able to meet the whole ; but, also, so bountifully God helped, that though the expenses were £1,584. 7s. 3½d. more than during the preceding year, we had not only enough, bnt even a larger balance was left than at the end of the previous year. I will now refer to a few of the donations given for the School—, Bible— , Missionary— and Tract Fund. May 31, 1859. A visitor from Staffordshire, an entire stranger to me, went through the New Orphan House No. 2, and afterwards desired to see me. He gave me £100., the disposal of which he left to me. I took it for Missions.—Thus the Lord is beginning to answer my prayers again, for means for missionary objects, during this period also. June 13. From Cardiff, for these objects, £30.—June 29. From Kent £50. for the Orphans, with £50. for these objects.—July 13. From Limerick £15. 10s.—July 22. From Cumberland £20.—July 26. From a Christian Nolileman £10. for Missions, with £10. for the support of the Orphans.—July 28. From Philadelphia £10.— From India, for labourers in the Gospel, £75.—Aug. 8. Received from Somersetshire £100. with these words, as to the application of the money : " £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £25. for foreign missionaries, the remainder either for your own expenditure, or for any object most near your heart at present." I took this latter £25. one half for the circulation of Tracts and the . A.D. 1860. ] 123 other half for foreign missionaries.—Nov. 7, £100. from London, with these words, “ Dear Sir, I enclose a cheque for £100., in the name of the Lord Jesus, to whom I owe myself and all that Iam and have. May He bless its use in any of the objects which you have in hand. [am most affectionately and obliged for His sake ** * *,” [ took the whole for Missions.—Nov. 8. Left at the New ° Orphan House, No. 2, by a Gloycestershire donor, £20.— Nov. 9. Received from Manchester £3. 5s. 9d., being small amounts set apart for every order and every payment re- ceived in the donor’s business.—Nov. 19. £50. from London, as “ A thank-offering for having received de- liverance from an impending trouble, in a most pro- vidential way,” £30. for the Orphans, £15. for missions, and £5: for the Bible Fund. Dec. 5, £2. with this letter: “I have for some years past paid £2. per annum for an assurance on my life, in case of accident; but, after reading your last Report, which I purchased at the Orphan Houses a short time since, I resolved to send you the premium, which I intend doing annually, believing that by paying the premium to _ the Lord, He will, in His kind providence, protect me from accident. You will please to appropriate it to the object you most require it for, etc.’—Dec. 7. £1., with the following letter: ‘“ Dear Sir, having discontinued in- suring my horse, (feeling that it is good and right to trust in the Lord for all things), I enclose the amount, which I should have paid as premium for the ensuing year, as a thank-offering to Almighty God for His past mercies towards me; which you will please to take one half for the Orphans, and the other half for missions, etc.”—Dec. 21. From Jamaica £4. for missions, £4. for the Orphaus, and £2. for myself.—From Norwich £5. “The donor had asked it of the Lord, for this work, two or three weeks.” —Dec. 24. £50. from Lancashire * As a thank-offering for mitigation of great sufferings.”— Dec. 29. From Worthing £10. for the circulation of Bibles and Testaments.—Dec. 30. From the North of England £25., with £25. for the Orphans. . Jan. 81, 1860. On this day I received a donation of £3,000., of which I took for these objects £2,000. Day by day, during this period also, I had been asking the Lord for means for these objects ; and day by day I had G2 124 [A.D. 1860. been entreating Him, that He would be pleased to enable me to accomplish, during this period, as much as during the former one, in the way of circulating the Holy Scrip tures and Tracts, and in aiding missionary operations, though I had no natural prospect whatever of being able to do so. My eyes were alone directed to the Living God, who year after year, for many years past, had allowed me to increase the operations of these three objects, notwith standing the continual increase of expense in connexion with the Orphan work ; and thus I fully expected, though all appearance was against it, that during this period also we should be again helped by the Lining God. Think, then, Christian reader, how great was my spiritual re freshment, when, by this one donation, in a great measure, I saw these my daily prayers being again answered.—In like manner may you, in your sphere of service, in your family affairs, in your business, in your profession, in ycur various temporal or spiritual necessities, have your j rayers answered. Make but trial of this precious way. I have, since the year 1830, walked in this road, looking to God alone for every thing ; and He has never failed me. Prayer and faith are my universal remedies under every difficulty, and under every necessity ; and though I have daily difficulties and trials, He ever helps me. These are not merely regarding money, but concerning hun dreds of other things ; but the Lord helps continually : so that, year after year, as I prove in my happy experience the Lord's readiness to show Himself strong on behalf of those who trust in Him, my heart, by His grace, becomes more and more ready to trust in Him for every thing, and under every circumstance, even the most difficult and the most trying ; for my heart believes, what His word declares, that He has almighty power, infinite wisdom, and infinite love, which He exercises concerning all those wh" believe in the Lord Jesus. May 14, 1860. From Sussex £100.—May 22. £2000. for these objects, whereby the Lord allows me the great joy of entering upon the new period with a consider able balance in hand for these objects.— May 26. From Manchester £5., being small amounts set apart on each order, and on each payment received in business.—From Somerset East, Capo of Good Hope, £5. 1 have thus, out of the 999 donations received for these A.D. 1860 ] 1-25 objects, between May 26, 1850, and May 26, 1860, re ferred to a few. Out of these 999 different sums, entered in the account books, I find that 328 were under 5s., 171 above 5s. and not exceeding 10s., 177 above 10s. and not exceeding £1., 92 above £1. and not exceeding £2., 147 above £2. and not exceeding £6., 40 above £5. and not exceeding £10., 19 above £10. and not exceeding £20., 7 above £20. and under £50., 5 of £50., 1 of £55., 3 of £60., 1 of £75., 2 of £80., 4 of £100., and 2 of £2,000. I will now further refer to a very few of the donations, received between May 26, 1860, and May 26, 1861, for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund ; but request the reader kindly to keep in mind, that the operations of all these various Objects were enlarged year by year, and that, therefore, year by year more means were required. The preachers of the Gospel, at Home and Abroad, for instance, aided by the funds of this Institu tion, amounted already to One Hundred and One. June 18. From the neighbourhood of London, from a Christian Gentleman £10., with £10. for the Or phans. The donor, when sending this donation, was in health ; yet the last time, that he used his pen, was when he wrote to me. Before my acknowledgment reached him, he had entered into the presence of his Lord. Pause, dear reader. Are you prepared to be called hence so suddenly, so unexpectedly ? Do you trust alone in the atonement and perfect obedience of the Lord Jesus as the ground of acceptance before God t This worthy donor did so, and therefore it was well with him, as it will be well with all, who, like him, rest on this sure foundation ; but if it is not so with you, let me earnestly beseech you, dear reader, to flee from the wrath to come. Ponder carefully John Hi, 14—18. 36. Acts x, 43. Romans x, 9. 10.— There is also to the believing reader a word of admonition in the fact, just related, even that we should work while it is day ; for the night cometh when no man can work. How very soon may all the precious opportunities, we now have, to labour or spend for the Lord, be taken from us. July 11. From Switzerland £8.— July 16. From Oporto 5s. for missions, with 5s. for the Orphans.—July 23. From a Christian nobleman in London £10., with £10. for the Orphans.—July 24. From Glasgow £20. for Indian and 126 [A.D. 1860. £10. for other missionaries.—July 25. Received a cheque for £58. 9s., with the following statement : " Upon rend ing your report last year, I determined, the Lord helping me, to dedicate a fixed portion, or rather a per centage, upon what the Lord blessed me with, to certain purposes, connected with His cause ; your Orphan work and Mis sionary work to receive a proportion of the per centage. I have during the past year at three times sent you £30 ; the inclosed is your further proportion, as I then determined.'''' Aug. 2. From Scotland £100. "for the nse of the Lord's servants, who labour in the Gospel without charge." —Aug. 3. £50. " From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven."— Aug. 7. From Cornwall £20. for missionaries in foreign lands.—Aug. 11. From Scotland £40. for missions. My prayer had been from the beginning of this period, from May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1863, day by day, that the Lord would enable me during that year again, con trary to natural prospects, to accomplish as much for missionary objects, as during the previous year, though I had then been able to expend more than ever before. When praying thus, I knew well that I had no natural reason to expect as much as during the previous period; but I hoped in God, looked to Him for an answer, and fully believed, that, as for about 20 years He had enabled me to enlarge this object more and more with every suc ceeding year, so He would during this year also grant unto me this honour and privilege. How precious and refresh ing therefore to me, dear reader, were such donations as are mentioned in the last paragraph! (Aug. 18. £60. " From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven."—Had another precious answer to prayer for means for missions, in particular, by the re ception of the following information : " My Heavenly Father has been pleased again to send me unexpectedly £1000., which He has given me the desire to give to His service. I am happy to send you £800. for the Lord's work in your hands. I have kept the £200. for the Lord's work in L . Will you please to divide it thus : £300. for the Orphans, £300. for missionaries, £120. to be A.D. 1861.] 127 divided between the Bible—, Tract— and School Fund. Will you kindly accept £40. for your own use, and give £40. to Mr C."—Aug. 25. Received £10., with the fol lowing letter. '• My dear Brother, This time last year I wrote to you under the initials of A. G. W., telling you that I felt I ought to systematize my gifts to God's work, having been led to this conclusion from the account of the merchant who did so. Since that time I have been enabled to give a certain proportion of all my receipts, and I have not been the loser temporally ; for God has so prospered me, that my means this year have exceeded that of last by more than I have set apart for the Lord's use ; and I have still the greater satisfaction, that I am permitted to do something in the Lord's vineyard. Ect." — On the same day was received from Philadelphia, U. S. £8 —Aug. 31. From Brighton £25., with £'25. fur the Orphans, as "A thank-offering to the Lord, for what He has done for the donor's soul." Sep. 8. From Dublin £13.—Sep. 10. From Ireland £30.—Sep. 18. From Cornwall £13., " for the English Servants of Christ, labouring among the heathen."— Sep. 24. From Limerick £16.—From Dublin £100. for " Labourers in the Gospel at home and abroad, and the distribution of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts."—Day by day am i praying for means for these objects, and I do not wait upon the Lord in vain. He helps me. —Sep. 27. £50. " From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven." Nov. 9. £50 " From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven."—Dec. 21. £20. From the same donor.— Dec. 31. £20. From the same donor. Jan. 12. 1861. £30. from the same donor.—Feb. 8. £30. from the same donor.—Feb. 20. £30. aga'n from the game individual.— Feb. 26. Received two donations of £500. and £700. from different donors, which being left to my disposal, were taken for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. Thus the Lord is pleased to answer my daily prayer, for means for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts ; and to enable me to enlarge missionary operations yet further and further.— March 21. £30. " From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, 128 [a.D. 1861. constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven."—Apr. 17. £30. from the same donor.— Apr. 18, From Ireland were sent the following valuable articles, to be suld for the spread of the Holy Scriptures : A gold necklet set with diamonds and rubies, a gold neck- let set with diamonds and emeralds, a large gold brooch set with five pearls and four diamonds, a large gold brooch set with two carbuncles, a gold opal brooch, a gold brace- let set with emeralds and diamonds, a gold ring set with opal and four diamonds.—It is remarkable, that, shortly after the receipt of this donation, a precious and large opening was brought before me for the spread of the Holy Scriptures in Italy—Apr. 27. From a military gentle- man at Fort Hard, Cape of Good Hope, £16. 17s. 4d. —May 2. From Glasgow £56., with £14. for myself.— May 3. From Cardiff £15.—From Hamilton, Canada. West, £2. 10s.—From Clanfield £12. 6s, 11d., “‘ being the profits of a missionary basket during the last 11 months.” —May 25. £50. “ From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.” I have thus, out of the 1842 donations, received for these objects, from May 26, [860 to May 26, 1861, re- ferred to some. The reader may ask, and what was ac- complished by the funds, given year after year for these first four Objects of the Institution ? I reply, that, for instance, in the year from May 26, 1861 to May 26, 1862, (though the work was then small in comparison with what — it is now, in 1874, while I am preparing this volume for the press), even then there were four Day-Schools en- tirely supported, and ten assisted. One Sunday School was entirely supported, and twelve were assisted ; and one Adult School was entirely supported. Further, during the year referred to, 3017 Bibles, 1732 Testaments, 42 copies of the Psalmg, and 66 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures were circulated. Fuither, during that year 116 preachers of the Gospel, at Home and Abroad, were assisted by the funds of the Institution, and on this Object alone was expended during that year the sum of £5527. 5s. 2d. Lastly, during that year there were cir- culated above Two Millions and Seven Hundred Thousand Tracts. The total of the expenditure for these four Ob- jects, irrespective of the Orphan Work, amounted during A.D. 1861.] 129 that year to £7883. 17s. 3d. I will now refer to a few of the donations, received during the year, in order to show to the reader the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means, to meet these expenses. At the commencement of the period, May 27, 1861, I It ad left for these objects a balance of £1067. 0s. 1½d. This was the visible treasure to go to for meeting the ne cessities of the various Schools, in connexion with the Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and for the Missionary operations, which were as sisted out of the funds of the Institution. I needed therefore about seven times as much more, to be able to accomplish even as Uiueh HH-cTimng the previous year, for which 1 had no natural prospect whatever. But, while the visible treasure was hut smalt, comparatively. the invisihlS one, to be drawn from, through the instrumentatity ot prayer and laitb, was, as ever, inexhaustible ; and to this invisible treasure, in the possession ot" my never failing Almighty Friend and Helper, I looked, and to Him alone. And now hear, dear Reader, how we were helped with means for these objects during another year. May 27. 1861. On this very first day of the new period I have received from Cambridgeshire £5. as " The first fruits of a legacy ;" from Aska in India £24. ; from Perth 3s., and from 2 Bristol donors 3s. and 2s. 6d. This I take as God's earnest, that during this year also He will be pleased to Jielp me with means for these Four Objects. —Aug. 26. From a believer in business £10., with the following letter : " My dear Brother, It is now nearly 14 years since I commenced business, and in looking back upon that time, I feel I have abundant cause for praising the Lord, for the many mercies bestowed upon me, both tem poral and spiritual. Soon alter commencing business, I began to give out for the Lord about 5 per cent., and I found He blessed me in the business, and prospered me, and then I gave 10 per cent. for the Lord's work. After this I felt so happy in my soul, and constrained by the love of Christ, to go forward to 20 per cent., and now I feel very happy to give 25 per cent. for the Lord ; and as, constrained by love to Jesus, I give out, so the Lord gives back. He has T)lessed me far above all my ex pectations. I do desire to say it to the praise of His holy name, that I have felt the Lord more precious to my G 3 130 [a.D. 1861. soul than ever before.—I have it in my heart to send yon a mite for the work of God in your hands, and here- with enclose you £10., half for the Orphans, and half _ for Missions. I feel it to be a sweet privilege that God has given me the means, and He makes me very happy in giving. Etc."—Aug. 30. From Lockerbie £10. 10s. for “ Evangelization in Italy, or for Italian Bibles, the undivided Word of God.” Sept. 8. From a clergyman near Exeter £1. 10s. for Missions, £3. for the Orphans, and 10s. for myself.— Sept. 4. From Belfast, for Foreign Missions, a gold wateh, 2 old silver watches, a piece of a gold pin, a purse, containing 31 old silver coins, 2 guinea pieces, and 3. half guinea pieces—Sept. 14. From an officer of the Madras Army, at Jubbulpore, £5. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £5. for Missions, and £5. for the Orphans.—Sept. 20. From Adelaide, South Australia, £50.—Oct. 23, From Holland a Dutch Bank Note for 200 florins (£16. 188. 4d.\—Day by day I am asking God for means for these Objects, and especially for means for labourers in the Gospel, whom I seek to help. How refreshing, therefore, to receive means from all parts of the world. In the last-mentioned instance it came from a Noble Lady in Holland, whose heart God had moved to remember this work.—On the same day I received from the neighbourhood of Adelaide, South Australia, from a Christian German Lady £1. for Indian Missigns, £1. for the Bible Fund, and £1. for the Orphans; together with £1. 14s, and 6s. from other donors, for the Orphans. Before my receipt could reach the donors, the German Lady had \ entered into her rest, having since her conversion been actively employed in winning souls for the Lord. In going over my account books, whilst writing this, I find the names of not a few donors, who are no more in the body. Let that speak to your heart and mine, esteemed eader, and let us seek to live and labour for God, while | we have the opportunity of doing so. We have but one life on earth, and that one life is a very brief one. Re- member, also, that there are certain privileges connected with this life on earth, which we shall not enjoy even in heaven. Nov. 8. Last evening, though I had only a balance of £389. 14s. 1d. remaining for these objects, I had por- AD. 1861.] 131 tioned out £156. for Missions, and proposed in a few days to send at least £200. more to foreign labourers in the Gospel, trusting in the Lord to replenish the fnnds. Now observe the Lord's kindness ! The first letter I opened this morning, contained a Bank order for £150., with these words : " My dear Brother Miiller, I have at times, for years, been much desiring again to help with a little cash the work of the Lord in your hands, and now cheerfully do so, hoping the inclosed £150. will be an acceptable offering to the Lord Jesus our Redeemer. Surely, in our right minds, we must all say, " Of thine own have we given thee." Etc —I received, besides, for Missions £5. from Dublin, from Clifton £5.; also from the neighbourhood of Liskeard £2. 10s. for Missions. Thus £168. 10s. came at once for these Objects to re plenish the funds. Nov. 9. Saturday evening. When this week com menced, I received only £3. 19s. by the first delivery. Shortly after there came in the course of my reading, through the Holy Scriptures, Isaiah 26, 4, " Trust ye in the Lord for ever ; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."— 1 laid aside my bible, telt on my knees, and prayed thus : I believe that there is everlasting strength in the Lord Jehovah, and I do trust in Him ; help me, O Lord, for ever to trust in Thee. Be pleased to give me more means this day, and much this week, though only so little now has come in. — That same day. Nov. 3rd, I received £10. from Surbiton, £5. from a donor residing in Clifton, £2 from a Bristol donor, and in the course of the week altogether £457. came in ; thus Jehovah again proved, that in Him is everlasting strength, and that He is worthy to be trusted.—Dear believing Reader, seek but in the same way to trust in the Lord, if you are not in the habit of doing so already, and you will find, as I have found thousands of times, how blessed it is. But if the reader should be yet going on in carelessness about his soul, and therefore be without the knowledge of God and His dear Son, then the first, and most important thing, such a one has to do, is to trust in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of his soul, that he mny be reconciled to God, and obtain the forgiveness of his sins. Without this trusting in the work and suffering of the Lord Jesus for salvation, -there will be little, if any, real trust in God for 132 [A.D. 1862. other things; for it is faith in Jesus which gives happy confidence with reference to God. Jan. 14, 1862. From a Missionary box at Newton Abbot £2. 4s. 8d. On this day I received also a dona- tion of £2,000. (already mentioned in connexion with the income for the Building Fund), of which I took £1,200. for these objects. This donation has been a great help to me with regard to them, and is the precious fruit of hundreds of prayers, which day by day, during the. whole of this period, have been again brought before God, viz., that I might be able to accomplish still more re- garding Missionary objects, and respond to every suztable application for Bibles and Tracts being sent out gratui- tously, which hitherto invariably has been the case. The Lord be magnified for thus helping me, and bringing me in this way nearer the full answer to my prayers !— Jan. 17. From Boston, United States, £2. for Foreign Missions.—Jan. 20. From Cumberland £30.—Jan. 25. From the missionary box in a meeting room at Weymouth 10s.—From Yorkshire £10.—Jan. 28. From Chelten- ham £5.—Reccived also £2,500., of which I took for these objects £1,500., and thus I have the precious pros- pect of having the desire of my heart fully granted, as to ~ the extension of operations in connexion with them during the present period. Not a single day has passed away, since May 27, 1851, on which I have not requested the Lord to send means for them, besides, especially, asking His blessing to rest upon them spiritually; and fully have I expected answers, though I had no natural pros- pect of obtaining them. How precious, how prosperous, how truly easy, how truly pleasant is the path of faith ! But it must be real trust in God; full trust in Him. Merely to say, we trust in Him, and in the time of trial turn aside into bye-ways, forbidden paths, will never bring the blessing. Remember this, dear Reader. It is said by one who has proved the blessedness of this way since 1829, though he knew it not for more than four years after his conversion, but walked the common road, often, yea almost habitually acting, in these matters, like those who walk by sight and sense—Feb. 24. The following letter was received from a Christian physician, enclosing a donation of £10. ‘ Dear Brother, T“eiicluse you a A.D. 1862.] 183 Bank order for £10., to apply as you think fit. I wilt give you a short account of myself, and how the Lord has . dealt with me. When a young man, I felt myself to be asinner, and became very religious; but my religion was the religion of terror, not repentance unto life. As might - be expected, under temptation I fell into sin, and sinned with less compunction than before: all my desire was, to lead a respectable outer life, and that by no means a religious one. About mid-life, when I was. married, I began again to think seriously. It was good and respect- able to be pious, I thought, to attend church, and have the worship of God in the family. And well I remember, on the first day of my married life I read the 24th chapter of Joshua, and in self reliance took his words, ‘ As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ This was the religion of duty, and signally failed ; for in a few years I gave up the worship of God in the family, and sinned more grievously than ever, nay, sneered and scoffed at all marked godliness. The good Shepherd all the time was seeking me, to bring me into the true fold, by teach- ing me the unsatisfying nature of all sinful pleasure, and all earthly good. After a severe attack of illness, up- wards of two years ago, however, the Lord broke up the fallow ground of my heart in a wonderful manner. I came out of that illness with a yearning after some loving | object to fill it I could not account for. My wife, my ; family, every loveable object about me, or wherever I | could find one, ¥ took to my heart with a depth of feel- ; ing to which I had been hitherto unaccustomed. I loved | every loveable thing, and hated everything sinful. It , was God saying unto me, ‘ My Son, give me thine heart |’ | Still, however, sin and Satan, for a time, were too strong | for me, and I again fell into evil. This was, however, | with great distaste to myself. At last Jesus, the beloved One, came and occupied the aching void of my heart. I saw God, the loving Father, giving Jesus to be the sin- bearer—my sin-bearer, and found peace and joy in believ- ing. Thus in my life having passed through the religion of terror, the religion of duty (those false religions of multitudes), I came to the religion of Love. I appre- hended the love of God in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world unto Himself, me unto Himself, not imputing unto me my trespasses. How simple, bow satisfying now to 134 [A.D. 1862. me, seems the plan of salvation, as laid down in the Word ; and how strange it seems, that I did not for thirty-five long years see or comprehend it ! In my days of darkness I was a great admirer of flowers, and had several houses put up, in order to cultivate them. There was a deal of self-love in this. I liked to be spoken about as possessor of a fine garden and fine plants ; flower culture was my hobby, their possession my idol. The ten pounds sent is the price of one of the plant houses I had ; I had it taken "Sown and sold to a friend]! TtnnHorrey sent to you, as to God, is therefore the price of an idol cast down by His mighty power, as He Himself, I trn?t, now dwells in its room in £he temple of my heart. ' Thanks bo to God for His unspeakable gift ! ' Oh ! (he unsearch able riches of Christ. Believe me very affectionately yours, * * * * M D." I have given this deeply interesting letter at full length, in the hope that some of the readers may be benefited by the experience of this Christian physician, and that, if they have not yet found the forgiveness of their sins, and power over sin, through faith in our Lord Jesus, they may with all earnestness seek after it. March 3. From Hong Kong, China, £20. " Not given I out of the donor's abundance, but because he loves the work of theliWd, and desires now to live to His praise father than to trust to any future ability. —From a pro- I fessional gentleman in London £15. with the following letter : " My dear Brother in the Lord, since I last wrote to you I have continued to set apart, for our Master's use, a fixed proportion of my income every month ; but I find the claims around me so many, that a long time has elapsed since 1 have been able to send any portion of the sum to you, though your work certainly has a prior claim ; for it was from one of your Reports that I first heard the suggestion.—I find the habit a most valuable one, serving to remind one continually of the responsibility that the possession of money brings, and so, in some measure, to arrest the tendency which I fear we all have, of setting the affections on the worthless treasures of this world, as they increase, instead of on those which are laid up for us in heaven. With sincere respect and affection, yours in the Lord * * * *." March 8. Anonymously, a One Hundred Pound Note A.D. 1862.] 135 from Liverpool, with the following words : " For Mis sionary purposes, as Mr. Miiller may see good to appor tion it."— Day by day I am intreating the Lord to send roe means for this object, and I do not wait upon Him in vain. My prayer has been again daily, during this period also, that I may be permitted to accomplish still more in connexion with Missionary objects, than during any of the former periods, and I look for, and confidently expect, the answer to these prayers. May 4. During the last two days had come in only about the twentieth part as much as had been expended. When I thought of the greatness of the outgoings, and the smallness of the amount which had come in, I rp- membered the words in Isaiah xxvi. 47 "Trust ye in the Lord for ever : for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength ;" which portion liad come Before me some time since ; and my heart responded : " In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, and in Him I will trust." A few minutes after, I received a letter from Canada, containing a Bank order for £100. currency, or £81. 9s. sterling, as a thank-offering from believing parents, that their daugh ter was brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus in answer to prayer, when very ill, and was not removed before she knew the Lord. " Now, for this grace," the father writes, " we desire to praise Him—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— one God, and, as .portion of a thank- offering to the Lord for this grace, I send you £100. currency, or £81. 9s. sterling, out of that which He has given me, all which is His. I send it to you, because I think it honouring to the Lord, whom you trust ; and in such way the servant may do his Master's will ; for if you have been by grace called to work in faith, His followers are called to honour Him, by sending of that which is His, to you, wherewith to work. Receive, therefore, as from the Lord, this money for use for Missions, Orphan Schools, or such other work as you may think will at the time most honour the Lord, and seem most directly in answer to prayer," &c. I took of this sum, £50. for Missions and the Bible and Tract Fund, and £31. 9s. for the support of the Orphans.—The next letter was from Ireland, containing £15. for the Lord's work, and £5. for myself.—May 10. " From several brethren in Christ at Sealkote, Punjab " £5.—" As a thank-offering from a - 186 [a.D. 1862. widow, whose only son has begun to read the Word of God, and which she regards as an answer to prayer,” £5. —May 22. I had within the last two or three days gone over the whole list of the Labourers in the Gospel whom I seek to assist with means, and had portioned out £1,005. to be sent to them. ‘This left but a small balance in hand for these Objects. This evening, before I left the Orphan Houses, I had begun sending out the money, and had also asked the Lord, that He would be pleased to increase the balance. These two occupations had been among the last I was engaged in. When I came home, I found £200. had arrived from a very great distance, but the donor desires no reference to be made to the place whence the money comes, but simply to state that it is “ From a friend.” The whole of this £200. I took for these Ob- jects, and thus our balance is already somewhat increased. —May 24. “A birthday memorial, from an aged pil- grim,” £20. I have thus, out of the 1,222 donations, received for these Objects, from May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1862, referred to some. When brought to the close of the year, I found the Lord had fully answered the prayers, which day by day, during the whole year, had been brought before Him with reference to means; so that all the demands in connexion with the variuus Schools, either entirely or in part sup- ported by the funds of the Institution, could be amply met; further, every suitable application for gratuitous * supplies of Bibles, New Testaments, and Tracts, though there were many hundreds of such, could be fully re- sponded to; and, with regard to Missionary operations, I was able, during the year, to expend more than during any previous year since the work began, on March 5, 1834, I, therefore, praise and adore and magnify the Lord, for condescending again so bountifully to answer our prayers, thongh we had no natural prospect whatever, at the beginning of the period, that it would be so, but the very reverse. The following pages give now a few instances, how from May 26, 1862, to May 26, 1863, it pleased the Lord to help us with means; but, as the narrative pro- _ ceeds, these instances must become fewer on account of the size of the book. A.D. 1863.] 137 Aug. 25, 1862. From London £20., with the following letter from the donor, who is a professional gentleman : ‘¢ My dear Brother in Christ, On the eve of my leaving town for my holiday, I am putting my house in order ; and, on looking through my accounts, I find that I have £20. due to the Lord, in addition to what I have found means of giving during the last few months. 1 enclose a cheque for that amount, as 1 am indebted to your Reports for the hint, which has led me to adopt this most valuable habit of laying aside a fixed proportion of all my earn- ings for the Lord’s work. May our Father continue to work by you and with you, and dwell richly in you, is the earnest prayer of your affectionate brother, * * * *.” Sep. 3. £35. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, eonstrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Oct. 25. £20. from the same donor.— Nov, 19. £50. from the same donor.—Nov. 28, Received £14., which, being left at my disposal, I put to the fund for these objects. The donation was accompanied by the following letter: ‘“ Dear Mr. Miller, I hereby send you £12., the amount which I have still in hand to give away, at Five per Cent. on my gross receipts, as well as £2., the sum which would be required to insure my corn and stock from fire, as my God has given me faith to believe, that everything is in His hand, and nothing happens without His divine permission. Oh! to have more faith, These two sums together make £14., which please to use as you see best. I remain, yours very affectionately in Jesus, * * **,” When this letter arrived, our fund fur Missions, Bible and Tract Circulation and the Schools was exhausted, as I had expended all I could in helping labourers in the Gospel, and in sending out Bibles and Tracts. Dec. 17. £35. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure. in heaven. Jan. 1, 1863. As repeatedly, since May 27, 1862, the funds for these objects had been exhausted, and the Lord then had kindly again sent means; so, when this day commenced, there was only £47. left. Now see how the Lord helped. I received to-day, from a distance of several handred miles, £100. for Missions, £40. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, £20. for the Orphans, with 138 [a.D. 1863, £13. 6s. 6d. for myself.—Also from a working party at Newton Abbot £3. for Foreign Missions.—Jan. 2. Re- ceived altogether to-day £36. 3s. 94d. for these objects in 17 donations.—Jan. 5. Received from the neighbour- hood of London £24. 15s. 6d. with the following letter : “ My dear Sir, I have again the privilege of sending you a cheque (£21. 15s. 6d.) for the furtherance of your good work. Please appropriate it as most needed. I feel it my duty to devote more and more to the service of my © precious Saviour. It is now some years since I com- menced putting aside a tenth of my entire income. From year to year I have increased the amount, and how abundantly have I been blessed in the act. ‘It is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in my eyes.” Would that all, calling themselves Christians, might but make the trial! Accept my kind regards, best wishes and prayers for a blessing on your labour of love. I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly, * * * *."—I make the follow- ing remarks in connexion with this letter: 1, The donor, though he has repeatedly contributed similar amounts, is otherwise an entire stranger to me; up to the present I know not even his profession or business. See how God helps! Take this also in connexion with the little there was left on the morning of Jan. Ist. 2, The donor says, that he commenced with putting aside a tenth of his entire income, but that he feels it his duty to devote more and more to the service of his precious Saviour, and that he has increased the amount year by year; but he adds, “how abundantly have I been blessed in the act!”—Jan. 20. From Whitby, a gold watch and seal, to be sold for Missions. “A gold watch and seal, to be sold for Missions.” Allow me, esteemed Reader, to say a few words on this subject. There are on my list, now, 187 servants of the Tord Jesus whom 1-seck—to assist These preachers of ~ the Gospel have no salary; they have (by far the greater part) no regular income at all; but are supported as our adorable Lord Jesus was, and as His apostles were, by the contributions of godly persons, voluntarily offered. Through the ordering of the Lord I have had these 187 labourers in the Gospel brought before me, not only as such who do the work of God, and whose labours are owned by Him, but who also are in need of temporal A.D. 1863.] 139 supplies. When such brethren have been discovered by me, 1 have sought to help them ; and, when means were exhausted, I have given myself to prayer on their behalf. But, as the number of these brethren amounts now to 187, the reader witl see that £2,000., yea, £4,000., are soon spent, in order that each of these labourers may be supplied with a little only. Large sums, therefore,' may be profitably expended in aiding these servants of the Lord Jesus, and large sums will I gladly expend on them, as God may be pleased to intrust me with them, though these brethren are not the missionaries of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, but the Lord's servants, and are only assisted by this Institution. Will the Christian Reader allow me, then, in connexion with this subject, to ask him the question, whether caring for those who preach the Gospel is laid on his heart, and whether, as the Lord gives him the ability, he seeks to aid them, both at Home and Abroad ? In aiding them, we do the work of God, and become fellow- labourers with those who preach the Gospel. Every one, according to his ability, should help on this blessed work ; and, because these 187 brethren, here referred to, have no salary as preachers of the Gospel, they are, on that ac count, not the less to be cared for ; for they need the things connected with this life. Many of them, I know, have been often, like the apostles of old, in great straits and necessities ; and, not a few have written to me, that, were it not for the help they receive, through my instru mentality, they should, humanly speaking, be unsupplied and unable to go on. Ought we not to pray then for such servants of the Lord Jesus ; and ought we not, also, according to our ability, to help them with our means ? In what a variety of ways we may help, is shown by the last mentioned donation of the gold watch and seal, to be sold for missions. If we. consider .what we can do for such preachers of the Gospel, it may be found that we cannot give large donations in money, yet we may give perhaps small donations ; or, should we have no money at all for this purpose, it may be found, that we can spare some needless articles, which may be turned into money for such an object. A little, surely, every child of God can do ; and if we do what we can, that is all the Lord looks for. 140 [a.D. 1863. Jan, 28, 1863. £800.—Feb. 4. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to iy up treasure in heaven.—Feb. 10. £600.— March 26.{ £100. from Scotland——March 27. £40. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, ¥eeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 22. £32.’ from\the same donor. The end pf the year was now at hand, and, in winding up the accounts, it was my earnest desire, to do once more all I could, in sending help to needy labourers in the Gospel. I went therefore through the list, writing against the various ‘names of those to whom I had not already recently sent, what amount it appeared desirable to send ; and I found, when these sums were added together, the total was £476., but £280. was all I had in hand. IT wrote therefore a cheque for £280., though I would have - gladly sent £476., yet felt thankful, at the same time, that I had this amount in hand for these brethren. Having written the cheqne, as the last occupation of the day, then came my usual season for prayer, for the many things which I daily, by the help of God, bring before Him; and then again, I brought also the case of these . preachers of the Gospel before the Lord, and besought im that He would even now be pleased to give me yet a goodly sum for them, though there remained but three days to the close of our year. This being done, I went home, about nine o’clock in the evening, and found there had arrived from a great distance £100. for Missions, with £100. left at my disposal, and £5. for myself. I took, therefore, the whole £200. for Missions, and thus had £480. in hand to meet the £476. which I desired for this object. Those who know the blessedness of really trusting in God, and getting help from Him, as in this case, in answer to prayer, will be able to enter into the spiritual enjoyment-I had in the reception of that dona- tion, in which both the answer to prayer was granted, and with it the great enjoyment of gladdening the hearts of many devoted servants of Christ. . _ May 26, 1863. “ From B. P. and B.” £1. 5s.—From Leicester £1.—From Yorkshire £30. for the circulatiou of the Holy Scriptures and £20. for Missions, as “a Birthday memorial. May 24.” ‘This last donation of the period enabled me yet further to send some help to Missionaries. A.D. 1863.] 141 Having to the utmost of my ability aided Schools, svught to circulate the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and aided Missionary operations, the balance left at the end of the year, for these objects, is only £3. 118,99}d.; but I have had the joy of spending, on them, during the year, £7170. 6s. 7$d.; and I look with calmness aad the con- fidence of faith to my Heavenly Father with neference to what will be needed for the year before me. May 27, 1863. When on this day, the new period of the Institution began, the balance in hand, for these objects, as has been stated, was £3. 11s. 93d. This was our yisible treasure to look to, while the expenses for these objects alone had been from May 26, 1862, to May 26, 1863, £7170. 6s. 74d. But whilst our visible treasure was only £3. 11s..93d., we had the invisible treasure of the Livmg Go go to, and felt ourselves, therefore, as rich as if we had had Thousands of Pounds in hand. I will now refer to some of the ways, whereby it pleased the Lord to enable us to meet the heavy expenses which were before us, if, as in previous years, we desired to go on supporting the schools, which had been supported, circulating the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and aiding Missionary operations. May 27, 1863. On this very first day of the period were received trom ‘“ P, G.” 2s. 6d., from Walworth £5., from Exeter 7s. 6d., from T. P. at Frome 2s. 6d., from Sudbury 5s., and from Liverpool £5.—Thus the balance was already increased, and so the Lord helped further.— May 28. From London £5. for Labourers in the Gospel. —dJune 1. From Clevedon £15. Aug. 1. £30. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. ‘Oct. 1. There were left to-day at my house two One , Hundred Pound Notes, with the following lines: “ The | donor leaves the disposal of the enclosed £200. to Mr. Miller, with the exception of begging him to accept five | pounds for himself, and give five pounds to Mr.C.” Iam daily praying for means, and am longing to send out ~ help to the brethren who Jabour in the Word, and am longing to go on with the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. I received this when there was but little in hand for these objects, and thercfore took the whole £190. for them. Only half an hour 142 [A.D. 1863. before receiving it I had been again in prayer for means for them.—Oct. 3. From Oxton £2.—Oct. 2. '• From C. S. J., Surrey," £5. for Missions among Romanists in Ireland, £4. ditto in France, £4. ditto in ltaly, and £7. for Missions to heathen in British India.— £35. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in Heaven. —One of the last things I was occupied about this evening at the Orphan Houses before leaving, was por tioning out £280. to be sent to brethren who labour in the Gospel, spending to the very last pound I had for this object. Gladly would I have sent out more, had I had the means. When I came home, about nine o'clock, I found a letter from Glasgow, with an order for £60. and the information that the amount was sent for " brethren labouring in the Gospel at Home and Abroad." Thus, in this answer to prayer for more means for Missions, I had the desire of my heart granted, and was able to send out more.—Oct. 5. From a Christian lady in Scotland £3., with the following deeply interesting letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, a simple hearted brother in the Lord, (a fisherman,) has lately had his mind a good deal exer cised about giving of his substance to the cause of Missions ; and during the herring season he resolved to give the proceeds of one night's fishing. So, before going out, he made it a matter of prayer ; and that night was more successful than he had been during the whole season, which he looked upon as a token of the Lord's approval. Out of the amount, he yesterday handed over £3. to be sent to you, in aid of Foreign Missions, which I have now the pleasure of enclosing. I am not at liberty to give his name, but I am sure you will ask the Lord to s shower down upon him His blessing a hundred-fold. • Yours in Him, * * * *." In this you see, dear reader, again, what a. variety of ways the Lord is pleased to use in supplying us with means ; it also shows how, if there is really a hearty desire to help on the work of God, He will supply us with means, that we may be able to do so, as in the case of this Christian fisherman. Nov. 18. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love oi' Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Nov. 24. From a shipowner £220., who sent this money instead of insuring his vessels, committing them into the hands of God. The donor wished £100. to X A.D. 1863.] 143 be used for Missions, £100. as I might deem best (which was equally divided between the School—Bible—and Tract-Fund, and the support of the Orphans); £10. he sent for Mr. C., and £10. for myself. Within the last four days, before receiving this donation, I had sent out - £3845. 10s. 8d. for foreign labourers in the Gospel and Italian Bibles. Gladly would I have sent to labourers in the Gospel still more, but the means were exhausted. I could only continue to pray, and this letter came to hand. See, dear reader, the blessedness of prayer. Nov. 28. From Manchester £4. 15s. 4d.—From a Bristol donor £3. for Foreign Missions—From Lincolnshire 10s.— Evening. All the money I had in hand for these Objects had been portioned out last evening for tracts and labourers in the Gospel, and only £1. 6s. 102d. was left, having expended last evening £267. 9s. 10d., and, within a few days previously, for Spanish Bibles and Testaments, Italian Bibles and Testaments, and foreign labourers in the Gospel, £384. 19s. 7d. I was going now through the whole list of labourers in the Gospel. This evening, in answer to my daily prayers, which especially had again been brought before God, when I had so little left, I received anonymously £5. from Norwich, of which the donor desired me to keep £1. for myself, and to use £4. as I thought fit, which I took for these objects. I found also from Dublin the following letter, with a Bank Post Bill for £100. ‘‘ Beloved brother, [ rejuice to have fellow- ship with you in making known the glad tidings of the Gospel, both through servants of the Lord who preach in His name, as well as through Bibles. and Tracts; and therefore transmit you the enclosed Bank’ Post Bill for £100., which I shall thank you to divide equally between those two objects, &.” See, esteemed reader, how again in this instance God sent further help in answer to prayer, and by it be en- couraged for yourself. See, also, how I-sent out to the last I had, without anxious reckoning as to the future; and how the Lord sent in more, and thus gave me still further the precious privilege of continuing to spend for Him, in connexion with Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. And thus it has now been for forty years. His help has never failed. The mgans may have been almost, of entirely exhausted, but 144 [A.D. 1864. He has not failed ns, but has proved Himself continually the self-same wise and unchangeable Friend and Helper. Make but trial of His readiness to help, and you will tind Him to be the same to you. Dec. 31, 1863. £30. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. January 1, 1864. The new year commenced with blessing as to means, with reference to these Objects also, as was the case with the Orphan Fund. There came in on the first day of the year, for them, 25 different donations, of which 1 will only refer to £'2. from Huntley, instead of insuring the donor's life. — From a Christian Shipowner £100. for Missions, £15. for the School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, and £15. for the Orphans. The whole was sent by the donor, instead of insuring his ships, com mitting them simply into the hands of God.—Ou January 2nd came in again 10 donations, of which I only mention £23. 18s. Id. from Dalston.—Jan. 13. £1. 15s. 9d., with the following text and letter : " Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms ; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Luke xii., 32—34. " Dear Sir,—This is a word that I wish to be deeply impressed on my mind, so that all my earthly labour may be done with this one object in view. It teaches us to look for the Kingdom, as the one object worth striving for, and to esteem earthly good only as the means by which we may " lay up in store a good founda tion for the time to come." During the past year a mer ciful Providence has helped me in a difficult and trying time. My business has increased, and I have been pre served once from fire, which happened during the night, and which endangered my property to the extent of £200., being close to it. Twice during the year I have been preserved from robbery. Once thieves broke into my place, and passing me on the first floor, took property valued at £30., from another occupant of the same build ing. In the last case thieves were breaking in by the window, and would have got in, but the police came upon them, and they ran away. This last has set my mind on A.D. 1864.] 145 the text " where no thief approacheth," etc. The writer of the above is a man of business in one of the most busy towns of England. He has often sent donations of £3., £5., £7. and upwards, as the Lord hath prospered him ; his testimony is, that God had helped him in a difficult and trying time, during the past year, that his business had increased (while the very reverse natur ally might have been expected) ; and that he had been protected against fire and thieves. Do you see, dear reader, how, even in this life, and as to temporal things, the Lord is pleased to repay those, who act for Him as stewards, and who contribute to His work or to the poor, as lie may be pleased to prosper them ? Uut how mucn greater is the spiritual blessing we receive, both in this life and in the world to come, if, constrained by the love of Christ, we act as God's stewards, respecting that, with ; which He is pleased to intrust us ! * Feb. 10. £1,350, This donation was a precious an swer to many prayers for more nu>ans for the School,— Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, whereby I was enabled to accomplish much, which I had desired.— Feb. 23. £1,100. The Lord be magnified for this sum! It is the fruit of very many prayers. I am thus still further sup plied with means for these four Objects.—Feb. 27. From Yorkshire £30. for Foreign Missions. —From Grahams- town, Cape of Good Hope, £4. 10s. March 1. From London £100. for Foreign Missions. Day by day I am labouring in prayer for means for Mis sionary objects, and entreating the Lord, to condescend to allow me to accomplish more and more in connexion with this part of the work. This donation, therefore, from an unexpected quarter, was very refreshing to my spirit.— From the neighbourhood of Goole £10. for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—March 2. £148. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— March 23. £10. with the following letter: " Dear Mr. Miiller, I herewith enclose you two Five Pound Bank of England Notes, being part of proceeds from the sale of J unnecessary books and pictures^which please to use for I the ijord's work. '' Sell that ye have, and give alms ; ' provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, H 146 [a.D. 1864. neither moth corrupteth,’ hath indeed a meaning,” ete. That which was obtained by the sale of unnecessary books and pictures, furnished me with means for sending out Gospel Tracts and copies of the Holy Scriptures, and for aiding preachers of the Gospel at Home and Abroad, who Jabour without being connected with any Society, or hav- ing any regular salary. Thus many children of God, if there be first a hearty desire to help on the work of God, would sooner or later, be able to have the privilege of doing so, though sometimes it might only be accomplished by either abstaining from the purchase of some needless ar- ticles or by the sale of such articles already in their posses- sion.— May 25, 1864. As to-morrow will be the last day of our present year, I had within the last three days gone through the whole list of labourers in the Gospel, por- tioning out all I could for them, £1,300, Our Missionary fund being thus exhausted, my prayer was, that the Lord would be pleased to give me more means for this object. This prayer He has already begun to answer; for I received this morning from Uppingham £1. 1s. for Misisons.— From a ship owner, who sends the amount instead of in- suring his vessels, and commends them into the hands of God, £100. for Missions, £50. for Bible—, Tract—, and School Fund, £50. for the Orphans, £10. for Mr. C., and - £10. for myself.—From Reading £5. for Heme Missions. — From Acton 14s.—May 26. From London £1. for labourers in the Gospel.—“ As a birth-day memorial, 24th of May,” £25. for Missions and £25. for the Bible Fund. —From Gloucester 10s. for Missions. — From East - Moulsey £2. for Missions. May 26, 1864. At the close of the period from May 26, 1863, to May 26, 1864, I stand before the Lord with admiring gratitude, not only with regard to the help given for the support of the 1,241 Orphans under our care during the year, and for having allowed me to add, to the Building Fund £6,956. 18s. 6}d., but also for giving me the means for expending more than ever on the support of Day, Sunday, and Adult Schools, and more than during any one of the 30 years of the existence of the Institution upon Missionary Objects; for enabling me fully to respond also to every suitable application for the gratuitous circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts ; and all this whilst we began the year, with only a balance A.D. 1864.) ~ 147 ~ of £3. 11s. 93d. in hand. See, dear Reader, what may be accomplished simply by faith, and habitual, expecting prayer. Look at it for encouragement with reference to your own affairs, and make use of these precious, never failing means for yourself. Thus we have been helped year after year, and, generally, year after year the Institution has been enlarged, and the ex- penses therefore have increased. Such enlargements were never made, because we had more friends, or any certain amount of income, or promises; but simply because we saw the need of such enlargement, and trusted in the Living God for the needed means. This faith in Himself He . has always honoured, and now, at the close of the fortieth year of the existence of this Institution is honouring more and more, though at the present time, the total expenses yearly amount to more than Forty Thougand Pounds. For all this, without the least regular income, we look to the Lord alone. He does, year after year, carry us through the expenses, without our ever going in debt, without our - ever asking for anything, without directly or indirectly giving hints to donors in writing, to send us help; and all this we do, in order that it may be seen, how much can be accomplished even in the second half of the Nineteenth ' Century, simply through the instrumentality of prayer and faith. As, however, I have yet a period of about ten years to write about, with reference to the income for the first four Objects of the Institution (the total expenses of which considerably exceeded One Hundred Thousand Pounds), I must now mention only a very few of the do- nations each year, simply as specimens. May the reader seek toown the hand of God, in helping us more and more every year! Aug. 23, 1864. £50. froma servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Aug. 26. Anonymously from. P. B. £90., with £15. for myself—Sept. 17. The following letter, received with 2s, 6d. in postage stamps, from Wor- cestershire, shows what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to use in order to supply us with means for His work: “ Dear Sir,—Having read your Report, I felt it my duty to give to the Lord the fruit of a little tree in my garden, for you to do what you think best. ave given the tree to the Lord, and the fruit to His glory, H2 148 [a.D. 1864. ‘which amounts to 2s. 6d., myself being a poor man, but, T hope, rich in faith, an heir of His kingdom. Dear Sir, Yours in Christ * * * *” I have received donations of Thousands of Pounds, as much as £8,100. at once; and during this year also £5,000. at onetime. I have re- ceived also Thousands of donations amounting only to £1., one shilling, or one penny. But whether one penny or £8,100.: all the donations come , front Od Th every one of them I seek to realize His hand whilst. feeling grateful to donors even for the smallest contribution; I would particularly seek to recognize that it is God who moves their hearts, to help me in His work. The above donajion shows, that even the very poor may have the privilege of contributing to the spread of the Gospel. Here is a poor man, who gives a little tree in his garden to the Lord, and purposes, that what the tree bears, shall be the Lord’s. At last the fruit is ripe, it is sold, and the proceeds, amounting to 2s. 6d., are sent. Another, in more prosperous circumstances, may be ableto send £2. 10s. Another, by the blessing of God upon his business, £250.; another £2,500.; and another still more; but whether little or much, to do what we do unto the Lord, constrained by the love of Christ, is the great point; and to give accord- ing to our ability, whether great or small, is another im- portant point.—The reader it also requested to notice that donations come not only from various parts of the United Kingdom, but almost from all parts of the world.« There are few countries from which I have not had donations. They chiefly come from strangers, and, in many instances, anonymously. But all come as the result-of prayer, un- asked for on our part. We wait on God, day by day, expecting answers to our prdyers ; and, as the days come, so come the'answers. A day seldom passes without many dona- tions being received, from very unlikely quarters, to make the hand of God more manifest, to encourage us more and more, to wait on Him, and to ascribe allto Him. We gladly give Him all the glory in this matter; and so He honours us, uses us, and enlarges our stewardship more and more. Were we to ascribe the help we receive to the Reports, to our personal influence, to anything we have done or could do; we should soon be confounded ; God would soon let us see how powerless we are in ourselves, When the second Report of the Institution was published, A.D. 1864.] 149 giving an account of the first 144 months of its operations, the total income for that period had been £617. 19s. 89d. When the Eighth Report was published, giving an account of 26 months and 4 days, the income had been during that period £3,588. 7s. 8d. When the Seventeenth Report was published, in 1856, the income for that_one_year had been £14,588. 5s, 103d. When the Twenty Sixth Report “ was published, in the year 1864,_the total income of the yeat had_been sbove Thirty Thousand Ponnds and since then it has Been even Forty Thousand Pounds and_up- wards. See what God can dy simply through prayer and faithT I doubt not, the simple-hearted Christian reader "| will be ready to say, prayer and faith have indeed accom- plished much in the history of the Scriptural Knowledge Anstitution for Home and Abroad. Well, dear Reader, let me affectionately advise you to make use of faith and prayer, at all times and under all circumstances. The very object of the Orphan Work was primarily, the glory of God, to show (for the benefit of the Church at large), how mouch prayer and faith could do; because while the writer saw that many things were wanting in the Church, he judged that nothing was so much needed as an increase of faith ; and therefore would gladly be a servant, to this end, for the benefit of his weaker brethren in the faith. The joy which answers to prayer give, cannot be de- scribed ; and the impetus which they afford to the spiritual life is exceedingly great. The experience of this happi- ness I desire for all my Christian readers. If you believe indeed in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, if you walk uprightly and do: not regard iniquity in your heart, if you continue to wait patiently, and believingly upon God; then answers will surely be given to your prayers. You may not be called upon to serve the Lord in the way the writer does, and therefore may never have answers to prayer respecting such things as are recorded here ; but, in your various. circumstances, your family, ‘ your business, your profession, your church position, your labour for the Lord, etc., you may have answers as dis- tinct as any here recorded. Should this, however, be read by any who are not be- lievers in the Lord Jesus, but who are going on in the carelessness or self-righteousness of their unrenewed hearts, then I would affectionately and solemnly beseech such, 150 [A.D. 1864. first of all to be reconciled to God by faith in the Lord Jesus. You are sinners. Yon deserve punishment. If you do not see this, ask God to show it unto you. Let this now be your first and especial prayer. Ask God also to enlighten you not merely concerning your state by nature, but especially to reveal the Lord Jesus to your heart. God sent Him, that He might bear the punish ment, due to us guilty sinners. God accepts the obedience and sufferings of the Lord Jesus, in the room of those who depend upon Him for the salvation of their souls ; and the moment a sinner believes in the Lord Jesus, Vie obtains the forgiveness of all his sins. When thus he is reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, and has obtained the forgiveness of his sins, he has boldness to enter into the presence of God, to make known his re quests unto Him ; and the more he is enabled to realize, that his sins are forgiven, and that God, for Christ's sake, is well pleased with those who believe on Him, the more ready he will be to come with all his wants, both temporal and spiritual, to his Heavenly Father, that He may supply them. But as long as the consciousness of nnpardoned guilt remains, so long shall we be kept at a distance from God, especially as it regards prayer. Therefore, dear reader, if you are an unforgiven sinner, let your first and especial prayer be, that God would be pleased to reveal to your heart the Lord Jesus, His beloved Son. Oct. 3. £10. for Foreign Missions, with the following postscript in the donor's letter. " You know there are many opinions among Christians, who desire conscientiously to devote their talents to God's service, as to how much to give. What / think Scriptural is some such plan as / adopt, viz., many years ago, I gave 5 per cent. on my gross earnings ; then, as my business increased, 10 per cent. ; and now, that it is by God's blessing still larger, bringing in more than my large family (eight children) need for their support and good education, I give 15 per cent. as the minimum." I add the following remarks to this postscript. 1, The writer says, " There are many opinions among Christians, who desire conscientiously to devote their talents to God's service." This, undoubtedly, is true ; and, as the Lord lienrs with these ditferent opinions, so should we bear one ;vith another regarding them. Moreover, there is no A.D. 1864 ] 151 command given as to the amount which the believer in Jesus should give of his property back to the Lord, as under the former dispensation, when the tenth part was enjoined ; for it is His will concerning us, that we should seek to enter into the depth of that grace and love of God, which led Him not to sp.ire His only begotten Son, but to deliver Him up for us. When this is done, the heart says, according to the Scriptures, " I am bought with a price, I am not my own." " The precious blood of the Lord Jesus has redeemed me, I am not my own. With all I have, and am, l am the Lord's. What [ would, therefore, especially advise my fellow believers in the Lord Jesus to aim after is, to seek more and more to enter into the grace and love of God, in giving His only begotten Son, and into the grace and love of the Lord Jesus, in giving Himself in our room, in order that, constrained by love and gratitude, they may be increasingly led, to sur render their bodily and mental strength, their time, gifts, talents, property, position in life, rank, and all they have and are to the Lord. By this I do not meau, that they should give up their business, trade, or profession, and become preachers ; nor do I mean that they should take all their money and give it to the first beggar who asks for it ; but that they should hold all, they have and are, for the Lord, not as owners, but as stewards, and be ! willing, at His bidding, to use for Him, part or all, they have. However short the believer may fall, nothing less than this should be his aim. The writer humbly con fesses, that nothing short of this has been his aim, and, by God's grace, his practice too, during the last forty- three years; and, as he has practised these principles, habitually and unhesitatingly, during these forty-three years, he may be allowed to say, that the blessing results ing from thus acting has been unspeakably great. Notice 2, the experience of the writer of that postscript. He began with 5 per cent. on his gross earnings. If only this were done, how much would many children of God have to give, who now, comparatively speaking, give exceedingly little. He gave after a time 10 per cent., and still later 1 5 per cent. Do you know the reason ? I can tell you. The privilege of giving is found to be so great, the blessing to the soul so rich and abundant, and the repayment of the Lord so bountiful, that not only does the heart - 152 [4.D. 1864. desire yet further to partake of this blessed privilege, but those who act thus have, also, the power of giving more and more, according to that word: ‘ There is that scat- tereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth Ley more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal * | soul shall be” mate-farr-andte-thatwatereth shall be watered also himself.”— Prov, xi. 24, 25. “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom! For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”—Luke vi. 38. Notice also 3, what the writer of the postscript says: “I give 15 per cent. as the minimum.” If any of the children of Wot are mr yer wate to siirender them- selves with all they have and are to the Lord, I strongly advise them, while they seek for higher attainments in the divine life, for fuller apprehensions of their heavenly calling, their heavenly possessions, and heavenly realities, that, in the mean time, they fix upon a certain proportion to dedicate to the Lord for His work, or for the benefit of the poor. Let this be never so small, at the beginning, yet it is better to introduce systematic giving, as the Lord may prosper, than to give only as the feelings are wrought upon, or certain impressions are made. This proportion may be increased, as God gives more means or more grace; and blessing and happiness, | say it deliberately, will increase yet more and more. Before leaving this subject, I must refer to one point, viz., how have we to act if prosperity in our business, our trade, our profession, ete., should suddenly Cease, notwith- staiiding our having given a considerablé ‘proportion of our means for the Lord’s work? My reply is this. 1, “In the day of adversity consider.” It is the will of God that we should poiiderour ways; that we should see whether there is any particular reason, why God has allowed this to befall us. In doing so, we may find, that we have too much looked on our prosperity as a matter of course, and have not sufficiently owned and recognized practically the hand of God in our success, Or it may be, while the | Lord has been pleased to prosper us, we have spent too j much on ourselves, and may have thus, though uninten- i tionally, abused the blessing of God. Ido not mean by | this remark to bring any children of God into bondage, A.D. 1864.] 153 so that, with a scrapulous conscience, they should look at every penny, which they spend on themselves; this is not the will of God concerning us; and yet, on the other hand, there is verily such a thing as propriety or impro- priety in our dress, our furniture, our table, our house, our establishment, and in the yearly amount we spend on ourselves and family. If, in these respects we have acted with impropriety, let us not be surprised, if we are not further intrusted by the Lord as stewards, until we have made contession of our sin before God, and sought for- giveness at His hands through the blood of the Lord | Jesus. Another reason why prosperity ceased, may be } ‘this, that, while we have given away a considerable pro- portion of what the Lord has given us, in comparison with | those who give very little, yet, this proportion may be ! small, in comparison with the blessing, success and prus- perity, which the Lord had granted previously; and His end, in causing prosperity to cease, for a time, may be, that we should consider this. But suppose the believer in the Lord Jesus, after self examination, considers none — of these reasons applicable to himself; then it may be that the Lord, for the exercise of his faith, and to prove him, whether he will still continue to act as His steward, has tried him thus, by temporary adversity. What is to be done under such circumstances? The first point to be settled is this: If the person owes more than he pos- _ sesses, if he is insolvent, it is plain he has not to give out of that, which is not his. Or, if, by giving when prosperity has ceased, he would make himself insolvent, it is plain that he has to refrain from giving ; but if there is ac- } cumulated capital, though no present increase, the very |: best thing to do (if there is only grace for it) is, to give | out of the means obtained by former success and prosperity, ; as good stewards of God, to prove our gratitude to Him + for former prosperity. Natural reasoning, I know, would ° say the very opposite; but faith in God acts thus. At | the end of the last century a very godly and liberal mer- | chant in London was one day called on by a geutleman, | to ask him for some money for a charitable object. ‘Ihe | gentleman expected very little, having just heard that the ; merchant had sustained heavy loss from the Vieanat some } of his ships. Contrary, however, to expectation, he re- * ceived abot ten times as much as he Tad expected for - son ea ig memebers 154 [a.D. 1864. his object. He was unable to refrain from expressing his surprise to the merchant, told him what he had heard, how he feared he should scarcely have received any thing, and asked whether after all there was not a mistake about the shipwreck of che vessels. The merchant replied, It is quite true, I have sustained heavy loss, by these vessels being wrecked, but that is the very reason, why I give you so much; for 1 must make better use than ever of “thy stewardship, Test ié should be-entirety taten from me. Consider, esteemed reader, what the merchant said ! Oct. 5, 1864. From Glasgow £90. for labourers in the ' Gospel, with £6. for myself. Day by day I am labouring in prayer for means for Missionary objects; having an abundance of opportunities of spending much in this way, this donation is especially refreshing to my spirit. With what was left in hand, I was thus enabled, two days later, to send out £275. to the labourers in the Gospel.—Oct. 12. £40. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Dec. 26. £20. from India as “‘ A thank-offering from the Himalaya.”—Dec. 31. From the North of England £50. 3s. Od.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £80. Jan. 1, 1865. As I am day by day labouring in prayer for means for the support of the Schools, connected with the Institution, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and for Missions; I also gladly respond to applications for copies of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, gratuitously, and send ont help to the labourers in the Gospel, according to the ability which the Lord is pleased to give. And thus by the end of the year almost all the means were again spent, which, instead of casting me down or discouraging me, only led to further believing and expecting prayer. With the commencement of the year came fresh supplics, of which I only mention £200. for Missions from a ship-owner, instead of insuring bis vessels. Also from Worcestershire £10. for the Schools, £10. for Bibles, £10. for Tracts, £50. for Missions, £50. for the Orphans, and £14. for myself.—Jan. 2. Received £37. 138. 3d., with the following interesting letter: “My dear Sir, Again I am permitted to send you a cheque for A.D. 1805.] 155 £37. 13s. 3d , being the balance of a fund, which I have DOW for five years regularly set aside out of my income for the work and people of the Lord. 80 much have I been blest in thus doing, that the fifth year has more than doubled the first, thus proving the truth of Proverbs xix. 17. My kind regards and very best wishes. I am, dear Sir, yours truly * * * *."—Jan. 25. £80. frmn a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Jan. 28. From a ship-owner, instead of insuring his vessels, £200. for Missions, and £100. for the School—, Bible—and Tract Fund. Feb. 8. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and who, having received a present of £150., gave £148. for these Objects. March 1. From a Bristol donor £40.—March 2. The following articles were sent from Scotland, and taken for Missions : 6 silver dessert forks, 6 silver tea spoons, 8 silver egg spoons, 7 silver salt spoons, 7 gold seals, 1 gold watch chain, 3 gold finger rings, 1 watch ring, 2 watch keys, 1 breast pin, 1 case with shirt studs, 1 spring yard measure, 1 polished stone, 1 glass syringe in case, and 1 gold locket.— March 11. From Madras £55. 15s. 9d. — March 14. From Yorkshire £30. for Foreign Missions.— From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and who, having received a second present of £150., gave £148. for these objects.—March 17. From the neigh bourhood of Bath £1. and a gold chain for Missions.— From Surrey £150. 0s. 6d.— From Somersetshire £50. —March 22. £100. for Italian Missions.—March 24. From Yorkshire £30. for Foreign Missions.—March 30. From Ramsgate £50. April 6. From Redland Park £20.—From the United States Ten Dollars. —April 8. " From a ship-owner in stead of insuring his vessels," £15 >. for Missions and £50. for School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund.—April 10. From Dublin £4. 15s. with the following statement : " I have been in the habit of paying a yearly premium of £2. 7s. 6d. for tire insurance upon my furniture, etc. ; but, since reading your Report, I have come to the conclusion to trust in the Lord for the preservation not only of my 156 [A.D. 1865. person, but of my effects, and to send you the amount of the piemium. 1 therefore have the pleasure to enclose a draft for £4. 15s., the amount of this year's premium, and an equal amount added, to be applied in the Lord's ser vice, according to your discretion."—April 15. From Norfolk £20. for Missions. — From Demerara £5. — April 28. From Clevedon £15.— From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £80. May. 1. From Birmingham £12. 10s. for the printing of Tracts, with £12. 10s. for the support of the Orphans. —From Glasgow £60. and £15. for myself.—May 3. From Herefordshire £10.—May 15. Mrs. J. E. sent by desire of her late husband, for Missions, £1 1 . 5s.—May 1 9. From London, E.G. £50.—May 23. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £70. Within the last few days I have sent out £608. to labourers in the Gospel, and this evening, being now near the end of the period, I sat down with the list of 122 labourers in the Gospel in various parts of the jvorjcj, to poflton'oul as much more as it appeared desirable to send to them." After having written under each name in pencil the amount I desired to send, on reckoning it up, I found that it altogether amounted to £466. ; but 1 had only £374. left ; £92. more therefore was needed. I was not dis couraged, however, but wrote down on a piece of paper : " £466. I desire to send out, at least, yet further, if it please the Lord, for which I pray still, and ask Him still to give me the full amount of means yet needed. George MUller, May 23, 1865." This matter was especially brought before the Lord that very evening, before I went home. And now see, dear reader, how the Lord dealt with me. On reaching home, a little after 9 o'clock, I found a £5. note had been left at my house from H. B. of Clifton, the disposal of which being left to me, I took for this object. On the next morning, May 24th, I received from London £100., which had been placed some time since by a Christian lady in the hands of a Christian gentleman for Missions, but was now, by the wish of that lady, sent to me, for that object ; and thus, as the fruit of earnest, believing, and expecting prayer, came to hand in answer to my prayers. I also received, as " A Birthday Memo A.D. 1865.] 157 rial," £50., which being left at my disposal, I took for Missions. I had thus a precious answer to prayer, and the desire of my heart given to me, and was able to send out even a little more than I had written down, viz., £503. instead of £466. May 26, 1865. I add the following remarks in con nexion with the fund for Missionary operation during the past year. 1. During the previous year we had been able to ex pend more on Missionary operations than during any one of the thirty years the Institution had been in existence. 2. "When the last year commenced, we gave ourselves to prayer, that during the year upon which we had entered, we might be able to expend still more, and that the Lord would be pleased to send in the means accordingly, though we had no natural prospect that thus it should be, nay the very reverse. However, we continued in prayer. Day by day I brought this matter before God, and looked out for answers. The nearer the time came, the less it appeared likely, I should have as much to send out for Missions as the previous year ; much less that I should be able to accomplish more. But I was not discouraged, but con tinued in believing prayer, day by day, looking out for help ; and means came in. In the mean time, I sent out, to the utmost of my ability ; for, in order to have more in the way of stewardship, we must first use aright what we have already. At last it came to the evening of the 23rd of May, of which I have spoken, and the reader has seen the result ; by means of those three donations of £5., £100., and £50. I was able to accomplish all I desired for the last period, and was enabled to expend £5,669. 9s. 5½d. for Missionary operations, whilst during the pre vious year only £5,600. 7s. 9d. had been expended. But all this will appear the more remarkable, and as an en couraging answer to prayer, when the reader understands, that between £2000. and £3000. or more, which I had formerly for this Object, year by year, from certain quarters, entirely failed this year through particular circumstances. My own soul, however, was not discouraged. I had no doubt that I should obtain means from the Lord, though those souices had failed this year; nay, I entreated the Lord with greater earnestness, on this very account, that He would be pleased to help me, that it might be manifest 158 [A.D. 1865. this woik was supplied by/TVm, and was not dependant upon circumstances, nor confined to certain donors, who might be willing, but unable to give, or who might be removed by death, or otherwise lost to the Institution. Be then encouraged, dear reader, to trust in God, and in confiding, believing, expecting prayer, to bring your requests before Him ; and you will reap, if you faint not. 3. With regard to the servants of the Lord Jesus at Home and Abroad, whom I seek to assist, I would men tion that the means I have sent to them, often came to , hand at a time when they were greatly in need, having no \ stated salary, and being dependent on what the Lord I may be pleased to give them. The harvest not only is I great, and the labourers in the Gospel, everywhere, coiu- ' paratively few ;• but often the very men, who may be most earnestly seeking to labour in the Gospel, may be little thought of as to their temporal necessities. God, no doubt, is mindful of them. But while He does not for get them, that is no reason why we should not be, also, mindful of them. But let the Christian reader bear with me, when I affectionately ask, whether it is thus with him ; whether he remembers the temporal needs of the preachers of the Gospel at Home and Abroad ? It was, at first, the need in which I saw Evangelists, both in Foreign lands and in our own country, which led me especially to earnest prayer for a greater amount of means for aid ing them. And ever since 1845 I have particularly sought to aid those who are not connected with any Society or regularly supplied with means. The more, however, I was able to send to them, the more I saw how great the need of those servants of Christ was ; and as I laboured on in prayer for means, and became yet further ac quainted with holy, devoted but needy brethren who preach the Gospel, at Home and Abroad, the openings for spend ing means in this way became larger and larger with every year. The will of our Lord Jesus is, that the Gospel should be preached to all nations, and the Christian reader, who desires to help those men of God, has an oppor tunity of doing so now ; but this opportunity witl not be always given to him ; -for the Lord Jesus will come again, and then this going forth to preach the Gospel, or to aid the preachers of the Gospel, will be taken from us. May 27, 1865. We began this period with the balance A D. 1865.] 159 of £34, 88. 53d.; a small balance indeed for meeting the expenses connected with these Objects, yet it was a bal- ance in hand, and nota balance owed. [have always frum the very commencement of the Scriptural Knowledge In- stitution for Home and Abroad, acted on the principle of not going in debt; for it is plain to me, that if our work is the work of God; and if He will have us to be occupied in that work; and if His time is come, when we should do this work, He will surely, if in believing prayer we ask Him, give to us the necessary means for it. Should, however, the means be wanting, we have not to rush forward in self will and-say,1 will do the work, and T will trust the Lord A3 for ineans. “This cannot be real trust, it is the counterfeit of faith tis presiitiption ; and though God, in great pity and mercy, may even belp us finally out of debt; yet does this, on no account, prove, that we were right in going x forward before His time was come. We ought, rather, under such circumstances, to say to ourselves :—Am I in. deed doing the work of God? And, if so, J may not be ’ the person to do it; or if Iam the person His time may not yet be come for. me to go forward; it may be His good pleasure to exercise my faith and patience. 1 ought, there- fore, quietly to wait His time; for when it is come, God will help. Acting on this principle brings blessing to the soul; the opposite way, going in debt for the Lord’s work, as if God were too pour to pay four what He wants to be done, brings trials to the soul, and has, in many instances, | brought dishonour on the Lord. | On the very first day of this new period, when, as stated, we had a balance of only £34. 8s. 53d. in hand, I received £150. with the following registered letter: “My dear Sir, Enclosed herewith I beg to hand you £150., which please apply in the following manner, viz., for Missions. #£100., as the Lord may show you £50. The £100. note sent herewith came iuto my hands unexpectedly, and is the first money I have received as part of my wife’s por- tion. I have now been married rather more than six years, and I was not at all aware that I should receive this money. I felt tempted to invest it on behalf of my children, but have been led to send it to you instead, with my dear wife’s approbation. It has pleased the Lord to grant unto us four children, the last one was only born two days ago, and He has also seen fit to make mea 160 [A.D. 1805. steward over much earthly substance. My desire is, to use it for His glory. Pray that I may be enabled to do so.— 1 am, Yours very truly * * * *." The 4550. was taken for the School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, and the £100. for Missions.—Thus, on the very first day of the new period, the Lord greatly increased our balance. July. 26, 18(55 £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Aug. 1. From a Missionary £250. for Missions.— Aug. 12. From Somerset £30.—Aug. 14. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, £4. for Missions, with the following letter : "Dear Sir, I have been so pleased with the Report you sent me. and also blessed in my soul by reading the Missionary Notes, to know that there is such a glorious work going on amongst the heathen. I have a great desire to help that work in giving my mite, with the sincere motive that sinners may be brought to know God, as reconciled through Christ, and that they, being enlightened, may enjoy all the rich blessings of the Gospel. For that purpose I ask you to accept the in closed, and I feel it a great honour to be allowed to do even so little for the advancement of so important and so precious a cause. My fellow-servants are very much interested in the Report, and one purposes to send an offering the next money she draws. I should like your prayers, dear Sir, that I may be preserved to the end faith ful. I am very much tried at times with the fear that I may turn back, or find myself deceived. It is during the last 18 months that I have felt myself to be a believer in Christ, so that I am very young yet ; but I know the de light it must give you to hear of any, whom you have trained, finding peace in God. I now thank you for all your past love and care, and ever wish to remain, Your grateful, happy Orphan, * * * *."—This dear girl, having been 14 years under our care, was about ten years since eent out for service.— Aug. 31. Anonymously £50. for Missions, with £50. for the Orphans. Sep. 9. £2., with the following letter: " Beloved Brother, Accept of £2. for use, as before. Though you have not received anything since last year, yet the systematic tith ing of all that has come in, has been persevered with, and much satisfaction has resulted. One feeling has struck me, A.D. 1865.] 161 that, after laying aside the Lord's portion, there is such an entire ceasing to call it ones own, that, in going to it for distribution, one feels as if it were another's and not one's own. I have often felt as if I must add something of my own to that which is given from the Lord's fund.— We have never given away so much in one year, perhaps in several years, as we have done during last year; and the opportunity seems to increase with the amount given. I sometimes wonder we did not think of it before, as it seems to be a spontaneous feeling of the thankful or de voted heart. Thus, long before there was any law on the subject, Abraham (Genesis, xiv. 18-20.) and Jacob (Genesis, xxviii, 22,) felt bound to consecrate the Lord's portion as a definite amount. It is true, the Gospel | -^ demands our All ; but I fear, that, in the general claim on L\.' , AH, we havelihortened the claim on every thing. We are [ riot under law. True ; but that is not to make our j obedience less complete, or our giving less bountiful : rather, is it not, that after all claims of law are settled, the new nature finds its joy in doing more than the law ; requires. Let us abound in the work of the Lord more • and more. Yours in Him, * * * *". It is now twenty-nine years since I first wrote for the press on " Stewardship^""" Systematic Giving," " Lay nofup lor yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal ; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal : for where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Since writing on these subjects, in the third part of my Narrative, the minds of many children of God have been led to the con sideration of these subjects, but especially that of fystema- , tically contributing of their substance, as the Lord is! pleased to prosper them. The writer of the above letter j had been led through the Report of 1864 to see the im- ! povtance and blessedness of systematically contributing ' as God might prosper him ; and as he stated to me in the year 1864 how greatly his soul had been blessed through ' the adoption of this plan, so he again repeats, after further * experience, 'the same statement, being only more fully ; convinced of the blessedness of this way. Such con-' firmatory statements I have had in great numbers, and ^ 162 [A.D. 1865. therefore again dwell on this subject, if by any means it may be made a blessing to those Christians who have not yet considered the subject. I therefore make the following remarks on this letter : I. " The systematic tithing of all that has come in, has been persevered with." Our giving to the poor, to benevolent or religious objects, should not depend upon our feeling, upon being excited by particular circumstances, by charity sermons, &c. ; but in the fear of God, with a steady pur pose to live for Him, we should systematically communicate out of that which God first gives to us. He delights in giving to us, that we may give back again to Him. The principle for systematic giving we find in 1 Cor. xvi. 2, " Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him." As God had prospered the believers at Corinth, so they were to set apart. We have to notice in connexion with this the following points : 1, The setting aside for God was to be done regularly : it was not to be left to particular occasions and circumstances, or particular stirring addresses, but it was to be attended to weekly. This can now be done. But should any one not know to what degree it has pleased the Lord to prosper him during the week, then let him put aside as nearly as he does know, giving more, in proportion, when he finds out that he gave too little ; but, should he have given too much (speaking after the manner of men), and he did this to the Lord, he may be quite sure that it will be only seed to spring up and bear fruit, of which he will reap a harvest. 2, It may be said, How shall I put aside ? Must I actually separate this money , from my other money? The answer is, That is the simplest and in many respects the best way ; but it is not absolutely needful that it be done thus. A memorandum book may be kept, in which on one side is entered what is put aside for the Lord, to be expended on the poor, or for other benevolent or religious purposes ; and on the other side may be put down what has been expended, and from time to time a balance may be struck. 3, The amount thus put aside for the Lord, is, of course, faithfully to be used for Him, else it would be mocking God : and, there- fure, instead of obtaining a blessing, it would -rather be a curse. 4, It is further to be noticed, that every one of the Church at Corinth was to do this ; not the rich only, but A.D. 1865.] 163 the poor also. This is a point of deep moment. Many of the middle or poorer classes may lose much blessing, be cause they may think that, because they cannot do very much, they have not to do anything. The middle and poorer classes may have but little, comparatively, to give ; but at certain times the Lord may especially prosper them. At such times they may be able to give much ; and, if done unto the Lord, this would be the sowing the seed for a more bountiful harvest. Whilst, on the other hand, if possessing but little be continually made a reason for re fraining from giving, individuals who do so, among other reasons, on this account also, will remain poor. 5, After laying by in store, according to the above passage, there is something for the various calls which the Lord may bring before us ; and we shall give out of that which was previously set apart for Him. 6, It only remains to answer the question, In what proportion shall I give out of that, which the Lord, in prospering my labour, my business, my profession, &c. has been pleased to give me ? The reply is, No rule can be laid down. It is left to each '• believer to act according to the measure of light and grace he has ; and according to the various habitual necessities of his family. A farm labourer, with 10 or 12 shillings ; wages a week, 4 children and a wife to provide for, would give much indeed, were he to give out of his earnings 6d. a week; whilst a journeyman, with 26s. per week, and no ; children nor wife to provide for, giving 1s. 6d. per week, would give very little, though he actually gives three times as much as the farm labourer ; and still less would he give, who, with a salary of £20. per week, and no wife nor children to provide for, gives only £1. per week. The Lord looks not merely at what is actually given, but He considers also what is left behind. Hence arose the high commendation of the poor widow in the Gospels, of whom the Lord Jesus said, " Verily I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury, for all they did ca»t in of their abundance ; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." Mark xii. 43, 44. II. The writer of the above letter says, with reference to himself, " and much satisfaction has resulted " from this systematic tithing. I have had hundreds of similar testimonies. There is verily truth in that word of our Lord, " It is 164 [A.D. 1865. morn Messed to give than to receive " (Acts xx. 35) ; and those who act on these principles will have the joy of knowing this in their own happy experience. III. The writer says, " We have never given away so much as we have done during last year." How came this ? Because, as systematically there was the contributing as the Lord prospered him, so it came that he was entrusted with more. This I have found invariably to be the result, if God is honoured with our substance, according to the following statements in His own Holy Word : " Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase : so shalrthy Darns be titled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov. iii. 9, 10. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; ^ and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it £ tendeth to poverty." Prov. xi. 24" Notice here the word il more tfiants meetj" it is not said, withholdeth all ; but '"more than in meet'' viz., while he gives, it is so little, in comparison with what it might be, and ought to be, that it tendeth to poverty. " Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." Luke vi. 38. " He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." 2 Cor. ix. 6. I have now been more than forty-eight years a believer, and I never knew one single instance, in which children of God acted according to these four passages of the Divine testimony, but God proved that He was faithful to His word ; and I never expect to find any one acting honestly, according to these passages, but it will be thus invariably, as God has said. If it be not thus, it is certain that these principles have not been fully acted out. IV. The writer lastly says : \ " It is true, the Gospel demands our All; but I fear, that, tin the general claim on All, we have shortened the claim Jon everything," etc. We must hold it fast, that the j believer is bought by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, with all he has and is, and that he is not his own (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20; Rom. xiv. 7, 8). On this account his bodily and mental strength, his talents, his time, his possessions, all he has, belong to the Lord, and he is the Lord's steward. The believer in the Lord Jesus should, there fore, be satisfied with nothing short of this ; and, by God's A.D. 1865.] 165 grace, nothing but this has satisfied me for the last forty- four years ; but if it has not yet been attained to, it is most helpful to the child of God (who cannot yet from the heart say, " Lord, here is my all, take it how and when Thou pleasest ") to give a certain proportion of that which the Lord has intrusted him with. Let him begin at a low rate, if he has little acquaintance with God, and little trust in Him ; but let him give that little heartily, habitually, faithfully, as God prospers him. He will soon I see the blessed result, both temporally and spiritually. Let him then increase, as he has light and grace, and he will find further blessing to his own soul, and further blessing temporally. There are children of God in these days who stand with their all before God, as His stewards; and there are children of God in these days, who delight in being allowed to give to Him three-fourths, and more of all He is pleased to give to them ; and they are pros pered more and more, as to temporal things, and intrusted by Him with more and more. Sep. 12, 1365. From Slapton £4. 5s. as " a thank- offering at a harvest thanks-giving meeting."—Sep. 27. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Oct. 5. From Ireland £3. with this statement of the donor : " The amount which I had intended paying for a game license for the season, but think this way of -spending it is more pleasing to the Master, whose steward I am."—Oct. 14. From Yorkshire £30. for Foreign Mis sions.— Oct. 30. From Glasgow £60.—Nov. 1. From London £100. for Missions in Heathen Countries.—Nov. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesns, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £40.—Nov. 28. During the last few days I had sent £550. to Missionary Brethren, and paid also a consider able sum for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and for the support of the Schools ; so that there was only 7s. 1 1d. left for the School—, Bible—, Mission ary — and Tract Fund. This lowness of the funds only led me to more earnest prayer, and to look out the more expectingly for fresh supplies. Accordingly I received this morning, Nov. 28, from Clifton £10. for Missions, from the neighbourhood of Stroud £5. for Missions, through Bethesda Chapel boxes 2s. 6d. for Missions and 166 [A.D. 1865. from " West Kington Box " 4s. 11d. for Missions.—Nov. 29. From Glasgow 13s. 3d. and from Gotham £4.—Nov. 30. From Dublin £100. for Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. See, dear Reader, how soon the Lord again supplied us with fresh means, after we had been reduced to only 7s. 11d. for these four Objects. Dec. 1. Received £1. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Accept the inclosed for the Lord's work, from a mother and daughter, who have put a farthing, half penny, and penny from each article of their own make, that they sold during the year. May our Father long spare you for the glorious work He has given you to do. Yours in all Christian love, ****." Observe, dear Reader, the variety of ways in which the Lord is pleased to help me ! Notice, how the poor have their goodly portion also in helping me ! And learn, my poor brother and sister in Christ, from this, how you too, poor though you are, if there be only a willing mind, may have the sweet privi lege of helping to circulate the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and how you may aid in the support of Mission aries, and Schools established for the benefit of poor children.—Dec. 11. From India £15. 6s. 9d. for Bible—, Missionary— and Traet Fund.— Dec. 23. From Devon shire £60. for labourers in the Gospel.—Dec. 29. From one of the believing Orphans now in service, £2., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I have great pleasure in sending the enclosed order for two pounds, either for your own personal expenses, or the Orphan Work, or Missions, just which you feel requires it most I lt is but a mite, but I desire to give it in the same spirit, that the widow's mite was given, which made it acceptable. I hope thu work will prosper in your hands more and more, and that the consolations of God may be many and great with you. With best wishes, dear Sir, for you and yours, I am grate fully ****." " P.S. Pray for me that my faith fail not ; for the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I am still very happy in striving to live by faith in Christ for eternity. I hope you will yet have many seals to your ministry." The above two pounds were taken for Missions.—Dec. 30. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £15. A.D. 1866.] 167 Jan. 1, 1866. The new year brought fresh and bounti ful supplies for these Objects. There came in for them alone £303. 19s. 6d. I only refer to one donation from Worcestershire, being £60. for Missions, £20. for the Bible Fund, £20. for the Tract Fund, £20. for the School Fund, £60. for the Orphans, and £20. for myself.—Jan. 16. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Jan. 38. Received from Norfolk 1s. 8d. for Mis sions, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Will you be pleased to accept of this small mite as from the Lord. I have read your last five Reports and have been much blessed by them. Pear Sir, I have had it in my heart to help you in so great and blessed a work, but had not the means. The last year, however, I said to my husband, we will give to the Lord one of our young hens, and I now enclose you 1s. 8d. in postage stamps, the sale of her first eggs. May the Lord be honoured in this small offering. We send it for the Mission Fund. I wish to tell yon my husband is a very poor working man, with five children. May the Lord bless you, and prosper you in this good work, is our earnest prayer. *»**.'* There is a worldly proverb, dear Christian reader, with which we are all familiar, it is this, " Where there is a will, there is a way." If this is the proverb, of those who' know not God, how much more should believers in the Lord Jesus, who have power with God, say : " Where there is a will, there is a way." Look at the case of the wife of this poor working man and their five children. Sovereigns she had not to send, nor half crowns. But she dedicates to the Lord the eggs of one of their young hens, sells them, and sends the money for the Mission Fund. It is indeed only as a drop in a bucket. But these dear poor people do what they can, and the gift is as great and as precious, considering their circumstances, as if a large sum had been sent by one of the Lord's stewards, who has been set over much. It is accepted by Him " According to that a man hath, and not accord- ing to that he hath not^jrCor- viii- 12.—Jan. 20. From Rangoon", Burmah, £ 1 -—J an. 24. From Ireland, a cameo brooch for Missions.—Jan. 31. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100. for Missions. 168 [A.D. 1866. Feb. 1. From one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, a believer, and now in service, £4. for Missions, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, You will be sur prised to hear from me again so soon, but I will give you my reason in the history of the enclosed sura, which I am thankful to be able to offer for the Missions. I had saved a nice sum from my earnings, until I was moved in road- ing your Narrative to send you a portion of it. The inclination was again renewed, and I put a certain small portion by, intending it for a last resource, in case of sick ness, or death, that I might not prove a burden to any one ; thinking it would be presumptuous to leave myself entirely without, as I had no one, humanly speaking, to look to for the least help. But, dear Sir, I have received such benefits, such manifestations of God's care and good ness towards me, I was constrained to return Him the little in my power, to help forward the glorious work of spreading the Gospel, that others thereby may be brought to enjoy the same unspeakable blessings, through the knowledge of that Gospel ; and I felt I was doing a very ungrateful, neglectful act by keeping this money lying, when there is much to be done. I was very much en couraged in making this small sacrifice by the thought suggested in Matthew vi. 26th and 30th verses, feeling assured, that, if I continue faithful, all will be right at last, though no earthly possessions be mine. I have en croached upon your time, but I wished YOU to know one of the many ways, in which your Lord and Master shows His knowledge of your need, for means to carry on the great work in your hands. Hoping, dear Sir, yourself and family are well, I am gratefully ****." Feb. 5. From W—, Esq. £70., with £20. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Feb. 21. From Worcestershire £20. for Chinese Missions.—Feb. 28. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and who, having received a present of £150., gave £148. of the amount for Missions. —March 29. From a Christian Orphan now in service, ; £ 1 . for Missions, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. . Miiller, I have again the pleasure of offering my mite for ,] the support of Missions, and hope the work may continue ' to prosper in your hands. You will be pleased to know • that I am still able to rejoice in a pardoning God, and am ‘A.D. 1866 ] 169 daily aiming at sanctification. Hoping you and yours are well, I am, in much gratitude and esteem, * * * *,” April 2. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—April 14. From Clifton £100. for Mis- sions.—April 26. From Glasgow £60., with £15. for myself.—May 15. From a servant of the Lord Jesna, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up ' treasure in heaven, £50.—May 17, 1866. From Leices- tershire £184. 6s. 64. for Missions.—From Heywood £5. for Missions. After having recsived the last-mentioned donations for Missions, as the close of the year for the Jnstitution drew near, I went through the list of the 125 labourers in the Gospel, who have been assisted out of the Missionary Fund of this Institution, during the past year, writing down the smallest amount that it would be desirable to send to.them (though my own heart would gladly have sent three times as much). After adding up the various sums, allotted to each, I found the total to be £1,064; but I had only £891. in hand, and needed therefore £173. more. As, however, the Lord had often, under similar circumstances, given me the desire of my heart, in answer to prayer, I looked to Him and asked Him for the amount. And now see how He acted. Late in the evening I found at home a registered letter, in which a Christian shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, sent me £100. for Missions; the next morning I received from an officer of the Indian Army £20. for Missions; from Bath £2. for Missions, and from Malvern Link £2. 5s. 6d.—On the 19th came in 10s. from Hereford, 2s, 6d. from Westport, and £1. from Kentish Town for Missions—On May 21st £4. 10s. from London, £4. from Alford, 10s. from Castle Martyr, 4s. from a Bristol donor, £2. 10s. from Forres, and £8. from Exeter for Missions—On May 22nd, £10. from a London donor for Chinese Missions, 10s. from Banstead, £10. from Gloucester, £2. from Alnwick, and £2. from Malvern, all for Missions. Received also to-day the following letter, with £10.: “A poor afflicted widow who has to work for her living at her needle, has by the help of her Heavenly Father been enabled to put a little into the Savings’ Bank, against sickness and want; but . since reading your 24th Report, given me by a lady, IT feel constrained by the love of Christ, who has done so I 170 [A.D. 1866. much for my soul, to send you the widow's mite, to help His great work in your hands, to be used as most needed. And may He give me grace, to put my whole trust in Him for all my temporal supplies, who has promised by Paul to supply all our need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.—Hoping the Lord has enabled me to do this in a right spirit, that you may safely receive Post Office Order for £10., and that our Heavenly Father may long spare you to be His faithful servant, will pray your afflicted Sister in Christ, .* * * *." I put the whole of this £10. to the Mission Fund.—Received also, the same day, from Plymouth £2. ; from Tunstall 3s. Id.; from Peterstow 10s., and through Salem Chapel Boxes 5s., all for Missions.—May 23. From Reading £5.— From New Brunswick £5.—From Hereford 10s.—From Pimlico £2. 14s., and 6s.—From Belgium £1. 0s. 6d.— May 24. From Plympton £2. 10s.—From Dubh'n 10s., and from some Orphans 5s. 9½d. all for Missions.— Through the boxes in New Orphan House No. 3 for Chinese Missions 10s.—May 25. From Gloucester £15. for the Bible and Missionary Fund.—From the neigh bourhood of Chippenham 6 guinea pieces, 4 half guinea pieces, and 6 seven shilling pieces for the Bible and Mis sionary fund.—May 26. From Clevedon 10s. and from Devonshire £100. for Missions. Thus I not only had the £173. which I wanted more on May 17th for Mis sionary purposes, but I could send even more than the £1,064. which I had portioned out for Missionary brethren. •In the course of this last day of the year of the Institu tion I received still further some small sums for Missions, and in the evening I found at home a donation of £45. for Missions from Berkshire. I now enter upon the new period in connexion with this lnstitution, from May 26, 1866, to May 26, 1867, in which again very large sums were needed for the School—, Bible—, Missionary — and Tract Fund ; and the reader will see how again, during this year also, the Lord helped us. We began the year with a balance of £163. 10s. 8½d. in hand for these Objects, which, to some persons, may appear a large sum, but which, in our case, on account of the heavy weekly expenses, was a very small amount. The Lord, however, supplied us with more, before the A.D. 1866. ] 171 means in hand were gone; and though, afterwards, a few times, almost all was expended, yet the Lord was pleased soon, in answer to prayer, to give us further supplies. I refer now to a few of: the donations. July 4. From Worcestershire £100. for Missions, £40. for the Tract Fund, £25. for the School-Fund, £20. for the Bible-Fund, £100. for the Orphans, and £380. for myself.—July 20. £100. for Missions, as ‘The first dividend of a new investment.”—Jovly 21. £12. for Mis-~ sions, “ From a Friend in Auckland, New Zealand.”— July 28. From Yorkshire £50. for Foreign Missions.— July 30. From a Bristol donor £100. for Missions, £100. for the Bible-Fund, and £100. for the Tract Fund. Aug. 1. From Clifton £50. for Missions.—Aug. 2. From Yorkshire £50. for Foreign Missions.—Aug. 24. From Clifton £50. for Missions. . Oct. 25. From Scotland £100.for Missions to the Heathen. — Oct. 29. From Scotland £56. for School—, Bible—, Missionary—, and Tract-Fund, with £14. for myself. Nov. 27. From Yorkshire £50. for Foreign Missions. Dec. 7. Received £50. for Missions and £50. for the Orphans, with the words “ Only believe.”—Let us pause afew moments, dear reader, and ponder these words of - the Lord Jesus, “ Only believe.” Ke Tong as we are able to trast in God, holding fast in heart, that He is able and “og willing to help those who rest on the Lord Jesus for sal- vation, in all matters which are for His glory and their good, the heart remains calm and peaceful. It is only when we practically let go faith in His power or His love, that we lose our peace and become troubled. This very day I am in great trial in connexion with the work in | which I am engaged; yet my soul was calmed and quieted | by the remembrance of God’s power and love; and I said | to myself this morning: ‘“‘ As David encouraged himself | in Jehovah his God, when he retamned to Ziklaks so will | encourage myself in God;” and the result was peace ° of Boul gam, this day six weeks ago, a great trial | befell me in connexion with this work, which continues - still ; but I trust in God for help and deliverance. Some | of my readers may imagine, that, because I obtain so ! many answers to prayer, and am signally helped in so many ways, that I have no longer such trials, as I used to have from 1838 to 1848, or at other times. This would 12 172 [A.D. 1867. be a great mistake. It is quite an exception that a day comes, -which does not bring its difficulties! and trials; and the only difference between the present time and former years is this, that my difficulties are now ten times greater than they were during the years referred to, because tlie work is now ten times greater than it was* then. More over this might be expected ; for the Lord gives faith, for the very purpose of trying it for the glory of His own name, and for the good of him who has it ; and, by the very trial of our faith, we not only obtain blessing to our own souls, by becoming the better acquainted with God, if we hold fast our confidence in Him, but our faith is also, by the exercise, strengthened : and so it comes, that, if we walk with God in any measure of uprightness of heart, the trials of faith will be greater and greater—Dec. 26. From a" Bristol donor £50. for Missions.—Dec. 31. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50. Jan. 1. 1867. From Worcestershire £25. for the School Fund, £20. for the Bible Fund, £100. for Missions, £40. for the Tract Fund, £100. for the support of the Orphans, and £30. for myself.—Jan. 7. Received 12s. for Missions, with the following account about the donation from the lady through whom the money was sent : " The history of this 12s. is as follows. It was given to me by a very poor old woman, whom I have known for the last 18 years, always suffering, apparently dying of heart complaint, al ways in poverty, earning a scanty living. She has reared a numerous family as a widow, bearing the character of a Christian ; supported in all her trials by faith in the Son of God. This dear old woman said, as nearly as I can remember, the following words : ' We ought to keep our promises to God, ought we not ? ' I did not quite under stand her meaning, so she explained. ' When we have vowed to do anything for God we should do it.' She then added : " Many years ago I went to a Missionary Meeting, and when I heard the Missionary tell what great things the Gospel had done for the heathen amongst whom he had laboured, I was so stirred up, that I was ready to cry because I had nothing to give ; and I said in my heart how happy are the rich, who can do something to help the cause of God. I can do nothing, for I can barely A.D. 1867.] 173 earn a living for myself and children ; and then I vowed i in my heart, if ever the Lord should give me anything I that I did not expect, and had not worked for, I would I give it to the Lord for Missions to the heathen. The •* Lord has made me wait a long time ; but He has given it to me at last. Ten shillings were given to me by my sister on her marriage, and 2s. by another friend. I have had the money some time by me, and did not know how to send it ; for if I gave it to the minister it might seem like boasting, &c.'" Allow me, dear Reader, to give you the following hints in connexion with the donation of this poor widow. 1. It shows, that, if we are desirous to help on the work of God, He will surely fulfil the desire of our heart. 2. Notice the variety of ways in which God is pleased to supply me with means ; how" even the very poorest are influenced by Him to send help to me. 3. Remember the word of this poor widow " How happy jire the_ricn, who can do something to help tTie cause of GotE" Is the opportunityP to the full, embraced by us, to whom the Lord has given more than to this poor widow ? Is it really the Godly aim and purpose of our hearts, to lay up treasure in heaven ? Do we habitually keep before us, that we have but one brief life to spend on earth, and that this is the sowing time for eternity ? Let us think of these weighty matters. Jan. 10. From a clergyman £1. 1s. for Missions, as " A thank-offering for the privilege of preaching the Gospel."—Jan. 12. From a Staff- Sergeant 5s. saved by giving up smoking.—Jan. 16. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £60.—Jan. 21. From Hyers, France, £5. for Missions. Feb. 7. Sent as the legacy of the late Miss E. A. H. £50. for Missions and £50. for the Orphans.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £80.—Feb. 8. The last work I did yesterday evening at the Orphan Houses was, to go through the list of Missionary brethren, whom I seek to -assist, and portion out £439. for some of them, writing down to the last Pound all I had left. After this, in my usual long season for prayer, I asked the Lord, among many other things, for more means for Missionary Objects. Now see how soon the prayer was answered. 174 [A.D. 1867. This morning I received from Devonshire a cheque for £200., which was left at my disposal, except that the donor kindly wished me to keep £25. for myself. 1 took, therefore, £125. for Missions, £25. for the Bible Fund, and 25. for the Tract Fund.—Feb. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Feb. 26. A servant of the Lord Jesus having received a present of £150., and desiring to lay up treasure in heaven, gave £148. of it for Missions. March 7. From a Scotch donor £200. for Missions.— March 22. From Nelson, New Zealand, £2. for Missions. —March 27. Received £2. 3s. for Missions and 7s. for the Orphans, with the following instructive letter : " Dear Sir,—Having experienced much of the Lord's goodness through many afflictive circumstances, I felt constrained to devote a small sum out of what the Lord has given me, viz., one penny in the shilling of what I make of butter and eggs, and five shillings for each calf that we breed. We have lost three calves by an epidemic, never theless I send the money, as it was devoted ; and the trial to our faith is, no doubt, a more precious gift to us, than the retention of the calves would have been.—We lent one of your Reports to a Godly dressmaker of our neighbourhood. She felt desirous to help in the good cause, and desired that the progeny of a favourite rabbit should be sold, and the proceeds given to the Tjrphanar When the rabbits were fit for sale, she changed her mind. A part must be kept back, she thought, to help the cause of God at home. That very part, two rabbits, were found dead on the day they were sold. The proceeds trom tfie sale of the young ones, amount to seven shillings, which she wishes to be applied to the maintenance of the Or phans. I also send you £2. 3s., from the sale of butter, eggs, etc., for the purpose of helping Evangelists who labour in Popish countries. Etc." April 1. From a donor then in Devonshire £200. for servants of God who labour among the heathen.— April 2. From Somersetshire £50. for Missions, with £50. for the Orphans. —April 10. As a birth-day thank-offering £•28. 10s. for Missions, with £28. 10s. for the support of the Orphans.—April 13. From Gloucestershire £50. for Foreign Missions.—April 17. From a servant of the Lord -. AD. 1867.] 175 Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £150.— April 18. From Scotland £70. for Foreign Missions with £30. for the Orphans.— April 20. From South Australia £4. 19s.—From an Army Schoolmaster in India £1. 10s., and from a Christian widow, through him, 10s.— April 24. £20. with the fol lowing letter : " My dear Sir, As God gives me grace, I give to Him a fourth part of all money He gives to me. From this Satan tries hard to move me. Pray that he may not succeed. I have lately come into the pos session of a little, of which the enclosed £20. is a por tion. Please take it for Missions. Affectionately yours * # * *_"—From Yorkshire for Foreign Missions £25. —April 26. From Scotland £60.—April 29. From Yorkshire for Foreign Missions £25. May 4. A valuable gold watch and a gold neck stnd to be sold for the benefit of Missionaries amongst the hea then.—May 9. A legacy of the late Miss L. L. for Mis sionaries at Home and Abroad £10., for the circulation of the Eloly Scriptures £10., and £100, for the support of the Orphans.—May 13. Received 10s. with the following letter from Ispwich : " Dear Sir, The enclosed 10s. is given by a very poor Sister in the Lord for His work under your care, to be used as most needed. She gave it into my care by two-pence weekly instalments. I remain, Sir, Yours in Jesus * * * *." Notice, esteemed Reader, this donation. Ten Shillings made up by weekly instal ments. It took this poor Godly woman sixty weeks, to give this amount ; yet she goes on, steadily, week after week, giving to this brother in Christ her two-pence, until this little sum was made up. She had not a Ten Pound nor a Five Pound note to send ; nor had she the means of sending even ten shillings at one time ; but she does what she can, she gives two-pence per week. It is not the amount that the Lord looks at ; but He looks at the spirit in which we give, and at the amount left in our hands, after we have given. By this the Lord judges of our gifts. The above ten shillings were taken for the Bible—, Missionary— and Tract-Fund.—May 22. From Scot land for Missions £100. —May 23. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £148. By the donations for Missions during the last two days, with what was pre . 176 [4.D. 1867. viously in hand, I had the great joy of being able to portion out on May 23, 1867, the sum of £1,267 for bre- thren who labour in the Gospel, whereby the total amount, expended on this Object, during the year, amounted to £5,010. 188.2d. * I have thus given a few specimens of the way it pleased ~ the Lord to supply us with means for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, from May 26, 1866 to May 26, 1867. We were thus helped through another year with regard to means for the first four Objects of the Institution, and though about Seven Thousand Pounds on them alone had been expended, through waiting upon the Lord and the exercise of faith, we obtained all we needed, and had at the end of the yearly period a balance of £90. 3s. 13d. in hand. With this amount, we entered upon the year from May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868, hav- ing before us to assist 133 Missionaries at Home and Abroad, to support entirely, and assist a number of Schools, to seek to circulate many thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures, and to circulate millions of Tracts in the course of the year. Yet, we were helped this year also, and were enabled to accomplish even more than before. I refer now to a few instances, as specimens, how the Lord was pleased to supply us with the needed means. We began the year on May 27, 1867, as stated before, with £90. 3s. 14d. in hand for these Objects, which was indeed little for our requirements; but we called upon the Lord, and before this balance was expended, received far more than the amount with which we began the year. On May 28th, altogether, in 10 donations came in £9. 8s. 5d. One of these donations was from a Christian shopkeeper, who sent 38. 5d., being one penny in the pound of the sum he had taken during the previous week. This donor has sent, week by week, about the same sum, One penny in the Pound seems little, yet, even this little, amounted in the end to about £8. during the year. I refer to this to show how important it is to give as the Lord prospers us. On May 29th we received from London £50. On May 29th £11. 14s. 6d. Of this amount £10. was sent by a Christian mercantile gentleman, who, month after month, during the whole year, sent £10., £15., or £20., just as God was pleased to prosper him. On May 31 from Kent £100. And as it pleased God to supply our need during the first five days of the year, so did He also A.D. 1867.] 177 during the whole of the period, for the sake of our Lord Jesus, listen to our supplications, and give unto us con- tinually the needed help. June 3. Received to-day £51. 5s. with the following letter: “ My dear Sir, I enclose my cheque, value £51. 5s., to be applied £20. for Missions, £20. for the dear children under your care, and the balance for yourself £11. 5s. I send this in acknowledgement of God’s mercies, having had great losses in business, and feeling truly thankful that I am in a position to bear them, and still to carry on my business as usual, with the prayer that God may keep me humble at the foot of the cross of Christ. Etc.” Ob- serve 1, The donor takes his losses out of the hand of God. So should all do, under similar circumstances. It is deeply important to own His hand in all that befalls us. 2, He is grateful that not all is taken from him, | as might have been the case. In this the donor should be imitated by all under similar circumstances. We are entirely dependent upon God, and therefore not only a part of what we have might be taken, but all. 3, The writer of the letter brings his thank-offeringto God. For what? Not for a large increase of his means, but that the Lord has not taken all from him, and that, notwithstanding great losses, he is able to carry on his business as usual. In this many Christians in business fail. When difficulties and losses come, instead of cleaving the more to God, and being the more grateful to Him, that they are as well off as they are, He is less remembered ; and as to being more faithful in- stewardship, while it is continued, the losses are only dwelt on, and exceedingly little can now be afforded for the poor or the work of God. And what is the result? The losses increase yet more and more. Oh! that the saints would be wise, and learn; but they fre - " quently act so as to oblige God, in very love to them, to take by Thousands and Tens of Thousands that of which they were unwilling to give Him in Tens or Hundreds. July 3. From Worcestershire £25. for the School Fund, £20. for the Bible Fund, £100. for Missions, £40. for the Tract Fund, £100. for the Orphans, and £30. for myself. Ang. 14, From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50. 18 - 178 [4.D. 1868. Sep. 18. From Ghristians at Melbourne, Australia, £2. for Missions with £3. for the Orphans. Oct. 7. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—Oct. 12. From France Fifty Francs and also One Hundred Francs.—“ From a willing giver” £15., with £25. for the Orphans and £10. for myself.— Oct. 23. Received from Yorkshire £2. 10s. with the fol- lowing letter: ‘“‘ Dear Sir, In another note I hand you a Post Office Order for £2. 10s. Please. to take £1. for the Orphans, £1. for the Missionary Fund, and 10s. for yourself, This is a portion of what I lay aside weekly, as the Lord prospers me; and truly I find, as I honour the Lord with my substance, He honours me with His blessing upon my labours. Believe me yours faith- fully * * * *."°-Oct. 25. From Devonshire £100. for Missions to the heathen,—Oct. 31. From Scotland £60. Nov. 9. From Calcutta £9. for Missions, £9. for the Orphans and £2. for myself,—Nov. 19, From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. Dec. 27. From I. W. N. A gold watch and a gold chain, the p¥Oceeds half for Missions and half for the Orphans.—Dec. 31. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.— From Australia £10. for Missions. Jan. 1, 1868, At the end of the year we had not much left. for these 4 Objects ; but the Lord remembered our néed and answered our prayers. There was received to- day from a Scotch donor £100. for Missions, £29. 7s. 2d. for the School—, Bible— and Tract-Fund, with £50. for the Building Fund.—There came in also, from a donor in Worcestershire, £150, for Missions, £25. for the support of the Schools, £20, for the circulation of the Holy Scrip- tures, £40. for the circulation of Tracts, £100. for the - support of the Orphans, and £30. for myself.—13 dona- . tions were received besides, amounting to £7. 17s.— i Jan. 7. Legacy of the late Mrs, P. £110.—Jan. 20. Re- : ceived from Rome £2. for Missions, £6. for the Orphans, . and £2. for myself.—Jan, 28, £3. 10s. “‘ Instead of paying i the money to a Life Insurance Office.” Feb. 5. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con’, A.D. 1868.} 179 strained by the love of Christ, seeks to Jay up treasure in heaven, £150.—Feb. 6. From Leicestershire £50.—Feb. 11. “By sale of canaries” from some young ladies, £1. 14s, 8d—Feb. 21. £20. with the following letter from Lancashire: “ Dear Sir, I have mach pleasure in fulfilling a vow made to the Lord, months ago, that, if He would kindly give me the means, and raise me in health, I would send you £20., to apply to whatever pur- pose you liked. I enclose registered Post Office Orders for Twenty Pounds, as a thank-offering to Jesus for great deliverance in a dreadful catastrophe, by which several persons were killed and many injured, myself also being seriously injured. I am, dear Sir, very faithfully yours * * # #”__Feb, 26. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £80. March 2. Received £15. with the following letter: Dearly beloved Sir, ‘The Lord has prospered me exceed- ingly, since He put it in my heart to assist you. May He bless you and the thank-offering I herewith enclose, a cheque for £15. Ten Pounds for Evangelists in Eng- Jand and Five for your own necessities, or the Orphans, as you may require.” ‘ His gentleness hath made me great.” Yours faithfully * * * *.” The £5. left to my disposal was taken for the Orphans.—March 12. From New Brunswick £4.—-March 18. From Ohio, U.8.A., £41. 7s. 8d.— March 17. A devoted Evangelist, labouring for years as a preacher of the Gospel in dependence upon the Lord for his temporal supplies, and who had at least fifty times sent to me donations of £1. or £2. at a time, sent me from his death-bed 15s. for Missions, and 15s. for the Orphans. I have never seen this dear brother in Christ, but God laid this work on his heart to help me, according to his ability. His donations were chiefly for Foreign Missions.—March 18. Received from an Irish servant the first halves of three One Pound Notes with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, I have good news to tell you. There is another child born of the Spirit, even she who wrote to you the last time, saying “ There is no peace to the wicked.” God has chosen another base thing; He can polish it, and He has done it, and will do it more. And now I want to leave ALL and follow Jesus. I was 180 [A.D. 1868. left an Orphan as early as five or six years old, and all that time, up to now, He has provided me with food and clothes far better than most poor children. I have laid up a little treasure in an earthly Bank, but I want to lend it to the Lord r and have taken it out, to send it to His cause. What I want to say is, if He supported me, when I was yo»ng and an unbeliever, shall He not much more than support me now that I am reconciled by the blood of Jesus ? * * * * £2. 1 8s. I Jiad in the Bank, the in terest came to ls., and 1 added another Shilling, which makes it Three Pounds. You know best where it is wanted. Your obedient Servant * * * *." The money was taken for these Objects. Here is another remarkable instance of the manner in which God is pleased, to supply me with means. The writer is an entire stranger to me. Whether I receive large sums from the wealthy or small amounts from the poor, all comes in answer to prayer. I wait on God for help. 1 do so repeatedly every day, and He helps me. Even my most intimate friends, though never so wealthy, have never been asked by me for help ; they have never even had hints given to them, that their help would be acceptable. From this I have refrained, because one of the primary objects of this Institution is, to bring before the world and the Church a tangible proof, how much even in this Nineteenth Century can be accom plished simply through the instrumentality of prayer and faith ; and to give a clear demonstration, that God is now as much the Living God as He was Four Thousand years ago. To this object I have joyfully devoted my whole life and energy ; and, by God's grace, have gladly passed through the difficulties which have befallen me in this service. Moreover, though I have been carrying on this Institution in this way ever since 1 834, I am not tired of this way ; though the work increases, and though the difficulties multiply instead of decreasing : I joyfully con fess to the glory of God, that I find Him a present helper in difficulties and trials, and am not allowed to call upon Him in vain, though sometimes I have to wait long for the answer. May my dear fellow-believers be encouraged more and more to trust in God, under all circumstances ; and may those, who do not know God, be stirred up, to seek after the forgiveness of their sins, by faith in the A.D. 1868.] 181 atoning death of the Lord Jesus, so that they too may be reconciled to God, and find in Him a never failing Friend. March 21. To-day I received from Belgium £1. 13s. for Missions with 14s. 6d. for the Orphans. " Of this amount 18 Francs 57 Cs., (the missionary who sends the money writes,) " come from the box of our brother the tinker." This box is in a dark corner of a very small shop, crowded with broken pots and pans, etc. When I broke the box this morning to take out the money, it was so covered with dust and damp, that it needed to be washed ; but it is not less precious on that account, for it comes from a heart which sincerely loves the Lord." —From a private Soldier in India £1. 16s. 11d.—March 24. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—M arch 30. A valuable gold watch and watch key, the proceeds to be taken for Missions and for the support of the Orphans.—From the neighbour hood of Southampton £1., with these words : " A thank- offering for the Lord's goodness to me in restoring two cows that were very ill, and not expected to live."—From Herefordshire £3. 8s. as " The first fruits of a slate quarry."—Received also from a labourer in the Gospel, who trusts in the Lord for his temporal necessities, 12s., with this statement : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I desire to en close 12s. for your work for the Lord, and trust He will continue to supply all your need. He loveth a cheerful giver ; for He is the most cheerful giver, who gave us His dear Son, and with Him freely gives us all things. The Lord led me, 5 years since, to begin with a tenth to give to Him of all He sent me for my use ; and, by His grace, He has helped me to go from a tenth to a seventh, then to a fifth, now to half of all He gives me. As the work in creases, and helpers come forward to the work, so He has enabled me to share with them. Etc." , April 22. A servant of the Lord Jesus, having received a present of £100., constrained by the love of Christ, gave this £100. for Missions. May 4, 1868. Received the following letter from Copen hagen from a Christian Danish master of a vessel, with Ten Pounds : " Coming up the Channel with a dirty southerly wind the 19th of April and a low barometer, falling rapidly—in fact so low, that I could not look at it 182 [a.D. 1868. any more, I was troubled about the safety of the ship. Sail was taken in after sail, till at last only the three lower topsails remained on. The ship heeled over and went through the swelling waters snorting, the rain pour- ing down, with a heavy blow. As my hope was strength- ened in prayer, that God would help me to find the way, Lpromised to send £10.” At 1.5) em. saw _Dungencss light and came through, thank God! This is a thank- Gtfering to the Lord, with prayer for His further protec- tion and grace to confess His name, where He thinks proper. £5. for yourself, the rest as you desire. Etc.” The £5. was taken for these Objects—May 9. From a Shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100.—May 11, From Ohio, U.S.A., £43. 18s, 5d.—May 12. From one of the former Orphans, who has for more than 25 years walked in the ways of God, and who is in service, 5s. for the Bible and Tract Fund, and 5s. for the Orphans. May 15. From a donor in Somersetshire £75., with £50. for the Orphans —May 25. From Madras £87. 168.— May 26, 1868. From a servant of the Lord Jesus (having received a present of £150., and who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven), £148. I have thus referred to a few donations to show the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means for the first four Objects of the Institution, from May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868. Alter the year was ended, during which we had been _ enabled to expend for these Objects above £7,500., we had yet a balance left of £375. 2s. 10jd., whilst the year had been commenced with £90. 3s. 14d. These ex- penses were exclusive of those for the Orphan work, and which amounted to more than Thirty-Three Thousand and Seven Hundred Pounds during that year. Will-you not admire, esteemed Reader, the blessedness of trusting in God alone, and expecting help from Him alone? Verily we do not wait upon God for nought! And this help we have enjoyed, ever since this Institution was begun on March 5, 1834. He has never forsaken us. ‘We have never been confounded. The longer we go on in this way, the more we find how able not only God is to help us, but how willing; and this not only with re- ference to pecuniary supplies, but in every other way, in which we may require His help. Me A.D. 1868.] 183 As stated, we had, on entering upon the year from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, a balance of £375. 2s. 10½d. in hand, yet what was this, in comparison with the ex penses before us, connected with the Schools, the circula tion of many Thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures and Millions of Tracts, and in aiding 141 Missionaries at Home and Abroad ? But our hope was in God, and He helped us during that year, and enabled us to accom plish more than ever. I shall now refer to a few dona tions, as specimens, which came in during that year. Aug. 5, 1868. Received the following letter from Ireland : " My dear Mr. Miiller, I have been an invalid for some time and am now nearing my happy home, where I shall be ever with the Lord. I have much pleasure in enclosing you a Bank Post Bill for £600 , to be used in the various branches of the Lord's work in which you are so happily engaged. May the Lord continue to strengthen you in mind and body for His service, and abundantly crown all your labours with success Yours affectionately in Jesus ****." This dear Christian lady I never saw, but she had for '20 years and upwards sent about £5. annually for the work. She was not rich, but laboured for her bread, and I should not be surprised to hear, that this £600. was the bulk of what she pos sessed. How able and willing God is, to provide us with means for His work ! I took of this £600., for Missions £250., for the Schools £50., for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures £50., for the circulation of Tracts £50. and for the Orphans £200.—Aug. 17. From Somerset shire £10., as a thank-offering for recovery from sickness. —Aug. 28. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. Sep. 1. From Scotland £50.—Sep. 2. From London £25., with £25. for the Orphans.—Sep. 5. Received the following letter from Sweden. " Dear Brother in the Lord, I have the pleasure of forwarding to you a draft for £5. 9s. 7d. Sterling (equal to Rix-dollars 100, Swedish Rix-mynt) being a donation of the late Mr. A. K. of O., to be used for your Missions to the heathen, of the safe arrival of which I beg you to inform me. In June last year, my brother G. P. had the pleasure of seeing you. {Since 1851 he had given his life to the preaching of the 184 [a.D. 1868. Gospel. Last summer he found an opportunity to ac- complish his long cherished desire of seeing something of the work of God in England. He came back greatly re- freshed and full of joy in the Lord, and took up his work again, when suddenly, on a Sunday morning, in the midst of his work he was seized with a fatal attack of liver com- plaint. On Wednesday evening next (Sep. 18th) he fell asleep in Jesus, in assurance of the rest that remaineth for the people of God.—Being unmarried and contenting himself with very little, he counted himself happy to “labour without hire” the last part of his life. Through the profits of a Hymn Book, issued in partnership with . myself, he obtained, however, a little sum of money, which he intended either for his old age, or, if he should not need it himself, for the promotion of the kingdom of Christ. -On his way to England, last year, in a letter from Gothenburg, he expressed to me his wish, that, if he should not return, 5,000 Rix-dollars, Swedish Rix-mynt, should be paid to “ Mr. George Miiller’s Mission to the | heathen.” This wish he repeated on his death bed. I should desire to send this sum now, but cannot get it out of my business this year. I hope next year to be able to send the greatest part, if not the whole, to be spent for the object my beloved brother desired—Some years ago a copy of “the Lord’s dealings with George Miller” fell into my hands, aud I feel thankful to God for reading it, and have issued a compendium of it in Swedish. May the Lord stir up faithful stewards in our country’ also, Yours in Christian love ****,”—I have pleasure in giving this letter to show in what a variety of ways the Lord is able and willing to provide means, if we carry on His work in dependence on Him for what we need. See, how from that comparatively poor country, through a stranger, 5,000 Rix-dollars (about £278. Sterling) are intended to be sent as a legacy for Missions to the heathen. Be en- couraged afresh, my brethren in Christ, you who need help for the work of God, to trust in Him with all your heart, and you will not do so in vain.—From Ohio, U.S.A., £20. 15s. 9d. for Missions among the heathen,.—Sep. 18. From Hastings £50. with £50. for the Orphans.—Sep. 28. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in ; heaven.— From the Orphans of eight departments in the A.D. 1868.] 185 New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 £9. 4s. 9d: for Missions. The dear children had, of their own accord, out of their own little treasure, contributed this for Mis- sions. Oct. 28, 1868. £50. for the Spanish Mission, from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Nov. 5. Received £54. 8s. 8d. with the following letter : “ My dear Sir, I have much pleasure in handing you a cheque for £54. 8s. 8d., which I will thank you to dispose of as follows—Missions £25., Orphans £29. 8s, 8d.— You are quite aware, that for the past few years I have given you an interest in one particular branch of my busi- _ness, and that every year your share has been steadily increasing ; but this year, I am very sorry to say, there has been a great falling off, arising from severe competi- tion, so that your share I find to be only £29. 8s. 8d., instead of over fifty pounds, the amount of last year. Yet, notwithstanding, I find, in taking stock, that I never had a more successful year, save one.— You have during the past few years pleaded with me at the throne of grace for the conversion of my only child. I feel sure you will rejoice with me, when I tell you, he took the Lord’s sup- . per with us for the first, time last month. It has been my wish for some time past to send you a thank-offering, on so joyful an occasion, and it affords me great pleasure to add to your sum £25. more. With kind regards believe me, yours truly, * * * *.” Dec. 2. From Worcestershire £2. with this letter: “Dear Sir, I forward you £2. per Post Office Order, being a penny in the shilling of my wages since I sent last, to be used at your discretion. I remain, etc. * * * *,” Observe what a variety of instruments the Lord is pleased to use, to supply us with means. The wealthy, the middle- class, the labourer, the very poor, all are alike influenced to help on this work, in answer to prayer. While I am writing this, a lady from Germany, who is about to go through the Orphan Houses, called on me. She expressed her yreat surprise, that I am supplied with means for so great a work, and especially when I told her, that for several years our requirements, have been at the rate of more than One Hundred Pounds a day. My reply to her was, that, though Elijah has been taken to heaven thou- 186 [4.D. 1868. sands of years since, the God of Elijah still lives. I told her, that I received all simply in answer to prayer. .There were lying before me on my table, among many other letters, three, which I held up to her, saying: “this I received last evening from Paris, containing £205.; this from Switzerland, containing £1. 3s. 10d., and this from the United States, containing £20. Sterling. I added, I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the Lord, in order to prove to the world and to the church of Christ at large, what may be accomplished, simply through the instrumen- tality of prayer and faith—Dec. 3. £50. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Dec. 4. From C. H. £2. “As a thank-offering for safe return off a long voyage.”—Dec. 5. From a Scotch donor £200. for Mis- sions among the heathen.—Dec. 7. From “ Gratitude” in Van Dieman’s Land, five £1. notes.—Dec. 10. From Scotland £50. for Missions andthe circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—Dee. 21. From Switzerland £1. 7s. 10d. —Dec. 22. £50. with the following letter: ‘“‘ Dear Brother in the Lord, I herewith send you £50. for. the Lord’s work in your hands. I would suggest that it be laid out as follows, £10. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund and Home Missions, £10. for Foreign Missions, the rest for the Orphans; but I leave it to you, it may be other- wise needed. Please enter it from “ One who loves Jesus,” Hitherto I have sent you one or two small sums, which were the interest of the Lord’s money, this is the principal ; and I praise the Lord for thus inclining my heart, to give all to Him. My reward is from Him, and I want not the. thanks or praise of men. May the Lord continue to bless you in your work for Him, is the earnest prayer of your affectionate younger brother in Jesus ****.”—-From Cardiff, _ £45., with £5. for myself.—From Brighton £45. 5s. 6d., with 148. 6d. for books, and £10. for myself, “ From a willing giver.” —Dec. 28. £12. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, Please accept the enclosed £12. for the work in which you are engaged: £8. for furnishing the New Orphan Houses, if required; if not for the use of the Orphans ; and £4, for Missions.—I think it right to tell you, that it is now about 7 years, since we were induced, principally through the instrumentality of reading your books, to set aside a certain portion of our income for God’s cause, ™ A.D. 1868.] 187 We were then in very straitened circumstances, and we made up our minds to give a tenth. The very next day our means were slightly increased, and went on doing so. We then gave a fourth. After a long time things seemed again to look dark. I say seemed to look dark ; for the event proved, that we were not really any worse off than before ; but, by God's help, we said, we will wait patiently, perhaps God is only trying us. We did not give any less to His cause. And now He has placed us in a position of prosperity that we have never enjoyed before, and are able to give a fourth of our income. It is indeed a blessed thing to trust in the Lord, and we are led to exclaim with the Psalmist, " Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Apologizing for taking up so much of your valuable time, I am, dear Sir, Yours sincerely ****." 1 have had repeatedly similar donations from these donors. Dec. 29, 1868. From Ohio, U.S.A., for Missions among the heathen, £37. 12s. 9d.—Dec. 30. Received to-day from London a gold watch and chain, a diamond ring, 3 other gold rings, a gold necklet, 7 gold studs, 3 pairs of gold earrings, 2 gold breast pins, 4 brooches, a gold cross, 2 lockets, 2 bracelets, 2 pairs of links, 2 gold slides, a watch hook, a silver pencil case, and 2 pieces of artificial teeth, set in gold. The articles were taken to be sold for Missions. The letter announcing these articles contained this : " We have been praying the Lord to accept, what His love has made of no value to us ; and we pray Him abundantly to bless you and yours and your labour of love for His sake. Be comforted, dear Brother, for ' He is faith ful ' whom we serve. Be patient, for ' the time is short.' ' Occupy till I come.' ' Yet a little while.' ' Even so, come, Lord Jesus.' With Christian love, yours affection ately in Christ Jesus, * * * *." Will this dear Christian couple, from whom these articles came, be the poorer, or will they be the less adorned in the sight of the Lord ? Verily not. I greatly delight in such donations. If all the disciples of the Lord Jesus acted in tbis way, what an abundance would thus at once flow into the treasury of the Lord ; and if this were done from the love of Christ, what blessing would come to those who were thus enabled to give up their ornaments.—Dec. 31. Received to-day the following letter, with £100. : " Dear Mr. Miiller,—It is with pleasure I enclose you a cheque for £100., al 188 [a.D. 1869. though I have suffered severe pecuniary losses during the past year, I wish it to be appropriated as follows—£10. for yourself, £60. for the Orphans, and £30. for Missions, etc. May the Lord condescend to receive the offering. With Christian regards, etc., * * * *.” Received also £500. from Canada, which, being left at my disposal, I took £200. for Missions, £50. for the Circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £50. for the Tract Fund, and £200. for the support of the Orphans. Thus closed the year 1868 with regard to the Funds for these Objects; we were bountifully supplied with all we needed. Jan. 1, 1869. From Scotland £50. for Missions, £25. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and £25. for the circulation of Tracts. Received also from a consider- able distance £10. for these Objects, with £10. for the Orphans. About this latter donation I make a few remarks, At the early part of the year 1868, a Christian business man wrote to me for advice in his peculiar difficult business affairs, is letter showed that he had ‘a desire to walk in the ways of the Lord, and to carry on his business to the glory of God; but his circumstances were of the most trying character. Itherefore wrote to him to come to Bristol, that I might be able to advise him. Accordingly he undertook the long journey, and I had an interview with him, through which I saw his most trying position in business. Having fully conversed with him, I gave him the following counsel: 1, That he should day by day, expressly for the purpose, retire with his Christian wife, that they might unitedly spread their business diffi- culties before God in prayer, and do this, if possible, twice aday. 2, That he should look out for answers to his prayers, and expect that God would help him. 3, That , he should avoid all business trickeries, such as exposing for sale two or three articles, marked below cost price, for the sake of attracting customers, because of its being un- becoming a disciple of the Lord Jesus to use such artifices ; and that, if he did so, he could not reckon on the blessing of God. 4, I advised him further, to set apart, out of his profits, week by week, a certain proportion for the work of God, whether his income was much or little, and use this income faithfully for the Lord. 5, Lastly, I asked him, to let me know, month after month, how the Lord dealt with him.—The reader will feel interested to learn, that A.D. 1869.] 189 from that time the Lord was pleased to prosper the business of this dear Christian brother, so that hisreturns from the Ist of March, 1868, up to March 1, 1869, were £9,138. 13s. 5d., while during the same period the previous year they had been only £6,609, 18s. 3d., therefore £2,528. 15s. 2d. more than the year before. When he sent me the donation above referred to, he also writes, that he had been enabled to put aside during the previous year £123. 13s. 3d. for the work of God or the need of the poor.—I have so fully dwelt on this, because Christians in business may be benefited by it—Jan 5, 1869. Received £20. 15s. 7d., with the following letter: “ My dear Sir, Herewith please - receive a cheque for £20. 15s. 7d., the balance of a fund devoted to God’s work. It is now eight years since I commenced (after reading your book) systematically putting away a portion of my income. I began with a tenth and have gone on to a fifth, and even beyond. I can truly say ‘there has been no lack ;’ notwithstanding bad times, they have not been bad with me. Talk about. insuring against bad debts! why, here is an office that will never collapse. I advise all my friends to effect policies in it at once. With kind Christian regards, wishing you much joy and comfort in your labour of love, I am, dear Sir, yours truly, * * * *.” £10. 15s. 7d. of this money was taken for the support of the Orphans, and £10. for the first four Objects of the Institution —Jan. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Jan. 23. From one of the Midland Counties, £25. for the School Fund, £20. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £150. for Missions, £40. for the Tract Fund, £100. for the Orphans, and £30. for myself.—Jan. 26. From Ohio, U.S8.A., £103. 17s. for Missions to the Heathen and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. _ Feb. 4. Received £50, with the following letter: ‘“ My dear Mr. Miller, I beg to enclose you a cheque for £50. in aid of the Lord’s work in your hands, which you are at liberty to dispose of as you think fit. I should like you to keep £10. of it for your own personal expenses. I have to express to you the benefit I have received in read- ing your works, leading me to realize more deeply my privileges and responsibilities as a Christian. I have seen the hand of the Lord in a marked manner in my business 190 [A.D. 1869. affairs lately. I determined, after serious consideration, to give up a certain portion of my business, that I felt led me into temptation ; and also some customs, which, although I could not positively condemn in others, I could not happily pursue myself. Looking at it naturally, I expected my business to be much diminished, perhaps lost ; but I had before determined, and had pursued for a short time the practice of devoting any money beyond that necessary for my own wants, received in income from business, to the Lord's work. Therefore I felt, if it was the Lord's will, and he intended me to be a steward of His, I should receive the money; and He enabled me thus to leave it in His hands. The result has been, I have had business placed in my hands where least ex pected. My income last year increased considerably, and I liave been enabled to give away several Hundred Pounds, etc." See how God honours those who honour Him ! How giving up ways and practices unsuitable for a disciple of the Lord Jesus, did not bring loss hut gain, even in this life ! But if acting according to the mind of the Lord should at any time bring trial, or even loss as to the things of this life, what is all this in comparison with seeking to please the Lord, and doing those things which are according to His mind.—Feb. 5. Received from a great distance £10. with the following letter: "Dear Mr. Mill I or, I have the pleasure of handing you the enclosed two £5. notes for our dear Lord's service. I am His property. I also eat His bread, wear His clothes, and breathe His air ; and He gives me the enjoyment of very gracious thoughts in reference to Himself, and some little delightful expectations of His VERY near approach. I wish to be practically thankful, so I have offered the enclosed for His gracious acceptance, signifying thereby that I am not my own, and have nothing that is my own ; and, but for His loving kindness in purchasing me—then, instead of this thanksgiving, the least that would have been accepted would have been the payment of all my fearful debt, even to the uttermost farthing. Pray use your discretion in applying the enclosed, and, if needful, take it yourself. I remain, dear Mr. Miiller, Yours very thankfully, * * * *. P.S. 1 may add, that it was by means of your teaching, that the Lord led me some time ago to give a seventh of my income, as a thanksgiving for [A.D. 1869. 191 all I receive, after giving which I hold myself free to give as the Lord shall call, and in one year He called for every penny I had in store. I say all this in confidence and for your comfort, as the Lord has graciously made you a great comfort to me. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul !" The above £10. was taken for these Objects.—Feb. 8. From Scot land ,£75. Feb. 15. £5. from " God fearing soldiers in Peshawur, India."—From the neighbourhood of South ampton £38. 16s.—Feb. 17. £100. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Feb. 18. From near London £100. for Missions, £100. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, £290. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Feb. 22. From Adelaide, South Australia, £10. March 1. From Scotland £50.— March 17. £100. for the Spanish Mission, from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—March 24. From Scotland £ 1 00. for Missions and £50. for the Orphans. —March 31. Received £25., with the following letter from a considerable dis tance : " My dear Sir, I enclose you cheque for £25. for any portion of your work most in need of it, though I should be glad if you would take £5. of it for yourself. I sold some property about October last by auction, and in pros pect of the sale, I was led to devote one half of the proceeds (above the reserve fixed) to the work of the Lord. He was graciously pleased to give me £132. 10s. for His work, by this means, and the £25. I now send is, what I thought, a fair proportion of the amount, after consider ing some other claims more immediately under my own notice.—The Lord was pleased also to give me success in a difficulty respecting my title to another property, since that sale, and He led me to dedicate one tenth of the value of the estate to His work, if it was proved to be mine. I expect the estate will shortly be sold ; if so, I shall have about £500. to dispose of for Him. It makes me very happy to carry out these plans, and I am greatly indebted to your work for the purpose being put into my heart. Yours faithfully * * * *." This gentleman I do not know personally. I not only have given this letter and other similar ones, to show in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means, but especially to prove 192 [4.D. 1869. to my fellow believers, that, if the work in which we are engaged is indeed the work of God, and we commit our necessities to Him in believing prayer, expecting help, we shall not trust in Him in vain. The hearts of all are in - the hands of God, and it is a very little thing to Him, to influence them to help us. Through waiting upon God, and looking to Him alone for help at all times and under all necessities, by His grace my faith has been so increased, that if I could see it clearly to be His will, I should be engaged in any service, I should not be cast down on ac- count of the great amount needed, or the great difficulties to - be overcome, resting assured, that God would help me. At the same time, I should most carefully, most prayer- fully, most patiently, desire to ascertain, whether, indeed, it were the will of God, that I should be engaged in such a service. April 3. Anonymonsly, from a Christian Friend, £120. for Missions and £120. for the support of the Orphans. —April 10. From Devonshire £125. for the Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, £150. for the Orphans and £25. for myself—Apr. 14. £100. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Apr. 19. From C. W. £4. 4s., instead of insuring his life—From Scotland £60., with £15. for myself.—Apr. 21. From France e200. for labourers in the Gospel among the heathen and £0. for myself. f May 1. From Scotland for Missions £100.—May 17. From India £57. 16s., with £80. for the Orphans.—May 22. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—May 25. 1869, From Penang £28. 2s. I have thus referred to some donations, out of hundreds given for these Objects, between May 26, 1868, and May 26, 1869, to show:in what a variety of ways, and from what ‘a variety of places and countries, it pleased the Lord to supply us with means, and to such an extent, that during that year we were not only able to accomplish as much as during former, years, but to expend about-Two Thousand | Pounds more on Missionary Objects than during the year | Before ; t circulate a far Saale number of copies of the ‘ Holy Scriptures than during any former period ; and to ex- pend considerably more on the circulation of Tracts, than A.D. 1869.] 193 during the previous year. Yet all this was accomplished, though at the commencement of the year there was but a small balance, comparatively, in hand, and the expenses for the Orphans were about Three Thousand Pounds more, - than during the year before. How blessed to have God on our side as a helper, and how sure our success, if we trust in Him! After the 26th May, 1869, the first four Objects of the Institution were still further considerably enlarged. From | this time I had it especially laid on my heart, with my might, | to give myself to the establishment of Schools, in which \ the primary object was, the spiritual benefit of the Scho- lars, of course not to the neglect of proper instruction in secular matters. Many Schools were from that time es- tablished, and now, (in 1874) the number entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, is ten times as great as it was before May, 1869. Since, then, also, the aiding of Missionary efforts has been very considerably increased, and the number of labourers in the Gospel, at home and abroad, at the end of 1873, was 190. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures, likewise, is now more than double what it was before May, 1869; and the circulation of Tracts has been considerably increased since that time. But as these Objects were so greatly enlarged, the ex- penses were in proportion considerably increased also, and we needed more and more, by prayer and faith, to draw help out of the inexhaustible treasures of our Heavenly Father. The following will show, how He was pleased to help us continually. I now give some instances of the way in which we were supplied with means. June 1, 1869. From a Christian grocer, 2s. 83d., being one penny in the pound of his takings during the previous week. Week by week the same donor has ever since re- peated his donation. This is a practical illustration on the smallest scale, of regular systematic giving, as the Lord may prosper us. Thus was altogether received about £8. yearly.—June 25, Legacy of the late Mr. H. £45., with £45. for the Orphans.—June 26. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—June 30. from a Christian merchant, who contributes as the Lord pros- pers him, £40. for Missions, £40. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, and £40. for the support of the Orphans. K . 194 [A.D. 1869. July 9. From two Christian manufacturers £60. for Missions, £35. for School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, and £5. for myself.—July 19. From a Christian manu facturer £30. for Missions, £15. for the School— , Bible-^- and Tract Fund, and £15. for the Orphans.—July 26. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope., £8.—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. August 2. Two months of the new year had now passed away, and the expenses had been far greater than the bal ance left in hand at the end of the year, being £805. 6s. 5d. ; but the Lord was pleased, during those two months, so to send in means in answer to our daily prayer, and accord ing to our full confidence in Him, that He would help us, that we were not only able to meet all the needed ex penses, but had now even more in hand, than at the be ginning of the year. On Aug. 2 there came in from Christian soldiers in India, of the 36th Regiment Foot, £5.—Aug. 10. Legacy of the late Miss H. £25., with £25. for the support of the Orphans.— From Clifton £25. to wards the support of an Evangelist in Spain.—Aug. 13. ! From one of tne Midland Counties £20. for the Bible Fund, £25. for the School Fund, £150. for Missions, £40. for the Tract Fund, £100. for the Orphans, and £30. for myself.—Aug. 17. From Northumberland £20. for Foreign Missions.— From France 100 francs and 100 francs for Mis sions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. —Aug. 28. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—From Plymouth £10. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain. Sept. 4, 1869. From a Christian Merchant, who con tributes as the Lord is pleased to prosper him, £50. for Mis sions and £50. forthe Orphans.—Sep. 6. From Bournemouth £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, es pecially the Gospel according to Luke, and £50. for the sup port of the Orphans. When I received this amount, 1 had taken steps, to enter to the utmost into every open door for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain.—Sep. 9. From Yorkshire £50., with £50. for the Orphans.— Sep. 14. From New Zealand £10.— Sep. 20. £25. for Foreign Missions and £5. for the poor, as " A thank- offering to the Lord for a chastisement." May I request A.D. 1869.] 195 the Christian reader to observe this. If, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we see, that our Heavenly Father, on account of wrong steps, or a wrong state of heart, is deal- ing with us in the way of discipline or correction, we have to be grateful for it; for He is acting thus towards us ac- cording to that selfsame love, which led Him not to spare His only begotten Son, but to deliver Him up for us; and our gratitude to Him is to be expressed in words, and even by deeds. We have to guard against practically despising the chastening of the Lord, though we may not do so in word, and against fainting under chastisement: since all is intended for blessing to us.—Sep. 22. Received £6. with the following letter from an entire stranger. ‘ Dear Sir, I enclose a cheque for £6., £4. to be used as the kind Lord may direct you, and £2. for your own use. It is a thank- offering unto the Lord, for restoring me from a most grievous backsliding state, and also, that He has graciously permitted me to lose ali my money, which has been a curse to me, as it was not earned in the fear of the Lord. I thank and praise Him, that He has been so gracious to me, as to take away that “root of evil,” that He might bring me a blessing. Oh! that I could warn all young Christians to beware of the love of money. Oh, that they could see the years of misery and sin and suffering of mind and body, which I have endured, and the way I have grieved the Lord Jesus, which is more than all! Etc.” Will the Christian reader please to read this letter again ; itis full of warning. —From Middlesex £50.—Sep. 27. From some of the Orphans £7. 15s. 14d. for Missions.— Sep. 28. £100. from aservant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Sep. 30. From Yorkshire £50.—Received also One Thousand Pounds to-day for the Lord’s work in China. About this donation it is especially to be noticed, that for months it had been my earnest desire to do more than ever for Mission Work in China, and I had already taken steps to carry out this desire, when this donation of - One Thousand Pounds came to hand. This precious answer to prayer for means should be a particular en- couragement to all who are engaged in the Lord’s work, and who may need means for it. It proves afresh, that, if our work is His work, and we honour Him, by waiting K2 196 [A.D. 1869. upon and looking to Him for means, He will surely, in His own time and way, supply them. Oct. 1. From the neighbourhood of Chester £20.—• From a Christian merchant, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £50.—Oct. 6. Received One Thousand Pounds for Foreign Missions, Five Hundred Pounds for the Spanish Mission, and Ten Pounds for myself. Behold, dear Christian Reader, how good the Lord is, and how ready to help His servants who trust in Him 1 I have sought, during this period, to press into every open door, with reference to Foreign Missions ; and God has supplied me with means accordingly, and gives now this further especial help in sending £1000. for this object. In particular also, I have embraced every opportunity with regard to the Mission Field in Sp'ain ; and now He sends me £500. for this object, to help in meeting the very heavy expenses, which are to be met in connexion with this Mission. Be encouraged, therefore, you servants of the Lord Jesus, to look to the Lord for means for His service ; but 1, Seek really to trust in Him only. 2, Pray for means, and look out for an answer to your prayers. 3, Wait patiently for His help, it will surely come in God's own time. 4, Avoid working a deliverance of your own, or running before the Lord, by going in debt for the needed supplies for His precious work.—Oct. 13. From London £20. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain.—Oct 23. Legacy of the late Mrs. C. £400. New 3 per Cent. Stock, sold at £365. 9s. 6d.— Oct. 25. £2. as " A thank-offer ing for an averted catastrophe."—Oct. 30. £100. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Nov. 1. From a Christian merchant, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £80.—From New Zealand, £10., with £10. for the Orphans.—Nov. 3. Received for Missions and the Bible Fund the following valuable trinkets : 5 gold rings, 4 gold rings set with diamonds, 2 silver rings, 1 hair ring, gold mounted, a gold bracelet, set with rubies and diamonds, a gold necklet with locket, another gold bracelet, a gold brooch, set with a carbuncle, a pair of gold earrings, set with carbuncles, 3 pearl brooches, a pair of gold earrings, a pair of pearl earrings, 2 pairs of coral ear rings, a pair of cornelian earrings, a gold brooch, set with garnets, a gold brooch, set with coral, an eye-glass, gold A.D. 1869.] 197 mounted, a pair of mourning ear-rings, a pair of ivory ear rings, a set of silver ornaments, 2 stone bracelets, a stone necklace, and a few other articles. — Nov. 10. Received £3. 5s. for Missions, with the following letter : " The last eight weeks I have increased my offering to the Lord to Six Pence out of every Pound I take. Strange to say, I have taken £7. a week more, on an average, over my counter, ever since. But none is mine, it is the Lord's, laid on the altar, with other possessions and myself, His servant, for Jesus' sake."—Nov. 11. From London £100. for Missions to the heathen.—Nov. 15. £5. " In thankful acknowledgment of release from the office of Mayor of this Borough."—Nov. 19. From India £15. 6s. 7d., heing the amount obtained for the surrender of a Life Policy, as the Christian donor saw it to be the will of God, no longer to insure his life.—Nov. 24. Received from a great distance two Turkish Six per Cent. Bonds for Five Hundred Pounds each, the disposal of which being left to me, I took, after they had been sold, two fifths of the amount for Missions, one fifth for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, one fifth for the School and Tract Fund, and one fifth for the support of the Orphans. See how the Lord is pleased to supply His servant, who trusts in Him, with means. As the work has been increased, and the expenses have become greater, so God has been pleased to send me more and more. During no previous year, since March 5, 1834, were the current expenses of the work as great, as during the year from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870; but, at the same time, during no previous year was the income so great. The frequent complaint is, We cannot accomplish, what we wish to do, for want of means ; our statement is, we wait on God, to direct us, what to do, and having as certained His will regarding our work for Him, we have always been supplied by Him with means for His work.— Received from Scotland a gold necklet set with diamonds and emeralds, with this statement : " My dear Mr. Miiller, I greatly desire to contribute a little to the Lord's cause in Spain. I have no money ; in the meantime I have sent this trinket, being led to see that it is wrong to keep such things by me, when it might be the means in your hands, of sending a few Gospels, or help your Missionary work in that benighted country. Etc." How much (if the love of Christ constrains) may be accomplished, by giving up 198 [a.D. 1870. . such needless articles. Will this dear Christian lady be less adorned, because she has given up this necklet ? Verily not? Will she have cause to regret it, when with the Lord? Verily not! We have only one brief life on - earth. Dear Christian Reader, allow me to say to you, Make good use of this one brief life. This is the sowing time ; but throughout eternity we shall reap. Who then will act the part of the wise Christian, live for eternity, - and practically lay hold on eternal life P—Nov. 30. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Dec. 1. £100. from a Christian merchant, who con- tributes as the Lord prospers him.— Dec. 16. From Brazil £4. for Foreign Missions, with £1. for myself.—£1. from St. Thomas, West Indies, Observe how from all parts of the world the Lord is pleased to send the means.—Dec. 31. £80. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Jan. 1, 1870. £6. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, Having had one of your Reports lent to me, and seeing the many different ways people had, of sending you assistance for the different branches of your Institution, I thought I could not do better than begin myself. So I resolved to send at the end of the year one Pound for every house I sold, I now beg to forward you a Post Office Order for Six Pounds, which I beg you to use according to your own discretion. Yours respectfully ****” The donor is a builder.—Jan. 4. For Missions 10s. 8d., with the following: ‘This has been saved by little and little from my small trade, since I last wrote to you. Many times, while this has been saved, my house has been without bread; but I would not take it; I looked upon it as the Lord’s money. And though there was no bread in the house, I would not mistrust His goodness to provide. When in such a position, my soul has been much blessed, in waiting for a manifestation of the Lord’s good- ness.”—May I request the reader to read again this letter. Idelight in recording it. If we are faithful to God, it will not be in vain. Many hundreds of times I have been in a similar position with regard to great necessities, either for myself or the Orphans, from the year 1880 to 1848, when I would not take money, which had been laid by for A.D. 1870.) 199 rent, or was due for other purposes, or was the Lord’s in some shape or other, and therefore continued to wait upon God ; and He always helped me. But, suppose, I had acted in a different way, and said, I am in great need, may I not take of the money, which has been set apart, and G.d can help me to refund it shortly; the result would have been that, with every fresh instance of using the money, so set apart, my faith would have been weakened, and at last I should have found myself in the greatest difficulties : whilst, doing as I did, by God’s grace, my faith in Him increased with every fresh deliverance. He was graciously pleased to work for me. It is verily blessed to see God’s hand stretched out on our behalf, when in very great need! The Reader who desires to know more of these matters, will find many such instances recorded in the first, second, third and fourth parts of this Narrative-—Jan. 14. From Devonshire £75. for Chinese Missions, £75. for Spanish Missions, £325. for the Orphans, and £25. for my own expenses.—Jan. 25. From a ‘servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. Feb. 10. From one of the Midland Counties £120. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, £25. for the School Fund, £150. for Missions, £40. for the Tract - Fund, and £30. for myself—I cannot help remarking here, that, while the Missionary work in China, India, Spain, Italy, etc., had been more than ever laid on my heart, at the beginning of the year, from May 26, 1869 to May 26, 1870; and especially also the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain; the Lord was pleased to supply me most abundantly with means to carry out my desire regarding these Objects. This donation, together with hundreds more, enabled me to accomplish what I desired. —Feb. 23. From Clifton £25. towards the support of an Evangelist in Spain—Feb. 26. From New Zealand £10. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Foreign lands, and £10. for the Orphans.—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. March 4. From China £3. for Foreign Missions and £3. for the Orphans.—March 7, From Switzerland 1000 Francs. for Foreign Missions.—March 9. £50. from ao 200 [A.D. 1870. merchant, who contributes as the Lord prospers him.— March 1 9. Received from one of the first Orphans under our care, who has been a believer in the Lord Jesus for about 28 years, 5s. for Missions, 10s. for the Orphans, and 5s. for myself, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, Not from ingratitude is it, 1 have not written before, but because I knew you had so many letters ; but not a particle do I love dear Mrs. Miiller less, than those who have written. I think I loved her with you as my parents. True, I never knew my parents, to know what it was to love them ; but I do know what it is to love you and her, and from my heart I mourn her loss. I know you miss her daily. 1 miss her going by the house ; for I always watched you go by ; but now you are alone. I trust it may please God to spare you, tor years to come, to us all, as well as to your own dear child and family ; for oh 1 it would be a blank, indeed, were you removed from us. I remain yours very respectfully, * * * *."— March 23. £5. from Scotland, with these words : " A thank-offering to the Lord, that He has enabled us to pay all our debts."—March 25. I received from T. H. R., to day, a cheque for £358. 16s., with the following com munication : " My dear Mr. Miiller, I have been thinking about making my will ; but before doing that, I have i esolved first, to give a portion to the Great Giver of all good, instead of leaving it to my executors, and so saving the duty, and this I shall then be assured is secured and well expended ; and then my heirs cannot think, I am making them give what I would not give myself. The amount for which I enclose a cheque is £358. 16s. [Then he requests me, under his fictitious initials, to send £100. to two religious institutions, and goes on to say.J £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain. Beg your acceptance of £5. and '£2. 10. for Mrs. C.,- and the remainder, £201. 6s. I leave for your disposal." Of the £201. 6s. I took £150. for Foreign Missions, and and £51. 6s. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund. Observe, esteemed Reader, how the Lord has again re markably supplied me with £150. for Foreign Missions, and with £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, and £51. 6s. for the other Objects.—March 26. £120. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— A.D. 1870.] 201 March 28. From “ Nemo” £39.—From an anonymous donor through R. C. Esq., £40., with £40. for the Orphans.—March 80. From a Christian Merchant who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £150. April 5. ‘From C. and M.” £50. for Foreign Missions, £30. 3s. 5d. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, £25. for the Orphans, and £20. for myself.— April 9. From Kent £20. for Missions, with £80. for the Orphans.—April 12. From Sweden £235., as the first in- stalment of the payment of 5,000 Rix-dollars, Swedish Rix-mynt, left as a legacy for Missions to the Heathen, _ by the late Mr. G. P. Notice, here again, the remarkable way in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to our daily prayers, to supply us with means.—April 14. From a great distance £500. for Foreign Missions, with £500. for the support of the Orphans. My heart adored and magnified the Lord for this donation. During no previous year, since the Institution was first founded, on March 5, 1834, has the income been as great as during this year; and during no previous year was I enabled to en- large the work in all the various branches so much, and, therefore, the expenses were greater, far, than ever they had been; but the Lord supplied bountifully all we needed.—April 23. A gold watch, to be sold for these objects. The donor had no money, but, having a silver watch, could spare this for the work of the Lord.—April 29. £100. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven,—April 30. £9. 0s. 4d., with this statement : “ Amount of first day’s takings, after having my shop enlarged.” May 2. From Scotland £40 — May 12. A £500. six per cent. Turkish Bond. It was the donor’s kind wish that I should sell it, and take £50. for my own personal expenses. —May 23. From India £87. 16s.—May 24, 1870. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I have thus referred to a few of the donations, ,1ven tor the first four Objects of the Institution, from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870, as specimens, to show, the variety of ways, in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to our daily prayer for means, to supply us. The balance which we had, to begin the year with, was nearly twenty times multi- K3 s 202 [A.D. 1870. plied, so that we were enabled greatly to enlarge these Objects during the year ; and during no previous year since March 5, 1834, had there been such an enlargement of these various Objects. This, however, will be more par ticularly seen, when we come to the Chapter which speaks of the operations of the various Objects of the Institution. We entered now upon another period of the Institution, from May 26, 1870, to May 26, 1871, during which its operations were still further enlarged, especially in the School Department, which was doubled, in comparison with the previous year ; also for Mission work more was ex pended than during any year since the commencement of the Institution ; Bibles, Testaments and Tracts were like wise circulated to a very considerable extent. For all these various Objects above £15,500. was expended; be sides £23,'290. expended during the year on the Orphan Work. 1 will again refer to a few instances of the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means for the first four Objects of the Institution. June 2, 1870. From a Christian Gentleman, who had come into the possession of considerable property, £500., as a thank-offering for happily arranging about these matters, of which £300. was taken for the Mission Fund, and £200. for the School—, Bible — and Tract Fund.—June 6. From " Needy" £1. 3s. 10d., with £2. 7s. 8d. for the Orphans. This kind donor, who calls himself still " Needy," as he did several years since, when he first began to contribute to this Institution, sent a very small amount at first ; but he sent month after month, as God prospered him. He still continues to send every month ; but his donations are 15 or 20 times as large as they were at first. So the Lord has honoured this systematic giving, as He has prospered the giver even in temporal things.— June 23, 17s. 4d., with this statement from a Christian man : " It is one year this month, that I gave up smoking, after smoking 21 years. I was spending 4d. per week on tobacco. When I gave it up, I put aside the money for the cause of Christ. It was the greatest trial to the flesh I ever had. I thought it to be a lust of the flesh for a long time, so in the name of the Lord Jesus I gave it up, and am far better without it."—June 27. Three Ottoman Bonds of £100. each, and 13 Ottoman coupons, of £3. each, for Chinese Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain. The A.D. 1870.] 203 whole produced £251. 148. 6d.—June 80. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in Heaven. July 7. A diamond ring to be sold for Missions and the Orphans.—July 12. From Sweden £60., being part of a legacy left for Missions to the Heathen.—July 19. From Canada, by order of an English Christian Gentleman, £220 , with £30. for myself.—From a Christian widow, £50., with this letter: “ Dear Christian Brother, I am constrained by the love of God to send you £50., to be appropriated as you may think best for the work of the Lord. I had in- tended leaving this small sum at my death, for the good of the Institution; but it has been laid on my mind to . give it at once. “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,” is the command. I am a widow with a yearly annuity of £50., and have saved this out of my income,” etc.—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. . Aug. 15. £19. 19s. Od. as the legacy of the late Mrs. W., with £19. 19s. 0d. for the Orphans.— Aug. 16. £500. , for the Spanish Mission, with £200. for the support of the Orphans. The expenses connected with the Spanish Mis- sion are very great, but the Lord is pleased to supply the means for these expenses. Here is an instance: One of His children is stirred up to help, as just stated. If all knew the blessedness of the life of faith, and the joy, the ease, the real success, connected therewith, no one would wish to go any other way ; but there must be real trust in God. If we only say, that we trust in God, yet do not really trust Him, we should find it hard to get on, for He would take us by our profession.—Aug. 18, From a widow 15s. 1d., as the proceeds of an apricot tree, and 5s. 6d. the proceeds of a week’s eggs.—Aug. 20. From Ohio £10.—Aug. 23. £250. for Chinese Missions. This day I sent off for Foreign Missions £901., and, out of this sum, to China alone £585.; but, as I send out, the Lord is pleased to send in again.—Received also to-day, from a poor German Evangelist for Chinese Missions, One Hun- dred Prussian Thalers, this being his whole little pro- perty.—Aug. 24. From a Christian English gentleman of title £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, and £50. for Foreign Missions.—Avg. 27. Re- 204 [4.D. 1870. ceived £50. with the following letter :—“‘ Dear Mr. Miller, Enclosed is a cheque for £50., being £20. for the Orphans, £20. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, and £10. for your own use. On Sept. 21st last year I sent you £6. ag a thank-offering for deliverance from a back-sliding state, and that my gracious Heavenly Father had allowed me to lose all my money, which had been a . great curse to my soul. He not only permitted me to lose all my own money, but I was also £300. in debt. : And now behold the great and abounding love of the Lord - toward me, since I have been walking in His ways and trusting in Him for all things spiritual and temporal! I am thankful to say, that my desires for temporal blessings are not now as they used to be, for making money to hoard up, so that I might after a time retire from business ; but now I thank my dear Lord, that my only desire, through His Grace given to me, is, that I may have suf- ficient for family and business, and devote the rest to Him whose it is, and who gives it to me. Truly, I can say, the gold and the silver are His—He has been indeed very kind, as all my debts are now paid, and I have been enabled to send you £10. this summer and the enclosed , £50.; and the Lord has likewise given me sufficient for my business at present. Praise the Lord with and for me, for His abounding loving-kindness toward me, during these eleven months, It is indeed blessed to wait upon the Lord and trust in Him, etc.” I have given this letter at length, on account of its profitable character.—Aug. 80. From Scotland £100. for Home and Foreign Mis- sions—From C. and M. £100. for Missions in China, £100. 10s. 2d. for Missions in Spain, and £20. for myself. Sept. 5. A Christian sister having received a present of Fifty Pounds, gave joyfully the whole amount for Mis- sions.—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, ~ constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Sept. 15. £5. 15s. 6d. as “a Harvest thank- offering from believers at Slapton,”’ for Foreign Missions. —Sept. 16. From Scotland £50.,. with the following letter: “‘ My dear Sir, Thirty-five years ago I commenced to lay aside for the Master’s use a fixed proportion of my income, and I have great happiness in bearing testimony to the Lord’s goodness to me. I have found, that, as [ A.D. 1870. | . 205 gave, the more was given to me. To give statedly, and from a sense of duty and obligation, seems to me to be the right way; and not by fitful impulses of feeling. —I enclose a Bank Draft for £50., £45. of which please dis- pose of as you think fit, the remaining £5. please to keep for your own use. I remain, my dear Sir, yours very truly, * * * *,”—Sept. 28. From the Orphans in Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5, for Missions £6. 17s. 44d.—FromW. W. A. ' £16. for the Schools, £16. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £16. for Missions, £16. for the Tract Fund, £16. for the support of the Orphans and £20. for myself. Oct. 1. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. . Nov. 1. From Sweden a further instalment of £40. of a legacy, left for Missions to the heathen.—Noyv. 2. From a Christian Nobleman, a devoted servant of Christ, £50. for Missions in Spain.—Nov. 3. From a Christian noble lady, who gladly gives up all her property, to devote her- self to Missionary work, £300. for Missions.—Nov. 4. . £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —Nov. 14. £10. from a Christian farmer, as a thank- offering for the sale of his wool.—Nov. 15. From a con- siderable distance £400. for Foreign Missions, I joyfully ~send out considerable sums now, for Missions; and, as I - seek to scatter the Lord’s bounties, among His dear ser- vants, who labour and toil under many difficulties, so He is pleased to intrust me further with means. The donation just referred to was an especial proof of this—Nov. 17. Still farther from the Christian noble lady above referred to, £120. for Chinese Missions.—From a Manufacturer £400., with £100. for the Orphans.—Nov. 19. From Glasgow £40. for Missions in Spain, China and India, £50. for the Orphans and £10. for myself.—Nov. 29. £20. “from a business firm in New Zealand.” From Tobago £3. 5s. Dec. 1. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Dec. 24. From Cheshire £100.—Dec. 31. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained “by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —Thus closes the year 1870, a year during which we re- 206 [a.D. 1871. ceived far more for these Objects than during any previous year; this is especially to be noticed on account of the abundance of means raised to relieve the distress occasioned by the war on the Continent. Again and again kind Christian friends, in sending donations, expressed their fear, that I might be suffering for want of funds, on account of the large sums, sent out of the country, to relieve the distress occasioned by the war; to which I replied, that we lacked nothing. The blesedness of faith is most seen under such circumstances. Faith is above cir- cumstances. No war, no fire, no water, no mercantile panic, no loss of friends, no death can touch it. It goes on its own steady course. It triumphs over all difficulties. It works most easily in the greatest difficulties. Those who really confide in God, because they know the power of His arm, and the love of His heart, as shown most in the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, are helped, whatever their trials and difficulties may be. As the old year closed in receiving bountifully from the hands of our Heavenly Father, so the new year again commenced ; but I can refer only to a few more donations, for these first four Objects of the Institution. Jan. 2, 1871. From Cardiff £30.—From Hastings £45. with £5. for myself—From Scotland £100.—From one of the Midland Counties £100. for Foreign Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—From Ireland a gold chain, to be sold for Missions in Rome.—Jan. 3. From a commercial traveller £10. 3s. 9d., with this state- ment: “Last year I gave you one half-penny on each chest of tea, sold by me. This year I send you one penny, according to what I said I would do, if I was pros- perous; and I have much pleasure to say, I have been wonderfully prospered.”—Jan. 7, “ From near London” £50., with £290. for the Orphans and £10. for myself.— Jan. 30. £100. from a military officer of high rank.—Jan. 81. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, Feb. 2. From Ramsgate £50.—Feb. 3. From Devon- shire £100. for Foreign Missions, £75. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Rome, £300. for the Orphansand £25.for myself.—Feb. 15. From Switzerland 100 Francs for Missions.—Feb. 17. From New York £70. for Missions. Notice, esteemed Reader, from what A.D. 1871.] 207 a variety of parts of the globe the donations come. There is scarcely any country, from whence I have not had dona- tions, and generally from individuals who are entire stran- gers to me; but all come from the Lord, who touches the hearts of His stewards, in answer to our daily, believing ‘and expecting prayers. —Feb. 23. From New Jersey, U.S.A. £10.—Feb. 25. From Sweden £72. 2s. 6d., being a further part of payment of a legacy left for Missions to the heathen, by a devoted servant of Christ, who about four years since went to his rest.—Feb. 28. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. March 8. From a considerable distance £200. for Foreign Missions, £100. for the School—, Bible—and Tract Fund, £185. for the support of the Orphans and £15. for myselfi—March 16. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £50.—March 31. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. April 38. From New Zealand £6.—April 4. From Con- stantinople £1. for the Spanish Missions, £2. for these four Objects, and £6. for the Orphans.—April 5. From a considerable distance £185. for Foreign Missions. —April 11. From a military officer at Singapore £10. for Missions, with a silver tankard, a gold necklet and cross, set with pearls and a.diamond, a gold bracelet set with diamonds, and a hunting knife for the Orphans.—April 20. From the neighbourhood of Leeds a large quantity of valuable jewellery, watches, coins, etc., to be sold for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—April 21. By sale of gold and silver articles £66. 10s.—April 29. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, May 8. From Switzerland £8. as “A thank-offering for the unexpected and favourable sale of a house.” —May 13. From India £10. “ Instead of insuring the donor’s life.",—May 15. From India £100.—May 16. Legacy of the late Miss J. C. £100.—From Brazil £4. for Foreign Missions.—May 24. “ From the Mission Field ” £10. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Rome. —May 26, 1871, £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, coustrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I have thus referred to some out of the many donations, 208 [A.D. 1871. given for the first four Objects of the Institution between 26 May, 1870, and 26 May, 1871. During that year I laboured earnestly by prayer, that I might be permitted to extend the operations of these Objects considerably, even as the Orphan Work had been greatly increased. This f had done during the previous period ; and in both years a "great enlargement took place ; BuTit was never greater than during the year of which I have now been writing. lf the Lord should condescend to use His servant further, his aim is, to do this yet more and more, since there are Hundreds of Thousands who might be benefited by Schools, and since the field for the circula tion of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts and for Missionary operations is without limit. We entered now upon the period from May 26, 1871, to May 26, 1872, during which, for these first four Objects of the Institution alone, our expenses were above Seven teen Thousand Pounds, on account of the very con- siderable enlargement which had been yet further made in connexion with the School. Department, as during this period there were 40 Day Schools, 14 Sunday Schools and 11 Adult Schools, with 4,747 scholars entirely sup ported ; the Missionary Department, and the Bible and Tract Work were also greater than ever ; and, besides all this, we expended on the Orphan Work alone £25,190. during the year. The total of our expenses, therefore, during this one year was Forty-Two Thousand Two Hun dred and Thirty Pounds. Still, as always, we were helped during that year also ; and I will now refer to a few of the instances, in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means for the School, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund. May 27, 1871. On the first day of the new year, I re ceived £300. for Chinese Missions.—June 13. From Hamp shire £112. 4s. 4d. with £20. for myself.—June 19. From Dublin £25. for Foreign Missions, £25. for Home Mis sions, €25. for the circulation of the Scriptures, and £25. for the circulation of Tracts.—June 20. From a Christian butcher in Bristol 1 9s., being one penny for each sheep, he had had in his shop, since last he sent.—June 30. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. July 6. From Yorkshire £100. for Foreign Missions with £100. for the Orphans.—From H. J. G. £1. 6s. A.D. 1871.] 209 with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I have sent a Post Office Order for £1. 6s., being 3 months' tobacco and beer money, to be used for Orphan and Mission work." —July 31. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. Aug. 11. From the neighbourhood of Stirling £100. for Foreign Missions, £80. for the Orphans, and £20, for myself.—Aug. 23. From British Burmah £9. 16s. 10d. Sept. 3. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Sept. 12. From Hampshire £125. 2s. 10d. with £40. for the Orphans and £30. for myself.-— Sept. 14. Received £3. 5s. with the following very in structive letter : " Dear Sir, Some months ago, I laid by my gold chain, feeling it inconsistent as a Christian to wear it any longer, purposing, whenever I could dispose of it, to send the money to you for the cause of God. But being in want of money, I sold it for half its value, and made use of the money. I ought to have sent the amount to you as soon as 1 received some money, but did not. I have had various misfortunes since. One instance. Having taken my six children to the sea side, intending to stay some weeks, on my arrival at the place I found my purse of gold was gone; I was compelled to return home the s,ame day. In another journey I lost part of my luggage, and every thing has appeared to go contrary. I really believe, it is all on account of the above mentioned reason. I state it to my shame. Make what use you think proper of this account. May I be ever more faithful as the Lord's steward from this time. Please to use this small amount for the cause of God in any way you think best., I am, dear Sir, Yours sincerely, * * * *."— Sept. 18. From Yorkshire £200. with £100. for the Orphans.— Sept. 27. To-day I received from the children in most of the depart ments of the five Orphan Houses £12. 9s. 3d. for Missions or the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Rome, with fifteen affectionate letters, one from each of the depart ments in the five houses. The occasion was, the anniver sary of my birth-day, on which this money was sent for the Lord's work, instead of a present for myself, the children knowing well, how the former would please me. Four departments, however, sent me little presents for myself. — On this day I received also a number of letters 210 [A.D. 1871. from Orphans formerly under our care, containing dona tions either for these Objects or the support of the Orphans.— Sept. 28. £10. "In lieu of the first fruits of the harvest."—Sept. 29. From Scotland £100. Oct. 4. From H. J. G. £1. 6s. as " One quarter's beer and tobacco money."—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. — Oct. 7. From Scotland, a diamond ring and an old guinea piece, for Missions.— Oct. 9. From China £1. 15s. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Italy.—From Devonshire £200., with £100. for the Orphans.—Oct. 23. From Dor setshire £15.—From Sweden £80. 19s., being the last instalment of 5.000 Rix Dollars, left to me by a servant of the Lord Jesus, some years since, for Missions among the heathen. This is one of the Ten Thousand different channels, through which God has been pleased to provide this work, during the past 40 years, with pecuniary means. He has never failed us. Many hundreds of donors who once helped us, have passed away ; but the Living God has helped us. The circumstances of some, once able to help largely, have so altered, that either they cannot help at all, or a little only ; but the Unchangeable God has not failed us. The Almighty God, who has a sufficiency for every want, has stepped in, and helped us, so that we have been bountifully supplied, though through other instru mentality. Oh, the blessedness of having God as our Friend ! Do all my readers know him in Christ ? Are they reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ? Have they experienced in their own hearts the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ ? Are they by this delivered from the slavish fear of God, have they love to God,' and are they able to confide in Him ? These are weighty matters. May a servant of the Lord Jesus, who has known the blessedness of these things for more than 48 years, beg the reader, if a stranger to them, not to be satisfied till he knows God in Christ for himself. Nov. 6. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Nov. 11. From Zurich, Switzerland, £6. —Nov. 24. From the wife of a clergyman at a consider able distance I received the following interesting letter : •' My dear Friend, I was struck with a remark in your last Ueport, in which you say, ' that if every Christian A.D. 1871.] 211 lady would give up her ornaments, an immense sum of money would be realised.' I think, as long as the Lord has need of money for His people and His cause, a loving child could hardly enjoy ornaments, after having had this put before them. So, I send all I have of any value, and I think our gracious Saviour may accept it, as He did the box of ointment. I pray that God will bless you abun dantly in your blessed work. I do wish you could extend your Missions. There seems such a door opened for the Gospel at this time all over the world. Believe me your sincere friend, ****." The parcel contained 4 frocks, 3 pinafores, a gold watch, a gold thimble, 4 gold rings, 5 gold brooches, 5 gold lockets, a gold necklet, a silver brooch, a gold seal, 3 eye-glasses, the gold mounting of a hair bracelet, and a pair of jet bracelets. The proceeds were taken for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. —I cannot help remarking here once more, if Christians in their dress, in their way of living, in their furniture, in laying aside their ornaments, were more ready to deny themselves, for the Lord's sake, my full conviction is, that at least ten times as much could be done by them for the work of God, as is done nowi During the past year alone, I have obtained several hundred pounds by the sale of jewellery. A Christian gentleman sent me last year a diamond ring, which cost him £88. 16s. And many such articles are in the possession of true children of God. How long shall this be ? Till the Lord comes again 1 Verily there will be no joy in our hearts then, at the re membrance that we have articles by the sale of which we might have fed the hungry, or have caused large quan tities of Tracts or copies of the Holy Scriptures to he circulated, or aided otherwise in the spread of the Gospel. Nov. 28. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. Dec. 8. From North Devon £18. 4s. 2d. for Chinese Missions.—Dec. 13. From North Devon £27. 2s. 6d. for Foreign Missions.—Dec. 16. From a Bible Woman, at a distance of several hundred miles, an entire stranger to me, £9., with the following letter : " Beloved Sir, I send you this as a thank-offering unto the Lord, for taking a beloved husband and child in one night to Himself, for giving to me the garments of praise for the spirit of heavi ness, and for compassing me about with songs of 212 [A.D. 1872. deliverance ; for He will never suffer the righteous to be moved. Please to use the amount in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures abroad. May the good Lord, who is wonderful in counsel, excellent in working, increase you more and more, and comfort you on every side, are the prayers and wishes of a sister in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Yours respectfully, * * » •." Dec. 18. From Yorkshire £200. for Foreign Missions.— Dec. 30. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—From Swansea £30. Jan. 1. 1872. The new year brought new blessings and help from the Lord, as usual. Year by year He helps us in every way. We may be tried and in difficulties; but we are helped by Him. We may have long to wait, and often to call upon Him, before the help comes ; but His help does come at last. It may even appear, as if we prayed in vain, but in His own good time He abundantly proves, that He had most assuredly been mindful of us. The first donation, which I received for these Objects, at the commencement of this year, was £100. for Missions, £80. for the School—, Bible—and Tract Fund, with £20. for myself, from one of the Midland Counties.—The next was £120. for Missions, with £5. for myself, from a dis tance of several hundred miles, with the following letter : " My dear Sir, Through the Lord's goodness I am enabled to send you herewith £125. ; £5. for your own expenses, and £ 1 20. in aid of the work under your care. It is now ten years, since I first sent you anything, and about the same time, since I began to give systematically to God's work, through reading your Narrative. Like many others I can say, that God has made up to me all that I have given, and far more. I am, yours faithfully, * * * *."— This Christian gentleman has sent to me during the last ten years more than £5,000. for the work of the Lord. Of the other donations, received on Jan. 1 for these Ob jects, I only mention the following.—From a builder, residing several hundred miles from Bristol, £10., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I forward you the enclosed Post Office Order, having sold eight houses this year [he gives £1. for each house he sells], and two pounds from other profits, for you to use as you think best, with my best wishes to you and your undertaking. Yours respect A.D. 1872.] 213 fully, * * * *.’—-From a commercial traveller £6. 10s. 6d. “‘ being one penny on each chest of tea, sold by him during the past year.”—Jan. 25. To-day I received the following letter from America, containing a Bank-Order for Five Hundred Dollars, which gives a fresh proof as to the great variety of ways, in which it pleases the Lord to supply the means for this Institution. ‘ Beloved in the Lord, -These Five Hundred Dollars I now commit to your care, safe keeping and wise using; they are God’s, not mine, I have no money, house or lands. ‘ The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.’ The silver and the gold are His, the cattle upon a thousand hills. Indeed I am not mine own. ‘ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holly. Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not yourown? For ye are bought with a price: there- fore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.’ 1 Cor. vi. 19,20. For months and years I have been asking counsel of the Lord to know in what way I could best dispose of the little He had lent me to His own glory, that on the day of final settlement I might hear, ‘ Well done good and faithful servant, etc.’ Matthew xxv, 21. —Learning from your Narrative and Reports, that you, dear brother, entertain the same blessed Scriptural views of stewardship as herein specified, and that all you receive at the hands of donors, goes, not to build up Satan’s Kingdom, but the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; I cheerfully and heartily place this small sum of Five Hundred Dollars in your hands, for 1, educa- ting the little folks under your care, exclusively Godward; 2, tor distributing the Bible among the poorest of the poor in distant lands; 3, to assist faithful Missionaries of the Cross, relying wholly on God for their temporal supplies. —tThe Lord smile more and more graciously on your labours of love, is the prayer of your affectionate brother in the Gospel, * * * *.’,—-On the same day received also, from Hampshire, £100. for Foreign Missions, £75. for the cir- culation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Italy, £300. for the support of the Orphans, and £25. for myself.— Jan. 29. Received Two Thousand Pounds with the fol- lowing letter: “ Dear Sir, I send you Two Thousand Pounds, the produce of the sale of some property, which has given me much trouble of mind, and the proceeds of 214 (A.D. 1872. which have been devoted to the Lord’s service.—It is become evident, that He saw it not good for me to hold so much, and therefore allowed its possession to be rather a curse than a blessing. That it may prove a*blessing by your appropriation of it, under His guidance, is the prayer of yours truly, * * * *.” This letter is full of in- struction. 1, The Christian gentleman, who sent this money, is anything but covetous; for he had for about 20 years sent me much for the Lord’s work, and for many years about £200. annually ; yet he considered that he held too much. So, other disciples of the Lord Jesus, may hold too much. 2, The writer states further, that, because the Lord saw it not good for him, to hold so much, he allowed its possession to_be rather a curse than a blessing. Shall we not all seek to be profited by the experience of this Christian gentleman? Are we not all naturally, to a ; greater or less degree, fond_of possessions, and therefore ‘ aiming rather after a curse than a blessing? 3, Posses- sions, small or great, are so far of value, as they are uscd | the Lord. The night comes when no man can work. —Of this £2,000. I appropriated £1,000. for Missions to the Heathen (having abundant outlets for money in this direction’, £500. for the School Fund (having not only very many schools to support in connexion with the In- stitution, but having recently again established several new schools), and £500. I took for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Italy, where the openings for the circulation of the word of God become more and more extended.— Jan. 31. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. : Feb. 2. From Yorkshire £100.—From a business firm in New Zealand £24.—Feb. 17. Received to-day the legacy of N. B., Esq., being £200. for these Objects and . the Orphan work; I took therefore £160. for these Ob- jects and £40. for the support of the Orphans. This Christian gentleman, whom | have never seen, very kindly left also £200. for myself, duty free. I delight in refer- ring to this, as another exemplification of the Lord’s great kindness to me His unworthy servant, and the readiness of His heart to supply most bountifully all my temporal necessities.—Feb. 26. From Harrowgate, £100. March 1. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- A.D. 1872.] 215 strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—March 4. Received 13s. with the fol- lowing letter: “Dear Sir, Will you please to accept the sum of 13s., to be used as you please, being one penny of every shilling of my weekly earnings. At first I gave one halfpenny out of every shilling, but the Lord now prospers me so, that I can earn as much in a fort- night as I could in three weeks. I remain yours respect- fully * * * *.”"—March 6. From Hampshire £100., with £27. 18s. 10d. for the Orphans, and £25. for myself. Apr. 5. From Ireland £50. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Rome.—Apr. 11. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Apr. 22. By sale of gold and silver articles £45.— Apr. 26. From Ireland £100. for Italian Missions.—Apr. 29. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. . May 16. Received from a Christian physician, £47. 2s., with the: following letter: “ My dear Sir,—I send you a cheque for £47. 2s., a tenth of what the Lord has given me, since I wrote to you last. I feel that this tenth is so entirely the Lord’s, that I dare not suggest how I would wish you to expend it. May He direct you, as it pleases Him. Asking an interest in your prayers, which I would esteem a great favour, I am, my dear Sir, yours, with best wishes, * * * *.”—May 21. £5. as “ A thank-offering for safe delivery in the hour of nature’s trial.”—May 22. Received the following letter, with £50. ‘My dear Mr. Miller, Two years ago I sent you a small donation. I now send you another, which is part of an allocation I am making of a balance at the credit of a Stewardship Ac- count. For many years I have kept an account in my private books for religious and benevolent donations, taking care that one year with another they, did not fall }. below the tenth, but latterly I have kept a more formal account, God having graciously enlarged my income, and have seen it my duty and privilege to increase, and after- wards to double the proportion, keeping in mind what you have said in your Reports. As a consequence I find at a year’s end a considerable balance over, even after increas- ing former contributions, and giving to new objects. From that balance I now send the inclosed cheque for £50. It 216 [A.D. 1872. makes one realize more vividly the position of a steward, when called to make such allocations. I cannot but think, that such a labourer as yourself, who throws himself upon the Master, has special claims on the Master's stewards I leave you to allocate this sum according to your own judgment, only expressing my wish you should reserve £5. for yourself. Enter it, if you approve, ' From a Steward's Balance.' With kind regards, I am, yours, in the Lord, * * * *."—May 23, 1872. £5. 17s. 9d. with the following letter from a shopkeeper : " Dear Sir, It is with pleasure I enclose you this Post-office Order for £5. 17s. 9d., which is 2d. on every £1. that we have received for the past year. I am happy to say, that the Lord has been very merciful towards us during the past year. I can say that I give this with free will. I am very glad, that I have advanced from £4. ls. ld., last year's donation, to the amount enclosed, hoping there will be more next year, if the Lord permit us to see another. Yours very truly, * * * *."—£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, contrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I have thus referred to some of the donations as speci mens, to show how the Lord was pleased to supply us during the year from May 26, 1871, to May 26, 1872. We were able fully to meet all the expenses, though greater than during any of the previous 38 years, and had a balance of £844. 14s. 0½d. left, with which we entered upon the next year, from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873. During this year we still further enlarged the School De partment, so that 52 Day Schools, 23 Sunday Schools, and 8 Adult Schools (83 in all, with 6,620 scholars), were en tirely supported by the funds of the Institution ; the Bible work too was larger than ever; 187 Missionaries were assisted during the year ; and Three Millions, Six Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Tracts, were circulated during the year. We had, therefore, again to wait upon the Lord for means for all the expenses connected with these operations, and were helped during that year also. I now refer to some of the donations received during the year, as specimens, to show how we were carried through the expenses of the year from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873, with reference to the first four Objects, though they A.D. 1872.] 217 amounted to more than £16,240, besides the expenses for the support of the Orphans, amounting to £25,234. June 6, 1872. Received to-day £23. from Cornwall for Missions to the heathen. The donor had often sent similar amounts, for the same object. During that year this dear Godly man went to his rest. Thus his sowing time is ended, and now he is reaping. Our time too, esteemed reader, may soon come, when the sowing for , ever will be over ; therefore, while the privilege is con tinued to us, let us seek to make good use of the various ways, in which the Lord may permit us to serve Him.— June 8. Received from a considerable distance £200. for Foreign Missions, with £50. for the- support of the Orphans.—June 11. £2. 4s. 7d. from Cornwall with the following letter : Dear Sir, I enclose a Post Office Order for £2. 4s. 7d., being one penny in the Pound on my sales for May. Please to use it, as you think best. I was first led to give systematically to God's cause, through reading an account of your work. I thank God, that ever I have been led to see it such a privilege to support His cause. Now I feel it a greater pleasure to give than to withhold." The donor has since sent again and again similar amounts.— June 17. From Scotland £220., with £50. for the Orphans. July 4. £25. from London as " A thank-offering for recovery."—July 6. From Devonshire £150., with £50. for the Orphans.—From Ireland £100. for Missions in China, £100. for Missions in Spain, £200. for Missions in Italy, and £100. for the Orphans, with the following state ment ; " I well remember some years ago sending you Five Shillings, which at the time was a great sum for me. Since then, by God's grace, I have sought to act as a steward, and now I can with more freedom send you £500. I am yours in Christ our Head, * * * *." The state ment in the letter of this Irish donor calls for much prayerful consideration—July 9. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—July 11. From India £100.—July 12. There was anonymously, to-day, put into the Letter Box at my house £5<)., without stating for what it was to be used. The amount was taken for these Objects.—-July 17. From a Christian Nobleman £25. for Foreign Mis sions, and £50. for Missions in Spain.—From London £2. 11s., with the following letter : " Dear Sir I enclose L 218 [AD. 1872. an order for £2. 11s. Please use it for the work in your hands as most needed. I have known you and the work in your hands from nearly the commencement, but have never had the heart to send you anything, until now, when my income is considerably less, than it has been for a number of years, having retired from service. I pro mised for the Lord's work 2s. in the pound, for all I earned by waiting. As the work came in faster than I had expected, I increased it to 3s. in the Pound ; and now send you the amount. I have earned in a few weeks £17. 14s., for which I feel very thankful to the Lord. I am, Dear Sir, yours in the Lord * * * *."—July 19. From Ireland £50. for Missions in Spain.—From Scotland £2 1 5., with £10. for myself—July 23. Legacy of the late Mr. J. 8. of Millbrook £22. 10s., with £22. 10s. for Missions in Spain and Italy, and £45. for the Orphans. Aug. 6. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven —Aug. 9. From Tunbridge Wells £50. for Missions, £20. for the Bible and Tract Fund, £120. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. —Aug. 15. From Aus tralia £100., with £10. for myself.-^-Aug. 16. From a Guernsey donor £50. for Home Missions, and £50. for the Orphans.—Aug. 24. From Swansea £50., with £50. for the Orphans—From Ireland £25. " From one who has been helped through pecuniary difficulty, and who de sires to acknowledge the Lord's help."— Aug. 26. From Scotland £70. for Home and Foreign Missions, £20. for Missions to the Jews, and £10. for myself.—Aug. 28. From Burnham £40. for Missions, and £40. for the Or phans.—Aug. 30. From Constantinople £3. 10s., with £1. for Spanish Missions and £8. for the Orphans. Sept, 3. £100. was left anonymously at the Bible and Tract Warehouse, Park Street, Bristol, for Foreign Mis sions. —Sept. 14. From Scotland £100. for Foreign Missions, £80. for the Orphans and £20. for myself.— .Sept. 17. From Southampton £100., with £ 144. 0s. 10d. for the Orphans and £50. for myself.— Sept. 19. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— Sept. 27. On this day, I received from the Orphans in the sixteen different departments of the Five Orphans Houses £13. 15s. 7d. for Missions generally, £1. 4s. for the cir AD. 1872.] 219 culation of the Holy Scriptures in Rome, 13s. for the cir- culation of the Holy Scriptures among the heathen, and £1. for Missions in Spain. Oct. 1. From Scotland £50.—Oct. 7. Received a dia- mond ring, 2 gold thimbles, a vinaigrette, and 2 silver buckles, to be sold for Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—Oct. 8. £50. from Cumberland. The kind donor of this £50. is an entire stranger to me. Almost all, the donors are personally unknown to me. In many instances large donations, of many Hundred Pounds, have come anonymously to hand. But all this we receive as the result of believing, expecting prayer. In childlike simplicity we remind our Heavenly Father, that the work is very great; that our current expenses day by day are very great; that in dependence on Him alone we began the work, and that in this same dependence on Him we have, year by year, enlarged it; and we ask Him, that He gra- ciously would be pleased to supply our need, by putting it into the hearts of His stewards to send us help. And this He does. Though often the daily income is but little, in com- parison with the expenses, yet we thank Him even for the Jittle, and ask Him to send us again larger sums. While I am writing this, the income during the last five days has the expenses of these five days; but I am expecting again much larger sums, 1t is unspeakably blessed really to know Gat to walk in friendship with Him, to be able to speak to Him about everything, and to roll upon Him all one’s cares and burdens. In this blessed, happy way, I have now been enabled to walk for 44 years, and I can- not describe the joy connected with this life of holy, blessed independance of circumstances, political events, mercantile difficulties, friends, death, &c.; for as long as we are able to lean upon God, we have all we can possibly need. And this blessed holy independence may be en- joyed by all the children of God. It is not only the privi- lege of a very few favoured ones; but all, without excep- tion, who are reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, and who alone trust in Him for salvation, may enjoy this blessing. In order, however, to enjoy this happy fellow- ship and practical friendship of God and His dear Son, our adorable Lord Jesus Christ, we must walk uprightly. We have to carry out the light which we receive from the L3 220 [A.D. 1872. [ Holy Scriptures ; we must practice the truth we know. I Erring and failing we may be ; but we must be honest, upright in not living in sin, in not going on in a course we know, to be contrary to the mind of God. Should the latter be the case, we cannot enjoy fellowship with God, nor shall we be able practically to trust Him as our friend, and this will be the greatest hindrance to having our prayers answered, according to that word : " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me?' Psalm Ixfl, Ifc. Oct. 22. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Nov. 5. From Scotland £200.—Nov. 6. In the early part of October I received a letter from a young Christian, a journeyman watchmaker in Germany, informing me that I should shortly receive from him through a cousin of his One Thousand Prussian Thalers, of which he desired one half to be expended for Missions to the heathen, and the other half for the Spanish Mission. As this dear Christian young man was an entire stranger to me, and I knew not whether he had sufficiently weighed the step he was going to take, I wrote to him, asking whether he had fully con sidered the matter, to which he replied, that it had been long before him, but that since the spring he had had no doubt regarding it. To the point, that this was a con siderable sum for him, he replied, that, as he was giving it to the Lord, it was not too much, if He would be pleased to accept it for His work and let His blessing rest upon it. To my question, whether he had weighed the point that he might with this money begin business on his own account, he replied, that he had long had the desire to give his whole property to the Lord's work, (2,400 Prussian Thalers,) but that at present he had only full light regard ing 1,000 Thalers, which would leave 1,400 Thalers for commencing business on his own account, though at present he bad no desire to go into business, as his monthly pay of 21 Thalers sufficiently provided for him. The whole letter of this dear young man of 25 years of age was of the most calm and satisfactory character. As the matter had been for years before him, and qnite decided upon by him for more than six months ; and as it was now four weeks since he informed me that he had given orders A.D. 1873] 221 for the money to be sent, I accepted this money and it was applied according to his desire. We commend this dear young disciple to the prayers of the Christian readers, and ask them to admire the various ways, which the Lord is pleased to use in supplying us with means. — Nov. 15. From Tenby £50. for Missions and £50. for the Orphans. —Nov. 16. From the neighbourhood of Halifax £50.— Nov. 19. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Dec. 2. From Scotland £150.—Dec. 11. From the neigh bourhood of Fairford £50.—Dec. 17. From a servant of the Lord Jesns, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Dec. 21. From a Christian gentleman in one of the Midland Counties £450. for Missions, with £50. for myself.—From Reading for Missions £20.—Day by day we are waiting on the Lord for means for Missions, on account of the vast openings we have for spending money in this way. On this account the last two donations for Missions were particularly re freshing. Jan. 1, 1873. From a commercial traveller £11. 10s., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, it is with much pleasure I send you the enclosed cheque for £11. 10s., being a trifle on each chest of tea sold by me in Bristol during this year. By this you will see I have been more prosperous than last year. Please to use this as yon think best. Yours respectfully, * * * *."—£10. from a build er, residing at a great distance, being £ 1 . for each house he had sold during the past year.—Put into the Letter Box at my house, anonymously, £37. 15s. 2d. without stating for what it was intended. It was taken for these Objects.— Received £3. with the following letter : " Dear and Hon oured Sir, I have for several years sent you a trifle from another source, but through old age and infirmity strength faileth me. Wishing to help the dear Lord's cause, I can do a little in making bee-hives. I sold this year 30 at 2s. each. I send you £3. to appropriate where most needed. My prayer is, that God may bless you in your work of faith and labour of love. * * * *." Notice in these four last donations the variety of ways in which God is pleased to supply us with means. The last furnishes, moreover, a striking illustration of the truth of the proverb, " Where_ 222 [a.p. 1878. there is a will, there is a way.” This dear aged Godly . Than does not say, I have “worked formerly, and thus helped on the cause of Christ, but I am now too old. He re- members tbat he can make bee-hives, and earns thus £3. in the course of a year for the work of the Lord. How lovely to see thus each member in the body of Christ taking its part, the rich and the poor, the learned and illiterate, male and female, young and old! The question for each disciple of the Lord Jesus should be this: How | would the Lord Jesus have me to be occupied? How may I best serve Him? What can I do for Him, who gave His life for me? And if this were the case, how different would things be in numberless ways to what they are now.—Jan. 2, 1873. From R. W. W. £50. for Missions, with £50. for the Orphans.—Jan. 6. _ From Ireland £50. for the Spanish Missions.—£100. from ‘a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Jan. 18. Received from Cheltenham £2. with this letter: “ Dear Mr. Miller, I enclose Post Office Order for two pounds, © to be appropriated as follows, Spanish Missions -5s. 8d., Orphans 14s. 4d. One pound is from a poor saint, with Ecclesiastes ix. 10, who for four years and eight months has laid by a penny a week and desires that it should be used for the circulation of the Scriptures, she having de- rived much comfort from them, and desires to acknow- ledge God’s goodness in this way. I remain, etc.* * * *,” Will the reader especially consider this donation of one pound, made up by putting aside one penny a week for four years and eight months, Let the poorest of the poor learn from it, how they too, by their pence, may help on the work of God.—Jan. 18. Received again from the donor, referred to under July 17, 1872, £3. 5s. with the fol- _ lowing letter: “‘ Dear Sir, Enclosed is an order for £3. 5s. to be applied to the Lord’s work under your care as most needed, this being 3s. in the pound of all I have earned by attending dinners, etc. In July last I sent you £2. 11s. earned in the same way. The employment given me in this way has been more than double what I expected. I send this with much pleasure, and consider it a great honour to be allowed to contribute a trifle to the Lord’s work, etc.” Jan, 21, From a considerable distance £100. for Foreign Missions, with £100. for the Orphans.—Jan. 23. £5. a8 “A tithe offering from a daily governess.”—Jan. 24. A.D. 1873.] 223 From Hampshire £175. for the Bible —, Mission— and Tract Fund, with £300. for the Orphans and £25. for my- salf. —Jan. 31. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Feb. 3. £2. from a soldier's wife hi British Kaffraria. —Feb. 6. £101. 18s. 10d. with the following letter: "My dear Mr. Miiller, The enclosed cheque, value £101. 1 8s. 10d. represents our ' Ready Money Sales ' on the 1st of January this year, which I beg you to accept and use as you may think proper, etc."—Feb. 7. £2. 12s. Gd. from Hull, being £1. 14s. 8d. from two children instead of using sugar for one year, and 17s. 10d. from their mother, being the first takings in her little shop each week.—Feb. 26. £100. / from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the , love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Feb. i 27. Received from New Zealand a heavy gold snuff box I and a gold chain, to be sold for the benefit of Foreign Missions and the Orphans.—Feb. 28. Received £2., with the following letter from a working man : " Honoured Sir, Enclosed I send you a Post-office Order for £2., for the work of the Lord, to be used by you as most needed. I have no doubt, Sir, it will be interesting to you to know how the Lord has blessed us, since we began to contribute a small sum to His cause. When I first began, my wages were only 14s. per week, out of which I put by 6d. per week. When I left that situation, I took another at 1 8s. per week ; and when I left that one, I took another at 21s. per week, out of which I put by one shilling per week ; and now my wages are 23s. 6d. per week, out of which I put by 1s. 6d. per week, etc." Hundreds of similar letters have we received during the last twenty years, in which testimony is borne to the blessings received, both tem porally and spiritually, in consequence of systematic giving, according to the means with which the Lord has been pleased to entrust the donors. March 11. From Hampshire £141. 19s. 4d., with £30. for myself.—March 26. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. April 3. £100. from Ireland,for Missions in Italy. —April 7. £50. from Ireland, for Foreign Missions. — April 18. £818. 12s. 0d. as the legacy of the late Miss A. M. T., a 224 [A.D. 1873. lady whom I never saw, and who last year died on the Con tinent. The payment of this legacy was a great spiritual refreshment to me, as the income had been very small for several days. May 13. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Legacy of the late Miss H. of Gravesend, £180. for Missions, with £180. for the Orphans.—From Devonshire £2. 16s. 9d. " Being one penny each on 681 apple trees, the number I sold from the time I sent last." —May 23. £40. from Victoria, Australia. — May 26. £5. as the legacy of the late Mr. W. C. of Australia.— £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. I have thus mentioned some of the donations which came in between May 26, 1872, and May 26, 1873, for the first four Objects of the Institution, in order that the reader may see in what a marked manner, and in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply us with means, simply in answer to our believing and expecting supplica tions. And thus the work has been going on for forty years, though it is becoming more and more enlarged. Before closing this chapter, it onlv remains to state, that up to the very last day of the fortieth year of the existence of the Institution, from May 26, 1873, to March 5, 1874, it pleased the Lord to supply us with means, though the operations during this period were still further enlarged, as several more schools were established, and in other respects the work was extended, as the statistics in the fourth chapter will minutely state. I refer now to a very few donations, received between May 26, 1873, and March 5, 1874. May 30, 1873. From Ireland for Italian Missions £50. —June 3. Legacy of the late Mrs. A. of Syston, £100. for the Bible Fund, £100. for the Tract Fund, £600. for the Orphans, and £100. for myself. This lady I had never seen.—June 9. From Sydney, New South Wales, £44. 12s. 3d. July 9. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—From one of the Midland Counties £450. for Missions, with £50. for myself.—From Scotland £100. with £5. for myself.—July 26. From Ireland A.D. 1873.] 225 £200. for Spanish Missions, £100. for Italian Missions, £100. for Chinese Missions, and £100. for the Orphans. Aug. 1. £100, from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Aug. 8. From Scotland £100. with £10. for myself—Aug. 11. From a Clifton donor £50. for Missions in Spain, Italy, and France—From India £87. 16s.—Aug. 13. Received £1,456. 16s. 6d., being the entire of the effects left by an Indian Military Field Officer.—Aug. 27. From Wales £75. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain, and £25. for ditto in Rome.—From Somersetshire £80.—Aug. 29. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Sep. 1. From a Merchant and Shipowner in Scotland, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £200.—From a Manufacturer in Scotland, £100. for Foreign Missions. —Sep. 22. From Ireland £50. for Missions.—Sep. 26. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. : —Sep. 27. From the Orphans in the five houses, £17. 5s. 10gd. for Missions. Oct. 16. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Oct. 30. From Tobago £10. Nov. 6. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Nov. 7. From Cambridge £25.—From a | Merchant and. Shipowner, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £100., with £5. for myself.—Nov. 11. From Berkshire £50.—Nov. 26. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Dec. 3. Received from the United States, one thousand dollars, or £189. 12s, 6d. sterling, of which the kind © Christian brother wished me to keep £10. for myself.— Dec. 10., From a Merchant, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £100.—Dec. 19. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Dec. 31. £100. for Foreign Missions, from the neighourhood of Manchester. —£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure 226 [a.D. 1856. in heaven.—£11. from a builder, being £1. for each house sold by him during the year. Jan. 1, 1874. £100. with £5. for myself, from a Mer- chant who contributes as the Lord prospers him.—Jan. 13, £40. for Missions in Italy and Spain.—Jan. 22. £100. from Manchester.—Jan. 31. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Feb. 2. From Scotland for Foreign Missions, £150.— Feb. 6. £30. in gold, anonymously left at my house, to be used at my discretion—F eb. 18. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. March 4. £150., with £10. for myself, from a Merchant and Shipowner, who contributes as the Lord prospers him. —#£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by a love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—March 5. £12. 4s. came in on the last day of the fortieth year for these objects, in ten different donations. I have referred to these donations out of the hundreds which came in between May 26, 1873, and March 5, 1874, to show, how the Lord has been pleased to help us with pecuniary supplies to the end of the fortieth year of the Institution, though it has been again still further enlarged since May 26, 1873. Thus the Institution, which had so small a beginning on March 5, 1834, by the help of God has been brought to the end of the fortieth year, though its operations are now so extensive, as the reader will more clearly seg from the fourth chapter. I proceed now ‘| to the next chapter. ; CHAPTER IIT. The Lord's way of providing for the thousands of Orphans who were in the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874; practical remarks, letters of donors and of Orphans, ¢c. The many pages which precede this, and which give an account of the manner in which it pleased the Lord, year after year, to supply us with means for the heavy expenses connected with the School—, Bible—, Missionary — and Tract Fund, from May 26, 1856, to March 5, 1874; and ; L8 A.D. 1856.] 227 especially with the very large sums for building the New Orphan Houses, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No, 5, as well as fitting them up and furnishing them, may have exhans- ted the patience of the reader. Ifso, I advise_him to lay the book aside for the present, to take it up another time, and not to read much of it at one time; aso, with eve fresh instance, brought before him, in which the Lord was pleased to supply us with means, to seek to enter into it, that God, the Living God, who has the hearts of all in His hands, supplied these means in answer to prayer. If this book be read_in such a spirit, and not in the way of amusement, the result will be, that a rich blessing will be left behind in the heart of the reader, as has been the case with many thousands before him. But in whatever | way the reader may feel, I have to do my part, which is, ' to record the Lord’s unbounded _kindness and faithfulness ' tome. For many years I have asked Him, to allow me, . for the glory of His name, to prepare the continuation of ; my narrative for the press; now His time is come, and I delight in sounding forth His praises. When giving in the fourth part of this narrative an account of the Orphan Work, I came to May 26, 1856, from whence I now go on. When this period, from May 26, 1856, to May 26, 1857, commenced, I had £167. 18s. 113d. in hand for the support of the Orphans, which sum, under ordinary circumstances, would have supplied the need of the 304 Orphans then under our care for about two weeks, though often in three days much more than that had been ex- pended. We were, therefore, entirely dependant upon God, to supply more means when, or before, this sum was gone. And this He did, most bountifully; for at no period, since first the Orphan work commenced, on Dec. 9, 1835, had we so abounded as during this period, having been able to meet not only every demand, but having had always, during the whole twelvemonth, a considerable sum in hand; so thal, after we had met the expenses of the first month, we had above £100. more than at the beginning; and after we had met the heavy expenses of the second month, we had increased the balance nearly £500. more; and at the end of the third month, (though the expenses in August, 1856, had amounted to about £400.,) we had still £400. left in hand. And thus the 228 [A.D. 1856. good and faithful God, the Living God, the Father of the fatherless, carried us through the whole of that period also, regarding the Orphan work, and caused us so to abound, that at the close, on May 26, 1857, I had in hand a balance of £1489. 7s. 9d. I delight in being able thus to make my boast in the Lord. I do not write Kcports to bring before the public how poor I am. Nor do I write them, in order thereby to induce persons to give, though 1 well know that hundreds of times, the Lord has used the Reports, instrumentally, to lay this work, as His own, on the hearts of His children, whether rich or poor, to help me with their means. But I write, in_order that God's bountifulness, and faithfulness, and the readiness of His heart to listen to the sujvplicatipns of His children, may be increasingly manifest to those who need a helping hand for such purposes, if by any means others may be induced, according to their circumstances, to put their trust in God for all they need. I also espe cially delight, to speak of the balance of £1,489. 7s. 9d. for the Orphan work, in hand on May 26, 1857 ; for when I first made known my purpose to enlarge this work, so as to receive 1000 Orphans, instead of 300, many may have thought there was no likelihood of my obtaining the £35,000, needed for the buildings for the 700 Orphans, still less of my being able to provide for them. But see how God wrought. Only £3,200. more was needed on May 26, 1857, to complete the £35,000. And when I was on the point of beginning to make arrangements for the reception of 400 more Orphans, when the expenses would be unusually large, even before the 400 were actually housed, the Lord allowed us to enter upon a new period with a balance of£ 1,489. 7s. 9d., as if He meant thereby to say : Vear ncvE^ I will be with thee, and will help thee also when the 400 more Orphans shall have been received, yea, when all the 1000 shall be under thy care. Thus, as the work has been enlarged, to put unbelief to shame, the Lord has kept pace in His faithfulness with the enlargement, and often has given even more abundantly, comparatively, than when it was small. It is not, that our principles are altered. It is not that we act differently from what we did between 1838 and 1843, when almost habitually we were very poor ; but it pleased God, because He had given it to me A.D. 1856.] 229 to go forward in faith, for a testimony to an unbelieving world, and for the comfort and ercouragement of the church at large, to show how He delights to honour those who honour Him and put theic trust in Him.—Many of my readers will remember what I stated in the second volume of this Narrative, from page 206 to 227, respec- ting my full conviction that God would give the £35,000. fur building, and the means for the support of the 1000 Orphans, when collected. Now see how He has wrought since that statement was published. I will now refer to a few, out of the many hundreds of donations which the Lord gave me for the support of the Orphans, between May 26, 1856, and May 26, 1857. June 11, 1856. On this day a gentleman sent me, as his first donation, £5. for the support of the Orphans.— On June 14th, he sent me another £5. for the support of the Orphans.—On the 25th, I received another £5.; on the 30th £20. And within a few months I received, in different sums, from an entire stranger, £383. for the support of the Orphans, £15. for the other Objects, and £12. for my own personal expenses. Shortly after this, the donor died, without my ever having seen him. I mention this as one of the numberless instances, in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to prayer, to supply me with means, and that in the most unlooked for ways. On Oct. 12, 1856, was sent to me a cheque for £100., with the donor’s request to receive this for myself, as the beginning of a fund for my support when advanced in years aet for that of my fame. This Kind and wel intended proposal by the donor, (who since has died), appeared to me as a subtle temptation laid for me, (though far from being intended so by him,) to depart from the principles on which I had been acting for 26 years, both regarding myself and the Orphan work. I give the account of this circumstance fully, as it may be profitable to my readers. : “«*#** * Oct. 11, 1856. Dear Sir, in admiration of the services which you have rendered to poor Orphans and mankind in general, I think it right that some pro- vision should be made for yourself, I think it right to send you £100. as a beginning, (which I hope many good Christians will add to, to form a fund for the mainte 230 [A.D. 1856. nanre ofyou and your family, and I hope you will lay out this as a beginning accordingly. May God bless you and your labours, as He has hitherto done everything con nected with your institutions. I am, dear Sir, * * * * * " By God's grace I had' not a moment's hesitation, as to what to do. While most fully appreciating the great kind ness of the donor, I looked upon this as a temptation, per mitted by God, to put my trust in something else than Himself, and I therefore sent the following reply :— "21, Paul St., Kingsdown, Bristol, Oct. 12, 1856. My dear Sir, I hasten to thank you for your kind com munication, and to inform you that your cheque for £100. has safely come to hand. " I have no property whatever, nor has my dear wife ; nor have I had one single shilling regular salary as Minister of the Gospel for the last 26 years, nor as the Director of the Orphan House and the other objects •of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. When I am in need of anything, I fall on my knees, and ask God that He would be pleased to give me what I need ; and He puts it into the heart of some one or other to help me. Thus all my wants have been amply supplied during the last 26 years, and I can say, to the praise of God, I have lacked nothing. My dear wife and my only child, a daughter 24. years old, are of the ianie~rriincL Of this blessed way of living none of us is tired, but we become day by day more convinced of its blessedness. " I have never thought it right to make provision for myself, or my dear wife and daughter, except iu this way,, that when I have seen a case of need, such as an aged widow, a sick person, or a helpless infant, I have used the means freely whichjjod has given me, fully believing, that iFeTfhev myselfTo'r my dear wife or daughter, at some time or other, should be in need of anything, that God would richly repay what was given to the poor, consider ing it as lenTTd Himself. " Under these circumstances, I am unable to accept your kind gift of £100. towards making a provision for myself and family ; for so I understand your letter. Any thing given to me, unasked for, by those who have it in their heart to help to supply my personal and family ex penses, I thankfully accept ; or any donation for the work A.D. 1857.] 231 of God in which I am engaged, I aleo thankfully accept, as a steward for the Orphans, &c. ; but your kind gift seems to me especially given to make a provision for my self, which I think would be displeasing to my Heavenly Father, who has so bountifully given me my daily bread hitherto. But should I have misunderstood the meaning of your letter, be pleased to let me know it. I hold the cheque till I hear again from you. " In the mean time, my dear Sir, whatever your letter meant, I am deeply sensible of your kindness, and daily pray that God would be pleased richly to recompense you, both temporarily and spiritually. I am, dear Sir, yours very gratefully, GEORGE MiiLLER." Two days after I received a reply, in which the donor desired_ me to use the £100. for the support of the Orphans, for which object I gladly accepted this sum. The day after that, I received another £100. from the same donor, and four days after, £100. more. All for the support of the Orphans, and from an individual whom I have never seen. Dec. 31, 1856. This is the last day of another year. It has been a year of peculiar trials in connexion with the work, but also a year of great and varied mercies. And as to the pecuniary supplies, which the Lord has been pleased to send me for the work, it has been the most marked of all the years I have yet had. Jan. 7, 1857. Last evening I received, just after having again prayed for diamonds, jewellery, &c., a ring, set with a brilliant, sent from Worcestershire. A Christian Lady had been conversing with her husband on th« power of prayer, and, in conversation, brought forward a Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. After a little more conversation, the husband took this ring from his fin ger, and said to his wife, " Send this to Mr. Miiller." Jan. 9. From a distance of about 400 miles £38 , "The result of six weeks' pravCT for the Orphans."—See, dear Reader, whatf various waysTne Lord has to supply me. One, who is himself without any property, and who waits upon the Lord, as I do, for the supply of his daily necessi ties, and for all he may need for the Lord's service, feels led to set apart, for the benefit of the Orphans, all which the Lord may send to him within six weeks ; and this £38. is thus the gift of one, who is poor, yet, through faith and 232 [A.D. 1857: prayer, is able to give so large a donation. You see, there fore, in this a fresh instance, in another, of the power of faith and prayer. This privilege you, and every believer in the Lord Jesus, may enjoy. The youngest believer, the weakest believer, may enjoy this blessing. It is the privilege of every believer, and not of any particular class. But should the reader not be a believer in the Lord Jesus, then the first thing such a one has to attend to, is, to obtain the forgive ness of his sins, and to be reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus. Put your trust in Him. Depend alone on His merits and sufferings for the salvation of your soul, in order that, by faith in Him, you may obtain the forgiveness of your sins, and become a child of God ; and, when this is the case, you also, through the Lord Jesus Christ, will have the precious privilege of drawing near to God in prayer, and of making known your every necessity to Him. Feb. 15. From Madras £1()0. Feb. 16. Received from Nottingham in fifteen dona tions £5. 3s., and also £3. 17s. through an Orphan box. These nine pounds were accompanied by a great variety of articles in a bale; among others, 136 pinafores, 13 woollen handkerchiefs, and 2 dozen pairs of black stockings. Feb. 17. From the neighbourhood of Stirling, N. B., 3 gold mourning rings, one of them set with a brilliant, 2 brooches, 2 bracelets, and a great variety of ladies' dresses and other articles. This is another answer to my almost daily prayer, that the Lord would be pleased to incline the hearts of His children to send me their needless articles, to be sold for His service. Feb. 23. This evening I had been again asking the Lord, among many other petitions, to incline the hearts of His children, who know of this work, to send me their diamonds, jewellery, old gold and silver coins^or other valu able but needless articles, to be disposed of for the benefit of this work. About half an hour after. I received a small box containing the following valuable articles: a ring set with a brilliant, 5 other gold rings, 3 gold brooches, a pearl brooch, 10 other brooches, a watch hook, a gold chain, a gold watch guard, 2 gold bracelets, a silver card case, a pair of bracelets with gold snaps, 3 breast pins, 2 jet neck laces, and a small heart of agate. With peculiar delight I unpacked this little box, to look at the spoils which the grace of God had won in the heart of His child, who had A.D. 1857.] 233 dedicated them to His service; and it afforded me further encouragement to pray for similar manifestations of grace in other children of God. Feb. 24. Received £5. as a thaiik-offering to the Lord for preservation from bad debts during the past year, with the following letter: —" My beloved Brother, Through the goodness of our God and Father, we have at all times reason for praise and thanksgiving ; but, sometimes, we are led to see, mark, and think of His mercies, more than at other times; and the more I see and experience, the more I feel, how little I do praise Him as I ought. In looking back upon the past year, I feel there are very peculiar mercies I have to praise Him for ; and, without mentioning them, I refer to one, out of hundreds, which I know you will be pleased to hear. During all the year I do not re member making bad debts farexceed ten shillings. Now, I do not say this Is, because I have been clever, and have acted differently to the years before ; no, I do desire to say, the Lord alone has preserved me. May I have grace still to look to Him for wisdom. As an acknowledgment I have thought it well to give a portion for the Lord's work. I herewith enclose £5. for the Orphans. Pray for me, and may the Lord still help and comfort your heart in His work. It has been a comfort and strength to me. Yours affectionately in our precious Jesus, * * * *." I commend this letter to the careful consideration of Christians engaged in business. Here is a thank-offering to the Lord for preservation from making bad debts_j Has it ever occurred to the reader, that the Lord only can pre serve any one engaged in business from making bad debts ? Has it also occurred to the reader, that often the Lord (because we do not use for Him, as good stewards, that which He has been pleased to intrust us) allows bad debts to be made ? Consider these things, dear Christian reader, you who are engaged in business. If you were engaged in mercantile affairs, connected with hundreds of thousands of pounds, you may, by the help of God, be preserved year after year from making bad debts, provided you keep before you that you are the Lord's steward, and carry on business for Him ; whilst, on the other hand, thousands of pounds may be lost in one single year, out of a comparatively small business, because he who carries it on " withholds more than is meet, and therefore it tends to poverty," the Lord being 234 [A.D. 1857. obliged by bad debts (as they are called), which He uses as one of His rods, to deprive His servants of that which was not used aright. April 14. To-day was paid to me the legacy of the late Mrs. S., being £200.—As in every way the last year was the most remarkable of all the 23 years this work has been in existence, so also in this particular, that in this one year more came in by legacies than during all the previous 22 years reckoned together. But all without my using any other means than prayer. May 14. To-day I received from the Christian master of one of the former Orphans, who had been apprenticed a little above three years, the intelligence that his apprentice had died, but that he had every reason to believe the Lord had taken him to Himself. I am unable to give the letter of this Christian master, which was inadvertently destroyed; but as I received from the sister of the dear departed youth (who was herself formerly under our care, and is now in service), a letter a few days after, in which she gives some particulars respecting her brother's last days, I will insert here as much, as refers to the subject. " Dear Mr. Muller, It is with great pain and sorrow I write to inform you of the death of my dear little brother, who died on Friday the 12th. He was sweetly resting on Jesus, and praying to be taken out of this world. My sister and myself were with him three days before his death. It was a great consolation to see him prepared for another world. His illness was of short duration ; he suffered from violent inflammation, brought on by a bad cold, which ter minated in mortification. He was often very delirious, attended with fits of convulsions, which lasted nearly an hour ; but, when composed, his mind was happy. His prayers and his conversations were beautiful. He was re joicing, and praising the Lord, that he was not eut off in his sins. He dwelt very much on a sermon he had heard you preach at Bethesda. It was taken from Isaiah: " Watchman, what of the night ? Watchman, what of the night ? The watchman said, the morning cometh, and also the night : if ye will enquire, enquire ye : return, come." (Isaiah xxi. 11, 12). You spoke, dear Sir, very much of those who were laid on beds of sickness, and not prepared. He said, when he was first ill, it occurred to his mind, and he could only think of it with horror. But he A.D. 1857.] 235 told me, that he could most joyfully answer the cry, and he sweetly sang: “ Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bid’st me comé to thee, O Lamb of God, I come!” I am thankful to say he has had every attention. Mr. and. Mrs. G. [his master and mistress] were like parents. Their kindness has been very great. I must, dear Sir, return you many, many thanks for your kind care and protection, and for the fatherly kindness shown by you to us at all times, etc.” The dear departed youth was a comfort to us whilst under our care. He was naturally most amiable, also of pleasant manners and appearance, was much loved by his master and greatly valued, as he continued to behave very well, after he had left us; but it was not till his illness that he was brought to rest his guilty soul on the merits and sufferings of the Lord Jesus for salvation. Observe, Christian reader, this dear youth had been three years away, and then the truth, which he had heard, is brought to his remembrance, and is made the instrument of the salvation of his soul. Some of the readers of the Reports may remember, how I have again and again requested the prayers of Christian readers, that the thousands of men and women, who as ; Orphans, Day Scholars, Sunday Scholars, or Adult Scholars were under our care, might have brought to their remembrance the Word which they heard, whilst under our care, and that even now, after years, it may be a blessing to them. So it often has been. That it may be so still, I am enabled day by day to pray. ‘Treasure up in your heart, dear Christian reader, this instance for encourage- ment regarding your own children, parents, brothers, sisters, or former pupils, respecting whose salvation you feel deeply interested. I say a few words more respecting this dear departed youth and his sister. They were the children of respectable - parents. The mother was the daughter of a clergyman, the father a wine merchant; but, they were quite reduced through heavy afflictions and long continued illness. The father died without leaving any property. The mother tried by needlework to support the children, but she sank 236 [a.D. 1857. into the grave, two-years and three months after her hus- band’s death. When application was made to me for the admission of the two Orphans referred to, the two youngest of the family, I found that these two, with three elder sisters (who were dressmakers and milliners), were living in a very poor and trying way, the elder sisters being only able, in the most scanty way, to support themselves, and yet they had to maintain these younger children also. I. received both on Jan. 31, 1850, the girl being then twelve years old, and the boy eleven. The boy remained four years and three months under our care, and was apprenticed to a Christian grocer; the girl remained five years, and was provided by us-with a situation in a Christian family. I have dwelt on this case at length, in order that the reader may see, what a help such an Orphan Establishment is to the destitute, and how it pleases God abundantly to bless our endeavours, whether looking at the temporal or spiritual circumstances of thosé now, or formerly, under our care. It is a sweet privitege, to be permitted by the Lord to receive these poor destitute Orphans, very frequently three of one family, and often even four or five of the same family; for we do not confine ourselves to receive only one of a family, but gladly help to- the utmost, as long as we . have room; and are delighted to receive all the destitute children of the same family, in order that they may remain together, and that family affection may beratherstrengthened than weakened by the Institution. May 26, 1857. Up to the last day of this period, I received tokens, in abundance, of the Lord’s faithfulness in caring for the work. We now entered upon the period from May 26, 1857, to May 26, 1858. At the commencement of this period we had a balance of £1,489. 7s. 9d. in hand towards the support of the a Orphans, a sum far larger than we had ever had, with which to begin e new pened, since the work Rad-besr in the other hand, expenses awaiting us, such as we had . never had before; for, not only was the house, which had been for years filled with its 300 Orphans, still further to be supplied, but the opening of the second house for 400 additional Orphans was before us, in which it was expected that children shortly would be received, for whom con- siderable preparations were to be made, by laying in a A.D. 1857.] 237 large stock of various kinds of material for clothes, ete. Large, therefore, as the balance was with which we com- menced, yet, had not our faithful prayer-hearing and answering God and Father helped us further, we should very soon have had our means exhausted. He, however, whose the work is, and for whose honour and glory it was commenced and is continued, so helped us, that after the first month’s expense we had £1,581. 4s. 13d. left, after the third month £1,800. 6s. 5}d., and after five months £2,331. 68. 64d., though we had by that time expended £1,617. 188. 64d. Now, however, the current expenses of the second house also were before us, which was opened on November 12, 1857; but the Lord had been mindful of this, and allowed us with a balance of £2,292. 0s. 112d. to begin house-keeping in it. See, dear reader, how blessed it is to rely upon the Living God. Out of about Three Thousand donations, which the Lord gave me for the support of the Orphans between May 26, 1857, and May 26, 1858, I will now refer to a few. May 27, 1857. On the very first day of this period, I have received from a new donor, an entire stranger to me, residing in the Presidency of Calcutta, £5., which is like an earnest from my heavenly Father, that during this period also He will supply me with all I need. June 7. £50, “the amount paid by the publishers for the copyright of a Memoir.” The authoress had from te beginning mtended, that, whatever the copyright of her work might produce, should be given to me for the benefit of the Orphans, and this sum was obtained. See whata variety of ways the Lord uses to supply me with means. To Him I desire to direct the mind of the reader.—June 17. Anonymously 16s. “The profits from a beehive,”— June 22. From a new donor at Birmingham £50.—June 26. Received £45. as the legacy of the late Miss A. A. of London, a Christian lady whom I have never seen. See how the Lord helps, so that while the expenses increase, He inclines the hearts of many, who have never contributed before, to send their contributions towards this work; .or inclines the hearts of such who have helped before, to help me yet again and again, but all withont the least solicitation on my part, directly or indi- rectly, in answer to prayer only. It is especially to be | 238 (A.D. 1857. | _observed that this abundance was’ given, although (as the readers of the Reports have seen) a large balance was left, at the close of the former period; and one of the auditors of the accounts observed, that it would be considered bad policy to publish a Report with such a balance in hand; but on my part I glory in being able to show how the Lord is not only willing to provide for us as much as we absolutely need, but even does so bountifully. I desire that all my fellow believers may see, through this work, that for everything, and for obtaining means also for the | work of God, there is no happier, easier, and more success- ful way, than His way. Oct. 8. To-day one of the former Orphans, who was converted more than two years before he left the Orphan House, and who has now been above five years out of the house, came to converse with me about becoming a-mis- sionary.—Oct. 7. From a considerable distance £150., of which the donor desires £100. to be used for the Orphans in the new house for 400, and £50. for the 300 already gathered. See how the Lord provides means for the children before they come !—Oct. 13. Received from Brix- ton £1. 5s. 6d. with the following communication: “A | ‘dear Christian gentleman, at the head of a house, in the city, in writing to me says,‘I have sustained a heavy pecuniary loss, and therefore wish to sanctify the loss by giving 20s. to the Orphan House. Please send that sum for me, I will repay you.’” Pause, dear reader. A heavy pecuniary loss is made an occasion for this donation; not yg a considerable gain. A heavy loss, should léa@ We to Pause “| and ponder, and consider hat the Lord’s voice to us in itis. Perhaps the reason is, that we lived too much as_ ‘owners and possessors, instead of stewards for the Lord, ‘ and that, therefore, He was obliged to take part of that, | \ which we possess, from us. If so, let us be benefited by the loss. But suppose this is not the reason ; suppose the Lord allowed the loss only to take place for the trial of our faith and patience, yet we should (whilst meekly bow- ing, under the hand of God) say to ourselves that the Lord might have taken all, instead of part, and that, therefore, we ought to make good use of our stewardship respecting the means which are still left to us. I once knew a sud- denly and deeply afflicted house of business. My advice to my Christian friends was, to be grateful to God, that AD. 1857.) 239 , He had not taken all from them. I said to them, that, were I in their position, I should express my gratitude to the Lord by a thank-offering to Him, that this sudden calamity had not taken away the whole of my property. These Christian friends, I found afterwards, resolved to give to the Lord £100. as a thank-offering, for having dealt so mercifully with them, and for not having allowed them to lose all. Well, dear Reader, what do you think of this? You think, perhaps, this was very strange. Yes, it was very strange, according to the principles of this world; but what will you think when I tell you, that these Christian friends have had that £100. repaid not merely ten-fold, twenty-fold, nor a hundred-fold, but far more than a thousand-fold ? Dec. 13. From a donor in one of the Midland counties £50.—From a donor in Dublin £5. The latter, as the work has increased, has been led again and again to send £35. or even £10. in the same year, instead of giving £1. per year, as formerly. Thus the Lord provides. Last week we received 14 Orphans, during this week we expect to receive 16. The outgoings are great, and becoming greater and greater with every week, but the Lord also kindly helps vs with means.—Dec. 23. From Scotland £100. A precious encouragement now whilst the ex- penses are so great ! Dec. 31, 1857. During this.day, the last of the year, the Lord was pleased to send me for the support of the Orphans £26. 5s. 6d., and for the other objects £21. 5s. To-day nine Orphans were received into the new house & for 400, and though we require no payment with the . children, yet the Lord pays us abundantly. Never was there a year, since the Scriptural Knowledge Institution has been in existence, in which I had to pay out so much as during this year; for the total of the outgoings from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1857, amounted to £18,847. 7s. 83d. ; yet the Lord always gave, not only what was required, but I had always money in hand over and above the needed requirements. Is it not obvious, then, that the Lord’s work can be carried on, on Scriptural principles, even on a large scale ? Jan. 1, 1858. This day we have received eight more. Orphans, making $9 in all within the last five wecks; but _ this day also the Lord has again dealt bountifully with 240 [4-D. 1857. me in a variety of ways, especially as it regards pecuniary supplies. Long before the break of day I heard some- thing drop into the letter-box at my house, and said to myself, “ This is the Lord’s earnest, to provide me this year also, with what I shall need.” On opening the box, I found two packets of money init. The first contained £12. 3s, 3d. with this letter: ‘“‘ Dear Sir, Please accept the enclosed £12. 3s. 3d., to pay for the maintenance of one of the little Orphans for the present year, and believe me, with the greatest respect, yours truly, * * * *.” Only on Sept. 24th I had the same amount, from the same donor, for the same object, which makes the hand of God the more -manifest. The other packet contained, anonymously, £2. 2s. 6d., of which £2. was from two servants, and 2s, 6d. from a young person living with them. This money was taken for the Orphans, being left at my disposal. Shortly after there was left at my house, anonymously, £2. In the course of the day there came in further 18 different donations in money from various parts of the kingdom, together with a box from Kings- | bridge, containing a great variety of articles for the benefit of the Orphans.—Jan. 5. From believers meeting at the “ Sand Airea Meeting house, Kendal,” £36. 15s. 2d. —Jan. 7. To-day a young man parsed through Bristol, who, having a little time to wait at the Railway Station, came to the Orphan House to see me, and to give me 10s. for the Orphans. He told me that I prayed over him, for his conversion, at the house of his parents, more than twenty-five years ago. He is now a believer. Be en- couraged by this, Christian parents, who have children who know not the Lord. Only continue to pray for their conversion. Expect also the answer. Confidently look out for an answer.—Jan. 16. £20. from Suffolk with the following letter: ‘‘ I enclose you a cheque for £20. for the support of the Orphans. Receive it as ‘Fruit from seed sown. Buch it is; for until I began sowing for the Lord, _ I did not begin watching and praying for results, which I now happily realize.”—Jan. 17. I had just been asking the Lord for more means, when there was handed to me a letter, containing a cheque for £3U., from the neighbour- hood of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The donor had only on Sept. 6th sent £25. for the Orphans. He used to give about £5. per year formerly, but as the work is enlarged, A.D. 1858. ] 241 the Lord has inclined him to give more.—Jan. 23. From Admiral J. K. £2.—From Staffordshire £50. The kind donor is so interested in the work, that he is led to give twice as much, as he had several times given before. Feb. 2. ‘“ From Newton” £1.—To-day I took the first active steps towards the building of the third house, when immediately afterwards I was informed by letter that a lady in London, an entire stranger to me, had ordered her. bankers to send_me £300. for the support of the Orphans. I was also further informed in the evening, that in two weeks £800. will be paid to me for the work of the Lord. The £300. was sent the next day, and the £800. paid a fortnight after. See how, with the enlargement of the work, the Lord keeps pace with the expenses, helping when help is really needed, often also giving before hand. Some of my readers may be inclined to say, that there is no difficulty at all in carrying on this work, as there is so much coming in, from so many hundreds of persons in various parts of the kingdom and the world, who feel in- terested in it, that any one could do this. My reply is, yes, any one, whom God has called for such a work, and who really trusts in-Him, will be supplied with means. But real trust-in- God -ts-neéded for it, else such a one! would soon be overpowered by the difficulties. While I am writing this (end of May, 1858), week after week has passed away, for about ten weeks, when the income has been, generally, £100. £200. or £300. per week less than the expenses; and had not the Lord so richly supplied us previously, we should be very poor indeed, humanly speaking. What is to be done under such circumstances ? To trust in what we have in hand, to depend upon the liberality of former donors, or to trust in the number of Reports which have been circulated? All these would be found broken reeds if leaned upon. We trust alone in the Living God, and are assured, that either before that which we have in hand is gone He will send help, or when it is gone; for Himself, as with an unseen hand, has led me on to the enlargement of the work, and causes it still further to be enlarged, week after week. This trust in the Living God, but this alone, keeps my heart in peace. Were I to look at things after the outward appearance, there is no natural prospect of my being carried through M 242 [4.D. 1858. the constantly recurring large demands before me. But I am now going on in the twenty-fifth year of the work, and have never been confoandedy and aslong as God shall help me to continue to trust in Him, and to walk in His ways, I firmly believe that I shall not be confounded; I, therefore, earnestly ask all who love our Lord Jesus, and who read this, to help me by their prayers, that my faith may be upheld, and that I may continue to walk in the ways of the Lord. Feb. 4. In Sept. 1856, I was informed, that the late Mrs. S. of Clifton, had Jeft me for the benefit of the Orphans a egacy of £500. When, therefore, about four- teen months had elapsed, and the legacy was not paid to me, I felt it my duty, as a steward, to ask whether there was any reason why the legacy was not paid, and was informed by the solicitor, in whose hands the business was, that that part of the property, out of which the legacy was to be paid, was in Chancery. Most of my readers will, there- fore, suppose there was but little prospect of soon oo taining the money. However,-my universal remedy for every difficulty, trial and disappomtment, viz. faith and prayer, were now Tesorted Toy and T asked the Lord that 6 would be pleased, contrary to all human appearances, to cause this money soon to come to hand,_and, accord- ingly, on Feb. 4, 1858, the legacy of £500. was paid to me with interest from Aug. 29, 1857, up to this day, at the rate of 4 per cent., being £8. 98. 1d. Let this in- stance be a further encouragement to the believing reader, to turn everything into prayer, for the removal of his difficulties ; but, at the same time, to wait patiently the Lord’s time, and fully to believe, that, as assuredly as it’ is a real good for him, the answer will be granted. May 26, 1858. This evening, at the close of the present ' period, after a season of thanksgiving on account of the mercies and help received, and prayer, to commend the work to the Lord for the coming year, I went home, about nine o'clock, when I found a box from Clevedon containing books and pamphlets, to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans; also a large trunk and another package, from . a clergyman near Birmingham, containing trinkets, old coins, 3 writing desks, and a great variety of~other arti- cles. I likewise found, £10. from Bower Ashton, £2. from Bocking, 7s. 6d. from Hopton, and £5. as “ A thank- A.D. 1858.] 248 offering from Cambridge.” Thus the Lord, as it regards pecuniary supplies, gave His help up to the last hours of this present period of the work, and I am in peace and faith going forward, by His help. I have thus, out of more than 3,000 donations, received between May 26, 1857, and May 26, 1858, referred to a few. When that period closed on May 26, 1858, we had still a balance of £2,997. 0s. 1d. in hand, though the current expenses for the Orphans had been £5,513. 5s. 74d. irrespective of £17,419. 1s. 74d. which had been expended on the building, fitting up and furnishing of the second house. How great the Lord’s kindness in helping us thus, in answer to prayer! We enter now upon the next year, during which our expenses were still greater, as ordinarily more Orphans were received week after - week. At the commencement of the period, as stated before, we had a balance of £2,997. 0s. 1d. in hand towards the| support of the Orphans; a sum far Preater. than we had ever_had, at the commencement of a new period. Bit while this was the case, we not only had 200 more children to provide for, but had also the prospect of receiving 200 new children, in the course of the year, who were to be fitted out, and maintained with the 499 then in the two Orphan Houses. Under these circumstances there was abundant cause for exercising faith in the Living God, notwithstanding the considerable balance ; for, without fresh supplies coming in, it could not have lasted long. This faith in Him, however, we were enabled to exercise: and so, long before the balance was exhausted, fresh sup- plies not only came in, but, so abundantly was the Lord pleased to help us, that the balance in hand, notwithstand- ing the far heavier expenses, WMctreased Mstead of decreas-~ ing. I will now refer to some of the donations; but, as hs total number of different sums received towards the support of the Orphans, from May 26, 1858 to May 26, 1859, amounts to 3,614 different items, I can only refer to a few comparatively. June 4, From a great distance £3. 1s. 6d., being “ The fruit of one month’s prayer.” This donor, who himself trusts in God for everything, dedicates one-fifth of all that God gives to him for himself and the work in which M 2 244 [4.D. 1858. he is engaged, to the Lord for the benefit of the Orphans. The fifth of all that the Lord gives him, in answer to prayer, he sends me at the beginning of each month, which has been generally much more than £3. Is. 64d., amounting sometimes to £7., £8., or even £10. per month. Notice this remarkable way of God’s helping hand! This servant of Christ had his own faith strength- ened by this work, and then not only became a helper in spirit, but also laboured in spirit for means for this work, in dedicating to it the fifth part of all that God should give him. Thus I have obtained from this poor servant of Christ a large sum.—June 20. To-day I found paid to my credit at my bankers, by a donor at a considerable distance, the sum of £3,500., of which the donor kindly wished me to keep for my own personal expenses £100., to give to Mr. Craik £50., and to take the remaining £3,350. for the benefit of the Orphans. This donor, whom I have never seen, wrote with reference to this donation: “ Since I first heard of your Establishment, I had given it a chief preference in the disposal of my pro- perty ; but now, seeing my time here cannot be long, I am persuaded it is far better for me to present you with the amount while I live (if the Lord permit). It will spare any delay or uncertainty, as well as the amount of tax ; and I should be glad to know as soon as convenient how I had better convey it. At this time I wish to make over £3,500. New 3 per Cent. in the Funds, to the Orphan Institution, to be disposed of as you think proper, after deducting £100. for your own use, and £50. for Mr. Craik. Pray that the Lord may graciously accept it at my hands, and enable me to be deeply humbled and thankful that He has so greatly favoured one so un- worthy.” . Observe the following points in. connexion with this donation: 1, I have never seen the donor. 2, Simply in answer to our daily prayers to the Living God, He is thus pleased to work for us. 8, The donor gives while living. Thus the uncertainty of obtaining the money, left by will, -is avoided, and the considerable legacy duty is saved. 4, The above intimation (which was a few. days later followed by £3,500. having been paid into my bankers’ hands), was given to me at a period when we not only had to expend far more money than ever for the current ex- A.D. 1858.] 245 penses, but also, when, for many weeks past, we had had but little, comparatively, coming in. Tfms the Lord, by this most unexpected abundance, showed afresh how small a matter it is with Him to make up for deficiencies. 5, Take lastly in connexion with this, what I stated when first I made known my intention of increasing the number of Orphans to 1,000 instead of 300, viz. that the Lord would be able to provide for the 1,000 as easily as for the 300. How greatly has He helped in the work since that time in such a variety of ways ! And this most unex pected large doration, from this humble follower of the Lord Jesus, is one of the many remarkable proofs He has given me since, of the readiness of His heart to help me. — From Hull £5. " The money had been treasured up for some time, and laid by against the time to come ; but now the donor sends it, trusting in the Lord for the time to come." July 7. From Ireland £5., with the following deeply interesting letter from a manufacturer. " 1 enclose a Post Office Order for £b., which by the blessing of Almighty God I am enabled to send you this year. You will, no doubt, remember that the first sum I sent you was 5s., I think now 4 years ago ; and indeed at that time it was a large sum for me to send, I might say considerably larger than the present. For some years previous to the time I sent you the first amount, I was at times much perplexed on the subject of giving ; and the end of my reasoning was always, that a person so straitened in circumstances as I was then, was not called upon to give. I kept this opinion, until one of your Reports fell into my hands, and, from the accounts contained therein, was encouraged to send you the first amount of 5s. Soon after I thought my circumstances got something easier. I then began to seek out cases of distress, and relieved them to the best of my ability ; and, to the astonishment of many, who did not know the secret, who wondered how I could give, I have proved, that, just as I give, the Lord gives in return ; for during the time, since 1 first made up my mind to give, what with weakness of faith, and falsa reasonings of friends, I sometimes withheld when I ought not, and just as I withheld, the Lord in His infinite mercy withheld also. During the panic, which has yet scarcely passed over us, I dealt out to all who came within uiy reach, according as I considered the circumstances 246 [A.D. 1858. required ; and the result is, that, although many in the same trade have been almost ruined, it has been the most prosperous year I have had since I commenced business. It would fill your heart with joy, if time and space would permit, for me to relate how in many instances I was directed to go to such a house and enquire how they were getting on, and to find that I arrived just in time. But, above all, I have to thank God that my spiritual con dition is much improved since 1 began to give. Etc." The subject of this letter is so deeply important, that for the benefit of the believing reader I make some re marks on it. 1, This Christian manufacturer writes : '•! have proved, thatt just as I give^the Lord gives in return.' So it will always be found bytKiTchildren of God, who, constrained by the love of Christ, contribute to those who are in need, or to the work of God. The Word of the Lord speaks distinctly on this point in many places, of which I only ,-refer to the following : " Honour the Lord with thy sub stance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase : so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov. iii. 9, 10.—" There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is that with- holdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Prov. xi. 24.—" Give, and it shall be given uuto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again." Luke vi. 38.—" He which soweth spa ringly, shall reap also sparingly ; and he which eoweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." 2 Cor. in. 6— 2. The writer says, " Just as I withheld^the Lord in Hisjn- .finite mercy withheld also." This IK according to the above passage : "There is that wlthholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." The bad debts, the other heavy losses, the great family afflictions, the want of success in our earthly occupation, etc., may often be traced to this, that the means, with which God has been pleased already to intrust us, are not used for Him, and therefore He can not intrust us with more ; nay, He may even for our own good see it needful, to deprive us of our stewardship. 3, But why, my reader may ask, lay such stress upon A.D. 1858.] 247 these things? My reply is, because they are for the deep spiritual benefit of the children of God. Hear what the writer of the letter says: “ But above all I have to thank God, that my spiritual condition is much improved, Yieg. since I began ive, is Impossible to use for fhe much or the little with which He may intrust us, . without being blessed in our souls; for we walk, in this particular, according to His mind. In this way also life has a most blessed object. If we are willing to give back to Him the means with which He intrusts us, then occu- pation in our earthly calling becomes food for the inner man; for we work, because He would have us to work; | and in order that our occupation of body or mind may be used for God. Laying up treasure on earth, and living for this, not only decreases spiritual enjoyment in the children of God, but weakens them more and more spiri- tually ; whilst laying up treasure in heaven not only in- creases spiritual enjoyment, but develops and strengthens the spiritual faculties and powers; we are thus “laying hold on eternal life.” See 1 Tim. vi. 17—19. I reprint here two very interesting paragraphs. The first is from a religious American periodical. ‘A merchant in the United States said in answer to Le inquiries relative to his mode of giving, ‘ In consecrating Korg. my life anew to God, aware of the ensnaring influence of } \C. riches and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity, before wealth should bias my judgment, I adopted the following system :— “tT Aoadad to balance my accounts as nearly as I could every month, reserving such portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover probable losses, and to lay aside, by entry on a benevolent account, one-tenth of : the remaining profits, great or small, as a fund for bene- volent oxpanaibure, supporting myself and family on the | remaining nine-tenths. I further determined, that, if at, any time my net profits, that is profit from which clerk- hire and store expenses had been deducted, should excoed | five hundred dollars in a month, I would give ey per, cent. ; Wf over seven hundred dollars, T8"per cent; if, **S over hine hundred dollars, 17} per cents; over thirtcen hundréd-dollars, 224 per cent.—thus increasing UMe-pro-| portion ofthe whole 4s God should prosper, until at, fifteen hundred dollars 1 should give 25 per cent. or 375j 248 [A.D. 1858. dollars a month. As capital was of the utmost import ance to my success in business, I decided, not to increase the foregoing scale until I had acquired a certain capital, after which I would give one quarter of all net profits great or small, and, on the acquisition of another certain amount of capital, I decided to give half, and, on acqui ring what I determined would be a full sufficiency of capital, then to give the whole of my netprofits. " ' It is now several years since Tadopted this plan, and under it I have acquired a handsome capital, and have been prospered beyond my most sanguine expectations. Although constantly giving, I have never yet touched the bottom of my fund, and have repeatedly been surprised to find what large drafts it would bear. True, during some months, I have encountered a salutary trial of faith, when this rule has led me to lay by the tenth while the remainder proved inadequate to my support ; but the tide has soon turned, and with gratitude I have recognised a heavenly hand more than making good all past defi ciencies. " • This system has been of great advantage to me, enabling me to feel that my life is directly employed for God. It has afforded me happiness in enabling me to portion out the Lord's money, and has enlisted my mind more in the progress of Christ's cause.—Happy privilege which the humblest may enjoy, of thus associating the common labours of life with the grateful service of the Saviour, and of making that, which naturally leads the heart from God, subserve the highest spiritual good. " ' This system has saved me from commercial dangers, by leading me to simplify business and avoid extensive credits. It has made me a better merchant; for the monthly pecuniary observations which I have been wont to take, though often quite laborious, have brought me to a better knowledge of the state of my affairs, and led me to be more cautious and prudent than I otherwise would have been. I believe the system tends to enlarge the Christian's views, increase his disinterestedness, and lead him to shun the tricks of trade. My own observa tion also confirms belief that even warm hearted Chris tians must determine beforehand on the system they will adopt, if they would secure the benefits of the Gospel A.D. 1858.] 249 plan to themselves, under the grace and providence of God, or its happy results to the cause of Christ.' " The other is a paragraph from a newspaper sent me : " At the Annual Meeting of the Scarborough Bible Society, on the 16th inst., mention was made of an effort to supply the Scripture to the hotels of the town. On the urgent appeal of the Local Committee, the British and Foreign Bible Society had granted 350 copies of the Testament, with Psalter, in large type, for this purpose ; and a number sufficient to supply every bedroom of the principal hotels had been freely distribnted. These gifts were cordially welcomed by the proprietors, even by one who was a Roman Catholic. At the same meeting, Mr. Page (the Deputation Secretary) communicated some in stances of liberality towards the Parent Society. One was that of an elderly lady who, for nineteen years past,, had been in the habit of making periodical calls at Earl Street, depositing, on each occasion, an anonymous gift, and then disappearing till the next visit. For several years her contributions had amounted to about 200 guineas per annum, but lately they had risen to the rate of £600. a year. Another example was that of a gentle man, residing on the Continent, whose contributions com menced about five years ago with a simple donation of £20. In 1854, his year's gifts had risen to over £2,700. ; in 1855 to £5,665. ; and last January, he intimated his readiness to make his donations for 1856 either £13,000. or £15,000. ; adding that, when they were gone, more ^ would be forthcoming. This gentleman's answer to some " inquiries was, the more he gave the more he got. He was a richer man now than when he first began to give " July 7. Received 10s. from a gentleman at Cheltenham, being the legacy of a Godly poor woman, who had long felt deeply interested in this work, and who desired, that, what she left, after her funeral expenses were paid, should be sent to me for the Orphans.—July 1 5. Anonymously through Messrs. Nisbet & Co. : A ring set with a diamond and 10 pearls, 2 gold-mounted eye-glasses, a necktie ring, 2 brooches, some gold lace, and 9 pence.—Received also, on this day, £12. 10s., which donation was kindly repeated three times during the year, making £50. altogether from the same donor.— Also from Cambridge £4. 6s. 4d., being " the profit on a portion of a business, set apart M 3 ; 250 [A.D. 1858. for the Orphan Honse.”—July 17. From some poor Chris- tians in Belgium 6s. 6d.—From Devonshire £4. 3s. 4d., being 1,000pence for 1,000 Orphans. This donation has been again and agatn repeated by the Christian brother who sent it.—July 27. Received from a great distance £36. 10s., to provide the average expenses for 3 Orphans for one year, “ being one for each of our three children,” as the donor writes. The donation was accompanied by an interesting letter, which detailed how unexpectedly and remarkably, this money was obtained from America. Aug. 14, 1858. ‘‘ A wedding offering from Chatham” 11s.—To-day, Martha Pinnell, one of the Orphans fell asleep in Jesus, who had been above IZ years under our - care, and who was for 5 years and 4 months ill in con- sumption. She had known the Lord for two years and a - half before she fell asleep, and had given us great joy on account of her consistent life after her conversion.—The case of this beloved young disciple is so full of interest, that I judge it profitable to dwell on the Godly course of this young believer. I therefore requested one of the teachers, who knew a good deal of the dear departed one, to write down the facts she knew, which I now give. Martha Pinnell was received into the Infant Orphan House, No. 1, Wilson Street, in the year 1846; and, after a short time was removed to one of the houses for older girls; in both of which places, and afterwards in the New Orphan House No. 1, on Ashley Down, she was an ex- ceedingly troublesome child, though very affectionate; par- ticularly so to one teacher (Miss T.), who used to talk and pray much with her, and towards whom she perhaps mani- fested more naughtiness than to any one else: indeed she told a companion (E. §.), that she used to be naughty on purpose for Miss T. to talk to her. But, notwithstanding her troublesome behaviour, and the bad influence she was exercising over many other girls, she had a strong desire to be converted; and once, in speaking to a person about some Orphans, who had professed to be believers, but, after leaving the house, had manifested in their dress, and other things, great inconsistency, she said, “Oh, Miss W., if ever I am converted, I will be a thorough Christian.” In 1851, when scarlet fever was in the house, she, with some others, was ill of gastric fever. She recovered; butit is not { known that the illzess produced any particular effect on her A.D. 1858.] 251 mind, though her outward conduct was certainly better than it had been. Some time afterwards, she complained of pain in her side ; and at last becoming too unwell to re main down stairs, with her companions, she was removed to the Infirmary Department ; but, after a while, as her health improved, she again took her place in the school-room. Before long, however, the symptons returned ; and in April 1853, she was obliged once more to go to the Infirmary, which part of the house she never afterwards left, except occasionally, to walk in the garden, and when (the doctor advising change of air) she went to stay, for a short period, with some friends near Bath. After her removal to the Infirmary, she became deeply concerned about her soul, and very unhappy ; and, though the truth concerning Jesus, as the Saviour of sinners, was presented to her in many ways, by many persons, for some time nothing seemed to meet her case, until one evening Miss C. was relating to her what Mr. Miiller had been say ing at a prayer meeting at Salem Chapel, concerning a young man afflicted with leprosy, who had been made happy spiritually, by reading part of his Narrative (Volume I, page 396 to 402, Seventh Edition). The nurse found the place, and read the portion ; some words of which were applied by God the Holy Ghost to her heart, and made the means of imparting light and peace. At first she did not say anything ; but being unable longer to conceal her joy, . she related to the nurse and to one or two others, what God j had done for her soul. The word of God now became' to her a very precious volume; she studied it prayerfully, and diligently ; and from that time until her death, her tender i conscience, and growth " in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus," were very perceptible to all who conversed with her, or had the opportunity of witnessing her patience in weakness and suffering ; her docile behaviour ; the affec tion manifested toward all around, especially to her old companions, and the earnestness with which she besought them to flee to Jesus. Though, until a short time before her death, she was_jeserved_in speaking^ except to very few, the precious little notes, numbering in all more than a hundred, wrTtten by her from time to time, to some of the children, either on birth-days, or on occasions of joy or sorrow, will be long prized by them. She certainly was, what she desired to be, "a thorough Christian;" 252 [A.D. 1858. and though generally confined to one part of the house, and frequently also to her bed, she was able to work for God ; and the day of the Lord will perhaps declare much more than is now known respecting her quiet service for Him. The hearts of the teachers (particularly those who knew her before her conversion), have been much en couraged by this instance of the grace of God manifested in one with whom they formerly found it so difficult to deal. In the beginning of August 1858, she became much worse, and, as it was thought she might not remain long, she expressed a wish to see Mr. and Mrs. Miiller, and Miss" Groves, to thank them personally for all their kind ness to her ; and she afterwards told E. S. how much she wished she had anything worth leaving to each of them as i a little memento of her gratitude. Every particle of fear I of death was now removed, (she had before felt a little I shrinking from the act of dying), and she talked to E. S. * and to the nurse about it as calmly as if preparing for a very pleasant journey. One especial desire seemed to be that her removal might be blessed to the children, and she expressed a hope that she might not be so altered as to prevent those, who desired it, from looking at her when in her coffin, thinking it might be blessed to their souls. Heaven as her Home, and Jesus as One whom she longed to see, were, during this period, the especial subjects on which her thoughts rested. One of the teachers said to her (referring to a paper with verses, on one side headed " Going Home," and on the other " Home Beached,") " You are really ' going home,' now, dear ' " " Yes," she replied, " and it will soon be ' Home reached.' " To one who said (knowing she felt weary), " You have a soft pil low to rest upon, dear Patty, the bosom of Jesus ;" she answered, smilingly, " Oh ! yes." On being asked, if she had any message for the children, she said, " I have just been thinking of that. Tell them to come to Jesus now ; and not to wait until they are on a sick bed. I could not now care about my soul ; all I can do is, to rest on Jesus ; and tell those who have believed to keep close to Jesus ; He will never forsake them." These were her earnest ex hortations to any of the Orphans who saw her from time to time. Had it been possible, she would have liked to speak to all the children. " Cling to Jesus, cling to Jesus in the dark," she said to M H. (a girl who was converted - A.D. 1858.] 253 last year); and on M. H. asking her if she had any mes- rage to send to B. (a sister in service formerly in the Orphan House,) she replied, “ Ah! dear B., she is another Ishall meet in heaven.” On Saturday, August 14th, 1858, after a season of great bodily suffering, she “‘ reached” her “ Home.” This beloved young disciple gave us great joy on ac- count of ber consistent conduct, and her great earnestness to win the souls of other Orphans for the Lord. On my request to see some of the notes, which the dear_departe one _had_written to other Orphans, a large number was given to me; the tendency of them was aither to lead for- ward, spiritually, those of her young friends who had _be- lieved, or to win those for the Lord who were unconcerned, or undecided. Out of these, I will only give the following four. No.1. “To M. J. ee apt Dard, 1857 Dearest Mary Jane,——Truly, when we are united to- gether through faith in Jesus, our love to each other is very different from what it was before ; and when we hear of any one knowing the Lord Jesus, we feel greatly drawn out to them in our hearts: do you not find itso? Ido; andI think to myself, that is one whom I shall meet in heaven above: one bought with the same price as I am (the precious, shed blood of Jesus); and the thought of meet- ing there, never to part again, brings such a feeling of joy to my heart, and makes me long to be there, that I may see Jesus for myself, and praise Him as I ought. Oh! what must be the feeling of the saints when they (after, perhaps many years of great suffering on a bed of lan- guishing and affliction) are released from earth, and find themselves basking in the presence of Jesus, free from all sin, sorrow, and pain: what a contrast between that, and the life they have just ended: when we think of it (which is, I believe with some very often) it fills our hearts with joy. Oh! then, dearest, let it be our earnest prayer, that we may be ready when our Father calls us. There is much, ; very much here to mar our happiness, and great tempta- tions often assail us; but it is sweet to remember that no “temptation hath taken us, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that we are able; but will with the temptation also ) make a way of escape, that we may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. x. 18. And, then, “ we have not a high-priest who 254 [A.D. 1858. cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. iv. 15, 16. We may be sure of getting help if we go to the throne of grace as we ought ; for we know, that Jesus in that " He himself hath suffered, being tempted ; is able to succour them that are tempted." Heb. ii. 18. Oh ! our- sufferings and trials, that are some times great, are nothing in comparison with what our bles sed Saviour bore for us. Oh ! no. Then, how this should stimulate us on ; and, when we have anything to make us sad on our way, we should bring to mind the sufferings of our divine Lord and Master; then ours would truly appear as nothing in our sight, compared with His ; would they not, dear ? I love to hear any one pray for the Lord's return ; and cannot help wishing that more were led to do so : at the same time also, I love to hear them pray for the gathering out of the elect from all nations ; also, for the return of the dear Jews to their own land : we never hear about them ; I wish we did. Let us seek ever to be wait ing, as faithful servants should, for the return of their Master : so that should He come while we live, we may be found ready, and waiting. Let us " watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation," even as our blessed Saviour has given us commandment in Matt. xxvi. 41. Now, dearest, I must for the present say farewell—com mending you to the care of our heavenly Father. Believe me yours sweetly united in Jesus, M. PlNNELL." No. 2. " To Ann W. " My dear little Annie, I suppose you think I have been very long thinking about writing to you, as you asked me. I had not forgotten my promise ; but have not had time of late ***#** *. I hope you strive to be a good child, and obedient ; and, oh ! my dear, I hope you are not careless about your very precious soul : let me entreat of you to go to God in the name of Jesus, and ask Him to forgive your sins for His dear Son's sake : ask Him to make you very sorry for your sins ; remember, " the wages of sin is death ;" but, if we go to God, and ask His forgiveness for Jesus's sake, believing that Jesus died to save the chief of sinners, (Ah ! thanks be to God for His A.D. 1858.] 255 unspeakable gift); there is a way of escape, and it is through Jesus. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life ;" therefore we must go to God in the name of Jesus Christ; and, if we are truly sorry, He is willing to forgive us our sins. My dear child, the door of mercy is not yet closed. Oh ! cry for mercy with your whole heart now, " while it is called to-day ;" do not put it off, " de lay is dangerous "—to-morrow may be too late ; many that are now alive and well, to-morrow may be in eternity ; " we know not what a day may bring forth." In mercy the Lord has spared you till now ; then do not abuse His mercy, but seek Him with your whole heart, and He will be found of you. Now, my love, it is of no use to write to you, un less I ask that the Lord's blessing may accompany it, but I will do so ; and humbly pray that you ere long may be brought to trust in Jesus as your Saviour, and be num bered among His little lambs. I must now draw to a close. Believe me your loving and affectionate friend PATTY." No. 3. " To A. H. August, 1857. " My dear Angelina, You will, perhaps, be much surprised at receiving a note from me. I assure you, I often think of you, and of all my dear companions, although I am not able to be with you ; and my reason for now writing is to encourage you, in any little way that I am able, to continue seeking the salvation of your precious soul. Oh 1 my dear, " search the Scriptures," for they are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Tim. iii, 15. Let nothing discourage you, but come to God just as you are ; bring only Jesus' precious blood as your plea, and ask Him to wash away your sins in it. Oh ! come in faith, believing that Jesus really died on the cross to save you ; seek to rest alone on Him, and His finished work, for your salvation. Nothing you can do will merit it ; no, we never could ; but Jesus has done all that God required ; and so satisfied Him for us ; this we ourselves could never have done ; but Jesus has done it all for us ; and, if we believe in Jesus, and go to God in faith, He will hear, and answer us for Jesus's sake. It is simple faith in Jesus you need, then. Let it be your earnest prayer to God for faith in Jesus His beloved Son, and that you may be enabled to cast yourself on Jesus Christ, and rest upon Him, and His finished work, for your salvation. 256 [A.D. 1858. Look for nothing in yourself; for there you 'will find nothing but sin : but look away from self to Jesus ; in Him you will find all you need. He can and will supply every sinner who feels his need, and goes to Him for help. Go on, then, my love, to " seek Jesus;" and, even as He has promised, you " shall find," if you seek Him with your whole heart. Matth. vii, 7, 8; Jer. xxix, 12, 13. I must now draw to a close, hoping my note will not be written in vain, but that it may be used for the glory of my heavenly Father. This is my earnest desire, and now, Believe me your sincere friend, M. PINNELL." No. 4. " To E. S. August 9, 1857. My dear Elizabeth, As you wished to have a note from me, and to-day is your birth-day, I with pleasure send you one. I have not anything to speak about but the one thing which occupies my mind : the love of God to us poor sinners. This day is the closing one of another year to you, and it is one nearer to eternity : how does it find you ? have you, during the past year, given your heart to God ? If so, you are, and have been happy ; and you are safe now, and for ever, resting entirely on Him for salva tion : or is it that yon are seeking the Lord ? If this be the case, then I would say to yon, with true love, continue earnestly to do so; and He will hear, and answer you ; for He has said, " Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matth. vii. 7, 8. None that come to Jesus are sent away empty ; and again He has said, " Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." John vi, 37. If you are seeking Jesus, let these precious portions encourage you to go on earnestly to do so ; and if you continue, you shallfind, even as Jesus has said in those precious texts ; for not one of His words shall fail, but all shall come to pass. But on the other hand, if you are still careless about the salvation of your precious soul, you are indeed in a sad, sad condition. I shudder to think of its being so with you : if it is, let me, as a true friend, entreat you to be wise, and seek to be at peace with God through faiih in Jesus His beloved Son. Will you not come : oh ! DO, before it is too late : " delay is dangerous ;" and A.D. 1858.] 257 you will have to regret, not doing so, if you will not. Come now, while it is called to-day—to-morrow may be too late. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now, is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. vi. 2. Oh! be entreated; Jesus is ever willing to hear, and answer prayer. Remember ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.” John iii. 16. How kind of God! Even while we were yet sinners, He gare His precious Son to die for us siuful creatures: we justly deserve to be punished, every one of us; but Jesus has borne the punishment due to us, and all who believe in Him, and rest entirely upon Him for salvation, shall be saved. We cannot save ourselves; no, we are sinful creatures ; and there is nothing good in us, but in Jesus is everything that God required; and by the death of Jesus we have purchased for us salvation: and whosoever believes in Him shall be saved: we have simply to believe in Him; and that He has done all this for us. “ Believe on the Lord Jesus. Christ, and thou shalt be saved :” we must do so, or we cannot be saved. ‘ Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts iv. 12. Think of this, and earnestly seek, that you may be one of the children of God, through faith in Jesus. 1 have much to say to you, but my paper is full. Believe me your true friend and well-wisher, ; M. PINNELL.” You see, esteemed reader, that we do not labour in vain, Let this instance be an encouragement to you, patiently to go on in your service for the Lord. The dear girl, Martha Pinnell, was earnestly labouring among the Orphans, to win their souls for the cord. For years, whilst confined to the rooms, called the Infirmary, she was readily embracing every opportunity, by correspon- dence or conversation, as far as she had strength, to benefit the other Orphans spiritually, and we saw the hand of God in lengthening out her days, month after month, and were glad to have ,her among us; for she glorified Him and gave joy to our hearts. Her relatives, too, who are Christian persons, were very grateful for what was done for their dear niece, and one of them | 258 [A.D. 1858. especially valued much the spiritual communion she had with the dear departed one. Sep. 18, 1858. £5. as " A thank-offering from a father whose son has been brought safely through more than twenty engagements in India."— Sep. 21. Received the following letter from one of the apprentices, formerly in the Orphan House, who had been a believer some time before he left :—" My dear Sir,—I very often think of the Orphan House, and consider it as the place where I was first brought to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; I have plainly seen the hand of God in all matters and circumstances that have happened during the last 9 years, and I can only say that mercy and goodness have followed me during this time. I have, dear Sir, left the house just a twelvemonth. It is true that we have many difficulties to contend with, but to those, who fear the Lord, they generally vanish, as soon as they meet them. What a revolution has the past year seemed to me. It is as yesterday. It is gone. I often experience trials and temptations, and often feel myself to be very cold, not living and feeling as I ought to, in the fear of God ; but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever. What a precious encouragement to such a one as I am.—I was very interested to hear, that the New Orphan House No. 2 had been opened, and that there were already 200 or 300 Orphans that occupied it. The building of the house ought to be in itself an encourage- to weak believers, to look by faith to God for the supply of all their wants. Hoping that you and yours are well, I remain, dear Sir, yours gratefully and very respectfully * * * *."—You see in this, dear Reader, another encou ragement for yourself. We do not labour in vain ; we do not pray to the Lord in vain for the conversion of these Orphans. For the comfort and encouragement of my Readers I give these instances, that they too, on behalf of their parents, children, brothers, sisters, or other rela tives and friends, may seek the Lord. This youth was brought with his two sisters under our care ; and now all three know the Lord, and have known him for a good while. The two sisters still remain with us. Nov. 27, 1858. lt is this day a year since we began to receive fresh children into the New Orphan House No, 2. Since then the mercies of the Lord and His help have been A.D. 1858.] 259 very great. There have been received from Nov. 27, 1 857, to Nov. 27, 1858, 308 Orphans. Such a year I never spent in this service, so full of help and blessing. There are now 581 Orphans this day under our care, and there would be many more, had not so many boys been ap prenticed, and girls sent to service, within the year. The expenses are very great. Since the first of this month, I have paid out for the support ofthe Orphans £782. 17s. 8d., whilst the income since that time has been only £380. This exercises faith. But the Lord will, in His own time, send larger sums. Dec. 3. For 3 weeks the income has been about one-third only of the expenses ; yet the Lord supplied vf§ BCuntituliy lSforeliancl,' and my full expectation was, that He would again help us more fully. Now to-day has been a day as in former times. I received from one of the Midland counties £50., and seven smaller amounts from various places. — Dec. 8. From Portishead 6 gold coins, 81 silver coins, and 182 brass and copper coins.— Dec. 9. From a Christian clergyman in the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury : an old guinea piece and 28 silver coins.—I have frequently asked the Lord during this period to incline the hearts of His children, who had old gold or silver coins, to send them to me for His service ; and during no period, for the past 25 years, have I had such large quantities of old coins, especially gold coins, sent to me. But I expect still further answers to my prayers,— Dec. 16. We have now 299 Orphans in No. 2, and 299 in No. 1, just an equal number. What help has the Lord given in filling up No. 2 since this day twelvemonth I To-day we received 3 Orphans from Inverness, of the same family ; and a fourth was expected, but was prevented by sickness from coming at present. The outgoings for the Orphans are now very great. I have paid out for their support, within the last 3 days, £231. Is. 7d. The expenses increase move and more, as not only 650 persons daily sit down to their meals, but their number is being enlarged week by week. —From Sunderland, from a lady who has found Christ : a gold ring set with 6 pearls and a ruby, a gold ring set with 3 emeralds and 10 small diamonds, a gold ring set with turquoises, and a pair of gold ear-rings.—Dec. 19. Iteceived intelligence of the death of Jane C —, one of the 260 [4 D. 1859. Orphans formerly under our care, who was brought to the knowledge of the Lord before she left the Orphan House, and who died in the first situation to which she was sent, where she lived more than three years. Her Christian mistress writes thus to me: “ It is with feelings of deep grief, though not unmixed with joy, that I communicate to you the intelligence of dear Jane C—’s death, which took place this morning between 5 and 6 o’clock ; it was disease of the heart after only a few days’ illness. There is no doubt of her happy spirit being amongst those who through faith have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Do you not think, dear Reader, that time, mental strength, money, and spiritual energies, are well spent, in order to obtain fruit like this ? Of such cases we have not had 2U nor 50 only, but hundreds. Jan. 1, 1859. Week after week, of late, the income has been far less than the expenses, though much has come in. Now on this first day of the year, the Lord has tichly made up for all deficiencies —During the night or before break of day, was put into the letter box at my house, anonymously, from 3 servants, £2. 2s. 6d. There was also in the letter box £12. 10s. 0d. forthe maintenance of one Orphan for one year.—While I was taking these two donations out, the contents of an Orphan box (£1. 9s.6d.) were given to me, anda little later 2s., the gift of a Chris- tian servant. Then came the letters of the day (about 40), and almost all contained something. The first [opened con- tained advice from an anonymous donor at Manchester, to call at a certain bank in Bristol for £110. as ‘‘a new year’s gift tor the Orphans,” with the request, that I would not seek to ascertain the name of the donor.—The next letter contained information, from a donor in London, that there . had been paid to my bankers the sum of £1000., of which £500. were intended for the support of the Orphans. Reference has been already made (in writing on the in- come for the other objects) to the way in which the other £500. was to be proportioned out, according to the wish of the donor.—Besides these donations I received many smaller ones during the day. On Jan. 2 came in 18 donations, of which I will only mention £10. from Sydenham, and an anonymous dona- tion of £50. from New York.—Jan 4. From Scar- A.D. 1859.] 261 borough £10, as ‘‘ Produce of a Christmas Tree.”—From Kendal £26. 14s. 6d., as “A thank-offering from believers, meeting at the Sand Area Meeting House.”—Received also the £7,000., to which reference has been made, in writing about donations for the Building Fund, of which I took £1,000 for the support of the Orphans.—Jan, 12. From Westerham, in 88 small donations, £4. 8s. 6d. Without: my knowledge these 88 small donations had been contributed, and were sent to me.—Jan. 15. Left by a Christian servant, on her death bed, £1., being one half of what she possessed—Jan. 17. From Florence, £5. From Belgium, 16s. 6d.—Jan 18. From one who formerly was under our care as an Orphan, and who is now in Australia, £5.—-Jan. 20, From Bonn, in Rhenish Prussia, 10 Prussian Thalers from a Dutch lady, and 1 Thaler from the sender. Again I call upon the Reader to see the great variety of ways in which the Lord helps me. By 88 small donations the sum of £4. 8s. 6d. is made up, whilst at other times one single donation brings £1,000., £2,000., £3,000., and even £7,000. or £8,100. Then again from all parts of . the world donations come in. Only a few lines above, the reader finds donations from Australia, Italy, Prussia, Hol- land, and Belgium referred to. Every Wednesday evening I meet with my helpers for united prayer; and day by day I have stated seasons, when I seek to bring the work, with its great variety of spiritual and temporal necessities, before the Lord in prayer, having perhaps each day 50 or more matters to bring before Him, and thus I obtain the]: blessing. I ask no human being for help concerning the work. Nay, if I_could obtain £10,000. through each application EF help i by God’s grace, I would not ask. And why not? Because I have dedicated my whole life cheerfully to the precious service of giving to the world and to the church, a clear, distinct, and undeniable demon- stration, that it is a blessed thing to trust in, and to wait upon, God; that He is now, as He ever was, the Living God, the same as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that if we know and are reconciled to Him through faith in the Lord Jesus, and ask Him in His name for that which is according to His mind, He will surely give it to us, in His own time, provided that we believe that He will. But why the reader may say, do you lay such stress upon all this ? 262 [4.D. 1859. Because the tendency of the world, and even of vast numbers of professed believers, is, practically, to trust_in man’s power, instead of trusting in the Living God. “Nor has Got fated me at my time>—Forty-years have I proved His faithfulness, in this work; and it is about thirty-six years ago when great poverty and need began to come upon me, in connexion with this work, that the Lord in the most marked and manifest manner stretched forth His hand, as has been fully detailed in the previous part of this Narrative. This almost uninterrupted poverty con- 4 tinued for five years ; but God always helped me. Duritg the last twenty years, generally, His dealings have been different; still, even during this period, I have had num- berless spiritual and temporal necessities to bring before God in prayer, and He has uniformly helped me. This same peace and joy in God, resulting from becoming in- creasingly acquainted with Him, by waiting upon Him, looking to Him, trusting in Him in the greatest difficulties, and under the greatest trials ; and even when there is not the least natural prospect of being helped; I desire that *y you, dear Reader, may have. The life of the believer in the Lord Jesus is intended to be a very happy one, even here on earth; but this cannot be, except you walk as an ; obedient child, and confide fully in your Father who is in heaven. I cannot tell you, how happy this service makes me. Instead of being the anxious, careworn man, many per- sons think me to be; I have no anxieties and no cares at all. Faith in God leads me to roll all my burdens upon Him ; for hundreds are my necessities, besides those con- nected with money. In every way I find God to be my helper, even as I trust in Him, and pray to Him in child- like simplicity, about everything. Be encouraged, dear fellow-believer, to go this blessed way yourself, and you will see what peace and joy it affords. Jan. 31. From Africa £5.—Regarding pecuniary assistance for the work this has been the most remarkable month during the 25 years I have been engaged in it. There came in for the Building Fund during this month £4,315. 4s. Od., for the support of the Orphans £2,215. 19s. 83d., and for the other objects £3,286. 3s. 3d.; altogether £9,817. 68. 114d.; but there was also ex- pended, during this one month, £4,896. 10s. Od. The A.D. 1859.] 263 reader has not merely to look at the income, but also at the outgoings. Yet, however great they are, the Lord helps continually ; and during no year has He sent me so much as during the past year; for the total income was £25,221. 15s. 104d., while the total outgoings were — £16,993. 128. 5d. Feb. 3. Received 11 guinea pieces, 3 half guinea pieces, 2 seven shilling pieces, a quarter of a guinea piece, a large Portuguese gold coin (a moidore), and a small one. —Feb. 5. From a Bristol house of business £10.,as “A , small offering for having escaped bad debts,”—Feb. 8. From H. B. in London £5., as “ the grateful acknowledg- ment of one who has experienced the fact, that he who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.” This £5. was the first donation from an unknown donor, which has been followed again and again by donations of £10.—Feb. 27. It is to-day fifteen months since we began to receive Orphans into the New Orphan House No. 2. Since then 363 have been received. How great has been the help of God !—Apr. 80. Received the following letter from acon- siderable distance: ‘‘ My dear Christian Brother, I am the husband of Mrs. —— who sends you by this post the two Sovereign piece. How can we better dispose of this relic of affectionate remembrance, than by depositing it in the bank of Christ, who always pays the best interest, and never fails.—Now, my best and spiritual counsellor, I can- not express to you the exceeding great joy I feel, in relating what follows. I am an artist, a poor artist, a landscape painter. About two weeks ago I sent a picture to Bristol for exhibition, just as I finished your book that mae lent us. I most humbly and earnestly prayed to od to enable me, by_the sale of my Bristol picture, to have the blessed privilege of sending you half vie proceeds, The-price-of the picture is E20.~ Now mark: Tiniit- diately the exhibition is open, God, in His mercy, mindful of my prayer, sends me a purchaser. I have exhibited in Bristol before, but never sold a picture. Oh! my dear friend, my very heart leaps for joy. I have never been so near God before. Through your instrumentality I have been enabled to draw nearer to God, with more earnest- ness, more faith, more holy desires.—This is the jirst return God has blessed me with for the whole of my last 264 [A.D. 1859. year's labours. What a blessing to have it so returned ! —Oh, with what joy I read your book !—The picture I speak of is now being exhibited in the academy of arts at Ctifton, numbered in the Catalogue , the title is . I cannot pay you till the close of the exhibition, as I shall not be paid till then, &c." Of such letters I have had thousands during the last 40 years. May 16. Had the following interesting letter, from an entire stranger, a City Missionary at a considerable dis tance, in reference to one of the believing Orphans, whom he had met on a visit to a Christian friend. " Sir, Having been on Tuesday last on a visit to Mr. of , I had the pleasure of meeting there a young woman, one of God's own children, from your valuable Institution. The evening we spent together in singing a hymn, reading God's word, and prayer ; then retired to rest. My bed-room joined that of the above ; and on the next morning, soon after five o'clock, I felt great comfort in hearing this young woman reading God's word and then for some time in earnest supplication, seeking the protection and guidance of her heavenly Father. I desire you may know, that, when from under your care, and far away from those who had been her earthly protectors, she was not forgetting to acknowledge Him who is the Father of the fatherless."—Six silver forks for sale.— Also £100. from a considerable distance.—The outgoings of late have been very great, about £200. a week more than the income. This very day nearly £300. has been expended. On this account, though we were not in need, this last donation was doubly precious. My heart is fully assured, that the Lord, in His own time, will again send larger sums.—May 18. Again anonymously from H. B. £10., with these words : " In grateful acknowledgment to our heavenly Father for an increase of business, since last I remitted." This is the fifth donation from the same donor within about three months, £45. in all.—From Bath 6s. saved by discontinuing smoking, given up by the help of the Lord, though the donor had smoked 18 years pre viously.—May 24. From Essequibo, British Guiana, £3. —May 26. Last day of the Period. It is now eighteen months since we began to receive fresh children, after the opening of No. 2. Since then we have received altogether 422 Orphans, and during this year 212. How can I A.D. 1859.] 265 sufficiently praise God for His abundant help ! There are now 672 Orphans in the two Houses, and 724 persons at least sit down daily to their meals in these two houses. But the Lord helps me continually. The greater the work has become, and the greater the expenses have been, the more He has sent in. And thus, I doubt not, He will help me in future also, though the expenses of the year before me will be far greater than those of the past year. In the peace, which results from trusting in God for the supply of my every need in connexion with this service, I look at the year before me, fully assured, that, because He is faithful to His word, and I trust in Him, I shall not be confounded. I have thus referred to some of the donations, given for the support of the Orphans, between May 26, 1858, find May 26, 1859 ; but as my account books contain 3,6 14 different sums, for the support of the Orphans, I could only refer to a few comparatively. The thoughtful reader will have had his mind alive to the fact, that, as we went on increasing the Orphan work every year, we also had before us far heavier expenses. Therefore the new period (from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860), brought with it greater expenses than ever. Bnt 1 can only refer to a few out of the 3,542 donations received for the support of the 700 Orphans under our care, during the year. June 17, 1859. This evening tenders for contracts for the New Orphan House, No. 3, were given in. Thus we advanced another decided step towards having 1,150 Orphans under our care, and therefore towards an expen diture of about £23,000. for building, fitting up and furnishing the house, besides an additional yearly ex pense of about £5,200. for the support of these 450 additional Orphans. Under these circumstances the fol lowing donations were particularly refreshing to me. From 2 Dutch ladies, residing at Bonn, 7 Prussian thalers for the Orphans.—From 2 Dutch ladies of Amsterdam £1. 0s. 5d. for the Orphans. —From a Dutch Baroness £85. 13s. ld., of which the donor kindly wishes me to keep two- tenths for myself, and to use the remainder for the Institution. I took half for the support of the Orphans, and the other half for the School—, Bible—, Missionary—, and Tract Fund. Sept. 2, 1859. From Oxfordshire £50., sent at the N 266 [A.D. 1859. request of a Christian young gentleman (who had fallen asleep in Jesus), by his father, with a grateful heart for what the Lord had done for his son. I never saw either father or son, nor do I otherwise know them. But the Lord, to whom I speak day by day, speaks for me to the hearts of thousands, and constrains them to remember this work, which is already so great, that, if I _ received day by day in the course of the year a donation of £50., without missing a single day, out of the 367>, TsEould only have about""agTmuclTas I need.—Sep. 6. "As a thank-offering for the recovery of a dear one from illness" £20.—Sept. 9. From Capt. T. S , K.N., £1. with these lines : " June 30, 1859, Lat. 23. 52 N. Long. 36. 9, W.—H. M. S. Calcutta. May every blessing attend your charity and yourself." See how the Lord cares for this work. There is a Godly captain in one of her Majesty's ships, at the Latitude and Longitude stated, thinking about me and this work, and sends me £1. This is one of the ten thousand remarkable ways, in which the Lord has helped me with means from the beginning of the Institu tion. But all comes in answer to prayer. — Sep 10. As " a thank-offering to the Lord from a poor widow, for bringing one of her children to a saving knowledge of Himself," 3s.—From one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, 5s. with a long and grateful letter. The seed sown in the Orphan House, which lay long without springing up and bearing fruit, did at last spring up, and she was as a sinner, trusting in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, as a brand snatched from the burning. She sends-the money as a little thank-offering to God, for what He had done for her soul.—Sep. 12. Anonymously from France a Bank Note for 100 francs.— Sep. 22. From a friend in Corfu £3.— Sep. 27. Anonymously from Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, a Half-sovereign.—Received also a letter from one of the Orphans, who left the Institution as a believer, and has been for severel years in the place of service, to which she was first sent. " Respected Sir, May I trouble you to be so kind as to send me the last two Reports and some tracts. Miss C. sent me some a long while ago, and I have distributed them all, and I hope and pray, by the blessing of God, that they may be the means of doing much good.—I hope you and Mrs. Miiller and family are quite well. My best respects to Mrs. Miiller and Miss Groves.—Though I do not write A.D. 1859.] 267 often, yet, Sir, I do not forget to pray for you, that you may still be helped and blessed more abundantly in your great work of love, and that you may still be spared for many more years to be the Orphan’s friend on earth.—I was very pleased, when I read the last Report, to see that the Lord was working in the hearts of many of the dear children, and that several have been led to put their trust. in the Saviour; I am one of the number who have great cause to be thankful to Almighty God, that I was ever in that House; for there I felt myself to be a vile sinner, but was brought to the foot of the cross, and to lay my sins on Jesus, who died for me.—I remain, dear Sir, your obedient and grateful Orphan, * * * *””—Sept. 30. From H. B. of London, £20., with the following lines: ‘“ Dear Sir, This day I have concluded a preliminary agreement, from which I expect some profit. As a thank-offering I gratefully place in your hands £20., for the support of the Orphans. Faithfully yours. H. B.” Noy. 14. From Kingston, Canada West, 14s. 4d.— From New Orleans, £1.—From London £15. as “ Part of a small legacy, which unexpectedly came to the donor.” —Nov. 15. From London £1., with the following letter: “Dear Sir,—One of your last year’s Reports was lent me to read; and, upon looking into it, I remembered, that, when it pleased our Heavenly Father to take my dear mother unto Himself, I owed her a balance of 208. pocket-money ; I know of no object that would so accord with her wishes, and have sent a post-office order for that amount. Please appropriate the money as seems fi® I remain, etc.” In what a variety of ways, from what ay. variety of persons, and trom whats variety of places onations are sent! Does it not show, what power there is in believing prayer? Not one out of twenty of the donors do I know personally ; and not one out of the thousands of donors, who have contributed towards this } ° work, was ever either directly or indirectly asked by me for help ; but I daily speak to God, regarding its num- berless necessities ; and I also ask Him to speak to the } hearts of His children ; and so, from almost all parts of / the world donations haye been sent, during the forty . years that the Institution has been in existence, from | one farthing to £8,100. in_one donation, and the total thus obtained amounts to above £600,000. Surely I | as N 2 268 [4.D. 1889. have not waited on the Lord in vain! But much as has been obtained solely by prayer, in the way of money for this Institution, it is little in comparison with the spiritual blessings which the Lord has been pleased to grant by means thereof. Nor am I in the least dis- couraged, though the amount required is now so great; since my Almighty Helper, who has never left me nor forsaken me, never will fail in helping, because through Jcsus Christ, my only plea, I trust in Him. This way brings with it a calmness of soul, a peace, and joy in God, which are indescribable, and must be experienced, in order to be known. This calmness of soul, this peace, this joy in God, I desire all my readers, and especially my younger fellow believers, at their very outset in the divine life to know. I have joyfully dedicated my life + , to this great end, to give a practical demonstration, to all who need it, of The blessedness and power of the life of faith. This blessing may be enjoyed by all my fellow elievers in a higher degree than I know it myself, though all believers are not called by God to work for Him in the particular way I do, with reference to this Institution. Make but trial of this way, and you will see, dear reader, \ how willing God is to hear your prayers, and to honour ; your trust in Him. But should you never have seen that you are a sinner, then ask God to teach you that you are; or, if you see that you are a sinner, but go on with guilt on your conscience, then put your trust in Jesus, and depend on what He did and suffered to save singers, in order that, by faith in Him, you may obtain the forgiveness of your sins. Without the removal of guilt from your conscience, through faith in the Lord Jesus, you will dread God, instead of having confidence in Him for all you need. ; Nov. 15, 1859. Within the last twenty-four hours I . have drawn cheques, for current expenses, to the amount of £555., and the income during the last days has been less than during any part of the year. But I hope in God, and am therefore in peace.—Nov. 17.—From Kid- derminster £50.—Nov. 18. From a gentleman in India £10.—There was also paid to-day the legacy of the late Mrs. C——-, of Heigham, which should have been £100. (less legacy duty £90.); but which, through a defect in the will, was only £50. (less legacy duty £45). Half, A.D. 1860. ] 269 therefore, of the intended kindness of the testatrix was lost. This leads me to the remark, that if_any donors wish to help the Iustitution by legacies (thotgh tte more excellent way is, during our life time to use our means for the Lord if there be no hindrance), it is necessary that their will be worded properly, as nothing that is considered Tea eng avaiable orgs for charitable institutions, A and even mouey lent on real estate, oF Ti-Biy UnST Wa derived from real estate, is not available for such purposes. Dec 31, 1859. The fear onde With blessings a0 far as it regards means; for there has come in for the Building Fund £300. 7s. 6d, for the support of the Orphans £18. 4s. 2d., and for the other objects £6. 1s. Jan. 1, 1860. Early in the morning I found in the letter-bux at my house three papers, containing money. The first I opened contained £12. 10s., with these words: “Will Mr. Miiller please to accept the enclosed £12. 10s. from ——~- as a contribution for the maintenance of one of the dear little Orphans. Ist Jan. 1860.”--The next paper I opened contained anonymous donations from $ servants, viz. £1. from A. B., £1, from M. A, and 2s. 6d. from E. A. W. For many years have these dear servants, entirely unknown to me, contributed thus on the first morning of the year.—The third paper contained a Sovereign, with these words: * Towards the support of the Orphans, from one whoin God has wonderfully blessed throughout the year, at this moment passing away.”— Immediately after I had taken these donations out of the letter-box, I received further 8s. 6d., the contents of an Orphan box.—-By the first delivery I received 25 letters, of which 21 contained donations for the work of the Lord in my hands. The first I opened contained advice, that into one of the Bristol Banks had been paid to my credit £262. 17s., of which the donor, who resides at a distance of about 200 miles, desires £200. to be used for the building of the third Orphan House, and £62. 17s. as a new year’s gift for the support of the Orphans.—Jan 3. Anonymously from H. B. £17. 18s. “A balance in hand for the past year.” This kind anonymous donor has during this period also, as well as during the former period, sent me again and again considerable donations, but always anonymously.— £30. 3s. “ Asa thank- offering for the mercies of the past year, from believers meeting 270 [A.D. 1860. at the Sand Area Meeting-house, Kendal."—From the North of England £40., with £10. for myself.—Jan. 14. From a mercantile gentleman, whom I have only once spoken to for a few moments, £1,500.—When I began the Orphan work, I had no natural prospect of ever re ceiving such donations ; and when I was led at the end of 1850 to its enlargement, natural reason would have said, whence are the means to come ? But I trusted in the Living God, and He has helped me.—From the neighbourhood of Ashby de la Zouch £89. 4s. The kind donor has, with the increase of the work, increased his donations. —From London 5s., from the wife of a sailor, as " A thank-offering to God, for answering her prayer, in safely returning her husband from the perils of the sea."—Jan. 16. From East Moulsey " Proceeds of a Christmas Tree, and other donations" £8. 12s.—Jan. 17. To-day it is a twelvemonth, since, day by day, 30 quarts of new milk have been given, by a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood of Bristol. —Jan. 19. Received 705 mugs for the 700 Orphans, as a present ; the same donor having given 4 months previously two large crates of good Staffordshire ware for their benefit, containing 379 articles of various kinds. —Jan. 20. Received to-day the legacy of the late Miss A. S. of Wincanton, being £20., and for interest 16s.—From a Birmingham manufacturer £50.—From Woodford, a gold watch-guard. The donor had no money to send, but felt he could do without this. —From the neighbourhood of Nottingham 156 new under garments for the use of the Orphans. Almost all of these individuals are entire strangers to me. Not one out of twenty do I know personally. But God speaks to their hearts. There is real power in prayer and in faith. While the almost universal statement is, " If we had means, we might do much more;" or, "We have been obliged to give up such and such a part of our operations for want of funds ; " we, without appealing to any one, but the Living God, increase mofe and more in means, though the Institution is year by year being enlarged. During the past year we paid out, for current expenses, £2,308. 16s. 2½d. more than during the previous year ; and yet our balance in hand, to meet current expenses, was at the close of the ptriod £2,279. 0s. 4½d. more than at the beginning, A.D. 1860] 271 though, to the utmost, we spent for Him the means, as far as we could, in consistency with faithful stewardship. Any of my fellow-servants who will fully try the blessed ness of this way, will see how those who trust in the Lord are never confounded. Feb. 11,1 860. Left by the will of the late Mrs. M , and paid to-day, £96. 12s. 3d., together with some books, linen, blankets, a few trinkets, etc. — Received also £,'2. 10s. 6d. with the following letter :—" My dear Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ, Will you please to accept an order for £2. 10s. 6d., for the dear Orphans under your care. The history of this small sum is as follows : — About seven and a half years ago, your Narrative was put into my hands, which the Lord very greatly blessed to my soul. Six years and eleven months ago I was enabled to cast myself, my wife and family, upon the Lord, and look , to Him alone for the supply of our temporal necessities, while labouring in His glorious cause. From that time to the present we have had no claims upon any person for a singlejaenny ; nor have we made known our wants to any, or appliecf to any person for help, biu to oTTT Heavenly Father alone ^ andHe has supplied our need, and not suf- fered us to be confounded, blessed be His name ! My dear wife, as well as myself, from the very first, had a strong desire to help you a little in your blessed work of love and labour of faith ; but, for a long time, owing to her con tinued ill-health, and the growing expenses of our family, we never seemed to have any money to spare ; so all we did was to wish, desire, and talk about it, and say how happy we should be if the .Lord woutd enable us to do so. At length we both felt we were acting wrong, and on the 8th of August last we solemnly decided we would give the Lord back a tenth of the money He was pleased to send us, though at that time we were in deeper poverty than we had ever been before";~yet under those circum stances we were enabled, in the strength of the Lord, to come to the above decision, and act up to it that very morning ; and the peace and joy we both felt, it is in vain for me to attempt to describe. The Lord has kept us firm ever since, and instead of having less for our own use, we have had more ; so, dear Sir, this sum is the fruit of six months' prayers. Pardon me for troubling you with so long an account of so trifling a sum ; but I want you to 272 [A.D. 1860. bless our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us His un- worthy servants, and to remember us in your petitions at a throne of grace. I am, my dear Brother, Yours. very affectionately and respectfully, * * * *.” Apr. 14. Received £100. as the legacy of the late Miss M. E. of Bristol, an entire stranger to me.—Apr. 17. From Birkenhead £20.—From one of the Orphans, re- cently sent out, I received the following letter :—‘“ Dear and respected Sir, In being permitted to write to you, I feel unable to obtain words wherewith to express my unworthy thanks for all the care and good instruction, which for the last nine years and eleven months I have received from the Lord, through you and my beloved teachers, who have trained me up in the way I should go; from which, by God’s grace, which alone can keep me, I pray that I may not de- part. May the Lord ever, aud abundantly, prosper that work, dear sir, which He has committed to your charge; and if it is His holy will, may you have the joy of seeing even in this present time, to a much fuller extent, that ' your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Etc.” ‘he writer had known the Lord two years and eight months before leaving the Institution, and walked to our comfort.— On the same day I had a letter fiom one of the former Or- phans, now a journeyman, who, through hearing at a meeting in Somersetshire, an account given respecting thie mighty working of the Spirit of God among the O:phans under our care in January and February, was himself brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.—May 26, 1860. The present period closes full of mercies and blessings with regard to means tor carrying on the work, as also in every other respect; and I look with peace and cumfort to the coming year, though I have reason to believe its ex- penses will be greater, and that about £25,000. will be required to carry me through it. We now entered upon the period from May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1861, during which time we had 700 Orphans habitually under our care ; therefore the expenses were already heavy for one single year, for this part of the wok. I now refer to some of the instances, in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means during that year also. June 4, 1860.—From Philadelphia U.S..a camel’s hair \shawl, 2 gold brouches, a gold breast pin, and a piece of A.D. 1860.] 273 mosaic work set in gold, for a bracelet —June 7. To-day I had the joy of receiving a long letter, from one of the orphans in service, giving a fall account of her conversio fron which T-give the following extracts: “ The first serious religious impressions I had were under your kind and fatherly care in the dear Orphan House, where I was surrounded with every encouragement; but these convictions I allowed to pass away, after I had been out a short time in the world. God has in His great mercy called again and again since then, and I still turned a deaf ear to His gracious voice. Oh! when I think of His long-suffering and forbearance to me, who had resisted His striving Spirit so often, I am lost in wonder at the great love and mercy He has shown me. I had not been in this neighbourhood very long, when God was pleased to bless the ministry of Mr. H. to my soul. I[ was aroused again to a full consciousness of my lost and ruined condition. For a long time [ was in a most unhappy state of mind. [She then relates how at last, through a conversation with Mr. H., she obtained peace, and continues thus:] From that evening Jesus became very precious to my soul. I with many others can look back to the dear Orphan House and thank God for placing us under such influence. It was the genuine religious ex- ample of all around me, while there, that impressed my mind with the reality of vital religion. The seed that was sown while there, will, I hope, by God’s grace, bear fruit to the glory of God! I must return you my thanks with a traly grateful heart for all your great kindness to me the many years I was in the Orphan House. EHtc.”— Of late, by far the greater number of those, who have leit oor care for service or apprenticeship, have been sent out as believers, who have known the Lord for sometime; but even tthe case of those who left us unconverted, we have hadin many instances th # Joy of finding that the education they received would not aw them to continue in earaless- ness and forgetfulness of God, and that they were finally brought to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. I refer to this as an encouragement to Christian teachers and pa- rents, patiently and prayerfully to continue their service, because, in the end it will be blessed_—June 8. From Lancashire £200. June 15.—From the Inmates of the Liverpool Penitentiary £8. 14s. 3d., and from their Ma- N 8 274 [A.D. 1860. Irons 8s. 9d., being saved by abstaining for one month from the use of butter, in order to send the allowance to the Orphans.—From Hong Kong, China, £10.—Aug. 15. Received 5s. from one of the Orphans in service, who was sent out between 7 and 8 years since, as -a believer, and who had been about 7 years in the first situation, when this donation was sent, accompanied by the follow ing letter. " Dear and much respected Sir, It has long been on my mind to write to you, also to send a trifle towards that dear and much loved home of my early days, the dear Orphan House. [She had been about 15 years under our care.] How much have I to thank and praise my Heavenly Father for, in placing me under such kind care ; also in watching over me ever since I left ; but above all, for His kindness in leading me to Himself, so as to know myself a pardoned sinner through believing on His dear Son Jesus, whom He has sent. Oh that I may be enabled, through grace, to cling closer and closer to Him, while He may still see fit that I shall remain in this world ! Now, dear Sir, I must once more thank you, with dearest Mrs. Miiller and Miss Groves for your great kindness to me. Believe me in much love and respect, dear Sir, to remain yours ever gratefully, * * * *."— And how was it with the writer of this letter formerly ? Was she always so grateful ? Did she always give us nothing but joy ? Far otherwise. She had a sinful, wicked nature, as we all have naturally ; and repeatedly caused us sorrow, particularly on one occasion. But this very occasion led to more earnest prayer, and was the last sorrow we had. The dear girl was brought to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, walked to our comfort, and has conducted herself as a consistent Christian ever since. Be encouraged by this, you sorrowing parents, who have to mourn on account of unconverted children, and you other Christian readers, who have near unconverted relatives. Continue to pray for them and to look out for answers. Aug. 15, 1860.— From the Master of a brig £2., with the following statement : " Being homeward bound from the f Mediterranean, he asked the Lord to give him a fair wind :' through" the givt of Gibialiar, and said, that if so, he j would give the amount of the anchorage dues to the • Lord for the benefit of the Orphans^ He entered the straits, it fell calm, and he drifted ten miles back. He A.D. 1860.] 275 then again asked the Lord to help him. A breeze sprang up in the night, and he cleared the straits." Oct. 2. From Notting-Hill £10.— Received the follow ing letter from a former orphan, who had been three years apprenticed, alter having walked as a consistent believer for a considerable time, before he left our care. The letter is written on the death of one of his sisters, who as a lovely Christian, after a most consistent walk of several years, died of consumption whilst under our care, on Sep. 26, 1860. " My dear Sir, It has at length pleased the Lord to take unto Himself my dear sister Elizabeth. I had hitherto lived in the fond hope of seeing her again some day ; but it was the will of God that it should not be so. I now hope to meet her again, with my dear father and mother, in that happy land where God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes ; where there shall be no more death, nor sorrow. It is now plainly to be seen what a mercy it was, that we were taken to the Orphan House, where we all learnt to know and love the Saviour. It is three years since I left ; and I can only say, that good ness and mercy have followed me hitherto. I often need the help of God to overcome temptations ; but in all my failings and wanderings the hand of God has not suffered me to fall away. I have constant need of prayer. With love to all, I remain yours, gratefully and respectfully, * * * *." This was the last letter I had from this lovely youth, whi) gave us great comfort whilst under our care, and who walked as a most consistent Christian (according to the testimony of many Godly persons who knew him well,) for the three years and a half he was apprenticed. On March 15, 1861, I learnt from his Christian master that he died of typhus fever on March 14th. The master says of him : "The dear boy is gone, much to our sorrow; and we can all testify to his child-like obedience and desire to please. He was never scarcely satisfied, I believe, that ho had done sufficient work. In this department, I might almost say, ' I have lost a right hand.' "—I had a long letter, besides, from a labourer in the Gospel, who knew him intimately, who saw him during his illness, and who calls him a " very sweet and gracious young brother." He says further about him, " all his manners were perfectly original and Christian. He won the hearts of all the villagers, and of all who ever met him. His industry was 276 [A.D. 1860. proverbial ; and if he saw any thing about the house, needing to be done, besides his own proper work, at which he was first-rate, he would say ; Mrs. , I am going to do so and so." This beloved youth sleeps now in Jesus ; his lovely sister Elizabeth sleeps in Jesus; one out of the three, also a consistent believer for several years, remains. Have we not cause for thankfulness, dear Christian Reader, to be allowed to see such precious, abundant fruit, resulting from our labours ? Continue, then, to help us by your prayers, that we may see much more abundant fruit. Ob serve also the ways of God. The Godly parents die, and the young Orphans are left ; but they are left, to be placed under our care, that all three might be brought to the knowledge of the Lord. Oct. 12. Received the following valuable donation : A gold brooch, a pair of earrings and 3 rings, all set with pink topazes, a pearl brooch, a large amber necklace, ring, and earrings, seed coral bracelets and negligee, a corne lian ring, a negligee from Herculaneum, a pair of gold bracelets set with precious stones, a pair of garnet ear rings, a string of coral, a heavy gold chain, a cornelian necklace, a rich Genoa velvet dress, an Indian worked scarf, a knitted bag, 5 combs, an ivory fan, 6 pairs of gloves, a work basket, 2 girdles, 2 reticule bags, a leather work box, 3 brown holland wool cases, a steel bag, a scent bottle and 5s. for carriage. These valuable ar ticles were accompanied by the following lines from the donor. " Some years have passed since any of these idle toys were worn by me ; and I think it sinful to lock up any thing which may tempt others to sin. While we have time to do good, let us embrace it; and may the offering be accepted by Him who sees it in secret, and will receive it as done unto Himself." The donor lived only a few months, after she had sent these articles. Will she regret that she used them for the Lord in her life time ? Surely not ! Christian Reader, let us seek more truly to lay hold on eternal life ! Let us live for eternity ! (Year after year I have received many trinkets and a great variety of articles. Thousands of articles, of almost every description, have been given for the use of the Or phans or to be sold for their benefit. Thousands of children A.D. 1861.] 277 of God have considered what things they could do without, in order to send them for the benefit of this Institution. Dec. 5. Received the following interesting letter with a donation, from Scotland : " Dear Sir, One of your Re ports came to my hand about three years since. I have embraced the jlan, which your Reports recommend, to give to the Lord as He'prospers us. 1 consider it now my duty to confess, that I have found it a real blessing, both temporally and spiritually. I am but a hard working man, yet I feel it now a pleasure and a luxury to keep account of how the Lord prospers my endeavours ; and ever since I commenced that plan, everything has gone on well with me. My earnings have every year been steadily increasing. I may say that I have given about seventeen percent. for the last 2 years ; and, though there was not any appearance of prosperity that man could see, yet all that I have given away for the last year came back with interest and compound interest. I enclose you a Post Office Order for 10s. for the benefit of the Orphans. I am, yours respectfully, * * * *." Jan. 1, 1861. As the last day of the year had closed with mercies and manifest help from the Lord for this work, so the new year began. There are in my account books 88 donations entered, for the benefit of the Orphans, given on Jan. 1st. I will, however, only mention the following. I found early in the morning, before day light, two little packets of money in the letter box at my house. The first contained this letter : " My dear Sir, 1 have the pleasure of enclosing £25. 3s. 6d., £5. of which please to appropriate to your own use, and the remainder to the maintenance of the dear Orphans. This money is the first received hy me as Directors' fees of a public company, with which I am connected ; and I thought I could not do better than consecrate it to such a purpose. Wishing you every success in your holy work, I am, Dear Sir, yours faithfully, * * * V — The second parcel contained £3. 6s., being the contents of an Orphan box. —From the neighbourhood of Uxbridge £12. 10s. "for the support of one Orphan for 1861."—£124., with £5. 5s. for my self, from Clifton Down.—Jan. 10. "Saved in farthings through the past year" 3s. Notice this. What a variety of ways God uses to supply me with means ! There are those who give £5., £10., £50., £100.; I have had 278 [4.D. 1861. £5000., £7,000. and even £8,100. in one donation; but here is one who gathers during a whole year 3s., by put- ting aside a farthing now and then out of deep poverty. Abundance is God's gift, and this small donation out of deep poverty is God's gift; out of His hands I take the ' one and the other. On Him I wait, and on Him alone. I ask none for help, either directly or indirectly, that it may be seen what can be accomplished simply through prayer and faith. Ido not pretend to miracles in con- nexion with this work; I am grieved, indeed, to hear this work called a miracle; but I do confess that I carry it on simply by prayer and faith in God. I ask Him to influence the hearts of those who know of the work through the Reports or otherwise, to help me with their means; and He does so, That He has used the Reports in thousands of instances as the instrument, I doubt not; my trast, however, is not in the Reports, but in God. But should Satan seek to rob God of His honour and glory, by sug- gesting that after all I do ask persons for help, by word or letter, then I say, where in the whole world can one be found, whom I have asked for help since I began the Orphan work? Nothing could be easier, than to unmask me as a deceiver, an impostor, a hypocrite ; but this can- not be done, for I have never applied to any one for means, either directly or indirectly. See, then, dear Christian } Reader, for your encouragement, how much can be accom- qe plished simply in answer to prayer, without travelling from place to place, and expending much money and time; or passing through painful and humiliating trials from refusals. Oh! that my dear fellow-believers who seek to do the work of God, and who need pecuniary means for it, would more deliberately consider, that it is not enough to obtain means for the work of God, but that these means should be obtained in God’s way. To ask unbelievers for means is not God’s way; to press even believers to give, is not God’s way ; but the duty and the privilege of being allowed to contribute to the work of God should: be pointed out, and this should be followed up with earnest ; prayer, believing prayer, and will result in the desired end. | Jan, 30. From a commercial gentleman £500. April 27. Gratuitously were made by a Christian house of business, eighty suits of clothes for boys, so that only A.D. 1861 ] 279 the material was found, whereby much time as well as money was saved. —To-day I had the joy of receiving an application from the head of a house of business for a fifth apprentice, 4 of the Orphans being already with him, 2 as journeymen, out of their time, and 2 as apprentices, and all 4 conducting themselves to his and our satisfac tion.—The fifth apprentice was sent to him a few days after.—Received from London £100.—Heard to-day from one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, who was apprenticed about fifteen years ago, and who in the neigh bourhood of Philadelphia, U.S., has been brought to the knowledge of the Lord. This is one of the many instances in which we have seen our prayers answered, after the Orphans had left our care ; for day by day we follow them with our prayers, after they have gone out into the world. May 3. As the legacy of the late Miss S. H. of Bristol £ 1 00. I had never seen the testatrix, nor even known her by name.—Anonymously from R. E. I. 13s. 6d., with these lines : "'It was my idea, that, when a man had suf ficient for his own wants, he ought then to supply the wants of others, and consequently 1 never had sufficient. now clearly see, that God expects us to give of what we have. and not of what we have not ; and to leave the rest to Him. I therefore give in faith and love, knowing that, if I first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all other things will be added unto me."—May 4. A large quantity of jewellery, etc. from a clergyman in Somerset shire.—May 9. From Hinckiey 10s. 7d. being " Weekly subscriptions of a halfpenny and a penny from very poor women."—From Worcestershire £50.—May 10. Had a letter from one of the Orphans who was, about 4 years since, sent out to service as a believer. She writes : " I am happy to tell you, dear Sir, that I am still walking in the narrow path, and I feel every day more the precious- ness of Jesus. I desire to make myself useful in the cause of Christ. He has made my path clear to become a Sunday School teacher, and I hope, by God's blessing, that I may be the means of leading many to Jesus.—I do not forget to pray for you and that noble work which you are engaged in. May the Lord spare you vet many, many vears, to be the Orphan's friend and guide in spiritual things." - 280 [A.D. 1861. May 26,1861. At the close of the period I find, that the total expenditure for all the various objects was £24,700. 16s. 4d., or £67. 13s. 53d. per day, all the year round. During the coming year | expect the expenses to be considerably greater. But God, who has helped me these many years, will, I believe, help me in future also. “You see, esteemed Reader, how the Lord, in His faith- ful love helped us year after year. With every year the expenses increased, because the operations of ths Tnstitu- | tion were further enlarged ; but He never failed us, You aay Say~ however, What would you. do, if He should .fail in helping you?” My reply is, that cannot be, as \ long as we trust in Him and do not live in sin. But if _ we were to forsake Him, the fountein of living waters, \ and to hew out to ourselves broken cisterns, which cannot ‘ hold water, by trusting in an arm of flesh; or if we were . to live in sin, we should then have to call upon Him in vain, even though we professed still to trust in Him, ac- cording to that word: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm lxvi. 18. Hitherto, by God’s grace, I have been enabled to continue to trust in Him alone; and hitherto, though failing and weak in many ways, yet, by God’s grace, I have been enabled to walk uprightly, hating sin and lovin: holiness, and long- ing after increased conformity to the Lord Jesus. I go on now to the next period (from May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1862), and show, how, with eight hundred and eleven Orphans then under our care, we were supplied with means. But as we received altogether 3,883 donations for their support, during that year, I can only refer to a few. The first I received during this period on May 27, 1861, was £5. from a Christian gentleman, being more than he had ever given me at any previous time, as if he knew that his days were numbered. He entered into his rest a few months afterwards. June 5. Legacy of the late Mrs. J—£200. This lady I never saw; yet God inclined her heart to leave this amount in her will for the support of the Orphans. July 9. From Derby 5s., with the following letter : “ Dear Sir, Having read at the beginning of the year of your work of faith and labour of love amongst the dear Orphans, I resolved to give a little out of my poor earn- ings, towards their support. I kneeled down and put my ». A.D. 1861.] 281 first penny on my Bible before the Lord, and asked Him to help me ; and by a penny at a time, with a little now and again from the sale of some bones, have raised five i shillings, which will you please to accept. The Lord has taken Irom me two dear children, but by His grace I am enabled to say, It is the Lord, let Him do as seeuieth Him good. 1 feel very anxious to know how you get on ; for since the day I heard of you, I do not forget you at the throne. Oh ! yes, one throne for us all through the precious blood of Jesus. May the Lord ever be with you, and crown all your labours with abundant success, is the prayer of a poor man."—Aug. 13. The following is a letter from an Orphan who was the first received into the New Orphan House No. 1, was converted whilst there, walked consistently as a believer about a year before he left, and was on May 24, 1852, sent out to be apprenticed. Since then, as far as 1 know, he has uniformly walked as a believei-, and at last, having a great desire either to labour as a Missionary Abroad, or as a preacher of the Gospel at Home, he went to a newly-established College, chiefly for the sake of studying Hebrew and Greek, to be able to understand the Hol> Scu'ptures in the Original languages. After having been at this College some time, I saw him, and on his return there I received this letter : '' My dt ar Mr. Miiller, You will be pleased to hear, that I have re turned to my duties at College, with an earnest desire more than ever to devote myself to the service of my beloved Saviour. I met with very great encouragement during the latter part of my vacation. Instances of use fulness seemed to multiply around me, and not unfre- quently did I find that my labours had been crowned with the divine blessing in those places where I had least ex pected it. Whilst travelling by rail to an appointment, I met with a person who had heard me preach at , nearly two years ago, and whom I had never seen from that time to this ; but the word then proclaimed was made a great blessing to his soul. I distinctly remembered the service, for I had preached that evening under great em barrassment of mind. Was not this pleasing ? Need 1 1 say, that I " thanked God and took courage ?"—Whilst preaching lately, I had the pleasure of seeing among the congregation one of the Orphan girls, whom I afterwards had au interview with, and was pleased to tind her a believer 282 [4.D. 1861. in the Lord Jesus Christ. I earnestly hope, my dear Sir, that you will have the pleasure of meeting each member of your Orphan family in heaven.—I often think of the valuable advice you gave me during our last interview, and thank you most heartily for it. If it were possible, I should much like to be nearer to you, that I might often have the pleasure of listening to your paternal counsels. But my days in the Orphan House have passed away ; T am now moving in a different sphere, preparing for a great and noble work. My dear sir, may I venture to hope that sometimes at the throne of grace you will re- member your Orphan child, your “son.in the gospel.” I am anxious tu become a good minister of Jesus Christ— the means of turning many to righteousness. I long to be honoured by my Lord in the ministry of His word, that, when He shall appear, I may receive from Him a crown of honoured usefulness.—I remember four years ago begin- ning to pray that God would bless me, by granting me to 4 know that one soul was brought to the knowledge of the Saviour through my instrumentality. That prayer being answered, I prayed for two. That too being granted, I { have doubled the number, and 1 hope that I shall see many, yea hundreds, saved through my labours. I am asking to be made largely useful, knowing that it is for j my Saviour’s glory. “He can make feeble instruments the { meéans of doing great good.—I was preaching yesterday i at ——, and, on speaking to some friends about the Orphan ‘ House, they expressed a great desire to have the first part of your Life, which I shall feel obliged if you will kindly send me by post for them, at your earliest convenience. I enclose stamps for the amount. You will be pleased to hear that two persons, to whom I have lent the copy you kindly gave me, on leaving the Orphan House, have been converted through its perusal, and are now consistent members of a Christian church. Accept the expression of my gratitude and affection, and with many prayers for the prosperity of the work of God in your hands, believe me to remain yours affectionately in Christ Jesus * * * *.” We have indeed abundant cause for thankfulness. The spiritual and temporal benefit which it has pleased God to bestow upon thousands of Orphans, and upon many thou- sands of other persons in the various schools of the Insti- tution, during the past 40 years, encourages us, cheer- A.D. 1861.] 283 fully to labour on. And even in cases, whore for a time our labours seemed useless, we had afterwards cause for rejoicing, because, those who caused us sorrow, were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, and their course was entirely altered. With such experience, then, we labour with our might in prayer, that God would allow us yet further and further to extend this work. Aug. 28. From London £1. 4s. 6d., with a letter, which contained these lines : " I cannot close this, without once more expressing our gratitude to God for bringing your Narrative to our knowledge, and thus leading us to lay apart a certain portion of what the Lord gives us, to be spent for His service. Since commencing this, not only have our temporal affairs been more prosperous, but we have found an inexpressible enjoyment in being able to leave all our concerns, day by day, in the hands of our Heavenly Father ; and thus we have enjoyed such peace of soul, even under trying and difficult circumstances, as before we had no idea ot."—Aug. 30. £2. with these words : " I am a commercial traveller, and send this £'2. to you, instead of insuring against Railway accidents." Sep. 7.' Received £2. 1s. 8d. from the brother of three Orphans, each of whom were for many years under our care, with the following grateful letter : " Dear Sir, I send you this cheque in thankfulness for the kindness received by my sisters and brother while under your care. Two of them are now in heaven, the other is in service, believing in Jesus. May the Lord bless you ! There can be no doubt but He will. I and my sister are the only two left of the family. May the Lord be with us, and give us His blessing ; and when you kneel before the throne of grace, remember us before God, to preserve us from the snares ot the Wicked One, and at last may we be taken up with those that are gone before. I remain, yours gratefully and respectfully, * * * *." Sep. 27. Received the following letter with 5s. from one of the first Orphans placed under our care, who has now been for nearly 20 years a believer, and for about 16 years in situa tions. " Dear Mr. Miiller, As to-morrow, the 27th, is your birthday, I should like you to receive a trifle from me. It is but a mite among the thousands you get ; yet I know it is not despised, as it comes from one whose debt of gratitude will never be paid. I thank you very 284 A.D. 1861. | much for the Reports you sent me. I gave one to a per- son who went once to one of your Day Schools, but has left Bristol many years ago, but has never forgotten you, and often asks after you. Will you please to accept the inclosed for your own use. Hoping Mrs. Miller, and all of you, are quite well, I remain, yours respectfully, ****.”” —All similar presents are very pleasant to me, not on account of the gift, but as showing the love with which we are regarded by the many who were once under our care.—Sep. 30, From Cape Town £3. ds. 3d., being “ The estimated amount saved, in nine months, by abstaining from the use of wine.” Oct, 28. From M. A. M. 10s., with the following in- teresting letter. ‘“ My dear Mr. Miller, Enclosed is 10s. in stamps, for the use of the dear Orphans, as a thank- offering for two mercies.—My dear husband lost a £5. Note out of his pocket-book or purse, when in D (a dis- tance of 7 miles from heré), and did not discover his loss, till he had reached home. He immediately sent off our ap- prentice to the town, telling him to call at every shop in which he had been, and ask them to Jet him look about their floors. He gave the youth the names of several { houses of business, who (as it was half-past 7 in the even- ing) was to return the next morning, it being too far tu walk back again that night, At the very first house it wus found. The man said he picked it up some time after Mr. M. had left, and was going to throw it away with other rubbish (as he thought); so it was restored to us. But I must tell you, dear Sir, that I feel it was in answer to prayer; for that night I asked the Lord, that it might be recovered, and promised to send 5s. to the Orphans, if it were.—The next night I again went to the Lord with another petition. An old lady, who had occupied a cottage of ours, was just dead, and I knew that we were likely to have it on our hands for a long time,as_ =» it was the wrong time of the year to let in the country, and already past the quarter. So I asked, that another tenant might be sent for us. The next morning a lady came and rented it. I had promised to send another ds., if it were let, and it was let speedily. Oh! if we did but trust God more. May your blessed work prosper, my dear Mr. Miiller. Your humble servant, M. A. M.”— lhave given this letter e-peciully to show, that, if chil- A.D. 1861.] 285 dren of God did but roll all their cares upon God, and trust and expect help from Him, they would find, how ready he is to answer their prayers, whenever they are of such a character that He can do so for the glory of His own name. Nov. 20. From Sydney, New South Wales, £3. 10s. —Nov. 21. From a lady in London £50., sent by her " in compliance with the wish of her late father."— Nov. 27. £5., with the following letter, from an anony mous donor. " Respected and Honoured Sir, In another envelope you will receive a £5. note for your Orphans ; and may the blessing of God rest upon you in your praise worthy work.—The circumstances under which 1 send this trifle may interest you —When I read the extracts from your last Report in the Bristol Daily Post, I was in Somersetshire, about to undergo a competitive exami nation for a situation in Her Majesty's Civil Service, and I made a jsecret promise, that, if I succeeded, I would make a thank-offering to our Heavenly Father in the shape of sending £o. of my savmgB=— (fort have had to save every farthing myself)—to your Orphans.—The odds were greatly against me, but by Divine help and strength Ijjfot through sucessfully ; and I now redeem my promise, having only this day received my appointment.— I wish the ' sum was larger, but I hope the spirit in which it is sent is the right_one. Satan has repeatedly tried to persuade me that 1 cannot afford it yet, and that 1 could send it better in a little while \_ 'bufTwbuIcT not listen to him ; for I think such a noble triumph of FAITH in an Allwise and merciful God ought to be recognised at least once in his life by every one, who claims the honoured name of Christian.—I have resolved whenever I get promotion, to make a thank-offering to your asylum. That I may be satisfied the money has reached you safely, I would esteem it a favour if you would drop a line to that effect to X., care of, etc." Dec. 6. £1. with the following letter : Dear Sir, Having just received part of my stipend, I have great pleasure in sending you a Sovereign towards the support of the Or phans. I am only a poor curate, without any personal property, or I would gladly give more to so noble an In stitution, having read your Narrative and Reports with the deepest interest. May God still more abundantly bless / 286 [4.D. 1862. and prosper you in all endeavours to promote His glory aud the increase of true Religion. I remain, dear Sir, with much respect and esteem, yours truly, * * * *.” January 1, 1862. The old year had ended in the midst of many mercies, and on the last day many donations had *} come in. The new year commenced again with much help, especially in the reception of donations. Before daylight I found in the letter box at my house a letter, containing £15., from a Bristol donor; also a Sovereign with these words, ‘‘ An old year's thank-offering for the Orphans.” Afterwards I received 10s., and 4s. 6d. from an Orphan Box.—Then was given to me £2. 10s., the contents of an Orphan Box kept in Oxfordshire—On the same day I Teceived 78 donations besides, of which I only mention the following: From Clifton £150., with £5. for myself.—Jan. 2. From Valparaiso, Chili, £8. 15s.—From Birmingham £28. 8s., with the kind promise to repeat this donation every month during this year.— From the North of England £48. 18s.—Jan. 8. From a commercial gentleman £750. March 12, 1862.—From a Scotch donor £50.—“ From Gloucestershire” £10.—On this day, March 12th (the day of the opening of the New Orphan House No. 3, on which the expenses of the Orphan work were increased about £5000. annually), came in, besides these two donations, several others, making the income altogether £71. 9s. 5d., as if God would say, I will meet the increased expenses, and I give the earnest in what I send this day.—April 15. | The number of inmates in the 3 Houses exceeds already 800, and above 400 more are expected. The expenses, therefore, are great, and becoming larger and larger. Day by day, much is needed. In all simplicity I brought this again before my Heavenly Father last evening, and received shortly afterwards from a Hereford donor 5s., from a Bristol donor £5., from another Bristol donor £3., from Brighton £4., and £1. 9s. 6d. from Dresden, Saxony. This morning came in £100.—April 22. From Kent, £100.—May 26. From Ross £10. as a per-centage on the profits of a business. I have thus, out of the 3,883 sums, which are entered in the income books for the support of the Orphans, from May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1862, referred to some. At the close of the year I find, that, the total expendi- ture for the whole year having been £26,029. 16s. 73d., A.D. 1862.] 287 the average expenses for each of the 365 days was £71. 6s. 3½d. Year by year, as the Lord allows me to go on in this precious service, I have no other prospect but that of very heavy expenses ; but I have also the in exhaustible treasury of the Living God to go to for help, and to Him alone I look for the support of this increasing Institution. On entering upon the new period, from May 26, 1862, to May 26, 1863, we had before us still heavier expenses; for, in the course of that year we had Eleven Hundred and Thirty-four Orphans under our care: but the Lord supplied us, this year also, with all we required for their support, though that was more than Eleven Thousand Pounds. I refer now to a few of the ways, in which it pleased Him, to furnish us with means. July 10, 1862. This day has furnished another proof that the Lord is both able and willing to help me in meeting the expenses for the Orphans. Last evening 1 received the following information from the Bristol Bank. " We beg to inform you that we have been directed by a gentleman to pay £368. to the Orphan Asylum on Ashley Down, as "part of the tenth of an unexpected legacy," and that the sum awaits your order at our Bank." Accord ingly there was paid to me to-day £368.—Received also the payment of a legacy of £25. bequeathed for the benefit of the Orphans, by a lady, late of Bradford-on-Avon.— July 11. £10. from his Highness Prince .—From Paramatta, New South Wales, a diamond ring.—July 22. From Torquay £25. — From Dunedin, New Zealand, £1. July 30. From Clifton £20., with the following letter : —" My dear Sir, I herewith enclose you £20. for your Orphan Establishment. I know you will be gratified to hear that [an Orphan in service], who has lived with us between two and three years, has conducted herself to our entire satisfaction, and has by her kindness and steadi ness much endeared herself to us. I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly, * * * *."—Aug. 13. From Agra, India, £67. 12s. 6d.—Sept. 16. The following letter was received from one of the Orphans who had been about ten years under our care, and for several years a believer whilst with us : " Beloved and Respected Sir, Believing you ever to be interested in those who were once under your care, I feel I onght to write a few lines, to show, that, though it 283 [A.D. 1862. is now more than three years since I left the dear Orphan House, t do not forget my best earthly friends. No, I assure you, dear Sir, my thoughts are every day occupied in the recollections of those happy days I spent there. I know, I never valued those blessings and privileges, while I had them, as I ought to have done. Though I abound with privileges now, still / love Ashley Down. I feel the Lord has been a father to the fatherless to me. How He has cared and provided for me, and watched over me and shielded me from the world. I do rejoice and praise God for having raised you up, dear Sir, to be a father to the Orphans, and to bear such a faithful witness of what faith in God can do for the body and soul. It was whilst under your care, I could first call Jesus mine. He is mine still. He has saved me. I love Him for it, but not as I want to. I long and thirst for more of Christ. I trust I can say, Jesus is as precious as ever to me. He never changes. Accept my thanks, dear Sir, for past kindness ; may I ever prove grateful, and show it by future conduct. I am lending your Narrative to some to read, directing to those beautiful questions and answers [Volume I, page 396 to 402 of the Seventh Edition]. One young friend said to me last week, I think I shall never doubt again, now I have read those questions and answers in Mr. Miiller's life. I am, beloved and respected Sir, vour very grateful Orphan, * * * *." Oct. 1. From a naval officer £6. 15s. 6d. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I beg to enclose a Post Office Order for the sum of £6. 15s. 6d., being a donation from me to the Orphan Schools, in the following way : Towards the expense of the Orphans, being part of the tenth of a legacy lately received, £5. Cost of 20 Reports, lately sent to me, 10s. Fire insurance on my house furniture, which I prefer paying in this manner, £1. 5s. 6d. With many of your donors, I have felt the full power of those words, that ' it is more blessed to give than to receive.' For some time past I have given a tenth of my income to the Lord, and can truly say that, wTiere i formerly gave to one object, I can now give to twenty, without any diffi culty or effort, and with a degree of pleasure that I never felt before. The more I give, the morel seem to get. Thus, temporally and spiritually, we receive a two-fold blessing. If more could be induced to take this step, how many beaming countenances we should witness, and how A.D. 1802.] 289 flourishing would be the condition of many of our Societies and Institutions ! May God indeed bless you in your noble work, and ever believe me, dear Sir, yours very faithfully, ****." Nov. 15. The outgoings of to-day, for the various Objects, are £632. 12s. 1d. : but the income for them had been only £3. 15s. 6d. Under these circumstances I received anonymously in postages £1. from A. E., with the following lines : " A drop from the wide stream flowing into Lancashire. He, who has all hearts in His keeping, inclined the writer to aid in warding off the danger of the Orphans being forgotten in the general pity for the dis tressed operatives." I repeat that the expenses of the day were £632. 12s. ld., and the income had been £3. 15s. 6d. Under such circumstances it is necessary to keep the eye steadfastly fixed upon God ; then, though the outgoings are great, we are helped; and though the Lancashire distress calls for means to a very considerable extent, on that account we shall not be confounded ; for faith lays hold on God, and draws out of His inexhaustible fulness, which knows of no alteration on account of peculiar cir cumstances. Thus have we found it. With more than One Thousand persons day by day at table,lind part of the {ime with more than Eleven Hundred persons, during that yejir, we lacked nothing.' The living TJod helped us also, thougii Hundreds 01 .thousands of Pounds were sent to Lancashire, in which we rejoiced, in which we gladly helped, and towards which even the Orphans themselves, out of their treasures, sent their little contributions. Seek, then, dear Reader, to know God, as He has revealed Himself in the Lord Jesus, if you know Him not already. Own your need of a Saviour. Come to God as a guilty sinner ; pass sentence upon yourself ; and trust in the atonement of the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, in order that yon may obtain forgiveness of your sins, be at peace with God, and become His child through faith in His dear Son. This will give yon confidence towards God, especially if you are in the habit of keeping your conscience clean through confession of sin in exercising faith in the power of the precious atoning blood. If you know this already from happy experience, then seek yet further, in childlike simplicity, to lay hold on God's strength, rolling all your cares upon Him, that you may be in peace. Thus it came O 290 [A.D. 1862. that we were kept in peace, though sometimes' during that year, the outgoings were so exceedingly great, and the income scarcely anything ; but after a while, the Lord again sent in more abundantly, so that our means were again greatly increased.—There came in further, on that day, from Demerara £5., also £2. 1s. 8d.—Nov. 16. Received 5s. with the following letter : " Sir, Although I have never had the pleasure of seeing yon, it pleased the Lord to favour me with the faithful companionship of two Orphans from your asylum ; bnt, I am sorry to say, that I knew not the real value of the society of one of them until it pleased the Lord to call him home. Dear Sir, I shall ever cherish the memory of dear Eli Kiddle. The impression then made upon my mind and conscience by the Holy Spirit can never be erased. Blessed be God ! since his death I have sought and obtained pardon, and I trust that through the merits of our Saviour I shall meet him in that blest place where parting shall be no more. Please to accept the enclosed from one who prays that you may prosper in your work of faith and labour of love. Yours respectfully, * * « *." The Orphan Eli Kiddle, here referred to, had been a consistent believer some time before he left the Orphan House, where he had been eight years, was then apprenticed, walked very consistently as a Christian apprentice for several years, but died from fever . ' before his apprenticeship had expired. His Gcdly example !was a testimony to the conscience of the writer of this letter.—Nov. 17. £1. 11s. 6d. with the following letter: " My Dinners dear Sir,onHaving Thursday beenlast, invited and to notattend feelingone freeofto the do so, I prefer sending you the enclosed for the use of the Orphans. Yours truly, Y. Z." Here, by refraining from going to a grand dinner, one guinea and a half was saved, sufficient to provide a dinner for more than One Hundred Orphans. What may not be accomplished by self denial ! But this is not all. Such public dinner parties bring great damage to the soul, if not to the body. I leave out purposely what dinner party it was, because I do not wish these remarks to be of a personal character, but simply desire the good of the reader.—Nov. 21. £2 10s. with the following letter : " M. H. 8 , fearing the Orphans may be forgotten by some who usually send money for them (during this great demand for Lancashire), sends the A.D. 1862.] 291 enclosed small sum (£2. 10s.) now, rather than wait till he could send a larger sum. With prayers and best wishes.” There are now more than a Thousand persons sitting down to their meals daily. Yesterday morning I received only about £3., but the Lord has since then kindly added about £90. to it.— Nov. 25. £1. 1s., with these words: “ Dear Brother in the Lord, It was put intomy , mind to send a small remittance to assist you in the in- creased expense of clothing the Orphans, on account of the . high price of cotton fabrics. Etc.’"—There is indeed an advance in the price of cotton goods. Those most com- monly used by us, are now 18s. per piece, [later on we paid even 21s.] whilst formerly we paid Ils. But the Lord does help us, notwithstanding, to meet the increased price, though we have used several hundred pieces of this one kind of material alone during the year.—Nov. 28. From a Bristol House of business, 4 boxes of raisins and 1 ecwt. of currants, for the Christmas puddings of the Orphans. Dec. 1. From Hampstead £50., with the following letter: “‘ Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £50. for the support of your Orphans. I fear the flow of money to Lancashire just now will be felt to the disadvantage of other charities, etc.’—Dec. 5. £1. from Castrup, near Copenhagen. This is the first donation from Denmark, which I have received for this work.—Dec. 12. This morning’s post brought 2s. 6d. for the Building Fund, but nothing else for any of the other objects, while I had before me the outgoings of £146. 11s. for the current ex- penses for the Orphans alone. Moreover, for many days and weeks, the income has not been nearly equal to the expenses, so that the balance that we had in hand has been consider- ably reduced. Under these circumstances I found great comfort in Isaiah xxvi. 8, 4, “ Thou wilt keep him in per-, -) fect_peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he} < ,- Z trusteth m thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the. ; Lont Jehovah is everlasting strength.”- rd Jehovah is everlasting strength.”—In the course of the day came in 10s. more. When [I left the Orphan - Houses this evening, I found that the expenses of the day had been altogether £151. 18s. 8d., and the income 12s. 6d. But I hope in God. I expect again larger sums.—Dec. 13. From Lockton, Canada, 16s.—From Mexico 5s.— Dec. 15. The following letter was received from a dear 02 292 [A.D. 1862. Christian girl, who had been recently sent out : " Respected and beloved Sir, may I be allowed the great privilege of writing a few lines to express, in some feeble measure, my deep heartfelt gratitude to you for all the unceasing love and kindness shown me for so many years, whilst in the dear Orphan House. I shall throughout time and eternity have cause to praise the Lord, for having put it into your heart to have such a place built; for there my Saviour made known to me the preciousness of His blood, as the only sacrifice for my sins. Though now with my relations, I feel what a miserable creature I should be, if I had not Jesus for my Helper and Guide in every temptation and difficulty. I hope, dear Sir, with the Lord's blessing, soon to be able to take a situation, and, if so, my earnest prayer and sincere desire is, that I may be enabled to walk worthy of the profession which I have made, and, by so doing, bring honor and credit on the Institution, where I have re ceived so many mercies, and on all who have sought to train me aright. I feel, dear Sir, that the debt of gratitude I owe you can never be repaid by any one but the Lord Himself. May He give you a crown of rejoicing, and lengthen out your days, so that through your instrumen tality many more may be gathered into the fold of Christ, before His coming. Will you, beloved Sir, remember mo in respectful love and gratitude to dear Mrs. Miiller and Miss Groves. I remain, dear Sir, yours most respectfully and gratefully, * * * *." This dear girl, who is now with the Lord, had been 12 years and 8 months under our care. She was on Nov. 28, 1862, sent out, fitted for service, but was first sent to her aunt in Dublin, to have thorough change of air, on account of her health, according to the judgment of our medical adviser. She had known the Lord 3 years and 5 months, before she left, and walked consistently. Some time after her arrival in Dublin, she was taken very ill, and never recovered. A Christian lady, who visited her in her illness, wrote to me, that she glori fied God in her sickness and death.—Dec. 20. From Glas gow £10. and £5.— Received the following letter from one of the Orphans, who had been recently sent to service : " Beloved and respected Sir, I cannot feel grateful enough to yon for all the kindness I received whilst under your fatherly care in the dear Orphan House, and the years I spent there I can truly say were the happiest I ever spent A.D. 1862.] 293 in my life; for not only were we cared for temporally, but spiritually also; aud 1 do indeed feel very thankful to the Lord that I was ever received there, and that He so soon. brought me toa knowledge of Himself; and it is my heart’s sincere desire to know more of Him, to become more like Him; for He is truly to me the chiefest among ten thou- sand, and the altogether iovely. I trust I shall, through His all-sufficient strength and grace, be enabled to walk very near Him and glorify Him in all things. I must thank you also for the very nice situation in which I am placed. My mistress is very kind to me, and I hope to give great satisfaction to her. I meet with many difficulties ; but I bring them all to the Lord; and He enables me to overcome them all; for Fle has promised in His precious Word, help in every time of need. It is my earnest prayer, that the Lord will still continue to bless and prosper you, in the great and blessed work unto which He has called you; and may you ever be the Orphans’ friend and pro- tector; and may the Lord still give you more abundant answers to your many prayers for the conversion of the dear Orphans, who still remain unconverted. Will you please remember me very gratefully to dear Mrs. Miiller, Miss Groves, Mr. L., Mr. W., Mr. H., also Miss D. and all the teachers. I remain, dear Sir, yours very gratefully and respectfully, * * * *.” The writer of this letter had been converted 3 years and 4 months before she was sent out to service.—Dec. 22. From the son of a baronet 19s. 9d., “ who had earned the money on purpose, to give to the Orphanage, by giving up his butter and eggs for six weeks; also by catching mice and rats, and getting good marks for his lessons.” Dec. 23. From Brighton £10., with these words: “ First Fruits, God has been pleased to give me increase, and Idesire to obey His word, ‘Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.’”—Dec. 24. Frou Bury St. Edmunds £10. 10s. —From Tottenham £45., with £5. for myself.—Dec. 27. _ The total of the income this morning had been £6., for the various objects of the Institution, whilst above a Thousand Persons now sit down to their meals, day by day, in the Orphan Houses ; besides the expenses for the various other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. My heart, however, remembered yet again Isaiah xxvi. 3, 4, and was comforted by it. No more came in, in the course 294 [a.D. 1863. of the day, until I arrived at home near 9 o’clock in the evening, when I found £1. from the Cape of Good Hope, 16s. from Greenock, £10. from Belfast, £10. from a Bristol donor, and £700. from a commercial gentleman. How true again, therefore, the word : sacrin the Lord Jehovah W is everlasting strength.” Isaiah xxvi. 4-—Dec. 30. From Kp The North 5 England £50. 19s. 4d.— Dec. 31. From — Vevay, Switzerland, £1. 8s-——From St. Albans 10s., with the following lines: “ For the Orphans under Mr, Miller’s — - charge, a thank-offering to Almighty God for sparing the life of both parents to the age of 70. From a domestic servant.”—Evening of the last day in the year. Received the contents of an Orphan Box £2. 8s. 9d. and 10s.; also that of another £1. 10s. 33d.—Received from Kilmarnock £4. 7s. and from Kirtling £2. There was also, anony- mously, left at my house £3. Received likewise from Bennington 6s., from Plymouth 5s, and from Torquay £1. 1s. Thus the year ended with tokens of the Lord's faithfulness. January 1, 1863. Long before daylight I found in the - letter box of my house £10., with £5. for the Building Fund; also “From the dying year 1862” 30s., with 10s. for myself, anonymously; from an Orphan box £5. After having taken out these sums, I received 10s. and from an Orphan box 4s. 6d. There was further put into the letter box 10s. from Clifton, £1. also 3s. from Cotham, and 18s. 94d. I received too, this day, 71 other donations, of which I can only notice a few. From Clifton £150., with £5. for myself.—F rom the neighbourhood of Uxbridge £12. 10s. “for the support of one Orphan for the present year.”—14s, 2d., with the following letter: ‘“‘ Dear Mr. Miiller—From a widow 14s. 2d. in postage stamps, for : the dear Orphans, a small thank-offering for mercies re- ceived. One penny per pair on each pair of shoes sold since reading your last Report. Ido pray God, abundantly to bless you.”——From Chelsea 8s., being “ The savings of a farthing at a time during the year, from a poor widow.” —Notice the last two donations, and admire, with me, the variety of ways in which the Lord is pleased to provide : means for carrying on this work. And keep in remem- | brance, that every one of the thousands of donations, re- ceived in the course of the year, comes unsolicited, in answer | to daily petitions brought before the Lord, and that thus. AD. 1863.] 295 it has now been forso many years.—Jan. 138. Yesterday I gave notice for the reception of 18 more Orphans, whereby the yearly expenditure will be increased at least £200. To-day the Lord sent me for the support of the Orphans from Devonshire £100., hesides several other donations, in all £123. 19s. 8d. As long as we have room for the re- ception of Orphans, I rejoice in being able to receivethem, ‘ and we receive them as fast as we can, considering that much work is connected with the reception of each child; but I never refrain from admission on account of the increased expenses. Feb. 3. £90. as the legacy of the late Mrs. A. E. A. of Devonport.—Feb. 10. From an aged merchant, as a thank-offering to the Lord, for the many mercies received from Him, £520. This aged merchant was an entire | stranger to me, till he came to the Orphan Houses with his son, (an evangelical clergyman,) to bring me this money. I have repeatedly stated, how day after day and week after week, the expenses were greater than the income, so that, had the Lord not previously remembered us, and sent more than we needed, the income would not have sufficed. He, however, knew all about our need, and acted accord-{ - ingly. The reader will also remember, how, under these circumstances, my mind was kept in peace because I stayed myself on the word of God; and was assured, that He would again send larger sums. As I had expected, so it was, and I give therefure the weekly income of the last 8 weeks previous to February 18, 1863.—From Dec. 25, to Dec. 31, 1862, £957. 5s. Witten Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 7, 1863, £741. 38. 3d—From Jan. 7, to Jan. 14, 1863, £508. 1s. 44d.—From Jan. 14, to Jan. 21, £446. 2s. 94d. —From Jan. 21, to Jan. 28, £1494. 16s. 6d.— From Jan. 28, to Feb, 4, £488. 12s. 7d.—From Feb. 4, to Feb. 11, £1668. 7s, 24d.—From Feb. 11,to Feb. 18, £488. 10s. 62d. Be, then, dear Christian Reader, encouraged by this. If difficulties arise, they will not last for ever; if your faith is greatly tried, it will not be always so; therefure continue to trust in the Lord, and He will help you in His own time and way. Feb. 19. £10. with the following lines: “ The donor was unwell, and it was wished that medical advice should be sought. He asked the Lord, that this might be avoided, if possible, and purposed, if such were the case, to give twice 296 [4.D. 1863. the expense of such advice towards the Orphans’ Home.” — | Feb. 28. Legacy of the Dowager Lady R. £5v. in money, and 4 silver side dishes (valued £50. -10s.). ; April 29. Legacy of the late Mrs. F., Mundesley, £4,, a silver watch, 4 gold seals, 2 gold mourning rings, a wed- ding ring, 2 gold watch keys, an eye glass, gold mounted, and an artificial tooth, set in gold. Received the following letter from one of the Orphans, who had been recently sent out to service, and who had been for nearly four years a believer whilst under our care. ‘‘ Much beloved and honored Sir, Another Orphan, who has known the happiness of being an inmate of one of the dear Orphan Houses, committed to your care, would claim the privilege of writing to thank you for your kind care, while I was there, and for all the comforts and enjoyments which I shared with my com- panions, I would also express my heartfelt gratitude to you for the comfortable situation, in which 1 have been placed, and for the very nice outfit I was provided with. Although now surrounded by mercies, dear Sir, my heart often, perhaps too often, looks back on that dearly loved home. As you already know, it was while there, that it _ pleased God to show me myself a wicked guilty sinner, and : to reveal Jesus to my soul as the sin-atoning Lamb. I hope that I may, with His own aid, show Him forth, | wherever I go; and that I may prove my gratitude to you, beloved Sir, by showing that the spiritual privileges, I H always had under your care, have not been lost upon me. May T also be enabled to act upon the principles always and ever instilled into all who have been and are in the Orphan Houses, and never bring any disgrace upon it. Ipray that you may long be spared as the Orphans’ friend. —— joins me in respectful love to Mrs. Miller, Miss Groves, Miss Miller, Mr. L., Mr. W., and yourself. I remain, much beloved and honoured Sir, your truly grateful Orphan, * * * *,” Do not these letters prove better than anything I — could say, that our labours are abundantly blessed ? Verily they are blessed. The Lord be magnified for it! | We do not merely obtain, in answer to prayer, the num- berless things necessary, with regard to temporal matters ; | but rich spiritual blessings likewise are given in answer to prayer; and I must add for the glory of God, that abun- \ dant spiritual blessings thus rest upon all the varivus A.D. 1863. ] 297 branches of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for |: Home and Abroad. April 30. From a Lady at the Cape of Good Hope £12. —May 19. Eighty suits of clothes for the Orphan boys, made gratuitously, by a large house of business. I have thus referred to a very small portion of the 4139 donations, received towards the support of the 1134 Or- phans, who were under our care during the year from May 26, 1862 to May 26, 1863. ‘The total of the expenses for their support alone, amounted during the year to £11,194. 48. 74d., being £2045. 138. 103d., more than- _ during the previous year, on account of our having had about 200 Orphans more, and, in the year then before me, I expected the expenses for the support of the Orphans to amount to about £2000. more, as we were still in- creasing their number. With regard to this heavy expense before me, I looked to the Living God, and to Him alone, and thus was kept in peace. During the year from May 26, 1863 to May 26, 1864, we had altogether Twelve Hundred and Forty One Orphans under our care, and it is easy to see how great our expenses X were, though we manage every thing on the most econo- mical scale. I refer now to a few donations as specimens of the way in which we were helped. June 25, 1863. 12s. 74d. and 7s. 44d., with this communication: ‘“ You will be gratified to knpw, that the sum of 12s. 74d. has been col- lected by poor E, saving a farthing out of every shilling she has earned by crochet work for the last ten months, and by which she supported herself with her poor crippled fingers ; they are quite bent from chronic rheumatism, from which afflictive cause she has lost the use of her limbs and cannot walk.” Observe in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to help us. We give ourselves to prayer, and Thousairds of Pounds, even as much as £8,100 at once are given to us, unasked for; again, we give onrselves to prayer, and the pence, or the few shillings of the very poor are received also; and these little sums are made up by farthings or half- pence at a time being put aside. We value the one, and we value the other, because both kinds of donations come from our never failing Friend and Helper, the Living God, who for forty years has most manifestly listened to our sup- plications. From Him we have received, simply in an- swer to prayer, more than Six Hundred Thousand Pounds. 03° 298 [A.D. 1863 Many of our former donors, who helped us considerably, have fallen asleep ; but He remains, and will never fail us. See the blessedness, dear Reader, of this position. This happy lot may be yours. You, too, may be above war, famine, mercantile difficulties, and loss of friends. I say you may be above these things, though actually passing through them. If the Living God is your Friend and Helper, then whoever may be taken from you, whatever difficulties you may have to pass through, you will be helped, as assuredly as you really depend upon Him. At the time •of the Irish famine, during the Crimean war, the Lanca shire distress, or any other difficult times, which have occurred during the last thirty years, or when donors were removed, I have gone on as quietly, as peacefully, and as successfully even with regard to means, as if none of these things had existed. And why ? Because I trusted in God, verily trusted in Him, and not in donors nor in circumstances ; therefore, since He, in whom I trusted, was the same, I was above all these things. This true freedom I desire for all my dear fellow believers who do not already enjoy it. July 25. From a Scotch donor £100.—July 30. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. of Streatham, £100.—Though this Christian lady had repeatedly sent me donations for the work, I never saw her..—Aug. 25. From the neighbour hood of Agra, East Indies, £100.—Sep.. 28. Received the payment of a legacy of £50. left by the late Mr. T. P. of Bristol, whom I had not even known by name. In the previous pages, you have seen, in what a variety of ways the Lord has been pleased to supply us. You have seen also from what a variety of places and countries donations came. Behold, also, how effectual and pleasant this way is for obtaining means ; for I have not to encoun ter refusals, in applying for money. Nor does it involve the heavy expenses, usually attendant on the collection of contributions ; all I do is to make known the work by means of the Reports, which are sold for the benefit of the Orphans, and have generally brought in two-thirds or three fourths of their cost. But, perhaps you say, Yes, it is just these Reports ; there is nothing at all remarkable in the matter. Our re ply is : We do not pretend to miracles. We have no desire that the work, in which we are engaged, should be A.D. 1863.] 299 considered an extraordinary, or even a remarkable one. We. are truly sorry that many persons, inconsiderately, look upon itas almost miraculous. The principles are as old as the Holy Scriptures. But they are forgotten by many ; are not held in living faith by others; and by some they are not known at all; nay, they are denied to be Scriptural by not a few, and are considered wild and fanatical. My success is ascribed to being a foreigner, by birth, or to the novelty of the thing, or to some secret treasure to which I have access; but when all will not account for the progress . of the work, it is said, the Reports produce it all. My- reply is, that being a foreigner, by birth, would be much more likely to hinder my being intrusted with large sums, than to induce donors to give; and as to novelty procuring the money, the time is long gone by for novelty, for the Institution has now been forty years in existence. As to the secret treasure that I have access to, there is more in this supposition than those, who say 80, are aware of ; for surely teas treasury is inexhaustible, and I have drawn out of it, simply by prayer and faith, more than Six Hundred , Lhousand Pounds, But now as to the last statement, con- cerning the Reports. My reply is: There is nothing unusual in writing Reports. This is done by public Institutions generally ; but the constant complaint is, that Reports are not read. Our Reports are not extraordinary, as to power of language, or striking appeals. They are simple state- ments of facts. They are sent to donors, or to any individuals who wish to purchase them. If they pro- duce results, which Reports generally do not, I can only ascribe it to the Lord. I do not mean to say, that God does not use the Reports as instruments in procuring means. They are written, in order that I may give an account of my stewardship, and bring before the reader the operations of the Institution ; }- but particularly, in order that, by these printed accounts, the chief end of this Institution may be answered, which is, to raise a public testimony to an unbelieving world, that, in these last days, God is still the Living God, listening to the prayers of His children, and helping those who put their trust in Him; and in order that believers may es- , pecially be encouraged to trust in Him for everything, and be stirred up to deal in greater simplicity with God re- specting their own particular position and circumstanees ; 300 [a.D. 1863. in short, that the children of God may be brought to the practical use of the Holy Scriptures, as His Word. But while these are the primary reasons for publishing these Reports, we doubt not that the Lord has again and again used them as instruments in leading persons to help us. Noy. 11, 1863. From Uxbridge, £50.—Nov. 12. From Jamaica, £5.—Nov. 25. From Melbourne, Australia, £10. Nov. 27. £20. as a “ thank-offering from a friend in Himalaya.” A remarkable donation, being the gift of a Missionary —From Oporto, £1. 5s. Dec. 1. From Kincardineshire 10s., with 10s. for my- self. The Christian donor, who began with giving away at the rate of 10 per cent. of his earnings, writes: ‘“ Per- haps you will be glad to hear that I gave away 35 per cent, of my earnings last year. Thanks be to God for His grace, and the pleasure of giving, and laying up in heaven a store for the time to come.”—Dec. 11. From Herts, £11., with the following letter: “ My dear Chris- tian Brother, I herewith send you a cheque for Eleven Pounds, as a thank-offering to my Heavenly Father for deliverance from a great temporal trouble; for truly, in- committing my way unto the Lord, He has graciously directed my path. I am, in all Christian love, yours in the Lord, * * * *,.” Notice again, the variety of means which it pleases God to use in order to supply me with the means. Here is one of His children in Hertfordshire in trial, in which he be- - takes himself to the Lord, and the deliverance out of this ‘ trial God is pleased to use in leading His child to send this £11. towards the support of the 1150 Orphans then under my care. Could the Christian Reader keep in mind that each single donation comes to us as a manifestation that God remembers this work, and in answer to our daily prayers sends us this help; with what deep interest would He view the recital of each fresh donation. It has often happened, that twenty or even thirty donations have been received in a day, the total of which, however, was only £12. or £15., while the outgoings were £100., £200., or even £500 a day and more. Now what means do we use, -; under such circumstances, to keep the vessel from sinking y entirely ? None other than we always use. We pray and { believe; we believe and pray. More prayer, more patience, ( more exercise of faith, always, in the end, brings the needed A.D. 1863.] 301 help. Thus we have gone on for 40 years, and, by God's help, we purpose to go on thus to the end ; for I have joyfully dedicated my life to this way of carrying on the work of God ; and of having thus my own temporal necessities, and those of my family provided for, if by any means I may be helpful in leading my fellow Christians increasingly to trust in God for every thing. Dec. 18.—Anonymously, a box, containing 13s. 11d. English currency, 11 silver Bank Tokens, 89 English silver coins, 104 other silver coins, 59 copper coins, 8 medals, a silver cross, 2 gold brooches, a large silver brooch, a pair of gold earrings, an amber necklace, a silver mounted shell, a gold ring, a silver shaving dish, a little ivory box, gold mounted, 1 1 buttons, gold mounted, several stones for seals, and some elephants' teeth, cut for boxes and knife handles. This valuable donation, though sent anony mously, was evidently from a pious Duchess, as the papers with her name, in which the articles were wrapped up, and a letter to her containing the cut elephants' teeth, &c. plainly indicated. This worthy Duchess, long an ornament to her Christian profession, has since fallen asleep. Will she re gret having sent this collection of silver coins and other articles ? Surely not.—Dec. 24, Evening. The total in come to-day had been £23. for all the various objects ; but the expenses had been £67. 15s. 3d. Late in the evening I went home, trusting in God, and assured that though about three times as much had been expended as received, (as often of late had been the case), He could easily supply the deficiency. I found at home a half- sovereign for the Orphans from Lockerbie, a cheque for £10. from a Bristol donor for the support of the Orphans, with a sovereign to purchase toys for the little Orphans ; and £750. from a mercantile gentleman, for the support of the Orphans. See how abundantly God helped me. Let such an instance comfort the tried reader, and let it lead him to look to God in believing and expecting prayer. —Dec. 26. From a Scotch gentleman a valuable donation of 500 stones of oatmeal.—I just mention here, that we consume now above Seven Thousand Stones of Oatmeal yearly.—Dec. 31, 1863. From Clapham Common, from several servants, £'2. 4s.—Anonymously two £5. Notes, with these words : " Please to accept the enclosed, each note as a Thank-offering ; one for the safe deliverance from . 302 [A.D. 1864. the pains and perils of child-birth, the other for a harvest offering."—From Clifton, £150., with £5. for myself.— From Sunderland £l. 15s. 6d., being "one penny per pair oil each pair of shoes sold since you last heard from me."—From Milcheth near Royston £9. 0s. 6d. from 39 donors.—Anonymously from J. C. £1., " as a small thank- offering for the restoration from a severe illness of our eldest boy." Many other donations came in on this day, which have not been mentioned. Thus closed the last day of the year ; and as the old year ended, so the new year again began with mercies. Jan. 1, 1864. Early in the morning I found in the letter box at my house 3 letters. The first contained £15. for the Orphans, £5. for Missions, £2. 10s. for Mr. 0., and £2. 10s. for myself.—The second was an anonymous packet, containing £2. 2s. The third contained 10s. Both the latter amounts were for the Orphans. There came in besides, on the first of Jan., 76 other donations.— Jan. 5. From a poor widow 10s. 8d., " being one penny for each garmentmade by her."—Jan. 6. From Devonshire £ 100 —Jan. 8. From Cambridge £100.— OnNov. 26, 1863, our balance in hand, for the support of the Orphans, had been reduced to Eleven Hundred and Two Pounds below what it had been on that day six months. Afterwards it de creased still more; for on Dec. 23, 1863, it was £1171. less, than on May 26th. This did not arise from the fact, that we had received little ; for during no period had the income been better, in the same space of time ; but simply, because our expenses had been greater than ever during the first seven months of this period, on account of the greater number of Orphans under our care. Under these circumstances my comfort was, that God was well ac quainted with our expenses, and that He could again easily increase our balance. And thus it has been ; for during the last 16 days He has so bountifully sent in the supplies, that not only the decrease of £1171. has been made up, but we have to-day actually £269. more than we had on May 26, 1863, though we have expended since then £6895. 12s. 2d. for the support of the Orphans. I refer to this for the profit of my fellow-believers, that they may not look at things after the otitward appearance in times of darkness, but trust in God.—Jan. 11. From London £4., " which would have been paid to a Hail Storm A.D. 1864] 303 . Insurance Company ; but faith devotes it to your establish- ment.”—Jan. 12, £27. 7s. Od. ‘From the believers at the Sand Area Meeting Room, Kendal, as a thank-offer- ing for the mercies received during the past year.” —Feb. 3. £500. as the legacy of the late Miss L., of Frome. I never had seen the testatrix, nor did I know her by name; but God influenced her mind, in answer to our daily prayers, to help us thus.—Feb. 9. Legacy of the late Miss E. C. of East Tisbury, £25. 8s. 11d.—Feb. 13. To- day I had information concerning the death of Frederick Bunn, an apprenticé, who was sent out on May 11, 1860. The Christian master, who has still three of our boys. in his house, writes of this fourth one: “ He died this morning (Feb. 12th, 1864), very, very happy, like a person going to sleep. I feel it a pleasure to tell that he was a boy of prayer.* * * * Mr. G., Mr. M., and myself met this morning, to thank the Lord for taking him to Himself, and ; to pray for a blessing to attend your labours of love, &e.” —In referring to the book in which the entries are made of the Orphans who leave the Institution, I find this statement: ‘“ Frederick Bunn, having been eight years under our care, was, on May 11, 1860, apprenticed to Mr. G. He has been for several months a believer and walked consistently.” This dear boy, I remember, was among the many who, in the winter of 1859 to 1860, were suddenly brought to the Lord. The dear youth held on his way, being kept by the power of God. Apr. 16. Payment of the legacy of £225., left by the late Mr. R. T. of Bristol, an entire stranger to me.— Apr. 21. £20. as the first month’s pay of the master of a new ship.”—Apr. 22. From an unknown donor at Tor- quay, ‘‘ who, is more anxious to lay up treasure in heaven, than on earth,” £62.—Apr. 25. From one of the Orphans, formerly under our care but now in service, £15, 8s. 9d. She had come unexpectedly into the possession of this money, and felt it her duty to send it, three of her sisters and a brother being still under our care.—April 28. Pay- ment of the legacy of £100., left by the late Mr. J. D. of Felton. I have thus referred to a very few out of the 5,368 different items entered in the receipt book for the support of the Or- phans, received between May 26, 1863, and May 26, 1864. During the year from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, 304 [a.D. 1864 we had Twelve Hundred and Seventy-four Orphans under our care. That not a little is required to support such a family, with the large staff of matrons, teachers, nurses, etc., every one can easily see. I will now bring before the reader a very few of the instances, in which it pleased God, in His faithful love, to supply us with the needed means, for these vast expenses. July 4, 1864. Legacy of the late Mrs. S. P., £44. 10s. July 16. £50. legacy, left by the late Miss E. H.— Aug. 9. From a friend in India, £100—Aug. 25. Received £800. as part of the legacy of the late Mr. T. D. The testator was pesonally unknown to me. During no former year had so much come in by legacies as during this year, and in almost every case from testators whom I had not known, to make the hand of God more manifest. I say this, for I desire to see His hand, and to honour Him in connexion with every legacy and donation which comes in for the work. The expenses of the Institution are now so great, that during this year (from May 26, 1864 to May 26, 1865), Twenty Five Thousand Three Hundred and Seventy Right Pounds were paid out, The outgoings of the Tn- stitution are to be kept before the reader as well as the income, to enable him to see how we need continually to have our eye fixed upon the Lord.—Sep. 19. From a. Christian Physician 7s. 6d., by sale of ferns, kindly reared and sold by him for the benefit of the Orphans. Many donations of this kind, amounting to many pounds during the year, were received through the kindness of this dear Christian friend. . ~ Oct. 13. £101. 178. 9d. as a further payment of the legacy of the late Mr. T. D.—Oct. 18. Anonymously 2s. 6d., with these words : ‘Toll House, Pack Horse Lane, Onions sold.” Those stewards, whom God has set over much, may give me their Hundreds and Thousands of Pounds; I have had donations of £2000., £3000., £4000., £5000., £7000., and £8,100. at once; but here is a donor, whom I do not know (but God knows him, and temembers his donation!) who sells some onions, and is thus able to give me 2s. 6d. towards the support of the Twelve Hundred and Seventy Four Orphans, who were _ during the year from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, under our care. I love to think of my Heavenly Father, | who moved this heart too, and, it may be, prospered those A.D. 1864.] 305 onions, by the sale of which this 2s. fid. should comu to the Orphans.—Oct. 19. From a, Cheltenham donor £10. —This dear Christian gentleman, who sent me generally every year such a donation, but during this past year about three times as much as usual, is gone to his rest. He very likely felt, that he might not live long, and sent about three times as much as in former years, to make use of his stewardship, while it was continued to him.— From Chester, 2 gold watches and 2 gold rings.—Oct. 22. £5. " From the sale of the Golden Pot of Manna."— £68. 3s. 4d. as a legacy of the late Mrs. J. C., late of Canada.—Oct. 25. £20., left as a legacy by the late Miss K. P. Nov. 10. A Half Sovereign, sent by the widow of an officer, whose husband fell in the Crimean War. This Half Sovereign was found in his purse, and had been hitherto treasured up by the lady, who now thought, it would be better spent for the Lord's work. — Nov. 11. A gold watch and gold watch key from Cumberland, from an aged Christian widow, as a " Thank-offering to the Lord for all His benefit to her, a poor widow, whose wants have been provided for in her declining years."— Nov. 15. One barrel of currants and five boxes of raisins, for the Christmas puddings for the Orphans. —Nov. 16. From a poor servant of the Lord Jesus, labouring in the Gospel in Honduras, who year by year, for several years, had sent me £1., the following letter was received, with a large Mexican gold coin, worth 16 Dollars: Dear Bro ther Miiller, I have just received from the hand of the Lord this donation, which I forward to you. I have been all this year asking the Lord to give me means, saying in childlike simplicity ' Father, I have nothing this year to send to Brother Miiller.' I felt confident, that the Lord would give in His own time. I would have sent it in July, but my prayer-hearing Father in heaven thought it otherwise ; He gives in September, instead of July, and gives me more than I asked for ; He raises up another friend, who begs me to forward his donation. I send six teen dollars, five for myself and eleven for him."—Nov. 1 8. £1. as "The proceeds of an apple-tree, devoted to the Orphans."—Nov. 24. £t. from Kastrup near Copen hagen.—" From the sale of the Golden Pot of Manna" £3. 4s. 2d. 306 [A.D. 1865. Dec. 2. From a Lady in London, an entire stranger to me, £100. and 900 francs.—Dec. 13. £19. 19s. as the legacy of the late Mrs. M. A. of Worcester.—Dec. 21. From a mercantile gentleman £500.—From Sydney £10. — £19. 19s. as the legacy of the late'Mrs. H. B. W.—Deo, 24. £6. 12s. 8d. from India, from a Private of the 52nd Regt. Foot.—Dec. 26. £50. from London " From two Friends." —£50. from the North of England.— Dec. 29. Anony mously in postages from " A poor errand-boy at Weston- super-Mare " 6s.—Dec. 30. From the neighbourhood of London £90., with £10. for myself.—Dec. 31. From Clifton £150 , with £5. for myself. Jan. 1, 1865. As the year closed with mercies, the new year commenced again with similar blessings. Early in the morning I found in the letter box at my house a letter, containing £40., of which the donor kindly in tended £1. for the Bible and Tract Fund, £33. 3s. for the support of three Orphans for one year, 17s. for toys for the little ones, £2. 10s. for Mr. C., and £2. 10s. for my self. In the course of the day, 44 more donations came in.—Jan. 9. From a poor Christian man, in one of the Bristol Alms Houses, who has entered his 90th year, £l. —Jan. 24. The following letter was received from one of the boys who had been for some time a believer, before he left us, and who was recently apprenticed. " Dear and Honoured Sir, I feel it a pleasure to be able to thank you for your kindness to me while under your care ; for I went to the Orphan House when a little boy, and was brought to know the Lord, while I was there, and I trust He will be with me now. I also thank you for placing me in such a position, so that I shall be able to earn my living. I hope to be able to please my master by doing my duty, when he is away, as if he were looking at me, as the Apostle Paul says ' Not with eye service, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.' I beg, dear Sir, you will accept my kind love, and please to remember me to Mr. L. and my dear masters. I remain, dear Sir, Your affectionate Orphan * * * *."—Jan. 26. £42. 12s. 5d., being a legacy of 500 dollars left by the widow of the late Admiral R. of Philadelphia, U.S.—From a donor in one of the Midland Counties £100. Feb. 4. From London 6s., with the following letter : " llespected and dear Sir, The enclosed 6s. worth of A.D. 1865.] 307 stamps is a disputed debt of three years' standing, which the party with oaths declared should never be paid, even if called for a thousand times.—My husband resolved, thut it should be for the Orphans, if obtained, and tried again for the money, which was paid, the person saying, we were welcome.—The hearts of all are in His hands, and He turneth them, when he pleasetb. Your well-wisher, * * * *." —Feb. 10. £50. from Ireland as " A thank-offering." — From a poor servant of the Lord Jesus £5. 12s., with the following letter: " Beloved brother, I have the joy and privilege of sending by same post an order for £5. 12s. towards the support of the Orphans under your care, being the tenth part of the money our loving Father has sent us, in answer to prayer, during the last six months. With much Christian love, ever yours in our coming Lord * * * *.»—Feb. 12. From Liverpool £2. 10s, with the following letter : " Dear Christian Brother, God has so prospered me since I resolved to send you a portion of all that I receive for teaching, that I am now able to enclose £2. 10s. Yours very truly * * * *."— Feb. 16. From India £95. 14s. 9d., being "A freewill offering from R. C. F." — March 2. From Ireland £100.—March 4. Anonymously, a gold chain, a gold bracelet, a gold ring, a gold thimble, a gold brooch, 3 gold studs, a silver clasp and a silver brooch.—From Kent £100. April 10. £35. 15s. as a further part of the legacy of the late Mr. T. D.—I have thus referred to a few out of the thousands of donations, received towards the support of the 1,274 Orphans, whom we had under our care, from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865 ; and I will now refer to a very few received the following year (from May 26, 1865 to May 26, 1866) when the number of Orphans, under our care, was 1,273. June 2, 1865. £50. as the legacy of the late Miss B. of Highfield.—June 16. Received £32. 14s 2d. as the legacy of the late Miss S. M. L. of Barkway.—June 26. Received is. with the following interesting letter : " Dear Sir, I beg to enclose 5s. in stamps, as a trifle towards the great work you are carrying on in dependence upon the Lord, in which I have long felt a deep interest, and frequently I have had a strong desire to send you some little aid. About ten years ago I sent you through a friend an old five shilling piece, which 308 . [4.D. 1866. IT had treasured from the time I was a little child, under the childish impression, that I should get a large amount for it at some period. I was not altogether disappointed, for shortly after I parted with my treasured coin, a dear relative assisted us liberally in the education of two of our dear children. I have since viewed it as a large amount of interest from the Lord upon it.—Within the last few years our temporal affairs have become much em- barrassed, and my faith, which is weak, has been much tried. I have been in the habit of laying aside a little sum for the Lord’s cause from the produce of @ few acres of land, but as our difficulties rather increased, I began to fear I was doing wrong, and reduced the money to half the usual sum. I did not venture to consult any earthly friend, but laid the matter before the Lord, and earnestly sought His guidance. I confessed my own ignorance and asked Him to show me what He would have me do; and the same night the portion ‘ Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days,’ was much on my mind in my dreams, and I awoke in the morning much impressed with the same words. It seemed as if the Lord told me, to go on and trust in Him. So I increased the small savings for His cause. About this time I forwarded you 10s., and I feel it but just to tell you, that in less than two months we received a-most unexpected present of . £50.; at the time we greatly needed such help. I think , this information will not be unacceptable to you.” Ete. July 29, £10. as the legacy of Mr. R. L.—Aug. 7. Legacy of the late Miss M. J. P. of Boston, U. 8. A. 100 Dollars.—Oct. 23. “£10. for ferns.” A Christian physician in Scotland has for the last three years culti- vated ferns for the benefit of the Orphans on Ashley Down, which he sells in various parts of Scotland and England, and the money obtained for them he sends for the benefit of the Orphans. I refer to this as one of the many hun- dred different ways, in which the Lord is pleased to supply us with means.—Dec. 20, £249. 14s. 10d. as payment of the legacy of the late Mrs. J. de G.—Dec. 29. From a commercial gentleman £200.—From India £26. for the support of two Orphans for one year.’ Jan. 1, 1866. The Lord began the New Year with bless- ings, as His manner is; and, with regard to pecuniary supplies, He was pleased to send in bountifully. Early A.D. 1866.] 309 in the morning, 1 found in the letter-box at my house £40., of which £33. was intended by the kind donor for the support of three Orphans for one year, 10s. for some toys for the youngest Orphans, £1. 10s. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, £2. 10s. for Mr. C., and £2. 10s. for myself—In the course of the day came in above 80 donations for the support of the Or phans. I only refer to the following: — From Clifton £150., with £5. for myself. —Jan. 10. From Believers meeting in the Sand Area Meeting Room, Kcndal, £26. 17s. 6d.—Jan 12. £10., as the legacy of the late Miss M. E. W., of Bath—Jan. 16. " From M. E." a diamond ring, a pair of gold spectacles, and a set of artificial teeth, set in gold.—Jan. 19. From a Christian lady, a widow, £25., with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller. With a heart overflowing with love and gratitude to my heavenly Father for His providential care over me and mine—more especially since I became a widow, and my dear children fatherless—and in humble testimony to the faithfulness and truth of His blessed Word, in which He has caused me to put my trust, I now send a cheque for Twenty-Five Pounds for the support and maintenance of two Orphans for one year ; and may the Lord be pleased to accept this offering, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my blessed Lord and Saviour !—' Jehovah-Jireh ' has been my motto and anchor for more thaiTseventeen "years",' and I am not disappointed of my hope. ' He who putteth his trust in the Lord shall not be destitute.' I hope I need not assure you, that you and the great work in your hands are constantly in my heart and mind, and are not forgotten at a throne of grace. Accept my Christian love, and believe me, yours affectionately in the Lord,* * * *." Apr. 3. This day commenced with the receipt of only £26. A large sum to many, but a small sum to us, as our outgoings are so great. However, I thanked the Lord for this, and asked Him for more ; and my hope was in Him, that He would send us more. Accordingly about 11 o'clock I received £10., and had thus £36. I thanked God for this further donation and asked for more ; about 2 o'clock £14. more came in, and I had £50. in all. After having thanked the Lord again for this, I received about 3 o'clock £20. more, which increased the sum to £70. I further thanked the Lord, and asked for fresh sup 310 [A.D. 1866. plies, when shortly after I received £6., and had then £76. in all. Yet again I thanked the Lord, and asked for more, when another £5. was left at my house, from H. B. of Clifton, and I had £81. I again thanked the Lord for this £5., and about 7 o’clock in the evening received £16. more, when I had altogether £97. Between 7 and 8 o'clock, after having once more thanked the Lord for the last amount, I said to my dear wife, that He even then could send us more, than we had had all the day. About 8 o’clock a pen-box arrived, well packed and sealed. When I had opened it, I found ‘that it contained an anonymous donation from Clifton, of £100. in Bank Notes, with the words, “£100. for the New Orphan House. Matth. vi. 3.” Thus the day, which began with £26., ended with about £200.—Apr. 14. Received a bill for £100. anonymously from India, with the following statement: ‘For the Orphans. In humble acknowledg- ; ment of special mercies vouchsafed by Almighty God to the donor, five other officers, severa] servants and camp- followers, at Mhotoor, in Central India, in April 1865.”— Apr. 21. Legacy of the late J. T. Esq., of Exeter, £100. I have thus given again some specimens of the way it pleased the Lord to supply us with means for the support of the many hundreds of Orphans, under our care between May 26, 1865 and May 26, 1866, and I will now refer to a few donations received for the support of the Thirteen Hundred and Four Orphans, who were under our care between May 26, 1866 and May 26, 1867. May 31, 1866. £1. from Havana. The first donation we ever had from thence. July 7. £1,000. with the following communication from the donor: “ Dear Sir, I have enclosed a cheque for Thousand Pounds for the benefit of the Orphans. It was what I intended leaving them by will, but now, having money, I prefer giving it in my lifetime.’ This is one of the many ways, in which the Lord was pleased to carry me through the year with ease, as far as it regarded pecu- niary demands, though the price of provisions was so much greater than for a number of years before; and though, in many other respects, our expenses were greater than they had been during any previous year.—July 12. £90.as the legacy of the late Miss A. W.—July 14. From a baronet £7., “ Insteadof insuring against hailstorms.”— A.D. 1866.] 311 July 21. £1. from York, with the following letter: “‘ Dear Sir, I hereby enclose a Post Office Order for one Sovereign for the Orphans, being an acknowledgment of the hand of the Lord even in reverses. ‘ The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.’ Iam, Dear Sir, yours truly * * * *.”—July 27. £19. 19s. as the legacy of the late Miss L. 8. Aug. 2. £50. from a baronet “ As a thank-offering for the preservation of his animals from the cattle plague.”— £511. 9s. 6d. as the legacy of the late Mrs. E. M.—From ° Ireland £200.—From a Prussian Gentleman £10.— Aug. 16. From Honduras £1. and £1. Oct. 6. Received 5s. 8d. with the following letter: “Sir, Having read your Report last year, my husband and myself felt much interested, and had a great desire to do something for God, for His great mercies in raising me up, as it were, from death’s door. My husband (being Post-Office messenger) is allowed twopence on a pound for ‘ the sale of stamps; so we determined to give the profit for one year (5s. 8d.) for the Orphans; and may the blessing of God rest upon our humble endeavours to do good. Trusting you may long be spared to be the Or- phan’s friend, we remain humbly yours * * * *.” This letter furnishes another illustration how even the poor, if it is in their heart to assist in the work of God, by His blessing have the means of doing so. The world has this | proverb, “ Where there is a will there is a way:” how “ars, much more is this true, in the best sense of the word, with regard to the children of God, who, through union with the Lord Jesus, have power with God. Only let us each,in our measure, make good use of this power. Our adorable Lord Jesus said to his poor disciples, who were themselves supported by the voluntary contributions of the Godly Israelites: ‘ Ye have the poor with you always, and when- Y, soever ye will To imay dothem good” Mark iv. 7. How have Wo to understand this, if wot in this way : Though you are poor yourselves, yet, because, as the children of God, you have power with God, and may obtain blessings ' from Him, not only for yourselves, but for others, you are able to help the poor. Have we acted on this? Have we } . indeed used the power, which, as His children, we have} with God? If not, let us now arise, beloved fellow- : believers, and seek to do so for the time to come.—From - 312 [A.D. 1866. Worcestershire £50.—Got. 23. From Scotland £60. for the support of five Orphans for one year. —" From W. C." £30.—From South Africa £3.—From Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, £5.— Oct 24. From Ireland £600. The kind donor of this sum had many times, during the last 15 or 20 years, given £5. or £10 at a time ; and now he is led by God, who sees the greatness of our expenses, and the very heavy increase of them, through the high price of provisions, the city taxes being put on, etc., to send us so much at once. Thus we have invariably found, in answer to our prayers, that, as our necessities increase, so also the help, which the Lord gives, does not fail. — " From a member of the Society of Friends," £100. Nov. 6. Received £10. with the following letter: " Dear and Honoured Sir, As an acknowledgment of the Divine goodness in prolonging my life, until my children are all grown up, I send the first half of a £10. Bank of England Note, and shall be obliged by your appropriating the same to the benefit of your Orphanage * * * *."—Received with a Paisley shawl the following interesting letter : " My Dear Sir, I have forwarded you, by my wife's request and for the benefit of the Orphans, a Paisley shawl, value £4. 10s. It is now about 10 years since I first adopted the principle of a " Proportionate giving," mainly through the effect of a visit to your Orphan Houses, and the sub sequent reading of your Reports. Prior to this I used to wonder, with every sovereign I gave, whether I was not doing more than was prudent, and the result was, I had little pleasure in giving. Now, however, having been greatly prospered in business, I find myself able to give fourfold what I did, and can understand better what is meant by the ' blessedness of giving.' Applications for help have long since ceased to produce irritation of feeling in me ; for I know I am only called upon to dispense a fund which is not my own ; and when, after a careful ap portioning of claims, that fund is expended, I have derived much comfort from the certainty that the adoption of the principle of ' proportionate giving ' has enabled me on the one hand to ' guide my affairs with discretion,' and on the other, to refrain from ' robbing God.' With earnest prayer, that the blessing of the Living God may continue to rest on your labours, I am, my dear Sir, yours in Jesus * * * *."—Nov. 8. From a London gentleman A.D. 1867. | 313 £105. “To fill the empty meal barrels.” They were not quite empty, though getting low; and as the oatmeal this year is much dearer than for several years past, it was indeed kind of the Lord to send me this donation towards the expense of the 5,000 stones of oatmeal, which we use in the course of this year.—From Brighton, a gold watch, a setof opal studs set in diamonds, with gold pin attached, 2 pairs of links, 3 sets of studs, and 1 breast pin of aluminum and turquoise.—Nov. 15. £25. as a legacy of the late Mrs. E. C.—There had been £50. left as a legacy, which was intended for the New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, as is plain beyond a doubt, by the statement of an intimate friend of the testatrix ; but, because the will was not clearly expressed, we obtained only half of the amount. Such cases have several times occurred during the last 30 years. On this account I again state that a proper legal form for leaving legacies to this Institution has been drawn up by a very experienced practitioner, which is printed at the end of the Reports. There is no prospect of obtaining legacies, except the will be drawn up. properly.— Nov. 80. This morniug we had only received for the benefit of the Orphans £10. 16s. 6d., and for the Building Fund £19. 2s. 6d. We gave thanks to the Lord for this, and asked for more. In the afternoon came in further £6. 13s. 8d. In the evening, when my dear wife and I were giving thanks for this, came in, while we were in prayer, £5. 5s. We again gave thanks for this, when presently, while we were yet in prayer, came in £2. 1s. 9d., and 7s. 6d. We further praised the Lord for this, and told Him in prayer, that even this very evening He could send us more than He had done all the day, when a few minutes after there was a knock at the door, and a letter containing £300. was handed in, which a gentleman had just sent. In prayer we had especially spoken to the Lord about the high price of provisions, etc., and asked Him for large supplies on that account. There were also received from London, 2 gold watches, a silver watch, a pair of gold spectacles and a small time- piece. Dec. 21. £180. as the legacy of the late Mrs. M. F. Jan. 1, 1867. Early in the morning I found in the letter-box at my house, £5., with £1. for myself.—Re- ‘ P 314 [A.D. 1867. ceived also during the day £150. from Clifton, with £5; for myself, and many other donations. Feb. 20. This morning I received from Kent £300., with the following commnnication : " Dear Sir, Permit a stranger to trouble you with the enclosed for the benefit of yourself or your Orphans, as you may most require. Having the charge of Orphans myself, I can fully sympa thize with you in the awful responsibility and anxiety. Your efforts have hitherto been most wonderfully blessed. May the same blessing still attend them, and may the- enclosed arrive at some moment when your heart needs cheering. Etc." 1, In connexion with the last sentence I now mention for the information of the reader, and also for the information of the kind donor, that the expenses of the previous week had been for the support of the Orphans alone, from Feb. 12 to Feb. 19, about £700., and the income had been only about £120. 2, The whole of this sum was taken for the support of the Orphans. 3, The kind donor was not only a stranger to me, but up to this day I know not her name ; though I was put iu the way of being able to acknowledge the receipt of the donation. Thus the Lord is pleased to give me con tinually fresh proofs, not only of His power, but also of His willingness to help me.—Feb. 26. From a Christian aged widow, 5s., as " First money received in the Alms Houses." —Received also £10., with the following letter: " Dear Sir, Enclosed is £10., which please to appropriate for the reception of Orphans, as a thank-offering for the exceed ing goodness of our gracious God to me and my fatherless children during upwards of 24 years of widowhood. It is the amount of a legacy left me by a departed friend, also of small means. I had put it by as a reserve for extra need, as my income is but £20. per annum ; but determining, if I could save it, to leave it at my decease to the Orphans. Having had, however, repeated proofs, not only of the Lord's power, but tenderness in providing, I feel constrained to send it at once, as feeling it scarcely to be my own under the circumstances. Begging your prayers, that the Lord may draw me and mine very near to Himself, believe me, truly Yours, * * * *."—Feb. 28. Received £6., with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I enclose £6. For various reasons my money has not been so rife, as I have seen it. This came to me in this A.D. 1867.] 315 way. A gentleman owed me this sum for a considerable time, and there seemed little likelihood that I should get payment, as he was in difficulties. Without letting any ~ one know, I resolved, if I got it, to give it to the Orphans. It came in two days: so, what I could not get for’ several years for myself, came at once when dedicated to the Lord’s work. With kindest regards, very sincerely yours, oe 8 March 2. From New Zealand £6. 8s. 9d., with the fol- lowing letter: “ Dear Mr. Miiller, we have great pleasure in forwarding you the proceeds of one shilling from every account received during the past year, which amounts to . £3. 198.; also 7s. 3d. from our little girl, part of her pocket-money, and part from the sale of eggs from a hen, which she has set apart for the Orphans, etc.” There were two other donations of £1. each. See, esteemed Reader, how easy it is for God to help us, and what numberless ways He has to provide us with means, if we really trust in Him, and if our work is really His work! Here are entire strangers, in New Zealand, led to help me, by put- ting aside 1s. out of every account paid to them; and there is their little girl, giving a hen for the benefit of the Orphans, and selling her eggs, besides giving part of her pocket-money; and there are two other strangers, each sending £1. What, then, have we to be careful about? Not about money; but that 1, The work in which we are engaged, of whatever kind it be, is truly the Lord’s work, is verily tending to His honour and glory. 2, That we are the persons to be engaged in this work. And 3, That we trust in God for means to carry it on, so that we are led to the Lord in prayer for means, and that we continue to look to Him for means, really have confidence as to His ability and willingness to help us. If these various points are found in us, coupled with a true aim after god- liness in our deportment, the help of God is certain — March 4. Received 2s. 6d. with the following interesting letter, giving another proof how the poorer classes may help on the Lord’s work, if the love of Christ constrains them so todo. ‘Dear Sir, I and my dear wife have for some time been very anxious to send you something for the Orphans, but, owing to a long and severe affliction, have been hitherto unable to do what we have so long and ardently wished. I am only a working carpenter, and P2 316 [4.D. 1867. had just completed in my overtime a washing machine ; and while my good wife and I were wondering how we could consecrate something of our little substance to His service, a gentleman and lady called at our house and pur- chased the machine. We acknowledge the hand of the Lord in this, and we promised then, that out of the price of every washing machine we sold in future (the price being only 28s.), half a crown should go to the Orphans on Ashley Down. I enclose you the first fruits, 2s. 6d., praying that God may bless you in your work of faith and labour of love. Our names we withhold, but trust they are written, with your own, in the Lamb's Book of Life.” —March 6. £1. 4s. “ From a poor dressmaker, the first earnings of a sewing machine, with which she had been presented.”—March 18. From Kent £100.—March 28. £3. with the following letter from London: “ Beloved Brother, I have this day forwarded a Post Office Order for Three Pounds, which you will please to apply to the use of the Orphans. I would just mention, that this is part of a sum put by as expenses for cost of a yard dog. Instead of keeping a dog, I purposed to apply the money for the Lord’s work, and I find my house is well guarded. I have never lost an article, although my premises are so situated that they might easily be entered at night, thus showing how the Lord watches over those who trust Him. I pray the Lord may still prosper you in your work of faith and labour of love. Yours in Jesus, * * * *,”— March 25, £21. 10s. as contents of Orphan Boxes, from Woolpit—Anonymously left at my house, six guinea pieces, with the following words: “ These old guineas have been hoarded too long; I now send them on a mission to feed the Orphans.”—-£90. as the legacy of the late R. B. Esq. April 2. Legacy of A. R., £20,—April 11. The follow- ing letter, with £2. 11s., was sent by one of the Orphans, who, after having been fourteen years under our care, was on June 26, 1856, sent to service: “ Dear Mr. Miiller, I have once more the privilege and great: pleasure allowed to me, of sending my mite to help forward the work in your hands, to which J owe so much. I enclose on order for £2. 11s. One pound is my own thank-offering, and £1. 11s. is the proceeds of a money box that I keep upon the kitchen table. There have becn upwards of forty A.D. 1867.] 317 different donors, many of whom had not heard of your noble Institution before; but they have all appeared pleased to contribute to it, and to desire its success. I hope yourself and all connected with the work are well and prosperous, and I am thankful still to call myself, Your grateful Orphan, * * * *." " P.S. Every day furnishes me with increased gratitude and praise to Him who has called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. My cup runneth over and I feel daily the force of the word : ' The half was not told me.' "—April 13. From Kent £100., with £10. for myself.—From St. Leonard's-on- tiea, 3 gold shirt studs, set with diamonds.—April 20. From Tasmania £1. 4s. and 16s.—April 22. £5. as " A thank-offering from J. T. C. and A. K. C. for the merci ful preservation of a child through a surgical operation." —April 23. From 2 Christian Orphans, formerly under our care, and now united in marriage, 5s. with the follow ing letter : " Most beloved Sir, Will you please to accept this mite for the Orphans, as a thank-offering to the Lord, for having had every need supplied during the winter, when so many were suffering for want of work and other causes ; and I, with my dear wife, desire to thank you again for the many blessings which we enjoy, which have flowed to us through the instruction we received while under your care. We remain, dear Sir, Your grateful Orphans * * * *." May 15. Five shillings with the following instructive letter from the donor : " Dear Sir, Please accept these few stamps as a small trifle to assist you in the great work in which you are engaged, and appropriate them as your judgment thinks fit.—I may here remark, that I do this with deep self-abasement of Spirit before God, having proposed in my mind to do it, when I received a sum of money a short time ago, but did not do it then. The consequence is, that more than three-fourths of that sum are dwindled away, I hardly know how, which I can but believe is a just retribution for my unfaithfulness in not answering the dictates of conscience in giving promptly to your noble cause. With Christian love, I am yours in Christ * * * V—May 16. From New Zealand £7. I have thus referred to the mode in which it pleased the Lord to meet all the many expenses which were connected with the support of the 1304 Orphans, who were under 318 [a.D. 1867. our care, in the year from May 26, 1866, to May 26, 1867. We lacked nothing, and in full confidence that the Lord would help during the coming year also, I entered upon the new period from May 26, 1867, to May 26, 1868, in which there were altogether 1,299 Orphans under our care. I refer now to a very few donations out of the very many received during that year.—When this period commenced, the provisions were not only dear, but they -became dearer as the year proceeded ; so that our expenses _ were on that account greater than they had been during iany previous year, since the Orphan work had been in existence; and many persons, I know, thought, how extremely difficult, on that account, our position would be. But such circumstances gave the most precious opportunity for faith to triumph. Thus it came to pass, that during that year also, with such dear bread, potatoes, oatmeal, meat, butter, etc., we went on as easily as when these provisions could be obtained at a much lower rate. June 15, 1867. From Kampti, India, £100.—June 27. Legacy of the late Miss C. of Exeter, £600. This lady I never saw, nor even knew by name. July 19. Yesterday a Christian minister called at my house, and brought with him Thirty Pounds for the Orphans, which he had received from a Christian servant, and related tomy daughter the following particulars in connexion with this donation. Several years since he had spoken of the Orphan Work both to this servant and to her aged Christian mistress. They were much interested, and, to his surprise, both gave him a donation for the work, and have continued to send yearly since that time. Recently . the sister of the servant died, leaving a little sum of money to her. Having paid funeral expenses, and given portions of the money to different relatives, this Christian servant said, that she did not look upon the remainder as belong- ing to herself, but tothe Lord, The Christian minister, to whom she wished to intrust the £30, asked her, if she had well weighed the matter, as she herself had heart disease ; but she remained steadfast to her purpose, and desired that it might be given as “ a-thank-offering to the Lord for mercies granted to a sister on her death-bed.”—-Admire with me, dear Reader, the ways which God is pleased to use to supply the means for His service. . August 17. Received £5. 3s. 6d. with the following A.D. 1867.] 319 deeply instructive letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, With great pleasure I send yon £5. 3s. 6d. for the dear Orphans, as 11 thank-offering to the Lord for past deliverances, that He has worked for me, both temporal and spiritual. Ten or / twelve years ago, I was, what the world calls, very com fortably off. I had a very nice shop and business, and a very good ship, and a very good wife, and nice children, and a nice house to live in ; and not content, but I must have a second ship. I obtained her, and now made haste to be rich, not knowing that it would pierce me through with many sorrows. I had not the second ship long, befoie they both began to go wrong, and for three years they both went wrong, until they made me, what the world calls, a ruined man. But the Lord was still my God. Although He chastened me very severely, He did never leave me, but enabled me to cleave closer to Him than ever I had done before. Many of the promises were very sweet to me, which before I had never felt sweet : so, instead of looking to the poor ships, the Lord enables me to look unto Him for my daily supplies. I have often thought my little purse, that I go to market with, is like the widow's barrel of meal. It never wastes ; for out of about 21 creditors, there are only 6, that have not received 20 Shillings in the Pound. When I can save a few pounds, I pay it away to clear off those old debts. The creditors have been quite astonished when I paid them ; for I was free by the law of the country. With the above staring me in the face, I thought it would not offend my Heavenly Father, by putting away one half-penny in the Pound upon certain purchases, that I make in my business, for the dear Orphans under your fatherly care, and the enclosed is the result, etc. * * * *." Allow me, esteemed Reader, to make a few remarks on this letter: 1, The Christian writer had an abundance of the things of this life : a good business, a good ship, a good house to live in, a good wife, and amiable children. He had, therefore, abundant cause to be grateful, and, especially also, to be content. Instead of this, he aims after greater possessions. 2, He desires to be the owner of a second ship : here was his spiritual fall. But was it sinful then, to become the owner of a second ship ? No. There is nothing sinful in wishing to be the owner of 2 ships, nor 10 ships, nor 100 ships ; but all depends on the motive, why we desire to possessjnore 320 [A.D. 1867. ships, or a larger business, or more land, or more houses. If the end is, that we may be stewards over more, for the glory of God, .in order that we may be able more largely to contribute to the need of the children of God, or to the work of God, then our desires, provided they are held in sitlyection to the will of Ood, would not be wrong ; but this dear man desired a second ship, in order to become rich. Now whenever the children of God desire possessions, and strive after them, that they may be rich, viz., that they may be owners, instead of stewards for God, they will sooner or later pierce themselves through with many sorrows, as this dear man did. 1 Timothy VI. 6—10. 3, Observe how the writer went on, even as far as it regards this world. Instead of becoming rich, he lost all. He was a child of God, and God, therefore, dealt with him differently, from what He would with one who had only his portion in this world. He saw that this His child was in heart departed from Him, and substituted the possessions of this world for peace and joy in God, and for faithful stewardship ; and, therefore, because he was a child of God, He corrected him, that he might not be con demned with the world. 4, Notice the result of the Father's chastisement. This sinful child is brought back in heart to the Father. He is blessed in his soul, yea is brought nearer to God than ever he had been before. That was just what God intended by the correction, in taking from him his earthly possessions. 5, Notice, especially, the writer's present contentment with his altered position. 6, Lastly observe, how this Godly man, though freed by the law of the land, as he was, when he had failed in business, yet has paid off to the full 15 out of 21 of his creditors, and even the six remaining, who have not yet quite received 20s. in the Pound, he pays as fast as he can. Truly this is acting after a Godly sort, and greatly glorifies God, though very different frcm the customs of the world ! Oct. 2. Received the- following letter with £50. : "Dear Sir, Instead of feasting our eyes on the beauties of Scot land, my dear husband and I have sent you £50. to support four Orphans for one year. After reading your Report of last year, I was led to ask, that, instead of feeding Two Thousand, you may live to feed Five Thousand ! It was suggested, ' Even Mr. Miiller himself might hesitate con A.D. 1867.] 321 cerning the expediency of snch a number being gathered together.’ My Bible re-opened, if it had not been already open before me, as I knelt before the Lord, and my eyes resting on that part of the Word of God, where our Saviour fed Five Thousand, as they sat in order by fifties, I saw how easily our Saviour can still feed Five Thousand, through you as His representative.—I should deem it a great favour, if you will just once favour me with a few - lines. I shall not again ask a like favour. You and your blessed work are not forgotten at the feet of Jesus, by yours, dear sir, most respectfully * ** *.” See, esteemed reader, how much may be accomplished by a - little self-denial. This lady and gentleman forego the gratification of “feasting their eyes on the beauties of - Scotland,” and they are thus the instruments of supporting entirely four destitute Orphans for a whole year. But how great is the joy we have, if, constrained by the love of Christ, we can thus practise self-denial, for the sake of dving good to others, in feeding the poor, clothing the naked, in relieving widows, etc.! Let us follow this » example, if we have not acted in a similar way before. —Oct. 8. £5. from Mr. —— “For having with his wife - and family been kept in health three years.”—Oct. 14. “ Produce of an Apple-tree” 5s.—Oct. 17. From the neighbourhood of Chester £100.—Oct. 18. From Edin- burgh, 2 gold chains, a diamond ring, a regard ring, 6 other gold rings, a gold pencil-case, a pair of gold ear- rings, 2 gold bracelets, a gold seal, a gold watch-key, a coral bracelet, 4 others ditto, a silver fruit-knife, 5 brooches, a pair of coral earrings, 3 gold studs, a gold breast-pin, a silver vinaigrette, a scent bottle, a silver locket, a dollar, 2 ornamental combs, 2 ladies’ companions, a necklace, brooch and earrings in case, a silver cross and thimble, a silver buckle, 15 mats, a scent case, 12 needle books, 8 pin-cushions, 7 pen-wipers, a kettle-holder, a match-box, @ purse, a case for work, 4 fancy bags, 15 book-marks, 2 stamp-cases, 2 albums, and some drawings. By the sale of such articles there was obtained during the year, from May 26, 1867, to May 26, 1868, £760. 14s.—Oct. 25. - Received anonymously 2s. 6d. with the following letter: “Sir, The. writer some years ago, when at school, was tempted to take a half-crown from a school-fellow. I have many times since felt unhappy about it, and as I know P38 a 322 [A.D. 1867. that the- one it was taken from does not need it, and would not be likely to remember the circumstance, were it men tioned, as she thought little of it at the time, supposing she must in some way have lost it herself, I have long determined to send it to you for the Orphans, as soon as I could afford it, small sum though it is, feeling sure that the lady, from whom it was taken would like you to have it, as she is a Christian ; and trusting that God will ap prove the way I have taken of making restitution, I remain, Sir, yours respectfully." This money could not be taken for the Institution ; for it is not money that I seek, but money obtained in God's way. If £2,500. were" sent to me, under such circumstances, it would equally be declined. I make the following remarks on the letter : 1, To make restitution under such circumstances, if we are at all able to do so, is our duty. 2, But if the individual is known and is living, or, if dead, and we know his or hf r heirs, restitution is to be made to those who were wronged. Whether they need it or not, and whether they remember the fact or not, is not the question ; but simply this : we have wronged them, and, as far as lies in us, we are bound to make it good. 3, That the writer of the letter sup poses, that the lady, from whom she took the Half-Crown, would like me to have it, because she is a Christian, does not in the least alter the fact of the duty devolving upon the individual who took the money to send it to the right ful owner. She is the one who has the right to dispose of the money, and not the one who should make restitution. For the reasons stated the rnoney could not _be taken for the Orphans. I add my advice as to* one "owier point, under such circumstances : The faith of one who has wronged another may be so weak, as that he cannot bear to own his guilt, because it may involve the risk of character or situation. Under such circumstances, never theless, though the faith should be weak, restitution is to be made, and that to the full, as soon as possible ; but rather than not do it at all, for fear of losing the character or situation, it should be done secretly. Nov. 18. Legacy of the late Miss M. T. £100.— Legacy of R. H. Esq. £100.— Nov. 23. The following letter, with 5s., was received from one of the Orphans, now in service : " Dear and Respected Sir, Will you please to accept of the enclosed stamps for the dear A.D. 1867.] 323 Orphans, as a token of gratitude from one who can never repay you for all your kindness she received while in the dear Orphan House. I would again thank you, dear Sir, for all your fatherly care and kindness when I was quite unfit to care for myself; and desiring my grateful love to dear Mrs. Miiller, Miss Miiller and Miss Groves, and hoping you are quite well, I remain, dear and respected Sir, your ever grateful Orphan * * * *." The writer of this letter was 11 years and 3 months under our care, had been a believer for 2 years before she left us, and was more than seven years since sent to the situation in which she has remained ever since. Her excellent Christian mistress has for more than 20 years continually had servants from the Orphan Houses.—Nov. 29. Legacy of Major H. S. £50.—Dec. 9. From Norfolk £5. with the following letter : " My dear Sir, You will oblige me by accepting the enclosed donation of £5. for the Orphanage, as a thank-offering to Almighty God for His great love to me, in having answered my prayers, and turned three of my children from the world, to the Kingdom of His dear Son. Your friend in Christ * * * *."—Dec. 16. From one of the Orphans, in service, £1. 10s. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I hear you still give your children a treat at Christmas ; if so, will you please to take the enclosed" £1.. 10s. towards it. I have been putting it aside for some time, to send it to you for that purpose. I do not forget the pleasure Christmas time was to us, when I was in the Orphan House. Hoping you are quite well, I remain, yours very respectfully * * * *." The writer of this letter was one of the earliest Orphans, received 38 years since, was converted about 33 years ago, and has walked ever since in the ways of God.—Dec. 19. As legacy of the late Mrs. F. B. £50. Dec. 21. From the North of England £100.—Dec. 24. From " M. W." £100.— Dec. 31. From the neighbourhood of London £190., with £10. for myself. I never saw the last day of any year, during which I had had to pay out so much as during this year ; yet the Lord had been pleased so to help me, as that with great ease I had been able to meet every demand. And how was I able to do this ? By being supplied alone through the exercise of faith and prayer, committing my necessities day by day, and repeatedly every day, to the 324 [a.D. 1868. Lord, and that not only with regard to money but every- thing else. There is, in the recounting of the donations, to which reference has been made, nothing particularly interesting in the mere sums received ; but to the simple minded Christian the interesting part is this, that each of them, without a single exception, as all the tens of . thousands of donations received before, were obtained without applying to any one for help, but the Living God. It is a source of deep sorrow to me, that, notwithstanding my having so many times before referred to this point, thereby to encourage believers in the Lord Jesus, to roll all x their cares upon God, and to trust in Him at all times, it + is yet, by so many, put down to mere natural causes, that ; I am helped; as if the Living God were no more the Living God, and as if in former ages answers to prayers | mien have been expected, but that in the Nineteenth Century they must not be looked for. Jan. 1, 1868. In peace of soul, looking to the Lord for help in every way, I entered upon this most eventful year, with the prospect before me, of opening in the course of this year the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, and thus so greatly enlarging the work, being, however, fully assured that my never failing Friend and Helper in heaven would not leave me nor forsake me. I received among many other donations to-day, from Clifton £150., with £5. for myself.— From Manchester £50.—Jan. 7. “ From some friends in Sweden” £3. 6s. 6d.—From believers meeting at the Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £34. 0s. 6d. ; —Jan. 9. From X. Y. Z. £1. 11s. 6d. instead of going to a public dinner. This amount provided a dinner for a hundred Orphans. See how much may be accomplished by a little self-denial. No doubt, the donor found himeelf, likewise, the better, both morally and physically, for not attending this public dinner. Jan. 21—From A. G. £14. 68. 5d. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, * * * * This £14. 6s. 5d. I wish to give as a donation towards the suppoit: of your Orphan Schools. This amount is the income from a certain source for one year, which I dedicated by a resolution (entered in my diary at the - time, Oct. 18th, 1866,) to this object, when I obtained the appointment from which this income is derived. When I entered the resolution, I did not at all antici- pate so large an amount, but the result is to me another proof of the wonderful way in which God carries A.D. 1868.] 325 on this work in your hands, etc.”—Jan. 23. Legacy of the late Mrs. E. H. £42. 18s. 10d. Feb. 6. Received £5. 0s. 4d. more from two American gentlemen, who had previously sent £5., with the following letter: “‘ Dear Sir, Enclosed please find £5. more. We, when leaving America, were desirous to ship, for our own use, a favourite horse. After applying in vain to the Insurance Companies to insure the said horse, covering all risks (they only wishing to insure in part), we declined insuring him at all in said companies. We put the horse in the Lord’s hands, and promised, if He would deliver him safe in England, we would pay to His cause £10. We have now fulfilled our promise. Respectfully yours * * * *”__Feb, 21. Received from Cambridgeshire £5. with the following communication: ‘“ Dear Sir, * * * * I do not give out of the abundance I possess, but debt was always a great burden to me; and, when in debt, it always appeared, that there was no way of getting out, only, as the Lord helped me; and then I promised, I would give a certain amount as a thank-offering to that, - which I felt satisfied was the Lord’s cause. It became a ’ practice with me to write down, when I began to pray for the sum required. The following is copied from my diary : ‘June 26, 1864. I pray that the Lord will give me this petition, which I believe He will, which is £100. I owe to -...,and then I will give £5. as a thank-offering to the Orphans at Bristol.’ A little more than a year ago the £100. came, with £5. for myself for the trouble I had taken in the business that brought it; but I thought, if I sent it then, I should be left with so little in hand: so I did not send it ; and I believe my withholding of it has cost me more than £40. Etc.”—I have given this . long extract from the donor’s letter, because of its in- structive character to Christians.—Feb. 24. From a Clergyman in Wiltshire £6. Os. 9d. “ Instead of insuring premises.”—Feb. 25. From one of the former scholars in one of our Schools, who is now a builder, £10. He gave two years before £1., the next year £5., and now £10. -It was given by him “In gratitude for the education ‘received in the School.” March 2. From Taranaki, New Zealand, £13. 11s. 10d. March 4. From a clergyman in Huntingdonshire £2., with the following letter: “Dear Brother in the Lord, I again send you a Post Office Order for £2. for the Lord’s 3-26 [A.D. 1868. work in your hands. I offer it to you, instead of sending this amount to insure myself against fire, desiring to believe, that I am thus in greater security than otherwise. 1 am yours very truly* * * *."—March 18. Legacy of the late Miss A. A. £92. 5s. 1d. This legacy had been for about three years in Chancery ; but, as several times before, through waiting upon God, I had brought legacies out of Chancery, so in this case also the prayer was at last answered, and the money received. April 6. From California £4., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, On reading your Narrative, I found, that, after many years of profession, I was only producing leaves ; for according to your remark I was living up to my means, forgetting the command " Deny thyself and take up thy cross and follow me." By the help of God I was enabled to examine myself, and made an effort to deny a luxury. After trial I found that I was better without than with it. The produce is twenty dollars, which I transmit to your care for the use of the children in your Institution, and will feel thankful if the Merciful Father accepts this gift from an aged sinner, bordering on eighty. Etc. P. S. The luxury was a glass of grog."—Apr. 7. From Liverpool £20. as " A thank-offering to Almighty God for His mercy in saving the donor's husband from a fatal accident."—April 8. From a cottager in the neigh bourhood of Bristol £50., instead of leaving the amount by will.— April 22. £257. 14s. 11d. as the legacy of the late Miss E. G. of Hackney.—April 27. From Hokitika, New Zealand, £6. 10s. May 2. From Switzerland £5. —May 4. From Rear Admiral £25., for the support of 2 Orphans for 1 year.—From a poor working man in Gloucestershire 2s. as the price of 1000 skenes and for thatching a little.— May 18. From a considerable distance, a silver tankard.— May 19. From Scotland, from a labourer in the Gospel, to whom a legacy of £500. had been left, £100.—May 20. From a London gentleman £120., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, My late poor deceased wife, a few weeks before her death, desired me to sell her little jewellery, and send you the proceeds towards your Orphan Schools. We had often talked of coming down to see them, but some thing always interfered ; but I hope myself, God willing, to do so at some early period. Proceeds of sale of her A.B. 1868.] 327 jewels for the Orphans £100., from myself for the same purpose £10., Do. for your own use £10. And may God continue to bless and prosper this your great undertaking ! Yours truly * * *."—May 26. From London £5. with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I beg to enclose a crossed cheque for £5., being, as I told you, in a former letter, a tenth of a portion of a debt due to me, but which I had no prospect whatever of obtaining, until I resolved, if it was ever paid, to give a tenth to your work of faith and labour of love. It may interest you to know that when I received the first instalment of £20., I was given to understand, that I would only receive £10. or £20. occasionally, as the sender could spare it. A short time ago, being in the utmost need, and not knowing where to look for help from man, the thought came " well perhaps I may soon get £10. or £20. from that same source," and while I was striving after faith concerning it, I heard a step come to the door and a knock, and a letter was brought in, out of which, when I opened it, fell a £50. note, of which I now send a tenth, asking you to help me to glorify our Father by a more simple trust in His promise and loving care. Praying for every blessing which you may need, I remain your sister in our blessed Head* * * *." I have given these instances, in which it has pleased the Lord in a somewhat unusual way to supply me with means, to show in what a variety of ways He sends in help. I pretend to no miracles. It grieves me exceedingly, that some should look on this Institution as if it were almost or altogether of a miraculous character. There is nothing whatever of miracle about it. But I do most fully maintain, and I ever did so, that I wait upon God in believing prayer for all I need, of whatever character this need may be ; and I do most fully look for help from Him, even as a child does to a loving father : and I have obtained His help many thousand times during the past 48 years since I have known His love and grace. The experience which I enjoy of being helped habitually by the Lord, may be the expe- rience of all my fellow-believers. Not all Christians are called upon to engage in such a service as the various Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution embrace, and to trust in the Lord for pecuniary supplies for such Objects ; but all Christians are called upon to exercise 328 [A.D. 1868. confidence in the power and love of God to help them in their various positions and circumstances of life I joy fully dedicated my whole life to this object, to show them by my example, in the Orphan Work in particular, what God is able and willing to do for those, who put their trust in Him. Therefore, dear fellow believer, see to it, that you do not lose the blessing intended to be conveyed to you also, by saying : " I havejio right to expect answers to my prayers as Mr. MiiHeFdoes." Verily, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, then, on the ground of His atoning blood, and on the ground of His priestly intercession, you may obtain answers to all your petitions, in so far as they would tend to the glory of God, and to your real good. But, perhaps, one or the other of my readers may not he a believer in the Lord Jesus. To such I say affection ately : The first thing you have to do is, to be reconciled to God. You are a sinner, needing a Saviour. If you do not see it already, read the first four chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, and ask God to show to you from that portion your real condition by nature. But should you see it already that you are a sinner, needing a Saviour, then ask God, that He would graciously be pleased to reveal to you the Saviour, His own dear Son, whom He sent into the world to save us from our sins. You have to believe in the Lord Jesus, to put your trust in Him for the salvation of your soul, in order to be reconciled to God, and to obtain the forgiveness of your sins, and to become a child of God; for then, and then only, can you have confidence in God, and ask blessings at His hands, in the knowledge that you have the Father's heart and ear, through faith in our Lord Jesus, and will receive, from His Almighty arm, answers to your requests. Thousands of donations were given in the year from May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868, to which no reference has been made in the previous pages ; for these are only referred to as specimens, to show some of the ways, in which it pleased the Lord, to supply me with means. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1868 to May 26, 1869, during which there were Sixteen Hundred and Sixteen Orphans under our care, therefore 317 more, than during the previous year, whereby our expenses were in creased for that year several Thousand Pounds for the support of the Orphans alone ; yet the Lord, as always, A.D. 1868.] 329 helped us that year also. I refer now to a very few in- stances as to the mode, in which He was pleased to do so. June 17, 1868. A servant of the Lord Jesus, having had a legacy left to him, sent me £100. out of it for the Or- phans.—Aug. 17. In April, 1868, 1 received the following letter: ‘“‘ Adelaide Hospital, Peter Street, Dublin, Apr. 1, 1868, Dear Sir, I am unable to write, but have requested ————., the incumbent of ——-——,, Dublin, to do so for me. I ama stranger to you, and am in a Hospital in this city, lying, I believe,on my death-bed. I beg to say that I have left to you by will all that I possess, after the necessary expenses of my interment and one or two other tatters are settled as stated in a codicil to my will. What T have is not much, one share in the Royal Bank, Foster Place, Dublin, and one in-the Bank of Liverpool, together with two boxes, one of books, the other of clothes.—I was born a Roman Catholic, but could never believe the doc- trines of the Church of Reme. I married a Greek Gen- tleman, and was unfortunately thrown into deistical society in Paris; and thus my faith was destroyed. I believed that Protestants had no religion; and seeing no alterna- tive between Roman Catholicism and infidelity, 1 became an Infidel. I am thankful to say, I have since met some Protestants who have convinced me, that they have a religion, but you were the first person, by whose example 1 learned, thet there ais Some Wien who live by faith. This is the reasow t-wistr to teave you the little I possess. 1 believe you to be a good man, and it is a consolation to me to give you what Lhave, to be applied to the charitable i stitutions maintained by you.—And now, dear Sir, when} you receive this, I shall beno more. 1 feel, therefore, you! will be anxious to know something of my present state of mind, Well, I can only say, my heart draws me to Christ, though my intellect is not satisfied. My earnest prayer and wish is to believe, and I ventured to ask, to have these lines inscribed on-‘my tomb, ' She died, for Adam sinned : _ She lives, for Christ has died.’ humbly hoping, that, like the woman in the Gospel, I may find life by touching the hem of His garment, though it be with a trembling hand. Yours most faithfuily, * * * *” <A short time after the reception of this letter, 330 [AD. 1868. I received the box of books and box of clothes, above referred to, and learned also, through Christian friends, that) this lady, the testatrix, had died as a believer in the Lord Jesus; and on Aug. 17, 1868, I received the amount of the legacy, after funeral, testamentary expenses, etc., had been paid, being £40. 16s. 3d. I have gladly given all these particulars, in order to furnish another proof as to the variety of ways in which it pleases God to supply the means for this Institution ; and also to prove how this work is used, in showing to persons, and even infidels, the reality of the things of God.—Aug. 20. From Gloucestershire £15. 10s , with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, I enclose you a cheque for £15. 10s. for the use of the Orphans. This money comes from an invest ment made 4 years ago, and which has never paid any in terest until now. There was a year ago a prospect of a small return. I then decided that for the future I would look upon it as the Lord's money, a portion of which I would send to you, as the Lord prospered it. The amount just received greatly exceeds any expectations I could have formed, so I merely hand over to you the Lord's money, not mine. Believe me, my dear Mr. Miiller, yours ever affec tionately, * * * *."—Sept. 16. From Sussex £200.— Oct. 14. Legacy of the late Mrs. B. £449.—Legacy of the late Mr. D. £10.— Oct. 21. £3. 3s. "As the pence of the poor at Woodbridge, Suffolk." Observe, esteemed reader, how the Lord sends me pecuniary help for this work in Hundreds of Pounds at once ; yea, T have had donations not only of £1,000. and £2,000., but even of £3,000., £4,000., £5.000., £7,000., yea £8,100. at once ; in this case, however, the pence of many poor make up £3. 3s. But whether we receive the Hundreds and the Thousands of the wealthy stewards of God, or the pence of the very poor : all alike comes from God, and His hand we i delight to see, and to Him we desire to ascribe the praise. I We would indeed be. grateful to the instruments, for the I reverse would not be according to the mind of the Lord ; i but, above all, we would render thanks to Him. As the I days come, we make known our requests to Him, for our ' outgoings have now been for several years at the rate of more than One Hundred Pounds each day ; but though ) the expenses have been so great, He has never failed us. ; We have betn indeed, as to the outward appearance, like A.D. 1808.] 331 ^ the " Burning Bush in the wilderness ;" yet we have not been consumed^ Moreover, we are iull of trust in the "Lord, and therefore of good courage, though we have before us the prospect, that, year by year, our expenses will increase more and more. Did all my beloved fellow- disciples, who seek to work for God, know the blessedness of looking truly to God alone, and trusting in Him alone, they would soon see how soul refreshing this way is, and how entirely beyond disappointment, so far as He is con cerned. Earthly Friends may alter their minds, regard ing the work in which we are engaged ; but if indeed we work for God, whoever may alter his mind regarding our service, He will not. Earthly friends may lose their ability to help us, however much they may desire so to do ; but He remains throughout eternity the infinitely Rich One. Earthly friends may have their minds after a time diverted to other Objects, and, as they cannot help everywhere, much as they may desire it, they may, though' reluctantly, have to discontinue to help us ; but He is: able, in all directions, though the requirements were mnlti-i plied a million times, to supply all that can po>sibly bo; needed, and does it with delight, where His work is car ried on, and where He is confided in. Earthly friends, may be removed by death, and thus we may lose their help ; but He lives for ever, He cannot die. In this latter point of view, I have especially, during the past forty years, in connexion with this Institution, seen the blessedness of trusting in the Living God alone. Not one nor two, nor even five nor ten, but many more, who once helped me much with their means, have been removed by death ; but have the operations of the Institution been stopped on that account ? No. Have they been even decreased ? No, but on the contrary, the work has been enlarged more and more, especially of late years ? And how came this ? Because I trusted in God, and in God alone, and, therefore, though this or the other donor, who had contributed very considerably, was removed, I had the Living God remaining, and was therefore as rich as ever. I have dwelt on this, if by any means I might lead some of my dear fellow-believers, who may need it, to seek practically to know God, that they too may enjoy this truly blessed independence of persons, times and cir cumstances.—Oct. 24. £100. from one of the Midland 332 ; [4.D. 1868. Counties.—Oct. 27. From a few poor people of Newtown, Reading, 14s. 9d.—F rom Penang £2. 5s. 5d.—Oct. 30. From one of the Orphans, formerly under our care, who had come into the possession of some money, £30. Noy. 3. From Edinburgh a large gold chain. The lady who sent it desired to contribute to the work, feeling deeply interested in it, but had no money to send, which led her to send this chain. Pause here, dear reader, a few mo- ments. This lady had no money to send, but as she was very desirous of contributing to this work, she considered what she could do. She had a will to help. She remem- bers this valuable but needless gold chain, and sends it. Is this lady now less adorned? Verily not! If only all the needless articles of the children of God, the ornaments of diamonds and other precious stones, and of pearls, of gold and silver, and other articles which are not in the least necessary even for the conveniences of life were turned into money for the support of the poor or the work of God, how vast would be the sums thus obtained !—There was left anonymously at my house on Nov. 3rd £16. 17s. 6d., with the following letter: “My dear Sir, Upwards of 30 years ago I engaged in business. The result was, that I was unable to meet my liabilities. I endeavoured, at the time, to pay all I owed, by instalments, saved from my ‘earnings. Some of my creditors agreed, others would not. At length I sought the protection of the law, which enabled me to pay each one the amount of their bills, as I best could. Ihave thus, by the blessing of God, paid all, with the exception of £16. 16s. 4d. which is owing to three persons, two of whom left Bristol, I think, over 20 years ago, and of the other I can obtain no account, Seeing no prospect of paying this money to the persons referred to, I beg to be allowed to enclose you £16. 16s. 6d. for the use of the Orphans, begging an interest in your prayers for my dear wife, self and unconverted children. I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, * * * *.” The letter contained £16. 17s. 6d, and not £16. 16s. 6d., as was stated.—Nov. 5, 1868. This day the New Orphan House No. 4 was opened, and thus the answer to thousands of prayers was granted.— Nov. 9. Received from the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, in the United States, £1., with the following letter from one of the Orphans, who twenty-three years since was appren- ticed, and with whom correspondence is continued. He has A.D. 1868 ] 333 been a Christian for a long time, and is in business on his own account in America : " My dear Sir, It was with great pleasure that we received your last lleport, and I take this opportunity of thanking you for it. When I think of the great work which you are carrying on through the goodness of the Lord, and which you must always have on your mind more or less, that you still remember me, who has been from under your care for so many years, I say, my dear Sir, it makes me feel happy. It is with feelings of gratitude I look back to the hapjiy days, when I was under your care ; but the same faithtul God that watched over me in England, has watched over me and my family in America, and I doubt not His will ingness to care for us still. My dear sir, when I received your letter, 1 said to my wife, ' Well, now, the first pair of boots that I sell, I will send One Pound to Mr. Muller. In two days or so I sold a pair of men's boots for 8 dollars, and now I send you an order for one pound, to use as you think proper ; and, my dear Sir, my prayer to the Lord is, that He will continue to support and strengthen you, and prolong your life for many years, to advance the cause of Christ. Would you be kind enough to remember me to my kind friends, Messrs. R. and C. B., and also to Mrs. Muller, Miss Miiller and Miss Groves. With kindest love, I remain, your affectionate Orphan, * * * *."—Nov. 11. From an Orphan now in service, who has been for eighteen years from under our care, £2.—Nov. 18. Legacy of the late Miss B., £300. Consols.—Nov. 19. From Tobago, "the proceeds of the sale of 1 ,000 cocoa-nuts, in remembrance of a visit to the Orphan- Houses," £5.—Nov. 20. Anony mously from Glasgow £100.—Nov. 23. Received 2s., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Please to accept these two shillings for the dear Orphans. Dear Sir, three months ago I was reading your Report, and I- thought I should like to give something towards the support of the Orphans, and I resolved, by God's grace, to give one halfpenny out of every shilling I earn by washing. I intend to send it every three months. I have not told any one about it, save my husband, and he wanted me to send it without a name, but I said, you would like to have the name, so for this reason I give it. * * * *." I have referred to this donation from this poor donor, to show how even those, who have little to spare, if they gave as the Lord is pleased to 334 [4.D. 1869. prosper them, might yet, out of their little, be able to contribute something,-and thus have the joy of helping on the work of God. Three months later, on Feb. 22, 1869, I received from the same donor 2s. 24d., with the following letter: ‘“ Dear Sir, I am glad to send you the quarter’s money, oue halfpenny out of every shilling ob- tained by washing, which has amounted to 2s. 24d., as I keep account of what 1 earn every week. I would just say, that the Lord has sent me £1. 10s. 7d. more in the last six months than in the former six months. Please to take it for the Orphans. * * * *.” I delight in these little gifts from those who have but little to give; “for 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. Notice, also, how the Lord gave to this poor person £1. 10s. 7d. more during the latter than during the former six months, so that her 4s. 24d. was repaid more than seven-fold.—On May 24, 1869, I received again, from the same donor, 2s. 1d.— Nov. 24. Legacy of the late J. D., Esq., £225.—As in many respects the year from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, was a very remark- able one, so in this particular also, that during no previous year came in so much by payment of legacies as during this year. The expenses being several thousand pounds _ more, for the support of the Orphans, than during any former year, the Jord used this, as one of the means, to supply the need. Dec. 11. An old Five Guinea Piece from New Zealand. —Dec. 15. By sale of some diamonds, gold and silver coins, plate, the gold of artificial teeth, set in gold, and other gold and silver articles, £132. 15s. 11d.—Dec. 31. ‘ At the close of this year it was found, that, from Jan. 1, 1868, to Dec. 31, 1868, there had been 544 Orphans ap- plied for to be admitted into the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, viz., 288 boys and 256 girls. The reader will see from this, how great the field is, in seeking to care for destitute Orphans, and what joy, therefore, it must . be, to be able more and more to take care of them. The year ended with abundant help as to pecuniary supplies ; for I received on the last day of the year, for the support of the Orphans alone, above £340. Jan. 1, 1869. As the past year had ended with abun- dant help, so the new ycar brought the Lord’s abundant A.D. 1869. ] 335 provisions also, Out of the very many donations received this day, I only notice £150. from Clifton, with £5. for myself,—-£50. ‘‘from Manchester.”"— From a working party at Newton Abbot, £18.—Jan. 2. Received £10. for the support of the Orphans, “ from an old scholar in the first Day-school for boys of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.” —Jan. 4. From Tasmania £10.—Jan. 5. From Havana £1.—£31. 11s. 6d. from believers meeting at the Sand Area Meeting Room, Kendal.—Jan. 6. 1s. 6d. as “ A thank-offering from a wife, because her husband drank no beer at Christmas.”—Jan. 21. £18. 19s. Od. from a medical gentleman, “ being the amount of the first seven days of the new year, in his profession.”—Feb. 11. £100. as the legacy of the late T. H. Esq.—Feb. 19. Yesterday afternoon I had portioned out £517. for Mis- sionaries labouring in China, India, Malacca, and at the Cape of Good Hope. For the Orphans J had paid out yesterday £63. 9s. 34d., and during last week about £1100. When I came home last evening, I found a cheque for £500. from the neighbourhood of London, £25. from the neighbourhood of Norwich, and £8. from Louth. To-day I have received further for the Orphans and other Objects, £78. 10s. in all. Thus, while the expenses are very great, the Lord is also pleased largely to send in the means. ‘This has never been more blessedly realized than during the past year, so that, while the outgoings were by far greater than ever for the current expenses; the income was also greater than ever. How blessed, then, to have the Living God Himself as our never failing Friend and Helper! But we can have no confidence in Him, and shall rather dread Him and be afraid of Him, as long as we are unforgiven ; because we have not trusted for salvation in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus. The sinner, therefore, who is unreconciled to God, should, without delay, believe the Gospel, trust'in the Lord Jesus for salvation, and accept what God has so graciously provided for us in the gift of His only begotten Son, who bore, as our substitute, the punishment due to us. If, however, we are believers in the Lord Jesus, it is necessary that we maintain an up- ' right heart and a good conscience, viz., that whatever be our weaknesses and shortcomings, we do not live in sin. If the latter were the case, then, how much soever we might pray, we could not expect to have our prayers an- 336 [A.D. 1869. swerod, according to that word : " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psalm lxvi. 18. Moreover, our confidence in God would be gone, as long as we have a guilty conscience.—Feb. 20. Received the fol lowing letter from a military officer of high rank : " My dear Sir, I sent the day before yesterday a dressing case to your address, containing a few articles of jewellery, the key of which I now enclose. As I have been led by the L<>rd to believe, that His coming may be very soon, I wish to have as few things of this world as possible ; and though I have kept them, thinking my daughter should have them when old enough (as they were the property of my dear wife, who has gone to glory), I see now, that these are only earthly treasures of what value ? and if I kept them for my girl, they might be a snare to her, so I wish to give them for the benefit of the Lord's Orphans under your charge. May I ask one favour, that you will remember me and my five children at the throne of grace, and ask that they may soon declare to be on the Lord's side. In acknow ledging the receipt in your Report, would you say from a widower" ; not that I am ashamed of my name or my doings. Believe me, dear Sir, your affectionate brother in the Lord * * * *." The dressing case referred to con tained 3 diamond rings, a ring set with 2 rubies and small diamonds, a pearl ring, 2 other gold rings, 2 gold bracelets, a vinaigrette, a gold necklace with locket, another neck lace, a pearl brooch, 4 other brooches, 2 silver bracelets, some studs, a gold breast pin, a cross, 2 hair pins, a pair of jet bracelets, some imitation pearls, etc. Allow me, es teemed reader, to make the following remarks in connex ion with this letter : 1, The writer does not simply believe in the return of the Lord Jesus ; nor does he even hold that His return may be near ; but he holds this truth prac tically, it has an influence upon his life. Thus it should be regarding all truths which the disciples of the Lord Jesus hold . They all should have a practical bearing upon our ways, our deportment, our life generally ; and especially should this be the case, if we profess to look for the return of the Lord Jesus from heaven. 2, This Christian father does not wish to keep these ornaments for his daughter, lest they should be a snare to her. This is worthy of considera tion. May I, then, affectionately suggest to the Christian parents, who read this, to ask themselves, " Am I keeping &.D. 1869.] 337 any thing, or am I providing any thing for my children, - which may do them harm, when they have it?’ This has been often the case; alas! far too often. If we pray for the conversion of our children, let us, also, so act regard- ing them, that our ways, our actions, our caring for them, our placing them out, etc., may not prevent, or at least may not retard, our receiving the answer to our prayers with reference to their conversion.—Feb. 23. Received 4s. with the following letter from a former Orphan, who more than 8 years since was sent to service, and who is now married and a mother of children: ‘‘ Much beloved and respected Sir, Permit me to return many thanks for the Report, which I . received some time since, and also to ask your acceptance ‘of the enclosed mite toward the Orphan work. It is now rather over eight years since I left your kind fatherly care, and most truly can I say, goodness and mercy have fol- lowed me all my days. It would be impossible in words to . express the deep gratitude I feel in being permitted for so many years the numerous blessings and privileges atten- dant on an inhabitant of one of the Orphan-Houses, the first and most important being, Christ and Him crucified so clearly set forth. How many of us can look back with joy to that beloved Home as our spiritual birth-place! May He who first inclined our heart to love Him, keep us even until the end!—I was very glad to hear through dear Miss —— that No. IV was so rapidly filling. May there be much cause of rejoicing over the inmates! The Lord graciously supply ALL your need and spare you yet many years in health and strength to continue the Orphan’s friend and benefactor. Trusting you and yours are well, and asking an especial interest in your prayers for grace and wisdom to train my little ones for the Saviour, Be- lieve me, beloved Sir, your truly grateful Orphan * * * *.” “ PS. May I ask to be most respectfully remembered to Mrs. and Miss Miller and Miss Groves.” Thewriterhad — been 11 years and 1 month under our care, and was a be- liever for 8 years and six munths, before she left.—Feb. 24. Legacy of: the late W. A. Esq., less duty, £90. April 5. £1. from Scotland from “ The Orphans’ Bee Hive.” A Bee Hive is set apart for the benefit of the Or- phans, and the yearly producé sent. Thus hens, cows, sheep, pear-trees, apple-trees, cherry-trees, peach-trees, small pieces of land, &c., have been again and again set Q 338 [A.D. 1869. apart by kind Christian friends, who take an interest in this work ; but, while we gratefully and thankfully own their kindness, yet we would see in all this the hand of God, who, in answer to our daily prayers, inclines the hearts of those dear donors to remember this work ; and who, be cause He ever lives, is ever able to speak yet further and further to others, so that while our current expenses in crease more and more, we are always bountifully supplied. From Staffordshire £1. 10. " Instead of Champagne for the wedding breakfast." It is scarcely necessary to comment on this. Truly, if any step in life ought to be taken in the fear of God, according to His mind, and in the greatest sobriety, it is when persons enter upon the conjugal life. The not having champagne at the wedding- breakfast, would provide 200 Orphans with a breakfast.— May 25. .Received £5. from one of the Orphans, who 14 years since was sent out as an apprentice to a printer. " My dear Sir, It is with feelings of the greatest pleasure and gratitude that I forward to you the enclosed £5. Note, which you will please put to the use of the Orphans, in such manner as you may think proper. At the same time I beg to thank you sincerely for the kindness, attention, education, and the many blessings I received whilst under your fatherly care in the Orphan House ; and also for giving me a good trade when I left, which has placed me, by the blessing of God, in a far different position of life than I could have ever expected to attain, were it not for the blessing of being placed with you, and the influence and principles brought to bear in my early training. That He, who hears the Orphan's prayer, may reward you hand somely in that day, when He makes up His jewels, will, I am sure, be the prayer of every one to whom you have been a father here.—You will doubtless be glad to hear, that I am now, and have been for nearly two years, carry ing on the business to which you apprenticed me 14 years ago ; and the sum, which I now forward to you, is a thank- offering for my success in business so far. May I beg to , be remembered with the many other Orphans, once under ; your cave, in your prayers and supplications for prosperity ] in spiritual as well as in temporal affairs ? Wishing you the blessings of health and strength, to enable you to carry on your great undertaking for many years to come, with every success in your endeavours to do good ; and with filial gratitude for your fatherly kindness to me, I am, My A.D. 1869.] '339 dear Sir, Your obedient servant, * * * *.*'—I have given: a very small number out of the many hundreds of letters, which I received from Orphans, who were once under our care ; but these will be sufficient to show, how abundantly the Lord is pleased to bless this work to the Orphans, both temporally and spiritually. I have also referred to some of the donations, given by Orphans, once under our care, to show, that these Orphans themselves now, being mindful of the benefit, which they once derived from the Intitution, seek to contribute towards its support.—May 26. " From a Willing Giver " £60., with £10. for myself. I have thus out of the thousands of donations which were given during the year, from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, for the support of the Orphans, referred to a small number only as specimens, to show in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply the means for carrying on the work. During the next year, from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870, we had One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Orphans under our care, and therefore several Thou sand Pounds more still were required, than during the previous year. The Orphan work alone was now already grown to such a magnitude, as that the current expenses for this one year amounted to more than Twenty Thousand Pounds. Yet we lacked nothing. The Lord was pleased to supply us during that year also bountifully. I refer now again to a very few donations out of the thousands received during the year.—May 27, 1869. On the very first day of the new year I received an anonymons dona tion of Five Pounds from Malta. — May 31. Anonymously Fourteen Sovereigns put into the Letter Box at my house, without stating for what Object. They were taken for the Orphans. June 1. Twelve Sovereigns put into the Letter Box at my house, without stating for what. The money was again taken for the Orphans.—June 4. Five Sovereigns put into the letter box at my house anonymously, evidently by the same donor who had put in the £14. and £12. previously.—From " W. M." £100.—June 9. Legacy of the late W. M., Esq., of Clifton, £100.— June 15. This morning and last evening had only come in altogether about Four Pounds. How little for all the various branches of this work, as our expenses are now Q 2 • 340 [a-D. 1869. above One Hundred Pounds daily! However, my dear wife and I thanked the Lord together for this little, and asked Him to be pleased to send us more. In the course of the day came in altogether £62. more, and anony- mously were left at my house, a diamond ring, 8 gold rings, 9 gold brooches, 3 other brooches, 3 gold lockets, 2 gold seals, a gold clasp, a gilt ditto, 2 watch hooks, a gold pencil case, 3 coral necklaces, 2 ditto bracelets, 10 other bracelets, a silver card case, a pocket dressing case, 2 jet necklaces, 4 ornamental pins, a bouquet holder, a smelling bottle, a head dress, etc. The articles were intended half for Missions in Spain and half for the Orphans. July 1, From Denmark £5., as “A thank-offering to. the Lord for a prosperous voyage to Java and back to Copenhagen.”—July 2. From Singapore £5.—July 6. From a Clergyman in Oxfordshire £45., with £5. for myself, This Christian gentleman has contributed for about Twenty years a goodly sum year by year.—July 20. | -£216. as the legacy of the late Miss E. B.—July 22. £1. 16s. 6d. “ Amount obtained by the sale of 165 gera- niums, cultivated for the benefit of the Orphans.” — Received also to-day a large quantity of plate, jewellery, clothes, etc., from lreland.—July 26. By sale of diamonds, gold and silver coins, plate, and other gold and silver articles, especially gold in which artificial teeth were set, £112. 6s. 8d.—July 27. From Liverpool £50.—£5. as “ A thank-offering for the recovery of a child.” Aug. 5. From Tahiti, South Seas, £5.—Aug. 24. £50. 1s. 6d.as the legacy of the late J. D. S. Hsq.—Aug. 25 .£50. ‘as the legacy of the late Mr. W. R.—Aug, 31. £10. from London with the following letter : “‘ My dear Sir, I beg to enclose you a donation of Ten Pounds for your Orphans. This is entirely owing to my having adopted the principle of consecrating a certain portion of my in- come to the Lord, by which I not only give very much more, than I otherwise would do, but have much more freedom in distributing it. I fee) assured, if only the members of Christ’s Church would adopt this Christian principle, we should find our Church Funds amply sup- ported. I am, dear Sir, Yours truly, * * * *,.”—£19, 19s. as the legacy of the late Mr. R. T. Sep. 3. From Scotland £9s. 17s. 2d. with the following A.D. 1869.] 341 letter : " Dear Sir, about six weeks ago the Lord saw meet to take my second boy home ; He, however, graciously led him to the Lord Jesus several weeks before doing so ; and 3 or 4 days before he died, he called me to his bed side, and said he wanted his money sent to the Orphans. This, from a variety of circumstances, I have been unable to do, but now enclose draft on London for £9. 17s. 2d., the full amount of his small accumulations during the short years of his pilgrimage." I have referred to this as one of the thousands of various ways, in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to our daily prayers, to supply us with the Tens of Thousands of Pounds, which we now need from year to year ; for we have expended during the past four years, in connexion with this Institution, alto gether One Hundred Fifty One Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty Three Pounds.—Sept. 17. " From the brother of one of the Orphan boys, earned by gleaning ears," 2s.—Sep. 23. Through the boxes in the New Orphan House No. 3. Four Fifty Pound Notes, from a London donor. The kind donor came to see the Orphan Houses, and to see me, to ask various questions about the work ; but being en gaged at the time, one of my assistants saw him. He expressed himself especially pleased with the way in which the means were obtained for the support of the lnstitution. Thus, without my ever having seen him, he gave the £200. ; and on March 26, 1870, he sent another donation of £300. In this the reader has another illustration as to the way in which the Lord is pleased to provide us with means. When the work was small, it was considered by not a few, going too far, when I was about to enlarge it, and it was questioned whether l should be supplied with means ; but the work was enlarged for the reception of 300 Orphans, besides building and fitting up a house at the expense of more than Fifteen Thousand Pounds : and God supplied us with means, we lacked nothing, though sometimes our faith was considerably tried. Another house was built for 400 more Orphans, at the surprise of not a few, who thought we were going too far ; but God provided all the means for this, though above Twenty One Thousand Pounds were expended in the building and fitting up of this house. This house also was filled with Orphans, and while more than 750 persons sat down daily to their meals, we went on by prayer, and faith in the Living God, as 342 [4.D. 1869. easily as when we had opened the first rented house for 30 Orphans in Wilson Street. The two houses were full, and another house for 450 Orphans was being built at an ex- , pense of Twenty Three Thousand Pounds, for which again the Lord gave us not only every Shilling, without having to ask any one for it but Himself; but after al] the ex- penses were met, there remained nearly Three Thousand Pounds in hand. This house also was filled, and we had now 1,150 Orphans under our care. But as the applica- tions for admission of Orphans were going on, we had, trusting yet more and more in the Living God, taken another step forward, and that one larger than ever, for we contemplated, in dependence upon the Living God, to build for 850 or 900 more, so that we might have 2000 or 2050 Orphans under our care. This contemplated en- largement, however, would cost between Fifty and Sixty Thousand Pounds more. Yet we were of good courage. We looked to God for the means again, though this was now going beyond all bounds, in the sight of some. But how did it turn out? God provided all the means. ‘I'wo houses, No. 4 and No. 5, are built and paid for, and fitted up and furnished, and we had a large balance left, instead of being in debt. Moreover, these two houses are filled with Nine Hundred Orphans. We have now above 2000 Orphans under our care. And have we means to provide for all these Orphans, with their teachers, overseers, and care-takers of one kind and another? Yes, we have been always helped. Though the expenses for the support of the Orphans alone amount now yearly to about Twenty Five ss Pounds, we are suppiisd by God. Why do I say all this? To give proof upon proof, that it is un- speakably blessed to trust in the Living God alone, and that, as assuredly as we do so, He will help us. He may do it in His own way, and, therefore in a most unexpected way to us, asin the case of the last two donations of £200. and £800. above referred to ; but He will never fail us. I have now walked Forty and Four Years in this happy, peaceful and most successful road, and the longer I go on in this way, the more I am satisfied with it ; and all, who, like myself, know from their own experience the blessedness of this road, will be fully satisfied with it. Oct 20. From E. B. £500. “In acknowledgement of the particular mercy of God to the Donor.” A gentle- A.D. 1869.] 343 man called on me, unknown to me up to that moment; stating that a friend wished to give me £500., but desired entirely to remain unknown ; and this gentleman engaged to convey the money to me. See, esteemed reader, how . God is pleased to help me. On this same day I received £333. 12s. as the payment of the legacy of the late Miss M. C., being £400. new 3 per cent. stock, less duty and expenses.—Oct. 22. From Grand Hotel, Vevey, Switzer- land, £15. with the following letter: ‘Dear Sir, I enclose you my cheque for £15., the result of the accidental peru- sal yesterday, a very wet day, in the Reading Saloon of this Hotel, of Thirtieth Report of the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down. It is the cost, as you state, of the maintenance for the past year of one Orphan, and 4s. 6d. for the cost and postage of the first three parts of “‘ The Lord’s Dealings with yourself,” and which I shall be obliged by your forwarding to me at once to Hotel Me- tropole, Geneva, by Book-Post. Wishing you still greater : successes, I am your obliged friend and well-wisher ****.” Notice, esteemed Reader 1, How God, without my acting, or in the least even knowing about it, causes the 30th Report of this Institution to be directed to the Reading Saloon of the Grand Hotel, Vevey, Switzerland.” 2, That if is ordered by Him, that there should bea very wet day, whilst the donor was staying at that Hotel. 3, That he should be directed to the reading of this Report. 4, That he, an entire stranger to me, up to that moment, should have his heart inclined to send this donation. Is it not, then, obvious, how God is pleased to watch over this work, and, in answer to our daily supplications, is pleased to speak for us to the hearts of His stewards, and to incline them to send us help? If all my dear fellow believers would only exercise more faith in the power and willingness of God to help them, and not only commit their matters to Him, but leave them quietly and believ- ingly in His hands, they would most assuredly find, that He is willing and able, as Four Thousand Years ago, to help those who put their trust in Him.—From D. M. F. £3., with the following letter: “Sir, I bought a horse, which I had reason to think, soon after, would not suit , my purpose, and that perhaps would invole a serious loss. ! I resolved, that, if he went on well for 12 months, and answered my purpose, I would'send £3. The 12 months 344 [A.D. 1869. have elapsed, and the animal has turned out as satisfac tory as 1 could have wished, I therefore enclose you £8. Please appropriate it to the support of the Orphans. I am, respectfully, D. M. F.— Oct. 27. By sale of gold and silver articles, especially dentist gold, from artificial teeth set in gold, £90. Nov. 3. This morning a visitor in Bristol, who delights in the saying of our Lord Jesus, " It is more blessed to give than to receive," brought me One Thousand Pounds for the Orphans and Ten Pounds for myself. The Christian donor, who was up to this time an entire stran ger to me, had intended to buy and furnish a house with this money; but the Lord directed him, to give the money to me instead ; to which he joyfully replied : " Lord, all I have and am is Thine. I will gladly take this money to dear brother Miiller." You have in this, dear Reader, another precious proof, how God is pleased to delight in providing us with means, and how unbounded His resources are. Is it not well, then, to trust in Him to the full ? Verily it is, and we are, by His grace, purposed to do so yet more and more for everything. Dec. 1. £2. with the following letter: " Dear Sir, We walked to church on our wedding-day, therefore we are enabled to send you a cheque for £2., which would other wise have been spent in carriages. From yours very truly, John and Hannah." This donation is worthy of being noticed. 1, Is it not becoming the disciples of the Lord Jesus, who are continually in one way or other surrounded with poverty in the world and in the Church ; and who have continually opportunities to use their means for the Lord's work : to ask themselves, Is there an)' way, in which I may save something out of my expenditure for the poor and for the work of God ? Verily thus it should be, and thus it will be, whenever the heart goes out in personal attachment to the Lord Jesus. 2, Are we not, as the disciples of the Lord Jesus, in great danger, of being conformed to the ways of the world, in our mode of living, in our furniture, in our dress, in our spending otherwise much on ourselves ? This danger not only is obvious ; but alas 1 many of the children of God, though scarcely aware of it, it may be, are carried away by the tide of worldliness, so that, in the things referred to, there is scarcely the least difference between themselves and the A.D. 1870.] 345 world. Now this should not be so, and will not be so, if our Lord Jesus Himself is set before us as our pattern. By these remarks I do not mean to say, that the believers in the Lord Jesus should aim after singularity in their mode of living, etc., as if their religion consisted in this; yet, on the other hand, as " we are besought by the mercies of God, not to be conformed to the world, but to be trans formed by the renewing of our mind," the latter will not be the case, if we are like the world in the particulars which have been referred to. 3, Are the clear young couple, who sent the £2., the worse for having walked to church, instead of spending this money in hiring carriages ? Verily not ! 4, Is it not always well to make a good be ginning, and may we not say, that this is particularly important in beginning the marriage life ? Surely it is. I therefore commend " John and Hannah," and pray, that, as they have begun, so they will continue : and I trust that their example may not be quite lost on the reader.— Dec. 31. Ou this last day of the year, I received about 80 donations, amounting altogether to more than £200. In the course of this year, from Jan. 1, 1869, to Dec. 31, 1869, we admitted altogether 483 Orphans; and there were, in the same time, altogether 716 applied for. The reader will therefore see how great this work is, in caring for destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents by death ; for such only we receive. Jan. 1, 1870. As the Old Year had closed under the manifest help of God, so the New was made to open by the Lord with abundant help and blessing in the way of pecuniary supplies. Early in the morning I found in the letter-box of my house £1. Also £1. and 5s., £1. and 10s. Also 5s. There was given to me 12s., and £1. 1s. as the contents of an Orphan Box. In the course of the day I received further 133 donations, amounting alto gether to £660. Of these 133 donations I can only refer, for the sake of brevity, to a very few. £150., with £5. for myself from Clifton.—From London £20.—From Man chester £50.—From W. R. W. £100.—From a working party at Newton Abbot £23.—Jan. 6, 1870. This is the long-looked for day, and the long-prayed for day, when the last house also, the New Orphan House No. 5, could be opened.— Jan. 17. From Devonshire £136. 13s. 11d.— Feb. 4. £500. as the legacy of the late J. 8., Esq., Q 3 346 [a.D. 1870 of the county of Durham.—Feb. 11. From a believing Orphan, who nearly fifteen years since was sent out to service, £1.—£60. from the Bombay Presidency, from a Military Officer—Feb. 14. £200. as “ A gift from a friend in Hastings.’—From Ceylon £10.—Feb. 15. £15. as the legacy of the late Mrs. G. of Plymouth.—Feb. 16. £40. from Clevedon, as the proceeds of a Christmas Tree. —Feb. 20. Received the following letter from a Christian Orphan, who nearly 17 years since was sent to service, and who, about the same length of time, had been a be- liever: ‘‘Dear Sir, I write on behalf of several of the Orphans, who were formerly in the Orphan House, to ex- press our deep sorrow on the death of dear Mrs. Miiller, and to say, that, should you allow the Orphans to erect 2 stone over the grave, would you allow those of us, that_ esire, to contribute to it, as we feel that dear Mrs. uller was quite as much, and perhaps ev. m 3, than to those Orphans now in the Houses; so that many of us would esteem it a privilege to be able to do it, should you think it proper. May the Lord con- tinue to uphold and sustain you is our desire and prayer. With much gratitude for your kindness and love, we re- main, dear Sir, respectfully yours, Several Orphans.” [Then follows the name of the writer]. Almost imme- diately after the burial of the earthly remains of my beloved wife, I received a letter from one of the teachers, stating to me, that a number of the Orphans, now under our care, had requested permission, to contribute to a tomb-stone._ I gave this permission, be , because I thought it was good for those dear children to have an opportunity to show their love to one who ao affectionately and. so habit- ually “Bnd Perseveringly had Taboured for them like a mother. But scarce was this permission given, when hun- dreds of little offerings were brought to the teachers and matrons ; and when scores of contributions came in from Orphans once under our care, but who are now in service, and some for more than 25 years. These love tokens were so many, that they amounted to about four times as ft much as was. needed, my desire being not that a monument should be erected, but simply @ grave-Stone placed, with an inscription. But the love of these dear Orphans, mani- — fested on this sorrowful occasion, was very sweet. The letters of condolence also received from the Orphans alone, A.D. 1870.] 347 would fill a book. —Feb. 25. 10s. from a poor widow, with the following letter: ‘‘ Dear Sir, Will you be so kind as to accept this small token from me for a present, on account of two Orphans, that have been in the School, but now have left. I have been saving my rags for fourteen years, to do something for you, on account of keeping those two Orphans. Etc.” Notice, how the Lord not only helps by sending us Hundreds and Thousands of Pounds at once, but uses also the very poorest of the poor. Observe, here, in particular, how this poor widow saves her rags for four- teen years, to be able at last to send a trifle. Does it not show to the full, how even the very poorest persons may help the cause of Christ, if they are minded so to do ; and their mites, if given to the Lord from right motives, will be abundantly rewarded.—Feb. 26. From the neighbour- hood of London £290., with £10. for myself. : March 16. Received 10s. from one of the former Or- phans, who was apprenticed about 9 years since, and who has been a journeyman for nearly four years. He wrote thus, with his donation: “ Dear Sir, Will you please to receive. this 10s. for the Orphans. I am glad to be able to send to you once more, especially just after you have been deprived of dear Mrs. Miiller. Iam thankful, that the Lord has enabled you to bear this visitation not only with resig- nation, but even with holy joy, as being but the transition of God’s servant to her everlasting Home, for which she longed ‘with ardent pangs of strong desire,’ as Wesley ‘ writes, Hymn 582.—Dear Sir, I well remember, that, whenever I met Mrs. Miiller, when in the Home, it was always a kind word, or pat on the head, etc.; little things, some say, but still, such as men remember, that, when boys in a Charity School, it was to give the Home feeling. My brother wrote to me this week. In his letter isthe follow- — - ing: ‘I read in the Christian World of Mrs. Miiller’s death. It must be a great loss to Mr. Miller. I remem- ber the last time I saw her, was when I was leaving the School. She gave me some Tracts, talked to me, and kissed me,’ and I have no doubt all the Orphans could give similar little items; enough to fill a book. Thank God, one more of His chosen has reached her rest.— Dear Sir, I am still trying to walk with God through much weakness. He still helps me, and by His grace may I stand fast in the faith, and be strong even to the end.— 348 [A.D. 1870. Praying for special blessings for this special trial on your self and dear Miss Miiller, and with grateful thanks to yourself and all the kind friends at the Orphan House, who have taken much pains with my brother and self, I remain, dear Sir, your grateful Orphan,* * * *."—The writer had been a believer two years and six months, before he left in August, 1861.—March 22. Received 11s 1½d. from a charwoman and a poor needlewoman, who put aside Id. out of each shilling which they earn.— March 28. From Walton-on-Thames £45., with £5. for myself.—From Tasmania £10. April 8. £5. from Catania, Sicily.—Apr. 13. From one of the former Orphans, now for about twenty years in service, £1. I think she has sent perhaps fifty donations, since she left our care.— Received the following letter, from one of the former Orphans, a young man who had just served out faithfully his time, and to whom we had sent his indentures : " Dear and Respected Sir, It affords me the greatest pleasure, in being able again to thank you for all the great kindness you bestowed on me, while an inmate of the Orphan House. I especially thank you for all the instruction I received, while an inmate of that happy home, both temporal and spiritual, but especially spiritual. I can now see, what a great blessing it is, to know Jesus as our Saviour and Redeemer ; and my heart burns with love and gratitude to you, while I write these lines to you ; and I pray God, that your valuable life may be spared for many years to come.—I received the inden tures quite safe this morning, and thank you very much for sending them. Will you please to remember me to Mr. L, and all the dear masters. I remain dear Sir, yours very respectfully, * * * *."—From Bohemia 5 florins.—Apr. 30. From Devonshire £40., to meet the expenses connected with supplying the Orphan Houses with water. May 11. Legacy of the late Mrs. P. of London £19. 19s., with £19. 19s. formyself—May 13. " From a willing giver £52., with £10. for myself.—May 16. From India £20. —May 17. £1. 13s. " Instead of paying insurance against accident, as the donor had paid for eight years."—Legacy of the late Mrs. S. of Edinburgh £100., with £10. for myself.—May 20. From Ceylon £4. 10s —May 21. From Scotland £50.—I have thus referred to a very few donations, out of the thousands, which were received A.D. 1870.] 349 in the year from May 26, 1869 to May 26, 1870, to show to the reader the mode, in which it pleased the Lord to help us during that year also, with pecuniary supplies ; and we enter now upon tlfe year from May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, during which we had altogether Two Thousand and Thirty Orphans under our care. June 14, 1870. £45. as the legacy of the late Mr. J. 8. near Hereford.—June 15. £36. as the legacy of the late Mrs. M. G.—June 20. £4. 10s. from one of the former Orphans, a Christian young man, in a very respectable business position.—June 22. £19. 19s. as the legacy of the late Mrs. M. P.—June 25. One Thousand Pounds as the legacy of the late W. R., Esq. This gentleman was an entire stranger to me. I had not heard even his name, during his lifetime ; but after his death it was found, that he had left £1000. for the benefit of the Orphans on Ashley Down. This is just one of the many ways, in which the Lord was pleased to carry me through the heavy expenses of the past year. How blessed, to have God on our side, who has the hearts of all in His hands.—From Swiizerland, 15 Francs, 100 Francs and a gold ring and brooch.—June 27. £5. 16s. from Cape Town.—June 29. From Tahiti, South Seas, £5. July 16. From a Christian Dressmaker in Ireland £1. 3s. 3d., being two pence on each dress she makes.— From New South Wales £15.—From Somersetshire anonymously fifteen £20. Honduras Goverment Railway Bonds, which were sold out at £233. 12s. 6d. Just look, esteemed Reader, at these three last donations, and see in what a variety of ways the Lord supplies me. Here is this Christian dressmaker, working, and working hard ; but God put it into her heart, to lay aside two pence out of the pay ment for each dress for the benefit of the Orphans. This gentleman in New South Wales, an entire stranger to me, as is the Christian dressmaker, sends £15. from that great distance, to help me iu this work. And lastly this kind anonymous donor who sent these Honduras Bonds. In these and similar ways the Lord has been pleased to sup ply me with means, in answer to prayer, for 40 years ; and though now the expenses of the whole work are so great, as that the average expenses of all the various objects of the Institution, amount to One Hundred and Ten Pounds for each of the 365 days in the year ; yet I am supplied 350 [4.D. 1870. with what I need.—July 19. Anonymously £100.—July 21. Legacy of the late Miss T. £88. 10s. 4d.—Aug. 10. To-day I had the great joy of receiving a letter from California, from a young man, one of the former Orphans, who, after giving sorrow and pain to us for a considerable time, now is brought to the knowledge of the Lord. Thus our prayers regarding him have been turned into praises.— Aug. 12. From Switzerland 106 Francs.—Aug. 13. From the county of Durham £100.—Aug. 16. £4. 5s. 6d. from a hard working Christian man, with a very large family, put aside by little and little, as the Lord prospered him.— From a Christian gentleman in London £10., with the following statement: “ Dear Mr. Miller, I am thankful to be able to enclose you a cheque for £10. for the Orphans, from the little fund I regularly put aside and recognize as the Lord’s. Certainly the way He has prospered my path has been most marked, ever since I have adopted the plan of systematic giving.” Etc.—Aug. 17. From London a diamond ring.—Aug. 19. Ancnymously, in a registered parcel, Turkish Bonds for £700. and 10 Shares of the “ Italian Irrigation Canal Company.” This donation ob- viously came from the same kind unknown donor, who sent the Honduras Government Railway Bonds. See how God { helps! The work is great and becoming greater and i greater, and therefore the expenses also increase more and i more; but God is able to keep pace with our necessities, } in sending supplies. And this we experienced during no period more, than during the last twelve months.— £100. as the legacy of the late J. S., Esq. of Exeter, through his widow. This lady needed not to have paid this legacy, as it only actually fell due after her death; but she very kindly paid it to the Institution, as she had the means so to do.—Sept. 24. Received the following valuable articles of - jewellery, left by a lady who had fallen asleep in Clifton ; 2 gold chains, 3 diamond rings, 1 gold ring set with eme- ralds, 2 ditto with pearls, 5 other gold rings, 19 gold brooches, 6 silver brooches, 4 other brooches, an eye-glass gold mounted, a pair of gilt bracelets, and a gilt enamel- led chain.—Sept. 27. £1. from one of the former Orphans. On this day I had many affectionate letters from Orphans, both those now under our care, and others long in service or out as apprentices, expressing their love and good wishes on the anniversary of my birthday ; many of these A.D. 1870.] 351 letters contained also money for missions or the Orphans, Oct. 7. Legacy of the late Mr. A. E. of Scotland £48. 108. 10d.—Oct. 10. Legacy of the late Mr. A. T. of Scotland £3. 8s. 6d.—Oct. 11. From Edinburgh £100. —Oct. 18. £4. 7s. Od., with the following interesting letter: ‘“‘ Dear Sir, At the close of December last, I was staying one Sunday at the Castle Hotel, ——-—, and after dinner took up one of your Reports, which was lying on the table, and read portions of it. I was struck by the number of cases in which persons had been led to practise acts of self-denial, so that the Orphans might be benefited. I at once thought whether there was not some way, in which, by exercising a little self-denial, I might contribute to the Orphans’ support. After a little reflection I deter- mined, that I would discontinue to conform to the usual rule in the Commercial-Room, that of taking wine with dinner, and instead I would pay extra for my dinner proper (this being usual when no wine is taken) and give the probable amount saved to the funds of the Orpban In- ' stitution. I have only taken an occasional short journey in Wales, and circumstances have occurred to terminate my engagement with the Firm I travelled for. Iwas 58 days travelling on business in Wales, since I made the deter- mination, and I thik 1s. 6d. per day will be about the average amount saved. I therefore have great pleasure in enclosing Post Office Order for £4. 7s. Od., and am thank- ful that I was led, by God’s Holy Spirit, to make the de- termination I did. If I should ever travel again, and use the Commercial-Room, I intend to act in the same way. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely, * * * *.”—Oct. 21. From the British Museum I received £1. 3s. 4d. with the following statement: ‘‘I wish to follow the good example set by two char-women, mentioned in your lust Report, who contributed to the great work on Ashley Down a penny out of every shilling they had earned. I beg to enclose a Post Office Order for One Pound Three Shillings and Four Pence, being one penny out of every shilling I have re- ceived for my last month’s work.” Oct. 28. From Guern- sey £113. 18s. 8d.—This kind donor at Guernsey is an entire stranger to me. Iam not acquainted with one out of twenty donors ; but God speaks for me to the hearts of His stewards, and so it comes, that, with the constant in- crease of the work, year by year, we are helped. The 352 [A.D. 1870. blessedness of real heart acquaintance with God is in describable. " They that know Thy name will ptit their trust in Thee." Psalm ix. 10. As assuredly as we know for ourselves the power of God, the love of God, the wis dom of God, and His readiness, yea, the delight of His heart to help us in all things, which are for His honour and glory, so we do trust in Him. It is one thing to say I trust in God ; and it is another, really so to do. If the latter is the case, we shall surely be helped. And so it comes, that, though we were at the ends of the earth and none knew about our case, we should be helped by God ; for He knows about us. Though there were war, and famine, and the greatest mercantile depression, we should be helped ; for God is the Living God, and above all this. Though one friend after another should fail us, through circumstances, through death, through alienation of heart ; if we have God on our side, and are able to look to Him, we have an ever living Almighty Friend : and therefore are not, cannot be forsaken. Seek, esteemed Reader, to know the blessedness of all this for yourself, and it will make you unspeakably happy. You will then be free in deed, and independent of circumstances. During no year we had needed more means, than during the year from May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871 ; and humanly speaking, there was no prospect to obtain this increased amount ; yet during no year we abounded more, than during that year, though the total amount expended for all the various ob jects amounted to £38,794. 9s. 9d. Though provisions were so dear ; though so much was sent to relieve the dis tress in France ; yet God helped us, because, by His grace, we trusted in Him. It must not be said here, I have no such work to do as Mr. Miiller is engaged in, and there fore it cannot be expected that I should trust in God, as !he does. It is indeed quite true, that not all persons are called by God to establish Orphan Houses or Charity Schools, or aid Missionary Operations on a large scale, or to be engaged in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts on a large scale ; nevertheless, all Children of God should in child-like simplicity depend upon the power, love, wisdom and all the other attributes of God, as their par ticular cases and circumstances, in their various positions in life, call for it ; and, in doing so, they will find God just as much to be their helper, as we find Him to be our helper, A.D. 1870 ] 353 and have proved Him as such for more than forty years. But should any one read this who as yet is out of Christ, and therefore not reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, then’ let me affectionately say to such an one, the first and most important thing before you is, to believe the Gospel. You are a sinner, you deserve punish- ment and nothing but punishment; for yon have gone your own way, you have lived to yourself. You may have been moral, industrious, kind to your fellow-men, and most amiable; but you have not set God before you, you have not lived to Him; and the chief of all His commandments, to believe the Gospel, and to receive and obey the Gospel, -you have neglected. Therefore pass sentence upon your- self, as one who deserves nothing but punishment, and now at the last put your trust in the Substitute, whom God so graciously provided for the sinner, in the person of His only-begotten Son, whom in our room and stead He pun- ished, and who shed His precious blood for the remission — of our sins. Nov. 10. From Southport £20.—Nov. 11. Legacy of the late J. 8., Esq., £87. 10s.—Nov. 15. From South- port £90., with £10. for myself—£200. in Turkish Bonds of 1869.—Nov. 16. From London £62. 10s. for the support of five Orphans for one year, with £10. for myself. The kind donor supports as many Orphans as he has children of .' his own, and has increased the number of Orphans for support, as the Lord has been pleased to increase the number of his own children. See, esteemed Reader, in . what a variety of ways God works for the Orphans. Have Him on your side, and you are provided for. You would naturally say, the greater number of our children, the less ' one could afford to support Orphans; but here it is the reverse. Thus I have found it many, many times, that God helps in the most unlooked-for way.— By sale of diamonds, gold and silver watches, jewellery, plate, dentist-gold, etc., £140. Dec. 7. Received from a wholesale house, 40 half boxes of Valencias.—Dec. 8. From a wholesale house 7 barrels of flour, 12 boxes of Valencias and 1 barrel of currants for Christmas puddings for the Orphans. It is a little item, to make one or two Christmas puddings in a family; but very different this little item, when about Two Thousand persons are to be considered, and, especially, as it is my 351 [A.D. 1870. , that, while it is to be kept before these dear children, that they will have to work for their bread hereafter, yet that they should have as happy and pleasant a recollection of the Home of their childhood, as their position in life allows. Whenever the very smallest treat is given, it always involves an outlay of a considerable sum, as so many hundreds are to be treated ; for we desire to do nothing by partiality. —Dec. 14. From Holland £25.— From Sussex £'2. as " the proceeds of one vine in a new vinery, set apart for the Orphans."—Dec. 16. From New Jersey £54. 13s. 1d. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I enclose you a draft on Glasgow for £54. 13s. 1d., given to you for the Orphan Houses, by E. W. at K., New Jersey, a minister of the Gospel. He is sick at present, and is very desirous of doing good. Remember him in your prayers," etc. Here is another instance how, from entire strangers, not only, but from the most un likely quarters, the Lord is pleased to supply me with means for His work.—Dec. 20. .Received £2. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, Christmas having nearly come round again, I am thankful to say I am again able to send you my little Christmas present towards the children's treat. It is but a small amount I know, when I think of the immense quantity you require for the thousands you have to pro vide for ; yet I know you will take it of me. I hope you are quite well, with Miss Miiller, and that Miss Groves is again better in her health. Will you please to take £1. 10s. for the Orphans, and 10s. for yourself. Trusting you may be spared to us for many years to come, I remain, yours respectfully, * * * *." The writer was among the first ten Orphans received more than thirty-eight years since, and was brought to the knowledge of the Lord above thirty years ago, and has during these thirty years walked in the ways of the Lord, greatly to our comfort, and has filled the position of a very respectable servant, for many years in the same situation.—Dec. 21. Received anony mously from " a mechanic," in Gloucestershire, £4. with following letter : " Sir, after reading your Report of the Orphan Schools last year, I felt inclined to try to save a little money myself, towards the support of the children ; so I considered what way I could do it, and I suggested to myself, if I have done with a pint of beer a day, it - A.D. 1871.] 355 would amount to something in a year ; so, by God's help, I have been enabled to save Four Pounds, for which sum I have enclosed a Post- Office Order. If you would be kind enough to accept it towards some pudding for the Orphans on Christmas day, I should feel obliged. From your sincere well-wisher, A Mechanic."—Dec. 26. £,'1. 12s. 11d. from Liverpool, with the following state ment : " Dear Sir, Mrs. desired me to send you the Post-Office Order for the enclosed amount, £2. 12s. 11d. for your Orphans. She is a widow, not by any means in affluent circumstances, but who " out of her necessity " has done what she could. A year ago I sent you for her a few shillings only. Your annual Report came at an opportune time. The future appeared to be a gloomy one for her, but your Report comforted her, increased her faith, and stimulated her to determine to do something more for the Master. She resolved thus, that, of the gross proceeds of her business, two pence in the pound should be set apart for your Orphans, and, in addition to this, the entire gross proceeds of the 16th December sales (the anniversary day on which she engaged in business), the total amount you have an enclosed Post-Office Order for. She desires to record her gratitude to Almighty God in that He has preserved her, prospered her in business, brought her out of many and deep afflictions, and in a peculiar manner made her a subject of the Divine favour, etc."—Dec. 31. From a builder at a great distance £10., being £\. for every house he sold during the past year. In the previous year he had sent £6., being likewise £1. for each house he had then sold.—From Clifton £150., with £5. for myself.— Ditto from Clifton £25.—From a gentleman of title in Somersetshire £80., with £20. for myself.—From Swansea £15. 15s. 6d.—There came in altogether this last day of the year for the support of the Orphans £367. As the old year had closed under most manifest help from the Lord, so the new year again commenced. There were found early in the letter-box at my house £2. 2s., 2s. 6d., 3s., £1., £1., and 5s. After having taken this out of the letter box, I received £2. 2s. as the contents of an Orphan Box, also 5s. and 12s.—Received on Jan. 2, 1871. £50. from the North of England, £60. from one of the Midland Counties. There were many donations be sides received.— Jan. 4. From Sussex £52. 10s. with the 356 [A.D. 1871. following letter: " Dear Mr. Muller, I enclose a cheque, value £52. 10s. Please take £2. 10s. for your own use and £50. for the Orphans. The love of Christ has con strained the sender to live not to himself, but to Him who died for him and rose again, etc.''—Jan. 11. Received Ten Guineas from a donor who has repeatedly given similar dona tions, and who was a scholar in the first of the Day Schools of the Institution for Boys in the year 1834. —£37. from Christians meeting at the Sand Area Chapel, Kendal. — Jan. 31. A Christian lady sent me 2s. 6d. from a very poor woman, with the following letter : " My dear Chris tian Friend, A very suffering and much tried poor woman, whom I have loved for 9^ years and been indulged by ministering to her necessities, her dear husband's and many little ones, came to see me in my affliction, which has confined me for more than a month, and I found she wanted to tell me of the deep exercise of her mind. She had felt how very gracious the Lord had been to her soul, her dear afflicted husband's, and at least to two of her living children, as well as to several now with the Lord ; and the question arose, what can I do for Him ? She wanted to prove her love ; He had proved His. As to money, her husband has uot been able to earn one shilling for more than 3 years, suffering from consumption and asthma, and she was obliged to give up going out as a charwoman, etc. through his illness, as he often brings up quantities of blood, and at times death seems near. The Parish allows him 3s. 6d. a week, and her 1s. 6d. as his nurse; this is all, except what the Lord's people con tribute. She told me, she felt she must give a little of their little to the Lord (they have one delicate child to support). What ought she to give? She thought, a halfpenny of every shilling she had given her, and believed the Lord could bless 11 -^d. and make it go as far as 1s. Satan strove hard to dissuade her, but by prayer she triumphed. Then the words " First fruits of all thy in crease " came with power. What ? of the weekly Parish money ? Could she, ought she ? Such a struggle followed, she had not any sleep that night ; but she was made more than conqueror, for she felt she would do so and with assur ance of the Lord's acceptance. She named it to her husband, and he was quite willing ; so last evening she gave me with delight 2s. 6d., which she asked me to send to A.D. 1871.] 357 ' dear Mr. Miiller ' for the Lord's service. The contest, as she described it, seemed so real with the enemy, and the victory was so triumphant, that the 2s. 6d. seems like spoil won in battle, etc." Feb. 8. The following letter, received with a donation of £2. 10s. from a great distance, I insert as a warning : " Dear Sir, I enclose an order for £2. 10s. to help you in your great undertaking. I formerly contributed a trifle, and promised to continue the same ; but I thought I could not spare the paltry 5s. per week, as I thought I saw the way to become rich, by scraping every shilling together, to speculate with, forgetting my solemn promise to God, to give the 5s. per week. Now the result is, it has caused me to lose my piety to God, and then I commenced to guzzle day and night, so in one day I spent more than 5s. Instead of becoming rich, I have lost hundreds, and am now a miser able backslider. Money is gone, and God's love out of the heart. Oh, what a blank ! But I do hope in His mercy, that He will restore unto me the joy of His salvation. I purpose from my heart to give yon 2d. from every shilling that comes into my hands, while I hold my present situa tion, and no more to guzzle while I live, but you shall have the mone£ Excuse this scrawl, dear Sir. Believe me to remain, yours truly, * * * *." Will the Christian reader kindly read over this letter again, and seek to be benefited by it. May I also intreat the Christian reader to unite with me in prayer for the writer of this letter, that God would restore to him the joy of His salvation. He used to send tome for a long time donations of 5s., 10s., 15s., £1.; but all at once this ceased, and did so for along time ; and the letter gives the reason.—Feb. 23. From Scotland £100.—From the North of Devon £50.—From Cape Town £5. 1s. 6d.— Feb. 25. By deed of gift a small property, in one of the Midland Counties. Houses, lands, or every thing else which conies under the name of real property cannot be left by will to Charitable Institutions, though such property may, in the life-time of the donor, by deed of gift, be made over to such Institutions. By will, only personal property may be left to charities. Many persons are not aware of this, and thus it has occurred that their kind intentions have in part, or altogether, failed. It was on this account that I had drawn out a form for leaving a legacy which has been printed, and will be found on the . 358 [a.D. 1871. last page of the Reports.—Left at my house £35. and a gold chain. March 15. From Liverpool, from a Christian gentleman and lady, who had it laid upon them, to give up their jewellery, a gold breast pin, set with a carbuncle and a diamond, a large gold brooch, 8 other brooches, a gold chain, 2 gold Albert chains, 2 gold lockets, a gold watch key, 4 gold rings, 2 gold studs, 2 gold pencil-cases, 2 silver ditto, a pair of links, a watch hoook, a silver vinaigrette, a silver fruit knife and 3 jet ornaments. Will this gentleman and lady be losers by giving up these articles? Will they have Scriptural cause to regret to have done so? Verily not. Ifall the gold and silver articles, the diamonds and other precious stones, which are now in the possession of the disciples of the Lord Jesus -were laid down at His ‘| feet, how many Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds would :| thus at once be furnished for the work of God, or for the | poor disciples of our Lord! Thousands of Pounds I have obtained by the sale of such articles. Thousands of Pounds likewise by the sale of other articles, which individuals did not need, and sent them for the benefit of the Institution. April 6. From Scotland 18s. as ‘‘ Proceeds of Orphan’s Bee Hive.” — Received 3s. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, Mary U—— wishes me to forward to you three shillings in stamps, as a token of her heart-felt gratitude for your very great kindness to her three grand-children M. A. U., E. U., and E. U.—Mary U. is living in one of the Alms Houses, and is 86 years of age. She has been four years saving this small sum. Yours respectfully * ***.” I take pleasure in referring to these little donations, con- tributed out of the depth of poverty; for they too are the result of the heart and hand of God exerted on our behalf, in answer to our daily supplications—April 8. ‘‘ A cob- bling shoe-maker long desired to send something for the support of the Orphans on Ashley Down; his work, how- ever, was very slack, and he cried earnestly to God for 1000 pairs of shoes to repair, within 12 months, promising to send a farthing per pair for the Orphans. His prayer @was answered, and he has much joy in sending the £1. 0s. 10d.” Here esteemed reader you have another instance of the variety of ways in which God is pleased to supply me with means.—Received on the same day from one of the Midland Counties £60. and from Sussex £100.— A.D. 1871.] 359 April 14. From Switzerland 200 Francs from various donors.—May 17. Legacy of the late J. A., Esq. £5,000., with £196. 13s. 4d., being the interest at 4 per cent., for one year, less property tax. Thus, in one sum, I received £5196. 13s. 4d. as a legacy. The receipt of this amount I felt especially gracious of the Lord ; for the expenses of late have been extremely great. During the past week I had paid out altogether, for the various objects of the Institution, about £1500. The kind testator I had never seen, though he had many times sent me £10. at a time.— May 22. Received 2s. 11d., being a half penny out of every shilling a poor woman had earned by washing. I have thus, as specimens, referred to some of the dona tions, which were given towards the support of the Two Thousand and Thirty Orphans, who were during the year, from May 26, 1870, to May 26, 1871, under our care. We enter now upon the next year, from May 26, 1871, to May 26, 1872, during which we had Two Thousand One Hundred and Five Orphans under our care. The expenses of the year, for the Orphan work alone, amounted to £25,190. 12s. 5½d. I will now refer to a very few in stances as to the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means. May 30. To-day was received £5. with the following lines :—" Please accept the enclosed from a foreign traveller, as a slight proof of his sympathy for the great and good work under your charge." June 1. Legacy of the late Miss S. S., £34. 15s. 8d. and some old silver spoons.—June 9. £60. from one of the Midland Counties. £50. from Kent. —June 10. • Keceived £1. from the neighbourhood of Lichfield, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I am thankful to have the opportunity of sending you £1. It is the Lord's money, and I thank Him for it. As my brother had left a few pounds, after his death, and it seemed difficult for me to get it, I told the Lord all about it, and told Him, if it was His will that I should have it, I would send you £1. for the dear Orphans. And so it came to me in a very easy way. l now send this as the Lord's money and not mine. Your humble Servant * * * *."— June 12. £10. as " A thank-offering for the recovery of my dear wife after a severe illness, and for our little daughter, born on 360 [A.D. 1871. 14th Feb." —June 19. From a gentleman at Liverpool £20. " saved by not smoking cigars last year." July 8. The following letter was received from a young man, a former Orphan, who had honourably served out his time as an apprentice, and to whom, therefore, his in dentures were sent, on the receipt of which he wrote : " Dear and honoured Sir, It is my delight and privilege once more to write to you a note, the expression of my most grateful thanks to you, my kind benefactor, for having placed another helpless Orphan in the way of procuring for himself an honest livelihood, and of being a respectable and useful member of society. 1 am one, dear Sir, among the hundreds, who will have to praise God, through the countless ages of eternity, for the wondrous way in which He has used your most useful and beneficial life. May your life, dear Sir, be still long spared, that many more of the helpless Orphans of Great Britain may be placed in the way of finding a way through the rugged paths of life ; but, above all, of finding One who will guard them and guide them and take them to that land where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. Since I have been at C , I have joined the Church, where about forty years ago you preached a sermon. The superintendent of the Sunday School re members it well. I have been taught by your life, dear Sir, that there is something truly noble and grand for a man to live for; there is nought more noble than the cause for which you have spent and are still spending your valuable life, and for which cause I hope to spend mine, namely the cause of Christ. Will you please accept the most grateful thanks of an Orphan, for having placed me with a kind master and mistress, with whom I have learnt the trade of decorating [painter, paper-hanger, etc.] With deepest respect to Mr. W., Mr. F., Mr. 8. and to all who work in so great a work, believe me, dear Sir, yours most gratefully, * • * *." The writer had been nineteen months a believer, before he was apprenticed. This letter shows, that the work of God begun in his heart at the Orphan House, had been carried on. —-July 10. As the legacy of the late J. S. S., Esq., a gold watch, chain and key.—July 11. £50. as the legacy of the late Miss A. V. H.—July 19. £100. as the legacy of the Late Mrs. S. G.—July 29. Several months since there was given to A.D. 1871.] 361 me, for the benefit of the Orphans, by deed of gift, during the lifetime of the owner, some property at West Malvern. This property was disposed of for £500., and to-day the payment received. Oct. 20, 1871. From Austria £3.—Oct. 21. A diamond ring, which cost the donor £88. 16s., when bought. Nov. 1. From a gentleman residing in Lqndon £250.— From D. R. £3. 19s. 10d. Also from D. R. £20. 15s. bd., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, It was my departed mother's wish that I should send £20. to the Lord's Orphans. It was. her early savings, when she was in service. She had kept it by her in case of need, which need never arose, and she saw the Lord had provided me, her only surviving child, the means of a livelihood, and she wished to devote her early savings to Him. And now the divine word, which applies to me, is briefly this, " Defer not to pay it." From my mother's charity box 15s. 8d., etc.—Another remarkable instance how the Lord provides us with means. This money, in all probability, judging from her age, had been kept for about forty years, and now it comes to the Orphans. Thus once an aged servant sent £200., the whole of her savings for nearly 40 years, the Lord having given her, through the death of her mistress, a small annuity. —From W. O. B., in Holland, 25 florins.— Nov. 2. Legacy of the late Miss S. D. £39. 16s. 9d.—Nov. 8. £2. 11s. 3d. from several young ladies, by sale of young canaries. — Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans, who was many years since sent to service, and who is now married, with the following letter: "Dear and Respected Sir, Will you please to accept the enclosed 10s. for the dear Orphans. The sum is a mere trifle, and my heart as well as that of my dear husband would willingly send more, would our income allow it. His wages are 22s. per week, and we put a little of it regularly away for this purpose and to meet the expenses we have to meet in connection with the church we are in fellowship with. We have 3 little ones, the oldest is nearly six years old now. We have just begun sending him to school. We also make it a practice of putting away one penny in the shilling of any overtime money my husband may make at his work ; and some times we turn over a little trade money in blankets and flocks. I tell you these little things, as I know your kind B 362 [A,D. 1871. interest in all of us who have heen under your kind fatherly care in the dear Orphan Houses in past years. My late mistress was in Bristol during the past summer. She came to see me on her return and told me she had had the pleasure of speaking to you. I wish I could have such an opportunity. I hope I may some day yet," etc.—Nov. 1 1 . From a Christian dressmaker in Ireland £1., being 4d. out of every dress made by her.—Nov. 14. By sale of diamonds, gold and silver articles, dentist gold, coins, etc. £152. 10s.—Nov. 15. From near London £290., with £10. for myself.—Nov. 17. From Diisseldorf, Rhenish Prussia, £5.—Nov. 20. From Bombay £10.—Nov. 27. Received £13. for the support of one Orphan for one year, with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, Enclosed is cheque, value thirteen pounds, for the support of one Orphan for one year. D. V. I will try and send the cheque in October for the future. I have just been reading part of my diary, kept in South Africa, where I had gone in search of health. I enclose a copy, thinking it would give you some little pleasure, snowing how wonderfully our Father in heaven provides for His Orphans under your care. May the Lord bless and keep you always for Jesus' sake. Yours very truly * * * *." I now transcribe the extract from the above donor's diary, to which he refers : " Dec. 30, 1869. Fearing I may not have placed it in writing, I have promised God to send, or rather support, one of the Orphans every year at Bristol. £13. it takes for each of the Orphans, and should it be the Lord's will to take me to Himself, with out allowing me to return to you, my own dearest wife, let the above wish be granted. Send as long as you live, and can spare it, every year £13. Address your letter to Mr. George Miiller, New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol ; or to Mr. Miiller's private address, 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol." I make the following remarks in connexion with this letter : 1, It furnishes another proof, in addition to the many thousands I have had before, how God is mindful of the work. In this case He speaks in South Africa to His child, who is there in search of health, to remember the Orphans in Bristol. If we have God on our side ; if we seek to please Him ; if we really do His work ; if indeed we seek His honour and not our own ; we may reckon upon His help, and shall A.D. 1871.] 363 not be disappointed. Let the reader, therefore, seek to fulfil these conditions, in order to be able to reckon on the help of God. 2, Like this donor, as has been shown before, other donors have very kindly sent the yearly average expenses of one Orphan or more, and in two instances the donors have each kindly sent the average expenses for six Orphans. In this way, out of the 2105 Orphans, who were during this year under our care, al together 46 were thus provided for. Dec. 26. Received £12. 6s. 9s., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, it rejoices my heart, to have the opportunity of sending you the enclosed cheque for £12. 6s. 9d., at the request of Mrs. . Since I last wrote to yon, God has wonderfully prospered His servant, as the enclosed abundantly testifies. She is engaged in the Boot and Shoe trade, and determined (as before intimated to you) to devote of the entire gross proceeds two pence in the pound, and the entire proceeds of the anniversary day's sales. The last anniversary was on Saturday last, the principal day of business in the week. For a moment she hesitated as to the wisdom .of relinquishing the entire of Saturday's sale, but the hesitation was only momentary. She gladly sends you the enclosed, believing that the pro portion set apart for the benefit of the Orphans will be abundantly returned. Accept it as a thank-offering for many and great mercies, received from the covenant hand of a loving, beneficent Father. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours in Christ, * * * *." The donor of the above is a widow, who trusts in God, and contributes as the Lord prospers her, and who is repaid by the Lord.— From Swansea £1. 10s. 5d., "As a penny a day for 12 months for the Orphans."— Five shillings were left at my house with the following anonymous letter : " Dear and honoured Sir, I beg the liberty of writing to ask, if you will be so kind as to accept the enclosed five shillings for the dear Orphans, as a thank-offering to the Lord for great mercies, it being sixpence out of every five shillings, earned by knit ting and crochet work, since March last, on a bed of weakness and suffering and trial ; but the Lord is good, and has not left me unprovided for, and believing that He will not, I feel it ' more blessed to give than to receive.' Wishing you, dear Sir, many happy returns of the season, and much blessing in your good work of faith and labour R 2 364 [4-D. 1872. of Jove, I remain, Yours sincerely in bonds of Christian love.”—Dec. 27. From a servant at L. 2s. 6d., after re- ceiving her quarter’s wages. Year by year, for many years now, this same donor has, in the same way, helped in sup- porting the Orphans.— Dec. 28. From Tobago £2. 48.— Dec. 30. Three pounds from Scotland, with the following letter: ‘‘ Dear Sir, The enclosed is a Post-office Order for three pounds, which you will please accept, and apply it for the support of the many Orphans under your care. ‘ Blessed is he that considereth the poor.’ I may state that I commenced two years ago to set apart a certain sum per pound of my weekly drawings for the Lord’s cause, and that since that time, to. the honour of His name I can say it, I have been more than ever blessed in my business and other ways. Yours fraternally, * * * *.” Jan. 1, 1872. The new year on which the Lord has allowed us to enter, has brought new blessings and help from the Lord. The donations, which were received, were very many. I received quite early this morning 6s, and 10s.; also #1., as the contents-of an Orphan box; and through the letter box at my house £5., and £1. 6s. 6d.; likewise £1., also 10s. Of the donations, which came in this day besides, I only mention the following: From a Working Party at Newton Abbot £38.—From Clifton £150., with £5. for myself.—Jan. 8. From a house of: business, in which it was decided to do business only on the ready-money system from Jan. Ist, £58. 19s. 4d., being the takings of the first day.—Jan. 5. £1. 2s. 4d., the takings of a little shop on Jan. 1st.—Jan. 10. From a poor widow £1. 10s., with the following letter: ‘ Dear Sir, I have sent you £1. 10s., which I have been saving for two years and four months, one penny out of a shil- ling, from the income of a little infant school. Iam a widow, with five fatherless children, and three years ago I had a severe attack of illness, and was afraid I should have to leave my children; and when I read one of your Reports and heard of your kindness to Orphan-children; I found great comfort. And now it has pleased God to give me my health again, which I am very thankful for, and I wished to help you a little, and it has given me great pleasure to get this little sum of money together for you. Please accept this little sum, and use it for what purpose yuu think best. Iam, Sir, Yours respectfully, * * * #,” | A.D. 1872. ] 365 Jan. 80. Received £1. 10s. from Cockatoo Gold Diggings, near Talbot, Victoria, with the following letter: ‘ Dear Sir, Some time ago, one of your Reports, by some means or other, was brought into our tent; and_when reading it over to my wife and children, how you had the care of so many children, and in what manner you obtained food for them, we all thought we should like to contribute our mite. ' So please to accept of the few shillings, we have, by dint’ of perseverance, saved. We have been a long time about it, but never mind, here it is ; and may God’s blessing still. continue to descend on you and yours. From yours affec- tionately * * * * and family.” Feb. 2. From Manchester £50.—Feb. 6. £12. 128. 6d. “ From a believer, whose abstinence from intoxicating drinks and tobacco, enables him to defray the cost of an Orphan’s support, without prejudice to other obligations.” March 8. A gentleman and lady at a considerable dis- tance, personally unknown to me, whose property had been increased, kindly sent me £450. for the Orphans and £50. for myself.—March 13. From Ceylon £3.—March 16. From the neighbourhood of London £300.—March 19. From one of the Midland Counties £50.—March 26._ £135. as the legacy of the late Mrs. S. C. May 4. Received £1. 5s. 6d., with the following com- munication : ‘“ Please accept the enclosed forthe Orphans, I am a commercial traveller, and as last month the rail- way companies put third class on every train, I resolved to give you what I saved by the alteration during the month.”—May 11. From Lancashire £20., ‘‘ Saved by not smoking any cigars during the last year.”—-Legacy of the late Miss C. H. S. £45.—Received 5s. with the following letter, from an Orphan formerly under our care: ‘ Dear and Respected Sir, it is with heartfelt gratitude I write this letter to you, and thank you for all your kind- ness to us children. Five of us have been under your fatherly care, and are now scattered jn different parts of England, ahd I trust are doing well at present, the Lord helping us. I do hope your valuable life may be spared . many years yet, to be the Orphan’s friend. Will you please to accept my huntble thanks for the Report you so kindly sent me last year. I have enclosed a small mite to do what you think best with. Although so small, I feel you . will accept it from one of the many thousands, that will 366 [a.D. 1872. never be able to thank you enough for all your kind- ness, whilst under your care. Please remember me to Mrs. Wright, Miss Groves and all the teachers at No. 2. Allow me still to remain your humble and grateful Orphan ****”_In connexion with this letter I would state, which may not be known to all the readers, that we do not receive merely one Orphan out of a family, but 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. We have repeatedly, as in the case of the writer of this letter, received five children from the same family, and delight in being able so to do, in order that the children of the same parents may yet remain near each other, and that there may not be one only in an Orphan Home and _ the others in Unions. This, of course, can only be done, as long as we have vacancies.—In reading the previous pages, it may have come into the mind of one and the other of the readers, that it is an easy matter to carry on such 8 work, seeing that so much is coming in for it. To such I would state the following: 1, The pecuniary require- ments are not all the need. There are great, and many, and varied difficulties besides; such as procnsing Suita g suitable helpers for the work, and suitable servants, and for these we have to look tothe Lord. There are often heavy trials, by reason of sickness among the children, or evén among the teachers and servants, ‘There are the tempers, and ways, and former habits of the children, which often create not a little difficulty. We have also often to wait on God for truly suitable masters, for the boys to be placed out as apprentices, and for mistresses for the girls, *to be sent out as servants. Now, though the Lord has helped us in all these matters for 38 years and does con- -{ tinually help, which we gratefully state to His praise; yet let no one look on those things as trifles. They do oc- casion much thought, much prayer, much patience, and the exercise of much faith. For some of these things I have had to pray 7 or 8 or even 9 months, day by day, before the answer came, But 2, even as to money. While Iam writing this, I have, during the last 3 days, paid out for ‘the Orphans alone more than One Thousand Pounds, whilst the income for them was altogether Forty Four Pounds in these three days. And such a difference be- tween the income and the outgoings is not a rare occur- rence. How would the reader feel, with more than Two Thousand guests at the table, day by day, under such cir- A.D. 1872.] 367 cumstances? If one or the other should think, that, because the work is now so well known, no exercise of faith is required, our reply is, that it is a rare occurrence, that a day comes, when, in some way or other, faith is not called into exercise ; and even with regard to the pecuniary necessities, the requirements are so immense, that we should very soon be confounded, were we to trust in any thing but the Living God for help. This, however, by His grace, we do, and so it comes that we are continually helped, and carried through all difficulties, though new so many, and great and varied. —May 20. Received 4s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, It is with gladness of heart again, that I send you this quarterly money, which amounts to 4s., being one halfpenny out of every shilling I have earned by washing. Please to accept the money for the dear Orphans. Dear Sir, by taking note of all that I have earned, and by looking over my weekly earnings, since I began to lay .by one halfpenny out of every shilling, I have not only found that I have not been the loser, but the Lord has greatly blessed me by so doing ; for He has increased my work since greatly, and has well repaid me, by giving me many times more, than 1 have sent you for the dear Orphans. To His name be all the praise, who laid it on my heart to lay by the little for His work ; and may the Lord still bless you in His work, which He has given you to do for Him ! * * * *."—May 21. £6. from a Corporal in Ceylon, who has often sent similar amounts. —May 24. Received 5s. from one of the Orphans, who has been for many years a believer, and is now married, with the following letter : " Dear and Respected Sir, It is with feelings of much gratitude and pleasure I address these few lines to you, asking. your acceptance of the en closed mite for the Orphan work. 1 anticipated the pleasure of sending more, but the Lord had other ways for His own; for that which I put by weekly I consider as be longing to the Lord, to use as He shall direct me. A few weeks since I found one of the Lord's aged saints very much distressed temporally, so much so, that, when I called on her, she was telling me how good the Lord had been to her. She knew she had nothing for dinner, and prayed Him so to fill her heart with love to Himself, and delight in reading His word, that she might not feel the lack of tem poral supplies ; and now, said the aged Christian, " I do , 368 [A.D. 1872. not feel the least hungry ; indeed, in reading His precious word, 1 forgot all about my lack of dinner." I cannot, dear Sir, tell you with what joy I relieved her present need, feeling it a high privilege to do so, I, who had for so many years been fed and clothed entirely in answer to prayer. Oh ! how good has the Lord been tome. He has also given me the opportunity of reading and speaking of His love and good ness to a number of females who meet together for sewing once a week, also of visiting the sick and afflicted in their own homes. I pray the Lord, to use these feeble efforts in the conversion of souls to Himself. I feel now more than ever the value of the instruction I received in the Orphan House, especially the religious training there re ceived. If it had not been for that, I feel I could not now do the work to which the Lord has called me. Will you please excuse this encroachment on your very valuable time, but I wished to tell you how very good the Lord has been to me, and all resulting from the dear Orphan House. Per mit me again to thank you, and I pray the Lord, most richly to bless you and yours ; yea, that He may supply all your need, is the prayer of your ever grateful Orphan * * * *» I have thus referred to a few out of the thousands of donations received for the support of the Two Thousand One Hundred and Five Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, and we enter now upon the next year from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873. During this year there were altogether Two Thousand Two Hundred and Eight Orphans under our care. In order that the Header may be able to enter into what follows, he has, in the first place,' to keep before him, that we ask God alone about all our necessities, and that we confidently expect help from Him and Him alone, to sup ply our need for this part of the work, as He has done for thirty-eight years. Our requirements are great and many, and varied, and regarding them all we have our eyes directed towards the Lord, and He is mindful of us, though sometimes faith and patience are considerably exercised, before the needed help comes. Here, however, I will now more particularly refer to our pecuniary supplies, received from the hands of our Loving, Gracious God and Father. The Reader, therefore, will kindly place himself in our position during the year, with more than Two Thousand. persons, day by day, sitting down to their meals. The ex- A.D. 1872.] 369 pense of this alone, as every one can suppose, is great, during one year only, especially if it be remembered, how great the price of almost all kinds of provision has been and is, how very dear coal is, etc. But these Two Thousand Orphans are not only to_be. fed, but clothfidj. their clothes are to be washed and repaired. The one single article of shoes and boots alone, think of it, for Two Thousand, both the supplies of new and repairs: how many hundred pounds it takes ! Hundreds of fresh Orphans are received year by year, and the new comers are to be fitted out ; hundreds of boys and girls go out as apprentices and servants, and they are to be provided with an outfit, at the expense of the Institution. The considerable number of boys who are sent out as apprentices, year by year, have a premium paid for them to their masters, which is about equal to another year's support. Then come the heavy expenses connected with keeping in repair these five large houses, in which there are more than Seventeen Hundred large windows and above Five Hundred Rooms ; this is only mentioned, to give to the Reader, who has not seen the houses, an idea of their magnitude. It may therefore easily be supposed how much the mere painting,- white- washing, colouring, repairs, etc., must cost year by year ! Then consider the many thousands of articles of table linen, bed linen, towels, etc. ; all has to be kept up. The thousands of articles of furniture in these more than Five Hundred Rooms have to be kept in repair, or to be replaced by new articles, which continually becomes more or less needful. The children are ill, or one or the other even dies ; all the extra expenses are to be met. The children leave as ser vants or apprentices ; the travelling expenses are to be paid. Further, remember the large staff of overseers of one kind or another, such as school inspector, matrons, teachers, medical officers, assistants helping the Directors, etc. ; all their salaries are to be obtained from the Lord. All the nurses in the infirmaries in each of the five houses, the nurses for little infants, the laundresses and other servants (though the last are but few, as the Orphans do the work) ; all this costs much, and for all this we look to the Lord. And there are, over and above, year by year, heavy extra expenses, not here referred to, occasioned by extraordinary circum stances, for all of which we look to the Lord. May this suffice, to give to the reader a faint idea as to our position B 3 370 [A.D. 1872. with regard to the Orphan work alone, and he will readily see that it not only requires the purse of a nobleman, but that, at least nine out of ten of our nobility, would be un able to meet these expenses year by year, and that only a very few of the most wealthy could do so ; but we have nothing of their wealth, and yet are we able with as much ease, if not greater ease than very rich noblemen, to ac complish this, simply by looking in our poverty to the Infinitely rich One for every thing. I refer now, out of the thousands of donations, received towards the support of the Orphans, to some as speci mens. May 28, 1872.—Received the following letter from a Lancashire donor, who had often before sent donations : " Dear Sir, I herewith forward you 9s. 6d. for the Orphans. I only wish it was more ; but I endeavour fairly and to the best of my judgment to divide out what the Lord is • pleased to give me, from week to week. I have several regular claims in connexion with the church I am associ ated with, and I meet these first. Then your Institution has a near place with me. I never saw it, but the reading of your Reports and your Narrative, has created a warm place in my heart towards it. For some time now I have kept a regular ledger account as to receipts and distribution of my weekly offerings. I keep them in a small box, and all my givings are taken from it. I give as long as the money lasts, and then I stop, till more comes. I take my weekly returns according to a regular scale, so much per £1. up to £100. per week, and then I increase the scale up to £200. per week, and over that amount I increase again : and I can very truly add, that never, during even a single week, since I adopted this method, have I been without prosperity in my business. May the Lord teach me to give wisely and willingly. Yours truly, * * * *." I commend to the Reader, especially to the Christian Reader in business, the careful and prayerful consideration of this letter.—May 31. £100. as the legacy of the late Mr. S. F. —June 12. From Scotland £500. When this donation arrived, we were not only in heavy trial on account of the small pox among the children, whereby also our expenses were considerably increased ; but the income also had been comparatively small, for several days. Thus the Lord greatly refreshed us. I cannot help noticing here, that the A.D. 1872.] 371 donations received from Scotland are great and many, considering the great distance of Scotland from Bristol, and considering the population in comparison with Eng land ; and I mention therefore, as an encouragement for labourers in spiritual service, how about 30 years since it •was laid on my heart to do, what I could, to benefit Scot land spiritually, by sending ji copy of my Narrative to all the Christian ministers of the land, and have, since then, sent gratuitously, 'rhousands of Iteports tor gratuitous circulationT Tins was not in the least degree done for the' purpose of obtaining donations for the Institution, but simply to benefit the readers through the account of the Lord's dealings with me. For many years all this was, like bread cast upon the water ; but, in the end, there has come the reaping time, and a most abundant harvest has been reaped. Let therefore my fellow labourers in the Lord's vineyard go on patiently to labour for Him, water ing the seed they sow with prayer, expecting also to reap in God's own time, and it will be seen that they have not laboured in vain.—June 18. From Bath £1., with the following letter : " Sir, Enclosed is a Post Office Order for £1., which please to use for the benefit of the Orphans. It has been saved daily by a poor widow, who has refrained from taking milk in her tea, that she might have the plea sure of renaermg a littteTEelp towards the dear children under your care." Here we have another instance, how even deep poverty, if the love of Christ only constrains, may yet help on the Lord's work, at least in some degree, even with pecuniary supplies.—June 19. Received £1. from a former Orphan, with the following letter : " Dear and Honoured Sir, Most probably my name and person will be equally strange to you, but not so yours to me ; for, when my parents were taken from me in 1858, you opened your benevolent heart, and your Home received and maintained and protected me, till in March 1867 my eldest brother, having grown up, sent for me, and relieved you of the burden of me, as he was by that time able to provide for me. Having since then my education carried on, first in England and afterwards in France, I am now able to maintain myself, and am doing so as a Gover ness in the family of a minister. From my first earn ings I wish to offer something, though it must neces sarily at the outset be small, towards the funds of the 372 . [a.D. 1872. Home which sheltered me when I had no other. Will: you therefore be pleased to accept my mite, the enclosed Post Office Order for one Sovereign, as a very trifling expression of the deep gratitude and love I owe and feel towards your noble cause. I have heard publicly from time to time of its and your success and sorrow, and have rejoiced and grieved over both. 1 trust you are in health, and that you may enjoy a continuance of it and pleasure in your life’s pleasure. Iremember affectionately many in the School, both children and teachers, especially my own Miss J., and who I hope remembers me, and from whom I should be very glad to hear. And with best wishes for yourself, Believe me to be, Yours very respectfully, * * # * Tdo not dwell on the letter; but the reader cannot help seeing, how the Institution is used by the Lord. July 9. From a baronet, “ Instead of insuring against hail” £10., with £19. 9s. ‘ For a good fall of lambs.”— July 13. From Devonshire £56. 5s. 9d4—July 15. From the little Church at Angrogna, Italy, £1. 4s—From Ox- fordshire £11. 16s., instead of insuring 472 acres against hail.— Oct. 14. £50. as the legacy of the late Mrs. B.— Legacy of the late Mr. L. £500.—Oct. 15. From Tobago £5.—“ From a willing giver” £40., with £10. for my- self.— Oct. 17. From Cologne £10.— Oct. 22. £5., with the following letter : ‘“‘ Dear Sir, As the father of a large family, I hand you for the Orphans five pounds as a thank-offer- ing to my heavenly Father for His goodness in sparing the life of my beloved wife * * * *,”—Oct. 25. From Lon- don £39. 5s. 6d. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, I observe in your last published Report, that some gentle- men contribute to the support of the Orphans in the New Orphan Houses under your care according to the number of their own children. This appears to me a very reason- able mode of acknowledging God's goodness, and I wish to imitate it. I accordingly have the pleasare of sending £39. 5s. 6d. for the support of three Orphans for one year. I remain, Yours faithfully * * * *,”—Oct. 26. £19, 198. as the legacy of the late Mr. G. A.—Oct. 28. . From Switzerland £8. and some articles, Nov. 1. From a baronet in Somersetshire £80., with £20. for myselfi—From a baronet in Essex, £5().— Nov. 4. From the North of England £160.—#£5. from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as “ As a thank-offering in money A.D. 1873. ] 373 to the Lord, for preserving, in answer to prayer, the donor’s: premises from fire.”—Nov. 6. By sale of a diamond ring,’ dentist gold, plate, and gold and silver jewellery, £102. 10s. During the year from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873, also, as from the beginning, a large quantity of jewellery, gold and silver coins, plate, gold and silver watches, etc. were sent to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. Like- wise @ great variety of new and worn clothes, material for children’s clothes, articles of food, etc. During this year alone we realized by sale of articles sent to be sold, £801. 7s. 6d., and from the beginning of the Institution £16,362. 14s, 42d. For the articles sent for sale we have a large room fitted up at the Bible and Tract Ware- house, 34, Park Street, Bristol We never have had Bazaars, nor purpose to have them; but we dispose of the articles which are sent, in the ordinary way, as stated. Lastly, there are several ladies who make articles for the benefit of the Orphans, and either dispose of them in their own locality, or send them to us to be sold. May I respectfully request that donors, who send articles to be sold or for use, would have the kindness to enclose in each box or parcel a list of the articles contained therein, and also that they will write upon the list the name and address to which an acknowledgment is to be sent. At- tention to this would be a great help in the acknowledg- ment of such contributions.—Nov. 8. £150. as the legacy of the late Mrs, E., of Liverpool, less legacy duty.— Nov. 22. Legacy of the late D. F. Esq., of Scotland, £200. Jan. 1, 1873. Through the year 1872 also, as through many previous years, the Lord carried us in his faithful love, always supplying us, in every way, according to our need ; and now, in the opening of this year, He has begun to supply bountifully our need with regard to pecu- niary necessities. _ Of the donations which came in on this day, I only refer to the following. From Clifton £150. with £5. for myself—Jan. 13. Received from Reading £100. anonymously, with the following letter: ‘Sir, I have long admired your self-denial and unwearying efforts on behalf of the Orphan. As a mark of my appreciation, pray accept the enclosed Note for £100., £80. of which please devote to the objects of your care, and the remain- der I beg you to use for your own requirements, with the - 874 [4.D. 1873.° earnest prayers and sincere regards of a sympathizer with the poor.” The Reader has in this donation another in- stance how the Lord has cared for the Orphans for more than 38 years, and for my own temporal necessities for 44 years, though I have, neither for the Orphana nor for myself, any human prospect of supplies whatever. But the living God has always, in answer to believing prayer, helped me. I have never been put to shame.—Jan. 14. From Devonshire £104. 4s. 11d.—From Switzerland 300 francs,—Jan. 15. £39. Os. 2d. from Christians meeting at “The Sand Area Chapel, Kendal.” £13. 5s. “ From - a believer, whose abstinence from intoxicating drinks and tobacco enables him to defray the cost of an Orphan’s support, without prejudice to other obligations.”’—Jan. 27. From London £100.—Jan. 28. £60. from one of the Midland Counties—From Lisbon £8.—By sale of gold and silver articles £53. 13s. 3d. Feb. 1. £500. as the legacy of the late R. C., Esq. March 15. From one of the Midland Counties, £60. —Received also to-day the following anonymous letter by post, dated March 12, 1873: “ Dear Sir, The sum of One Thousand Pounds (£1,000.) is placed at your credit at the West of England Bank, Bristol, for and on behalf of your Orphanage. Please acknowledge in the London Times of Wednesday or Thursday next, that you have received this sum, and as from ‘ A Friend of the Orphan,’ ” —The_£1,000. was received at once at the Bank. I thank this an the kind anonymots donors, whe have contributed. I cannot describe the spiritual refreshment this donation was to me. The expenses had been for several weeks One Thousand Pounds, or even Fifteen , Hundred Pounds a week, and the income not nearly as : much, though we had enough, on account of what the Lord kindly had sent in before. Now, however, both on March 14th, and on March 15th, the Lord was pleased to give bountifully—There was also received to-day the légacy of the late Mrs. B. of Weymouth, being £90. and a wedding-ring. The bequest of this legacy had been so worded, that there was some difficulty and delay connected with the obtaining the payment of it. I take, therefore, the opportunity of stating, that, if kind friends to the Institution mean to leave legacies for its benefit, the greatest carefulness is needed, in wording the legacy. A.D. 1873.] 375 There was also received to-day £7. 14s. 10d., being part of a legacy of the late Mr. W.— March 17. £18. 12s. 6d. as the legacy of the late Mrs. W. of K. H. May 1. £1. as " First offering from two of God's chil dren at the beginning of their married life."—May 2. £100. "From J. W. A. in memoriam of W. J. A."— May 15. Received the following letter from a young man, one of the former Orphans, who had served his time as an apprentice, and now applied for his indentures. " Beloved and Respected Sir, It gives me especial pleasure to thank you for the great good you were the means of doing me, whilst I was in the Dear Orphan House, and for appren ticing me to a good trade ; and now, that I have served my apprenticeship, I feel it my pleasing duty to thank you for the earnest prayers you offered on my behalf, when I left you. I have felt the answer of those prayers. The dear Lord has helped me through my troubles, and He has helped me to resist the temptations to which youths are exposed. He has kept me on His side, where, with His help, I hope ever to remain. I have faithfully served my apprenticeship, have given satisfaction to my master, and have learned my trade. I have removed to London for improvement, and in a few years I hope to start in business for myself. May I ask you to please to send my indentures to the above address. With love and gratitude to you and your co-operators, I remain gratefully and re spectfully, * * * *." This Orphan had been five years a believer, before he left the Orphan House. The letter speaks for itself.—During this year, after much considera tion and prayer, we decided on training the schoolmasters for the boys in our own schools, from among converted, and in other respects suitable boys, letting them be for five years pupil-teachers, and, if they give, by their de portment, progress in their education, and otherwise satis faction, we purpose to appoint them as assistant- masters in the Orphan Houses, and, after further trial in this capa city, to make them either regular masters at the Orphan Houses, or give to them one of those many day schools now connected with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. This plan has now been for about fifteen months in operation, and has given to us, up to the present, great satisfaction and comfort. On May 15th, 1873, I received from the Pupil-Teachers of the New 376 [A.D. 1873. Orphan House, No. 4, the following letter : " Dear and Honoured Sir, Please to accept our warmest thanks for your kindness in placing us in the position of Pupil- Teachers, and we hope, hy the help of God, to be able to maintain our position, and also, by steady perseverance, to rise in our calling. We thank you very much for your kindness in allowing us sixpence weekly. We all like our present occupation, and hope, as time proceeds, to like it more and more ; and we also hope to grow in the grace and knowledge of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have found the word of the Psalmist fulfilled to the letter, when he said, ' When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.' The Lord has indeed taken us up, and placed us under your fatherly care and protection, and has also given us advantages above the ordinary run of Orphan boys. But in one sense we are not Orphans ; for we have a Father in heaven, whose tender care and protection will shield us from all the fiery darts of the wicked. Please to accept our kindest wishes, that God would yet spare your life many years, to carry on His own work. We remain, Dear Sir, yours respectfully, the Pupil Teach ers of No. 4." We reckon this arrangement to be of great importance, not only as it regards the good of the Orphan Work generally, and that of the boys who are trained to become masters in particular, but especially with regard to the rising generation generally, to seek to provide a considerable number of truly Godly and able teachers.— I have thus brought before the reader a few out of the thousands of donations which were given for the support" of the Orphans from May 26, 1872, to May 26,1873, and I enter now upon the last part of the history of the Orphan Work, from May 26, 1873, to March 5, 1874, to complete the 40th year of the history of the Institution, and refer to a few of the donations received during this time. Oct. 3, 1873. £1. 4s. 4½d., as " The produce of a pear tree."—Oct. 24. From the North of England £100.— Oct. 30. £180. as the legacy of the late Miss J. K.— Nov. 12. Anonymously from Clifton, a gold watch and £95., with £5. for myself.—Nov. 22. £100. from Darling, ton.—Nov. 29. £500. by the sale of two small houses, which had been given to me to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans, by a Christian donor, whom I have never A.D. 1856.] 377 seen.—Dec. 1. From Clifton £100.—£10. 10s From a donor who was thirty-nine years ago a pupil in the first Day School for boys of the Scriptural Knowledge Institu tion.—Dec. 13. £100. from Hampshire.—Dec. 17. £100. From the neighbourhood of Dublin.—Dec. 19. £3. 3s. from X. Y. Z., instead of going to a public dinner— Dec. 20. From the neighbourhood of London £290., with £10. for myself.—Dec. 31. £150. from Clifton, with £5. for myself. Jan. 3, 1874. From Ireland £50.—Jan. 13. £44. as the legacy of the late Mrs. A. C., of Ireland.—Jan. 14. £300. from Yorkshire.—Jan. 15. £73. 11s. 6d. from Devonshire.—Feb. 4. From London £100.—Feb. 20. "From Poor Richard" £50.—March 3. From Wolver- hampton £50. I have referred thus to a few out of the thousands of donations received for the support of the Orphans, between May 26, 1873 and March 5, 1874, the last day of the for tieth year of the existence of the Institution. Though the expenses for the support of the Orphans from May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, amounted to about £19,000. and for the other Objects to above £11,000., yet we were carried through these heavy expenses, and were able to meet every demand of the work. I enter now upon the next chapter. CHAPTER IV. IN this chapter will be found the statistics of the In stitution, from May 26, 1856 to March 5, 1874, as to the numBer of the attendants, year after year, in the JJay Scnoois, Sunday bchools and Adult Schools; also how much was expended year by year on the schools, and the results of our labours, in the way of spiritual blessings, in so far as they are known. Further, it will be stated how many copies of the Holy Scriptures were circulated year by year, at what cost, and the spiritual results of these operations, if any have come before us. Further, how many Missionaries at Home and Abroad were assisted, year after year ; how much was expended on this part of the work ; and what were the spiritual results of these Operations. Further, it will he stated, how many religi ous Tracts and Books were circulated, year by year ; at 378 [a.D. 1856. what cost ; and what has been tho spiritual result of these _ labours, in so far as it is known. Lastly, how many Or- phans were received and dismissed, year by year; how many each year were under our care; at what cost; and what were the spiritual results of this part of the work. In addition tc these various points, statements of a miscella- neous character will be added, which may be of interest to the Reader. . From May 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857, there were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution four Day Schools, with 181 children in them, and six other Day Schools were assisted. One Sunday School, with 175 children, was entirely supported by the Institution, and six others were assisted. One Adult School, with 72 scholars, was entirely supported, and two others were assisted. The total amount of means, expended on all these schools, during the year, was £385. 14s. 84d. If the reader will observe how the Lord was pleased afterwards to increase the School Department, he will see, that it has been mul- tiplied since then more than ten times.—During that year we circulated 2,077 Bibles, 1,222 New Testaments, 151 copies of the Psalms, and 316 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds, spent on this Object, was £521. 7s. 14d. I will now give a few instances in which the circulation of the Holy Scriptures was blessed, in order that believers _ | thereby may be encouraged prayerfully and diligently to continue to circulate them, and, at the same time, look out for blessing upon their]abour. A brother in the Lord from Devonshire wrote to me in December 1856: “ I thank you, my dear Sir, for your kind offer in reference to a supply of Bibles, etc. I hope to avail myself of it, when in need, I have just received an account of conversion through giving one of your Bibles. A sailor, who had been at sea in the Royal Navy many years, returned to this his native place, six months ago, and, because of his good behaviour, he was drafted into the Preventive Service, and stationed in the neigbourhood of W——-. While he was in this neighbourhood I sent for him. He came to my house, I spoke to him about his soul, and the pre- cious blood of Christ. He kneeled down while I com- mended him to God. I then presented him with a copy of God’s truth, supplied to me by you, with the request .. that he would read a portion every day, which he pro- A.D. 1856.] 379 mised me to do. He has sent several most beautiful letters, stating, that, in reading that Bible, which is his constant companion, God gave him not only to feel he was a sinner, but that the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth from all sin. And further, that being justified by faith, he has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. His wife is also deeply concerned. They have been found out and visited by a sub-officer, who reads and prays with them very frequently. This same brother, in a letter of March 4, 1857, refers again to this cireum- - stance, and states. that the wife was also converted through reading that Bible that was given to that sailor. A brother in the Lord wrote to me that he had it in his heart to visit from house to house, in a large manufac- turing town in Yorkshire, and, if possible, to supply each house with a tract, and to seek out persons who were des- titute of copies of the Holy Scriptures. I supplied him, therefore, with 10,000 Gospel Tracts and 30 Bibles, and subsequently with 127 more Bibles, and finally with 10,000 more Tracts and 74 Bibles. I now give two letters from this brother in the Lord, to show both the spirit in which the work is done, and the way in which it is done, and likewise that such kind of service is not in vain, * * * # “Feb. 28, 1857. My dear Brother, In answer to your question, I mean, all the last sent Bibles are gone, the 127; and since they have been given, I have given away amongst the poor 15 copies of the New Testament, which the Lord gave me the means of obtain- ing. I have had some assistance from other saints amongst us in scattering the precious seed. The weather has been very favourable for the work. ‘‘ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” “I must” (says Jesus) “ work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh when no mancan work.” This has been the feeling that has moved my heart, in the cir- culation of these Bibles, without losing any time. I have come home at night so wearied, that I have had to stop by the way, and lean against something to rest myself; but the sympathy of Him, who sat on the well, wearied with His journey, was sweet. I remain, dear brother, yours affectionately in Him * * **,” “* * * * April 24, 1857.” ‘¢My dear Brother in Christ, All the Bibles are not yet, distributed. This has arisen from the fact of finding 56 380 [A.D. 1857. many openings for testifying of Jesns to poor sinners, in the course of visiting from house, where I found the Lord had made an impression by His truth on the minds of any, I have been led to repeat the visits, setting forth Jesus as the way to God. This has prevented me getting over so much ground rapidly, yet this, I am persuaded, has been of God. In the course of one week two poor men were brought to receive the Lord Jesus, by the Lord enabling me to set before them the Gospel of the Grace of God. Ignorant almost as heathens, when God opened their eyes to see the work of Jesus, how they gloried in the blood of Christ ! One of them reminds me much of the Tract called " Poor Richard." Both were afflicted. One, who yesterday fell asleep in Jesns, how he was lying on his bed, crying in delight, " Oh ! the blood of Christ, the blood of Christ ; I depend on none but Jesus." When I first visited him, he knew not even the theory of the way of salvation, and had no Bible. I gave him one you sent, which he read as long as he was able, and the Tracts were used to strengthen his faith. Another case, where I testified of Jesus and directed it all to the hubband, I found afterwards, that the wife was brought to receive Jesus as well as her husband. Another case, where I meant the Gospel for the husband, because he was poorly, I found the wife seemed to have received it while the hus band remained in darkness. Meeting cases of this kind, I have thought it good to attend to them, and have had much joy in seeing God opening blind eyes, and poor sinners casting themselves on the work of Jesus. " There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth "; and we too share the joy, etc." In a similar way have many servants of Christ, by going from cottage to cottage, from court to court, from ship to ship, etc., sought in many parts of the world, for many years, to help me in circulating the Holy Scriptures, making it their particular business to find out the very poorest of persons who desired to possess a copy, but were not able to pay for it. With this is also combined the endeavour to discover cases in which, very poor and aged persons, had not a Bible printed in large type, in order to furnish them with a copy. From May 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857, we expended on Missionary Operations, £3,177. 17s. 11½d. By this sum A.D. 1857.] 381 seventy-four labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. During this year, intelligence was received, that very many in Canada, British Guiana, lndia, China, the United States, Sardinia, Switzerland, Belgium, France, etc., had been brought to the knowledge of the Lord through the instrumentality of the missionaries, who were assisted by the funds of the Institution ; but it would take up too much space here, to give again the letters, which were printed in the Report for 1857. This only would I say, that there is good reason to believe, that these dear ser vants of Christ had been used in the conversion of hun dreds of precious souls, and that thus our prayers had been answered. From Maj 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857, there were more than One Million and Three Hundred Thousand Tracts and books (exactly 1,313,301) circulated; and on this Object was expended £975. 18s. 7½d. During that year there was not, as for many years previously, a single open door set before us, where we could profitably have cir culated the Holy Scriptures, or given away Tracts, but the Lord was also pleased to enable us to enter those doors. These opportunities had during the previous years increased more and more, but the Lord was also pleased, along with them, to give increased means. As we had been enabled, day by day, to seek the bless ing of the Lord upon this part of the work likewise, so He was pleased, during the year from May 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857, also, to grant His blessing to rest upon it. I will now relate some of the instances, in which the Tracts were blessed. A brother from Sunderland writes thus: "I have to tell you of a case of true conversion, which I have just found out, by one of your Tracts delivered among the mob at the Sunday bands. We have not laboured in vain, and I expect to hear of more. We intend to go on Sunday and Tuesday, and to have a large distribution on the race-course here. May they be blessed 1 The Tract in question is headed " The Substitute." A brother labouring in Devonshire writes to me thus, on May 15th, 1857: " You will be pleased to hear of a case of blessing through the Tracts. Yesterday fortnight I determined, notwithstanding the distance, to visit T., a 382 PA.D: 1857. secluded village. I had once been there before and car ried two packets of Tracts. The Misses F. told me that the Tract " Peace with God," had been blessed to an old woman of 82 years of age. The words which gave her liberty were, " if you cannot say it, God can," referring to the text. She is full of joy, and having been a servant to Sir 's family, residing in their almshouses, bears a precious testimony to these Tracts, the whole of which she reads with avidity, much to the annoyance of some people who cannot understand, why she could not get much joy out of other things." A brother residing at Hull writes on May the 24th, 1857, thus: "This week we heard of one poor soul, a German, who died in the infirmary here a few days ago, who seemed to have received real blessing through one of your German Tracts. It is rarely we know what is the fruit of their distribution ; but this poor fellow was a dying man, when he came into the hospital, and, being a foreigner, remained there till he died." The following information was sent from Somersetshire : " In returning you my most sincere thanks for the liberal supply of Tracts, I am happy to say, that, without a single exception, they have been most thankfully received by the people. I also feel great pleasure in informing you, that God, in a very gracious manner, has caused the reading of one of them, viz. : " Christ between the two thieves," to be blessed to the salvation of a poor old man, of whom there is every reason to think that he is a child of grace. Many other instances there are in which the " Serpent of Brass," " Naaman the Syrian," and others have been of great benefit to many individuals, in some producing con viction of sin, in others strengthening their faith in Christ. A further supply of Tracts from you would be most thank fully received." The following instance may show, in what a variety of ways these Tracts are circulated. A brother in Scotland writes thus on May the 15th, 1857, " Yesterday I received by railway the Tracts, as mentioned in your last. I am most thankful for them. They are a great boon, and I trust they will turn out to be a great blessing to many souls. At our steeple-chase I sent off and dispersed among the returning crowds no fewer than 7,000. This was 2,500 more than I had done at any previous period. A D. 1857.] 383 I had more helpers in their distribution. We had with us 9,250 Tracts." In like manner have the Tracts been distributed at agri cultural shows, fairs, and races ; also in various places the passengers of the Sunday excursion trains have been met by Christian men, who have offered to each of them a Tract. Likewise in certain places the passengers of the government trains have been frequently supplied. In other places all the passengers of emigrant vessels have each a Tract given to them. All this has been done in addition to visiting from house to honse, from court to court, from vessel to vessel. Also, frequently, the assem bled persons who had the Gospel preached to them in the open air have had a Tract given to them afterwards. On these labours we seek the Lord's blessing, and we fully expect His blessing. Day after day, and year after year, our heart has been drawn out in prayer to God upon this part of the work, and, therefore, we take this as an earnest that God will own and bless it ; yea, we expect to meet thousands of souls in the day of Christ, who were brought to know Him and to believe in Him, through these Tracts and Books, of whose conversion we hear nothing on earth. Nearly a million of Tracts and little Books were, during the year from May 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857, given away gratuitously. We do not, however, depend upon the num ber of copies which are circulated, but upon the blessing of the Lord ; yet, at the same time, we would seek to -labour on, embracing every opportunity, just as if every thing depended upon the number we circulated. How greatly this part of the work was already in 1857 increased will be seen, if it be remembered, that during the first period of its existence, we circulated 19,609 within 18 months, and in this period we circulated 1,31 3,301 within one year. The Lord be praised for His help in every part of the work, and for His kindness in this par ticular also I At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1856 to May 26, 1857. there were 299 Orphans in the New OrphanHouse JJo. 1. During thei year, there were ad mitted into it 30 Orphans, making 329 in all. Of 329, one died during thu year, the dear girl who died in the_ faith, whose letters have been given in this Narrative^ Only one diecT! Tdesire to dwell upon this with gratitude to 384 [A.D. 1857. •the Lord. God helping us, we desire to trace His hand in everything ; at the same time, the longer I am engaged in the Orphan work, and see the effects which are pro duced by regular habits, cleanliness, nourishing food, proper clothing, good ventilation, a healthy locality, &c., the more I am convinced, that at least one-half of the children among the poor who die, die tor want ot proper attention. 1 do not state this to find fault with them ; I rather mention it in the way of pity and commiseration, and, if it may be, to draw the attention of the public to the fact. If anywhere the mortality among children should be great, humanly speaking, it should be so among us, because we generally receive the children very young, and also, because the very fact of these children, while so young, having been bereaved of both parents by death, shows that their parents, generally speaking, were of a very sickly constitution. Indeed the greater part of the Orphans whom we have received, lost one or both parents through consumption. And yet, though such is the case, we have seen again and again, how children who came to us in a most diseased state, have, by the blessing of God, through proper attention, been brought out of that state, and are now very healthy. But again and again we re ceive children whose countenances at once show that they have not had sufficient food, or were in other respects greatly neglected.—Three of the Orphans were received back again by near relatives, who, by that time, were able to provide for them. 14 boys were fitted out and appren ticed at the expense of the Institution. 12 girls were sent to service, each baring been provided with an outfit, at the expense of the Establishment. Several of those who left the Orphan House, we had the joy of sending out as believers. These 30 vacancies, thus occasioned, left on May 26, 1857, only 299 Orphans under our care, being one less than our number. The total expense for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund during the year, ending May 26, 1857, was £5,076. 0s. 5d. ; and the total expense for the support of the Orphans, was £3,893. 6s. 2½d. The Lord was pleased greatly to bless, during that year, our labours among the Orphans. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1857 to May 26, 1858. A.D. 1858. | 385 During this year there were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution four Day Schools, with 206 children in them. In addition to these four Day Schools, seven others were assisted. One Sunday School with 157 children was entirely supported, and eleven others were assisted. One Adult School with 95 scholars was en- tirely supported. From March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1858, there were 6,440 children in the Day Schools, 3,068 in the Sunday School, and 2,807 persons in the Adult School, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution; besides the Tens of Thousands in the Schools which were as- ! sisted, of which no Report is asked, as to numbers. Thus, without reckoning the Orphans, 12,315 souls were brought under habitual instruction in the things of God in these various Schools, up to May 26, 1858. The amount of means spent on the Schools during the year from . May 26, 1857 to May 26, 1858, was £381. 15s. 0}d.; and from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1858, £8,320. 8s. 43d. During this year there were circulated 2521 Bibles, 1158 New Testaments, 107 copies of the Psalms, and 182 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There were circulated, from the commencement of the Institution, up to May 26, 1858, altogether 20,722 Bibles, 12,655 New Testaments, 565 copies of the Psalms, and 1442 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during this year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £445. 14s. 104d. The total amount spent from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1858, is £4853. 28. 1d. For the encouragement of believers who seek to serve ‘the Lord in circulating the Scriptures, I relate the follow- ing case, communicated to me in October, 1857, by a brother in the Lord, who helps me in the circulation of the Scriptures and Tracts, and who labours in the West of England. “A young woman has lately returned to this neighbour- hood, in an advanced state of consumption, from P——, where she had been in service. She was very thoughtless about her soul. Though she was well able to read, I found out she had no Bible. I commended her to God in prayer, and marked the 51st Psalm and the 3rd chapter of the Gospel by John, and gave her a Bible. She says that, in reading these two passages, God gave her the peace 8 386 [4-D. 1858. which passeth understanding. She is at present giving the most decided evidence of conversion to God.” During the year, from May 26, 1857, to May 26, 1858, was expended on Missionary operations £3531. 12s. 4d., whereby 82 labourers in the Gospel, to a greater or less degree, were assisted. Though the Orphan work required during this year by far more means, than during any previous year, since it had been in existence; yet the Lord enabled me to enter into every door which He was pleased to open before me as it regards the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and to expend several hundred pounds more upon Missionary objects, than during any previous year. But while I was glad to be able to assist 82 Servants of Christ, in various parts of the world, I am especially rejoiced and thankful, that it pleased the Lord to own their labours greatly, so that during no former year I had more cheering accounts than during this year. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which was spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1858, is £25,325. 19s. 10d. From May 26, 1857, to May 26, 1858, we circulated more than One Million and Three Hundred and Thirty- four Thousand Tracts and Books (exactly 1,334,791), at an expense of £785. 6s. 44d. The sum total, which was expended on this object, from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1858, amounts to £5,421. 1s. 74d. The total number of Tracts and Books, circulated during that time, was above Seven Millions and Forty-five Thousand. I will now relate some of the instances in which the Tracts were blessed, in the year from May 26, 1857, to May 26, 1858. A brother in the Lord, labouring in Somersetshire, writes: ‘“A woman between 80 and 90 years of age, (through the tract called ‘The Substitute’), who was altogether ignorant of her real state, has been led, I trust, to cast her soul upon Jesus, for the forgiveness of sins.” A brother in Sunderland writes: ‘We should be glad of another supply of tracts at your convenience; and bibles of any kind would at all times be acceptable. There has just been a decided case of usefulness by one of the tracts, ‘The Brazen Serpent.’ I doubt not many more are blessed.” The same brother again writes: “I have A.D. 1858.] 387 the pleasure of adding that we have manifest frnit from the distribution of tracts. I have just heard of two cases, one an ungodly pilot, to whom Mr. L. gave a tract on Sunday morning ; another case in which Mr. R. gave one, entitled ' The Compassion of God,' which was blessed to the woman's soul, who is now proposed for communion with us." A brother in Devonshire writes, July 7, 1857 : " I thank you for the 6,000 tracts. I have found a special blessing to accompany Bunyan's ' Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ.' I will relate to you what occurred on Wednesday last. Several weeks before an inquirer, to whom I had given a copy of this tract, and finding it a blessing to her, sent it to a dying friend of hers in London, and wished from me another copy for herself. On Satur day morning I called on a sister in the Lord, leaving for this inquirer the desired tract. I was about leaving, when a stranger to me entered, to whom I gave another tract, and spoke a little to her of the Lord, but she was quite silent. I afterwards learned that this second inquirer was reading Bunyan's tract with great interest, the copy I had left for the first ; and on Wednesday last, again calling at the house, as the sister living there was relating to me the account, she said, ' There she comes.' Instead of the former timidity she at once confessed Christ in a manner one could not doubt to be genuine. She told me that, when I had seen her, she was anxious, but did not think herself fit to receive the promises ; but that Bunyan's tract had been blessed to her, particularly the hymn at the end ' If you tarry till you are better, you will never come at all ! ' I was filled with joy at seeing what the Lord had wrought in her soul." The same brother writes a day later : " I afterwards learnt that the person in London, to whom ' Come and Welcome ' had been sent, departed last week, as it is hoped, to be with Jesus " About a million of Traots and little Books were, during the year, given away gratuitously. At the commencement of the period, from May 26,1857, to May 26, 1858, there were 299 Orphans in the New Orphan House, No. 1. During the year there were admitted into it, and into the new house for 400, altogether 219 Orphans; so that' there would have been, on May 26, 1 858, 5 1 8 under our care, s 2 388 [A.D. 1858. had there been no changes. But of these 518 there died 4. Only four ! For this we desire to feel grateful, especially when we consider that by far the greater part of these Orphans are the offspring of very diseased parents. A short time since, when examining the certificates, sent on behalf of the children for whose admission application had been made, I found that, in five successive cases, both parents of all the children, i.e. all the ten parents, had died in consumption. To speak within bounds, at least two- thirds, if not three-fourths of the parents, whdie" children are now under our care, diecT in consumption^ On this account the very small mortality among the children is a matter of thankfulness to God. Two out of these four Orphans gave us great comfort in their removal, as they bore full and distinct testimony as to their trust in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of their souls. Two of the Infants were sent back to their relatives, who were able to care for them ; also 1 boy of such an age as that he might be apprenticed, and 1 girl of an age to earn her own bread, whom the near relatives desired to have, feeling it their duty to provide for her. Besides this, 3 of the elder girls were at the expense of the Institution fitted out, and placed in service ; and 8 boys were at the expense of the Institution fitted out and apprenticed ; so that there were only 499 Orphans actually in the two houses on May 26, 1858. May 26, 1858. During the past twenty-two years the Spirit of God has been again and again working among the Orphans who were under our careystrthat very many of them were brought to the knowledge of the Lord ; but I we never had so great a work, and, at the same time, one I so satisfactory, within so short a time, as during the past I year. I will enter somewhat into details, for the benefit of the reader. There are 140 elder girls in the New Orphan House No. 1. Of these there were at the begin ning of the last period ten who were considered to be believers. Some of my readers may remember, that certain letters are printed, written by an Orphan, Caroline Bailey, who died on May 26, 1857. The death of this beloved girl, who had known the Lord several months before she fell asleep, seems to have been used by the Lord as a means of answering in a goodly measure our daily prayers for the conversion of the Orphans. It pleased God, at the A.D. 1858.] 389 beginning of the last period, mightily to work among the Orphans, so that all at once, within a few days, without any apparent cause, except it be the peaceful end of the beloved Carolinie _Baileyjjnore than 50 of the 140 girls were brought tcT be under concern about their souls, and some with deep conviction of sin accompanying it, so that they were exceedingly distressed. And how is it now ? my readers may ask ; for young persons are often, apparently, much concerned about the things of God, but these impres sions pass away. True, dear reader. I have seen this myself, having had to do with many thousands of children and young persons. Had, therefore, this work among the Orphans begun within the last few days, or even weeks, I should have passed it over in silence ; but more than a year has now elapsed since it commenced, and it will, therefore, give joy to the Godly reader to hear, that, in addition to those ten, who were previously believers, and of whom one has been sent to service, there are 23 Orphan girls, respecting whom, for several months, there has been no doubt as to their being believers ; two besides, died in the faith, within the year ; and there are 38 more who are awakened and under concern about their souls, but respect ing whom we cannot speak as yet so decidedly. All this regards only one branch of the Orphan Establishment, the 140 elder girls of the House No. 1. In addition to this, I am glad, also, to be able to state that among the other girls in the New House No. 2, and among the boys also, some are interested about the things of God ; yea, our labours begin already to be blessed to the hearts of some of the newly received Orphans. The current expenses for the support of the Orphans, from May 26, 1857, to May 26, 1858, amounted to £5513. 5s. 7½d., and we also spent, for the building, fitting up, and furnishing of the New" Orphan House No. 2, £17,419. 1s. 7½d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1858, to May 26, 1859. During this year we had still only Four Day Schools connected with the Institution, entirely supported by its funds ; for at that time it pleased the Lord to lay still more and more upon my heart the care for destitute Orphans in particular ; but, after five large Orphan Houses had been built, with an accommodation for 2050 Orphans 390 [A.D. 1859. in them, it pleased the Lord just in the same way to bestow upon me the great honour and privilege to care for the instruction of children in Scriptural Day Schools, as the Reader has seen already, and will further see. In the four Day Schools, there were, from May 26, 1858, to May 26, 1859, 242 children. In addition to the entire support of these four Day Schools, there were seven such Schools assisted. In the one Sunday School entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were 143 children ; and nine other Sunday Schools were assisted. There was only one Adult School connected then with the Institution, in which there were 14 adults. During this year came before us several instances in which the instruc- tion, received in our Schools, had been blessed after the - pupils had long left the Schools. A young man died a con- sistent Christian in Barbadoes, who many years before was under our care; another became decided for the Lord, though far away at Philadelphia; another in Cornwall ; another, who gave us great sorrow for a long time, and who lived near London, became a believer, the instruction, formerly received, being blessed at last, though only after many years. The amount expended on the Schools during this year is £439. 8s. Od.—During this year we circulated 2347 Bibles, 1311 New Testaments, 91 copies of the Psalms, and 186 other small portions of the Holy Scrip- tures. On this object was expended £430. 7s. 74d. During this year we expended on Missionary operations £4149. 17s, 5d., whereby 91 labourers in the Gospel were assisted. The Orphan work required during the year, from May 26, 1858 to May 26, 1859, for current expenses, far more than ever before; but, notwithstanding, I was enabled to respond iffull to every application which was made for Bibles and Tracts; and, in the way of Missionary opera- tions, there was expended £618. 5s. 1d. more than during any previous year. While, however, it is to me a cause of thankfulness, that the Lord allowed me to increase this ‘part of the Institution more and more, and to make it in- creasingly, as its name indicates, an Institution for Abroad as well as for Home; yet that, which still more calls for thanksgiving, is the fact, that I received from the greater part of the brethren, whom I sought to assist, the most, encouraging letters, regarding their labours. Many hun A.D. 1859.] 391 dreds of souls were again, during that year also, brought to the knowledge of our adorable Lord Jesus, through the in strumentality of these His servants. I received several hundred letters from them during the year, very many of which are of such deep interest, and so full of cause for praise and thanksgiving, that they would in themselves form a valuable volume ; but I cannot give any extracts from them, on account of the size of this Narrative. During this year, from May 26, 1858 to May 26, 1859,' was spent on the circulation of Tracts £992. 19s. 6½d. There were circulated above One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Tracts and Books (exactly 1 ,885,401). I will now refer to a few instances in which the Tracts were blessed. A brother, labouring in Devonshire, who has often been supplied with large quantities of tracts, writes on March 7, 1859 : " Will you kindly send me some Tracts. I have heard of several cases in which they have been useful." Another brother, labouring in Cornwall, writes on Janu ary 16, 1859 : " You will be interested to hear, that a brother in the Lord, once resident here, but now residing at B. A., some time since, on finding a comrade, a car penter of the same mine of which he is the engineer, not at home, left a tract fixed to the door handle. A few days after, the friend named L. K., said, ' O , do you know some one left a tract on my door the other day, and it was a word exactly in the right minute ;' and then declared that it had led him to see the need of a Saviour. This occur red a few months since ; but yesterday I walked over, and O told me the title of the tract, which before he had not known. It is a leaf tract, having the last verse of the 6th chapter of Romans for a heading ; ' The wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The new convert is quite alive to the truth, and much interested in reading anything that may aid his progress." Another brother, labouring in London, writes on Dec. 1, 1858 : " I awaited this post, that I might enclose the accompanying letters, which you will be pleased to read, the fruit of giving a tract in the streets of London, so many hundreds of which I have been enabled to circulate through the liberal supplies you have sent me. I may also add, that this poor sister's happiest moments are now spent 392 [A.D. 1859. in reading one' of the Bibles you last sent me. I hope and believe that we shall hereafter see many who have been similarly blessed through the Gospel Tracts. I met this poor woman in the summer, and through the good ness of the Lord was enabled to take care of her until her illness, a few weeks since, when I got her into the infirm ary of St. Pancras Workhouse." I read the letters of the convert with much interest. She was just on the point of becoming a Roman Catholic, when the tract was put into her hand, which was used of God to lead her to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. A brother in 'the Lord in Exeter, who for many years past has been supplied with large quantites of tracts, writes on Dec. 1, 1858: "I am happy to say that the Circus, which was opened in this City,. has been closed, and that the company is gone, who, according to reports, and the substantial character of the building, intended to continue in Exeter through the winter months. Great efforts were unitedly established by Christians here, to neutralize the objects of the company, and to persuade persons not to go to their performances. These were by the posting of large bills, and the printing and distribution of tracts, which were given away in the neighbourhood in large quantities, and even at the very doors of the Circus, greatly to the mortification of the company, one of whom took up the subject in the public papers. It is a glorious defeat of Satan's plans, and for which we offer God the praise. Some hundreds of your last supply to us were. circulated there, and one of them put into the hands of the clown (the writer of the paper to which I referred), who promised to read it carefully in his own room after the close of that evening's performance, which he was then about to en gage in. On Oct. 25, 1858, a brother writes from Sunderland : " Our usual half yearly fair has just passed over, when, with several beloved brethren, I helped to distribute a large quantity of tracts. The brethren came to my house, when we asked a blessing upon our intended work, and then went forth, expecting blessing to follow. Already one person has come forward, awakened about his soul, with the tract which awakened him, and I hope many more may be saved from the wrath to come." A.D. 1859.] 393 Another brother writes from Sunderland on March 7, 1859 : " Another of your tracts has been a blessing to a man and to a woman." A Christian lady writes on Nov. 22, 1858 : " ' The aged Swiss Peasant ' was read last week to a deeply at- tentive audience of the very poor. A striking sense of solemnity prevailed during the reading. An aged man present was observed to be much affected ; his neighbour thought him ill, and wished to remove him home ; but he said he would like to stay and hear the ladies. He spread out his withered hands to the company, and en treated them to accept the offer of salvation, saying that he had been a great sinner, but that he believed God would have mercy upon him. The scene was very touch ing, and many wept ; for he was known to be a great sin ner. Fervent prayer was afterwards offered on his behalf, and for all present, under a sense that ability was given thus to plead, that, at the eleventh hour, this aged one might be snatched as a brand from the burning. On at tempting to rise from his seat, it was found that he had no power to use one leg, and he was carried at once to bed. It was thought he was slightly paralyzed. He re covered the use of his limbs the next day, and subse quently told the lady who read the narrative, that, while she was reading, he felt so much, that it overpowered him. He said, that during the night he found such a heavy burden on his conscience, that he could have no rest till he had taken it to the Saviour. He was so far restored as to be able to attend the Cottage reading again on the Lord's day (yesterday), when the tract 'Poor Richard' was read, and again ability was granted earnestly to plead for each one present." A brother at Hull writes, April 25, 1859 : " I am again without tracts, except a few German ones. All which you sent have been circulated ; and, amongst other results, we have to thank God for three poor girls of the town, who, 1 trust, are rescued from their miserable ways. Two of them seem really converted to God ; the other, though not converted, seems most anxious to live a better life. Oh ! for divine wisdom and love to know how to serve such. Oh ! for Christ's life manifested in us in every thing." A brother, who labours in Wiltshire, wrote to me, on 3 3 394 [A.D. 1859. Aug. 4, 1858, at full length, respecting the conversion of a very great sinner, a young woman of 22 years old, who, by means of one of the tracts sent to him, had been brought to the peace and joy of the gospel, through faith in the Lord Jesus, and who afterwards fell asleep in much peace. A brother at Exeter, whom I have been permitted to supply with many thousands of tracts, writes on August 27, 1858 : " I desire to lay before you a little statement of the way in which the tracts you so kindly sent me have been disposed of. Before leaving my house for this work, I fall on my knees before the Lord, and ask His blessing to accompany me in my labour, that sinners may be made willing to receive the word of life, which is able to make them wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. I then go from house to house, and from room to room, in the dark streets, lanes, alleys, and courts, of this city ; also I attend the fairs, markets, revels, wakes, and places of public amusement ; also the fashionable walks of the pleasure seekers ; also the railway platforms ; so that wherever crowds of persons are found together, there I have distributed among them the word of life. I found two persons this week, to whom the Lord has blessed the labours of His unworthy servant. One has since found peace, the other is under deep conviction, yea, great dis tress of soul. And now, dear, sir, what has been the cause of this consecration of my time and self to the Lord ? it is through reading your Report for 1857. In going through that Report, I was much like one that could not afford a penny a week for the Lord. I besought the Lord to give me more faith, and He heard and answered my prayer ; so that, while at one time I could not afford any time or money for the Lord or His work, now, through His grace, I am enabled to give two days in the week, and sometimes more, to this work, besides paying a man to do my work in my absence ; yet I have no lack." The same brother writes on May 10, 1859 : " Will yon permit me to give you a little account of the great Tract distribution of Easter week. Several Christians here held a united prayer meeting, to ask the Lord's blessing on the distribution of tracts and preaching of the gospel ; and twelve brethren, from various branches of the Church of Christ, went together to the fair, where about 10,000 per A.D. 1859.] 395 sons were present, when in three days we distributed more than 20,000 Tracts. This work has not been without its happy result. The fields here are white to harvest. I should feel very thankful if you will send me more Tracts for the Lord’s work.” On May the 16th, 1859, the same brother writes: “I desire to acknowledge the receipt of 10,000 Tracts you so very kindly sent me for the Lord’s work here. May He abundantly bless their distribution to many poor sin- ners. Since I wrote to you last, I have heard of 27 persons to whom the Tracts were blessed which were dis- tributed during the Easter week in this city.” Day after day, and year after year, my heart has been drawn out in prayer to God for this part of the work, and, therefore, we take this as an earnest that God will own and bless it; yea, I expect to meet thousands of souls in the day of Christ, who were brought to know Him and to believe in Him, through these tracts and books, though T shovld hear nothing of their conversion at present. Above Twelve Hundred Thousand Tracts and little Books were, during the year, given away gratuitously. We do not, however, depend upon the number of copies which are circulated, but upon the blessing of the Lord; yet, at the same time, we would seek to labour on, embracing every opportunity, just as if every thing depended upon the num- ber we circulate. At the commencement of the periéd from May 26, 1858 to May 26, 1859, there were 499 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. During the year were admitted into the two Houses 212 Orphans; so that there would have been on May 26, 1859, 711 under our care, had there been no changes. But of these 711, seven died. Only seven! This I desire especially to notice, with gratitude to the Lord.—One of the girls was taken by her relatives to Australia, as they were going to emi- grate, and wished to provide for this child.—Another girl and a boy, who had been 8 years and 3 months under our care, and who were now ready to be sent out, were received back again by a relative, now able to provide further for them.—Fifteen boys were apprenticed at the expense of the Institution, and were also each of them provided with an outfit—Thirteen girls were sent out to service, each of them having been provided with an out- 396 [4.D. 1859. fit.—To one of the Orphans, who had been 14 years and 6 months under our care, and who for more than 11 years out of that time had been a believer, I gave a situation in the New Orphan House No. 1; so that on May 26, 1859, there were only 672 Orphans in the two houses. May 26, 1859. Though, during this year, we had not so great and so sudden a work of the Spirit of God going on among the Orphans, as during the previous year, when, within a few days, above 50 out of one department of 140 girls were suddenly brought under deep concern about their souls; yet, the blessing of the Lord was not with- held even spiritually. There are already many caring about the things of God among the 424 Orphans who were received within the Jast eighteen months, and who ask it, as a privilege, to be allowed, in the summer, to take their Bibles with them to bed, so that, should they awake early in the morning, before the bell is rung, they may be able to read them. Out of the 13 girls, who were sent to service, 9 had been believers for some time before they left the Establishment. The current expenses for the support of the Orphans from May 26, 1858 to May 26, 1859, amounted to £6,974. 17s. 04d; and there was expended besides, of the Building Fund, £3,983 17s. 24d. for the Orphan work. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1859 to May 26, 1860. During this year there were four Day-schools entirely supported by the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge In- stitution for Home and Abroad, with 839 children in them. In addition to the entire support of these four Day-schools, eight other Day-schools were assisted. One Sunday-school was entirely supported, with 160 children in it; and seven others were assisted. One Adult s:hool, with 48 scholars in it, was entirely supported. During no previous year had we so many instances brought be- fore us, in which our former instructions were blessed, as this year; and as, on many accounts, it was the most remarkable of all the previous years of the existence of the Institution, so in this particular also; for instance upon instance was brought before us, in which young men and young women, once under our instruction, were, by the power of the Holy Spirit, enabled now at the last, to ° i stand manifestly on the Lord’s side, through faith in our A.D. 1860.] 397 Lord Jesus. But this is not all. We had, during the past year, as far as we were able to judge, more manifest blessing in the way of conversion among the children in the schools, than during any former year since the Institu- tion had been in existence. In the schools in Bristol there were 37 of the children converted. We thanked God for it, and were yet further encouraged by this blessing to go on in our labours. There was expended on the Schools £515. 4s. 4d. From May 26, 1859 to May 26, 1860, we circulated 1,699 Bibles, 1,134 New Testaments, 63 Psalms, and 248 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There was expended on this object during the year £398. 3s. 7d. As an encouragement to my fellow-believers, I relate the following instance of blessing, through the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, in answer to our daily prayers with which we follow the copies of the Word of God \ which are sent out. The facts were communicated to me in a letter, dated London, Oct. 30, 1859, by a Godly man, whom I have supplied with Bibles and Tracts, for gratuitous circulation. “Ihave been hesitating to write to you, knowing your hands are full of important and blessed work, and thinking it would be an addition to your already many engagements. But now I have it pressing on my heart, especially because I have to relate an interesting case, in which the Lord has begun to work in a family through one of the Bibles kindly sent by you to me this year. On Oct. 2 (1859), I found the family, poor and inneed of a Bible. ‘Ihis was taken, and given at the door, with a few words spoken to the conscience of Mr. 8S. He took the Bible upstairs to read. The first - words which met his eyes were these: ‘ The wicked walk on every side.’ These words pierced his heart like an- arrow from God, and made him feel his guilt and danger. Five days after, the Lord took his youngest child, an only son; four or five days after this, he himself was brought home ill. He is weeping under a sense of guilt, but has not found peace yet. Through the introduction of that Bible, the Lord seems to be working in two or three families in the same house. I trust it may prove like seed, sown into good ground. The 10,000 Tracts you also sent me, have been scattered in almust all parts of the east of London, etc.” 398 [A.D. 1860. From May, 26, 1859 to May 26, 1860, was expended of the funds of the Institution £5,019. 6s. ld. on mis sionary objects, whereby 101 servants of Christ were aided to a greater or less degree. During this year the current expenses for the support of the Orphans were greater than ever ; the outgoings for the circulation of Tracts also, together with the ex penses for the Schools, were greater than ever ; and yet, in addition, I was enabled to expend on missionary opera tions £869. 8s. 8d. more than during the previous year, though this part of the work had been increasing year by year, for more than twenty years. Thus the Institution, as its name indicates, practically became more and more the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. But while I desire to be truly grateful, lor having been " enabled to accomplish so much, simply in answer to prayer for means, in aiding a hundred servants of Christ to a greater or less degree, that, which especially calls for i gratitude, is the fact, that, during this year, by far more ' souls, as far as it is known, were brought to the know ledge of the Lord Jesus, through the instrumentality of these labourers in the Gospel, than during any previous year. Many hundreds were converted through them. I received about 600 letters from these brethren, and at least one half of that number recorded instances in which their labours had been blessed; but I must refrain here from giving any of them. I now enter on the Tract work. We expended on this Object, during that year, £1,650. 11s. 4½d., and there were more than Two Millions Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Tracts and Books circulated (exactly 2,562,001). About two millions of these Tracts were given away gratuitously. I had heard from a believer at Belfast, to whom I had sent large supplies of tracts for gratuitous circulation, and who by means of other believers had spread them abroad in the North of Ireland, that many persons had been converted through these tracts, and I requested him to let me know some of the particulars. His reply is given in a letter dated April 28, 1860, as follows: "I have been asking the Lord what to write to you, and I send you Isaiah xxxii. 20, being disappointed in receiving the particulars from the persons who spoke to me of the Lord's blessing on the tracts. They say He has blessed A.D. 1860. ] 399 them, greatly blessed them, and they are delighted with the conciseness yet fulness of each; but the individual cases of conversion cannot be recapitulated.” A clergyman in the North of Ireland, to whom I had repeatedly before sent tracts, and now again 10,000 for gratuitous circulation, writes thus on Aug. 5, 1859: “ An absence of a few days prevented me acknowledging earlier the arrival of the tracts. For so large and helpful a supply, it is impossible that I can return you any ade- quate thanks. They are just such as are needed, and are most eagerly read. One, the “Blood for a Token,” was blessed some time ago to a young girl of about twelve ; and no doubt each has its history, and in many cases hag been, I trust, a savour of life unto life.” The next is an extract from a letter written by a brother who labours greatly in the circulation of Tracts in the North of Devon, and who writes thus on Oct. 17, 1859: “T can relate to you another instance in which the Lord has blessed the tract, Bunyan’s ‘Come and Welcome to ’ Jesus Christ.’ A middle-aged woman, living very near to this house, had been observed to be very regular lately in attending the chapel, and to pay great attention to the Word spoken. I was asked to visit her, and learned that she had in secret been mourning for sin for two or three months, having been impressed by the tract, ‘ Come and Welcome,’ which, she tells me, I gave her on the main road, though the circumstance has escaped my memory. However, it was the Lord’s ordering, and it is His work. I pointed her to Christ, and she is now rejoicing in Him, as I trust.” A brother in Norfolk writes thus on December 17, 1859: “My dear wife tells me that one of the little tracts, ‘It is the Blood that maketh Atonement,’ was made a blessing to a young man who died a little while since. We cannot tell how much good has been done, but I can tell of this.” A brother in the Lord labouring in the Gospel among sailors in the county of Durham, writes on Oct. 7, 1859: ‘During the last three months, three hopeful cases came : to my notice among Prussian seamen. One of them found peace while I preached Jesus to him on board a Prussian ship. Your German tracts had been the means of impressing his mind greatly, so as to lead him to care for his soul and see his need of a Saviour.” 400 [4.D. 1860. The same brother writes on Jan. 18, 1860: “ Your tracts sent to me to distribute have found their way into all parts of the world, and many instances came to my notice during the past year in which they had been blessed to the souls of sinners. Some were sent in letters to German soldiers serving in the East Indies, and have been blessed to their souls.” From Derbyshire I had, on Feb. 2, 1860, the following communication: “I have visited some fresh places since I last wrote, and have given thousands of tracts. I called yesterday at a house at A., where a woman says that the tracts I have given her helped her more than everything she has ever had. She also told me of a man, a relative, who visited her last summer, and read some of the tracts I had left her, and they were the means of his conver- sion.” From Exeter I had the following intelligence, in a letter dated March 22, 1860: “Ihave just heard of a tract, which I gave to a young lady, having been greatly blessed to her, in setting her mind at liberty as before the Lord. It was one of the tracts you sent me, and I am hopeful that in more cases around this place there will be fruit from this department of labour.” From another brother in Exeter, who also has often been supplied with tracts, I had the following communica- tion on March 28, 1860, concerning tracts, which I had sent him, and of which he had given some to a brother of his for circulation: “On a former occasion I stated, that I had occasionally, during my affliction, foiwarded some tracts to a brother of mine, a sincere servant of Christ, and who feels it his joy to labour in every way he can for the good of poor sinners. His residence is in D., and I frequently have the gratification of hearing from him of the heart-cheering and blessed results of his endeavours. A few days ago I received a letter, in which, alluding to ‘the work and the distribution of the tracts, he says: ‘I have so much to say about them, that I hardly know where to begin. I gave a tract to a young man, which was the means of bringing him to Jesus. He is now a member of a church. We, including two or three pious young men, left tracts, some little while since, and a Bible, at a very low house at the back of N. C., where we had been several times. Now, there is a prayer-meeting held A.D. 1860.] 401 there three evenings every week, and much good is being done there.’” A third brother in Exeter, who has often had large cupplies of tracts, writes thus on April 4,1860: “I desire thankfully to acknowledge the receipt of 9,900 tracts and 200 little books for children. I have lately found one soul - brought to Jesus through a tract given her. She is very happy in the Lord. Many have received much blessing from the tracts; some have had comfort in sorrow, others have had their doubts removed, their faith strengthened, and their hopes confirmed, Our labour is not in vain in the Lord.” And again this same brother writes on May 15, 1860. ' J desire to lay before you the way in which those 10,000 tracts you sent me last have been disposed of. Six thou- sand of them were distributed at the Easter fair here, the remaining 4,000 have been distributed on Lord’s days in the streets of this City and neighbourhood, at open air preachings, railway stations, ete. I must also lay before you some interesting account of the Lord’s blessing on the tracts. At the fair this year a young woman came in from the country to spend her time at the fair; she was met with a tract which was given her, and she read it. The Lord fastened conviction of sin on her conscience, she left the fair, came to a prayer-meeting with the tract in her hand, in deep distress of soul, and after some time found peace through faith in the precious blood of Jesus. I have had cause for special praise to the Lord this year in the case of many youths, who were last year at the fair, breaking all the tracts they could get at; but this year the Lord has met with them, and those lads have been a great help to me in this work by standing in the streets leading to the fair, distributing tracts, and speak- ing and warning those who were going there. The Lord has raised up many helpers here in this work, so that the Word of Life is circulated far and wide. He is also con- tinuing to bless the tracts in an especial way to the young converts ; for your tracts are eagerly sought after for instruction, and I feel much pleasure in going in and out among these young disciples. There is still much blessing here in this city. Ishould be glad to receive some tracts, as I am quite out of gospel tracts. Those little books you sent me were much prized by the children who. have 402 [A.D. 1860. been converted. If you can spare some more I should be glad." In August, 1859, a brother in the Lord and two sisters went out from our midst for missionary service, to labour in Penang, Straits of Malacca. We had especially asked the Lord, among other things, that He would be pleased to bless the labours of this little missionary party, whilst yet on board, and thus give them an earnest concerning their future service. I had also supplied them with tracts and bibles for the sailors. This prayer was answered. The wife of the missionary writes from Singapore, Jan. 19, 1860, thus with reference to their voyage, and blessing on one of the tracts : ' I think I mentioned we had a meeting every night for reading the Word, the captain and officers not on duty being present, and with joy I have to tell you that the Lord has blessed the Word to the conversion of two, the chief officer and the carpenter, one a Welshman and the other a Scotchman, who for some months walked so as to give us real joy. 1 believe the chief officer was in a thoroughly self-righteous state, and the tract ' Alonzo or the Vain Endeavour' was used by the Lord in showing him his real state, and both he and the carpenter have again and again spoken of God's goodness in bringing them on board the Ballarat. Three of the sailors were also impressed, and we hope that the Word spoken and the prayers treasured up for them will at last give us to rejoice over them." I refer now briefly to the Orphan work. At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1859 to May 26, 1860, there were 672 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. During the year were admitted into the two Houses 70 Orphans ; so that there would have been, on May 26, 1860, 742 under our care, had there been no changes. But of these 742 three died. Only three ! I notice this especially, with gratitude to the Lord. All three died as believers. One of the chil dren was returned to her relatives, because they would not submit to the regulations of the Establishment. Three others were, after sufficient trial, returned to their relatives, because their state of health rendered them unfit to be inmates of an Institution in which the girls are trained for domestic service, and the boys for being ap prenticed to a trade. Two boys were returned to their rela A.D, 1860.] 403 tives to be apprenticed by them. One boy was expelled from the Institution, having been long borne with, and found too injurious to the other children. One girl, when old enough to be sent out to service, was returned to her grand- mother, because we could not recommend her, though for nine years we had tried every means to fit her for service. Fourteen boys were apprenticed at the expense of the Institution, 6 of whom were sent out as believers; and 16 girls were sent to service, having, as well as the ap- prentices, been supplied with a suitable outfit by the Institution. Of these 16 girls, 8 left us as believers, and some of the other eight were in a hopeful state. One of the girls who had been for 2 years and 8 months a con- sistent believer was sent to Eondon, to be trained for a teacher, at the expense of her uncle. Thus it came, that, on May 26, 1860, there were just 700 Orphans under our care, our full number in the two houses, 7.e. in No. 1—300, and in No. 2—400. May 26, 1860. Day after day, and year after year, by the help of God, we labour in prayer for the spiritual benefit of the Orphans under our care. These our suppli- cations, which have been for 24 years brought before the Lord concerning them, have been abundantly answered, in former years, in the conversion of hundreds from among them. We have, also, had repeated seasons in which, within a short time, or even all at once, many of the Orphans were converted. Such a.geason we hat about 3 years since, when, within a few days, about 60 weré brought to believe in the Lord Jesus; “and such seasons wé have had again twice during the past year. The first was aie July, 1859, when the Spirit of God wrought “so mighfily in one school of 120 eirls, as that very mang, yea more than one-half, were brought under deep concern ‘about the salvation of their souls. This work, moreover; WaS hot a Mere momentary excitement ; but, after more than eleven months have elapsed, there are 31 concerning whom there is full confidence as to their conversion, and 32 concerning whom there is likewise a goodly measure of confidence, though not to the same amount, as regarding the 31. | There are therefore 63 out of the 120 Orphans in that ; one school who are considered to have been converted in July, 1859. This blessed and mighty work of the Holy ; Spirit cannot be traced to any particular cause. It was ; 404 [4.D. 1860. ‘however, a most precious answer fo prayer. As such we look upon it, and are encouraged by it to further waiting upon God.—The second season of the mighty working of the Holy Spirit among the Orphans, during the past year, was at the end of January and the beginning of February, 1860. The particulars of it are of the deepest interest ; but I must content myself by stating, that this great work of the Spirit of God in January and February, 1860, began among the FOUNgSTOMRE otic abn. wer oof care, little girls of about 6, 7, 8 and 9 years old; then extended to the older girls; and then to the boys, so that within about ten days above 200 of the Orphans were stirred up to be anxious about their souls, and in many instances found peace immediately, through faith in our Lord Jesus. They at once requested to be allowed to hold prayer-meetings among themselves, and have had these meetings ever since. Many of them also manifested a concern about the salvation of their companions and rela- tions, and spoke or wrote to them, about the way to be saved.—Should the believing reader desire to know, how it has been with these children since the end of January and the beginning of February, our reply is, we have, in most cases, cause for thankfulness. The present state of the 700 Orphans, spiritually, is, that there are 118 under our care, regarding whose conversion we have full confi- i dence, 89 regarding whom we have also confidence, though ~ } not to that full degree, as concerning the 118; and 53 } whom we consider in a hopeful state. To these 260 are to be added the 14 who were sent out as believers, and the three who died in the faith during the past year. It is to be remembered, that very many of the children in the Orphan Houses are quite young, as we have received them from 4 months old and upward.—During no year have we had greater cause for thanksgiving on account of the spiritual blessing among the children, than during the last ; and yet we look for further and greater blessing still. There was expended for the support of the Orphans, from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860, £7,699. 13s. 114d., and £2,428. 5s. 64d. was expended in connexion with the building of the Orphan Houses. I enter now upon the year from May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1861. The total of the expenses during this year, for the various objects of the Institution, amounted to A.D. 1861.] 405 .£24,700. 16s. 4d. So greatly was already, by this time, that work enlarged, which had so small and insignificant a beginning on March 5, 1834; but prayer, and trust in the Living God, had enlarged it thus, and went on en larging it, further and further, till it came to what it is now in the year 1 874. From May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1861, there were four Day Schools, with 302 children, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, and eleven besides were assisted. One Sunday School, with 177 children, was entirely sup ported, and thirteen others were assisted. One adult School, with 34 scholars, was entirely supported. From March, 1834, to May 26th, 1861, there were 7,178 children in the Day-Schools. In the Adult-School there were 3,019 persons. The number of Sunday-School chil dren amounts to 3,294. Thus, without reckoning the Or phans, 13,491 souls were brought under habitual instruc tion in the things of God in these various Schools : besides the many thousands in the Schools in various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, British Guiana, the West Indies, the East Indies, &c., which were to a greater or less degree assisted. During the year from May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1861, we had again repeatedly instances brought before us, in which our former instructions had been blessed, and, among others, there was the case of one who is now himself a preacher of the Gospel. In addition to these instances of blessing on our former labours, we had also the joy of receiving 8 from among the Sunday Scholars into Church Fellowship ; and in the Day-Schools, though we had not so many conversions as during the pre vious year, yet there were at least a few. There was ex pended on the Schools, during this year, £484. 9s. 0½d. During this year we expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures £569. 10s. 6d., and there were circulated 2,756 Bibles, 3,144 Testaments, 87 copies of the Psalms, and 292 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. As an encouragement for circulating the Holy Scrip tures, and, at the same time, to show the great importance of providing the poor with copies of a large type, I relate the following circumstance, communicated to me by a ser vant of Christ labouring in Devonshire, whom I have for years supplied with Tracts and copies of the Scriptures. " An old man died a few days ago, to whom about 3 years 406 [A.D. 1861. ago I gave one of the large Bibles you sent me. I have a good hope he died in the Lord ; but I was much encour aged to hope the gift of God's word was not in vain, from the knowledge he seemed to possess of the Word, and how, when I would quote or read parts of it, he would an ticipate the words, as I read or spoke. He suffered excru ciating pains ; but the word of God was precious, and Christ alone was his help. I felt the more interested in his value of the word of God, as he told me he had been desiring a large Bible for 17 years previous to the time I gave him one." The following touching little narrative was sent to me by a missionary in Nova Scotia, whom I have for years sup plied with Bibles, Testaments, Tracts, and little books, which he seeks to circulate in the most destitute parts of that spi ritually needy district, in which he more especially labours. " Between the settlements of Cape North, and Bay St. Lawrence, there is a public road, recently cut through a dense forest, and entered by a deep gorge, causing an abrupt break in a chain of mountains, commencing at the extreme point of Cape North, and running about 70 miles along the western side of the island, the mountains varying in height from 1,000 to 1,300 feet. On entering the gorge, and ascending by a circuitous road half way up the Sugar Loaf Mountain, so named from its shape, you emerge upon a mountain valley, and thus proceed a few miles, when yon again descend into the Bay St. Lawrence settlement. Along this road there are scattered a few miserable huts, the habitations of very poor and generally a very degraded people. Having upon one occasion ascended to the valley, I sat down to rest, when suddenly, by the sound of an axe, I was attracted to a spot, where stood a little boy felling a tree. I called the boy to me, and asked him to take a seat beside me. He obeyed, evidently surprised. I said to him, my little boy, you appear to be working very hard for your years, are you obliged to do so ? ' Yes, sir,' he said, ' Father is away fishing, and there is no one at home to get fire wood but me.' Can you read, my child ? ' A little, sir ; I go to the Doctor's when I can, and he teaches me to read.' (The Doctor occupied a little hut about half a mile from where we sat, down in a deep glen, where he was clearing the forest, planting potatotes, and growing oats, in order to provide for his family.) Can your pa A.D. 1861.] 407 rents read ? ' No, sir.' Would you like to read to me ? giving him a little tract book. ' I will try, sir.' He did his best, and appeared greatly pleased at my interest in his welfare. Would you like to read in the Word of God, and to receive a New Testament. ' Oh ! yes, sir j indeed I should,' his eyes sparkling with joy. ' And I'll go to the Doctor's every time I can, and learn as fast as I can.' After conversing about the love of the Saviour, and com mending him by prayer to God, I proceeded on my journey. But from this point the poor child's sorrows began. His parents were Roman Catholics and intemperate. When they found the child in possession of a Testament, they were angry, and said they would burn it. The boy wept, and besought them not to do so. He was beaten. At length they told him, to take the book and sell it for four pence, and bring them rum with the money, or they would destroy it. This the poor boy did, to pacify them. The Doctor, when relating to me the circumstance, said— " When the child came to me, he trembled, fearful that he should not get the money. He said, ' Oh ! Mr. Christy, only buy the book for me, and I will come and chop fire wood for you whenever I can. Oh ! I cannot spare the book, &c.' " Said the man, " I had but sixpence in the house, but I could not but give the money. The boy now comes every night to read in his Testament, he appears deeply interested, and is learning to read very correctly." We expett D.V. to hear from this little boy again, and hope to find him, through grace, sitting at the Master's feet, learning of Him, and perhaps, yet to become a shining light in the midst of darkness and delusion. During this year there was expended on Missionary operations the sum of £5,273. 7s. 6d., whereby 107 ser vants of the Lord Jesus were assisted. There came to hand, during this year, about 700 letters from these brethren, but as space does not allow me to insert any of them in this volume, I feel it necessary to state, that dur ing that year it pleased the Lord to bring many hundreds of souls to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, through the instrumentality of those brethren who were helped out of the Missionary fund of this Institution. There was expended on the circulation of religious Tracts, from May 26, 1860, to May 26, 1861, £1,264. 8s. 3½d., and there were circulated above Two Millions and 408 [A.D. 1861. Four Hundred Thousand (exactly 2,408,659) Tracts and, Books. Above Two Millions of the Tracts were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from brethren to whom these Tracts were sent. A brother in the Lord, who labours in the Gospel in Devonshire, and whom I have repeatedly supplied with tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes with reference to one of them on Feb. 14, 1861 : —" The Lord is still carry ing on His work among us. A poor man that was a swearer and a drunkard, who spent the Lord's day in reading the newspaper, was one Lord's day morning pass ing by a brother's door, and he offered him some tracts to read instead of the newspaper ; and the Spirit was pleased to impress upon his mind the words, ' Why will ye die ? ' and he came under the sound of the Gospel, and found peace in believing. It is very precious to see him taking those, that were his companions in the ale-house, under the sound of the Gospel." The same brother writes thus on May 25, 1861, about the same individual : —" When I last wrote to you, I men tioned that a person was converted by means of a tract given to him. Since then he has opened his house for meetings, and it has been so filled, that I have not had room to stand. I have seen seven or eight in deep dis tress about their souls at once ; and I do not think that there has been one meeting without some fresh case of blessing, either of conviction of sin, or of those convinced brought into liberty." This shows what abundant bless ing may result from the circulation of tracts, not only to the individuals to whom they are given, but to great num bers besides. On April 17, 1861, I had the following lines regarding one of the tracts, from a Christian person, whom I had repeatedly supplied with tracts : —" You will rejoice to hear that the Railway Tract ' Progress ' has been, we trust, blessed to the conversion of a poor man." A labourer in the Gospel in Herefordshire, who has often been supplied with tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes concerning them : —" A woman came this week to our house, and told my wife that she had borrowed a tract, she had left at a neighbour's house. It's title " Grace." A.D. 1861.] 403 She was specially struck with the words, " waiteth to be gracious," and thought, " Why should He wait any longer for me ? I found that all through my life I had been limiting the power of His grace." Another woman, that has been a " sinner," found peace through the little book, " The passover." She has been coming to our house for the last five months under deep concern. Mr. C , of London, was preaching in this town about three weeks since, and, at the close of his address, I spoke for a short time on the words—" When / see the blood I will pass over," and " the blood shall be a token to you." When this poor woman got home, she remembered 1 had given her a little book upon the subject, and thought she would read it ; and, while so doing, felt the joy of a finished salvation. She told me, since she found this joy, that many times she had left her bed and prayed to the Lord, and that before she had often fasted whole days together, hoping to get peace." A brother in Wiltshire, who has for many years been supplied with tracts, writes on Jan. 17, 1861 : " I can in form you of the happy departure of J. S., the first person in this hamlet, whose mind was opened to see and feel himself a poor lost sinner, through reading the tracts you supplied us with ; and who was led to embrace the Saviour as his great High Priest, and resting on His atoning blood, found pardon and peace some years ago. I was privileged to be the last person he spoke to on earth. I asked him how he found himself in the near prospect of eternity. He replied with great firmness, " I am on the Rock Christ Jesus ; I am trusting to the blood, and I have no doubt, no fear." These were his last words. After uttering them he gently breathed his last." A brother in the Lord at Sunderland, who, together with other Christians has circulated many tens of thou sands of tracts, which I have sent him, writes on Nov. 7, 1860 : "I take the opportunity of telling you, that your tracts have been lately very much blessed to souls, by the grace of God. The missionary at S. has found many cases of special blessing. G. G. has also found them very useful, especially the German tracts. One Swedish Captain was so fond of j our German tracts, that he said he intended to have some of them translated into his own mother tongue. Brother L. has had a remarkable case of usefulness in the T ' 410 {A.D. 1861. Union. A very hardened prostitute, who hated the truth, and even wept with rage when it was presented to her, has been completely broken down by reading the ‘“ Converted Negress,” and is now saved from the wrath tocome. She has an awfully bad leg, the fruit of her life of sin, and is daily expecting to have it cut off, else she must die. She is a trophy of divine grace indeed.” ” The following extract from a letter, dated Sunderland, Oct. 10, 1860, refers to the case just related, and gives some further particulars: “J thank you for so large. a supply of tracts; many have expressed themselves as benefited by them. One instance of real good has during the last month come to light. A woman, whom I had often spoken to about her past sinful life, and whowasone of the most hardened women I had ever met with, I gave one of your tracts to, entitled “The Converted Negress.” The reading of this so affected her, she told me, that it was the first and only thing that had everdone her good. She could not sleep all night, and felt for the first time how merciful God had been to her, that He did not cut her off in her sins.” A godly man in Gloucestershire, whom I have supplied for many years with tracts for gratuitous circulation, in applying for more, writes thus on April 18, 1861: “ May I once more beg of you to forward to me a large parcel of tracts for the young men of the Royal North Gloucester- shire Militia, who are to be here for a month. After many years acquaintance with your Evangelical Tracts, I can say for myself, they have often cheered me when downcast during my sojourn here of 12 years. Some hundreds here have borne similar testimony. With regard to the young men of the R. N. G. Militia, many of them appreciated the tracts, and I know that many of them traced their conver- sion to their agency. May I hope you will send me a large supply for them and others.” A godly man in Glamorganshire, in applying for a fur- ther supply of tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on July 1, 1860: “I have to-day finished giving away the tracts you last sent me, hoping they may be blessed to many souls. They have been accompanied with many prayers, and many have professed to have been profited by them. I have this day visited in the infirmary a poor woman who is fast sinking. She dates her conversion from A.D. 1861.] 411 reading (he tract entitled Truth and Grace." The last time before this that I visited her, her almost first words were, " I am waiting till the Lord shall call for me." Her mind seems to be calm and peaceful, stayed on the Lord. I should be glad to receive some more tracts." The following case was recently communicated to me, concerning one of the tracts, which a Christian fanner had bought at the Bible and Tract Warehouse of the Institu tion : " An aged man had the tract, ' Thy kingdom come.' given to him. The result was, that he was awakened to a sense of his condition as a lost sinner, and was soon led to Christ as his only refuge, whereby he obtained peace, through believing; and is now waiting, with joyful antici pation, for the coming of that kingom, for which he had so often, in words, prayed, but never knew its power in his own soul, until he received the said tract." The following communication was contained in a letter, dated March 22, 1861, and written by a believer in Devon shire, whom I have for years supplied with large quantities of tracts for gratuitous circulation : " Since I wrote to you for the last parcel of tracts, I have had cause of joy in pre vious seed sown, which is bringing forth fruit, to the glory of God. A dear Christian sister had a relative in the Isle of Wight, to whom she enclosed a tract, entitled " The Passover," in a letter. The Lord blessed it to the salva tion of his soul. This will encourage and give you joy, also that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Some months since a Christian in business, in Glouces tershire, who employs a number of men, requested me to send him a quantity of tracts, especially with the view of having them read by his workmen, instead of unprofitable or bad publications. I gladly complied with his request, and shortly afterwards received the following joyful com munication, that five of his workmen had been converted through these tracts. The letter is dated Feb. 1, 1861, in which he writes thus : " The Lord Jesus has been pleased to give us unmistakeable proof of blessing attending the reading of the tracts you sent me, in my workshop, in the conversion of five of my work people We have had a noonday prayer meeting among them for a month past, and such was the spirit given us on last Saturday, that we continued in prayer from 12 o'clock till 5, except while we paused to take a little refreshment. Our souls were o; 2 412 [4.D., 1861. drawn out especially for one to be set at liberty. The new , converts prayed like those who are taught of the Spirit. The Bible is read at least six different times in the work- shop, and we have commenced reading among the cot- tagers at night around us, and are encouraged to go forward.” ' Christian Reader, labour on for the Lord, and your Meaty labour will not be in vain. Circulate the Holy Scriptures SS and Tracts with the greatest dilligence; speak also for the Lord, as if every thing depended on your exertions ; et trust not in the least in your exertions, but_in the Lord, who aloné can cause your efforts to be made effectual, to the benefit of your fellow-men or fellow-believers. Re- member also, that God delights to bestow blessing, but, generally, as the result of earnest, believing prayer. At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1860 to May 26, 1861, there were 700 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and 2. During the year were ad- mitted into the two Houses 46; so that there would have { been, on May 26, 1861, 746 under our care, had there been yno changes; but of these 746 ten died. This is the largest number up to that time, that ever died of the Or- phans under our care, in one year. Generally there were not half so many. During the previous year only three out of 742 were removed by death. Still, even ten is a small proportion, considering that by far the greater part of the parents, of the children under our care, died in con- sumption, which is known by the certificates. Most of those ten. who died were very delicate, when they were placed under our care. Yet, as it is, we had joy in the end of almost all-of them. Eight out of the ten died as believers, concerning whom we have a good hope; one was an infant ; and there was only one concerning whom we had no hope. —Two boys and two girls, of such an age as that the boys might have been apprenticed, and the girls sent into service, we were obliged to return to their relatives, as we could not recommend them to any master or mistress, on account of their moral state. This is one of the painful experiences with which we now and then meet, and which in every work for God will be met with; yet we have cause for thankfulness, that cases of this kind are com- paratively so rare. We have, moreover, under such cir- cumstances, also repeatedly found, that, after all, our A.D. 1861.] 413 efforts had been blessed, the seed which was sown springing up to the glory of (rod and our comfort, when the indivi duals were no longer under our care.—Four of the children were given up to their relatives or friends, after having been a considerable time under our care, as these relatives were able and desirous now to provide for them.—One of the children, who was only taken on trial, on account of imbecility of mind, was, after 1 6 months fruitless endeav our to benefit her, given up again to her relatives, on account of the entire want of mental capabilities.—Four of the Orphans were given up (o their relatives, on account of their state of health, as there was no prospect of their being benefited by remaining in the Institution ; and as, especially in two cases, their native air seemed the only thing likely to benefit their health. We had, however, the joy of seeing two out of these four brought to believe in the Lord Jesus, and they had been consistent believers for a considerable time, before they left our care.—One of the girls was sent out to be trained as a teacher. She had been a believer for eleven months, before she left. — Eight of the boys were sent out to be apprenticed, at the expense of the Institution, and were also provided with an outfit. Out of these eight, four had been believers some time, before they left.—Fifteen girls were sent out into service, having been each, at the expense of the Institu tion, provided with an outfit. Out of these 15, twelve had been believers for a considerable time, before they were sent out. We had therefore, on May 26, 1861, only 699 Orphans in the two houses, viz., 299 in No. 1, and 400 in No. 2. May 26, 1861. The previous part of this Narrative, has given to the Christian reader proof upon proof, how greatly the Lord has condescended to bless our labours, spiritually, among the Orphans. This blessing continues. During this year there were not such instances of the working of the Holy Spirit, as during the two previous ones, when great" numbers__of_the^OrphansJ all at once, were led to care aBout their salvation, yet we had not a few instances regarding individual children. The chief cause for thankfulness we( have, with regard to the present spiritual state of the Orphans, is, that by far the greater part of those, who professed faith in our Lord Jesus during the two previous years, when the Spirit of God wrought 414 [A.D. 1862, mightily among them, have not been allowed to go back, but have continued on the Lord's side. Out of the 700 Orphans under our care, there are 127, concerning whose conversion we have full confidence, and 65 regarding whom. there is also a goodly measure of confidence, though not to the same extent. There are 32 besides, who profess to be believers and to have been converted, regarding whom, however, the teachers, as yet, are not satisfied. To thefe 224 are to be added the eight who died during the past year as believers, and the 19 who were as believers sent out. The current expenses for the support of the Orphans, during the year, were £8022. 7s. 10d. ; and there was expended in connexion with the building of the New Orphan House No. 3, £9060. 8s. 2d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1861 to May 26, 1862. This period was especially marked by furnishing a full answer to the . prayers which day by day had been brought before God for more than eleven years, from November 1850, with reference to the enlargement of the Orphan Work. It was also marked by the ex penditure of £26,029. 16s. 7½d. during the year, for the various objects of the Institution. And it was finally marked by the Lord's most manifest help, in every way, in connexion with the work ; and by the continuation of spiritual blessing, resting on the various objects of the Institution. During this year we had four Day Schools connected with the Institution, with 320 children, which were entirely supported by its funds. In addition to these four Day Schoots, which were entirely supported, ten other Day Schools were assisted. There was one Sunday School with 164 children entirely supported by the Institution, and 12 others were assisted. One adult school, with 55 scholars, was entirely supported. There was expended on the School work, £498. 5s. 0d. From May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1862, there were circulated 3017 Bibles, 1732 New Testaments, 42 copies of the Psalms, and 66 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There was expended on this Object £498. 14s. 4d. On Missionary Objects we expended from May 26, 1861 to May 26, 1862, £5527. 5s. 2d., whereby 116 servants of Christ were assisted. During this year there were received above 800 letters from these 116 Mission A.D. 1862.] 415 aries, full of deep interest, and showing that their labours had been blessed, during that year, in the conversion of many hundred souls. Gladly would I reprint here the extracts from their letters, which were published in the Report of 1862; but space forbids me so to do. As, however, the Reports published since 1846 may yet be had, they can, at a trifling cost, be obtained by applying to Mr. Stanley, Manager of the Bible and Tract Ware house of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol, should any of the readers desire to see these Missionary letters. From May 26, 1861 to May 26, 1862, there was ex pended on the circulation of Tracts £1339. 7s. 1d., and for this amount there were circulated more than Two Millions and Seven Hundred Thousand Tracts and Books (exactly 2,711,501). During this year more than Two Millions One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from brethren to whom these tracts were sent. A brother, who labours in the Gospel in Ireland, wrote on Sept. 9, 1861 : " I am sure you will be anxious to know what I have done with the large parcel of tracts you kindly sent me. I have given samples of them to several of the Lord's dear saints, who are in the habit of dis tributing tracts in schools and prayer-meetings, asking them to pray over them before they gave any of them away. The Revival of 1859 having raised up many devoted young men, who preach in their respective neigh bourhoods, but who are in a great measure ignorant of the simple Gospel, I have made it a special point to put a number of your tracts into their hands ; and, with God's blessing, my object in doing so has been gained, which" was, that they might be led to state more simply the doctrine of the Cross, without adding ordinances or duties of any kind to the work completed by Jesus. I know for certain they have been greatly blessed in this respect. But while I know they have been blessed in building up and comforting great numbers of weak believers, I do not know of any that I could certainly say were converted by them. One old sinner I hope was blessed by them, but I am not quite sure. I went to see him on his death-bed, and, after conversation and prayer, I left him a few tracts. 416 [A.D. 1862. I saw his friends about four weeks after the time I left the tracts, who told me he often wanted to see me, and that he had been greatly comforted by the tracts, which he often caused to be read, after he was unable to read them himself. The rest I have distributed in public meetings and by the way-side as I travel, or by any other means I have of getting them into the hands of sinners, and I have still a number of them on hand." The same brother writes on April 26, 1862 : " On Monday last a man came to our meeting who is deeply concerned about his soul. He has been a professor many years, but now feels he needs a Saviour. He told my wife it was reading one of the tracts you sent me that led him to see his need of salvation. The name of the tract was ' How does a man become a soldier ?' I am to preach at his house on Thursday week, D.W A brother, labouring in Yorkshire, who has been sup plied with many tens of thousands of tracts, for gratuitous circulation, writes on Nov. 11, 1861: "The enclosed tract (" The Dying Peasant Lad "), which I had from you, was the means of much blessing to a man about three weeks ago ; and he walked five miles the next day to meet me where I was expected to preach the Gospel, that he might tell me how happy he felt. He had been un happy about his sins for some weeks before." A godly man at Manchester, who has been repeatedly supplied with large quantities of tracts, for gratuitous cir culation, writes concerning them : " For the last font months the Corn Exchange has been opened for the preaching of the Word, and a congregation of 1200 people come regularly to hear words whereby they may be saved. During these meetings 1 have taken the opportunity of .circulating these tracts, which were thankfully received and read while waiting for the time to begin the service. A Roman Catholic came up to me one day last week, and while in conversation with him he pulled a tract out of his breast pocket (" The Incorruptible Seed,") remarking that this was the tract that made him decide for Christ, and that he needed no Saviour but Jesus." A brother, labouring in Surrey, writes on Jan. 17, 1862, with reference to tracts, which I had sent him for circula tion : " A poor woman, whom the Lord had brought to Himself at W , was first led to think of her soul A.D. 1862.] 417 through a tract (" The Two Cabmen ") I left at her house with her little children, she being from home. The few words spoken to these lambs were used of the Lord to her blessing in this way : ' She felt ' (so she told me) ' the kindness of anyone so speaking to her children.' I believe I mentioned her case before. She appears to grow in grace, and the work seems real." A godly man in Cheshire, whom I have repeatedly supplied with tracts, writes on May 5, 1862 : " One woman has been brought to God by reading one of your tracts." An evangelist, labouring in Somersetshire, writes on May 27, 1862 : " The little books and tracts are nearly all given away ; if convenient, I shall be thankful to re ceive a fresh supply. I know of one case of deep impression in a man I could not get access to till just before he left Y . The tract " A Just God and a Saviour " had evidently affected him. As it was one lent from house to house, he requested me to procure him a copy to keep, and detained the one he had till I supplied him. He offered to give anything for it. He returned to his native place and died in a few days." The following interesting communication was sent to me by a brother labouring in Devonshire, on Sep. 9, 1861, and shows, that, above five years since, God was pleased to bless a tract, which I had sent him, though recently only the circumstance had come to light. Thousands of instances of blessing may never come to our knowledge until the Lord comes. We have, therefore, patiently, prayerfully, and in faith to go on with our service, being assured, that, if we faint not, in due season we shall reap. " I have no doubt that you will be glad to learn the fol lowing incident. Five years since, when in Cornwall, I gave a tract to a very low dissipated woman, who received it mockingly, and at once put it into her pocket. When she got to her house, she took it out of her pocket, to help light her fire. It was a tract of two pages. She read the following text, heading the first page : ' The wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ oar Lord. Bom. vi. 23.' God the Holy Ghost flashed the light of conviction upon that poor dark de praved heart. The tract fell from her hand, dropping on her knees. Her cry went up to God. For hours she con T 3 418 [A.n. 1862. tinned in an agony of soul. When she bethought herself again of the tract, snatching it from the floor, the first word on the other page now caught her eye, and that word was ' Mercy.' God used it instrumentaily in leading her to the cross of His Son, then and there. After maintain ing a beautiful consistency of Christian walk and testi mony, she recently fell asleep in Jesus. Let my last end be like hers ! With the Bibles, Testaments and tracts that you have so liberally supplied me with, I have regu larly supplied several ships that sail from S . A nice young Christian seaman always takes a large supply with him, to give away to the sailors in foreign ports, for which his vessel is bound. Some months since, while speaking to a young man at Georgetown in Demerara (that young man was also from this neighbourhood, but not converted), he says : ' It was as if a voice said to me, give that young man some tracts. And on. learning that the crew num bered forty, I gave him a large packet, which he promised faithfully to distribute amongst his shipmates. The next day that vessel sailed for Liverpool ; but she had not sailed many days before 29 out of the 40 had fallen victims to yellow fever. The first that died was S. P , the young man to whom I gave the tracts.' Surely this was a remarkable providence. When at home, those young men lived within four miles of each other ; yet meeting thousands of miles away, the one to speak faith fully to the other of Jesus, and to supply the Gospel through the tracts only a few hours before so many were taken. I shall be glad of some Bibles, tracts, &c., when you can send them, as I am now getting very low." At the commencement of the period, from May 26, 1861, to May 26, 1862. there were 699 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. During the year were admitted into the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 altogether 159 children, so that the total number on May 26, 1862, would have been 858, had there been no changes ; but of these 858, seven died. Only seven ! Six out of the seven who died were believers, and the seventh was an infant. One, of the girls was delivered up to her rela tions, by their wish, as they were now able and willing to pro vide for her. Two of the boys, who were ready to be appren ticed, were not apprenticed by the Institution, as they could not be recommended; but were delivered up to their relatives, &.D. 1863. ]: 419 to be apprenticed by them. One of the boys, ready to be apprenticed, and who could have been recommended, was not apprenticed at the expense of the Institution, because his relatives were able and willing to do it. Twelve boys were provided with an outfit and apprenticed at the ex- pense of the Institution, 6 of whom had been believers for some time before they left. ‘Twenty-four girls were provided with an outfit by, the Institution, and sent out to service, eleven of whom had been believers for some time before they left us. Deducting these 47 from 858, there were only 811 Orphans:actually under our care on May 26, 1862. . We enter now upon the year, from May 26, 1862, to May. 26, 1868. In reading these particulars with reference to these various years, we pass on rapidly from one year to the other; but, as to our actual experience, each year was marked by many: thousands of petitions, thousands of difficulties, if not heavy trials, ofone kind or another; but, at the same time, with thousands of joys in one way or other. It will be difficult for the reader to place himself in our position, except he himself has been occupied in similar werk, and has acted on the same principles on - which we act. Nevertheless, I will go on, finishing the history of this Institution to the end of its fortieth year, as I trust that, after all, many ofmy readers will be convinced of the power of prayer, and the blessedness of simple trust in the Living God, in carrying on His blessed work. During the year, from: May 26, 182; to May 26, 1868, there were four Day: Schools, with 821 children, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. In addition to these four Day Schools, 6 others: were assisted. One Sunday School, with 160 children, was entirely supported, and thirteen others were assisted. One’ Adult School, with 48 Scholars, was entirely supported, and two others were assisted. The amount expended, on these Schools, was £536. 19s. 104d. During this year 2227 Bibles, 1183 New Testaments, 54 copies of the Psalms, and 125 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures were circulated. The amount spent, on this object, was £400. 1s: 1d. During this year was expended, of the funds of the In- stitution, the sum of £4929. 3s. 104d. on Missionary 420 [A.D. 1803. operations, and by this sum One Hundred and Sixteen labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. I received again, as usual, many hundreds of letters from those servants of Christ ; bnt as space does not allow me to reprint here, what was given of them in the Report published 1863, I only say, that a considerable portion of these letters speaks of blessing, which the Lord was pleased to bestow on their labours, during this year. There were circulated between May 26, 1862, and May 26, 1863, Three Millions and Thirty-nine Thousand Tracts and Books, at an expense of £1263. 6s. 2½d. Two Millions Four Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand of this number were given away gratuitously. Hundreds of believers were engaged in spreading them abroad, not merely in many parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but in various other parts of the world. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from brethren to whom these tracts were sent. An Evangelist, who labours in Scotland, and moves about from place to place, writes on Oct. 3rd, 1862 : " Many thanks for the bountiful supply of Tracts which came to Tain. Several tracts have been blessed this season in ftossshire, e. g. " Mercy," at Dingwall, and " Two things which God hath joined together," at Ullapool." A brother, who labours in the County of Durham, and who is habitually supplied with Tracts gratuitously, writes on Aug. 23, 1862 : " Your Tracts, I believe, will prove a blessing to many. A man came to me a few days ago, saying he was in distress. I asked him if his circum stances were bad; ' No,' said he, 'I have plenty of work, but you have often given me a tract in the street ; and the reading of one of them has made me very uneasy, as it speaks of a change of heart, which I am convinced I have not.' He seemed to be in earnest. This is one of the many instances of the effects of tract-distribution which have come to my knowledge." The same brother writes on Oct. 17th, 1862 : " I have visited regularly for two months a man who is laid up with a broken leg. When I first saw him, I reminded him of the goodness of God in sparing his life in the time of danger. I said to him pointedly, ' What would have A.D. 1863.] 421 become of your soul, if yon had died then? He was _affected to tears, and replied, with a full heart, ‘I shonld have been lost.’ I have repeatedly visited him since. Two days ago I asked him how it was with his soul; he said, ‘Iam happy now.’ I said, ‘What makes you happy?” He replied, ‘ Christ.’ I asked him when he first became happy; and he told me it was while reading the Tract, “ Poor Richard.’ I gave him another tract, and told him to look to Jesus alone for salvation.” A brother in Yorkshire, who has been frequently sup- plied with large parcels of tracts gratuitously, writes on Sep. Ist, 1862, ‘‘ The tracts you kindly sent me arrived quite safely, and we have begun distributing them. One of the distributors, who has taken out hundreds into the country, says that he can trace in 7 or 8 instances that the tracts he has left at different houses have been distinctly blessed to souls.” A Godly man in Cheshire, whom I have often supplied with tracts gratuitously, writes on Aug. Ist, 1862: “I have great pleasure to inform you that several cases have come under my notice of good being done by your tracts. I gave a tract to a man, who became so uneasy after read- ing it, that he could not rest. He was pointed to ‘the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.” He is now walking in the ways of the Lord.” A second case is that of a woman, who was so affected by a tract which I gave her, that she cried for mercy. She is now on the Lord’s side. In a third case I left two tracts with a family. The father was such a wicked man that his wife could scarcely live with him, but he is now quite another man. His wife told me this week that she should have to thank God that he ever sent me with those two tracts; she added, “he is now asking God to save him from all his sins, and he says the Lord will save him.” A Christian tract distributor in Staffordshire writes on Oct. 11, 1862: ‘I am most happy to inform you that the tracts you sent me have been the means, through the Spirit of God, of doing much good. I have one instance before me of a poor old woman who was often in doubt and fear about her interest in Christ. One Sunday afternoon I found her in a desponding state of mind. I prayed with her, and read the tract entitled ‘I do depend upon the blood,’ when, to my joy, light began to dawn upon her ; ~ . 422 [A.D. 1863. soul, and from that time I have reason to believe she has rejoiced in a crucified Saviour. Other instances might be mentioned of the good which the tracts have done, through God's blessing." A missionary among sailors, labouring in Suffolk, who has been gratuitously supplied with tracts, writes on Sep. 15, 1862 : " I am pleased to inform you that the tracts were well received, and that one case of conversion has come to my notice. It resulted from the reading of a tract that I gave after an open-air meeting." A brother in Somersetshire, who has been for many years supplied with tracts gratuitously, writes on Nov. 18, 1862 : " You will be pleased to hear that a dear sister in the Lord, who lives at O., and to whom I gave a packet of your tracts, told me a few days ago that two instances of true conversion through them have come to her know ledge. One was rather remarkable. She was taking some of them from house to house ; but when she came to a gentleman's boarding school, she said to herself, ' I fear to leave a tract here;' she heard a loud laugh from an usher ; but she determined to persevere, and the tract was given to a young lady, who had recently gone there to keep '• house for her brother. She read it ; was convinced of sin ; obtained peace ; and is now a happy believer. The tract was entitled ' The Heart made Captive.' Your tracts have been conveyed into many a dark district around, and I am sure the Lord will bless them." A brother labouring in Devonshire, who has been habitually supplied with tracts for many years, writes on July 9th, 1862, concerning the blessing on one of them : " I think I mentioned a woman near W., who had been converted by a tract, the title of which I did not then know. I have recently been there, and, on visiting this woman, handed her the tract entitled ' The Gospel or Glad Tidings,' when she immediately exclaimed, ' That is the tract,' and turned to the last page, where are the words, ' God is no respecter of persons,' etc., which had led to her conversion." The letters that have been received show, also, the variety of'opportunities which are embraced by distributors Tor the abundant and wide scattering of th(T""good seed ™ contained in_the tracts. Large quantities have been cir culated amongst the attendants at open air preachings, the A.I). 1863.] 423 passengers on board emigrant ships, and by railway trains, the frequenters of fairs, races, steeple-chases, and the spec tators at executions. As an illustration of the way in which the last-named sad occurrences were turned to pro fitable account, I give the following letter from a brother who labours in Cornwall. It is dated Aug. 19, 1862 : " I embrace the first opportunity to thank you for the 9500 tracts received on Saturday evening. Brothers B , R., T.,and myself left here at 2 o'clock yesterday (Monday) morning,. and got to Bodmin about half-past 6, so that we had a nice long morning for work before the execution took place. Two of us took one part of the town, to meet the people as they came in, and two of us the other part. As we gave the tracts into the hands of the people, we quoted a few words of Scripture, or put a pointed question, such as, ' Saved, or not saved ?' ' Do you pray ?' ' Prayer won't save you ; Jesus saves ;' ' The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord ;' Jesus says, ' Come unto me,' etc. About 10 o'clock, brother B. and I went into a field near the prison, where the people had assembled in thousands to see the poor man hanged. Here we had nice opportunities for preach ing to large crowds, who listened most attentively ; and, as I was able to speak of having, a short time ago, preached in the open air in the village where the murder took place, and where the murderer lived, and of well remembering seeing the man, now about to be hung, leaning against the hedge, while I was preaching, without his jacket, in his shirt sleeves and working clothes on a Lord's day morning, the people were the more interested and attentive, and seemed deeply impressed. We each preached two or three times, then walked through the large field, where, as the people were seated in rows, we warned and exhorted as we walked with the tracts which B. brought with him. We gave away nearly 15,000 altogether, I should think. We purposely left tbe place whilst the execution took place, and returned when it was over. The Lord was very mani festly with us, and we prayed that much blessing may bo given. It was very interesting to see such an immense number of people reading the tracts, and, apparently, so interested." Christian Reader, labour on for the Lord, and your labour will not be in vain. Circulate the Holy Scriptures / 424 [A.D. 1863. and Tracts with the greatest diligence ; speak also for tbe Lord, as if everything depended on your exertions ; yet trust not in the least in your exertions, but in the .Lord, who alone can cause your efforts to he made effectual, to the benefit of your fellow-men or fellow-believers. Re member also, that God delights to bestow blessing, but, generally, as the result of earnest, believing prayer. At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1862, to May 26, 1863, there were 811 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 323 Orphans altogether were admitted into the three houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1863, would have been 1,134, had there been no changes ; but of these 1,134, eight died during the year. Only eight! One of these eight was a young infant ; 4 died as decided believers, 1 was in a very hopeful state ; and of the other two we have some hope in their end. Three of the girls were expelled from the Institution, as the last means that we could use, in seeking to benefit them, after they had been long borne with. Pour girls were sent back to their rela tives, on account of their being in such a state of health of body or mind, as rendered them unsuitable inmates for the Orphan Houses ; yet there was nothing in their conduct, morally, to make it needful to send them away. One boy, having come to such an age, as to be ready to he apprenticed, was delivered up to his relatives, and not apprenticed by the Institution, as he could not be recom mended. Another boy was sent out ready to be apprenticed, but was not apprenticed at the expense of the Institution, but by the relatives, as they were able to do so. Eight girls were delivered up into the hands of their relatives, who desired to have them, as they were by that time able to provide for them. Eighteen boys were apprenticed at the expense of the Institution, eleven of whom were sent out as believers. Thirty-one girls were sent out to service, having had situations and an outfit provided for them by the Institution ; nineteen out of these were sent out as believers, and most of them had been converted for some time. Deducting these 74 from 1,134, there were only 1,060 Orphans actually under our care on May 26, 1863, viz. 299 in No. 1, 397 in No. 2, and 364 in No. 3. The amount expended on the support of the Orphans was A.D. 1864. | 425 £11,194. 4s. 74d., besides £1,867. 8s. 8d. of the Buiid- ing Fund. . We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1863, to May 26, 1864. During this year there were 6 Day- Schools, with 516 children in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, and nine others were assisted. One Sunday-School, with 146 children, was entirely supported, and five others were assisted. Two Adult-Schools, with 76 Scholars in them, were entirely ; supported. The amount of means, which was expended in connexion with the various schools, amounted to £587. 128. 2d. During this year were circulated 1,682 Bibles, 1,828 New Testaments, 49 copies of the Psalms, and 107 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, was £406. 0s. 24d. ’ During this year was spent on Missionary Objects the sum of £5,600. 7s. 9d., whereby One Hundred and Twenty labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts _ of the world, were assisted. Thongh, for the reason before stated, I cannot give extracts from the many hundred letters received during the year, from these 120 labourers in the Gospel, yet I cannot leave this part of the opera- tions of the Institntion, without adding to the praise of God, that there is the fullest reason to believe that, during this year, many hundreds of souls were brought to the . knowledge of the Lord Jesus, through the instrumentality of these brethren, who laboured at home and abroad, and .. whom I sought to assist. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 6, 1863, to May 26, 1864, the sum of £1,394. 28. 5d.; and there were circulated within the year 2,704,348 Tracts and Books. ‘Lhe total number of all the Tracts and Books, circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1864, is 22,357,187. Nearly Two Millions (exactly 1,923,835) of the tracts and books circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for’ this service, the following extracts from letters, received from brethren to whom these tracts’ were sent. A brother in Devonshire, whom I have for many years supplied gratuitously with copies of the Hely Scriptures Oo 426 [A.D. 1884. and tracts, for circulation among the poor, writes on July 2:2, 1863: —"The tracts, I am happy to say, have been made a blessing in various instances coming to our know ledge. Two recent cases are a great joy to us. One a Unitarian : leaving ' Over Luggage ' at his house, seeing it he took it up, saying to his wife, ' What have you got here ? ' The title attracted his curiosity, he read the paper, and, by the blessing of the Holy Spirit, it has resulted in his unquestionable conversion. Unto the remark of a friend lately to him ' Then you feel yourself a Sinner ? ' his answer was, ' The greatest Sinner out of hell ! ' The other case is the conversion to God of a very bad man, through the tract, ' Your Dying Hour.' He behaved very cruelly to his poor wife prior to this, but is now truly ' A new creature in Christ Jesus,' and has joined the Wesley- ans. To God be all the glory ; ' for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory for ever and ever." The same brother writes on Feb. 2, 1864 : —" Our Christian friend, the packman, of whom I have before spoken in my letters, is desirous to have more tracts to distribute in the country (obscure places) at a distance from here. We have received many times most gratifying intelligence of the usefulness of the tracts in the parts he visits. I some time since referred to one instance in the true conversion to God of a very bad man, to whom the tract ' Your Dying Hour ' was made a blessing. He is now a ' New creature in Christ Jesus,' and devoted to the service of God. Another case I may mention which I think gratifying. A woman of some little property in the village, was deeply impressed by the circumstance of our friend labouring to do good in his journeys, and his having given a Bible (one of yours) to a poor family. She re flected on her own hitherto indifference to spiritual things, and that it was in her power to do some good after the ex ample of this poor man. ' What! (said she) shall he try to be a blessing to others and give them Bibles, who is so dependant, and I, who have money, let them perish for want -of the Word of God ? ' She resolved to set to work, I and went away and purchased 62 Bibles, which she at once distributed among her poor neighbours, having sent a man to inquire who needed them. And who can tell the ex tent of this act ? What it may further lead unto ? and A.D. 1864 ] 427 by the Spirit's blessing shall prove at the end ! All re sulting from the one gift of a Bible (of your's) and the distribution of the tracts in that quarter." Another Christian in Devonshire, whom I have often supplied with tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes :— " I do not think I ever told you of one to whom I took tracts a long while ago ; the reading of them was made a blessing to her soul. In visiting her from time to time I find real progress." A believer at Penzance, whom I have also supplied with tracts for circulation, writes on Oct. 23, 1863 :—" I aui thankful to say, the tracts which I have received from time to time, have been blessed to souls, one especially, viz., the tract ' Come, Sinner,' on one side, and ' Glad Tidings ' on the other. About two months since I was out of Town and distributed some tracts. The next week I had to visit that place again, and on the Quay a man came and asked me if I knew him. He told me I gave him last week a tract, and am thankful to say I found by reading it, that there is salvation for me. I thought there was no salvation for such a sinner as I am. I have been a wicked man, and I gave myself up to the wicked one, but, thank God, you gave me this precious tract, here it is, thank God there is salvatiou for me." A brother in Devonshire writes on April 18, 1864:— " Your last gift of tracts was large, but with the exception of one packet, they have been with fervent prayer distri buted and sent on their mission ; and I am thankful to be able to say, that I know of one case where, under God, they were made instrumental in the conversion of a poor sinner, an old man, and of many others where men and women have, through reading them, been brought under deep concern for their souls, and to seek the Lord." Another brother in Devonshire writes on April 29, 1864 :—" One manifest case of blessing seems to have taken place, through the tracts distributed, the particulars of which are contained in a letter written by the person to her father, brother and sister, which I here enclose." The letter was sent, giving the details of the conversa tion of this person, and the blessing granted on the tract " Why will you die " ; but as it was written to near rela tives, I thought it best not to give the particulars. A Christian gentleman in London writes on March 9, •- 428 [a.D. 1864. 1864 :—TI yesterday received a note from a female in the neighbourhood of Exeter, to whom I had forwarded a packet of your tracts. She avers that they have been manifestly blessed in two cases within her own know- ledge.” From the commencement of the Institution up to May 26, 1864, above Thirty Four Thousand Bibles, about Twenty- Three Thousand Testaments, and above Twenty Two Millions of Tracts and Books were circulated, in con- nexion with this Institution ; but while, on the one hand, we would labour, as if everything depended on our exer- tions, on the other hand, we would not in the least degree depend upon the number of copies of the Holy Scriptures or Tracts, which we circulate, but only on the blessing of God. This blessing, by God’s grace, we seek daily, and, therefore, we expect fruit, abundant fruit, to result from our labours, though this fruit should only in a small degree be witnessed by us in this world. If any of the Christian Readers are in the habit of M3 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 honour, if any good is accomplished by your service. If you desire for yourself the honour, yea, though if 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 greate t ,; qualifications for usefulness in the service of the Lord is a heart, truly desirous of getting honour for Him. 2, Pre- cede all your labours 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 ' { itis also with regard to the circulation of the Holy Scrip- tures, arid the ministry of the Word itself. Expect, then, everything from the blessing of the Lord, and nothing at | all from your own exertions. 8, And yet, at the same } time, labour, press into every open door, be instant in ; * season and out of season, as if everything depended upon ' your labours, This is one of the great secrets in con- ' A.D. 1864.] 429 nexion 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 with held from our sight ; or suppose even that we should have to fall asleep, before we see much good resulting from our labours ; yet will our labours, 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. Now dear Christian Reader, if you have not seen much blessing resulting from your labours, or perhaps none at all, consider prayerfully these hints, which are affection ately given by one who has now for more than forty-eight years in some measure sought to serve the Lord, and who has found the blessedness, of what he has suggested, in some measure in his own experience. At the commencement, of the period from May 26, 1863 to May 26, 1864, there were 1,060 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 181 Orphans altogether were admitted into the three houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1864, would have been 1,241, had there been no changes; butof these 1,241, seventeen died during the past year, 3 as infants and, of the other 14, ten were believers. We own with especial gratitude to God the smallness of the number of deaths, since for more than two years all around us in fectious fevers and the small-pox have been so prevalent. Almost all the 17 children died of consumption in one form or other, at which we are not surprised, as about three-fourths of the children in the Orphan Houses lost one or both parents in consumption. Five girls were returned to their relatives, as they had epileptic fits (ot which no information had been given by the relatives be fore admission) or other diseases, on account of which they were unsuitable inmates for such an Institution as the New Orphan Houses ; 10 children were given up to relatives, by their desire, as they by that time were able and willing in future to provide for them, the temporal circumstances of some having become bettor ; 16 boys 430 [4.D. 1865. were sent out to be apprenticed; 2 girls were sent out to be apprenticed to dressmaking, the one being unsuitable for service, and the other having a sister a dressmaker who desired her to be with her; and 41 girls were sent out to service. Of the boys, who were sent out, 8 were converted, and of the girls 14. Thus 91 are therefore to be deducted from the 1,241, which left just 1,150 on ‘May 26, 1864, in the 3 houses, the number for which the New Orphan Houses were fitted up, namely’ 300 in No. 1, 400 in No. 2, and 450 in No. 8. The expenses for the support of the Orphans amounted to £11,948. 16s. 4d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1864 to May 26, 1865. ; In looking back upon the Thirty One years, during which this Institution had been in operation, I had, as will be seen, by the grace of God, kept to the original principles, on which, for His honour, it was established MX | on March 5, 1834, For 1, during the whole of this time avoided gojn, é in debt; and never had a period been brought to a close, but I had some money in hand. Great as my trials of faith might have been, [I never con- tracted debt; for I judged, that, if God’s time was come for any enlargement, He would also give the means, and that, until He supplied them, I had quietly to wait His time, and not to act before His time was fully come. And further, that, being engaged in the work, which I had Scriptural warrant to believe He had given me to be en- gaged in, I needed not to be afraid of being supplied with what I might need, but that, if I would quietly wait His time, patiently wait, continue in prayer and believing ex- pectation, His help would come. And thus it had been thousands of times during the Thirty-one years. 2, Another principle, with which I set out, regarding the formation of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, was, that the Living God, and He alone, should be the Patron of the Institution; that I would trust ti Him;and in Him alone; lean upon Him, and upon Him alone. To this, by God’s grace, I had been enabled to cleave for the Thirty One years. And now I have to say, to the honour of His name, that He has helped me more and more, and that it is a blessed thing indeed to have Him as our Patron; for I have the fullest reason to believe, that I have been enabled to AD. 1865.] 431 accomplish ten times, if not a hundred times more, than _ if I had sought after the patronage of the great and wealthy in the land. 38, The line of demarcation be- tween believers and unbelievers, with regard to active engagements in connexion with the Institution, as teachers, or otherwise, with which we set out at the first, has been adhered to ever since.—By the help of God, we intend in future also to act according to these original principles. When one year and nine months later, in December, 1835, the Orphan work was added to the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, my especial object was, as has been stated at Jarge in this Narrative, Vol. I., page 143-146 of the Seventh edition, to show how much could be accomplished through the instrumentality of prayer and faith. I had, indeed, the bodily, méntal, and spiritual benefit of poor children, bereaved of both parents, at heart; I would, with all diligence, as God should help me, labour for this; yet, the primary object was the glory of God, in seeking to set before my weaker brethren in the faith, as their servant and fellow member in the body of Christ, the encouragement connected with this work, for the strengthen- ing of their faith. And now, going on in this part of the work, in the thirty-ninth year, what have I to say? Nothing less than this, that the Lord has NEVER left us nor forsaken us. Great have been our trials of faith, year after year, without exception; but God has helped continually. With regard to pecuniary means, we were at one time, for about five years, almost daily, in the trial, x of faith; but we were, also, continually helped. And as the work enlarged, instead of néeding hundreds of pounds, as at the first, we now needed tens of thousands, yea hun- dreds of thousands; yet the Lord helped as before. But not merely with regard to pecuniary means, but in every other way, we were continually helped, through prayer and faith. When teachers and other assistants were re- quired, we gave ourselves to prayer, and were helped. When suitable Christian servants were needed, we looked to the Lord, and were helped. When the health of the children | tried us, or the health of the teachers or other assistants, we still looked to the Lord, and were supported, and in His own time helped and delivered out of the trial. When situations were needed for boys ready to be apprenticed, . ar 432 [A.D. 1865. or girls to be sent to service, we looked to the Lord for suitable openings ; and, in hundreds of instances of this kind, we received precious answers to prayer, though sometimes we had often and long to call upon the Lord for the needed help. And thus in hundreds of other diffi culties, necessities, and wants, we have invariably found that prayer and faith, our universal remedy, was sufficient. Whatever the difficulty might be, whatever the need, however great the perplexity of the position ; we trusted in God, and were sustained and at last delivered. I relate here, for the encouragement of the reader, a few instances, in which the help of God, in answer to our prayers, was very manifest, and which occurred during the year from May '26, 1864 to May 26, 1865, about which I am now more particularly writing. It may be remembered by the reader, how great the scarcity of water was in the summer of 1864 in almost all parts of England. Long before we felt any want in the Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, many thousands of the inhabitants of Bristol, as well as elsewhere, had been tried by the lack of rain. At last, however, all our fifteen large cisterns in the New. Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 were empty, and almost all our nine wells in these 3 houses, most of which are deep, failed also ; yea, even one with a good spring, which never had been out before, was also pumped dry. Now, dear Reader, place yourself into our position. For all the various purposes in these three houses, we use from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water daily. Under these circumstances, we were daily waiting upon God, that He would be pleased to give rain to supply our cisterns and wells, or that He would otherwise help us. Now see how He kinJly interposed. About one-third of a mile from the Orphan Houses resides a farmer, who had three wells, filled with water, which he had never known to fail, and he very kindly sent word to say, that he would gladly supply the Orphan Houses with water, as long as he had any. This was thankfully accepted, as a precious answer to prayer, and we had the water hauled, about 1,000 or 1,600 gallons daily, the remainder of what we required being supplied by what our wells yielded, by being pumped every four or six hours. Thus we went on, day by day, and were helped over a most difficult time, whilst the distress in Bristol increased more and more. At last, A.D. 1864 ] 433 however, these wells, which never had failed before, and out of which, day by day, for about six weeks, we had drawn so much, without the least apparent diminution at first, were nearly emptied, so ttiat the kind farmer was under the necessity, though reluctantly, of letting me know, that he should need the little water which remained for himself and his tenants. We thanked God for having helped us for about six weeks in the way mentioned, and asked Him for further help, though we knew not how that help was to come, the scarcity of water being now all around greater than ever. Our hope, however, was in God, being fully assured that this time also we should prove His faithfulness. On the very day on which the information was received, that that day would be the last day, we could be supplied with water from those wells, another kind farmer, about a mile and a half from the Orphan Houses, sent word to me, that we could have as much water as we liked from a brook which ran through his fields. This offer was thankfully accepted. We made a dam in the brook, which soon made the water to rise four feet high, and thus we had an abundance of water, till God was pleased to send rain. The only difference in the latter case was, that we needed three carts instead of one or two, and several men more, than before. Thus, by prayer, we were helped through the great drought of the summer 1864. I relate another precious deliverance, in answer to prayer. During the three years previous to May 26, 1865, scarlet fever, typhus fever, and small-pox were to a greater or less degree prevalent in Bristol and the neighbourhood. We gave ourselves to prayer, that, if it might be, the Lord would mercifully preserve us from these diseases in the Orphan Houses ; and, if they must come, we might be sustained and helped. So far as it regards scarlet fever and typhus fever, we had not one single case during the whole time. With regard to the smallpox, too, we were preserved for many months, yea nearly two years it had been more or less raging in the neighbourhood ; but at last it pleased the Lord, in < His infinite wisdom, to allow it to enter among us. We ' now were indeed dependant upon the Lord, that this disease might not infect hundreds of children, yea the \ teachers, matrons, nurses and servants of the Institution ; \ U 434 [A.D. 1864. for though it was only as yet in the smallest house, still there were 320 persons in it, and 50, 100, 150, or even more might be laid down at once. Nothing remained, therefore, but our universal remedy, prayer and faith, that the Lord would have mercy upon us, and cause us not to be tried above our measure. In all childlike simplicity we told Him how we were situated, how great the difficulty and trial would be, if a great number of children were at. once ill in the smallpox. All necessary precautions were, of course, at once used, in separating the diseased children entirely from the rest, and cutting off, as far as was at all practicable, the intercourse with the infirmary rooms ; for a different course would not have been faith but presump tion, as we had the ability for so doing ; but who does not know, how powerless after all such precautions are in themselves ! Our only trust. I confess it frankly to the honour of the Lord, was in His pity and compassion, in His tender, fatherly heart ; for He knew our case. The jesult was, that, though week by week, and month after month, for about seven months, we had the disease at the New Orphan House No. 1, yet there were only 5, 6, 8, or 10 ill in the house atone time, and all the cases light, yea, very light for the most part. No. 1, however, was not the only house ; but after some time the New Orphan Houses No. 2 and No. 3 were also afflicted with this disease. In No. 2 the cases were only eleven altogether, and very light, though there are 400 children in that house, one half of whom are yonng infants. We felt this an especial mercy, and a particular answer to prayer, that the cases there were so few. In No. 3 we had case after case, sometimes 4 or 5 children in one day were taken ill. At one time all the available beds in the Infirmary rooms were filled, having 15 down at one time in this disease, besides other sick children. In this our great extremity we entreated the Lord, that, if it might be, He would not allow fresh cases to occur, as we could not, without great difficulty, keepanymore children separate from the rest. Hehadmercy on us. Not a single other case occurred, until the number in the Infirmary rooms was considerably diminished, and there were only altogether a few more fresh cases after this. At last, in Dec. 1864, the disease disappeared entirely, having been 9 months constantly among the 1200 inmates of the three Orphan Houses. Almost all the cases were A.D. 1865.] 435 light, most of them very light, and not one child died. Only one of the teachers out of all the grown up persons had the disease, and that very lightly. Thus we proved the Lord, as the prayer-hearing God in this matter also. On Jan. 14, 1865, there were tremendous gales in Bristol and the neighbourhood. When I arrived at the Orphan Houses, about eleven o’clock in the morning, I found our roofs greatly injured, and laid open in at least twenty places, and about twenty large panes of glass broken; in two cases also the woodwork of the windows, the wind having blown the slates against them. This being Satur- day, and the Orphan Houses a good distance from the place of the glazier and slater whom we generally employ, and all his men out and engaged, when he received our order to send men, nothing could be done that day, and of |: course nothing on the coming day, it being the Lord’s day. Under these circumstances we besought the Lord, that, if it might be, He would mercifully be pleased to keep off the rain and remove the gales. If there had been any heavy rain, the houses ond have been much damaged ; and, if the wind had blown as in the morning, many hundreds more of the slates might have been blown off. Now see as to the wind. In the afternoon of Saturday it was comparatively calm; but in the evening it began again to blow much, at the very time while I had with my dear wife my usual time for prayer. But, having six or seven times called upon the Lord, it grew calm, not a single slate more was blown off, as far as I could learn. And as to the rain, only a few drops fell on Saturday, none on the Lord’s day, and on Monday we had a number of men on the roofs, and others to mend the windows and make good the broken wood-work. On Monday and | ~ Tuesday rain and wind were stayed. The sky was full of clouds, but only a few drops fell; nothing to hurt the houses or hinder the work. By mid-day of Wednesday the roofs were so far repaired as that all the worst places were made good, except one. But now it began to rain, and rather heavily. The slaters had to leave the roof and come into the house; and the appearance was, that still much damage might be done. We saw the state of things, | and my dear wife and I fell again and again on our knees, ; and, after three or four times praying, the rain was stayed, | the men could go on with their work, and that very after- ; U2 ' “ “ 436 [A.D. 1865. noon the worst of all the places was repaired, and it was found that the rain had done no damage, for the opening was on the south side, whilst the rain came from the north. By the end of the week all the other slighter injuries were also repaired, and thus we had, in the face of great damage and difficulty, most precious deliverances in answer to prayer. The reason why I relate these circumstances so minutely, and why similar instances will still further be given, is to shew, that, if we trust in God, and betake ourselves to Him in believing prayer, we are helped, and our hearts are kept in peace. If the reader has had typhus fever, scarlet fever, the smallpox, or other infectious diseases in the house, he will know how the natural tendency is, to be very anxious under such circumstances, and in this great anxiety often tp anticipate the very worst as to the infec tion, and to be in danger of acting unscripturally ; whilst, on the other hand, if the ordinary proper precautions are used, we cast our burden upon God, and say, It is my Heavenly Father who sends this disease ; He who is full of pity and compassion will not lay more upon me than He will enable me to bear, therefore I will trust in His love and wisdom and power ; then the soul will be calm and quiet, yea very peaceful. This is to be aimed after, not only for our own good, but because it tends to the glory of God, and is a testimony to the unconverted as to the reality of the things of God, and tends to the strengthen ing of the faith of our fellow believers. At the end of the year, from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, the Lord allowed us to have our faith again exer cised in the way of an infectious disease. The scarlet fever, from which we had been so long preserved, made its appearance among the children ; but only four cases occurred, and they were of so light a character, that I should scarcely have mentioned the circumstance, except I had before said, we had had no case of fever in the houses. Of course we knew not how it might be the- Lord's will to act in this matter ; yet our minds were again kept in peace, and we again proved the compassionate heart of our Heavenly Father, who laid no more on us than He enabled us to bear. In the year from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, there were six Day Schools, with 485 children in them, entirely A.D. 1865.] 437 supported by the funds of the Institution; and eleven other Day Schools were assisted. One Sunday School, with 140 children, was entirely supported, and five others were assisted. Two Adult Schools, with 29 scholars, were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. The amount which was expended on these various schools during the year, is £650. 7s. 8d. . There were circulated 2323 Bibles, 4106 New Testaments, 104 copies of the Psalms, and 293 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, at an expense of £404. 14s, 10d. From May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, there was ex- pended on missionary operations, £5,669. 9s. 53d, whereby 122 labourers in the word and doctrine were assisted. I give a very few extracts from some of the many hundreds of letters received from the missionaries during the year as specimens. . A brother, labouring in Demerara, writes on Nov. 22, 1864 :—“ Through the loving kindness of our gracious ‘God and Father, we continue in this work here, unworthy as we are; and He does use us a little, I trust, for His name, both in helping on His people and gathering some of the ‘ other sheep.’ He brings them by us, blessed be His holy name, into the fold! You will be pleased to hear that I baptized twelve brothers and sisters last Sun- day week the 13th instant, Africans and Creoles. I often think that there is very little thankfulness in me when ones and twos, and nines and tens, are brought to the Lord. I have often found myself looking at the hundreds and thousands of unconverted, instead of the brand plucked from the burning; still I would bless the Lord from my heart for the smallest manifestation of His grace, while I mourn over, labour and pray for, the thousands of __ unconverted around us.” The same brother writes on May 6, 1865 :—“ Through our Heavenly Father's loving care, I am kept in good health, and enabled to werk in the vineyard, daily. The field is large, and therefore more labourers are needed; but one who loves the Master, and loves His work, cannot be discouraged : one loves to think that it is not here that we see, or are meant to see, the full fruit of our labours. We must sow now the seed ; we shall see the harvest gathered - in hereafter; and sure it is, that it is not in vain that Christ's servants have laboured. I baptized six here last 438 [4.D. 1864. month, one brother and five sisters: they were Creoles and Africans, all with black faces; but as cleansed by the blood of Jesus, He can say of them ‘ thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee.’ ” Another brother, also labouring in Demerara, writes on Feb. 3, 1865 :—“ You will be glad to hear that many of. the Chinese have been brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Last Friday I baptised 26 persons, 21 were Chinese, and, it being their New Year, a great many were assembled at the Old Colony House, as they are allowed a few days’ holiday at this time; some came a great distance to the meeting.” . A brother labouring at Ningpo, China, writes on Nov. 5, 1864:—<‘‘ Accept again, dear brother, my sincerest thanks for your kindness. I shall be glad to use your bounty for the object mentioned. I am not only thankful for your kind remembrance in this way, but I am glad to think that I am remembered also in your prayers. I am sure I must be prayed for by some one; for my work, not- withstanding all my littleness of faith and unfitness in other respects, seems to prosper. Two months ago I had the pleasure of baptizing at one time sixteen persons, twelve in connection with the congregation left in my care by our dear brother J., and four in connection with my own. Since then six more candidates have been accepted in connection with the former, and there are several appli- cants connected with the latter. Mrs. L.’s orphan school is also prospering. The house that has been building during the past year is now nearly ready for occupation. It will afford very good accommodations for fifty girls and an assistant, if Mrs. L. should ever have one. Her present number of girls, however, is only twenty-three. They will doubtless increase, and as fast as we shall be prepared for them. The mission generally at Ningpo, I believe, is prospering. And numerous stations and churches are springing up in the region round about. There are diffi- culties and discouragements connected with it. But it is the Lord’s work and it will prosper.” A brother labouring at Penang, writes on Aug. 8, 1864 :—‘‘ We have cause for much praise and thanks- giving to our loving Father in heaven for bringing some to put their trust in Jesus, and rely on Him alone for the salvation of their souls. A few weeks ago, I was invited A.D. 1864.] 439 by one of the brethren to go to his house as some young persons desired to hear the Gospel. The wife of this brother is also a believer ; they have both been in fellow ship a few years. I went to the house about five o'clock in the evening, and found two young women, his wife, and two strangers from India, one of whom was a believer, and married, the other has entered the school. These two young women had never heard the Gospel, and their native language being Malay, was an advantage to them; both were Mohammedans. I told them, before we commenced, I would kneel down and ask God's blessing upon the Word, and that He would be pleased to open their hearts to understand the truth. We all kneeled down and I prayed ; afterwards I read to them several portions of the Word and simply preached to them Jesus. I set before them, as the Lord enabled me, His sacrifice, the sacrifice of Himself for sin. They quite understood the meaning of a sacrifice, and whilst relating to them the wondrous story, their eyes were fixed upon me the whole of the time. I went once or twice in the week for a few weeks, setting Jesus before them as the only way of salvation, and through whom alone men could be pardoned and saved. They both received the Gospel and believed in Jesus. One of them was baptized on the 24th ultimo. Her name is Lydia. The other is near her confinement; she also will, God willing, be baptized on her recovery. On the 28th ult., four Chinamen were also baptized, after giving evidence of their faith in Christ ; they were four clear cases of con version. Last Thursday evening two more Chinamen were examined ; they desire to be baptized, both cases were satisfactory. Since Lydia was received into fellow ship, her step-father has been very angry, and on her leaving the chapel yesterday week he came and made an attack upon her, as she was returning home. She escaped from him ; and brother G. and I went to see him, but he was not in his house. In the evening we went again and found him at home. I then expostulated with him and told him not to persecute his step-daughter, as that religion was not of God that persecuted. I exhorted him to come to Jesus and trust in Him, though he might have to suffer shame and reproach. He promised he would not molest her again, and if she wished to go that way she might do so. The Lord's dear people who pray for us may see from this, that their prayers are not in vain." .-• 440 [A.D. 1864. The came brother writes on Nov. 22, 1864 :—" The latter end of last month brother G., a Chinese brother and myself, took a tour for three days on the Mainland. We left the Mission about nine o'clock in the morning and took a small boat. In this boat we sailed about five miles and arrived at the opposite shore. We then proceeded on foot for about two miles, until we came to a house where reside a country born man and his wife. He is a manu facturer of cocoa nut oil, and employs a great many hands. This couple live very much alone and are well disposed to the Gospel. I should think the wife to be a believer. At twelve o'clock we had a meal with them, called tiffin, rice and curry, and some coffee. After reading a portion of the Word, we went on our journey, they kindly lending us a conveyance drawn by a bullock, as it was very hot in the day. We arrived at a village called Ager Tawer. Here we stayed and commenced at once to preach the glad tidings ; a crowd of Malays gathered around. Brother G. went farther into the village. and preached to the Chinese. The population consisted principally of Chinese and Malays. We continued preaching for about three hours. One man, evidently with an air of self-reliance, asked how many had become Christians there. I replied, I did not know one ; but I further said, when you have to stand before Jesus Christ, who will be your Judge, tor every one will have to be judged by Him, you then cannot say you never heard these glad tidings. During the after noon a large number of people came into the village. I asked what it meant ; they told me it was a funeral of a young man who had died from fever. They went into the Mosque, but would not allow me to enter. I preached to them under the wall, and, after they had done, many of them came to the front of the Mosque and sat down : some listened and others cavilled. After we had done preaching, we went to the house of the Punghulu, the chief man of the village, something like an Inspector of Police in England. This man was very kind to us : he prepared us rice and fowls for dinner. We spoke to him, und preached Jesus. In speaking of the death of Jesus, (the Mohammedans deny the death of Christ, and he being a Mohammedan, denied it too,) the Lord enabled me to speak so forcibly, proving the death of Christ, that he got up from his seat and went out. He was an intelligent A.D. 1864.] 441 Malay. In this place we lodged for the night; we lay down on the floor, each of us having a pillow and a mat, but no covering; hence the mosquitoes were very trouble- some. However we slept, the Lord watching over us in this place, surrounded by hundreds who were enemies to Christ. In the morning we awoke early and travelled on foot three miles further till we came to another village. During the walk we meditated on the Word and had our souls fed. The name of the village is Penaga. We had some refreshment here, and a season of prayer; we then went out and preached to those in the village, who listened to the wondrous story of the Cross. We found one of * the chief men in this village who had been in the Mission School during Mr. B.’s time. He was a Mohammedan, he said, but not a rigid one. After publishing the Gospel, we left about three o’clock in the afternoon, and arrived in the dusk of the evening at the house of the oil manu- facturer, who kindly lodged us for the night. He allowed his workmen to leave off work sooner, in order that they might get ready to come and hear the Gospel. They all came together, men and women, about ten. I preached Jesus to them in Malay, and set before them God’s way of salvation. About nine o'clock we retired to rest, very fatigued, and slept soundly. We took our leave in the morning and arrived at the Mission safe and well.” The same brother writes on Jan. 6, 1865 :—“ The Chinese young woman of whom I wrote, was baptized on the Ist of last month. Her name is San Yong. Anda brother was baptized on the 18th of the same month, Sieu A Loy. The Word by the Holy Spirit still takes effect. We have an open door in the town, and many listen to the glad tidings. Dear brother G. and I were in the province on the Mainland, and had good opportunities ; many heard.” Another brother, also labouring at Penang, writes on - 7th July, 1864 :—* Brother C. and I continue to have, weekly, good meetings on board ships. We have been printing large placards with Scripture texts, which are exhibited outside the chapel gates for the passers by; in no other way can we reach the Europeans on shore. We have reason to believe they have already been touching some; for it has been said, Why not put them in the native languages for the heathen? This island is in a U3 442 [A.D. 1865. fearfully dead state. Yet the Chinese listen very atten tively to the Word preached,—and power belongeth unto God. The Lord is our portion; and He graciously lets us see, from time to time His working among the few be lievers in church fellowship here." The same brother writes on Oct. 7, 1864 : —" There has been an addition of six Chinese brethren here since the 28th July last." A Christian captain, who saw the missionary operations at Penang, in writing to me a description of it, on Nov. 15, 1864, gives this statement : —" With the exception of the missionaries, the church consists of native Christians, Chinese (principally), Malays and Klings, numbering 67 adults with 30 communicants in the schools. There are 45 boys, boarders, 20 girls, boarders, 20 day-scholars, and 5 native teachers ; 55 men and 12 women have been baptized. The women are not so seriously inclined as the men ; the generality of them think they have no aim or object in life except to get married and have children. One Chinaman in particular appears very serious ; he walks a distance of ten miles to meeting every Sunday morning. The others are all very attentive during worship, and the singing is very good ; the words in their own tongue are set to psalm tunes." A brother labouring in the Madras Presidency, East Indies, writes on May 11, 1864, received the end of June, 1864 :—" The Lord is greatly encouraging our hearts now, to see that, here and there, the Word is taking effect, and in several places I hear of persons professing them selves Christians, who simply believe that Jesus died for them on the cross as their substitute, and that they can only be saved by Him. Two cases have come to my notice of persons in two different villages about twenty miles west of this, and there are some cases of peculiar interest." The wife of the same brother writes on 27th June, 1864 : —" One of the oldest converts in Palcole fell asleep in Jesus last week, leaving precious testimony of his faith to the last." Her husband writes again on Jan. 11, 1865 : —" On the 1 st, New Year's Day, three natives were baptized ; one had formerly been a Hindoo, but had turned Moham medan; he came out from among the latter in 1857, A.D. 1865.] 443 during the time of the mutiny. He is now a humble ^follower of Jesus. The other two, a young man and a young woman, were both formerly in our humble school at Palcole. On Lord's Day last my dear wife and I went over to Palcole, for the day, and during the night were joined by brother H , and by J. B., when we all pro ceeded to Martair, 16 miles from this, arriving at day break, where a man and his wife were to be baptized, which baptism took place at 9 a.m., in the Canal. Many of the Palcole Christians came over, and we had a good day. The Gospel was preached several times during the morning. This man is a very sincere man, and though he has not much knowledge, yet he is, and will be, a light in these dark regions : and he has great confidence that God his Father will not allow them to remain alone there, but will give others to join them. Already he sees some signs of willingness to listen to the truth among his neighbours ; His wife is a gentle humble woman. There are many round about us desiring baptism, and we hear of many in distant places who are anxious to hear the Word. Alla- sahib (a native Christian), a few weeks since visited some of the villages from whence many formerly came to hear the Word. At one of these, one of the men was on his death bed. He embraced A. most affectionately, and said, ' I am going to Jesus who died for me,' and the next day fell asleep, we trust in Jesus. Several cases of this kind have from time to time come to our knowledge, and I have no doubt they often occur." Another brother, also labouring among the heathen in the Madras Presidency, East Indies, writes on the 7th June, 1864 :—" I have been enabled to preach the Gospel to a good number in these parts lately ; and as I turned a deaf ear to their foolish, and at times blasphemous argu ments, had more attentive audiences than usual. The other day I visited a festival where six sheep were offered up to a goddess who is supposed to delight in blood. I spoke to a crowd of people before and after the slaughter ing of the sheep, and some listened with marked interest, and asked what they should do. Oh ! how I do long to see sinners feel themselves (through the power of the Holy Ghost, by the Word) to be sinners." The same missionary writes on Feb. 19th, 1865 : — " When your letter arrived, I was absent from home, at a 444 [A.D. 1865. village about 20 miles distant from this, with brother B. Our chief reason for going there, was to see a couple of men whom I had met at the festival which I was about f o visit, when I last wrote, and who then appeared anxious about their souls. We found one of them, and had oppor tunities for reading and speaking in the evenings and during the night to him and about 20 others belonging to his sect. He and two or three others are, no doubt, anxious about their state ; but I do not think they as yet read their title clear; they seem quite ill at ease, not knowing what to do. As I mentioned in my last, we (my wife, children and myself) went to the festival at Antri- vady and met large numbers of people, to many of whom I was enabled to preach the everlasting Gospel. There was scarcely an hour of the day in which we were without hearers, for the five which we spent there. The remem brance of that time, and the readiness with which many appeared to listen to the good- news, will, I feel, be ever fresh to my mind. Do pray regarding the incorruptible seed which we scattered at Antrivady. On the first day when speaking to some hundreds who were on their way to the sea side, one, a high caste man, who had listened very attentively for same time, came out from the crowd and said something to this effect : ' Well, I have come so far, hut I will go no further ; I shall not bathe in the sea, but go home at once ; we are on the wrong track.' He then walked to the tent door, sat there for a short time, then, amidst the jeers of some, started for his home, which was some miles distant. Since that, I have been permitted to visit two other festivals, one in company with brother B., and the other alone. At both many poor dark souls heard of Jesus, and some bought books and tracts. As you may suppose, we met with opposition. At Antrivady some bought tracts and afterwards tore them up before my face ; I could do nothing but pity them. Two men were crushed under the idol's car. Whilst all appeared awe stricken at the accident, I took the oppor tunity of preaching Christ ; may the Lord bless His own word. Brother B. baptized five native females, and one young man the other day ; others are desiring baptism. May the Lord work mightily by His Holy Spirit. A brother, labouring in connexion with the last two missionaries, writes on Jan. 6, 1865 : —" Regarding the A.D. 1865. | 445 school, I cannot with certainty say much as to the manifest results of the daily declarations of the precious Gospel of our Saviour, amongst the poor boys, though, we cannot but have great hopes of the secret working of the Spirit, in the hearts of some of them. The manifest attention paid by them to the preached word, and the very evident interest taken in its precious truths, as well as their dis- régard of all their idolatrous practices and ceremonies, lead us to form hopes, that the seed sown has not altogether proved to have fallen by the way side. Oh! may the Lord grant His word to grow up and bear fruit. The bonds with which the Satanic system of caste binds these poor youths, are indeed very strong, and it needs the mighty influence of the ‘constraining love of Christ,’ to cause them to break through the meshes of this net of the enemy of souls, even when the light of the Gospel has, in a measure, shone into the heart, and revealed the pre- ciousness of Jesus; as I believe it has in one or two cases. In other respects the Lord’s work here has met with -blessed results. Even our little English gatherings to- gether have been blessed to the souls of two or three; while to the native brethren, there have been several addi- . tions by baptism. It was a most delightful sight, to wit- ness on new year’s day the whole of the native Christians, amounting to about 50, gathering together, and a most precious privilege it was to meet with them in communion, after the admission of three more converts who had that day professed to put on Christ. Several more we hope to receive shortly into the visible church, and at the same time we have great cause for thankfulness regarding the interesting state, in general, of the natives in neigh- bouring parts, who seem anxious to hear, and quite pre- pared to receive the Gospel tidings. Our dear brethren B. and H. tind in this an especial cause of joy, as it shows that their labours in the Lord have not been in vain.” The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which was spent on Missionary operations from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1865, is £61,494, 17s. 02d. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, the sum of £1,068. 12s. 04d. ; and there were circulated within the year 2,659,016 Tracts and Books. Thesum total which was expended on 446 . [a.D. 1865. this object, from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1865, amounts to £14,394. 8s. 7d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books which - were circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1865, is above Twenty Five Millions (exactly 25,016,153.) Above One Million and Six Hundred Thousand (exactly ~ 1,615,725) of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from brethren to whom these tracts were sent. A Christian brother in Worcestershire wrote to me, “I have received a parcel of Tracts from Bristol, for which I thank you. You will, I am sure, feel refreshed when I tell you, I know of some blessed cases of conversion, result- ing from Tracts I have received from you previously.” A Christian brother in Devonshire, who has been for. many years regularly supplied with Tracts for gratuitous circulation, wrote on Oct. 31, 1864: “Some time ago, I gave the Tract, ‘ Almost and Altogether,’ to a farmer, who was standing where I was preaching the Gospel in a village. It was blessed to his conversion, and shortly after his wife and daughter and two servants were converted.” A brother in Sunderland writes, on Dec. 8, 1864: “Sometime since I was called to visit a sick man. He had been formerly most careless. After I had spoken to him, and read to him from the Word, I took one of your Tracts, entitled ‘ Poor Mat cannot Pay. Jesus has Paid.’ When I had done reading, he said: ‘Oh! thatis I. My name is Mat. Jesus has paid; I cannot pay.’ I did not know before, his name was Mat; but he found peace, and died most happy in Jesus. His last words almost were: ‘Mat cannot pay. Jesus has paid.’ This same Tract proved a blessing to another, a friend of his I visited, who thought that I had got the history of him printed on this Tract. Bursting out weeping, he said, ‘This is my poor friend Mat, who could not pay.’ I said, ‘ But Jesus paid for him, and in this hope he departed to be with Jesus.’ ” At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1864, to May 26, 1865, there were 1150 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 8. During the year 124 Orphans altogether were admitted into the three A.D. 1866.] 447 houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1865, would have been 1274, had there been no changes ; but of these 1274, fourteen died daring the past year. Only 14 ! Out of these 14, 11 gave us comfort in their death, as they died as believers in the Lord Jesus, 2 out of the 14 were infants, and the state of one only was not satisfactory. Two of the girls we were obliged to expel from the Insti tution. We had long borne with them, and at last resorted to this painful mode, as the last thing we could do for them, to arouse them out of their state. Fourteen of the Orphans were taken back by their relatives, partly, because their circumstances had altered, and they were now able themselves to provide for them ; or, partly, because they were now of such an age, as they would be of use to their relatives. Ten of the Orphans we were obliged to return to their relatives, as they e,ither were mentally or physically in such a state of weakness or disease, that they were not suitable for the New Orphan Houses. Twelve of the boys were apprenticed, eight ofwhom had been for some time believers, before they left. And, lastly, 72 girls were sent out for service, seven of whom had been for some time believers. This makes the dismissals during the year 124, the same number as the receptions ; so that on May 26, 1865, there were just 1 150 Orphans under our care, our full number, for which the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, have been fitted up, namely, 300 in No. 1 , 400 in No. 2, and 450 in No. 3. The amount of means, spent for the support of the 1,274 Orphans under care, during the year, was £11,839. 12s. 2d., and £5,588. 19s. was spent of the Building Fund. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1865, to May 26, 1866. For the encouragement of the Christian reader, and especially for the benefit of younger believers, I would refer to some precious answers to prayer which we had during that year. As during the previous year, so in June, 1865, we had again before us the prospect of much difficulty and con siderable additional expense, in connexion with the Orphan Houses, for want of water, particularly want of soft water in the cisterns, as during the spring of 1865 there had fallen very little rain, and as the season appeared to re main as dry as during the previous summer. This, in an 448 [A.D. 1866. establishment where from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water are daily consumed, the reader will see to be no small diffi culty. But we betook ourselves to God in prayer, we earnestly sought His help, and we sought it not in vain ; for though we had many times to call upon Him in May and June, yet in the beginning of July, 1865, abundant showers began to fall, and the Lord was pleased to give unto us such help as it regards water, that we never passed a period of eleven months so easily as from the beginning of July, 1865 to May 26, 1866 ; for we had generally in our cisterns enough soft water to last us two months, though there should have been no rain at all. I grate fully record this mercy, though such a common one, to the praise of the Lord. During this year we had repeatedly to wait upon God for helpers, situations having become vacant through sick ness or otherwise. In these cases we might advertise for candidates ; but, though we should not consider it wrong to do so, we prefer simply to wait upon God, ask ing Him to direct the right persons to us ; for He knows our need ; the work is His and not ours ; and He knows who are fit for the work. In all simplicity we ask Him, under such circumstances, that He would be pleased to make known our need, and incline suitable persons to apply for the situations ; and during this year we were thus again and again helped in answer to our prayers. In one instance, when we needed a laundress, we began to pray | on July 15, 1865, and brought this matter before God day by day, and generally two or three times a day ; but no answer seemed to come. In the beginning of October, it appeared as if the answer were given; but all proved a disappointment. Instead of being dis couraged by this, and thinking it useless to continue in prayer, we began afresh, and with more earnestness than ever to call upon the Lord ; and on October 26th, after we had thus daily waited upon God for three months and eleven days regarding this matter, our prayers were answered. During this year it pleased the Lord to exercise our faith greatly with reference to Scarlet-Fever and the Hooping-Cough. In Sept. 1865, the Scarlet-Fever broke out at the New Orphan House No. 2, in which house A.D. 1866. ] 449 there are 200 Infant Girls and 200 Elder Girls. It ap- peared among the Infants. The cases increased more and more. But we betook ourselves to God in prayer. Day by day we called upon Him regarding this trial, and gene- rally two or three times aday. At last, when the infirmary rooms were filled, and also some other rooms that could be spared for the occasion, to keep the sick children from the rest; and when now we had no other rooms to spare, at least not without great inconvenience; it pleased the Lord to answer our prayers, and in mercy to stay the disease. There were in all 36 children ill in the Scarlet-Fever at No. 2, but not one died of the disease. The same malady broke out also at No. 3. But the Lord dealt there very gently with us; only 3 children were ill in the fever, and _ all recovered.—At the end of the year 1865 the > Hooping- n Cough appeared among the 450 girls of the New Orphan House No. 3. This disease was very general in Bristol, and many children died in consequence. Parents and others, who have an affectionate heart, and who feel for the suffering of children, can easily suppose, how our hearts were affected, when we heard these dear children labouring under this trying malady. But, while we thought it right, to take all the necessary precautions with regard to the spread of the disease, and to use the needed remedies; yet our chief and universal remedy, prayer and faith, was again resorted to. We trusted in God, and betook ourselves to Him, and we were not con- founded. When it is considered that we had 1,150 Or- phans in the 3 houses, and that the hooping-cough was so general in Bristol and the neighbourhood, and in many]. “instances so fatal, the hand of God, in answer to constant daily prayer for several months, regarding this disease, is marked enough, in that we had only in all the 3 houses 17 cases of hooping-cough, and that only one child died in consequence of the hooping-cough, this dear little girl having constitutionally very weak lungs, and a tendency to consumption, which followed the hooping-cough. : But of all the many answers to prayer, which we had during that year, the choicest was, that it pleased the Lord to work greatly by His Spirit among the girls, especially in two schools at the Grphat Tea ee had been pleased to do in the previous year among the boys. Without any apparent means, humanly speaking, 450 [A.D. 1866. all at once, God stirred up more than one hundred girls to be greatly in earnest about their souls. We are not surprised at His thus working, for we look for it, and daily pray for it, and generally several times daily ; yet when the answers come, they are very refreshing to the inner man, and they greatly quicken the divine life, and lead to further and yet greater trust in God. As it regards pecuniary supplies, I again found, during this year also, as during former years, what resources we have in God. Though the expenses for the support of the Orphans were greater than during any previous year since the commencement of the work, on account of the high price of animal food, and increase of the price of butter, milk, oatmeal, rice, etc. ; yet the Lord supplied us abundantly. The total of the income for all the various objects of the work, from May 26, 1865 to May 26, 1866, was £26,852. 12s. ofd. There were during this year 6 Day Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, with 450 chil dren in them ; and eight Day Schools, besides, were assisted. One Sunday School, with 150 children, was entirely supported, and four were assisted. Two Adult Schools, with 40 scholars, were entirely supported. The amount of means, which was expended in connexion with the various Schools, is £663. 7s. 8½d. There were circulated 2,123 Bibles, 2,249 New Testa ments, 62 Psalms, and 376 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, at an expense of £423. 3s. 4d. During this year was expended on Missionary Objects £4,235. 13s. 2d., whereby 125 labourers in the Gospel were assisted. Gladly as I would give extracts from the many hundred letters which I received from the 125 ser vants of Christ, the size of this book forbids my doing so. I only have to say, that many hundreds of precious souls were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, during the year, through their instrumentality ; and especially, also, the labours of evangelists at Home were blessed. There was laid out on the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1865, to May 26, 1866, the sum of £756. 19s. 0½d. ; and there were circulated within that year nearly Two Millions (exactly 1,927,360) of Tracts and Books. Nearly One Million and Seven Hundred Thousand A.D. 1866.] 451 (exactly 1,695,415) of the tracts and books circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from individuals to whom these tracts were sent. A sister in the Lord in Cornwall, whom I have often supplied with tracts, writes on Aug. 5, 1865 :—“‘ A sister in the Lord has told me of blessing to three, through reading your Gospel Tracts. One of the three died in peace last year. I think it was ‘The Serpent of Brass,’ that was used for blessing to this one. I was with my friend at the first interview with the other old man. When we met with him he was in quite a self-righteous state; he seemed willing to receive tracts, which my sister took him from time to time. She was led to do this, knowing how much time he had, having only to keep a stop gate, where he stayed from 8 o’clock in the morning till 6 o’clock in the evening. My sister visited the wife of this old man, and found her in an awakened state. They are now, from what my friend says, enjoying peace, through the atonement of Jesus, and she says it was from the tracts that were lent to them.” A brother in the Lord in Devonshire, who has been for many years supplied with large quantities of Tracts, Bibles and Testaments for gratuitous circulation, writes on Aug. 12, * 1865 :—‘‘ Tam happy to say we have repeated proofs of the usefulness of the tracts. It will be a great joy to your heart to know, as it is to me to say, that ‘ The Substitute’ has recently been blessed unto the conversion of a poor woman in the country. I bless God for this instance of His grace:—perhaps we know but little in this world, and in many cases nothing, of the good effected by their distribution.” The same brother writes on Feb. 28, 1866:—‘‘I am happy to assure you that the tracts are in most cases not only willingly, but thankfully, received; and occasionally we are rejoiced to know of sanctified effects following. One dear woman, who, then in good health, was converted by means of one of your tracts, not long afterwards died, very happy, with the same tract in her hand, clasped to her bosom—so precious was it to her as the instrument of leading her to Jesus and of her soul’s salvation. Such blessings on the work are both encouragements to per- 6 452 [A.B. 1866. severance, and rewards of grace of unspeakable joy unto our hearts." A Bristol Christian Tract Distributor, who has also been repeatedly supplied with tracts for gratuitous circula tion, writes on Oct. 5, 1865 : —" Dear Sir,— Some good while since you were kindly pleased to supply me with some tracts and leaflets for gratuitous distribution, and, as my number is nearly exhausted, I again venture to solicit a renewal of your assistance. Dear Sir, I feel very desirous of giving some account of the manner in which I dispose of the trust you commit to my charge. As our city is well supplied by various distributors, I have taken other ground within a radius of 5 miles from our city, from Dundry to Shirehampton, and from Frenchay and Hambrook to Pensford ; and the classes among whom I labour are such as the following : — Soldiers, sailors, water men or wherrymen, bargemen or canal men, cabmen at all the cab stands, omnibus men, railway navvies, gypsies, colliers, city and country police, field strollers, turnpike road gamblers, wayside cottagers, milkmen, farmers' ser vants and all others, as circumstances allow. I am thankful I am not without good hope that your tracts have been the means of doing much good. I always leave home praying for the leadings of the Holy Spirit, that I may put the right tract into the right hands ; and that the same good Spirit may work on the heart, to bring glory to God and extend the kingdom of our most blessed Redeemer. Last Lord's-day I spent the afternoon among the soldiers in our barracks, giving them such tracts as I thought most likely to induce them to read. I find that among most of the classes before described, tracts of a narrative, or anecdote character, are most acceptable. Dear Sir, should you again help me in my work, a supply of the above kind will be thankfully received by your dis tributor." A London Tract distributor wrote some months since : — " Dear Sir and Brother in Christ,—Might I venture to ask you for another supply of Gospel Tracts for free dis tribution, and likewise ask an interest in your prayers ? For encouragement, I may say that several persons have been brought to the Lord Jesus through the other grant. I remain your affectionate, although unworthy brother in Christ," &c. A.D. 1866.] 453 The following is a letter from Buckinghamshire, dated May 17, 1866 :—" In writing you again for a few tracts, I might refer you to some and not a few cases in which they have been blessed of the Lord ; but one I must tell you. I think I told you in my last of one of my visits to P. and staying the evening to speak unto the people. I was there again last week, and found that I gave to an old man of 92 years of age, ' Your Dying Hour.' It was blessed to his awakening, and caused him great un easiness. His granddaughter, with whom the old man lives, was listening to the Word in the evening, and I am happy to say that now in both a change is effected, which is as conspicuous as it is joyful." A brother labouring in the Gospel in Cornwall, writes on June 1, 1866 :—" The Lord continues to bless the circulation of tracts. A few days since I heard that a young man in consumption, at a village some distance off, to whom I gave that tract, entitled ' Pardon through the Blood of Christ," was led to the Lord by it, and has since died." At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1865 to May 26, 1866, there were 1,150 Orphans in theNew Or phan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 123 Orphans were admitted into the three houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1866, would have been 1,273, had there been no changes ; but of these 1,273, eleven died during the year. Only 11 ! Out of these 11, five died as decided believers, 1 as a young infant, regarding 1 we had some hope, and the state of 4 was uncertain.— Five girls were expelled from the Orphan Houses, their ages varying from 16 years and 9 months to 18 years. We had long borne with them, and at last, in mercy to the other Orphans, this painful remedy was resorted to, as the last means of seeking to do them good. We had no prospect of ever being able to recommend them for situations, though they were all able to earn their living. — Eight Orphans, out of the 1,273, were returned to their relatives, because, after long trial, we found that two of them were so weak in intellect, that we never could have recommended them as servants or apprentices, and six of them had spinal or scrofulous or other incurable diseases, so that they never would be fit, humanly speak ing, to take situations, yet were now of an age to leave 454 [A.a 1866. the Institution.—Five children were given up to their rela tives, who, by that time, were able to provide for them, and were desirous of doing so.—Fifteen boys were sent out to be apprenticed, of whom eleven had been believers for a longer or shorter time before they left.—Eighty girls were sent out to service, of whom twelve had been for a longer or shorter time believers, before they were sent out. These 124 are therefore to be deducted from the 1,273, so that on May 26, 1866, we had 1,149 Orphans under our care, viz., in the New Orphan House No. 1, 300 ; in No. 2, 399 ; and in No. 3, 450. I have already stated in the previous pages, that it pleased the Lord, to give to us, as the choicest answer to prayer, during the year, that He had been pleased at the beginning of this year 1866 to stir up all at once above One Hundred Orphans to care about their souls. From the moment I heard of this "ETe'sseTwoirk oF^Ee Spirit of God among these dear children, my prayer was daily, that God would be pleased to deepen it, that He would extend it through each department of the three houses, and that He would not allow Satan to mar it. The like petitions, I doubt not, my dear fellow-labourers brought before God. And now rejoice with us, dear Christian Reader, in what I am going to relate to you further. Towards the end of the year from May 26, 1865 to May 26, 1866, one of the Orphans, Emma Bunn, more than seventeen years old, was taken ill. As we soon learnt that her case was hope less consumption, and her soul unprepared for eternity, we were the more earnestly concerned about her salvation. But though she had been fourteen years under our care, and therefore from very early days, she was unconcerned about the things of God, yea to a very high degree in different. She grew weaker and weaker, but remained as careless as ever. She was often spoken to ; the Scrip tures were in small portions read to her ; prayer was offered to the Lord on her behalf continually, both in her hearing, and otherwise ; but all, apparently, of no use. Her case became more and more discouraging. On May 26 she was yet again visited by my dear wife and several of my helpers ; but her case was as hopeless as ever, though the appearance was, that she would live only a few days longer. On the following day, however^ it pleased God to reveal the Lord Jesus to her heart. She was A.D. 1866.] 455 able to put her trust in Him for the salvation of her soul, and thus obtained peace. This dear girl, who had been so entirely careless about the things of God, was npw un speakably happy in the Lord, which was coupled with great self-loathing and confessionjjf_sin^ She expressed in the fullest way one could have wished, how sorry she was, for having so long neglected the salvation of her soul, how she had disliked to be spoken to about the Gospel, and how even, on one occasion, when one of my helpers was again coming to her bedside, to speak to her, she feigned to be asleep, when she heard him coming, to escape being spoken to. When now this dear girl was convinced of sin, and made so unspeakably happy through faith in the Lord Jesus, she manifested the deepest concern about the salvation of her young friends and companions in the New Orphan House No. 3, and sent several messages to them from her dying bed, intreating them to seek the Lord. On Sunday, May 27, 1866, she found peace in the Lord, and on Tuesday morning, May 29, she fell peacefully asleep in Jesus. Her thoughtlessness and carelessness regarding the things of God had been well known among the Orphans, and her conversion and her messages were now used by the Lord as the instrument of the most ex tensive and glorious work of the Spirit of God that we_ ever hadTiad among the children, during the whole time that the Orphan Work had been in existence. 350 Orphans in the New Orphan House No. 3 alone were led to seek" the Lord, and the greater part of them found peace for their souls, through faith in the Lord Jesus, shortly after. These dear children, formerly almost all careless and in different, and most of them much like what Emma Bunn had been, afterwards had their prayer-meetings among themselves, as often as they could, and, in other ways, gave joy to our hearts. I have so minutely dwelt on these facts for the following reasons :— a. Many individuals are discouraged, because they see their children or other relatives remaining indifferent about the truth, and they are ready to consider that it is use less to pray any longer for the conversion of these their relatives, or to set the truth any further before them. Let such remember Emma Bunn. Her case was indeed, ! humanly speaking, of the most hopeless character ; and I yet our prayers were at last most fully answered ; ;m<l I .-' 456 [A.D. 1866. any special efforts, which had been made to impress her heart, were most abundantly recompensed. Similar in stances we have had again and again among the Orphans. b. In the case of Emma Bunn we saw the benefit of storing the memory with the truth, and the benefit of Biblical instruction ; for, when she was once brought to believe in the Lord Jesus, it was most manifest how the Spirit of God was pleased to use all this, and how rapid her progress during the little while she continued to live, after her conversion. c. Some children of God almost think, as if there could be no reality in the conversion of young persons, and especially of a number of young persons, all at once ; and yet we have had instance upon instance that children of the age of nine or ten years old have been converted and remained steadfast in the ways of God for many years ; and we have also seen, how at least the greater part of the children, who in large numbers were stirred up to care about their souls, continued to do so. Let us, then, expect great things from God, and we shall have them. During the year from May 26, 1865 to May 26, 1866 was expended on the support of the 1,273 Orphans, who were under our care, £12,520. 3s. 8d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1866 to May 26, 1867. The Institution, having been formed on March 5th, 1834^ had now been above thirty-two years in operation. Its be ginning was most small, but it had since been almost year by year enlarged, and that to such an extent, as that the expenditure in connexion therewith, during the year of which I now write, amounted to £34,849. 0s. 6d. To large houses of business, or even to some private wealthy individuals, this sum may not appear a very large one ; but it is to be kept before the Reader, that the means to meet such an expenditure are obtained simply by asking God to work in the hearts of His stewards to help us ; for in no case is an appeal made to any individual for help. From this we abstain, not that we consider it sinful in it self to apply to individual believers for help in the cause of Christ ; but, because one of the especial reasons for the formation of this Institution, and especially of that of the Orphan Work, was, that it might be seen to the glory of God, how much can be accomplished simply through the A.D. 1866.] 457 instrumentality of prayer and faith; in order that thus there might be, in this work, a witness to the faithfulness of God for the believer, and that the unbeliever might see, in it, the reality of the things of God, and thus be led to seek Him while He is to be found. I notice a few out of the many especial blessings, mer cies, and answers to prayer, granted to us during this year, for the encouragement of the Christian readers. When the Cholera appeared in England, during the summer of 1866, and when there were even some cases in Bristol, it had been, from the commencement, our special prayer, that, if it might be, the Lord would mercifully shield the Orphan Houses against this fearful disease. And so Ho did. Not a single instance occurred. We had, however, many applications for the admission of children, who had lost both parents by Cholera, and in one single letter 23 such children were applied for. During this year the Hooping Cough again broke out among the Orphans. ^We asked the Lord, that, if it might be, He would graciously prevent the spreading of this trying malady ; and He did deal very pitifully with us ; only eight children, out of all the hundreds under our care, took the disease. During the summer and autumn of 1866 we had also the measles at all the three Orphan Houses. After they had made their appearance, our especial prayer was, 1, That there might not be too many children ill at one time in this disease, so that our accommodation in the Infirmary rooms or otherwise might be sufficient. This prayer was answered to the full ; for though we had at the New Or phan House No. I not less than 83 cases, in No. H altogether 111, and in No. Ill altogether 68; yet God so graciously was pleased to listen to our supplications, as that when our spare rooms were filled with the invalids, He so long stayed the spreading of the measles till a sufficient number were restored, so as to make room for others, who were taken ill. 2, Further we prayed, that the children, who were taken ill in the measles, might be safely brought through and not die. Thus it was. We had the full answer to our prayers ; for though 262 children alto gether had the measles, not one of them died^ 3, Lastly we prayed, that no evil physTcaTlxJnsequences'niignt follow this disease, as is so often the case ; this was also granted. x 458 [A.D. 1866. All the 262 children not only recovered, hut did well after wards. I gratefully record this signal mercy and blessing of God, and this full and precious answer to prayer, to the honour of His name. During the whole year, we were mercifully preserved from tijing infectious fevers. I gratefully mention this particular mercy of God, to the praise of His name. There never was a year, since this work had been in ex istence, that our current expenses were so great as during this year, which was occasioned by the high price of pro visions, &c. ; added to this, the three Orphan Houses were taxed, with all the ordinary City taxes, which, for more than 30 years before, while the Orphan Work was in operation, had not been the case. But wlile, on the one hand, our outgoings were greater than ever they had been, since the 5th of March, 1834, our income loo was greater than during any previous year, since the Institution had been in existence ; whereby God not only again showed how able He is to meet the increase of expenses in con nexion with His work, but He was, as it were, likewise saying to me, I will also provide means, when the two new houses, now in course of erection, shall have been filled with destitute Orphans. I record it as a marked blessing from God, that we had no difficulty during this year, nor for a number of years previously, in placing out the Orphans, when ready to leave the Institution ; but had far more applications for apprentices and servants than we were able to supply. I cannot pass over noticing especially the small number of deaths we had during this year among the Orphans. Only eleven died, out of 1304 who were under our care from May ^6, 1866, to May 26, 1867. When it is con sidered, that by far the greater part of these Orphans lost one or both parents in consumption, and that, therefore, almost all inherit from their parents a weak consitution ; we have especial cause for thankfulness in the small number of deaths. We indeed see, on the one hand, the importance of cleanliness, regular habits, wholesome food, and suitable clothing with regard to these children ; and we are, more over, fully convinced, that for want of these requisites, so many tens of thousands of the children of the poor go to an early grave ; yet, on the other hand, we do own the A.D. 1867.] 459 gracious blessing of God upon these means, which are used for the preservation of the health and life of these children. The greatest of all the blessings, however, which it pleased the Lord to bestow upon us in connexion with this Institution, in answer to daily prayer, was the mighty awakening among the Orphans, which occurred at the end of the previous year and the beginning of this. This was the greatest spiritual blessing we ever had had among the Orphans, at one time, till then. - From May 26, 1866 to May 26, 1867, there were six Day Schools, with 425 children in them, entirelw supported by the funds of the Institution, and nine other Day Schools were assisted. One Sunday School, with 150 children, was entirely supported, and eight others were assisted. Two Adult Schools, with 32 scholars, were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. The amount of means, which was expended, in connexion with the various Schools, is £686. 19s. 11d. There were circulated 3193 Bibles, 4572 New Testa- ments, 61 Copies of the Psalms, and 6702 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, at an expense of £530. 4s. 2d. From May 26, 1868 to May 26, 1867, there was expended on Missionary Operations of the funds of the Institution, £5010. 18s. 2d., whereby 125 labourers in the Gospel, in various parts of the world, were assisted. There rested upon the labours of these brethren again abundant blessing during this year, and many hundreds of souls were brought to the knowledge of the Lord; but I am unable to give extracts from about One Thousand letters, received from these brethren, for want of space. As, however, the Reports may yet be obtained, the Christian reader who feels interested in the matter, may send for the Report from 1866 to 1867, in which 20 large pages are occupied with these extracts. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1866 to May 26, 1867, the sum of £781. 1s. 11d.; and there werecirculated within the year more than Highteen Hundred Thousand (exactly 1,824,604) Tracts and Books More than One Million and Four Hundred Thousand (exactly 1,408,432) of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, a8 an encouragement for this service, the following; x2 a 460 [4.D. 1867. _ extracts from letters, received from individuals to whom these tracts were sent. A brother in the Lord, whom I have often supplied with Tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on July 2, 1866:— “ The Tracts which I last received have been carefully dis- tributed, and I have reason to believe, by communications made to me, that much blessing has resulted through these silent messengers. A poor woman told me, three weeks ago, that she found peace through reading one of the Tracts which I left at her cottage. ; Another, residing in Wiltshire, writes on Aug. 14, 1866: —‘ I was rejoiced to find, that a Tract entitled ‘I do de- : pend upon the Blood’ was blessed to the salvation of a poor profligate woman. She was one who had drunk deeply of the cup of this world’s pleasure, but at last, in the de- cline of her life, her only theme was, ‘The blood of the Lamb.’” The next extract is from a letter received from London, dated Feb. 22, 1867 :—‘‘ You kindly sent us during the past year 18,000 Tracts. I have much pleasure in inform- ing you, that two distinct cases of conversion have come under our notice by their distribution. One of the Tracts was lying on a table at a Factory, and while the men were having their breakfast, one of them read it and was deeply convinced of sin. Before the day closed, he found peace through believing in Jesus by no other means than the application of the words of the Tract by the Spirit to his soul. He is now earnestly engaged with us in scattering far and near these heralds of mercy, praying that the Lord would again choose the weak things of the world to con- found the things that are mighty. The other case is that of a young woman who was very worldly ; she was aroused to a sense of sin by reading a Tract, and is now trusting in the Lord. She has since been the means of bringing her sister to a knowledge of the truth. We have distributed about 60,000 during the past year; they have been dis- tributed during open air services, at lodging houses where services are conducted, in the hospital, in every house in the neighbourhood, and by the way side. The Lord has, in mercy, set His seal to each of these efforts, and though He has not yet given us otir heart’s desire, still we go out, trusting to Him, who hath said, ‘ They who go forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtless come A.D. 1867.] 461 again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.' We are in need of Tracts, and if the Lord should incline you to send us more, they will be gratefully received and prayerfully distributed." The following is an extract from a letter, dated Aug. 1, 1866, written by a believer in Wales, whom I have often supplied with parcels of Tracts for gratuitous circulation. —" We are still distributing many Tracts round the hills, and, praise the Lord ! we have reason to believe much good is being done by them. I neatly folded, and prayed for the divine blessing on a number, that my dear sister N. took to the Pontypool fair, last month. She gave one to a poor man, he unfolded it, and having read the title, ' Be hold He cometh,' he said with tears in his eyes, ' I hope I shall be ready to meet Him.' Brother N. has been very much blessed in giving Tracts at a village about two miles from where we live, where backsliders have been reclaimed, believers strengthened, and a prayer meeting begun : to God be all the praise and glory. And, dear brother, I must tell you about a poor man who had a stroke about a year ago. Sister N. called to see him, and left him a Tract. The next time she called, he said, that Tract had showed him the way of salvation, and he repeated nearly all the Tract to her, and said that he now saw that Jesus had paid his debt, and that he that believeth hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. He got a little better, and managed to reach our house a few months ago ; he was quite clear on these truths, and trusting in what Christ had done for him ; but he said he wanted to feel fit for heaven, he did not always feel happy. We had a nice time in prayer together, and we gave him a Tract we thought the Lord woutd bless to him. I was glad to see him again this week, he said he had seen from the Tract he had last, that Christ was his righteousness in which he was to appear before God, and that what he had to do, was, to trust in Christ, to look to Him, and not trouble about his feelings : he said, ' Payment, God will not twice demand, first at my bleeding Surety's hand, and then again at mine.' He said, when I am persecuted, these words keep me up : ' Love your enemies, and pray for them that de- spitefully use you,' and I tell it all to the Lord in my simple way. Praise the Lord for this victory gained ! My dear 462 [4.D. 1867. brother, we should be very glad of another grant of Tracts, if you could please to send us some. Many thanks for past favours.” At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1866 to May 26, 1867, there were 1149 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 154 Orphans were admitted into the three houses; so that the total number on May 26, 1867, would have been 1303, had there been no changes ;_ but of these 1308, eleven died during the year. Eight of these eleven fell asleep in Jesus as believers, one was an infant, and the two others gave us no satisfaction as to their spiritual | state. Three out of the 1303 were expelled during the year, on account of violence of temper, insubordination, and habitual bad behaviour. They were all three girls, able to earn their bread ‘as servants. Fifteen Orphans were during the year removed by relatives, who, by that time, were both able and willing to provide for them in future ; out of these fifteen, six left us as believers in the Lord Jesus. Nine boys were apprenticed, of whom eight left our care as believers. One hundred and fifteen girls were sent out, fit for service, of whom sixty were believers. These one hundred and fifty-three are therefore to be deducted from the 1303, so that on May 26, 1867, we had 1150 Orphans under our care, viz., in the New Orphan House, No. 1, 8300; in No. 2, 400; and in No. 8, 450. I notice further the following points respecting the Orphan work : 1. From what I have just stated as to those who died as believers, or were apprenticed or sent out to service as believers; and from the letters received from Orphans, which have been given in this Narrative, the reader must have seen how greatly the Lord is pleased to bless the Orphan work spiritually. To this, however, is to be added, that there were then a considerable number of converted_ Orphans under our care, and that hundreds left us in previous yéars as believers, or fell asleep as true Christians whilst in the Orphan Houses. For all this we thank the Lord, and in it we gratefully own His hand; but we expect far greater spiritual blessing still, as it regards the Orphans. iene 2. The greatest.of all the spiritual blessings, however, A.D. 1868.] 463 resulting from this work, I judge to be this, that the Reports which have been issued in connexion therewith, have not only been instrumental in the conversion of many sinners, by leading them to see the reality of the things of God, but have, also, in the cases of many thousands of Christians, as their letters have testified to me, during the past 36 years, been a great spiritual help to them, m comforting them, leading them more fully to cast their burdens upon the Lord, increasing their faith, showing to them practically and experimentally that the Living God is still the Living God, and in other respects benefiting their souls. This point was the great and chief end of' the establishment of the Orphan Work, that thus God might be glorified. This end has been answered beyond the largest expectations which I had in the year 1835. But now, my faith having been greatly increased, by the grace of God, since then, which I thankfully own to His praise, my expectations are far greater in this respect, than they were in the year 1835, and I expect far greater blessing, therefore, in this particular for the time to come, although I am in myself unworthy of being thus used by the Lord, even in the very least degree. _ There was expended from May 26, 1866, to May 26, 1867, for the support of the 1303 Orphans under our care, the sum of £13,456. 17s. 4d. ; and in connexion with the building of the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5 £14,407. 6s. 2d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868. In looking back upon this year, my soul does magnify the Lord, for all the help He was pleased to give to me. Difficulties, greater than ever I had them for the previous thirty-three years, were overcome during that year, by prayer and faith ; work, which is increasing with every year more and more, was not allowed to overwhelm me ; and expenses greater than during any previous year, amounting altogether from May 27, 1867 to May 26, 1868, to £41,810. 16s. 8½d. were met, without my ever being unable to satisfy to the full at once all demands, though sometimes amounting to more than £3,000._ at a time. We were then going on in tiKe Thlrtv-Pourth year of this Institution, proving day by day, that the laving God of the^ Bible is still the Living God. Elijah has long 464 [A.D. 1868. since been taken up into heaven, but the God of Elijah lives ; and all, who truly depend upon Him, will find Him ever ready to help them. By the grace of God we hold fast the principles on which, in March, 1834, the Scriptural Knowledge Institu tion was formed, of which I would here only refer to the following. 1, God Himself was from the beginning sought to be the Patron of this Institution ; and He alone is our Patron still. We are grateful for any kindness manifested towards this Institution, even the least, whether in the way of donations or otherwise ; but we are with every succeeding year more and more convinced, that, if we would really prosper, God must not theoretically only, but practically, be honoured above every one, even the most exalted or rich persons ; and He must be confided in, and not any human being. And how have we succeeded, you may ask, esteemed Reader, with the Living God alone as our Patron ? All who know the small and most insigni ficant beginning of the Institution bear us witness, that we have not in vain set up our banners in the name of our God, and confided in His power and willingness to help us. Four Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling the Lord was pleased to send into our treasury, in answer to prayer, since we began to confide in Him alone, on March the 5th, 1834, up to May 26, 1868. 2, We decided, in particular also, from the beginning, never to go bejond the means which we had actually in hand. whilst enlarging the field ol labour. To this we have habitually adhered; which has kept us from going before the Lord. Sometimes we have had to wait on God a long time, before the means were obtained, which it appeared to us desirable to have ; but they have always been sent to us in the end. We judged it to be for the glory of God, patiently to wait His time, and not to make haste in doing His work, by con tracting debt. This happy way, this peaceful way, this prosperous way, this Scriptural way, I affectionately com mend to all my brethren in Christ, especially to my younger brethren, who seek to work for God ; for I have proved its blessedness for about Forty Four Years. The Reader may ask, And what was done with the Four Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling, which were given for the fnnds of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti \ tution for Home and Abroad up to May 26, 1868 ? The A.D. 1868.] 465 answer is, that above Sixteen Thousand Five Hundred children or grown up persons were taught in the various Schools, entirely supported by the Institution ; more than Forty-Four Thousand and Five Hundred Copies of the Bible, and above Forty Thousand and Six Hundred New Testaments, and above Twenty Thousand other smaller portions of the Holy Scriptures, in various languages, were circulated from the formation of the Institution up to May 26, 1868 ; and about Thirty One Millions of Tracts and Books, likewise in several languages, were circulated. There were, likewise, from the commencement, Mission-! aries assisted by the funds of the Institution, and of late ! years more than One Hundred and Twenty in number. | On this Object alone Seventy-Six Thousand One Hundred I and Thirty-Seven Pounds were expended from the begin ning, up to May 26, 1868. Also 2,412 Orphans were under our care, and five large houses, at an expense of above One Hundred and Ten Thousand Pounds were j erected, for the accommodation of 2,050 Orphans. With regard to the spiritual results, eternity alone can unfold them ; yet even in so far as we have already seen fruit, we have abundant cause for praise and thanksgiving. From May 26, 1867, to May 26, 1868, there were en-. tirely supported by the funds of the Institution, six Day- Schools, with 415 children in them, and seventeen other Day-Schools were assisted. One Sunday-School with 194; children was entirely supported, and eighteen others were; assisted. Two Adult-Schools, with 40 Scholars in them,j were entirely supported. The amount of means, which; was expended in connexion with the various Schools, was> £787. 0s 0½d. From May 26, 1867, to May 26, 1868, there were cir-; culated, 2,501 Bibles, 6,771 New Testaments, 129 copies' of the Psalms, and 10,409 other small portions of the' Holy Scriptures. The amount of the Funds of the In-. stitution, spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures,) is £557. 1s. 2d. During no previous year, since the formation of this! Institution, were so many copies of the Holy Scriptures' circulated as during this year ; and during no previous year did we circulate so many copies of the Holy Script tures in foreign languages, as during this year. The lattef was chiefly owing to the fact, that two of the Missionaries x 3 466 [4.D. 1868. who are assisted by the funds of this Institution, were al- most the whole time, while the Paris Exhibition lasted, during the Summer of 1867, labouring among foreigners in Paris, preaching to them, and especially circulating the Holy Scriptures among them. One of these brethren speaks 8 modern languages, and the other three, and through their instrumentality alone were circulated during /4%| the year, chiefly at the Paris Exhibition, 163 French /é0°!| Bibles and 1,600 French Testaments, 212 Spanish Bibles Ye / and 461 Spanish Testaments, 24 Italian Bibles and 182 . a4 italian Testaments, 44 Portuguese Testaments, 32 Russ 14 Testaments, 8 Polish Testaments, 11 German Bibles and ¢4{ 602 German Testaments, 2 Modern Greek Testaments, 1 Hebrew Testament, 2 English Bibles, 1 English Testa- 77| ment, 8,200 Portions of the New Testament in French, 662% and 340 Portions of the New Testament in 12 other | languages. 4 _ Ireceived many letters from those two brethren, who f200 laboured at the Paris Exhibition, of which I will now give 3¥0- a few extracts. 1g fo Brother L—— writes from Paris on June 25th, 1867 :— “ T take a little corner of the building, which brother H—— asked me to take, as just there a great number of the aris- tocracy of all nations visit; and here I sit down and pray the Lord to send me some whom He may have prepared to receive a little portion of His truth. Last week I had four distinguished visitors—the Russian Duchess ——, who asked many questions as to the circulation, &c., and wished in parting, ‘“ Russia might soon be filled with Bibles.” The next day the Russian Princess —— came and asked me to give her a copy in Russ; and the next day the Grand Duke of —— with his Duchess, asked me to give him a German portion. He noticed some little Spanish gilt-edged Testaments I had by my side, and asked me what they were for. I‘told him. He said, “ And do they take them?” I gave him an account of the Spanish work which interested him; and, when parting, he said, ‘‘T hope you may send many thousand copies into Spain, for they indeed need them.” I did not know any of these visitors until the officers, who were standing a distance off, told me; and of this I was the more glad. Another class of persons in whom I am much interested, are the invalids who come to the Exhibition. As they pass in their wheel A.D. 1868.] 467 chairs, many aged and many consumptive, whom kind" friends are doing their best to satisfy with the world's toys, my heart is specially drawn to them ; and I am often pleased to see them regard very earnestly, the text on the portico—' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shult be saved,' &c. The gendarmes, now they understand they are not to interfere with this work of distributing the Scriptures, are always most anxious for copies, and each band of soldiers numbering 500, who come in turn to see the sight, receive copies every morning on their entry. I have a very happy opportunity of saying a word to the priests, many of whom come, some hoping by their wisdom to confound me, but to whom I read such Scriptures as, — ' By one offering,' ' It is finished,' and other such portions to lead their minds to the only way of peace. Others stay to ask me what is the object of giving away such portions, and I read such portions as show that the word of God was generally in the possession of the ' common people'— as the Bereans, the Eunuch, and the favourite word in John v., ' Search the Scriptures ; " also in Rev. L, ' Blessed are they who read,' &c. Two young priests were with me the other night for a long time, and they admitted that I had what many men had not ; and one said he was sure that ' It is finished ' was the only ground of peace, but thought I ought to pray to God to enlighten me on the ground of doctrines. They shook hands very friendly, and I told them I should pray to God for them, to make them satisfied with, ' It is finished.' Every day I meet with such. Among my Spanish friends I continue to find favour, and have every day some fresh case of the desire to know more of the pure and unadulterated Word ; as they continually say, ' They know the religion of Christ must be different to what is seen in Spain.' One day a Portuguese gentleman, to whom I spoke, said, I have read many books of men, but now God's word is my only book, and I rejoice in the work.' I gave a copy the other day to a Professor of the Royal School of Industry in Madrid, and he recom mended one of his students to go with me to get a copy. I have two young men in the Spanish department, who are very interested in the work, and frequently bring their countrymen that they may have copies. This is just an outline of my daily work, although I cannot describe the many feelings that occupy me in this work." 468 [a.D. 1868. Again this brother writes August 1, 1867. ‘“ The whole of the Spanish Commission are interested, and always tell their countrymen. One of them said to me, “ I was brought up as a priest, and when you spoke to me about the Bible, I thought, what business has he to speak about such things to me; but now I am interested in what you say, and read constantly the New Testament.” He and another hold me by the hand as a brother, and ask all kinds of questions.” The same brother writes on Aug. 3, 1867 :—‘ We have had a band of Spanish soldiers here who came to take part in the international festival. The greater part of these carry back Bibles and Testaments. It was a most in- teresting sight to see the interest they took in the Word given and preached. A brother in the Lord was greatly moved as he saw a company of 7 fine soldiers gathered round me listening to the truth as it is in Jesus: the emotions of their faces and the expression ‘ La Verdad,’ (Truth) ‘Mira pues’ (Look at that now). Often one would say to another, ‘ How our eyes have been bandaged,’ and said another, ‘I have been reading the New Testa- ment, which you gave me, the last four days. I never read such a beautiful book in my life. A month ago a son who is in the Spanish Commission brought his father, . to have a Bible. The old man was wonderfully interested. ‘He writes to his son, ‘When I arrived in Madrid, they took from me all my books; I begged hard for my Bible, but they would take it. Get one of the soldiers (naming him), to bring me another.’ Many others continually bring their friends to receive copies. I have daily congregations who listen with peculiar delight as I - dwell on the one theme ‘ Consumatum est.’ (‘It is finished.) Every now and then I get some from Barcelona who know one and another there, whom we are yet in- terested in. One of the soldiers this week said, as I was setting the truth before him and three other comrades, ‘ What a happy land ours would be, if there was a spiritual revolution ; how much better it would be than one by shed- ding one another’s blood.’” On Oct, 2, 1867, this brother writes from Paris: ‘1 find continual demand for Spanish Bibles and Testaments. I met with several yesterday who expressed themselves very gratefully for the portions I gave them, and yesterday a A.D. 1868.] 469 great number of excursionists arrived from Madrid, and I trust 1 shall meet with some of them. On last Lord's day I had an extraordinary day of service among the crowds who were here. For four hours I never moved from one spot, dealing out with both my hands to the out stretched hands, the majority of which were hands har dened by toil ; by which I could see, without looking in their faces, that they were peasants." On Oct. 15, he writes : " Since I last wrote, two or three interesting things have occurred. A young French physician said he was visiting his patients in an hospital here, and seeing one man in his bed reading a gospel which had been given away in the Pare, he asked him how he obtained it. He replied, that one of the sisters of mercy had given it him. The Doctor said, ' I told him to go on and read it.' A pi iest brought one of his peasant parishioners to the stall for the sale of Bibles and bought one for him. Two priests who went into the Gospel Hall to hear the addresses in French, were touched to the heart, it is hoped, and have become obedient to the faith. I bought three Testaments for three French Jews, who were too poor to pay for them, who yet greatly desired to have them, yesterday and to-day. A great many Arab soldiers have come for copies of the Word, and have re ceived them. Oh that they might receive Him, of whom it speaks, as gladly as they have received the Word." After the close of the Exhibition in Paris, the same brother writes, on Nov. 6, 1867: "With this I enclose you a further account of Bibles and Testaments purchased. Some of the French ones I purchased were for a Swedish brother who is going to Austria, to a water establishment ; he wished some of large type for some aged ones he knew there, and also in Paris. Others I obtained for our brother V , some of which he wished for the Mayor of , who was once a persecutor, but now preaches the faith he destroyed. Many of the New Testaments I gave to the Police, with whom I became acquainted. One of these, to whom l gave one last Wednesday, came about a quarter of an hour afterwards, accompanied by the page of the Empress, and asked me if I would give him one. I gave him a Bible, for which he appeared very grateful. The next day he came, asking me if I would give one to her Majesty's coachman, which I gladly did, telling him 470 [4.D. 1868> if he knew any of the Imperial household, who would like a copy, I would gladly give them one. 14 large-type Bibles were for some poor workmen in an establishment where about 100 men are employed, as firemen and machinists in the public service. The foreman of the brigade, about two months since, received a gospel portion, which led him to buy a Bible, which he began to read in his family. Afterwards he began to speak to the men under him, and to read portions to them, which con- strained twenty-nine of them to buy family Bibles, and + they meet in their workshop to read them. This foreman seems in great earnest that others should possess what he says is the most precious book in the world. A brother told me he was present when, at the railway station, this man in taking leave of a companion who was going to another city to reside, handed a Bible to him, saying, “ Here, friend, accept this as the most precious souvenir I can offer to you,” the tears falling from each other's eyes as they separated. Up to the very last moment I had Spaniards coming to get portions and Bibles. Seven persons from different parts of Spain came for the same object just-as I was on the-eve of quitting the wonder- ful exhibition of man’s greatness, industry and_ skill, and where there has been one of the most wonderful exhibitions of the love and zeal and successful efforts of the Lord’s children to spread the knowledge of the un- corrupted word of truth.” , Brother D., the other Missionary, who laboured at the Paris Exhibition, writes from Paris on Aug. 12, 1867: “T feel I can by no means do justice to the glorious work of distribution of the Word at the International Exhibi- tion. One million and a quarter have been distributed in sixteen different languages ; of course the bulk was among the French. I am haprily surprised to see the readiness with which they are accepted, and even with thankfulness by many. Some of the priests accept gratefully the books, but others show their hatred. The Irish seem the most bitter, I have seen few of them accept. I feel. sure, if ten thousand colporteurs were sent out to distribute the same books all over France, they would not be able, in ten years, to spread so many as the Exhibition labourers are now doing in six months. Thousands of country people accept the little books at the Exhibition, who would be A.D. 1868.] 471 afraid to take one from a colporteur in his own village. I have it laid on my heart to give gospels to the omnibus conductors and drivers. These men can never leave work, therefore I feel them laid on my heart. Not one has ever refused, but iu every instance the gospel has been thank fully accepted. Men and boys have been seen in the fields reading the little books. Many are seen reading the same on the benches of the Boulevards of Paris. May the dear Lord enable all these to see the disease of sin, and then the dear Physician. We have all many oppor tunities to speak to poor sinners of different nations." j The same brother writes on Sep. 3 : " None could credit the readiness and thankfulness with which the visitors of the Exhibition accept the gospels ; there are not so many refusals as there are in England. I remember two Spaniards coming and obtaining two Spanish Bibles; the same evening, when going to my lodgings, I saw them sitting on one of the benches of the Boulevards reading the precious volume. About three months ago I was passing through a street near the Notre Dame Church, when I saw a porter resting himself on his burden, with one of the gospels in his hands. I observed him reading it for a long time. A few weeks ago a brother was in the country, and saw a man and a boy reading one of the same gospels. We have reason to believe that these are only samples of what may be seen in many parts of France. We preached at Cuisse on the Lord's day. Some came eight miles to the preaching. About forty met in a large room of the house of _L . Many present had found peace in Jesus. One poor woman came nine miles with her two daughters, of about seven and nine years of age. Her husband had threatened to kill her, if she continued to go to the meetings. One Sunday evening he had the sword ready to kill her, but the neighbours stepped in and took the weapon from him. She told her husband she could not give up Christ, she felt determined to follow Jesus ; she also told him, she would rather die with Christ, than live without Him. The husband said, at all events she should not go to the meeting the following Sunday. When the day came, the wife prepared food for her hus band and carried it to him to the field. He felt astonished to see this good for evil, and said " Tu es si aimable, tu peux aller a la reunion." (You are so amiable, you i-- 472 [A.D. 1868. may go to the meeting.) The poor woman got herself ready and went to the meeting. There are some in the same meeting who have wives persecuting them, others have husbands doing the same ; but they all seem so happy and willing to suffer for Jesus, and pray that their ungodly partners may be converted. After all the meetings of the day were finished, we walked about the large village and distributed the Epistle to the Romans ; all accepted but three. We had several opportunities to speak of Jesus, the friend of sinners. We saw two old men talking, to whom we gave the same Epistle, one began to read and the other went into the house for his spec tacles, that he also might read the little book. Many read the little book that evening. We left on the following morning (Monday) for a village at the other end of the forest, and gave gospels to every one we met. We arrived at the village at 7 o'clock. In an hour seventy people came to an old sister's house to hear the gospel. We had as many on Tuesday evening. There are one thousand inhabitants in the village which is called Saint Sauveur. We went about distributing gospels in the village ; not one was refused, and we had many opportunities to speak of Jesus. Only three adults go to the Roman Catholic Church. We went into the church on Wednesday morn ing at 8 o'clock and found the priest saying mass with no more than two little boys of eight years of age." ' Again the same brother writes from Paris on Oct. 3, 1867 : —" Thousands come daily to the Stand and accept the portions of the New Testament thankfully. We all have opportunities to speak to the French and to those of other nations about God's Exhibition on the Cross. I cannot describe either on paper or vocally the joy and thankfulness with which the country people accept the portions. On Sunday evening brother L., three other bre thren, and myself were busily engaged for three hours distributing to pressing crowds, and I believe I am not mistaken, in saying, that more than half were peasants, come to see the Exhibition. Many of the priests accept cheerfully the little books ; one yesterday handed a gospel to one of his parishioners. Hundreds of soldiers receive the Gospels daily. The reception is not confined to one class, but all sorts come and accept the little books. I seldom see a torn book anywhere. I am thankful to see A.D. 1868.] 473 so many Poles and Russians, chiefly men of position, come to get the gospels. An English Christian man came and asked for a Russian gospel; he has offered to distribute some of the Gospels in Russia, aud he is going to put one in every parcel of goods he sends off to his correspondents, It is clearly seen that it is not the present good only, but it will open many doors for the distribution and circulation of the blessed Word that giveth Light and Life. I have it laid on my heart to visit men who cannot come to the Exhibition, viz.: the drivers and conductors of omni- buses, also the cabmen. I have been to many of the principal omnibus stations and stood waiting for the vehicles to pass, and slipped into the hands of the con- ductors two gospels, sometimes having only time to tell them, “Ce sont deux petits livres, l'un pour’ vous et Yautre pour le cocher.” (Here are two little books, one for you and the other for the driver.) Out of the many I have given I have had only three refusals. I went on Monday night to Chemin de Fer du Nord, about 8 o’clock, ‘and distributed a goodly number before 9. One Tuesday afternoon I went to an omnibus station on the Boule- vard de Prince Eugéne, where many different omnibuses’ met for passengers. I distributed half my bagful. Then the thought struck me, I can go and preach to the soldiers to whom I had to speak that evening, and afterwards I can resume this work. After the meeting one of the soldiers accompanied me; he loves the Lord, and has walked Godly for about five years. We went to the same place and distributed all the remaining ones, my com- panion giving one to each of the policemen, who thanked me much for them. I went yesterday afternoon to the Strasbourg railway station, and distributed the gospels to _ the omnibus drivers and conductors, and also to cabmen. What a pleasant sight to see all these men sitting on the coach boxes reading the little books which speak of Jesus. One day, whilst distributing the gospels near the Bastile, one coachman was so pleased with the book, that he said, how kind of you to give me this little book, I shall read it and shall take it home to my family.” I gave him another, and he thanked me repeatedly.” , The same brother writes on June 8, 1868 :—‘ During our stay in Paris I had many opportunities to preach the Gospel; several times to the soldiers, who listened most attentively tothe Word. There were blessed opportunities 474 [4 D. 1868. to speak to people in cottage meetings. I visited with a brother and sister in Christ some of the most wretched parts of Paris. I spoke to every body with whom I had | any conversation about the blessed gospel. J found some had found peace simply by reading the New Testament.” The last short extract I have simply inserted, to show in some small degree the fruit which has been seen from these labours in Paris. As an encouragement for circulating the Holy Scrip- tures, I also mention, that one of the Bibles, which I had sent out, during the year, for circulation among the poor, was given to a young man, who had enlisted as a soldier, and who was by means of that very Bible converted. [I read his own letter, in which he gives the account of the blessing bestowed upon him, through reading the Holy . Scriptures. From May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868, there was ex- pended on Missionary operations £5,396. 10s. By this sum One Hundred and Thirty-three labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were assisted. Precious as very many of the letters were, which I received during that year, from these preachers of the Gospel, I must not give any extracts from them, but can only refer the reader to the Report of the Institution, pub- lished in 1868; yet I have to state, that again many hundreds of souls were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, through these dear servants of Christ, during that year. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1867, to May 26, 1868, the sum of £729. 2s. 11d.; and there were circulated within the year more than Two Millions (exactly 2,121,157) of Tracts and Books. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which were circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1868, is nearly , Thirty One Millions (exactly 30,889,274). More than One Million and a half (exactly 1,558,187) ! of the tracts and books circulated during the year, were ’. given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encourage- ment for this service, the following extracts from letters, received from individuals to whom these tracts were sent. A Home Missionary labouring in Staffordshire, writes on April 15, 1868 :—“ I write to ask you if you will be so . kind as to grant us another parcel of tracts, to assist us. AD. 1868.] - 475 in our mission work here. I am happy to inform you, that much good has resulted from the distribution of the former tracts we have received from you. One man was at our preaching last night, ‘clothed and in his right mind,’ who, two months ago, was a most profligate cha- racter. A tract was put into his hand, entitled ‘This is the Day;’ he read it over; came to the chapel; gave himself to Jesus, and is now giving evidence of a change of heart. Praise the Lord! Other instances I could give of blessing received through this means.” A brother labouring in Scotland, whom I have supplied with tracts, writes on Dec. 19, 1867 :—“ The tracts you sent me have all been given away some time. I believe the Lord blessed them to many. I know one woman who was brought to rest on Jesus by reading one about two weeks ago.” Another brother also labouring in Scotland, to whom I have for several years sent many thousands of tracts, writes from Glasgow on July 2, 1867 :—-“ About a fortnight ago I was in the east-end of the city, where meetings are held in the open air by our dear brother ——, whose labours have been blessed to the conversion of about forty souls. After the preaching he told me, that he had always forgotten to tell me, that it was a Z'ract which he got from me at one of the meetings in the City Hall, about three years ago, that was the means of his conversion. He is a most Godly earnest young man, and I had often heard of his work of faith and labour of love; and it is very remark- able that I was led to hear this from him at a time, when I was somewhat low-spirited in regard to the Tracts, not having heard before of any blessing having resulted to any one from the many thousands which I had distributed all over the country during the last ten years. I was sustained, however, in the work by many stimulating passages of the Word being brought to my mind from time to time, and_at present by this * He ye ateadjast y this, “Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, ley Sorasmuch as ye know that your labour ts not in vain in : the Lord.’ Glasgow annual fair begins next week, and it' has been laid on my heart to take my holiday then, when I shall-be at liberty to join the army of the Lord against the host of Satan. I shall be glad to receive as many as the Lord may dispose you to send me for that occasion.” a 476 [A.D. 1868. A Christian gentleman in the Isle of Man, writes on July 20, 1867 :—" I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, for the packages of tracts you sent last winter. I trust they have been distributed in the best manner, and I be lieve they have been much used by the Holy Ghost in the blessed revival that has been going on in this island." A brother labouring in Cheshire, writes on Oct. 21, 1867 : —I had a letter a few days ago, informing me of blessing afforded to a lady to whom I gave one of your tracts some time ago ; she carries the tract about with her, as that which the Lord used in drawing her to Jesus. Is not this encouraging ? " Another brother, also labouring in Cheshire, writes on May 26, 1868 :— " The Gospel tracts you kindly sent are such a help to me ; I give away five or six hundred some days, to those only who seem very anxious to receive them. Several cases have already come under my notice, in which the reading of them has been much owned of the Lord in blessing to their souls." A Christian gentleman writes from Nottingham on Oct. 11, 1867 :—" Your parcel of Tracts is to hand this day. I thank you ; but what is better, my young friend in forms me to-day, of one porter at the station, who has found Christ, and there are two others who are awakened, and seeking, through the Tracts already given ! Praise God ! At the commencement of the period, from May 26, 1867 to May 26, 1868, there were 1,150 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 149 Orphans were admitted into the three houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1868, would have been 1,299, had there been no changes ; but of these 1299, eighteen children died, 2 of whom were young infants, and 12 gave us great comfort in their end, as they had been previously brought to the knowledge of the Lord. One of those who died, Mary Brain Linthorn, who had been 9 years and 5 months under our care, without knowing the Lord, drew nearer and nearer to the close of her life, being ill in consumption. However, we continued to pray for her, and from time to time, at suitable occa sions, the truth was brought before her, and at last, about 24 hours before her end, she was brought to great peace and joy in the Lord ; and we had thus the joy of having our prayers answered, though so late, regarding this dear A.D. 1869.] 477 girl.” One girl, with whom we had very long borne, we were at last obliged to expel from the Institution, in mercy to her companions, on account of her very injurious influence. We follow her, however, with our prayers, hoping that yet it may please God to convert her. Eleven of the children were returned to their relatives, who were | now able to provide for them, and wished so to do. Seven Orphans were returned to their relatives, who, either on | account of epilepsy, of which we had not been informed on their admission, or weakness of mind, or a totally dis- eased constitution, were unfit to be trained for service, or : to be sent out as apprentices. Nine boys were sent out as apprentices, and One Hundred and Four Girls to ser- vice. Seven of the 9 boys, who were sent out, were be- lievers, and 31 of the girls sent to service, which, with the 12 who died as believers, makes altogether 50 believers who passed through the Orphan Institution during the year. These 150 are therefore to be deducted from the 1,299, so that on May 26, 1868, there were only 1,149 Orphans under our care, viz. in the New Orphan House, No. 1,300; in No. 2,400; and in No. 3,449. There was expended during the year on the support of the 1,299 Or- phans, who were under our care, £13,754. 4s. 5d., besides £20,016. 48. 2d., which was expended on the building and fitting up the New Orphan Houses No. 4, and No. 5. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869. During this year Six Day Schools, with 398 children in them, were entirely supported by the funds of the Institu- tion, and fourteen other Day Schols were assisted. One Sunday School with 182 children, was entirely supported, and eleven others were assisted. Two Adult Schools, with 27 scholars, were entirely supported. The amount of means, which was expended in connexion with the various Schools, is £686. 4s, 114d.; and during the whole time from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1869, £14,856, 7s. 1d. From the beginning up to May 26, 1869, there were 16,801 souls brought under habitual instruction in the things of God in all the Schools, entirely supported by the Institution ; besides the many thousands in the schools in various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, British Guiana, the West Indies, the East Indies, China, etc., which were to a greater or less degree assisted. rs 478 [A.D. 1869. . During this year there were circulated 4,115 Bibles, 6,655 New Testaments, 104 copies of the Psalms, and 9,602 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures £635. 9s. 3d., and from the beginning of the Institution, up to May 26, 1869, £10,106. 12s. 2d. There were circulated from the begin ning up to May 26, 1869, altogether 48,705 Bibles, 47,340 New Testaments, 1,411 copies of the Psalms, and 29,848 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. During no previous year, since the formation of this Institution, were so many copies of the Holy Scriptures circulated as during this year ; and during no previous year did we circulate so many copies of the Holy Scriptures in foreign languages, as during this year. The latter was chiefly owing to the fact, that two of the Missionaries, who are assisted by the funds of this Institution, were almost the whole time, while the Havre Exhibition lasted. during the Summer of 1868, labouring among foreigners at Havre, preaching to them, and especially circulating the Holy Scriptures among them. One of these brethren speaks 8 modern languages, and the other three, and through their instrumentality a great number of copies of the Holy Scriptures in various languages, were circulated ; and since the Exhibition at Havre, by one of these two brethren and another Missionary, also assisted by the funds of this Institution in Spain. During this year alone we circulated 94 Italian Bibles and 652 Italian Testaments, 67 French Bibles and 1,715 French Testaments, 1,112 Spanish Bibles, 756 Spanish Testaments, and 5,724 Span ish Gospels, besides Bibles and Testaments in many other foreign languages. To the above, however, I especially referred, because those copies of the Holy Scriptures made their way into those countries where so little is known of God's Holy Word. I received many letters from the two brethren who laboured at the Havre Exhibition for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and preached the Gospel to the many Thousands of Foreigners who were assembled there ; but as their work was much the same as at the Exhibition in Paris, and as space fails me, I must refer the reader to the Report of 1869, for these deeply interesting details. During the latter part of the Exhibition at Havre, the state of Spain gave hope to our brother L., who had laboured A.D. 1869.] 479 there before in the Gospel, that he would be able to go on with circulating the Holy Scriptures and preaching the Gospel in Spain, so dear to his heart ; but which some years ago he had been obliged to quit with his fellow- labourer, our brother G., because of want of liberty. Accordingly, as the land seemed to be open, when the Exhibition at Havre was over, he set out with his family for Bayonne, that on the borders of Spain he might em brace the first moment, that appeared to him favourable, for entering Spain, to preach the Gospel, and, especially to circulate the Holy Scriptures, for which purpose I ordered a large quantity of Bibles and New Testaments to be sent to Bayonne, to be used by our brother and his fellow- labourer, our brother G. The next extract is taken from a letter written by Brother L., dated Bayonne, Nov. 16, 1868, which relates his impressions and experience, on first entering Spain, after the Revolution. " Yesterday I went to San Sebas tian, as I wrote of my intention. I had hardly crossed the frontier and got into the midst of a Spanish speaking people, before finding a state somewhat similar to boys when holidays commence ; relief from the restraints and pres sure of school life, and high hopes of pleasures in store : this carried one's heart onward to another national re demption, when Israel shall return and come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy ; and the still higher hope of the whole creation being delivered and the manifestation, with the head of all the members of His body, the Church. The farther I went into the country, the more I could dis cern, that everybody was speaking as if a wonderful burden had been taken from their shoulders. My first introduction on my way was to four Spaniards, one an aged man, another a young deserter who had given him self up— poor fellow, his state looked as if he had suffered from want of food and clothes ; another young man from Burgos where there are signs,of disquiet among the poor ; and another man of the mountains." After speaking of general matters and of the great change, I pulled out some Gospels by John, and, distributing them to my four friends, asked them if they thought the time had arrived when such portions of God's word would have free distribution. A general answer ' You may be sure of that, Sir.' The next question was, what such a book cost ; when I told 480 [A.D. 1869. them they were welcome to them, I received many expres sions of thankfulness and a general remark, that these were just the books wanted. Said the young man from Kurgos, I possess a New Testament which was given to me years ago in Santander. I asked the old man, as having long experience of the national mind, and having, as I supposed, shared in the national sufferings, what he thought of the present change—would it be lasting ? would there be any more civil wars ? He replied, ' As to my experience, you can see its effects ;' showing me four large sword and knife cuts, which he had received at different periods of his life. ' I have no doubt there will be a little more yet, but never as it has been. You see, friend, that it is a very difficult thing to bring people all at once from under the power of the priests, who have such hold upon the women and children. What we want and what we must have, is a good education for our children.' Saying this, he got down from the carriage, bidding me many adieus and thanks for his little book. Then a number more, about ten persons, got into the com partment, and I began to distribute among them. Some persons, who were in a distant part, when they found what sort of books their neighbours had received, reached over eagerly to get some. A general burst of thanks and happy remarks were exchanged without exception as to the value of the portions, and a country woman who could read, when she found what class of books she had, stood at the door, and in a loud voice and significant way said ' mil gracias eabballeri, mil gracias.' Her manner made her companions laugh, all understanding that her approval was more than she would at one time have given. I then got into another train, so as to reach as many persons as possible. Here the same reception awaited me, and to one, who appeared to be much pleased with a portion, I gave a New Testament ; and, as we got down from the train, his companion followed me, saying what a pleasure it would be, if he had just another copy like his friend had. I gave him one. Arrived at San Sebastian, which you remember was the place where our books were taken from us, you may think, dear brother, with what joy and thankfulness I entered the town. Passing the door of an aged shoemaker, to whom I offered a Gospel, at first ha refused, thinking I was selling them. A.D. 1868.] 481 When I told him it was a Gospel by John, he took it and began to read, and I had a happy moment in showing him. some of the glorious things it contained; and thankfully he took it, wishing me many long and happy years. The next was an old gentleman, who was looking over the sea wall. With him, after a short introduction as to its character, I left a little portion; and a quarter of an hour after, as I passed by under the wall, [ saw him busily reading. I presented two Custom House Officers each with a portion; but I saw by the way one held the book upside down, he could not read. I took no notice of this, but told him of its contents, which pleased him; and then he remarked as to the darkness and corruptness of those who professed to be their guides and said, ‘ If I had my way, I would not only send the Jesuits out of the country, but would destroy the whole priesthood.’ I advised modera- tion, and remarked that many knew no better, never having been taught to read and preach God’s Word. He admitted this, and referring to the little book, he said, about four years ago I took a couple of hundred of these little books from an Englishman. ‘Where?’ ‘Why, here in San Sebastian, but you know that was nat my fault, it was the fault of those over me.’ ‘And what did you do with them?’ ‘Why I took them to the customs’ warehouse.’ ‘Do you think they are there now?’ ‘Indeed, I don’t know.’ ‘ Perhaps the officers have distributed them among their friends,’ I replied, laughingly.’ He said ‘ That is likely, enough, Sir.’ I gave some portions to some aged men, who began reading aloud. ‘This brought about a dozen more, to whom I gave portions, and said something of the truth. This received approbation from them; and certainly it was a sight to see these hardy looking men in one of these squares, each busily trying to decipher the truth. Just then a priest passed by, and great was his surprise at seeing each with a book in hand. One of them made some remark, and the priest got out of sight. Iwas recognized at the station, several asking for some portions for friends. Many were the wishes of success from a- number of persons collected there; and, getting back to the train, I could say, Bless the Lord, O my soul, for all that I saw in the first few hours in the land of our many prayers.” The same brother writes from Madrid on Nov. 26.— ‘“On my coming here on Monday last, a box of Bibles, | Y a 482 [A.D. 1868. Testaments, portions, hymn and little books was detained. I reasoned with the chief officer and offered to pay duties on books, but in vain. Several persons who saw the trans action advised me on my arrival in Madrid to go to the Minister of ' Gracia and Justicia ' and explain matters, as they were sure the laws were altered. This I shall hope to do in due time. My personal luggage was examined by another class of persons, and although the box was full of Bibles, Testaments, and portions, these officers only re garded my wearing apparel, which took up very little space, and occupied them only for a moment. In comparison with what I wished to bring, they were only as the ' little smooth stone of the brook;' but they were safely lodged by my side in the train, and I began my journey to Madrid, with about 600 Gospels by John, 200 other Gos pels, 6 Bibles, and 8 New Testaments. I was very sorrow ful the first part of the journey; but presently, after prayer, I remembered many precious portions the Lord had given me and my wife before leaving her and the dear children; one especially was ' This Gospel must be preached as a witness to all nations and then shall the end come.' I soon began to open my mouth and to ask my fellow- passengers to accept a portion of God's word. Never shall I forget the first moment in presenting the little book. All eyes were upon me. ' What is it he has got,' was the general question ; and when I began to make known what I had, then there were demands from all in the train to possess one, and directly all was silence, and each began to read, one or two aloud ; and I heard two or three say—this is just what we want in Spain. Just then we stopped at Vittoria, the scene of former persecutions. Here several persons got out and came up to the compart ment where I was, to thank me ; and one, a country woman, came and presented me with two apples, as a testimony of her gratitude. Just after this, a young man asked if he could procure any how, a whole Bible of which he heard me speak. I produced one for which he instantly paid a peseta. 'Have you another' an aged gentleman asked, and then many hands were stretched out with the money, and very soon my stock was disposed of, and many were disappointed they could not get one. One Bible, which re mained hidden under the other books, was reserved for a physician further on the journey, who also desired a Bible, and who said, ' This I intend to read with my family every A.D. 1869.] 483 day.' The scenes I witnessed on that and on the follow ing day, brought prayerful tears, that God, in His great mercy, would soon visit this people with showers of bles sings. I stopped one night at Valladolid and then resumed my journey. The scenes of the preceding day were re peated ; and, as on former occasions, a guard of the train, much interested in this work, promised to bring to Madrid as many Bibles, &c., as we could send to Hendage. At each station he informed the people in the train, that a man was giving Gospels, and I was continually surrounded by people of the different classes, some asking, if I had no Bibles to sell. One man pulled out three pesetas for one. Being very tired I got into another carriage, and also wishing to save some portions for friends in Madrid ; but I had only just laid down, when an inspector of the line came, while the train was in motion at quick speed, say ing, there were some persons in the train to whom he had shown the Scriptures, and asking to give them portions." On Jan. 31, 1869, brother L. writes from Madrid: — " For the last month I have hired a glass case in one of the best streets in Madrid, and through the kindness of the man who lets it me, who has his shop inside the arcade, I have had a little table on the steps near the street, and here I have taken my post daily, from ten in the morning till seven and eight in the evening. Great has been my joy in seeing an open Bible in the streets of Madrid, and crowds coming up daily to read the portions which 1 had opened, such as Ps. 51, Isaiah 53rd, Luke 15, portions in Romans, Galatians, Peter, &c. I had been able to get some Bibles and Testaments ; some I brought in ; some from Brother G., some from a brother in Malaga ; some from Brother C., who sent me 370 Testaments ; and 70 Testa ments from another brother here. I brought from Bayonne about 400 portions, so that I made a goodly show. They had not been long in the window, before prices were asked and some sold. To persons who appeared interested, I presented a portion. This went on for a day or so, as for two reasons I could not begin a general distribution. First, because then I had only a limited stock, and because in the excited time of revolution I feared to collect a crowd. But one day I was observed giving a couple of Gospels, and almost instantly a dozen persons came up, and this was enough to call general attention ; and soon I was sur Y 2 484 [A.D. 1869. rounded so, that in a couple of minutes the street was blocked up, and I saw that the enemies of the truth would make this an occasion to complain ; and I said I could give no more then and went inside; but they followed. '.Do give me one, Sir,' was the general request. I managed to mix among them, and so for a time was unobserved, and I heard some saying, ' Where is he ?' ' Stop awhile and he will give us some.' Just then a gentleman called uits to come and sell a Bible, and then the demands came for por tions. I contented them by saying, I had only a few and there were many applicants ; that I would sell them at half a real (^d. English) each and give bread to the poor. This pleased them, and instantly they reached out their money faster than I could receive; and, as they saw the stock diminishing, many pressed to buy the Word of God, and in half an hour I had sold about 300 and also some Testaments. The day before yesterday I had the crowd for about an hour so great, that the officers had to beg me to go further in, as the thoroughfare in the street, which is a wide one, was stopped. I sold about 400 in an hour,- besides distributing gratis to the military. I have sold all my Bibles, and few Testaments remain. Yesterday I sold the last of seven large family Bibles at a dollar each, and I have long ago sold all smaller editions, and now it is most painful to be asked so frequently during the day if more Bibles have arrived. Scio's version I could have, but I do not wish to sell it; and the people will not have Scio. ' Are you sure this is Valera's version ?' ' Is this a Protestant edition?' is daily repeated. ' I don't want Scio, nor his company ' said a gentleman. Daily I have discussions with those who appear desirous of knowing the truth, and preach it to those who gather round. Many are enraged against the government, for their religious tolerance and sanction given to Protestants. I g>. t now and again some specimens of their wrath. Some cannot contain themselves, as they see me selling God's Word, and in their mouths are bitter threats, as also from the press threatenings and slaughter are daily. breathed p gainst us. One evening lately a man went to the shop opposite, seeking information as to my name and address. The man, guessing his intention, would not satisfy him. He went away saying—' Well, I'll find out all their names; it is a disgrace to allow such things.' When I heard this, A.D. 1869.] 485 I turned to God and His word of grace, and my eye rested on the word, ' no man taketh it from me.' A very kind friend pressed me to accept his six barrel revolver. A very dear brother was quite astonished I did not arm my self : but I told him, that I should never more be happy, if I harmed another. Of course it is trying to the flesh, but my eyes are so full of God's almightiness and the in ward assurance that my hour is not yet come, that I fear not them that can kill the body. A few days ago a girl, whom we have to assist us, was sitting over the fire of her cousin ; she had just stooped her head, when two shots passed over her, carrying away a piece of a table. Some wicked person, for unknown reasons, fired into their cot. This is just under our window. Every man is afraid of his fellow. A few nights ago, I received at midnight a telegram from Brother H., asking me to get stereotyped the Gospel by John ; at the door stood the night watch man with his drawn sword and pistol in his girdle ; the house porter with his hand upon a large knife; while the railway servant delivered his message. This is the world we live in. ' Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known.' " Again he writes on Feb. 8th : —" The other evening I sold in about an hour and a half over 350 copies of the Word, besides during the day being able to speak words of life to many. Of course we feel our need of God's almighty protection, knowing that the cruel assassin stalks about us. Our poor friend the hatter, who let me the Vitrine where I first exposed the Scriptures, and who was very zealous and useful, was shot in the head the day after 1 wrote to you. It was done by a friend, I hope, in accident—who was examining the hatter's revolver, and it went off in his hands, the ball entering his head, but mar vellous to say, not piercing his skull. I bore him to a house of succour, where the bullet was extracted, and thence to the hospital, where he goes on recovering— saved I hope in body and to be saved in soul. He has stood many evenings behind me with his pistol, ready to fire on any body he thought would harm me ; and at night would beg me to carry it to protect me home, as I had to pass some lonely spots. I have tried to set before him from time to time a better defence. —Concerning the help you have now sent, dear brother. Yesterday Brother G. - 486 [A.D. 1869. mentioned in our meeting for breaking bread, that we had not been asking the Lord for temporal bread, but I told the Lord in secret that I should need that for the morn ing's meal, and just- after a letter came from Brother with a little help and now to-day yours with full supply. Last evening in about two hours I sold, and distributed to soldiers gratis, 500 portions of the Word. —P.S. Not being able to send the enclosed by the post I wished, I just add a line as to the distribution. Last evening I sold and distributed over 700 portions, and passing home late I saw several persons reading them, among them two officers. It is the carnival time, but it is very quiet in comparison to other times. Yesterday as I was going up the widest street in Madrid, quietly meditating upon the deep necessities of the country, a band of students came dancing down the streets in their masquerade dress. Two of them came and laid hold upon me, holding out their bag—saying in English ' A Shilling, Sir.' I said, ' I have a vitrine in the Passage del Iris, where every morn ing I give meat and bread to several widows, if you will come there too, I will give you some. They loosed my coat, and took hold of my hands, shaking them heartily and saying ' You are one of the right kind, good bye, dear Sir.' In the evening several of them came for Gospels." In March he writes again from Madrid, giving an ac count of his journey from Madrid to Bayonne, to obtain some of the Bibles and Testaments which I had ordered to be sent to Bayonne, but which as yet could not be brought into Spain. " The future of this poor land, while it will give increasing opportunities for bringing many sons to glory, still shows a pathway of misery and bloodshed for the sons of the people, and increasing difficulties to the servants of the Lord Jesus and the only true servants of the people which this land has ; but so it must be to the end, and our joy is, that He will come and will not tarry, beyond the time appointed of the Father. ' I will overturn, overturn'— confusion upon confusion—but ' for ever Thy Word is settled in heaven.' We have received a kingdom that cannot be moved. Knowing the higher order of blessings which the God of all grace has given us, makes one feel the world's misery the more, and inspires a stronger zeal to lead the poor miserable world to the fountain whose waters A.D. 1869.] 487 are life and peace. My late journey into France to pro cure whole copies of God's Word has made me see fresh cause for diligence in our calling to work, while it is called day. On every side of the land we hear of desires to read the Word of life ; and from the very first station, on thro' the hundreds towards France, wonderful desires are mani fested by those in the trains and those waiting at the stations. Among those now foremost to obtain copies, who were our former tormentors, are the civil guards. At almost every station I had only to hold up a copy of the Word, and generally these led the van and catne up, and by their example others were emboldened to come. One of these, who had been to Madrid to buy school books, was delighted with some Gospels, and insisted on paying and brought up, at the station where he descended, two of his companions in arms to get copies. Twelve persons also who got out paid for Gospels. I was delighted the other day by a sergeant of this company coining and buy ing a family Bible. I had also the pleasure of giving to a colonel of them a Gospel by John, and saying a few Gospel words to him, for which he thanked me, saying 'they wanted indeed a Messiah in Spain.' Another com pany of military men are the Custom Officers, who used to give us great trouble : these were now as anxious to procure portions for themselves, as once they were to take them away from us. The military generally in Spain and France, I have found desiring the better knowledge. To-day I had at the shop a young captain, who staid an hour with me, whose whole soul is rejoicing in the work we are engaged in. In my late journey, at one of the stations about 100 persons were waiting to go to a feast at another village. The military and railway officials first catiie up, and then the body of the people. Two gentlemen from Burgos. who saw the people's desire and their joy when they found out what class of book they had received, took up some of my books and went to the other window to the people, awaiting the down train, and called upon them to receive them ; and at the next station they got out and went with a packet to give them. This they did, not even asking my consent. They said ' Well for you, Sir, that the priests in our town cannot get hold of you, or they would serve you and us as thej' just have done our poor governor.' At the next station, after this 488 [A.D. 1869. pcene, the railway guard asked me to give the Station master a Gospel by Luke. This happened to be in my box in the luggage van, and which I was reserving for tbe return journey. He said ' If you will come down, I will get them to have you open it ;'—he called three officials to witness that I had opened it in their presence, and many persons came after me to get portions ; and by this the train was delayed ten minutes, the Station master being the cause. On my way down to France I conveyed a parcel of 500 Gospels to our friend and brother B., who has since written to me, expressing his great joy in re ceiving copies of God's Word printed in Madr'd. One of the gentlemen from Burgos, at one of the stations wrote his name on one of the Gospels, and threw it to a station master as the train passed that station. He was an ac quaintance of his. This was about the close of the first day's journey. Night came on, and we rolled ourselves up to get an hour's sleep, which, through mercy I was able to get, arriving in Bayonne next day afternoon. At 5 o'clock next morning I again commenced my journey. My pockets were filled with Bibles and Testaments, also a carpet bag and box which I had for the purpose, con taining altogether 46 Bibles, 6 large family Bibles, and the rest pocket ones. No one can imagine the anxious moment, when we thus come into the searching room. I was full of trust that my needed cargo would pass. As I passed the. first sentries, 1 was directed to the counter. There I waited some time, and not getting dispatched to my liking, as I knew the hurry that afterwards comes from this delay, I passed through the midst of the watchers and deposited my bag in the train and then went to open my box. The first thing that attracted the soldier's notice was a Gospel in French, which he passed to the chief officer, who threw it back, indignant that the man should have troubled him with such matters, as the great matter now is a search for firearms, which the Carlist party are introducing, in order to get up a civil war ; so, in answer to prayer, I obtained full possession of my prize. At one of the stations, just coming out of France, a station master came up and asked if I would sell him a Bible ; he was apprised of my being in the train by the guard who knew me. I sold him one, with which he was well pleased ; and, in doing so, I attracted the notice of the people in the train to the number of sixteen, among A.D. 1869.] 489 them a young well dressed priest, whom, at first, I did not notice to be among the company. A young man who had travelled from London, where he had been for fifteen days, and was full of the difference between the two countries Spain and England, passed a Bible to the young priest, who, on seeing it, and hearing the demand of the station master, and seeing his readiness in paying his money for the Word, remarked rather ungraciously ' Oh a Protestant Bible.' This led me to say that the Bible was neither Protestant nor Catholic, it was the Word of God. He said he was sure that that book was not the book. I asked him for the people's benefit, if he would please to read a portion and say what was bad in it. After some trouble I got him to read, but he opened the book so awkwardly that any one could see he had not been accustomed to the sacred text. He ventured to read 3 verses in the 1st chapter of Genesis, and, as if afraid of the voice of the Almighty as was Adam in the 3rd chapter, Le closed the book, saying, that was not in his Bible, t asked him if he could read the language in which Jehovah spoke under the old covenant, and also in which the Lord Jesus spoke ; he confessed he could not, which seemed to surprise the people, who by this time were greatly in terested in our debate ; and their surprise seemed great indeed at the way in which I dealt with the priest. I then began to read the 1st Psalm, asking them to judge if these were bad words ; but the priest interrupted, inso much that two women rebuked him for not allowing me to have my say. Their interference only made him the more angry, and he appeared to use a supposed right of silencing them by a sort of learned discourse of his priestly power. Finding I could not read, I reached out Gospels by John, and asked each to accept gratuitously a book, by which they might judge for themselves, if the books were bad books. ISoon every hand was stretched out, and each began in earnest to read, which they did for more than half an hour, excepting one woman (who came from our old place of service, Bilboa) who engaged in conversa tion with the priest ; and, by her remarks I saw, she was a woman of uncommon sense, and by no means one who would spare the patent and open vices of the priests. After some time a man, a farmer of the Pyrenees, reached over and asked me what was the price of the little book. Y 3 490 [A.D. 1869. I told him it was a free gift, like the salvation it pro claimed. ' I would rather buy it' he said. I replied it was selling in the streets of Madrid for two quartos ; he gladly produced his money and others followed his example, which seemed greatly to confuse the priest. Three young men who were busily engaged reading a Gospel returned it, as we neared a station, at which the priest would have to get out ; but before we arrived the priest called out ' What is the price of this book ? ' I told him 2 pesetas. He produced his money and holding it up said ' Now I will just compare this book with my Latin Bible, and see if it is correct.' I replied with great delight in my face ' That is just what I wish, and I will give you its weight in gold, if you can find aught contrary to the revealed will of God ; ' and my joy was great in seeing the manifest simplicity of the young man, and my hope of seeing him among the blood washed company who have been made wise through the Scriptures. As he got out of the train, 3 men of the mountains of the Basque provinces entered. Two of the Bibles. were in my hand, one of them noticed them, and asked to be allowed to see one. After a time he returned it, saying in a good loud voice—' Last week in our village we bought four of these Bibles, not so nicely bound, but Bibles. I have read it for years. Living near the railway station we got not less than 17 copies of the different books in our village, but which the priests always took from my friends ; but now they cannot do this. That is the book we want.' An old man by his side, who had entered the train with him said ' Yes, but these books do not speak anything of the virgin.' I read to him Luke 1st chapter. The old man said ' Yes, yes, but we do not believe it like that ' I replied, but you must believe just what the book says ; it is God's book. I told him the whole story of God's love, his companions who entered with him listening most attentively ; and the old man, not convinced, tried to keep to his point about the virgin, and began to sing a song in her honour. I said yes, yes, she is blessed indeed among women, and is now among the spirits of just men made perfect ; but when she was on earth, you know she lost her son and sought Him sorrow ing, but He was found doing the will of His heavenly Father.' Those words were like a general earthquake umong the people who heard what 1 said, and the man A.D. 1869.] 491 who said he bonght the Bible, dropped his head, at the same time giving such a look of joy, as much as to say, that is a terrible blow. Getting out of the train he shook my hand most affectionately and significantly, and his companions did the same ; the two latter being from Vittoria. The three young men I mentioned, one of whom returned the Gospel, were listening most attentively, and when the others got out of the train, one of them reached over 2 quartos, asking to please to give him the Gospel again. These three young men then told us, that they had just returned from Rome, whither they had gone only 20 days previously from their country homes, to fight for the Pope ; but having to pay so much for their board and lodging and so much for ' las bulas,' and finally not getting sufficient food, they determined to go home. For many miles after this I was able to point out to them the falsity of all human systems, and when they got out to go to their mountain-homes I knew I had obtained their love, and they would be sure to keep sacredly the Word, which they had at first refused. The night had far ad vanced when this little history finished, and I was glad to rest from conversation, and should have liked to sleep, but we were just entering the snow covered mountains, and with intense cold sleep was impossible. Next day at about 10 o'clock I arrived at Madrid, and placed -our stock of 50 Bibles and Testaments on the table, which all disappeared in two days and a half, and now we wait for more ; but our joy is that we go on with portions, of which I sold last Lord's Day over 500 copies. These daily and hourly sales of God's Word are a cause of con tinual joy. A few days ago a man bought a Bible. He told me he had been in the habit for years past of writing out the sayings of Luther and sending them to his friends. Many held him for a devil in his village ; he rejoiced in seeing and in being able to take back to his friends the Gospels. Yesterday, another man from Catalonia, bought 50 to take to his friends. In several clubs established here, the Gospels are regularly read and are purchased by the members, to put on the tables." On April 4th he writes again : —" The great question of the day here is, the religious one ; and, no doubt, see ing the danger we are exposed to, the Government sent one of their officers and three magistrates, who came 492 [A.D. 1869. saying, they had brought an officer whose special duty was to watch over the stand, and that he had instruction to lay hold immediately, upon any person who offered the least insult by word or look, and begged of me not to hesitate in giving information immediately, as they were determined, at whatever cost, to protect us. J thanked them for their kindness, but said J hoped we should not need to call in their assistance. One of them asked me to give him the Gospel by John, which he wanted to pay for. I showed him the ticket I gave to the poor to pro cure meat and bread, the produce of the sale of books. He said, ' Ah ! we know all about it ; you have a great deal more religion than those who oppose you.' This state of affairs makes us hide our poor feeble beads very closely under the wing of our Almighty Jesus. We have had great comfort and direction from the Word in all these exercises." Once more brother L. writes from Madrid, on May 22, 1869 :—" Having been unwell the last two days, I could not acknowledge your kindness of £20. for personal and family need, and also £15. for portions of the New Testament. During the last seven days there has been a large pleasure fair held about two miles and a half from this, where we have had the great joy of putting into cir culation many thousands of Tracts, portions of the Word, Bibles and Testaments ; our sales for the latter amount ing to about £10. It is called the fair of San Isidro. He was an hermit, and was chosen as the patron saint of Madrid. He was a 'tiller of the ground,' and while living in his hermitage a fountain was discovered or re vealed to him which has the legendary virtue of taking away fever. It runs by the hermitage, and on these feast- days people pay half a real for a drink ; and judging from the crowds who were standing for the turn, a goodly sum must have fallen into the saint's treasury. But this was nothing in comparison of the sums received for kiss ing a finger of the saint, which is preserved inside the hermitage and presented to the kneeling devotees in a silver case ; and which the attendant priest passes three times in the form of a cross over the mouth of the wor shipper ; and another stands with a large salver in which the offerer's money is dropped. The grovelling idolatry of the heathen cannot compare with the superstitious reverence A.D. 1869.] 493 which is paid to the relic; and the riches collected must be great. The money used to be given to the poor, but now, according to general information, the priest has need of it all; and when I referred the many beggars to their rightful possessions, I got the reply, ‘ They give ? they are too egotistic for that!’ In the vestry of the hermit’s church I made application for a tent, in which to sell Bibles, &c. Of course, under present law, I could not be refused; and the letting of the ground being the business of the civil authorities, I not only obtained per- mission, but was received very kindly by them, and a space given right in front of the hermitage, and by the side of the tent of the authorities. What the aged priest thought, who formed one at the table in the vestry, I cannot say. Here, in connexion with Mr. ——— and ——, and two young converted Israelites intrusted to” their superintendence, with brother R., and the Frenchman of whom I last wrote, and who gives us much joy in his desire that others may share his newly found treasure, we pitched our tent, set off by Scriptural subjects and en- gravings, descriptive of the Lord’s parables: and on a large sheet brother G. had fixed in large letters in Spanish, ‘God is love,’ and also ‘ Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,’ which tens of thousands read, as we were just on cross roads, and in the centre of the fair. General Prim read it, as also the Lord Mayor, and also the nobles of the city, ladies and gentlemen. On a table which covered the entrance we placed piles of the Gospels, and the flag which was used at the Kiosk at Paris over the table, with the words “ Parole de Dieu.” We sold on the first day nearly £5. worth, chiefly in Gospels, with some Bibles and Testaments; this was the chief day. Up to to-day we have sold about £10. worth. As you may imagine, it caused great attraction, and many were the instances which gladdened our hearts by remarks made as to the value of our work. Many also bought for friends. One aged man, who appeared not worth s penny, bought 18 to take to the city of Toledo, where, he said, he should put them in circulation among his friends. H. and B. [the writer’s children] are most useful saleswomen, going outside the crowds to persons who stood at a distance to read “ God is love;” and many were sold in this way to persons who would not venture near. An aged gentleman, - 494 [A.D. 1869. to whom they sold one, went away crying ; it so affected him to see children offering him God's Word ; and, as he said, 'to see the difference to Spanish children.' Our Brother R. is a great comfort to us, he is a fatherly man, and knows how to turn away wrath by a soft answer : he distributes a goodly number of portions among workmen. There is another large fair to be held here next month, and our Brother G. is designing a tent which our friend the Frenchman will make, and in which we shall contrive some things for domestic comfort, from the lack of which I am still suffering, as I could not get food at proper hours. I have made application for 500 Bibles detained, to enter under the old law, which now the Government have managed to find out ; and my petition has been accepted, and the order is gone forth from the Minister of Public Works, that over 500 of any book may not enter, but the order may be renewed. So we expect a fresh supply soon of those Bibles which you sent to Bayonne." The letters received from the other missionaries are of a similar character. As this work commenced in the year 1868, so it has been going on since. Tens of thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures have been circulated since, by the missionaries who are aided by the funds of this Institution. Nine Day Schools for children have been established by them in Madrid and Barcelona, in which Thousands of children have been instructed, besides the Sunday Schools and Adult Schools. This blessed work has been continued now for nearly six years, at an expense of many thousand Pounds Sterling, with which the Lord has supplied me in answer to prayer. During the year from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, was expended of the funds of the Institution, for Mis sionary Objects, the sum of £7330. 1s. 6d. By this sum One Hundred and Forty-one labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. The number of letters received from these brethren during the year was so great, and they were so full of deeply interesting matter, that a profitable volume might be published from them alone. I gave very many of these letters in the Report of the Institution for 1869, which may be still obtained ; but am unable to give any here. I A.D. 1869. ] 495 ‘only state that many, many hundreds of precious souls were during this year brought to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus, through the instrumentality of these 141 labourers in the Gospel. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, the sum of £1090. 7s, 7d.; and there were circulated within the year more than Two Millions and Four Hundred and Forty-eight Thousand (exactly 2,448,507) Tracts and Books. More than One Million and Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand (exactly 1,768,066) of the tracts and books cir- culated during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters received from individuals to whom these tracts were sent. From a Christian brother engaged in an agency for female servants in London, to whom I have sent many thousands of tracts, and who is in the habit of giving a tract to every one who applies for a situation, I received on May 18, 1869, the following letter :— “ Enclosed is a sweet little flower, given to me this morning, in the midst of my registering, by a most respec- table person, by the name of Miss W., now residing at Messrs. ——, of H., who said ‘ You do not remember me.’ I said, No. ‘ About twelve months ago,’ she said, ‘I called on you, and you spoke to me aud gave me a tract, * entitled “‘ Scriptural Repentance,” which tract has led me to the Lord, through whom I now possess joy and peace in believing. I have called, being in London, to tell you of the fruit of your labours, and to encourage you in the good work.’ For the same purpose, dear sir, I send you , this, that you also may afresh take courage; for doubt- less you need it as do I. I had long desired, if the Lord would, that some tangible evidence of blessing might come to light throagh the numbers of these precious little silent messengers of truth distributed by me. May the precious Lord pour greater blessing yet on your labours, is the prayer of yours very affectionately in Christ Jesus.” From Wales I had, on October 22, 1868, the following information from an evangelist whom I have often sup- plied with tracts :—‘‘Since I wrote you last, two cases have come under ipy notice of God using some of the 496 [A.D 1869. tracts I had from you. One was in Pembrokeshire. I gave a tract to a working man, the father of a family, at the fair at Narberth, as he stood with others at my Bible stand, where I was quoting the Scriptures, and seeking to speak a word in season. Meeting him and his wife the week following, he asked me to give him another of the same tract as that he received at the fair. I asked why he wished another, had he read the one I gave him. His wife smilingly said. ' Yes, master, and he is now, what they call, converted, is quite a different man and has left off his drunkenness.' The man said he wanted another tract, that he might keep it, as he had given the one he received from me before to one of his fellow workers. He should never, he said, forget standing at my stall and receiving the tract.—The other case is of a poor working man, who was laid all last winter on a bed of affliction. I visited him and left tracts with him, which were blessed to his soul. On his applying for fellowship with us at the Lord's table, he mentioned, that, on his getting better, though unfit for work, having kept all the tracts that had been left with him, he took them with him when he went out, and gave them to others. He was led to visit an old bed ridden man and spoke to him about his soul and about the things of eternity. The old man told him it was too late with him, but he persevered and read to him a tract and prayed for him. On calling a second time he found an alteration in him, and was hopeful concerning him. Again he read a tract and prayed. Calling subsequently he found the old man had departed, and was told that he had died happily in Jesus. Praise the Lord ! " At the commencement of the year, from May 26, 1868, to May 26, 1869, there were 1149 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. During the year 467 Orphans were admitted into the four houses then in operation (as No. 4 was opened in November, 1868) ; so that the total number on May 26, 1869, would have been 1616, had there been no changes ; but of these 1616 ten died during the year. Only ten ! We own the hand of God in the fact, that only one out of each 16 L Orphans, who were under our care, died. As in every way, so in this particular also, we have had, year after \ year, God's especial blessing. Out of the ten who died, seven were believers in the Lord Jesus, and one a young A.D. 1869.] 497 infant. Three of the Orphans we were obliged to expel from the Institution, in mercy to the other children. Ten Orphans we had to return to the relatives, either because they had epileptic fits of which, previous to admission, we had not been informed; or because they had other in curable diseases, unsuitable for inmates of an Orphan Establishment, and only fit for a hospital; or on account of mental weakness ; or because they could not for other reasons be recommended to situations or be apprenticed, when their time came to be sent out. Ten Orphans were by relatives or friends taken back, because they were now in a position to provide for them, and who considered it their duty and also desired so to do. Seven boys were apprenticed to trades, of whom five were sent out as con verted lads. Seventy-eight girls were sent out for service, of whom twenty-three were converted, and some of them had been for a long time. These 118 are therefore to be deducted from the 1616, so that on May 26, 1869, there were only 1498 under our care, viz., in the New Orphan House, No. 1—300, in No. 2—399, in No. 3— 450, and in No. 4—349. The amount of means expended on the support of the 16 i 6 Orphans, who were during that year under our care, was £16,657. 5s. 5d. Besides this was expended on the building and fitting up of the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and 5, £11,020. 10s. 7d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870. There is one point especially to be noticed with reference to this year, viz., the great enlargement of the various Objects of the Institution. I. The School De partment was increased by 10 Day Schools being added to the Institution for entire support ; also 6 Sunday Schools and 4 Adult Schools. Thus the School Department was more than doubled during the year. II. The cir culation of the Holy Scriptures was twice as great as during any previous year, and a very considerable portion of this circulation took place in Spain. III. The Mission Field, likewise, was considerably extended, especially in Spain. There were, also, many more labourers in the Gospel in China assisted, th.an before, indeed their num ber was more than doubled—the number being 25 instead of 10 as before. IV. With regard to the circulation of Tracts, every open door, which the Lord was pleased to set 498 [A.D. 1870. before us, we were able to enter to the full, and to give always abundant supplies. Though our gratuitous circula tion, as usual, was again very large, amounting to nearly two millions and a half, yet we always had an abundance of means to respond to every suitable application made to us. V. Lastly, as to the Orphan Work, it was con siderably enlarged, so that we had during the year 269 Orphans more under our care than we had the year before ; and this number was week by week further being added to. And for all these enlargements of the various Objects of the Institution, it pleased the Lord to supply us most bounti fully. Though the current expenses for the Institution were far greater during the year, than during any of the previous thirty-five years, yet we abounded more than ever. I delight to record this abounding kindness of the Lord, in order that my dear fellow-believers may be en couraged, increasingly to look to the Lord, fully and solely to trust in Him, and not in circumstances, nor in their own exertions, nor in their fellow-men. He has never failed me. I have trusted in the Living God alone now for more than forty-four years, and I joyfully record to His praise^ that. He has always helped me, and that I have not been confounded. The longer I go on in this way, the , more blessed I find it, to have such a never-failing al- ,' mighty Friend, who is ever able and ever willing to help ! me. It is true that sometimes I have long to wait, before \ the help comes ; and sometimes, also, the appearance is as if God had forgotten me ; but He still, in His own time and way, after faith and patience have been sufficiently exercised, helps again. And thus, I believe, it will be to the end of my pilgrimage, if God will only enable me to walk in His ways, and to continue to trust in Him. We still, as from the beginning of the Institution, never go in debt for anything. The reason why we refrain from doing so is, because it would otherwise appear as if God were too poor to pay for His own work. If indeed our work is the work of God; and if indeed we are the individuals, to do this work for Him ; and if, lastly, His time is come, when we shall do this work for Him, He will surely make it manifest, that we are not mistaken, by supplying us with the needed means. But the work we [ are engaged in may not be according to His mind ; if so, we cannot be surprised that He does not give us the A.D. 1870.] 499 means. Or, though the work is according to His mind, we may not be the persons whom He means to use in His work ; and, therefore, He may withhold from us the means. Or, lastly, though the work is the work which pleases God, and though we are also the individuals, whom He will condescend to use in doing this work, His time may not have come for our doing this work. It may "please God, for the trial of our faith and patience, to withhold from us, for the time being, the means for doing the work. What, then, have we to do under such cir cumstances ? Shall we seek, any how, to obtain the means ? Shall we, by our way of acting, appear to say, that we know better than God ? Verily we ought not ; but rather it becomes us to wait God's own time, which will bring blessing to our own souls ; which will prove that we are true servants of the Master, because we wait on Him ; and it will thus be helpful to our fellow-disciples ; whilst the opposite course rather encourages others to act rashly, to run in debt for the work of God, and thus to bring trouble upon themselves and others. There were from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870, six-i teen Day Schools, with 1165 children in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution : four in Bristol, one at Callington, in Cornwall, one at Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, two in London, three on the Black Down Hills, in Somersetshire, one in Liverpool, and four at Barcelona, in Spain. The reader will see from this, that, while there were at the end of the previous year six schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were now sixteen ; and while we had 398 children before in those six schools we had now 1165 under habi tual instruction. In addition to this, however, I have to state, that there was during the year, the Lord's decided blessing resting upon these Schools. In the Day Schools in London there were seventeen children, who had found peace to their souls, by believing in the Lord Jesus, re garding nine of whom the teachers felt fully satisfied, and of the other eight they had reason to believe that they were converted, though they had not yet had so much time to watch the work as with respect to the other nine. In the Schools on the Black Down Hills there was also a work of grace going on among the children, several of whom became decided for the Lord. In the School at 500 [4.D. 1869. Liverpool one girl died as a happy believer in the Lord. Two other girls, abont whose conversion there is no doubt, left the School to take respectable situations. At Kenil- worth, also, one of the girls in the School died during the year, of whose salvation the teacher had no doubt. In one of the Day Schools in Bristol, there were also two very hopeful cases of conversion. In addition to the 16 Day Schools, which were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were twelve other Day Schools assisted —1 in Cornwall, 1 in Dorsetshire, 2 in Gloucestershire, 1 in Worcestershire, 1 in Hampshire, 3 in Middlesex, 1 in Norfolk, and 1 in Scotland. [ During the year from May 26, 1869, to May 26, 1870, | there were seven Sunday Schools entirely supported by the ’ fands of the Institution, instead of one only formerly, viz., 1 in Bristol, 1 at Kenilworth, 1 at Callington, 1 in | London, 2 on the Black Down Hills in Somersetshire, and 1 in Liverpool. These seven schools contained 776 children. There were also, besides, sixteen other Sunday Schools, in various parts of the country, assisted—2 in Gloucestershire, 1 in Monmouthshire, 1 in Dorsetshire, 2 in Hampshire, 8 in Devonshire, 2 in Middlesex, 1 in Herefordshire, 2 in Yorkshire, 1 in Staffordshire, and 1 in Suffolk. Three of the Sunday school children in the Bristol School became decided for the Lord Jesus during the year, and were united with the children of God in visible fellowship. There were during this year six Adult Schools support- ed by the funds of the Institution, with 129 adult scholars in them: 1 in Bristol, 1 at Callington, 1 in London, | at . Clayhidon on the Black Down Hills, and 2 in Barcelona in _ Spain. In the Adult School at Callington, there were five ' of the Adult Scholars brought to the knowledge of the \ Lord during the year. The amount of means, which was expended in connexion with the various Schools, was £1192. 12s. 5d. During this year there were circulated 7867 Bibles, 13761 New Testaments, 757 copies of the Psalms, and 87058 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. During this and the previous eight years and a half we especially availed ourselves of the openings, which the Lord was pleased to give for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Italy, so that thousands of Italian Bibles and Testaments were circulated. A.D. 1869.] 501 The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during this year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, was £1,260. 8s. 2d. During this year the circulation of the Holy Scriptures was twice as great as during any previous year, which was chiefly owing to the large openings which it pleased the Lord to give to the Missionaries, assisted by the funds of this Institution, who labour in the Gospel in Spain. During this year alone 3,517 Spanish Bibles, 5,006 Spanish Tes taments, 603 Spanish Psalms, and 32,963 Spanish Gospels were circulated. As I received many letters from Spain, with reference to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, I give extracts from some of them. Mr. L. writes on June 8th, 1869, from Madrid :— "I have much joy in telling you that I received 2 cases of Bibles to-day, containing 500 copies, the majority being the cheap Bibles which you purchased, and which have been so long lying at Bayonne. About 30 Reference Bibles and a good number of Family Bibles were obtained by Brother G. before leaving for Spain. I think in my last I told you I hoped to obtain them through instructions given me by one of the Clerks in the Office of the Minister of Public Works, as he knew there was an old law, which admitted books of any kind, whose number did not exceed 500 ; and if I addressed a petition to the Minister he would be sure to grant it. And so it proved, and to-day our hearts were gladdened by their arrival. We have to pay a real a copy for some, and a little more for others. Of course we would have liked, for the country's sake, that they had come in freely ; but we know they could not, under existing laws and pressing prejudices, do otherwise than they have done; and we thank the Lord daily for the liberal principles of the Government, and for the unsought protection given to us. The day for the proclamation of the New Constitution has passed without the least disturbance, contrary to the anticipations of some. I was advised, by no means to open the depdt on that day, but faith did not fail; indeed I never felt less timid, and we had cause to rejoice in the manifest blessing. Great numbers of country folk came to see the doings on this great national fete, and we were able to distribute and sell about 3000 portions of God's word, and our brethren distributed about 20,000 leaflets 502 [A.D. 1869. and tracts in one of the squares, where a statue had been erected to the memory of Mendizabal, a great religious and political reformer. It is wonderful, after such large sales, that the interest keeps up ; but, instead of abating, it in creases. We are having a tent constructed to go to another large fair held near this. Every prophecy that these great gatherings were not the places to sell God's word, and that, to do so, would be certain to cause disturbances among Romanists, has failed of fulfilment; the contrary has been our experience. Again he writes from Madrid, on June 15th, 1869 : — " We have made an other application to the Government, and hope to get in 1000 more Bibles in a week or so. We continue to have, almost daily, good sales of Bibles. One day 10 were sold at the shop; and in the fair held last week near this, called San Antonio, we sold 33 Bibles, 19 New Tes taments and 1760 portions ; besides giving many away." At the end of September, 1869, Mr. L. went with his family to labour at Barcelona, as there were by this time a number of labourers in the Gospel in Madrid, and as he had a desire to spread the truth and circulate the Holy Scriptures in this large mercantile town of Spain. As I had found out, by careful examination, that by far the best translation of the Greek New Testament into Spanish had been prepared at the cost of the American Bible Union, I obtained, through their kindness, at the expense of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, a set of Stereotype Plates of this excellent version of the New Testament, and sent these plates to Spain, that there an edition of this translation might be printed, as the land was still not open for the introduction of printed bound books, without great difficulty and without considerable expense. To this matter Mr. L. refers, in a letter from Barcelona, Nov. 19, 1869. " I am happyto inform you of the safe arrival of the plates of the New Testament, which I have passed through the Customs, and that I now have them in the house. I wait your advice as to the numbers to be printed. As I see my way to remain here for a time, and as it is even a better place than Madrid in which to get work done well, I judge it would be better to print and bind here." Since then, 2 editions of this translation of the New Testament, of 5,000 copies each, have been printed and circulated ; and more, God willing, will be printed. A.D, 1869.] 503 On Dec. 28, 1869, Mr. L. writes again from Barcelona : —" We have been in Spain just 12 months. What a year of peculiar mercies ! What great things God hath done for us ; preserving and protecting us in our journies ; and how greatly has He honoured us in the sowing of much precious seed I Blessed public testimonies have been given to the Word which endureth for ever. But of all occa sions yet under our notice, I have seen nothing like the one we have been allowed to witness during three dajs' Christmas fairs held in this city. The day before the fair I applied at the Town Hall for space for a tent. I was told there could be no objection, that at 9 o'clock that night the superintendent would be in the square and would find me a place, which tliey considered the best spot in the city for such a work. So at that hour I went, and after walking about until 11 o'clock, a place was given me at the entrance to the square, at the top of th« principal street, and right under the eye of the Town Guards. Next morning the pretty tent, as it is called in one of the daily papers, drew hundreds up to it. ' God is Love,' What is this ? asked dozens on each side, reading aloud. ' Faith ful saying and worthy of all acceptation.' ' God is Light.' Jesus said, ' I am the Light of the world, he that fol- loweth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.' Spreading the table with Gospels, I had no sooner announced them for sale, than they began to sell just as fast as we could deal them out—not allowing us time to arrange them. We sold a Sheet Almanac, The Old, Old Story, in Spanish verse, and a Gospel for •£d. But the night did not end without the enemy show ing signs of anger. Two young students came and pur chased and tore them up : this roused the anger of the bystanders, and just at that point one of the district in spectors came up, and, finding what had happened, warned the young men not to repeat such insulting conduct, telling them, they could do as they liked with the books away from the tent, but not to tear them in a person's face. Next morning my faithful friend, Francesco, had arranged the tent by 7 o'clock, and from that hour until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I had no time to eat. We then opened the other side of the tent, and put a table there. Fernando took to this. Then Mr. U. and his colporteur came to our help, and so each worked away with much boldness, 504 [A.D. 1869. reading portions, explaining them, and preaching the Word to the hundreds in front and at the back. Now and again the enemies would send a boy to purchase, in order to destroy ; but we got to know them. A woman came up and tore them, but she soou got away, the bystanders beginning to hoot her. While I was very busy selling, a gross look ing priest came up to the tent and called out in my face in Spanish, ' Liar, ' Liar.' The crowd called out, ' No no, you are the liar ;' and as I was higher than the crowd, I saw a movement towards him and rough words began to pass. I begged the people to let the priest speak. I took off my hat and said to him, ' Do, Sir, come forward and say anything you please, I will reply when you have done ; this is the only way to convince each other.' At this he came forward and I called for silence. The priest said, ' Tell us then when did your religion begin ?' I replied, ' My religion, Sir, began with Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain, because he thought and acted in religious matters in a different way to his brother Cain. I was going on to say more on the point, when the priest inter rupted, ' Oh then your religion did not begin with Luther.' ' No, Sir,' Again he stopped me. The people cried out. ' Don't interrupt the stranger, you have had your say. At this the old man grew impatient and excused himself that he had to go and see a sick person. Some cried ' go,' others used to him not quite such kindly expressions. When he was gone I went into the subject, lifting up my heart to the Lord for wisdom and strength. I poured forth words of saving truth, showing the difference between Rome's perplexing way of saving, setting forth truth, com paring the simple statement ' God is love,' with the ex pensive, tormenting and uncertain ways of Rome. When 1 had done, the people manifested much approbation. The last day, a man snatched a book out of Fernando's hand, the people ran after him and delivered him up to the mayor. The under mayor stood by the whole time, at evening and night. The Secretary of the Civil Governor came to learn the truth of the matter, and the Inspector of the secret police recounted to him matters, telling him how wisely, and gentlemanly, I behaved the whole time. At night he sent a sereno to accompany me home, and to carry my heavy bag of money. The last night we seemed to be on the point of another assault, but nothing happened beyond the throwing a btone and an old shoe, A.D. 1870.]} 505 and the bespattering my cloak. It was a glorious testi- moony ; we sold all our books, and, having left only the Gospel by John, and no Testaments, I distributed the Gospels among the people, who received them orderly, and thankfully. Our three days’ sales amounted to £30., mostly in coppers. The next day several of the authorities went to the shop for Bibles. In parting, the Mayor said, ‘ Well Sir, you have carried the palm in Barcelona.’ I left him £5. to divide among the poor; this yreatly pleased him. We thank God and take courage: for the future. I must add one more incident of the fair, which appears to me to show the hand of the Lord to be with us. A blind man came up to the tent, with his guitar in one hand and a flute in the other. One of the men knew him, and told me he was one of the greatest propagandists they had in Barcelona. One of the friends asked him to play some of the gospel hymns, and very sweetly did he play some of our old tunes set to Spanish words. I asked him to abide by the tent and play these hymns, and of course his doing so did not diminish the attraction; and we sold many hymns and gospels as aconsequence. I invited him to come and visit us, and he came to our meeting on Sunday night. ‘Don Garcia,’ I said to him, ‘ Where were you born ?’ ‘In Victoria,’ he replied. ‘ How long have you been here ?” ‘ Abont 8 years; I left Madrid the night of San Daniel. I was known as an enemy to Rome, always preach- -ing against the system, and I had to fly dressed as a priest.’ I told him that was the very night we entered Madrid, when they were killing the people in the streets. I invited him to say something to us at our meeting, and soon he gladdened our hearts, as with animation he set forth the simple Gospel, and with a wonderful controver- sial power, at the same time making all to point to Jesus and His resurrection. After the meeting I said to him ‘ Don Garcia, have you never wished to have some way of providing for yourself, wife and three boys?’ ‘ Dear Sir, Ishould think so. I have said to my wife, I shall be an evangelist ; she replied, ‘how can you ? you cannot read.’ ‘How much might you get by playing in the week?’ I asked. ‘Some days,’ he replied, ‘1 get 1s. 6d., others 2s., and others again less, but always a little to buy food.’ ‘Do you think you could manage a table, with Bibles and Tracts, and teach some of your hymns?’ ‘1 z 506 [4.D. 1870. should delight to do so,’ he said. So you see, dear bro- | ther, I have to offer you the services of this poor blind one, who, without doubt, can see Jesus, and has come to - declare the works of God. I look forward to his being of great service in the fairs. Francesco, also, I have great comfort in. Fernando is best fitted for a shop. The printer hopes soon to have a book bound as a proof. I will write you again shortly. I have to-day received 65 Bibles and 300 Testaments from Sevilla. I could have | sold a large numher of Testaments if I had more.” This blind Christian Spaniard has now been for more than four years labouring most usefully as colporteur in connexion with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, and his walk has been very consistent. On Jan. 22, 1870, Mr. L. writes from Barcelona :— “ The printing of the New Testament from the plates is so far advanced, that by the time agreed upon, the 25th of this month, we shall have books on sale. I intend sending you a copy of the Testament as soon as itis finished. I have had a sort of travelling kiosk made, which I think may be even better than a stationary one, as we can thus visit different places of resort. It is filled with Scrip- tures, Almanacs and books, such as ‘Andrew Dunn,’ ‘The Church in Spain,’ &c. I have intended the blind man to be with it; the more of whom I see, the more I believe him to be very faithful. I have besides made particular enquiries about him. I am also preparing a portable tent,. which, in summer time, will be useful to take to village feasts and fairs. I have also my eye upon a young | Frenchman, who has been 15 years in this place. Iwas pleased with an answer he gave me the other day, when talking about physical force, which some brethren were disposed to use. I instanced one brother using a revolver. Ue drawing a New Testament from his pocket, said, ‘ This is my revolver, and I find it often a very powerful one.’ I want to order on your account 1000 Psalms, 5000 of each Gospel, and 2000 Epistles.” Again he writes on March 14, 1870:— Three days after the time agreed upon by the binder, we began to receive copies of the New Testament, and, as you will see by the report, we have done a good sale, and I believe this edition will soon be in circulation. Shortly I shall send a box to Madrid. I took 25 with me, and the bre- thren say, it is the best Testament they have seen as yet A.D. 1870.] 507 in Spain. The 10,000 Gospels are those used by Brother G. in Madrid and at the fairs, for which please pay him as he has paid the printer for them. 1 have not yet received your 5000 of each Gospel, but hope soon to get them from Madrid. I have been to-day to see about a place in which to begin a day-school, which Brother F., I believe, according to his letters, will take the direction of. Francesco and Fernando have just returned from Figueras, where they have given excellent testimony, and: sold Scriptures in one day to the amount of 600 reals. Their enemies tried to do them bodily harm, but some workmen saved them from violence. Three priests and a bookseller bought a Bible, 5 Testaments, and 12 Gospels, then dipped them in turpentine and made a bonfire in the square, just before the tent. A workman snatched the Bible out of the flames, aud Francesco has brought it back in its half consumed state ; it drew the tears from all our eyes, when he presented it in the house. The carriage and the blind brother attract much attention, and sales are made daily. Oneday a Romanist began a controversy, which soon drew a great crowd; and some tradesmen, who listened, said, the blind man made his opponent look small, and that the people showed much approbation at what the blind man said, as also at his cool manner.” Did not space forbid, many more similar extracts would be given. From May 26, 1869 to May 26, 1870, was expended of the Funds of the Institution for Missions, the sum of £9,590. 18s. 1d. By this sum One Hundred and Seventy- Wine tatonrers-m the Word and “doctrine, in various parts OT URE WOMMt- Were, To's greater or less degree, assisted. The reader who desires to know the particulars of the labours of these Missionaries, with reference to this year, is referred to the many letters given in the Report of 1870, . frow which he will see, how abundantly God helped these beloved brethren in their service, how He watched over the lives of several of them in a remarkable way, and how abundantly their Jabours were blessed in the con- version of many hundreds. Persons whose means are limited, may have the back Reports at half price, if they will kindly apply to me direct for them. 25 of the 179 Missionaries laboured in China, 8 in the East Indics, 2 .at Singapore, 2 at Penang, 2 at Malacca, 1 in Australia, : z2 508 [4 D. 1870. 1 at the Cape of Good Hope, 1 in Morocco, 6 in British Guiana, 1 in Trinidad, 1 in Granada, 1 in the United States, 2 in Canada, 2 in Nova Scotia, 14 in Spain, 11 in Italy, 3 in France, 1 in Belgium, 1 in Switzerland, ] in Germany, 1 in Jersey, 4 in Ireland, 3 in Scotland, 8 in Wales, and 82 in various parts of England. From May 26, 1869 to May 26, 1870 there was ex- pended for the circulation of Tracts £1,218. 38. 11d.; and there were circulated in this year more than Two Millions and Six Hundred and Eighty-three Thousand (exactly 2,683,080) Tracts and Books. More than Two Millions and Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand of ‘| the tracts and books circulated, during the year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encourage- ment for this service, the following extracts from letters received from individuals, to whom these tracts were sent. A brother, Jabouring in the Gospel in Ireland, writes, on Oct. 1, 1869 :—“ The parcel of tracts, which you kindly sent, has reached me safely; accept my cordial thanks in the name of our Master. I trust in Him for a blessing on their circulation. Last week 1 met with one instance of blessing through the reading of a tract which I had given away: it was the means of leading a young man, who was convinced of sin, to rejoice in Jesus as his Saviour.” A Christian lady in Wales, to whom I have repeatedly sent tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on Oct. 28, . 1869 :—“ God has graciously blessed some Tracts already : one of the last instances is that of a man named G., an Englishman, Coming from the station, he received a tract from me, with the title, ‘A few Words on Repent- ance,’ he read it going home. His words to me after- wards were, ‘I had no rest after I read it, and could not sleep that night.’ Hearing about our meetings in the Hall, he came under strong convictions of sin, and with- out peace. He heard at the first meeting Mr. H. preach, and afterwards Mr. D. He has been a regular attendant since, his place never being empty. Three weeks ago he joined us in prayer. Yes, behold hé prayeth! He has full peace now, and, if we live, he is going to break bread with us next Lord’s day, if God will.” A Christian brother in Oxfordshire writes, with refer- ence to tracts which he had received, on Nov. 13, 1869 :—— A.D. 1870.] 509 " In some cases I have received the testimony of good result ing from the reading one of them ; just before me is a case in point. After giving one of the tracts to a woman at S.,she read it and is now converted, and she told me it was through reading the tract I gave her with the title ' The Gospel.' " The same Christian brother writes, on Jan. 12, 1870 :— " I can give you many passages from my journal, showing the good yonr tracts have done. I just give one ; I gave a tract to a man at a place called S. ; the title of the tract was, ' Do you love Jesus ?' He read it, and began to feel a concern for his soul. I was called to speak for Jesus in the same village, and he came there, and since then he has been a changed man. I saw him on Tuesday the 11th, and he told me he had to bless the Lord I ever gave him the tract. He once spent his nights and Sundays in a beer-house, and went home to curse and beat his wife and family ; and now, seven of his household, including him self and wife, are savingly converted to the Lord I trust. Previous to his conversion he was the worst of men." A brother in the Lord, labouring in Lancashire, writes, . on Jan. 27, 1870 : —" The Lord is continuing His good ness to us in the Dispensary ; we have 150 persons some days, most attentive to the Word of the Lord and most anxious to receive and read Gospel tracts. I met a young man in the streets a few days since, who stopped me by saying, ' Mr. G., have you any of those nice tracts you give us at the Dispensary ? Oh ! they have been such a blessing to me, and the words you speak from them. I had been a very sinful careless man till I went to the Dis pensary and heard you speaking from the title of a tract ' Are you sure you are saved?' From that day there was a happy change in my heart and soul,' &c. I would be very thankful for an /ther parcel of tracts, if it would be convenient. I believe they have been much owned of the Lord in the Dispensary ; and I am very nearly run out now." A brother in the Lord, labouring among sailors at Ham burgh, writes, on Jan. 7, 1870: —"The large box filled with English, German and French tracts, books, &c. which you sent me so kindly upon my coming here, is getting well nigh empty, and therefore I venture again to ask for a fresh supply of tracts at a scale of circulation : three- fourths German and one-fourth English, with about 300 510 [A.n. 1870. of Italian tracts, for the grant of which I should fe*l most grateful. Since ray coining to Hamburgh, those tracts have been of incalculable value to me in my evangelistic labours, which I have given away when going from vessel to vessel of various nations for the purpose of speaking to single individuals or to groups of men (just as I find them disengaged or while they are taking their meals) of their soul's salvation, and who have carried tracts to parts nigh and far ; and as they have not been dispatched with out prayer, and our living God saith, that whatsoever we ask in faith believing, we shall have, I can calculate with certainty, that the Lord hath clothed many of them with an irresistible power from above to the salvation of some ignorant careless sinners. And how great an en couragement it is to me to see how gratefully these tracts are often received, not only from those who have long ago learnt the value of a good tract, and, because of their containing God's Word, have a secret feeling of reverence towards them ; but to see those, who from childhood had been trained in infidelity, and to make a mock of eternal things ; to see hundreds of such men, who at my first coming here were ashamed to accept a tract from my hands, to see such now, as it were, hunger and thirst after them, and with evident satisfaction if not with rejoicing, hide that which they have received like a treasure in their pockets ; this is truly encouraging. At other times I have supplied emigrants with tracts, who have carried them to America or Australia ; at other times again I have carried them to shops and dwelling houses. A little while ago, when for the sake of being able to pursue my work more boldly and effectually, I applied to the authorities for a license to distribute tracts, they told me, that I must first bring them a sample of the tracts, to be distributed, before they could grant me the respective license, which I seized as an excellent opportunity to bring the true Gospel before the Officials, who, being struck with the titles, in stead of returning them, kept them for their own use." From Cape Town I received in a letter, dated April 19, 1870, the following information : —" One of the little books has been made a blessing to a young man, who sees now his acceptance in Christ, and that all his sins are put away through faith in the precious blood : the title of the little book is ' Is it well with thee ?' " A.D. 1870.] 511 A Christian Tract Distributor, whom.I have often sup- plied with tracts, wrote me, on May 21, 1870, in applying for a fresh grant for the Bath races, etc. :—‘‘ I had a very interesting vase about three weeks ago at Cardiff races. I gave a young man a tract, title ‘ Gospel or Glad Tidings ;’ he returned to the entrance of the race course, where he received the tract, and seemed thoroughly broken down with a sense of his guilt. I talked with him some time, when he besought me to say no more as J was breaking his heart; he left me bathed in tears, telling me it would be the last race-course he should see, but thanked God for the little tract put into his hands there.” In connexion with this last case, I offer a few remarks. Iam often asked by Tract Distributors for ‘ Narrative Tracts,” as being more likely, they say, to be read; and, on the other hand, the last tract referred to, because it is no ‘Narrative Tract,” and in other respects not of the character of many Tracts, now in circulation, though full of sound and good statements of truth, has not been valued by some dear Christian friends. But how does God judge? MAny instances of blessing have come before |/@ me, through this very tract. May I also say, that while %% [do not at all object to a good “ Narrative Tract ;” yet,|. if we lay too much stress on the fact, that the tract is a ‘‘ Narrative Tract,” we shall find ourselves disappointed. In many instances the Narrative only may be read, and when the practical application comes, the tract may be put! aside, because the natural mind is now no longer in- terested. What then have we to do as Tract or Bible Distributors? 1, Never to reckon our success by the number of Bibles, or Testaments, or Tracts, which we cir- culate; for Millions of Bibles, Testaments and Tracts might be circulated, and little good result from our efforts. 2, We should, day by day, seek God’s blessing on o labours in this particular; and on every Tract or Copy of the Holy Scriptures which we give, we should, as much as possible, ask God’s blessing. 3, We should expect God’s' blessing upon our labours, and confidently expect it; yea, look out for His blessing. 4, We should labour on in this service, prayerfully and believinglys a ugh for a long time we should see li Ke ’ a9 labour on, as if every thingde on orth atin » not to J 0) O reality, we ought not to put he leagtroon§ lear. ta ext ; SEMINARY * Vew VARk A 512 [A.D. 1870. ertions, but alone in God's ability and willingness to bla'-s, by His Holy Spirit, our efforts for the sake of the Lord Josus. 5, And what will be the result of labouring on patiently in such a spirit? We find the answer in the epistle to the Galatiaus vi. 9 : " Let us not be weary iu well doing ; for in due season we shall reap, if we~famt not?' TJbserve in due season. The whole of our earthly "pil- grimage is a sowing time, though we may be allowed to see now and then, already in this life, fruit resulting from our sowing, to a greater or less degree ; but if it were not thus, or if comparatively but little fruit were now, in this life, reaped, the due season is coming. At the appearing of our Lord Jesus all will be made manifest ; our reward of grace will be given to us for our patient service then ; and in the prospect of that day, we have patiently to con tinue in well doing. But this patient continuing in well doing calls for much prayer, for much meditation on the word of God, and for much feeding on the work and person of our Lord Jesus, in order that thus our spiritual strength may be renewed day by day. At the commencement of the period, from May 26, 1869 to May 26, 1870, there were 1498 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No 8, and No. 4. During the year 388 Orphans were admitted into the five houses now in operation ; so that the total number on May 26, 1870, would have been 1886, had there been no changes; but of these 1886 nineteen died during the year. This number is veiy small, if it is remembered, as 1 have stated befbie, that three-fourths of all the Orphans under our care, which we know from the official certificates, lost one or both parents in consumption. Seven out of the nineteen were very decided believers, and two were very young in fants. Nineteen of the Orphans were returned to their relatives, either because they were by that time able and desirous to provide for them, or because the Orphans were in such a state physically or mentally, that they were un suitable for an Orphan Institution. Twenty-eight of the boys were sent out to be apprenticed during the year, eleven of whom had been believers for some time. Lastly, Ninety-eight of the girls were sent out to""geWice during the year, of whom twenty-four had been believers for a longer or shorter time. 164 are therefore to be deducted from the 1886, so that we had on May 26, 1870, only A.D. 1871.] 513 1722 Orphans under our care, viz. 300, in No. 1 —3 in No. 2—433 in No. 3—443 in No. 4—and 151 in No. 5. There was a good and solid spiritual work going on in the hearts of not a few of the Orphans then under our care, though these cases were not so many as in the years 1859, 1860, and 1866. The amount of means expended on the support of the Orphans, during the year, was £20,197. 14s. 9½d., besides £4,171. 3s. 9d. expended of the Building Fund. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871. During this year it pleased the Lord greatly to try us, in having several hundred Orphans ill in Scarlet Fever ; ' but very few, comparatively, died in consequence. We had *) also the trial of faith in the sickness of some of the f helpers ; in the great want of rain, and consequent in- 1 creased work, a'nd expense in the procuring of water ; in the having had often to call upon God for suitable masters for the boys, ready to be apprenticed ; and in the removal by death of dear Mr. Lawford, a most valuable helper to me for 16 years ; but in all these things we found that we did not call upon God in vain, and were supported and helped. This we also found, that, when teachers and other helpers were needed, the Lord always supplied us, in answer to believing and expecting prayer. Great also was His kindness, in allowing me to enlarge considerably every part of the work. The number of Schools was greatly increased. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures was during this year far greater than ever before ; and we were permitted in Rome itself to circulate Thousands of copies of them. The Mission Field was considerably ex tended, and the number of Missionaries assisted was greater than ever, and the amount expended on this object was far greater than during any previous year. The circula tion of Tracts, especially of simple Gospel Tracts, wan very great during this year, and especially in the way of gratuitous circulation. The Orphan Work, which had been year after year increasing, was also during this year much IncreasedT In looking back, therefore,~riponThe small beginning of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, on March 5, 1834, I exclaim with gratitude : What has God wrought ! He put into my heart to begin this work ; He sustained me in this work, Z 3 514 [A.D. 1871. amidst great, and many, and varied difficulties ; He upheld and enlarged the work ; and He condescended to increase this little work to what it is now. I therefore praise God for the past, and will yet trust in Him with regard to the future. During this year Thirty-two Day-Schools were entirely supported by the Funds of the Institution, and nineteen were to a greater or less degree assisted. Of the Thirty- ITwo Schools, which were entirely supported, there were four in Bristol, one at Callington in Cornwall, one at Kenilworth in Warwickshire, two at Walham Green near London, one in Liverpool, three on the Blackdown Hills in Somersetshire, one at Burrington in Devonshire, two at Barnstaple, one in Exeter, one at Howie Hill in Herefordshire, nine in Spain, five in India, and one in British Guiana. The master of one of the Schools for Boys in Bristol, stated, that a boy of 14 years of age gave evidence of true conversion to God, and that most of the older boys appeared to enjoy the Bible readings. Another master of one of the Boys' Schools in Bristol stated, that the moral character of the boys was greatly improved. — The mistress of a Girls' School in Bristol reported, that two girls, who were removed by death, gave good proof of trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation ; and one rejoiced in the prospect of going, to be, as she said, " with Jesus for ever."—The mistress of the School at Kenilworth reported, that some of the children appeared greatly interested in the Word of God.—The report of the Liverpool School was, that there was great improve ment in the character of many of the boys during the year.—In the Boys' School at Clayhidon, Blackdown Hills, many children were exercised about their spiritual state, and one gave good proof of trust in the Lord Jesus. —In the School at Burrington, there was one instance of decided conversion to the Lord, and another child was awakened, and in a hopeful state.—There was reason to hope that four children in the School in Exeter were brought to the knowledge of the Lord.— One of the scholars of the Day Schools at Callington died in the Lord during the year. —The letters from the Missionaries in Spain were full of most interesting details as to the Lord's most abun dant and most manifest blessing resting upon the Schools in Spain. —In these Thirty-Two Day Schools, entirely A.D. 1871.] 515 supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1871, altogether 2,665 children. Of the Schools, merely assisted, no report as to numbers is asked. Of the Nineteen Day Schools, which were assisted during the year, there were four in British Guiana, one in Scot- land, one in Cornwall, five in Devonshire, one in Dorset- shire, one in Gloucestershire, one in Worcestershire, one in Herefordshire, one in Wiltshire, one in Middlesex, one in Norfolk, and one in Yorkshire. There were ten Sunday-schools connected with the In- stitution, which were entirely supported by its funds. Tal these ten Sunday-schools, there were on May 26th, 1871, | altogether 1084 children. There were likewise during the year, twenty-seven Sunday-schools, to a greater or less degree assisted, by the funds of the Institution. Regard- . ing these twenty-seven Sunday Schools, which were only partly supported, no report as to numbers or otherwise, was requested to be sent in. Of the ten Sunday Schools | entirely supported, three were in Spain, one in Liverpool, one at Burrington, one at Callington, one at Clayhton, | one at Kenilworth, and one at Walham Green. Of this: last School, the account sent in, is, that there was one/ decided case of conversion during this year; and that those, who were reported as converted during the previous year, were walking in the truth, and proved that the work was of God. Of the Bristol Sunday School, in connexion with the Institution, the account was, that there had been a considerable increase of senior boys, which was very encouraging to the teachers ; and two of the elder girls had made confession of faith in the Loid Jesus.—Of the twenty-seven Sunday Schools, which were assisted by the funds of the Institution, there were four in Devonshire, one in Cornwall, two in Somersetshire, two in Gloucestershire, three in Hampshire, six in Middlesex, one in Kent, one in Norfolk, one in Oxfordshire, one in Lancashire, one in Yorkshire, two in Wales, and two in Scotland. There were, during this year, Nine Adult Schools, with 839 scholars, connected with the Institution, which were | entirely supported by the funds. Of these there were four in Spain, one in Bristol, one at Walham Grecn, two at | Barnstaple, and one at Callington. Of the last Adult Schoo] the Report sent in was, that two of the scholars 516 [4.D. 1871. gave satisfactory evidence of having passed from death unto life. ; It will, therefore, appear from the foregoing statement, that there were altogether fifty-one Schools entirely sup- ported by the funds of the Institution (82 Day Schools, 10 Sunday Schools, 9 Adult Schoole); and that during this year Forty-six Schools were assisted, viz. 19 Day Schools and 27 Sunday Schools. From what has been stated it will likewise be seen, that in the fifty-one Schools entirely suppor‘ed by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1871, altogether 4088 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Instita- tion, entirely supported by its funds, from the heginning to May 26, 1871, amounts to Twenty Three Thousand and Ninety-six, viz., there were 13,606 in all the Day Schools, 5,312 in all the Sunday Schools, and 4,178 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the year in connexion with the various Schools, amounts to £1908. 10s. 34d. This does not include £683. 38. 14d. expended on the Mission Schools. From May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, there were cir- culated 7,599 Bibles, 23,886 New Testaments, 528 Copies of the Psalms, and 30,143 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, chiefly Gospels. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during that year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,002. 3s. 6d. From May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, the Missionaries in Spain again circulated many Thousand Copies of the Holy Scriptures, and most deeply interesting letters were again received from them with regard to this part of their work, of which several are given in the Report for 1871. During this period also the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in the Ex-Papal State, which was now opened for their spread, we earnestly sought after, by Mr. W. labouring in Rome, who was authorised to circulate as many Bibles and Testaments, at the expense of the In- stitution, as he found it desirable; and by whom, since then, many thousand copies have been circulated. Mr. W. writes from Rome on Jan. 7, 1871 :—“ Since I last wrote, we have passed a very remarkable period. Last Monday week I was awakened by claps of thunder ; A.D. 1871 ] 517 the rain fell in torrents, and a stroke of lightning fell on the palace of the Pope. It penetrated even to the Chapel, and for the time prevented the performance of Mass. This stroke of lightning, the only one, it seems, which foil on that occasion, was the beginning of our difficulties. The rains continued, the snows on the mountains began to melt, and the day following the Tiber overflowed its banks and flooded half of Rome. This disaster, which has been so ruinous to thousands, has, under the provi dence of our Heavenly Father, been the cause of my being furnished with a large supply of Scriptures. If I re member rightly, I told you in my last of the scruples of the agent of the Bible Society to let me have Bibles even at cost prices. Shortly after my interview with him, the shop was inundated, and two-thirds of the whole stock submerged. He was therefore willing to let me have the whole of the damaged copies. These have been trans ferred to a heated room, where they have been in part dried, and shortly the whole of them will be fit for circula tion. When properly dried, the copies will be as good, I believe, as before. I was obliged to see in this instance the care and assistance of our blessed Saviour. Though the rain has been almost incessant, I have been able to carry on the distribution of whole copies. I go from shop . to shop and house to house, and speak with the inmates, I and, when I fiud desire on their part to possess a copy, ' I leave one. The day before yesterday, after conversing with a carpenter who desired to have a copy, 1 offered one / to him. He did not for the moment believe I wished to give it, and when 1 repeated that it was gratis the tears came into the poor man's eyes. I have to do this work somewhat privately, because if it were known that I dispense gratuitously, my present stock would be ex hausted in a day, such is the willingness of the people to possess the Word. I have reason to believe that the copies received are generally read, and I notice that, after I have been in a street distributing, the people in many instances salute me with kindness, which indicates their thankfulness. Some of the priests are furious, but this was to be expected. I feel that. in this work I shall have the presence and blessing of the Master. The meeting in my house is as large as the room ; some I trust have been gathered to Jesus." 518 [A.D. 1871. Again Mr. W. writes from Rome on Feb. 17, 1871 : — " While I am limited with regard to the entire Scriptures, I am thankful to have been able to do much with the separate portions. Since I last wrote I have received 10,000 copies of Romans, and these are nearly all dis tributed. The people receive as willingly now as at the beginning. Of the perhaps 26,000 portions which have been distributed in Rome and its vicinity, only five or six have been torn to pieces in the streets. This proportion is smaller than it would have been, I believe, in any other part of Italy. The towns in the provinces are as ready to receive as the city. A short time since I went with the aged brother, who is labouring with me as Bibleman, to Frascati, with a large supply of portions and 50 or 60 Bibles and Testaments. We began to distribute in the centre of the city, and in about half an hour 600 Gospels and Epistles were given away. The crowd was so great, that I thought it best to retire from the city to a grove outside, some distance from the wall. Some few followed us : I sat down and spoke to them of the precious love of Jesus. They listened, some of them with tears, and showed much desire to possess the whole Scriptures, and to hear some one speak upon the same. I gave them copies and instructed them to meet and read it together. One offered his house, and others promised to attend. This was all I could do at the time, but I trust to the Lord to be able to return. I felt at that moment, that if such visits were made on an extensive scale, many of the Lord's hidden ones would be called out. When I returned to the city, it was soon known that I had given whole copies of the Word, and many persons gathered round the house, where I was taking food. Some came in to ask for the Testa ment, among them fourteen or fifteen women, several with children in their arms. I had thus the opportunity of speaking to them individually, and our conversations were most interesting. I know of no means of reaching the women of Italy like this, and, as the Lord opens my way, I hope to continue it. When I left the house, there was a crowd; but I could not give Testaments to' a fourth of those who sought to obtain them. The meeting in my room has been owned by the Lord. Several have been brought to the knowledge of the truth. Here in Italy we are sending Gospels and Epistles by post. A.D. 1871.] 519 Postage is cheap ; for one-fifth of a penny we can send a Gospel to any part of the country. In this way we work among the upper classes." On March 12, 1871, Mr. W. writes from Rome:— " The distribution excites great opposition on the part of the priests, and has been referred to not only in then- dis courses, but in their journals and proclamations. The desire of the people for the Word is greater than ever. A large portion of those I give are to persons who either come to my house, or see me after the meetings. Being limited as I am in the number, I feel I ought to do so at present. The preaching of the Word is well attended, and some already rejoice in Jesus. Next Lord's day I open another room in a part where many Bibles have been dis tributed, and where several who have read them desire to hear the Gospel." On April 18, 1871, Mr. W. writes from jtome : — " Since I last wrote I have, through the goodness ot our Heavenly Father, been able to continue the work here in the city and in the country round. From- the accounts enclosed you will see, that I have received Scriptures nearly to the amount you kindly sent me. Many interest ing facts come under my notice in connection with this blessed work, which show how deeply the people are in terested, and how the Lord blesses His own Word. At Tivoli the coachman, who had received a New Testament from me, showed it to his aunt who resided in that city. She no sooner saw it, than she took the book and locked it in a strong chest, saying that she had for years desired to possess it, and that now she had it she would keep it. The coachman received another. At Albano, where we distributed many Gospels and some Testaments, a man who had received a New Testament came to Rome to see me, in the hope of inducing me to go and preach there. He had read his Testament to 14 or 15 persons, who met with him every evening to listen to the Word. I gave him other copies for this little Bible-class, and purpose return ing to that city. Here in Rome we have many proofs of the willingness of the people to receive, and no proof of any weight of the contrary. I had hoped to have done much more during the past few months than has been done, but the Lord has much blessed me in the preach ing of the Word, and though I have waited upon Him no 520 [A.D. 1871. one has been sent to help me. Now, however, I expect a brother who will relieve me of one meeting, and thus leave me freer for the work both in Rome and the cities round, so that I shall be able to distribute (D.V.) not only what I may obtain from the depot here, but any quantity Count G. may forward from Florence. The work of the Lord here in Rome is very encouraging. Various evangelists are preaching Christ, and the various rooms are, I believe, well attended. Many souls, I trust, are being brought to Christ. In my own meeting there are many \vho give evidence of the simplest trust in the precious Saviour, but their ignorance of Scriptural truth is very great ; their desire, however, for instruction is very strong. There are some signs of a movement among the educated classes in favour of the Gospel ; indeed there are many in dications that the Lord is working in grace among this long benighted people." On May 25, 1871, Mr. W. writes from Rome:—" The attendance at the meetings is larger now than when I wrote last, many apply for admission, and some give proof of conversion ; but we find the greatest caution needful in receiving, because of the fearfully immoral state of Roman society. I still continue to receive proofs of the blessing which accompanies the distribution of the Word. This morning one, who came to my house for a Testament, told me he was sent by a shoemaker, who, some weeks since, received a copy, and who reads it continually, both in the shop and in his family. At Civita Vecchia there has been a brother for some time, but little progress seemed at first to be made. I went there with some Scriptures, and gave Testaments in the principal street. The result of this was, that the little room in which this brother lived was soon crowded with persons, who wished to have some explanation of what they read. That brother writes to me, begging me in most pressing terms to return. At Marino, a city near Albano, I thought I would begin with the authorities, both civil and military, of the place. The Sindaco received a Bible, conversed freely, and invited me to dine with him. The military officers received me with the same willingness, so did the police. lu the streets some few Gospels were torn, and I was insulted by one who seemed to have the rage of Satan against the Scriptures ; but the Lord defended me. A.D. 1871.] 521 At the house where we stayed, we had a meeting of 25 or 8U persons, who listened to the Gospel. The woman of the house refused to receive anything for cooking our dinner, and offered her room for a meeting, in case we would return. Several invited me to their houses, and many saluted us as we came out of the city. On the way back to Rome I passed some who were reading the Word; the next day a man came down to Rome for some copies, and a few days after a letter was sent to one of the jour- nals of this city, stating the satisfaction of the people, and bluming the opposition of the priests. I am glad to be able to say, that 1 have not met with, or even heard of, a single case of the tearing or burning of a New Testament; and the opposition of the people generally against the destruction of the portions is such, that the priests will scarcely continue it without peril. In proof of this I may refer to the following fact:—A man at Genzano, a town near Rome, received a copy of John’s Gospel, and, having read it with pleasure, kept it. The chief priest of the parish discovered it and tore it up. The man, on finding the priest had taken and torn the Gospel, was so enraged, that he loaded his gun and lingered for two days about the parish church, with the intention of shooting the priest.— Could you, my dear sir and brother in Christ, send, or perhaps write, a small tract for circulation with the Scriptures here on the necessity and best mode of read- ‘ jing them? Ihave received the 400 Bibles and 800 Testa- ments from Florence, and some few besides those mentioned in the enclosed account. Jam also expecting 500 which have been forwarded to me at the Depét here. Please to let me have as many copies as you may think best from Florence. With many thanks, and earnestly desiring you to pray that we may be guided and defended in this city, where Satan is resisting us on every hand, I remain yours in the kingdom and patience of Jesus.” As I found that Mr. W. had difficulty in obtaining a sufficient number of copies of the Bible and of the New Testament in Rome itself, 1 made arrangements to send to him many hundreds of Bibles and of Testaments from Florence ; and this way of supplying him goes on now regularly, so that he has been able to circulate thousands of Bibles and Testaments, as well as many thousands of copies of the Gospel of John and of the Epistle to the Romans. a 522 (4.D. 1871. From May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, there was expended on Missionary Objects, the sum of £11,638. 9s. 13d. By this sum 186 labourers in the Gospel, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. Of these 186 Missionaries, 25 laboured in China, 10 in the East Indies, 2 at Singapore, 2 at Penang, 2 in Aus- tralia, 1 at the Cape of Good Hope, 2 in Cuba, 7 in British Guiana, 1 in Trinidad, 1 in the United States, 3 in Canada, 2 in Nova Scotia, 16 in Spain, 12 in Italy, 2 in France, 1 in Belgium, 1 in Switzerland, 1 in Germany, 5 in Ireland, 8 in Scotland, 3 in Wales, and 84 in various parts of England. I had intended to give extracts from the many hun- dreds of letters received from the Missionaries during this year, as they are full of the deepest interest; and [ had actually begun to write out some of them; but I have given it up, as I could not possibly do justice even ~ in a small degree to the labours of those beloved ser- vants of Christ. Though in the Report issued in 1871, there are only a very small number, comparatively, of these extracts, yet they would fill at the least One Hun- dred pages of this Narrative. I must therefore confine myself to saying, that there is the fullest reasons to be- lieve, that by these Foreign and Home labourers in the Gospel, during that year, Thousands of souls were won for our Lord Jesus; and that the reader, who wishes to know particulars, must read the missionary letters of the Report. From May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, the sum of £917. 15s, 1d, was expended on the circulation of Tracts ; and there were circulated within the year more than Two Millions and Eight hundred and Seventy-two Thousand (exactly 2,872,301) Tracts and Books. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which were circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1871, is about Thirty-Nine Millions (exactly 38,893,712). More than Two Millions Three Hundred and Eighty- three Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during this year, were given away gratuitously. I give now, as an encouragement for this service, the following extracts from letters received from individuals to whom these tracts were sent. ‘ A labourer in the Gospel in Yorkshire, whom I have A.D. 1871.] 523 supplied with many Tens of Thousands of Tracts for gra tuitous circulation, wrote to me on Nov. 7, 1870, when applying for another grant: — " I was pleased the other day to hear of a conversion through the reading of a Tract, which I put into a man's hand in the street. He crumpled it up, and thrust it into his pocket with disgust, and the next day, during the meal time at the mill, he took it from his pocket and read it, and God spoke to his heart. The next Sunday he went to a chapel in the town, and there found peace in Jesus, and has become a most active Christian in the Wesleyan denomination. I heard that he had sent for 1,000 tracts at his own expense for distribution." An evangelist labouring at Portsmouth and the neigh bourhood, whom also I have supplied with many Tens of Thousands of Tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on March 24, 1871 :— " Dear Mr. Miiller, I am very grateful to you for 6,000 tracts, which caine quite safe to hand last evening, car riage paid, for which please to accept my sincere thanks. I do trust the Lord will continue to follow them with His blessing. I could tell you of several cases of special blessing, either directly or indirectly through the tracts ; and in a great number of houses I gain admittance, where it would be most difficult, without such an introduction, and am generally enabled to read some portions of the Word of God." A Christian physician in Nottinghamshire, whom also I have supplied with many Tens of Thousands of Tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on April 3, 1871 : — " Will you kindly thank Mr. Miiller for the Grant of the Eighteen Thousand Tracts, which are already in full play ; and I am most thankful to say, that I have heard within this day or two of some decided cases of conversion from the last he sent. One came under my own notice after our evening meeting. In going out of the door, I handed one to a man. He knew but little of what was ,aid, but, said he, ' it was that tract that did it.' Did what? ' Stopped me, and brought me to Jesus, and now I am resting on the blood. The tract said, that was enough.' May the Lord add manyfold such like, and the colporteur told me, he had known some also." A Missionary who labours among sailors, and chiefly 524 [4.D. 1871. foreign sailors, at Sunderland, and whom also I have sup- plied with many Tens of Thousands of Tracts for gratuitous circulation, writes on Jan. 24, 1871:—‘A large ship from Riga came to our port. Brother M. went on board to invite the sailors to our meeting. They belong to Russia, but speak the German language. Dear Brother M. went on board first, to preach Jesus to them; afterwards I went, and several of them came to our meeting. The mate was awakened under the Word, to see his danger, as 8 lost sinner before God; but had not found peace in Jesus. One Monday morning dear Brother M. went on board to see this young mate, and gave him one of your German tracts. One evening, as I was sitting and think- ing of the Lord’s goodness, the mate of the Riga ship came in, saying I want to speak to yon alone. ‘QO!’ said he, ‘I ; thank you for that beautiful tract. I never read such a tract before. I have read it over three times and care- fully meditated upon it. [am now upon the Rock, I am saved, I have peace in Jesus. I see it all clearly now. I am happy, happy.’ He had found peace in reading your tract. Afterwards he came up every evening to our house, We read the Scriptures together and had blessed fellow- ship together. He often said, ‘What a change I have experienced, in passing from darkness to light. How unspeakably happy I feel. I shall never forget you.’ This dear brother is well educated and speaks five dif- ferent languages of the Russian empire. He often said, ‘Tlong to get back to Russia, to speak to the people about Jesus.’”’ At the commencement of the period from May 26, 1870 to May 26, 1871, there were 1,722 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No.5. During the past year 308 Orphans were admitted into the five houses now in operation; so that the total number on May 26, 1871, would have been 2,030, had there been no changes; but, of these 2,030, Twenty-nine died during the past year. We had several hundred of the Orphans ill in scarlet fever. Hight of those who died were decidedly resting upon the atoning death of the Lord Jesus for salvation, and some of them had known the Lord Jesus a good while; of a few others, besides, we were not without hope. Twenty-five out of the Two ~*~ A.D. 1872. ] 525 Thousand and Thirty were either returned to their re- latives, as we could not train them for service or appren- tice them on account of their physical, mental or moral state; or relatives, whose temporal circumstances had improved since they placed them with us, desired now, or felt it their duty, to provide for them. Ninety-nine girls were sent out to service, eight of whom had known the Lord some time before they left. Thirty-two boys were sent out to be apprenticed, seventeen of whom had been previously brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus ; 185 ate therefore to be deducted from the 2,030, so that we had on May 26, 1871, only 1,815 Orphans under our care, viz., 280 in No. 1, 856 in No, 2, 450 in No. 8, 450 in No. 4, and 309 in No. 5. The amount spent for the support of the 2.030 Orphans under our care, during the year, was £22,660. 16s. 5d., besides £629. 4s. 11d. spent of the Building Fund. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1871 to May 26,1872. Before giving the statistics of the In- stitution, I desire to mention some of the especial bless- ings, which it pleased the Lord to bestow upon it, during this year. ‘ : 1, For more than twenty years, previous to May 26, ) . 1872, it had been stated to me again and again, by many different individuals, “‘ What, Mr. Miler, will become of the Orphan Houses, when you are removed?” My reply was, invariably, ‘“‘ The Orphan Houses, and the land belonging to them, are vested in the hands of eleven trustees, and therefore the Institution stands on the same footing, in this particular, as other charitable Institutions.” Then I heard it said, in reply, again and again, “ But where will you find the man, who will carry on the work in the same spirit in which you do, trusting only in God for everything that in any way is needed in connection | with the work?” My answer to this was always some- thing like this: ‘‘ When the Lord shall have been pleased to remove me from my post, He will prove, that He was not dependent on me, and that He could easily raise up another servant of His, to act on the same principles, on which I have sought to carry on this work. It was also ' stated to me again and again, by Christian friends, that | I ought to pray, that God would raise up a successor to! ine ia the vork, To this 1 -gencraly rephied,-chat-l did | f 5;26 [A.D. 1872. so ; and I have now the joy of announcing to the reader, that God has been pleased to give me the desire of iuy heart. In my son-in-law, Mr. James Wright, I have found what 1 had longed for, and prayed for, even a helper in assisting me in the direction of the Five Objects of the Institution, and, in the event of my removal, a suc cessor. But lest any, who neither know me nor him, should suppose, that, because Mr. Wright is my son-in- law, I have chosen him for this post, T state the following particulars. Mr. "Wright was known to me 31 years, previous to May 26, 1872, as a consistent Christian. From his boyhood, when he was brought to the know ledge of the Lord, I have known him ; and for above twenty years I had especially good opportunity of watch ing his most consistent godly deportment. During thirteen years, previous to May, 1872, he had been one of my most valuable helpers in the work of the Institution, I may say my right hand, in all the most important matters. As long as twelve years before May, 1872, my beloved departed wife and I began to pray regarding him, that God would fit him more and more, to become my suc cessor. This prayfr was repeated hundreds of times during the lifetime of my late beloved wife, and both of us became more and more assured, that, in Mr. Wright, God had given to us, what we desired regarding this point. In February 1870, my beloved wife was taken fromjne, and about. ten days after I myself became very unwell'._ During this time it was, in February 1870, wheiT the late Mrs. Wright was in her usual health, and when there was therefore not as much as a shadow of appearance, that Mr. Wright would ever become my son- in-law, I sent for him, and opened my mind to him, that I considered it to be the will of God, that he should be come my successor. His great humility, however, found a number of reasons, why he considered himself unfit for it, none of which I could allow to stand in the way as a hindrance, as I knew him so well with regard to his fit ness. A second difficulty was this, his excellent Christian wife considered that he would be greatly burdened by accepting my proposal, and therefore sought to induce him not to accept it. After some weeks, however, her mind was altered on the subject, and she yielded her ob jections, if he saw it to be the will of God. Mr. Wright A.D. 1872.] 527 then, after long hesitation, came to the conclusion, that it would not be his duty any longer to refuse. It was eighteen months, after I had first spoken to him on the subject, that he asked for the hand of my daughter, a thing of which I had not had the faintest thought, though so intimate with him; and they were united in marriage in November 1871. Ihave been so minute in alt this, that there may not remain in the mind of any of the readers the slightest thought, that the relationship, in which Mr. Wright now stands to me, has had anything to do with my uniting him with me in the direction of the Institution, and appointing him as my successor. By the Lord’s kindness I am able to work as hereto- fore, I may say with little hindrance through illness ; yet | I cannot conceal from myself, that it is of great importance for the work, that I should obtain a measure of relief. This relief, however, can be really only given to me by one who stands in a similar position to the work, and who, when I am away, or when I may feel it desirable to have real rest, could do all I ordinarily do in directing. ! On this account, therefore, I not only appointed Mr. Wright ae _my successor, in the event of my death, but Troth May 26, 1872, associated him also with me’ in’ the “diréc- tion of the Institution, which year by year increases in extent, 9 00 7 ee “Tiiéreader has to remember, that, great as the Orphan Work is, yet it is only One out of the Five different Objects of the Institution, all of which Five Objects being not only cunnected with much work as to the direction, in their present state, but, as they are becoming larger and larger with every year, will require more and more strength ; for direction. From May 1872, then, Mr. Wright has shared with me the direction of the Institution, and I cannot describe my joy, in having found in him a successor, in the even of my death. oo =It may be well to state here, that, as formerly, I hold myself responsible to the public for the administration of the funds committed to my trust, and would therefore re- quest, that all Bank Orders, Cheques, Post-office Orders, &c., be drawn in my name, and payable to my order, and that, with regard to Post-office Orders, which I always & 528 [A.D. 1872. pay into the Bank, the most convenient way would be, to make them payable at the Head Office in Bristol. 2, The second great blessing, received at the hands of the Lord, to which I would especially direct the reader, is the mighty working of the Holy Spirit among the Orphans^ We had been again aiicTagain blessecTm this way, during the previous thirty-five years. Even when the Orphans lived in rented houses in Wilson Street, Bristol, we had often a number of them at once led to the Lord ; and this blessing. had been repeated by God again and again, since the Orphans havo, been on Ashley Down. In particular there were great numbers of them, almost all at once, brought to the knowledge of the Lord in_ the years 1859, 1860, and~ 1866. 'Now, though since 1866 we had not been without" spiritual blessing among the Orphans, and though again and again some were truly converted, still, on the whole, there was little spiritual life manifested among them, considering the many hun dreds under our care; and I had the deep sorrow and grief of finding one after the other leaving our care, to go out as apprentices or servants, without being born again. At last I mentioned this fact several times when assembled with the teachers and other helpers at our prayer-meeting, seeking to bring before them the importance of more earnest prayer regarding this point; and we waited not in vain on the Lord. On January 8th, 1872, the first day of the week for united prayer during the year, God the Holy Ghost began to work among the Orphans in a most marked way_, without, apparently, any particular instrumentality, to make His Band the more manifest. From that time this blessed work went on, so that we have reason to believe, i that hundreds among them \vgrej>ro_ught to the knowledge" I of the Lord during this year. 3, It pleased the Lord, to lay upon us during the year the heavj trial of allowing the Small Pox to enter among ' the Orphans, though every child under our care had bet-n vaccinated. In the New Orphan House No. 5 in par- ' ticular we had many cases, and also at No. 2 and at No. 3 ; but there was only one at No. 4, and none at i No. 1. We had only few deaths, as the result of this I trying disease, considering that the five Orphan Houses I are inhabited by Two Thousand individuals. I desire I especially to notice this among the particular blessings we A.D. 1872 ] 529 received at the hand of God during the year. The Lord was pleased -to bring great blessing out of this great trial, which lasted for about six months. Two godly and valuable teachers died in this disease, and three other helpers were afflicted by it, though they had the disease very lightly. 4, With the exception of the Small Pox, we were un usually free from illness, during the year, among the Orphans. All the thirty-six years that the Orphan work had been in existence, we had never had a better state of health among the children generally, than during this year. I enumerate this among the particular blessings received from the Lord. 5, During this year the Lord permitted us, in various ways, to enlarge the work, especially with regard to estab lishing schools, and more than ever to circulate in larger and larger numbers the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. As to the Schools, besides establishing several new ones in England, we were also in Foreign lands able to establish some, and in Italy this was likewise done, where up to that year we had none connected with the Institution. Our Schools in Spain, gave to us, during this year, especial comfort. In circulating the Holy Scriptures, we were not only at home and abroad in general able to accomplish much ; but in particular in Spain and Italy, and in Rome itself. The Tract circulation was so increased during the year, as that One Million more of them were given away gratuitously, than during the previous year. 6, Lastly, I mention to the praise of the Lord, that again during this year His blessing was spiritually resting upon all the different Objects of the Institution, and not on the Orphan work only. From May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, forty Day- Schools were entirely supported by the Funds of the Institution, and thirteen were to a greater or less degree assisted. Of the Forty Schools which were entirely sup ported, there were four in Bristol, one at Callington, one at Kenilworth, two at Walham Green near London, one/ in Liverpool, three on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset-J shire, one at Burrington, two at Barnstaple, three in) Exeter, one at Howie Hill in Herefordshire, one at Purton in Gloucester, eleven in Spain, four in India, three in British Guiana, and two in Italy. A A 530 [A.D. 1872. The master of one of the Schools in Bristol reports, in reference to that year : " I am thankful to say, that there is a spirit of inquiry among the boys, and I hope one or two have accepted the Lord Jesus, as their Saviour."— Another teacher of one of the Bristol Schools reports : " I feel thankful, that I have again the privilege of bearing testimony to the goodness and mercy of God, through the past year. My heart has been greatly cheered and en couraged by seeing the work of the Holy Spirit amongst my dear scholars. From personal conversation with them, respecting their souls, I found several were earnestly seek ing Jesus. One dear child was rejoicing that He loved her. Another little girl, about two months ago, became anxious about her soul, and wrote me a little letter shortly after, in which she expressed her hope, that God would bless to her, what she had heard from my lips, and also added, ' I would like to love Jesus with my whole heart, because I know He loves me, and has died to save me.' Another dear child was melted to tears by the simple story of Christ's love, and gave evidence of a saving work of grace in her heart, before she left the School. She was 14 years old and has gone to service during the past year. There are two other little girls, who are seeking and de siring to realize their personal safety in Jesus. The earnest attention, which the dear children give to the word of God, is also a cause of much thankfulness. Many have given evidence, that they have been impressed by the truth of God. One little girl asked, whether God could not have saved the souls of men, without Jesus dying for them. When the answer to that question was given, she listened with profound attention and seemed to see more clearly than before the necessity of an atonement for sin by the spotless Lamb of God. There is an eagerness amongst the children, to know the truth of God, which I have never before seen to such a degree as during the last six months. I have heard from parents, that some of them have taken home the Bible Lesson, and have desired to read it over again in their hearing. May the Lord yet more and more honour His own precious word 1 "—The master of the School at Callington writes : " The increased veneration of the children for the Holy Scriptures is worthy of notice. There is hope, that many of them will be rescued from the great enemy, and washed from every A.D. 1872,] 531 defilement in the fountain open for sins. During the past year it has pleased God to call unto Himself one of the . scholars, whose name has been on the books for upwards of ten years. For more than three years he witnessed a good confession for Christ, and died, sweetly resting in the Lord.”—The master at Walham Green School writes : “The two monitors mentioned some time since, give proof, both at School and at home, that they have life in Christ.”—The master of one of the Schools on the Black Down Hills writes: “‘ You may remember my men- tioning a remarkably affecting scene on Break-up Day. That was the commencement of visible signs of the Lord’s blessing among us. We thought it would be very de- sirable to end the last year’s studies with an earnest appeal to the hearts of the children. The afternoon of Friday, ~ previous to Christmas, was devoted to simple addresses, and the scene was most marvellous. The- children were crying one over another, and I could but weep with them. The fruit-was yet to be seen, and I believe is still to be manifested. Three of the dear girls in one family were a day or two after sweetly brought to Jesus, and still con- tinue in His love. One of my boys, who was blessedly brought to Jesus on Good Friday, tells me, that for weeks the Word had been searching him and making him un- happy, though I had not known it. Often had he been late at School on purpose, to escape the Bible reading, and often he had intended never to come to School again ; but somehow he could not remain away, and he can now understand the reason. (od had a revelation stil) further to make to him. He tells me, he would not give up, what he has got by coming to School, for a hause full of gold and silver. He is very bold for Jesus, and shows a Christ- like spirit in School. Another, who has left me for Durham, writes very encouraging letters, bearing decided proofs of the genuineness of the work in his soul—This morning I had a precious season with the children. Several were moved to tears, and two or three gave me to understand, . that they had kept Jesus outside long enough, and would now let him in. That they did love Him, they were sure. This is the Lord’s doing. In the letters which they write one to another in School, they gave positive proof, that their hearts receive the Word.”’—-The master of the School at Barnstaple writes: ‘Six girls and one boy, we trust, AA2 ra 532 [A.D. 1872. have received spiritual blessing."—One of the three teachers in the Exeter Schools writes : " It is very gra tifying to observe the interest, which the children take in the Bible reading and exposition, morning by morning. Some seem to have given their hearts to Jesus. But we do not know that any of them have been led openly to confess and trust in Him. We wish we could see some unmistakeable signs of the working of the Spirit among them."—The master of the Howie Hill School writes : " One dear boy is, I am happy in saying, converted to God, and tells me that he is very happy in the Lord. He has been very ill, and is now far from well. He tells me he found his illness greatly blessed to him, and had en joyed the Lord's presence. There is one girl, I hope to see brought to rest on Jesus. She melts when spoken to, but as yet is not decided." —The master of the Purton School writes : " I do not think there have been any con verted to God ; but the upper classes evince great interest in the Scripture lessons, especially the young women in the Sunday School, several of whom are often moved to tears under the close application of the Word of God, which we regard as strivings of the Spirit." The Schools in Spain, as will be seen, are full of the deepest interest. Mr. and Mrs. L., after having laboured for several years in Spain, were obliged to leave for a time in May 1872 fof England, on account of their health, and Mr. L. writes on June 6, 1872, from Leominster, the following deeply interesting letter, which more than anything proves the blessing of our schools in Spain :—" It is now a month since we left Barcelona, and 4 years since we left this the second time for Spain, and 10 years since I began to work directly for that land. In looking back,' what cause for thankfulness have we for personal mercies and deliver ances from the hands of our enemies ! In contrasting our first visit with the second, what cause have we to praise our God, and still, as ever, not to be ashamed of His good news concerning His Son, whom He raised from the dead. Before, caution, restraint and the iron hand of persecution hindering us at every turn ; now, what free dom to labour and what joy in the fruits ! Before, it is true, we gathered a few ears ; now, we seem to be bring ing in sheaves, and these 'only the first-fruits of a rich A.D. 1872.] 533 harvest behind. We shall reap if we faint not. Pan! planted ; Apollos watered ; God gave the increase. What cause for praise, to remember the many thousand copies of the Word which we have been able to put into the hands which before handled only images of wood and stone ; of those who before had never beheld the image of the in visible God, as seen in His word of truth ; who had only handled rosaries and crosses, relics and rags and bones of the dead, but who now love and cherish the Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation. What an exchange ! And what cause for praise have we, that we have so many agencies in operation to do this blessed work ! The shop, the only fixed place where persons can purchase copies of the Word, this is still open in that populous and largest commercial town of Spain, and the open Bible can still meet the eye of passers by. The small hand carriage, with Garcia, the blind man, who now daily takes his stand with his open Bible, while his fingers move over the raised letters, and his clear musical voice proclaims the living Word. Group after group gather round him, and he gives rise to as much discussion as did one of his predecessors mentioned in the Gospel. Often have I seen persons look close into his eyes to see if he were really blind. Some have said, ' He must see a little ; ' others, ' He knows it by heart.' Some would mock, but the reading of the Word of God has too much power. The day I took my leave of him, I went up and found a group round him : I prayed the Lord to give me a parting word from his lips, and I came up just as he finished the words, ' He must increase but I must de crease.' I knew my Master's voice and I rejoiced in His Word, and, not wishing to stop the reader, I tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, ' farewell.' The large coach continues its blessed work through towns, villages and hamlets, never before visited by the dispenser of the Scriptures, and many and beautiful are the incidents which reward the zeal and faith of those brethren who go with it. Just now they have been shut up in one town through the Carlist war, but are again on the way south. We too have been able to send by post many thousand Gospels to persons whose names are found in a Directory : per sons, who could not otherwise know anything about the Word, thus receive it from an unknown and unusual 534 [A.D. 1872. source. Again, to look hack 3 years and remember that we had no schools in which the young might be trained in holy and pure principles, and now to see the numerous, joyous groups respond to Bible questions, and hear their Gospel melodies, and to see one and another giving signs of the quickening power of that Word, this is joy indeed. I shall not forget the day of parting, when the majority of these dear children came with their parents to say ' Good bye.' Such a scene in the town as they came along, so orderly and so nicely dressed. ' What are these Schools ?' one woman asked of another. ' Oh, these are the Christian Schools.' ' Really : how glad I am they are not the Pro testant Schools.' Then the parting. Mothers and chil dren clinging round my wife and weeping like the rain. ' Ah 1 we shall never see her again.' Some of the bigger boys kept up to the last moment, but could refrain no longer. A couple of priests, who stood looking on, appeared confounded as they witnessed the love of these boys, and saw .how they wept. And then, how rejoiced I am that we have been able to begin a kind of training school for some of those elder boys and girls. This was absolutely needed, so as to give a finish to our school work. Many of these boys and girls were coming to such an age, that, if we could not retain them a little longer, some of them must fall back to Romish schools in order to complete their education : now we are able to do this, and with the hope that many of these young people will soon be able to become assistant teachers in our increasing schools. And now we can praise the Lord for the workers we have left behind—for their qualifications, their zeal and love. I feel that I can say, ' Lord now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.' " In the Forty Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1872, (altogether 2955 children. Of the Schools, merely as sisted, no ' report as to numbers is asked. There were, during the past year, Eight Day Schools assisted, viz. : one in Scotland, one in Norfolk, one in Middle sex, one in Worcestershire, one in Gloucestershire, one in Somersetshire, one in Dorsetshire, and one in Devon shire. There were during this year, fourteen Sunday-schools A.D. 1872.] 535 connected with the Institution, which were entirely sup ported by its funds. In these fourteen Sunday-schools, there were on May 26, 1872, altogether 1372 scholars. There were likewise, daring the year, thirteen Sunday- schools to a greater or less degree assisted, by the funds of the Institution. Regarding these thirteen Sunday- schools, which were only partly supported, no report as to numbers or otherwise, was requested to be sent in. Of the fourteen Sunday-schools, entirely supported, 4 were in Spain, 1 at Hyde Park, Demerara, 1 in Bristol, 1 at Burrington, 1 at Callington, 1 at Clayhidon, 1 at Kenil- worth, 1 in Liverpool, 1 at Purton, 1 at Walham Green, London, and 1 at North End, Fulham. Of the thirteen Sunday-schools, which were assisted, 1 is in Wales, 3 are in Devonshire, 4 in Gloucestershire, 1 in Somersetshire, 2 in Hampshire, 1 in Kent, and 1 in Lancashire. The Lord was pleased to work decidedly in the Sunday School in Bristol, during this year, in the way of conversion. There were, during this year, Eleven Adult Schools, with 420 scholars, connected with the lnstitution, which were entirely supported by its funds. Of these there were six in Spain, one in Bristol, one at Walham Green, two at Barn- staple, and one at Callington. Of the last Adult School the Report sent in by the teacher is : "I would desire to men tion, to the praise and glory of God, that one of the scholars, from the Adult School, has, during the past year, been regarded worthy to labour in the Gospel. He came at a very early age into the Day School. In reference to his education, he had none but that which he received with us. Many, who have been under our care in the School, are now engaged in different localities in various spheres of usefulness amongst the different sections of the Church." The teacher of the Adult Schools at Barnstaple states, that he considers six of the Adult Scholars to have been spiritually benefited, and that he has seen both Adult Schools greatly affected, so that there may be others who have been impressed, of whom he does not know. It will appear, from the foregoing statement, that there ! were altogether Sixty-five Schools, entirely supported by ths funds of the Institution (40 Day School, 14 Sunday Schools, 11 Adult Schools); and that during the year 536 [4.D. 1872. Twenty-one Schools were assisted, viz. 8 Day Schools and 13 Sunday Schools. From what has been stated it will likewise be seen, that in the Sixty-five Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1872, altogether 4,747 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, to May 26, 1872, amounts to Twenty Seven Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-eight, viz. there were 16,455 in all the Day Schools, 6,275 in all the Sunday Schools, and 4,758 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the year, in connexion with the various Schools, amounts to £2284. 8s. \4a. This does not include £1235. 8s. 43d. expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund. From May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, there were cir- culated 11,221 Bibles, 54,231 New Testaments, 10,909 copies of the Psalms, 35,085 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,942. 138. 19d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during this year, as during the previous year. Before leaving this part of the operations of the Institu- tion, I make the following remarks: 1, To the careful readers it will be obvious, how greatly this part of the Insti- tution, as well as years enlarged, and more particularly during this year. And yet the openings become more and more still. 2. During this year we sought, by the help of an earnest Christian brother, to introduce the Holy Scriptures into the factories and mills of Lancashire and Yorkshire. About thirty thousand copies of the New Testament and many Bibles were thus placed, during the year, in the hands of men, - women, boys, and girls working in these factories and mills; and this work is steadily going on. This dear man goes from one mill to the other, and from one factory to the other, and often disposes of hundreds of copies in one place. The expense to meet this is considerable; but the importance is so great, that of late I have given still A.D. 1872.] 537 farther considerable help to several Christian colporteurs to go on with this kind of work in Wales, Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, ete. The greater the efforts which are being made, to put aside the Word of God, or to do with- out it, the-more it becomes us to spread it abroad, with earnest, believing, expecting, persevering prayer. 8, It will be interesting to the Christian reader to learn, that during this year alone, we circulated in Spain 3,105 Bibles, 7,822 Testaments, 5,674 Psalms, and 31,614 Gospels. - In Italy we circulated during this year alone, in the former Papal State, 1,541 Bibles and 7,164 Testaments. With reference to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in the former Papal State, from May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, I can only give the following account, as a specimen of the letters received. Mr. W., who labours in the Gospel in Rome and the former Papal State, writes on August 10, 1871, from Albano :— My dear brother in the Lord, yours of the 28th of July, containing cheque for £40., has reached me. I thankfully acknowledge the same. You will see from the enclosed account that I have been to various cities in the province, several of them at a considerable: distance from Rome. At Corneto the reception given to us was most entusiastic. At Subiaco there was quite a different state of things. The priests of Tivoli had sent a tele- graphic despatch in cyphers to that city, so that, on com- mencing the distribution in the streets, I found four or five priests were passing from shop to shop exciting the people against me. I therefore retired for a little while to a café. A considerable crowd gathered in the piazza, and the head of the police came to speak with me. He said that there was extreme peril, and besought me not to expose myself again. After a long conversation with him, I consented to work privately. The crowd, however, con- tinued to increase in the piazza, and when I had finished the distribution of the New Testaments, a man followed me out of the city with the intention of stabbing me. But this was providentially prevented by the Christian brother who accompanied me, and a second attempt by two policemen, who came from a bye-way just as the man was about (0 effect his design. Subiaco is a city of bri- gands: many are very sincere Catholics, but I believe the Lord is calling some to Himself there. I found on my AAs 538 [A.D. 1872. return to Tivoli, where on a former visit I had distributed Scriptures, that the priests had arranged to shoot us on our descent through an olive-yard ; but the thing failed, and now there is a weekly meeting in that city, which is well attended. I came to Albano in consequence of the great heat in Rome and the Malaria, which had brought several attacks of fever to my children. Here in Albano, we have had a glorious proof of what the Word of God, under the blessing of the Spirit, can accomplish apart from the preaching of the same. My time, for some weeks after coming here, was so occupied at Rome and in other parts that I did very little here, and nothing in the way of preaching. Meanwhile Mrs. W. went from shop to shop and house to house, leaving copies of the Word, and thus the whole city was stirred. The priests did all they could to obtain the Scriptures given, but, as far as we are able to judge, have not been able to get more than two or three copies. One of these was torn in pieces and strewn round my house. Another was given to a priest by a man who attends our meeting. When it was known that he had done so, some who frequent our meet ing desired that he should be excluded as a traitor. About a fortnight since I opened my house for the reading of the Scriptures. Several came the first night, about 30 the second, and last night about 50 came. Ten or twelve women were present, and some seemed much impressed. Poor people ! their condition is deplorable, much worse than in Rome itself, because these mountainous districts have been long infested with brigandage. Even the children carried arms, and the most horrible crimes are frequently committed. Last week a mother, in her rage, bit pieces out of her own child, and then in a fit of rage murdered her. Popery has thus degraded the people. Mrs. W. has been much encouraged among the soldiers here. The officers desired all those who wished to possess the New Testament to add their names to a list. Sixty- nine made application in writing. One, whose time of service has expired, professes to be converted, and left for Rome this morning, in the hope of giving himself ere long to the work of the Lord. Others desire a meeting during the day, being unable to come at ifight. Next week I purpose (D.V.) going into the northern part of the Roman State, round about Viterbo, which is a large -. A.D. 1872.] 539 and important city. Mr. Rosetti will, by your direction, forward Scriptures to me there. I take the liberty of ask- ing him to send me another thousand New Testaments to that address. I have bought a mule and a small carriage, which I propose using to visit the towns and cities round Rome. As many of the towns are on the mountains, to escape malaria, this seems the best way of visiting them. I should be thankful to have 10,000 or 12,000 copies of the Scriptures in September, and as many for the following month. The openings are great. I have now many ac- quaintances in many parts of the State, and I trust the Lord will raise up groups of Bible readers on every hand.” During this year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for Missions, the sum of £11,640. 9s. 44d. By this sum One Hundred and Eighty-seven labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree assisted. Their labours were again blessed, during the year, in the conversion of thou- sands of souls. . From May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, £1,118. 11s. 7d. was expended of the Funds of the Institution on the cir- culation of Tracts; and there were circulated during that year more than Three Millions Six Hundred and Eighty- four Thousand (exactly 3,684,842) Tracts and Books. More than Three Millions Three Hundred and Twenty- Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during that year, were given away gratuitously. During this year very many cases came before us, in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institu- tion, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. At the beginning of the period from May 26, 1871 to May 26, 1872, there were 1,845 Orphans in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5. During the year 260 Orphans were admitted into the five houses now in operation; so that the total number on May 26, 1872, would have been 2105, had there been no changes; but, of these 2105, Twenty-three died during the past year. This number is exceedingly smal, if it is remembered, that three-fourths of all the children under our care lost one or both parents by consumption, which we know from the official certificates of the death of the parents. Of the twenty-three who died, two were infants, and fifteen died as believere, indeed most of these 540 [A.D. 1872. fifteen were in a most blessed state of soul before their removal, longing to be with the Lord Jesns. One of the girls we were obliged to expel from the Institution, on account of the evil influence which she exercised over the other children. Twenty-three of the Orphans were re turned to their relatives, either because they were by that time able to provide for them, and wished to do so ; or because the children were afflicted with epileptic fits, spinal disease, mental weakness, or could, for other reasons, not be trained for service or sent out as apprentices. Forty- six of the boys were sent out to be apprenticed, at the expense of the Orphan Establishment. Twenty-two of those Forty-six boys had known the Lord some time, before they were sent out. One Hundred and Nine girls were sent out to service, Twenty-seven of whom had been believers some time previously. Two hundred and Two are therefore to be deducted from the 2105, so that on May 26, 1872, we had only 1903 Orphans under our care, viz : 298 in No. 1, 362 in No. 2, 444 in No. 3, 450 in No. 4, and 349 in No. 5. The total of the expenses, connected with the support of the 2105 Orphans, under our care during that year, amounted to £25,190. 12s. 5½d. We enter now upon the year from May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873. In giving the statistics of the previous year, I referred already to the great spiritual blessing, which it pleased the Lord to grant to the Orphan_Work at the end of that year and the beginning of this ; but, as this is so deeply importantTa subject,! enter somewhat further and more fully into it here. It was stated before, that the spiritual condition of the Orphans generally gave to us great sor row of heart, because there were so few, comparatively, among them, who were in earnest about their souls^ and resting on the atoning death of the Lord Jesus for salvation. This our sorrow led us to lay it on the whole staff of assistants, matrons and teachers, to seek earn estly the Lord's blessing on the souls of the children. This was done in our united prayer meetings, and, I have reason to believe, in secret also ; and in answer to these our secret and united prayers, in the year 1872, there were, as the result of this^ more believers by far afiibngThe Orphans than ever. On Jan. 8, 1872, the Lord began to work among them, and this work was going on A.D. 1873.] 541 more or less afterwards. In the New Orphan House No. 3, it showed itself least, till it pleased the Lord to lay His hand heavily on that house, by the small pox; and, from that time the working of the Holy Spirit was felt in that house also, particularly in one department. At the end of July, 1872, I received the statements of all the matrons and teachers in the five houses, who reported to _ me, that, after careful observation and conversation, they . had gvod reason to believe that 729 of the Orphans then under our care, were believers wine Lod Jens This number of believing Orphans is by far greater than ever we had, for which we adore and praise the Lord! See how the Lord overruled the great trial, occasioned by the small- pox, and turned it into a great blessing! See, also, how, after so low a state, comparatively, which led us to prayer, ' earnest prayer, the working of the Holy Spirit was more ; manifest than ever! I will now notice some of the especial blessings which the Lord was pleased to bestow upon us, during the year from May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873, in connexion with the Institattor————— 1, During the whole of the year we were remarkably free from illness among the Orphans. It would be diffi- cult to ix upon any one year, since the commencement of the Orphan Work, during which we were more free from disease among them, considering the vast number who were under our care. 2, I also gratefully own, that the Lord’s working by ~ His Holy Spirit among them continued during the whole year more or less. 3, We were enabled still further greatly to enlarge the School Department of the Institution, as during this year | twelve more Day Schools were added to the Institution and seven Sunday Schools; so that there were then fifty-two Day Schools, 23 Sunday Schools, and 8 Adult Schools entirely supported by its funds. I gave myself particu- larly to the increase of this part of the work, as I consider it to be more and more important to this country, as well as to Spain, Italy, India, British Guiana, etc., to seek to bring the truth of the Holy Scriptures before the rising generation. 4, We were again permitted, during this year also, very i 542 [4.D. 1873. largely to circulate the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts, and that with manifest blessing. 5, During this year also the Lord’s blessing rested upon all the various Objects of the Institution, upon which here- after I shall dwell more particularly, in giving an account of the operations in connexion with the Objects of the Institution. - 6, The considerable help, which I received from Mr. Wright during this year, in the direction of the Institu- tion, as well as the valuable aid received from my other fellow-labourers, calls for particular notice among the especial blessings, which the Lord bestowed upon the work during the year. : Though during this year the price of provisions was considerably higher than usual, and the price of coal nearly twice as much as in former years; yet the Lord was pleased to give us all we needed for the 2208 Orphans who were under our care. And though the expenses in connexion with all the Schools, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, the aiding Missionary operations at Home and Abroad, and the circulation of Gospel Tracts, called for such large sums; yet this year also we were helped. The total amount expended from May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873, was above Forty One Thousand and Five Hundred Pounds (£41,537. 16s. 104d.) As the statistics of the various parts of the Institution, in this volume, draw now to a-close, I will, on that ac- ‘count, for the sake of the readers who are unacquainted with the Reports, be somewhat more minute. The Objects of the Institution are :— 1. To assist Day-Schools, Sunday-Schools, and Adult- Schools, in which Instruction is given upon Scriptural principles, and, as far as the Lord may give the means, supply us with suitable teachers, and in other respects make our path plain, to establish Schools of this kind, a. By Day-Schools taught upon Scriptural principles, we understand Day-Schools in which the teachers are believers,—in which the way of salvation is scripturally pointed out,—and in which no instruction is given which is opposed to the principles of the Gospel. From May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873, Fifty-ITwo such Day-Schools were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, of which number Twelve were added to those which were in the A.D. 1873.] 543 previous year supported. Of these Fifty-Two Schools, there were four in Bristol, one at Callington, one at Kenilworth, one in Liverpool, one at Howie Hill, one at Burrington, two at Walham Green, three on the Blackdown Hills, four at Barnstaple, three in Exeter, two at Purton in Gloucestershire, one at Cubit Town, London, one at Saul, Gloucestershire, one at Yeovil, one at Otterford, one at North End near London, one at Chittlehamholt, one at Cow Cross, London, and one at Hopton. These are the Home Schools, besides which there were seven in Spain, five in India, three in Italy, and six in British Gniana. Besides these Fifty-two Day- Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, five other Day-Schools were assisted, two in London, one in Dorsetshire, one in Worcestershire, and one in. Scotland. The master of one of the Bristol Schools writes : " In answering the question, ' Any conversions ?' I should not like to speak positively, but I have reason to believe that four of my elder boys are the subjects of Divine Grace." —Another master of one of the Bristol Day Schools writes, in reporting about his School : " One boy professes to love the Lord who died for him. His father, a Godly man, believes his son to be born again. Another boy, lately arrived in Canada, writes to me, ' I have Jesus in my heart, and feel very happy.' A third, who has been very ill and lost a brother, was deeply impressed and anxious about his soul, and his conduct is evidently in fluenced by thinking of the next world. There are a few other cases that are encouraging. I feel very thankful to God when I meet with one and another of my old scholars who believe in Jesus and have joined Christian churches. This year there has been more spiritual work among the boys than with the adults. During part of the year prayer meetings have been held after school for any boys who wanted their souls blessed. They have on the whole been well attended, and I feel the Lord has blessed them."—A third master of one of the Bristol Schools reports thus about his School : " During the past year a weekly prayer meeting has been held by the children, my self presiding. Previous to prayer I have spoken to them of their sinful state by nature, and of the amazing love of our Lord Jesus Christ in dying to save them, and have, at the same time, earnestly entreated them to con- 544 [A.D. 1873. secrate themselves at once to God. Many of the children seem to be impressed. I have been much cheered by many of the children manifesting a growing love for the Bible lessons."—The mistress of a fourth school in Bristol sends the following account about her school : " The Lord has again given great cause for praise and thanksgiving, during the past year, for His rich blessing on the dear children through the instrumentality of His own Word. Nine of them have been awakened to see their need of a Saviour, and are anxiously inquiring after the things which make for their everlasting peace. The other dear children, who were during the previous year brought to a saving know ledge of Christ Jesus, are very desirous of knowing more of Him, and are also concerned about the souls of some of their relatives and companions : thus they testify that they possess a faith which worketh by love."—The master of the School at Callington sends this information to the School Inspector : " One dear little boy has died, we trust he is now with the Lord. The young man to whom I called your attention, during the Inspection last year, professes to belong to the Lord Jesus, and manifests by his general conduct that his name is indeed written in the Lamb's book of Life. The general condition of the School, I believe to be much improved through the Divine blessing." —The master of the Howie Hill School writes : " I grieve to say we have but one case of conversion to God, to re port amongst the children."—The mistress of the Bur- rington School reports thus about her School : " There have been no conversions to God, but a thoughtful attention on the part of several of the elder ones, and a growing interest among all. They love their School, most of them, and would not be absent a day if they could help it."—The master of Walham Green Schools writes to the School Inspector : " The school is much as you saw it last, excepting that the routine'for the afterno&n is altered considerably (much improved I think). We admit but few now, have had to refuse about 60 children. You know we have a reading meeting for the children at Laud's End, to which are specially invited those who profess to be the Lord's. Twenty-one gave me their names and addresses, professing to have been converted, besides eight or nine others. For the consistent walk (as far as we may judge) of six others, we have reason to praise the Lord, and in A.D. 1873.] 545 many others there is, we believe, life."—The master of the School in Silver Street, Barnstaple, reports : " As to con versions, we have three decided cases in my school, and a few hopeful ones. My chief trial is the lack in the regular attendance of the children. Nevertheless there are some things which encourage us very much, and we therefore thank God, and take courage." — The master of the Boys' School, in Bear Street, Barnstaple, states : " As to conversions, I cannot say there have been any : but I am greatly encouraged in the boys by the attention which they give, which manifests that they are interested in hearing of those things which are necessary for their present and future welfare."—The mistress of the Girls' School, in Bear Street, Barnstaple, writes: " One little girl we believe to be truly converted, and the interest manifested by the dear children, when reading the Scriptures, encourages us to expect greater things from the Lord."—The master of the School in Exeter, writes : " As yet we are denied the joy —and it is a grief to us—of having to relate facts of conversion to God. Those children in whom we had hope are still in an undecided state. It is not well, I think, to press them much. Great care is needed also, I think, lest harm be done, by hastily recognizing a change. How ever it is our work—and a glad work it would be—to encourage and foster, not discourage any signs of spiritual life. Let me ask you to continue to unite with us in prayer, that the Divine blessing may accompany our endeavours to furnish the youthful mind with Bible truth." —The master of the School at Purton, in Gloucestershire, writes : " Of the spiritual state of our schools, we feel that through all eternity we shall have to praise God for having so abundantly blessed our labours. Last May we spoke of signs which we regarded as evincing the strivings of the Spirit, and, soon after, our hearts were melted at the gracious outpouring of the Spirit upon the children. In the month of October, the work of conversion began, and, we bless God, we can say, since that time has gradually gone on, so that now we have fourteen children, and one since removed to Bristol (in all fifteen), all of whom we hope are truly converted to God. Four have joined the Church, and give us great joy, as do also several of the others. Then the work of conversion has not stopped here, but has spread also to the Parents, four of whom we 546 [A.D. 1873. hope are converted, two of them have joined the Church, and one has let us a room about a mile from here, in which to preach the Gospel, and where we are looking and pray ing for great blessing, as many of the people, living there, never go anywhere to hear the Gospel. Thus we are lost in wonder, love and praise, when we think of all the Lord has done for us. I should also state that the children have a prayer meeting every Tuesday evening for those who are converted, and any who are seeking the Lord, after which I take them in a Bible Class. There is also a prayer meeting among the children who stay to dinner, in the day school."—The master of the School at Otter - ford, in Somersetshire, reports thus: "I think I may confidently state one conversion to God (a girl), who some few weeks since ' fell asleep.' I visited her after she left the School (during her sickness) ; she then said that at the School she found that she was a lost sinner, but was exceedingly happy to say that she also found the lost sinner's Saviour. She died very happy."— The mistress of the School at North End, near London, states in her report : " The Lord is blessing us at North End, and I believe there is a good work begun in some of the elder ones, manifest in their walk, and a desire to know more of Jesus. That they may soon know Him as their Saviour, is my earnest prayer. I have had great encouragement in my Sunday School Class, five of my girls have been con verted, and are now on their way rejoicing. I feel very happy in my work, and that the Lord placed me here in answer to prayer."—The mistress of the School at Chittle- hamholt, Devon, writes : " The children manifest great interest in the Scriptures, but I have not yet seen any decided conversions."—The master of the School at Clay- hidon, Somersetshire, writes : " I believe there are quite ten if not a dozen of the boys and girls in the day school, that are really the Lord's ; they are never ashamed to confess as much, and although they need correction sometimes (children-like) yet I think they are truly lambs of Jesus' fold. I should not forget to say that several who have during the past year left the school, have given very clear and decided proofs of their conversion to God. We are in constant communication with them, and in each letter they evidence a certain and unmistakeable manifestation of the real heart change. One young man who left me last A.D. 1873.] 547 summer for America, of whom I gave a few particulars for the last Report, and who was brought to Jesus last Good Friday twelve-mouths, still writes of his peace and joy in the Lord, and of the blessing he received while at the school. There are others who have left, who are now feeling the power of the truth, sown in their hearts while at school, thus proving the truth of God's Word, ' My word shall not return unto me void,' and again, ' the word of the Lord liveth and abideth for ever.' " The schools in Spain were full of the deepest interest. In the Fifty-two Day Schools entirely supportecTljy tha funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1873, Three Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Six pupils. Of the Schools merely assisted, no report as to numbers is asked, nor other particulars. b. Sunday-schools, in which the teachers are believers, and in which the Holy Scriptures alone are the founda tion of instruction,—are such only as the Institution supports or assists ; for we consider it unscriptural that any persons, who do not profess to know the Lord themselves, should be engaged in giving religions instruction. There were during this year twenty-three Sunday- schools connected with the Institution, which were entirely supported by its funds. In these twenty-three Sunday- schools, there were on May 26, 1873, altogether 2452 scholars. There were likewise, during the year, eleven Sunday-schools to a greater or less degree assisted, by the funds of the Institution. Regarding these eleven Sunday-schools, which were only partly supported, no report, as to numbers or otherwise, was requested to be sent in. O\ the twenty-three Sunday-schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 6 were in Spain, 1 in British Guiana, 1 in Bristol, 1 at Callington, 1 at Kenilworth, 1 at Liverpool, 1 at Burrington, 1 at Walham Green, 1 at Clayhidon, 1 at Purton, 1 at Cubit Town, 1 at Otterford, 1 at North End, 1 at Cow Cross, 3 at Portsea, and 1 at Hopton. Of the eleven Sunday Schools, which were as sisted, 4 were in Gloucestershire, 1 in Worcestershire, 1 in Devonshire, 1 in Suffolk, 1 in Kent, 1 in Sussex, 1 in Yorkshire, and 1 in Ireland. The Lord was pleased to grant again much blessing in the Sunday School in Bristol during this year also, as during the year before. The Report about the Sunday "548 [A.D. 1873. School at Burrington is : " One has been received into fellowship during the past year, and is now a teacher in the school ; and we may hope there is a steady work going on in the hearts of some others." The superintendent of the North End School writes :— " I will not say much about conversions, as to number. The Lord has been working in some during the past year, and we believe has brought some to the knowledge of Himself, especially the class called the ' Girls' Bible Class.' Mrs. A. has a prayer meeting with her class once a month, and she tells me that those who professed Christ pray very sweetly and earnestly for those who are unconverted in the school. There are others who are very anxious, and I trust will soon be brought to settled peace. We have been much troubled during the year with the first class of boys ; they are so uuruly and inattentive. It is very singular that the lad, who was the greatest trouble to me when unconverted, sometimes almost unbearable (now grown a young man), has volunteered to take this troublesome class, because he says he was like them once, and is so glad he was not turned out of school, but that the Lord met with him and saved him. I saw him the other Sunday after his class was gone, the tears in his eyes, and oh ! how earnestly he prayed for them. We do hope the Lord will yet hear prayer and save those, the worst in the school, that His grace may be magnified. We are constantly changing scholars, some moving to other parts of London, others to America ; but the number is steadily increasing." c. The Institution does not support or assist any Adult School, except the teachers are believers. There were, during this year, Eight Adult Schools, with 332 scholars, connected with the Institution, which were entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there were four in Spain, one in India, one in Bristol, one at Walham Green, and one at Callington. In addition to these eight Adult Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there was one at Barnstaple assisted. It will appear, from the foregoing statement, that there were altogether Eighty-three Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution (52 Day Schools, 23 Sunday Schools, 8 Adult Schools) : and that during the year 1 7 Schools were assisted, viz. 5 Day Schools, 1 1 Sunday Schools, and 1 Adult School. From what has A.D. 1873.] 549 been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in the Eighty- three Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1873, altogether 6,620 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, up to May 26, 1873, amounts to Thirty- two Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-nine, viz. there were 19,763 in all the Days Schools, 7,796 in all the Sunday Schools, and 5,300 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the year, in connexion with the various Schools, amounts to £2920. 9s. 3½d. This does not include £1330. 7s. 6d., expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund. There was expended on the Schools from the beginning of the Institution, to May 26, 1873, £23,162. 7s. 2d. 2. The second object of this Institution is, to circulate the Holy Scriptures. We sell Bibles and Testaments to poor persons at reduced prices, or, if the cases be found suitable, give them altogether gratuitously. In cases of needy schools, carried on in the fear of God, it would be joy in the Lord to us, to supply them with as many copies of the Holy Scriptures as they may require. This applies especially to all mis sionary efforts in foreign lands, or to any Scriptural means which are used to spread the truth of God in the dark places of our own land. Our particular aim, in circulating the Holy Scriptures, is, to seek out the very poorest of the poor, through visits from house to house, in order to find out the neod of the Holy Scriptures, and to supply persons either entirely gratis or on the payment of a small amount. With this we especially combine the furnishing aged persons with copies in large type, a point of great moment, as the smallness of the type, even where a copy of the Bible is possessed, would keep many aged persons from reading it ; and, also, because it is well known that Bibles, printed in large type, are, up to this present day, expensive, considering the means of the poor. We have been greatly assisted in these efforts of searching out the most needy persons, destitute of the Holy Scriptures, by many servants of Christ, who, in England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Nova Scotia, Canada, British Guiana, the East Indies, Australia, 550 [4.D. 1873. Africa, China, &c., have sought to circulate God’s Holy “Word. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of | the Holy Scriptures, which were circulated from May 26, ' 1872, to May 26, 1873, is as follows ; 5,439 Bibles were sold. 879 Bibles were given away. 22,574 New Testaments were sold. : 12,852 New Testaments were given away. 453 Copies of the Psalms were sold. 213 Copies of the Psalms were given away 4,158 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures were sold. 18,328 Ditto were given away. There were circulated from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1873, through the medium of this Institution, 81,710 Bibles, 174,644 New Testaments, 14,271 copies of the Psalms, and 150,939 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. Bibles, New Testaments, and smaller portions of the Holy Scriptures may at any time be procured at the Bible and Tract Warehouse of the Scriptural Knowledge In- - stitution, 34, Park Street, Bristol. There are kept in stock, 180 different sorts of English Bibles, each varying from the other in type or binding, or by being with or without marginal references. Their prices range from 6d. to £4. 18s. The large assortment of Pocket Bibles, from 6d. to £1. 6s. 6d., furnishes the public with a great variety for choice. There may be had also 28 different kinds of New Testaments. By personal application, or by writing to Mr. James L. Stanley, the manager of the Depository, 34, Park Street, Bristol, a catalogue of the whole Stock of Bibles, Testaments, and other portions of the Holy Scriptures, with their prices, may be obtained. During the past thirteen years and a half we have especially availed ourselves of the openings which the Lord has been pleased to give for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Italy, so that many thousands of Italian Bibles and Testaments have been circulated. Mr. W., labouring in Rome and the ex-papal state generally, writes in June, 1872 :—“ Notes of a Bible tour in the Cioceria or in the valley of the Sacco, on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of June, 1872. The Cioceria A.D. 1873.] 551 is one of the least civilized parts of Italy. It is separated from Rome by the uncultivated, and pestiferous Campagna. Physically the people are the finest in Italy. Many of them come to Rome in the winter and gain their liveli hood by hiring themselves out as models to the painters and sculptors of the world, who flock to the city during that season. The children seemed to me lovely, and I could not but feel sad at the second fall the pagan system of Rome has prepared for them. The old people seem to have lost all traces of amiability, to be stripped of every thing like light, and to be clothed with degradation and sin. In these parts crime of every kind is rife, ignorance and abject superstition hold sway, and brigandage infests all parts of the province. Though the soil is mostly fertile, great poverty is visible ; and though the district is situated between Rome and 'Naples, the people for shoes . wrap pieces of hide about their feet, plough their ground with pieces- of wood, and the women sit grinding at the mills, while the water passes unutilized to the plains below. Tuesday, 11. Left Rome by the via Appia. Gave copies of the New Testaments or Gospels to all we met. At a cottage door near Albano, I saw a boy sat down reading a New Testament, which he had received from me some time before. The people in Albano were sur prised to see me, the priests having circulated the rumour that I had been swallowed up in the recent eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Went to salute the brethren, who prayed us very tenderly to come or send some one to preach to them. Continued the journey to Velletri. Dis tributed by the way. Met two men who had the Word, and several who had received it from me. My companion offered a Gospel to a friar, and, when the latter was about to tear it in pieces, snatched it from his hands. Much difficulty in finding beds at Velletri. Passed the night in a wretchedly small room, where we suffered much from the lack of cleanliness and ventilation (27 miles the first day). Wednesday. Started early in the morning and went to Cisterna, where we sold 140 New Testaments and gave away tracts and Gospels. The people received us with the greatest expressions of kindness. Conversations very interesting. I made an effort to go to Cori, a place where the Word was torn on my former visit, but did not succeed. The mule started aeide aud threw one of my companions 552 fA-D- 1873. with violence to the ground, bruising his face in such a manner, that I was obliged to send for a surgeon from Cisterna. Returned to Velletri (to-day travelled about 25 miles). Thursday. Velletri to Montefortino, a town on the slope of a mountain. Went into many houses, sold 30 New Testaments, gave tracts, &c. Went on fifteen miles farther to Segni, a city far up among the mountains. This city, like many others in this province, is scarcely ever visited by strangers. The people, cut off as they are from the great centres of Italian life, remain in the state they were under the Pope. They are often greatly prejudiced against the present government, and in this city against the Gospel. As most of the men descend at this time of year from the city to the vineyards and fields on the plain, we arose at 4 a.m. and took our stand at the gate of the city, sold 32 New Testaments, and distributed. Friday. Left Segni at half-past six a.m. and proceeded to Auagni, a large city on a hill on the other side of the valley. Here I visited a large number of prisoners in the public prison ; they received the Scriptures with joy. Most of them were brigands. The people received us with enthusiasm. In a very short time we distributed tracts, gospels, and sold more than 200 New Testaments. I was obliged to go away from this city, or I should not have kept a copy for the next place. (Note. Since my visit, some who received and read the Scriptures have invited my companion in labour at Rome to go and preach. Not being able to do so, the Wesleyans have accepted, and now there is a numerous meeting in that city). Arrived at Ferentino at 4.30 p.m. Having but 66 New Testaments with us, we sold them very soon. A priest, to whom I offered a New Testament, said he would soon have one. Thinking he meant some of the copies distributed would soon be brought to him ; I said, our Lord was permitted to be slain and guarded in the tomb by His enemies, but He was raised with glory ; and that the same power kept the word of Scripture. The priest said, you mistake me. I mean to take the Gospel, and preach it soon to this poor people. We conversed with him for some time, and when we left he publicly kissed one of my companions, and expressed great thankfulness tt> me. As we were descending from Ferentino towards Frosinone, thanking the Lord, and being almost overcome with joy, a carriage came behind us, driven A.D. 1873.] 553 furiously. As it passed us by, we saw from the back, that it belonged to the bishop, and contained a priest with three gentlemen, who looked ferociously at us as they passed. When we arrived near Frosinone we met the same carriage, descending from the city, and encountered the same menacing glances. When we had entered Frosinone, and taken sume refreshment, two gens d'sjrmes came to us, and desired us to accompany them to the guard house. As I had not my passport with me, and as it was not possible to find a magistrate, or official of any influence, we were rudely searched and then conducted to the inner prison, a small room, without ventilation, unwholesome and unclean, in which there were two bags of straw for three of us, and a bottle of water. We spent some time in read ing the precious Word of the Master and were greatly cheered ; then sang praises, and, after blessing His holy name that we were counted worthy to work and suffer for Him, slept as best we could. The next morning there was quite a stir in the place, and we appeared before various authorities and had much conversation. Several came to ask for Scriptures. In the prison I found one soldier had a Gospel, and another a New Testament, which I had given to him at Tivoli. The Lord gave us several proofs of His presence here, but we thought it well to defer the distribution of the Scriptures in that city ; so we drove to the station and had the boxes waiting for us returned. Then we drove 36 miles, after which I took train to be in Rome for the Sunday services. I desire to remark : I. That the new field, open to us here, is evidently ripe unto the harvest. Though there is much opposition, and much brigandage, there is scarcely any Atheism. II. I sold New Testaments at 1d. the copy, and this commends itself to my mind. III. I am trusting to the Lord to furnish me with 100,000 Scriptures for the thickly populated district between Rome and Naples. IV. I have no one to whom I could entrust this work, which seems to need a special call and much grace ; so that at present I must look to the Lord to enable me to do it myself. V. As the cities are among the mountains (some of them 4000 feet high) and the railway is in the plain, while I can make use of the latter for the transfer of boxes, I shall need a strong horse for visiting the cities on the mountains." For some years past, we have also circulated many B B 554 [A.D. 1873. Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Swedish, Danish, Welsh, and Dutch Bibles and Testaments ; likewise Testa ments in Rnss. There are kept for sale at the Depository, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol, cheap Bibles and Testaments in the follow ing languages : Welsh, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Also the New Testament only in Russ, Swedish, Ancient Greek, and Greek and En glish. Likewise the Old Testament and Psalms in Hebrew. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent from May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,281. 4s. The total amount spent, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1873, is £15,593. 1s. 8d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was \conlinued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that lland, during this year, as during the previous years ; but for all the deeply interesting letters received from Spain, with regard to the circulation of the Word of God, as well as with reference to the Schools, which were established by th«m in that country, the reader is referred to the Report for 1873. Before leaving this part of the operations of the In stitution, and writing about Missions, I make the follow ing remarks : 1, To the careful reader it will be obvious, how greatly this part of the Institution, as well as the School department, has been of late years enlarged ; and yet the openings become more and more still. 2. During the year from May 26, 1872 to May 26, 1873, we con tinued, by the help of an earnest Christian brother, to introduce the Holy Scriptures into the factories and mills of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottingham shire. Many thousands of copies of the New Testament and many Bibles were thus placed again in the hands of men, women, boys, and girls working in these factories and mills ; and this work steadily is going on. This dear man goes from one mill to the other, and from one factory to the other, and often disposes of hundreds of copies in one place. The expense to meet this is considerable ; but the importance is very great. 3. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid missionary efforts. A.D. 1873. ] 555 During this year was expended of the funds of the Jnstitution,.for this Object, the sum of £10,737. 14s. Od. By this sum One Hundred and Highty-seven labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. The Reader will have observed, how greatly the Missionary Object of this Institution has been of late years enlarged; and, by the help of the Lord, our inten- tion is, to enlarge it yet further and further.— With regard to these 187 labourers in the Gospel, in various parts of the world, whom we sought to assist during this year, I repeat, that they are not the Missionaries of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, nor do we bind ourselves to give them a stated salary, for this would lead them out of the "position of simple dependence upon God for their temporal supplies; but when we hear of any man of God labouring for the Lord in the Word, whether in a more public or private way, whether at Home or Abroad, who is not con- nected with any society, nor in the way of receiving a regular salary, and who seems to us to stand in need of help, and is working in such a spirit, as that, with a good conscience, acting in the fear of God, we could help him with the means, with which Christian donors intrust us; we are glad to assist such an one. Moreover, as the number of these brethren, who have been brought to our knowledge by the Lord’s ordering, has more and more increased, and a large sum has been required to help them even in a small degree, we have laboured in prayer, that the Lord would be pleased to intrust us with means for this purpose ; and, accordingly, He has given us larger and larger sums. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which was spent on Missionary operations from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1873, is £127,075. 10s. 54d. 4, The fourth object of the Institution is, the circula- tion of such publications as may be calculated, with the blessing of God, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. As it respects tracts for unbelievers, we especially aim after the diffusion of such, as contain the truths of the Gospel clearly and simply expressed; and as it respects publica- tions for believers, we desire to circulate such as may be instrumental in directing their minds to those truths which, in these last days, are more especially needed, or BB2 - 6 556 [A.D. 1873. which have been particularly lost sight of, and may lead believers to return to the written Word of God. There was laid out for this object, from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873, the sum of £1254. 19s. 8d. ; and there were circulated within the year more than Three Mil lions Six Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand (exactly 3,625,203) Tracts and Books. The sum total which was expended on this object, from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1873, amounts to £22,211. 10s. 3½d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which were circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1873, is above Forty-six Millions and Two Hundred Thousand (exactly 46,203,757). More than Three Millions and Sixty Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. During this year many cases came before us, in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been ! sent out from the lnstitution, was blessed to the conver- I sion of sinners. Tract distributors who can afford to pay for publications, and who desire to procure them from us, may obtain Tracts for this purpose with a discount of one-half, or 50 per cent. from the retail price, and Books with a discount of 25 per cent. or one fourth from the retail price. We state this, as many believers may not like to give away what does not cost them anything, and yet may, at the same time, wish to obtain as much as possible, for their money. Applications for this would need to be made verbally or in writing to Mr. James L. Stanley, at the Bible and Tract Warehouse, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol. To him, also, application may be made for specimen packets, containing an assortment of the Tracts and small Books which are kept. By sending 3s., 5s., 7s., or 10s., in postages to Mr. Stanley, packets will be sent to any part of England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Jersey Guern sey, &c., containing specimens to the amount of the postages which are sent. A Catalogue of the various Books and Tracts sold at the above Warehouse of the Institution, with their prices, may be had there, by applying either personally or by loiter to Mr. Stanley. There are kept on sale 1032 different books, large and small ; and 809 different Tracts, which number is continually added to. A.D. 1873.] 557 5. The fifth object of the Institution is, to board, clothe, , and Scripturally educate destitute children who have lost BOTH parents by death. At the commencement of the period, from May 26, 1872, to May 26, 1873, there were 1903 Orphans in the new Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5. During the year 305 Orphans were admitted into the five houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1873, would have been Two Thousand Two Hundred and Eight, had there been no changes. But of these 2208, Twenty-five died during the year, 15 of whom fell asleep in Jesus as decided believers, and four were young infants. Three we were obliged to expel from the Institution, in mercy to the other children, whom they sought to corrupt. After all means had been tried to benefit them, this measure, as the last, was resorted to. We follow them with our prayers. Six of the Orphans we were obliged to return to their friends or relatives, on account of incurable diseases, which made them suitable inmates for an hospital, but not for a training institution for domestic servants or apprentices for trades. Fourteen girls were returned to their relatives or friends, because they could not be recommended for service, either on account of moral or physical defects. Twelve Orphans were given up to relatives, who were then able to provide for them and desired to do so. One of these was a believer, as was also one of those who were returned on account of incurable diseases. Forty-six of the boys were apprenticed to trades or businesses. Out of these 46 boys, 24 left the Institution as believers in the Lord Jesus. One Hundred and Nine girls were sent out as servants, Seventy-three of whom had been believers in the Lord Jesus, before they left. During no previous year, since the work has been in existence, have we had the joy of sending out so many believers to service or as appren tices, as during this year. Two Hundred and Fifteen are therefore to be deducted from the 2208, so that on May 26, 1873, we had actually only 1993 Orphans under our care, viz. 291 in No. 1, 378 in No. 2, 435 in No. 3, 450 in No. 4, and 439 in No. 5. The total number of Orphans under our care, from April 11, 1836 to May 26, 1873, is 4140. The amount of means expended during the year, on the 558 [A.D. 1873. support of the 2208, who were under our care, was £25,292. 14s. 9d. I notice further the following points respecting the Or phan work : 1. The girls, who are received into the establishment, are kept till they are able to go to service. Our aim is to keep them till they shall have been sufficiently qualified for a situation, and, especially also, till their constitution is sufficiently established, as far as we are able to judge. We uniformly prefer fitting the girls for domestic service, instead of apprenticing them to a business, as being, generally, far better for their bodies and souls. Only in a few instances have female Orphans been apprenticed to businesses, when their health would not allow them to go to service. If the girls give us satisfaction, while under our care, so that we can recommend them to a situation, they are fitted out at the expense of the establishment. The girls, generally, remain under our care till they are about 17 years old. They very rarely leave sooner ; and, as we receive children from their earliest days, we have often had girls 13, 14, yea, above 17 years, under our care. They are instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, English history, a little of universal history, all kinds of useful needlework, and house hold work. They make their clothes and keep them in repair ; they work in the kitchens, sculleries, wash-houses and laundries; and, in a word, we aim after this, that, if any of them do not do well temporally or spiritually, and do not turn out useful members of society, it shall at least not be our fault.—The boys are, generally, apprenticed when they are between 14 and 15 years old. But in each case we consider the welfare of the individual Orphan, without having any fixed rule respecting these matters. The boys have a free choice of the trade they like to learn ; but, having once chosen, and being apprenticed, we do not allow them to alter. The boys, as well as the girls, have an outfit provided for them ; and any other expenses, that may be connected with their apprenticeship, are also met by the funds of the Orphan Establishment. It may be interest ing to the reader to know the kind of trades to which we generally apprentice the boys, and I therefore say, that during the last twenty-five years, all the boys who were apprenticed, were bound to carpenters, or carpenters and A.D. 1873.] 559 joiners, cabinet makers, basket makers, boot and shoe makers, tailors and drapers, plumbers, painters and glaziers, linen drapers, printers, bakers, grocers, hair-dressers, iron mongers, tin-plate workers, confectioners, hosiers, builders, millers, gas-fitters, smiths, outfitters, provision dealers, sail-makers, upholsterers, wholesale grocers, chemists, seed merchants, umbrella makers, or electro plate manufacturers. Some have been sent out to become post-office and tele graph clerks. A few were also sent out as clerks to offices. The boys have the same kind of mental cultivation as the girls, and they learn to knit and mend their stockings. They also make their beds, clean their shoes, scrub their rooms, go errands, and work in the garden ground round the Orphan Establishment, in the way of digging, plant ing, weeding, &c. 2. Without any sectarian distinction whatever, and with out favour orpartiality,the Orphans are received in the order in which application is made for them. There is no in terest whatever required to get a child admitted, nor is it expected that any money should be paid with the Orphans. Three things only are requisite : a, that the children should have been lawfully begotten ; b, that they should be bereaved of BOTH parents by death ; and c, that they should be in needy circumstances. Respecting these three points, strict investigation is made, and it is expected that each of them be proved by proper documents ; but that being done, children may be admitted from any place, pro vided that there is nothing peculiar in the case that would make them unsuitable inmates for such establishments as the New Orphan Houses. I state here again, that no sectarian views prompt us, nor even in the least influence us in the reception of children. We do not belong to any sect, and we are not, therefore, influenced in the ad mission of Orphans, by Sectarianism ; but from whereso ever they come ; and to whatsoever religious denomina tion the parents may have belonged ; or with whatever religions body the persons, making application, may be connected ; it makes no difference in the admission of the children. The new Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, Bristol, are not our Orphan Houses, nor the Orphan Houses of any party or sect ; but they are God's Orphan Houses, and the Orphan Houses for any or every destitute Orphan who has lost both parents, provided, of course, 560 [A.D. 1873. there be room in them.—We particularly request that per sons would kindly refrain from applying for children who only virtually are Orphans, but who have not lost BOTH parents by DEATH, as we shall be obliged to refuse them admission, without exception; since this Orphan-work has been from the beginning only for destitute children who have neither father nor mother. 3. The New Orphan House No. 1 is fitted up for the accommodation of 140 Orphan Girls above eight years of age, 80 Orphan Boys above eight years, and 80 female Orphans from their earliest days, till they are about eight years of age. The infants, after having passed the age of eight years, are removed into the department for older girls. The New Orphan House No. 2 is fitted up for 200 lnfant female Orphans, and for 200 older female Orphans. The New Orphan House No. 3 is fitted np for 150 older female Orphans. The New Orphan House No. 4 is fitted up for 21(1 Boys of eight years old and upwards, 208 Infant Boys under eight years of age, and 32 older girls, to do the household work— 450 in all. The New Orphan House No. 5 is fitted up for 210 Infant female Orphans, and for 240 older female Orphans. 4. The New Orphan House No. 1 is open to visitors every Wednesday afternoon, the New Orphan House No. 2 every Tuesday afternoon, the New Orphan House No. 3 every Thursday afternoon, the New Orphan House No. 4 every Friday afternoon, and the New Orphan House No. 5 every Saturday afternoon ; but the arrangements of the establishments make it needful, that they should be shown at those times only. No exceptions can be made. —The first party of visitors will be shown through the Houses at half-past two o'clock, God permitting ; the second at three o'clock ; and should there be need for it, the third and last party at half-past three o'clock.— As it takes at least one hour and half to seethe whole of each establishment, it is requested that the visitors will be pleased to make their arrangements accordingly before they come, as it would be inconvenient should one or the other leave, before the whole party has seen the House.—From March 1st to Nov. 1st there may be three parties showu through the Houses, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon ; but from Nov. 1st to March 1st two parties only, at half-past two and three A.D. 1873] 561 o'clock, can be accommodated, on account of the shortness of the days. 5. Persons who desire to make application for the ad- mission of Orphans, are requested to write to me and address the letter to my house, No. 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol. 6. I again state, as regards the funds, that the income for the Orphans has been kept distinct from that for the other Objects, and I purpose to keep it so for the future. Donors may therefore contribute to one or other of the objects exclusively, or have their donations equally divided among all, just as it may appear best to themselves. If any of the donors would wish to leave the application of their dona- tions to my discretion, as the work of God in my hands more especially may call for at the time, they are requested kindly to say so, when sending their donations. It now only remains, to refer very briefly to the last nine months of the fortieth year of the existence of the Institution, from May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874. Up to the last, as from its commencement, the Institu- tion is growing still. During this period, we established 6 more Day-Schools, so that now there are altogether 58 Day-Schools entirely supported by the Institution. And there are 23 Sunday Schools, and 8 Adult Schools con- nected with it, making 89 Schools in all, entirely sup- ported by its funds, besides the very many schools, which more or less, year after year, are assisted. These 89 schools contain more than Seven Thousand pupils. The number who have frequented the schools of the In- stitution, from the beginning up to March 5, 1874, is 37,230. The total amount expended on the Home Schools, from March 5, 1834 to March 5, 1870, amounts to £25,688. 18s. 6d. The Mission Schools are charged to the Mission Fund, to which they more properly belong. ; From May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, we circulated 5041 Bibles, 24,626 New Testaments, 718 copies of the Psalms, and 5636 other small portions of the Holy Scrip- tures. From the beginning of the Institution to March 5, 1874, there were circulated altogether 86,751 Bibles, 199,270 New Testaments, 14,989 copies of the Psalms, and 156,575 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The total amount expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, from March 5, 1834, to March 5, 1874, BB3 x 562 [a-D. 1874. is £16,393. 1s. 8d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures is carried on at Home and Abroad, as in previous years. From May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, there were 190 Missionaries assisted by the Funds of the Institution. The total amount of means, expended on Missions, from March 5, 1834 to March 5, 1874, is £134,075. 10s. 53d. From May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, there were cir- culated above Two Millions Six Hundred and Eighty-one Thousand Tracts and Books (exactly 2,681,183); and from Nov. 19, 1840 to March 5, 1874, nearly Forty-Nine Millions (exactly 48,884,940). The total amount expended on this Object, from the beginning, is £23,011. 10s. 34d. From May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, we had altogether 2186 Orphans under our care. There were, during that time, 193 Orphans received and 199 were sent out. The total number of Orphans, who were under our care from April 11, 1836 to March 5, 1874, is 4833. The amount expended on the Orphan Work, from May 26, 1873 to March 5, 1874, is £18,856. 9s. 1}d. The total amount, which it pleased the Lord to send in for the support of the Orphans and for the building of the Orphan Houses, from December, 1835 to March 5, 1874, is Four Hundred and Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Nine Pounds. (£409,879. 18s. 64d.) The donations for the first four Objects of the Institution amounted to One Hundred Seventy-nine Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Six Pounds (179,476. 12s. 89d.), from March 4, 1834 to March 4, 1874; and that which came in by the sale of the Holy Scriptures, from the commencement, amounts to £6,346. 12s, 9d.; by the sale of Tracts and Books £11,472. 88. 02d; and by the payments of the children in the Day Schools, £4,850. 7s. 5d. The total amount which it pleased the Lord to give me, therefore, from the beginning of the Institution to March 5, 1874, is Six Hun- dred and Twelve Thousand Pounds (exactly £612,025. 19s. 0Zd.). Now, esteemed Christian Reader, admire the Lord with me! Exclaim with me, from your inmost soul, What has God wrought! Remember the small yea, most in- significant beginning of the Institution, as to outward appearance; but couple with this, at the same time, that we set up our banners in the name of the Lord, and that we purposed, that the Living God should be our only A.D. 1856.] 563 Patron. And in this way I have continued to carry on the Institution. Weak, erring and failing, I have been in numberless ways ; but, by God's grace, I have truly sought to carry on this work to His honour and glory ; and thus it is, that the Institution has become what it is now in 1874, after its existence for 40 years. Faith in the Living God, and in Him alone, coupled with prayer, has been my way from March, 1834 to March, 1874 ; and thus it came, that such numberless blessings were obtained ; and thus we were carried through the numberless difficul ties and trials which befell the work, during these forty years ; and in this way, by the grace of God, I purpose to go on to the end of my course ; for so far from being tired of this way, I delight more and more to walk therein. I proceed now to the last chapter. CHAPTER V. Matters more particularly connected with my own personal affairs, or those of my family, from May 26, 1856 to June, 1874. In giving the continuation of my Narrative, I had not only before me the importance of bringing before the reader, how the Lord has been pleased more and more to honor the Scriptural principles, on which the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad was formed on March 5, 1834, though now it is a hundred times larger than it was at the beginning ; but, also, to show, how I have continued regarding my own personal affairs, to act on the same principles which led me in 1830 to do what I did, and how, with every succeeding year, the Lord not only has honored these principles, but has done so more and more. After having now been a believer in the Lord Jesus more than forty-eight years, and after having been thus led by the Lord through a great variety of posi tions and circumstances, I am, and have been, for many years, able to say : The Lord is good and doeth good. Psalm 119, 68. I will now refer to some matters connected with myself, since May 26, 1856, where the Fourth Part of this Narra tive leaves off. In July 1856, the Fourth Part was pub lished, in which, particularly at the close, I plainly stated in figures, how abundantly the Lord had been pleased, 564 [4.D. 1856. simply through trasting in Him, to supply all my temporal necessities. I did this to the honor of the Lord, and in entire dependence on God; for, looking at it naturally, the result would be, that my dear Christian friends, who had, before that time, felt interested in my temporal affairs, would say, that I received such an abundance, that they needed no longer to supply me with means. But, though this would be naturally suggested to me, yet, since I had only the honor of God in view, in writing the Lord’s dealings with me, and not my honor nor my temporal ad- vantage, I wrote as I did, whatever the consequences as to my temporal interests might be. And what has been the result? Some of my dear Christian friends have indeed said, ‘Mr. Miiller is so well supplied, that he does not : need anything from us.” But how has the Lord acted ? He knew, that I held His bountiful supplies as His steward only, that I did not wish to lay up money, but counted it an honor to spend it for Him; and therefore, though some on the ground of my abundance have withheld, He Him- self has honored more and more not only my trust in Him, but also the principles on which I acted with reference to stewardship; so that since May 26, 1656, instead of having far less, God has given me-year by year a greater abundance stilt. During the very first month after the Fourth Part of my Narrative had appeared before the eye : of the public, I received a greater amount of money than ever I had received during one month in my whole life before; and from that time it has been, I may say, one continual stream of abundance. When on the 31st of December, 1856, I made up my accounts, I found, that I had received in the course of the year :— . 1, By anonymous donations through the boxes inthe chapels . . . . . £163 2 6 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- mously .........£9012 0 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol £513 6 1 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth atleast. . . . . . £14 0 0 £781 0 7 [N.B.—Boxes are fixed in our chapels, to receive do- nations for the poor, or for the rent or other expenses of A.D. 1857.] 565 the chapels, into which also donations were placed for myself, it being written on the papers, that they were thus intended.] Thus the poor foreigner, whose whole possession was five pounds, when he began to labor for the Lord in this country, had now received, during one year, £781. 0s. 7d., simply in answer to prayer, without asking anyone for anything^ and without a shilling of salary, either in con nexion with the ministry of the Word, or as Director of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution forTdome ancTAbroad. " O taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the man Jha^trustetFin Him." Psalm 34, 8. ~ Jan. iio, 1857. What I am going to write under thisj date, as copied from my private account papers, is stated as an illustration of the blessedness of acting on the principles of stewardship, on which I have so often written in the Reports, and also again and again in this Narrative. The statement is as follows : " Gave away a coat to-day to a needy person, and said to myself, God will repay, without, of course, giving it for that reason. Gave also a Half Sovereign to a sick man, and two days since £ 7. 2s. 6d. to poor saints." See now how the Lord repays. To-day, Jan. 20, 1857, I had given to me for myself £ 150.—Oct. 12, 1857. To-day I heard of the conversion of a gentleman, for whose conversion I had been daily praying for 12 years and 11 months ; viz. since November 1844. How great my joy was, on this account, those can easily understand, who, after having long waited upon the Lord, at last have their prayers answered. Dec. 31, 1857. On this day I found, that, during the past year, the Lord had been pleased to give me: — 1, By anonymous donations through the Chapel boxes • .£177 11 9£ 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 94 11 0 3, Through two legacies of £50. & £10. 60 0 0 4, Through donors not residing in Bristol. 494 8 5 5, Through presents in clothes, etc., worth at least 1000 £836 11 2^ 566 fA.D. 1858. On Feb. 6, 1858, fell asleep suddenly, Edward Wakefield Esq., of Birklands, Kendal, who had been for many years one of ray dearest earthly male friends ; but whose blessed end I could only rejoice in, because of the depth of my love for him, though I deeply felt for his surviving widow and tons, on account of their great loss. I often thought afterwards, that, in addition to all the numberless attrac tions heaven had to me, among the rest there was this also, the renewal of my intercourse with this lovely, holy Mr. Wakefield. On June 19, 1858, a Christian lady in Berkshire, whom I had never seen, sent me £100. for my own personal ex penses; and on Aug. 6th a Christian gentleman, at Bir mingham, sent me £ 100., with the especial wish, to use it in taking care of my health. This last donation came to hand almost instantly, after I had given to a Christian brother in business, who was in great difficulty, a consider able sum, in order to enable him to continue his business ; and thus the Lord again proved, how He had taken notice of this, and how He was willing yet further and further to supply me with means for His work or the necessities of those, among whom more especially my lot was cast. Dec. 31, 1858. During the year 1858 the Lord was pleased to give me :— 1, By anonymous donations through the Chapel boxes £166 6 9£ 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 74 19 6 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol. 777 15 8 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 10 0 0 £1029 1 Do you see, esteemed reader, how my income increased more and more ? And how came this ? Because I acted according to the injunctions of the Lord, in regard to the means, with which He was pleased to intrust me ; at least it was iny aim so to do. As He was pleased to give me means, so His own blessed work was remembered, as to Missions, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, etc. ; and as He was pleased to intrust me with means, the Orphan, the widow, the poor generally, and especially also A.D. 1859.] 567 poor believers were remembered ; and, with all this, relations also had a share out of that with which I was intrusted, in case they needed it; and so it came, that the Lord was pleased to give me more and more. There was not then a single Non-Conformist minister in Bristol or Clifton, whose income was £ 1029. in the year 1858, except it had been derived from private property; and even among the minis- ters in the Establishment there were exceedingly few in Bristol and Clifton, whose emolument in connexion with their office brought them in £1029., whilst I, who had not a single shilling regular income, who had not a single fee for anything I did in my service, either as minister of the gospel or Director of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti- tution, was so abundantly cared for by my Heavenly Father, because I really depended on Him, and really trusted in Him, and did not merely say so. But was I now much richer at the end of the year 1858 than I had been at the end of 1848? Onno account. Though my income had increased more and more, I was now, what I had been all along, a poor man, content to hang upon God for every- thing, yea counting it an honor to be allowed so to do. Feb. 10, 1859, This day thirty years ago I left my father’s house, to set out for England How wonderfully has the Lord dealt with me since! June 18, 1859. Received from a Baroness in Holland, whose name I had not even heard before, £17. 2s. 7d., as one of the numberless ways, in which God has been pleased to supply me with means, . On Oct. 7th, 1859, it was twenty nine years since I was united in marriage to my Deloved, excellent wile Mary, who, with very little interruption, except at her contine- ments, enjoyed very good health up to this time; but at the end of the renty ninth year of our conjugal union she was laid aside y theumatism, became a great sufferer, and continued a sufferer month after month, till about the this most devoted servant of the Lord Jesus was almost entirely helpless, and unable to work. And yet this great affliction to her and to me, was so used by the Lord in the re-establishing of her health and strength, as that she was through this very affliction, which obliged her to rest so_ much, spared to me and the work of t the Lord for ten years longer, than otherwise, humanly speaking, she might have 568 [4.D. 1860. been. When my beloved wife was first taken ill, I said to myself, The Lord has graciously continued to me this be- loved wife for twenty nine years in almost uninterrupted good health; it becomes me, therefore, not only to be satistied with His holy will concerning this affliction, but particularly to seek to look at the Lord’s kindness in the almost uninterrupted good health of my dearest Mary, instead of dwelling only on the trial of her present illness. Oct. 22, 1859. To-day I was informed of the death of " one of my oldest, friends in England, who also had been | one of the largest donors to the Lord’s work in which I am engaged; but I am in peace, in perfect peace, because | I neither trusted in him nor in any of the donors, but in the Living God alone. | Dec. 31, 1859. During the past year the Lord has | been pleased to give me:— | 1, By anonymous donations through the | chapel boxes. . . . . . . . £165 6 82 | 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- } mously ......... 8610 0 | 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 765 16 7 | 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, | etc., worth at least. . . . . . 20 0 0 | £1087 12 103 Jan. 14,1860. Last evening I sent off £5. 10s. Od. for four poor saints and £2. 10s. 0d. for the Lord’s work, and to-day I received a present of £150. for myself. I refer to this and other such instances as the best practical illus- tration of the truth of that word “ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.” Proverbs xi, 24. Dec. 31,1860. During the past year the Lord has been pleased to give me :— 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes. . . . . . . . £12613 1 2, Through donors in Bristol . . . . 8612 0 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 824 3 114 | 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, } etc., worth atleast. -. . . . . #417 «0 «0 | £1054 9 O§ ~~ A.D. 1862.]} 569 Observe, esteemed Reader, the steady increase of my income. The Lord intrusted me with more and more. Why? Because, by His grace, I sought to act for Him as His steward, and had therefore not only for myself and family all the necessaries, yea, all the conveniences of life, but also the joy,the honor and precious privilege of being allowed to give away year by year a large sum, compara- tively. Dec. 31, 1861. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me:— - 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes. . . . . . . .£158 19 7% 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- mously . ....... =. 11516 6 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 800 1 5 4, Through presents in clothes, provi- sions, etc., worth atleast . . . . 2215 0 £1,097 12 6% Dec. 31, 1862. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me :— 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes .. . . . . . . £119 15 7} 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- mously . ........ JO211 2 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 824 3 8 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth atleast. . . . . . 2016 6 £1,067 6 11} . In going over these accounts, in which every shilling received by me was entered, I find how great is The num- ber of kind Christian friends, who helped me with their means, in regard to my private expenses, who have fallen asleep since. But while they have been removed, and there- fore their kind help has failed, my never failing Friend, the Living God, has remained to me, and has continued most abundantly to help me, year after year. Nor do I doubt in the léast, that He will continue to help me to the end of " ay course. 570 [a.D. 1864. ( Dec. 81, 1863. During this year the Lord has been | pleased to give me:— | 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes. . . . . . «. .&111 13 8} | 2, Through donors in Bristol, got anony- mously. . . . . 2% . . . 97:18 5 . 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 929 7 5 , 4, Through the legacy of a Clifton lady. 20 0 0 \ 5, Through presents in clothes, provisions, \ etc., worth atleast . . . . . . 1816 O £1,172 10 64 Regarding all the presents, which I receive from Christ- ian friends, the reader has to keep before him, not only that they come from the greatest variety of places in the United Kingdom, but from many foreign countries, and, in most cases, from individuals, who are personally strangers to me. Moreover, in no one instance have I, since Oct. 1830, when I began thus to live in entire de- | pendence upon the Lord for ny temporal necessities, either , directly or indirectly, solicited presents, nor given the least | hint to any one of my circumstances when I was in need. ' The reader who is able to keep this fully before him will be able to admire more abundantly the hand of God, in supplying me so bountifully year after year. | Dec. 31, 1864, During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me :— . 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes. . . . . . . . £11112 8 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- mously. . . . ..... . 8619 8} ‘8, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1,016 138 3 _ 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth atleast. . . . . . +1510 0 | £1,230 15 74 The reader may exclaim £1,230! what a large sum! Yes, esteemed reader, it is a large sum. And what did Mr. Miller do with all this money? Did he invest it? Yes I did. I had a beloved wife, a most beloved wife ; Thad a daughter, a most beloved daughter, and the best — provision I could make for them was, to seek week after A.D. 1865.] 571 week, month after month, year after year, to lay up treasure jn heaven. And this I did. And so it came, that as I had always an abundance of opportunities to spend my means in the Lord's work, or on poor saints, or on poor uncon verted persons, now and then also in connexion with relations who were in need ; I was generally at the close of each succeeding year as I had been at the end of the previous year, viz., without property in so far as it regards earthly possessions ; but, at the same time, it pleased the Lord, yet further to intrust His servant not only with means for himself, but to give to him more than ever, as the reader will see in what follows. The great secret in stewardship, if we desire to be intrusted with more, is, to be faithful in the stewardship, which implies, that we do not consider what we have to belong to our selves, but to the Lord. This, by God's grace, I have sought to do, and, at the same time, trusted in God fully ; and thus it has come, that I have abounded more and more. All this I write, by God's grace, not in self-com placency, but with self-abasement ; but I write it, that my brethren in Christ may be benefited, and that it may be seen that discipleship can be carried out in the nineteenth century as fully as ever, and with regard to not laying up treasure upon earth in particular. Dec. 31, 1865. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me : — 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes £105 9 H 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 155 6 10 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1079 14 2 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 24 14 0 £1365 4 11 Jan. 22, 1866. This evening about half-past eleven, my beloved fellow-labourer and intimate friend for thirty- six years, Mr. Henir Craik, fell asleep, after an illness of 7 monffi's." ""BoiF'ofus had tBerTTuiown the Lord a little i : above forty years ; and both of us were then a little Jibove j ; sixty years of age. My beloved brother and friend now I ' had finished his course ; I was privileged and honored, ! .- 572 [A.D. 1866. further to labor for the Lord, and to do now this without him, with whom I had often taken counsel. My heart, how ever, as in all my former trials and difficulties, looked to the Lord, whom I knew, and on whom I had been in the habit practically to lean for more than thirty-six years. And now, after the lapse of all these years, since that mournful event, I have to state to His praise, that He has helped me, and that in every way His blessing has been continued to me, and even far more abundantly than before. Jan. 30, 1866. The earthly remains of my beloved friend, Mr. Craik, were committed to the grave this day ; but I am ill at home, and became much worse this evening. For about three months afterwards I was more or less in a feeble state of health. Dec. 31, 1866. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me : — 1, By anonymous donations through the "chapel boxes £136 6 21 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 167 12 4 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1281 10 6 4, Through a legacy 500 5, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 11 12 6 £1602 1 £1602. was Mr. Miiller's income in the year 1866, per haps the reader will exclaim: or, if not uttering the words, will with a measure of astonishment look at the great ness of the amount. Well, the sum is large, very large ; but I had more than thirty years before made my boast in God, and, since then, repeated this my boast in Him in the most public way. I had sought to honor God in the most public way possible, in declaring, that having Him on our side, and leaning upon Him, was sufficient for all temporal and spiritual emergencies and difficulties and necessities ; and He, on His part, honored me ; yes, most unworthy though I was of it and am still, He honored me, for Jesus' sake, and made it manifest before the world, that I had not honored Him in vain ; for He supplied me bountifully with means for the great work A.D. 1867.] 573 which I had undertaken for Him, and He also boun tifully supplied me with means for my own temporal | necessities and those of my family, so that He was pleased to give me 6 or 7 times as much as I needed for( self and family. He thus verified already even as to this life in my happy experience the truth of that word, " Oh ' how great is 'Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for _them tfiat' fear Thee; which Tbou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee before the sons of men !" Psalm xxxi. 1 9. Dec. 31, 1867. During this year the .Lord has been" pleased to give me :— 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes £167 1 9 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 174 1 3 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1465 17 4£ 4, Through a legacy 19 19 0 5, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 21 0 0 £1847 19 Notice particularly, esteemed Reader, that I was not one year or another year, and these far between, bounti-| fully supplied by the Lord ; but year after year. Observe, also, in particular, that these donations were received from hundreds of donors, who were residing not only in various parts of England, Scotland and Ireland, but in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Canada, the United States, India, Australia, New Zealand, China, etc. There is scarcely a country in the world from whence I have not received donations for myself as well as for the Scriptural Know ledge Institution, which furnishes another precious proof, that the hearts of all men are in the hands of God, and that, if we have Him on our side, we cannot but be cared for and helped, whatever our position may be, and wherever our lot may be cast. When the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, they had food, water to drink, raiment, and everything they really needed; and had they not rebelled against God, they would have fared still better, humanly speaking, notwithstanding their wilderness position. 574 [4-D. 1868. Dec. 81, 1868. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me :— : 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes . . . . . . £175 5 8 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anonymously . . . . .. . 22011 5} 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol . . . . we ee 6142115 8 4, Through presents in clothes, pro- visions, etc., worth at least. . . 21 5 0 £1838 17 44 What a goodly sum again! More than six times as much, as I need for myself and family, to have not only all the necessaries, but all the conveniences of life! March 19, 1869. This day it is forty years, when I arrived in England. Apr. 28, 1869. To-day I drew cheque 10,000.— I mention this to the reader, to show the greatness of my business arrangements. But since Apr. 28, 1869, the work in which I am engaged has so increased, as that I draw now three times as many cheques as formerly, and already in the few years, which have elapsed since Apr. 28, 1869, the number of cheques drawn has been multiplied to about one half of what it had been for 34 years pre- viously, and still the work is increasing more and more. Dec. 31, 1869. During this year the Lord has been- | pleased to give me:— | 1, By anonymous donations through i the chapel boxes . . . . . . £160 3 9} : 2, Through donors in Bristol, not ; anonymously . oe... . 814 0 2 | 8, Through donors not residing in Bristol . . . . . . . » . 1179 611 4, Through 2 legacies of £90 and £25 115 0 0 5, Through presents in clothes, pro-— \ visions, etc., worth at least . . 82 6 0 £1800 16 10} \ Feb. 6, 1870. On Oct. 7, 1830, therefore 39 years \ and 4 months since, the Lord gave me my most valuable, ~ A.D. 1870.] 575 lovely and holy wife. Her value to me, and the blessing God made her to be to me, is beyond description. This blessing was continued to me till this day, when this afternoon, about four o'clock, the Lord took her to Him- self, Feb. 11, 1870. To-day the earthly remains of my precioUs-Mary were lait thé grave.” Muny thousands PF SarsOns showed the deepest sy upathy. About 1200 of the Orphans, who were able to walk, followed in the pro- cession; the whole staff of helpers at the Orphan Houses, who could be spared, and hundreds of believers of the| y Church, with which she had been in communion; I my- |‘ self, sustained by the Lord to the utmost, performed the service at the chapel in the cemetery, etc. Shortly after the funeral, I was very unwell, but, as soon as I was sufficiently recovered, I preached my late dear wife’s Funeral Sermon. As all the principal matters connected with her illness, her removal, our ha: conjugal life, and_her usefulness as a helper to me im the work of the Lord, are contained in the Funeral Sermon, I give it here; and also because the reader will thus be furnished somewhat better with the inner life and the ways of the writer, than otherwise he would :— “ Thou art good, and doest good.”—PSALM cxix. 68. CV, _—_ The reason why I purpose to preach this funeral sermon, | —> is not, because the late Mrs. Miiller was my own be- loved wife; nor, that I might have an opportunity of | speaking highly of her, most worthy though she is of it; ‘ but that I may magnify the Lord in giving her to me, in ; liaving her to me so long, and in taking her from me to ! Himself. At the same time it appeared to me well, that, } as she became the first member of the church assembling at Bethesda, when it was formed in August 1832; and as her whole life ever since then has been of the most blameless character; and as her life was full of most re- markable and instructive events; that, at the departure | | of such a Christian, we should ponder the lessons which | her life is calculated to teach. She had lived to see 2700 believers received into communion in that church, of which | she was the first; and when she fell asleep there were | 920 in communion in that church, about 1500 having, , rae 576 [A.D. 1870. during the 37 years and a half, either fallen asleep, or left Bristol, about 200 united with other Churches in Bristol, and 70 having been excluded from Fellowship. During the six days that my beloved wife was on her death-bed, my soul was sustained by the truth contained in the words of our text. Whether she was more easy from pain, or in severe pain ; whether there was a little prospect that she might yet be given back to me, or whether all hope was gone ; my soul was sustained by these words. They were ever present with me, and I rested my soul on them. When it pleased God to take my darling wife to Himself, my soul was so sustained by these words, that if I had gone out that evening to preach, I should have preached on this text. I desire now, as God may help me, for the benefit of my younger fellow- believers in Christ particularly, to dwell on the truth con tained in these words, with reference to my beloved departed wife. I. The Lord was good and did good, in giving her to me. II. He was good and did good in so long leaving her to me. III. He was good, and did good, in taking her from me. I. In giving her to me, I own the hand of God ; nay, His hand was most marked ; and my soul says, " Thou art good, and doest good." I refer to a few particulars for the instruction of others. When at the end of the year 1829, 1 left London to labour in Devonshire in the Gospel, a brother in the Lord gave to me a card, containing the address of a well-known Christian lady, Miss Paget, who then resided in Exeter, in order that I should call on her, as she was an ex cellent Christian. I took this address and put it into my pocket, but thought little of calling on her. Three weeks I carried this card in my pocket, without making an effort to see this lady ; but at last I was led to do so. This was God's way of giving me my excellent wife. Miss Paget asked me to preach the last Tuesday in the month of January, 1830, at the room which she had fitted up at Poltimore, a village near Exeter, and where Mr. A. N. Groves, afterwards my brother-in-law, had preached once a monthr before he went out as a Missionary to Bagdad. A.D. 1870.] 577 I accepted readily the invitation, as I longed, everywhere to set forth the precious truth of the Lord's return, and other deeply important truths, which not long before my own soul had been filled with. On leaving Miss Paget, she gave me the address of a Christian brother, Mr. Hake, who had an Infant Boarding School for young ladies and gentlemen, at Northernhay House, the former residence of Mr. A. N. Groves, in order that I might stay there on my arrival in Exeter from Teignmouth. To this place I went at the appointed time. Miss Groves, afterwards my beloved wife, was there ; for Mrs. Hake had been a great invalid for a longtime, and Miss Groves helped Mr. Hake in his great affliction, by superintending his household matters. My first visit led to my going again to preach at Poltimore, after the lapse of a month, and I stayed again at Mr. Hake's house ; and this second visit led to my preaching once a week in a chapel at Exeter ; and thus I went, week after week, from Teignmouth to Exeter, each time staying in the house of Mr. Hake. All this time my purpose had been, not to many at all, but to remain free for travelling about in the service of the Gospel ; but after some months I saw, for many reasons, that it was better for me, as a young Pastor, under 25 years of years, to be married. The question now was, to whom shall I be united ? Miss Groves was before my mind ; but the prayerful conflict was long, before I came to a decision ; for I could not bear the thought, that I should take away from Mr. Hake this valued helper, as Mrs. Hake continued still unable to take the respon sibility of so large a household. But I prayed again and again. At last this decided me, I had reason to believe that I had begotten an affection in the heart of Miss Groves for me, and that therefore I ought to make a proposal of marriage to her, however unkindly I might appear to act to my dear friend and brother Mr. Hake, and to ask God to give him a suitable helper to succeed Miss Groves. On Aug. 15th, 1830, I therefore wrote to her, proposing to her to become my wife, and on Aug. 19th, when I went over as usual to Exeter for preaching, she accepted me. The first thing we did, after I was accepted, was, to fall on our knees, and to ask the blessing of the Lord on our intended unionT In about two or three weeks the Liord, m answer to prayer, found an individual, who C C 578 [A.D. 1870. seemed suitable to act as housekeeper, whilst Mrs. Hake continued ill ; and on Oct. 7, 1830, we were united in mar riage. Our marriage was of the most simple character. We walked to church, had no wedding breakfast, but in the afternoon had a meeting of Christian friends in Mr. Hak,e's house and commemorated the Lord's death ; and then I drove off in the stage-coach with my beloved bride to Teignmouth, and the next day we went to work for the Lord. Simple as our beginning was, and unlike the habits of the world, for Christ's sake, so our Godly aim has been, to continue ever since. Now see the hand of God in giving me my dearest wife :— 1st, that address of Miss Paget's was given to me under the ordering of God. 2nd, I mnst at last be made to call on her, though I had long delayed it. 3rd, She might have provided a resting-place with eome other Christian friend, where I should not have seen .Miss Groves. 4th, My mind might have at last, after all, decided, not to make a proposal to her ; but God settled the matter thus in speaking to me through my conscience—you know that you have begotten affection in the heart of this Christian sister, by the way yon have acted towards her, and therefore, painful though it may be, to appear to act unkindly towards your friend and brother, you ought to make her a proposal. I obeyed. I wrote the letter in which I made the proposal, and nothing but one even stream of blessing has been the result. Let me here add a word of Christian counsel. To enter upon the marriage union is one of the most deeply important events of life. It cannot be too prayerfully treated. Our happiness, our usefulness, our living for God or for ourselves afterwards, are often most intimately connected with our choice. Therefore, in the most prayer ful manner, this choice should be made. Neither beauty, nor age, nor money, nor mental powers, should be that which prompt the decision ; but 1st, Much waiting upon God for guidance should be used ; 2nd, A hearty purpose, to be willing to be guided by Him should be aimed after ; 3rd, True godliness without a shadow of doubt, should be the first and absolutely needful qualification, to a Christian, with regard to a companion for life. In addition to this, however, it ought to be, at the same time, calmly and patiently weighed, whether, in other respects; there is a A.D. 1870.] 579 suitableness. For instance, for an educated man to choose | an entirely uneducated woman, is unwise; for however much on his part love might be willing to cover the defect, it will work very unhappily with regard to the children. From what has been stated, I think it is plain, that “ He who is good and doeth good,” had given me Miss Groves for a wife. Let ug now see for a few moments what I had received in her as God’s gift. I mention here, as her chief excellence, that she was a truly devoted Christian. She had, for her one object of life, 5 live for God; and during the 39 years and four months, that I was united to her by conjugal bonds, her steady purpose to live for God increased more and more. She was also, as a Christian, of a meek and quiet spirit. I speak to those who knew her, and not a few of whom knew her 30 years and upwards, and who know what a very excellent Christian she was. If all Christians were like her, the joys of heaven would be found on earth far more abundantly than they are now. In her, God had been pleased to give me a Christian wife, who never at any time hindered me in the ways of God, but sought to strengthen my hands in God, and this, too, in the deepest trials, under the greatest difficulties, and when the service in which she helped me brought on her the greatest per- sonal sacrifices. When, during the years from September, 1838, to the end of 1846, we had the greatest trials of faith in the Orphan Work; and when hundreds of times the necessities of the orphans could only be met by our means, and when often all our own money had to be ex- pended ; that precious wife never found fault with me, but heartily joined me in prayer for help from God, and with me looked out for help, and help came; and then we rejoiced together, and often wept for joy together. But the precious wife, who was God’s own gilt to me, was exquisitely suited to me, even naturally, by her temperament. Thousands of times I said to her, ‘My darling, God Himself singled you out for me, asthe most suitablé-wife-I could possibly wish to Have had.” Then, as to her education, she was just all I could have wished. She had had a very good and i sound education, and she knew besides the accomplish- i ments of a lady. She played nicely and painted beauti- ! oc 2 a 580 [A.D. 1870. fully, though not five minutes were spent at the piano or in drawing or painting after our marriage. She possessed superior knowledge of Astronomy, was exceedingly well grounded in English Grammar and Geography, had a fair knowledge of History and French, had also begun Latin and Hebrew, and learned German, when in 1843 and 1845 she accompanied me in my service to Germany. All this cultivation of mind became not only helpful in the education of our daughter, but was more or less used by the Lord in His service to the praise of His name. She was a very good arithmetician, which for 34 years was a great help to me ; tor she habitually examined month by month all the account books, and the hundreds of bills of the matrons of the various Orphan Houses ; and should any tradesman or one of the matrons at any time have made the least mistake, it would be surely found out by her. But, in addition to the good education of a lady, she possessed—what in our days is so rare among ladies— a thorough knowledge of useful needlework of every kind, and an excellent knowledge of the quality of material for clothes, linen, &c., and thus became so eminently useful as the wife of the director of the five Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, where hundreds of thousands of yards of material of all kinds, had to be ordered by her, and to be approved of or to be rejected. My beloved wife could do fancy needlework as other ladies, and had done it when young ; but she did not thus occupy her time, except she would with her own dear hands now and then net a purse for her husband while she was in the country for change of air. Her occupation had habitually a useful end. It was to get ready the many hundreds of neat little beds for the dear orphans, most of whom never had seen such beds, far less slept in them, that she laboured. It was to get good blanketing or good blankets, that she was busied, thus to serve the Lord Jesus, in caring for these dear bereaved children, who had not a mother or father to care for them. It was to provide numberless other useful things in the Orphan Houses, and especially for the sick rooms of the orphans, that, day by day, except on the Lord's days, she was seen in the Orphan Houses. The knowledge which is useful to help the needy, to alleviate suffering, to make a useful wife, a useful mother, how far above the value of doing fancy work ! Mrs. Miiller pre A.D. 1870.] 581 eminently possessed and valued useful knowledge. She and her dear sisters had been brought up by a wise as well as loving mother, who saw to it, that, while there was nothing spared with regard to a good school, and the attendance of good masters, &c., her daughters should, also, be eminent in useful knowledge, May Christian mothers, who hear me now, take heed, that their daughters have an education which will make them useful wives and useful mothers. We have seen now, that God Himself had given me my beloved wife ; we have also seen how suitable she was to me ; and, in the gift of such a wife, a good foundation for real conjugal happiness was laid. And were we happy ? Verily we were. With every year our happiness increased more and more. I never saw my beloved wife at any time, when I met her uxexpectedly anywhere in Bristol, without being delighted so to do. I never met her even in the Orphan Houses, without my heart being delighted so to do. Day by day, as We met in our dressing room, at the Orphan Houses, to wash our hands before dinner and tea, I was delighted to meet her, and she was equally pleased to see me. Thousands of times I told her—'* My darling, 1 never saw you at any time, jjinee you became my wife, without my being delighted to see you." This was not only our way in the first year of our iSaTriage union, nor in the tenth, in the twentieth, and in the thirtieth year, but also in the fortieth year of our con jugal life. Thus I spoke to her many times since the seventh of October, 1869. Further, day after day, if any how it could be done, 1 spent after dinner twenty minutes or half an hour with her in her room at the Orphan Houses, seated on her couch, which the love of a Christian brother, together with an easy chair, had sent her in the year 1860, when she was, for about nine months, so ill in rheumatism. I knew that it was good for her, that her dear active mind and hands should have rest, and I knew well that this would not be, except her husband was by her side ; moreover, I also needed a little rest after dinner, on account of my weak digestive powers ; and therefore 1 spent these precious moments with my darling wife. There we sat, side by side, her hand in mine, as an habitual thing, having a few words of loving intercourse, or being silent, but most happy in the Lord, and in each j 582 [A.D. 1870. other, whether we spoke or were silent. And thus it was many times, since October 7, 1869, viz., in the fortieth year of our conjugal life. Our happiness in God, and in each other, was indescribable. We had not some happy days every year, nor a month of happiness every year; but we had twelve months of happiness in the year, and thus year after year. Often and often did I say to that beloved one, and this again and again even in the fortieth year of our conjugal union—" My darling, do you think there is a couple in Bristol, or in the world, happier than we are ?" Why do I refer to all this? To show what a remarkably great blessing to a husband is a truly Godly wife, who also in other respects is fitted for him. But while I own in the fullest degree, that the founda tion of true spiritual happiness in our marriage life was laid, in that my dearest wife was a decided Christian, and fitted for me by God in other respects, and thus given to me by Him ; yet, at the same time, I am most fully con vinced, that this was not enough for the continuation of real conjugal happiness during a course of 39 years and four months, had there not been more. I therefore must add here the following points: 1. Both of us, by God's grace, had one object of life, and only one—to live for Christ. Everything else was of a very inferior character to us. However weak and failing in a variety of ways, there was no swerving from this one holy object of life. This Godly purpose, and the Godly aim, day by day, to carry out this purpose, greatly added,—of necessity ad ded,—to true happiness, and, therefore, to an increase of conjugal happiness also. Should this be wanting in any two Christians, who are united by marriage ties, let them not be surprised if conjugal happiness, real conjugal hap piness, is also wanting. 2. We had, all the 39 years and four months, the blessing of having an abundance of work to do, and we did that work ; by God's grace we gave ourselves to it ; and this abundance of work greatly tended, instrumentally, to the increase of our happiness. Our mornings never began with the uncertainty of how to spend the day, and what to do ; for as the day began, we had always an abundance of work. I reckon this an especial blessing, and it greatly increased our happiness, and sweetened exceedingly the little while we had for rest in each other's society. Many true Christians even . A.D. 1870.] 583 make the mistake of aiming after a position in which they may be free from work, and have all their time on hand. They know not that they wish for some very great evil, instead of some very great blessing. They forget that they desire a time, when, for want of regular occupation, they will be particularly exposed to temptation. 3. But great as habitually our occupation was, and especially during the last 25 years, we never allowed this to interfere with the care about our own souls. Before we went ‘to work, we had, as an habitual practice, our seasons for prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures. Should the children of God neglect this, and let their work or service for God interfere with caring about their own souls, they cannot, for any length of time, be happy in God; and their conjugal happiness, therefore, must also suffer on account of it. 4. Lastly, and most of all to be noticed is this: we had for many years past, whether 20 or 30 years or more I do not know, besides our seasons for private prayer, and family prayer, also habitually our seasons for praying together. For many years my precious wife and T, had, immediately after family prayer, in the morning, a short time for prayer together, when the most im- portant points for thanksgiving, or the most important points for prayer, with regard to the day, were brought before God. Should very heavy trials press on us, or should our need of any kind be particularly great, we prayed again after dinner, when I visited her in her room, as stated before; and this, at times of extraordinary Cifficulties or necessities, might be repeated once or twice more in the afternoon; yet very rarely was this the case. Then in the evening, during the last hour of our stay at the Orphan Houses, though her or my work was never so much, it was an habitually understood thing, that this] — hour was for prayer. My beloved wife came then to my room, and now our prayer, and supplication, and inter-| . cession, mingled with thanksgiving, lasted generally 40 minutes, 50 minutes, and sometimes the whole hour. At these seasons we brought perhaps 50 or more different points, or_pergons, or circumstances before God. The burden of our prayer was generally of the same character, except - when prayers were turned into praises, or when fresh points were added, or when peculiar mercies or blessings, or peculiar difficulties and trials, led during a part of the va 584 [AD. 1870. time to a variation. We never thus met for prayer without Laving, un various accounts, cause for thanksgiving ; but, at the same time, our seasons for prayer never arrived, without our having abundant cause for " casting our burden upon the Lord." These seasons for united prayer, I mean in addition to the family prayer, I particularly commend to all Christian husbands and wives. I judge that it was in our own history the great secret for the continuation not only of conjugal happiness, but of the love to each other, which was even more abundantly fresh and warm than it had been during the first year, though we were then exceedingly fond of each other. I now pass on to the second part of our precious text: — II. The Lord was good, and doing good, in so long leaving to me my precious wife. I think it has been clearly shown to the Christians who hear me, that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, and my Father, through faith in His name, gave to me my be loved wife ; and I will now endeavour to show as clearly, that God's hand was most distinctly seen in leaving her to me as a companion in joy, and sorrow, and service for 39 years and four months. I have stated before, that we were married on Oct. 7, 1830. On Aug. 9, 1831, my beloved wife was, after seventeen hours' suffering of the severest kind, delivered of a still-born child. Her life had been in the greatest danger, humanly speaking, and remained in the greatest danger for several weeks after wards, so that two medical gentlemen visited her daily, or even two or three times a day. That she did not sink at that time, but was raised up again, and given back to me for 38 years and six months more, was of God, and was, I believe, the .result of my most earnestly crying to God for this blessing. But my dearest wife never was fully again in health and strength what she had been before. The second time when her life was again, humanly speaking, in the greatest danger, was when, four months after our arrival in Bristol, her confinement came on, Sept. 16, 1832. She was very ill. She was in the greatest danger. I was the whole night in prayer. But God had mercy on me, and not only spared my precious wife to me, but made her also the living mother of a living child. Our beloved daughter was given to us on Sept. 17, 1832. On March 19, 1834, she became the living mother A.D..1870.] 585 of a living male child; but that time was in as marked & way free from great peril, apparently, as the two previous times had been the reverse. In this, too, I own the hand of God. About a year after this she was staying in the house of a Christian friend, at Stoke Bishop, and, while out walking, suddenly a carriage drove up and turned speedily round, and my beloved wife was all but killed; but God in a marked way preserved her life, though she was somewhat bruised by falling whilst she sought to save her life. On June 12, 1838, my beloved wife was : taken ill. Often had I prayed respecting her hour. She continued in most severe sufferings from a little after nine until midnight. Thus hour after hour passed away, until eleven the next morning. Another medical gentle- man wes then called in, at the desire of the one who attended her. At three in the afternoon she was delivered of a still-born child. The whole of the night I was in prayer, as far as my strength allowed me. 1 cried at last for MERCY, and God heard me. For more than a fort- night after her delivery, my precious wife was so ill, that her two medical attendants came twice or three times daily. Her life was in the greatest danger, humanly speaking. But this time also “ He who is good, and doeth good” gave her back to me, to leave her yet 31 years and six months longer to me, and to make her more useful to me, and in the Orphan work than ever. The hand of God, in sparing her life in 1838, was most marked. In 1845 my beloved wife accompanied me the second time to Germany, where I intended to labour in the Gospel, and, especially, in writing German Tracts, and circulating them in many tens of thousands, together with my Narra- tive in German. Soon after our arrival in Stuttgart she was taken very ill; but God restored her then also, and gave her back to me for 24 years and six months longer. In the summer of 1859 she complained about the weak- ~ ness of her left arm, which increased after a time more and more, instead of decreasing; and towards the end ot October, being exposed to a draught, this weak left arm became exceedingly painful, and after a day or two swelled greatly, and especially her hand became greatly enlarged. Now that very ring, which at the wedding on Oct. 7, 1830, I had put on her finger, needed to be broken off. Her arm and hand became worse, and continued thus week cos - 586 [A.D. 1870. after week. That room, in which I had been in the habit of paying those happy visits to my beloved wife after dinner and at other times, was now, week after week, for a long time, without her. But this was the state of my heart at that time. When this most heavy affliction be gan, I said to myself, " Twenty-nine years the Lord has given me this precious wife with comparatively little ill ness, and shall I now be dissatisfied, because He has been pleased to afflict her thus, in the 30th year of our con jugal union? Nay, it becomes me rather to be very grateful for having had her so long in comparatively good health, and fully to submit myself to the will of the Lord. This my soul was enabled to do. Keenly as I felt her absence from the Orphan Work for almost nine months, with the exception of a very few times, when she drove up to give various directions, yet, as I saw the hand of God in the whole, and was enabled to take the whole out of His hand, my soul was kept in peace, whilst day by day we were able still to have our precious seasons for prayer, and whilst day by day also we entreated God, that, if it might be, He would graciously be pleased yet to restore that feeble arm and hand again, and spare her longer to me for service. At last, in April, 1860, my dearest wife was brought so far, as that our kind and most attentive medical attendant could recommend her to go to Clevedou and use the warm sea-baths for the benefit of her arm and hand. I therefore took her to Clevedon, our daughter remaining with her, and myself going down as often as I could. The wai-m sea-baths seemed to agree with her well, and progress appeared to be made, when one day, returning from the bath, she slipped as she was stepping out of the road on the footpath near her lodgings, fell against the wall with her head, and on her weak arm, which she carried in a sling, and which had made her so helpless in not being able to break the fall. She seemed as dead, and our dear daughter ran to the lodgings to get help. But when she returned, her dear mother, who had been stunned by the fall, had revived, and could be moved to her bed. All now seemed gloomy and dark indeed. The prospect of removal of the rheumatism from the arm and hand, appeared entirely gone, and my precious wife was worse than ever. I now went down evening after evening to Clevedon, after the day's work on Ashley A.D. 1870.] 587 Down, to wait on her by night. Her suffering was very great for some time; but gradually this wore off, and she was brought back to the state in which she had been when she first went to Clevedon ; and, after a stay of more than three months at Clevedon, there had been granted considerable improvement. She now returned to Bristol, spent about six weeks at home, and I then took her and my daughter to Teignmouth for a month, that she might have further change of air, and further the use of warm sea-baths, which evidently had been of consider able use to her. By the time we returned from Teign mouth, my dearest wife was so far restored, as to the use of her arm and hand, that she could take her work again at the Orphan Houses, and her dear hand was so far re duced in size, that her wedding ring, being put together again by a jeweller, could be put on again. How good was the Lord in sparing to me my dearest wife in this illness in 1859 I How good to me, in that she was not killed on the spot, when she had that heavy fall at Clevedon ! I magnify Him for it ! " He is good and doeth good." But I cannot dismiss this part, without noticing one point in particular. My dearest wife had worked so hard in 1856, 1857, 1858, and 1859, when, through the opening of the New Orphan House No. 2, and the prospect of the opening of the New Orphan House No. 3, there was such an abundance of work, that her health had been brought into a very low state, and her strength had been greatly reduced. I begged her not to work so much, but it was in vain, she loved work ; she never could bear to be idle. And thus it came, on account of her very low state of health, that the rheu matism had so much effect on her. But now see how the Lord worked. This very illness, most painful though it was to her, and most trying as it was to me, became God's precious instrument in sparing to the Orphans their true friend, and to her own dear sisters a sister, to her own daughter a mother, and to her poor husband a pre cious wife for ten years more. This very illness obliged her to rest, beyond what she otherwise would have done. She was also medically ordered to take more nourishment than otherwise she would have taken ; and by October 1860 she was in a far better state of health than she had been for years. How true that word, therefore, in this • 588 [A.D. 1870. instance : " We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Rom. viii. 28. We have seen now " How good the Lord was to me" in sparing my dearest wife to me 39 years and four months, as she might have been removed from me far sooner. It now lastly remains, to show— III. "That the Lord is good and was doing good" in the removal of the desire of my eyes. Perhaps all Christians who have heard me, will have no difficulty in giving their hearty assent that " the Lord was good, and doing good " in giving me such a wife ; and they will also, probably, most readily admit that He was good, and doing good in leaving her to me so long ; but I ask these dear Christian friends to go further with me, and to say from their hearts, " The Lord was good, and doing good " in the removal of that useful, lovely, excellent wife from her husband, and that at the very time when, humanly speaking, he needed her more than ever. While I am say ing this, I feel the void in my heart. That lovely one is no more with me, to share my joys and sorrows. Every day I miss her more and more. Every day I see more and more how great her loss to the Orphans. Yet, without an effort, my inmost soul habitually joys in the joy of that loved departed one. Her happiness gives joy to me. My dear daughter and self would not have her back, were it possible to produce it by the turn of the hand. God him self has done it, we are satisfied with Him. ' During the last two or three years it was most obvious to my loving heart and eye, that my precious companion for so many years was again failing in her health. She did not only considerably lose flesh, but evidently seemed much more worn than she used to be. I begged her to work less, and to take more nourishment ; but I could neither prevail as to the one nor the other. When I ex pressed my sorrow, that she lay awake at night for two hours or more, she would say, " My dear, I am getting old, and old, persoi s' need not so much sleep." When I brought before her, that I feared that her health would be again re duced, as in 1 859, and that I feared the worst, she would say, " My darling, I think the Lord will allow me to see the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5 furnished and opened, and then I may go home; but most of all I wish, that the Lord Jesus would come, and that we might all go A.D. 1870.] 589 together." Thus her cloar mind and hands would be at work, and as there was such an abundance of work in such a great variety of ways to be done, she was generally all the day at work at the Orphan Houses. Under these cir cumstances she caught cold in the early part of January, which brought on a most distressing cough, and that to such a degree, that she never had had nearly as bad a cough all the previous 39 years. With difficulty only I could prevail on her to allow me to send for our dear medical friend ; for she ever made little of her own illnesses, whilst most solicitous about the health of others, especially myself and daughter and her sisters. I now pressed affectionately upon her, she would drive to and from the Orphan Houses, also lie down a little on her couch after dinner, which had been advised by our kind medical friend. It was during the time of this distressing cough, that I felt her pulse, because I wished to know how it was with her health generally ; and I found she had a very feeble, irregular, and intermitting pulse, which only too much confirmed my fears about her health, during the last two or three years. Still my precious wife would not allow that there was much the matter with her. Through the ( medical means, the entirely avoiding night air, going to and •> fro in a fly when she went to the Orphan Houses, the use of a more generous and somewhat altered diet, and the resting a little more than usual, the distressing cough was so entirely removed, that scarcely the least trace of it re mained, and my beloved one was again able to go out to Public Worship in a fly on the mornings of the Lord's- days, Jan. 23rd, and Jan. 30th, but stayed at home in the evenings, to avoid a return of the cough. On Sunday, Jan. 30th, there was an additional reason for not going out in the evening, because she felt a pain across the lower part of her back, and in her right arm. This pain was rather worse than better on Monday, Jan. 31st, and we considered it better to send for our dear medical friend, to call and see her, if possible before we started for the Orphan Houses ; but as he was already from home, visiting his patients, my dear wife set off in a fly to the Orphan Houses, our daughter accompanying her mother, to work for her under her direction, as it was feared her pain would prevent her doing anything actively herself. The day passed tolerably, though the pain increased, instead of decreasing. 590 [A.D. 1870. At tea-time she drove home with her sister Miss Groves, who also had been for weeks in a very feeble state of health, and with my daughter ; I remained, to go in the evening to our usual public prayer-meeting at Salem Chapel. When I came home, I found our dear medical friend, Mr. Josiah Pritchard, had been, ordered my dearest wife to bed, and to remain in bed, anil to have a fire lighted in her bed room, stating that it was acute rheumatism, or what is commonly called rheumatic fever. She suffered much pain during the following night, but the next day, and the night from Tuesday to Wednesday especially, the pain was still more severe, and her limbs became one by one so painful, that she could neither move them, nor bear them to be touched, except the arm and hand which had been so weak ten years before. When I heard what Mr. Pritchard's judgment was, viz. that the malady was rheumatic fever, I naturally expected the worst, as to the issue, on account of what I had found out about the action of my dear wife's heart, when I felt her pulse ; but though my heart was nigh to be broken, on account of the depth of my affec tion, I said to myself, " The Lord is good, and doeth good," all will be according to His own blessed character. Nothing but that, -which is good, like Himself, can proceed from Him. If He pleases to take my dearest wife, it will be good, like Himself. What I have to do, as His child, is to be satisfied with what my Father does, that I may glorify Him." After this my soul not only aimed, but this, my soul, by God's grace, attained to. I was satisfied with God. On Tuesday, Feb. 1st, I was alone in the room of my precious wife at the Orphan Houses. She was at home in bed, a thing which had not been the case for more than nine years, as far as I can recollect. There were hanging in her room a number of precious texts from the Holy Scriptures, printed in large type, arranged for each day in the month, called, " The Silent Comforter." The sheet then turned up, contained these words, " I know, 0 Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Tho_u_in farElifutnossTiast attiictedlne " "(PsalnTcxtx. 75).~ I read" tnis again and again, aiid~gach time my inmost soul re sponded, " Yes, Lord, Thy judgments are right, I am satisfied with them. Thou knowest the depth of the affec tion of Thy poor child for his beloved wife, yet I am satisfied with Thy judgments ; and my inmost soul says, A.D. 1870.] 591 that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. All this is according to that love, with which Thou hast loved me in , Christ Jesus, and whatever the issue, all will be well.” There was also written on that sheet of “ The Silent Com- forter,” ‘“‘ My times are in Thy hand” (Psalm xxxi. 15.) 7 My heart responded, in reading these words, “ Yes, my‘ LF Father, the times of my darling wife are in Thy hands. Thou wilt do the very best thing for her and for me, whether life or death. If it may be, raise yet up again my precious wife, Thou art able to do it, though she is so ill; but how- soever Thou dealest with me, only help me to continue to be perfectly satisfied with Thy holy will.” During the whole week, whilst my beloved wife was lying on her _ death-bed, these lines of the precious hymn—‘“ One there is above all others—O how He loves!” were ever present with me: ‘ Best of blessings He'll provide us, Nought but gdod shall e’er betide us, Safe to glory He will guide us, Oh how He loves!” My heart continually responded—“ Nought but good shall e’er betide us.” My inmost soul was assured, that how- ever my loving Father acted with His poor child, it would, be for his good. On Wednesday, Feb. 2nd., my belove wife being comparatively free from pain, I read to her before I went to the Orphan Houses, this verse out of th eighty-fourth Psalm—‘ The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he y withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Having read the Gy verse, | Satd, * My darling, we have both received grace, and we shall therefore receive glory; and as, by God’s | grace, we walk uprightly, nothing that is good for us will He withhold from us.” She evidently was blessed through this verse, for she spoke about it to our daughter in the course cf the day. To my own heart the verse was a great support, for I said to myself again and again: “T walk uprightly, and therefore my Father will withhold | nothing from me, that is good for me; if therefore the restoration of my dearest Mary is good for me, it will be surely given; if otherwise, I have to seek to glorify God by most perfect submission to His holy will.” On Thursday, Feb. 3rd, I evidently saw how grave Mr. ff 592 [A.D. 1870. Pritchard considered the case to be, indeed on Wednes day evening already; for I was to give to my dear wife every two hours a small quantity of beef tea during the night, or a teaspoon full of wine in a table-spoon full of water. At such occasions I had always about one minute of prayer with her. On Friday evening Mr. Pritchard said, that it would be a comfort to him for Dr. Black to see Mrs. Miiller, as the case was a very grave one. I told him, that I was perfectly satisfied with his treatment, but if it would at all be a comfort to himself, to make an appointment with Dr. Black. This, however, could not be till Sunday, the 6th of Feb., as Dr. Black would be out of town on Saturday. Saturday morning I stayed home till nearly dinner time, to be with the dear invalid as long as I possibly could ; and when at last I left her, I said, " My darling, I am sorry to have to leave you, but I shall return as soon as I can." She sweetly replied, " You leave me with Jesus." When I came home, she was about the same as when I had left her ; but, during the coming night, her pains and sufferings exceeded the pains she had had before. I was almost the whole of the night seeking in one shape or other to alleviate her suffer ing, and the trial she now had, that she had not the use of one of her limbs. At last, from two to four in the morning, she was easier ; but the sufferings of that night brought her soon to the close of her earthly pilgrimage. About ten in the morning dear Mr. Pritchard, who from the first had called twice a day, and who to the utmost had done all that medical skill, coupled with Christian kindness, could do, called to see her, and found her, as I thought, much worse. He proposed at once to send for Dr. Black, and to wait till he arrived. About eleven o'clock Dr. Black very kindly came, examined the dear invalid, and confirmed what Mr. Pritchard had told me just before, that all hope of recovery was gone. After the medical gentlemen had left, I felt it now my duty to tell my precious wife, that the Lord Jesus was coming for her. Her reply was " He will soon come." By this, I believe, she meant to indicate, the Lord will soon return, and we shall be re-united. As there was yet life, I felt it my duty, to do to the last, every thing that medical skill could devise, and that love on my part could do. At half-past one p.m. when I gave her the medicine, and a little later a spoonful of wine in A.D. 1870. ] 593 water, I observed that she had difficulty in swallowing, and a few minutes later, that she could not distinctly articulate. She tried to make me to understand, but I could not. I sat quietly before her, and about a quarter of an hour later I observed, that her dear bright eyes were set. I now called my dear daughter and her aunt, Miss Groves, stating that the loved one was dying. They at once came to the bedroom, and we were presently joined by Mrs. Man- nering, another sister of my dearest wife. We all four sat quietly for about two hours and a half, watching the last moments of that much loved one, when about 20 minutes after four in the afternoon of Lord’s day Feb. 6, 1870, she fell asleep in Jesus. I now fell on my knees and thanked God for her release, and for having taken her to Himseif, and asked the Lord to help and support us. My soul was so sustained, and so peaceful, that had I had physical strength, and had I not had plain home duties, I could have preached immediately after ; and the portion on which I should have preached, would have been the one which forms the text of this sermon. . I now repeat again—“ The Lord was good, and doing good” in taking my beloved wife; because, 1. She had worked long, very long and very much on earth, and He was now pleased to appoint her to other service. 2. “He was good, and doing good” in releasing her from her pain and suffering, which she had endured to so great a degree during the last week of her life. 3. ‘*He was good, and doing good” in keeping her from a state of protracted suffering, to which, humanly speaking, she would have been subject, even if life should have been continued to her. 4. “He was good, and doing good” in taking her, the weaker vessel, first, instead of removing me and leaving her. I adore the Lord’s kindness in this, in sparing her . this heavy trial, as I think it would have been to her, and I gladly bear it for her. 5. “‘ He was,” must of all, “good, and doing good” in giving to my dearest wife what had been long the desire of her heart, even to be with Jesus. As long as two years since, my daughter had seen the following, written by her dear mother, in one of her pocket “books, kept at the Orphan Houses, of_which I knew nothing, but which precious jewel my dear daughter pointed out to me two days alter the death of her deat mother, and which is now before me. The words written 5 x 594 [4.D. 1870. are these—“ Should it please the Lord, to remove M. M. {Mary Miller] by a sudden dismissal, let none of the veloved survivors consider, that it is in the way of judg- ment, either to her or to them, She has so often, when enjoying conscious nearness to the Lord, felt, ‘ How sweet it would be, now to depart and to be for ever with Jesus,’ that nothing but the shook it would be to her beloved husband and child, &., &c., has checked in her the long- ing desire, that thus her happy spirit might take its flight. Precious Jesus! Thy will in this as in everything else, and ~ not hers be done,” With such words before me, and knowing besides, as I do, the deep personal attachment my dearest wife had to that Blessed One who hung for us on the cross, can it be otherwise than that my inmost soul should rejoice in the joy which my loved one has now, in being with the Lord Jesus for ever? The depth of my love for her is rejoicing in her joy. Remember that word of our Lord, “If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I lay, \7 band, I feel more and more every day, that I am without this pleasant, useful, loving companion, As the director of the five Orphan Houses, I miss her in numberless ways; and shall miss her yet more and more. But as a child of God, and as a servant of the Lord Jesus, I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father, I seek by perfect submission to His holy will to glorify Him, I kiss continually the hand that has thus afflicted me; but I also say, I shall meet her again, to spend a happy eternity with . her. Will all who hear me now, meet my precious wife ? Only those will, who have passed sentence upon themselves as guilty sinners, and who have put their trust alone in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of their souls. He came — : into the world to save sinners, and all who believe in Him, shall be saved; but without faith in the Lord Jesus we cannot be saved. Let all those, who are as yet not recon- ciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, be in earnest- ness about their souls, lest suddenly a fever should lay them low and find them unprepared, or lest suddenly the Lord Jesus should return again, before they are prepared to meet Him. May the Lord in mercy grant, that this may not be the case. Amen. The reader has seen, from the Sermon, how much I was sustained, when thus bereaved, and now, after the lapse of .- > A.D. 1870. ] 595 more than four years I would say to the praise of God, that throughout, without one moment’s exception, I was enabled most fully to bow under the hand of God, and to be to the full satisfied with His holy pleasure. But while thus enabled to glorify God by perfect submission to His will, I, at the same time, felt myself deeply bereaved. That most lovely companion, who had been so greatly a help to me, was no longer to be found in my home, In Jesus I found, as in my never failing Friend, my repose | and solace; my soul was unspeakably blessed through this bereavement; but my earthly joy was all but gone, with the exception, that I had left a most beloved, a most affec- tionate daughter, who for 24 years as a believer had been j to her parents all they could wish. When now between eight and nine o'clock in the evenings, J went home from the Orphan Houses, instead of in company with my beloved ’ Mary, as for so many years past (for she was always with me), I said to myself: ‘1 shall not meet my beloved wife at home, but I shall_meet_ the Lord Jesus, my precious Friend ; He will comfort me; and I thanked God that! He had Teft my beloved daughter to me, who always! watched for my arrival, to greet me, and did all she could, | to soothe my bereaved heart, But the loss was great, the! wound was deep, and, as weeks and months passed on,} while continuing habitually not only to be satisfied with! God, but also to praise Him, for what He had done inj thus bereaving me, the wound seemed to deepen insteadi of being healed, and the bereavement to be felt more and} more; which, no doubt in a great measure, was connected: with the state of my nervons system, which had been greatly| affected through my bereavement. 1 Nec. 31, 1870. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes . . . . 1... £1538 14 1 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony- mously ........ . 85816 3° 8, Through donors, not residing in Bristol 1469 17 11 4, Through four legacies of £19. 15s. Od. £5., £19. 19s. Od., and £10, . . 5414 0 5, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth atleast . . . . . 30 7 6 £2067 9 9 596 [4.D. 1871. Aug. 4, 1871. To-day Mr. Wright, my principal helper in the work of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and whom, as I have before stated, I had requested to become, in the event of my death, my successor as Director of the Institution, asked for the hand of my beloved daughter, This request was as unlooked for on my part as any thing could have been, while, at the same time, I knew no one, to whom I could so willingly instrust this my choicest earthly treasure. My beloved daughter had the greatest conflict in her mind for about two weeks, before she ac- cepted this offer, her only and great difficulty being because of having to leave me. It was only on beseeching her, not to let this stand in the way, and pointing out to her, how x great my comfort and joy would be in seeing her united to such a husbaud, that she at last decided to accept the offer, The engagement of my beloved daughter, together with a variety of reasons, finally led me to the decision to marry again; as not only from the time of my bereavement 1 greatly missed my beloved departed wife, in my position, but judged, that now, in the prospect of my beloved daughter’s marriage, it would be the best for me to marry ” again. This decision, as one of the deepest importance, was come to in the fear of God, and in the full assurance that [had the sanction and approval of my Heavenly Father. My dear daughter was united to Mr. Wright, on Nov. 16, 1871, and I married_on November 30, 1871, Miss Susannah Grace Sangar, whom I had known for more than twetity -five years’as a consistent Christian, and regarding whom | had every reason to believe that she would prove a great helper to me in my various services. It is now two years and a half, since we have been united, and I record it to the praise of the Lord, that He has given to me in this my beloved second wife a very great help in service, and one who becomes more and more so, the more she becomes acquainted with the work, and who seeks to her utmost to relieve me from such work, as she can do. Great as her difficulties were, in entering upon services connected with so large an Institu- i tion as her husband is the director of, I obtained in her as a helper, far more than I could have reasonably expected. Dee. 31, 1871. During this year the Lord has been | pleased to give me:— ™ A.D. 1873.] 597 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes £149 3 2£ 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 392 15 9^ 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1,603 13 1 4, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 26 5 0 £2,171 17 1 From the latter part of January, 1872, to the end of March, my dear wife was ill, and suffered much pain. About the 10th of April she recovered and was very well the remainder of the year and all the year of 1873. Dec. 31, 1872. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me : — 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes £105 19 8 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 292 10 3 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1,514 1 6 4, Through two legacies of £200. and £100., left by two entire strangers to me 300 0 0 5, Through presents in clothes, provisions, etc., worth at least 28 6 0 £2,240 17 5 Oct. 16, 1873. To-day I gave for the Lord's work £100., and sent £7. 10s. to poor believers. When I came home in the evening, I found that a Christian friend had died, who had left me all his property, having no relatives at all, whereby I came into the possession of £620. 9s. 7d. I mention this, to show, how abundantly the Lord repays. Dec. 31, 1873. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me :— 1, By anonymous donations through the chapel boxes £103 13 7$ 2, Through donors in Bristol, not anony mously 273 8 0 Carried forward . . £377 1 7£ • 598 [A.D. 1874. Brought up . . 377 1 7£ 3, Through donors not residing in Bristol 1,324 19 2 4, Through six legacies of £10., £100., £19. 19s., £194. 12s. 3d., £90., and £620. 9s. 7d 1,035 0 10 5, Through presents in articles, worth at least .......... 33 6 6 £2,770 8 The reader will observe, how my income during this year was greater still than before. The secret of this will be seen more plainly hereafter, if not perceived already. January 1, 1874. On the very first day of this year, I reaped further, as, by God's grace, I had been enabled to sow, during the past year. There was paid to me the legacy of £360., left to me by a lady in Worcestershire, whom I bad only seen once. I received further, on .this very first day, in 18 donations, £35s 1s. 6d. March 19, 1874. To-day it is 45 years, since I arrived in England. This day I received from a gentleman at Birmingham a present of £50., and £4. 10s. in three other donations, like an earnest, that the Lord would oare for me in the 46th year also, and, as it were, to tell me by this, that His love to me was unaltered, though I had now before me one of the deepest afflictions, through which I ever passed. I give the particulars. On Saturday, March 14th, my dear wife, who had been for about two years in very good health, felt unwell; but as it appeared only a cold, she went out to worship the next day, Lord's Day, as usual, though her indis position was rather more than less. On Monday she ac companied me again, as her practice had been, day by day, to the Orphan Houses, and in the evening to our j usual Prayer-Meeting at Bethesda; but was no better. During the night she was feverish and restless, and now consented to my former repeated proposal to send for our medical adviser, Dr. Williams. When he came he advised her, not to go out that day, but to stay at home. In the evening of Tuesday, when I returned home from Cthe Orphan Houses, I found her up, but no better. This ! was the last day she was downstairs for more than seven j weeks. The fever increased more and more, though A.D. 1874.] 599 there seemed not in any way dangerous symptoms, speak ing after the manner of men. On Thursday, March 26th, I left my dear wife for the Orphan Houses better than she had been for several days ; more quiet, less under the power of the fever apparently, and having had a better night than several nights before. My dear daughter, Mrs. Wright, took my place in the house, in case any thing should need direction, during my absence. At half past one, p.m., my dear daughter came to the Orphan Houses, to fetch me, as my dear wife had had a hemor rhage. I hastened home and found that she had had the most fearful loss of blood. Dr. Williams had been sent for, and soon was on the spot. My dear wife looked pale as death, and the perspiration of death was on her brow ; but by the means used, after awhile seemed brought back again to life. But now as to my feelings, when I came home, and saw the death-like countenance of my dear wife. There was naturally everything to make one excited to the utmost, yea, to be overwhelmed ; because j there seemed nothing but death to be expected within a few hours. My soul, however, by the grace of God, was calm and in perfect peace. I was enabled, through my knowledge of God, to take this cup out of the hands of { my Heavenly Father, as the best thing for me under the 1 circumstances. I delighted myself in God. I was satis- 1 fied with His dealings with me, being assured that much good would come out of this to me. And so it came,; that, hopeless though the case might have appeared, look-; ing at it medically, my dear wife revived ; and in a few • days all seemed to have passed over, except that, of course, extreme weakness was left. But as life returned, the power of the fever also increased, and on Sunday, April 5th, my dear wife was delirious, the fever having : now come to its highest point. The deep trial of soul 1 had, in seeing this state, I can scarcely describe. In the evening Dr. Williams consulted with Dr. Black, who had > kindly come to see the invalid, and the judgment was, my dear wife might yet recover, if she could have some sleep ; but for more than 30 hours she had not shut her eyes even for a moment ; and a third nurse had to be sent for, to relieve one of the other two nurses, to get some rest. This was the second time, when my dear wife seemed on the very brink of the grave. I did what I could in seeing 600 [A.D. 1874. that all medical directions to the utmost were carried out; but my hope was in God alone. I knew Him, and I knew He would do what would be best for tne. My heart was satisfied with Him. I delighted myself in Him. And thus it came, that I was at peace ; perfectly at peace, whatever the issue might be, being assured that all was ordered according to that infinite love and wisdom, which led God not to spare His only begotton Son. And how did matters turn out, the reader may ask ? During the night the crisis came ; the fever turned ; my beloved wife had about five hours sleep, and slept the greater part of Monday morning, Apr. 6th. From that day very slight indications of improvement were seen. But still, day alter day, the pulse continued to be about 120, besides being extremely weak. Day after day passed, and, though very slowly, there appeared a little improvement, after the crisis of the fever had now taken place twelve days since, when, on Apr. 17, I was told, that one of the most eminent and most experienced London physicians had stated that he never_had known a patient to_jrecoyjr after such an hemorrhage as my Hear wife had had. Thus, for the third time all prospect of restoration, especially as the pulse of my dear wife still remained about 120, seemed gone. For the third time now my inmost soul sought to be satisfied with God, to delight myself in God, to kiss the hand which smote me ; and, by His grace, I did so. With all my affection for my beloved wife ; and with all my appreciation of her usefulness in the work, and her help to me individually in the variety of my service ; I was satisfied with God's will. I know what a lovely, gracious, bountiful Being God is, from the revelation which He has been pleased to make of Himself in His holy Word ; I believe this revelation ; I also know from my own experience the truth of it ; and therefore I was satisfied with God, I delighted myself in God ; and so it came, that He gave me the desire of my heart, even the restoration of my dear wife. See Psalm XXXVII., 4. Notwithstanding the unlikely prospect of restoration, yea great improbability, my dear wife improved, and in the beginning of May she was so far restored, as to be able to be wheeled in an easy chair out of her bed-room to a sitting-room, and to be on the sofa, first for 2 hours a day, then for 3 and 4 hours, then for 6 and 8 hours, and on A.D. 1874.] 601 May 1 1 she was well enough to be taken out in a car riage for an hour, the following 5 days for 2 hours each day, and thus she was so far restored by God's kindness, as to be able to be removed to the sea side for change of air. I have so minutely dwelt on this case, to show how much may be obtained by prayer ; for thousands of prayers ascended up on her behalf, not only in the United King dom, but even in various foreign lands, where her case soon had become known to Christians. I have further stated this. case so fully, to show the deep importance to be satisfied/ with the will of God, not only for the sake of glorifying( Him, but as the best way, in the end, of having given to | us the desire of our hearts. I May 29th, 1874. A week since we left homa for Burn- ham, in Somersetshire, that my dear wife might have the benefit of change by the sea side. Ever since we came here, she has been decidedly getting better, and is now, with God's blessing, in the way to full restoration ere long. In the Introduction to this volume I stated, that, while , I had often written, within the last thirty years, " On Stewardship," on " Systematic giving, as the Lord is pleased to prosper us," on " Not laying up treasure on earth," and the blessing, both temporal and spiritual, the sure fruit of acting on those principles, I had only alluded to myself with reference to these points, with out stating in figures, how I had acted. This I purpose ! now to do, from the time that I began to carry out these ' principles in my own life. It is not the praise of men that ! I seek, but the glory of God, and the real good and profit ; of my beloved fellow-disciples, hoping that they may be led ' to act on the same principles, if they have not done so ! already. The last few months of the year 1830 I omit, and begin with the year 1831. During this year it pleased the Lord to give to me, after I had given up my emolu- , ment in connexion with my pastoral position in the Church at Teignmouth, £151. 18s. 8d. The whole of this £151. 18s. 8d. was given to me, without asking any human being either directly or indirectly for any thing. Out of this £151. 18s. 8d. we gave away, during that year £50 ; I say we, for my beloved wife was altogether; of one mind with me in these matters, and as willing to live simply, economically, and savingly for the Lord as I D D 602 [a.D. 1874. was.—In the year 1832 my income was £195. 3s. Od. You see how the Lord repaid us. The money we had spent for Him, He indeed repaid. He gave not only £50. in return, but nearly four times £50.: this is His way. Thus I have found it for 44 years, only with successive years more and more so. During this year we gave away {| £70. The latter part of this year the Lord gave to us a beloved daughter ; but this made no difference in our way of living or acting. The only difference it did make, if any, was this, to be the more earnestly concerned to lay up treasure in heaven, that she too might partake of the benefit.—In the year 1833 my income was £267. 15s. 84d. You perceive how the Lord had again repaid not only the £70. given to Him, during the previous year; but how again nearly four times He was pleased to repay us; for He always sees to it, that we shall be His debtors, but that He will not be in debt to ua. Of this £207. lbs, Sfd. we gave away £110.; for our lot was now cast in the city of Bristol, among many poor believers, and we counted it an honour and a privilege, to give to them, according to our ability. This £110. was, of course, not given at once, nor at 10 or 20 different times only ; but as it pleased the Lord to give to us the means, and as the cases of necessity were brought before us by Him, so we desired grace to give out of that with which He was pleased to intrust us.—In the year 1834, the Lord was pleased to give to me, altogether, in various forms, £288. 0s. 83d., repaying thus again bountifully, and with very large in- j terest, the £110. which had been given away in His work, , or among His own poor, or among those who knew Him | not, or to one or the other relative who might be in need. » Out of this £288. 0s. 8}d., we gave away £120. We had now two children, the Lord having given to us a little son also, on March 19, 1839; but this made no difference as to the principles on which we acted.—In the year 1835, the total of my income was £285. 1s. 1}d., out of which we gave away £110. You see, esteemed reader, we went on spending our means for the Lord, in the measure in which He was pleased to intrust us with them, and according to the calls, which He was pleased, in return, to make upon us, as His stewards.—In the year 1836 the Lord was pleased to give to me £232. 11s. 9d., out of - which we gave away £80. Well, and how did we fare the A.D. 1874.] 603 next year? If we could spare that £80., it may be said, ought we not to have kept it for coming necessities, such as great sickness, falling off of income, loss of friends, etc. We never reckoned thus, but lived by the day, look- ing to the Lord, remembering the word of our adorable Lord Jesus, “ Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” Matthew vi. 34. We were not anxiously concerned as to what we should eat, what we should drink, or where- withal we should be clothed ; but we remembered that our Heavenly Father knoweth, that we have need of all these things, and that, if we sought firet the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things should be added to us. And just as our adorable Lord said, so have I literally found it to be, for forty four years. How then, still the reader may ask, was it in the next year, 1837? The answer is, my income was considerably more than during the previous year, it amounted now to £307. 2s. 64d.; thus the £80. given away during the previous year, was again nearly four times repaid; and during this year now we gave away £140. You see, dear reader, not the twen- tieth part of what the Lord gave us, nor the tenth of what He was pleased to intrust us with, though if this were carried out, much more would be given, than now generally is given by believers; but all we had was the _Lord’s, and again and again we stood with our all before ' the Lord.— Well, you may say, this was a goodly sum, which you gave away in the year 1837, and how did you fare in the year 1838? Our Heavenly Father repaid us most bountifully. The Lord was pleased, during the year 1838, to give to me altogether £350. 4s. 8d., out of which we gave away £166. By this time the necessities of the Orphan Work began to call for our means, and very, very often, the necessities of the hour or the day had to be met out of that which the Lord was pleased to! give me for myself; and in this state we continued for about five years, up to 1843, yea, more or less to the year 1848.—This £166. was again bountifully repaid by our Heavenly Father ; for in the year 1839 my income was £313. 2s. 5d., out of which we gave away £140.— Now observe thé income of the year 1840. It was altogether £242. 8s. 114d.. The Lord varied His mode of dealing. There was not more, than in the years 1837, 1838, and 1839, but considerably less. Thus often the Lord deale DD2 604 [a.D. 1874. with His children for the trial of their faith, to benefit them by His dealings, to teach them precious lessons, and to see how they will act under such circumstances. Well, and how did the writer and his beloved wife act? We did not say the Lord has forsaken us, nor did we say, we must now save up the money, which we do not need. We gave still, as before, according to our ability, though it could not be as much as in the years 1837, 1838, and 1839. We did not say, that it was better to discontinue to act on these principles ; but we held it fast, that our way of obedience to God is, to give as He is pleased to prosper us, In the year 1840 we gave away £80. out of our income of £242. 8s. 113d.—In the year 1841 the trial of faith still continued. The whole of my in- come being only £238. 11s. 13d.; but we acted as before, and gave away again that year £80.—In 1842 the total of my income was £329.16. 0d. We had continued to act according to God’s principles in our stewardship, and He was pleased to intrust us now again with more. Out of this amount we gave away £130. We did not say, then, the rented house, in which we live, suited us well, and, on that account, we had better save our money, and buy it; but we remembered, that we were strangers and pil- grims on earth, that as yet we had not entered upon our possessions, which are of a heavenly character, but that we are only God’s stewards of that, with which he intrusts us; and therefore we spent our means for Him. I have no hesitation in placing myself side by side with the Christian | who in the year 1842 sought to amass wealth, and who : has continued to do so, and to ask him, whether he is . happier than I am, and whether he has brighter pros- ’ pects concerning eternity than I have. Oh, that Christian . men would seek to cling to the Word of God, and to : practice the blessed statements contained therein !—In the * year 1843 the Lord again bountifully repaid, what had been spent for Him during the previous year; for my in- come amounted to £326. 1s. 103d., out of which we gave away £140.—In the year 1844 my income was £267. 6s. 9d., of which we gave away £100.—In the year 1845 my income was £433. 19s. 1d. Do you see, dear Reader, how the Lord was pleased to repay the £100., given away in the year 1844? We saw it. We knew that word, and believed it, “‘ There is that scattereth, and I A.D. 1874.] 605 yet increaseth ; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Proverbs xi. 24. And, therefore, it was our joy and delight yet further to act according to this word, and we gave away, during that year, £220. ; not indeed for the purpose of obtaining more for it, but to glorify God with the means, with which He had been pleased to intrust us, whilst, however, we knew at the same time, that He would abundantly repay. And this He did ; for in the year 1846 my income was £399. 2s. 11d., out of which we gave away £180. The reader will perceive that we went on in a steady even course. It is just this which brings in the end such abundant blessing, and which leads to an acquaintance with God, which can be only obtained in that way. —In the year 1847 my income was £412. 18s. 8½d., out of which we had the honour of being permitted to give away £180.—In the year 1848 my income was £474. 17s. 7d. You see how bountifully God repaid the £180.—Even if my income had been only £180. altogether, yet I ought to have been exceedingly grateful ; for every shilling of that amount would have come to me as the result of prayer only, from the bountiful hands of my Heavenly Father ; but He did not give only what we had given, but He gave nearly three times as much again as we had given. Out of this £474. 17s. 7d. we gave away £240.—In the year 1849 my income was £113. 2s. 4d., whereby the £240. was amply repaid, and we had the joy and privilege of giving away £190. of the amount.—In 1850 my income was £402. 4s. 5d., out of which we gave away £180.— In 1851 my income was £465. 13s. 1½d., of which we gave away £220.—In 1852 my income was £445. 8s. 8½d. I beg the reader to remember, that I had not a single fee, nor any emolument whatever in connexion with my pastoral position. I had no fees for burials, baptisms, marriages, or any thing else. My aim never was, how much I could obtain, but rather, how much I could give. Moreover, as Director of the Orphan Houses and other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, labouring as I and my ; beloved wife did, day after day, and year after year, I might, with all fairness, have taken a handsome remuneration ; for, speaking after the manner of men, we earned it ; but for many reasons we preferred, not to do this, but to leave the supply of our temporal necessities directly to our kind, j 606 [A.D. 1874. loving, Heavenly Father ; and He provided bountifully for us, and much more than we needed ; and He did so, by inclining the hearts of His stewards to remember our need. Since October 1830 I never asked any one of my fellow- men, either directly or indirectly to give me any thing, when I was in need ; nor did I give even the least hint of my necessitous circumstances, whilst in them, but only epoke to my Heavenly Father about them ; and He listened to my supplications. Out of the £445. 8s. Sjd., my in come for 18£2, we gave away £190.—£190. you say ; and why did you not save that £190. to put it into the bank? Because we knew a better way, a happier way, a safer way. We did indeed lay up treasure ; not on earth, but in heaven. We put it into heaven's Bank, that our benefit derived from it might not be only for time, but for eternity. Moreover, if we had attempted to save money for an in vestment in houses, or lands, or otherwise, our Heavenly Father would have shut up His hands and no longer supplied us so bountifully as He had been pleased to do ; whilst on the other hand, as we continued to act as stewards and not as owners, with reference to the amount, with which it pleased Him to intrust us, He condescended to honour us more and more as stewards, and from this time in particular.—Now see what He gave me in the year 1 853. The £190., which we had given during the previous year, God repaid bountifully, in giving me £638. 11s. 8½d. ; and being thus made stewards over more, we sought to be faithful stewards, and only stewards, and not owners, and therefore gave away £368. during this year. From the end of 1852, as the reader will see, my income now became larger and larger.—In 1854 it was £697. 11s. 5d., of which we gave away £440. This again was abundantly repaid; for in 1855 my income was £726. 16s. 2½d., of which we gave away £466. Some Christians may say, I act as you do ; I do not lay up money, I consider that foolish ; but I seek to enjoy life, and what I earn by my labour, I spend on my family and on the enjoyments of life ; I live, as it is called, up to my income. Do you ? is my reply. I have not so learned of my adorable Lord and Master, the Lord Jesus, whose example and that of the Apostles, I would seek for grace to imitate, howsoever much, as yet, I fall short of the blessed, holy patterns. True enjoyment A.D. 1874.] 607 of life does not consist in seeking how much we can spend on ourselves, to please ourselves, to gratify ourselves ; but how much we can minister to the comfort and happiness of others, both temporally and spiritually. Thus the end, for which we are left in the world, after our conversion, is at least in some degree answered. I am far from wishing to bring the children of God into bondage, and to make their consciences to be morbid, in which state there is a constant scruple, as to whether we may spend this sovereign or this shilling or not, on ourselves ; and yet, there is verily, on the other hand, a propriety and impropriety as to dress, furniture, house, style of living generally, etc.—In the year 1856 my income was £781. 0s. 7d., and we had now the joy and privilege of being able to give away £500. duriug that year.—In 1857 my income was £836. 11s. 2½d. and we gave away that year £566. — In 1858 my income was £1029. Is. 1 1½d. Yes, dear Reader, £1029. 1s. 11½d. Exactly thus. It is correct to the farthing. For if anony mous donations came in, they might even contain farthings. You are surprised at the greatness of the amount ! Well, it is a large sum ; but you see now, from what I have stated in the previous pages, if you had not seen it before, what was the secret of my having so much. It was not, because J deserved it. Far less because I begged it of my fellow men, for I not only never asked any one for any thing, nor even gave hints to them directly or indirectly to give to me ; but I spoke to God, and to Him only, about my temporal necessities. And then, when it pleased Him to send me more than I required for my family and self, I gladly gave to the Lord's work, or to the poor, or, should a relative happen to need any thing, gave to them also ; and so it came, that, acting for God as His steward, at least aiming after doing so, He condescended to intrust me yet more and more with means; made me a steward over more ; and gave to me thus yet further and further the joy and honour of communicating to the necessities of others or His own blessed work. Out of the £1029. ls. 11½d. we gave away £768.—In the year 1859 the total of my income was £1037. 12s. 10½d. Yon see again by this, how bountifully the Lord was pleased to repay me any tiling that was given back to Him, out of that which He had been pleased first to give to me. Out of this goodly sum £1037. 12s. 10½d., we gave away £776. I so well remem ber, when I used to tell my beloved departed wife, that I 608 [A.D. 1874. had put £100. or £200., or more or less, as the case might be, to the Building Fund of the Orphan Houses, or to Missions, how she would with an affectionate smile say, thank you, my dear ; or, if I proposed to her to do so, how I had at once not only her most hearty approval, but she would rejoice at our being able so to do. I also well re member, how many times 1 said to her, and our beloved daughter, My dears, if the Lord should take me away be fore you, and you should ever be in need of any thing, ask the Lord in child-like simplicity, that He would graciously be pleased to repay you a little of that, which I gave to the poor, or to His work, and you will find, how, without fail, He will do so.—In the year 1860 my income was £1054. 9. 0½d., out of which we gave away £800.—In the year 1861 my income was £1097. 12s. 6½d. This year we gave away £847. A goodly sum, you will say, you gave away; you might have bought with that a very respectable house. Yes, but if I had acted thus, except there were most decided reasons for it, why I could not live in a rented house ; or, except the Lord's service plainly made it manifest, that I ought to do so, my stewardship would have been changed ; or, if not changed, it would have been altered in degree. Moreover, I never had even the least desire to buy houses or land, though for the Lord I have bought and builded more than Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine out of every Thousand have done. I had it continually before me, I have but one brief life on earth, that I must make the best of that, and that, therefore, with regard to money, I must lay up treasure in heaven. To me the things of God have been, whatever I my weakness and infirmity may be, deep realities for more than forty-four years ; and I have been always certain, I that when I shall in heaven meet my rich brethren in f Christ, who have not acted on earth as stewards, but as owners ; or my brethren and sisters in Christ, who as per sons in business have sought with all their might to become rich ; they will, with deep sorrow, look back upon their want of true wisdom in these things, and lament their way of having acted as they have.—In the year 1862 it pleased the Lord to give to me altogether ( £1067. 6s. 11½d., of which He was pleased to give to us grace to give away £876. 17s. 0d. I say He gave to us 1 grace to do so. Let none of my dear Readers suppose, A.D. 1874.] 609 that I do not naturally care about money, and that on this account I have given away so much. This would be a great mistake. As in every other respect I have to pray, " Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe," so in this par- ticular also. If I were left to mjself, I should even now, after all the experience I have had, become a lover of money, and hold it fast, and seek to increase my posses sions more and more; for I am naturally a calculating business man. But as long as grace is in exercise, I calculate with regard to the eternity before me, in com parison with the little span of time here on earth ; and I also calculate, that since " the Lord Jesus became poor, that I through His poverty might be made rich ;" and that since He shed His blood to save me; it well becomes / me to give back to Him in return, of that with which He > has been pleased to intrust me, as His steward.'—In the \ year 1863 it pleased the Lord to give to me altogether, < £1172. 10s. 6½d. Do you perceive, in this instance, the truth of the statement of our Lord, to which I have repeatedly referred in the previous part of this Volume, " Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again." Luke vi., 38. One of the especial reasons, which lead me to make these statements, is, to give a practical illustration of what I have so often stated on this subject ; and what could be more manifest, than that the Lord acted according to His word, in dealing with me, year after year, with reference to my income, as He did. You see, then, how bountifully the Lord gave back to me the £876. 17s. 0d., which we had given away during the year 1862, not by sending directly, from Himself, in a miraculous way, but by inclining the hearts of His stewards to send to me. Of this £1172. 10s. 6½d. we gave away £961. 3s. 8d. during the year 1863.—In the year 1864 my income was still more. It amounted altogether to £1230. 15s. 7½d. Notice especially, dear Reader, how the Lord dealt with me habitually as I dealt with Him. I depended on Him, I trusted in Him ; and I was not confounded in doing so. Moreover, I acted as His steward, I sought also, to be a faithful steward ; and He ^as thus pleased to make me, year after year, to be a steward over more. Of this 610 [A.D. 1874. £1230. 15s. 7½d. we gave away in the year 1864, £1024. 4s. 5d. — In the year 1865 my income was £1365. 4s. 14d., and of this amount we gave away £1131. 10s. 8d. Do you see how God repaid us? Do you also see the blessedness of such a life ? Well, why should not all Christians, in principle, go on in this way ? I know of none. All, whom ever I have known, who carried out, in reality, these principles, were happy in doing so, were prospered by God, were owned by God ; but there must be persevering reality.—In the year 1866 my income was still larger. It amounted to £1602. ls. 6½d. Will not my dear fellow-servants in the Gospel, of what ever name, consider before God the Lord's gracious and faithful dealings with me ? Of the £1602. 1s. 6½d. we gave away £1362. 13s. 2d. during that year. I remember meeting that year a beloved Christian brother, who in course of conversation said, " Do you not think it right, to make provision for one's wife and children, that they be not a burden to others, after we are gone ?" My reply was, " Yes, I seek to do so, by laying up treasure in heaven." How have matters turned out since 1866 ? In the year 1870 the Lord took my beloved wife to Himself, and she is thus well provided for ; and in 1871 my beloved daughter was married to dear Mr. Wright, and the Lord has thus well provided for her.—In the year 1857 my iucome was altogether £1847. 19s. 4½d., of which we gave away £1579. 2s. 2d. See, dear Reader, how great the joy, the honour, the privilege, to be allowed to spend £1579. 2s. 2d. in one year for the Lord's work, or the poor ! If all my fellow-believers only knew the blessedness of living the life of trust in God as I do, and to act on the principles on which I act, they would verily walk in the same road. But, because they know not this blessedness, I write thus and bring thus minutely in figures these matters before them, if by any means they may be led to seek to know for themselves the blessedness of this path.—In the year 1868 my income was £1838. 17s. 4½d., of which, by the grace of God, we were enabled to give away £1557. 3s. 6d. —In the year 1669 my income was £1800. 16s. 10½d., of which we were enabled to give away £1559. 10s. 8d.—In 1870 my income amounted altogether to £2067. 9s. 9d. (He who had gladly laboured now in the word and doctrine for forty years, without being chargeable to any one, and A.D. 1874.] 611 who during those forty years never had received for any one thing he did in connexion with his pastoral position or as preacher of the Gospel, a single fee ; and he who had never saved up money for investment or interest, was so well cared for by His Heavenly Father, that his income now amounted to more than Two Thousand Pounds. Now, however, I was bereaved of my beloved wife.—The sharer of my joys in these matters was removed, yet my beloved daughter remained to me, who, even as her beloved mother had done before, took always great delight, when I told her that I had invested for her £100. or £200, or less or more, by giving it to Missions, etc. ; and this she did not merely in the year 1870 or in 1871, but had done it many years before, when I had told her of it ; for she knew my ways in these things to the full. Of the £2067. 9s. 9d., the Lord's kind gift to me for 1870, 1 was enabled, by the grace of God, to give away £1713. 11s. 7d.—In the year 1871 my income altogether was £2171. 17s. 1d., of which I gave away £1570. 9s. 11d.—My income in the year 1872 was £2240. 17s. 5d. I had now again a companion in my . beloved second wife, who shared my joy, when I sent any I thing to the poor, or gave away otherwise. She had lost! the property she once possessed, which, among other! reasons, fitted her the better to be my wife ; for if she had been rich, she would not have suited me. I own it freely,! that I had joy in the thought that she possessed no! property, and that I could make her to share with me the! abundance, with which it pleased the Lord to bless me year after year. But after I had made her an offer, found that she had £200. left, which she gave to me before our marriage, for the Lord's work ; thus it was see that in this respect she was of one mind with me. Of the! £2240. 17s. 5d., my income in the year 1872, we gave awaj £1637. 3s. 2d. — In the year 1873 my income wa altogether £2770. 8s. 1½d., made up to this larger amoun than ever, as stated before, by six legacies, which received during this year, amounting to £1035. 0s. 10d Out of this £2770. 8s. 1½d., we had grace given to us give away £1819. 10s. 0d. The reader may have observe that the amount, left in my hands, for family expenses, i the years 1871, 1872 and 1873, is greater than in the previous years. This arose not from the fact, that I lived now very expensively, much less that I now, after all, in- 612 [A.D. 1874. vested money ; but simply, because I saw not clearly as yet, how to spend all which was left over. The year 1874 furnished me, however, with the opportunity of giving away more largely. It now only remains to state what my income was from Jan. 1, 1874 to May 26, 1874. I have stated before, that on Jan. 1, 1874, I received £360. as the payment of a egacy, left to me by a lady in Worcestershire, whom I only saw once. In addition to this amount, the Lord was pleased to give me from Jan. 1, 1874 to May 26, 1874, 6814. 19s. 2½d., making £1204. 19s. 2½d. within these 'nearly five months; and from Jan. 1, 1874 to May 26, 1874, I gave away £1739. 0s. 7d. I say I, because my dear wife was ill, while I gave away the greater part of this 'amount. The sum given away being above Five Hundred Pounds more than my income, leads me to make the following remarks. The reader of the previous pages would be mistaken, if he supposed that, as soon as the Lord has sent me means, my aim is, to seek to get rid of them as fast as possible, as if it were a crime to possess a Ten Pound Note. This is not at all my way of acting. All I seek after, is, to have grace, not to hold any thing as my own, but as belonging to the Lord ; so that, whether ! 1 have much or little, I desire to look on the much or the little as a steward would, and not as an owner. I seek, therefore, for grace, to be willing, to give of that, which the Lord has given to me, a part, or, if He would bid me, all, Often the Lord brings before me needy saints, besides those 68 poor believers whom I seek habitually to help ; or some needy unbelievers ; or special claims in His work ; and then I seek to be ready to give as His steward, out of that with which He has intrusted me. In this way it came, that the legacy of £620. 9s. 7d. into the posses sion of which I came at the end of the year 1873, and the legacy of £360. which I received on Jan. 1, 1874, and a little besides were in my hands unused, when the Lord brought before me a suitable opportunity of spend ing a large sum to the praise of His name. As a steward, having clearly ascertained His will, I gladly obeyed and gave. This is the explanation, how £1739. 0s. 7d. could be given away by me between Jan. 1, 1874 and May 26, 1874, when my income during that time had been only £1204. 19s. 2½d., and yet my expenses had been far A.D, 1874.] 613 greater than ever, on account of the illness of my beloved wife. From what has been stated before, it will be seen, that during the 43 years and 5 months from Jan. 1, 1831 to May 26, 1874, the total of my income was £37,523. 3s. 63d., of which, however, more than £26,000. came in during the last sixteen years only. The total amount, which, by God’s grace, I was enabled to give away, during these 43 years and 5 months, is £27,179. Os. 8d. Of this amount, however, more than £21,700. was given away within the _ last sixteen years only. It may be profitable to the reader, to dwell yet a little more on this, to see how God gave abundantly as we had grace to return to Him, of that which He had given to us. My income for 9 years, from Jan, 1,1821 to Dec. 31, 1839, was altogether £2,391.0s.6}d. During these same nine years, out of that amount, we gave away £986. Of course our family expenses had to be met, and my income, during those nine years, being compara- tivey smal], what was given away was necessarily a small amount also. During the next nine years, from Jan. 1, 1840 to Dec. 31, 1848, my income was £3,125, 2s. 114d. Notice the increase of my income. As I had sown during the previous nine years, so I reaped. Out of this amount we gave away, from Jan. 1, 1840 to Dec. 31, 1848, £1,350. During the next nine years, from Jan. 1, 1849 to Dec. 31, 1857, my income was £5,406. 19s. 83d. Of this amount we gave away, during those nine years, £3,120. Now observe, not merely with regard to what has been stated already, but also with regard to what follows, how steady perseverance in acting according to God’s principles surely will bring abundant blessing and recompense in the end. During the next nine years, from Jan. 1, 1858 to Dec. 31, 1866, my income was altogether, £10,656. 15s. 24d. Out of this amount we gave away £8,547. 8s 1ld. During the remaining seven years and five months, from Jan. 1, 1867 to May 26, 1874, my income was £15,943. 5s. 24d., and out of this amount we gave away £13,175. 11s. 9d. during those seven years and five months. Of the Twenty Seven Thousand One Hundred Seventy- nine Pounds and Eight Pence, which we gave away from Jan. 1, 1831 to May 26, 1874, Twenty-Two Thousand | Pounds were given to the Lord’s work. The remaining | £5,179. 0s, 8d. was given to poor believers (chiefly the ra 614 [A.D. 1874. poor of the church whose pastor I am), or other poor believers, or to poor unbelievers, or to relatives who might be in need. I have no doubt, that most of the Christian readers will say, This is a blessed way ! It is delightful, to be allowed to give away so much ! How I should like to be able to do the same. My reply is, Yes, it is a blessed way ! It is delightful, to be allowed to give away so much. Will you not then try this way for yourself. Give, as God prospers yon. Begin with little, if you have not faith enough to begin with much ; only give that little, constrained by the love of Christ, 'heartily, faithfully, steadily. Do not begin, and after a few weeks leave off ; but go on steadily, under all circumstances ; and you will find, that you will be so blessed in your own soul, besides so prospered in your circumstances, as that you will more and more take delight in giving, and have also the ability for so doing. There is one thing addi tionally to be observed. Do not, as stewards, waste your Lord's means. Though you were to give much, if you lived in an unbecoming way, spending too much on your self, in the way of luxury or otherwise, you would not be intrusted with much. I have not only allowed to myself and family all the necessaries, but even the conveniences of life ; I do this still, if not even more, as I am increas ing in years; but I have ever guarded against extrava gance in any way ; lest my stewardship should be taken from me. Now, at the evening of life, looking back upon the first of Jan. 1831, do you suppose I regret to have given away more than Twenty Seven Thousand Pounds ? Verily not. I thank God tor the honor bestowed upon ine, in allowing me so to do, and I am not in the least tired of this way ; while at the same time, I need to pray still : " Hold Thou me np, and I shall be safe." 1 had no intention of writing in this volume about my pastoral position ; but I cannot close, without at least very briefly hinting at it. As in every way I have abundant cause for praise and thanksgiving, so in this respect also. On May 26, 1832, I arrived in Bristol for service in the Gopsel. All the very many Nonconformist ministers of the Gospel, then living in this city, have since either removed to other places, or have fallen asleep. I alone A.D. 1874.] 615 remain, yet honored to labour for the Lord ; and, I may say to His praise, with health and strength, yea with vigor of body and mind. Even of all the evangelical ministers of the establishment, living when I came to Bristol in 1832, only one survives. I am still, by God's grace, permitted, week after week, to preach, and am very rarely hindered by illness ; and during the last 6 or 7 years have preached to larger congregations than all the pre vious 35 or 36 years. Since coming to Bristol, above Three Thousand believers have been received into Fellow ship, more than one half of whom, since then, have either fallen asleep, or have removed from Bristol ; a very small portion also have joined other churches, and a still smaller portion have been separated from fellowship. There are at present actually in fellowship in the Church, under my pastoral care, One Thousand and Seventy believers, meet- ! ing in three different chapels, on the same principles oT , which I have written in the first volume of this Narrative. / I am helped in my pastoral position, and in preaching the Word, by various Godly, experienced and well-instructed brethren, who have addicted themselves to this service. I cannot close, without saying that I am blessed with the love of the saints, among whom I labour, and that there \ is a goodly measure of love and union among us. I have now finished this service, which year after year I have longed to perform, for the honor of God, and for the good of my fellow-disciples; and I commend this volume to Him whose praise I have sought in it. Fare well, esteemed Reader. Help the writer by your prayers ; for the older he becomes, the more he knows bis own weakness, and therefore is conscious of needing the help of God. J. DAVY AND SONS, PRINTERS, 137, LONG ACRE, LONDON. 2 i — | 5 02387720 DO 1h Miller, George M946 ‘R narrative of some of 1874 , TE ! . RNED | : | |