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 RESTRICTED ON AC CRO00223530 AT -, ,. A NAEEATIVE OF SOME OF THE LOBD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE MULLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. SIXTH PA R T. J. NISBET & CO., BERNERS STREET, LONDON. TO BE HAD ALSO IN BRISTOL, AT THE BIBLE AND TRACT WAREHOUSE OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION FOR HOME AND ABROAD, No. 34, PARK STREET; AND THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1886. LIBRARY OF THE UniBfl Theetogioa! Seminary NEW YORK CITY PRESENTED UY DONOR [Entered at Stationers' Hall.] DRYDEN PRESS : J. DAVY AND SONS, 137, LONG ACRE, LONDON. PREFACE. THE introduction to the third volume of this Narrative, gives also in part the reason for publishing this fourth volume. Besides what has been stated there, I have to add, that, during the last ten years and nine months, my life and service have been completely different from what they were .before, having travelled in 23 countries ini Europe, America. Africa, and Asia, on preaching toursTJ of which a brief account is given in the last chapter off this volume. I refer also again minutely, in writing about myself in the last chapter, to the blessed results of systematic giving, as the Lord may prosper us, as exemplified in my own experience. The author has now entered upon bis eighty-first year, and greatly desired to show in his advanced age, that he is acting on the same principles as he did 56 years ago, trusting in God alone for everything, and is more and more assured of the blessedness of these principles, and desires that the reader if he does not act on them, may know their blessedness for himself. Lastly, the author suggests, that this book should not be read like a common narrative, but only a few pages at a time,; that that which is read should be pondered over, and that the whole book should habitually be read with self application. GEORGE MULLER. January 1, 1886. New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol. (Permanent Address.) CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Mission ary—and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from March 5, 1874 to May 26, 1885. Practical remarks, letters from donors, &c. . 1—99 CHAPTEE II. The Lord's way of providing for the thousands of Orphans who were in the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, from March 5, 1874, to May 26, 1885 ; practical remarks, letters of donors and of Orphans, &c. . . . 99—233 CHAPTEK III. In this chapter will be found the statistics of the Institution, from March 5, 1874 to May 26, 1885, as to the number of 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 ^f VI CONTENTS. PAGE 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 cost, 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. . 234—381 CHAPTEE IV, Matters more particularly connected with my own personal affairs, or those of my family, from June, 1874 to Dec. 31, 1885. 381—447 AD. 1874.] 1 CHAPTER I. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from March 5, 1874, to May 26, 1885. Practical remarks, Letters from Donors, &e. In the third volume of this Narrative, the account regarding the income for the first four Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad was carried on up to March 5th, 1874, as that date finishes its history, in this particular, for the first forty [>< years of its existence ; and we now go on with the narra- tive in what follows. March 7, 1874, From Ireland, for Missions, £150. April 1. £100. from a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up Zin. treasure in heaven.—From Wales £100., with £36. for _ the support of the Orphans, being the receipt on New Year's Day in a house of business, carried on on the ready money system. May 4. From “ Needy,” £6. 4s. 1d. This donor gives month by month similar amounts, as God prospers him. About eight years ago he sent a few shillings, think 4 or 5, but continued to send, under the name of “ Needy,” these small amounts. After some time they were some- what enlarged, and after a year or two they became much larger. Now he sends about £60. a year, in monthly instalments, always varying; no doubt as God prospers him.—May 6. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 9. £33. with the fol- lowing letter: “My Dear Sir, Piease to accept the enclosed cheque for £33. as from the Lord. I had a very handsome bracelet, and years ago I made up my mind, that, if a certain person died, I would sell it, and send the money to you. Pray make what use of it you please, keeping £5. for yourself. I always read your Reports every year, and my faith gets greatly strength- ened, and I generally give several away. Sometimes I B 2 [A.D. 1874. used to fear that I should never be able to sell my beau tiful bracelet and send you the money. Being almost poor, compared with what I once was, to have sent you the money, was entirely out of my power. However, now when I am upwards of seventy years of age, my Heavenly Father has answered my prayer. That the Lord may greatly bless you, is the fervent prayer of your sincere sister in the Lord * * * *." I have given this letter as another instance of the remarkable way in which it pleases the Lord to supply us with means, but all I comes in answer to prayer ; we only speak to Him about \ our need. And this we have continually to do. Whilst I am writing this for the press, we have scarcely anything ( left for these first four Objects of the Institution, as the \ income has been exceedingly little for many days, and ) the outgoings have been exceedingly large. But I hope in God, and doubt not, that long ere this is out of the press, and before the eye of the public, He will again send in the means more bountifully, which He now, for the trial of our faith, for a while is pleased "to withhold from us. —May 13. The following letter, containing ten shillings, is from one of the Orphans now in service, who has been long a believer, and who left our care more than twenty years since: " Dear Mr. Miiller, Please to accept the enclosed trifle, towards the support of the great work you have in hand. The sum is very small, but it is given in the earnest desire to lay up treasure in heaven, and also to discharge the duty I think is laid upon every one, to help forward the work of God, in spreading the gospel all over the world. Take my mite for the purpose which requires it most, and may it bring down a blessing, both to the receiver and to the giver. With the hope that you are well and strong in the Lord, I am, your unworthy Orphan, * * * *."—May 18. From Worcestershire £90. for Missions, with £10. for myself. —May 21. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 23. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, £8. 10s. in eight donations.—From the neigh bourhood of Bridgend £9. 6s. from donors who give as the Lord prospers them. —May 26. £980. 9s. 7d. from ' a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. A.D. 1874.] 3 Supplies for the School—, Bible,— Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1874, to May 26, 1875. Letters from Donors, Practical re- marks, &e. . At the commencement of the last period, from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, the balance in hand, for these Objects of the Institution, was £167. 1s. 34d. We were thankful to have even this small balance in hand, though it was very little indeed, considering that during the previous year the expenses for these Objects alone had amounted to £16518. 5s. 5d. Yet, little as the balance was, we were not in debt, and looked out now for help to our infinitely rich Treasurer, the Living God, and were not confounded. Again and again, when either all, or almost all was gone, for these Objects, He was pleased . to send us fresh supplies. I refer now to some of the ways, in which it pleased Him to help us. July 10, 1874. £149. 19s. 9d. from a servant of the g Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, socks | My’ to lay up treasure in heaven.—July 13. From one of the former Orphans, a Christian, now in service, 10s., ‘instead of buying herself a new bonnet.”—July 28. From Scotland £37. 10s, £10. for Missions to the Jews, £20. for the Orphans, £1. 7s. for books, and £5. for myself. ; August 1. From Scotland £150., with £10. for myself. —August 8. From Ireland £100. for Missions in Spain, £100. for Missions in Italy, £100. for Missions in China, and £200. for the Orphans.—Aug. 25. From India £87. 16s. 0d.—Aug. 27. When the new year for this Institution commenced, three months since, we began the operations of these four Objects with the balance of £167. 1s.34d. Since then we have expended £2526. 6s. 6d., and yet this day we have £553. 7s. 2d. left. Thus the Lord has again helped us, during these three months also, in answer to believing and expecting prayer. Sept. 2. From Sale £66. 4s., with £50. for the Orphans.—Sept. 7. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up | _ treasure in heaven, £200.—Sept. 21. From Cardiff £125. —Sept. 27. Within the past four months we have ex- pended for these Objects £4193. 15s, 11d., and yet the B2 a 4 [A.D. 1874. balance of £167. 1s. 3½d. -which we had, when we began this period, is increased to £207. 5s. —Sept. 30. From one of the Midland Counties £450. for Missions, with £50. for myself.—From London £50., with £50. for the Orphans. Oct. 13. From Slapton £5., " as a thank-offering for an abundant harvest." Nov. 2. From Ireland £100.—£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —Nov. 14. £200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— Nov. 20. From Yorkshire £200. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and £100. for the Orphans. —Nov. 26. From Sale £40., with £100. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. —Nov. 27. From Cambridge, for Missions, £31. 15s. 8d.—We had now expended £7360. 18s. 6d., though we commenced only with the balance of £167. 1s. 3½d. on May 27th, and had £128. 14s. 6½d. left, as the result of waiting upon God in believing prayer. Dec. 16. From the neighbourhood of Henley-on-Thames £100.—From Bedfordshire £5., with £5. for the Or phans' treat and 6d. for a Report, from a small shop keeper, who many times has sent £5. as the Lord is pleased to prosper him.—Dec. 23. From a servant of the i Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks I to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. —Dec. 27. During the past seven months we have been enabled to expend for these Objects £8687. 13s. 1½d., though, when this period began, we had only £167. 1s. 3½d. in hand. Now, however, all our means are gone. We have nothing at all left.—Dec. 28. See how soon the Lord has again sent us means, in answer to prayer, for these Objects. Re ceived from a Christian Gentleman £181. 18s. 1d., with £50. for the Orphans, being the entire proceeds of a field, set apart for the benefit of this Institution.—Re ceived also £10. from Menton in France for the circu lation of the Holy Scriptures, and ten other donations besides, amounting altogether to £9. 8s. 1d. Thus above £200. came in at once, when all our means were com pletely expended, for these first four Objects of the Institution. Jan. 1, 1875. With the new year, the Lord was pleased A.D. 1875.] 5 to send us, as the result of many prayers, many donations. I only mention, as specimens, the following :—From Ireland £50.—From Scotland £110.—Jan. 4. From Cork £50.—Jan. 5. An aged Christian near Spilsby, who, - being too aged to continue his ordinary work, having yet a desire to do something for this Institution, and having some strength left, made 40 beehives during the past year, for its benefit, which he sold for £4. and sent the money. This affords another proof, how all, who really have it in their heart, may do something for the | work of God.—Jan. 12. Received 15s. from one of the former Orphans, who went to service about 24 years since, and who has been for many years a believer. The donation was sent with the following letter: ‘Dear Mr. Miller, I have the pleasure of once more giving you my mite towards carrying on the great works in your hands. I send fifteen shillings for that part which requires it most; and may the dear Lord bless you in receiving, and me in giving the same. The thought crossed my mind the other day, that it was a great privilege to be used in the smallest degree as an instrument in answer to prayer, that is, I know that you pray earnestly every day for means to work with, and if I am inclined to send a small portion of my means, then I look upon it, that I ought to esteem it a great honour to be allowed in that way to be a co-worker with you. I desire your prayers on my behalf, that I may be preserved faithful unto the great day of the Lord, or the end of time allotted for me to live in this world. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate Orphan * * * *,”—Jan. 18. From Algiers £10.—Jan. 22. From one of the former Orphans £6. 10s. The donor has been a Christian for many years, is now in business on his own account, and had taken one of our Christian Orphan Boys as an apprentice. When the one half of the premium was sent to him, he returned it, with a ; grateful letter for the benefit he had himself received at the Orphan Houses.—Jan. 23. Anonymously from Bir- mingham £400.—From Hampshire £100. for Foreign Missions, £75. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £300. for the support of the Orphans, and £25. for my- self.—Jan. 27. To-day it was found, that we had expended for these Objects within the past eight months £10349, 8s. 104d., though we had at the beginning of the period 4 6 [A.D. 1875. less than One Hundred and Seventy Pounds in hand, and to-day we have £322. 15s. 11½d. left, whilst a month since we had nothing at all; but more than this, we have been able to meet the monthly expenses, amounting to nearly Seventeen Hundred Pounds. Feb. 6. By sale of gold and silver articles, given to be sold, £50.—Feb. 12. From one of the Midland Counties £450. for Home Missions, with £50. for myself.—Feb. 16. Received £250. with the following letter : " My dear Brother in Christ, After 54 years of natural life, and nearly as long since my ' birth from above,' during which interval the earth has, mostly, brought forth unto me plenty of thorns and thistles (of results painful and results dry and barren) I have now for the first time received what is to me an important supply of earthly riches ; but without my own labour, and from a totally unexpected source, and after equally unexpected losses, risks and delays, during four years in receiving it. Therefore I desire to take the earliest appropriate day to express recognition of my Heavenly Father's bounty, in having, according to my petitions, protected this from again wholly vanishing : and more especially for having preceded it with equal bounty of various spiritual riches for which I had been petitioning. I beg you to accept, ( therefore, the 'enclosed cheque for £250., being £120. for the important faithful and scriptural Missionary work ; £70. for the Bible Fund, SCHOOLS and Tracts on correct Scriptural principles, greatly needed by the rising gene ration in these evil days, before Christ's Church is trans lated to meet Him. £50. for the Orphans, that great work which shows the blessing and reality of " walking" truly and Scripturally by Faith. £10. for the personal use of yourself, as having been set forth by God as an instructive example of a believer " having Christ's words abiding in him," and of the practical fulfilment of the promises attached thereto. Various other Christian works are pressed on me in God's providence, to which to apply other portions of what God has entrusted to me ; but, as my faith (besides knowledge of God's will in worship and walk) has been greatly strengthened and helped (as could not be done by any mere words) during the last 25 years, by the Holy Spirit through your Auto biography and Orphan work, I feel it a privilege thus to A.D. 1875.] 7 testify this first (having specially prayed for wisdom) in beginning to employ this Divine bounty, while as yet the blessed powers of natural life are continued to you and to me. In former years I have gladly sent you a pound or a few pounds, from time to time, as I have felt i able, without expecting, at all, that I should ever be so I well enabled to send this. May our Father's blessing I continue on yourself and on your works ; and be on the expenditure, by you, of this comparatively small item toward your great works so graciously sustained in the Lord. Ever yours sincerely in Christ, * * * *." This donation, as unexpectedly received by me from the kind donor, as the money was unexpectedly received by him, which enabled him, to send it, was one of the various means, whereby the Lord was pleased to carry us through the expenses of the past year. —£12. from Glasgow, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I think it but right you should have the first fruits of the tenth of my business, which plan has been aHopteoTby me within the last few weeks, solely from reading your publications (The Lord's Dealings with George MiiHerTf T" prayed' fervently that the Lord would incline my heart also to give systematically to Him, as others did. I say fervently, as I had to contend with a grasping, money loving dis position, which, I am glad to say, has been so far con quered victoriously, that I can now put on one side the Lord's Tenth after the close of each day's transactions, without any feelings of regret. I ask an interest in your prayers, that I may become one of the Lord's stewards, and give still more largely to Him " who daily loadeth me with benefits." From this amount, £12., you will greatly oblige me by retaining £5. for yourself; the remainder apply as you think best. Trusting the Lord in His infinite goodness will spare you for many years to come, not only as a father to poor Orphans, but as a shining light to bring those out of darkness as once was yours sincerely and affectionately * * * *."—£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —Feb. 27. Saturday. Up to this day we had been enabled, by the help of God, as the result of prayer and faith, to expend within the past nine months, for these Objects alone, £12237. 12s. 1d., though we began the year with 8 [A.D. 1875. so small a balance, and we had now £52. 4s. 10½d. left for these Objects, which this very day was entirely ex pended, and we had now nothing at all in hand ; but our infinitely rich Treasurer, the Living God, remained, and in Him we trusted, and to Him we made known our requests. March 1. Monday. Since Saturday, when we had nothing at all left for these Objects, the Lord has gra ciously been pleased to give us, in answer to prayer, altogether £333. The donors who kindly helped us, will feel interested in knowing how God used them as His instruments to send us help when we had nothing left, which I did not tell them, when I sent their receipts, as otherwise it would have been like an indirect request for further help. I never speak of the state of the funds to any one, not connected with the Institution, except when the yearly Report is issued.—I received this day £160. from London with the following letter : " My dear Sir and Brother, For the past nine years I have not been giving systematically of my income to the Lord's work, I as He has prospered me, though never thoughtlessly, I trust, disregarding any call, which came under my notice. On examining my books I find, that, after deducting my entire drawings from the business, which I started in my own name in 1866, a considerable sum has accumulated, and of this I have put aside Ten per Cent, to be more especially devoted tcPthe Lord's work, and desire to acknowledge that all I have and myself also are His, whilst I gratefully remember that what He has, and He Himself is mine. It was through reading the third Volume of_your Narrative that I have been led to do this, and therefore send you the first payment out of this fund, say £160. herein, of which please retain £10. for yourself, and appropriate the £150. to any one or amongst all or any of the Objects of the Lord's work in your hands. Etc."—Besides this donation, I received from Scotland £100., with £10. for myself.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £74. 19s. 11d. —From Budleigh Salterton £2. —From Grogan, Ireland, £3. 3s. 0d.—From L. C. J. £1. 0s. 6d.—From Leicester 10s.—From Attelborough £1.—From Edinburgh £1.— Through the chapel boxes 15s. 6d.—The Lord be praised . A.D. 1875.] 9 for this precious help, received thus to-day in answer to prayer, when we had nothing at all left in hand for these Objects !—March 2. The Lord has still more abundantly helped us. I received from Yorkshire One Thousand Pounds. £13. 9s. 11d. came in besides.—How soon is God able to help us, and to replenish our stores! May all the readers be increasingly led to trust unreservedly in God. I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished | - by prayer and faith.—Received from London a diamond ring and 2 silver coins for the Bible and Tract Fund, with these words: “The engaged ring of my wife, for whom to die was gain, to be sold for the benefit of the Bible and Tract Fund.”’—March 19. £100. from Wick, for Missions to the heathen.—March 23. From Sale £100. May 12. From New Zealand £25. for China Missions, £20. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself.—May 19. £200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. —May 21. From Plympton for the School Fund £20. —May 26. £280. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, 4 hi constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure ee in heaven. I have thus given specimens as to the way in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means, during the past year, for the operations of the first four Objects of the Institution. Though we began the year with only | £167. 1s. 34d. in hand, yet God so helped us by prayer and faith, without asking any one but Himself, that we . were able to expend for these Objects during the year £16,895. 4s. 73d., and had a balance of £18. 14s. 44d. left on May 26, 1875. Only very few of the donations have been here referred to. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1875, to May 26, 1876. Letters from Donors, Practical Remarks, ce. When we began the period, we had, on May 26, 1875, the balance of £18. 14s. 44d. left for these Objects. When it is considered, that we had expended for them, “during the previous year £16895. 4s, 73d., and that B “ 10 [a.D. 1875. during the year from May 26th, 1875 to May 26th, 1876 our expenses for these Objects were £17643. 15s. O4d., the reader sees, how small our balance was, to begin the year with, especially as we do not go in debt; yet, small as it was, it was a balance in hand. Our hope was now again in the Living God, who for more than forty-one years had never failed us. We trusted in Him, and in Him alone ; and He graciously was pleased to supply us during the past year also with what we needed. 1 give now some instances as to the way, which God was pleased to use for our supply, in answer to our daily prayers. On May 28, 1875 we received from Nova Scotia 7 dollars, 4 dollars, and 4 dollars. June 5. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, £1. £3., £1., £1., £1., 10s. 6d. and 10s—June 16. From Treland £100. July 17th. Received from Ireland £30., with the fol- ; lowing letter : “ My dear sir, I enclose herewith first half notes for £30., the premium on insurance against losses in trade and on stock, which insurance I effect in the office of the Living God, in whose service I hold my stewardship ; and ‘t believe I am acting in accordance with His will in remitting it to you, to use it in His , service. Please apply £5. of this sum to your own use, and remaining £25. as you think fit, according to His guidance, With my best wishes for the success of the undertaking committed to your charge, accept my re- gards and esteem. Yours sincerely ****,”—£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the | love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.— July 19. Received £250. with the following letter : “ Dear Brother in Christ, only 5 months have passed, since I wrote to you, mentioning our Heavenly Father’s most unex- pected earthly bounty, the first (of any material amount pecuniarily) in 54 years of varied and continual dis- cipline. Out of that I begged you to use £250. in recognition by me of the Giver, and of the great spiritual benefit to me (for faith and walk) wrought by means of the history of the Orphanage and through the principles taught in your book ‘“‘The Lord’s Dealings with you.” Yet more unexpectedly, if that were possible, God has, again so soon, showered upon me yet further, though smaller, supplies of money, unsought by me, from a ™~ A.D. 1875.] 11 source which, I had always reckoned, must flow to others, and not, by human possibility, to myself. Therefore,— with deep sense of the Giver, and with prayer that these gifts may be accompanied with the personal blessings to me of fitness for His service and the needed health, to turn the attention of very many fellow-Christians cor rectly to Scriptural teachings much neglected, and with the power and demonstration of the Spirit therewith,—I again enclose a cheque for £250. to be applied as before, I by you, in the service of Him whom we are awaiting from heaven, even Him who is our Great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus. Namely £120. for that large, important, faithful and Scriptural Missionary work, which is under your hand. £70. for your Bible Fund, Schools and Tracts, greatly needed by the rising generation, in these evil days, before Christians are to be translated to meet Him. £50. for the Orphanage, that great work on which God's blessing shows the reality of the promises to him in whom Christ's words abide. £10. for yourself, as having been the instrument eminently owned of God, to teach to your fellow-Christians precious truths of faith and walk, for growing " strong in the Lord " and for ac- ceptableness to Christ in the soon coming day. 2 Cor. v., 9, etc." This donation was one of the various ways, coming as unexpectedly to us, as the means came to the donor, whereby it pleased the Lord to carry us through the heavy expenses of the year ; it also shows, how abun dantly the Lord had been pleased to repay the donor for his former kindess.. —July 21. By "sale of gold and silver articles £125.—July 24. £12. 10s. " instead of insuring 500 acres against hail-storms." Aug. 2. From Scotland £150.—Aug. 4. From New Zealand £40.—From India £5. for Missions with £5. for the Orphans.—Aug. 11. £500 for Missions and the circu lation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Italy. The donor of this amount sent me a few years since his first donation, being Five Shillings. From that time he began to give, as the Lord prospered him. his own soul has been greatly 1 from that time has so prospered, and again been able to send m« £200. at a time. Sep. 2. Received 10s., with I 12 [A.D. 1875. one of the former Orphans under our care. " Dear and Honoured Sir, May I be allowed the privilege of writing to you, after so many years have passed, to thank you for the kind and fatherly care you showed me, while in the dear Orphan House, and to ask your forgiveness, for not doing so before. It is now seven years, since I left, and I can never think of it, without a bitter pang, at the remembrance of my ingratitude. I can never thank God enough for placing me there, and oh ! if I had my time to spend over again, how different it would be. I know, dear sir, that we all have your prayers, and also the prayers of the dear teachers and helpers, although we have been away some time, and I know also what joy it will give you and them, to know that there is one more lost sheep found. It is some time, since I began to realize what a sinner I am, and also before I could find peace ; but I rejoice to say, that at last I am able to put my whole trust in Jesus, and know what a precious \ Friend He is. I can now see the loving care He has shown me, ever since I was left an Orphan, which is now 18 years ago; and I can say, truly the promise has been fulfilled to me, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." Since I left your fatherly care, I have been in 3 situations, and I am now living in a clergyman's family as head-nurse, and have been here two years and six months. May I ask your prayers on my behalf, that my feet may not slip, but that I may go steadily on, and be able to show by my life, that I belong to Christ's fold, and help others on the way ; and may I also ask your acceptance of this trifle enclosed, as a very small token of my gratitude, and please use it in whatever way you think best. I know it is impossible ever to repay you, but one day you will be repaid. Oh ! how I hope to meet you all again, where we never more shall part ; and it is my hope now, that in this world I may be permitted to see the dear Orphan Houses once more. I do not know, whether there are any of the teachers in No. 1 that remember me ; but if so, I know how pleased they will be, to see this. May I so far intrude on your valuable time as to tell them how very sorry I am for all the trouble I gave them, and to ask their forgiveness for me, and please give my kind duty to them. Believe me to be your very grateful but A.D. 1875.] ; 13 unworthy Orphan ****.” This letter has been given to show, how, though sometimes the appearance may be, as if our labours were in vain, yet in the end it is made manifest, that they were not; and also, that, though it seems, as if our prayers were not answered, yet, in the Lord’s own time, they are answered. May parents, and . guardians, and teachers be greatly encouraged by this © letter! On Sep. 16th a gentleman called at the Orphan Houses, who up to that time had been unknown to me, and left, with valuable documents, the following paper : «| **** hereby present to the Orphanage and the other Institutions, conducted by Mr. G. Miiller of Bristol ‘ £3,000 **** 5 per cent. Railway Stock and 25 shares of fhe same Company, £10 per share paid, to be disposed of as Mr. Miller shall think beat.” “These documents were sold in the London market and produced £3734. 7s. 6d., of which four-fifths were taken for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, being £2987. 10s. and | one-fifth (£746. 17s. 6d.) for the support of the Orphans. See, esteemed Reader, how able and how willing God is, to help those who seek to honour Him, by depending on Him alone. To the Living God, and to Him alone we look for all the means we require for this great work, and these means He supplies us with, simply in answer to prayer, year by year, and has done so now for more than forty-two years, though we need now about Forty Four Thousand Pounds yearly. But not only with re- gard to means, but for everything else we may require, we look to our Heavenly Father, making known our requests to Him, and He ever helps us, though some- times we have had many times to repeat our requests to Hin, before the answer has come. And what He con- descends to do for us, in connection with this Institution, which is now so extensive, He is willing to do for all His children in their particular necessities as to their families, their business, their labour and service for Him, and as to every other way in which they may stand in need of His help. This large donation, just referred to, so kindly given by that donor, helped us to a considerable degree over the heavy expenses connected with these first four Objects of the Institution, during the past year. Nov. 15. From India £77. 16s. 0d.—#£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love a“ 14 [A.D. 1875. of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—Nov. 20. Received the following letter with £150. "Dear sir,— I have great pleasure in again forwarding my mite to be used by you, in carrying on the Lord's work in your hands. Enclosed is £150., £120. of which is to be used in the work as you think best, the remainder is for your own private use. I would beg to add my testimony to many others, which you have received, as to the blessed ness of giving systematically. I have been a farmer for about 20 years, and for about half that time did not act on that principle ; and while giving my business as much care and more concern than now, still it was all I could do to make ends meet. About that time I had the sub ject of ' giving as the Lord prospered ' brought under my notice, when I there and then vowed to the Lord, that I would give one-tenth of the profits of the farm to His cause, should He be pleased to give me any. From that time I have been prospered in my business far beyond what I ever could have anticipated ; I have truly ex perienced the fulfilment of the promise contained in Luke vi, 38. I continued for a short time giving a tenth, but was gradually constrained to give more and more, until for some years I have been giving one-half, and can truly say, that the longer experience I have in this way, the more blessed do I find it to be. I heard you in Glasgow lately, and beg to thank you for your address on prayer. I trust many of us will have good cause to bless God for your visit. Please unite with me in asking God to give me more and more of His Holy Spirit's influence, so that I may be enabled to live more by faith and less by sight, continually realising my relation to Him in Christ, and therefore be constrained to live more for His glory. That the Lord may long spare you, to be a testimony to the world of the power of faith, and that you may see much fruit from your tour at this time, is the earnest prayer of yours most sin cerely, ****." I make the following remarks on this most instructive and profitable letter. The writer says : " I would beg to add my testimony to many others, which you have received, as to the blessedness of giving systematically." The reader may say, What is meant by giving systematically? It means, Not to leave the giving to a certain impulse, to feeling, to powerful emo A.D. 1875.] 15 tions under a charity sermon ; but to give according to a certain order, or system, viz., " as God prospers us." This order we find laid down by the Holy Ghost through the Apostle Paul in I Cor. xvi, 2. It is true, that this commandment was given with reference to a particular circumstance, but it is most profitably applied to our times, and holds good with regard to ourselves. There is not only no reason, why we may not apply this to ourselves, but rather ought to do so, and upon the first day of the week " lay by in store, as God has prospered us." The following points are particularly to be noticed : 1, " As God has prospered us." If God has been pleased to give unto us much during the week, it is suitable that, constrained by gratitude and love, we should give much back to him in return, for His work or His poor. 2, If it be asked, How much should I give of what God is pleased to give to me ? The reply is, no rule can be laid down. According to the grace and the knowledge the individual believers have, it is left to them. The Lord desires willing, cheerful givers ; and therefore no law is j given, under the present dispensation, regarding this i point ; yet, let it be remembered, that if the Israelites > after the flesh were commanded to give the tenth, we, :v/ the Israel of God, the believers in the Lord Jesus, whose calling is a heavenly calling, not only may give the same, but should seek to give considerably more. 3, They were to attend to this every Lord's day, every first day of week. Regularly, orderly, they were to attend to this. In most cases it can be known, how much the Lord has been pleased to give to us, during the previous week; but, suppose that, through particular circum stances, we could not fully ascertain this, then we should act according to the best of our judgment in the matter; and, should it afterwards be clearly seen, that we had not given enough, we may add to what we did give. But perhaps one may reply : If I acted thus, how are my bad debts to be covered ; how shall I make up for other losses : how for flat and dull times in my business, etc. ? Have you weighed before God, dear reader, that often God allows " bad debts," " losses in other respects," and " flat and dull times in business " to befall His children, because they withhold more than is meet ; and that they would escape these things were they to act more as 16 [A.D. 1875. stewards and not as owners 1 4, Notice especially that this commandment was not only given to one class of the believers, but to the rich, the middle class, and the poor ; for though, at certain times, those who are poor, might have nothing to give, yet, at some time or other they might be particularly prospered, and have some thing to give. No class therefore was exempted. 5, Should it be said, How should I lay by in store ? the reply is, that we may actually lay aside what we set apart for the Lord (and that in most cases may be the best) ; or we may keep a memorandum book, entering, how much we have put aside, for the Lord's work and the poor ; and how much, out of this, we have expended, and from time to time make up the account.—The writer of the letter goes on : "I have been a farmer for about 20 years, and for about half that time did not act on that principle ; and while giving my business as much care and more concern than now, still it was all I could do to make ends meet." The writer attended with carefulness to His business; as he was a Christian, we have also reason to believe that he sought God's blessing, but he prac tically forgot to look upon himself as a steward ; and so it came, that he did not prosper as was the case after wards. He goes on to write : " About that time I had the subject of ' giving as the Lord prospered ' brought under my notice, when I there and then vowed to the Lord, that I would give one-tenth of the profits of the farm to His cause, should He be pleased to give me any. From that time I have been prospered in my business far beyond what I ever could have anticipated ; I have truly experienced the fulfilment of the promise, contained in Luke vi, 38." Notice, how the prosperity in business was brought about. The writer had not previously neglected it, and only now paid attention to it; but previously he did not carry on his business as a steward for the Lord, but for himself as owner thereof. He now altered his course, and became the Lord's steward, and thus acting according to the mind of the Lord, the Lord needed no longer to withhold prosperity from him ; but could intrust him with more.—Have all my readers weighed the passage, to which the writer of the letter refers : " Give, and it shall be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and run- -. A.D. 1875.] 17 ning over, shall men give into your bosoms”? Luke vi, 38. The word was spoken by the Lord Jesus It refers evidently to the present dispensation. This word will be. fulfilled in the case of those who act according to this verse. The writer of the letter found it thus. I have * found it thus, thousands and tens of thousands of the children of God have found it thus. Of course, if any one from vanity or other unholy motives were to give, God could not fulfil this word.—Lastly the writer says : “T continued for a short time giving a tenth, but was gradually constrained to give more and more, until for some years ave been giving one-half, and can truly say, that the longer experience T have in this way, the * more blesséd do T find it to bé.”” Notice 1, He gives after a_short time more than a tenth. So great is the blessedness of giving, both temporarily and spiritually, that, if we do give from right motives, we are blessed in our souls and so blessed in our bagket and store, that we shall give more and more, even as the writer gave only for a short time a tenth. The very blessing he received led him to give more than a tenth. He did not miss the | _ tenth; he was not a loser on account of giving a tenth, | but a gainer, both temporally and spiritually. And it was this which led him to give a fifth, a fourth, a third of his_profits, yea soon one half How is it in this respect with the Reader? How much, dear Reader, do you give back to the Lord? 2, The writer says: “I: can truly say, that the longer experience I have in this; way, the more blessed do I find it to be.” Notice this particularly. Here is no acting under excitement. More than ten years have passed, during which the writer of this letter has acted on these principles, and the more hundreds and thousands he spends for the Lord, the more blessed does he find it. Now, esteemed Reader, whether you belong to the wealthy, the middle class, or the poor, if you have not previously acted on these prin- ciples, I beseech you todo so. I have done so for forty- seven years, and can assure you that both temporally and spiritually, I have been abundantly blessed in doing so. Dec. 23. Anonymously left at my house £25. for Missions, and £25. for the Orphans.—Dec. 30. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.— 18 [A.D. 1876. Dec. 31. Great as our expenses have been, during this year, the Lord has habitually helped us, and brought us now to the close of it ; and, in the full assurance of faith, that He, in His faithful love, will help us during the coming year also, we go forward to it. • March 9, 1876. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. —March 15. From Wales £6. 15s. 6d. for Missions in Italy and Spain, with £10. for the support of the Orphans. The kind donor has often sent a similar donation. May 1. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- l strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure I in heaven, £200.—May 8. From Bengal, India, £10. — From Adelaide, South Australia, £20.—May 12. Re- ceived £1. 5s. 6d. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, It is with feelings of deep gratitude, that I now write again, to thank you for all the kindness I received when under your paternal care ; for it was there that I first learned to love my Saviour, in whose footsteps I have been trying to walk ever since. I feel very grateful for having been put in so comfortable a situation as that in which I have just completed my five years' apprenticeship, and I have now great pleasure in sending you 5s. 6d., my first week's wages [besides board and lodging]. My master very kindly gave me £5., on completing my apprenticeship, one pound of which I beg also to enclose for disposal as you may think proper. I have engaged to live with my master for another year, and I hope that this year may be as happy a one as each of the five that I have already served him. I thank you for the Report you so kindly sent me, the reading of which afforded me much plea sure. I thank you also for the kindness manifested towards my sister, who I suppose is still under your care. Praying that God may still spare your life many more years to be the Orphans' friend, I remain your grateful Orphan, ****."—May 16. From Otago, New Zealand, £10.—May 23. From Oxfordshire £100. for Foreign Missions.—May 26. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. A.D. 1876.] 19 Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1876, to May 26, 1877. Letters from Donors, Practical re marks, &c. When we began the period, we had, on May 26, 1876, the balance of £356. 19s. 4½d. left for these Objects. When it is considered, that during the year from May 26th, 1875 to May 26th, 1876 our expenses for these Objects were £17643. 15s. 0½d., the reader sees, how small our balance was, to begin the year with, especially as we do not go in debt. Our hope was now again in the Living God, who for more than forty-two years had never failed us. We trusted in Him, and in Him alone; and He graciously was pleased to supply us during the past year also with what we needed. I give now some instances as to the way, which God was pleased to use for our supply, in answer to our daily prayers. June 6, 1876. From Pennsylvania, United States of America, £10.—June 8. From ten donors in Grahams- town, Cape of Good Hope, £15. 8s. 6d.—June 13. From Victoria, Australia, £5. 5s. — From Adelaide, South Australia, £5. —June 21. From Ireland for Missions, £100. July 5. Received £500. from a donor, whose first donation to the Institution was 5s. He had long been un decided, as to whether he could afford to give anything at all to the Lord's work, as he considered that he ought first to be more prosperous in his business before he began to give ; but at last he came to the decision, that he would wait no longer for greater prosperity, and give, according to his means. Since then the Lord began to prosper this donor so, as that he was able to send me much larger sums, and shortly hundreds of pounds, and repeatedly since £500. at once ; having stated to me, that since he began to act as a steward for the Lord, he could send me with greater ease £500., than the first donation of 5s.—July 19. From New Zealand £4., with £4. for the Orphans. —July 22. From Jersey £50. for Missions.—July 24. £200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—By sale of gold and silver articles, dentist gold and diamonds, given for the benefit 20 [A.D. 1876. of the Institution, £161. 13s. 6d. See Christian reader, how much may be obtained, by putting aside for the work of the Lord such superfluities. Were we all more in earnest, to see how much we can do for the spread of the Gospel, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and evangelical Tracts, for the instruction of poor children, for the support of the poor, etc., it would be found that there is in the church of God an abundance of pecuniary means to accomplish ten times as much as is accomplished now, in so far as regards means. We should say to ourselves individually, What can I do ? How much can I spare ? What needless articles have I to give ? How can I practice self-denial, that I may have more to give ? And thus could not only far more be accomplished than is now accomplished, but our own souls would thus be greatly blessed, whilst, by with holding more than is meet, we not only hinder the pro gress of the work of God, but injure our own souls.— July 27. Received 5s. from one of the former Orphans, who for more than twenty years has known the Lord, and walked in the ways of the Lord, with the following letter : " Much loved and honoured Sir, I write to ask your acceptance of the enclosed trifle, to be used as most needed. I am thankful, that I can send even so small a sum, to be used for God, as it is my earnest desire by my life and conversation to speak to others of a Saviour's love, and tell how great things He hath done for me.—I have, indeed, much cause to praise Him for having directed your steps to Liverpool, as it was there our Heavenly Father was pleased to bless the preached Word through you, to the salvation of my beloved brother ; and I most earnestly pray, you may still have strength to continue your work and labour of love for many years to come, together with all your faithful helpers in the work. Please to excuse this intrusion on your precious time, and believe me to remain, dear Sir, Your ever grateful Orphan, ****." The brother to whom the former Orphan refers, was also once an Orphan under our care, but did not, as his sister, leave the Orphan Institution as a believer in the Lord Jesus. He was, however, followed by our prayers ; and, there is reason to believe, that many hundreds of prayers ascended to the Lord from the heart of his Christian sister. While A.D. 1876.] 21 I was preaching in January and February, 1876, in the immense Victoria Hall in Liverpool, erected for the dear American brethren, Moody and Sankey, the brother of the Orphan who writes this letter, and who is now com mander of a merchant ship, came to hear me, and was, the very first time that I preached there, converted. Thus the Lord answered our prayers, and the prayers of his Christian sister for him, though only after many years. May through this the Christian reader be encour aged to continue to pray for his unconverted relatives ! Aug. 1. From the Bengal Presidency, India, £90. for these Objects, with £10. for myself.—Aug. 8. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. — Aug. 21. From Ireland for Missions, £100.—Aug. 29. From London £160. with £10. for myself. —From Berlin £34. 15s. 5d. This donation comes from a disciple of the Lord Jesus, who considers it a privilege to give to the work of the Lord a little capital, which he had saved, but which he now considers better spent for the Lord than to be kept. Since this donation was received, I have had the opportunity of becoming personally ac quainted with the donor, and to hear from him, how greatly the Lord has been pleased to bless his soul through this act. Sep. 5. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £24. 5s. 3d. for Missions, £100. for the support of the Orphans, and £5. for myself.—From a donor, who re peatedly has thus helped us, 19 Interest Warrants for these Objects, amounting to £74. 1s. 3d., deducting the Income Tax ; and 10 Interest Warrants, amount ing to £25. 7s. 10d., for the Orphans.—Sep. 19. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. Oct. 7. £500. from two children of God, who, through the sale of some property, which had been left to them, were able to give this sum.—Oct. 9. From Christian Friends in Berne, 300 francs for the Schools in Spain, and 500 francs for the support of the Orphans.—From Heinrichsbad, Switzerland, £5. 18s. 5d. —From St. Gallen, Switzerland, 83 francs.—Oct. 11. From a ser vant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of 22 [A.D. 1876. Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £56. 7s. 6d. —Oct. 13. From Switzerland 1,000 francs.—Oct. 14. From San Francisco, California, £1. 10s. 0d. The reader will have observed from what a variety of places not only, but also countries, the donations are received ; yet all, without application to any individuals, only in answer to prayer. Not one out of fifty of the donors we know personally, and by far the greater part not even by name, till we receive their donations. Thus the Lord works for us, and helps us with means to carry on this Institution, and has done so for forty-three years now. Nov. 2. £500. from two children of God, who, through I the sale of some property, which had been left to them, were able to give this sum. Nov. 11. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.— Nov. 17. From Cambridgeshire £81. 1s. 8d.—Nov. 18. From the neighbourhood of Stirling £100. with £10. for my own personal necessities.—Nov. 21. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £25. for Missions, £70. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself.—Nov. 27. From Jersey £50. for Missions in China, India, and Spain. Dec. 15. From Reutlingen in Wurtemberg 220 Mark and 2s.—From Ober-Urbach in Wurtemberg 135 Mark and 60 German Pence.—Dec. 29. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—Dec. 31, 1876. We have, in connection with this Institution also, abundant reason for praise and thanksgiving, at the close of another year. Since this new period commenced, on May 26, 1876, the Lord has in every way, as He is wont to do, helped and blessed the labour of our hands ; and during these seven months and five days the total income for the various Objects of the Institution has been above £23,000., as the result of prayer and faith. Truly we do not wait upon Him in vain ! May the Christian reader thereby be encouraged, in all his various necessities, of whatever kind they may be, to come with them to God, and he will find, as we do, that it is not in vain to wait upon God ; but that He is now the Living God, ready to listen to the supplications of His children, as in the days of the prophets and apostles of old. AD. 1876.] 23°C These remarks are not made, as if I meant to convey thereby, that all the children of God should establish schools, or found Orphan Institutions, and trust in God for the needed funds: for such work an especial call is needed ; but I mean to say, that in all our family matters, in our earthly occupation, in our labour in general for the Lord, in our spiritual conflict, in our trials and afflictions, we should thus be encouraged to come to the Lord and expect help and support from Him through prayer and faith, which I have found for 48 years my universal remedy for all my difficulties and necessities. When in the year 1835 I began the Orphan work, I had, in doing so, particularly in view, through this work to prove to the world at large, and to the church at large, that the Living God is now, as thousands of years since, the Living God, and that we may reckon on Him, as those did who really knew Him thousands of years ago. That end has been particularly answered by this Institu- tion. Tens of thousands of souls have indeed been con- verted through the operations of the various Objects of the Institution, for which I adore and magnify the Lord ; but the greatest blessing, which I have reason to believe, which has resulted from it, is, that thereby hundreds of thousands of children of God, in very many parts of the world, have been encouraged, in all simplicity to trust in God. While Iam writing this, at Nimwegen in Holland, another precious proof of this kind has just been brought under my own eyes, of which I havehad,I might almostsay numberless instances, it is this: A Christian evangelist, simply through reading about the Orphan work in Bristol, had it Iaid on his heart to care about Orphans, | and was encouraged by my example, solely in dependence on the Lord, to take then up. He began in the year 1863-with three“at Nimwegen in Holland, and he has at present 453 in an Institution, near Nimwegen, through which I and my dear wife went, and which we saw with our own eyes with the deepest interest. In the same way that I began to work, and have gone on in for more than 42 years, he has now worked about fourteen years, trusting alone in God, never going in debt; aad year after year the Lord has enlarged the work and given him everything that he has needed. Very many Orphan Institutions similarly have been begun in K an SHStivUuONs SII lave Deen De a i 24 [A.D. 1877. . various parts of the world, the founders being encouraged \ through what God has done for us in Bristol. His name \be magnified for it ! Jan. 1, 1877. As the old year has closed with blessing, so the new year began in the same way. Many donations, and some considerable ones, were received this very day. —Jan. 5. From Hampshire £75. for Foreign Missions, £75. for the Bible Fund, £300. for the Orphans, and £50. for myself. The kind donor wrote, with ^regard for the donation for myself, that it was especially sent, on account of my considerable expenses in moving about on the Continent from town to town, and from country to country.—From Heidelberg 120 Mark. Also on Jan. 1st were received 20 Mark, and on the 3rd 40 Mark from Heidelberg.—Jan. 15. From Bonn £4. 12s. 6d., with £4. 12s. 6d. for myself.— Jan. 16. From Bonn 16s.—Jan. 26. £200. from two children of God, who, through the sale of some property, which had been left to them, were able to give this sum. —From Cologne 40 Mark for Missions. Feb. 6. From Wesel 3 Mark, ditto 3 Mark, ditto 227£ Mark.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £250.—Feb. 8. From Ireland £250. for Missions.—Feb. 9. Legacy of the late Mrs. Me. M. £30., with £10. for the Orphans. —Feb. 12. From Ireland for Missions £102. 18s. 4d.—Feb. 21. From Norway £6. The reader cannot but observe from what a variety of countries our donations come. The Lord, in many parts of the earth, in answer to our prayers, inclines the hearts of His children, to remember our need. —Feb. 26. £300. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. April 2. £200. from two children of God, who, through the sale of some property, which had been left to them, were able to give this sum. —April 3. From a small shopkeeper in Bedfordshire £5. The donor sends us help, as the Lord prospers him in his business, and has sent to us very many times a similar sum.—April 10. £200. from two children of God, to whom this sum had been left as a legacy, and who thus had the privilege of being able to give this amount. —April 23. Legacy of the late Miss B. £19. 19s. for circulation of the Holy A.D. 1877.] 25 Scriptures, and £19. 19s. for the support of the Orphans. April 25. From Kent £151. 17s. 10d. May 2. From Lubeck 40 Mark for Missions in China, and 20 Mark and 5 Mark for the Orphans.—May 5. From Hanover 20 Mark and 40 Mark.—May 14. From Yorkshire for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in foreign lands £150., and for the support of the Orphans £150.—May 16. £5. 11s, with the following letter: “My dear Sir, I ponclose a cheque, value £5. 11s., for your good work, being a penny for every pound’s worth of goods, sold since the Set of January Use it-as you think best. Since I have given systematically to God's | cause, I have had many times my faith severely tried. ; I have had losses in business, losses in health, etc., and I ‘ have been sometimes tempted almost to give itup. ButI : thank God I have been brought through thus far; and I | feel assured, if I continue to trust in Him, Ishallbe brought -: through. Last year was a bad year for business men ; generally. I continued to give to God’s cause much the : same, as I had been accustomed. A few days before I made up my yearly accounts, I received a letter from a gentleman, an acquaintance, saying that he had just been : balancing up his accounts for the year, and knowing I ! had been afflicted, etc., he hoped I would accept the _ enclosed cheque for £50. for my own private use. How kind of my Heavenly Father, to remember me in such a © noble manner! Yours sincerely, ****.” The reader has to notice, how this present of £50. repays what would be given on the recerpt oF 212,000. at one penny per y¢ pound.—May 21. From 4 farmer in South Africa £50. —May 23. From North Wales I received the following letter : ‘‘ Dear Sir, I enclose you in Post Office Orders the sum of £14. 6s. 7d., which I leave to your best judg- ment. Since I received your last Report in September last, I have put by threepence on every pound that I have received in business, for your Institution; and although the times are become so poor, I am happy to say, we do meet our bills continually. I believe circum- stances are nothing in the Lord’s way, if we trust in Him, etc.”—May 26. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, from eight donors £14. 3s. 6d.—£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Cc 26 [A.D. 1877. The Lord has helped us through one more year, to meet the expenses connected with the school—, Bible—, " Missionary—and Tract Fund ; but again and again all our means for these first four Objects of the Institution were gone, completely gone. Under these circumstances our Universal Remedy, prayer and faith, was .used, and only this. My helpers in Bristol, I and my dear wife in Switzerland, Germany, or Holland, waited upon God, and He helped, without our appealing to any one, without making even known our need to any one, except speaking about it, in believing prayer, to our Heavenly Father. We had His ear and His heart, for Jesus' sake, and were helped ; and thus it has been, that we have been able to accomplish what we have, in connection with these first four Objects of the Institution, and are even able, with a small balance in hand for them, to close the year. It is unspeakably blessed so to know God, as to be able fully to confide in Him, at all times and under all circum stances, even the most trying ; and in order that my younger .brethren in Christ may be helped so to do, therefore do I write as I do, and therefore I seek now also, as far as my position in Bristol allows of it, to go from city to city, and from country to country, to spend the evening of my life, to testify to the blessedness of truly knowing God in Christ, as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878. Letters from Donors, Practical Remarks, &c. At the beginning of the last year, we had only the small balance of ,£71. 19s. 2½d. in hand. Our expenses for these Objects had been £16,430. during the year before ; therefore our balance was not enough for the fourth part of the requirements of one single week, according to our average expenses. But, poor as we were, our infinitely rich Heavenly Father remained to us ; to Him we betook ourselves in prayer, and, as He had done many thousands of times before, during the previous forty-three years, so He helped us during the forty-fourth year also, though not once, nor twice, but again and again all our money, to the last shilling, for AD. 1877.] 27 these Objects, was gone. I particularly mention this, because some of our Readers suppose, that we had trials of faith, with reference to pecuniary supplies, only many years since, and think that at present we continually abound. I refer now to some of the means, which the Lord was pleased to use in supplying our wants. June 27. We entered to-day upon the second month of this new period of the Institution, without a penny in hand for -these Objects, when in the course of the “Yay came in from Redland, from a most unexpected donor, to make the hand of God the more manifest, £50. ; and from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. Also from Rotterdam 40 florins=£3. 2s. 8d.— June 28, From a small tradesman in Bedfordshire, who contributes as the Lord prospers him, £5. Received also from Belgium, £20. On June 30th, when again all money was gone for these Objects, I received from Scot- land £500. with the following letter: ‘Dear Mr. Miller, It has been in my mind for some days to send you the enclosed for the work of the Lord in your hands, believ- ing it His will for me so to do. He has bid us lay up treasure in heaven. I am glad to see you are going to America. The Lord bless you and your dear wife, and manifest Himself to you more and more. Yours very truly ****,” By these and other donations, though repeatedly during the past month all was expended, we were carried to the beginning of July having, in answer to much prayer, been able to meet all our expenses. July 9, A servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, who, con- ). strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, having most unexpectedly received £56. 4s. 11d., gladly gave it for these Objects.—July 11. From Ireland £500.-for missions. The donor will now have joy in being informed, which, when the money came to hand, was purposely not written to him, that, when his kind donation was received, all our money was gone for this Object, and the donation was the fruit of many prayers. —July 14. From Greenock £100., with £20. for my own personal expenses.—July 25. By sale of gold and silver articles, diamonds, dentist gold, &., £190. 19s —From Sussex £93. 18s. ld.—July 28. From Wales £100., with £39. for the Orphans and £30. for my own personal Cc . 28 [A.D. 1877. expenses.—July 30. Received £10. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Herewith is Banker's Draft for Ten Pounds, which please apply as you shall judge best, on behalf of the several or either of the Objects under your charge, and kindly acknowledge as above. The amount should have been sent in instalments previously, the writer having some years since resolved, before God, to discontinue a habit of doubtful character, and send the cost of it to your Institution. "The resolution formed in time of trouble was not adhered to, buTGrbcThas recently brought my sin to niy^'femeinbrance, by again sending X distress ; and not only so, but through the ministry of His Word some months since (" Grieve not the Spirit of ( God ") gave me victory over the habit referred to. I ', calculate, the practice costs something like 26s. per ( annum, and the enclosed covers a period from seven to I eight years to about this time. I shall be a debtor to / your Institution in that sum as long as I am spared, or I the Lord come, and hope to send it annually. I do not wish my name to appear—my position is a very humble one—but shall be obliged by an interest in your prayers, especially as being now placed in perplexing circumstances, that I may be able to rely upon God, when circumstances are mysterious and perplexing, and that I may grow in conformity to our dear Lord. With Christian love I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly ****."—From Tobago £5. —July 31. From the neighbourhood of Chippenham £100. for Foreign Missions.—On the same day we received from London, £25. for Home Missions, £25. for Foreign Missions, and £20. for the Orphans. And yet further from Kensington £30. for Missions, £20. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, £30. for the Orphans and £20. for myself. These, and other dona tions, not referred to, carried us through the month of July, in which we had been again reduced to great poverty, but in which, as in thousands of times before, we were helped, not by exposing our need to our fellow- men, and asking them for help, but by taking it in con fiding prayer to our Heavenly Father. Aug. 2. From Wales £1. for Foreign Missions, "in stead of insuring cows."—Aug. 9. From Brazil £8. — Aug. 13. From China £2. 10s. with £2. 10s. for the Orphans.—Aug. 14. From Scotland £100.—From Clifton - A.D. 1877.] 29 from a poor Christian 1s. for Missions to the Jews.— Aug. 18. From a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—Aug. 20. From Somersetshire £97. —Aug. 23. From Scotland £50. for Foreign Missions, £90. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. During the past three years and three months, whilst almost con- stantly moving about from city to city and country to country, in connection with my preaching tours, the Lord was pleased, as during the 45 years previously, to supply all my need ; so that while I was travelling about for 144 months in England, Scotland and Ireland, with my dear wife, at a very heavy expense, God helped us. Afterwards I was 104 months labouring in the Word in Switzerland, the German Empire and the Kingdom of Holland, when the expenses were still greater ; yet again God bountifully supplied me. Now on the day on which this last mentioned present for myself arrived, I went with my dear wife on board a steamer to sail for America. The passage money and extra preparations for that country, took a considerable sum: but God supplied all. Then, on our arrival in the United States, we had to travel many thousands of miles and to live at Hotels at a very heavy expense ; but God supplied all our need ; and after all was accomplished, though our x return to Europe required the expenditure of a consider- ! able sum, yet we lacked nothing. And thus, with the | prospect before me, of spending the evening of my life | - in going from country to country, and of having to meet] all the heavy expenses connected with this mode of life, | which are three times greater than our former house-! keeping, I find it unspeakably blessed to have my Father; in Heaven to go to for the supply of all my wants ; for: I am sure, that He will never leave me nor forsake me.' Sep. 22. From Berkshire forty-two coupons, amounting to £147. 6s. 5d.—Sep. 24. From Greenock £50.—From Ireland £50. for labourers in the Gospel in India, and £50. for Foreign Missions generally.—Sep. 25. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, to whom had been left a legacy, £500.—Sep. 27. Received 1s. 6d. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter: “Dear and Respected Sir, I am very pleased to 30 [A.D. 1877. be able to send you my letter on your birthday. May it please our Heavenly Father to spare you to see many more. Please to accept my best wishes, both for yourself and dear Mrs. Muller. I hope you are both well. I must thank you very much indeed for the Report you BO kindly sent me. I have read it through with very great pleasure. It seems glorious to read of all God's work and the dear missionaries far away. Please to accept my mite for them ; it will buy some poor heathen a Bible. I have been very poorly, but, thanks to our kind Father in Heaven, I am a little better. When I was ill, I felt such a longing to go home to glory ; but it is sweet to be able to work a little longer. Praying that God may be with us all, I remain, your affectionate and grateful Orphan ****." Oct. 6. From the neighbourhood of Orkney £3., with this statement : " Since I began to devote a regular pro portion of my earnings to the cause of God, He has, I rejoice to say, greatly increased both my ability and my desire to do so."—On Oct. 16th we received the following letter, with £2. 2s. 6d. for Foreign Missions and £8. 10s. for the Orphans: "Dear Sir, I enclose £10. 12s. 6d. with the following remarks. On 19th June 1871 I commenced to pray in regard to a financial loss, which I suffered in India ; and at different times I marked down ten per cent. for your Orphans and two and a half per cent. for your Foreign Missions, besides something else to the Lord ; and now I have got a settlement for £85. as a compromise. This is a gracious answer to prayer, as the people offered me only £14., which I refused, and still prayed on. Several times lately I rose before day light, and was on my knees for three hours, praying about this and other matters, this being No. 1 on the list • of business, which I laid before the Lord. Glory to His name, He has now answered me ! I am yours truly, ****." May this letter greatly encourage the reader yet further and further, and more earnestly than ever, to bring his necessities in prayer before God, and it will be seen in the end, though it may be after a long time only, that we do not do so in vain.—Oct. 25. A lady in Clifton, near Bristol, gave an American Railroad Company's Bond for One Thousand Dollars. —Oct. 26. From the neigh bourhood of Manchester £80., with £100. for the A.D. 1877.] 31 Orphans and £20. for myself.—This last mentioned donation came in most seasonably, for we had nothing at all in hand for the School—, Bible—, Missionary and Tract Fund, and it was thus the fruit of many prayers.— Nov. 3. Received 11s. 8d. for Foreign Missions and 5s. for Tracts, with the following statement : " Last month I was in need of certain articles, which I could not afford. Satan suggested, that I was acting very foolishly in sending money for the cause of the Lord, when I was in such need myself. Malacbi iii, 8—12, stopped his mouth. A few days after this, the articles I needed were given to me by a brother, after asking the Lord to let me prove His faithfulness." A very profitable para graph.—Nov. 5. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and who had a legacy left to him, £500.— Nov. 29. Though we have been helped now through one half of the present year, yet we have to begin the seventh month of this present period, without any means what ever for the School—, Bible —, Missionary and Tract Fund ; but our eyes are upon the Lord, believing that He, who is sustaining this work in the forty-fourth year, will yet help us, and not suffer us to be confounded. —Nov. 30. From Cambridge, for Missions in India, £67. 12s. 3d. Dec. 1. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and to whom had been left a legacy, £500.— Dec. 5. From Paisley, £2, with the following statement : " This is sent you as a thank-offering to the Lord for hear ing and answering prayer on behalf of a sick horse. The • veterinary surgeon had given him up for lost. So I arranged, when laying the case before the Lord, that, if the horse got jgej^I would send you two pounds. The horse is iiow^is well as "ever, and I herewith gladly send you the two pounds." This case should be a further encourage ment to the reader, to commit all matters into the hands of our Heavenly Father, even when all natural prospects of help have completely vanished. —Dec. 10. From Scot land, £100.—Dec. 12. Legacy of the late Mrs. C. W. £50., with £50. for the Orphans.—Dec. 26. From a ser vant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, and who had 32 [A.D. 1878. a legacy left to him, £500. —Dec. 27. The seventh month we began with nothing in hand, but in the course of it the Lord was pleased to give to us, in answer to much prayer, .£1,890., so that we were able, not only to meet the many demands for the School—, Bible—, Mis sionary—and Tract Fund, but are able to begin the eighth month of this period with £259. 19s. 9d. in hand. —From the neighbourhood of Manchester, £30. for the Bible—, Tract— and Mission-Fund, £60. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Dec. 31, 1877. We are brought to the close of another year regarding our School—, Bible—, Missionary—, and Book and Tract Operations, and have again abundant reason to praise the Lord for His good ness to us. In every way, as usual, He has helped us during the past year, and though our difficulties have not been few, especially in reference to the schools at Home and Abroad ; yet the Lord has always, in the end, supplied us with teachers and everything else we re quired ; and, as to pecuniary means, though we have been again and again without a pound in hand for the first four objects of the Institution, we are brought to the close of it with a balance of about £200. in hand. And now, in the full assurance of faith, that we shall be helped during the coming year also, we joyfully enter upon the year 1878. Jan. 1, 1878. On this first day of the new year we received various donations, of which I only refer to the following. From Scotland £100. From Weston-super- Mare £20. for Missions and £20. for the Orphans. From a Bristol donor, £13. for Home and Foreign Missions.— Jan. 2. £1., with this statement : "I have declined in suring my goods and stock against fire this year, and send you the money it costs, instead."—Jan. 3. From one of the former Orphans, £3. —Jan. 14. From Berlin, £3.—Jan. 16. From Hampshire, £150. for the Bible and Mission Fund, £300. for the support of the Orphans, and £50. for myself. The last amount was especially sent by the kind donor on account of my heavy expenses in going about from city to city and country to country in the service of the Gospel. —Jan. 21. From Madras, £37. 16s. 0d.—Jan. 27. Through the eighth month, also, we have been helped, by means of prayer and faith, have been able to meet again all the many demands for AD. 1878.] 33 these four Objects, and enter with a balance of £51. 13s. 84d. upon the ninth monthJan. 28. From Paris, £10.—Jan. 31. From Cork, £50. Feb. 1. From Berkshire in railway and other coupons, £157. 5s. 3d.—Feb. 25. Received from a former Orphan £1. with the following letter : ‘Dear and honoured Sir, It is with much pleasure I ask your acceptance of the enclosed small sum, which please to appropriate for the object most needed.—It is with feelings of deep gratitude that I now write, to thank you for the kind parental care be- stowed upon me, while in the dear Orphan House, and upon my younger brother; who, I am happy to say, is at present progressing favourably under a firm of nursery gardeners.—It is now three months since I completed the term of my apprenticeship, and am at present working for a master builder in London, where I hope to improve - myself, as it is a first class shop. Dear Sir, if it is con- venient, will you please to let me have my Indentures, as I may be required to produce them at some future time. I hope the Lord may still spare you for many years, to carry on your great and good work of feeding, clothing and educating poor Orphan children. Please remember me to Mr. Wright and Mr. French, and, dear Sir, please to accept the grateful love of an Orphan boy, who has, through your instrumentality, found a good place on earth, and I hope a resting place in heaven. I remain, dear Sir, your grateful Orphan,****.”—Feb. 26. From Norway as the legacy of the late Miss H. P. £5. for Mis- sions to the Jews, and £5. for Missions to the heathen.— Feb. 27. The heavy expenses of the ninth month also the Lord has enabled us to meet through prayer and faith, and we are able to enter upon the tenth month of this period with a balance of £90. 12s. 14d. in hand for these four objects. March 4. From Ireland £100. for Missions.—March 9. The only income to-day for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund was 10s. from King’s College Hospital, London. The reader may place him- self in our position, considering how our eyes, under such circumstances, need to be directed to the Lord.—- March 11. £200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, : constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea-— sure in heaven, and to whom had been left a legacy.— c 3 34 [A.D. 1878. March 12. Onjy 8s. was received to-day, for the expenses of these four Objects.—March 16. To-day nothing at all has come in for these four Objects ; but our eyes are up to the Lord.—March 18. From a lady in Clifton, £15. for Missions.—'March 23. From Darmstadt 19s. 6d., with 19s. 6d. for myself. This was the only donation received for these four Objects to-day. —March 26. From Norwich £2. 8s. for the Orphans and £1. 10s. for Missions, with the following letter : " Sir, I have much pleasure in send ing £2. 8s. for the use of the Orphans, being the dividend up to February last on six shares, which I have, in a Temperance Hotel Company in Manchester, and which sum I have devoted annually, and whilst I live (D.V.) intend to do, for the use of the Orphans. But in addi tion I send for the labourers in Mission Work, either at Home or Abroad, as under. Monday, February 18 last, I met with an accident, by which I broke my left arm and had other injuries, but am indeed thankful, it was not my right arm. I give 10s. as a thank-offering to a loving Father for that mercy. How grateful that it was not my neck or head. I offer as a feeble expression of praise to that gracious Being, who watches our every step, £1. for such a remarkable providence, and feel the precious- ness of I Chronicles, xxix, 14. May the Good Lord still greatly bless you, and all the noble staff of workers, and all your work. I am, dear Sir, yours respectfully in the best of bonds, ****."—March 27. During the month from Feb. 27 to this day our faith has been greatly tried, in reference to means for these four Objects, as again and again nothing at all has been in hand. Under these cir cumstances we encouraged ourselves in God, and seek to rely upon His faithful word of promise. We also are mindful of the fact, that for forty-four years the Lord has upheld this work, and that He will not now suffer us to be confounded, though our expenses for all the various departments are so great. We have to enter upon the eleventh month of this period, without any thing in hand for these Objects. —March 29. From believers at Cork, for Missions, £4. 5s. 6d. —-From Weston-super-Mare £10. for the Bible Fund, £20. for Missions, and £10. for the Tract Fund. Also from the same place £5. for Missions, and £5. for the Orphans. April 2. From a Christian servant £5.—April 3. £25. A.D. 1878.] 35 with " Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."— April 12. £50. (less legacy duty) as the legacy of the late Miss M. A. R. for Missions. —April 15. From Stuttgart £4., with £1. for the Orphans.—April 26. £15., with " Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."—April 27. The eleventh month was like the tenth, constant trial of faith ; and we have again to enter in poverty upon the twelfth month, yet are expecting larger sums from our Heavenly Father and His faithful help, which we have enjoyed for so many years. May 2. £600. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.—May 21. From believers near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, for China and other Foreign Missions, £8.—May 25. From Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, £1., £10., £5., £5., £1., £1., £1., £1. and 10s. 6d. We were brought to the close of the year in which our faith had been so greatly and so many times tried in reference to means, as well as in other respects ; yet we were helped through all. Poor as we had been so many times, still we saw it close with the small balance of £41. 17s. 8d. in hand. Delighted we should have been, to have done far more for the dear missionary brethren, both at Home and Abroad, had we possessed the means ; but, as we had them not, we bowed under the hand of God with patient submission rather than contract debt, and expect that the Lord, in His own time, will again give to us the joy of doing more in this particular also, even as He has been pleased to honour us in accomplishing as much as we have in the School—, Bible—• and Tract operations. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880 Lettersfrom Donors, Practical remarks, &c. With a balance in hand of £41. 17s. 8d. for these Objects, we began the last year. This sum is not the average expense for one day in the year, for these Objects. But we had to provide the average expenses for 365 days, in order to be carried through the year ; and every shil ling of the total was only to be obtained by prayer and faith, as no one is asked directly or indirectly for any thing. Therefore there was again abundant room for 36 [A.D. 1878. the exercise of faith and for much prayer. I state this, because many are entirely mistaken in supposing that, whilst several years ago our faith was tried, this is not the case now. The truth, however, is this, that, whilst formerly our faith was exercised about little things, com paratively, it is exercised about great things now, so that for the hundreds of pounds we needed then we require now Tens of Thousands ; and for the six Schools we had to provide for at that time, we have now twenty times as many ; for the hundreds of copies of the word of God we circulated then, we circulate now tens of thousands ; for the few missionaries we sought to aid then, we gladly seek to assist now above 150 ; for the few tens of thou sands of books, pamphlets and tracts we circulated then, we circulate now Millions, through the condescension of the Lord. But all this makes prayer and faith more than ever needful ; and we find, at the same time, how blessed it is, to have an infinitely rich and loving Friend in heaven, to whom we can unbosom ourselves, and who is ready to help. I give now some of the ways, in which it pleased the Lord, during the past year again, to give us help to accomplish, regarding these first four Objects of the Institution, what we have been able to do. July 9. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- I strained by the Love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure I in heaven, £117. 2s. 2d.—July 11. From Scotland £100. This £100 came in when we had nothing at all left.— July 1 7. From Redland we received £30., when all our means for these Objects were gone.—July 22. The total income of to-day and yesterday was £3. 7s. 7d. The Lord allowed us to be brought thus low, before He was graciously pleased to send us means, and more means than we have ever received, within the same time, during all the 45 years that the Institution had been in existence. —There is now nothing at all in hand for these Objects. —July 27. Received by sale of gold and silver articles, dentist gold, gold and silver watches, gold and silver coins, diamonds, etc., £243. 10s.—From Scotland, £130., with £20. for my own personal expenses.—July 30. From H. B. £100., as a thankoffering, for Missions. Most gratefully was this donation received for Missions, because it is greatly in our hearts to aid missionary brethren. Aug. 5. From Adelaide, South Australia, £20., £1., A.D. 1878.] 37 and £1. —Aug. 14. From Sussex £250.—Aug. 19. The total of the Income for these Objects, from May 26th up to this day, has been £3326. 11s. 2½d. The total of the expenditure, for them, has been £3057. 11s. 9½d., so that, while we began the year with £41. 17s. 8d. in hand, we had, after being able to meet the expenses of nearly three months, £268. 19s. 4½d. left.—Aug. 22. Received £22. with the following letter ; " Dear Mr. Miiller, I have much pleasure in sending you the enclosed cheque for £22., the price realized for a cow. It was given to me as a calf, after which, to all human appear ance, it would have died ; but the gracious Lord spared its life, I believe, in answer to prayer. It was thus laid on my mind, that the price realized, whenever sold, I should send to you, for the Lord's work under your care. Please place it for what purpose you think best. May the Lord's blessing still rest on you and your labours, is my humble prayer. I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly, ****."_Aug. 31. From India £100., with £20. for my own personal expenses. Sept 3. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £20., with £90. for the Orphans, and £8. 14s. 9d. for myself. —Sept. 4. £9. from the students of Wellesley College, United States of America. —From Coonoor, India, £10. —£200. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. Up to this day we have been enabled to pay out for these Objects £3564. 16s. 3½d., yet have £988. 3s. 8½d. left in hand for them, though we began the year with so small a balance in hand. —Sept. 7. £100. from Dundee for Foreign Missions.—Sept. 18. From Somersetshire £100. for Home and Foreign Mis sions.—From Yorkshire £172. 10s. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, chiefly in Foreign lands, £172. 10s. for the"' support of the Orphans, and £5. for myself. On Sept. 19 was received another donation from the same donor of £350., for the same Objects.—On Sept. 19 was also received £175. 19s. 4d. in 53 coupons.—Sept. 20. From Edinburgh £50.—Sept. 21. From Linton £3., "Instead of insuring premises."— From Newcastle-on- Tyne £5., " Instead of insuring business and furniture against fire."—Sept. 24. From Gloucestershire £50.— Eeceived £2. with the following letter: "Dear Sir, 38 [A.D. 1878. Please to accept the enclosed towards the work of the Lord in your hands, and appropriate it as you think best ; and may God bless you in your good work ! Per haps you would like to know, that some years ago, when in a situation, I was led, through reading your books, to devote a regular part of my salary to God's work, and I rejoice that I have been able to do so till now. Although I am only in a small way of business, yet I have always something to give to a good work, and I find the amount to increase each year ; and I believe I shall do so still. With kind Christian regards, I am yours sincerely, ****." Oct. 2. From New Zealand £10.—Oct. 3. Received £10. 7s. with the following letter: "Dear Sir, As usual I send you my cheque, being 1s. each on an article of my make, the sale for which has steadily increased, ever since it was put in my heart, to give the 1s. each to the Lord's cause. Wishing you every prosperity and bless ing in your noble efforts, and also for you to appropriate this as you think best, Yours very truly, ****."—Oct. 7. (£500. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. He had some cottages left to him, which he sold, and thus was able to give this amount.—Oct. 16. Received £5. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I have sent you the first half of a Five Pound Note for Foreign Missions, to help to send the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor heathen, who have not yet heard of His blessed name. I send it, instead of keeping a dog for the house. From your humble servant, ****." Will the reader observe the variety of ways, which the Lord is pleased to use, in supplying us with means ? May I also ask the Christian reader, Do you practically take an interest in spreading the truth as it is in Jesus 1 Do you care for the salvation of the souls of the heathen ? Do you pray for them ] Do you do what you can to send the Gospel of the grace of God to them 1 How much do you think, you have given in your whole life for missionary pur poses ? How much during the past year 1 What act of self-denial have you practised for this purpose ? Do you think you give even the thirtieth part of all God intrusts you with, for this Object ? Remember, dear Reader, there are about a Thousand Millions of souls, who have not yet had the Gospel preached to them, and be henceforth in A.D. 1878.] 39 earnest, if this has not been the case hitherto, to do what you can, to send the Gospel to them. It is also on my heart to press upon my Readers the certainty of the per- sonal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who says, “Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every” mati according as his work shall be.” Rev. xxii. 12. How fer , will it be with you, dear Reader, in the day of Christ’s “—/~ appearing !—Oct. 28. The following letter, with 11s., was received from one of the former Orphans: “ Dear and honoured: Sir, Your welcome and deeply interesting Report was forwarded to me, coming, it would seem, like a messenger from heaven. Tears of sympathy with the dear Orphans’ letters and other details, mingled with loving remembrance of our revered earthly father, makes the reading of it no easy matter. Precious it is to mark the continued favour and goodness of our God to you and your noble work. How much I sympathize with the pleasure those Orphans must have experienced in listening to your preaching, and the after privilege of - shaking hands with one so enshrined in our hearts’ affec- tion. I feel I cannot renew my thanks once too often for the loving care experienced by my two sisters and self, whilst in that dear home of our childhood. One of my sisters is comfortably married, and the other sister is in the same situation. When we meet, it is our delight to sing our old school songs and talk over the old time, especially the happy Christmas time, which was rendered even more happy by the eagerly looked for visit of beloved Mrs, Miiller and yourself, to witness our fes- tivities and rather magnificent decorations. Many an Orphan, scattered far and wide, will acknowledge with me, that those were the happiest days in our life.—I ' have now a comfortable situation as lady’s maid, and as we are constantly travelling, I shall probably have left England ere this reaches you. Praying and believing that the Lord Jehovah will still hold you and your work, and all connected with it and benefited by it, in the hollow of His Almighty Hand, I beg to remain, Dear Sir, another grateful Orphan in your large family, ****, P.S. Please accept the enclosed mite, being 8s. for the Orphans and 3s. for Mission work.” Nov. 8. Received £10., with the following letter : “ Dear Sir, I thank you for the Report you so kindly Pa 40 [4-D. 1878. sent, It cheers one’s drooping spirit, and strengthens my faith in the Living God: for He does all things well. This year has been one of great trial tome. I have lost about half of my means ; but I do not look upon what I possess as mine. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be His name! I bow submis- sive to His will. I enclose a Post Office Order for £10., five of which I promised to send as a thank-offering to Him for helping me through thus far, although I do not - know how things will end. But I am quite calm, for I know that all things will work together for good. I was glad to hear of your safe return from America. I. hope your precious life will be spared to carry on the Lord’s work. I remain, Dear Sir, your obedient Servant, ****,"__Noy, 13th. Received £1., with the following letter : “Dear Sir, I enclose you a Post Office Order for £1., which I will thank you to use as the Lord may direct you, for His work in your hands. I have many times been blessed and helped from reading your Reports and Narrative. I thank God for them. J am a draper by trade, and adopted some time since the plan of laying by threepence in the pound of my cash takings to be given away to the Lord’s service and work, as occasion may be presented ; so, every week, or monthly, this amount is taken and added to the Lord’s bag, and ! I am glad to say, ever since I did that, I have never been ii short of supplies to give away to help on God’s work.” Etc. '_Nov. 15. From 8S. S. for Missions, £50.—Nov. 22. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £800. Some cottages had been left to him as a legacy, and, having sold them, he was enabled to give this amount for Missions.—Nov.29. From Cambridgeshire £95. 18s.4d. As the Lord prospers the donor, so he gives. His first donation was about the twentieth part of this amount. Dec. 11. For labourers in the Gospel, at Home and Abroad, £100. from Ireland.—From Clifton £3., “in- stead of insuring a house.”—Dec. 20. Received £1. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I thank you for the Annual Report of your various charities, which arrived very seasonably, and proved very refreshing to my faith. It came to hand just after the receipt of very bad news, which told of the loss of a large proportion of my A.D. 1879.] 41 income. Knowing how marvellously your wants have been provided for, during so many years, I could only receive your Report as a lesson, to faint not. The enclosed cheque for One Pound please to place to any object you please. I hope soon to be able to send you a larger donation, as I am sure, in the present state of things in the country, you will want all the help that can be given. Wishing you God speed in your under taking, I remain, Yours truly, ****."—Dec. 23. From Clifton for Missions, £20. —Dec. 26. Again we have nothing at all in hand for these first four Objects of the Institution ; but our eyes are unto the Lord for help. Jan. 9, 1879. From the neighbourhood of Swansea £1. 6s. 6d. for Foreign Missions, as " All the money taken in my shop on New Year's Day."—Jan. 10. From S. S. £50. for Missions. —Jan. 11. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in Heaven, £77. —Jan. 14. From Stuttgart 15 Mark, as " A little thank- offering to God for preservation from a perilous railway accident."—Jan. 17. From a considerable distance £150. for the Bible and Mission Fund, £300. for the Orphans and £50. for myself. Jan. 20. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £55. — Jan. 21. From M. C. £50.—Jan. 30. Received £1., with the following letter : ' ' Dear Sir, several years ago the Lord showed me the duty and the privilege of systematic giving. I was earning but little at the time, but com menced, so doing, to the extent I conscientiously felt able. I have carefully and regularly ever since kept to my resolve, and I may also say, I have been encouraged in so doing ; for since I so commenced dealing faithfully with Him, the Lord has prospered me greatly, so that now I am able, inter alia, to send you, out of the money so set apart for the Lord's work, a Post Office Order for £1., to be used as to you may seem best. I thank the Lord He ever showed me His will on this point, and I would not discontinue systematic giving for very much. Trusting the Lord will continue to bless you, and the work under your charge, I remain, yours in Christ Jesus, ****."—Jan. 26. We have now again a balance of £243. 2s. 5½d. for these objects. . 42 [4-D. 1879. Feb. 17. From Malta £50.—Feb. 24. £2. 10s. as a thank-offering ‘‘From one whose life was spared when he met with an accident, which might have been fatal.” March 11. From the neighbourhood of Manchester. . £90. for Missions, £158. for the Orphans, and £10. 8s. 2d. for myself.—By 47 coupons £165. 14. 1d. from a donor who has kindly helped us in this way again and again, and whose donation this time especially came in most seasonably, as we were greatly in need of means. Of the amount, £135. 14s. 1d. was for these first four _ objects, and £30. for the Orphans. Most seasonable likewise was the donation from the neighbourhood of Manchester, on account of our low state of funds for these objects—March 14. From Clifton Down £15. for Missions,—A young Christian gardener, who resides at a distance of about 160 miles from Bristol, brought this day to the Orphan Houses thirty sovereigns, ten for . Foreign Missions, ten for Home Missions, and ten for the support of the Orphans. The donor had thought of leaving this sum as a bequest, but decided on giving it at once.—#£100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea- sure in heaven.—March 16. £1. as ‘“‘A thank-offering - . for the recovery to health of a valuable horse.”— . March 29. From Weston-super-Mare £20. for Missions with:£20. for the Orphans. April 7. Received £5. for Foreign Missions, “ Instead of keeping a dog, in the hope that some poor heathen may be brought to the knowledge of the Saviour.”— From Glasgow 10s., with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I send you enclosed an order for 10s., which please take for what you think best. My husband, like so many others in Glasgow, lost all his means this winter. I had this money laid aside for you, since November ; but as there are now ten of us, and I feared for our ; daily bread, my faith was not strong enough to send it. But in whatever strait we were, I found I could not use it. It was only this week I told my husband I had it, and he said to send it at once. God give me more faith! Trusting you keep well and strong, and that ; you may be long spared to cheer us by your example, and with every good wish for the noble work, you and - your fellow workers: are doing, I am, very truly yours, my ; i A.D. 1879.] 48 ¥¥%*,"_April 9. Received £200. with the following letter : “Dear Sir, I enclose a cheque for £200. in your favour, of which sum I wish £125. to be applied to the _ use of the Orphans under your care, £20. for yourself, and the remainder to be applied as you may deem best, ’ or for such of the other objects of your Institution, as may at present be most in want of assistance. I in- tended leaving this sum of £200. by Will, to be paid to you at my decease, but now prefer paying it myself. I am aware of your absence at present, but direct this according to instructions in your last Report, as no doubt you have deputed some one to sign and act for you, and that I shall get an acknowledgment in due course ; and trusting that your works in the service of the Lord may be abundantly blessed as heretofore, I am yours sincerely #e**.”_ April 15, vem H. B., for the Bible and Mis- sion Fund £50. and £50. for the support of the Orphans. —April 16. Received £3. with the following letter: “My dear Brother. in Christ, I enclose a Post Office Order for £3., £2. of which for the Orphans and the other £1. to be appropriated according to your discretion. For the glory of God I must tell you the circumstances. This amount {£3.) has been owing to me over six years, and I have applied again and again for the money, but in vain. About three years since I decided to apply no more. and_give it up as a bad debt; but a few months ago T thought of the dear children at Bristol, and laid the case: before my Heavenly Father, asking Him, if it was His holy will, to incline the heart of my debtor to send me the amount, without my having to ask for it. Last week he called (after much difficulty in ascertaining my new address), and left the money, with six years interest, and apologized for the delay. _ Is ‘not this a proof that te Lord is gracious. In fact, my prayer is more than answered ; for nof only can I send you the £3., but with the interest I am enabled to meet a claim that will fall due in a few days. Yours faithfully in Him ****.” —April 22. £100. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven. May 5. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £77. 2s. 94—From Ireland £100. for Mis- , “ 44 [4.D. 1879. sionaries and Mission work.—May 7. From Swansea £5. as “A thank-offering for signal mercy.”—May 13. Received £130. with the following letter: ‘Dear Sir, It is with pleasure I send you the enclosed cheque for £130., which please apply to the good work in your hands as follows, £60. for the Orphans, £60. for Mis- sions, etc., and please accept £10. for your own personal use. It was my intention to leave the above as a legacy, but I have lately had it laid upon my heart to see it paid. ‘Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!’ I remain, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, ****."—May 21. £1,000. as the legacy of the late Miss J. R.—It was very graciously so ordered of the Lord, that this legacy was now paid, a little before the legal time had expired for its payment, as we were almost entirely without means, and as we particularly desired to be able to send more help to the labourers in the Gospel. May 22. Received £24. 10s. 6d. being nine donations from Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope.—£5. from Constantinople.—I have thus referred to a few out of the hundreds of donations, by means of which the Lord enabled us to meet the expenses connected with the first four objects of the Institution during another year. Though our average expenses for one day for this part of the work were forty-six pounds during the past year, and we began the year with only £41. 17s. 8d., therefore not enough for one single day ; yet God helped us not only to meet all the expenses, but through the large income just at the close of the year to leave a larger balance than usual in hand. His holy name be magnified ! Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary—and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880. Letters from Donors, Practical remarks, C. May 27,1879. We began our new period with the balance of £519. 4s, 7d. in hand; a balance so great as this we had not had for many years. But great as, comparatively, this balance was, it was only a very small portion of what we needed in the course of the year. It therefore was very soon expended, and we had to look to the Lord for further supplies, as had been the case during the previous forty-five years of the existence of the Scriptural ~ A.D. 1879.] 45 Knowledge Institution ; and we found (as always before) that we had not to wait upon Him in vain. I mention now some of the ways, in which it pleased God to supply us with means.—May 31. From Geneva, £15. June 4. From Greenock £110., with £20. for myself. —June 26. Notwithstanding the considerable balance, with, which we began our year, and the income of £739. 0s. 11d. during the past month, we are now reduced to £140. 11s. 0½d. for these Objects, viz.: we have not enough for the average expenses of four days ; but we have the Living God as our Friend and Helper. July 8. From Scotland £100, with £10. for myself. —July 10. From Scotland, £100.—July 12. From French Switzerland 600 francs with 200 francs for myself.— July 18. From Yorkshire £150. for Foreign Missions with £150. for the Orphans.—July 24. From the pupils of a ladies' school £10.—July 26. Our balance in hand, for these Objects of the Institution, is now reduced to £25. 10s. 8d., viz. to about one half of what we require, on an average, for one day for them. Our eyes are directed to our Heavenly Helper, who in the forty-sixth year of the work is now upholding it, being fully assured, that, as He has helped us hitherto, He will do so yet. Many of our friends suppose, that in the early years only of the history of this Institution, we had exercises of faith, but that these trials have now long been over. Such friends are entirely mistaken ; for our trials of faith have continued, in every respect, as they were 34, 38, 40 and 43 years ago, even as to pecuniary supplies, but with this difference, that, whereas then the work was comparatively small, our trials of faith were about small matters, whilst now, as the work is large, our faith is tried regarding great things. However, as God helped us from 1838 to 1849 whilst our difficulties were almost constant, from day to day, so He has helped us in 1879 and 1880 also. His name be magnified ! Aug. 5. From Adelaide, Australia, £20. £5. £1. £1. —Aug. 9. From Malta £50. —Aug. 12. From Natal £50.—Aug. 16. From San Francisco £2.—From Saxony £4.—By sale of gold and silver articles, &c. £147. 18s. 0d. —Aug. 22. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £300. 4s.—Aug. 25. From the same donor 46 [A.D. 1879. for Missions £45.—Aug. 26. Our balance, which a month ago was £25. 10s. 8d., the Lord has been pleased so to increase, that we have to-day £491. 3s. 0½d. in hand, although we have expended many hundred pounds during the month. We have thus again proved the readiness of our Heavenly Father to listen to the supplications of His children, who trust in Him. Sep. 2. £10. from the neighbourhood of WakeSeld. " Five pounds from the sale of boots, |d. on every pair sold during the year, and £5. instead of insuring stock, &c. against fire."—Sep. 5. From Newcastle-on-Tyne £2. 10s. for Missions, and £2. 10s. for the Orphans with the following statement : " Annual thank-offering for protection from fire, and instead of insurance. A great fire was a short time ago on my left, nest door but one. House and shop gutted next door to me. My shop free. A few years ago a fire next door on my right. Two smouldering fires, at different times, dis covered on the premises, fires all around ; but the Lord Himself a wall of fire round about me. Blessed be the name of the Lord ! "— Received also £3. from Sunderland "As a thank-offering for past mercies, and instead of insuring against accidents."-—From the mother of a pupil in one of our Day Schools in Cardiff 10s., with the following statement: "Please to accept 5s., a widow's mite, for Missions, and 5s. from my little boy's money, which he has saved. He wishes to give it for the Orphans as an offering to God for His goodness to him, in saving his soul. He is one of those who have been brought to the Lord in Tredegerville School."—Sep. 9. Received from the neighbourhood of Manchester £90., with £153. 18s. 1d. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. •—Sep. 12. Received £5. from Glasgow, with the follow ing words : " Miss encloses a Post Office Order for the sum of £5. to Mr. Miiller, for Missionary purposes. She may state, that it was owing to reading the short paragraph at the head of page 13, of the last Report, which moved her to give, and to this special object." The paragraph alluded to is as follows, which I repeat here, because I judge that the Church of God at large needs to have the subject again and again brought before her. " May I ask the Christian reader, Do you practically take an interest in spreading the truth as it is in Jesus ? -. AD. 1879.] 47 ./ Do you care for the salvation of the souls of the heathen ? Do you pray for them? Do you do what you can, to send the Gospel of the grace of God to them? How much do you think, you have given in your whole life ~ for Missionary purposes? How much during the past year? What act of self-denial have you practised for this purpose ? Do you think you give even the thirtieth] . _ part of all God intrusts you with, for this Object? Re-}¢. >, member, dear Reader, there are about a Thousand Millions of souls, who have not yet had the Gospel . preached to them, therefore be henceforth in earnest, if this has not been the case hitherto, to do what you can,} to send the Gospel to them. It is also on my heart to; ‘press upon my Readers, the certainty of the personali return of the Lord Jesus, who says, ‘Behold I come} uickly and my reward is with me, to give every man| Y Aeordag as his Work shall be,” Rev. xxiv TE ‘How will}. 2. - it be with you, dear Reader, in the day of Christ’s' ~- appearing ?” I affectionately commend this paragraph to the prayerful consideration of the Christian Reader.—-; Sep. 19. £100. with the words: “Thine own.”—Sep, 24. Received £12. with the following letter : “ My dear Sir, I received your last Report, and have again the pleasure of handing you cheque for £12. for Foreign Missions, thanking the Lord for His goodness to you in all your labours for Him, and praying that you may long be spared to build up His Church through your various reachings and writings. I am thankful to be able to help you a little, from time to time. I too, through your work, first began to put by 1s. a week for the Lord’s work, and since then He has given me mach increase ; and, as long as I live, I hope to continue to give, as the Lord may prosper me. Yours faithfully, ¥¥**,” Sep. 24. Received from a Christian gentleman, _ who has often helped us in a similar way, 13 Queensland coupons (£68. 10s. 10d.), 20 United States (£50.), 1 Colombo (£17. 2s. 9d.), 8 Russian (£14. 13s. 9d.), and 5 City of Ottawa (£14. 13s. 9d).—Sep. 30. From A. P., £10. as “A thank-offering for an unexpected legacy.” £25. for Foreign Missions, given on the return of the donor’s wedding day.—Received from one of the former Orphans, who very ‘many years since left the Orphan Houses, £1., with the following letter, dated Sep. 27: 48 [A.D. 1879. " Dear and Honored Sir, Please accept the enclosed Post Office Order for £1., and use it as you think best in the good work. I have lately been told by some Christian friends, that the practice, which I have observed for more than nine years, of devoting one-tenth of my income to the cause of God, unduly impoverishes me, and that it is my first duty to make the very best provision I could for those dependent on me, giving, of what was left, some portion to the Lord. I am thankful to say, that I have not yielded to such persuasions, but that I have found my faith more than ever strengthened by reading over again two or three of your previous Reports. I believe that God is more pleased to receive of the first fruits of our store, than of what is left, after our own wants are satisfied. I still feel that the portion that I give back to the Lord is a small one, compared with His gifts to me, and that, when we have done our all (which we seldom do) we must say, ' We are unprofitable servants ; we have done that, which it was our duty to do.' Although my present income is not by any means too much, yet I have abundant cause, when I review the past, to admire the loving kindness of the Lord to me and mine. I do not forget, that this day is the anniversary of your birth day, and I pray God that He will in mercy spare you yet many years to work in the vineyard, and to build up in the faith those who love our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. I am, dear Sir, yours very respectfully, ****." Oct. 11. From Worcestershire £100. for Home and Foreign Missions.— Oct. 15.—From Somersetshire £101. —Oct. 20. From Zeist, in Holland, £4., with £1 for the Orphans.-—Oct. 24. With the following letter from the Isle of Wight, 3s. 4d. : " Dear Sir, Many thanks for the Report. Will you kindly accept the enclosed 3s. 4d. in stamps for the China Mission ? I fully believe that, if Christians would put by every week a small part of their income, the Lord would bless them more. When we first began, we could only give one shilling, then one and sixpence, and so on. Now, by the Lord's help, we give ten Pounds or more yearly to different objects, and the poor in our neighbourhood. Yours in the coming Lord Jesus, ****."—Oct. 28. Received from a Christian Mer chant, £200., with the following instructive letter : - AD. 1879.] 49 “My dear Mr. Miiller, I would just mention for your encouragement, and to the praise of our Heavenly Father, that I have followed the good advice, so repeatedly given in your Reports, of systematic and proportioned giving, for many years; and the last half year is the best we have had, although trade generally has been so depressed. I therefore have the pleasure of handing you cheque for £200., £100. towards the Orphans, £10. for your own use, and balance as you may consider most required. With kind regards, yours sincerely, ****.” Nov. 7. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—Nov. 10. From the Punjaub, India, £9. 188. 6d.—Nov. 13. £19. 19s. for Missions, as the legacy of the late Mrs. K.—Nov. 22. For Missions, 10s., with this statement : “ What I send you, I have earned by doing a gentleman’s washing for one month.”— Nov. 24. From a Christian Cook, at a Sheep Station in New Zealand, who seeks to honour the Lord with his means, £20.—Nov. 25. “From a friend at Burnley,” £50. Dec. 1. From Wales, £100.—Dec. 9. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—Dec. 15. From Ireland £200. for Missionaries and Evangelists. Our hearts rejoiced in this donation, as it afforded to us (in answer to prayer, much prayer) further means to help brethren who labour in word and doctrine——Dec. 16. Received £1. from one of the former Orphans, now an apprentice, with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, Enclosed is a Post Office Order for £1., for disposal as you may think best. I send it as a thank-offering to the Lord for my recovery from a short, but severe illness, Allow me also to thank you for the Reports you have so kindly sent me through my master, the reading of which has given me much pleasure. That God may spare your life many more years, to be a father to the Orphans, and a messenger to bear the glad tidings of the ever blessed Gospel to distant isles, is the prayer of your ever grate- ful Orphan,****,”—Dec. 19. From Bedfordshire £5., with £5. for the Orphans, from a Christian man in a small business, who for many years has sent, as God may have prospered him in his business.—From London £64., with £16. for the Orphans.—Dec. 23. From a D “ 50 [A.D. 1880. Christian family, £5. 5s., for Missions and £11. for the Orphans. Father, mother and children had, during the year, occupied some of their time in earning this amount. —Dec. 26. This day we have no money at all left for these Objects, but are looking, by God's grace, to our Heavenly Father for help, who has never left us, and who has already again carried us through the first seven months of this new period.—Dec. 27. To-day we received for Missions from Weston-super-Mare, £40., when we had nothing at all in hand.—Dec. 29. Received from a London donor, then at Ryde, £13. for missions in Italy, £4. for missions in China, and £13. for the support of one Orphan for one year.—There was given anonymously at Bethesda, £6. —Dec. 30. From Liverpool £5., from New Brunswick £2. —From Downend £1., "Instead of insuring my cottages."—From Hereford £10. —From Thame £1., for the circulation of the Scriptures in Spain, with £2. 18s. for the Orphans and 2s. for Reports.— From Redland £1., for Missions in Demerara, with 10s. for the Orphans.—From Chagford 10s. for Foreign Missions, and 10s. and 13 silver coins for the Orphans. —Dec. 31. From Kent £10.—From Paddington £50., with £50. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—From Sunderland 5s. Jan. 1, 1880. From a Bristol donor, £14., with £2. 10s. for Reports ; and through ditto also £2., with £2. for the Orphans.—From Scotland £100. —From Uplyme £5. All these donations, and £8. 7s. besides, were re ceived after all our funds for these Objects were gone, and we were in the greatest need. —Jan. 3. £5. was received with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Wright, A dear sister in the Lord, J. A., who has for many years sent all she could to dear Mr. Miiller, departed to be with Christ a few weeks since. Her sister, G. E., has found a little spare money, left by her sister, and know ing what her wish would be, sends the £5. for the Lord's work in Mr. Miiller's hands. To see J. A., you would never think she had 1s. to give to any one. She never spent more than was absolutely necessary on herself. She was formerly a servant, saved a little money, built a few cottages, lived in one, and lived on the rent of the others. She is now gone beyond the power of helping, or doing anything for the Lord ; but she being dead, yet A.D. 1880.] 51 speaketh. Her works follow her. ‘She has done what she could,’ may truly be applied to her. Her life was so consistent. Etc.”—Jan. 14. From Ireland £50.—Jan. 21. From Hampshire £150., with £300. for the Orphans and £50. for myself.—Jan. 26. During the past month the Lord has been pleased to send us for these first four Objects of the Institution about Twelve Hundred Pounds, so that we have been enabled to meet all demands upon us, and have £28. 13s. 8d. left.—Jan. 27. Received £47. 3s. 10d. with the following letter from Scotland : “Dear Brother, Enclosed is Bank Draft for £47. 3s. 10d., £10. of that sum is from Messrs. ——, to whom please acknowledge receipt, to be applied same way as before. The balance, £37. 3s. 10d. is from us. To Orphans £15., Missions £15., yourself £7. 3s. 10d.—To the praise and glory of God my Saviour, I would like to inform you, that about eight years ago I was, through the reading of your Reports, led to devote one penny per Pound of tea, I sold, to the Lord’s work under your care. I had for some years previously given £1. yearly, and when I did on my knees before the Lord engage to continue to give that small donation, with what might come out of the tea engagement, I have to say with a heart moved by a sense of His love and grace ‘Hallelujah! Praise His name for the results, which I subjoin—1872, £8, 14s. 9d.; 1873, £11. 7s. 5d.; 1874, £11. 198. 1d; 1875, £12. 7s. 9d.; 1876, £11. 68. ; 1877, £14. 98. 9d.; 1878, £25. 19s. 10d.; 1879, £36. 3s. 10d.— Yours in the Lord, ****,”— Jan. 29.- Legacy of the late Miss M. R. £100. Feb. 5. Ata time of the greatest need, we received, as the result of many prayers, £500. from Ireland for these Objects—Feb. 10. From a servant of the Lord Jesus £300. He having had a house left to him, con- strained by the love of Christ, and seeking to lay up treasure in heaven, sold it—From Penang £5.—Feb. 11. From Edinburgh £40. for Home and Foreign Missions, with £10. for the Orphans.—From Spain £2. March 11.. From Yorkshire £190. for Foreign Missions, with £10. for myself_—From Malta, from one of the former Orphans, £2.—March 15. From Ireland £100. for Missions.—March 16. From South Australia £10. 2s. 1d., with £10. 2s. for the Orphans.— March 18. From a Christian gentleman who has repeatedly helped us in a D 52 [4.D. 1880. similar way, and whose donation this time arrived at a time of great need, 47 coupons, value £157. 10s. 3d.— March 23. From the neighbourhood of Plymouth £100. —From Java 50 florins.—March 26. Our balance in hand for these four Objects of the Institution is again reduced to £19. 18s, 34d.—March 27. The Lord, in the riches of His grace, has immediately, in answer to our daily supplications, sent help. There came in to-day from Edinburgh £1. From Bedfordshire £5. From Liverpool £3. Os. 6d. and 3s. From Weston-super-Mare £40. for Home and Foreign Missions. From Amersham £5. From Edinburgh £10. for Missions, with £10. for the Orphans. From Ashburton 10s. April 22. ‘‘Five Pound Note (instead of insuring my cows)” for Foreign Missions.—“ With the grateful love of two former Orphans,” 10s. for Foreign Missions and £1. for the Orphans.—April 23. £15. from Clifton Down, for Missions.—April 26. At the close of the eleventh month of this period, we have nothing at all in hand for these Objects.—April 30. Within the last three days, the Lord has been pleased to send us £164. 10s. 11d.; for besides various smaller donations we received in our great need from the neighbourhood of Manchester £100. for these Objects, with £200. for the Orphans and £10. for myself. May 17. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £400.—May 18. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, £1. 10s, £5., £1., £1., £1., £1., £1., and 10s. 6d.—May 21. From Tananda, South Australia, £13. Thus we have been carried through another year, and, _ though we have been several times without anything in hand for these first four Objects of the Institution, we have been brought to its close with a balance of £61. 5s. 84d. in hand. All the demands, connected with the 117 Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institu- tion, we have been able to meet. With regard to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures we have been enabled to accomplish far more than at any time during the 45 years, The circulation of books and tracts also has been very large. But in reference to Missionary Work we have been able to accomplish far less than we have desired. ~ A.D. 1880.] 53 Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1880 to May 26,1881. Lettersfrom Donors, Practical remarks, etc. When our new year commenced, on May 27, 1880, we had in hand for these Objects, £61. 5s. 8½d., viz. a sum which was a little more than would suffice for the cur rent expenses of a single day. The reader will see, therefore, that we were during the past year, as 30, 40, and 47 years ago, entirely dependent upon God for help ; for in all our necessities we look to Him alone. Thus it came, and only thus, that during the past year also we were helped with means. I will now very briefly give some specimens of the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply our need. June 5, 1880. The income, up to this day, had been so small that our balance in hand was still further re duced, when, to-day, we received £150. from Ireland for Missions, for which we had no money at all left. Thus the Lord has very graciously again appeared on our behalf in answer to prayer. —June 9. From an English donor staying at Lausanne, Switzerland, £12. 10s. for the Bible Fund, and £12. 10s. for the support of the Orphans.— June 10. From Southgate, London, £10.—June 11. From Scotland, £120.—June 15. From Sussex, £46. 1s. ld.— June 25. From Clifton £40. for Missions. June, 27. At the beginning of the second month of the new year, we had no money at all in hand for these Objects ; and for our 119 Schools, the extensive circulation of the Holy Scrip tures and Tracts, and our missionary operations were needing help. What did we do under these circum-i stances i only what we have done during the past forty- f seven years. We made known our requests unto God ; this was all we did. Thus we have gone on year after year, in order to encourage our fellow believers, by our example, increasingly to trust in God and commit all their matters to Him, in believing prayer. And now see, dear reader, how God was pleased to help us again, as He had done thousands of times before.—On June 29, we received from Colchester £10. and from P. 3s. —On June 30 from Torquay £50. From Cardiff £90., with £10. for myself. From Newport, Monmouthshire, £2. On July 1 from the neighbourhood of Ampthill £5. 54 [A.D. 1880. —July 5, received £5. from New Zealand, with the fol lowing letter "Dear Sir, it is with much pleasure I enclose you a Post Office Order to be used as you think best. For a long time now I have given away, as God has directed me, one tenth of what money I have received. I can not tell you the pleasure it gives me to do so, or how thankful I feel to our Heavenly Father who put it into our hearts and has given us grace to continue to do so, even when brought very low as it regards money. Last year we lived in Bristol, in sight of your Orphan Houses, and the very sight of them was a constant renewal of our faith. At one time I was for eight months out of work, and I only received seven shillings per week to support myself and family. Yet God never suffered us to want anything. When things looked their very blackest, the sight of all those windows lit up at night was, what my wife called, " a thousand promises," and, I may add, " a thousand fulfilments."—We have only been in New Zea land three weeks, but our trust is in the same God who never left us, and never will forsake us. He has pro mised so, and I take His promises always as fulfilments. He found work for me the first day I came. May He guide me in the way that I should walk, and give me grace to continue in His way ! I am, Sir, thankfully yours, ****." This donation, coming as it does from New Zealand, many thousands of miles distant, was one of the means whereby, in July, 1880, we were helped in our great need, in answer to many prayers. —From " H. G.," of Constantinople, £5. — From Halifax, 14s. — From Dawlish, £5., with £5. for the Orphans.—July 6. From Glasgow, £21.—July 8. From "A. C. W.," £10.— July 9. From Derbyshire, for the Bible Fund, £100.— July 12. From Clifton, £50.—From Southgate, £10.— From Chicago, £5. 2s. 8d.—From Dayton, £4.—From the neighbourhood of Stockport, £100. for Missions. July 13. From the neighbourhood of Stonehouse £5. for China Missions.—July 17. By sale of gold and silver articles, diamonds, coins, etc., £220. together with £90. by sale of dentist gold, plate, etc. for the support of the Or phans. From Sussex, £51. 19s. 9d. for Missions, with £13. for the Orphans.—From Scotland £100.—From Clifton, about two years ago, a Railway Debenture was received for 1000 dollars, without coupons, up to this time. There A.D. 1880.] 55 fore we could not sell the debenture. But now, in this our great need, it became negotiable ; and, as it bore six per cent. interest, I obtained the high price of £261. for it. In like manner, about four years before, while preach ing in Dublin, I received a Victoria Government Deben ture for £100., intended one half for Missions, one-fourth for the Schools, and one-fourth for the Orphans. This debenture I now sold, in this our great need, for £105., whereby £52. 10s. came for Missions, £26. 5s. for the School Fund, and £26. 5s. for the Orphans.—July 24. From. Middlesex, £15.—From India, £100., with £20. for myself.—July 26. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, •who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in Heaven, £200. July 27. As stated before, on June 27 we had no money at all in hand for the first four Objects of the Institution, but in the course of this one month the Lord was pleased to send us, in answer to much prayer, £1936. 4s. 11½d. for these Objects, besides £1415. 18s. 8d. for the support of the Orphans. It is an unspeakably blessed thing to have in God an Almighty Friend, ever willing to listen to the supplications we offer in our time of need. Thus we were able to meet all the current expenses of the month, and had £711. 3s. left for these Objects. Sept. 1. From Wales, £5. instead of insuring cows.— Sept. 9. From the neighbourhood of Manchester, £100. for these Objects, with £150. for the Orphans, and £9. 7s. 11d. for myself.—From the neighbourhood of Lismore, Ireland, £5. as " The first fruits of . the harvest."—From Ireland, £200. for Missions.—Sept. 13. From the neighbourhood of Witney, £50. for Missions. —Received £150. with the following letter "My dear Mr. Miiller, I have read over your Report for 1879-80 with much pleasure, and with much spiritual benefit. I notice you purpose making another visit to America. My earnest prayer will be that your preaching may be blessed to the conversion of sinners and the edifying of believers. I have just been delivered, without injury, from a very serious railway accident, by which three persons were killed, and about twenty more or less very much hurt ; and I beg to enclose you £150. as a thank- offering to my Heavenly Father for protecting me in such perilous circumstances. Will you kindly apply 56 [A.D. 1880. £30. towards your travelling expenses as you see most needed 1 Wishing you a prosperous voyage, a safe return, and much blessing, I am, Yours very sincerely, ****." For about fifty-one years I have had no salary in connection with my pastoral labours, and the ministry of the Word, nor as Founder and Director of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution ; nor have I any property whatever of my own ; but for more than half a century I have relied entirely upon God for the supply of all my own temporal necessities, and those of my family, and have received from Him, by prayer and faith, all that I have needed. He has put it into the hearts of His children, in various parts of the world, to supply my wants. The last- mentioned donation, coming a distance of several hundred miles from a Christian gentleman I have never seen, is one out of many instances of the way in which it has pleased God to supply us with money for our travelling expenses, during six years and upwards. With reference to all these heavy expenses the Lord has continually been mindful of us, and we have never been obliged to cease labouring in this way for want of means.—Sept. 21. Received 5s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I enclose 5s. in postage stamps for whatever purpose you deem most needful. I am now reduced to one room, and the recipient myself of charity ; but I lay aside weekly for the Lord a portion of whatever I am able to earn. This year it has been less than usual, which will account for the smallness of my donation. That God may prosper you in all your works done for His Glory, is the prayer of, Dear Sir, with Christian love, yours respectfully,****." P.S.;" I had the pleasure of hearing you preach in Rome last year." This instance shows how the Lord supplies us with money through those also who are in very limited circumstances ; and, at the same time, gives another illustration of how we may yet have the privilege of giving, though comparatively poor, if we do it systematically.—Sept. 27. Four months of the new year have now elapsed ; we have been helped hitherto, and expect to be helped further. On Aug. 27, we had a balance left for these Objects of £4:25. 2s. 3½d. and, to-day, a month later, we have £578. 9s. 4½d. in hand, though thousands of pounds have been needed for A.D. 1880.] . 57 the current expenses. Sept. 29. From two believers, £25. for Missions, “given on their wedding day.”— Sept. 30. Received 13 Queensland coupons, 20 United States coupons, 1 Colombo coupon, 8 Russian coupons, 5 City of Ottawa coupons, 4 Portuguese coupons, and 3 Auckland coupons, all of them amounting together to £177. 19s. 7d. Again and again this donor has kindly sent us similar donations, which invariably have come in most seasonably. Oct. 1. Received from Scotland £100.—Oct. 2, From Yorkshire £1. “Instead of insuring the glass of the shop windows.”—Oct. 7. ‘From H. B. a thank-offering” £100.—Oct. 12. From Scotland £50. for Forei Missions.—Oct. 15. £4. as “A thank-offering to the Lord for sparing me for the last eighty-five years this month,” — Oct. 21. From a former Orphan and his wife, who have now three Orphan boys as apprentices in their house, £4., with the following letter; “Dear and honoured Sir, I desire to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the second half of premium on account of C. B. You will be pleased to hear he is getting on very nicely with his trade, and his behaviour is all we could desire. The same can be said of J. D. He confesses his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom also J. D. is rejoicing. As regards ourselves, we daily continue to pray, as we have done for many years, for blessing on the dear Orphan Work, and those engaged in it. We greatly rejoice in its continued prosperity, as well becomes us, j who have received such inestimable spiritual and temporal blessings through its instrumentality, Will! you please use £3. 10s. of the enclosed for the support of one Orphan for three months, and the remaining 10s. for Foreign Missions? and accept with it the grateful love of two former Orphans,****.”—Oct. 23. From Clifton Down £15.—From Somersetshire £102.—18s with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I now take pleasure in sending you five shillings and also thirteen shillings from my wife, as a thank-offering to God, because I have not been discharged, whilst others have been, where I work. The above amount has been put aside threepence per week for some time. I am happy to say that many times, when work has been very slack, work hag come in, in anewer, to our prayers, and I-hope D 58 [AD. 1880. God will answer our prayers still. Please to use this money for sending Missionaries abroad. I hope you will accept this trifle from us, as we are desirous of laying up treasure in heaven, where I hope we shall meet at last, to enjoy a happy eternity with Christ our Saviour. I remain, yours truly, ****."—Oct. 25. From Naples £5.—Oct. 26. Received £318. 7s., being the pay ment of a legacy, consisting of eight Russian Bonds, less legacy duty. The testatrix not only was entirely un known to me, but I had never even heard her name ; yet the Lord inclined her heart, in answer to our daily supplications for help, to leave to me this legacy. Nov. 1. From Malta, £5. —Nov. 5. From India, £37. 16s.—Nov. 15. From a Christian gentleman in Ireland, £2. 10s., being 1s. "For each sheep sold during this year."—Nov. 23. Received as legacy, left by the late Miss A. C., the sum of £72. 16s. 9d. for Missions, and £72. 16s. 9d. for the Orphans.—Nov. 25. From Cam bridgeshire, £55. 17s. 2d. Dec. 1. From S. S., £50. for Missions.—Dec. 11. From Ireland, £200. for Missions. A very seasonable help, as scarcely anything is left for this Object.— Dec. 13. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. —From Ireland, £3. with the following letter : " Dear Sir,—Enclosed is a cheque for £3 (to wards Foreign Missions) as a thank-offering for dis turbance averted, by the hand of God, on this property. Pray for the Christians in Ireland, that they may have wisdom to act in these seriously difficult times. Yours in Christ, ****."—From Queensland, £2.—Dec. 16. From the Neilgherries, East Indies, £10. —From Ivy Lane, London, £84., with £21. for the Orphans. How seasonably this donation came in, will be seen under the 27th of this month.—Dec. 20. From a Widow in Liver pool, £2. 5s. 3d., who puts aside from her business, as the Lord prospers her, with £4. 10s. 6d. for the Orphans —Dec. 21. " From a Mother and her Three Children, the result of their united work through the year, £2. 14s. 1d. for Missions, and £5. for the Orphans."— Dec. 22. From Edinburgh, £40., with £10. for the Orphans.—Dec. 27. On October 27th the balance in hand for these Objects was £451. 14s. 0½d., and on X A.D. 1880.] 59 Nov. 27th, £811. Os. 6½d. ; so that, notwithstanding our heavy outgoings, we were able comfortably to meet all the demands upon us. Thus it has been also during this month (December) ; but to-day, 27th, we have only £10. 6s. 11½d. left for these Objects. The donors who have given during this month, and especially during the latter half of it, will see how seasonably their donations came in. Thus we prove continually the power of prayer, and are helped. Now observe, dear reader, how the Lord again appeared on our behalf on December 27, 1880, when our balance in hand for these four Objects— the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund— was reduced to £10. 6s. 11½d. On the same day we received from the neighbourhood of Newton, Mearns, Scotland, £12., with £3. for the Orphans.—From Dalkeith, £1. 10s., with 10s. for the Orphans.—From a Bristol donor, £1.—From Exeter, 10s., and from Clifton, 4s., with 8s. for the Orphans.—From London, £20. for Missions in Italy, £10. for Missions in China, and £10. for Missions in Spain. —On the next day, Dec. 28, we received £20. from Hereford for Foreign Missions.— From an Edinburgh donor, then at Ilfracombe, £80., with £20. for the Orphans. —From Redland, 15s. for Missions in China, and 15s. for the Orphans.—On Dec. 29, £2. came in from Totterdown for Missions ; also, £6. and a locket for the Orphans, with 2s. for Reports.—From Devonshire, £50., with 2s. for Reports. —From Newton Abbot, £5. ; also, £1. 4s. for Missions, and 12s. for the Orphans.—From Canada, £5.—Dec. 30. From Eday, Orkney, for" Missions, £1.—From Abbey Wood, £10.—From S. S., £50.—From Hull, £5., with 5s. for myself.—From Shaw, Scotland, £10. From Kirkdale, £2. 8s. 4d.—From Morristown, for Spanish Missions, £10. and £15.—From Cotham, 10s., with 10s. for Orphans and 10s. for myself.—Dec. 31. From Sutton, £2. 2s.—From Clifton, £10.—From Paddington, £30. for Missions, £20. for the School Fund, £10. for the Bible and Tract Fund, £50. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. —From one of the former Orphans in the neighbourhood of Exeter, 10s.—From the neighbour hood of Newton Stewart, £3. 4s.—I have referred to all these donations, which came in from the morning of December 27 to the evening of December 31, to show 60 [A.D. 1881. how the Lord, in answer to our supplications, helped us, and also what varied instrumentality, in different places and countries, He was pleased to use. Thus the year 1880 ended with help from the Lord, even as year after year He has cared for us. Jan. 1, 1881. The new year began with blessings. We received from Kent £12. 10s. for Missions and £12. 10s. for the Orphans.—From Scotland, £100.— From Gotham, £4., with £2. for myself.—Jan. 6. £5. as " A thank-offering for answer to prayer in reference to my little girl, in the removal of a gathering, which threatened to destroy the sight of one of her eyes."— From Kent, £50. The donor, who sent £25. on the 1st of January, writes : "I did not expect to send any thing again so quickly; but it is our Lord's doing." Truly it was the Lord's doing, and this help came in answer to our daily prayers. The money was taken for Missions, as directions were given that it might be used as most required.—Jan. 6. From the neighbourhood of Henley-on-Thames, £100. — From Greenock, £100. — From Plymouth, £10.— Jan. 13. From Birmingham, £5., as " A thank-offering to our Heavenly Father for the recovery of a little boy from sickness."—Jan. 17. From Hampshire, £150., with £300. for the Orphans and £50. for myself.—Jan. 21. From one of the former Orphans, 10s. for Foreign Missions, with £3. 10s. for the support of an Orphan for 3 months. Feb. 21. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—Feb. 23. Received the following letter from an Orphan formerly under our care : " Dear and re spected Sir,—Enclosed is a cheque for £26. 13s. 4d. from my brother-in-law, also a Post Office order for 16s. from myself, which we have much pleasure in sending. Please use the money for whichever part of the work it is most required. Eleven years ago to-day I left the dear Home, which had sheltered me for so many years. I often think of the happy hours spent there, and shall be ever thankful for the great kindness I received while under your care," etc. March 1. Received 13 Queensland coupons, 20 United States coupons, 8 Russian coupons, 5 City of Ottawa coupons, 4 Portuguese coupons, 1 Colombo coupon, and A.D. 1881.] 61 3 City of Auckland coupons, amounting altogether to £177. 15s. 2d. This donation came in again most seasonably to help us with means for the first four Objects of the Institution.—March 7. From a Student of the University of Tubingen, Wurtemberg, £1. — March 16. When the funds for the first four Objects were almost entirely expended, and we were in great need of money for them, on account of expenses to be met in a few days, we received to-day from Sussex, for Missions, £165. 10s.—From Edinburgh, £10. for Mis sions, £10. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself.—From Manchester, £100. —March 17. From Dunbar, £10., and £6. 10s., with the following letter: "Dear Sir, I here with enclose £6. 10s., which I have laid by weekly, as I have done for some time (a stated sum). Although the depression in trade is very great, and the future, humanly speaking, dark, yet I have not discontinued my practice, believing that the Lord can and will make all things straight," etc.—We received further, on March 18th, from Kingstown, Ireland, £1. ; from Liverpool, £10. ; and From Farnborough, £5. —On March 19th. From the neighbourhood of Lismore, £5.— March 21. From Halifax, 10s. for Missions, and 10s. for the Orphans. — March 22. From Stourbridge, £4. 0s. 3d., with £5. for myself. —From Ireland, for Missions, £200.—March 23. From Bedminster, £7 7s.—March 24th. From Banbridge, 5s.—March 25th. From Kilbarchan, £1.—From Calne, £5.—From likely, £12. 2s. 6d., with £3. for myself. Thus we were able to meet the heavy expenses which we had before us, regarding the Home and Foreign Schools, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and to aid Missionary Operations; but the money was only enough to do this, and we have nothing left this day, March 27. Two months since, January 27th, we had in hand for these Objects £527. 3s. 1½d. On February 27th we had a balance of £274. 14s. 8d. To-day, March 27, though we have £42. 10s. 2½d. still in hand, as a few accounts have not yet been presented for payment, we must consider that nothing at all re mains, and have therefore to wait further upon God. The expenditure for the first four Objects of the Institution, during the past month, has been nearly £1,400. What was now to be done, dear reader, under these circum 62 [4.D. 1881. stances, when all the money for the above Objects was again gone? I reply, we did what we have done for 47 years, that is, we waited continually upon God. My dear fellow-labourers in Bristol, and my dear wife and myself in America, brought our necessities again and again before the Lord. Here in the Unitel States, besides our habitual daily prayer for help, we had especial seasons 4, 5, and 6 times a day additionally, for pouring out our hearts before our Heavenly Father, and making known our requests unto Him, being assured that help would come; and we have not waited upon the Lord in vain. This plan may be despised by some, ridiculed by others, and considered insufficient by a-third class of persons ; but, under every trial and every diffi- culty, we find prayer and faith to be our universal remedy ; and, after having experienced for half a century their efficacy, we purpose, by God’s help, to continue waiting upon Him, in order to shew to an ungodly world, and to a doubting Church, that the Living God is still able and willing to answer prayer, and that it is the joy of His heart to listen to the supplications of His children. In Psalm ix. 10, the Divine testimony re- i garding Jehovah is, “They that know Thy name will Ye) put their trust in Thee.” Wk know Him, by Tis grace, NN. | did do therefore put our trust in Him. I now continue ‘Ths ‘account:- On March 29th, 30th, and 31st, £37. | came in in various donations, besides £50., with II Cor. ix. 15. On April 1st, £1. 10s. was received, as ‘‘Price of the first calf this season.” We also had £100. from Scotland, and 10s. from Ridgeway. April 2. Received £5., with the following letter: ‘‘Dear Sir, I enclose a cheque for £5., ‘instead of insuring stock-in-trade,’ which please use as the Lord may direct you. I have done so for several years, and can rest assured that the Lord will preserve me and mine, when put into the hand of the Almighty God, who never slumbers nor sleeps. I am, dear Sir, yours in Jesus,****,”—The following letter, with 10s. : “ Dear Sir, Please to accept the enclosed half-sovereign, as a trifle towards the spread of the Gospel. I send it as a thank-offering to God for His mercies towards me and my family during the past six months, while out of a situation. I am pleased to say that He has opened up A.D. 1881.] 63 to me another situation, and what I have sent to you is a part of my first week's wages. I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, ****."—April 11, £10., as "A Census thank- offering."—April 20. Two bonds (£100. each) of the Association of Land Financiers. —April 21. £50., with II Corinthians ix. 15.—April 23. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100. April 25. From Durdham Down, £100.—April 27. On March 27th we had no means at all in hand for these Objects, as stated under that date. We have now been helped through one more month, in answer to prayer, and have been supplied with all we needed, though that amounted to nearly £1,000., and have £23. 8s. 6½d. left. With this small sum we enter upon the last month of this present period, during which we shall yet need many hundred pounds, being assured that our Heavenly Friend, who has helped us for more than 47 years, will not forsake us.—April 29. A servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, having received a legacy of £532. 14s. 5d., gave £500. of it for these Objects. May 2. From Scotland, £100.—May 20. From Ply mouth, £10.—May 25. From Swansea, £15.—May 26. The Lord has, in the riches of His grace, so helped us, as that during this month also we have been enabled to meet the necessary expenses, though a month ago we had only £23. 8s. 6½d. left, and we are thus brought to the close of the year, and have a small balance left in hand. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1881, to May 26, 1882. Letters from Donors, practical re marks, etc. At the commencement of our new year, on May 27, 1881, we had in hand for these Objects, £124. 6s. 2½d. viz., a sum which would only supply the average ex penses of three days. To the balance in hand we could not therefore look, and, by God's grace, had no desire so to do ; but to Him, and to Him alone were our eyes directed, and He helped us many times, when all the money in hand was entirely expended, in answer to 64 [4-D. 1881. our believing, expecting supplications. In the following pages I will now give some instances as to the manner in which the Lord was pleased to help us. June 7, 1881. From a Scotch Lady, then at Perth, £80. for these Objects, with £20. for the Orphans.—On June 8th we received £3. 5s. with the following letter : “Dear Sir, Cheque £3. 5s. for the Lord’s work. Use the money for what you like. It is a thank-offering. My two houses in B—— H—— were preserved from ’ damage last Saturday week, while some very near were injured during the storm. With sincere respect, ****,” —June 16th. From Yorkshire £190. for Foreign Missions, with £10. for my own personal expenses.—From a ser- vant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £300.— June 17. From Scotland £270., with £30. for my own | ersonal expenses.—8s. 7$d. “Saved during 23 weeks, by using + Ib. butter less per week.”—June 21. From Treland £200. for Missions.—Do you see, dear reader, that we do not wait upon the Lord in vain? He helps us, in answer to prayer. To Him alone we look, and we do not do so without being helped.—June 22. — From Australia £5.—June 24. From Batavia 50 florins, with 50 florins for the Orphans, July 5. All our money for these Objects was gone, though 8 days since £189. 17s. 6d. was in hand, and many donations had come in since. Under these circum- stances I received this morning the following letter from a distance of several hundred miles, containing a cheque for £250. ‘My dear brother, it has pleased the Lord so to prosper me, that from time to time I have been able to take out of our business sums of money, which I have tried to use for His glory. The last I took out was two or three months ago. I have from time to time been asking the Lord what I am to do with it, and (I hope guided by Him) have resolved to send part to some brethren who may be in need in Ireland, and the rest to you, which kindly use as you think best. I should be pleased that a portion, more or less, go for missions, Yours very truly in Jesus, ****.” I took of the amount £150. for Missions and £100. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund. Thus the Lord was pleased to help us, when we had nothing at all left for these Objects,— ve A.D. 1881.] 65 July 13th. By sale of dentist gold, gold and silver arti- cles, pearls, diamonds, etc. for the Bible, Missionary and’ Tract Fund, £44. 5s., with £120. for the Orphans. — July 16. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—July 28, 1881. “The income has been for some time past only about the third part of the expenses, Consequently, all we have for the support of the Orphans is nearly gone; and for the first four Objects of the Institution we have nothing at all in hand. The| . natural appearance now is, that the work cannot be carried on. But I BELIEVE, that the Lord will help, both with means for the Orphans and also for the other! __. Objects of the Institution, and that we shall not be con-, founded ; also, that thé work shall not need to be given up. Iam fully expecting help, and have written this to the glory of God, that it may be recorded hereafter for the encouragement of His children. The result will be seen. The foregoing was written at 7 a.m. July 28, 1881. In the course of the day there came in altogether for the various Objects £69. 11s. 104d. I am looking ' for further answers to prayer.—July 29. The total in- - eome to-day has been £27. 4s. 114d., and the expenses have been £230. But my hope is in God. As yet we have the means to meet our expenses, and I expect that we shall not be confounded, though for seven years we have not been so poor. July 30. Saturday. To-day £33. 15s, has come in.” Aug. 1. “Monday. The total income to-day has been £134. 17s. Six, seven, eight times daily I am praying with my dear wife for means; we are looking out for answe!s, and we do nét-wait-on the Lord in vain.— Aug. 2nd, The total income to-day £130. 4s.—Aug. 3rd. | £61. 188. 2d.—Aug. 4th. £91. 48 6$d.—Aug. 5th. £204. 16s. 5d. has come in for all the various Objects to-day. Of late the outgoings have been about £200., sometimes nearly £300 per day; therefore the kindness of the Lord in giving us this day’s income is very great. We still pray daily, six, seven, eight times or more for means. — Aug. 6th, Saturday. Total income £33.— Aug. 8th, Monday, Total income £27. Above £300. was expended to-day.—Aug. 9th. £20. has come in.— Aug. 10th, £36. 138. 64d. was received to-day. — aa 66 [4.D. 1881. Ang. llth. In all £260.—Aug. 12th. £46. 15s. 7}d., and a large silver teapot and cream jug have been received to-day.— Aug. 13th. £22. 5s. 83d. has been received to- day. This is Saturday. The outgoings of this week have been about £1,500.—Aug. 15th, 1881. The balance for the Orphans is now reduced to £332. 12s. 7d., lower than it has been for more than twenty-five years. This sum we have in hand to meet the daily expenses in con- nection with 2,100 persons. It is only enough for the average outgoings of 44 days. But our eyes are upon the Lord. I look to my heavenly Provider. The total income of to-day has been £28. 5s, 24d.—Aug. 16th. The income to-day, after constant waiting upon God, has been for the Orphans £106. 8s. 8d., and for the other Objects £39. 13s. 10d., in all £146. 2s. 6d.— Aug. 17th. The income for the first four Objects has been £73. 2s., for the support of theOrphans £77. 19s. 8d., in all £151. 1s, 8d.—Aug. 18th. £5. 8s. 104d. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, and for the Orphans £124. 6s. 9d., in all £129. 15s. 74d.— Aug. 19th. For the first four Objects £6. 17s. 3d.; for the Orphans £57. 9s. 7d., in all £64. 6s. 10d.— Aug. 20th, Saturday. The total income about £60.—Aug. 22nd, Monday. £17. has come in for the first four Objects, and for the support of the Orphans £1,036. ; part of a legacy, . left years ago, £1,000, was paid, as the answer to many prayers.” What I have recorded here, with reference to July 28th, -\] 1881, up to Aug, 22nd, I wrote down at the time, as here N copied out, and I now add a few practical remarks :— 1. During all this time we did not make known our circumstances to our friends, whether wealthy or other- wise ; but to God alone. 2. Far less had we a desire to ask them for help, from which we refrained, not, because - | we considered it sinful; but in order that, by waiting upon God alone, we might show to the Church of God at large, how much, at the latter part of the Nineteenth Century, can still be obtained by prayer and faith, that ; thus other children of God may be encouraged to wait : unceasingly upon Him, and that their faith may be , Strengthened. We did it also that an unbelieving world : might see the reality of the things of God. 3. Those ' readers, who are acquainted with the early part of the ™ A.D. 1881.] 67 history of the Institution, will remember, that, what I . have just now stated under No. 2, was the especial reason, why I founded the Orphan Institution ; and I have to ‘mention to the praise of God, that in the day of Christ it will be seen how vast the number of His disciples will then be who will have received blessings through these records, which have been published yearly. 4. I only add, that on the next day to the one last spoken about, ! Aug. 23rd, my dear wife and myself left for the Con- : tinent of Europe, that, as I had arranged before, I might , enter upon my eighth long preaching tour; and I had now to leave the whole responsibility of the Institution in the hands of my son-in-law, Mr. Wright, and his numerous efficient helpers, the value of whose assistance © I had long experienced, My dear wife and I could wait ; upon God in distant lands, and trust in Him for help regarding the work at home, quite as well as we could in Bristol, and this we did habitually. The following record will show how greatly the faith of Mr. Wright, and ! of our fellow helpers was exercised, but also how our j united waiting upon God, they at home, and we thousands ; of miles off, was recompensed, and how day by day the | wants of the Institution were supplied, and it remained in existence to enter upon the new period from May : .26th, 1882, to May 26th, 1883. . I now refer further to donations received after July 28th, 1881. Aug. 11th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, con- strained by the love of Christ, £100.—Aug. 17th. From the same donor £50. for these Objects, and £50. for the Orphans. _ Sept. lst. Received £9. with the following letter : “My dear Sir, I enclose cheque, value £9., which please use as you think best. May God spare your life for many years, to be the Orphans’ friend. About £5. of this sum is the result of putting by a halfpenny for every pair of boots sold during the year. I wish I could do more. I shall be glad if you will send a Report when the yearly account has been published. I am, your humble ser- vant, ****—Sept. 7th. To-day the income for these Objects has been £17. 8s. 4d., and the expenses have been £167. 6s. 4d. The income for the Orphans has been £40. 28. 4d., but the expenses have been 68 [A.D. 1881. £288. 7s. 7d. Under these circumstances ALL we do is, to wait upon God ; to Him alone we look, and we are helped. —The next day, September 8, the income for the Orphans was £73. 15s. lJd., and the expenses were £242. 16s. 3d.—Sept. 12. From Edinburgh, in a Bank Order, £10. for Missions, £10. for the Orphans, and £5. for my own personal expenses.—Sept. 26th. £2. 10s. for Missions, and £2. 10s. for the support of the Orphans, "Instead of insuring the donor's cows." Oct. 1st. From the neighbourhood of Oxford, from a donor who has often helped us, when we were in great need, £153. 14s. 3d. — Oct. 4th. From the neighbour hood of Adelaide, South Australia, an Australian £5. Note; and from Adelaide £20.—Oct. 11th. The total of the income for the various Objects of the Institution has been to-day £71. 18s. 7d., and the total of the expenses £513. 0s. 3d. Again and again it is thus, so it is neces sary that the eye of faith be steadily fixed upon the Lord and His precious promises, in order that the heart be kept in peace. Read, in connection with this last sen tence, the following letter, written on Oct. 12th, and sent from a considerable distance : " My dear Sir, Please receive cheque for One Hundred Pounds, to assist you in your good work in connection with your Orphan Homes, which the Spirit has moved me to send, in answer to your prayers ; and may God abundantly bless all your efforts ! I am, yours truly, ****." Notice, that the donor writes : " which the Spirit has moved me, to send in answer to your prayers." This was truly the case. The donation came in answer to our many prayers. —Oct. 19th. We have nothing at all in hand for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund.— Oct. 20th. Admire the Lord's kindness, dear Christian reader. In this our poverty, having not a single penny \ in hand for the first four Objects of this Institution, we received £400. for them, £90. for the Orphans, and £10. ' for myself, from the neighbourhood of Manchester. Nov. 10th. Received £1. 10s. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, since I began to subscribe a pound each year to the Lord's work under your charge, He has been pleased to bless me in my undertakings, instead of being poor in consequence. I am astonished to find that the more He lays it on my heart to give to A.D. 1881.] 69 His cause, the more I increase in means even here, so that I lose nothing, by giving, even now, and then the joy of knowing, that it will be all credited, when we are taken to be for ever with Himself, Matt. xxv. 40. Since last year I have been in rather ill health, but the Lord has restored me again, for which, as a small thank-offer ing, I increase my subscription to £1. 10s., to be used as the Lord may guide you. I know His grace has qualified you to be a faithful steward. Yours in Him to the praise of His grace, ****."—Nov. 14th. Received from Ireland, for Missions, £200. Nov. 22nd. Received £10 with the following letter : " Dear Sir, About twelve months since, my only son, 19 years of age, was very ill. I had placed him with a chemist to learn his business. I fetched him home, and was told by my doctor that the only thing that would do him good was a warm climate ; it was the only means for him, all his vitals were so weak. I could not see my way clear to send him abroad, but believed the Lord would do as much for him here. So, in my dis tress, I waited upon the Lord and He has heard me. My son has improved greatly in health. I now enclose a cheque for £10., one pound for foreign missions; the other nine pounds as a thank-offering for the Lord's kindness to me and my dear child. Please use this as you see best. I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly, ****." —Nov. 26th. From the neighbourhood of Hurstpierpoint £100. for the first four Objects of the Institution, £70. for the support of the Orphans, and £30. for my own personal expenses. This donation was received by after noon mail, when the balance in hand for the first four Objects was only £8. 0s. 8½d. Admire, dear Christian reader, with us the Lord's kindness and faithfulness, who thus continually, for the sake of our Lord Jesus, in answer to our believing, expecting prayers is pleased to help us. Will not you also, if you have never acted in like manner, confide in God in all your various trials, diffi culties and necessities ; and will you not also look out for answers to your prayers ? Make but trial of this way, and you will find out in your own happy experience, how precious it is, thus to walk in fellowship with God. Dec. 5th. We have again nothing at all in hand for the first four Objects of the Institution. Under these circumstances, the following donations 70 [4.D. 1881. were received, whereby the Lord again was ious! pleased to help us. Dec. 5th. From Madrid £5. for the Schools.—Dec. 6th. From Wellington Park, Clifton, 15s. with 5s. for myself.—Dec. 7th. From Westbourne Place, Clifton, £10.—From Toppesfield £5.—Dec. 8th. From Hammersmith 9s. 10d. for Missions.—Dec. 9th. Legacy of the late Mr. T. S. F. £19. 19s —Dec. 12th. From Teddington £5.—From Glenburne £10. with £5. for the Orphans,—Dec. 13th. Left anonymously at 34, Park Street, Bristol, £5.—Dec. 14th. From London £15. for Missions in Italy, £10. for Missions in Spain, and £5. for Missions in China.—Dec. 15th. Received £200., of which £90. was for these Objects, £75. for the support of the Orphans, £25. for my own expenses and £10. for Tracts, in various languages, Gospels, etc. The donor writes : ‘“ Your last Report, like the former ones, has much gratified me, especially your remarks on giving systematically, a fixed portion to the Lord. About 25 years ago I commenced with a tenth ; and, as the Lord ‘J. ] mereased my gains, so I increased my proportion, and * '] can say with much joy, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Again and again this donor has kindly helped us ; and again and again his donations have come to hand, when we were low in funds. So, as the fore- going account shows, it was this time in particular ; for, - when the donation came to hand, all that had come in between Dec. 5th and 14th was again spent, and we had nothing at all remaining for these Objects, but were thus helped for the moment.—There came in also, on the same day, from the neighbourhood of Stourbridge £12. 2s. 6d. ; and from Kells for Missions £1. 8s., £1. 17s. 6d., £2. and £1.—Dec. 19th. £12. 12s. 6d. with the followin statement: “The united work of a father, mother and their three children, and given with great pleasure for thework, £5. for Missions and £7. 12s.6d. forthe Orphans.” —Dec. 21st. £50. for the first four Objects with £50. for the Orphans. The donor of this £100. is 82 years of age, and has been a believer 62 years. He had left £100. as a legacy, by his will, for this Institution, but-decided to pay it in his lifetime, and thus to save the legacy duty. —From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, constrained by the love of Christ, — £50.—Dec. 26th. There is again not a penny in hand for A.D. 1882.] 71 the first four Objects of the Institution. Under these - circumstances we received from Calcutta £1. on Dec. 27th.—Dec. 29th. £4. from Kircaldy.—On Dec. 30th, from Hereford £20. for Missions and from Dalkeith £5. From Newark, New Jersey, £10. 5s, 4d.—Dec. 31st. On the last day of the year we received for these Objects from believers near Tretherne £6. for Missions.—From Paddington £30. for Missions, £30. for the School—, Bible and Tract Fund, with £50. forthe Orphans and £10. for myselfi—Also £5. from Kingsdown Parade, Bristol. Thus the year, during which we had had again and again nothing at all in hand, closed with mercies. We had a little remaining. Jan. 2nd, 1882. The year began with fresh manifesta- tions of the kindness of our Lord, in granting to us answers to our prayers. We received from Scotland £100. with £10. for myself.—From Clifton £2. for Missions, £1. for the Schools, £3. for the Orphans, and £5. for myself. —From Horningsham, 10s—From Cotham, £4. 10s.— From Clifton 5s.; also 5s. for Bible and Tract Fund, 10s. for Missions and Orphans, and 5s. for myself.—£2. from Cape of Good Hope, with the following deeply important letter: “My dear Mr. Miiller, Herewith I send a Post Office Order for £2. to be used as you think best. Believe me, my dear Mr. Miiller, yours faithfully, ****.” P.S. My last contribution was made in lieu of insuripg my house against fire. Soon after, it | was burnt with. most of its contents. This I believe . x wis permitted to try my faith. It has been tried, and, 1 I trust, strengthened. I have been enabled to rebuild my house on a smaller scale, but have no intention to | insure it, except as before, by trusting in the Lord. | With Christ Jesus He gives us all blessings, and if He sees good to take away some of them, it ill becomes His children to murmur or ;to doubt His word, that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” —RMay I beg the Christian reader again and again to ponder this last sentence, and indeed the whole of this postscript. I have now been for 56 years and 9 months a believer in the Lord Jesus; many scores have been x my trials, difficulties and losses; but regarding EVERY |’ ™. ONE OF THEM, without a single exception, I have found already in this life, that they have worked for my good, 72 [A.D. 1881. and I have had to praise God for them all.—From Red- land 10s. for the Bible Fund, 10s. for Missions, £1. for the Orphans, and £1. for myself. From a donor in St. Paul's, Bristol, £12. with £4. for the Orphans, and £2. 10s. for Reports.—Through ditto £2., with £2. for the Orphans.—Received also £20. with the following letter : " Dear Brother, I enclose you one hundred dollars for your excellent work for the Lord. Please divide it equally among the different Objects of the Institution, and send a few of your Reports for circula- Ition, so that our people may know what good the Lord is doing, when His people are willing to come back to H-is plan of collecting funds and carrying on Missions. Yours in Christ, ****."—From Eltham £25.—From Austria 10 Florins.—From S. S. £50. for Missions.—From the neighbourhood of Wick, £1.—From Gloucester £2.— Jan. 10. From Scotland £120. with £30. for myself.— Jan. 11.—A very aged believer, past his ordinary occupation, but desirous of doing a little yet for the Lord, makes bee-hives and sends for the Institution the money thus obtained, £2. 0s. 6d. and 1s. 6d. for Reports. —Jan. 12. From Havre £1. 3s. 9d.—Jan. 16. From a widow in business, who gives twopence in the pound of her takings, £6. 8s. 11d. for the Orphans, with £2. 17s. 7d. for the first four Objects.—Jan. 18. A lady sent £250. for Home and Foreign Missions and £250. for the support of the Orphans, as " A thank-offering to my Heavenly Father, in grateful remembrance of His many mercies, patience and long-suffering with one so undeserving."—The lady had intended to leave this | £500. by will to the Institution, but now prefers to pay I the money in her lifetime, whereby £50. are saved for the Institution, as no legacy duty is to be paid. The £2 50. for Home and Foreign Missions came in very seasonably, as the funds for these Objects were almost entirely ex hausted. —From the neighbourhood of Ledbury £5. "instead of insuring premises."—Jan. 24. From Hamp shire £50. for the Bible—, Missionary and School Fund, £100. for the Orphans, and £50. for my own expenses. The last sum the kind donor particularly sent in con sideration of our heavy travelling expenses in the Lord's service.—Jan. 27. From S. S. £50. for Missions.— Jan. 31. From India £16. 15s. 5d. -, AD. 1882.] 73 Feb, 2. Ten shillings with the following letter : “ Dear Sir, I purpose, the Lord helping me, to lay aside, specially for His work in your hands, ninepence on every empty Petroleum Barrel | sell. The enclosed is the first 10s. Please use it as you most need ; and may it be to His praise! From yours most sincerely, ****,”—All our money for the School—-, Bible—, Missionary and Tract Fund is again completely gone. Nothing at all is left. —Under these circumstances we received on Feb. 3, from Aberdeen £5. for Missions and Schools.—From San Remo, Italy, £2. 10s. for Bibles and £2. 10s. for the Orphans,—From Teignmouth on Feb. 4, from A. R. £5.—F rom Kent £15.—Feb. 7. From one of the former Orphans £6.—From London on Feb. 8, £8., with £4. for the Orphans.—Feb. 9. From Eltham £50. for Mis- sions.—Received £20. 5s, 5d. with the following letter from Canada: “ My dear Sir, Kindly allow me to state to you, my beloved wife departed this life Jan. 7, 1882. Betore her departure she instructed me to send to you one hundred dollars to help forward the work of the Lord in which you are engaged. I feel pleasure in enclosing the cheque for this amount, hoping it will reach you safely. I remain, lovingly yours, ****.”—Thus, with the addition of the income in connection with the sale of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts and School Receipts, we have been able to meet the expenses for these Objects - since Feb. 2, and have a balance of £69. 15s. 2d.— Feb. 14. £2. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, en- closed I beg to send £2. for the Orphan Houses or for other purposes, at your discretion. Your work is an incentive to thousands of Christians to complete trust in God. Yours truly, ****,” Regarding the last sentence I can only add, may it be so more and more! I iovfully dedicated my life to this, to show to the Church 0 and to the world that the Living God is pre- Gisely what He was 3000 and 4000 years ago ; and that | Wwe-may stilt obtain vast blessings from Him by prayer and faith, as the first disciples obtained them in the fays of the Apostles.—Feb. 17. From H. H. £1. 18s. 7d. for the Bible Fund, £5. for Missions, and £27. 2s. 8d. for the support of two Orphans for one year.—Feb. 18. With II Cor. ix, 15, £10.; also £1. 5s. 9d. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, Please accept enclosed as a E 74 [A.D. 1882. thank-offering for blessing on business during the past year, and for being allowed to suffer loss in it for Christ’s sake, which I esteem an honour. The money may be used for any branch of the Lord’s work under your care you may think proper. Yours in Him, ****.”—Feb. 23. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £100., with £100. for the Orphans.—Feb. 26. The funds for the first four Objects of the Institution are again reduced to nothing. There is not one penny in hand for them. March 2. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £150., and £50. for the Orphans.—March 15. There is not one penny in hand, either for the School—, Bible—, Missionary and Tract Fund, or the support of the Orphans. We look to God for help.—March 16. Only £35. 18s. 7d. has come in for all the various Objects this day.—March 17. Received to-day, in this our great need, from a lady who had received some money through the death of a relative, £10. for Missions to China, £10. for Missions to India, £5. for Missions to the Jews, £5. for Missions to Italy, Spain and Germany, £4. for the Bible Fund, £1. for the Tract Fund, £5. for Day Schools in Bristol, £10. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—March 20, From Blackfriars Road, London, £10. for Missions.—£5. from Clifton,—£5. from Hopton. —March 21. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up trea- | sure in heaven, £50.—From India £5. for Foreign Mis- sions, with £5. for the Orphans.—“ £1. from an increase of salary, and 10s. as the result of small weekly savings, with praise to God for the opportunity and privilege of giving.”—£50. with II Cor. ix, 15.—March 22. From the neighbourhood of Newton Stewart, £1.—Re- ceived also, in this our poverty, 41 coupons, amounting to £157., and a dividend warrant for £21. 10s. 10d. from a donor whom the Lord has often used to help us, when in great need. Thus we were, for the moment, again delivered out of our difficulties —March 29. From Melbourne, Australia, £2. for Missions—March 31. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by ( the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, | £100., with £50. for the Orphans. A.D. 1882.] 75 April 1. From Ireland £200., for labourers in the Gos- pel.—April 5. From Ayrshire £30., with £30. for the Orphans.—April 12. From Perth £5., as “A thank-offer- ing for recovery from sickness.”—April 13. £3. “For special mercies in the conversion of our three children.” May 1. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—With II Cor. ix, 15, £80.—£3. as “A thank-offering for letting a house, without a house-agent.” —May 12. From aservant of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £189, 5s—May 17. From India £37. 16.— May 26. From readers of ‘The Christian,” per Messrs. Morgan and Scott, £6. for Missions and £58. 18s. 6d. for the support of the Orphans.—From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £217. After having been many times during the past year without one penny for these Objects, we were brought to the close of this period with thé small balance of 13s. 74d. in hand. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1882 to May 26, 1883. Letters from Donors, practical re- marks, ete. We began the year with the balance of 13s. 7}d. in hand, for these first four Objects of the Institution. There was now, looking at things naturally, not only this exceed- ingly small balance as a cause for discouragement, but ; also the great trial of faith, we had had with reference to - means, during the whole of the previous year. Yet, not- withstanding these natural appearances, we were not cast : down, but in peace, because we truly sought the honour of God in connection with this Institution, and really | continued to trust in Him. The new period, therefore, was begun with the fullest expectation, that God would help us, though we knew not how; and the following pages will now show, in what manner help came. On May 29th, 1882, we received from Manchester £50, for these Objects, with £50. for the Orphans. On May 30, £5. came from Bedfordshire, with £5. for the Orphans, from a Christian tradesman, who, for many years past, has E 7 76 / [A.D. 1882. sent us from time to time, as the Lord prospers him, a similar donation. On June 3rd, £10. was received from a Bristol donor, who has often also sent us a similar donation; and on June 5th, £70. came in from Bath, with £20. for the Orphans, and £10. for my own personal expenses. On the 6th and 7th, £12. 15s. was given by various helpers at the Orphan Houses. On June 8th, £40. was sent from Edinburgh with £10. for the Orphans; and £10. from another Scotch donor near Auchterarder, with £10. 0s. 6d. for the Orphans. Thus, within the first few days of the new period, God was pleased, by giving these and some other smaller ; donations, to refresh and comfort us, and afterwards sent other amounts for these Objects, which were larger still. On June 17th, £150. was received from Scotland for these first four Objects, with £150. for the support of the Orphans, and £50. for my own personal expenses. On the same day £50. arrived from another Scotch donor for these Objects, with £50. for the Orphans. From Batavia, on June 19th, 75 florins (£5. 18s. 9d.) came in, with the same amount for the Orphans. From L. N. W. £25., with £25. for the Orphans; and from C. H. G. Esq., £6., with £6. for the Orphans. On June 20th, £15. arrived from Ireland for the Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, and £5. for the Orphans; and on the 22nd, £200. was received from Ireland for Missions. On June 23rd, we obtained £8. 16s. 7d. from Swanton, Ohio; and thus, before one month of the new period had passed, had received about £1,800. for these Objects, as the result of waiting upon God, and of speaking to Him only, in child- like simplicity about our wants. July 2nd. From Christchurch, New Zealand, £5., with £11. 10s. for the Orphans, and £3. for my own personal expenses.—July 25th. A Bristol donor gave £50. for these Objects, and £50. for the Orphans, instead of leaving this amount in his Will.—On July 26th, £25. was received from Doctors Commons, London, for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, £25. for Missions, £25. for the Orphans and £25. for my own personal expenses. . Aug. 2nd. Legacy of the late Miss L. for Missions, £100. —Aug. 5th, £5. 5s. for the Bible Fund, with £25. 7s. for the support of 4 Orphans for six months, from the neigh- ™ A.D. 1882.] 7 bourhood of Norwich.— Aug. 8th. From Essex £3., with £2. for the Orphans, as “a Thankoffering to the Lord for the first fruits of harvest gathered in.”—From believers at Cork for Missions, £15.—Aug. 10. From Blairgowrie £70., with £20. for the Orphans and £10. for myself. — Aug. 21st. From S. M. T. £25. for the Bible Fund, £25. for Missions, and £50. for the Orphans. Sep. Ist. Received £10., with the following letter : “ Many months ago I was led to devote to the Lord a natural history collection of some value, intending, if it should realize its price, to send the money to a Foreign Mission in which I felt a deep interest. Month after month passed away, and I sometimes wondered why no purchaser came forward. I believe now, it was that, instead of sending it, as I intended, it should be sent to you for use as you may require, either for the Orphans or for any other object of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti- tution. I have now pleasure in handing you cheque for £10.” £5, of this money was taken for Foreign Missions and £5. for the Orphans.—Sep. 6th. From Essex £3., with £2. for the Orphans. “ A thank-offering for harvest, through much mercy, gathered in first class condition.” It gives joy to the heart of the believer, to see God’s hand owned in these things.—Sep. 9th. From London £2. for the Bible Fund, £26. 10s. for the support of two Orphans for one year, and £1. 10s. for myself—Sep. 15th. From the neighbourhood of Fairford £30., with £20. for the Orphans.—Sep. 18th. From Kent £50. for Missions.— From Naples £5.—Sep. 20th. From “Trust” £5.—Sep. 21st. From South Toledo £10.—From Charfield £7. 6s. ed. ) with £12. 13s. 4d. for the support of one Orphan for one year.—Sep. 22nd. From New Orleans £2. 5s. 2d.—Sep. 26th. Received £5. 5s., with the following letter from a physician: ‘My dear Mr. Miiller, Yesterday a Christian friend put one of your Reports into my hand. I am simply astounded at the blessed results of prayer and faith. God grant, in future I may go to my knees in a very different spirit! I consider your ‘Brief Narrative’ the most wonderful and complete refutation of scepticism it has || x. ever been my lot to meet with. I enclose a cheque for £5. 5s. ; use it as you like, you know best. Yours in the Lord Jesus, ****,” The money was taken for the first four Objects of the Institution. To produce such results, a 78 [A.D. 1882. I began nearly half a century ago to labour as I did, and, God be praised ! I have not laboured in vain. Thousands of such testimonies I have had while yet in the body ; but Hundreds of Thousands I expect to have in the glory. —Sep. 27th. From India £10. for Missions, with £10. for the Orphans.—Sep. 30. Received 41 coupons and 1 divi dend warrant from a donor in Berkshire, amounting alto gether to £175. 2s. 1d. This kind Christian gentleman has often been the Lord's instrument in helping us, and often when in great need ; thus it was also when this donation was received. We had nothing at all in hand for these Objects. Oct. 4th. From H. B. £40., with £10. for the Orphans. —Oct. 13th. From Albrighton £5., as "A thank-offering for restoration to health, and for spiritual blessing." Nov. 8th. From Haverstock Hill, London, £50. for Foreign Missions.—From an East India donor £100., with £20. for myself.—Nov. 10th. From Scotland £100. —From Shrewsbury £18. 14s. 6d.—From Ale County, United States, £10., with the following letter : " Dear Brother, It has been three months since you have received from this quarter, though I have been labouring hard and preparing a harvest for the poor under your care ; and now, for the winter season, the Lord willing, it will be forwarded to you, as it comes in. Enclosed find 50 dol lars ; one half for Missions, the remainder where most needed. Your Brother in Christ, ****." The second half was taken for the Orphans. —Nov. 11th. Received from Yorkshire £150. for Foreign Missions, with £150. for the Orphans.—On the same day £2. came in with the follow ing letter from the neighbourhood of Edinburgh : " Dear Sir, My dear wife departed this life on the 24th October. She was in the habit of laying aside one half penny each day for the Mission in Spain. The last she sent was in August last year. She requested me to make it up to the day of her death, and send it to you. I now enclose £1. for the Mission in Spain, and £1. for the Orphans ; and that God may bless the work in your hands, is my earnest prayer ! I have felt this affliction a sore trial, and yet God has wonderfully supported me under it. I praise His holy name, I am not called to mourn, as those that have no hope ; for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also, which sleep in Jesus, will God AD. 1882.] 79 bring with Him. I desire to thank the Lord for the resignation to His holy will, which He granted unto His handmaid. She was enabled to leave everything in His hands, and to rejoice in Jesus as all her salvation and all her desire. She has left seven children. The eldest is only eleven years of age, and the youngest eight months. She died of consumption. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours in Jesus ****.” Here, dear Reader, you see one halfpenny daily put aside for the Lord’s work. Thus we receive help from wealthy donors, and also from those who have no large sums at their command ; but whether the help comes through the one channel or through the other, it is equally the Lord who sends it to us, in answer to our daily prayers ; for we have Him only to go to, and we do verily trust in Him. Thus, and thus alone it has | come, that the work, though apparently like the burning bush which was not consumed, has existed for so many years, and I have now been permitted to enter upon the Fiftieth year of my service in connection with this ’ Institution. You also see from the above letter, how the heart can be at peace; even under such circumstances, as this dear Christian mother was in, because she knew the Lord Jesus.—Nov. 15th. Legacy of the late Miss L., £150. for Missions and £150. for the Orphans. Of late I have been asking the Lord again and again to grant, that legacies may not only be left for the support of the Orphans, but for Missions also, and the other objects of the Institution. During the last twelve months, this prayer has in several instances been answered, and will be answered yet further, I doubt not.—Nov. 16th. From X.Y. Z. £50., with £27. 19s. for the Orphans.—Nov. 22nd. From a friend at Burnley £50. Dec. 2nd. From a Bristol donor £80., with £20. for the Orphans. “This Christian donor decided to give this amount in his life time, instead of bequeathing it by Will.”—Again £16. with £4. for the Orphans from a ~ donor who resides in the outskirts of Bristol.—Dec. 4th. The donor in Ale County, United States, sent another £10.—From Ireland, a gold ring set with a Ceylon sapphire, for the Bible and Mission Fund.—Dec. 6th. From Bedfordshire £5., with £5. for the Orphans’ Christmas treat.—Dec. 7th. From Cookbury £1, as a “Thank-offering for a good harvest.”—Dec. 15th. Again ae 80 [A.D. 1882. from Ale County £5. for Missions and £5. for the Orphans. Should one or the other of the readers of this Report not know the blessedness of this way of living, from experience, I would affectionately entreat him to seek to knowJLfor himself ^ butj inBorder to confide in God as a father and a friend, it is first of all needful to be_recon- ciled to Him, by faith in the Lord Jesus ChrisJ ; to have guilt removed from the conscience, by knowing experi mentally the power of His blood, who, as our Substitute, died for our sins. This faith is obtaingcj, by looking to God for it in earnest prayer ; and^wEenreceived, a good X conscience is retained by not doing anything which we know to be haTeruTlo^God, and by seeking to walk in His ways. Should we at any time err, and the Holy Spirit admonish us of our transgressions, we should at once humble ourselves before God, by confessing our sin, and exercise faith in the power of the blood of Christ afresh, in order to obtain forgiveness from our Heavenly Father. Real confidence in God, at all times and under all circumstances, in temporal as well as in spiritual things, gives the peace of God which passes all under standing, and makes even life on earth, before we reach Wr Heavenly Home, and while yet in a body of humilia tion, a most blessed one. For more than half a century I have known this blessedness, and therefore earnestly long that all my fellow-believers may partake of it. To seek to do what I can in this particular, is one of the many objects I have in view, during my long Missionary tours. —Dec. 16. £5. as " Profits on a small stone quarry, with 11s. from a box for the Orphans.—Dec. 18th. From London £15. for Missions in Italy, £5. for Mis sions in China, £7. for Missions in Spain, and £13. for the Orphans.—Dec. 20th. £6. 16s. for Missions, with £12. for the Orphans, as " The proceeds of the united work of a father, mother and their children."—Dec. 22nd. From "Trust" £5.—Dec. 30th. From S. S. £50. for Foreign Missions.-—From Hereford £25. for Missions.—From London £30. for Missions, £30. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund, £50. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. Thus, to the end of the year 1882, we were helped, the Lord enabling us to meet the demands con nected with the first four Objects of the Institution, A.D. 1883.] 81 and about £100. was left in hand ‘on Saturday evening, Dec. 30th, 1882. Jan. 1st, 1883. On the first day of the new year the _Lord sent us further supplies, of which I only mention £100. from Scotland.—£3 10s. from Cotham.—From a Bristol donor, living in the outskirts of Bristol, £10.— - From Bootle, £5.—From London £25.—From Brighton £2. for the Bible Fund, £2. for Missions, with £4. for the Orphans, and £2. for myself.—From M. L. M. £5. —From “Needy” £5.—Jan. 3rd. From Williamstown, South Australia, £5., £1. 18s. and £1.—From Bath 5s. 6d., being a penny a week, saved for the Lord’s work.” —From Devonshire 10s., with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I herewith enclose a Post Office Order for 10s., which please to apply as best suits your purpose. With the same I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year. Each, as it passes, brings us nearer to the gates of the golden city, and to Him who is the light} | thereof, our glorious Redeemer, to see Him face to face, and dwell in His presence for ever. Every change we see appears to whisper His near approach, and that the time is short. The busy world little dreams how near the end is, and are eagerly looking for better times, for- getting Him to whom time belongs, and who has measured it out to the day of trouble fast approaching. May the Lord bless and prosper you greatly, with showers of heavenly peace and love from Him who first loved us, together with all your household and the dear ones He has placed under your fatherly care, and all your work and labour of love in promoting His glory. Faith- fully yours ****,”—Jan. 5th. £1. 6s. 6d. as “ One penny for every third order I have received during 1882.”— Jan. 11th, £15. 68, 9d. from a Solicitor in London for . fees received for “affidavits from March to December -. 1882.”—Jan. 12th. “In memory of a mother” £20., with £5. for the Orphans.—Legacy of the late Miss S. M., 4 sixths of the residue of her estate= £636. Os. 8d. for - the Bible,—Missionary—and Tract Fund ; with 6 tenths = £954. 1s, 1d. for the Orphans.—The lady who kindly left these two sums, I never saw nor knew any thing of her until we were informed about the legacy. The reader, I trust, will see the hand of God in this, to whom we look for help, and who is pleased for the sake of the E3 Pa 82 [A.D. 1883. Lord Jesus to listen to the supplication of His children. —From a widow in Liverpool, who contributes as the Lord is pleased to prosper her, £3. 6s. 11½d. for these Objects and £7. 19s. 3½d. for the Orphans.—Jan. 15th. From Scotland £120., with £30. for the Orphans and £20. for myself.—Jan. 17th. From Sussex £58. 18s. 11d., with £13. for the support of one Orphan for one year.— Jan. 18th. From Sussex £50. for Missions, £50. for Mis sions to the Jews, £70. for the Orphans, and £30. for myself.—From "Hants" £100. for the Bible and Mis sion Fund, £200. for the Orphans and £50. for myself. The £50. for myself was sent by the kind donor especially in consideration of my long, expensive missionary tours. —Jan. 19th. From believers at Braunton £5. for Mis sions.—Jan. 20th. From believers atPurton£l. 1s. 7d. for Missions.— Jan. 24th. £100. as "a Thanksgiving from Essex."—Jan. 29th. From believers at Exeter £10. for the School Fund. Feb. 6th. £2. 4s. for Missions, "Our first taking for milk, since we came to this farm."—Feb. 9th. From H. B. £100.—Feb. 10th. From Paris £25., with £75. for the Orphans.—Feb. 12th. From New Zealand £8., with £10. for the Orphans, and £3. for myself. March 19th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, \ constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure \ in heaven, £200.—March 26th. From St. Gallen, Switzer land, £7. 18s. 8d. —March 27th. From believers at Cork for Missions £10.—From St. Petersburg, 2 gold rings, (one set with diamonds and rubies,) for Missions. April 9th. From Paris £100., with £50. for the Or phans.—April 10th. From Wales £100., with £80. for the Orphans and £20. for myself.—From Dublin £50.— April 23rd. From a Bristol donor £80., with £20. for the Orphans.—April 24th. From Sussex £80. 15s. 8d.— April 27th. Eleven months of the new period have passed. The Lord has enabled us to meet all our ex penses during this time, and we have for the Orphans in hand £4052. 5s. 3d. and for the School—, Bible—, Mis sionary—and Tract Fund £817. 0s. 9½d. The reader will see by this, how kind the Lord has been to us ; how he has answered our prayers ; and how important it is to carry out the light which He is pleased to give to His children. We did so, at the beginning of this period, A.D. 1883.] 83 and have been helped.—April 30th. From the late Mr. J. G. £10. for Missions. May 2nd. From "Trust" £5.—May 3rd. From Berkshire 41 coupons and 2 dividend warrants, value £194. 14s. 10d.—From a donor residing in the outskirts of Bristol £15.—May 16th. £7. 10s. with II Cor. ix., 15. — From Swansea £10., with £5. for the Orphans.— May 18th. From Haverstock Hill £30., with £4. for Missions to China and £20. for the Orphans.—May 22nd. From readers of "The Christian," per Messrs. Morgan and Scott, 10s., with £6. for Missions, and £163. 15s. for the Orphans.—May 26th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £300. The previous donations, which have been noticed, form only a very small part of the whole ; these are merely given as specimens. At the close of the year we had in hand for these Objects a balance of £610. 18s. 10½d., though we had begun with 13s. T^d.only, and had to meet all the expenses for the Schools, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and the Mission Department. Supplies for the School—, Bible,— Missionary— and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1883 to May 26, 1884. Letters from Donors, Practical re marks, &c. We began our new period with £610. 18s. 10½d. in hand, for these objects, a balance larger than we have had for several years past, yet so small, that, unless a considerable increase of the funds had come in, soon after May 27th, 1883, nothing would have remained to meet the regular expenses. We expected help, however, from God, and were not disappointed. I give some specimens now as to the way in which He supplied us. June 2nd. A donor, residing in the outskirts of Bristol, sent for these objects £10., with £5. for the support of the Orphans. We received £20. also from a lady re siding near Ipswich. On June 5th £8. arrived from New Zealand, with £10. for the Orphans, and £3. for my own personal expenses. June 7th. Received from H. C. J. £40. with £10. for the Orphans. June 8th. From Swan- ton Ohio, £8. 12s. 4d. June 18th. From New York, £20. 84 [A.D. 1883. for Missions, £10. 17s. 8d. for the School—, Bible—, and Tract Fund, and £10. for the Orphans.—From Scot land £200., with £50. for the Orphans, and £25. for myself. July 7th. From Scotland £100. July 16th. This day the following letter was left at the Orphan Houses, with some strawberries, some cream, and 5s. for ourselves. Though asked for, no name could be obtained. " Dear and honoured Sir, Will you and dear Mrs. Miiller please to accept this small trifle from one who has had the privi lege of being one of the Orphans 1 Words cannot ex press the gratitude and Jove I feel towards you for all the kindness and love I received whilst under your fatherly care ; but I am sure you will be fully rewarded, when you enter into that everlasting joy you so sweetly speak about. I love to think, dear Sir, of the welcome home you will receive, first of all from our blessed Lord Jesus, and then from the dear children who are gone home before. It makes me wish I may be there to be one of them; but if our dear Lord has not come and taken us all home before then, you will have the pleasure of seeing your Orphans coming through those pearly gates one by one. Trusting, dear Sir, that our heavenly Father will spare you for many years to be the Orphans' friend is the earnest prayer of one who has the pleasure of being one of the former happy Orphans. Dear Sir, will you please to excuse my name?—-July 19th. £1. as a "thank- offering on sale of heifers."—July 21st. From Mr. and Mrs. , former Orphans, £1. 10s. for Foreign Mis sions, and £3. 10s. for the support of one Orphan for 3 months. Every three months the same amount is sent by these donors for the same objects.— July 28th. From Essex, £50. —From Oregon, £7. for Foreign Missions.— July 31st. From Manchester, £100. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, with £100. for Foreign Missions. Aug. 1st. From the neighbourhood of Newcastle-on- Tyne £100., with £100. for the Orphans.—-Aug. 29th. From " a mother " £25. for the Bible Fund and Mis sions, and £25. for the support of the Orphans. I Sept. 3rd. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the fove of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, and who had a legacy left to them, £250., with £250. for the Orphans.—Sept. 6th. From Scotland X A.D. 1883.] 85 £30., with £30. for the Orphans, and £40. for my own personal expenses.—Sept. 12th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, having had a legacy left to them, and constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250., with £250. for the support of the Orphans.—Sept. 15th. With II. Cor. ix. 15, £3. 10s., with £3. 10s. for the Orphans.—Sept. 18th. From Illi nois, £15. for Foreign Missions, with £15. for myself. —From the Isle of Wight £50., with £50. for the Orphans.—Sept. 26th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250., with £250. for the Orphans. Oct. 11th. From Essex £20., with £70. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Oct. 12th. From York shire £150. for Foreign Missions, with £150. for the Orphans.—Oct. 23rd. From Gloucester £25., with £25. for the Orphans.—Oct. 29th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £10. for Missions. —Oct. 30th. £1. as "A thankoffering for prayer answered." Nov. 2nd. £21. 10s. 10d. as a Dividend Warrant, with coupons for £153. 14s. 7d. for the support of the Orphans, from a kind Christian donor, who has repeat edly helped us in a similar way.—Nov. 6th. From a former resident in India £20., with £80. for the Orphans, and £20. for myself.—Nov. 12th. £2. for Missions, " From a bereaved mother, in loving remembrance of her departed daughter." Dec. 7th. Balance of the legacy of the late Miss S. A. W. L., £82. 13s. 4d. for Missions, and £82. 13s. 4d. for the Orphans.—Dec. 18th. From London, £7. for Missions in China, £10. for Missions in Italy, and £13. for the Orphans. —Dec. 20th. £7. 9s. 6d. for Missions, and £12. for the Orphans, as " The result of the united work, through one year, of a father, mother, their three children and a servant, herself a former orphan."— Dec. 21st. From St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia, £10. for Missions.—Dec. 24th. £149. 9s. 11d., with £150. for the Orphans, from two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven.—Dec. 27th. From the same donors, £100.— Dec. 29th. From the neighbourhood of Swindon, £3., " Instead of insuring stock," for Missions in Ireland.— 86 [A.D. 1884. Dec. 31st. From a Christian widow in Liverpool, £3. 14s. 10d., being one penny in the pound of all her takings in the year, in memory of her departed mother ; and £7. 9s. 7d. for the Orphans, being two pence in the pound, together with £2. 5s., the total of her receipts on the anniversary day of the opening of her business." This widow has trusted in God from the time she became a widow, and has been helped. Thus we were brought, by the help of the Lord, to the close of another year, enjoying His blessing ; and, peacefully, trusting in God, we entered upon the new year. Jan. 1st. 1884. From Pembrokeshire, £5. for Mis sions, " Instead of insuring cows."—From Paddington, £10. for the School-Fund, £50. for Missions, £50. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself.—Jan. 4th. From Sussex, £5. for Missions, with £36. 4s. 4d. for the Orphans.—Jan. 7th. From Kansas, £10., with £10. for the Orphans.—Jan. 17th. From Java, 50 florins, with 50 florins for the Orphans.—Jan. 24th. From Hampshire, £100. for the Bible and Mission Fund, £200. for the Orphans, and £50. for my own expenses.—From Sussex, £50. for Missions and £100. for the Orphans.—Jan. 25th. From Hereford, £20. for Missions. Feb. 5th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £5., with £5. for the Orphans.—Feb. 20th. From Christchurch, New Zealand, £1. 17s. 6d., and 2s. 6d. for Missions in China. —From New Zealand £10., with £24. 7s. 6d. for the Orphans.—Feb. 22nd. From H. H. £3. 9s. for the Bible Fund, £7. for Missions, and £27. 5s. 8d. for the support of two Orphans for one year. March 4th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who had a legacy left to them, and who, constrained by the love of Christ, lay up treasure in heaven, £500., with £500. for the Orphans.—From Paris £25., with £100. for the Orphans. —To-day, March 5th, it is fifty years, since, by the help of God, I founded this Institution. Since that I have received for it, in answer to prayer, a Million and Ten Thousand Pounds sterlings. —March 8th. From Scotland £60., with £50. for the Orphans. March 11th. From Haverstock Hill, for Missions in China, £50. —In 41 coupons, £153. 14s. 7d. from a donor who has repeatedly helped us in a similar way, and when X A.D. 1884.] 87 we were in need, so that his donations were obtained as marked answers to our prayers.—March 12th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester, £150., with £50. for the Orphans. This kind Christian gentleman also the Lord has again and again used, in answer to our prayers, to help us in time of need.— March 17th. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, the following letter, with £3. 5s. : " Dear and respected Sir, Will you use the enclosed £3. 5s. for whichever part of the work you think best ? As it is a larger amount than I have been able to contribute before, I should tell you, that it is the sum I obtained by disposing of some jewellery that had been given to me some montns ago, belonging to a rela tive now with Jesus, and which I have been in the habit of wearing until very recently, when I was led by the word of God (I. Peter iii. 3) to put from me that which was not in accordance with its teaching, and desiring ever to keep in mind that He would have me to be a doer and not a hearer only of His word, have sought to honour Him, though in so small a way, who has redeemed me by His most precious blood. Etc." April 1st. From Glenely, South Australia, £7. 10s., with £7. 10s. for the Orphans.—April 15th. From Ale County, U.S.A., for Missions, £10. May 3rd. From Haverstock Hill, £25., with £26. 12s. for the Orphans.—May 5th. II. Cor. ix. 15, £25., with £25. for the Orphans.—May 7th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £100., with £100. for the Orphans.—May 9th. From Redland, £20. for Missions.—May 13th. From Haver- stock Hill, £10. 10s. for Missions.—May 16th. From Readers of "The Christian," per Messrs. Morgan and Scott, £13. for Missions, and £65. 12s. 6d. for the Orphans.—May 17th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £10. for Missions.—May 20th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, having had legacies left to them, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £750., with £750. for the Orphans.—From Worcester, £69. 6s. 2d. for Missions, with £15. for myself. —May 22nd. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who desire to lay up treasure in heaven, £312. 3s. 1d., with £312. 3s. 2d. for the Orphans.— May 26th. From Norfolk, £25. for Missions, with £25. for the Orphans. 88 [A.D. 1884. Thus the Lord brought us to the last day of the finan cial year of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, and enabled us to do a little in con nection with its various departments. We confess we are not worthy to be allowed to help more abundantly in bringing up the rising generation in the fear of the Lord, by setting the truth of the Gospel before them in the various Schools, which are supported by the Funds of the Institution ; nor are we worthy to be honoured by circulating the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, in order thus to spread the truth ; nor by aiding Missionary operations, however great the need of labourers amongst idolaters, Mahometans, the various fallen Churches, or amongst ' nominal Protestant Christians ; nor are we the least worthy in ourselves to help in caring for destitute Orphans ; but we hide ourselves in Jesus. We say to God, our Heavenly Father, " Look upon the face of thy A.nointed." We trust alone in His blood and Righteous ness, and therefore expect, unworthy though we are in ourselves, yet further, for Christ's sake, to be used, and supplied with means to carry on this Institution. In the previous pages a very small portion only of the donations for the first four Objects has been referred to. Supplies for the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, from May 26, 1884 to May 26, 1885, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors, practical re marks, etc. We commenced the financial year of the Institution with a balance of £523. 0s. 6½d. in hand. Much, how ever, as this may appear to some of my readers, it would last a short time only if no further income were added. This the Lord graciously gave. I will now give specimens as to the mode in which He was pleased to supply us :— June 6th, 1884. From Christian friends at Swanton, Ohio, 56 dollars =£11. 4s. for Missions.—June 16th. From Ale County, U.S.A., for Missions £10.—June 23rd. From Enniscorthy, £9. 10s. for the Bible Fund.—June 26th. From Scotland £130. July 11th. From Sussex, £46. 3s. 2d. for Missions in India, with £15. for the support of one Orphan for one year.—July 18th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £10.— From Perpignan, France, 16s. and £2.—July 21st. From A.D. 1884] 89 two former Orphans, £1. 10s. for Foreign Missions and £3. 10s. for the support of one Orphan for three months. July 25th. From Maryland, U.S.A., £31. 17s. 10d.— July 26th. From Dundee, £50.—July 29th. Received £5., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I enclose £5., which please apply to the Lord's work under your care as most needed. It is now 12 years since I sent you my first donation of £2. 11s. (i.e. in July, 1872). I have always been thankful to the Lord that I was led to adopt the Scriptural plan of systematic giving. It may interest you to know that my income has continued to increase, so that now it is nearly three times as much as it was then, and that I have increased the amount of my dona tions accordingly, so that, instead of about £10. per year given to the Lord, as at first, I find it has increased to about £30., and the year before last it amounted to £35. 15s. I recognize also the loving care of God over me and mine by preserving us from illness, losses, etc. I remain, dear sir, yours sincerely, ****."—July 30th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained , by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, and who had a legacy left to them, £300.—From the Punjaub, £10. Aug. 8th. From Radlett, for Indian Missions, £50.— Aug. 11th. From Crawford County, U.S.A., £40. 17s. 3d. and 50 dollars.—From two servants of the Lord Jesus, > who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up j treasure in heaven, and to whom a legacy had been left, j £300.—Aug. 12th. From Mauritius, £6.—From York- 5 shire, £150. for Foreign Missions, with £150. for the Orphans and £10. for myself.—Aug. 14th. From Ceylon, £2. for Missions in Italy and Spain, £3. for the Orphans, and £2. for myself.—Aug. 15th. From Fairford, £50.— From Ale County, U.S.A., £10.—Aug. 18th. From Ply mouth, £10.—Aug. 22nd. £2. 0s. 6d., with £53. for the support of four Orphans for one year, and £2. for myself, from London.—Aug. 23rd. £7., with II. Cor. ix. 15.—Aug. 30th. From Manchester, £100. for the Bible Fund, £100, for Missions, and £100. for the support of the Orphans. Sept. 6th. Received 13 Queensland Coupons, 8 Bus- sian, 5 City of Ottawa, 3 City of London, 4 City of Wellington, 4 Portuguese, 1 Colombo, and 3 Auckland, 90 [4.D. 1884. all of them amounting to £153. 14s. 7d. for these Objects, together with a New Zealand warrant for £21. 10s. 10d. for the Orphans.—Sept. 20th. Received from a Christian gentleman in business the following letter, with £20: “Dear Sir, I enclose cheque, which I hope will arrive safely, £15 for the Orphans and £5. for Foreign Mis- sions. This makes the 34th year since I first read your Narrative, which decided me to give a certain portion of | my income every year, and God has prospered me, and returned it to me in many ways, which I never could have expected. Since I read your Narrative, I think I must have given away about £3,000. to various objects, and I know I am only the richer for it. My example has been followed by several of my friends. Yours truly, ¥¥** ”__Sept. 23rd. Received from Devonshire £3., with the following letter: “Dear Mr. Miiller, I enclose a cheque for £3., which a brother in Christ desires me to send you, to use as you consider best. This same brother sent you, through me, £1. in January and £1. in April, and now £3. I mention this, as he is only a labouring man, and desires that a few pounds that he has managed to save from his hard earnings should be used for the service of God. He cannot write himself, so asks me to send it for him. Hoping that the Lord may continue to bless you in your work of faith and labour of love, believe me, yours very truly, ****.” Oct. 3rd. From Baltimore, £4.—Received from West- moreland £2., with the following letter: ‘‘ Dear Sir, I beg to forward Two Pounds—£1. as a thank-offering for the safe delivery of a valued servant and a sow from an | enraged bull, and the other as a sincere thank-offering for a good season for gathering in our crops, which is a great blessing in this part, having had a succession of rainy seasons, which has caused great distress at times. That God may abundantly bless and prosper you in all your undertakings, is the earnest wish and prayer of yours very sincerely, ****,.”—From Ohio, £2. 11s. 4d. for Missions, £1. 5s. 8d. for the Orphans, and £1. 5s, 8d. for myself.—From Berlin, 20 mark.—Oct. 4th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £300. —Oct. 6th. From Holborn, £11. 10s —Oct. 7th. From Madras £10., with £10., for the Orphans,—Oct. 9th. ~~ A.D. 1884.] 91 Received from Vienna, Austria, the following letter, with £1. 1s.: “Dear Mr. Miiller, beloved brother in the Lord, enclosed I send you my small annual donation (£1. 1s.) for whatever object you may think best. A few days ago I received your last Report, which is more faith strength. ening and soul-refreshing than many a sermon. It was 80 particularly to me, after I had just had to wade through the speech of some French infidel, who boldly | affirms that of all the millions of prayers uttered every | day not one is answered. I wish I could have sent him: , your plain but wonderful statement of facts.—Respected | brother, the following, which was told me only two days . ago, on the best authority, may be encouraging to you | if you or your helpers ever need such support. There is ' * a child in this city, 10 years of age, belonging to Pro-; testant parents, not in any sense believers. Through one | of our friends, the boy got one of your Biographies or! Reports, and after reading a portion he has ever since | been occasionally heard to pray, ‘God, teach me to pray , like George Miiller, and hear me as Thou dost dear George Miiller.’ The child has expressed a wish to becothe a preacher. The mother, now a widow, would not listen to anything of the kind ; and objected, among other reasons, that the boy had not learned enough to enter a grammar school, which is here the necessary pre- . paratory step to further studies. The boy rejoined, ‘I will learn and pray, and God will help me through, as He has done George Miiller.’ And the fact now is that, to the surprise of all concerned, the boy has successfully passed his examination, and is now actually received at the school. ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God is perfecting praise.’ Oh for the simple faith of the . little child! Yours in the love of Jesus, ****,”—Oct, | 10th. From Enniscorthy, £12. 15s,—Oct. 14th. From Scotland, £100.—From the neighbourhood of Manches- ter, £160., with £40. for the Orphans.—From South- port £40., with £10. for the Orphans.—Oct. 16th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £10.—Oct. 21st. From Leamington, £20.—Received to-day £1. 10s. for Missions, and £3. 10s. ~ for the support of one Orphan for three months, with the following letter: “Dear and honoured Sir, I have to inform you that C. B. completes to-day the term of his apprenticeship. Will you kindly send his indentures a“ 92 [A.D. 1884. when convenient. We have found it a happy work to train the four orphan boys we have had, because of their general good conduct, and because the Lord's blessing has rested on our endeavours. The three who have served their time are doing well as it regards their trade, and are each one in Church fellowship with us. I should have asked you to let me have another lad, only having one son learning the trade and another about to com mence, prevents me having a vacancy just yet. My dear wife joins me in sending you the enclosed sum, with our grateful love. Please use it as at other times. We re main, dear sir, your grateful orphans, * * * *." The donors, husband and wife, who were both former orphans under our care, send quarterly £5. for the same objects. They left the Orphan Houses about twenty years since, and have both walked as consistent believers for about twenty-five years. They have had, as the letter states, four orphan boys as apprentices. We have many such cases in which former orphans now have orphan boys apprenticed to them.—Oct. 25th. From the neighbourhood of Bedford, £40. for Foreign Missions. On Nov. 18th I received from Ale County, U.S.A., £10.—Nov. 22nd. £7., with II. Cor. ix. 15.—Nov. 26th. £40. by sale of plate, etc., left for Missions by the late Miss F . Dec. 11th. Received £80. from an entire stranger in Worcestershire. Observe, esteemed reader, the way in which God is pleased to supply our need in answer to prayer. In like manner we have been helped from most unexpected quarters many thousands of times during these 51 years.—Dec. 22nd. " From a father, mother, their three children, and their servant (herself a former orphan), the fruit of one year's work," £9. 12s. 4d. for Missions, and £12. 17s. 8d. for the support of one Orphan for one year. —Dec. 26th. From South Australia, £4. 8s., " being 2s. for every swarm of bees."—Dec. 29th. From Ale County, U.S.A., £10.—Dec. 30th. " From a widow who trusts in God," £3. 16s. 7d., with £9. 18s. 8d. for the Orphans. —From Edinburgh £70., with £30. for the Orphans.—Dec. 31st. Received £20., with the follow ing letter : " Dear Sir, I herewith enclose cheque value £20., viz., £5. in memory of G. O., £5. in memory of J. C., £5. instead of insuring crops, and £5. as a thank A.D. 1885.] 93 offering for a fine harvest, which please to apply as most needed. Yours truly, ****."—From Paddington, £10. for the Schools, £50. for Missions, £50. for the Orphans, and £10. for myself. Jan. 1st, 1885. As the old year had been closed with mercies, so the new year brought fresh blessings. Twenty- one donations came in this day for these objects, amount- 1 ing altogether to £162. 4s. 6d.—Jan. 2nd. Received £5. ] from one of the former Orphans, now in service, with the following letter : " Dear and honoured Sir, Once again I am privileged to contribute my mite towards the great work in which you are engaged for the glory of God and for the lasting benefit of the Orphans. Kindly use the enclosed £5. for whichever part of the work you think best. Having myself received so much from the dear Home in which I was an inmate ten years, together with my three elder sisters and younger brother, I feel it indeed a most blessed privilege to be able to show my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all He has bestowed upon me ; especially do I desire to thank Him for the mercies of the past year. As I look back upon it, how marked have been His care and watchfulness over me, in making things that seemed dark at the time work together for my good, and in drawing me, I trust, nearer to Himself. Oh, that in the year we have entered upon I may live more to His glory, and realize increasingly His j life and power within me ! One pound of the enclosed was given me for the Orphans by a friend and sister in the Lord, after reading the Jrlejjort,which I sent to her. She was deeply interested in it, and desirous to help as far as she was able. The family with whom I live are so far restored to health that we hope to return to Bristol : some time this month, and thus again I hope to be pre- j sent with the brethren, and able to attend the meetings : which in the past have been blessed to my soul. I was rejoiced to meet with a small company of the Lord's people here. May the Lord's richest blessings rest upon your work and labour of love among the Orphans, and may you indeed have your desire that none of those in structed in that privileged Home may be missing when we meet in heaven ! Kemember me gratefully to dear Mrs. Miiller and dear Mr. and Mrs. Wright Trusting you and Mrs. Miiller are in your usual health, I remain, 94 [A.D. 1885. dear Sir, yours gratefully, ****." The writer of the letter states that she and three other sisters and a brother of hers were together in the Orphan Houses. As it has been in this case, so it occurs frequently that three, four, or five Orphans of the same family are received, for we delight in being able to take in as many as possible of the same family, so that the bereaved Orphans may not be separated from each other. The writer of the letter also states that she had been ten years in the Orphan Houses, but very frequently we have had Orphans not only ten, but twelve, thirteen, or fifteen years under our care, and have even had them with us for seventeen years, as we receive children again and again who are only a few weeks old. — Jan. 10th. From Ontario, Canada, £10.—Jan. 12th. Received from Scotland £100., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed find bank order for £100., ten of which please to take for your own use, the remainder to be applied to which ever department of the Lord's work, in which you are engaged, you think best. I trust you will long be spared to labour for the Master, in whose work you have so long and faithfully laboured, and that at last you may have many souls for a crown of rejoicing. I owe you many thanks for leading me to see the Christian duty of giving, and that systematically, to the Lord's cause. It is blessed to do so, and I have felt it. I began with giving a tenth, but gradually increased until for some years I have given half of all the profits from my business ; and this year, as a thank-offering to the Lord for restored health, I am giving Him all the profits, which accounts for the sum being larger than formerly. Yours faithfully, ****." Are all the Christian readers giving systematically to the Lord's work, or are they leaving it to feeling, to impres sion made upon them through particular circumstances, or to striking appeals ? If we do not give from principle systematically, we shall find that our one brief life is gone before we are aware of it, and that, in return, we have done little for that adorable One who bought us with His precious blood, and to whom belongs all we have and are. As the Lord is pleased to entrust us with means by the labour of our hands, or in our business or profes sion, or even through presents, legacies, or in any other way we may be supplied by Him with means, we should A.D. 1885.] 95 consider that we are His stewards, and that He would have us to use our money for Him. By this I do not mean, that ordinarily we should give away all that we possess as fast as we receive anything from the Lord ; but, after considering our duty to our families and other particular obligations, we should ask ourselves, "How much can I now spare for the poor or the work of God 1 As the Lord prospers us, as He entrusts «s with means, we should give, or lay aside for giving till calls are made • upon us. The principle of thus acting is plainly set forth ! in I Cor. xvi. 2—" Upon the first day of the week let j every one of you lay by him in store as God has pros- j pered him." This passage, it is well known, refers as to j its literal application to a collection to be made for the j poor Jewish believers in Palestine who were in need at the time this letter was written to the Church at Corinth ; but, though this is the case, the principle laid down in it holds good now. 1. Not 3 nor 4 times in the year those believers were to consider how God had prospered them, but weekly, and accordingly were to set aside regularly a portion out of this amount. Thus we too may not only j act now, but should find it profitable, both temporally ' and spiritually, to do so. Generally speaking, there will : be no difficulty in carrying out this principle, but should j hindrances arise, God will enable us to overcome them if | we really desire His help. 2. This exhortation is given ! to all classes of believers—to the rich, the middle classes, and even to the very poor, for the very poorest persons also may at some time be particularly prospered by God, and thus have a little to give away, and that little God delights to accept if it be willingly and cheerfully laid down at His feet, as it becomes all to do who " know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich." 3. It may be asked, How much shall 1 give ; what proportion of my prosperity shall I set aside for the poor or the Lord's work ? The answer is, No command is given regarding this. It is left to the measure of knowledge and grace which we have. God loves a cheerful giver, and therefore gives no command to us under the present dispensation. But if as yet the reader has not grace enough to stand before the Lord i with everything that he possesses, let him fix upon a cer- ! 96 [A.D. 1885. tain proportion of his income, however small, rather than leave what he gives to feeling and impression ; only, what little he has determined on, that let him give, habitually, faithfully, and under all circumstances, and he will find himself so blessed spiritually and even temporally, that he will soon desire to give in larger proportion. Thus have thousands of systematic givers found it to be, and thus the writer of the letter before us has found. He writes : " I began with giving atonth, but gradually in creased until 'lor some years I fiaWgiven half of all the profits from my business, and this year, as a*EIiaiikoffering ^/ to the Lord for restored health, I am giving Him all the_ profits." Why did the writer go from the tenth to the eTghth, the fifth, the third, the half of all his profits 1 Evidently because he was so blessed, both spiritually and temporally, that he joyfully increased the proportion that he gave away. There is a length, and breadth and height and depth of blessedness contained in that word f. of our Lord, " It is more blessed to give than to receive," of which the great majority of believers, I fear, know but very little. In a goodly measure, through God's wonder ful grace, I have experienced its preciousness myself for fifty-six years, and for that reason am led to say that, from what I have known of Christians during my exten sive travels, my full conviction is that, if believers were to enter into what is contained in that word, at least twenty times more would be done by the Church of God for Missions, for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and tracts for the spread of the truth throughout the world, for all kinds of Christian work, and for the poor, than is now accomplished. I say this advisedly, having, through providential circumstances, seen so much of many tens of thousands of believers. Beloved reader, will you not seek to know for yourself the blessedness of thus giving ? It may be late with one or the other of my readers, but it is not loo late. Begin at once. The writer of this letter, which I have given, began to do so at once after he, through my writings, had been instructed on the subject, and God began to bless him immediately. This he wrote me in another letter some years ago. Jan. 12th. From Philadelphia £10.—Jan. 19th. From Sussex £31. 16s. 9d. for Missions, and £12. for the Orphans.—Jan. 22nd. From Surrey £50. for Missions. A.D. 1885.] 97 —Jan. 23rd. From Hampshire £50. for the Bible and Mission Fund, £200. for the Orphans, and £50. for myself.—From Hurstpierpoint £50. for Missions, and £50. for the Orphans.—From Washington County 25 dollars. —Jan. 29th. From Ale County £10. for Missions. Feb. 7th. Received from a former Orphan £5., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Will you please to accept the enclosed £5. for whatever part of your work you may see fit to use it ? I thank you for the Report that you so kindly sent me. I read it with interest and pleasure, as for twelve years I was an Orphan under your care. It is now ten years since I left, and I thank God that I have been safely carried through the twenty-four years since I lost my father and mother. My two sisters join me in thanking you for all the care we received while in the Orphan House, our great wish being to visit il again. I remain your grateful Orphan, ****."—Feb. 10th From Victoria Camp, Egypt, £1. 10s. —From Greenock, £7. 5s. —Feb. 12th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—Feb. 16th. From Bangor, from a donor who has repeatedly sent donations of late, £10.—Feb. 19th. From Scotland £125., with £15. for my- elf.—Feb. 20th. From Bangor, from a donor who gives as the Lord prospers him, £5. —Feb. 21st. £7. with II Cor. ix, 15. — Feb. 25th. From one of the former Orphans £1. 5s., with the following letter : "Dear and beloved Sir, I put by a little every week last year for my dear Saviour out of my own earnings, independently of what my husband gave me for housekeeping, as I do a little needlework when I can get it. For every piece ; of work under a shilling, I put by a halfpenny ; and a penny for every piece of work above a shilling. At the end of September I was taken very ill, and had to keep my bed five weeks, and for some time after was quite unable to do anything for myself; but God in His love has given me back my health. My doctor says, I shall never be strong again ; but still I feel well, for which I am very thankful. I have sent one pound of what I put by. It is my birthday to-day, and my sister in London has sent me five shillings as a present. It will give me far more pleasure to give the money back to my dear Saviour, as a thank-offering for all He has done for me ; F 98 [A.D. 1885. BO will you, dear sir, please to accept the sum of £1. 5s., and use it for whatever you think best. You will be pleased to hear that my dear Saviour is still very precious to me, and I try to keep very close to Him. I hope yourself and (dear Mrs. Miiller, also dear Mr. and Mrs. Wright, are quite well. My husband has promised me that I shall go to Bristol this summer, all being well. It will be such a pleasure to me to see my dear Orphan Home, as it is 16 years since I was there. I hope, dear Sir, you will be at home, that I may have the pleasure of seeing your dear face once again. Please forgive me for writing so much. With many kind regards and Christian love to your dear self, Mrs. Miiller, dear Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and the teachers of No. 2, I remain, dear Sir, your grateful Orphan, ****."—From Paris £25., with £100. for the Orphans.—Feb. 27th. From Ale County £10.—Feb. 26th. From S. S. £30. for Foreign Missions. March 5th. From a Berkshire donor 41 coupons and a New Zealand warrant, amounting altogether to £173. 19s. 3d.—March 10th. From Croydon £50.— March 13th. From H. B. £100.—March 24th. From Ale County £10.— March 30th. £2. 11s. as "A thank- offering for 51 years' mercies."—March 31st. From Christian friends at St. Gallen, Switzerland, 200 francs. April 2nd. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, 1 constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £138. 13s. 1d.—April 15th. Legacy of the late Miss E. R. £4. 10s. for Foreign Missions, £4. 10s. for the Bible Fund, and £9. for the Orphans.—April 16th. Day after day, for about six weeks (with rare exceptions), the income has been comparatively little. During the past week, from April 8th to April 15th, the total income was £268. 10s. 5½d., instead of about £800. required. What was to be done under these circum stances ? More prayer, more patience, and the continua tion of the exercise of faith, our universal remedy under all difficulties, was all we did. We encouraged ourselves in God. We continued to look to Him for help. And now, to-day, He has again appeared on our behalf ; alto gether about £140. has come in.—April 17th. From Peckham £15.—April 24th. From Ale County £10.— April 29th. Legacy of the late Miss R. P. £5. for Missions. A.D. 1874.] 99 May 2nd. From London £50. for Foreign Missions, and £45. 3s. for the School—, Bible— and Tract Fund. —From a former Orphan £5.—May 6th. From the out- skirts of Bristol £15., with £10. for Missions.—Ma 18th. Legacy of the late D. B., Esq. £144. 5s., with £36. 1s. 4d. for the Orphans.—May 26th. With II Cor. ix. 15, £7,—From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, con- strained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £126. 8s. ae have thus referred to some of the ways, which God was pleased to use in answer to our habitual daily waiting on Him, to supply us with means for the first Four Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti- tution. From the beginning of the Scriptural Know- ledge Institution for Home and Abroad, on March 5th, 1834, I have received altogether, in answer to prayer, _ up to May 26th, 1885, One Million Fifty-four Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-eight Pounds. CHAPTER II. The Lord’s way of providing for the thousands of Orphans, who were in the New Orphan Houses, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, on Ashley Down, Bristol, from March 5, 1874, to May 26, 1885. Practical remarks, Letters from donors and Orphans, ete. In giving the account as to the way in which it pleased God to provide me with the means to support the Orphans under my care, we came in the third volume of this Narrative to March 5th, 1874, from whence now the account will be continued. March 7, 1874. From the neighbourhood of Thetford £12. 10s. for the support of one Orphan for one year.— March 10. From a Bristol donor £25. 18s. for the sup- port of two Orphans for one year.—£10. from the Neil- gherry Hills, India——March 17. For about 8 days the income for the Orphan Work had been very little, in comparison with the outgoings, which generally of late had been about £100. per day. I therefore gave myself especially to prayer with my dear wife, praying 2 or 5| times aday together, besides ou usual season for prayer, F 100 [A.D. 1874. that the Lord would be pleased to send us more means. Yesterday morning, however, came but very little, only about £10. by the first delivery, and nothing at all by the next three deliveries. Now this morning we prayed again, before opening the letters of the first delivery, and the first letter contained a cheque for £300. from London, from a kind donor whom I have never seen, but who has several times sent £200. or £300. at a time. There came in that day £11. 2s. 8d. besides for the Orphans. The next day, March 18, came in altogether for the Orphans, in 18 donations, £25. 16s. 4½d. —On March 19th the total of the income was £268. 13s. 3½d. Of this amount £200. was from "W," with £50. for myself. £28. was sent with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed you have 14 days draft, value Twenty Eight Pounds, for the support of Two Orphans, in grateful acknowledgment of God's goodness in restoring two of my children to health, who had been brought to the gates of death. Please acknowledge. Yours respectfully, ****."_£20. was sent from Stoke Bishop. Thus the Lord manifestly answered prayer at that time. April 11. Legacy of the late Miss M. B. £60. 11s. 1d. The testatrix had left £200., but her personal effects not having been properly considered, and certain defects found in the will as expressed, only £60. 11s. 1d, came to the Institution. If kind friends to the Orphan Work wish to leave legacies, it is needful that the will should be properly drawn- up, and the money be left out of that, which is applicable to legacies for charitable purposes, as otherwise the legacy may either not at all, or only in part come to the Institution. For this purpose I had a proper form drawn up for legacies by an experienced legal practitioner, which is found on the last page of each Report.—April 20. From Norwich £1. 5s. 9d., with the following letter: "Dear Sir, I have the plea sure to enclose you a Post Office Order for £1. 5s. 9d. It is the mite of a poor widow in this neighbour hood, dependant for her maintenance on the parish allowance of 2s. 6d. a-week. About 3 years since she read a Report of the Orphan School at Bristol, and purposed in her mind to give to it one penny from each Eair of stockings that she knitted. This, at the time of er death, amounted to 5s. 9d., and was all she expected A.D. 1874.] 101 to give. A few days before her death, she said to the friend who was appointed to manage her funeral, and pay the expenses from a sum she had deposited in a burial society, " If anything should be left, after paying every one their due, let it go for the dear little boys, in the Orphan Asylum." One pound was left, which I now send with the 5s. 9d., assured that you will find in it another cause of thanksgiving to God, who has stirred up so many hearts to bountifulness through your labours of faith and love. I remain, dear Sir, with sincere Christian regard, Yours truly, ****."—April 21. Legacy of the late T. W. H. Esq. £100.—From one of the Midland Counties £60. — From the neighbourhood of Manchester £50. — From the neighbourhood of Weymouth £50. —April 24. Five tons of potatoes.— From Maidstone £43. 9s. 5d.—Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans now in service, with the following letter : " Dear and honoured Sir, You will, I know, re joice to hear, that another of your Orphan children has found the Lord ; and it is as a small expression of grati tude to God for His unspeakable gift, that moves me to forward this small donation, to be used as you see fit. — ' The older I grow, the more sensible, and, I hope, more > thankful to God, I am for the great benefits I received, ' whilst under your care ; for I cannot but notice the difference in education of those, with whom I come in contact. And more especially, since I found peace in Jesus, do I value the excellent Bible teaching, which we all received. Many sweet lessons and addresses come back to my mind, with the speakers as well. So care fully were we taught the plan of salvation, that, while I wasTyel unchanged in heart, I was the instrument in ! God's hand of leading one of my fellow-servants, who : had long been seeking peace, to the Saviour, where she found peace and joy in believing, by just merely telling her the same, as I had been told over and over again. I shudder to think of the justly deserved punishment in store for me, had I still continued in the neglect of so great salvation. And now my heart is full of love to Him, and my chief ambition to do something for Him. —Dear Sir, I must thank you for your " Narrative," which I find Such a help to me in my Christian walk. Although it was in my possession so long, I never read 102 [A.D. 1874. it quite through; but I can thoroughly enjoy it now.—I hope this will find you enjoying good health, and that God will still continue to bless you and your family, to gether with the great work you are engaged in, shall be the earnest prayer of your grateful Orphan,****." May 26. From Dorsetshire £50.—From "Prodigal," Philadelphia, £1. Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty-One Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors and Orphans. Pratical re marks, etc. Instead of having at the beginning of the new period £14726. 2s. 5½d. in hand, as was the case three years previously, we began the new year with £4057. 12s. 9½d., which, though a considerable sum, was yet only sufficient for about seven or eight weeks for our Orphan work. However, as I have stated before, I trusted in God, the infinitely rich Treasurer of the Institution ; and I have now to record to His praise, that, as He had helped me in this service for nearly forty years, so he helped me this year also. My heart was assured, that, as He had unmistakeably called me to this work, sustained me in it for so many years, enlarged it almost year by year, so He would do still, as I was enabled, with unshaken con fidence to confide in Him. Moreover, I depended on the Lord Jesus, in whose name I sought the help of God. And lastly, the Object itself, for which I sought God's help, provision for poor destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents by death, encouraged me, to expect help from God, "the Father of the Fatherless," and therefore especially the One who would care for those who have been bereaved of both parents. It may be, not all the readers of this Report have solemnly considered, either how much good may be done, by caring for poor destitute Orphans, or how, on the other hand, if they are left to themselves, and are thus neglected, they may not only be ruined themselves, but bring untold misery upon scores or hundreds, if not thousands of others. Some time since I read a most affecting account in an excellent Christian paper, pub lished in America, which was sent to me, regarding a A.D. 1874.] 103 negkcted child, which affected me so much that I have thought it profitable for the reader to reprint here the article referred to. QNE NEGLECTED CHILD.—The power for good or evil that resides' in" a Tittle child is great beyond all human calculation. A child rightly trained may be a world wide blessing, with an influence reaching onward to eternal years. But, a neglected, or misdirected child, may live to blight and blast mankind, and leave influ- » ences of evil which shall roll on in increasing volume till I they plunge into the gulf of eternal perdition. " A remarkable instance was related by Dr. Harris, of f New York, at a recent meeting of the State Charities Aid Association. In a small village in a county on the Upper Hudson, some seventy years ago, a young girl named ' Margaret ' .was sent adrift on the casual charity of the inhabitants. She became the mother of a long race of criminals and paupers, and her progeny has cursed j the county ever since. The county records show two • hundred of her descendants who have been criminals. In ! one single generation of her unhappy line there were twenty children ; of these, three died in infancy, and ; seventeen survived to maturity. Of the seventeen, nine i served in the State Prison for high crimes an aggregate ' term of fifty years, while the others were frequent in mates of jails and penitentiaries and almshouses. Of the , nine hundred descendants, through six generations, from ' this unhappy girl who was left on the village streets and abandoned in her childhood, a great number have been idiots, imbeciles, drunkards, lunatics, paupers, and pros titutes : but two hundred of the more vigorous are on record as criminals. This neglected little child has thus cost the county authorities, in the effects she has trans mitted, hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the expense and care of criminals and paupers, besides the untold damage she has inflicted on property and public morals." Who can tell how many of the descendants of those } people who saw this helpless child sent adrift on the j world, have been wronged, robbed, contaminated, or! rained by her descendants 1 The sceptic who finds fault j with the God of the Bible for " visiting the iniquities of j the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth 104 [A.D. 1874. generation," will please explain how his God, the God of Nature, is any better, in view of ten thousand such instances of transmitted depravity which abound on every hand. And those respectable people who neglect the poor and helpless, and make no effect to reclaim the vicious and train the wayward, but wrap themselves up in comfort, with the Cain-like plea, " Am I my brother's keeper 1" will do well to consider what a harvest of murderers, thieves, incendiaries, and harlots they are allowing to grow around them to plague themselves and ruin their offspring. None of us liveth to himself. The interests and destinies of humanity are interlinked. We must save the lost, or, as they go down to wretchedness and ruin, they may drag after them those that are nearest and dearest to our hearts. There, go now, and try and save one neglected child. Seal up a fountain of grief, and woe, and cursing, and open a fountain of joy, and peace and blessing, and " know that he that converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and HIDE A MULTITUDE OF SINS." This is the article. I trust it will make on the reader the same impression, which it made on my own heart, and lead him, gladly to embrace the opportunity, which God may give to him, to seek to rescue neglected children. I now refer to some of the ways by which it pleased the Lord to supply me with means for the support of the Orphans, during the year, simply as specimens. May 30, 1874. From Burnham, Somersetshire, £50. June 15. From Norfolk £20., " instead of insuring against hailstorms." — From a former Orphan £2.— June 17. From Blackheath £20. —June 19. From Corn wall, from a house of business, £1. 18s., being one penny in the pound of the receipts for one month. Similar amounts have been sent monthly for a considerable time. Other houses of business have done the same. This shows how much may be done, even on the smallest scale of giving systematically. —June 27. By sale of gold and silver articles and dentist gold, £93. July 18. From Oxfordshire £14. 5s. instead of insuring against hail storms. — July 22. From Kent £100.— July 24. A diamond ring. -. A.D. 1874.] 105 Aug. 10. £50. as the legacy of the late Mrs. B.—Aug. 21. From Torquay £40., " as God's Tenth."—Aug. 25. By sale of gold and silver articles, £53. 10s.—Aug. 26. Re ceived from a Bath donor £100.—From " F. M," anony mously, £500. See, dear reader, the blessedness of waiting upon God. " F. M." is not personally known to me. I do not even know his name. But day by day I wait upon God, and I do this not only myself, but with some of my dear fellow labourers. We call upon God for help, and He hears us, and again and again proves to us, that our waiting upon Him is not in vain. See how much work, and how much expense is thus saved by not having to call on individuals for help. Moreover, in this way we are sure, that every donation is given spontane ously, as otherwise it might have been withheld. My chief object, however, why I began this work on the principles on which I did, was, to prove, " How much may be accomplished by prayer and faith." From Cardiff £25.—Aug. 27. Though yesterday alone had come in for the benefit of the Orphans £650., our balance is now reduced to £2378. 18s. 10½d., which is only enough for about four weeks and a half, to supply the average expenses for the Orphan work. But my trust is in the Living God, that He will help further—the reader will see from what follows, how God helped. — Aug. 31. Anonymously from Otago, New Zealand, £15. Sept. 1. From Herefordshire £90.—Sept. 3. £100. rom a clergyman in the neighbourhood of Bristol. — £50. from the neighbourhood of Fairford. —From Hull £50.—Sept. 8. £100. as the legacy of the late Mrs. B.— From the neighbourhood of Leeds £10. 10s. as "A thank-offering for being free from fatal accidents for several years at the colliery, which I had the charge of." — Sept. 18. To-day we received, as the legacy of the late T. B. Esq., £1800. I had never seen this gentleman, nor did I even know him by name ; but he was con strained thus to help us, in answer to our daily waiting upon God. This was a considerable help to us. Sept. 21. From Christian friends at Little Tew £17. 3s. 9d., and at Cleavly £1. 7s. as " thanksgivings for the harvest."— Sept. 23. Received in one donation £5327. 7s. 6d. This donor I never saw, though he had five or six times pre viously contributed £200. or £300. at a time.—About F 3 106 [a.D. 1874. two months afterwards he died. I have every reason to believe, that he gave this money, (which would have come to us by his will), during his lifetime, in order that he might save the Institution the heavy legacy duty. Thus the Lord most abundantly helped us in our low state of funds.—Sept. 25. From Glasgow £60.— Sept. 26. From the neighbourhood of Hurstpierpoint £20. “In lieu of the first fruits of the harvest.”—Sept. 27. ) This day a month ago, our balance in hand for the Orphans was £2378. 18s. 104d. ; to-day it is £9623. 17s. 13d., though we have expended during the month for the Orphans £1949. 16s. 5d. The total income for the various objects of the Institution, during this one month, was £11,309. 4s. 54d. See, dear reader, what God can do! All this was the result, not of an extraordinary effort made on our part, but simply the result of prayer ,and faith. When the appearance was, a month ago, that soon everything would be expended, then God made it again manifest, how able He is to help us. For more than twelve years our funds had not been nearly so low, though the number of the Orphans had been in the meantime more than doubled. However, I had in the darkest times been assured, that all this comparatively little income was not to break up the Institution, but to make it afresh apparent, what can be obtained through prayer and the exercise of faith. The Lord be magnified for His kind help !—Sept. 29. Received £5. from a former Orphan with the following letter : ‘ Dear Sir, Will you please to accept a small present from me? I was 21 years old on the 15th of September, and I have received the little legacy which my parents left me. I enclose a Post Office Order for Five Pounds, as a token of gratitude for what you have done for me, Sir. I am quite well - and in a comfortable situation. I have been nearly three years in it and am doing well, and also glad to inform you, that my sister is in good health, and doing well ; she has also entered on her third year in her place. I remain, Dear Sir, ever your grateful Orphan, ****.” Oct. 17. £500. (less legacy duty and expenses) as the legacy of the late L. H. 8S. Esquire.—£5. from Notting- ham as “A thank-offering for being unhurt after having been thrown from a horse.”—Oct. 19. From Tunbridge _ Wells £89. 7s. 11d. for the support of seven Orphans. A.D. 1874.] 107 The kind donor sent about six years since the average expenses for the support of three Orphans, according to the number of his own children. Aftar some time thes Lord gave to him a fourth child, then a fifth, a sixth and’ a seventh child, and, as the number of his own children; increased, so he added, with each child, the average ex- penses for an additional Orphan, acting thus in the: opposite way from the principles of the world. I state here, that out of the 2261 Orphans, who were under our. care from May 27, 1874 to May 26, 1875, eighty-six Orphans have been provided for, by donors sending to me the average expenses for one year for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or even eleven Orphans. The reader may see, that the amount sent is not always the same, which arises from the fact, that the donors did not take their information, given on the last page of each Report, from _ the same Report, or sometimes a few shillings were sent more, to make it a round sum.—Oct. 22. From a Bristol donor £46. 7s. 6d.—Oct. 28. From Tobago £10.— Oct. 30. From Newecastle-on-Tyne £100.—Oct. 31. £5. as “A thank-offering from a mother for the recovery of her eldest child from inflammation of the lungs.” Nov. 7. From Rosshire £100.—Nov. 7. Anonymously by post seven sets of artificial teeth, set in gold. Nov. 10. By sale of gold and silver articles £105. 16s, 3d. Dec. 8. From a Bristol wholesale house, 40 half boxes of raisins and 5 boxes of oranges for the Orphans.— From another Bristol donor, one barrel of currants, 15 half boxes of raisins and 7 barrels of flour, for the Orphans’ Christmas puddings.—Dec. 10. From Leamington £100. —-Dec. 12. From the neighbourhood of Harlow £50. and £25.—Dec. 16. Legacy of the late Miss M. K. £45.— Dec. 18. From Scotland 2189 yards of Winsey cloth and 302 yards of linen ditto. Received 10s. from a former Orphan, now in service, with the following letter : ‘‘ Dear and respected Sir, I received the Report you so kindly sent me last week. I enjoyed reading it very much, and was thankful to see how the Lord was still blessing you in your work for Him. I feel I must again thank you for all your kindness to me, while under your fatherly care in that Happy Home, and for the situation in which you placed me. I have left now seven years, and am still in the same place. Trusting that the Lord will a“ 108 [A.D. 1875. spare you, the Orphan's friend, for many years to come, with kind love and best respects to yourself, the teachers in No. 2, and all the dear helpers in the work, I remain your grateful Orphan, ****. P.S. I have sent you a Post Office Order for 10s. Please accept of it for the Orphans."—Dec. 21. £10. 10s. from one of the pupils in the first Day School for Boys of the Scriptural Know ledge Institution.—Dec. 22. From near London £290. with £10. for myself.—Dec. 23. £10. with the following letter : " Sir, Enclosed I have sent you a cheque for £10. for the Orphans, as a thank-offering to the Almighty for the recovery of a stolen horse. After all worldly means seemed to have failed, I made a promise to the Almighty, that if I got the horse, I would give £10. to Mr. Miiller's Orphans, and I am pleased to say, very shortly the horse came back to me. Yours respectfully, ****."— From Berkshire £75. for the support of 6 Orphans for one year.—Dec. 24. Received £5. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed find cheque £5. towards the support of the Orphans. In reading one of your Reports it advises to lay aside weekly a portion as the Lord prospers you. For the past few months I have done so, and I trust I may always do so, and others, that have not done so, I would urge them to do the same. I would just say, as it regards this world's goods, God has abundantly blessed me ; for during the past few months, since I commenced laying aside weekly, God has given me more than during the same length of time, since I have been in business. I am, Dear Sir, yours sincerely, ****."—From Leeds £40. for the support of three Orphans for one year, according to the number of the donor's children.— Dec. 29. £5. from "A soldier of Christ in India."— Dec. 31. From Clifton £150. Jan. 1, 1875. The past year, during which the Lord had graciously helped us so manifestly with means for the Orphan work, ended with further considerable help on the last day, as £300. came in yesterday. This day the Lord has again sent us very many donations, like an earnest that He will during this year also be mindful of us. Jan. 2. From Calcutta, India, £7. with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I have the pleasure to hand you herewith a draft for £7., which kindly accept for the Orphans. The Lord put it into my heart to devote one A.D. 1875.] 109 day’s earnings to them. I usually earn about £2. a day, but having asked the Lord, especially to bless that day’s work, that I set apart for the Orphans, he answered that prayer, as you see, by sending £7. that day. This is indeed a special indication to me, that the Lord is hearing my prayers.” Etc.—Received also this day, £11. 8s, 7d. from India, with the following letter: “ My dear Sir, I have the pleasure of enclosing first of exchange for £11. 8s, 7d., the amount of an offertory in Christ Church, Simla, for the Ashley Down Orphanage, to be applied as you think best. I am sorry that the amount is so small. I wish that Professor H. and others, who think that prayer is mere waste of breath, would try how long they can support Two Thousand Orphans without asking any one—Gop oR Man—for help. The Lord bless you and yours, and your holy work, with sufficient means and abundant success. Yours sincerely, ****.” These two donations from India belong to the Thousands of proofs, which the Lord has given to me for about forty years, that He is mindful of the Orphan work.—Jan. 12. From believers meeting at Wilmcote £13. 6s. 2d. — From Christians meeting at the Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £36. 11s, 8d.—From Watford 17s. “ Instead of insuring plate glass windows.”—Jan. 16. From Buckfastleigh £62. 6s. 4d.—Jan. 18. A gold bracelet made of 3 guinea pieces, 4 half guinea pieces, a seven shilling piece, and an American gold dollar.—Jan.19. £4. 7s. 1d. from Limerick, from a mercantile firm, instead of insuring goods, coming by water.—Jan. 29. From London, for the support of one Orphan for one year £13.—From Newcastle-on-Tyne , £100.—Jan. 30. Received 4 old five shilling pieces with the following letter : “Sir, I send you a box, containing 4 old five shilling pieces. Their history is this. Many years ago there was a wedding at a village church in Kent. After the party had returned home, the bride- groom gave the bride a handful of five shilling pieces.’ She said, as they were her husband’s first gift, she would not spend them. She kept them and gave one to each ° of her grand-children. My mother was her grand- daughter and these four descended to her. We naturally prize them very much ; but if we kept them, they would do no one any good, and we think they will, perhaps, be ; more acceptable to God, because they are dear to us. x 110 [A.D. 1875. Please accept them for the benefit of the Orphans. I remain, yours sincerely ****." When the bridegroom gave these crown pieces, and the bride determined not to spend them, neither of them thought, that a hundred years or more after, four of them would come forth, in answer to our prayers, to help providing for the Orphans. Numberless old coins, both of gold and silver, have we received within the last forty years for the benefit of the Orphans, which had long been hoarded up for some reason or other ; also the greatest variety of jewellery, gold and silver watches, clothes, and numberless other articles for which year after year a considerable sum has been obtained. During the past year alone we realised, by the sale of articles, sent for that purpose, £856. 17s. 5d. Feb. 1. Legacy of the late W. T., Esq., £500. less legacy duty.—Feb. 4. £50. as the legacy of the late Mrs. F.—Feb. 6. £45. 9s. 3d. by sale of gold and silver articles.—Feb. 10. £13. 12s. 4d. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed is a cheque for £13s. 12s. 4d., which I have much pleasure in forwarding, being profits on an agency, taken up for the benefit of your Orphans. Yours very truly, ****." See how the Lord cares for the Orphans ! Observe, dear reader, how God is pleased to answer our prayers ! The donor is an entire stranger to me. He lives far from Bristol ; but God, in answer to our prayers, leads him to undertake an agency for the benefit of the Orphans, and this amount sent is the result. Did all my dear fellow-believers know the power of prayer, and the mighty results of trust in the Lord, many of them would in greater simplicity and with more earnestness give themselves to the exercise of prayer and faith.—Feb. 15. From British Honduras £1. This dear servant of Christ, though very poor as to this world, has sent me many times within the last fifteen years a similar donation. —Feb. 19. From Newcastle-on Tyne £75. March 2. From the neighbourhood of Weybridge £50. —This day also was sent to me as a gift the scrip for 200 Ten Pound Shares in a Limited Liability Company, fully paid up, of which the kind donor intends One Hundred and Fifty for the benefit of the Orphans or the other Objects of the Institution, as the need may be, and Fifty for my own personal expenses. The kind donor is personally unknown to me. This is another striking A.D. 1875.] 111 proof of the willingness of the Lord, to provide both for the work and my own requirements, simply in answer to prayer.—March 4. From Glasgow £51. 0s. 3d. The donor of this amount sends me once a fortnight one penny in the Pound of all his receipts, and sent now £50. extra.—March 24. From Victoria, Australia, £40. —Contents of an Orphan Box at Majorca, in Australia, £4. 5s. 6d. April 5. From Kidderminster £53. 15s. 6d.—From Buxton 5 pieces of artificial teeth (4 of them set in gold). —April 28. Some young ladies, from sale of canaries, or the benefit of the Orphans, £3. 10s. May 8. £18. 3s. " Proceeds of a tea-service which had been bequeathed."—May 12. From Basle, Switzer land, £8. 13s. 6d.—May 13. Legacy of the late Mr. T. £200., less duty.—May 25. Legacy of the late Mr. P. £150., less duty.—May 26. £64., as "proceeds of sale of work from young ladies in a school." I have thus given some specimens as to the way in which it pleased God to provide, in answer to our prayers, the means for the support of the 2261 Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875. The Lord has carried me through another year, in supplying bountifully the means for the Orphan Work. Though the expenses, for this part of the Institution alone, amounted to £25,043. 17s. 3½d., and though at the beginning of the year not only, but for three months after the last period had commenced, we became poorer and poorer ; so that the appearance was, that shortly we should have nothing at all left. Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred, and Seventy Orphans, who were under our care, from May 26, 1875 to May 26, 1876, sent in anstver to prayer. Letters from, Donors and Orphans. Practical remarks, &c. Though our faith had been exercised so greatly, during the previous year, in that at one time there was so little in hand for the support of the Orphans, as that the natural appearance was, that means for them would be gone antly helped us, as the result /f^rayer aiJ<J|j we had more than twice as mi/ch at t than when the year began. Ujiir ba 112 [A.D. 1875. May 26, 1875, was £8406. 13s. 11½d., whilst on May 26, 1874, it had been only £4057. 12s. 9½d. Thus is God willing to answer prayer and to honour faith in Him. But great as this balance may appear to those who are not accustomed to great expenditure, it was only enough to meet the expenses of about four months, for our large family. We had, therefore, to do, what, by God's grace, we had been enabled to do in connection with this Insti tution for forty-two years before, viz.,—not to look to the amount in hand, nor to former donors, nor to any probabilities, but to the Living God, who had never failed us. Nor did we trust in Reports ; for were we to do so, God would soon show to us, that we were leaning on a broken reed. I refer now, as specimens, to a few of the donations given during the year for the support of the Orphans. June 3. Legacy of the late W. G. S., Esq., £1342. 7s. 3d. —June 4. A legacy of £200. had been left by Miss M. B. ; but of this amount, through circumstances, only £60. 11s. 1d., when the legacy became due, could be paid. Now this day £139. 8s. 11d. was paid to the Institution by G. S., Esq., to make up the full amount of £200. Thus the kind stranger acted towards the work, without being under the least obligation so to do. —June 14. £100. as the legacy of Lady H.—June 28. £10. 10s. from an old scholar of the first Boys' Day School of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, who has repeatedly sent the same amount — From Ireland, a diamond ring. July 3. From Ceylon £12.—July 6. From Christian friends at Basle, Switzerland, £18. 15s.—July 15. From Wales £70., with £6. 16s. for myself.— July 19. £60. from one of the Midland Counties.—July 21. From a clergyman of the Church of England £18., with the following letter : " My dear Sir, The enclosed mite as a thank-offering for mercies during a voyage, kindly place to credit of your Orphan Fund, and oblige yours faith fully, ****."—Received the following letter from one of the former Orphans, now in service : " Dear and honoured Sir, It is a very great pleasure and privilege to be able to write to you, and thank you for all you have done for me, during the four years I was under your kind care in the dear, dear Orphan House, which I have now left for . A.D. 1875.] 113 nearly five months. How can I sufficiently thank you, next to my Heavenly Father, for the blessings of that dear Home, and also for that in which I am now ; it is such a comfortable, happy one, with such a kind master and mistress ! How kind and gracious is my Heavenly Father, who, with all He has given me of the blessings of this life, has, more than all, brought me to know the dear Lord Jesus as my. Saviour and Friend. May I ever be kept close to His side, seeking to live only for Him ! I sincerely hope dear Mrs. Muller is quite well and your self too. Will you please give my love to dear Mrs. Muller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and accept the same your self, with my grateful thanks for all you have done for me? I remain, dear Sir, your respectful and grateful Orphan, ****."—July 22. One of the former Orphans, who has been for a number of years a believer in the 1 Lord Jesus, and who is now in business on his own { account, has one of the Orphan lads apprenticed to him. When we sent the half-yearly premium of £6. 10s., the Christian master and former Orphan returned the amount, as he had done the half-year before, with the following letter : " Dear and respected Sir, I have pleasure in returning the enclosed cheque. Please use the amount for the benefit of the Orphans. You will be pleased to know that—[here the name of his Orphan apprentice is given]—is well, and that he is a consistent Christian lad, and is doing nicely in his business. Please to give my respects to Messrs. Wright, Brown, Short, and any other friends that knew me in the Orphan House. Tendering thanks for all kind benevolence shown to me in years gone by, and with respectful and kind regards, I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, ****."—July 23. From Reading, two sets of artificial teeth and some gold springs.—July 24. Left at my house four pieces of artificial teeth, three of them set in gold. —July 26. From Dulwich, two sets of artificial teeth, set in gold. During the past year again a considerable amount has been obtained by the sale of the gold, in which the arti ficial teeth were set. —July 28. Received £1. from one of the former Orphans, in a situation in Ireland, with the following letter : " Beloved and respected Sir, May I be permitted the privilege of sending you this small trifle for the dear Orphans 1 I thank Almighty God that I 114 [A.D. 1875. have so great a pleasure as to be able to send it to you ; for His holy Word says, " The Lord loveth a cheerful giver," and day by day I see His Almighty arm guiding and guarding me from many dangers. When I see so many flocking Sunday after Sunday to the Roman Catholic chapel, kneeling and worshipping the Virgin Mary, it is then that I think most of the happy Home that I myself and so many besides were brought up in, where we were taught to believe the blessed Bible, that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. Often do I sit and think over the many happy years I spent under your fatherly care. I shall never be able to thank you enough for the kindness shown me there ; but may God ever prosper and bless you, is the prayer of your grateful Orphan ! And may you long be spared to be the Orphans' friend ; and when your blessed work is finished in this life, may you see one and all gathered around the throne of God, where we shall meet to part no more ! Please to remember me gratefully and respect fully to dear Mrs. Miiller and Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Hoping you are enjoying the great blessing of health, believe me, beloved Sir, your ever grateful Orphan, ****"—July 30. £10. as a birthday thank-offering.— July 31. From a Bristol donor, who sets apart a certain part of his business for the Orphans, and has done so for many years, £65. 18s. Aug. 2. From a lady who had already kindly sent us £500. in the early part of the year, £175., with £25. for myself, sent especially on account of the great additional expenses, occasioned by much sickness among the Orphans.—Aug. 12. £200. as a legacy of the late Miss M.—Aug. 13. £34. by sale of gold and silver articles.—Aug. 18. From a Christian brother in business in Glasgow £51. 2s. 7d. He sends a donation every two weeks, as the Lord prospers him ; but this time he sent £50. additionally.—Aug. 23. From Nelson, New Zealand £5. 15s., ditto 5s., ditto £1., ditto £1.—From Welling ton, New Zealand, £1. 0s. 4d.—Aug. 25. Received from the Royal Hospital, Putney, 5s., with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, It is more than twenty-three years since I first wrote to you, and now I do it, that you may have it, when I haw entered into rest. I enclose 5s. as my last donation, feeling truly thankful to our A.D. 1875.] 115 dear Lord for having enabled me to do some little for the dear Orphans. You need not acknowledge this, as there will be no one to receive the letter. Farewell, till we meet in glory,****.” This poor woman was habitually an invalid and sufferer, but for more than twenty years worked little things for the benefit of the Orphans, and, according to her means, being herself supported by the love of Christians, sent little donations. At last she was received for life into the Royal Hospital, Putney, and sent even from thence now and then small donations, till this came, which we received after her having fallen asleep in the Lord. Thus the Lord is pleased to lay this work even on the hearts of the very poor, and to send to us help through them.—Aug. 26. Legacy of the late Mr. T. C. £90. ep. 1. Anonymously £100.—Sep. 2. £100. as a legacy of the late Miss 8S. W.—Sep. 10. £3. 48. 6d. from a mercantile firm in Ireland, instead of insuring their goods sent by sea.—Received Sep. 11 from a con- siderable distance three valuable rings, three sets of gold buttons, a diamond cross, a cameo brooch, a brooch and earrings, a pair of gold earrings, a gold locket, two pairs of earrings, and a brooch and bracelet. Altogether a very valuable donation.—Sep. 16. “From a poor labourer, who has worked through the harvest, in his 77th year” 2s. 6d.—Sep. 20. £90. 7s. 3d. from a military officer in India.—Sep. 21. £2. 2s, 8d. from Italian evangelists.— From the pupils of our school at Torano, Italy, 6s. 9d.— Sep. 25. £40. as “God’s Tenth.”—£22. 5s. 4d. from Friends at Little Tew, and £2. 19s. from friends at Clevely, as “ Thankoffering for the harvest.” Oct. 9. Legacy of the late W. A. R., Esq., £332. 16s. 3d. The kind testator was an entire stranger to me, which gives another proof, how the Lord is pleased to help us in answer to prayer. Not one out of twenty donors have I ever seen, far less am I intimate with them. But we give ourselves to prayer for means, and so the Lord is pleased, in answer to prayer, to influence the hearts of His stewards to help us. Thus this work has now been upheld for forty-two years, and though generally year by year it has been enlarged in one or more of its departments, God has never failed us, but always sup- plied us with the needed pecuniary necessities. How 116 [A.D. 1875. could this be wanting, if the work in which we are engaged is His work ; if we are the persons to do this His work ; if the time is come when we should be honored to do this His work ; and if, at the same time, we trust in His power and willingness to help us ? But all these four different points need carefully to be attended to. We have then, in the first place, to be sure that the work in which we are engaged is really the work of the Lord, and fully so. I lay stress on this, because I have seen, how, in order to keep persons from certain evil things, there have been substituted other evil things, which, though in the sight of some they may be less objectionable, yet are of such a character, as that they are unworthy of the name of God's work. How then could help be expected from God under such circumstances ? Next we have to ascertain, that we are the persons to be engaged in that work, which is really God's work; for we are not our own, but we are bought with a price, the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. We therefore may not spend our time, our talents, our bodily, mental and spiritual strength as we please ; but we have to seek to know, whether the Lord would have us to be engaged in such and ; such a way or not. But even this is not enough. We have still further to seek to ascertain, by patient waiting upon God, watching His hand, whether His time is come, that | we should do this His work. How important these last two points are, we have clearly shown to us in the building of the temple. The work was a good work, and quite according to the mind of Jehovah ; but His time was not yet come, that this work was to be done, when David desired to build the temple ; nor was he to be the man to do it, but his son Solomon. Suppose now lastly, that the work is not only God's work, but that we also are the persons to be engaged in that work, and that His own time is come, when we are to be engaged in this His work, we have lastly to trust in Him for all the help we need. If we do not do so, how could we expect to go on well ? And here I state, that the pecuniary necessities for which we have to wait upon the Lord, great though they are, amounting to about forty- four thousand pounds yearly, are very far from all we need. We have constantly to look to the Lord for counsel and guidance in our difficulties ; and but for His A.D. 1875.] 117 constant guidance, we should make only mistakes and take wrong steps. We have further continually almost to ask the Lord for the needed helpers either for the Orphan Houses or the very many schools, or other branches of the Institution. And this is not a little matter, to obtain not only truly godly helpers, but, at the same time, persons who in other respects also are fitted for such service.. Further, we have to wait upon the Lord not a little, to know how, in certain circumstances, to deal with regard to the children; for it is not of rare occurrence, that our circumstances, in this respect, are of a most perplexing character. Further, the Orphans are to be placed out, whether the boys-as indoor apprentices, or the girls to be sent to service. Here we are entirely thrown upon God, to find masters and mistresses, who not only are Christians indeed, and not in name only, but who also in other respects, as far as we are able to judge, are suitable to have the care of these Orphans, when they leave us. Then we have the difficulty of grave illness on the part of the helpers in the work or the children under our care, and this sometimes of a very alarming character, in such epidemics as scarlet fever, small pox, &c. But God, to whom we seek to look continually for help, at all times and under all circum- stances, helps us, and we have never been confounded. A number of other things might be referred to, to show, that money is not the only thing which we need, and for which we trust in the Lord. I mention here, just by the way, that it is a mistake to suppose that persons, who have real trust in God, because they know Him, could only depend upon Him regarding one or the other thing, such as their health, their daily supplies, or something else. He who knows God, truly knows Him as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures, is able to trust in Him generally, according to Psalm ix. 10, “They that know Thy name, will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.—Oct. 15. From Burnham £50.—£500. as the legacyof the late Mrs. J.—Oct. 19. £50. from the neighbourhood of Abingdon. —From London £63. 0s. 10d. for the support of five Orphans for one year.—Oct. 30. £5. 10s. with the following letter: “ My dear Mr. Miiller, to my surprise £5. 10s. has just been brought to me for your Orphanage 118 [A.D. 1875. from a servant, who has recently lost an only child. Her husband and herself wish it to be given in remem- brance of her. Kindly enter it ‘From R. V. and M. V. in remembrance of their beloved and only child Lizzie,’” &.— From Aldershot 10s. “From a soldier who, having passed a successful examination, his pay is increased 1s. per diem.” Nov. 8. Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans, who was apprenticed from the Orphan House as a Christian lad, and who is now in an honourable way able to support himself: “Dear and Honored Sir, I have enclosed a Post Office Order for ten shillings, which please take towards the support of the Orphans.—It is now more than ten years since I left the Orphan House ; but I shall never forget the happy days I spent at Bristol, nor the good of which I was the recipient, whilst ander your care,—Please accept my repeated expressions of thankfulness for all the kindness I received at the Orphan House, and remember me to the dear masters, who, I trust, are still spared to help you in the work. My wife joins me in best wishes and regards. I am, Dear and Honored Sir, your obedient servant, ****,”— Nov. 12. From Yorkshire, for the support of four Orphans, for one year, £49. 8s. 8d.—£100. as the legacy of the late Mr. E. C.—Nov. 13. Legacy of the late Mrs. L. £1756. 48. 4d. The kind testatrix was an entire stranger to me. I had not even heard of her name, until £ received information from the solicitors of the Principal Probate Court about the legacy.—Legacy of the late Miss E. W. £19. 19s. Likewise an entire stranger to me.—Nov. 30. From Tobago £6. The reader will observe that the means for the support of the Orphans do not come merely from various parts of England, nor even merely from parts of the United Kingdom ; but almost from every part of the earth. There are few countries, from which we have not at some time or other received donations. Our Heavenly Father has the hearts of all men at His disposal, and we give ourselves to prayer to Him, and He, in answer to our prayers, lays the necessities of this work on the , hearts of his stewards ; and thus it has come to pass, ‘ that we have now received from Him, in answer to prayer, -1-' more than Seven Hundred Thousand Pounds. Should anyone question this statement, we reply, whom A.D. 1875.] - 119 did we ask for anything? Let the individuals come forward to prove that it is otherwise. But if this cannot be done, as it cannot, then, will not the reader see, how much power there is in believing prayer, and how much may be’ obtained through the exercise of faith? Though the real power of prayer is by certain individuals denied, yet the Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, erected at a cost of about One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Pounds, without anyone being asked for anything, but God only; and more than Two Thou- sand Orphans being yearly provided for at an expense of | Twenty-five Thousand Pounds or upwards, besides all ! the other departments of the Institution being provided ; for at the cost of Seventeen or Eighteen Thousand ; Pounds, without going to anyone for help but to God; ' plainly shows that even in the latter part of the Nine- ‘ teenth Century much may be obtained from our Heavenly Father, simply through prayer and faith. And thusthe | Scriptural Knowledge Institution has now been carried on not for some months or even a year or two, but for - more than forty-two years, whilst we become more and more convinced of the blessedness of depending upon the Living God alone. Dec. 6. From friends in South Africa £35.—Dec. 11. From London £100. 17s. 4d. for the support of eight * Orphans for one year.—Dec. 15. Received £6. 6s. ftom one of the former Orphans with the following letter : ‘Dear Sir, I'am anxious to redeem a vow made some years since by my dear departed wife, that she ‘would give a certain proportion of some earnings for the sup- port of the Orphans.—I can scarcely express my grati- tude to you, dear Sir, for the fatherly interest you took in the matter of her personal salvation, as the wife of one of your Orphan boys. She never forgot the firm kindness with which you pressed home the one im- rtant question, ‘Did she love the Saviour?’ and, her having to respond to that, was a means of grace of which the influence was never lost. We saw many sorrows afterwards, but our God was more to us than our fears, and He has now enabled me to redeem her vow for the Orphans.—I would desire again to thank you, dear Sir, for the great interest you took in me, while under your care; and I often reflect on happy days, 120 [A.D. 1875. spent in New Orphan House No. 1.—You will be glad to know, that the Lord has been pleased to use me in His service. For nearly fourteen years I have been em ployed in preaching the Gospel in dark villages in this neighbourhood; and for about seven years have been deacon of the Congregational Church here ; and I have too the happiness of knowing, that, by His blessing upon my labours, some have been added to the Lord. This I say, as desiring alone to glorify His name, and because I feel it is right you should know, that He thus owns and crowns your labours for Him, by enabling those, whom you have rescued, to be the means of hastening His kingdom.—I have also to thank Him for a second help-meet, who also is devoted to His service, and whose constant endeavour it is, to bring up my three little girls as her own children, and as in trust for the Lord.— Feeling sure, dear Sir, of your fatherly interest and sympathy, I shall not add any apology for thus writing of my family affairs.—Please accept my respectful Chris tian love, and give the same to Messrs. Brown and Short, should they be still labouring with you; and trusting this will find you and Mrs. Miiller in good health, I remain ever faithfully and respectfully yours,****." The writer of this letter, and his brother, were the first two Orphans received in the New_Orphan House No. 1. His brother was brought to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, after having walked very consistently for a considerable time whilst under our care, was sent out. He has been a decided follower of the Lord Jesus Christ ever since, has been engaged for about eighteen years in the ministry of the Word, has been the instrument of leading not a few to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is now a clergyman in the Church of England. The writer, as has been seen, labours in a different sphere for the Lord, but has also been used by Him, in the winning of souls. These first fruits of the removal of the Orphans to Ashley Down, and the building of the five large houses for 2050 Orphans, have been followed by the conversion of many hundreds of Orphans, yea by hundreds who have been already safely removed into the presence of the Lord. Thus, in the midst of difficulties, i trials of faith and patience, and sometimes also disap- : pointment with regard to some of the Orphans, we reap A.D. 1876.] 121 already abundantly even now ; but the chief part of the harvest is yet awaiting us. —On this day, Dec. 15th, 1875, we also received from a Bristol wholesale house 8 barrels of flour, 16 half boxes of raisins and a barrel of cur rants, for the Christmas puddings of the Orphans. From Oporto £1.—Dec. 21. From Denmark £1.—Dec. 22. From the neighbourhood of London £290., with £10. for myself. —Dec. 24. From a wholesale house in Bristol, 40 half boxes of raisins, for the children.—Dec. 29. From Pupils of the High School, Dundee, £58., with £10. for myself.—Dec. 31. Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans, now in a situation, with the following letter : " Dear and Respected Sir, Once more I have the great pleasure of writing to you, and thank you for your kind fatherly care of me whilst in the dear Orphan Home. And now I wish to rejoice your heart, by telling you, that, during the past year I have been led to trust in the dear Saviour. May I ask your prayers, dear Sir, that I may be kept day by day near to Him, who gave Himself for me. I desire not only to bear the name of a child of God, but to walk before the world as one. Dear Sir, I was indeed much cheered by the addresses you gave at the Conference Hall, Mildmay Park, London, where I have the privilege of attending, and where I found peace in Jesus. I sincerely hope your valuable life may be yet spared much longer, to be the Orphan's friend, and to help and cheer younger Christians on their journey. May I ask to be remembered very kindly to dear Mrs. Miiller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and all the dear helpers in the Orphan work. Will you kindly accept the enclosed 10s. for the Orphans. With grateful love, I remain, yours respectfully, ****." We were now helped to the close of another year, • during which our expenses for the Orphans alone had been above Twenty Five Thousand Pounds, and the expenses for the other Objects of the Institution about Eighteen Thousand Pounds, having before us expenses for the coming year, not only as great but rather greater, ' as generally year by year they have been increased. But our hope was in God, looking with the full assurance of faith to His inexhaustible treasures and His loving heart ; and we- were not confounded. He helped us in the new year, as He had done in the old one. I give now a few G 122 [A.D. 1876. other particulars, as to the way in which it pleased Him to supply us, though only about one out of a hundred donations can be referred to. . Jan. 11. ‘‘ From a person in Yorkshire, who desires to be a faithful steward. of the Lord’s possessions,” £500. When this donation came to hand, I did not in the least degree know the kind donor. ‘This furnishes another proof, of how much may be obtained simply by waiting upon God, as day by day we do.—Received from West- morland £3. 5s. 9d. with the following letter: ‘‘Dear Sir, I inclose Post Office Order for £3. 5s. 9d., which is the amount found in the money box of a dear little boy, who died at the age of three years. We, his earthly parents, cannot devote the savings of the one, who is now glorifying God in heaven, to a better purpose than trying to promote His glory on earth in the way pointed out by yourself—that of helping the poor Orphans. Please to accept it with our best wishes for the success of your great Christian work, and believe us, yours truly****,”—Jan. 12. From believers, meeting at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £35. 1s. 3d.—£100. as the legacy of the late Mr. J. W. C.—Jan. 13. From a Clifton donor, then at a considerable distance from thence, £150., with £10. for myself. This kind donor, who for nearly twenty years took a great interest in the Orphans, and who often sent a similar donation, has since entered upon his rest. Thus the Lord again and again, yea many scores of times, has taken away donors who for a shorter or longer time helped us considerably. For the trial of our faith these kind donors, one after the other, have been removed, but He, the Living God, our Helper and Friend, remained to us; and because we depended upon Him, trusted in Him, and not in these kind munificent donors, though some of them had given altogether thousands of pounds, we were helped; for the Lord, in one way or other, supplied us still, And thus have we gone on now for forty-two years. Oh, the blessedness of such a life of trust in the LivingGod! Did all my dear brethren in Christ, who in any way labour for the Lord, and who require means, know the blessedness of this way, they would certainly trust in God alone, and look to Him alone for their supplies; and not only for the supply of their pecuniary necessities, but for everything > , - A.D. 1876.] 123 else, which they may need.—Jan. 26. From Warwick- shire £200.—Jan. 31. From Tobago £10. Feb. 2. From Yorkshire £126. 1s. 8d., for the support of ten Orphans for one year.—From Paris £20.—Feb. 3. There was sent £2. 10s. with these words: “I send this to you, instead of buying a gold brooch.” Will the Christian reader consider this. How much may be accomplished, not only, by exercising a little self-denial, but how great a blessing may thus also be obtained for the spiritual life of the believer in the Lord Jesus! We have but one brief life to spend on earth, and how soon, dear Christian reader, may it be run out! Therefore let us seek to make the best use of the opportunity given to us, to live and labour for the Lord! Let every child of God with earnestness aim at this, that the remainder of . his life may be the best of all his pilgrimage!—Feb. 4. From Helensburgh £40. for the support of 3 Orphans for one year.—Feb. 7. From Basle, Switzerland, £19. 17s.— Feb. 11. £5. as“‘A thank-offering for being safely preserved in a railway accident.”—Feb. 16. From Torquay £40. a “ God’s Tenth.”—Legacy of the late Mrs. H. £80. 10s. March 9. Received £1. 11s. with the following letter from a Christian gentleman: “My dear brother, It occurred to me a few weeks ago, that, when God calls Himself the Father of the fatherless, He makes Orphans as truly the objects of His children’s care as their own households. I had not thought of this before nearly so much as I ought. At mealtimes, when the wants of my family were being abundantly supplied, I had not suffi- ciently thought of those who have neither father nor mother to provide a meal for them, and who must starve, unless fed by those to whom God has given bread enough and to spare. Since that time, I have put a box on my ‘4 table at our meals, with your Orphans’ name on it. It . makes us feel as if we had some of them at the table © with us, and were giving them the share our Father ; meant for them. Each puts in what he believes he can and ought. Last evening we opened it after tea, and ' found the enclosed £1. 11s. in it, which I now send you with much love, &c.”—March 20. Received 10s. with the following letter from one of the former Orphans : “ Be- loved Sir, Once more it is the privilege of one of your former Orphans to write you a few lines and ask your G2 124 [A.D. 1876. acceptance of this small offering of thanksgiving to God for all His loving kindness to me and mine.—I need hardly say, that, as each year passes away, my veneration for you, dear Sir, and love for the dear place, where I spent the best part of my childhood, increases, so also do I hope my gratitude to the Father of the fatherless, who put it in the heart of you, His honoured and beloved servant, to carry out such a noble scheme to the glory of God.—How often, when tempted to indulge in the sin of unbelief, has the thought of my six years' sojourn on Ashley Down come across my mind like a gleam of sun shine. There, the clothes I wore, the food I ate, the bed I slept on, and the walls around me, were all in answer .to believing prayer. What better prescription for any Iinfidel, than to go to Ashley Down Orphan House and enquire into its working ! Ay, and what better pres cription for the doubting, wavering child of God ! I pray, none of us Orphans, who have been sheltered there, I will be found wanting in that great day, when we shall iall stand around the throne of God, and you, dear Sir, will receive the reward of all your labours of love. May we all be there to thank you, as we have never done on earth !—I hope your health is good and that of your 'family, together with your fellow-helpers in the Lord, i May the Lord Jehovah strengthen you still further, and (fill you with all joy and comfort in our Saviour Jesus ' Christ, is ever the loving prayer of one of your unworthy "Orphans****." April 18. From a former Orphan, now in Australia, £3. 16s. 6d. The donor has been for about 25 years a believer. —April 22. From the neighbourhood of Wey- bridge, £45., with £5. for my own expenses.—April 24. Legacy of the late Mr. W. S. £90. May 1 6. From one of the former male Orphans, with a grateful letter, £6.—May 18. For the support of twenty-five Orphans for one year £315. 4s. 2d.—May 25. From a lady in Warwickshire £200. This is not the first time, that the same kind donor, though an entire stranger to me, has sent me a similar large donation, thus proving that we do not wait on the Lord in vain, when day by day we ask Him that He would graciously be pleased to supply us with the means needed for this great work.— May 26. Legacy of the late Mrs. S. B. S. £45. During • A.D. 1876.] 125 this year we have received the payment of many legacies, which God has been pleased to use, as one of the various means, whereby our large expenses have been met. In almost all these cases, of legacies being left to this Insti- tution, the kind testators or testratrixes were entire strangers to me.—There were also again, during this year, received many hundreds of articles, either for use ot sale for the benefit of the Orphans. Scarcely any of these articles have been referred to. Christian friends have not only considered what jewellery, coins, and other needless articles they might send to us for sale, but also how they might furnish us with useful articles or pro- visions for the benefit of the Orphans. In several cases ; Christian ladies also meet, at stated times, to work for the benefit of the Orphans. By the sale of articles, sent for sale, we have from the beginning up to May 26, 1876, obtained £18,384. 2s. 9$d. The total of the expenses for the Orphans alone, during the year, was £25,874. 15s, 14d. Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred Kw and Forty Two Orphans, who Were under our care during” the year, from May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, ete. During the past year also, the Lord was pleased to supply us again bountifully, in the riches of His grace, with all we needed for the support of the Orphans, though we require now for this one branch of the Insti- tution alone about Twenty-Six Thousand Pounds sterling yearly. As the days come, so we make, in child-like ; simplicity, our supplications to Him, for all we need, not | only with reference to money, but regarding all our other requirements ; and He is graciously pleased to prove to « us day by day, that He listens to our supplications, and | sends to us accordingly what we need. Bo Him we look , for the helpers in this work, and He sends them tous, though sometimes we have long to call upon Him, before , the answer comes ; for to our profit and the glory of His , own name, He is sometimes pleased to try our faith and : patience. When we need suitable masters for the boys, who are to be apprenticed, we give ourselves to prayer; . and He answers our prayers. For suitable Christian 126 [A.D. 1876. families, to whom we wish to send the girls, when they are fit for situations, we also wait upon the Lord in prayer ; and thus also, in many hundreds of instances, have we found, that we have not waited upon Him in vain. We do not think ourselves sufficient in ourselves, as to wisdom to meet all the numberless difficult cases, connected with such a large Institution, and we therefore go to our Heavenly Father for wisdom and grace to meet all the many exigencies connected with this service ; and even as to this, we have to state to the praise and honour of His name, that we have received help from Him as the result of prayer. Often we have also been greatly exercised by sickness among the children, sickness of some of the helpers, and other afflictions, which the Lord has been pleased to allow to befall the Institution ; but in all these various positions and circumstances, how ever painful and trying, our universal remedy of prayer and the exercise of faith in God has been sufficient ; and so it comes, that this Institution not only still exists, but as much as ever, if not more than ever, enjoys the Lord's help and blessing. I will here now only refer to a few of the ways in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means for the support of the Orphans who were under our care, but give only about one out of every hundred donations, simply as specimens. June 3. From the neighbourhood of Sherborne, a diamond ring. — June 5. From Ireland, a set of artificial teeth, set in gold, and two pieces ditto.—During the past year also, as for many years before, artificial teeth, set in gold, have been sent, and thus again a considerable sum has been obtained by the sale of the dentist gold.— June 10. From West Hartlepool £45.—June 21. From Elberfeld 110 Mark, 15 Mark, 3 Mark and 3 Mark.— June 23. From Neuchatel, Switzerland, £16. —June 30. From Westbury-on-Trym £50. July 1. On account of the residue of the estate of Mr. T. M. left by his will to the Orphans, £1500.— July 5. Legacy of the late Miss P. £1000, less duty.— July 7. £10. 10s. from one of the former pupils of the first boys' school of the Scriptural Knowledge Institu tion, who has repeatedly sent a similar donation.— July 7. From Wolverhampton, 4 large cheeses. July 10. From London £100. —July 17. Legacy of the late Miss A.D. 1876.] 127 C. R. B. £306. 4s.—Legacy of the late T. P., Esq. £150. — July 18. From Liverpool, a ton of soap. —July 19. £100. from the late Mrs. A. H. D.—July 22. From Devonshire £103. 7s. — July 24. From Maidstone £77. 6s. 4d. —By sale of gold and silver articles, dentist gold and diamonds, £120.—From Birmingham, 4 dozen table spoons, 4 dozen dessert spoons, 6 dozen tea spoons, 1 dozen gravy spoons, all of Nickel silver, —July 28. £12. 10s. "instead of insuring 500 acres against hail storms." Aug. 12. By sale of gold and silver articles £39. 10s. —Aug. 16. As the remainder of the legacy of the late Mr. T. M. £594. 6s. 10d. I never saw Mr. T. M., yet received from him through his will and by donations in his lifetime, for the benefit of the Orphans, altogether about £8000. This is the way, in which we are helped ; but all as the result of prayer and trust in the living God. Did all the dear children of God enter into the blessedness of committing all their matters to Him in prayer, and exercise faith in His power and willingness to help them, they would walk more happily and more easily through this world.—Aug. 18. From China £15.— Aug. 22. From London £100.—Aug. 29. £5. with the following letter : " At the annual meeting of the work men employed at E—, W.— and H. Collieries, it was resolved to send Five Pounds to the Orphan Asylum on Ashley Down, as a thank-offering, there having been no fatal accident at one of these works for the last two years." Sep. 5. £50. as the legacy of the late Miss E. H.—Sep. 6. From Ireland from a commercial house £5. " Saved by non-insurance of goods from sea risk for the months of July and August."—Sep. 23. From Zurich 50 Francs, 20 Francs, 20 Francs and 10 Francs.—Sep. 27. Received the following letter from one of the former Orphans, now in service : " Dear and respected Sir, As the anniversary of your birthday has returned once more, may I beg to take the liberty of wishing you very many happy returns of the day, and I hope your valuable life may be spared for many years, to carry on that great work. It is now a little over two years since I left that Happy Home. I often look back on the many happy hours I spent within those walls, and the many Christian privileges I there enjoyed. There are many temptations which beset my 128 [A.D. 1876. path, but I am thankful I have found a Friend in Jesus who is able to help me through them all. I am glad to tell you I am in a comfortable situation, and have a very kind master and mistress ; and my prayer is, that I may study to obey them, in return for their kindness. I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me whilst I was under your fatherly care, and also my dear sisters and brothers, who are still in that Happy Home ; but I hope the time will come, when we shall all gather around the throne of God, with all the dear Orphans, where you will receive your happy reward. May I ask you to give my love to dear Mrs. Miiller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and all the dear teachers and matrons of No. V. Hoping you are enjoying good health, I remain your grateful Orphan,****." I received very many such letters from Orphans on this day.—Sep. 28. From Canton Zurich 40 Francs and from Mannedorf 10 Francs.—Sep. 29. From Zurich 15 Francs.—Sep. 30. From C. E., Zurich, 20 Francs. Oct. 2. £40 as " God's Tenth " from Torquay.—Oct. 16. From the neighbourhood of Stoneham as a "Harvest thank-offering" £8. 5s.— Oct. 19. From " Nemo " £50. —Oct. 21. From the neighbourhood of Barnstaple 10 barrels of apples. —Oct. 23. From young Christians at Dundee £26. 8s. 1d.—Oct. 28. Received £5., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Some time ago we marked off our books a very old debt of £11. 12s. 6d., which we had every reason to believe we should never receive. We had tried our utmost to get the debt paid, without success. It so happened that a few weeks ago I bought your last Report, and have been much refreshed by the perusal ; and a week ago, on turning over the pages of one of the ledgers, I came across the name of the above debtor. I at once thought, I will ask the Lord to send | that in, and, if it comes, £5. shall go to Mr. Miiller's V Orphans. I therefore wrote a letter to the man in the | most simple terms, asking him to remit the amount, and posted it with an earnest prayer to the Lord. This morning, to the utmost amazement of our cashier, a cheque has come to hand. Be good enough to accept £5. of it for the Lord's direct service in your hands. I ' cannot say, how much this has encouraged me. I re main yours faithfully,****." A.D. 1876.] 129 -Nov. 6. Received £1. with the following letter :— *¢ Honoured Sir, Will you kindly accept the inclosed £1., as a thank-offering for recovery from deafness. I had been deaf for six weeks and was going to-day to see a surgeon about it. Thank God! I awoke this morning as if in another world, after the silence I had been living in. How thankful I felt to the giver of all good for so many mercies to me! Please to accept my grateful thanks for receiving my little nieces into your Orphan Houses. I hope to be able, if health continues, to send my mite every year, and will ever pray God, to bless the Orphan’s friend and the work. Pan, sir, your grateful and humble servant,****.” Received £303. 14s. 5d. as the legacy of the late B. A. D., Esq.—Nov. 7. Received £1. with the following letter: “Dear Mr. Miiller, I here- with enclose a Post Office Order for £1. It is a thank- offering to Almighty God for His great goodness in relieving my dear daughter of a violent face-ache, Believe me, dear sir, your humble servant,****,”— Legacy of the late J. T., Esq., £194. 148 less duty.— Nov. 10. From twenty-seven donors at Largs and the neighbourhood, £25. 7s. 6d.—Nov. 11. From various donors at Schaffhausen 100 Francs.—Nov. 14. From Scotland 4 bales of cloth Nov. 15. Received 15s. with the following letter: “My dear Mr. Miller, Twenty- eight years ago, while at school in Devonshire, another boy and I took some money out of a box, into which we were required to put fines for certain misdemeanors. This money was to have been forwarded to you for the | work among the Orphans. Since then many and varied 4 have been my experiences, temporal and spiritual: the . latter including even the extremes of Ritualism, con- fession to a priest (so-called), &c. During the course of this latter, I had occasion to confess the above sin, and ° was told by the priest to make restitution by sending you the money. My object in writing to you now is, to tell you, that what the voice of man failed to do, the voice of God (speaking by His servant) has done. In other words, having now been brought to trust in the Precious Saviour (and not in His pardon handed down through a fellow-sinner), I have been led to see, that it is right to send you this money. I may just say, that the means God has used, to bring me to a decision on - G3 a 130 [A.D. 1877. this matter, is a sermon I heard this morning from Mr. A., who is now holding a Mission in this city. He preached powerfully from the case of Zaccheus, and spoke strongly of the necessity of reparation for any wrong done oefore conversion to God. The wrong I had done you (or rather the poor little Orphans) became powerfully impressed upon my mind, and although the amount is but a small one, that does not of course affect the principle of the thing. Be kind enough, therefore, ! beloved brother in Jesus, to accept this exceedingly tarSy but genuine reparation for wrong done so long ago.—I was much delighted to hear of your interesting work in St. Gallen, Switzerland. May God abundantly bless you in your work in building up the saints, in preaching the Word to sinners, and in training the dear Orphans ! Such is the heart-felt prayer of your affectionate brother in Christ,****." The matter referred to in the previous letter is of deep importance. To the utmost of our power reparation is to be made. Should the persons, whom we have wronged, not be living, their heirs are to be sought ; and should they not to be found, to God's poor or His work the money is to be given. Should the transgressor not have strength enough to do it, giving his name, it would be better to do it anonymously than not at all, or to use a friend, to act on his behalf.—Nov. 18. From Basel 500 Francs and 230 Francs.—Nov. 29. From Tobago £5.—Nov. 23. From the neighbourhood of London a diamond ring. Dec. 9. From a Bristol Wholesale House, sent for the children's Christmas treat, 60 half boxes of raisins.— From a Bristol donor, for the children's Christmas puddings, 1 barrel of currants, 16 half boxes of raisins, and 8 barrels of flour.—Dec. 13. From Cheltenham £60. —Dec. 16. Received £114. 9s. for the support of nine Orphans for one year, with £10. 10s. for myself. —Legacy of the late Mrs. T. £373. 19s. 2d.—Dec. 21. The first annual instalment on account of the legacy of the late G. W., Esq., £200.—Dec. 28. From Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, £55. 4s. —Dec. 30. From various friends at Durdham Down, a large quantity of useful articles, as Christmas presents for the Orphans. Jan. 1, 1877. Legacy of the late Miss P., of Ireland, £2000 new 3 per cent. Government Stock, less legacy • A.D. 1877.] 131 duty. I had not even heard the name of this lady, till I received the information about this legacy being left. —Jan. 9. From believers meeting at the Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £32. 2s. 3d4—Jan. 11. From Car- marthenshire £100.—Jan. 17. From Cornwall £1. 18s. “ Instead of insuring against fire or sea-damages in any Company.”—Jan. 19. From London, a gold watch and chain, half for Missions and half for the Orphans.—Jan. 20. From Denmark £1.—Jan. 22. £12. 148, 4d. with these words: “From believers, whose abstinence from intoxicating drink and tobacco enables them to defray the costs of an Orphan’s support, without prejudice to other obligations.”—From Havre, France, £4.—Jan. 24. From Leamington £100. , Feb. 6. £300 (less duty) as the legacy of the late Miss H. E. C.—Feb. 7. From Yorkshire £200.—Feb. 9. From Brighton £5. as “ A thank-offering for being raised from a bed of severe sickness.—Feb. 10. Legacy of the late Mr. T. F. of Beverley, Canada, 200 dollars —-Feb. 13. From Basle £25.—Feb. 14. From Basle, four rings, a broach, two pairs of earrings, a single earring, and a part of a ring.—Feb. 15. From Diisseldorf 100 Mark. March 1. Received from Ireland from a house of busi- ness £5. 12s. 6d. as “‘ Marine Insurance for January.”— March 5. From eleven donors in Taronaki, New Zealand, £11. 198. 6d.—March 9. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, 6s. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, May I be allowed the great Privilege of writing to you, hoping it will find you and dear Mrs. Miiller quite well, and all the teachers. It is thirteen years, since I left that dear House, and I can look back with pleasure to the happy time I spent there ; for it was there I learnt to know Jesus as my Saviour, and I can still rejoice in Him. Will you please, dear sir, to accept of the inclosed five shillings, to be used as you think best, also one shilling for two Reports, for which I desire to thank you. Please to remember me gratefully to Mrs. Miiller. Allow me, dear sir, to remain your -grateful Orphan,****,”—I have given this and the other letters, received from former Orphans, as the best illus- tration of the blessing of God, resting upon the Orphan | work ; and also, because they show, in what a position we stand towards them, even after they have left the 132 [A.D. 1877. Orphan Houses. Only a few such letters have been here referred to, out of the many, which we received during the year ; also only a few of the donations, re ceived from former Orphans, have been mentioned, out of the many, which we received during the year. —March 10. Received £3. 3s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, enclosed is a Post Office Order for £3. 3s. for support of Orphans, wishing you the Lord's continued blessing. The above is from a fund laid by in proportion to my weekly returns. I can say with regard to lending to the Lord, none gives such interest as He. Yours sincerely,****." I make a few remarks on this letter. 1. I again commend to such of the Christian readers, who are not already in the habit of giving to the poor or the Lord's work, in proportion as the Lord is pleased to give to them, through their business or profession, through presents, through legacies, etc., to do so. That is the way of obtaining blessing to our souls, because we act according to the principle laid down in I Cor. xvi, 2. " Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him." In this way we find that double, if not tenfold, is the blessing which we receive from God, when he prospers us in temporal things; and it is one of the ways in which we honour Him with our temporal things ; whilst, j if this is not done, and we keep all, or almost all, to ; ourselves, then the very prosperity in temporal things will be found to be injurious to the inner man. It is just this, why Christians should be in such earnestness on this point, and be habitually returning to the Lord for His work or His poor as He may prosper them. Should it, however, be said, How much shall I give of • that which I receive ? The answer is, the Holy Scrip- • tures of the New Testament lay down no rule. It is left to the children of God, to act according to the measure of knowledge and grace they have received. The ap preciation of what God has done for them in Christ should guide them. We have, however, not to lose sight of this, that, if the Israelite was commanded to give the tenth of all he received, and that the Israelite, in addition to this, had many other expenses, in con- (nection with his being a worshipper of the true and Living God, such as the not sowing the seventh year, A.D. 1877.] 133 the going three times a year to the Lord's Tabernacle or Temple, etc. ; the believer in the Lord Jesus, who knows the power of His precious blood, shed for the remission of his sins ; who has the whole revealed will of God in his hands ; and who has received the Holy Ghost, and who is partaker of the heavenly calling, should certainly not do less than the Israelite. We should not say, that because we are not Jews, and because no commandment is given, that therefore we may do less than the Jews. Far be this from him, who knows the power of the precious blood of Christ ! My advice is this : If the reader has as yet but little knowledge and little grace, let him accordingly begin with a small percentage, yea, though it were ever so small a percentage, only let him be true to God, and put aside for Him habitually as He may be pleased to prosper him. In this way blessing for the soul will be reaped, will be abundantly reaped, and soon will the desire spring up in the heart, to in crease the proportion of returns to the Lord. This way will more and more lead the heart to such a state, to be only a steward for the Lord, and to be willing to stand with all we have and are before the Lord as His stewards. The great spiritual blessing, which I have received in my soul, from acting on these principles for more than forty-seven years, leads me to write as I do. Notice, 2. What the writer above says " The above is from a fund laid by in proportion to my weekly returns." The money thus set apart for the Lord, should be put aside, and" out of that, which is thus put aside, when calls come upon us, to give to the poor or to the Lord's work, we should then take. How different will it be, to take from such a store (provided we have not yet grace, to give all to the Lord if it were necessary) from what it would be, if there is the anxious reckoning, whether the gift can be afforded or not. 3. The writer further says : "I can say, with regard to lending to the Lord, none gives such interest as He." That will be found true, by all who act on these principles. The blessedness of this statement I have known for more than forty-seven years. We should not give, for the sake of receiving, but only to please the Lord ; yet this is God's way of acting, and according to the plain teaching of the New Testament, which states ; " Give, and it shall 134 [A.D. 1877. be given unto you ; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." Luke vi., 38. April 5. From Christian friends at Frankfurt-on-the- Maine 180 Mark or £9.—April 9. £2. as "A thank- offering to Almighty God for an increase of salary."— April 14. From Nottinghamshire 10s. with this letter : "Dear Sir, Will you kindly accept the enclosed 10s. for the Orphanage. I have been induced, through the reading of one of your Reports, to increase that portion of my earnings, which I usually give unto the Lord, that I might thus occasionally visit the Orphans at Bristol in their affliction. I am, Dear Sir, yours truly, ****."— April 19. From Rio de Janeiro £3. 1s. 7d. —April 21. From Warminster £1. 1s. 6d. " By sale of flowers, culti vated for the Orphans."—April 27. From Yorkshire £200. May 1. "From a Christian Mariner" £32. 10s.— May 5. From Ireland £100.—May 16. From the neighbourhood of Weybridge £100.—£1. instead of paying it " For insuring of plate glass."—May 19. £300. as the legacy of the late Miss M. D.—May 21. From Nymwegen, Holland, 10 florins, 10 florins and 86 florins and 11 cents., in all £8. 17s. —May 24. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £100.—May 26. From S.S. £100. There were also again, during the past year, received many hundreds of articles, either for use or sale for the benefit of the Orphans. Scarcely any of these articles have been referred to, but for those, which were for sale, we realized £597. 11s. Christian friends have not only considered what jewellery, coins, and other needless articles they might send to us for sale, but also how they might furnish us with useful articles or provisions for the benefit of the Orphans. The total of the expenses for the Orphans alone, during the past year, was £25,714. 0s. Means for the support of the Two Thousand One Hundred and Ninety Three Orphans who were under our care from May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, etc. Year after year God is pleased to help us in the Orphan work also, as well as with regard to the other A.D. 1877.] 135 objects of the Institution ; and, in some respects, the help may appear even the more manifest, as the require ments are so large ; for we require now for the support of the Orphans and the keeping the large buildings in repair the yearly sum of Twenty-Six Thousand Five Hundred Pounds and upwards, all of which we have to look for alone from our Heavenly Father, who invariably has helped us. But He not only provides us with money, in answer to prayer, but He finds the assistants also, who are needed to take care of the Orphans ; and various answers to prayer we have had in this respect during the past year, as several helpers had to leave on account of sick relatives, who required their help, or were ill them selves, or were married, or had to give up their situations for other reasons. We are also, every year, entirely de pendent upon God when infantine diseases break out among the children. Just now, while I am writing this, many children are ill in the measles ; but God helps, in answer to prayer. And thus it is in scarlet fever, so common to children, whooping cough, etc. I refer to this, because many of our friends may suppose, that money is almost all we want. We also need yearly very many suitable situations that both boys and girls may be placed out, as we only send them to Christian families. This often brings us in prayer to God, and has not a little exercised our faith. The training, however, of the Orphans, above all, needs much prayer and much exercise of faith, and makes it continually necessary to go to the Lord for the needed wisdom ; for, " who is sufficient for these things ? " June 6, 1877. Received for the painting, etc., of the Five Orphan Houses, the valuable donation of 14 cwt. and 66 lbs. of white lead, 2 cwt. and 53 lbs. of driers; 132 lbs. of ochre, 7 lbs. of venetian red, 28 lbs. of black paint, 28 lbs. of putty, and 28 lbs. of umber.—June 7. From a servant of the Lord Jesus in Ireland £1. 14s. 7d. While he dines with his family, a box is handed round, each time, in which each member of the family places something according to ability, as a, token of gratitude to God for the present meal, and in sympathy with the Orphans who need to be provided for. From time to time these contributions have now been sent us for about two years.—Received from New Zealand, a gold watch, -' 136 [apD. 1877. a gold chain, a ring set with stones, a collar stud, a mourning ring, a diamond pin, and a pin set with a stone.-—June 12. From Staffordshire, 46 pairs of boots. —June 14. A gold repeater—From a former pupil of the first Boys’ School of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti- ; tution for Home and Abroad, £10. 10s—June 21. A wagon load of firewood.— £10. with the following letter, from a considerable distance: “ Dear Sir,—Four years since I sent you a trifle for your Orphanage. Since then I have been in various situations and have not been able to send you more; but owing to a severe illness last Christmas I have been obliged to ‘sell a little property I had. I told the Lord, if it realised a certain amount, I | would send you ten pounds. To the surprise of all who knew it, I succeeded in getting the sum, so I have great pleasure in forwarding you that amount. Trusting you may be long spared to continue the great work you have undertaken for His glory, believe me, yours in the love of Jesus, ****,”—Here, esteemed readers, you have another proof, how God cares for us, in answer to our daily supplications ; and what He does for us, He is ready to do for all His children who confide in Him. July 9. £7. 10s. “Instead of insuring 300 acres against hailstorms.”—July 11. From Berkshire, 2 sets of artificial teeth set in gold—July 14. From Liverpool 15 half boxes of yellow soap, and 5 half boxes of mottled ditto.—July 18. A large box of drapery.—July 23. From Limerick £7. 10s., “Instead of marine insurance for April, May and June.”-—July 25. From a mariner a _ diamond and ruby ring.—July 31. Legacy of the late G. H. Esq., £500. This gentleman, who kindly left the legacy, was an entire stranger to me.—Legacy of the late Mr. H. J. O., £206. 6s. 6d. From Dundee, 6 pieces of material.—Aug. 7. From School-children at Danielstown, Essequibo, £1. 0s. 10d. —Aug. 8. Five casks of vinegar. Thesame donors have for several years very kindly supplied the Orphan Houses gratuitously with all the vinegar needed in the five. houses.—Aug. 14. The following letter was received from a young man, one of the former Orphans: “ Dear and Honoured Sir,—Another Orphan, who has known the happiness of being an inmate of one of the dear Orphan Houses, committed to your care, would desire ~~ A.D. 1877.] 137 the privilege of writing to thank you for your kind care while I was there, and for all the comforts and enjoy ments, which I shared with my companions. I would also express my heartfelt gratitude to you, for the com fortable situation in which I was placed, and for the very nice outfit I was provided with. I trust the instruction that I received whilst in that Happy Home will never be forgotten by me. I often look back with pleasure to my schoolboy days ; for it was the happiest time of my life ; and I trust I shall be enabled to repay you in a small measure for all your love and kindness toward me, whilst under your paternal care, for I was very happy there, and often regret leaving that Happy Home ; but I know it is right for me to get my living now.— Dear Sir, I have served my five years' apprenticeship, and I am out of my time, and I shall feel very thankful to you, if you would be so kind as to send my indentures. May the Lord abundantly bless you, dear Sir, and still spare you to be the Orphans' friend, and crown your un tiring efforts with great success in the conversion of souls. —Will you please to accept my kind love and sincere regards for all you have done for me, and remember me to Mrs. Muller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Mr. French, and to all the kind teachers connected with the great work. I am, dear sir, your grateful Orphan ****."—Aug. 16. Legacy of the late Mrs. E. M. £50. —Legacy of the late Mrs. P. £100.—Aug. 22. From Brush Manufacturers, 12 bass brooms, 11 flat ditto, 2 hair brooms, 6 scrubbers, 18 whisk brooms, 100 shoe brushes, 12 black lead ditto, 4 dandy ditto, 12 bannister ditto, 216 scrubbing ditto, some slate pencils, 1 bucket, 1 tub, 4 toy buckets, 1 housemaid's box, and 3 mats of damaged clogs and pattens.—-Aug. 24. Legacy of the late A. H. Esq., £100. —Aug. 25. From Maidstone £73. 7s. 4d.—Aug. 28. Received £1. with the following letter, from one of the former Orphan Boys who many years since was ap prenticed, and who several years ago finished his ap prenticeship : "Dear and honoured Sir,—I beg to thank you very much for a copy of this year's Report, which I received a day or two since. Please accept the enclosed P.O.O. for £1., which is made payable to your order, and apply it to the Object for which it is most needed. —I thankfully take another opportunity of acknowledg 138 [A.D. 1877. ing the goodness of God to me in the past, first by placing me in the Orphan Home, afterwards by leading me to Himself, and then in His guidance ever since I left the Home. I have, indeed, special cause for grati tude to Him, and I trust I may be enabled to live to His praise in my future life. Please accept my kindest wishes for the prosperity of the Institution, and for the spiritual welfare of you and yours. I am, dear Sir, your obedient Orphan ****." " P.S. Please remember me to the masters in No. 1." Sept. 11. From labourers in the Gospel in Italy £2. 11s. 5d.—Sept. 12. £5. from the workmen employed at Easton, Whitehall and Hanham Collieries, as a thank- offering for being preserved from fatal accidents during the past twelve months.—Sept. 19. From Leicester £2. with the following letter : " Dear Sir,—I feel great pleasure in being able again to send you a little towards the support of the Orphans under your care. It appears to me like putting a drop in the ocean ; but I pray, the Lord will help many to do likewise. After I sent to you last, I felt very anxious to help you, if it were but a little at a time ; so I asked the Lord to provide something for me to do ; and He has provided just the work He knew would suit me best in Leicester ; and I often feel sur prised, that I get on so well, and get as much as I can do. But I know I am working for a good Master, who has promised to help all who ask Him. I will enclose I you a Post Office Order for £2., being sixpence out of every dozen pairs of slippers I bind. We get many different prices, according to the size and quality ; but I thought whether I get little or much, the Lord has a right to what I have sent, and hope He will help me to keep on working for Him, as He knows it gives me great pleasure to help you. I was not able to get any of the work until last Easter, and from that time I have had 80 dozen to bind. Etc." Here we again see what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to use for our help, and how even poor and hard working persons, in answer to our prayers, are led to assist us by their earnings. His name be magnified for all His kindness to us ! While I am writing this, I am labouring in the Word in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Here I do what I have done for 44 years for the Institution, and this is all I ever did N A.D. 1877.] 139 do, ever would do, viz., I wait upon God for help, together with my dear wife, entreating Him that He' would be pleased to send means for the Work. Forty- four years God has been pleased to help with pecuniary means, and in every other way, and I fully believe He will help us to the end, and not suffer us to be con founded. In Him we trust, to Him alone we look, and to Him we make known our requests with thanksgiving. Our expenses are exceedingly great; but I tell our Heavenly Father about it. One donor after the other, who once helped us much, has been removed by the Lord, or has lost the ability to help us, or his means are directed into other channels ; but God remains who has never failed us, though we have times without number had no means at all. —From Southport £1. 11s., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, On behalf of my husband and myself, I forward, with sincere pleasure, our yearly donation of a penny a day for your Orphan Houses, and sixpence for the Report, which we received a few days since. We are glad to find by it, that your great Work is still being upheld and prospered by God in whom you have so long and so fully trusted ; and that you have been so much blessed in, and refreshed by, your own special work of preaching in different countries. So may it continue, that for many years to come there may be such a living unanswerable witness to the truth, that there is a God who answers prayer and honours faith. We are, Dear Sir, yours most sincerely,****." £1. as a thank-offering from a Christian gentleman's servant, who had received £50. as a present for faithful service.—Sept. 22. Legacy of the late Miss A. E. J. £50. —Sept. 26. From Liverpool, a diamond ring.—Sept. 29. Received £11. 12s. 6d., with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Muller, I send for the Orphans a cheque for £11. 12s. 6d. It is the amount of a claim which I could not recover by legal process, and had repeatedly made application for, without success. Seeing in your last Report, under date Oct. 28, 1876 (page 19), the account of the recovery of £11. 12s. 6d., I resolved to apply for the amount of my claim (as above) with the secret in tention of sending it, if recovered, to the Orphans. Ac cordingly I sent the particulars in writing under an envelope, addressed ' private,' and without a word of . 140 [A.D. 1877. application ; and by the very neat post I received a cheque for the amount, with the debtor's compliments and a stamped envelope for my acknowledgment in return ; so that the whole amount came without the loss of a single penny. The coincidence of thesame amount (£11. 12s. 6d.) in each case appears most extraordinary, but I vouch for the precise accuracy of this statement. I remain, Yours faithfully and respectfully,****.”—The following letter is from one of the former Orphan Boys articled to a branch postmaster, as a telegraph clerk: “ Dear and Honoured Sir, It is a very great pleasure to be able to write a few lines to you and thank you for all you have done for me during the eight years I was under your | kind and fatherly care in the dear Orphan Home, which I have left now for five months. Dear Sir, I am glad to tell you it was in the Orphan House I learnt to love my dear Saviour ; but it was only a few months before I left. I wish it had been sooner. I am still rejoicing in Him, and I have taken a firm grasp of His kind loving hand, which, by God’s grace, I hope never to let go.—I thank you very much for the nice comfortable situation as a Telegraph Clerk, in which I have been placed. I am getting on very nicely, and will endeavour to continue so. I have such a kind Christian master and mistress, and they do all they can to make me happy. —May the Lord, dear Sir, continue to strengthen and cheer you in your work of faith and labour of lovein which you are engaged for Him. May I ask your acceptance of my respectful love, and kindly remember me with the same to beloved Mrs. Miiller, Mr. Wright, Mrs. Wright, and to all your co-operators in that great work of yours. I remain, Dear and Honoured Sir, your grateful Orphan,****,” Oct. 12. From Scotland £3., as “A thank-offering for special answers to prayer, during a period of sad be- reavement.” Legacy of the late Mrs. H. £1,000.—From Burnham, £50.—From the Hague, £1. 10s.—Oct. 16. From Yorkshire, £100.—Oct. 18. From Ireland, £8. 6s. 3d., as “Marine Insurance for August and September, saved by not taking insurance policy out for goods sea-borne.”—Oct. 19. Legacy of the late Mr. B., of Philadelphia, U.S.A., 5,000 dollars = £1,002. Os. 1d. Mr. B. insured his life for 5,000 dollars in the ~, A.U. 1877.] 141 year 1868, with the intention that the amount should be paid for the benefit of the Orphans on Ashley Down. The testator died on Nov. 20, 1874; but I had never heard the least about this. On my arrival in the United States of America I was preaching on Sep. 10, 1877, in Dr. Budington's Church in Brooklyn, when a slip of paper was handed to me, on which it was stated, that if I would apply at such and such a place in Philadelphia, I might obtain this legacy of 5,000 dollars. I did so, and after some time obtained in full the amount. Thus, my being led of the Lord to labour for a season in the United States in word and doctrine, was also used as a means of obtaining the payment of this legacy. But this was not all. In New York, in Brooklyn, in Phila delphia, in Baltimore and in other cities in the United States, I had the joy of seeing Orphans^ who had been brought up under my care, some of whom had walked in the ways of the Lord for a number of years, and one of them for about thirty. I saw also a gentleman, who ' told me the following deeply interesting facts, which a | few days afterwards he had printed, and sent me. I ; give the narrative verbatim, as it will interest the Christian reader. REMARKABLE USEFULNESS OF ONE OF MR. MULLER'S ORPHANS." LlNDALE, Modoc County, California, October 7, 1877. To the Editor of the " Witness." The report of Mr. Miiller's addresses in Dr. Buding ton's Church, as given in a late copy of the " Witness," calls to my mind some pleasant remembrances. During the war I spent some time at Washington, N.C., as agent of the Christian Commission. Having been informed that there was a band of earnest Christian seamen on board of the gunboat "Louisiana," then guarding the town, I improved the earliest opportunity to visit the vessel. On being introduced to them by one of the officers, the young men gathered about me, and spoke of the great joy they found in the service of Christ. Their whole conversation was religious. With no marks of fanatical enthusiasm, they seemed literally filled with Christian zeal. The interest I felt in them at the first 142 [A.D. 1877. introduction was greatly enhanced on learning from one of their number, by name Wilkinson, that he was one of. Mr. Miiller's Orphans! (I had previously read Mr. Miiller's book, " The .Life of Trust," and was greatly interested in the Bristol Asylum.) Wilkinson I found to be the leading spirit, and the recognised head of this little Bethel church. He, it was, who some months before, when the cloud of impending battle was hanging over the ship's company, was one night pacing the deck with a comrade, when their conversation took a religious turn. Mutually impressed, they agreed to meet the following night in the " chain locker " for prayer. This was the beginning of one of the most remarkable series of meetings of which I have ever had any knowledge. The " chain locker " prayer-meetings were continued with increasing interest and attendance for about twenty months without the intermission of a single night. At a stated hour every day the whole company (the exact number of converts I am unable to state, but they were many) met to read God's Word, and to exchange views upon it, Wilkinson being the chief interpreter. He alone of the whole group had any previous knowledge of the Bible. Up to the age of fourteen years and a half he had been faithfully taught at the Orphan Asylum. At another stated hour of the day Wilkinson, with some selected helpers, met the coloured sailors belonging to the ship, and taught them reading, writing, &c. Wilkin son seemed to me, through several months of intimate acquaintance, to be a product of Mr. Miiller's faith. The calm confidence of God ; the method in his whole manner of life ; the persistence of purpose, and the quiet, spiritual power, which so characterise the founder of the Bristol Asylum, were, in an eminent degree, charac teristics of my young friend, An incident illustrates the quality above mentioned. On one occasion he, with two other sailors, was detailed to make an awning for the ship, the work to be performed in a sail-loft on shore. The two associates were very rough, wicked men, and to sit down in their company, and be compelled for two weeks to listen to their lewd and profane conversation, was to Wilkinson no light affliction. At the time, he spoke of it with great depression. It was to him a provi dence he could not understand. But God had a purpose. AD. 1877.] 143 His manner with his unconverted shipmates was com- ‘ monly characterised by extreme reticence, so, during his - stay in the sail-loft, he took scarce any part in their , conversation ; but it happened that a single sentence dropped from his lips by which the Spirit of God carried { conviction home to the hearts of both his comrades, . Before the two weeks were ended he led both of the ‘ men to my office for Christian counsel and prayer. , Both came to trust that God, of whom they had been ~ living in utter disregard, and almost utter ignorance. ” In three months from his conversion one of these men . had read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation. If Mr. Miiller were able to trace the work which, under God, the Bristol Orphan Asylum has accomplished in the world, he might well exclaim, “What hath God . wrought!” For some years I have lost sight of my ~ friend Wilkinson. If this should meet his eye, I would * be glad to hear from him. : J. R. HAMMOND. After my having preached the first time in Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, California, on April 26, 1878, Mr. Wilkinson, who has a respectable situation in that city, introduced himself to me. I had not seen him for about twenty years. He holds fast the Lord-Jtsus, andts-a happy Christian ; and, as he told me, is even happier now than during the American civil ° war, to which the preceding narrative refers. It was a real joy to me to meet this former Orphan, about 6,500 os miles from Bristol. I have to state, that thousands of : similar instances of blessing have been the result of our labours. While engaged on a preaching tour in England, Scotland, and Ireland, I met converted Orphans in every one of the large cities in which I preached, and sometimes f0-or 15 at once, who, after the service, came to shake Hands with’ m6, sdfmme of whom had left the Orphan Houses more than ten or fifteen years, and are now fathers or mothers of families. Thus we reap in a small degree even now ; but how vast will be the harvest in eternity ! Nothing has so abundantly shown to me the blessed results of my labours in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution as going from city to city, and from country to country, on my preaching 144 [A.D. 1877. tours. Ip every city in England, Scotland, and Ireland as where I reached: i had testimony from the mouth of multitudes of the great blessing which they have received through reading the Reports of the Institution, or the Narrative of the Lord’s Dealings with me, which contains the substance of the Reports. The same I found to be . the case in the sixty-eight cities where I preached in Switzerland, the German Empire, and in Holland, also in all the many cities in the United States of America, where I have been preaching. While I am writing this, ; I am in San Francisco in California, where I shall, God willing, be preaching some time, as well as in seven or eight other cities in California, and where such labours are greatly needed. I am now about 6,500 miles from Bristol ; but even here, though I have been only two days in the city of San Francisco, I have met already with many pastors of churches and other Christian gentlemen, who have been abundantly blessed, as they say, through reading the account of my trials of faith in connection with the Institution, and my practical remarks made regarding them. Thus, great as my expectations of blessing were, when I began this Institution more than forty-four years since, they have been increased a thousand {imes beyond my expectations. I refer to all this, in order that-Christions- labouring in any way for the Lord, may be encouraged to go on in their service, being assured that, if we seek to be vessels meet for the Master’s use, and go on patiently and perseveringly with our work, in due season we shall reap. Oct. 27. Four bags of oatmeal.—Oct. 30. From Malta £1, 12s.—From Scotland 100 pairs of boots, 10 wincey shirts, and 20 boxes of buttons. Nov. 1. From Wolverhampton, 5 tubs of butter.— Nov. 3. From Cheltenham £60.—From Berkshire £75. for the support of six Orphans for one year.—Nov. 7. £1. 0s. 6d. with the following letter: “Very dear and Honored Sir, Will you please to accept £1. for the dear Orphans? Our Heavenly Father has given us 34 chickens, and not one of them has been taken by the fox, although our neighbours have lost many. Please accept 6d. for the beautiful Report you kindly sent us. Hoping that your valuable life will be spared, to be the Orphans’ friend, is the prayer of your unworthy servants, A.D. 1877.] 145 ¥***,”__Nov. 8. From one of the former Orphans, who left 12 years and 4 months since, and has been a servant all this time in the same family, 15s.—Nov. 13. From Clifton £3., “instead of insuring the donor’s house.”— Nov. 14. From Almondsbury, 3273 apples.”—Nov. 15. Eight oil paintings, from a great distance, to be sold for ' the benefit of the Orphans.—Nov. 17. From London, 6 cases, containing a great variety of articles carved in wood.—Nov. 21. From Stoke Newington, London, £1. 15s, “being the amount it would have cost to keep a dog for 12 months,” and 10s. weekly offerings.— Nov. 27. Legacy of the late Miss M. R. £300. less legacy duty. The testatrix I knew not personally, and, as far as I remember, not even by name. Thus it is with almost all the testators and testatrixes, who have kindly left legacies for the work. I request the reader kindly to observe, how many legacies were again paid to the Orphan Fund, during this year, and that was one especial means, which God was pleased to use, for furnishing us with means, to meet the large expenses for the support of the 2193 Orphans, under our care, during the year. Dec. 3. From Tunbridge Wells £10., with the followin letter : “ Dear Sir, Being on a visit to a friend here, ond happening to mention your ‘ Home,’ I was somewhat startled at her assuring me, that you had been obliged to shut up some of your houses on account of the want x of means to carry them on. Now as I feel certain that such is not the case (as your Heavenly Banker can never fail you, so long as the power of the prayer of faith is granted you), I thought I would ask you, or some of your kind helpers, to give me a few lines, refuting the error, into which my friend has been led. I referred her to your last Report, but was told, it had happened since Apri or May, up to which time your Report was carried. I can easily believe, that the Lord may have been trying your faith, and keeping your funds low, as He has often done ; but I will never believe (unless I hear it from yourself or those in your Establishment) that you have been led to shut up even one of your houses. I beg your acceptance of £10., praying that the Lord will bless you more than he has ever done. Believe me, dear Sir, ours sincerely, ****.” In reply it was stated to the lady who wrote this letter, that all_the five Orphan H 146 [A.D. 1877. Houses were in full working order on December 4, 1877 ; that since May 26, 1877, up to December 4, 1877, there had been received 101 Orphans, to fill up vacancies occasioned by sending out servants and apprentices, etc. ; and that in that very week, God willing, 15 more Orphans were expected to be received. Similar strange statements have often been made, even without a shadow of foundation. This too we take out of the hands of our Heavenly Father, seeking to exercise faith regarding it, and commit it in prayer to Him.—Dec. 5. Received £2. 1s. 6d., with the following letter: "My dear Sir, Taking an interest in your work, but being at present unable to assist by sending any regular remittances, it has occurred to me, to forward you each month the fees I receive in my professional capacity as "a commissioner to administer oaths," so that I may help forward in some small degree what, I am satisfied, is God's work. You should know (to appreciate the cause of any fluctuation in the amounts) that the fees for affidavits and declara tions taken by commissioners are unsought by them and come, as people say, 'by accident :' and therefore, what you may receive from time to time, you may justly con sider as sent to you direct from our Heavenly Father, I being merely the ' conduit pipe.' In order to draw the attention of my professional brethren to this method of ' doing God's service,' please enter my donation as " A solicitw's fees for affidavits taken in November, £2. 1s. 6d., etc." This is just another way, how God may work, in answer to prayer, in the hearts of His stewards ; and we are thus further and further encouraged to trust in Him. —From a Bristol wholesale house of business, 8 barrels of flour, 16 half-boxes of raisins, and 1 barrel of currants, for the Christmas puddings of the Orphans. —Dec. 10. For the support of 9 Orphans for one year £117. 9s. 0d., with £10. 10s. for myself.—Dec. 12. From London £5., with this statement : " Had I not adopted the principle of proportionate storing, you would not have had this £5." —Dec. 13. From a Bristol firm, 10 boxes of old raisins and 10 boxes of new ditto.—Dec. 14. From Wolver- hampton, 5 sacks of oatmeal.—Dec. 17. Legacy of the late Mr. E. M. L. £500. less duty.—Dec. 19. From the neighbourhood of London £290., with £10. for myself. —Dec, 20. From a Bristol firm, for a Christmas treat to A.D. 1877.] 147 the children, 40 boxes of fruit and 10 boxes of oranges. This, and the other presents in oranges and fruit, will give to the reader a little idea of the greatness of the work ; for, immense as all this may appear, even for the largest family circle, in our case it goes but a little way. Even a comparatively small treat to these two thousand Orphans, with their teachers and other helpers, takes £50. or more.—Dec. 21. A lady in Clifton very kindly sent again, as many years previously, a large quantity of toys for the children, as a Ghristmaa present.—Dec. 22. From Bath £63. 1s. for the support of five Orphans for one year.—From a Bristol firm, 20 boxes of oranges; and from another, 3 boxes of oranges.—Dec. 26. £1. from one of the former Orphan girls, now in service, with the following letter: ‘Dear and Honoured Sir ; I am very thankful, at this happy season of the year, to have the privilege of writing to you, and asking you, kindly to accept the enclosed Post Office Order for £1. for the Orphans. I remember with what delight we, who have left the Orphan Houses, used to look forward to Christmas, and how we enjoyed the treats, you so kindly provided for us. Though those happy times have passed, yet, in the memory of them we sometimes seem to live and to enjoy them over again. How thankful we all ought to be to our Heavenly Father for having pro- vided such a home for us, when He saw best to take our earthly parents from us. He has indeed, through you, fulfilled His promise to care for the fatherless. Please remember me gratefully to Mrs. Miiller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and Mr. Horne. That every Christmas joy and blessing may be yours, is the prayer of your grateful Orphan, ****,”—Dec. 31, 1877. From the pupils of a Grammar School, £12. 10s.—From a farm in the neigh- bourhood of High Wycombe £1. 4s., as “ A penny in the shilling, taken for Bg during the past year.”—From the neighbourhood of Sheffield 113 pairs of slippers. We were now brought to the close of another year. Very great and varied had been again, as usual, the blessings, which it had pleased the Lord to bestow upon us during the past year ; and having Him, as during the 44 ye f the existence of the Institution, as the Patron, who, during all those many years, at all times, and under the most difficult circumstances had proved | H2 , 148 [A.D. 1878. | to us, how blessed it is, to have Him as Patron, we looked peacefully forward to the next year, though we well new, how greatly we should need His help during the new year also. I now refer to a very few other instances, to show the readiness of the heart of our Heavenly Father, in answer to our daily believing supplications, to send us the needed means, during this year also, to meet our very heavy expenses for this greatest of all Orphan ‘ Institutions in the world. ; January 1, 1878. Already on the first day of this new year we received many donations for the support of our large Orphan Family, of which I will only refer to the following. From the neighbourhood of Glamorgan £30.— From Shrewsbury £10and£10.—From New Wimbledon, £13. 10s. for the support of one Orphan.—From London £25.—From Clifton £13., for the support of two Orphans for 6 months.—From a Sunday School at Wellington, New Zealand, £1. 5s—From New Zealand, a gold ring, a mourning ditto, a colonial gold ditto, and one set with onyx.—Jan. 5. From a Bristol donor £4. 148, 6d., with | the words : “ My gross receipts for the New Year's Day.” —From Wotton-under-Edge 16s., “The takings in my small shop on New Year's Day.”—From E. B. £1., as “ First cash taken in business this year.”—Jan. 7. From Norwich 232 scrubbing brushes, 14 leather mats, some stove shavings, 234 oil brushes, 22 whips and 22 dog collars.—From friends at Durdham Down a great variety of articles as Christmas presents for the Orphans.—From the neighbourhood of Manchester £5. 5s. as “The twelfth part of my year’s commission as a commercial traveller.”—Jan. 9. From a Christian former Orphan, an inmate 1850, £10., with the following letter to Mr. Wright : ‘‘Honoured Sir, When in New York in October last, I had the pleasure of crossing the ferry from Brooklyn to New York in company with Mr. Miller. At that time it was intended to fix the ship I commanded to Bristol, and I promised myself the pleasure of going to see the New Orphan Houses ; but a day or two after- wards I received orders to fix for Liverpool, and, on account of the death of my late employer, whom I have served for more than nine years, the ship I commanded was sold by the executors, so that I am thrown out of employment, and cannot avail myself of the pleasure of A.D. 1878.] 149 seeing the New Orphan Houses; but please accept the enclosed £10., to be used at your discretion, as a thank- offering unto the Lord for His numerous mercies during another voyage, and bringing me safely back to my — native land from the East Indies. We trust that the Lord is still blessing the labours of Mr. Miiller in America, and himself and Mrs. Miiller enjoying good health, also that yourself and Mrs. Wright are quite well, and, with Christian love, yours respectfully, ****.” —Jan. 12, From Basle £28.—Jan. 23. From London £1. 4s. “From a Solicitor for fees on affidavits, taken in December.”—Jan. 24. From the neighbourhood of Not- tingham, a lady’s gold watch set with diamonds and a gold chain, as ‘ Treasures in Heaven.” Matthew vi. 20. —Jan. 26. Friends through “The Religious Journal of Neuchatel” 100 Francs=£3. 19s. 4d.—Jan. 28. From Cheltenham £60.—From Canterbury, New Zealand, £6. .—Jan. 29. Legacy of the late Mrs. L., £100.—Jan. 30. From Scotland £8. 5s. This donation comes from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who has no property and no fixed salary or income whatever, and who for years has sent me for the benefit of the Orphans the fifth part of all that God is pleased to give to him in answer to prayer. x Feb. I. £7. 10s. with these words: “Being half-the- . money I took in prizes for my sheep, at different Christ- mas shows.”—Feb. 16. From Hopton, near Harling, from 36 Christian friends, £20.—From Adelaide, South Australia, £10.—From Kent £91. 7s. for the support of seven Orphans for one year.—Feb. 20. From Chichester, a diamond ring.—Feb. 21. £2. from London, ‘From a Solicitor for affidavits taken in January.”—Feb. 25. From York £200.—Feb. 26. £200. as the second instal- ment of the legacy of the late G. W., Esq. March 1. The total income for the support of the Orphans to-day was £8. 14s. 4}d., but the average expense, for each day, for this object alone, is £73. What is to be done under such circumstances? We do not ask friends to help us. We do not send out circulars to make known our need. We do not in the least, for the time being, refer to it, outside the Institution. We pray and seek to encourage ourselves in God. And similar days come often. Yea the money in hand may sink more and more, so that the appearance is, very re 150 [A.D. 1878. shortly we shall have nothing at all. And what do we then ? We still wait upon God and trust in Him, and in Him alone. He has helped, and helped above forty years, and we trust He will yet help us ; and thus we encourage ourselves in God. —March 8. From Limerick £20. " Being Marine Insurance on goods for November, December, January and February."—March 9. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £200.—March 16. The total income of to-day, for all the various Objects of the Institution, was only £10. 2s. 1½d., whilst the average expenses for one day, for all the Objects, amount to £124. per day. But our hope is in God, though our faith is tried.—March 22. From Hampshire £4. 7s. 1d., "Being one penny put by on each dozen of eggs sold, during the year."—From London £1. 11s. 9d. with this letter: "Dear and Honoured Sir, Enclosed I have the privilege to send you towards the support of the Orphans a cheque, value £1. 11s. 9d. (being " first fruits" on an increase of income, with 10s. added in gratitude to God, for the dis covery of a mistake, in answer to prayer). Permit me also to express my deep thankfulness, that I ever came across your " Narrative," which has been to me a very great blessing, as it has also been to several others, to whom I have sent it, or otherwise made it known. With much prayer, that God may yet more abundantly bless you and your work, and make your last days your best days, I am, my dear Sir, yours in the Lord Jesus ****."—March 26. £2. from the neighbourhood of London with this letter : " Dear Sir, It is with much pleasure I enclose a Post Office order for the sum of £2. for the Orphan Houses. When I sent last year, I thought it would be the last I should ever be able to send, as I was getting old and had left service, to live upon the hard earnings of nearly fifty years. It is now twelve months since I left. To my great surprise my late master sent for me last week and presented me with a handsome sum which has enabled me to double the amount, which 'I have sent before. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men ! I have had to plead with him during the past year, and tell Him that the silver and the gold were His, and all hearts were in His hands; and now He has done much more than I could ask or x A.D. 1878.] 151 think. What shall I render to Him for all His benefits ! Yours respectfully, ****." Apr. 3. From the Diamond Fields in South Africa .£6. —Apr. 4. £1. 10s., with this memorandum : " Part of the donation is the sum of a debt, recovered in the following way. Failing in all ordinary attempts to get the payment of his debt, Mr. B. resolved not to put the debtor in court, but to put the matter in the Lord's hands, with the further determination, that, if the money should be paid, he would devote it to the Lord's service. Shortly after this the bill was paid, and Mr. B. herewith fulfils his purpose, with addition thereto."—From one of the former Orphans £1. 5s., with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, Although it is now nineteen years, since I left the dear Orphan House, the love and interest I feel is as strong as ever for the dear Home. It was there I found the Saviour, and He has been my Friend and Guide to the present. I know all my path has been marked by a loving Father's hand. I can trust Him for the future. My health is better than I ever expected, and I am able to obtain my own living, which I feel is a great mercy. I have been for the last five years engaged as a housekeeper to an uncle of my cousins. It is my privilege to be so situated as to be able to work for Jesus, both in the Sunday School, in visiting the sick, etc. Dear Mr. Miiller, a lady wished me to forward you one pound for the Orphan work, and I feel pleasure in adding five shillings. May the dear Lord continue to bless you with health and strength, long to live and labour for Him, and give the same blessing to all the dear friends now engaged in the work with you. Believe me, dear Sir, Respectfully yours, ****."—Apr. 12. Legacy of the late Miss M. A. R. £100. less duty.—Apr. 20. From the East Indies £60.—Apr. 25. £3., with this letter : " Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in forwarding to you a cheque for £3., sent by my late clerk J. S., now a shepherd in Queensland. It is the second time this labouring man has sent to your Orphanage, and he desires to do so every year, etc. May 6. From Limerick £5. 1s. 3d. instead of " Marine Insurance for March and April."—May 7. Total income this day £11. 15s. 2d., whilst our average expenses for one day are about £124. Thus it has been of late again 152 [A.D. 1878. and again. Under these circumstances we lay hold on the promises of our Heavenly Father, and thus seek to encourage ourselves.—May 16. From Cornwall £3. 9s. 6d. The writer says in his letter, that through my writings he was led to give systematically, at first_a_tentb, and that for the last five years he has given a third of all his profits to the Lord's work. This leads me to ask the Christian reader, Are you giving to the Lord in some way or other of that with which the Lord is pleased to intrust you, on principle, systematically, according to the prosperity which God grants to you ; or do you leave it to impulse and feeling 1 Let me affectionately entreat you to give, as God prospers you, in order that you may not lose blessing spiritually, which you most assuredly would, if you withheld more than is meet.—May 22. From Kingston-on-Thames £10, "In lieu of a gold bracelet, bequeathed, for the benefit of the Institution." Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred and Fourteen Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1878, to May 26, 1879, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Dowyrs and Orphans, Practical remarks, etc. When in the year 1835 I added the Orphan work to the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institu tion for Home and Abroad, my first and chief aim was not, to care for the physical well-being of the Orphans, though we seek with all earnestness to attend to this. Nor was the cultivation of their minds the first and chief object I had in view regarding the Orphans, though we do indeed seek this, not only through the instrumentality of Christian teachers, but of such who are fitted, as pro perly trained teachers, to carry out this point. Nor was even the salvation of the souls of these Orphans the chief and primary object of the Orphan work, though God has condescended most abundantly to bless our labours in the conversion of many hundreds of Orphans. That which I had, above all, in view regarding the Orphan work, and why it was commenced, was, that God might be glorified in its being seen, through this work, that He was as willing as ever to answer the prayers of His children, and how much even now can be accom plished through the instrumentality of prayer and faith. Because, then, this was, and is still before me, therefore A.D. 1878.] 153 is such stress laid upon receiving, what we receive, as the result of prayer and faith, without applying to any one but God Himself for help. When our year commenced, on May 27, 1878, we had for the support of the Orphans £4708. 4s. 104d. in hand. This may appear to one or the other a consider- able sum, and, in a certain sense, it was even to us a considerable sum to begin the year with ; but if it be remembered that often we have to pay out in one day £500., and sometimes even considerably more, it will easily be perceived, that we needed faith in the Living God, in order to be at peace regarding our necessities, and that this balance of £4708. could in no wise assure us that we should not want. We did, however, look to God, and to Him alone, and therefore was the heart at eace. P I will now seek to show to the reader, very briefly, how we fared, during this year with reference to pecu- niary supplies for the Orphans :— May 31, 1878. From Sacramento, California, a gold watch and chain.—June 22. The total income for all the five different Objects of the Institution was to-day £6., whilst the average expenses for one day are £124.— June 25. Received £9. 10s. “instead of insuring 380 acres against hailstorms.”—June 27. Although, during the first month, from May 27 to June 27, 363 donations had been received, yet, as the total of them amounted only to £752. 14s., whilst our average expenses for one month for the support of the Orphans alone amounted to more than £2000., our balance was still further reduced, to what it had been at the beginning of the year; but our confidence in the Living God was as strong as before, and, by His grace, without wavering. July 20. £10. 10s., from a former pupil of the first Boys’ Day School of the Scriptural Knowledge Institu- tion. This donor has given the same amount repeatedly. —July 25. At the beginning of this day we were still ' poorer than on June 27, because the income during the past four weeks had been again only £740. 11s. 84d., instead of £2,200. But we looked out for help, and continued patiently, with prayer, to exercise faith in the power of God, and in the willingness of God to help us. In the meantime also, we had still something in hand to H3 a 154 [A.D. 1878. last a little while longer. Now, however, the time was come when the Lord graciously would give again more abundantly, after having tried our faith considerably for several months with regard to means. I received this day £5,000, free of duty, as payment of the legacy of the late W. C. H., Esq. This gentleman I had never seen, and the legacy was paid considerably before the ' legal time, both of which circumstances are to be noticed. I also received £1,293. 14s. 11d. to-day as payment of the legacy of the late C. G. E., Esq., this amount being a third of the residue, Legacy of the late Miss P. B. L. £5. In addition to this we received about £50. in various small donations. My heart rejoiced, when I thus again saw the hand of God so manifestly stretched out on our behalf, bidding us, so to speak, afresh to be of good cheer, and afresh assuring us by His dealings that He will never leave us nor forsake us.—From Liverpool 20 half boxes of soap. Aug. 10. £200. as the legacy of the late R. M., Esq., less duty.—Aug. 12. From the neighbourhood of Glou- cester £1. 1s. as “ Firstfruits of the poultry-yard.”—From Sussex £65.—Aug. 16. From Yorkshire £100.—Aug. 17. £4, 5s. 6d. “ From a commissioner for affidavits for the months of May, June and July.”—Aug. 27. Received 3s. with the following letter :—‘‘ Honoured Sir, I wish to thank you for the Report sent, which my wife and self have read with pleasure and profit, and, in some instances, with much joy ; but it is with some concern we look at the figures at the end of the book. Of course we mean not so much as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact. The difference between £10,936. [the balance in hand May 26, 1877] and £4,708. [the balance in hand May 26, 1878] is pretty palpable at first sight; and we judge that this decline has given not a little exercise of mind _ and trial to yourself, Mr. Wright, and others, and we send you as much as we can (3s. worth of stamps) to cheer you on your way in this new year of faith and hope.—We see, looking back, that you began May 26, 1874,-with £4,057. and ended with £8,406., and let us hope that 1878 and '79 may prove as good, under God’s blessing. Please excuse and accept it in the goodwill with which it is sent, and believe us to be yours faith- fully****.” I wrote on the receipt, in acknowledging ~ A.D. 1878.] 155 this 3s., "Thanks for the kind sympathy. I trust in God, He has helped and He will further help." I make the following remarks on this letter. 1, Such fluctuations do not take us by surprise; they were expected from the beginning of the work ; periods even when all might be expended, when God, in answer to prayer, would make bare his arm, and send help for the Orphans, were looked for ; and the very reason for found ing the Orphan work was, to show to the world and the church at large, how much even in the 1 9th century can be accomplished by prayer and faith. This Institu tion has been from the beginning like the burning bush, and yet it is not consumed. 2, The writer of the letter knew not, that the balance in hand for the support of the Orphans, became reduced still further and further, week after week, in June and July, 1878; but our hope was in God. I say in God. Not in circumstances, pot in natural prospects, not in former donors, but solely in God. This is just that which brings the "Blessing. If we say we .trust in Him, but in reality do not, then God, taking us at our word, lets us see, tJfat we clo not really confide in Him ; and hence failure arises. On the other hand, if our trust in the Lord is real, help will surely come. " According unto thy faith be it unto thee." Thus we have invariably found it during the 45 years of the existence of the Institution. Aug. 31. Four tubs of butter and five sacks of oat meal. Sep. 2. By sale of dentist gold, etc. £28. 8s. —Sep. 3. From Jamaica £6. —Sep. 3. Received on account of the legacy of the late Mrs. S. S. £4,100. This Mrs. S. had never sent anything in her lifetime ; I had never seen her, never heard her name ; but hearing about the Orphan work on Ashley Down, she was induced, I understand, to leave this legacy. Thus God helps us. We make our prayer to Him, we look to Him, we do trust in Him ; and He speaks and works for us, without our doing any thing in the matter besides. Unspeakably blessed it is, thus to confide in God ! Sep. 4. To-day, when I had prepared the balance-sheet, it was found, that we had in hand for the support of the Orphans £11,575. 4s. 11½d. and £988. 3s. 8½d. for the first four Objects. Within 156 [A.D. 1878. three months and eight days the Lord had been pleased to send us £18,400. 17s. 8d., by far the largest sum we have ever had, within the same space of time, during the 45 years of the existence of the Institution. Will not the beloved Christian readers see, if they have not done so before, how blessed it is to trust in God? Verily, those who do so will not be confounded, though their faith may again and again be sharply tried.—Sep. 9. " Given up for conscience sake" 4 gold rings.—Sep. 10. Seven sacks of potatoes.—Sep. 18. £5. with the follow ing letter : " Dear Mr. Muller, Please to accept of the enclosed £5. for the use of the Orphans, as a thank- offering to our Heavenly Father for hearing and answer ing my prayers, by removing what had the appearance of being a stumbling block to the peace of mind to one of my family. I can truly say, God is good, etc."— Sep. 21. Received £5. with the following letter : "Dear Sir, I have the pleasure of sending you a .£5. Note for the Orphan Homes. Please send me the last Report, as the reading of the Reports, on former occasions, has often strengthened my own faith. In the beginning of last year I resolved to put aside an additional portion of my income, as the Lord's portion (£20.) ; and as I thought I could not afford to do so all the year through, I thought the first quarter was the best time, the com mand being, ' Honour the Lord with the first fruits of all thine increase.' The second quarter had no sooner commenced, than, by the sudden death of a relation, from whom I had no expectations, I received £20. 17s. This enabled me to do as I had done the first. But this was not all. Shortly after the beginning of the third quarter, a debt was paid, which had been owing so long, that I never expected to receive the money; and interest, 'unasked, amounting to nearly a third of the debt. May God abundantly prosper all the work He has given you to do for Him ! Believe me, yours sincerely,****."— Sep. 24. Ten barrels of apples.—Sep. 26. From a farmer £2., as a thank-offering " For a good breed of lambs."— Sep. 27. Received £4. 8s. with the following letter: "Dear Sir, On the 26th of last September I sent to Mr. Wright (your esteemed Son-in-Law) the sum of £4. 7s., being a thank-offering of 1s. a year for the eighty-six years of my eventful life, and 1s. for Report, A.D. 1878.] 157 etc. And as my Heavenly Father has been pleased to prolong my unworthy existence to the present day, I once more tender the same little offering of ,£4. 8s., viz. £4. 7s. as a thank-offering and 1s. for the Report, etc., •with my sincere prayers for a continuance of the Lord's manifest blessing on your noble and wonderful Institution. Believe me, dear Mr. Muller, to remain, in all sincerity, your sister in the Lord,****."—Sep. 28. A diamond ring. Oct. 1. £1. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I enclose you a cheque for £1. for the Orphan Work, as a thank-offering to Almighty God for a prosperous year's business, during a time of such great depression in trade ; and also for the preservation of myself, family and friends from accident and sudden death, during a year which has been full of such calamities. Yours with Christian re gards, ****."— Oct. 3. £1. 1s. as " A thank-offering for a son's safe return, after a long voyage."—An Indian shawl, a Shetland wool ditto, 2 lace veils, a silver coffee pot, a silver tea-pot, a silver feeding bowl, a silver muffi neer, 2 silver ladles, a locket, 2 brooches, a ring, an ear ring, a gold seal, some Roman pearls, some scent bottles, brass ornaments, &c.—Oct. 7. £1. 1s. from one of the former Orphans, now in Ireland, with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Muller, May I have the pleasure of once more sending to you my mite for the blessed work in which you are now engaged. I do feel so happy when from time to time I have the pleasure of seeing how you are spared in health and strong to preach in so many foreign places the glad tidings of salvation ; and I do pray, that you may have the joy of seeing many precious souls brought to know and love Jesus as their Saviour ; and may God bless you abundantly in your own soul. Often do I think of the happy days I spent under your fatherly care ; and now, that I am far away, I know that the same loving Hand is guiding me safely on, that first put me under your care. I have two dear good Christian ladies to serve. May God help me to serve them aright, always remembering that there is an Eye ever watching over me. May I ask you, ever to remember me in your prayers, that I may be kept faithful unto the end. I have sent a Post Office Order for £1. 1s., asking you kindly to send me a Report. Hoping this letter will find 158 [A.D. 1878. you in good health, I am, dear and respected Sir, your ever grateful Orphan, ****."—From Melton Mowbray £5., as "A thank-offering for the preservation of a valu able horse, when in great danger."—Oct. 10. Legacy of the late Mrs. K. £465. 12s. 6d. This lady, as far as I know, I have never seen, but God, in answer to our daily prayers for means to carry on this work, put it into her heart to leave us this legacy. —Oct. 14. Legacy of the late G. T., Esq., £100.—Oct. 17. From one of the Midland counties £70. — Oct 19. From Germany a German Government Interest Coupon for 11 Thalers 7 Sgr, 6 Pf., as " A thank-offering for the safe delivery of the donor's wife."—Oct. 23. From a Christian gentleman and lady £134. for the support of ten Orphans for one year. — Oct. 28. From Zeist, Holland, 10s.—Received 5s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I send you the enclosed 5s. as a thank-offering for the restoration of a very bad finger. Having read in your last Report about the horse getting better in answer to prayer, and the owner send ing you Two Pounds, I told the Lord if my finger got better without a doctor I would send you the enclosed. At that time I could do nothing, but had -to nurse it. That very night, however, it became so much better that I could work the next day. Now, thank the Lord for His loving kindness, I am able to act according to my promise. Please use the money as you think proper. Yours in Christ, ****."—Oct. 29. From the neighbour hood of Sydney, New South Wales, £20. Nov. 4. As further payment on account of the legacy of the late Mrs. S. S. £131. 1s. 7d. —From a painter and decorator £3. 6s., being " Sixpence on each room, papered by him, during one year." — From various Christian friends at Montreux, Switzerland, 250 Francs = £10. — Nov. 8. From the neighbourhood of Hull £2. as " Pro duce of a pear-tree for the Orphans."—Nov. 13. £2. 10s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, As I have received a present of £25., I promised beforehand to give ten per cent, to the Lord. So I send you an Order for £2. 10s. Please use it according to the Lord's direction. I am yours truly, ****."—Nov. 14. Received 19s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed is a Post Office Order for 19s., which please divide between yourself and the Orphans. The enclosed is part of a bad debt of over v A.D. 1878.] 159 £30., which I made in July ; and as it was a very bad estate, I did not prove, and promised the Lord, that whatever 1 received from it, should be sent to you. The gentleman has promised to pay the whole amount (much to my surprise) in instalments, therefore I will send it, as I get it. Hoping that you are still enjoying good health, I am yours truly, ****."—Nov. 15. Received 10s., with the following letter: "Dear Sir, I enclose a Post Office Order for 10s., which kindly accept for the use of the Orphans. A few months ago I suddenly became very deaf, and feared the use of one ear was gone. Knowing the ear to be such a delicate organ, I always dreaded consulting a doctor about it ; so I made it a sub ject of earnest prayer, and determined that if my hearing was restored, without medical advice, I would send 10s. for the Lord's work in your hands. I now hear again as well as ever, so you can receive this trifle as another of the many interesting ways in which God answers your prayers. Many thanks for the three Reports received. I always read them with great pleasure, and, I trust, profit. I am going to send- one to my brother, who is in Canada. With Christian regards, I remain, dear Mr. Miiller, yours in the love of Christ Jesus, ****."—From Christian friends at Lausanne 250 Francs = £10.— Nov. 23. Received from Manchester £10. 10s. 7d. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, enclosed please find (for the Orphans) a crossed cheque for £10. 10s. 7d. The amount has been derived from a per centage (devoted to the purpose) on certain djbjis or claims which (rightly or wrongly) were considered doubtful^ but were subse quently realized. An acknowledgment will oblige, yours respectfully, ****."_Nov. 27. £2. 15s. with the follow ing letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, As soon as the English took possession of Cyprus, I sent a man with all kinds of merchandise, and obtained a large store. I enclose 29s. 6d., being 6d. in the Pound of first money received from there ; also 25s. 6d. instead of insuring a portion of the goods sent. The Tracts you kindly sent me, I have sent to Cyprus, and should be thankful if you would send me a few more. May the Lord of Love bless you in all your undertaking, is the prayer of one who loves those who love and serve the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The first thing I ever sent you was a thimble. 160 [A.D. 1878. When first you commenced the Orphanage I was a little boy. Many hundred of times I have wished I could send you something, ****." Dec. 2. From a widow in Aberdeenshire £1., with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, You have been a good deal on my mind for the past few weeks, and I have been asking my Heavenly Father to supply your need out of His fulness. I have not half an hour ago been paid my earnings, and how glad I am to be able to send you a mite for the Orphans. I am fearing you may have been feeling the sad result of this great commercial failure, the cause of so many more, I mean the Glasgow Bank. That you may be long spared to be His steward in this work of faith and labour of love, is the earnest prayer of my heart to Him who, I know, hears and an swers prayer. I am, dear Mr. Miiller, Yours sincerely, ****."—Had we no trust in God, such an event as the failure of the Bank referred to here, and that which was still nearer, the failure of the South Wales and West of England District Bank in Bristol itself, with its forty-two Branch Banks, would indeed have been calculated, naturally, to fill one's heart with fear ; but because we know God, and really trust in Him, and do not merely say so, therefore our heart was kept in peace, still trusting in Him, and looking to Him ; and we have not been con founded.—Dec. 3. Received £5. with the following letter : " My Dear Sir, Once more I am spared to send you a contribution of £5., out of my storings for the Lord. Had I not adopted the principle of proportionate syste matic giving, I feel sure I should not be able to do this ; I should give much less and with more hesitancy. I rejoice that your great original works continue so well sustained. I was very fearful that, as somewhat similar Institutions were commenced, one after another in various parts, they would tend to detract from the flow of gene rous aid to yours. I rejoice that it is not so. Yours truly, ****."—From a poor man out of work 1s. 2d.—Dec. 7. Sent for the Orphans' Christmas puddings, 16 half boxes of raisins, 1 barrel of currants and 8 barrels of flour. — Dec. 10. From Yorkshire £100. This kind donor has again and again sent us help, within the last four years, though not personally known to me. —From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £400. : this kind donor also has within the A.D. 1878.] 161 last few years sent to us considerable help, which again and again arrived, when greatly needed. She also is not known to me personally. —How precious it is, to have a Friend in Heaven to go to, in our need, and then to obtain help through His stewards, though we know them not personally.—From Scotland 4 cheeses.—Dec. 18. Received from London the first half of a £500. Bank of England Note, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I had intended leaving a sum of money for your Orphan ages in my will ; but as the funds of all Institutions are at present suffering from the commercial depression, I have thought it better to send the amount, £500., now, thus saving the legacy duty, and ministering to your pre sent need ; so pleaseTcfenter it In your books as instead ol a -Legacy.' When I see by advertisement in tl ' Daily Telegraph ' that you have received the first half of note enclosed, I will then post you the other. I trust that God will continue to guide and bless you in your work. Please to accept my kind regards and best wishes." This is another instance how God helps us, and how He has been pleased to supply us with means for the Institution during the past 45 years. We have not of course the least idea, who this kind anonymous donor is ; but God knows him, and we pray that He will abund antly recompense him. —Dec. 21. For the Orphans 20 boxes of oranges. — Dec. 23. £16. 3s. 6d., with this letter : " A father, mother and three children, whose hands have during the year been engaged on behalf of the Orphans, with great pleasure send the result of their united labour as a Christmas gift."—From Clifton we received for the children a number of dolls, some fancy boxes, albums, games, balls, tops and a great variety of other play-things.—From Durdham Down, as Christmas presents for the Orphans, dressed dolls, boxes and packets of chocolate and sweets, some drums, tops, balls, marbles, whips and guns, boxes of toys, books, fancy cards, paint boxes, transparent slates, pocket-handkerchiefs, wool ties and ruffs, baskets and boxes, pencils, trumpets and other play-things.—Dec. 28. From J. J. 3s. as a quar terly contribution to the Orphanage, with the following written communication : " Since I commenced sending you from a very limited income the sum enclosed, quar terly, I must acknowledge that, through the mercy of - 162 [A.D. 1879. God, it has trebled, and I am able to do good in other ways. I was very pleased to hear incidentally from the lips of a stranger to me a testimony to the value of your Orphanage and of the beneficial influence exercised on its inmates after leaving."—Dec. 31. Great and many and very varied had been the difficulties and necessities of the past year ; but, by the help of God, all were now overcome, His help had been peculiarly manifested, in a variety of ways ; and, as to the supply of means, though we had been most needy, particularly at one time of the past year ; we were also helped so abundantly, when thus Drought low, that at no period, since the Institution has been in existence, have we had so much come in, in such a short time, as was the case, immediately after our faith had been thus tried. The hand of God therefore was most manifestly stretched out on our behalf, and we entered, with confidence in Him, upon the new year, being fully assured that He would not forsake us, what ever difficulties, trials or necessities might yet await us. January 1, 1879. Already on the first day of the year we obtained 83 donations for the Orphans, amounting altogether to £268. 10s. 0½d. Of these donations I only mention £1. 8s. 2d., with the following letter : "Dear Sir, I send you a Post Office Order for £1. 8s. 2d. for the Orphans. At the beginning of last year I promised the Lord, if he sent me 1,000 pairs of boots and shoes to mend, I would give one farthing per pair to the Orphanage. I have had 1351, therefore I present the above sum, with much pleasure. I am, dear Sir, yours in Christ,****."—Jan. 3. From Leicestershire 13s. 10d., being " The first day's takings in a shop in the New Year."—Jan. 4. From Manchester £16. 16s. 8d., "Being the excess beyond a certain amount which on a recent sale of property was devoted to the Orphans."—Jan. 14. Again £200. from the same kind donor in Yorkshire, who within the last four years has repeatedly sent to us similar donations.—Jan. 15. From believers at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £29. 2s. 6d.—From North Devon £1. 1s. as "A thank-offering for another merciful preser vation in childbirth." — From Bideford £1. 9s. as "Weekly pence, collected round our table for the Orphans."—From Biarritz 115 Francs 90 centimes and 2 silver coins. —From Devonshire £68. 7s. 8d. from a donor A.D. 1879.] 163 who has kindly helped in the Orphan Work for more than thirty years, and who sends this sum now in con- sideration of the difficulties there may be on account of the failure of banks, etc.—£8. 8s. with the following letter: ‘‘My dear Sir, I am very glad to have the privilege of again sending my gross receipts for ‘The New Year's day 1879.” It was the best day of the week, and I only wish it were more. These are difficult times ; but there is an over-ruling Providence, which will cause even this to work for good to those who love Him. May He still uphold your hands. You have my prayers and good wishes. Always yours,****.”—Jan, 27. £5. as “A thank-offering for God’s mercy that a dear child escaped a violent death.”—£10. as “Part of a tenth, from the country.”—Jan. 28. Christian friends, from Ziirich, £7. 15s.—Jan. 29. From the neighbourhood of - Dorchester £5., “ Instead of insuring my stock-in- trade.” Feb. 10. £50. as “A thank-offering from Cork.”— Through W. H. A., Esq., £63.—Feb. 11. From asolicitor £4, 18s. ,“ for affidavits taken as commissioner in the months of November and December, 1878, and January, 1879.”—Feb. 13. Legacy of the late Mr. T. C., £100., less duty.—From A. Y. Z., £52. 10s.—£2. as “A fee received on the Lord’s Day by an Irish country physi- cian.”—Feb. 14. £5. from the principal of a house of business, to whom three of our Orphan boys are appren- ticed, with the following letter: “Dear Mr. Miiller, I am once more, through the blessing of God, able to send you, as His steward, a small donation of £5. Although times are very bad, I find no difficulty as yet; but quite the contrary, plenty of everything, and a little to spare. With kind love to all, I remain yours truly,****.” P.S. The three boys are doing well. B., the eldest, will be out of his time in April, and I am thankful to say, that during the whole of the five years he has not had a day’s illness. I am glad to say that he is a good tradesman by this time. He has had the sole manage- ment of a {Branch Establishment of ours during the last five months.”—Feb. 15. Received £3. 19s. 11d. with the following letter : “Sir, I have much pleasure in sending you Post Office Order for £3. 19s, 11d., being the result, of putting by, according as the Lord has pros- a“ 164 [A.D. 1879. pered me. I have done this for nearly ten years, and certainly am not the poorer for it ; far otherwise. You will please put it to the Orphanage account, and send receipt to me,****."—Feb. 17. £10. 10s. " Being half the amount of prizes the donor has won with his sheep during the past year."—Feb. 18. From Taranaki, New Zealand, in ten different donations, £8. 19s. March 3. £15. 6s. 2d. from "Amor Dei ducat."— Received £8. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Enclosed is a Post Office Order for £8., which we send to you to be used for the benefit of the Orphans. We send this as a thank-offering to God for blessing and prospering us since commencing business. As ours is principally a rearing farm, we promised to give to the Orphans 3d. for each lamb, 6d. each pig, 1s. each calf, and 2s. 6d. each foal. Our prayer is, that God will spare you yet many more years, to carry on this great and glorious work. Remaining yours affectionately,****." —March 4. £200. as a third instalment of legacy of the late G. W., Esq.—From a donor in Devonshire £90. 10s. —March 7. From London £1. 10s. as " The Sunday dinner table collection of our children and selves."— From Barnstaple, 96 yards of Welsh flannel, 48 yards of ditto, 30 yards of Scotch gingham, 40 yards of Croydon calico, 80 yards of soft medium ditto, and 18 yards of boot elastic.—March 10. From a Bristol donor 54 rabbits and 13$ lbs. of butter.—March 29. £2. 2s. 6d. was received with the following letter : " Beloved ser vant of Christ, the enclosed £2. for Orphans and 2s. 6d. for four of this year's Reports. My dear sister and myself remember you and your work twice every day, before our Heavenly Father, for your increase of faith and supply of your great need. Yours in our risen Lord,****." I feel grateful for these prayers, and would earnestly entreat other Christians, kindly to help me by their prayers. April 7. £100. as the legacy of the late Mrs. A. B.— April 10. From one of the Midland counties £70.—April 14. From Barbadoes £2., £1., £1. May 3. From New Zealand £20.—May 5. Eighty new suits of boys' clothes, value £66.—May 8. From York shire £200.—May 9. £93. 16s. for the support of seven Orphans for one year.—From Netting Hill 7 pocket A.D. 1879.] 165 handkerchief pieces, 14 white skirts, 6 coloured ditto, 19 pairs of gloves, 64 neckties, 15 belts, 2 dozen shirt- fronts, 42 boxes of collars, a packet of cuffs, 2 pairs of braces, and 94 pairs of stockings. —May 10. £451. 10s. as the legacy of the late Miss M. A. P.—May 26. On this last day of the year of the Institution, we received, besides a number of other donations, £161. 3s. 3d. and a large quantity of silver articles, as the legacy of the late Mrs. G. " ' Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred and Forty-five Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1879, to May 26, 1880, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors and Orphans, practical re marks, etc. In the following pages I will now give some specimens of the way in which God was pleased, in answer to prayer, . to supply us, during another year, with means for the | Orphan work. May 30, 1879. Legacy of the late Mr. M. £103. 7s. 10d. —A gold watch, a shawl, and a silk cloak lined with fur, from the Isle of Wight, to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. June 24. Five sacks of oatmeal. The same donor has sent fifteen times 5 sacks, three times 10 sacks, and once 16 sacks, 121 sacks in all, in the course of the year. A very valuable donation to us, as we consume about 7000 stones of oatmeal per year.—June 27. £1. as "The first fruits of a vinery." July 14. Twenty half boxes of soap. —July 15. £10. 10s. from one of the former pupils of the first Boys' School of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, who, year after year, has sent a similar snm.—July 24. From the Governors of the London Assurance Corporation £50.— July 29. From Birmingham £100.—July 30. From Sussex £129. 6s. 5d. Aug. 8. From Leicester £100.—Aug. 12. From York shire £200. —Aug. 22. A general's full-dress tunic, undress surtout, trowsers, with gold lace, pair of boots, 3 pairs of spurs, gold lace sash, belt, Russia leather belt, cocked hat and feather, and forage cap. —Aug. 25. By sale of silver articles £52. 9s. —Aug. 26. Legacy of the late Miss S. M., 12 gold brooches, 6 silver ditto, 2 coral 166 [A.D. 1879. ditto, 2 gold watch seals, 8 gold rings, silver vinaigrette, 2 gold watches, 3 silver ditto, 15 shoe buckles, 1 teapot, 1 coffee pot, 2 plain candlesticks, 4 embossed ditto, 1 cruet stand, 1 sugar basin, 2 cream jugs, 2 waiters, 1 silver taper stand, 1 toast rack, 1 cheese scoop, 1 skewer, 1 fish slice, 1 soup ladle, 2 gravy spoons, 3 sugar tongs, 18 dessert spoons, 20 large forks, 20 small ditto, 6 table spoons, 4 table spoons, 4 sauce ladles, 6 egg spoons, 1 8 tea ditto, 1 tea spoon, 1 caddy ditto, 1 cork top, 8 salt spoons, 1 knife and fork, 2 caddy spoons, and 1 wine strainer. Sept. 3. A case containing a gold pendant, set with an emerald, pearls and diamonds, and a pair of earrings, set with diamonds, half for Missions, and half for the Orphans. —Sept. 8. £45. as the legacy of the late Mrs. B.—Legacy of the late A. B., Esq., with dividends thereon and less legacy duty, £9277. 7s. 3d. three percent, consols at 98= £9091. 14s. 6d. This legacy was a considerable time in Chancery ; but, as I have often found, by prayer it was at last brought out of the Court. This is the largest donation we have received at one time ; but, as I stated, when receiving £8100. at one time, that I expected yet greater donations, so I now say again, that it may be yet further seen, how much even now can be accomplished by prayer and faith.—Sept. 9. Received from Ireland £1., with the following letter: " Dear Sir, It is most gratifying to find that your funds keep up in these times of depression in agriculture and commerce. It would seem as if your Orphan homes were hidden under the shadow of the Almighty from the storms of the age. I have pleasure in sending you a cheque for £1. to wards the support of your Orphans. May you be long spared as the earthly father of so many fatherless children. Sincerely yours,****." True faith prevents n V^/ our being discouraged by the difficulties of this world, I Btit leads us, "by real trust in God, to be above war, famine, mercantile depressions, etc. : because faith lays hold on God Himself, and can obtain from Him every thing that is for His glory and our good. Thus, at the time of the Irish famine from 1846 to 1847, during the Crimean War (1854), and the distress in Lancashire among the weavers for want of cotton ; also during the war between France and Germany in 1870 and 1871, A.D. 1879.] 167 when the streams of benevolence generally seemed expended on the necessities arising out of these calami- ties, our Heavenly Father helped us also ; because we really trusted in Him, and sent pecuniary supplies to us also, though such vast sums were sent out of the country through the calamities referred to. We told Him in child like simplicity, that immense sums were expended on these objects (of which we were glad), but asked Him to send help to ws also ; and this He did so abundantly, that at those times we abounded more than was usually the case.—Sept. 11. Received 1s. 10d. with the following letter ; ‘‘ Please accept these few stamps (1s. 10d.) as a thank-offering for mercies in having employment, when many have none. From a poor widow and her family, for the Orphans.”—Sept. 12. From the Mauritius £5.— Received £1. 12s. 6d. with the following letter: ‘‘ Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in sending you the enclosed Post Office Order for £1. 12s. 6d., being 74d. per week for 52 weeks, formerly spent on tobacgo. I tried all human effort to give it up; but all was a failure, till I was led to ask the Lord for help, and promised to send what it cost for the Orphans at Bristol. I thank God He has kept me through the past year without any desire for it. I remain, yours truly in the Lord Jesus, ****"_Sept. 15. “A thank-offering for the safe de- liverance of my son from an accident, which might have proved fatal, 10s.— Sept. 16. From Portsmouth £1. 10s. 6d., being one penny a day for a year, for the Orphans.—Sept. 20. Received £1. 5s. 10d. with the following letter : “‘ Dear Sir, I have nowbeen in business for myself as House Agent for 17 months. Previous to this I had much to discourage me. Herewith you have Post Office Order for 25s. 10d., which includes 7d. for one copy of your last Report, ending May, 1879, which perhaps you will kindly send to me. Four shil- lings and twopence of the above is the first-fruits of some new business, the remainder a tenth of an extra payment! for work done to the satisfaction of the gentleman who employed me, which is for the Orphans. This is th fruit of reading your 36th Report, given to me by a friend the following February ; but I could not see m way clear until reading the Narrative of your own life,| < given to me by the same friend, since my commencing ue 168 [A.D. 1879. business, which, by God's blessing, has totally changed mv inner life to^one of perfect trust and confidence in Him. It lias pleased God to give me the grace to devote to Him a tenth of my earnings, which I divide amongst sundry objects. I do indeed realize the fact, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I have taken care to place a copy of the Narrative of your life on the shelves of the library of the young peoples' Institute in this Town, which has 3000 members and subscribers, seeking God's blessing on the same. Hoping that in the future the Lord will enable me to send you a little more money, I am yours truly,****."—Sept. 10. From one of the former Orphans, now filling a very honourable and useful^>osition, £10., with the following letter : " Beloved Mr. Miiller and Mr. Wright, The kindness I have experi enced at your hands, I can never fully repay, but whilst able, may I prove my willingness to show practically my sincere appreciation of the same. I beg you, therefore, to accept the enclosed donation of £10. towards the Orphan Fund, from which fund, through the goodness of the Lord, and the bounteous liberality of His people, I have myself benefited so largely. Truly the hand of the Lord has led me, and His blessing has been my portion. May my heart continually well up with gratitude to Him and to you ; and with the voices of His people .may mine unite in singing praise to the Lord ! My earnest and constant prayer is, that the Lord will continue to uphold the work, of which you are the honoured direc tors, that it may stand for ages to come as a monu ment to faith, which infidelity could not destroy ; a challenge thrown down by the former, which the latter durst not accept, for fear of certain and utter defeat ; also, that many an Orphan, similarly circumstanced as I was, may partake of that goodness of which, in a very large degree, I have been the happy recipient. With sincere love and respect to you, my esteemed benefactors, I am, of your large family, a truly grateful member,****."— From Hull £10., as "A thank-offering to the Lord for His deliverance from severe trouble."—Sept. 25. £1. as " A thank-offering for the recovery of a valuable horse, which was given up for lost."—Sept. 27. Received the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, this is my birthday, and this day last year I sent £4. 8s., being ls. per year A.D. 1879.] 169 for 87 years' pilgrimage and 1s. for your Narrative. I also send £4. 7s. to seven other Institutions, metropolitan and local, as a thank-offering to my Heavenly Father, for His loving, tender care over me so many years, promis ing in my mind, to do the same on this day, each year, God helping me, as long as I lived; but almost im mediately after, the W. E. Bank failure occurred, and I cannot carry out my intention ; but here I am in my bedroom, submitting cheerfully to the will of Him who knows what is best for me, and here I promise, by the same divine help, to devote the 26th of each month (as long as it shall please the Lord to keep me here) to entreat His blessing on the eight Institutions, which I promised to help ; and I trust my poor prayers may be heard and abundantly answered. I remain, dear Sir, yours in Christian love and sympathy,****." Oct. 7. Legacy of the late E. B., Esq., £450. less legacy duty.—Oct. 8. A gold watch, a ring with key, 2 seals and a heart. —Oct. 9. From Herefordshire, £5. as a harvest thank-offering, "having been enabled to gather four-fifths of our wheat in fair condition."—From three Orphan sisters, formerly under our care, £3., with a grateful letter.—Oct. 10. 13 thousand needles and 2 gross of knitting needles.—Oct. 14. From one of the Midland Counties £70.—£14. with the following letter : "Dear Sir, I have lost a dear uncle lately, who has unexpectedly left me a very comfortable income. I therefore enclose you a cheque for £ 1 4. With kind regards, yours sincerely, ****."—Oct. 22. From one of the former Orphans, a printer, £3. 10s., with the following letter : " IJear "and Honoured Sir, It is now more than nine years, since I left the Orphan Houses to learn a trade, which, I am thankful to say, now enables me to live comfortably and respectably. Ever since I left school, I have had great cause to thank God, that I was placed under your kind and parental care; and a recent visit to the Orphan Houses so deepened my sense of gratitude, that I deter mined I would henceforward help in some way, however feebly, such a good cause. As a beginning then, may I ask you to accept the enclosed amount, £3. 10s., £3. 5s. < of which I wish to go towards the support of the Orphans, and the remainder is for a few copies of portions of Scripture, which I desire for distribution, if you will be J 170 [A.D. 1879. good enough to forward them at your convenience. I have pleasure in saying, that the above sum is the bonus, at the rate of 3 per cent, declared on my year's salary, by the firm in whose employ I have now been for four years.—I have ever had cause to be thankful, that my steps were directed to Ashley Down, and this for more reasons than one. It was there that I received an education, under the tuition of kind and able teachers, which now enables me to earn my livelihood ; but better far than all this, it was there that I first realized Christ Jesus as my personal Saviour, who has been my guide until now, and through whose help I have been kept from falling into the many sins and temptations peculiar to youth, and especially to those engaged in our calling. My dear sister Ellen, who also was under your care about the same time that I myself was, joins me in thanking you and the dear teachers and assistants through you, for all the spiritual and temporal blessings, which, by God's help, were bestowed upon us, whilst under your care. We pray that you may yet be spared for many years, to be the Orphans' friend. We also pray, that a rich blessing may attend the preaching of the Gospel, in which you are at present so earnestly engaged. With a desire to be very gratefully remembered to all the dear teachers, and those who are engaged in the great and good work, may we remain, Dear and Honoured Sir, your ever grateful Orphans, **** and ****."— Received 4s. and some woollen articles, with this letter from one of the former Orphans, who has been 8 years in her first situation : " Dear and Respected Sir, I esteem it a great privilege to be enabled to address a few lines to you. I thank you for the yearly Report, you so kindly sent me. Will you kindly accept of this small trifle and also these woollen articles, which I am sending by this day's rail, that my sister and myself have made by hand, to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. It will be eight years next January, since I left your Orphanage. It was there I learnt to know my Saviour. I am still resting on Him, and hope, by the grace of God, I shall not let Him go. It was in the dear Orphan House I spent most of my happy days. I am sure I cannot thank you enough for all the kindness you have shown to me. If it please God, I hope year by year to A.D. 1879.] 171 send you a small trifle, for your kind and fatherly love to me, while under your care. I am happy to say, I am still in the same situation, that you provided for me, and have a very kind and Christian mistress. Please re- member me kindly to Mrs. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Mr. French, and all the dear teachers and matrons of No. 2. I remain your grateful Orphan, ****.”— Left anonymously, by a gentleman, at the New Orphan House, No. 3, 10 silver table spoons, 5 silver tea spoons, a silver cream jug, a pair of.silver mounted spectacles, and £1. —Oct. 29. From Portobello £100.—Oct. 30. From a Moravian Missionary at Surinam, 20 gulden. Nov. 5. Received the following letter with £180.: “ Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in sending you a draft for £180. towards your good work. It has been given to me by a patient of mine to forward to you anonymously. You may enter it in the Report under the initials A. B. Yours very faithfully, ****.” In this instance the reader _ has one of the numberless ways in which the Lord is pleased to supply us with means, in answer to our prayers. — Nov. 6. Legacy of the late W. D. Esq. £52. 11s. 10d.—Nov. 7. Three pieces of dress material. —Nov. 12. Legacy of the late Mrs. C. £45.—Legacy of a lady-in Switzerland, 3000 francs, paid in two instal- ments.—From Sussex 2 sets and 3 pieces of artificial teeth, set in gold. During the past year again a con- siderable quantity of artificial teeth, set in gold, has been sent, whereby again a considerable sum of money has been obtained.—Nov. 13. 3249 apples.—Nov. 18. Received £158. 9s. with the following letter: “My dear Sir, The time of year has again come round, when I have usually made my remittance for the benefit of your Orphan Houses, and, through the gracious mercy of our God and Saviour, I am now enabled to send it, and; as you will see, also, permitted to add to it; for it has pleased the Lord to commit to our care and into our charge another child (we humbly believe) to train up for Himself. We earnestly pray and believe, that, with the charge, He will supply all our need, to enable us to fulfil it,.patiently, diligently and faithfully. Remember us in your prayers, and add your thanksgiving to our own. The cheque I enclose is for 1879, for 11 children at £13 98.=£147. 19s. and for your own personal use, 12 172 [A.D. 1879. which we present with our Christian good wishes, £10. 10s. With our kind regards and best wishes, from your sincere friend, ****." About 12 years ago the Christian gentleman, who is the writer of this letter, sent me the average expenses for three Orphans, per year, considering, that, as he had 3 children of his own, for whom he was able comfortably to provide according to their position in life, it would be well pleasing to God to give, as a thank-offering for this mercy, the means for 3 poor Orphans, deprived of their earthly parents. The next year he sent me the average expenses for 4 Orphans, the Lord having given to him another child ; and thus, as the number of his children increased, he sent year after year the cost of as many Orphans as he had children of his own ; and as he has now eleven children, he sends the average expenses for eleven Orphans, acting thus on the very opposite principles of men of the world, who would say, that, because their families increase, therefore they can afford less and less, instead of more and more for the Lord's work.—Nov. 19. Received 10s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Will you please to accept of this trifle, as a thank-offering to the Lord, for His blessings, both temporally and spiritually. Through reading your Reports I have been greatly blessed. When I was converted, I was very poor j for sometimes I did not seem to have a penny to spare for the Lord's work. About ten years ago I met with Mr. P. He, knowing my case, gave me one of your Reports. I cannot express the joy I had, whilst reading it ; and ever since I have longed for the time for them to come out. My desire is, that Christians would read them more, and follow the example, that is set before us in them. At that time I was a smoker of tobacco. I then took up that passage of Scripture in Matthew xvi. 24. Also I Cor. xvi. 2, and devoted a part of my money regularly to the Lord's cause. I was soon enabled to increase it, and now, although only a farmer's man, it seems a wonder to myself at times, that I am able to do as I do. Although this past summer has been a trying one with hundreds, God has prospered me, and I am enabled to do more this year than ever, since I started in my Heavenly Father's way. The desire of my heart and prayer is, that God may abundantly bless A.D. 1879.] 173 your testimony, both to the Church and world. Yours affectionately in the Lord Jesus, ****." Here is a Christian farm labourer from whom one or the other of my readers may learn a profitable lesson. He gives jra the use of tobacco. ( Have those of my readers, who have been in the ftabit of smoking, laid aside the pipe and cigars entirely 1 This habit, an evil habit, is very in jurious to health, as all disinterested physicians, who do not themselves indulge in it, will fully allow. A robust constitution may a good while resist its pernicious effects ; but, sooner or later, these effects will be mani fested. I beseech the Christian reader, prayerfully to consider this, in order that he may no longer indulge in that which is most injurious to the body, besides being a means of wasting his money also. From the moment I was converted, the beginning of November, 1825, 1 have never touched a pipe or a cigar. Notice also the second point to which he refers. He began to act according to I Cor. xvi. 2, viz. he put aside every Lord's day, as the Lord had been prospering him. And what has been the result of this ? This poor farm labourer is honoured by the Lord in being made a steward over more. So that, whilst, when first converted, he was so poor that with great difficulty he could afford to give a single penny, now he has the means of sending ten shillings at a time. As assuredly as any one is acting according to the counsel given in 1 Cor. xvi. 2, being constrained by the love of j Christ, so assuredly will such a one be blessed abundantly [ in his soul, and the Lord will also increase his steward ship more and more. A great number of Christians I know personally, who act thus, and I have seen it in their case ; a still greater number have given their testi mony to me in writing to that effect. Are you, Christian reader, acting thus 1 If not, why not ? Make a trial, and you will find out, from happy experience, the blessed ness of that way. Systematic giving, giving on principle ' habitually, as constrained by the love of Christ, will bring, in every way, most abundant blessing. I have known myself, from happy experience, the blessedness of this way for more than fifty years.—Whilst there was such distress among the farmers during the past summer (1879), this farm labourer was able to do more for the Lord than ever. This is just what you would expect. 174 [4.D. 1880. Dec. 1. From one of the former Orphans £2. as “A thank-offering from a little money, left her by an aunt.” —Dec. 2. £5. as “A thank-offering for the conversion of two of the donor’schildren.” From D—— £65.15s.2d., ’ the profit made on one purchase.-—Dec. 4. For the Orphans’ Christmas puddings were sent, 16 half boxes of Valencia raisins, 1 barrel of currants, and 8 barrels of flour—Dec. 15. From two ladies at Windsor Castle £5. 12s.—Dec. 19. “From an old sailor, as a thank- offering for preservation from the late gales,” £5.— Dec. 22. From near London £290., with £10. for myself. —Dec. 23. Anonymously from W. 8. 8S. £10., with the following letter: ‘“‘Dear Brother in the Lord, I have been much exercised in my mind respecting two old debts. I have endeavoured, without success, to find out the addresses of the parties, and now in faith I would leave it in the Lord’s hands, to make it up to them or their families, if in the body. One to a tailor about £5. ; one to a boot maker, about £5. I therefore send £10. to you for the Orphans, and trust God’s blessing may rest upon this act. JI remain yours faithfully, W. S. 8.” —Dec. 24. 20 boxes of oranges, 25 boxes of fruit, and 25 boxes of sultanas.—20 boxes of oranges. January 1, 1880. The old year closed with many blessings and mercies enjoyed by us, in connection with the Orphan work, as well as the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad ; and, as the old year ended, so the new year began again with blessings. Of the means, received on the first day of the year, I will only refer to the following donations. From Maidstone £77. 2s, 3d.—From the Isle of Wight £50.—From Derbyshire £3. 9s. 4d. as “A penny for every-day in the year, and a tenth of money gifts.”— From Penarth £30.—Jan. 2. From Torquay £10. as “The first fruits of an unexpected legacy.” —From Malta 43 Coupons at £3. each, less Income tax, £126. 6s. 3d. —Jan. 14. From Yorkshire £200.—Legacy of the late Mr. J. T. E. £100.—-“ The produce of two apricot trees” 10s.—Jan. 15. £30. 11s. 9d. from “Believers meeting at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal.”—Jan. 26. Legacy of the late Mrs. K. £200.—Jan. 30. From Secunderabad, India, £21. 1s. 10d.—From Coonoor, India, £6. Feb. 3. Received £13. 5s. with the following letter : A.D. 1880.] 175 . ; “Dear Mr. Miiller, I have very great pleasure in sending you Post Office Order for £13. 5s, for your Orphans. It is the half of the amount I have won with my sheep at different shows, during the year 1879. I trust the work in your hands still prospers, and that your valuable life may long be spared to carry on the Lord’s work, I _ remain yours sincerely,****.”—Feb. 4. From the neigh- bourhood of Wolverhampton £100.— From London £10. 13s. 5d. “ for affidavits taken by a solicitor in the months of August, September, October, November and December, 1879, and January, 1880.”—Feb. 5. <A dia- mond ring.—Feb. 6. Legacy of the late Miss F. S. P. £50.—From Kent £80. 14s. for the support of six Orphans for one year.—Feb. 11. From Portobello £50, —Feb. 16. £10. as ‘A thank-offering for the gift of another child.”--£90. as the legacy of the late Mrs, R.— From Staffordshire £4., with £1. for myself. The donor writes : “This last year, although so disastrous to most traders, has been the best I have ever had; and under God’s providence I have to thank you, for teaching me how to give.”—Feb. 17. From Taranaki, New Zealand, £8. 5s. 6d.—From Wales £1. and a gold watch, as “A thank-offering to the Lord for being raised up from a serious illness.”—Feb. 26. From Scotland £4. with the following letter: ‘Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in transmitting £4. from Mr. B. for the Orphans. I may mention how I have become the channel for this. I happened to give his late wife a Report. It interested Mr. B., and since he has laid aside’a penny on every sheep and head of cattle he sells, being a cattle dealer, as well as £1. 15s. annually, which would be the cost of an insurance ticket for travelling. He sends this sum to you instead. With very warm desire for God’s con- tinued blessing to you and your work and workers, I am yours truly,****,” This, and many other similar letters of donors, I have given, in order that the reader may see the great variety of ways, in which God is pleased to supply us with means. All comes from Him, to whom day by day we go for help in our need, regarding every- thing, and who, in answer to our prayers, helps us, and is now doing this in the forty-seventh year, and who, we firmly believe, will yet further help us. March 2. £200. as the fourth instalment of a legacy Pa 176 [4.D. 1880. of the late G. W., Esq.—March 3. A former Orphan sent £1. on the occasion of her marriage.—From Bath a gold ring set with topaz and brilliants, a gold brooch set with diamonds, and 10s.—March 18. From a Bristol firm the valuable donation of 20 cwt. 0 qrs. 19 lbs. white lead, 5 cwt. O qrs. 9 Ibs. driers, 3 cwt. ochre, 2 qrs. umber, 1 qr. black paint, 1 cwt. putty, and 14 lbs. of Venetian red.—March 24. £100. as the legacy of the late Miss M. P.—March 25, From Edinburgh £50.— March 31. From a labourer in Queensland £6. April 6. £1. 10s. 4d. from Barnstaple, as one penny per day, for the use of the Orphans.—From a little boy 10s. 7d., who, at his death, expressed a wish for his money to be given to the Orphans.—April 8. The total . income of to-day, for all the five Objects of the Institu- tion, was £6. 13s. 5d. instead of £124., our daily average expenses. Similar days we have again and again, and therefore need to look to the Lord with unwavering confi- dence.—April 9. £50. as the legacy of the late Mrs. A. D.—April 10. “ Part of thank-offering from a poor servant of the Lord, for the recovery of a child,” 5s.— April 12. From one of the Midland counties £70.— April 13. £50. as the legacy of the late Mr. J. H— April 19. From Java 100 florins —April 22. From Bever- ley £2. 10s. with the following letter: “My dear Sir, In a time of deep anxiety I prayed for relief and help. I have reason to believe my prayers were heard and answered, in a very marked degree. I send you the enclosed to be used in supporting the Orphans under your care. It is an expression of gratitude. I hope to repeat it. Yours very faithfully,****.”—April 23. From Wes- ton-super-mare £60.—From Herefordshire £4. 8s. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, I enclose a Post Office Order for £4. 8s,, £3. 10s. fire insurance, that is £1. extra this year, because my corn had a most providential escape from a fire. Some boys, coming from school, had some matches, and were at play and said, ‘we will have a bonfire.’ They had some straw burning up the side of the ricks ; but it pleased our Heavenly Father that the ricks should not be burned. He sent a gentleman that way, and stopped it. It was quite a miracle. One shil- ling each for every calf born alive’ Yours truly,****.” A.D. 1880.] 177 —April 24. From Barbadoes £2., £1. £1., £1.— Legacy of the late Mr. W. A. £56. 18s, 7d. May 8. Legacy of the late Mr. K. £90.—May 11. Legacy of the late Mrs. W. £200.—May 15. Legacy of the late Mrs. P. £36.—May 21. Legacy of the late Rev. A. P. £135.—May 24. From Malta £100.—May 25. “ Thank-offering for receiving tidings of relatives, in answer to prayer, of whom the donor had not heard for many years,” 10s. Means for the support of Two Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-two Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1880 to May 26, 1881, sent in answer to prayer. Letters from Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, etc. June 2. 1880.4From the neighbourhood of Plympton £1., “saved through giving up smoking.”—Received 12s. 6d. with the following letter: ‘Dear Sir, I have been labouring in prayer for 4 years and 204 days, that a firm in a foreign country would pay me my just debt, and told the Lord, at the beginning, that I would give your Orphans ten per cent. of it. Having now received the money, I enclose you a Post Office Order for 12s. 6d., being ten perycent. on the full amount of the debt. I am, yours truly,****.”—June 3, From London £2. 2s, 6d. as “ A thank-offering for the partial recovery of a beloved mother.”—From Yorkshire £200. with these words: “ Desiring to be a faithful steward of the bounties the Lord has conferred upon one who is unworthy of the many blessings He has bestowed, I send the enclosed cheque for £200. for the use of the Orphans at Ashley Down.” For the sake of benefiting the reader spiritually, I make the following remarks in connection with the above statement :—1. Do you consider yourself a steward 9. of the means you possess, or that you are the owner co y thereof? The right and scriptural way is, to look upon Ae ourselves as stewards and not as owners of our property ; for the time is approaching when stewardship will come to an end, and we shall enter upon the possession of our inheritance. 2. The steward has to give an account of his stewardship. It is indeed by grace alone that we are saved, through faith, and not by works ; but this very fact should lead us the more earnestly to show our grati- tude for the grace bestowed upon us, by walking con- 13 va 178 [A.D. 1880. sistently. 3. It becomes us to be faithful stewards. To the faithful steward the recompense is given even now in some measure while he is yet in the body ; but in the world to come the reward of grace will be rendered according to the degree of faithfulness mani fested by the steward.—June 1 2. From Wolverhampton 10 sacks of oatmeal. —June 14. From the neighbourhood of Auchterarder £20. 0s. 6d.—June 1 7. From Cornwall £11. with this statement : "£10. profits on a small stone quarry, and £1., contents of box on the chimney-piece." —£1000. as a legacy from the late Miss. J. S. The lady who kindly left us this amount was an entire stranger to me. I did not even know her by name; but our Heavenly Father, who is acquainted with the greatness of our expenses, to whom we betake ourselves day by day in prayer, spoke to her heart, and led her to leave this amount for the Orphans. —June 18. From Plymouth a gold watch.—June 26. From London 3 cases of sta tionery and fancy articles. July 2. £500. as the legacy of the late Mr. R. B.— £100. as the legacy of the late Mrs. E. W.—In the South of Devon a _musical entertainment was held for the benefit ofjthe OrpEans, but when the proceeds of it, amounting to £4. 5s., were senE"£o""me on July 7, I returned them, not wishing to use money for the work of God obtained in this manner,; for it is not money only which I desire, but jmoney_provided in God's way._ The kind intention, however, of those who set ihis enter tainment on foot to help the Orphans, I do not question for a moment.—July 14. From Islington £13. 9s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, God, in His infinite mercy, having blessed me with a living son, I enclose cheque for £13. 9s. as a thank-offering, this being the cost of providing for one Orphan for one year. Yours truly,****."—July 17. By sale of dentist gold, plate, etc., £90.—July 19. Twenty boxes of soap.—July 22. From the neighbourhood of Lisbon, Portugal, £5.— July 28. From an aged servant of the Lord Jesus, who labours in dependence upon Him for his temporal sup plies, £7. 5s. This servant of Christ has sent me for a number of years, for the benefit of the Orphans, the fifth part of what the Lord has been pleased to give him. Aug 7. From a former pupil in the First Boys' School A.D. 1880.] 179 of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, £10. 10s. —To-day, £264. 11s. 10d. was received as the legacy of J. B., a common labourer, who left his all to the Orphans. Notice this remarkable gift, and see how God cares for them. —Aug. 13. From a farmer in Hampshire £2., as " A thank-offering for a good breed of lambs."—From Wolverhampton 17 sacks of flour.—Aug. 16. To-day, the expenses connected with the support of the Orphans were £1035. 11s. 10d. The income for them amounted only to £24. 3s. When in the foregoing pages the income has been referred to (though specimens only of donations have been quoted) one side alone is seen. The greatness of our expenditure can only be learned from looking at the balance-sheet, which will be found at the end of the Reports ; but the expenses do not decrease, but increase slightly, though but very slightly, year by year, as provisions, clothing, and every thing connected with house-keeping becomes more and more expensive everywhere. Sept. 1. £1600. as "Part of the legacy of the late T. H. Esquire." This legacy has been long in Chancery, but now at last, in answer to many prayers, we have received a portion of it.—Sept. 2. Received £300. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, At the request of Mr. , I forward you cheque for £300., which he in tended to leave as a legacy to your Institution ; but, inas much as his property consists principally of real estate, he could not legally make such a bequest. He has thought it best, therefore, to make the gift in his lifetime. Please acknowledge receipt to him personally. Yours truly,****." This kind donor I have never seen, yet God leads him thus to help us. I take this opportunity of mentioning, that real estate has repeatedly been left for the benefit of the Orphans, and has, therefore, been lost to us, as no real estate can be left to a charitable institution by will. Having again and again been asked to give a legal form, for leaving a legacy to the Institu tion, I may mention that one will be found on the last page of the Reports, drawn up by an experienced legal practitioner. — Sept. 3. Received £2. 10s. with the follow ing letter : " Dear Sir, As Mr. D.'s young man had an accident with his horse, about five weeks ago, which was almost rendered unfit for work, he was reading how the 180 [A.D. 1880. Lord had blessed Mr. Miiller in his work ; and he re solved to give £5. if the horse was restored, as a token of his gratitude to God, for answering prayer for the speedy recovery of the horse, in order to show all the believing family of God that there is no matter too small to take to Him, especially if done in faith. We have a female orphanage here, so my husband has divided the sum. I enclose a cheque for £2. 10s. to you, and have sent the same amount to the Orphanage here. We were at Bristol about five weeks ago, when we went over your Orphanage, which gave us great pleasure. Hoping the work of the Lord will still prosper in your hands, and that He will bless you for time and eternity, I am, yours in the Lord,****."—Sept. 15. Received from London £3. 2s. 6d. with the following letter : " My dear Sir, Nine months ago, in consequence of the great blessing I received from reading your Reports, I made the following note in our Bad Debt book : ' I resolve to send one-half of any monies received from this book, after this date, to Mr. Miiller's Orphanage at Bristol.' One account of £6. 5s. (owing since 1872) has just been paid, and I have very much pleasure in remitting you cheque for £3. 2s. 6d. I remain, yours very faithfully,****."— Sept. 16. From Bohemia 13 Florins.—From Dudley £1. with the following letter : " Sir, At Christmas last we wrote off as hopelessly bad a debt, which has been due since 1878. Since then we have had some faint hopes of getting the money, and said, if ever we do get it we will send Ml, for the Orphanage. A few days ago we received a cheque for the amount, and now enclose Post Office Order for £1. With best wishes for the prosperity of your Institution, we are, Sir, yours faithfully,****."— Sept. 21. £46. 2s. 11d. as " A thank-offering from South Devon."—Sept. 24. "From the sale of the produce of a greengage-tree," 10s. — Sept. 27. Received from the Orphan Boys at New Orphan House No. 4 the following letter, written for my birthday. I received sixteen letters, one from each department, but can give only this one, as a specimen of the love of these dear children : " Dear and honoured Sir, We shall not forget the evening when you and dear Mrs. Miiller returned from America, We remember what joy we felt, as we saw your carriage come up the hill. Our spirits had been depressed by the A.D. 1880.] 181 falling rain, and we thought at one time we should not have the pleasure of welcoming you home; but when the rain subsided, the sun shone out, and the cry arose, ' They come ! ' our hearts were filled with joy at behold ing your kind face, radiant with fatherly love to us. We thank you for the kind messages you sent to the Orphans, and for the expressions of love contained in your letters to us from time to time ; and we also thank dear Mrs. Miiller for the beautiful little hymns she so kindly sent from America, especially ' Passing Away,' which reminds us, that time is flying and has brought us very near to your birthday. Our prayer is, that God may bless you richly, and permit you to see many more. Although you will have left England, and perhaps be on the waters of the mighty deep by the 27th instant, still we are sure you will allow us the privilege of wishing you many happy returns of the day. Will you kindly permit us to express our thanks to you for your kindness in asso ciating your birthday with our pleasure by giving us an additional week's holiday ? We must not forget to thank you also for coming to see us and for bringing Mrs. Miiller, too, to hear us sing. And now, dear Sir, for all your consideration for us and love bestowed upon us in so many ways, that we cannot mention them all, please to receive our sincere thanks ; and as you and dear Mrs. Miiller are about to leave us, we will pray for you, that your health may be spared, that your work for Jesus may be blessed, and that in God's own time you may be brought back safely to us. May we ask your acceptance of the small amount of 13s. as a trifling token of our. gratitude and high appreciation of your love to us ; and j ever praying that God's choicest blessing may rest upon ' you and dear Mrs. Miiller, we remain, your ever grateful Orphans, The Boys of No. 4." This sum was sent to me by these dear children, for myself as a birthday pre- sent. I also received similar affectionate gifts from eacE "" of the other departments. Such little love tokens from the Orphans I accept with pleasure, not for the value of the money, but to encourage feelings of gratitude in them. —Sept. 28. £1. as " A thank-offering for a quick delivery from rheumatic fever."— Sept. 29. £50. together with £30., received on 27th, as a legacy from Miss J.—From the neighbourhood of Greenock £40. 182 [A.D. 1880. Oct. 4. Received from one of the Orphans^ formerly under our care £5. with the following Tetter ;T>ear and honoured Sir, about twelve months ago it was my privi lege to send you £3. for the benefit of the Orphans ; the amount being a bonus on my twelve months' salary. You will be pleased to know that I am this year enabled to send you another bonus (£4), together with £1., which a dear friend wishes me to forward. This is another instance of how true it is that God helps us in giving, if we only make an effort. When last year's bonus was declared, it was thought that the continued depres sion in trade would preclude any possibility of another bonus this year. But, whereas, then 3 per cent, interest was the amount of dividend, this year it is 4 per cent. I have more than ordinary pleasure in thus contri buting towards so deserving a cause, seeing that during several weeks I have been absent from business through sickness ; but God has been pleased to restore me to health, and He enables me to testify in this way to His goodness. I take this opportunity of again thanking you and all those who so lovingly labour with you, for the kindness manifested towards me, whilst I was under your care ; and desire ever to remain your grateful Orphan,****."—Oct. 12. From the neighbourhood of Hull a diamond ring. —From a widow in Devonshire £10. with the following letter : " Respected Sir, enclosed is £10. for the use of your large family of Orphans, in which I feel a great interest. I was left an Orphan very young, but I have never found my Heavenly i Father's promise fail, that He would be a father to the fatherless and Husband to the widow. I am now over eighty years of age. He has been both Husband and Father to me. With my best wishes that you may have health of body and mind to enable you to continue this great and good work, and with affectionate regards, I remain, Yours sincerely,****."—From Scotland, a bale of linen cloth.— Oct. 18. From Almondsbury, 3,100 apples. —Oct. 20. Received £5. with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, I beg to enclose you a cheque for £5., as part of an amount that a man tried to claim wrongly from me, but, at the last moment, he with- Idrew the claim. I had promised the Lord, if he withdrew, to send you £5., and £1. to the poor people at H., A.D. 1880.] 183 where I am now doing business. With many good wishes, I beg to subscribe myself, Yours truly,****."— Oct. 21. From the neighbourhood of Fairford £50.— From Java 100 florins.—Oct. 25. £500 as the legacy of the late J. J. O., Esq.—Oct. 27. From Zurich, Swit zerland, £8. 12s. 9d. Nov. 1. £200. as the legacy of the late Miss E. W.— Nov. 5. £200. as the legacy of the late Miss M. W. A. —From Aberdeen 72 pairs of boots.—From Ludlow 6 bags of peas. —Nov. 13. From Wolverhampton 16 sacks of oatmeal.—Nov. 15. From Essex £1. as " A thank- offering for freedom for two years from severe suffering." —Nov. 27. Received £32. 17s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Mr. D. D. has instructed us to send you the enclosed cheque for £32. 17s., being the proceeds of a transaction entered into on behalf of your Orphans. Please acknowledge receipt to us, as Mr. D. being ill at home is unable, at present, to attend to business. Yours obediently,****."—The same gentleman sent a donation •the year before, which was the profit on a business transaction, and undertaken for the benefit of our Orphans. Dec. 6. A barrel of currants, 16 half boxes of valen- cias, and 8 barrels of flour for the children's Christmas puddings.—Dec. 7. From Sunday School children at Madrid 8s. Should the reader ask, why all these donations are referred to, the reply is : When on Dec. 5, 1835, I founded the Orphan Institution, my primary object in doing so was the glory of God, as I desired to show to the world, and to the church at large, that the Living God is unchangeably the same, and as ready in the nine teenth century to answer the prayers of His children as He was in the days of the prophets and apostles ; and that, through the answers to prayer, which I might re ceive, the faith of believers in the Lord Jesus might be strengthened, and they be encouraged increasingly to roll all their burdens upon Him. In order to bring about this, I relate, as I do, what God has been pleased to give ; me, solely in answer to prayer. Dec. 22. Received £5. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Last Christmas, when I sent you 10s. for the Orphans, I had a yearling calf that was very ill and not 184 [4.D. 1881. worth more than 5s. I made up my mind that, if it re- covered (though I did not think that possible), I would send you half its value next Christmas ; I therefore have the pleasure of sending you a cheque for £5. for the - Orphans. I am, dear Sir, yours truly, ****.”—Dec. 23. From near London £290. with £10. for myself.—From a Bristol wholesale house of business 5 boxes of oranges. —From another, 10 boxes of oranges, 25 boxes of fruit and 25 boxes of sultanas.—Dec. 24. From Wolver- hampton 16 sacks of oatmeal.—From a third wholesale house in Bristol 20 boxes of oranges, 2 baskets of figs, 1 barrel of ditto, 10 half-boxes of muscatels and 1 bag of nuts. — Dec. 29. From Woolwich £100. — From London a cask, containing a great variety of toys — Dec. 30. From Maidstone £74. 17s. 4d. Jan. 1, 1881.—Received 10s. “ being 4d. per pair for 480 pairs of boots mended during the past year.—Re- ceived 7s. 6d. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, Last October I was reading your annual Report, and I am induced to give up my pipe and tobacco, and send the sum to you thus saved yearly, for the Orphans, The enclosed 7s. 6d. is for the first three months. May the Lord accept this offering. Yours truly, ****,.”—Jan. 10. £200. from Yorkshire.—Jan. 11. From believers, meet- ing at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £32. 3s. 8d.—Jan. 15. From Spain £3. 1s. 10$d.—Jan. 17. £36. 8s. 7d. with the following statement: ‘The half year’s produce of our dairy, which, in being able to give it to the dear Orphans, makes the farm work a real interest.” —Jan. 20. £4, as “A thank-offering on the first-fruits of the land.” —From Christians, meeting in the Corn Exchange, Chel- tenham, £5. 8s. ld.—Jan. 29. From a Bristol wholesale | house 20 boxes of oranges. Feb. 3. From Secunderabad, India, £16. 7s. 1d.— Feb. 11. From Wolverhampton 16 sacks of oatmeal.— Feb. 15. From Spain £2. 10s.—Feb. 18. From the Isle of Wight £53, 18s. for the support of 4 Orphans for one ear. ; y March 1. £90. as the legacy of the late Mrs. S. M— March 3. £200. as the fifth and final instalment of a legacy of the late G. W., Esq.—From Glasgow £5. as a thank-offering for the birth of a son.—l1s, 4d. with these words: “2d. per couple on every couple of ducks A.D. 1881.] : 185 I sold in 1880.”—March 24. From Wolverhampton 16 sacks of oatmeal.—March 29. Legacy of the late G. B. Esquire, £450.—March 30. From various friends at North Adelaide, South Australia, £12. 7s. 6d. April 28. From Yorkshire £100.—April 30. From Wolverhampton 16 sacks of oatmeal. May 7. Received the following letter with £13.: “My dear Sir, I have much pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £13. for the support of one Orphan for one year. In reading your Reports from year to year I am particularly struck by observing how the Lord provides for you in such a wonderful manner, and during such depressing times as we have been, and are now, passing through. That He may still provide and give you faith to trust in Him at all times and under every circumstance, is the desire of yours sincerely, ****.” How does it come, that “ during these depressing times” we are provided for? Because we do not look at them, nor trust in friends, but depend wholly upon God. This is the secret whereby, year after year, for forty-seven years, we have been helped. Continually we ourselves feel the effects of the depressing times. This morning, for instance, while I am writing this, the income for to-day and yesterday amounts only to £28,, but the average expenses for two days are £248. Often the income for one day is only £10. or £15., some- times even less than £10. ; and yet our average expen- diture for a single day is £124. If, under these circum- x stances, we werd not looking to God alone, we should soon be overwhelmed with difficulty ; but as, by God’s grace, we are steadfastly keeping our eyes upon Him, and are expecting help from Him only, our hearts, year after year, are kept in peace under the most trying and difficult circumstances ; and he has never suffered us to be confounded.—May 10. Received £10. with the fol- lowing letter: ‘Dear Sir, I beg to enclose a cheque for £10. for the Orphans. I have for several years past sent a small sum annually, but have now increased it, in order that, if I live for a few years longer, the Orphans may not suffer by my death. I continue to read your Reports with great interest. Yours very truly, ****.”— From St. Petersburg £4.—May 20. From Manchester £60.—From Elizabeth, New Jersey, 3 gold rings, 5 silver labels, 2 silver fruit knives, 2 gold brooches, 2 silver a 186 [a.D. 1881. coins, and three buckles.—May 25. A friend, by Mr. Rd. Y. B., £1,000.—May 26. From Redland £20.—From the neighbourhood of Thun, Switzerland, 250 Francs. Thus we were brought to the close of another year, during which we were enabled to meet all the expenses for the Orphans, though they amounted to nearly Twenty- seven Thousand Pounds, and had even a balance left. Means for the support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-two Orphans, who were under our care, from May 26, 1881, to May 26, 1882, sent in answer to prayer, falters from Donors and Orphans, Practical Remarks, C. On May 27, 1880, we began the new year with £10,009. 16s, 44d. in hand; but on May 27, 1881, we had only £2,922. 12s. 94d. to begin with. On the very first day of the new year, May 27, 1881, we received from a donor, in one of the Midland coun- ties, £50.—May 30. Received £100. with the following letter: “My dear Sir, It has been a matter of much regret with me, that I have not been able of late years to send you any contributions to your good work ; but cir- cumstances have not allowed me to do so. Some years ago my wife and myself resolved, that, if some shares, we held, advanced to a certain price and were sold, we would | en send you £100. Last week they were disposed of at the exact price, and we are truly thankful to Gor trat— Weare ehabled tersend you the enclosed cheque for £100. Please enrol it in your list of givers ‘For Christ's sake from Shrewsbury for the Orphan Fund.’ Soliciting your prayers for our guidance in rather a perplexed state of temporal affairs, Believe me, very truly yours, ****,”— May 31. From Graham’s Town, Cape of Good Hope, £1. 10s., £1., 10s. 6d., £1., £1., £1., £5. June 11. Balance of legacy of the late T. H., Esq. £142. 0s. 4d.—June 15. Received £50. with the follow- ing letter: “ Dear Sir, I enclose a Bank of England Note for £50. Itisin memory of the late M. W., of W., near L., and by her dying request, that her two surviving sisters send "this sum towards your great work. I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, ****.”—June 22. Legacy of the late Mr. J. C. £150. July 6. From a Yorkshire donor £200.—July 11. A.D. 1881.] 187 From one of the Midland Counties £60.—July 13. By sale of dentist gold, gold and silver articles, pearls, dia- monds, etc., £120., with £44. 5s. for the other Objects. —July 16. From Bayswater four cases of a great variety of goods.—July 19. From Sussex £68. 173—From Bromley £20.—A ton of soap.—July 23. Received £3. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I enclose you a cheque for £3., sent to you by my former Church Clerk, J. &., of G. G., Queensland, Australia. He is only a labouring shepherd, yet so great is his appreciation of your benevolent work for Orphans, that he hopes to send you £3. a year for them. I do not think you receive any more devoted offering to your work in the Lord ; for he fas only just what he earns for the maintenance of him- self and family. Please to send me the most interesting illustrated work you have published ; or, Géorge ers| Life and Work, that I may send it to him, and enclose; the bill, and I will remit you the cost. Yours truly, **%*.” This is one of the many ways in which God: helps us. ' Aug. 3. From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, £13. 10s. for the support of 1 Orphan for 1 year.—Aug. 18. From Wales £90., with £10. for myselfi_Aug. 20. By sale of gold and silver articles, £29. 5s.—Aug. 22. Part of the legacy of the late G. J., Esq., £1,000. This is the result of much prayer.—Aug. 26. From Staffordshire 90 pairs of boots, shoes, and slippers, 6 odd boots and shoes, and 10 pairs of cork soles.—Aug. 27. Received 10s. with the follow- ing letter: ‘‘Sir, I have this day received an unexpected sovereign from a Bristolian whom I have never seen since he was a boy, when I taught him in the pauper school. I received it thankfully, and send half to you. Iam, Sir, yours in Christ (86 years old and 62 years a Christian pilgrim), ****.” ; Sep. 3. £3. 17s. with the following letter: “ Dear Mr. Miller, As my salary is due to-day, I send you the small sum of Two Pounds, also seventeen shillings on account of some small presents I have had given to me ; and one Pound as a thank-offering for the Lord’s mercy and good- ness to me, as I have been now 8 years in my present . situation, and have been blessed with good health most of the time, and able to do the large amount of work that I have todo. My dear wife joins with me in love to a 188 [A.D. 1881. yourself, Mrs. Miiller, and Mr. and Mrs. Wright. We hope and trust you are all quite well, and long may you all be spared to manage the great and good work that you have of the Lord's, is the wish of us both. Believe us, dear Mr. Miiller, yours very faithfully, ****."—Sep. 5. From Church Stretton, £30.—Sep. 6. Received from Westmoreland, ,£100., when our funds were very low.— Also £10. from Newark.— On Sep. 7, came in from Macclesfield £5., and by sale of articles £10. 8s. 10d.— From Aberdeen 10s. 6d., with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, The enclosed is for whatever you feel it is most needed, and may God prosper your work ! Many a time, when my path seems dark, am I cheered to think how your faith receives its reward ; and ever since I promised the Lord a part of my income, in sending it to your Institution, I have been able to give more every year, so that there is a blessing in giving to you. Yours truly, ****."— Sep. 9th. From Ramsgate £100.—From Old Broad Street, London, £5. 14s.—From the Mumbles £5. —From Shirehampton £5.—From Ipswich £2. 2s.— Thus God helped us in our time of need. Above £300. came in from Sep. 6 to Sep. 9 inclusive.—Sep. 1 2. lYom Hampshire £10. 10s. with the following letter: "Dear Sir, Very grieved am I at the present time, for the severe trial sent by our Heavenly Father in the sickness of your large family ; but rest assured, there was a need for it, if only to stir up the hearts of His professing people to practical sympathy towards you and your noble work ; as in my own case ; and with much pleasure and many prayers for great grace and strength to rest on you all, enclose a cheque for £10. 10s., a thank-offering for late mercies. Believe me, dear Sir, yours faithfully, ****." The affliction referred to here was, we had many cases of typhoid fever ; but the Lord had mercy on us, and the cases were remarkably light. —Sep. 16. From Hull 10s. with the following statement : " Dear Sir, Will you please accept in the Lord's name 10s. for the benefit of the Orphans. One penny a day enables us to send 10s. three times a year. With Christian love, I am sincerely yours in the Lord, ****."—Sep. 21. From a friend in Gloucestershire £50.—From Clifton £20. and two sets of artificial teeth, set in gold.—Sep. 22. From Yorkshire £200.—Sep. 24. Three large cheeses.—Sep. 27. From A.D. 1881.] 189 the neighbourhood of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, £100. with £5. for myself. Oct. 11th. From Preston 15 suits of clothes, 3 pairs of trousers, and 37 caps, a piece of material, and 14 _ woollen scarfs.—Oct. 12. £1. as “ A thank-offering to God for saving my own children from becoming Orphans.” —Oct. 19. 10s. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, Enclosed 10s. towards the work amongst Orphans. Thanks for your Report, just to hand, which interested me much. As a young beginner in business, I resolved to put aside one Penny on each sale made, so enclose 10s., being one penny on 120 sales. Yours truly, ****.” —Oct. 19. Although we have this day nothing at all in hand for the School—-, Bible—, Missionary and Tract Fund, yet we are still provided with some means for the Orphans, though already more than two months since there was only enough in hand to meet the average ex- penses of a days. God has graciously, as the result of our daily believing supplications, for the sake of our Lord Jésus Christ, helped us; and He will do so further, though we know not how the help will come. Nov. 3. Legacy of the late W. R. L., Esq., £200.— 2,573 apples.—Nov. 7. £1. “The first few days’ wages, earned in Australia.”—Nov. 11. £1. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter : “ Dear Mr. and Mrs. Miiller, We should have sent our annual trifle sooner; but I am thankful now, that we did not. Our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness to God, for His mercy towards us in sparing the life of our dear babe. Last Sunday night she was close to death’s door. We could not bear to see her suffer, and prayed, that if it were God’s will, He would restore her speedily ; and she is rapidly recovering. So, as a thank-offering to God, we, with pleasure, send £1. instead of 10s..as before. Once again I must thank you for eleven years spent in that Happy Home. May you long fe spared to comfort many more poor Orphans. If there is such joy in simply giving a trifle to God’s cause, what must yours be, who are constantly working for Him. Yours respectfully and gratefully ****.”—Nov. 11. A gold watch.—Nov. 16. From the National Provincial Bank of England, Bath, £100., with the following letter : “ Dear Sir, Enclosed we hand you, under direction of a client of ours (being 190 [A.D. 1881. unable to disclose name) Draft for £100. Kindly forward receipt in due course. Yours faithfully, ****." This donation of £100. came to hand, when the balance for the Orphans was reduced to £108. 15s. 9½d., that is, the amount in hand was not quite enough to meet the average expenses of one day and a half for the Orphans. The total of the expenses for the Orphans alone in the previous year, from May 26, 1880, to May 26, 1881, had been £26,783. 10s. 10½d., therefore the average expenses of one day are £73. 7s. 7d. Will you kindly place your self in our position, dear reader. What do we do under such circumstances 1 We only speak to our Heavenly Father, in order that, by the answers, which we receive from Him, we may encourage the Hearts of His children, increasingly to go to Him in all their need, and that thus their faith may be strengthened ; and in order that those, who know not God, may see what a blessed thing it is to have a Father in Heaven. We do not send out adver tisements, that we are so poor ; we do not call on our rich Christian friends for help ; we do not speak at all to persons outside of the work about our need ; but we betake ourselves only to our universal remedy for all difficulties, trials and necessities, viz., prayer and faith. We do know God, and therefore put our trust in Him, according to that word in Psalm ix. 10, " They that know thy name will put their trust in thee, for tho_u. tord, hast riot forsaken Tihern that seek thee."— JNov. 17. Frbin'CKfton as " Proceeds of sale of work " £55. 10s.— Nov. 18. From X. Y. Z., £66. 19s. 8d.—Nov. 21. From South Australia £20., from a gentleman who, as he writes, was snatched from the very jaws of death, converted through his severe illness, and who now desires to devote himself entirely to God. —Nov. 22. £1. as "A thank- offering for the conversion of my brother."-—Nov. 23. From a friend at Burnley £50.—Nov. 24. From a Chris tian gentleman and lady £162. 16s. for the support of twelve Orphans for one year, with £10. 10s. for my own personal expenses.— 12 half sacks of flour, 1 barrel of currants, and 16 half boxes of raisins, sent by the donor for the Christmas puddings of the Orphans. Dec. 6. £90., with £10. for myself, "A thanksgiving on the occasion of a silver wedding." —Dec. 9. A £200. Debenture bond (with coupons attached for seven years) of A.D. 1882.] 191 the British and American Mortgage Company, Limited." —Dec. 10. From Paternoster Row £100.—Dec. 15. From Rugby £50.—A large box, containing black, drab and whited brown linen thread.—Dec. 16. Ten boxes of raisins.—Dec. 20. From near London £290. with £10. for myself.—From a person in an almshouse 5s. 6d., who lives upon 3s. 6d. per week, and who sends one penny out of every 3s. 6d. which she receives. See how even the poor seek to help in this work, as well as the rich ; but we desire to receive every donation as coming from God, in answer to prayer. —A large number of boxes of sweets and small biscuits ; 30 boxes, each containing a doll and material for clothes, and a number of scrap books, with £1. 1s. towards plum puddings.—Some bags of marbles, boxes and bags of sweets, some toy watches, 6 balls, some bells, a box of little dolls and some scrap books.—Dec. 21. Thirteen boxes of oranges, 15 half boxes of valencias, and 3 barrels of currants.—From Westmoreland £100. —Dec. 24. Two bags of figs, 1 sack of nuts, 12 boxes of oranges and 5 boxes of raisins.— Dec. 28. Received from Maidstone £75. 17s. 9d.— Dec. 29. From one of the Midland Counties £70. Jan. 3, 1882. Received £5. 4s. with the following letter : " Sir, Enclosed you will find Post Office Order for £5. 4s., which please accept for the use of the Orphans. Last New Year's day I sent you One Pound. I had been reading one of your Reports some time before, and I resolved I would try and help you. I therefore put a shilling a week by out of my wages, and, as soon as I had saved 20 shillings, I sent it. That is just a year ago. Soon after sending it, God gave me an unexpected increase in my wages, and I resolved at once to put two shillings per week by for the Orphans, throughout the year. He has also blessed me with health and strength, and I now send you the £5. 4s. as a thank-offering for all His many blessings and mercies vouchsafed to me. With best wishes to you, believe me, yours sincerely, ****." — Jan. 4. £200. from Yorkshire. — Jan. 5. £13. 17s. 6d. "Commission on the sale of a house."— Jan. 6. £5. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I enclose cheque for £5. for the Orphans, as a thank-offering for my father's conversion, at 72 years of age, when, after a few days' illness, the Lord took him to Himself. Yours 192 [A.D. 1882. in the Lord,****.”—Jan. 10. Believers, meeting at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £30. 17s.—Jan. 11. £50. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, As a thankful acknow- ledgment that all I have is the Lord’s, whose little ones you train for Him, in dependance on Him, I have put fifty pounds (£50.) to your credit to-day in~ Messrs. Stuckey & Co.’s Bank, Clifton, to be used for the Orphans. Yours affectionately, The Daughter of an Orphan who was cared for.” Feb. 14. From 46 friends at North Adelaide, South Australia, £14.— Feb. 17. Legacy of the late Mrs. A.M. R. £100.—Feb. 18. From Bath £100. The balance for the Orphans, when this donation was received, had been reduced to a little above £100., viz., only enough for the average expenses of one day and a half—On the same day came in £5. with the following letter : “Dear Mr. Wright, I have been pressed in spirit for a day or two to send you the enclosed for the Orphans, which please take as from a steward who desires to be found faithful. With Christian love and esteem, yours sin- cerely, ****,”— There came in also, from Malvern, £13. 10s. for the support of one Orphan for one year.— Feb. 19. We have received many letters from the Orphans on Ashley Down, sent to my dear wife in con- Bonet with her birthday, of which'as a specimen, I give the following: “New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol, Feb. 7th, 1882. Dear Madam, The days have passed to weeks, the weeks have changed to months, and the day seems very distant since we bade farewell to you on the morning when you left us for the Continent, and thence to go to the Holy Land.— We thank you and dear Mr. Miiller for your kind remembrances, and your mes- sages of love contained in your letter to the Orphans.— We feel very happy to know that you are now in that wonderful country, which is so closely allied to the name of Jesus, and which is so intimately associated with the mighty works and powerful sayings of our blessed Lord.—We cannot read the beautiful and tender story of His life in the New Testament, now that you are in the country where He dwelt, and probably walking over the same ground He trod, without feelings of gratitude to God for His loving kindness to you—We rejoice in the near approach of your birthday, and we ask you to A.D. 1882.] 193 permit us the pleasure of expressing our love to you and i the hope that your coming birthday will be a season of quiet rest and close communion with our Heavenly Father ; that your soul may be greatly blessed, and that you and dear Mr. Miiller may abide under the shadow of the Almighty.—You will be pleased to hear, that the general health in the Boys' Department is good ; that we are striving to do well in our examination, which com menced yesterday, and that we are trying to be good boys, so that, when you think of us, your heart may be comforted.—Praying that God's choicest blessing may remain with you, preserving you in health, protecting you from harm, and prospering you in your labour of love, and wishing you a bright and happy New Year, and many happy returns of your birthday, with much love, we are your grateful Orphans, the Boys of No. 4." —Feb. 24. From Weston-super-Mare £60.—Received 20 sacks of oatmeal. During the past year the same donor has kindly sent us eight similar donations, and altogether 146 sacks of oatmeal have thus come to us. This has been a great help ; for about Christmas we had no means to send for our usual order of 400 or 500 sacks of oat meal to Scotland; but our large stock in hand was lengthened out by being thus gratuitously added to.— Feb. 26. The balance in hand to-day for the Orphans is £97. 10s. 7½d., viz., £24. more than the average expenses of one single day. March 2. Our position now regarding the Orphan work is, praying day by day " Give us this day our daily I > bread. For a considerable time we have TiaTaayT)yctay | fc {oTooITto the Lord for the supply of our daily wants ; • but God has helped thus far. — March 4. Legacy of the late Mrs. C. £156. 8s. 6d.—March 9. From Maidenhead' £60. —A large silver salver. —March 11. Legacy of the late Mr. R. S. £18.—March 17. Legacy of the late Mr. G. F. £200. Many of the legacies have come in just when we were in great need. Thus it has been in par ticular regarding the last three legacies just mentioned. —Received also on the same day £8. 18s. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to enclose for the Orphans and expenses connected with the Orphanage under your care a cheque for £8. 18s. —It may interest you to know the circumstances under which 194 [A.D. 1882. it is sent. The firm with which I am connected had a large sum of money justly due to them, but there seemed but little prospect of recovering the same, when I made -a resolve, that if the money was ever obtained, one half of myshare should be devoted to your Orphanage. This occurred about three years ago, and very soon after that time we began to receive instalments of the amount ; and as the whole is likely to be settled in a few days, I hasten to fulfil my pledge, and to record another instance of the wonderful providence of God; for I feel that His hand is truly apparent here both for your help and mine. With kind regards, I am, Dear Sir, yours faithfully,****.”— March 21. From Sussex £13. 10s. for the support of one Orphan for one year.—March 25. From a Scotch donor, then staying in London, £100. When this donation was received, the balance of the Orphan fund was quite exhausted.—Received also from Sunderland £5. ; and from Liverpool from “An old New Yorker” £5.—-March 26. The balance in hand to-day is £32. 15s. 33d., viz., not one half of the average expenses for one single day.— March 29. £5. instead of insuring stock.—From the Isle of Wight £53. 18s. for the support of four Orphans for one year.—March 30. From Dublin, two sets of artificial teeth, set in gold. April 10. £1. 10s. with this statement: “The enclosed ~ is presented as an offering to the Lord for the Orphans, instead of being used for the purchase of an ‘engagement S< | zing,” by two believers who above al things destrothat their united lives may be to the glory of the Lord, who loved them and bought them with His own blood.” April 11. £6. 19s. 6d. as “ First day’s receipt in my new shop.”—April 17. From one of the Midland Counties £80., which came in at a time of great need.—April 18. Three bags of rice.—April 19. Brom Hull £5. as “A thank-offering to the Lord for saving us from being burnt down.”—April 20. When in the greatest need we received from Edinburgh £100. with this statement: ‘The en- closed was intended as a legacy, but I have sent it in my lifetime.” April 22. From the outskirts of Bristol £22. —April 26. From H. B. £100.—The late A. B., one of the Christian Orphans, who for nearly thirty years had walked in the ways of God, £5.—May 4. From “H. G.” 5 ewt. of white lead, 10 cwt. of zinc white, 5 cwt. of oil » : A.D. 1882.] 195 ochre, 2 cwt. of oil black, $ cwt. of Venetian red, 5 cwt. of driers, 2 gallons of varnish, and 2 ditto of japan black. This most valuable donation was very useful to us for painting in connection with our five large houses. —May 6. By sale of dentist gold £58. 2s. 6d.—May 8. £5. as “ A thank-offering for restoration to health after a severe illness.” —May 9. A satin jacket with the follow- ing letter: ‘“ Dear Sir, I send you by train to-night a box, containing a new satin Jacket which I only wore for the first time yesterday ; bu has shown me, that] >< it will be a snare to me. I have spent a most miserable night on account of it, and promised Him, I would give it to Him, and henceforth dress in what is needful, and not in costly apparel.” This statement is to be pondered. —May 10. From Ootacamund, India, £14. Bs = May 12. From the late Miss H. £20.—May 15. From Edinburgh £50.—May 16. From one of the Midland Counties £50.—From Trowbridge £13., for the support of one Orphan for one year.—May 17. From one of the former Orphans £5., as a token of gratitude, for what she had received at the Orphan Houses. A relative had left to her a small sum.—May 23. From “ Hope,” Taunton, £5.—May 24. From Manchester £55.—May 26. From Redland £20.—From Scotland £65. 6s. 8d.—By sale of plate, gold and silver articles, dentist gold, etc., £85. 14s.—6 table spoons, 4 dessert ditto, 1 gravy ditto, 8 tea ditto, 1 soup jadle, 12 forks, and a tea pot and stand, all of silver, and 1 plated skewer. . Means for the Support of the Two Thousand Two Hundred and Eleven Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1882 to May 26, 1883, sent in answer to prayer, Letters from Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, ée. The readers of the previous pages will remember how very trying our position was, with regard to funds for the support of the Orphans, during the last year, and how, looking at things naturally, it seemed impossible that we should be able to continue to carry on an Institution, like that of the five Orphan Houses on Ashley Downs—where day by day about 2,100 persons sit down to their meals, ! and where the expenses of many thousands of pounds, besides those for food, have year after year to be met— | ‘without applying to any human being for a single sove- | K 2 a 196 [A.D. 1882. reign. We grant, that, according to appearances, all was dark, and that there was no natural prospect of help; but we knew God. We did not merely say that we knew Him, but verily we did know Him. We did not merely say that we trusted in Him, but we did so in reality ; and thus it has come, that we have been helped, as it is written :— « They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee ; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee." Psalm ix. 10. We stayed ourselves upon God, and at the beginning of the new year on May 27, 1882, encouraged ourselves in Him. We were assured that help would come, though we knew not how ; and that God, who raised up this Orphan Establishment at the first, who supported it while it was small, and under many difficulties ; who en larged the work until it became the greatest Orphan Institution under heaven, and who supported it, as such, simply through prayer and faith for so many years; would do this further. I now give to the reader in the following pages some specimens of the manner in which it pleased God to help us. On the very first day of the new period, May 27, 1882, the dear Christian donor, in Ale County, United States, already several times referred to, an entire stranger to us, sent £20. By this, God would say, "Only be lieve;" only trust in Me; I have the hearts of all at my disposal ; the gold and the silver belong to Me. —May 29. We received from Manchester £50. for the Orphans, with £50. for the first four Objects of the Institution.—On May 31, £13. 10s. 6d. came from Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope. June 3. From Wotton-under-edge £500. A glorious deliverance was this donation, and a precious earnest of whaFtTod "would do further for us. This donation came from a Christian gentleman who, though for very many years a donor to the Institution, is not personally known to us, and who had never given so large a sum before. This made the hand of God all the more manifest. — June 6. Anonymously from Glasgow £15. —Legacy of the late Mrs. M. F. £500.—June 23. Legacy of the late K. W. Esq., £1,000. 3 per cent, reduced Bank annuities, less duty and brokerage. The testator says in his Will : " I give and bequeath to Mr. George Miiller of Bristol, or A.D. 1882.] 197 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, near Bristol, the sum of one thousand pounds, three pounds per cent, re duced Bank Annuities, as a response to his confidence in Almighty God for the voluntary support of that Institu tion, to be applied for the purposes of the said New Orphan Houses." Produced (less brokerage of £1. 2s. 6d. and £100. legacy duty), £898. 17s. 6d.—By these and very many smaller sums, within the first month, from May 27th to June 26th inclusive, £2,874. 10s. 5d. for the support of the Orphans was received. By this the reader will see, that we did not wait upon the Lord in vain, nor rely upon Him to no purpose.—June 27. From a Bristol donor £10. 10s.—From another Bristol donor £100.— From London £30. — June 30. From Liverpool, from a former Orphan, who is the commander of a large mer chant vessel, £13. July 3. By sale of jewellery £11. 2s. 3d.—July 4. From Edinburgh £50. — July 5. From Yorkshire £200. —From Torquay £81. 18s. 9d.—July 6. By sale of den tist gold, and gold and silver articles, £36.—July 10. Received £13. 11s. 8d. with the following letter: "Dear Brother in our precious Christ, Our gracious triune covenant God having spared my dear little boy another year (his second birthday being to-morrow) I now enclose, as a thank-offering, my cheque for £13. 11s. 8d., being for the maintenance of one Orphan ^Tof one year, "and trustTniy deantttlc ones, "By The gracious power of God the Holy Spirit, may in due time be brought to know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. —I trust God may yet spare you to labour many years in His vineyard, and may bless your latter end even more than your beginning. With Christian love I remain yours sincerely, ****." From donors, " on their wedding day," £5.—July 15. From a donor on his wedding day £2. 3s. 10d. —From Sussex £49. 10s.—July 17. From Liverpool 20 boxes of soap.— July 18, "Money saved by me and my two children through not drinking sugar in our tea," 19s. 7d. —July 21. From Leicester, from a praying Christian, that she might have work, to be able to help us, £2. 10s. — July 25. From Stapleton £100.—From Bromley £50.—July 26. From a Bristol donor £100.—From New Zealand, 2 198 [A.D. 1882. gold watches, 2 ditto chains, 1 watch key, 2 lockets, 1 watch hook, 1 pair of sugar tongs, 1 silver box of seals, 1 waistband slide, 1 clasp, 1 bracelet, 4 brooches and 1 ring.—July 27. Last evening our balance in hand, for the support of the Orphans, was £172. 10s. 7d., and the total income for them, during the two first months of the pre sent period, from May 26th to July 26th inclusive, has been £4,602. 8s. 1d.—Legacy of the late Mr. J. W. J. £100. less legacy duty.—From Tottenham, 6 pieces of artificial teeth (4 set in gold). — From a working man at Cardiff £7.—July 28. From Westmoreland £20.—£8. "instead of insuring 320 acres of corn against hail."— July 31. From Wolverhampton, 18 bags of oatmeal. Aug. 2. Legacy of the late Miss L. £100.—Aug. 3. From Huntingdon, 10 coats, 9 waistcoats, 10 pairs of trousers, a suit of clothes, 3 dresses, 4 jackets, 3 pairs of stays, 6 chemises, 3 pairs of drawers, 6 pairs of cuffs, 2 collars, a hat, a cap, 4 bonnets, 5 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 pair of slippers and 1 pair of goloshes. —Aug. 7. "A thank-offering for safe return of my dear children from a foreign land," £5.—Aug. 9. From Clifton £50. 13s. 4d. for the support of 4 Orphans for one year. —Aug. 11. From Westmoreland £100.—Aug. 14. From Wotton-under-edge £100. from the same gentleman who had only on June 3rd given £500. —Aug. 16. From a I gentleman, 93 years old, who can say, " Hitherto has the Lord helped me," £1.—Aug. 17. A diamond ring and coral necklace.—Aug 18. £3. from Derbyshire, "Instead of insuring life."—Aug. 19. From a working man 10s., as "A thank-offering for God's mercy in restoring his wife from sickness."—Aug. 23. From Clifton £50.—Aug. 25. By legacy of the late Mr. W. C. £123. 14s. 7d. — From one of the former Orphans, who has been 16 years and five months in the situation to which she went when she left the Orphan Houses, £1. 10s. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, May I have the pleasure of once again sending you a few lines, to thank you first very much for the nice Report, you so kindly sent me. Both Fanny and myself read it through with great interest, and have now passed it on for other friends to read, that they also may see how the Lord can supply the wants of His servants who trust in Him. Please accept the en closed as the contents of my little box. The sovereign A.D, 1882.] 199 was dropped in by Mrs. L. a few days before the Report arrived. Trusting that God's choicest blessing may still continue to rest upon your work, with grateful love from Fanny and myself, I remain, dear Mr. Miiller, ever your grateful and affectionate Orphan,****."—Fanny, here re ferred to, (another Orphan,) has also been 16 years and 5 months in the same excellent Christian family as a servant. —Aug. 29. From Gotham, Bristol, £100. Sept. 4. From the neighbourhood of Berne. Switzer land, £20.—Sept. 7. £7. 7s. as "A thank-offering for being able to do without medical advice for six months." — Sept. 11. Legacy of the late J. E. Esq., £618. 4s. 2d.— Sept. 13. £1. 6s. with the following letter: "Dear Sir, Will you please accept the enclosed Post Office Order for 26s., to be applied as you think best. It is gathered at our dinner table on Sundays — the only day in the week my boys and I dine together. Hoping it may be accept able, though only a mite, in helping to carry on your work of faith and labour of love in the Lord, I remain, Sir, yours faithfully,****."—Sept. 14. "Given by a friend, instead of buying a new dress," £1. —Sept. 15. From Bombay £10. — From Landport £1. 10s. 6d. and 6d. for a Report, with the following letter : " Dear Sir, We once more send our yearly offering, of a penny a day for your Orphans, with 6d. for Report received, for which we thank you. We thank God who has provided for your numerous family through another year, though it has not been without often trying the faith which He Himself has given you; but each year's account of your trials, and the timely help sent to you, adds weight to the tes timony you have so long borne to His faithfulness, truth and power. Commending you and all your work, with all your helpers in the work, to His keeping for the coming year, We remain, Dear Sir, yours very sincerely, ****."—Sept. 16. £1. 12s. with the following letter: " Dear Sir, Since I sent to you last week, the Lord has been pleased to raise my husband's wages six shillings a week ; and to my astonishment he said one morning, we must send to Mr. Miiller 10s. for you, 10s. for me, and 6s. as first instalment of a rise of wages, and 6s. as a part produce of a profitable hive of what had been troublesome bees."—From Manchester, a gold ring set with a diamond, a gold pencil case, a gold Albert chain, and a silver locket 200 . [A.D. 1882. and chain.—Sept. 22. £5. as “‘A thank-offering for ano- ' ther year’s preservation from fire.”—Sept. 23. From one of the former Orphans £5. 1s. 3d. with the following let- ter: ‘Dear and respected Sir, May I ask your acceptance of the enclosed, to be used for whatever it is most needed. I had intended sending £2. 10s.; £1. 10s. as what I usually put aside, and £1. as a thank-offering to my Heavenly Father, for His mercy in preserving me from evils that threatened me. The other £2. 10s. 1 was going to save, but hearing from one of my friends, that, according to the Report, the funds were low, I felt that it would not be right of me to hide my Lord’s money. The ls. 3d. was given me by a young lady in farthings for the Orphans. May I ask your prayers, that the Lord will bring me nearer to Himself, and help me more entirely to trust in Him for all things. —Sunday, the 27th, is your birthday. I hope it may be a very happy day to you, and that you may be spared to see many more. Please remember me respectfully to Mrs. Miiller, and Mr. and Mrs. Wright; and trusting that they and all connected with the work are enjoying good health, I . remain, Dear Sir, Yours gratefully and respectfully,****.” —2 cwt. of rice, a }cwt. box of Valentias and 6 lbs. of tea.—Sept. 25. As legacy of the late Mr. J. M. £150. —Sept. 26, £90. “As the legacy of the late Mr. W. W.” —Received £3. 10s. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter: “ My Dear and Respected Sir, Once more my Heavenly Father has permitted me to send my offering to the glorious work on Ashley Down. It is with heartfelt gratitude, that I have been enabled to send the remaining sum of money, which I had promised to God. As you are aware, when in London, I told Him in my prayers that, if He saw fit to open a good situation for me, I would forward £12. as a thank-offering for His loving kindness towards me; and, for my Redeemer’s + sake, He heard my prayer; hence my reason for sending all that I told God I would give to His work. And now, dear Sir, although within the last ten months I have been able, by God’s help, to fulfil my vow, still I do not intend to forget the work on Ashley Down. I think it would be very ungrateful on my part to do this, and especially I ought to think so, when I am now reaping the benefit of having been in that peaceful Home. I intend—my » A.D, 1882.] 201 Father for Jesus’ sake helping me—to put by something for the grand work under your supervision, and, at the end of the year, I trust I shall be enabled to give you as good an offering as hitherto, or on previous occasions. Remember me to Mr. Wright with my best love to all, and to my school companions Messrs. M. and P., [now teachers at the Orphan Houses] and accept the same yourself. Believe me to be, dear Sir, yours very sincerely, ****,”__From Downend, 7 sacks of potatoes.—From Preston, 20 suits of clothes. Oct. 4. From Tunbridge Wells £5. as “Part of an anticipatory thank-offering, for health to be restored.” — Oct. 9. £1. 6s. “ Farthings taken by a tradesman during the quarter ending Michaelmas.”—From Almondsbury 2,750 apples.—Oct.10. From one of the Midland Counties £70.— Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans, in service, with the following letter : “Dear Mr. Miiler, I am writing a few lines to you, to thank you for sending me the Reports of the Orphan Houses year after year. ~ They are very interesting to read, and also show how the Orphan work is getting on. I shall never forget the happy days I spent when I was in that happy Home. I | can look back now and see how I was cared for, while | there. Nearly eleven years I have left it, and am still } in the same situation to which you at first sent me. It i is like a home to me, and J ought to be very grateful to | our Heavenly Father, for providing me such a good ! Christian home. I would ask you to remember me in ! your prayers, that I may love Him more, serve Him better, and live more closely to Him. I am sending you a small trifle for the dear Orphans. Please to remember me kindly to Mrs. Miiller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and all the dear teachers in New Orphan House No. 2. I remain your truly grateful Orphan, ****.”—Oct. 17. £500. as “ The legacy of the late Mr. C. J. K.”—Oct. 18. £50. as “ The legacy of the late Mr. G. T.”—From Almondsbury* 4,300 apples.—From the neighbourhood of Frome a large cheese.—From Reading 40 sacks of potatoes.— Oct. 19. From Auckland, New Zealand, £5.—From the neighbourhood of Trowbridge 3 cheeses.—Oct. 20. Re- ceived £2. 7s. 6d. with the following letter: ‘“‘My dear Sir, Enclosed I beg to hand you three Postal Orders, value £2. 7s. 6d., for your acceptance, in aid of the K 3 202 [A.D. 1882. Orphan fund.—Allow me to say, that I was called upon by an insurance company to insure my men against acci dent, under the Employers' Liability Act of 1880, and they asked for this amount annually as a premium, to cover all risk. I have never insured against anything for some years past with Man, only with the Lord ; and He has kept me from all mishaps. Nevertheless I almost yielded my faith in God, at least I was tempted severely to do so in this instance, when the risk and the nature of my business were laid before me. But faith prevailed, and I still believe, that, putting my trust in Him, I shall not be ashamed. It was by reading your life and work, that I was led at first to see this; and I have to ask you, to pray for me, that my faith fail not. My prayer is, that you may be kept steadfast in your great work of faith, for His glory's sake. Many Christians need to see, that by insuring all they have with societies, they are not giving scope for faith in God. The truth is, they are lessening their faith, and yet they ask God to increase it. May the Lord keep us steadfast, for His glory's sake. —Believe me yours very sincerely, ****."—Oct. 21. Received from Wotton-under-edge £1,000. with the fol lowing letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I am very thankful to be able to send you the enclosed cheque for your Orphans ! Will you accept £1 00. of the sum for yourself, and be lieve me, with Christian regards, Yours most faithfully, ****." I make the following remarks in connection with this donation. 1. The kind Christian gentleman is per sonally unknown to me, though for very many years he has from time to time sent us donations. 2. During the present year he had already sent £100. and £500., making with this donation, up to Oct. 21, 1882, altogether £1,600. 3. How comes all this ? God hears prayer ; He verily listens to the supplications of His children, who, in the name of the Lord Jesus bring before Him petitions, which are according to His mind, and exercise faith in His power and willingness to help them ; and who, in connection with this, continue to wait on Him, till they receive answers to their requests. Now, we asked for a thing that was according to the mind of God, when we entreated Him to give us the means needed to provide for this large Orphan Family ; we were expecting ', help, not on the ground of our own goodness and worthi- V A.D. 1882.] 203 ness, but simply as such who are united to the Lord Jesus Christ, and asked the answer for His sake ; we also asked in faith ; and persevered day by day in prayer. The Christian reader will not therefore be surprised that we received so large a sum from this Christian gentleman. 4. But notice further, he had already sent us £100. and .£500. since May 26, and yet he sent £1,000. more. God, in answer to our prayers, spoke to His dear child, and inclined his heart to send to us more than ever. Thus He also gives proof, that during the previous year, when we were so low as to funds, it was only for the trial of our faith and patience, and not in anger; nor did He thereby mean to indicate, that He would not help us any more. For my own part, I expected further great help from God, and I have not been confounded. 5. One point more. Notice that the kind donor wished £100. of this sum to be used for my own personal expenses, by which God meant to say to my own hearty "^_ampjeased with ^thy work and service, in going about onTKeseTpini^"Missionary tours. "I will pay the expenses thereof, and 1 give to thee here a specimen of what I am yet willing to do for thee." May God's richest, choicest blessing rest en this dear donor, and all the dear Christian friends, who have helped us, whether with small or large sums ! On the same day there was received from Manchester £100., from a Christian gentleman, who for very many years has helped us considerably. Oct. 25. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £200. with £5. for myself.—Oct. 28. Received £12. 13s. 4d. with the following letter : " Dear Christian Friend, As my little daughter is to-day spared to see the first anni versary of her natal day, I enclose £12. 13s. 4d., being the amount required to keep one Orphan for one year ; and, by the blessing of our triune covenant God, I hope to be enabled to do the same annually, as long as my little ones are spared to me. My prayer is, that your valuable life may yet be spared many years, if God so will, to be the Orphan's friend ; that you may be kept firm in the truth as it is in Jesus, be daily favoured to enjoy very much of His gracious presence, and that, when you come to your journey's end, dying grace may be granted for a dying hour. Yours in Him, ****."— 204 [A.D. 1882. Oct. 30. From Edinburgh £100.—Oct 31. Christian friends at Vienna £4. and a gold locket. Nov. 1. £300. as the legacy of the late Miss E. R. of Bath.—Nov. 3. From Clifton £50., from a Christian lady who for many years manifested much interest about the Orphans, and who since then has been called to her heavenly home, now to reap, as she has been sowing.— Nov. 8. From Sussex £150.—Nov. 8. From a Shepherd in Queensland, Australia, £3., with the following letter from a clergyman : " My dear Sir, I have again the pleasure of enclosing you a cheque for £3., sent to you for the Orphans by my former Church Clerk at S . May God continue to bless your work of faith and labour of love. We Christians owe you a debt of gratitude for increasing pur faith by the evidence of the fruits of your own. Believe me, my dear Sir, Yours affectionately in Christ, * * * *."—From Wolverhampton, the valuable donation of 20 bags of oatmeal.—Nov. 10. Legacy of the late Miss M. £50.—A gold scarf ring, set with a brilliant. —Nov. 20. From McKeesport, Ale County, £10. with the following letter : " Dear brother, I am permitted to enclose fifty dollars more for the Lord's poor. Freely I have received and freely I want to give. What have I, that I have not received ? The little child feels proud, that it can drop the money into the box, after the parent has supplied the means, and told it to do so. So we are sometimes tempted to think we are giyingof^our own. The Lord bless your work. My heart is wltn youT'Amen, ****."—Nov. 27. £50. with the following letter : " Dear Sir, As the circumstances of sending you a second and larger donation than usual, this year, are peculiar, they may not be uninteresting to you. They are these. I began business about twenty years ago, in a very small way, and have been prospered above all my expectations. I have been giving ten per cent. of my income to the Lord, mainly through reading Mr. Miiller's Narrative. At the beginning of this year I resolved, that all I should make, over and above the requirements of my family and household expenses, on a certain enterprise, I would give to the Lord's work ; and, though my books will not be made up until the 31st December, I can see I shall have a good surplus, and therefore it is that I now send you the enclosed. I have not time to write more particularly. AD. 1882.] 205 Yours truly, ****.” Here the reader has another proof of the blessedness of regular systematic giving, carried on faithfully as stewards for the Lord.—Nov. 28. From a Coffee Palace 16s., with the following letter: ‘‘ Dear Mr. Miiller, About three months ago some one sent me a Report of your Orphan Houses, I desired to help, but, having many claims, scarcely knew how to do so, until the thought was put into my mind to ask our manager's wife (a dear Christian) to put a farthing into a box I provided for every gallon of coffee she made. I enclose 16s, which we found in the box this morning. I ask you to pray for a blessing upon this effort of ours to provide working men with good wholesome drinks, as well as to make this a centre of Christian work. Yours in the Master’s service, ****.”—From Wales £75., with £25. for myself, from a Christian gentleman who gives systematically and regularly, and that very largely, just . as the Lord is pleased to prosper him in his very large business. Dec. 2. From a Bristol donor 16 half boxes of raisins, 1 barrel of currants, and 8 barrels of flour, for the children’s Christmas puddings.—Dec. 5. From Yorkshire £200.—Dec. 7. Received 2s. 6d. and a pair of bracelets with the following letter: “Sir, During the past five years, since my four nieces have been under your care, many times I have felt it my duty to write to you and thank you for the kindness and good training they have received, since they have been under your care. When I receive letters from them, speaking of their happiness in their happy Home, I am Ted to thank God that there is such a home for Orphan children. Having visited the Orphanage many times, I can look back, and picture many dear happy faces. Will you please accept 2s. 6d. which I have sent for Reports, which I have received from time to time, also a pair of bracelets, towards the support of the Orphans. It is buta trifle. . I wish I could send more. Yours respectfully, ****.”— Dec. 8. Received the following letter from the mistress of one of the Orphans sent out as a servant. The letter was addressed to one of the former teachers of this Orphan. ‘“ Dear Miss T., You will know that Annie has been seeking admission as probationer in the Leeds Training Institute for Nurses. To-day she has word, a 206 [A.D. 1883. that she is to be admitted early in the New Year. We hope she may suit, and that she will do well. It is eight years and a half nearly since she came to us, and she has done us the best service from then until now. She is and has been a God-fearing girl, and is more anxious to do her duty, than to have her rights. Her training in the Home must have been of the highest kind, and she has been a comfort and joy to us, as well as a most effi cient help. I have thought it is due to the Teachers and Principals of the Home, that they should know these things, while perhaps it may also be a pleasure to them and to you. I am, dear Miss T., very sincerely yours, ****. "—Legacy of the late Mr. J. C. £100.—From a Bristol donor the valuable present of 50 tons of coke.— Dec. 15. From a Bristol wholesale house 6 cases of currants, 15 boxes of fruit, and 10 boxes of oranges, for the Orphan's Christmas Treat.—Dec. 20. From Bromley £50.—Dec. 21. Legacy of the late H. R. Esq. £50.— From a Bristol wholesale house 20 boxes of oranges.— From a former Orphan £2. 11s. 6d.—Dec. 23. From near London £290., with £10. for myself.—From a Bristol wholesale house 10 boxes of oranges, 10 boxes of figs, and a sack of nuts.—Dec. 30. Received £105. with the following letter: "Dear Mr. Muller, Through the utterly unmerited goodness of God, I am able to send you the enclosed cheque, on behalf of the Orphans placed by Him under your care. Please to apply £95. to the maintenance of the Orphans, and accept of the remaining £10. for yourself.—Were I to tell you of the circum stances, which have led to my sending you this money (although they would not surprise you), so remarkable were they, that "the children of this world" could not be expected to believe them—literally true as they were nevertheless.—I have therefore only to add, that my continual hope and desire is, that God's best blessing may still be with you in your great work. Believe me, dear Mr. Miiller, Yours very sincerely, ****." Jan. 1st, 1883. Received £13. 8s. with the following letter : " My dear Sir, I have much pleasure in sending you, as usual, the contents of our Orphan box, and also, because of what we have seen of the excellence of the training in your Institution in the servant we have, I add to the contents of the box enough to support one A.D. 1883.] 207 Orphan. I remain, dear Sir, Yours faithfully, ****."— Jan. 2. From Christian friends at Princes Street Room, Bath, £12. and some articles.—From Glamorgan £30. — Jan. 3. A gentleman had asked the question, whether we were in need of funds. When £100. was very kindly sent by him for the Institution, this question was not answered, because we speak only to God about these matters ; and now, to-day, this gentleman sent us £1000. for the. Orphans. —Received again from the donor at McKeesport, Ale County, £10. —Jan. 6. From one of the Midland counties £70. —Jan. 9. Believers meeting at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £32. 13s.—Received on Jan. 10 the following letter from one of the former Orphans on completing his apprenticeship as Pupil Teacher and becoming an assistant master in one of our Day Schools. The letter was addressed to Mr. Wright. "Dear and respected Sir, It is with great pleasure and feelings of gratitude for the unwearied and unceasing kindness I experienced under the fatherly care of dear Mr. Miiller and yourself, both during the years spent among the boys, and also those of pupil teacher, that, at the close of my apprenticeship, I write this note, to acknowledge it all, and still thank you for the further kindness in retaining me as an assistant teacher, with the means of providing comfortably for myself.—I can now look back on those years at the ' Home,' with heart felt gratitude to my Heavenly Father, who so highly favoured me, and many others, with religious teaching while under such protection ; and it is but the outcome of it, which inspires me with these grateful feelings ; for it was my spiritual birth-place, where my lost and helpless condition as a sinner, and Christ as my Saviour and Friend, were by the Holy Spirit revealed to me. He has not failed to keep His holy promise ; for surely I can say, ' He has been a Father to the fatherless ; and, trusting in Him, He will preserve me till the battle of this short life is past.' I fervently pray, that the Lord will continue to bless Mr. Miiller and yourself, with all the helpers in the many branches of the work to which you are called, and that you may long be spared to see still more of the fruits of your labours in God's vineyard. I remain, Dear Sir, Yours most respectfully, ****."— Jan. 10. Received from Basle 500 Francs as the legacy 208 [A.D. 1883. of the late Miss L. B., and from the readers of the “ Volks Bote” 630 Francs.,—£2. as “‘ A thank-offering for restored health, after nearly twelve months’ illness.” —Jan. 24. Received £1. 16s. with the following letter : “ Dear Mr. Miiller, We enclose an order for £1. 16s. for the dear Orphans. We decided to put by two pence per week when married, and have been married four years. This is our first donation, we wish it were larger. We are only working people, but feel it a privilege to be able to give our mite towards such a noble work, for Jesus’ sake. Yours in the Lord Jesus, ****.”—From Edgbaston £200.— Jan. 26. From Cork £50.—Jan.27. From Dublin £100. with the following letter: ““Dear Sir, On the 25th November last Isent you £50., and gave an account of how it came about that I so increased my-usual donation. I find now, having made up my books to the end of the year, that I have a much greater surplus than I had expected, and have a difficulty in deciding as to how to dispose of it. I, how- ever, have no hesitation in sending to you the first and largest instalment, as it was by reading your Narrative I first learned that it was my duty to give proportionately and statedly of my income to the Lord’s work. Please find enclosed first half Note £100.; and, unless you otherwise wish, I desire it to go for the support of the Orphans. Trusting you continue to enjoy good health, and that all your work continues to prosper, yours truly, **¥**”__Received £152. for the support of twelve Orphans for one year, together with £10. 10s. for myself. Feb. 1. From a baker 160 quarterns of bread, “The average daily amount baked by me during the year ending March, 1879.”—-From Christians meeting at the Assembly Hall, Melbourne, Australia, £5.—Feb. 2. 102 pairs of infants’, children’s and women’s boots.—£25. “ A widow’s mite. An intended legacy, paid during life."—Feb. 5. From a Swansea donor £50.—Feb. 6. From Burnham £50.—Feb. 13. £1. 9s. 6d. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, I enclose you, with much pleasure, £1. 98. 6d. for the Lord’s work in your hands. Instead of sending nine pence on each empty cask, (as before), I send you ls. each on 7, and 1s. 6d. each on 15 empty casks, making £1. 9s. 6d. All I have sold, since I sent to you before. I meant just to say, I have had a better price for them this winter, than I have had for a ~ A.D. 1883.] , 209 long time, and a better sale for oil. I take it as the Lord’s blessing ; and may it be to the praise of His name. The 6d. is for Report, whenever you have it ready. Yours very sincerely, ****,”—Feb. 14. From Belgium £1. 198. 7d.— Feb. 15. £2., “ Part of a thank-offering for the conversion of my only remaining son.”—Feb. 17. From Nottingham £50.—Feb. 20. From McKeesport, - Ale County, £10.—Feb. 21. From Weston-super-Mare £60.—Feb. 23. From Church Stretton £30. March 5. From Ventnor £53. 18s. for the support of 4 Orphans for one year.—From Rome £20.—March 17. £1. “In remembrance of being permitted to see a golden birthday.”—March 20. £1. “The result of one farthing per gallon (for coffee sold), put into a box by the wife of . the manager of a coffee palace.”—March 21. From Croydon £50.—March 26: From one of the Midland counties £50.—March 28. From Maidstone £78. 0s. 10d. —March 30. £7. 10s. with this statement: “A thank- offering to our Father in Heaven for a legacy lately left me.”—March 31. “Instead of buying a gold watch” £25. May the Lord abundantly recompense the donor for this act of self-denial, and may he continue thus to live for God! April 5. From Birmingham £100.—April 6. “From an Orphan who was thirteen years under our care, and who is now in Canada,” 5 dollars,—April 7. Legacy of the late Mrs. A. K. £200.—From Manchester £20.— April 10. From Leicester £300.—From Yorkshire £200. —From Bromley £20.—April 13. From one of the Midland counties £70.—From Wolverhampton 10 sacks of oatmeal and 5 sacks of blue peas.—From Servia £100. —April 16. Legacy of the late A. W., Esq. £500. The gentleman who left this legacy, as in so many cases, was an entire stranger to us.—April 17. From Wotton-under- edge £100. The same Christian gentleman, who had sent us already £100. £500. and £1000. during this period, kindly added this other donation to his former ones.—April 18. From a Bristol donor £60. for the support of 5 Orphan girls for one year, and £40. for the support of 3 Orphan boys.—£10. from a lady as “A thank-offering for her husband’s recovery from illness.” —April 20. Legacy of the late Mr. J. O. £1000. May 26. From Basle £22. 188. 6d. ‘Being the value a 210 [A.D. 1883. of 250 francs from the south of Russia, and of 330 francs as a result of meetings held in Basle in 1881.”—From Manchester £20.—By sale of dentist gold, gold and silver watches, coins, diamonds, and jewellery, £153., with £10. for jewellery for the First Four Objects.— The Lord was graciously pleased to help us, not only to meetall the expensesconnected with the OrphanInstitution, though they amounted altogether to £26,693. 12s. 10}d., but also to close the year with £2266. 19s. 74d. in hand. We praise and magnify Him for this kindness ! Means for the support of the Two Thousand and One Hundred and Siaty Orphans, who were under our care from May 26, 1883, to May 26, 1884, sent in answer to prayer, Letters From Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, etc. May 30. From South Australia £53., with the follow- ing letter: “My dear Sir, Will you kindly receive for the poor Orphans under your care the enclosed donation of Fifty-Three Pounds. I send this to you for them as a thank-offering to Almighty God, for His longsuffering and gracious dealings to me and mine in this foreign land. Pray for us, that we may walk worthy of an entrance into. His heavenly rest. From a friend in Australia.” : June 2. From Philadelphia 200 dollars (£40. 19s. 8d.) —June 5. From Sydney £30,—June 9. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, 4s., with the follow- ing letter : “ Respected Sir, It is with feelings of gratitude I now avail myself of the opportunity of writing to con- gratulate you on your return from your mission work. think of you daily, and pray that God will bless all your effort of labour and love for Him. It is a great comfort to know, that our heavenly Father does answer the prayers of His needy children. I pray that you may long be spared to carry on this great and noble work of winning souls for the dear Saviour. I have to bless God for placing me under your kind care in such a comfortable, happy home ; but for that, I might never have known my dear loving Saviour. It is now nine years since I stepped into the liberty of the children of God. True { happiness is found in Him alone. I ask you, dear Sir, to accept the enclosed mite, and trust dear Mrs, Miiller, Mr. and Mrs. Wright and yourself are quite well. With A.D. 1883.] 211 much gratitude, your Orphan, ****."—June 22. £10. " Instead of insuring against hailstones."—The following letter was received from one of the Orphans who had been a Christian pupil teacher at the Orphan Houses, and who at this time was sent out as assistant teacher to one of our Day Schools. " Dear and respected Sir, Just a few lines, to thank you for the most comfortable home you have provided for me. It is a happy home indeed. I like my work very much, although I find the children not the same ; but I hope, by God s help, to prove an honour to you.—I must thank you for all the care and love I received while in the dear old home for twelve years. I am sure I should never have been provided for in such a way anywhere else. How clearly God's hand can be seen in everything ! I hope you and dear Mrs. Miiller are quite well. We all remember you at family prayer and alone. We are all well here. The old pupil teachers wished to be re membered to you. Believe me ever to remain yours with much gratitude, ****."—From Clevedon, a number of pieces of material, a pair of skates, and a great variety of other articles. July 10. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £200.—July 13. From Cheddar 119 pairs of socks.— July 14. From Liverpool 20 boxes of soap.—July 18. By sale of a little carriage £11.—July 19. With Mat thew xix., 13-15, £100.—July 21. £2. 3s. 1d. from Beaver Falls, Pensylvania, U. S. A., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, I commenced this year by systemati cally putting aside for you one cent, for each package shipped by my firm, and enclose you herewith £2. 3s. 1d. etc."—July 31. From the Mumbles 1 soup ladle, 14 table spoons, 9 tea spoons, 3 egg spoons, 2 sugar tongs, 4 salt spoons, 3 tea caddy spoons (all of silver), 2 rings, an old gold watch, and 2 boxes containing a great variety of clothing, etc. Aug. 17. When we began this period, we had on May 27 in hand for the support of the Orphans £2266. 19s. 7½d. This balance was to-day reduced to £111; but the Lord sent in £239.—Aug. 18. Having paid out yesterday and this morning £365. 17s. 5d. for the Orphans, and having only received £26. this morn ing, our balance was reduced this afternoon to £10. 2s. 7d. 212 [A.D. 1883. Think of this, dear Reader! Day by day about 2100 persons are to be provided for in the Orphan Institution, and £10. 2s. 7d. was all that was in hand to do this. You see that we are just in the same position in which we were 46 years since as to funds. God is our banker. In Him we trust, and on Him we draw by faith. This was Saturday. In the evening £30. was received. On Monday we received £129. further, but had to pay out. £60. On Tuesday we received £295., but had to pay out £180.—Aug. 20. From Norfolk £27. 6s. for the support of four Orphans for six months.—Aug. 21. From Preston £146. 8s, 2d.—From Ale County, U.S. A, £10.—Five hampers of fish. — Aug. 23. £13, 13s. for the support of one Orphan for one year from Rickmansworth.—From Manchester £20. —From Madeira £13. for the support of one Orphan one year.—Aug. 24. From Preston 22 suits of boys’ clothes and 2s., with £2. 10s. for myself—Aug. 25. From Wotton-under-edge £200 from a Christian gentleman. , As the Lord is pleased by death to remove donors, or to take away from them the ability to continue to help us, or to direct their means into other channels; so also He ' raises ae new donors, or inclines the hearts of those who ~~ have helped us before, to do this more abundantly. Thus | the Christian gentleman, last referred to, has during the , last three years helped us far more abundantly than ' before. God is pleased continually to vary His mode of ' dealing with us, in order that we may not be tempted to | trust in donors, or in circumstances, but in Him alone, and to keep our eye fixed upon Him. This, by His grace, we are enabled to do, and.our hearts are kept in peace.—By sale of dentist gold, plate and jewellery, , £39, 12s. 3d.—£10. “ From a happy husband and father, : on his 15th wedding day, in token of thankfulness to . the Father of us all.”—Received the following letter: “ Dear Mr. Miller, I have to thank you for a copy of the Report, and am sending it to a friend of mine in North Devon. It is indeed a marvellous work you have been enabled to carry on, and I pray God will spare you yet many years to continue it. In travelling from Bath to Oxford in the month of February this year, I went in the same carriage alone as far as Didcot, with one of your Orphan girls, who was going to her ‘first place’ ™ A.D. 1883.] 213 in London. Her manners were all that could be de sired, and, entering into conversation with her, I was greatly interested in all that she told me about her life at the New Orphan House No. 2, where she had been carefully nursed and trained ever since she was about two years old, and taught to be useful. She was now launched forth to gain her own living; and, if one might judge from appearances, she went forth with a healthy body and a well cultivated mind. She spoke most highly too of ALL, and was so simple and unobtru sive. I have often thought of and talked about her since. Her trust and confidence were very charming. At Swindon I said, 'If you wish to get out, there is plenty of time.' She said, ' No, I must not get out until I get to Paddington.' ' And supposing there should be no one to meet you, what shall you do ? ' She saidi (smiling), 'Just stand by my box till some one comes! and calls me by name.'—Dear girl, I hope there are many! like her, who will have to thank God and you for what! you have done for them.—It was owing to this little incident that I sent you the few things I collected together, and only wish it was in my power to help you largely with my substance. Our prayers need have no limit. Matthew vii. 11. —May I ask for your prayers and intercessions for myself, and for ten children, who were suddenlymade Orphans in 1867 without a moment's notice, that we may be found in the way of righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Believe me yours faith fully,****." Sept. 20. From Adelaide, Australia, £20. —Sept. 26. £2. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Muller, I received your Report this morning and return you my best thanks for it. I determined to send the enclosed £2. as a thank-offering to God for His great goodness to me and my dear wife during a time of severe trial. We have just lost a very dear girl, and had a confinement the day before the funeral, as well as another illness in the house ; but the Lord has helped us thus far most wonderfully, and we wish not only to thank Him with our lips, but in a more substantial manner. I hasten to write now, because you will be leaving for India to morrow. May the presence of the Lord be with you, and may it be a more prosperous tour spiritually than 214 [A.D. 1883. even your European ones, if possible. Yours very sincerely in Christ,****,”—Sept. 27. From Westbury- on-[rym 185 quarterns of bread.—£40. 9s. 3d. with the following letter from one of the former Orphans: “ Dear and respected Sir, I have very great pleasure in sending the enclosed cheque for £40. 9s. 3d. from my brother-in- law, which he wishes to be taken for the Orphans. With deep gratitude for all the kindness I received while in the dear Orphan House, and kind remembrance to all the dear teachers who remember me, I remain yours respect- fully and affectionately,****.” Oct. 8. From South Australia £20. with the following letter : ‘“‘ My dear Sir, I enclose a draft for £20., as a little assistance to the great work in which you are en- gaged.—It is a long time since I had the privilege of sending you money help, though you were the means (about forty years ago) of my ‘trusting the Lord.’ You know what that means. Words cannot express it. And all these years He has never cast me off; but the older I get, the more real and precious is the glorious gospel to my soul. I hesitate to occupy your time, but it may cheer you in your labour of love to know of another instance of God owning your work. ‘Try to imagine what it has done for me these forty years.—For a lon time I have thought it my duty to assist widows and fatherless relatives, also religious works in this country, and that these would suffer, in proportion as I gave to other objects. But this is a mistake. It is limiting the power of God, I know now; so I am able to enclose to you this thank-offering to the Lord for so many mercies. Yours in the believer’s Hope,****.”—Oct. 9. 16s. from North Petherton, “Saved by not taking sugar in tea.”—Oct. 22. From New Zealand £10. 10s. as “A thank-offering to the Lord for great and many mercies and support under affliction and bereavement.”—Oct. 27. From ‘The Coffee Palace at Merton 10s., the result of a farthing a gallon for Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa made in this.Coffee Palace since Aug. 25.”—-From Great Tew £19. 98. 10d., and from Clevely £2. 138. 2d. as “A harvest thank-offering.”—Oct. 29. From M. D. £100. Nov. 2. In 41 coupons £153, 14s, 7d. from a donor who has repeatedly helped us in a similar way.— £51. 12s. “From one whose heart is in heaven.”—Nov. 8. From ~ A.n. 1883.] 215 Cambridgeshire £89. 8s. —From Smyrna £1.—Nov. 16. From a friend at Burnley £50.—From a Bristol firm a box of sewing cotton. —One of the masters of the New Orphan House No. 1 writes : "I am glad to be able to state that during the past year we have seen evidences of spiritual blessing among the boys, and we have not a few in the school at the present time, who profess to love the Lord Jesus, and whose daily life shows that they have indeed been born again ; and whilst there are a few whose conduct does not so manifestly give proof of a spiritual birth, we are encouraged to hope that we may be enabled through Christ to teach them also the neces sity of living as well as professing Christ."—A guinea piece.—Nov. 21. From Newark, New Jersey, £20.— Nov. 23. " From the haven of peace" £5.—Nov. 26. £10. from Ale County, U. S. A., with the following letter : " Dear Brother, This is a stormy morning. I was led to think how my Heavenly Father had taken care of every parcel I have sent to you these three years across the wide ocean, and what storms they have encountered, and my thoughts have been carried further back. It is about forty-four years, since first I prayed to God, and shed tears over sin, and I feel sure they are not lost, nor for gotten by Him. Yours in the good work,****."—From Liverpool a ruby and diamond ring, and a solid gold ring.—Nov. 28. From Yorkshire £200.—From Becken- ham £20., and from Islington £10. 1s., with £5. for myself. We had scarcely anything left for the Orphans when these three donations were received. Dec. 1. From Ale County, U. S. A., £10.—Dec. 3. From a Bristol firm 16 half boxes of Valencia raisins, 2 cases of currants, and 8 barrels of flour, for the Christ mas puddings of the Orphans. —Dec. 7. From Carlton, Australia, £2., with the following letter : " Dear Sir, Please to accept for the Orphans this small thank-offering for many mercies. You will like to know, that in this far off land we pray for you and your work. My daughter died June 7 at Ballarat. She never forgot the good she received from your and Mr. Craik's preaching when she was young. That God may continue His blessing to you to the end, is the prayer of yours sin cerely,****."—From Maryborough, Australia £100. — Dec. 7. Day after day, for many days, our balance in .• 216 [a.D. 1883. hand for the Orphans has been very small. Yesterday, when all expenses had been met, £34. 14s. remained in hand. This morning £256. 7s. 8d. came in, so that we had £291. 1s. 8d. ; but the expenses of the day were so great, that the last sovereign was called for, and we had nothing at all left.—Dec. 8. £140. 2s. 4d. came in to-day ; but all was called for again, and thus, up to Dec. 12, we were continually, day by day, without any balance in hand, though helped day by day.—In this _ state of things we continued till Dec. 19, when our , balance was reduced to £7. 0s. 4d. I mention these par- ; ticulars, because some of my readers may suppose that : our trials of faith with reference to means existed only 46 years ago. Ever since the commencement of the work, we have gone on in the same way, and have acted on the principles on which the Institution was first begun. | See therefore, Christian Reader, how truly blessed it is ! to have real trust in God; not only to sayI rely upon God, but in reality todo so. Our daily averagé expensés ‘for the Orphans alone amount ~to -273., and all we had left on Dec. 19, 1883, amounted to £7. 0s. 4d.—Dec. 8. From Wotton-under-edge £100. This kind donor has helped us within the last three years again and again considerably, when we were in great need, of which of course he knew nothing, because we make our wants known to our Heavenly Father only.—From Newark, New Jersey, £10. 5s. 4d.—Dec. 11. From South Aus- tralia £6. with the following letter : “Dear Sir, The day after reading your Report last year, I saw one of my bullocks was very bad. The thought struck me, if he gots better, I will sell him and send the proceeds to Mr. tiller. Well, he got better, I sold him to the butcher, and enclose the proceeds. Wishing you continued suc- cess in your noble undertaking, and that God may spare your life for many years to carry on your work, I am, dear Sir, yours truly,****.”—Dec. 24. From Aberdeen 50 pairs of boots—From Redland 15 gross packets of sweets, each containing a miniature tool, with a Christ- mas card attached.—427 apples.—From a Bristol whole- sale house 20 cases of oranges, 1 bag of nuts, 4 mats of figs, and a box of raisins —Dec. 26. From a “Mother” £21.—From Bedminster 109 quarterns of bread.—Dec. 29. From a Bristol firm 2 cases of currants.—Dec. 31. ™ . A.D. 1884.] 217 The Lord has helped us through another year. Again and again all our means for the support of the Orphans were completely expended, so that not a single sovereign remained in hand, yet the Lord has not allowed us to be confounded. Whenever our money was gone, He again appeared on our behalf ; we ended the year with a balance of £572. 15s. 5d. in hand, and, trusting in Him we entered in peace upon the new year. Jan. 1, 1884. Of the many donations received on this day, I only mention the following. From Manchester £20. from a donor who has kindly helped us many times in a similar way. — From the neighbourhood of Melksham £10.—From Clifton £15.—From the neighbourhood of Flax Bourton £10.—From Tring £10.—From Cardiff £30.—From St. (fallen, Switzerland, £1. 7s. 8d.—From Maidstone £76. 14s. 8d.—Jan. 4. From Merthyr Tydvil £1. 5s. 6d. as "The result of my labours on New Year's Day."—Jan. 8. A deposit certificate for £100. of the Liberator Permanent Benefit Building Society, as the legacy of the late Mrs. S. S. D.—Jan. 9. £60. from one of the Midland Counties. —From Believers' meeting at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £31. 12s. 11d.—Jan. 11. From Cork £50.—Jan. 19. Legacy of the late Mr. J. F. Y., £459. 8s. 4d.—From Wotton-under-edge £100.—Jan. 21. From Stuttgart £10.—Jan. 22. From one of the Mid land Counties £60.—Jan. 25. Legacy of the late G. S. G., Esq., £500.—From " The Hope Coffee Palace, Merton," 14s. with the following letter : "Miss F. has much plea sure in sending Postal Order to the value of 14s. as the result of her manager's wife putting one farthing into a box for every gallon of tea and coffee she makes. Miss F. believes much of the prosperity, which she rejoices to say accompanies the work in this place, is the result of this small offering. She asks for continued prayer, especially for a mission to commence next Saturday, con ducted by G. S." Feb. 6. From Kent £1. 10s. with the following letter : "Dear Sir, I have sent you £1. 10s. out of the Lord's treasury. I do so wish more of God's people would adopt the systematic way of giving to the Lord, as He prospers them. Nature creeps in and robs the soul of a great blessing, and also robs the pocket. The Lord gives bountifully to those who give by faith to Him. It L 218 [A.D. 1884. does away with that very unpleasant word, ' I cannot afford it.' I give so much every Lord's day morning out of every £1. I take in my business. Yours in the bonds of Christian love, ****."—Feb. 8. Legacy of the late T. N. S., Esq., £100.—Feb. 18. Legacy of the late Mr. S. S. D., £90. 3s. 4d.—Feb. 19. £40. with the following letter : " Dear Mr. Miiller, I have sent you a cheque for £40. I have long since sent you a small sum each year, and I thought, as my age is getting on (I believe it is the same as yours) I would, as God gives me the opportunity, send what I can afford to your Institution. May God bless and prosper it as He has done hitherto, to the rescue of so many Orphans and the saving of souls. Yours faithfully, ****."—Feb. 26. From Sussex £189. 17s. 8d.—Feb. 27. From Bournemouth £50., with £10. for myself. March 4. From H. G., the valuable donation of 25 cwt. of white lead, 5 cwt. of zinc white, 2 cwt. of driers, 3 cwt. of putty, and 1 cwt. 1 qr. of ochre.—March 6. From Weston-super-Mare £60.—March 10. From Ale County £10. —March 11. From one of the Midland Counties £50.—March 13. From Ventnor £53. 18s. for the support of 4 Orphans for one year. April 1. From Manchester £30.—April 2. By post, 2 sets and 4 pieces of artificial teeth, set in gold, and a small gold ornament.—From Yorkshire £200. This kind donor, whom God has raised up for the Institution within the last eight years, has helped us again and again in a similar manner in our need, without knowing of it. I state, without knowing about it ; for we never make known our wants. The reason why we refrain from this, is not because we consider it sinful to let our Christian friends know that we are without means for the work of the Lord, but because, from the beginning, the Orphan Institution had for its especial object to strengthen the faith of Christians and to encourage them increasingly to give themselves to prayer in all their necessities ; we desire also to show to an unbelieving and sceptical age, how much, even in the nineteenth century, can be accomplished by prayer and faith. On this account I never speak about the state of the funds, except in the yearly Reports, and all my fellow-labourers are requested to refrain from doing so when we are in AD. 1884.] 219 need, in order that the hand of God, in sending to us help, simply in answer to prayer, may be clearly seen. —April 7. From Landport, a gold ring set with rubies. —April 8. From E. F. Two Argentine Bonds of £100. each.—From Edinburgh £25., “A widow’s mite, an intended legacy, paid during life.”—April 16. From one of the Midland Counties £70.—April 19. From Wotton- under-Edge £100..—April 28. From Lahore, Punjaub, 100 rupees—From Delhi 100 rupees.—From Ponty- pridd, 124 pairs of boots and shoes. May 1. From Bath, for the support of one Orphan for one year £15.—In the previous part of the narrative many donations are referred to, in which donors gave the average expenses of one, two, three, four, six, and eight Orphans for one year, and thus, out of the 2160 Orphans who were under our care, during the past year, 54 were provided for. The sum sent was not always the same ; sometimes a little too much, sometimes too little. The reason probably being pis, that these donors did not refer to the ipsl-poge-0 the previous ort, where the amount for the past_year is always stated During the last year the average expense for the support of one Orphan was £12. 17s. 8d. The price of provisions, the quantity of provisions, or material for clothes sent to us. the various expenses connected with the buildings, all these and other items affect the yearly expenditure for the support of the Orphans. May 10. From M. C.B, a gold pin, set with a diamond.—May 12. From Redland, a silver teapot.—May 13. From Mhow, Central India, 300 rupees and 100 rupees.—May 14. From Hastings 370 loaves of bread.—May 15. By sale of dentist gold £41.—Other amounts, besides this, have been received in the course of the past year by the sale of dentist gold. I take this opportunity of stating, that year by year gold and silver watches many .articles of jewellery, plate, gold, and silver coins, new and second hand clothes, and many hundreds of other articles, are sent to us for sale. We have no bazaars, but sell these things in the ordinary way at No. 34, Park Street, where a room is fitted up for the purpose. By sale of such articles we have received from the commencement of the Orphan work £22,507. 8s. 84d., and during the past year £386. 10s. 14d.—May 16. From Stoke Bishop - L 2 220 [A.D. 1884. £31. 10s, with £1. 10s. for myself—From a Coffee Palace, Merton, £1. 48., being one farthing on every gallon of tea or coffee sold to working men.— May 17. From St. Marychurch £50.—From Edgbaston £200.— May 21. From Rockleaze £104. 9s. 6d.—May 26. Though many times during our past financial year all our money was gone, yet the Lord allowed us to see the close of the year, as the result of continued believing rayer, with a balance of £421. 16s, 33d. in hand for the Srphans. - Means for the support of the Two Thousand One Hundred and Ten Orphans, who were under our care during the year from May 26, 1884 to May 26, 1885, sent in answer to prayer, Letters from Donors and Orphans, Practical remarks, ete. Our balance in hand on May 27, 1884, was £421. 16s, 33d,, which was only enough to last six days for the average expenditure for the support of the Orphans, though sometimes we pay away more than double this amount in one day. There was therefore again much need to stay ourselves upon God, in order that our hearts might be in peace. This, however, by His grace, we were able to do. I will now give specimens of the manner in which it pleased the Lord to supply us with means. . May 28, 1884. From Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, £1. 10s, £5., £1. 17s, £1., £1., £1., £1., 15s., and 10s. 6d.—From Glasgow £1. 17s. 11d. This donor sends us help as God prospers him in his business. June 7. From Edgbaston £37. 10s—From the neighbourhood of Auchterarder £20. 0s. 6d.—Legacy of the late G. J., Esq. £11,034, 63, This is the largest x donation I have ever received at one time. I have-bad £8;T00,. and £9081, at once, but no more. This AY legacy had beet above six years in Chancery, and year after year its payment was expected, but remained unsettled by the Chancery Court. I kept on praying, however, and for six years prayed day by day that the money might be paid, believing that God in His own time (which is always the best) would help at last; for many legacies in Chancery I had prayed out of the Court, and the money was eventually paid. In the A.D. 1884.] 221 present case, too, after faith and patience had been sufficiently exercised, God granted this request likewise. In addition to the £11,034. 6s. paid on June 7, 1884, £1,000., as part of this legacy, had by the Court been paid to me a long time before. The following points are also further to be noticed regarding the payment of this legacy :— 1, When the money was paid, our balance in hand was only £41. 10s., a very little more than one- half of the average expenses for the Orphans for one day. How kind it was, therefore, of the Lord to give us this money when he did ! 2, There were before us sanitary improvements to be carried out, which we were strongly advised to adopt, as, within the last ten years, so much scientific progress has been made in reference to sanitary operations connected with dwelling-houses, etc. But to carry out all these, many hundreds of pounds would be needed ; it was therefore so kind of the Lord to give us the means to meet expenses which would amount to upwards of £2,000. 3, And it was, lastly, a great mercy that we at length obtained this money, because it carried us along without difficulty, in reference to pecuniary supplies, irrespective of the sanitary altera tions, as our expenses in other respects were so heavy, and the income was not nearly equal to the expen diture. Will my readers therefore admire the kind ness of God, together with us, in helping us as He did? June 11. Received from one of the fnrmftr Orphans the following letter with £1. 1s. : " Deaf Sir, enclosed you will find Postal Orders for £1. 1s., being the con tents of my little box for the Orphans since last summer, the sum being chiefly made up of odd pence and half pence, and occasionally silver, as we were able to give, or from relatives visiting us. It is wonderful how this little effort has prospered, I believe by asking the Lord to bless it. What a large sum of money might be raised, if all the Orphans, as they leave the Orphan Houses, were to start a little box and ask God to bless it.—I heard from Mr. Weeks that he had told you of my dear sister [also a former Orphan] leaving for the Congo River Mission, Africa. You will be glad, dear sir, to know that they (that is, the Missionary party) reached Sierra Leone safely, and were all well at that S 222 [A.D. 1884. time. They had a little stay at Madeira before that, and a Missionary there kindly fetched them in a boat, and took them all about the place. They saw the school, had breakfast, received some lovely flowers and fruit, and then returned to the ship, having enjoyed the little change very much. Dear Mary was very happy, feeling deeply how great is her privilege of carrying the glorious Gospel message to the dear heathen. We little thought how the Lord was leading us when He took our parents, and then sent us to the dear Orphan House, where we continually heard of His great love, and were constrained to give Him our hearts and lives. I bless and thank Him for all the way in which we were led, though at times it seemed dark enough. I pray that He will prepare me, and open up the way, that I too may go out to Africa as a missionary in His own good time,****." June 12. £1. as " a thank offering for a merciful escape from what might have been a serious accident."—June 14, From Wotton-under-edge £100., with £25. for myself.— From Scotland £66. 6s. 8d.— June 26. Six barrels of arrowroot. —June 28. From Ireland, a gold watch and chain. July 1. £10., instead of insuring 400 acres against hail storms.—July 5. Legacy of the late Mr. G., £100.—July 9. £13. 12s. 10. for the support of one Orphan for one year, as " a thank-offering that the donor's little boy has been spared another year."—Legacy of the late Mrs. M., £200.—July 14. From Clifton £50.—July 15. From one of the Midland Counties £70.—From London £50.— July 19. From a shepherd in Queensland £6.—July 21. From Vevey, Switzerland, £100. Aug. 1. From a Bristol donor £75. for the Orphan girls, and £50. for the Orphan boys.—Aug. 7. By sale of gold and silver articles, watches, etc., £55.—Aug. 11. 3 sets of artificial teeth, set in gold, and 8 pieces (set in gold), a gold mourning ring, 3 gold seals and watch key, a silver watch, a silver snuff-box, a gold wedding ring, a silver top, label, thimble, a brass seal, 2 breast-pins, and 2s. —From Yorkshire £200.—From the congregation at the Union Evangelistic Hall, Ootacamund, India, Rupees 62 ; from a friend, Rupees 50 ; and from Mrs. H., Rupees 13. —Aug. 13. £11. 6s., "being 1s. each on articles I sell many of."—To-day a Christian brother from the United -, A.D. 1884.] 223 States of America called on me, and stated that he had been greatly blessed spiritually through my publications ; also, that having obtained possession of some property through the death of his sister, he had come from Ame rica to know me personally, to see the Orphan Houses himself, and to hand over tne whole of the legacy from his sister to the Institution. He subsequently paid me £694:., and stayed about ten days in Bristol. See, esteemed reader, how God works for those who trust in Him I Were the real blessedness of this way known, how we carry on the work of God by depending on Him alone for help regarding everything, tens of thousands of our dear fellow-labourers, in their work for the Lord, would act on precisely the same principles also.—Aug. 14. From Wotton-under-edge £200., from a Christian gentleman on whose heart the Lord had especially laid this Institu tion of late years.—Aug. 15. From a Bristol donor £100. —From a young man, a former Orphan, £4., with a grateful letter. —Aug. 18. From " G., Preston," £146. 17s. 6d. — Received the following letter from London : " Dear Sir, You will, I have no doubt, recollect a lad of the name of H. W. J., who was apprenticed to me from your Institution ten years ago. I am sorry to say he died on the 3rd instant at one of our hospitals, after some weeks of intense suffering. He lived with me some years after the expiration of his apprenticeship, but he left me to take the management of a branch shop for a gentleman at Woolwich, and gave him very great satisfac tion. Through ill health he was obliged to leave, and for the last two years, up to the time he went into the hospital he lived again with me. He was a member of the Church, and I believe a truly Christian young man. He has left a world of suffering to be for ever with his Saviour, and we are left to mourn his loss, yet we are not left without hope. I am, yours faithfully, ****." Sept. 1. From a gentleman at Hanham £80. 14s. 11d. —Received £12. with the following letter: "My dear Mr. Miiller, Many thanks for yours of the 3rd instant, with your advice to put my trust in the Lord. How I wish I could do it more sincerely ! I do endeavour to do so, but feel myself falling very short of what I wish to do. I may say for your comfort, that I was expecting an answer to your prayer about the time you would be re- 224 [a.D. 1884. ceiving my letter, and was awaiting God’s reply in a turn towards recovery of my child from her suffering. I am now praising the Lord that she has been getting better, and as a thank-offering to Him I now enclose you the first half of a £10. note, believing that she will be spared to us. I could not pray for her recovery, but simply said ‘Thy will be done,’ which, Iam happy to find, is to allow us to bring her up; and may we do this in the fear of the Lord! Enclosed you will also find two postal orders, to the value of £2., which are thank-offerings as follows: One night last week I fancied one £10. note I had was a bad one, which troubled me, but _ promised the Lord, should jt-be a good one, I would send its ten towards His cause. This I send 20s. from another dif- ferent channel towards His work (the note was good). The second 20s. is also a thank-offering for being able to accomplish a task which I had endeavoured to do the last two years. I promised the Lord the above 20s, if He would assist me to do it; and the first time I tried I was successful, Another answer to prayer. Yours very gratefully, ****.”— Received 10s. 6d., with the following letter : “Dear Mr. Miiller, I received your Report on Satur- day, for which I return my sincere thanks, and must acknowledge that the reading of your Reports and the two volumes of the Lord’s dealings with you (which you presented to my dear wife, when she was leaving the Orphan Houses in her seventeenth year) have done my soul more real good than anything I ever read, except the - Book of Books. I hold the position of lay preacher, and leader of a class, consisting of 40 members, in a little mining district in the Methodist Free Church Connection. Had not the Lord strengthened my faith through the reading of your works, I feel sure That neither 1 Sor yet the class ore my care, would be in the healthy, spiritual condition, which we enjoy to-day. I just mention this to show that your work and publications are accomplishing all that you intended, and very much more. It truly is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. I am still hoping that you may see your way clear to have a Mission tour through England, should your years and | health permit; for there are many Orphans in this dis- | trict, who have little families now growing up around them, whose hearts would rejoice greatly could they but ~ A.D. 1884.] 225 once more see their kind benefactor ; and not their's only, but their children’s also. I enclose postal order for 10s. for the Orphans and 6d. for the Report. My wife joins me in congratulations on your safe return from India, and | prayer that God’s richest blessing may attend all your work of faith and labour of love; and may you even in your last moments consciously enjoy the peace of God, ****.” —Sept 12. From Ale County, U.S. A., £10. —Sept. 16. From the neighbourhood of Tenby £50, — Received also £1. 11s., with the following letter: ‘Sir, We forward you a Post Office Order for £1. 118, this amount being a penny a day for one year, and sixpence for a Report, hoping God will spare you for a long time to watch over the Orphan Houses, that great monument of His, which stands as_a great lighthouse, constraining all men who see it or hear spout Te to know that God’s footsteps are still seen in the earth, and that the sceptic may be left without excuse. May all the prayers of the people, whose desire is drawn out towards the Orphan Houses, be the means of strengthening your faith in God. We allow ourselves only one penny for our milk daily, that we may have one penny CORTE Porte Orphem—W are a little reduced in’ 0 tances, but we think God requires this penny for some time yet, and He is sure to give it out of His bountiful store.” Observe, esteemed reader, the variety of ways God uses to supply us with means, and that He not only sends us help through those who abound, but also through such as are in comparatively needy cir- cumstances.—Sept. 16. From an “Old New Yorker,” £5. 5s.—Sept. 19. From Yorkshire £100.—Sept 23. £4. ‘being 1s. each on 80 chests of tea sold.”—£1. as “the proceeds of bees, kept for the benefit of the Orphans.” — Sept. 30. ‘“‘ From a commercial traveller, £3. 12s., bein, money saved on my journey through travelling by third class trains.”"—-£10. “as a thank-offering on the occasion of their wedding day, for past and present blessing from sinners saved by grace.” Oct. 3. From a shipowner and merchant £21. “in stead of paying insurance to underwriters, trusting in the Lord.”—A tin box, containing 2 gold watches, 1 silver watch, 1 gold chain, 1 ring set with diamonds and rubies, a gold thimble, 6 brooches, 7 rings, 2 breast pins, a fur cape, some shawls and dresses, a great variety of other L3 Pa 226 [A.D. 1884. articles, and £1.—Oct. 9. Received £1. from one of the 1 former Christian Orphans, with the following letter : I " Dear and honoured Sir, Please accept the enclosed on behalf of the Orphans. I have now been away from the Home over 19 years, and can testify to God's exceeding mercy and kindness to me. The enclosed handbills will show how I am able to employ my evenings ; and although I did not learn shorthand at the Orphan Houses, yet I received a thoroughly sound education which helped me on, and gave me the desire to learn shorthand. I have at my different classes nearly 100 pupils. Then, too, as you may already know, I was able, successfully, to pass the open competitive examination for the Civil Service 11 years ago, and am now receiving £200. per annum, rising gradually to £350. I feel, therefore, that I have special mercies, for which to thank God ; and lastly, for a goodly measure of health and strength through all these years. And may you, dear Sir, be spared yet for some years to come, to carry on all the good work at Bristol and elsewhere. Your obedient servant and old Orphan,****."—Oct. 11. Received £1098. 19s. 11d. as the legacy of the late J. G. , Esq. This legacy had been in Chancery since 1869. Continually I prayed about this legacy also, and at last, after faith and patience had been long exercised, and much prayer had been offered to the Lord, this legacy too was brought out of the Court, and thus twenty legacies, at least, I have been enabled to pray out of Chancery within the last forty-five years. I relate this for the encouragement of Christian friends. —Oct. 13. Received £50. with the following letter : " My dear Mr. Miiller, will you kindly accept the en closed for the benefit of the Orphans 1 I intended leaving to you at my death this amount, but think it better to give it during my lifetime. May I beg an in terest in your prayers, that the Lord may keep me faithful to the end 1 That you may long be spared to be the Orphans' friend, is the earnest prayer of, yours sin cerely,****."—From Aberdeen the valuable donation of 16 sacks of oatmeal.—Oct. 18. From Manchester £50. 9s. —From Blandford £50.—Oct. 21. From Southport £50. —Oct. 22. 8 doz. table forks, 8 doz. dessert do., 3 doz. do. spoons, 3 doz. table do., 3 doz. tea do., and 1 doz. gravy do., all of nickel silver.— Oct. 27. Received A.D. 1884.] 227 £12. 17s. 8d. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, If my dear little girl should be spared until the 27th Oct. she will be 3 years old, and I desire, therefore, to show my gratitude to my gracious God for His exceeding great goodness, in sparing her to me for another year, by en- closing you a cheque for the maintenance of one Orphan for one year. Trusting the blessing of Almighty God may still rest upon you, yours faithfully,****.” Nov. 6. From a Christian in business, who gives as the Lord prospers him, £97. 15s. 8d—Nov. 7. From India a chest of tea—Nov. 8. Legacy of the late Mrs. F. 8. S. £100.—Nov. 10. From Clifton Down £50.— Nov. 12. Froma merchant and shipowner £21., “ instead of insurance of a steamer for three months, trusting in the Lord.”—From Hewish a large cheese—Nov. 20. Received three very grateful letters from three former Orphans, who had been appointed to the situation of assisting mistresses in some of our day schools.—Nov. 25. Received £5. with the following letter: “My dear Sir, Please accept the enclosed £5. for your Orphans from my dear wife and myself, as a small tribute of thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for another year’s domestic happiness, yesterday being the anniversary of our wed- ding-day. Please enter it from ‘Haven of Peace.’ Wishing you every blessing, both temporal and spiritual, believe me yours very respectfully,****,”—Nov. 27. From Canada five large cheeses.—Nov. 28. £5. “ Froma happy | man since visiting the Orphans.” Dec. 1. Legacy of the late Mrs. C., after having been three years in Chancery, £329. 11s. 4d. Here is another legacy, a third during this year, which I have prayed out of Chancery.—Received from the neighbourhood of Lon- don £100. with the following letter: “My dear Mr. Miller, I have much pleasure in handing you the enclosed £100. from my dear wife in aid of your great and good | work. She had intended leaving this amount in her will ; | but, on consideration, she is led to think that it is more | in accordance with the Lord’s mind that she give it in | her lifetime. She is thus her own executor, and in every | way I quite feel with her, that it isthe better course. — With our Christian love, and begging your prayers, I re- main, yours in our Lord,****.”—Dec. 2. £1. 10s, with , the following statement ; “ Twopence on each job of work a 228 [a-D. 1884. the Lord has been pleased to bless me with during the year.”—-From six friends at Barnstaple £5. each, and from one £2.—Dec. 3. From Wales £80., with £20. for myself—From Southampton £14. with the following letter: “Dear Sir, A debt of £140. having this day been unexpectedly paid me, I have great pleasure in sending you the enclosed cheque for £14. in aid of your excellent Orphanage. I should like £10. to be placed to the Orphans’ account, and £4. kindly accept yourself.”— Dec. 6. £5. from one of the former Orphans towards the Christmas treat of the Orphans.—Dec. 12. Received £5. with the following letter: “ Dear Mr. Miiller, When a youth, I decided to unite with the Lord’s children, at the risk of losing all my earthly prospects. I am now approaching my ‘ three-score and ten,’ and the Lord has dealt bountifully with me, and kept me, and I am well able to send for the Orphanage the enclosed cheque for £5.”—Dec. 13. Received £2. 12s. with the following letter: “ Dear Sir, I enclose £2. 12s. for the support of the Orphans, a thank-offering to my Heavenly Father for hearing and answering prayer. I have had a dispute with my employer about some claims for commission, which he refused to pay, without either legal or moral excuse for doing so. It appeared likely to lead to litiga- tion and annoyance. Encouraged by your example, I made the case a matter of fervent prayer—in fact, placed it. in the Lord’s hands, and promised, if it was arranged without litigation, to give 5 per cent. of the money 1 received asa than -offering to the fund of your Orphan- age. I have this day received £52. in amicable settle- ment of my claims, and now forward you Post Office Order for £2. 12s.”—Dec. 16. Received a grateful letter from one of the Orphans, who, after having been thirteen years in the Orphan Houses, as one of the boys and as _ pupil teacher, was appointed as assistant master to one of our day schools.—From a Bristol wholesale house 8 bar- rels of flour, 1 barrel of currants, and 16 quarter boxes of Valentias, for the children’s Christmas puddings.— Dec. 17. From Cheltenham a gold watch.—Dec. 18. Received £90. for the support of 6 Orphans for one year. —Dec. 19. From Scotland £2., with this letter: “ Dear Sir, Enclosed are £2. in aid of the Orphans. This sum is part of the amount I used to pay for fire insurance. I A.D. 1885.] 229 have asked God to protect my property from danger, and I give Him the sum I was in the habit of paying.”— From New Jersey, U.S.A., £20.—Dec. 20. From a Bris- tol wholesale house, 16 boxes of oranges, 8 do. raisins, and 3 barrels of currants, for the treat of the children. —Dec. 22. From near London £190. with £10. for myself.—F rom a Bristol donor 15 gross packets of sweets, each with a Christmas card, for the Orphans.—Dec. 26. From Finland, Russia, £2.—10 boxes of oranges, 10 do. figs, and a bag of nuts, from a Bristol wholesale house. —Dec. 30. From Westmoreland £100.—From S. 8. £50. —Dec. 31. From Westmoreland £40. with £10. for my- self—From Christians meeting at Prince’s Street Meet- ing Room, Bath, £13. 13s.—From North Adelaide, South Australia, £16. 5s. 6d. in 52 donations.—Thus ended the year 1884, during which we had been tried, greatly tried, in various ways, no doubt, for the exercise of our faith, and to make us know God more fully ; but during which we had also been helped and blessed, and greatly helped and blessed. Peacefully, then, we were able to enter upon the year 1885, fully assured, that, as we had God wy, FOR us and WITH us, ALL, ALL would be Well) “Jan. 1, 1985. Or the very many donations which came in this day, I only refer to a very few. From Penarth £30.—From E. M., Clifton, £15.—From the neighbour- hood of Launceston £8. 10s. 6d.—From London £25.— From Manchester £20.—From Clifton Down £10.—Jan. 6. 10s. from an Hotel Proprietor, “ being one penny per night for each visitor occupying a bed during the past. quarter.”—Jan. 9. Received from Wales 17s. 2d., being the result of the labour of the donor on the first day of the new year.—Jan. 13. From our Sunday Schools in Barcelona, Spain, £2. 6s.—Jan. 16. From Believers’ meet- ing at Sand Area Chapel, Kendal, £34. 28. 4d.—Jan. 17. Received 12s. with the following letter: “ Enclosed I beg to hand you Post Office Order for 12s. for the Lord’s treasury. The Lord has been bringing some of my for- mer sins to remembrance, and I desire to restore that. which I took falsely away. The first item happened about 15 years ago. I was a steward on board of an American steamer running from New York to American ports. One morning I found a silver dollar, lost by a cabin passenger, and enquiry was made; but I denied 230 [A.D. 1885. I having the dollar. Could I see that gentleman now, I would confess to him and humbly ask his forgiveness. But there is no way of finding him out. 2nd item. I was in the firm of Messrs. nearly 20 years ago, and one day I defrauded them of 4s. 6d. on the wages-sheet for men's time. They became bankrupts, and I left. If this firm were in existence, I would gladly confess to them and restore. 3rd item. Twenty-seven years ago a boy whom I knew robbed a drawer in a public house, and gave me 1s. 6d. of the money, which I knew to be stolen ; but I do not remember the name ; so I thought to send 10s. to you, with 2s. as the fifth part, according to Levi ticus vi. 1—5, for the Orphans. I would have done this long ago, but have not had the money. I have asked the Lord to forgive me, and trust you will pray for me." Restitution is the revealed will of God. If it is omitted, while we have it in our power to make it, guilt remains on the conscience, and spiritual progress is hindered. Even though it should be connected with difficulty, self- denial and great loss, it is to be attended to. Should the persons who have been defrauded be dead, their heirs are to be found out, if this can be done, and restitution is to be made to them. But there may be cases when this can not be done, and then only the money should be given to the Lord for His work or His poor. One word more. Sometimes the guilty person may not have grace enough, if the rightful owners are living, to make known to them the sin ; under such circumstances, though not the best and most scriptural way, rather than have guilt remain ing on the conscience, it is better to make restitution, anonymously than not at all. About fifty years ago, I ; knew a man under concern about his soul, who had de frauded his master of two sacks of flour, and who was -urged by me to confess this sin to his late employer, and to make restitution. He would not do it, however, and the result was that for twenty years he never obtained real peace of soul till the thing was done.—Jan. 22. From Wooton-under-edge £100.—Jan 27. Received £3. 15s. with the following letter : "Dear Sir, It has pleased God to spare me to reach the age of 75 years, in better health than I have been for several years at this season. This is a cause of very great thankfulness, and I now send you a cheque for £3. 15s., being a shilling for every year of A.D. 1885.] 231 the number I have attained. I esteem it a great privilege to be able to send you the enclosed, to help some of your little ones, and that you may train them in the fear and love of Him whom to know is Life Eternal. I pray that you may long be spared to carry on the blessed ser- vice of the Divine Master; and with best wishes for God’s continual guidance and strength, believe me, dear Sir, yours sincerely,****,”—Jan. 28. Legacy of the late F. R. Esq., £1,000. This gentleman I never saw, but God, in answer to our prayers brought before Him, day by day, inclined his heart to leave this amount to the In- stitution, and, at the same time, dispose the hearts of the executors to pay the legacy so soon; the will having ween only proved ten weeks.—Jan. 31. From Maidstone 3. 5s. Feb. 2. Received from Leicestershire £3. 15s. with the following letter: ‘Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in sending you the enclosed amount for the benefit of the Orphans under your care. I am sending you so much . per head on the increase of all my stock for the year 1884—15 young calves, 1s. per head = 15s. ; 58 lambs, 6d. per head = £1. 9s.; 22 pigs, 6d. per head = 11s. ; arrears of former years, £1.; altogether £3. 15s.” If God were thus habitually recognized as the giver, and if the first fruits were given back to Him, how different would the position of the children of God be, and how great would be the spiritual blessing in the hearts of donors if the love of Christ led them to act thus !—From - Paisley 16 boxes of corn flour.—Feb. 3. Received £35. with the following letter, from the same shipowner and merchant who had recently insured twice before in the same way : ‘‘ Dear Mr. Miiller, Enclosed is a cheque for £35. for the support of the Orphans, instead of paying the same to underwriters for insurance of a steamer.” The donor commits his steamers into the hands of the Lord, trusting in Him.—Feb. 28. From London £1. and a ring set with diamonds, rubies, and an emerald. March 4. From the Isle of Wight £53. 18s. for the support of four Orphans for one year.—March 5. From Brislington £63. 17s. 6d.—March 11. From Believers at Ngaire, New Zealand, £7. 7s. 6d.—March 12. From a Bristol donor £90. for the support of Orphan girls, and £35. for the support of Orphan boys.——March 13. “ 232 [a.D. 1885. From Weston-super-mare £60.—March 19. From Bristol donors 7} doz. shoe brushes, 28 doz. scrubbing brushes, 124 doz. washing brushes, and 16 doz. mixed sort of brushes. A valuable donation for the use of the Orphan Institution, in which so many hundreds of brushes yearly are used.—March 25. Received from a great distance £2. 5s. with the following letter : ‘My dear Sir, I have never sent you anything before for the dear Orphans. I lost a sheep some time ago, and I felt sorry that it should be entirely lost, so I had it laid upon my heart that, if I sent you the price of it, the Lord would send it back. I told Him that if this was His will, I would be glad to send you the price of the sheep. The very next day a man found the sheep on a hill and brought it. I enclose, therefore, Post Office Order for £2. 5s. ; and may our loving Heavenly Father continue, through His people, to care for the dear Orphans.” Apr. 24. From Philadelphia £20.—Apr. 25. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £100.—Apr. 30. From Wotton-under-edge, £100. May 5. Received 7s. 6d., with the following statement : “ Enclosed are the first week’s earnings of my fatherless boy. Please use this small sum for the Orphans. The Lord has mercifully provided suitable employment for him near home, and we desire thus to express our thankfulness to Him.”—May 9. From Bath, £40., as “a thank-offering to the Lord for help and deliverance under great depression in business.”—May 13. Received from the neighbourhood of Hull 10s. with the following letter : “Dear Sir, Will you please to accept 10s. in the Lord’s name for the benefit of the Orphans? Five years ago He inclined us to put aside one penny a day for the Orphans, and thus we are enabled to send ten shillings three times a year. How many thousands of people, young and old, might lay aside so small a sum for the Lord’s sake, and thus gladden His heart in helping them.” This letter shows how much may be accomplished by systematic giving to the poor or the work of God, even on the smallest scale—May 15. Received the following letter from one of the former Orphans: ‘Dear Mr. Miiller, It is now nearly ten years since I left your fatherly care. 1 was nine years an inmate of your home, and most sincerely thank you for the excellent education A.D. 1885.] 233 I received while under your care, which has enabled me to fill a very important and responsible situation. I have gradually risen from one stage to another, and am now managing entirely a Branch Post Office. I thought you would be pleased to hear of my success in life. My cousin, H. B., wrote you a little time ago respecting some books for distribution. I can assure you he, under God, has been the means of turning a great many from dark ness to light, to God as their Saviour, and the books and pamphlets would be used in a good cause. He and a friend are labouring amongst some of the poorest out casts of London. Will you please accept my warmest thanks for your past fatherly care ? Believe me, yours respectfully,****."—May 23. From Manchester, £20.— From a Bristol donor, £100.—May 26. This last day of our financial year a number of donations came in, amount ing altogether to £82. During the past year the average expenses for 47 Orphans were contributed by donors paying for one, two, three, four, and in one instance even for six Orphans. Thus, out of the two Thousand one Hundred and Ten Orphans who were under our care during the year, 47 were provided for. In the course of the last year £14,647. 0s. 4d. came in by way of legacies, a greater amount than we have ever had during any similar period. If donors desire that legacies left by them to the Institution should really be received by us, they must kindly have the legacy inserted in the will minutely, according to the form which will be found on the last page of the Reports. As in former years, so again during the past year, thousands of articles, new and second hand, have been sent, and ladies have again been engaged in making articles of linen, etc., for the use of the Orphans, or to be sold for their benefit. During the past year £444. 1s. 8½d. came in by sale of articles ; and from the commencement of the Institution, £22,951. 10s. 5d. has been received. We have no bazaars, but sell the articles at 34, Park Street, Bristol, in a room fitted up for the purpose. 234 [a.D. 1873. CHAPTER III. In this chapter will be found the statistics of the Insti- tution from May 26, 1873 to May 26, 1885, 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 bless- ing, in so far as they are known. Further, it will be stated how many copies of the Holy Scripture were circu- lated, 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 re- sults of these operations. Further, it will be stated how many religious Tracts and Books were circulated, year by year, at what cost, and what has been the spiritual result of these labours, in so far as itis known. Lastly, how many Orphans were received and dismissed, year by year; how many eaeh 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. ' From May 26, 1873 to May 26, 1874, there were sixty day-schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Of these sixty day-schools, there were thirty-seven in England and Wales, ten in Spain, three | in India, three ini Italy, and seven in British Guiana. Besides these sixty day-schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, eleven other day-schools in England, Wales and Scotland were assisted. The master of the Schools at Walham Green, writes on May 20, 1874 :—‘ Thank you very much for 15,000 tracts and 1,000 little books received. So many of the dear children are desirous of distributing the tracts, that I find it necessary to tell those who wish to distribute to go to the classroom. Yesterday, I found twenty-one there, all of whom professed to be the Lord’s, many giving clear testimony as to the reason of the hope that A.D. 1873.] 235 is in them. To-day, more are asking for tracts. These, I hope to see to-morrow, to ascertain as far as we can, whether they know and are in the way, before seeking to lead others. I believe we have had and are having some of the droppings of the great shower descending upon the people of our land."—The master of the school at Clayhidon sends this Report to the School Inspector : " Through the Lord's grace much blessing has rested on the schools during the past year. No previous year has been so fruitful in conversion. Refreshing showers have indeed descended on us, telling us that ' God is in the midst ' of His people. It would be impossible for me to give you details of the many striking conversions that have taken place within the past year. One or two perhaps, will suffice : was a young girl of about 16, who has been a pupil at the school since its commence ment. Many times the Spirit of the Lord has wrought in her heart, but to all appearance she had resisted and rejected all appeals ; so much so, that all our confidence was removed ; we feared she never would be the Lord's. But ' the Lord knoweth them that are His,' and often when we are not expecting, He reveals His power, that we may not trust in ourselves, but in the Living God. So in this case. There had been much awakening among the children and several of the elder youths and girls had decided for the Lord, yet this girl held out stiffly. But one morning while setting a copy, I asked if she was always going to refuse God's mercy. She looked surprised, and after a moment's pause said, ' But I am not very old yet, sir.' ' True,' I said, ' still you are old enough to die, and if unsaved, old enough to be lost.' I said no more, but passed on to other duties. But ere the day was over, I noticed a great change in the girl, she seemed melancholy and wretched, yet I said nothing, feeling it would be best to leave her entirely in the Lord's hands. She came to school no more that week,—I thought, because she did not wish to be spoken to on soul matters. On the following Sunday she was at the meeting ; and at the enquirers' meeting, after the usual service, she was found with four others of the school, weeping bitterly. Before the day was over, all these were brought into peace, by faith's apprehension of Isaiah xliii. 25 arid xliv. 22. Then she explained the 236 [A.D. 1873. cause of her absence from school the previous few days. She had been so miserable and wretched, and the words spoken to her so alarmed her, that she couldn't come ; she was afraid all the other girls would laugh at her, as she could do nothing but cry all day long. A very happy Christian she now is, and although she has borne much opposition and persecution, she rejoices in being counted worthy to suffer as a Christian. Her brother has also been brought to the Lord. was another young person who had, in former years, been in the school, but had gone to a distance, to reside with some relatives. Her younger sister was at the time with us in the school. When Mr. Miiller made the school free, her parents thought they would give her a little more ^education, and, while she came to school, her younger sister could take her situation. She came, and although 19 or 20 years of age, she made great progress. Still in spiritual things we could see no change. The Christmas holidays were drawing very close at hand, when she would leave for her former work. Only a week re mained, yet she was not saved. She had been very anxious for many weeks, but, as is often the case, Satan seems to arouse all his force to drag the soul into evil, when the Lord is working through the Spirit in the heart. And so it seemed, for, instead of being willing to listen to the Word, she became most rebellious, and to her parents would say most dreadful things of every Christian. But it was Satan's last resource ; the Lord did not leave her, and the result was, she became more unhappy than ever, when one day, the day before school was suspended, she said ' I can't go back as I am, oh ! I must be saved before I go back.' That very night, the Lord spoke peace to her soul. She left the next week and her sister returned to school. In a fortnight she was also converted, and these both are walking most happily and consistently. Two of their brothers have also been decidedly brought to the Lord. I could give you many instances of similar happy conversions, but time will not allow. I would add two more, that of two youths who have been to the school for some time. The Lord had been working in their hearts for some months, for they would often remain behind, after school hours, to be spoken to. Still, they could not, for some weeks, A.D. 1873.] 237 grasp the Truth. Surely, ' faith is the gift of God.' But they were set at liberty in a most happy manner. We had had a most impressive season at the afternoon meeting one Sunday, and I saw they were both deeply moved. I asked them to come and take tea with us, hoping to have a little private and personal dealing with them. The Lord gave the opportunity, and we were found all three of us together, reading Isaiah xliii. and xliv. with other Scriptures. The Lord gave sight, and they both could rejoice in the conscious knowledge of sin par doned, and themselves accepted in the Beloved. Both these also are walking with the Lord, and bearing testi mony to Him in their life. I can only say in closing, that such blessing was more than we even looked for. How true it is, ' He is able to do exceeding abundantly' above all we ask or think.' More than a dozen, we have reason to believe, have been converted in the youths' Bible Class alone. To God alone we would ascribe all the praise."—The teacher of the School at Sheldon writes : " Several of the children have been converted to God, and are holding on well, while others, although not decided, are very attentive. The condition of the school is generally very good."—The mistress of the school at Chittlehamholt sends the following report : " Four dear girls have professed faith in Christ ; two have been admitted into fellowship here, and all four are showing by their lives that they have indeed been with Jesus. This appears a small number when compared with the many still unsaved. I reckon all difficulties small, com pared with the glory by and by."—The master of the Mixed School at Cardiff reports : " We have much to be thankful for, because the Lord, in answer to much prayer, has of late been wonderfully working among some of the children, and we can, we trust, say, that there are at least seven who have really found peace through the blood of Jesus, and rejoice in the fact that their sins are put away. Every Wednesday evening we have a children's prayer meeting, when suitable portions of the Word are read and simply commented upon ; these meetings are very blessed indeed, the numbers attending them have gradually increased, and the Lord is very manifest in His work among several of the dear children, who gladly meet together. We have, indeed, much 238 [A.D. 1873. cause to bless and praise the name of our God, and rejoice in the God of our salvation."—These reports from the teachers of the schools might be greatly multiplied, did not space forbid so to do. The reader, however, cannot fail to see, that the Lord's manifest blessing rests upon these schools. In the sixty day-schools, entirely sup ported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1874, four thousand eight hundred and fifty two pupils. Of the schools merely assisted, no report as to numbers is asked, nor other particulars. There are now twenty-eight Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these twenty-eight Sunday Schools there were, on May 26, 1874, altogether Three Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Three Scholars. There were, like wise, during the past year, fifteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the In stitution. Regarding these fifteen Sunday Schools, which were only partly supported, no report as to numbers or otherwise was requested to be sent in. Of the twenty- eight Sunday Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 8 are in Spain, 4 in British Guiana, the others are in England. In the Sunday School in Bristol the Lord was pleased again to work greatly during the past year by the power of the Holy Ghost. A number of the young persons attending it were brought to the knowledge of the Lord. —In the Sunday School at Walham Green the blessing of the Lord was so great, that it was thought well to have a class for believers only, so that they might be taught the way of God more perfectly. In this class there are fourteen boys. The believing girls have not yet been separated.—In the Sunday School at Burring- ton was one case of decided conversion. There are now seven Adult Schools, with 483 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are 3 in Spain, 1 in India, 1 in Bristol, 1 at Callington, and 1 at Walham j Green. In addition to these seven Adult Schools, • entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there was one in Hertfordshire assisted. i It will appear, from the foregoing statement, that there \ are altogether Ninety Five Schools entirely supported by A.D. 1873.] 239 the funds of the Institution (60 Day Schools, 28 Sunday t Schools, 7 Adult Schools) ; and that during the past year I 27 Schools were assisted, viz., 11 Day Schools, 15 Sunday Schools, and 1 Adult School. From what has been * stated it will likewise be seen, that in the Ninety Five Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institu- i tion, there were on May 26, 1874, altogether 8,286 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Thirty-eight Thousand Eight i Hundred and Nineteen, viz., there were 23,915 in all the Day Schools, 9,121 in all the Sunday Schools, and 5,783 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £3,327. 17s. This does not include £1,540. 6s. 8½d. expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund, to which it more properly belongs. There has been expended on the Schools, from the beginning of the Institution, £26,490. 4s. 2d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from \ May 26, 1873 to May 26, 1874, is as follows : 5,620 Bibles have been sold. 1,186 Bibles have been given away. 26,544 New Testaments have been sold. 4,340 New Testaments have been given away. 560 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 653 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 4,694 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 3,816 Ditto given away. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 88,516 Bibles, 205,528 New Testaments, 15,484 copies of the Psalms, and 159,449 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. 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; and, as the Papal State was opened for the circulation of the 240 [A.D. 1873. Holy Scriptures four years since, we have sought to the utmost of our power to spread in it also the Word of God. For years past we have also circulated many Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Swedish, Danish, Welsh, and Dutch Bibles and Testaments. Likewise Testaments in Russ. There are kept for sale at the Depository, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol, cheap Bibles and Testaments in the following languages : Welsh, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Also the New Testament only in Russ, Swedish, Ancient Greek, and Greek and English. Likewise the Old Testament and Psalms in Hebrew. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scrip tures, is £1,220. 8s. 6½d. The total amount spent, since March 5, 1834, is £16,813. 10s. 2½d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during the past year, as during the previous years. Before leaving this part of the operations of the In stitution, and writing about Missions, I make the follow ing remarks : To the careful readers 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. During the past year we have continued, by the help of an earnest Christian brother, to introduce the Holy Scrip tures into the factories and mills of Lancashire, York shire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Many thousands of copies of the New Testament and many Bibles have been 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 so great, that of late years we have given still further considerable help to several Christian colporteurs, to go on with this work in Wales, Gloucester shire, Somersetshire, &c. The greater the efforts which AD. 1873.] 241 are being made to put aside the Word of God, or to do without it, the more it becomes us to spread it abroad, with earnest, believing, expecting, persevering prayer. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid mis- sionary efforts. During the past year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for this Object, the sum of £10,816. 2s. 104d By this sum One Hundred and Eighty-nine labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India ............seeceesescerceserseee L107 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana ... 177 11 8 © For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain ................ 1,078 11 114 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy .............. 177 3 1 Towards the support of a “Home” for ONQUIFINg JEWS ......seseescerseeees ces 30 0 0 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, £43. 16s, 2d. Many hundreds of letters were received from the 189 labourers in the Word, between May 26, 1873 and May . 26, 1874, relating how they had fared in the Lord’s service, and. referring to many hundreds of deeply in- teresting instances, in which their labours were blessed. A great number of these letters are given in the Report, which refers to this period ; but I cannot here any further enter upon this part, than to state, that the labours of these 189 Missionaries were abundantly owned by God. I cannot leave this part of the Narrative without | making a few more remarks, in connection with the ; Missionary Object of the Institution. Most of my readers, . if not all, know, that there are Hundreds of Millions of VA Idolaters yet, to whom the Gospel has never been carried ; ¢ ee that there are many scores of Millions of Mahometans; , and many scores of Millions of Papists; and many : Millions belonging to the Greek Church ; a few Millions of Jews ; and many Millions of nominal Protestants, all of-whom have never heard the Gospel preached. The | M 242 [A.D. 1873. conclusion, therefore, is, that we have reason to believe that there are about a Thousand Millions of souls, who have never heard the Gospel preached, and that therefore at least Forty-nine out of every Fifty, are not privileged as we who know the Lord Jesus, have been. It is an awful consideration, that the vast majority of our fellow- men have never yet had the light of the Gospel ; have never had salvation through faith in the atoning death 1 of the Lord Jesus preached to them. Have we sufficiently pondered this ? Has it had a practical effect upon our lives ] And what effect has it had 1 1. Has it led us to earnestness in prayer ? Day by day should we pray, that God would abundantly bless the labours of all His servants, who preach the Gospel at Home and Abroad. Every day that we neglect this, we neglect, what, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we ought to attend to. But we should also pray for those who are engaged in preach ing the Gospel at Home and Abroad, that they may be upheld and strengthened, both as to their outward and inward man. 2. But, if we are sincere in our prayer, : we shall do more than this. Perhaps we can give our selves to this service, of making known the unsearchable riches of Christ, for the remainder of our lives. At least we should offer ourselves for this to the Lord. Should He not accept us for this, so that our earthly occupation is to be given up, we may yet be able to give at least a part of our time to this service, though it were only in a more private way ; but could even this not be done, every disciple of the Lord Jesus should at least embrace every private opportunity, offered to him by His Lord, to point out the way of salvation to his friends, his relatives, his servants, and others with whom he may come into contact ; and every believer in the Lord Jesus ought to aim after this, that he in his life and deportment commends the truth. 3. Are all believers considering, that there is obligation laid on them by the Lord, to seek to help those, who as Missionaries in foreign lands, or as Evangelists at Home, have given themselves to the service of seeking to spread abroad the way of salvation through the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ ? How can we suppose that we love the Lord Jesus, if we do not practically show our interest in the labours of those, who, often with their lives in their hand, seek to spread A.D. 1873.] 243 that Gospel, to which we owe our spiritual life, peace, joy, yea everything with reference to eternal realities 1 Now what are we doing to help these Missionaries and Evangelists ? How much of our time do we devote for them ? How much of our money do we give for them ? What self-denial in the way of dress, luxury, pleasure, sight seeing, etc., do we practice on their account ? Do we all spend as much as the twentieth part of our income for this object ? Let us examine ourselves, let us be honest to our own hearts ! Life will soon have come to an end. Our one brief life will soon be over. And then, in the retrospect of that one brief life here on earth, shall we be able to say, that we did what we could (generally speaking), to help to spread the Gospel 1 I fear many beloved true disciples of the Lord Jesus do very little with reference to Missionary operations. Let us be in earnest about this matter. There are openings in abundance for helping preachers of the Gospel. 4. If these various points were attended to, the beloved disciples of the Lord Jesus would be more abundantly blessed in their own souls, and would be to a greater extent used by the Lord. Moreover, we should see the number of Missionaries and Evangelists not only greatly increased, but their labours would be far more abundantly blessed than they have been hitherto. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1874, is £137,891. 13s. 4d. The fourth Object of the Institution is the circulation 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- j tions fur believers, we desire to circulate such as may be I instrumental in directing their minds to those truths ! which, in these last days, are more especially needed, or which have been particularly lost sight of, and may lead believers to return to the written Word of God. There has been laid out for this object, from May 26, 1873 to May 26, 1874, the sum of £1128. 4s. 11½d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions Seven Hundred and Seventy Five M 2 244 [a.D. 1873. ‘Thousand (exactly 3,775,771) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £23,339. 15s. 24d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1874, is about Fifty Millions (exactly 49,979,528). More than Three Millions and Two Hundred Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. Hundreds of believers have been engaged in spreading them abroad, not merely in many parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but in various other parts of the world. During the past year, we heard again and again of cases, in which the circula- tion of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. For the sake of younger believers in Christ, I make the following remarks with reference to their service in seeking to circulate the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. What have we to do as Tract or Bible distributors ? 1. Never to reckon our success by the number, of Bibles, Testaments, or Tracts, which we circulate ; for Millions | of Bibles, Testaments and Tracts might be circulated, lf and little good result from our efforts, 2. We should, day by day, seek God’s blessing on our labours in this particular 3 and on every Tract or Copy of the Holy criptures 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 believingly labour on, even though for a long time we should see little or no fruit ; yea, we should labour on, as if everything depended on our labours, whilst, in reality, we ought not to put the least confidence in our exertions, but alone in God’s | ability and willingness to bless, by His Holy Spirit, our : efforts for the sake of the Lord Jesus. 5. And what will i be the result of labouring on patiently in such a spirit ? . rf We find the answer in the epistle to the Galatians, vi. 9; y __, “Let us_not be weary in well doing; for in due season LP : we shall reap, if we taint not.” Observe, in Wue season. \ The whole of our éarthly pilgrimage 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 x i A.D. 1873.] 245 or less degree ; but if it were not thus, or if compara- i tively 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 i prospect of that day we have patiently to continue in ( well doing. But this patient continuing in well doing calls for much prayer, for much meditation on the Word of G-od, 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. 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, Guernsey, &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 letter to Mr. Stanley. There are now kept on sale 1045 different Books, large and small; and 832 different Tracts, which number is continually added to. 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 last period there were 1993 Orphans in the new Orphan Houses, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5. During the past year 268 Orphans were admitted into the five houses ; so that the total number on May 26, 1874, would have been Two 246 [A.D. 1874. Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty-one, had there been no changes. But of these 2261, Thirty-two died, of whom five were young infants, and sixteen fell asleep as decided believers in the Lord Jesus, giving to us great comfort in their end. Fourteen out of the 2261 we were obliged to expel. We had long borne with these boys and girls. They had been remonstrated with, prayed with, and a great variety of means had been used, to bring them into a different state ; but at last we were obliged, in mercy to the other Orphans, whom they sought to corrupt, to use this last remedy. We follow them, however, still with our prayers. Again and again we have had yet, at last, comfort, in such deeply trying cases. Twenty of the Orphans we were obliged to re turn to their relatives, after they had been for many years under our care, at least in most cases, as we could not recommend them as servants or apprentices, either because they were scrofulous, or had curvature of spine, or had epileptic fits, of which we had not been informed, when they were admitted, or were weak in mind, or had most defective sight, or were morally unfit to be recommended. Twenty-four Orphans their relatives took back, as by that time their own circumstances were altered, and they were now able to provide for them, and felt it their duty so to do. Thirty-four boys were apprenticed, of whom eight had been believers some time before they left. One hundred and forty-five girls were sent out as servants, of whom sixty-one had been believers some time before they left. These 269—are therefore to be deducted from the 2261, so that on May 26, 1874, we had actually 1992 Orphans in the five Orphan Houses. The total number of Orphans, who were under our care from April 1836 to May 26, 1874, is 4408. The total income for the first four Objects of the In stitution, during the past year, was £16,574. 15s. 5½d. ; and for the support of the Orphans, £21,281. 0s. 0½d. From May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, seventy Day- Schools were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Of these seventy Day-Schools, forty-four are in England and Wales, fifteen in Spain, three in India, three in Italy, and five in British Guiana. Be sides these seventy Day-Schools, entirely supported by A.D. 1874.] 247 the funds of the Institution, seven other Day-Schools in England and Scotland were assisted. Our School Inspector and the Master of one of the Boys' Schools in Bristol report, that there is reason to believe ten boys in that School were converted during the past year. The following statement is the report, both of the Day and Sunday School at Kenilworth, which the Mistress of the Day School sent : " The Spirit of God is working and drawing young hearts to Jesus. It is a gentle work, blessed be God : but souls are being saved. It commenced in the Sunday School, now it has extended to the oldest in the Day School. The oldest of the girls have a prayer meeting in my School Room every Tuesday. Some are anxious about their souls. I trust they will soon find peace. There has been a blessed work going on since my little girl was baptized and others at the same time. There was a youth brought under conviction that evening, and when he found peace in believing he set to work to bring others. And now there are thirty boys in the Sunday School, some of whom are very anxious about their souls and some are brought to the Lord. Truly this is a blessed work ! I can only pray and praise."—Of the School at Hopton the statement is, that there is spiritual life in some of the children.—In the Walham Green Schools there have been again, during the past year also, some decided con versions. —The following statement, given by the master of the boy's school at Clayhidon, gives the report of the Day and Sunday School there : "Our numbers are more encouraging than ever before, and I think I may say, the work in all its branches is most cheering. Many of the dear children are really desirous of spiritual things, and what is so much better, their parents are equally desirous for their blessing. Even many of the ungodly who were formerly most bitter opposers to the truth, now confess openly to many of our brethren, that there is a most marvellous power in the word of God as it is taught in the Schools, and they allege, that they can see a great change brought about, by means of the simple Gospel amongst the young. They have, I believe, been asked individually, throughout the Parish, whether they would rather have the Schools with or mthout Bible teaching, and not one in the whole parish but has expressed his 248 [A.D. 1874. manifest wish and desire, that the Bible should be taught, and in the same plain and simple manner as it ever has. The incorruptible seed must spring up, and the harvest must be reaped, if we faint not. Kegarding many of the dear children, we have much to praise the Lord for. In the hearts of several the Lord has been working for a very long time, and many, I firmly believe, are lambs of the fold—brought in gradually— the Word finding entrance into their hearts, showing them their need of a Saviour, giving them an earnest longing for salvation, and at last a trust in Jesus bring ing joy and peace in believing." —The master of the Howie Hill School reports, that he has reason to think, two boys have received the truth.—The Exeter Schools are in a prosperous condition.—The master of the School at Purton reports thus : "It gives me joy to record to the praise of our Heavenly Father, that we never were so happy in our School before. Not that during the past year we have had more dear children who have given their hearts to God, than in former years, or even so many, though five have within the last six months professed to be trusting in Jesus for salvation. But as before, so now, we would not speak positively of these, until we have seen for some time a consistent walk. But our joy is, that there never were so many dear children, who love to meet together to hear the Word of God, as at present. For instance, we have now three Bible Classes in the week. Not that we have opened the classes, and then invited the children ; but the dear children themselves asked us to open one of these classes. We formerly had but one, now we have one for boys, one for big girls, and one for the little girls in the juvenile school. We are now looking out for great things from our Gracious Father, who has been so good to us. May I just add, that three out of the five who profess faith in Jesus are among the elder boys, where I have long been looking for blessing."—The mistress of one of the Schools at Barnstaple reports : " I am thank ful to be able to tell you of the conversion of two dear girls, who have left the school, but both date their con version to the impressions received while in the School. One who is in church fellowship a few miles from here, said, she never had a happy minute since she left school, A.D. 1874.] 249 until she had given her heart to Jesus. The interest manifested by my dear children, while reading the Scriptures, enables me to expect eer things than these.” —The master of the Otterford School reports one conversion.—Of the children of the School at North End it is stated, that they give great attention to Scripture truth.—The master of the School at Saul writes: “ We trust, God is blessing our labours. The work was never more pleasant. The teachers and children are working earnestly and happily together. Scriptural instruction is prized. The precepts of the Lord are evidently influ- encing the children, and some, we hope, are looking to him as a Saviour.”—In December, 1874, the master of one of the Schools in Cardiff wrote to me: “I have no doubt you have heard from Mr. Horne, [the School Inspector] of the meetings I hold each week, one for boys and one for girls. I am so thankful to inform you, that the Lord has wonderfully owned and blessed my labours and the preaching of His glorious Gospel. I could write you a long letter on the numerous cases of conversion among the dear children ; sights I have wit- nessed among them have caused me to shed tears of joy, and to praise God more and more for bringing me here. There are now 26 boys and 37 girls, who profess to have found peace in Jesus, through believing.” In a subse- quent letter, this same master reports to the School In- spector, that about eighty boys and girls profess faith in the Lord Jesus. The master of another school at Cardiff writes : “‘I am happy to say, that notwithstanding the immense difficulties I have had to encounter in organ- izing so large a school [491 on the books, and only about 11 months yet in operation], I have not met a single case, in which any extreme measures were necessary to enforce discipline, or to maintain order. The school stands high in the estimation of the public, and I am receiving constant applications for fresh admissions. I am very pleased and thankful to God for the manifest sense of justice and right that exists amongst the elder . scholars, and though I cannot say any of the children are decided Christians, yet I know, that several of them have been making enquiries as to the way of salvation. “I have discovered this fact from my connection with many of them on the Sunday. I feel that I have great M3 Pa 250 [A.D. 1875. reason for thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for His manifest presence and blessing on this work, for the strength and energy He has given me, to prosecute the work so far successfully." . On account of the popish influence at Cardiff, which I is made to bear upon the children, to lead them early I into idolatry, I had been again and again requested to establish a school at Cardiff on Scriptural principles. At ' last we were able to find suitable premises, and in August, 1873, our first School was opened, which shortly after was increased to a boys', girls', and infants' school. In September, 1874, we opened another mixed school. Of both these the head-teachers give the report in the previous extracts. In January, 1875, we opened another mixed School at Cardiff. In these five schools we had on May 25, 1875, altogether 904 children. These, and all the many hundreds besides who had passed through the schools since August, 1873, we were thus able, with God's help, to bring under the sound of real Gospel instruction not only, but scores of them have been actually brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. These are some of the statements to be made about the Home Day Schools. I do not here enter upon the account of the Mission Schools, which more properly belong to the Missionary Operations. The number of the pupils in the Home Day Schools, on May 26, 1875, was 4846; in the Missionary Day Schools, 1548, in all 6394. The reader cannot but see that the Lord's manifest blessing rests upon the Schools. I have of late years given myself especially to the enlargement of the School Department, as in years before that to the increase of the Orphan Work, in order that children, from their early days, may be grounded in the Word of God, as the powers of darkness make every effort to put it aside. There are twenty-seven Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these twenty-seven Sunday Schools there were, on May 26, 1875, altogether two thousand six hundred and thirty-one Scholars. There were, likewise, during the past year, fifteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree assisted by the funds of the Institution. Regarding these fifteen Sunday Schools, which were A.D. 1875.] 251 only partly supported, no report as to numbers or other wise was requested to be sent in. Of the twenty-seven Sunday Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 7 are in Spain, 4 in British Guiana, 1 in India, and the others are in various parts of England. The fifteen Schools, which were only in part supported, are all in England. The Mission Sunday Schools are referred to under the Missionary Operations. —There has been a considerable number received into Church Fellowship, during the past year, from among the Sunday School scholars in Bristol.—In the School at Hopton there have been two cases of decided conversion during the past year. —At the Walham Green Sunday School there has been during the past year also fruit reaped, and there is the prospect of more. —At Burrington there have been two conver sions.—In the School at Barnstaple it is believed, that there are several born again.—The School at Otterford is in a very prosperous condition. —The report of the North End Sunday School is, " During the past year we have cause to thank God and praise Him, that six boys, in the Bible class, have been brought to a saving know ledge of Christ. Two of the boys were once very trying to us, and were the subjects of many prayers. The con duct of these six has been most consistent since. They have been received into fellowship at the Lord's table. Two are now teaching in the school, and the others are engaged in Tract distribution, &c. Most of them have borne a good testimony before the whole school. We believe that many of the elder scholars are under con viction of sin, and we are looking to see these and many more brought into liberty and peace." There are now eight Adult Schools, with 216 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are 5 in Spain, 1 in India, 1 at Callington, and 1 at Walham Green. It will appear from the foregoing statement, that there are altogether One Hundred and Five Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution (70 Day Schools, 27 Sunday Schools, and 8 Adult Schools) ; and that during the past year 7 Day Schools and 15 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated it will likewise be seen, that in the One Hundred and Five 252 [A.D. 1875. Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institu tion, there were on May 26, 1875, altogether 9,241 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Forty-six Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty-one, viz., there were 29,610 in all the Day Schools, 10,573 in all the Sunday Schools, and 6,268 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £4,856. 16s. 4½d. This does not include £1,838. 13s. 6d., expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund, to which it more properly belongs. There has been expended on the Home Schools, from the beginning of the Institution, £31,647. 0s. 6½d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, is as follows : 6,935 Bibles have been sold. 830 Bibles have been given away. 29,399 New Testaments have been sold. 12,670 New Testaments have been given away. 256 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 107 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 5,174 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 200 Ditto given away. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 96,281 Bibles, 247,597 New Testaments, 15,847 copies of the Psalms, and 164,823 other small portions of the Holy Scrip tures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,278. 2s. 11½d. The total amount spent, since March 5, 1834, is £18,091. 13s. 2½d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during the past year, as during the previous years. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid missionary efforts. A.D. 1875.] 253 During the past year was expended of the funds of the Institution for this Object, the sum of £9,303. 12s. 7d. By this sum One Hundred and Seventy-nine labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted :— There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £195 0 0 For the support of Schools in connec tion with Missions in British Guiana 141 5 4 For the support of Schools in connec tion with Missions in Spain 1226 8 7 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy 275 19 7 Towards the support of a " Home " for enquiring Jews 30 0 0 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, £40. 19s. 1d. During the year from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, there were received many hundreds of letters from the 179 Missionaries who were assisted by the funds of the Institution, and the greater part of a deeply interesting character ; but, gladly as I would give extracts from these many hundred letters in this Narrative, I am unable to do so, and I must refer the reader to the Thirty-sixth Report of the Institution, which is still to be had for sixpence. I will only sajt further, that again Thousands were converted through the labours of these 179 Mission aries, during this year. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1875, is £147,195. 5s. 11d. The fourth Object of the Institution is, the circulation of such publications as may be calculated, with the blessing of God, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. There has been laid out for this object, from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, the sum of £1,440. 7s. 1d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand (exactly 3,520,818) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £24,780. 2s. 3½d. 254 [A.D. 1875. The total number of all the tracts and books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1875, is Fifty-Three Millions and a half (exactly 53,500,346). Nearly Three Millions of the Tracts and Books, cir culated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. During the past year also, we heard again and again of cases in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. At the commencement of the last period, we had 1992 Orphans under our care, in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. During the past year 269 Orphans were admitted into these five houses, so that on May 26, 1875, we should have had altogether 2261 Orphans, had there been no changes. But of these 2261 Orphans, 23 died during the year. How small this number is, if the class of children under our care is considered, who for the most part are the offspring of consumptive parents, every one sees at once. Sixteen out of these 23 fell asleep in Jesus, as decided believers, and several of them had been so for a good while ; two of those who died were very young infants ; about the other five we can say nothing decidedly. Three Orphans, out of the 2261, we were obliged to expel, in mercy to the other children, as they sought to corrupt them. This was the last means resorted to. Fifteen Orphans we sent back to their relations, because we could not recommend them as servants for situations or as appren tices, either on account of mental, physical, or moral defects. Twenty-two of the Orphans were given up to near relatives, who, by that time, were in improved cir cumstances, and desired for the future themselves to care for them. Out of these 22 seven had been brought to the knowledge of the Lord whilst under our care. Fifty-six boys were sent out as apprentices during the year, and One Hundred and Forty-Seven Girls as servants. Out of the 56 boys sent out as apprentices, 22 were believers, and out of the 147 girls, 58 were believers, and many of these, both boys and girls, had known the Lord for a considerable time, and had walked consistently. 266 are therefore to be deducted from the 2261, so that on May 26, 1875, we had only 1995 Orphans under our care. The total number of Orphans, who have been A.D. 1876.] 255 under our care from April, 1836 to May 26, 1875, is 4677. The total amount received during the year, from May 26, 1874 to May 26, 1875, for the first four Objects of the Institution was £16,746. 17s. 8½d., and, for the support of the Orphans, £28,485. 14s. 5½d., altogether, therefore, £45,232. 12s. 2½d. From May 26, 1875 to May 26, 1876, there were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 75 Day Schools. Of these 75 there were 43 in England and Wales, 13 in Spain, 4 in India, 3 in Italy, and 6 in British Guiana. Besides these 75 Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 3 other Day Schools were assisted, 2 in England, and 1 in Scotland. The master of one of the Boys' Schools in Bristol writes : " Though there has not been any extensive religious awakening among the dear children during the past year, still there is much to encourage me. During the year six boys have left the school as professed believers. There are still attending school two others, who, through the grace of God, have felt the life-giving and soul-sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, and are rejoicing in Christ as their personal Saviour. They exemplify the sincerity of their profession, and the reality of their conversion, by their consistent walk and conver sation."—The mistress of one of the Girls' Schools in Bristol writes : " I am greatly encouraged by the interest the children manifest in the daily Bible reading and address. This is especially the case with two families of Jewesses, to whom the New Testament is novel and strange. They listen with great earnestness and intelli gence ; and I have reason to hope, that the oldest, a girl of 13, is seeking after the truth."—The master of the Boys' School at Clayhidon writes : " Seven of the boys and girls, who were in the school two or three years or more ago, and who then were much concerned about their souls, have, within the past twelve months, been brought to the Lord, through various instrumentalities, and have joined Christian churches in various places. Most of these date their first impressions from the school teaching here. Many we still have with us who are truly the Lord's, we believe, and some really adorning the doctrine of Jesus Christ. It rejoices us to know, 256 [A.D. 1876. that two, out of the seven mentioned, are engaged in preaching the Gospel at various places ; so that we can not say, where the blessed results will be carried."—The mistress of the school at Sheldon reports : " I can only mention two conversions to God, still others among the children seem very much interested at times. Those, who professed faith some time since, are most of them going on well."—The master of the school at Yeovil reports thus : " In the past year the Lord was pleased to remove from us by death four of the children; but all left a most blessed testimony behind of having passed from death unto life. Two boys, brothers, not only spoke of the hope that filled their hearts with joy even in the prospect of death, but preached the Gospel most clearly to those who came to see them. There had been a most marked change in all their ways some time before they were taken ill. At the present time there is an evident interest in the Bible lesson. One girl professes to have found peace, and another is in deep concern about her soul. At times she lingers, after the others are gone, and seems so glad, if her teacher speaks to her on the subject."—The head teacher of the Bute Docks Schools, Cardiff, with 323 children, writes, with regard to the spiritual state of the schools :—"We have much cause to praise the Lord for the help He has granted us throughout the year ; and for sending us the children, so that the three schools have generally been full. Aa regards conversions to God, they have not been as many as our hearts would have rejoiced to see ; still we have continued the children's Bible Meetings throughout the year (the girls one evening and the boys another) with increased interest and joy, as there seems a great interest manifested by many, who profess the name of Jesus, for the word of truth. To see each child eagerly turning to the various passages referred to, is really delightful to behold. There are generally between 30 and 40 gathered together each week."—The head teacher of Tredegerville School, Cardiff (with 502 children) reports : " During the past year three of the children have become members of Christian churches, and I believe I have good reason for hoping that several others are the subjects of religious impressions. I do not remember a single case of insubordination during the year, but a most willing A.D. 1876.] 257 obedience is manifested by all the children. This to my mind indicates, that a very healthy tone prevails amongst the children. Our Heavenly Father's presence and blessing is manifestly with us." Scores more of such extracts might be given, showing how the Lord was pleased to bless these schools during the year ; but space obliges me to be brief. The number of the pupils in the Home Day Schools, on May 26, 1876, was 5422 ; in the Mission Day Schools, 1596, in all 7018. There are twenty-nine Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these twenty-nine Sunday Schools there were, on May 26, 1876, altogether 2,444 scholars. There were like wise, during the past year, twenty-two Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Regarding these twenty-two schools, no report as to the numbers or otherwise was requested to be sent in. Of these twenty-nine Sunday Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, seven are in Spain, six in British Guiana, the others are in England. Eight of the scholars of the Sunday School in Bristol have confessed the Lord Jesus during the past year, and have been united to believers in fellowship.—The report of the Sunday School at Kenilworth is, " Those who were truly brought to the Lord remain steadfast, and the boys have a Bible class, to search the Scriptures minutely, and are very eager over the Word. Both boys and girls are in a nice spirit to learn more of Jesus."—Two of the Gospel Hall Sunday School, at Portsmouth, were decidedly converted during the past year.—Three of the North End Sunday School are considered to be converted. There are now six Adult Schools, with 360 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are three in Spain, 1 in India, 1 at Calh'ngton, and 1 at Walham Green. From the foregoing statement it will appear that there are altogether One Hundred and Ten Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution (75 Day Schools, 29 Sunday Schools, and 6 Adult Schools); and that, during the past year, 3 Day Schools and 22 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in these One Hundred and S 258 [A.D. 1876. Ten Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were, on May 26, 1876, altogether 9,822 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Fifty Three Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty-three, viz., there were 34,923 in all the Day Schools, 12,033 in all the Sunday Schools, and 6,507 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £5,501. 18s. 11d. This does not include £1,855. 13s. 7d., expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund, to which it more properly belongs. There has been expended on the Home Schools, from the beginning of the Institution, £37,148. 19s. 5½d. 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 Missionary 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. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1875 to May 26, 1876, is as follows : 9,325 Bibles have been sold. 336 Bibles have been given away. 23,277 New Testaments have been sold. 1,694 New Testaments have been given away. 346 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 24 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 4,001 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 105,942 Bibles, 272,568 New Testaments, 16,217 copies of the Psalms, and 168,824 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution spent during A.D. 1876.] 259 the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,279. 15s. 11d. The total amount spent, since March 5, 1834, is £19,371. 9s. l£d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during the past year, as during the previous years. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid missionary efforts. . During the past year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for this object, the sum of £9,342. 18s. 1d. By this sum One Hundred and Seventy-eight labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £176 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana 141 3 4 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain 1297 1 5 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy.... 241 810 Towards the support of a " Home " for enquiring Jews 20 0 0 For the Waldensian Missions (given ex pressly for these Missions) 30 0 0 For the Moravian Missions (given ex pressly for these Missions) 30 0 0 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire £28. 2s. 0d. While I am able to state to the praise of the Lord, that the labours of the 178 Missionaries were abundantly blessed, between May 26, 1875 and May 26, 1876, so that thousands of souls were won for our Lord Jesus, yet I must refrain from recording here again extracts from their letters, which were given in the Thirty-seventh Report of the Institution, published in 1876, still to be had. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1876, is £156,538. 4s. 260 [A.D. 1876. The fourth Object of the Institution is, the circulation of religious books, pamphlets and tracts for the benefit of both believers and unbelievers. There has been laid out for this object, from May 26, 1875 to May 26, 1876, the sum of £1,419. 6s. 7d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions Four Hundred and Forty Thousand (exactly 3,441,095) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £26,199. 8s. 10½d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1876, is more than Fifty Six Millions and a half (exactly 56,941,441.) Three Millions of the tracts and books, circulated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. During the past year also, we heard again and again of cases in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. At the commencement of the last period, we had 1995 Orphans under our care, in the New Orphan Houses, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. During the past year, 275 Orphans were admitted into these five houses, so that on May 26, 1876, we should have had altogether 2270 Orphans, had there been no changes. But of these 2270 Orphans, 42 died during the past year. Though this number is larger than during any previous year, yet it is still small, when it be remembered that one or both of the parents of three-fourths of the Orphans, whom we receive (as we know from certificates) died of consump tion ; and, consequently, the greater part of the children, whom we receive, are constitutionally delicate. A con siderable number of these 42, like their parents, died of consumption. Seventeen of those who died, were decided believers, and most had been so for a considerable time ; of the others several were very young. Eleven out of the 2270 Orphans we were obliged to return to their relatives, instead of finding situations for them, as we could not recommend them as servants or apprentices, on account of their moral condition. Other twelve we were also obliged to return to their relatives, on account of physical or mental unfitness for situations, though A.D. 1876.] 261 these twelve were not blameable. Twenty-one of the Orphans we gave up to near relations, after having for a longer or shorter time cared for them, as the temporal circumstances of these near relatives were now improved, and they felt desirous of henceforth providing for these Orphan relatives. Five of the Orphans were sent out to become Pupil Teachers, viz., two by the wish of near relatives, and three girls at the expense of the Institution ; for as, more than three years ago, we began to train our own masters, from among the male Orphans, so we have now begun to train likewise teachers from among the female Orphans. Fifty-one Orphan boys were apprenticed to masters. Of these 51, seven had been for some time believers. One Hundred and Thirty-three Girls were sent out to service. Seventy of the girls who were sent out, left us as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, many of whom had known the Lord for a considerable time and walked consistently. 275 are therefore to be de ducted from the 2270, so that on May 26, 1876, we had only 1995 Orphans under our care. The total number of Orphans, who have been under our care from April 1836, to May 26, 1876, is 4952. The total amount of the Income from May 26, 1875 to May 26, 1876, was £45,257. 5s. 3½d. The total of the expenditure, during the same period, was £43,518. 0s. 1½d. During the year from May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877, Seventy-five Day Schools were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, of which number there were Forty-nine in England and Wales, 14 in Spain, 4 in India, 2 in Italy, and 6 in British Guiana. Besides these 75 Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the In stitution, eight other Day Schools have been assisted, one in France and seven in England. The master of "Walham Green School reports to Mr. Home, our School Inspector :—" I have been cheered during the past four or five months by eight children asking to be spoken with, both individually and collec tively, after school hours, concerning their souls' salva tion ; and am hoping that in some it is the Spirit's work, and not affection for their teachers which prompts it. A few days since a letter came to hand from a parent whose child has just been removed to a small-pox hospital, in 262 [A.D. 1876. which I am told that the child desired me to know that she was happy ; and continually spoke of the blood that cleansed her guilty stains. Such unsought testimony cheers, in spite of much that exists, that grieves, but at the same time leads us to Him through prayer. I feel sure we are blessed in answer to the prayers of the teachers, some of whom assemble every Monday morn ing, in the class room, lately added to the premises, for prayer, for blessing, grace and patience in our work. Mr. D. is also encouraged in the Night School, two pro fessing conversion." The master of the School at Clayhidon, Blackdown Hills, reports :—" The Numbers show for themselves what difficulties we meet with. Sixty-nine have left the school in the past twelve months. Looking at it from one standpoint, it certainly seems very discouraging, but from the position of Isaiah xxxii, 20, we can rejoice and will rejoice. The " Seed of the Kingdom " has been sown in each of their hearts, and sooner or later must spring up in some ; while God will be glorified in all. That there is a deep work of Grace produced in many hearts, I can entertain not even the slightest doubt. What I want to see, is the work spreading and increasing with greater rapidity. I don't know whether I told you, when you were here, of the goodness of God in bringing one young man to the school, on purpose to be converted. He had for a long time been very anxious about his soul, and longed to know salvation. His friends, who live fourteen miles off, thought and had faith to believe, that, if he came to this school, God would meet with him. Many difficulties lay in the path, but all were cleared away, and he came. In a fortnight he found the long-sought Saviour, or was found by the Shepherd who had long sought his sheep. He is still in the school. Our hearts can only praise God for the blessing he has already bestowed on the schools, and take courage. The attend ance at the Sunday School is better than at the Day School and not subject to such change. We have much encouragement in that many have been led to Jesus in my sister's Bible Class during the year, and give great joy and comfort to us." The mistress of one of the Schools at Barnstaple re ports to the School Inspector of the Institution :—" Six A.D. 1877.] 263 dear girls profess to be converted, and several others are deeply concerned about their souls. We are more than ever encouraged to go on sowing the good seed, knowing that in due season we shall reap if we faint not." The mistress of the School at High Bickington writes :—" The children still continue to manifest interest in the Scripture lesson; and during the past year I believe three girls have been truly converted to God." The number of the children in the Home Day Schools on May 26, 1877, was 5,396 ; in the Mission Schools, 1,726, in all 7,122. From May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877, there were Thirty-three Sunday Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, in which there were on May 26, 1877, altogether 2,487 scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, thirty-four Sunday schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the In stitution. Regarding these thirty-four schools, no report as to numbers or otherwise was requested to be sent in. Of the thirty-three Sunday Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, ten are in Spain, seven in British Guiana and the others in England. The thirty- four Sunday Schools, which were only partly supported, are in England, Wales and Ireland. The report about the Sunday Schools at Portsmouth is, that in one, two girls of 16 and 14 years have given evidence of faith in the Lord Jesus, and there is reason to hope, that the Lord is working in the hearts of several more. The superintendent of another school at Ports mouth reports, that three of the scholars have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and that he has good hope regarding them. The following is the report regarding the Sunday School at Purton : " Through the mercy of our God, we trust we can with confidence tell of the conversion of four more dear children in our Sunday School." The report about the North End Sunday School is, that three of the Bible class girls have been converted. There are now six Adult Schools, with 166 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are 3 in Spain, 1 in India, 1 at Callington, and 1 at Walham Green. From the foregoing statement it will appear that there 264 [A.D. 1877. are altogether One Hundred and Fourteen Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution (75 Day Schools, 33 Sunday Schools, and 6 Adult Schools ;) and that, during the past year, 8 Day Schools and 34 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in these One Hundred and Fourteen Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1877, altogether 9,775 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Sixty Thousand One Hundred and Ten, viz., there were 39,921 in all the Day Schools, 13,443 in all the Sunday Schools, and 6,746 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £6,653. 7s. 9½d. This does not include £1,948. 11s. 11d., expended on the Mission Schools alone. There has been expended on the Home Schools from the beginning of the Institution, £43,802. 7s. 3½d. The second Object of this Institution is, to circulate the Holy Scriptures. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1876, to May 26, 1877, is as follows :— 7,155 Bibles have been sold. 792 Bibles have been given away. 19,951 New Testaments have been sold. 3,050 New Testaments have been given away. 2,504 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 24 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 10,951 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 113,889 Bibles, 295,569 New Testaments, 18,745 copies of the Psalms, and 179,775 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,374. 4s. 10½d. The Total amount spent, since March 5, 1834, is £20,745. 13s. 11½d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was A.D. 1877.] 265 continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during the past year, as during the previous years. The third Object of the Institution is to aid missionary efforts. During the past year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for this object, the sum of £7,173. 12s. 10d. By this sum one Hundred and Seventy Three labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £132 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana 151 5 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain 1,369 1 9 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy 281 5 2 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in France 15 0 0 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire £31. 0s. 11d. For the account regarding the labours of the Missionary brethren, I have to request the reader to refer to the Report for 1877, which can be still obtained at the Bible and Tract Warehouse, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol. I should be delighted to give here also extracts from the letters received from these dear brethren ; but all this would be too voluminous. I only state that again the work of these beloved brethren was abundantly blessed, in the conversion of many hundreds of souls. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1877, is £163,711. 16s. 10d. The fourth Object of the Institution is the circulation of such publications as may be calculated, with the bless ing of God, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. There has been laid out for this object, from May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877, the sum of £1,136. 14s. 2d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand (exactly 3,466,774) Tracts and Books. The sum total N 266 [A.D. 1877. which has been expended on this object since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £27,336. 3s. 0½d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1877, is more than Sixty Millions (exactly 60,408,215.) Nearly Three Millions of the tracts and books, circu lated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. During the past year also, we heard again and again of cases in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. The fifth Object of the Institution is, to board, clothe, and Scripturally educate destitute children who have lost BOTH parents by death. I give the statistics in connection with the Orphan Institution, from May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877. At the commencement of the last period, we had 1,995 Orphans under our care, in the New Orphan Houses, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5. During the past year 247 Orphans were admitted into these five houses, so that on May 26, 1877, we should have had altogether 2,242 Orphans, had there been no changes. But of these 2,242 Orphans, 40 died during the past year. Of those who died, fourteen were young infants, and thirteen had been some time decided believers before they fell asleep in Jesus. Twenty-four out of the 2,242 were delivered up to their relatives, who by that time were in better circumstances than when we received the children, and were on that account both able to provide for these Orphans and also felt it their duty so to do. Twenty- four Orphans we were obliged to return to their relatives, because either on account of their physical or mental state they could not be sent to situations, or their deport ment had been such that we could not recommend them to masters and mistresses. Thirty-nine of the boys were apprenticed, of whom nineteen were sent out as Christian lads. Three girls were sent out as pupil teachers, and One Hundred and Twenty-nine to situations, as domestic servants. Of all the girls, who were sent out during the past year, fifty-eight were believers in the Lord Jesus, and many among them had known the Lord for a con siderable time. Two Hundred and Fifty Nine are there fore to be deducted from the 2,242, so that on May 26 A.D. 1877.] 267 1877, we had only 1,983 Orphans under our care, The total number of Orphans, who have been under our care from April 1836 to May 26, 1877, is 5,199. The Income from May 26, 1876 to May 26, 1877, for the first four Objects was £16,145. 16s. 6d.; and the Income for the Orphans £25,462. 11s. 94d.; in all £41,608. 88. 34d. The total expenditure for the first - four Objects was during the year £16,430. 16s. 8d., and . for the Orphans £25,714. 0s. 64d. Thus the balance in hand at the beginning of the year was somewhat re- _ duced for all the Objects. We enter now upon the next ear. y From May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878, there were 77 Day Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Of these 77 Day Schools, 16 were in Spain, 4 in India, 2 in Italy, 6 in British Guiana, and 49 in England and Wales. Besides these 77 Day Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, four other Day Schools, 1 in France and 3 in England, were assisted. The master of the Cardiff Bute Dock School reports to the School Inspector of the Institution, after having stated that there are 318 children on. the books: “ Look- ing back over the past twelve months, one can scarcely fail to praise the Lord for His love and kindness shown in so many ways. He has sent us the children, so that our rooms are all full; and although it has not pleased Him to let us see any decided cases of conversion, yet it is joy to know that the seed which has been sown day by day will assuredly, with God’s blessing, sooner or later, spring up for His glory and honour ; and one feels’ more and more the blessedness and importance of scat- tering the precious Truth in a locality such as this, where houses are overcrowded, and where evil of all kinds abounds on every hand. We have continued our Bible Meetings throughout the year, and for the last three months have been using the Scripture Questions com- piled by Mr. Horne, which we find extremely useful ; a certain number are taken down from the black- board each week by the children at these evening meet- ings, and the answers brought the following week. Al- though there is often much to cause dismay, yet looking to Him we take courage and go forward.” N2 ° 268 [A.D. 1877. The master of Cardiff Roath School reports : " It gives me great pleasure to send you the annual statement of the condition of our Schools. I am glad to say it continues to flourish. We have manifest proofs of the Divine Messing resting upon it. During the year three of the scholars and two of the monitors have professed to have found the Saviour, have cast in their lot with the people of God, and have entered into Church fellowship. Many of the scholars give such evidence that leads us to believe that a good work has begun in them. The general tone of the School is highly satisfactory. The number of children at present on the books is 510." The master of the Canton Cardiff School states re garding his school : " The great feature of the year in my school is the great increase in the number of the children. We commenced the year with about 200 in attendance, and now have to record nearly 400, shewing, we think, the increasing estimation in which the school is held in this place. Here we would say, " What hath God wrought !" This great increase rendered the engage ment of an Infants' Mistress necessary towards the close of the year 1 877, and this has been found to work in every way to the advantage of the school. The only sad fea ture in regard to the school is the want of accommoda tion. So much is this felt that now, for several weeks, we have been obliged to refuse to receive any fresh chil dren, the doing of which causes us great regret. We cannot help feeling the encouragement which this mark of God's favour is calculated to impart." The mistress of the Girls' School, Bear Street, Barn- staple, writes : " Two dear girls, who left the school some little time ago, are truly converted. Four others I am very hopeful of, and I believe that the Lord is work ing in the hearts of many who, in time will be made manifest as lambs in the fold of Jesus. We have indeed much to praise the Lord for. The school continues to be greatly valued, and I am still obliged to be constantly refusing children for the want of room." The master of the School at East Brent writes : " I am happy to say that the school is in a satisfactory con dition ; it is a blessing to the parish ; the children are making progress, the parents are satisfied, and best of all is, that 10 of the children yesterday have decided to give A.D. 1877.] their hearts to God. I have great confidence that He who has begun the good work in their hearts will con tinue it right to the end. I feel truly rejoiced and grate ful to the Lord for the encouragement He has given me in this my work for Him. I am daily looking to Him for more and more blessing. I know He will not dis appoint, and to Him and Him alone shall be ascribed all the praise and glory." The mistress of the School at Hopton writes : " Re- pecting the Lord's work in our Day and Sunday School, we never had such cause for thankfulness and encourage ment. Many young people have, since this time last year, been received into fellowship, causing much thank fulness. As we look round at the Lord's table and see the beaming happy faces of some who were the most un ruly, it gives us unfeigned joy in the Holy Ghost, and we say to one another, ' In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.' " The master of the School at Bishopswood gives the following account regarding his school during the past year : " One feels there is much to be thankful for in the many cases of very deep interest, one in particular, that of a dear boy, who was brought to know the Lord. He was called away a little time since, after suffering a great deal most patiently. During his illness he sent some precious words to his schoolfellows. Speaking of him in few words, he was all that could be desired in health and sickness. The mistress of the School at Chittlehamholt reports : " About the time I wrote last year, God was working very powerfully among the children ; four of these, with some others who had ceased to attend the Day school, have been received into church fellowship, and give us hope of being the Lord's. Two or three others we are equally hopeful about, and we believe there are at present some who are more or less anxious about their souls." The mistress of the North End School writes : "During the past year four of the scholars have manifested real earnestness about their souls, and I rejoice in believing them to be the Lord's. Others have given much en couragement by the questions they ask about their souls, showing plainly that a work is going on within." The Master of the School at Yeovil reports : " We have been much cheered lately by the manifest conver 270 [A.D. 1878\ sion to God of one, a boy in the first class. His brother, who some time since was in school, is also converted, and speaks with much gratitude for having received such knowledge of the Word while in school. He is witness ing a good testimony in the midst of blasphemers, scoffers, and infidels, by a silent but consistent walk. I have at times been pained by an apparent carelessness over the Bible, but I trust it was the darkness before the dawn." The accounts about the Home Day Schools might be multiplied were I not obliged to consider the size of this Volume. The number of the pupils in the Home Day Schools, on May 26, 1878, was 5,908; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,803; in all, 7,711. I doubt not that the reader will see that the Lord's manifest blessing rests upon the Schools. There are thirty-nine Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these thirty-nine Sunday Schools there were, on May 26, 1878, altogether 2,721 scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, twenty-nine Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Regarding these twenty-nine schools, no report as to the numbers or otherwise was requested to be sent in. Of the thirty-nine Sunday Schools, en tirely supported by the funds of the Institution, fifteen are in Spain, six in British Guiana, two in Italy, and the others in England and Wales. The twenty-nine Sunday Schools, which were only in part supported by the funds of this Institution, are all in England or Wales. The superintendent of the Bristol Sunday School re ports : " We have had the joy of seeing several received into the visible fellowship of God's people, during the past year ; but we long to see more fruit to God's glory." The report about the Kenilworth Sunday School is : " The Sunday School is going on steadily. No conver sions, but the boys who were brought to the Lord are labouring with us in the work, and are very zealous for the Lord. It is cheering to see them stand fast for Christ. I do trust the Lord will gather in precious souls into His fold." The superintendent of the Bethel Sunday School at Portsmouth received recently a letter from one of the girls who has lately left the School and gone to service, A.D. 1878.] 271 in which letter she expresses her thankfulness for the instruction she has received whilst in the School, and says, that she is now happy in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and she adds, I do now trust Him with all my heart. Also one of the elder girls at Fareham has been converted within the last few months. There are now six Adult Schools, with 102 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are three in Spain, one in India, one at Callington and one at Walham Green. From the foregoing statement it will appear that there are altogether One Hundred and Twenty-Two Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 77 Day Schools, 39 Sunday Schools and 6 Adult Schools ; and that, during the past year, 3 Day Schools and 29 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in these One Hundred and Twenty-two Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1878, altogether 10,534 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Two, viz., there were 44,876 in all the Day Schools, 14,892 in all the Sunday Schools, and 6,874 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £7,275. 15s. 3d. This does not include £1,909. 5s., expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is chargei to the Mission Fund, to which it more properly belongs. There has been expended on the Home Schools from the beginning of the Institution, £51,078. 2s. 6½d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878, is as follows : 9,471 Bibles have been sold. 826 Bibles have been given away. 17,955 New Testaments have been sold. 2,248 New Testaments have been given away. 304 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 55 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 15,645 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 272 [A.D. 1878. There have beer circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 124,186 Bibles, 315,772 New Testaments, 19,104 copies of the Psalms, and 195,420 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, ' The amount of the funds of the Institution spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scrip- tures, is £1,266. 2s, 114d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £22,011. 163. 11d. The circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain was continued by the Missionary brethren, labouring in that land, during the past year, as during the previous years. From May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878, there was ex- pended on Missionary Objects of the Funds of the Institution the sum of £5,327. 58. 10d. By this sum One Hundred and Sixty-Five labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India .............cccesscesessesssseceevee £132 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guinea...... 14418 4 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain.................. 1,378 2 8 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy... ............... 249 4 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in France ............... 5 0 0 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire ..........sceeceeeeese £18 18 6 Ditto, ditto, in Devonshire ... 22 4 In order to give to the readers some insight into our Missionary operations, I give a few extracts from the letters received from the Missionary brethren, between May 26, 1877 and May 26, 1878:—Mr. H., who has been for many years a missionary in the Kast Indies, in acknowledging £70. sent to him, writes on October 15th, 1877, from Nursapur: “My dear Brother in Christ, I am sorry to have been so long in answering your last. Soon after receiving it, I had to prepare for a tour on board the boat, which lasted three weeks. How thankful ~ A.D. 1878.] 273 we were to receive the help you have again so gra ciously sent us. The famine, as you know, has been and is very bad ; and as children in the school had rather increased in numbers than otherwise, things looked very dark. A sum, which last year would have sufficed for 3 months, this year scarcely suffices for one ; but help has always come in at the right time—the meal and oil fail not—and we can but praise the God of all grace, who deals very bountifully with us. Since writing to you last, some souls have been brought to Jesus. Some who formerly blasphemed His name, and persecuted ' this way,' could find no peace until they had cast themselves into the loving arms outstretched to receive them. During one tour about twenty were baptized. Others are desiring baptism. Some of the children in my wife's school are, we trust, truly converted. Yesterday a man from a village near this, came to speak to me about his having come to Jesus ; and told me that others were desiring me to visit them in their village. Brethren M., B. and I. desire to go over to see them to-morrow, if pos sible. I have not seen the native Evangelists lately, but hoped that they might have been in to-day—however they have not arrived, and I fear the famine has hindered them. With grain at its present price, they must find it almost impossible to engage a man to carry their things. In a letter which I received from Nathaniel [one of the native Evangelists] not long ago, he mentions his wife having been confined, and that for nearly a month he felt doubtful regarding her recovery ; also, that he was suffering greatly in consequence of the famine. Since receiving that letter, I have sent him £4. of what you sent him. In my last tour, from which we returned only the other day, I had the pleasure of Brother M.'s com pany. One object in taking the trip was, to supply grain at a reduced rate to those who could buy, and to give gratis to those Christians who, from want of work or sickness, had no means of support. We left the grain at a certain village, with directions how it had to be sold and to whom, then visited some who lived in villages where no work could be had, and assisted those who were most in need. We afterwards continued our journey on foot, and visited a good many villages situated in a feverish part of the country, near the jungles, where a N 3 274 [A.D. 1878. missionary had scarcely ever been. It was a most in teresting time, but most solemn to think that many of these poor people were hearing the Gospel for the first time. Amongst others we met with Koi villages and spent two or three days amongst that interesting people. In one village we found three young men (Kois) who could read a little, and one of them was so much pleased with a Gospel hymn that was sung, that he asked for a copy of it (it was one of Nathaniel's hymns). After it was written out and given to him, he could not rest until he had mastered the tune and was able to sing it himself, which we heard him doing most lustily, little thinking that in so doing he was proclaiming the good news. When at a certain village on our return, where a market was held, we were surprised to hear another young man asking us for a copy of the same hymn. On asking him what he knew about it, he said a certain Koi had sung it to him. It is a hymn in which the Gospel is most clearly and fully proclaimed ; and we trust that many in those jungle villages may thus become acquainted with their Saviour." Again Mr. H. writes, in acknowledging a cheque for £91. 10s. 3d. on January 21, 1878: "My dear Brother in Christ, Many thanks for what you have again sent us for the work of the Lord in this land, also for what you have sent for those suffering from the famine. It is all most acceptable, as the price of grain still continues very high, and some of the Christians who had a little cultivation, have realized scarcely anything ; not enough in many cases for the rent due to Government. Brothers E., B. and I were out together since I last wrote, and Brother B. and I have just returned from a three weeks' tour. On both occasions we met with much dis tress, and were thankful to have funds in hand to relieve it. (Besides relief for our poor brethren, we have received some for needy ones outside, and every week more than 250—mostly poor widows, many of them Mahomedans— assemble to receive about 6d. each. On such occasions one of us preaches the Gospel, so that many, who would otherwise shut their doors against us, thus hear the good news). When Brother B. and I were out together (Nathaniel accompanied us), we had many good oppor tunities of preaching Christ, and sometimes were cheered A.D. 1878.] 275 by the interest displayed. On one occasion, after preach ing in a large village and retiring to the shade of a mango garden, we were pleased to see some, whom we had met in the village, come to hear more of the good news. One man especially seemed to drink in all that was said, and took away two Gospel hymns after learning their tunes from Nathaniel. We see God working here and there in the conversion of sinners unto Himself, and some (two last week) have lately been baptized. A young woman died last night who has lately been brought to the Lord. Before her departure she spoke with confidence of going to be with Jesus. Three, who were formerly in my wife's school, have lately confessed Christ and been baptized." Mr. B., labouring in the Gospel at Nursapur, writes on December 18, 1877: "In the midst of distress and widespread calamities, the Lord's purposes of grace are being accomplished. He is working and manifestly gathering out His people. By ones and twos those which shall be saved seem here and there taking refuge in the Ark. It gives me much joy to say that the seed of the Gospel has lately been manifestly taking root in the hearts of some of our pupils, and resulting in (as we truly trust) the bringing out of some from darkness into marvellous light. Our many prayers that we might be permitted to see more fruit of the Word daily taught in the School, have apparently been answered to some ex tent in a remarkable manner, illustrating, however, that " God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." We knew there were some of the youths in school who had long been impressed by the truth of the Gospel, and been persuaded to abandon their heathen ideas and prac tices, but through fear of the result as regards this world, were unable to come to any decision as to following Christ. It pleased the Lord to bring some of these to a decision by one or two remarkable events last October. First, one young fellow was suddenly carried off by a fatal disease, while apparently in the enjoyment of the best of health, and in his last moments anxious to hear those things that belonged to his peace. Scarcely a fort night had passed after this solemn event, when another young man was still more suddenly removed by cholera, . 276 [A.D. 1878. having been in school, well and hearty, just two days before his decease). What made his removal all the more solemn, was the fact that he had once professed to have come to the Saviour, and evinced a desire to follow Him, but the fear of man caused him to draw back and renounce his intention. His sudden death caused a deep stir in the school, especially among his classmates, two of whom, who had been of the " almost persuaded " ones, appeared deeply concerned about their own state, and anxious to find salvation. After a short time they both professed to be led by the Spirit to rest in Christ, and seemed to be filled with joy and peace in believing. At the same time another young man in the same class was one day, while in school, seized with what appeared to be cholera, but, by the mercy of God, the timely administering of remedies restored him to health eventually. However, his sudden illness appears to have been used of God to awaken him to think of his salvation. He was, when I went to see him and give him some medicine, in a state of great anxiety as to his soul, having given himself up as beyond recovery, and was very anxious to hear the Word. His impressions seemed to increase, and when he was recovered, he expressed, together with gratitude for the Lord's mercy, a desire to follow Christ, in whom he had, he said, believed to the salvation of his soul. Thus three of the young men in the same class have professed to have received Christ and found salvation in Him ; nor can we doubt that they have been the subjects of a work of grace. The results, however, with regard to these three dear youths, at present, are, that two of them have more or less confessed their faith at home, or given their friends to understand that it is their desire to follow Christ alone, and in consequence they have been and still are apparently in sore trouble. They were at once re moved from school and kept strictly confined and watched, lest they should attempt to carry out their resolve. One of them, the last mentioned, has been removed to his native village at some distance, where we can learn nothing of kim, nor ascertain, what we long to know, how it fares with him ; but we have hope from the joyful confidence and boldness he manifested, that, through grace, he will be kept faithful, and that his faith will not fail. The other youth too, although a resident of "N A.D. 1878.] 277 this place, has been, for a season at least, removed to a distant village, but we have been able to gather some information regarding him, showing that he has been enabled to remain steadfast, notwithstanding he has been made to suffer in various ways ; and his desire for the Word seems very great, though he has been deprived entirely of his Bible and other books. No doubt the intention of these young men's friends is, by depriving them of liberty and subjecting them to harsh treatment, eventually to break down their spirit and get them to renounce their faith and intention. Our only confidence is in the power of the grace of Christ, which is alone sufficient for them, to keep them from going back to the pit from which they have been delivered ; while, at the same time, we can only look to Him who over-ruleth and controlleth all events, to open the way for them to recover their liberty. The third young man, though still apparently rejoicing in Christ, has not yet been bold enough to make a confession of his faith and determina tion at home. The case of these young men and all others in similar circumstances is a very trying and per plexing one, and they need much the fervent prayers of the Lord's people. The opposition they have to en counter at home, and disgrace to endure in public, is not the only trial that lies in their path. The law of the land prevents their pursuing a course contrary to their parents' wishes till they are past a certain age, which (as the natives have no reliable means of ascertaining their ages) their parents try by every expedient to prove they are still under ; so that a youth into whose heart the light of life has shone, finds himself bound hand and foot, should he desire to obey any of the precepts of the word of God in opposition to the wishes of his earthly guardians and protectors, unless he is clearly beyond the age fixed. You will be glad to hear that in the district also, as well as in this place, there have lately been several additions to the churches, I trust of " such as shall be saved ; " indeed, there have been generally manifest tokens of the Lord's working among the people who have long heard the Gospel, but till now have ap peared to have heard in vain. Particulars of these, however, you have, I doubt not, heard from the other brethren. My dear wife still continues her visits to the 278 [A.D. 1878. female members of native families in the place, often meeting with much encouragement. Again Mr. B. writes in February, 1878: "I was enabled about the middle of this month to attend with many of the brethren, European and Native, the annual festival or religious assemblage at Antravedy, where to the poor sin-deluded thousands we were enabled to testify of the better and only perfect way of deliverance from sin, through Christ Jesus and Him crucified. My dear wife accompanied me, and others of our sisters in the Lord were with us and afforded us assistance in speaking to the people. There was the usual opposition and boisterousness on the part of many, especially of the Brahmins. Nevertheless some listened attentively to, while most heard more or less of, the word of life. A good number of tracts and handbills were also carried away. May the Lord grant that fruit be found at the appearing of Jesus Christ ! Whatever the cause may be, it is evident that this festival, if not others, has been sensibly decreasing in respect of the numbers that attend it, for the past few years. For several years past we have not seen the enormous crowds, the unceasing stream of people that formerly astonished us. I am glad to say it appears as though the blessed Spirit were working in this place and other villages. Several of those in con nection with the congregations have lately been baptized and have joined the church, especially one elderly man, once quite a heathen belonging to one of the respectable castes, has lately been baptized, having previously given very marked evidence of having found the Gospel the power of God unto salvation. He belongs to a distant village, Chikkala, and needs our prayers very much, for he has many trials and much opposition to contend against. My dear wife is in the habit of, two or three times in the week, visiting the families of some of the higher caste people in the town, and often finds encouragement in declaring the blessed Gospel to the emales, who live in such seclusion as to be difficult of access by any other means." Mr. E. S. B. writes on April 23, 1878, from Nursa- poorum : " We are cheered from time to time by seeing one and another professing faith in Jesus, and confessing Him in baptism. Brother H., just before leaving, during A.D. 1878.] 279 a ten days' tour, which he, brother M. and I took to gether, baptize.d nine persons, and there are now several others desiring to follow the Lord in the same ordinance; among them is a blind man who has for the past three or four years been under the sound of the Gospel, and for more than twelve months has professed faith in Jesus, but feared to leave his friends. A fortnight since he came in here, and is now remaining with me ; he was a Shudra, but having eaten of food given by us has already broken his caste. Another case is that of a young man, about twenty years of age, who was driven from his home because he believed in Jesus and refused to work on Sundays ; he has a great desire to learn to read and write, and by diligent application has, through the aid of a Christian woman who is employed as a school teacher, learnt already to read tolerably fluently. Both these will, I hope, be baptized shortly. I have great hopes that the last mentioned will be useful later on in reading and expounding the Scriptures to those who cannot read for themselves. Though from among the lowest caste, he displays a good deal of intelligence, and his desire to gain knowledge is very great." Mr. G. writes from Singapore on April 22, 1878 : Through the Superintendent we have a field opened to us in the prisons. Of nearly 1000 prisoners, 150 or 200 come in chains every Lord's day to a shed, appropriated for the purpose, to hear the Gospel ; native brethren, See Boo and others, take a leading part in this service. The Superintendent desires that all who pass through his hands should hear the Gospel. The warders also, who are English soldiers, come to this house for a Scripture reading once a week—fifteen or twenty in number. One of the Chinese brethren has been with me this morning. He gives an account of himself which has features of much interest. I paid a short visit of a fortnight to Penang, where there was much to call forth thankfulness ; among the English brethren especially. The fruits of Mr. M.'s service there are very precious, for he has had seals to his ministry, the only thing that will evidence one's being sent or sanctioned by God. I am deeply humbled that such faint appearance of seals should be manifested here. And if in days past there were few and small signs of blessing, when one had 280 [A.D. 1878. strength and vigour, there seems little human ground to expect much now. Yet the Word speaks of ' fruit in old age.' " Mr. K., who has for above twenty-four years laboured in British Guiana, writes from Peters Hall, Demerara, on January 24, 1878 : "The Lord has been working in some hearts here, both in conversion and restoration. One sister has been lately restored, and five have been lately converted to God." Again Mr. K. writes on April 25, 1878: "The Lord gives me (blessed be His name) strength equal to my day, so that I am able to be about the Lord's work at the various stations. Lately I have visited every station in the colony except the dear Indians at Mattara, Berbice, and there are some conversions. I baptized seven at one station last month, and there are some negroes and some Chinese to be baptized at Peters Hall next month." Mr. W. writes from Georgetown, Demerara, on August 3, 1877 : "Two months ago, we came over from the Essequibo Coast and have since visited several places up the Demerara river, having some very encouraging meetings and good congregations; although, it being the rainy season, the people had to come through roads that would be impassable to Europeans, often up to their knees in mud. It really seems to inspire one to be in earnest in proclaiming the glorious gospel of God's grace, when they see that the people are in earnest to listen to it. We have had some interesting meetings here lately, with increased congregations at each meeting; and I feel sure, that, if the Lord would incline some one to come out for Town, he would not only have the joy of the sower, but the joy of the reaper also." Again he writes on December 22, 1877: "I have just returned from a journey into the interior, via the Demerara river, where I have had some most delightful and blessed work for the Lord ; in fact my heart is just full of joy at the remembrance of what I have seen and heard during this last journey at every place I visited. The dear people welcomed me with a warmth that was most touching, and showed that it was sincere, by proofs of the most practical kind ; and they came out to the meetings in exceeding good numbers, especially in the evenings—although the weather was stormy and densely A.D, 1878.] 281 dark—and best of all, the Lord graciously gave us evidence that there were not only ears to hear, but also hearts to receive the truth as it is in Jesus. As you know, beloved brother, it is indeed an easy and blessed work to tell out the love of Jesus to willing ears and receptive hearts, and such many of the people seem to possess, and I am looking for much more blessing, for ' He is faithful that hath promised who also will do it.' There were some that confessed their faith by baptism at Mahaica Bally and Dalgin, and there were several others at Issuru and Dalgin, that desired to do so ; but I thought it wise that they should wait until my next visit. On April 24, 1878, he writes from Queenstown, Essequibo : " During the last three months I have been labouring principally in Essequibo, and, in addition to the gatherings already established, I have been enabled to open up other places for the preaching of the gospel ; and, in each of these places, the numbers that attend are most cheering. Especially so is this the case at a place called Henrietta, where I have opened a large chapel, which had been previously closed for some months ; and better still, the Lord is manifestly blessing His word to the salvation of souls. I have also lately taken a journey into the bush, on a visit to the Indians, and had a short but interesting work amongst them, and hope shortly to visit them again. You will be interested in knowing, that the school at Danielstown is prospering exceedingly well. I was present at the examination at the com mencement of the year, when nearly one hundred of the children were examined, and it was with surprise and delight that I heard them go through portions of scripture, &c. I could not but regret that yourself, dear Mr. Miiller, were not present, so that you might have seen how well the money that you so kindly send for the carrying-on of the School is used. I have the very utmost confidence in brother G., the children under his charge being educated not only for time but for eternity. He has also a large Sunday School, although he stands almost alone in carrying it on." Lough Ah Fook, a native of China, writes regarding his labours among the Chinese in Demerara, on January 17, 1878 : " I am happy to inform you of the prosperity 282 [A.D. 1878. of the Lord's work during the past year in this Colony. We have had the pleasure of receiving forty-nine into fellowship and the restoration of two backsliders. Two have fallen asleep in the Lord. The Lord is also blessing the work of that faithful brother whose name I men tioned last year labouring on the west coast. Out of the forty-nine, fifteen are from thence. Our brother Ah Sune at Camody Creek is still happy in the work of the Lord. Besides preaching in the Meeting room, he goes from place to place, so as to spread the gospel. We have enlarged the room at that place. Brother Chan Ah Moon is still going on steadily in the work of the Lord. I myself have to go about so as to visit the different Gatherings. Some of the other brethren also go along with me. On Sundays, several of the brethren go about proclaiming the gospel." Mr. J. writes on December 20, 1877, from Winchow, China : " Since our dear brother and sister Mr. and Mrs. S. left for home, we have had much cause for gratitude to God on account of blessing upon the work here. From August 8 up to the present time we have received into the Church by baptism seventeen persons, five women and twelve men. Each of these since their baptism have given evidence that their conversion was real, by seeking the salvation of their relatives and friends. On Lord's day next, I hope to have the pleasure of baptizing the second pupil received into the school. About four months ago I sent him to assist at our station at Chu-chow. I gave him no instruction to preach, as I was not quite sure of his spiritual state. Some time ago I was pleased to hear by letter that he was throwing heart and soul into the work there. Three weeks ago I paid a visit there, and had an opportunity of observing his earnestness and suitability for the work. It was when there that he applied for baptism. He has a fair knowledge of the native character, and can speak the Mandarin and Ningpo dialect besides his own. This will greatly add to his power of usefulness as a preacher to the heathen. We have seven other candidates for baptism, and several veryjnteresting enquirers besides." Mr. R. writes from Tai Chow in December, 1877: " Although but few are turning to the Lord, yet when we look back to 1870, when we first came down here, A.D. 1878.] 283 and remember that there were but two Christians in this whole district, and only one station ; as we look round upon the seven stations, and sixty-nine members in com munion at the present date, we are compelled to say, ' What hath God wrought ! He hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.' We have had eighteen received this year and one death. We have just heard of the death of one who has been an enquirer for some time and was a candidate for baptism when he d,ied. The members believed him to be a true Christian, but as he lived some miles away and was absent when I was there I have not seen him myself, but our native helpers there and the Christians buried him according to the New Testament, and all that could, followed him to the grave; and no idolatry was allowed. This was by consent of his friends, although they are not Christians ; but as his last moments seem to have been spent in ex horting them to receive Christ, we hope that this may be the case. We have one very promising young man just now ; he was baptized last July. I had employed him for some time as my teacher, to see what he really was, and am quite satisfied with him. He has suffered persecution from his own family, but has stood firm; and now his mother comes every Sunday and on Wednes day to the meetings for women, so that we have hope of her. There is also another interesting case of a night watchman who used to go his rounds at night, beating a hollow bamboo and repeating his prayers to Budda aloud. Now he seems truly converted and goes his rounds repeating a few sentences to this effect : ' If we wish to be saved, we must pray to God and trust in Jesus, then we can go to Heaven.' No sooner than he began this, the people began to find fault with him, and he wondered why they should do so, seeing they never found fault with him for repeating Budda's name. Who can tell how much good he may do in the still hours of the night." Mr. A. F., labouring in Madrid, writes on June 18, 1877 : " Through the Lord's goodness the interest in the meetings continues—three more come into fellowship next Sunday, if the Lord will. Other cases are being considered ; last night a respectable young woman told me she now knew that she was saved. To-day I met 284 [A.D. 1878. with a very sincere woman who has been coming to the meetings here, one who has been a very fervent Roman Catholic, she said ' I am not yet saved.' It is so good to get such a confession as this in Spain. One of the three coming into fellowship is the widow of the jailor of Granada, who had Matamoros anJ his fellows under fiis care. The conduct of^Matamoros was the means of giving light to the Jailor, who became changed into a friend, and whether for this or not, was soon turned out of his office—came to Madrid—attended the first meet ings after the revolution, and his widow believes died a saved man. Not long ago we received the daughter, a nice young woman, about 17 years old. A younger child is with us in the Orphan house and has been saved. Matilde the elder girl was turned out of the shop where she worked, because she would not confess to a priest. She earned 1s. 8d. a day, which was all the money the family had for clothes, shoes, &c. The mother giving her services in a house where she and her family have food and shelter. When the sorrowing girl returned home, the mother told her she had done quite right. One of our dear boys having the ague and my dear wife being very low, we went away for ten days, and in order to cheer our poor lonely brother M. M. we went to A. The Lord gave us the joy of being instrumental to the bringing his wife to the knowledge of Christ. We were also used to console a dear sister, wife of a civil guard, who is sent from place to place and most cruelly treated because he is bold for Christ, and will not confess to the priests. He is threatened with a false charge being brought against him, and that he shall be sent to a penal settlement. He knows not what to do. M. M. tried to establish a small meeting—he was called before the Governor. ' Who pays you for this ? ' ' No one.' ' What do you gain by it ? ' ' Nothing.' ' How do you live 1 ' 'I work with my hands in a mine.' ' Why do you hold meetings ? ' ' Because God has blessed my soul and I wish others to be blessed.' ' You, you were made a miserable day labourer, I prohibit the meetings.'* ' I yield to force, but as long as I have a mouth to speak, I shall speak for Christ.' For years he has stood in A. quite alone and stood nobly, now he has joy in his wife. We have received them as members with us—the nearest A.D. 1878.] 285 church five hours railway journey—nearly 6 by 3rd class trains. These are jewels in Jesus' crown, and it is our great privilege to help such. If God permit we must see if we can visit them sometimes—though really we are nearly overwhelmed with work." The reader will feel interested in learning, that the number of the children, who attended our sixteen Day Schools in Spain, amounted on May 26, 1878, to 1,095. These are the children of Roman Catholics, some of whom are from time to time not only themselves brought to the knowledge of the Lord, but also their parents, through the copies of the Holy Scriptures, which the children bring home from the Schools, or through what they have heard at School and repeat to their parents at home. Mr. McL. writes from Armagh, Ireland, on February 4, 1878 : "I have been in this country, more or less, the last three months. In two places, called Killeen and Seghan, there has been a mighty work going on. Killeen was one of the darkest and most wicked places in Ulster. There is a saying connected with it, which shows what kind of a place it has been, ' Sweet Killeen that never saw a Sunday.' Praise the Lord ! those days are past, and God has come in and saved many souls. We have been in no hurry, and as far as we can judge there cannot be less than eighty who appear saved. Many more have professed." Mr. S. labouring in Swansea, Wales, writes on Sept. 29, 1877 : "Here is an interesting instance of the deal ings of God with a soul : a middle-aged man stayed after a week-night service a few weeks ago, to speak with me. He said, ' I want to talk with you about my poor soul,' and then told me the following : ' A month ago I heard you for the first time at the Music Hall, and your words took hold of me, and have I hope led me in a new way. Before that, I had attended no place of worship for years ; but passing the Music Hall one Sunday evening with my little girl, she said, ' Father come in and hear the singing,' I said, ' No, come along.' The next Sunday we passed again, and she again asked me, but I refused. A third time she made the saane request, and that evening I came in, and it has made a new man of me.' This was the dear man's simple story. The results I 286 [A.D. 1878. leave to God, but, so far, the man has continued to attend both on Sundays and week-days, and is evidently a changed man—I hope, brought to God.—I spoke to a young man the other evening, and he very cheerfully replied, ' I am a Christian and a member of a Christian Church ; but you were the means of arousing me when you were preaching at the Star two years ago, from Joseph and his brethren.' This man had been blessed then, and had continued to walk as a believer.—A young . woman, the daughter of Christian parents, began attend ing our meetings, and was soon deeply convinced of sin ; her state for weeks was painful—weeping and praying continually. One Sunday evening, coming as usual, very wretched, she was set free while I spoke of ' Moses's Choice,' and is exceedingly bright and happy since.— About two months ago one of our helpers said to me after the service was over : ' There is a man here who wants to speak with you.' I found, on conversing with this man, that he had attended no place where the Gospel is preached for some years, but that last Christmas he came to the Music Hall and had attended regularly since— that he had been brought into a state of anxiety about his soul and was for some weeks seeking peace, but that on the Sunday previous to his speaking to me, he had been set free while one of our brethren was praying with him in his own house after the evening service. Another case of blessing is that of a man who began attending because his relatives came, and one evening, while sitting in the Hall, saw the gospel plan of saving his soul very clearly, and at once received and rejoiced. This hap pened some months ago (though only recently he told me of it), and the man walks steadily, I believe. We are making special prayer just now for the children of believers, and earnestly desire to see fruit amongst them." On January 30, 1878, he writes: "In reviewing the past year, I had one cause for much praise, viz. : that amongst the many associated with us, scarcely any had given us cause for sorrow. This, when one remembers the many young persons joined with us, and how busy Satan is, seemed to me a cause of real joy. The in gathering of souls has gone on. A young man came to tell me he was leaving Swansea the next day, but wanted A.D. 1878.] 287 me to know he had found Christ in our meetings. Another man who attended regularly for many months, has lately professed himself a follower of Jesus. An elderly man who for years has been a most attentive listener at our meetings, and who often, when spoken to personally, seemed softened yet did not accept the gospel, stayed after one of the services to see me, and oud y with tears: ‘I have held out a long time, but do now give myself to God.’ This is several months ago, and he continues to walk consistently.” Mr. Y. writes from Barnstaple, on September 29, 1877: “ Since last writing to you, I have been encouraged in the work of the Lord, not only in the case of persons to whom the word of life has been spoken recently, but in others also to whom it was spoken years since and ap- parently in vain ; such having called upon me, since my removal to Pilton, in the character of anxious enquirers. I may also mention an interesting case of an old man, who, seven or eight years since, occasionally passed my window at a time when I was confined to the house through illness. He was unknown to me and I was unable to speak to him ; but when I saw him I prayed for him. For several yoars T lost sight of him, and did ~ not know that he was living, until I removed here ; soon after which I was asked to go to him quickly as he was dying. Remembering the prayers of years ago, I felt sure it was for life and for the glory of God. hasten- ing to his bedside, I overtook a young person, who proved to be his grand-daughter, and spoke to her of the ' great salvation. She is now in Christ. The old man is also now resting in Christ, and his wife is anxious about her soul ; while other members of the family have atten- tively listened to the word of life. How encouraging to _ remember, that, when we cannot speak to sinners about Christ, we can hopefully speak to God about them.” Mr. L. writes from Cheltenham on January 30, 1878: “ Some time since I heard of two aged persons 34 miles in the country, who were anxious about their souls, and had no one to speak to them of Jesus. The husband was 88 years of age, and the wife 80. I have several times visited them, also another dear brother, and I quite believe they have savingly received the gospel. My weekly visits to the Workhouse give large opportunity . a 288 [A.D. 1878. for testifying of Jesus, and last Lord's day afternoon I was delighted with the reception I met with at the lodging houses, and the many willing listeners there were, whilst the love of God in Christ Jesus was proclaimed. Also recently 3 of us have commenced to visit the Public- houses on the Lord's day evening from about 8 to 10 o'clock, and I am surprised to find what an opportunity it is of briefly preaching Christ to many. We go with Gospel books and tracts, and proclaim 'Jesus only' as the Saviour of sinners. The landlords, except in one or two cases, as yet have not hindered us ; and it is solemn to see, what a number of persons spend their Sunday evenings in these places. I would ask the prayers of the dear brethren at your Monday evening prayer meeting for this work. I hope by His grace to continue it both here and elsewhere as I have opportunity." Mr. P. writes from Waterloo, Hampshire, on October 1 , 1877 : " We are thankful to tell you that the Lord has been graciously pleased to give us much blessing. Many souls have been quickened and saved during the past year, so that we are greatly encouraged." Mr. L. who labours among the most degraded class in the East of London, writes on January 30, 1878 : " The first soul we knew of for the Lord this year, was a man taken from a low court close by to a Hospital very ill. We visited him there and the Lord owned the Truth. He became painfully convicted of sin, crying out that he was burdened with his sins, and with terror declaring ' I'm lost 1 I'm lost ! ' The precious Saviour of the lost was set before him ; the light shone in ; he found joyous peace in Jesus—in fact, his joy was so great, the nurses com plained of him being too much excited. Thus he continued for a week when the Lord took him. Another soul we rejoice over, is the father of seven Christian children. For years he had been a sad, sad slave to drink, causing them the severest suffering. Now they all rejoice to gether. Another soul for the Lord Jesus is an aged woman, who for many years has been sought by me for the Lord—all the time she has lived in one of the lowest dens—now she is bright and happy in Him. Mr. C., who labours in the neighbourhood of London, writes on January 29, 1878 : " With regard to our work, or rather the Lord's in Bow Common, I may say we are A.D. 1878.] 289 still rejoicing over the dead being made alive and the lost being found. Fifty-eight souls were added to the Fellow ship last year, and we have had several pleasing cases out of the Sunday School. We have from four to five hun dred persons gathered together on the Lord's day evening to hear the gospel, and in nearly all cases, working men and their wives. By God's goodness we have in a small measure, I think, solved the question ' how to get hold of the working man.' I don't think it any great secret at all ; if you go and meet them on their level, shake them by the hand whether it is clean or dirty, and have an un shaken faith in the Gospel you preach, they will come— at least, this is my experience. I may mention as a pleasing feature, that nearly 200 of our members in fellowship are working men and their wives, and as for real Christian work I know no other class like them. We are blessed beyond description by a band of men whose hearts God has touched ; they are poor and some of them very rough and rugged ; but their hearts are given up to God, and He has accepted the offering. We have from 3 to 4 hundred children in our Schools on Sundays, and a very good work is going on in their midst." Mr. B., who labours on the Blackdown Hills, Somer set, writes on January 28, 1878 : " We have continual cause for praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for souls saved from the power and dominion of Satan and sin, in the various parts of this Mission. Some young men who have been opposers, and who have sought to lead others wrong, have recently been converted, and are now seek ing to undo the past evil of their lives by seeking to lead their companions to the Saviour. I trust that the Lord may call some others in due time to witness for Him in the gospel. Some are desirous to give themselves to the Lord for foreign Mission work, and such are doing Mission work at home as the best preparative for it—thus seeking to prove their calling of God for the work. Several of the young men who have been in our Schools are now preaching the gospel with blessing from the Lord, and many now in the Schools, I hope, will be called of the Lord to some such work for Him." Mr. C., who labours especially among the Jews, writes on September 29, 1877 : " I visited the Jewish quarter, and the first Jew I met was an old man whom I had seen 290 [a.D. 1878. several times before ; and on asking him how it was he was not in the Synagogue on this most solemn day, he said: ‘ To tell you the truth, you have quite upset my mind, and I am beginning to see that God requires of us to rend our hearts and not our garments: what is all our fastings and crying without the “blood” of which you spoke to me when I last saw you, and, as you said, makes atonement for the soul. I have read Lev. xvii, 11, and I found that you were right again.’ Pray for this old man, who is 79 years of age, that at the eleventh hour he may see Jesus in all His blessed fulness.” I have thus, in the preceding pages, sought to give to the reader a little insight into the Missionary operations in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, both as to the kind of Christian men who labour, and the character of their work. I might in this way easily fill many hundreds of pages, were it desirable to do so ; but the Reports of the Institution, published for more than 51 years, make this needless, especially as all those, which have been published during the last 30 years, can yet be obtained. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1878, is £169,039. 2s. 8d. There has been laid out for Tracts and Books, from May 26,1877 to May 26, 1878, the sum of £1,287. 1s. 73d.; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions Two Hundred and Five Thousand (exactly 3,205,445) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £28,623. 4s. 8d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1878, is more than Sixty-three Millions (exactly 63,613,660.) More than Two Millions Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. I give now the statistics in connection with the Orphan Institution, from May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878. At the commencement of the last period, we had 1983 Orphans under our care, in the New Orphan Houses No. 1, No. 2, No. 8, No. 4, and No. 5. During the past year 210 Orphans were admitted into these five houses, A.D. 1878.] 291: so that on May 26, 1878, we should have had altogether 2193 Orphans, had there been no changes. But of these 2193 Orphans 19 died during the past year. We gratefully own the Lord’s kindness, in that only 19 died out of 2193 who were under our care, during the year. Of these 19 who died, 13 had known the Lord some time before their death, and fell asleep peace- fully as believers, and two were young infants. Pour of the Orphans we were obliged to expel from the Institu- tion, in mercy to the other children, that they might not be injured. This last most painful means was resorted to, after everything else had failed. We yet hope, how- ever, that even now our labour regarding these four cap- tives of Satan may not bein vain. Twenty-five we had to return to their relatives, either on account of their physical state, their mental weakness, or their moral con- dition not allowing us to retain them, or to be able torecom- mend them for situations as domestic servants or appren- tices. Nineteen of the Orphans were delivered up to their relatives, who were now in a position themselves to pro- vide for them, and felt it their duty todoso. Six of these last two classes were believers. Thirty-seven of the boys -were sent out as apprentices to learn a trade or business, and four besides as Pupil Teachers. Of these forty-one, 17 were believers. Of the girls One Hundred and Forty- one were sent to situations, besides which number three were sent out as Pupil Teachers. Of these 144 girls, 69 were believers, and most of them had known the Lord some time. 252 therefore in all are to be deducted from the 2193, so that we had actually only 1941 Orphans under our care on May 26, 1878. The total number of © Orphans, who have been under our care from April 1836 to May 26, 1878, is 5409. We have especial reason to be grateful for the manifest blessing, which during the past year has rested upon the Orphans, with regard to their physical, moral and spiritual state. During the last five years we have sought’ to" train Christian lads and girls, from among the Orphati, to be- come teachers, if they manifest aptitude for teaching, have a desire to become teachers, and are in other respects suitable. The Lord has caused His blessingto rest upon this also, and we have been thus able to appoint several 0 2 . 292 [a.D. 1878. young men already as assistant masters at the Orphan Houses and in some of the Day Schools, connected with the Institution. The total of the expenditure for the first four Objects ’ of the Institution, from May 26, 1877 to May 26, 1878, was £15,245. 10s. 11d. and for the support of the Or- _ . phans £26,504. 2s. 84d., in all £41,749. 13s. 73d. From May 26, 1878 to May 26, 1879, there were seventy-six Day Schools entirely supported by the funds "of the Institution. Of these 76 Schools, there are 14 in Spain, 4 in India, 2 in Italy, 6 in British Guiana ; the other 50 are in England and Wales. Besides these Seventy- six Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, five other Day-Schools have been assisted, two in Devon, one in Worcestershire, and two in France. The master of the School in Silver Street, Barnstaple, writes, in answering questions sent to him regarding the previous year: ‘“‘ The two monitors R. A. and J. E. pro- fess faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord, and their conduct is in accordance therewith. Four of the children appear to have life through hearing. The last two summers we had monthly meetings of the children on Monday evenings, for spiritual benefit, especially to those who came.- They were very well attended. We have had two this month, and are encouraged for another the first Monday evening in June. At the first of these meetings this year, there were about 12 present, at the last about 40. There is no inducement of books or tea, and I take the attendance as a token for good from the Lord. The general con- dition?of the School, with regard to attainment and be- haviour, is improved, though it is far from what I desire.” The mistress of the Girls’ School, Bear Street, Barn- staple, gives the following report: “I cannot speak of any decided conversion during the past year, yet I feel sure the Lord is opening the hearts of many of my dear. children to receive the precious truth of His own Word, which is read in the School, day after day; and the earnestness and interest manifested, while reading it, is truly delightful and encouraging to witness. Often is my heart gladdened by the cheerful greetings of some of my old scholars, who are truly converted and happy in the Lord, and I trust are also honouring Him in their different callings.” A.D. 1878.] 293 The master of the Boys' School, Bute Docks, Cardiff, writes : " The Lord in His goodness has brought us through another year, during which He has wonderfully helped us ; and although large Schools have been opened adjoining our yard, instead of decreasing our attendance as might have been expected, our numbers on the con trary have been swelled in each department. Respecting conversions, there are no decided cases, as far as we can judge ; but we labour on, believing that the good seed sown must eventually bear fruit to the glory of Him, whose work it is. It is very cheering to meet with so many of the lads who have passed through the Schools and are now at work, conducting themselves in such a manner as to show that the labour bestowed has not been in vain." The master of the mixed School, Tredegarville, Cardiff (481 children on the books) gives the following report : "With feelings of devout gratitude to our Heavenly Father, I send you my usual annual statement. I feel grateful that my humble efforts have been owned and blessed ; not only in the matter of secular education, but also in the impartation of Religious knowledge. Two of the children have joined churches and are at present in the School, and I believe there are others in whom the good work has begun. One boy has died during the year, trusting in the Saviour." The master of the mixed School at Clayhidon, Somerset, writes, Dec. 27, 1878 : " Over forty, who have been in the Schools, are now converted, and have joined various sections of the Church of God." On March 26, 1879, the same master writes : " We are expecting that five of our elder scholars (one has left the School) will shortly be received into Church Fellowship. They are under visitation. This certainly is most cheering." On May 24, 1879, he again reports : "With regard to the children's spiritual condition, I cannot speak of any absolute con versions in the School, but seven have been brought to the Lord in the year, who have been in the Day School, and have left, all dating their first convictions and im- Ecessions made while at School. Two of these serve the ord in Gospel testimony, one entirely given up to mission work, now studying at the East End Training Institute. All this encourages us, in the midst of much 294 ([a.D. 1878. to cast down and discourage. Several in the School are in a very hopeful state, and I doubt not will shortly come out boldly for Jesus. We sow ‘in hope, till the reapers come, gladly to gather the harvest home.’” The mistress of the Cubitt Town School reports: “I have realised much blessing from the Lord, during the past year, both in the work and in my own soul, and believe that the good seed, daily sown in the hearts of the dear children, will, through grace, one day, yield an abundant harvest to the glory of God. One boy of -11 years has confessed to having found peace, through believing the truth, as it is in Jesus. His efforts,to influence his class boys for good, by word and example, are a testimony to a change of heart, which I trust is real. I may here mention, how much impressed I am daily by the perfect stillness which prevails, even among the little children, during prayer, without any more effort than earnestly reminding them before prayer, of the presence of the Saviour, to whom they are brought in prayer to be blessed. It is very gratifying, too, to see the harmony which exists among the elder boys and girls, whose greatest pleasure is to know that they are approved of, both for lessons and conduct. My examination, yester- day and'the day before, of the upper classes, on paper, seemed to have a very beneficial effect. Certainly there was a manifest improvement since that of-a month ago.” The mistress of the School at High Bickington writes, in"giving an account of her School, as to its spiritual condition: “With regard to conversion among the children, I am happy to say, there are 3 elder girls, who have lately left school, whom I believe are the Lord’s ; there are six in the school still (two of whom are boys) who really seem anxious to lead their companions to Christ ; two other girls seem desirous about their souls’ salvation, and they with others often ask to stay behind after school, so we have purposed to hold a meeting every; Wednesday morning, after 12 o’clock, for any who wish to remain. Last Wednesday a good number re- mained, and we had a happy meeting In a meeting sometime ago (after school) one of the dear girls prayed ; her‘testimony is very clear.” The mistress of the North End School, Fulham, writes : “T know of no decided cases of conversion, during the A.D. 1878.] 295 past year ; there are anxious ones of whom I have good hopes, and I feel quite sure the Lord is working in the hearts of several. I am very happy to add, those who professed Christ as their Saviour, last year, have shown, by their walk, that they do really belong to Him ; three of them are still in the School, and they are bright examples to their schoolfellows." The master of the School at Saul reports regarding the state of his School : " In no previous year have the children studied harder, behaved better, or been more happy. We have been a happy family at home. That some love the Lord I have no doubt." The master of the School at Yeovil reports on December 24, 1878, regarding his school: "In looking back upon the past year of school work, I can truly say that it has been the happiest ; for the Lord has blessed our labours. About two years since we were much exercised as to the manifest effect of the Scripture upon the children, and we gave up a portion of the dinner hour to prayer every day. At last two were converted and joined us. About two months since, three others were brought to the Lord, and remained with us to pray, and lately the number has increased to ten. I have no reason to doubt the reality of the work in any one of them. It was a joyful sight, on the last day of school work, to see ten Christian scholars, four anxious after the way of peace, beside teachers bowing together in prayer. The work has been very quiet and all among the eldest. The whole of my first class are the Lord's. I have carefully avoided being personal or asking direct questions, lest any should be tempted into a false position. I write thus fully, that you may rejoice in the fruit to eternal glory, from the Scriptural Knowledge Institution Schools."—On May 24th, 1879, the same master writes : "During the past year we have had much cheer, for several of the older scholars have been brought to the Lord, and testify, by their walk, whose they are and whom they serve. Two have been received into church fellowship. It is a joy to see them, as they leave school for work, go forth as disciples of Jesus. I will not speak of numbers, as the real fruit from the sowing of the Word of God will only be manifested in its fulness at that time when the hidden things shall be brought to light." 296 [A.D. 1879. Extracts from the letters received from masters and mistresses, of the various Home Day Schools, might be greatly multiplied. With scarcely a single exception, the teachers are greatly encouraged in their work. The number of pupils in our Home Day Schools, on May 26, 1879, was 5,718 ; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,795 ; in all, 7,513. There are thirty-six Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these thirty-six Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1879, Two Thousand Four Hundred and Nine scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, sixteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the thirty-six Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, twelve are in Spain, six in British Guiana, two in Italy, the others are in England and Wales. There are now six Adult Schools, with 96 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. Of these there are three in Spain, one in India, one at Callington, and one at Walham Green. From the foregoing statement it will appear that there are altogether One Hundred and Eighteen Schools en tirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 76 Day Schools, 36 Sunday Schools and 6 Adult Schools; and that, during the past year, 5 Day Schools and 16 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in these One Hundred and Eighteen Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1879, altogether 10,018 scholars. The total number that frequented the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, from the beginning to May 26, 1879, amounts to Seventy- One Thousand and Ninety-Six, viz., there were 48,095 in all the Day Schools, 16,034 in all the Sunday Schools, and 6,967 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £7,201. 19s. 1d. This does not include £2,137. 10s., expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund. There has been expended on the Home Schools from the beginning of the Institution. £58,280. ls. 7½d. A.D. 1879.] 297 The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1878 to May 26, 1879, is as follows : 10,446 Bibles have been sold. 593 Bibles have been given away. 65,437 New Testaments have been sold. 2,024 New Testaments have been given away. 368 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 1,092 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 65 Ditto have been given away. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 135,225 Bibles, 383,233 New Testaments, 19,472 copies of the Psalms, and 196,577 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,524. 11s. 5½d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £22,270. 5s. 5½d. During no year since the beginning of the Institution has so large a number of copies of the Holy Scriptures been circulated as during the past year. This is chiefly owing to the fact that the colporteurs, who are supplied by us, have been enabled to circulate a large number of copies ; and especially, through open-air preaching in connection with a Bible Carriage, a most extensive circu lation has been promoted. The factories and mills of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, are still visited, for the purpose of placing the Word of God in the hands of the men, women, boys and girls, who are employed in them ; and these efforts have been blessed, during the past year also, as in former years. The expenses, of course, have been proportionately great, as this Object has been increased ; but we have judged that the greater the efforts which are being made, to put aside the Word of God, or to do without it, the more it becomes true disciples of the Lord Jesus to circulate it with earnest, believing, expecting, and persevering prayer. The Godly evangelist, who goes about with the Bible Carriage [our beloved brother, Henry Moorhouse, since fallen asleep], wrote from Blackpool on August 28, 1878 : " Beloved Mr. Muller, We are having a glorious time 03 298 [A.D. 1879. here, selling about 1,000 copies of the New Testament a week, and preaching to thousands in the open air. En closed P.O.O. for £12. 10s. Please send us 3,000 2d. Testaments. Many thanks for your kindness in giving them at half price to us. God bless you, dear Mr. Muller." In acknowledging the receipt of the Scriptures sent, he writes again from Blackpool : " Beloved Mr. Muller, The New Testaments have arrived safe from London. I thank you very much for giving them to me at 1d. each. The expenses of the Gospel Carriage, for horses, lights and rent of ground, will average about £3. a week ; and I trust the sales of Bibles, &c., will cover this. I wish you could see the thousands of people listening to the preaching of the Gospel in the open air, and sometimes hundreds of men weeping. You would say this is the Lord's Work. I wish there were a dozen more carriages out in the villages.—I met a great many, in the States, who were much blessed by your ministry, out there ; and many ministers told me how much they loved you. Again thanking you for your kindness," &c. On Oct. 14, 1878, he writes : " Beloved Mr. Muller, I sent last Monday £10. for Testaments ; hope it arrived safe ; and I now enclose draft for £20. 16s. 8d. for more. The Lord is blessing very much this work, and we all have great joy in spreading the blessed Gospel of our Saviour. We were at Leicester last week, and in the fair sold 500 New Testaments, in six hours. A publican, opposite whose place we stood, sent for the police to re move us. He could scarcely get a customer into his place. Of course the police could not interfere, as we were breaking no law. The chief magistrate, in every town we have visited, in almost every case, has stood our friend, and given orders for us to have the best place in the market for our carriage. On Saturday last we were selling in three places, Preston, Blackburn, and Leicester. A lady in Leicester has taken off her jewel lery, and is going to sell it and buy with it a Bible car riage for the county. We hope to go next to Clitheroe, then to Oldham. May the loving Lord bless you in your glorious work for Him." On March 25, 1879, he writes to Mr. Wright : " Now A.D. 1879.] 299 I want to thank you and beloved Mr. Miiller, for your love in giving us the Blessed Book at so cheap a rate, and to tell you the work is just grand. We came to London the beginning of this month, and pitched our carriage on a waste piece of land, in the poorest part of London. It turned out to be the place where Bradlaugh and his men had been preaching against the Bible, and, in less than two weeks, the power of God had broken up these meetings, so that they could not get six people to listen to them ; and on that very spot we have sold, in three weeks, over 5,000 copies of the Book they have been running down. Could you see the class of people who, as a rule, buy them, your loving heart would rejoice. Bloated, blear-eyed men and poor fallen women, often come for the book, and I am sure there will be many saved through these dear little Testaments. We hope to start North again in a couple of weeks, taking the villages and towns on the way, preaching our Lord's glorious Gospel and selling His Word. Will you get much prayer for this ? " To this one devoted servant of Christ we sold, during the past year, at reduced price, Two Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Bibles and Fifty-Two Thousand Four Hundred and Twelve Testaments, which he spread in connection with his open-air preaching and the Bible Carriage. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid Mis sionary efforts. During the past year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for this Object, the sum of £6,506. 4s. 6d. By this sum One Hundred and Sixty-Six labourers in the Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £264 0 0 For the relief of sufferers from the famine in China, sums given specially for that object 19 3 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana 236 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain 1,416 19 10 300 [a.pD. 1879. For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy .................. £220 10 2 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Glou- Cestershire ..........ccsercecessescsee sees 18 11 6 The total amount of the Funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1879, is £175,545. 7s. 2d. There has been laid out for Books and Tracts from May 26, 1878 to May 26, 1879, the sum of £1,418. 9s. 7d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more * than Three Millions Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand (exactly 3,264,193) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this Object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £30,041. 148. 3d. The total number of all the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1879, is more than Sixty-six Millions Eight Hundred and Seventy-seven Thousand (exactly 66,877,853). Two Millions Four Hundred and Forty-five Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. At the beginning of the year of the Institution, May 27, 1878, we had 1,941 Orphans under our care. During the year, from May 26, 1878 to May 26, 1879, there were received into the Orphan Houses 273 Orphans, so that on May 26, 1879, we should have had altogether 2,214, had there been no changes. But out of these 2,214, Twenty died. Only twenty! I draw attention to this particular kindness of the Lord, in that again not one per cent. of the Orphans has died during the past year. It is indeed true, that good air, simple yet nou- rishing food, regular habits, cleanliness, and suitable clothing, instrumentally may be used by God to pre- , serve health and life, and He does use these means; nevertheless, when the many infectious diseases are con- sidered to which children especially are exposed, we can only admire the kindness of God that so few children have died ; and all this becomes the more remarkable, as three-fourths of our children lost one or both parents from consumption. Of these 20 who died, nine were truly brought to rest on the Lord Jesus for the salvation A.r>. 1879.] 301 of their souls, and six were young infants. Four of the boys we were obliged to expel. We had long borne with them, and had sought by a variety of methods to turn them from their evil ways ; but, as all was in vain, it was necessary at last, in mercy to the other children, to resort to this most painful remedy. Twenty-five of the Orphans were sent back to their relatives, after most of them had been for a very long time under our care, because on account of mental or physical weakness, in curable disease, or their moral condition, we could not recommend them for situations. Nineteen Orphans were delivered up to their relatives, who now through altered circumstances were able and desirous to provide for them. Thirty-one of the boys were apprenticed, and One Hundred and Twenty-seven girls were sent to situa tions. Six Christian girls were sent out as Pupil Teachers, and two of the male Orphans as Assistant Masters to two of our Day Schools ; both had been be lievers for a number of years. Besides the nine who died as believers, 83 of those Orphans who were sent out were converted, and many of them had known the Lord a considerable time and walked consistently. These 234 therefore are to be deducted from the 2,214, so that on May 26, 1879, we had actually only 1,980 Orphans in the five houses. The total number of Orphans who have been under our care from April, 1836 to May 26, 1879, is 5,682. In looking back upon the past year, we have especial reason to be grateful to the Lord for the blessing which He has been pleased to cause to rest upon the Orphan Work. The income for the various Objects of the Institution, from May 26, 1878 to May 26, 1879 was, for the first four Objects £17,216. 4s. 9d., and for the support of the Orphans £29,950. 4s. 6½d., in all £47,166. 9s. 3½d. The expenses for the first four Objects were £16,738. 17s. 10d., and for the support of the Orphans £26,920. 14s. 11½d., in all £43,659. 12s. 9½d. - From May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880, there were Seventy-five Day Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, and one Day-School was assisted. Of these 75 Day Schools, there were 14 in Spain, 4 in India, 1 in Italy, and 6 in British Guiana ; the other 50 were in England and Wales. 302 [A.D. 1880. The master of the Boys' School in Bristol reports, in reference to the state of his School, May 26, 1880 : " Among the encouraging features of the School are the undiminished interest the dear boys display in their Bible lessons, and the manifest improvement in their behaviour. God's own definite promise of success, ' Ye shall reap if ye faint not,' is a great encouragement to me in sowing the incorruptible seed of His word. May this seed take deep root in the hearts of the dear children and bring forth fruit a hundred-fold. Some of my old scholars have allied themselves to Christian churches and are, I trust, consistent believers." The mistress of the Girls' School in Bristol states : " I have much pleasure in being able to give a favourable account of my school. The moral tone of the school is good. The past year has been one of marked im provement. The children generally are respectful in their deportment, obedient to their teachers, and atten tive to their lessons. They manifest considerable interest in their Scripture lessons. I have strong reasons for be lieving that God has blessedly owned my labours. Three dear girls who have recently left the school were the sub jects of religious impressions." The mistress of the Girls' School in Barnstaple wrote in November 1879: "You will rejoice with me that another of my dear girls who left the school has found Christ, and last week two other old scholars were baptized on their profession of faith in Christ." The same mistress reports about her School May 25, 1880 : " Two dear girls in the first class I believe to be truly converted to God, and I am hopeful about several others. The school continues to be valued by parents, and I am often obliged to refuse children for the want of room. I am thankful to say I am more than ever encour aged in the Lord concerning my labours in the School." The master of Howie Hill School states : "I am grate ful to our Heavenly Father for having permitted me to see some good fruit as the result of the scripture lessons. Several scholars profess to have found peace in Jesus, and are, as far as I can judge, really converted to God. The general condition of school, behaviour, punctuality, obedience and honesty in work, is very cheering." The master of the School at Bow reports : " I cannot A.D. 1880.] 303 report on any conversions -to God during the year ; yet I feel fully persuaded that not a few shall be ere long savingly converted, through the instrumentality of this blessed work. It is quite cheering to notice the marked attention and the pleasure the children feel in their scripture lesson from day to day ; all tending to the sweet assurance that many shall soon be gathered into the fold of our dear Lord Jesus, and that we shall yet have cause to rejoice that our labours are not in vain. We shall reap in due time—God's own time. I am happy in saying the school is in a satisfactory condition, giving general satisfaction to all connected with, and interested in its welfare." The master of the Boys', Girls' and Infant Schools, at the Seamen's Bethel, Cardiff, with 340 children in these schools, writes on May 25, 1880 : "I am very happy to be able to report that the past year has been one of the most prosperous since the schools were opened. The Lord has been most pleased to send so many children that not only have our averages been higher than during any previous year in each department, but we have had difficulty at times to seat them all. It is very cheering to see how the children are attached to the school, some having been with us from the commencement; and although we have not the joy of being able to record any decided cases of conversion, yet one cannot fail to see the effect of the teaching in many ways. It is very precious to look back and know that during the time we have been labouring here, many hundreds of little ones have been brought under the simple teaching of God's blessed word. It is labour, that we are sure, God will bless; and in the days of increasing disregard for the truth we realize more and more the importance of the work, and look to him only for results." The master of the Roath School, Cardiff, reports May 26, 1880 : " I cannot say decidedly that any of the children have become converted to God during the year, but the steady and thoughtful demeanour, together with the entire absence of any criminal offences among the older scholars, lead me to hope that there is some good thing found in them. The general condition of the school is satisfactory, which the recent examination proves. The number at present on the books is 386." 304 [A.D. 1880. The master of the Canton- School, Cardiff, who has 224 children under his instruction, writes : " I am not certain that any conversions to God have yet taken place, but I believe that the seed which has been sown is not lost. I am glad to say that the children take an increasing interest in the Bible lesson. I have visited the children's homes to enlist the co-operation of the parents in securing the regular and punctual attendance of their children. In nearly every case they were quite willing to do so, and thanked me for calling on them." The mistress of the School at Chittlehamholt states : " A former scholar converted some years ago, and who commended herself as a follower of Christ among be lievers in a neighbouring town, has this year passed away to be with Christ. She returned here about twelve months before her death, and during that period she displayed great calmness and much of the peace of God keeping her heart, whilst she waited the will of God to be done either by restoration to health or to be called up higher." The master of the School at Clayhidon, writes on Sept. 24, 1879 : " You will be glad to know that three of the scholars in the day school were baptized and received into fellowship a fortnight ago ; their ages being respec tively 15, 16 and 17 years. This year five from the school have been baptized and received into the Church." The same master writes Oct. 21, 1879 : "The Lord is working in our midst. Another girl has confessed to salvation, and I think there is little doubt of her reality. She is an ex-VI standard girl. I have another girl in Standard VI deeply anxious ; she is affected under every Bible lesson, and I feel confident that ere long she will be set free. So that, though we have often unusual discouragements, the Lord has evenly balanced it by giving us to see constant blessing in conversions. We labour not for time merely, but for eternity ! Sowing to reap, and sowing in hope till the reapers come, gladly to gather the harvest home." On Dec. 15, 1879, he writes again: "You will be glad to hear that the Lord is encouraging us in our work. We have had some special services for the young, and they have been owned of God in the blessing of some A.D. 1880.] 305 who had for a long time been anxious. During the past week or two, four in the schools have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. All these have been in the Day School, and date their convictions to teachings there given. Two are still in the Day School, and two are in the Sunday School.” Once more the same master writes on May 24, 1880: “We are rejoiced to be able to say that, during the year, eight have been most hopefully converted, two in the Day Schools and six in the Sunday Schools, while six have been baptized and received into Church fellow- ship who were converted in the year previous to May 26th, 1879. These all continue to stand firm, and are, I believe, seeking to adorn the doctrine of our Lord Jesus. There are still others who are “not far from the Kingdom,” of whom I trust we may shortly have to say they have crossed the border line. All this encourages, and we desire devoutly to praise our God and Father by whose spirit alone any blessings can be effected. We “thank God and take courage.” About the School at Hopton, the following report is given: ‘“‘ We have during the last month had the joy of knowing that two dear children, a sister and brother, who received their education in this school, gave the most decided proof of conversion to God; both died triumphantly, trusting only in the precious blood of the Lamb for salvation. There are others who are giving proof that they are trusting in Jesus. Another dear girl, just 18, having been in service for 24 years, wrote a very com- forting and cheering account of her decision for Christ ; she was trained in this school, her parents live in this villa : 6.” The master of the Kilburn Day Schools writes on May 25, 1880 : “ We have been privileged to have had the care of over three hundred dear children for another year. We attach great importance to their instruction for the present life, but supremely desire that they may become the true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. To this end we labour and pray, assured that His word shall not return void.” The teacher of the North End School reports: “I know of one conversion during the past year. A little boy of nine years of age told me he was able to say , f 306 [A.D. 1880. that Christ was his Saviour, and that he had found Him to be very precious to his soul. I am anxiously long ing to hear more confess His name. I meet with many encouragements from them, but more especially from their parents, who have acknowledged that they have heard the truth of God from their children. I trust there will be a glorious harvest when the Master comes." The mistress of the Girls' School, Plympton, writes on Oct. 29, 1879 : " You will rejoice with me when I tell you that five of the dear children have given their hearts to God, and more are anxious. Last Friday some dear girls wished to speak to me, and having talked to them they sobbed aloud. They all told me it was through the Scripture lessons and conversation I had had with them that led them to decide for Christ ; so by God's blessing my labours have'not been in vain, and He raised me up for a purpose— to Him be all the praise." The master of the Boys' School at Plympton reports May 24, 1880 : " On looking at the past we can truly say, ' Ebenezer' ; for God has indeed helped us. May we be encouraged, by the blessing which we have re ceived, to trust Him for the future. An incident came to my notice recently of the good effect of the scriptural instruction given in the School. One of the elder boys, who formerly gave great trouble to the teachers, latterly gave evidence of becoming more serious and thoughtful concerning eternal things. He has, since leaving school, taken a small Testament with him to his daily business. As he daily walks 4^ miles to his work, and does not return home till night, he has opportunity in the dinner hour for perusing God's word ; and it is encouraging to think that a lad, surrounded by godless companions, takes such a safeguard and guide daily with him. During the past twelve months, the school has been steadily improving, both in tone and demeanour, and this is attributable in no small measure to the Bible lessons." The mistress of the Infant School at Underwood states, May 24 :" The conduct of the children is satis factory, and there is increased attention during the Bible lesson, especially among some of the elder boys. I have every reason to believe that the Lord is working in the hearts of many of the children, and although the Word A.D. 1880.] 307 has been, feebly spoken, it is not lost, but has been carried home by them to their parents, who have been pleased to speak of it again. Not many months since I happened to overhear a conversation between two of my little girls. I had been giving a Bible lesson the morning before on ' The love of God to sinners but His hatred to sin.' One of them was absent, and the other was trying to make her understand what I had been saying. The one said to the other, ' What do you think Miss H. said yesterday ? The Lord Jesus loves us when we are naughty, only He's so sorry.' This although so simple in itself, gives me great encouragement to labour on." The master of the School at Purton writes on May 26 : " One of our elder scholars sent us a letter wherein she states the conflict of mind she has passed through of late concerning her spiritual condition, and through the work of the Holy Spirit she now professes to have peace in Jesus. One day last month two of the children came to me at the desk before the commencement of school, and with quiet earnestness of spirit said, ' We do want to be Christians.' " The master of the School at Saul reports on May 25th : " The school year just closing has been one of deep interest and cause for great thankfulness. Undoubtedly God's spirit has been poured out upon this neighbour hood. Numbers of the present and former (now grown up) pupils of this school, their parents and friends, have been brought to a knowledge of God, and have obtained forgiveness, and found peace through believing in the Lord Jesus." The report of the master of the School at Stroud on May 25th is : "I have great pleasure in stating that the children generally have studied more perseveringly and behaved better than during any former year. I can truly say this has been a happy year, because two of the dear boys have given strong evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in their hearts. Their general demeanour indicates that they love the Lord, and I have reason to believe others are seeking Him." The following is the report of the master of the School at Yeovil : " I cannot speak definitely of conversions to God during the past year. Three profess to have be lieved to the salvation of the soul, but as yet I cannot 308 [A.D. 1880. speak of them with confidence. One that had left school has professed Christ and walks with Him. She gives us much joy and often comes to our house for conversation on the Scriptures. It is an encouragement to hear her speak of schooldays, of the convictions then received and the help which the reading of the Scriptures then, are to her now. Others of whom I spoke last year leave us no room for doubting the reality of the work of faith in them. We seek to bury the seed, desiring to leave the result in our Father's hand, but are thankful for whatever fruit- He gives us to see now. As to discipline and order, we have no difficulty. The children are obedient and cheerful." Many more extracts from the letters of the teachers might be given. They are all equally encouraged in their work. The number of pupils in our Home Day Schools on May 26, 1880, was 5,435 ; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,579 ; in all 7,014. There are thirty-six Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these thirty-six Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1880, Two Thousand Three Hundred and Ninety-seven scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, fourteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the thirty-six Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, eleven are in Spain, six in British Guiana, one in Italy, four in Gloucestershire, three in Somersetshire, two in Devonshire, one in Cornwall, three in Hampshire, three in Middlesex, one in Norfolk, and one in Warwick shire. Of the fourteen Sunday Schools, which were assisted by the funds of the Institution, three are in Gloucestershire, one in Somersetshire, one in Wiltshire, one in Devonshire, one in Cornwall, one in Hampshire, one in Herefordshire, one in Yorkshire, two in Middle sex, one in Essex, and one in Wales. The accounts from the Superintendents of the Sunday Schools are encouraging, and show that the Lord is working by His Holy Spirit in the hearts of many of the children. There are now six adult schools, with 93 scholars, connected with the Institution, which are entirely sup ported by its funds. A.D. 1880.] 309 From the foregoing statement it will appear that there are altogether One Hundred and Seventeen Schools entirely supported hy the funds of the Institution, 75 Day Schools, 36 Sunday Schools and 6 Adult Schools ; and that, during the past year, 1 Day School and 14 Sunday Schools were assisted. From what has been stated, it will likewise be seen, that in these One Hundred and Seventeen Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26, 1880, altogether 9,504 scholars. The total number that attended the Schools of the Institution, entirely sup ported by its funds, from the beginning, amounts to Seventy-Six Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six, viz., there were 52,495 in all the Day Schools, 17,184 in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,087 in all the Adult Schools. The amount of means, which was expended during the past year, in connection with the various Schools, amounts to £7,289. 0s. 2d. This does not include £1,889. 12s. 1d. expended on the Mission Schools alone, which is charged to the Mission Fund. There has been expended on the Home Schools, from the beginning of the Institution, £65,569. 1s. 9½d. The second Object of this Institution is, to circulate the Holy Scriptures. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880, is as follows :— 14,881 Bibles have been sold. 1,052 Bibles have been given away. 82,448 New Testaments have been sold. 2,130 New Testaments have been given away. 158 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 70 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 1,628 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 200 Ditto have been given away. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 151,158 Bibles, 467,811 New Testaments, 19,700 copies of the Psalms, and 198,205 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,860. 2s. 10½d. 310 [A.D. 1880. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £24,130. 8s. 4d. During no year, since the beginning of the Institution, has so large a number of copies of the Holy Scriptures been circulated as during the past year. This is chiefly owing to the fact that the many colporteurs, who are supplied by us, have been enabled to circulate a large number of copies ; and especially, through open-air preaching, in connection with three Bible Carriages, a most extensive circulation has been promoted. The dear evangelist, Mr. H. M., writes in September, 1879 : "Our Bible Carriage opened at Wigan on Saturday. I was much concerned about this dark town, most of the people being colliers, and a great many out of work and others out on strike. But God, who hears prayer, opened the way. We sold on Saturday 1017 New Testaments in the Market-place, besides Bibles, " Words of comfort," and giving away above 12,000 little books. To our living Lord be all praise ! I am sending for more Bibles and Testaments, also for 120,000 little books from you, through Mr. Stanley. I do thank beloved Mr. Miiller and yourself for the kind way you give me these messages from Heaven. Never could we have done such a work but for your kindness and love in giving us the Bibles, Testaments and books so cheap. I am hoping, God willing, next month, to open a second Bible Carriage for London, this modern Babylon." In October, 1879, he writes : " We have had a blessed time at Leicester, and many souls, I trust, have decided for the Lord Jesus. During the fair, in one week, 1711 New Testaments have been sold, besides Bibles and portions. At Wigan a grand work has been done, and up to last Monday over 2,000 New Testaments were sold. Praise be to the Lord for inclining the hearts of the masses to purchase the Scriptures. The Lord has been giving great blessings in conversion, through my ministry, the last eight weeks. Over 150 have professed conversion." On Jan. 12th, 1880, this dear brother writes regarding his work : " We are hearing of conversions to God every week. The other day a poor woman bought a twopenny Testament. She opened it : her eyes fell on John v. 24. She was convicted and converted, and is now in happy A.D. 1880.] 311 fellowship with the Lord's people." This letter con tained an order for 5,000 New Testaments and 600 Bibles, a similar order we have often from him. On Feb. 16th he writes: "The blessed work of cir culating the Scriptures seems rather to increase than diminish. Never had we such a week before as last week at Oldham, taking over £30. for Bibles and Testa ments. Praise to the Lord ! In many mills, I am told, the girls are reading now the Scriptures during the dinner hour, and the masters say these girls do more work than those who are careless about better things." The letter is again accompanied by an order for 5,000 Testaments and 200 Bibles. On May 6th he writes again : " We are still having very blessed times. Our carriage was at Stockport Fair last week, and in three days we sold more than 1,000 New Testaments and many Bibles. At Bradford, York shire, we took more than £25. last week for Scriptures, and thousands heard the Word of Life." The letter is again accompanied by an order for 5,000 New Testa ments and 600 Bibles. To this devoted servant of Christ we sold, during the past year, at reduced price, Four Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty-Six Bibles, Fifty-Four Thousand and Twelve New Testaments, and many tens of thousands of books, which he spread in connection with his open-air preaching and three Bible Carriages. During the past year was expended of the Funds of the Institution for Missionary Objects, the sum of £4,631. 9s. 1d. By this amount One Hundred and Forty-Eight labourers in Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £176 0 0 For the support of a Mission School at Colar, given specially for that object 10 0 0 For the support of Schools in connec tion with Missions in British Guiana 171 19 0 For the support of Schools in connec tion with Missions in Spain 1,314 8 4 312 [A.D. 1880. For the support of Schools in connec tion with Missions in Italy £217 4 9 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Glou cestershire 18 17 0 The accounts received from the Missionary brethren, both with regard to their general labours and the schools under their superintendence, are full of encouragement, giving again abundant cause for thankfulness, that during the past year also thousands of souls were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, through their instrumen tality; but space forbids me to enter more minutely into this, and I must refer the reader to the Report from 1879 to 1880. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1880, is £180,177. 4s. 3d. There has been laid out for the circulation of Tracts and Books, from May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880, the sum of £1,176. 11s. 8½d. ; and there have been circu lated within the last year more than Three Millions Four Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand (exactly 3,486,004) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to £31,218. 5s. 11½d. The total number of the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1880, is more than Seventy Millions Three Hundred and Sixty-three Thousand (exactly 70,363,857). Two Millions Five Hundred and Forty-seven Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the past year, were given away gratuitously. During the past year also, we heard again and again of cases in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. At the beginning of the year of the Institution, May 27, 1879, we had 1,980 Orphans in the five houses. During the year, from May 27, 1879 to May 26, 1880, we received 265 Orphans, so that, on May 26, 1880, the total number under our care would have been 2,245, had there been no changes. But of these 2,245 children, 20 died in the course of the year. Only 20. Of A.D. 1880.] 313 these twenty, eight were infants, and three died very happily, as believers. Six Orphans we were obliged to expel from the Orphan Houses. Three and twenty of the Orphans were returned to their relatives on account of their physical, mental, or moral state, which prevented our being able to send them out with commendation as apprentices or servants. Twenty-four were returned to their friends, because the circumstances of their relatives had altered, and they felt it their duty themselves to care for these Orphans ; 138 girls were sent out to service, and 40 boys were apprenticed. Also two Christian girls were sent out as pupil teachers, and one Christian lad. Of the girls who were sent out, 43 were believers, and of the boys 11 ; 254 are therefore to be deducted from 2,245, so that on May 26, 1880, we had actually only 1,991 Orphans in the five houses. The total number of Orphans, who have been under our care, from April, 1836 to May 26, 1880, is 5,947. The total income for the first four Objects : from May 26, 1879 to May 26, 1880, was £14,568. 3s. 8½d. ; and for the Orphans £27,271. 9s. 6½d. Altogether £41,839. 13s. 3½d. This was the fruit of daily waiting upon God. The total expenditure for the first four Objects of the Institution was £15,026. 2s. 7d. ; and for the Orphans, £26,274. 11s. 11d. Altogether £41,300. 14s. 6d. We now proceed to the next year, in giving the statistics. From May 26, 1880 to May 26, 1881, we had Seventy-six Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, and two Day Schools in Devonshire were assisted. Of the 76 Day Schools entirely supported, 14 are in Spain, 4 in India, 1 in Italy, and 7 in British Guiana; the other 50 are in England and Wales. The master of the Bristol Boys' School states : "I am glad to report a marked improvement in the general conduct of the boys. The moral tone of the school is good. As to the spiritual condition of the children, there are encouraging signs. The elder boys especially manifest a love of God's Holy Word. They are par ticularly attentive during the Scripture lessons, and display a great interest in them. Four boys have pro fessed to be on the Lord's side." 314 [A.D. 1881. The mistress of the Bristol Girls' School writes, with reference to the state of her school : "I am pleased to record that there has been an extensive awakening among the dear children. Many have openly professed their conversion, and are now acting in accordance with their Christian profession. The monitor, too, has decided for Christ." The teacher of the School at Bishopswood writes : " One of the elder children professes to have found the Lord Jesus as her Saviour ; and her conduct since has been such as to give evident testimony to it. In the Sunday School, three of the elder children have also borne testimony to having found peace and joy in believing ; and their walk as believers, as far as I have been able to gather, by personal observation and inquiry about them, seems to bear out what they profess." The master of the School at Bow wrote on August 12, 1880: "I am happy to say the Lord has graciously visited us with a little shower of blessing during the last month. On the 15th July, 18 of the children in the Day School decided for the Lord ; on the 16th three others, and on the 19th two more, making in all 23, who have professed faith in our Lord Jesus. The con duct of those children, since then, has been most ex emplary, giving tis much satisfaction."—On May 25, 1881, he reports : " I am thankful to say the Lord has graciously visited us during the year, and has given us some tokens for good, in the conversion of several of the children, eight of whom are walking very consistently in the good way, and 16 are adhering to their con fession of faith in our Lord Jesus, but are occasionally tripped in the way by the great enemy of souls. Much of their failure is owing to the ungodly influences of their homes." The master of the Brentford School writes : " We have had three of our elder scholars pass away during the past year, and three happier deaths I have seldom witnessed." The master of the Seamen's Bethel School, Cardiff, wrote on Feb. 22, 1881 : "I write this with a heart full of praise to our blessed Lord for blessing on the work here. I was getting well nigh weary, no result of all the seed that had been sown could be seen ; but the dear Lord has broken down the power of sin and Satan, A.D. 1881.] 315 and between 30 and 40 of the dear children have pro- fessed to be saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, among them 2 of my monitors and several of the worst boys.” On May 25 he again reports to our School Inspector, regarding the past year: ‘I believe this year has been the best we have had since the Schools have been opened ; we look back upon it with very great pleasure, and see, amid many discouragements, endless causes for praising and blessing our Lord. ‘He truly has done all things well.’ He has graciously sent us overflowing numbers of children, so that we have been compelled to turn away many, seeking admission ; and, above all, He has been manifestly working among them, and blessing the labours of His servants in the conversion of many of the dear children. We have been sowing the seed, year - after year, with but little manifest result, and were getting, at times, well nigh cast down, when the Lord commenced a work among them, and privileged us to see many of the boys and girls, with tearful eyes, con- fessing Jesus to be their Saviour ; the lives also of some adding testimony to the reality of the work. There has also been a marked difference in the School, and one feels a sense of increased joy in the daily labour among the children. We can indeed say, ‘What hath God wrought!’ We need much prayer, that the work may go on, that those who have confessed His Name may be kept near Him and lovers of His Word.” The master of the Roath School, Cardiff, writes on May 24: “As to the moral and spiritual condition of the School, I have to say, that though I have no positive evidence of any particular cases of conversion to God through the instrumentality of the Day School, yet I am pleased to say that several children, who were only a short time ago in the School, have united themselves to God’s people, and joined the Church upon whose premises our School is held. I am frequently brought into contact with them at a religious service we hold especially for young people, and it is gratifying to observe their zeal and consistent conduct. I cannot but think, that the prayers and efforts of the Day School must have been one of the means used in bringing about this happy result.” 3 P . 316 [A.D. 1881. The master of the Clayhidon School reports : " The condition of the Schools, from a spiritual point of view, is not altogether discouraging. To us it looks bright and cheering. During the year, 9 have professed con version. Four of them are in the Day School : of these, 2 are over 20 years of age (they having come to school for improvement in education), and the Lord saved them. Praise His Name ! One, a young man of 21, said he came hoping to find the Lord while here, and he tells me God has given him his desire. The remaining 5 are in the Bible classes of the Sunday School, and each is, we believe, walking humbly in the fear of the Lord. Two others have professed conversion, but of these we are not so confident, so I have not included them in the aforementioned." The master of the Boys' School in Exeter reports : " There are four boys, known to us, who have received spiritual benefit by attending the meetings in connection with the recent special efforts made in this city to reach the unconverted. Their conduct confirms their state ment as to the inward change that has been wrought." The mistress of the Infant School in Exeter writes : " I was much encouraged, about six weeks ago, when a person called at the School and thanked me for teaching so much Scripture. She went on to say that her husband, who was formerly opposed to religion, had been induced to listen as the children repeated the portions committed to memory. He gradually became less opposed; is now a decided Christian; has united himself with God's people ; and either is or is about to become a Sunday-School teacher. My special difficulty (as in former years) is, how to provide accommodation for the large numbers who present themselves for admis sion." The mistress of the School at High Bickington states : " I am glad to be able to say, my monitress has, during the past year, found peace in Christ, and been received into Church fellowship. The general conduct of the children is good." The master of Howie Hill School reports : " Fifteen children profess to be converted to God. From their fruits (Matt. vii. 16), love for prayer, etc., I believe they are truly converted to God." A.D. 1881.] 317 The mistress of the School at North End writes : " The Lord has been good in converting 6 precious souls. I believe all of them are really anxious to live out what they have professed." The master of the Purton School states : " This has been the best year of our School life. There has been a great awakening, and many of the children have been brought to a knowledge of the Lord. We have just had the joy of proposing some for Christian fellowship. It is very pleasing to hear them pleading with God for the salvation of their unconverted relatives, and in several cases God has answered their prayers, and the blessing has spread all around us." Further extracts from the letters of the teachers might be given. They are all more or less encouraged in their work. The number of pupils in the Home Day Schools of the Institution, on May 26, 1881, was 5,394 ; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,583 ; in all, 6,977. There are thirty-seven Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these thirty-seven Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1881, Two Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty- nine scholars. There were likewise during the past year, nineteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the thirty- seven Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, twelve are in Spain, six in British Guiana, one in Italy, the others are in England. The nineteen Sunday Schools, which were assisted, are in England and Wales. The accounts of the Superintendents of the Sunday Schools are very encouraging, and show that the Lord is working, by his Holy Spirit, among the children. The Superintendent of one of the Schools in Bristol reports, that during the past year 37 children have been con verted (22 boys and 15 girls). The Superintendent of another Bristol School states : " We have great joy in telling of many conversions. In the young women's class nine have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord. In the young men's class one at least has been also brought to rest upon Christ for salvation. Besides these, we have many in the upper classes of the School, whom we believe to be truly the Lord's. One dear child has passed away, after giving evidence that she was the Lord's. 318 [A.D. 1881. The report of the Sunday School at Purton is : " Several of our Sunday Scholars have been converted this year, and all the teachers have rejoiced with the angels over new-born souls. Since the awakening we have found it needful to have an evening service once a week, especially for the young, to instruct them in the Holy Scriptures, and to encourage them in the exercise of prayer." In reference to the Sunday-School at Kenilworth the report is : " The Sunday-School is getting on very well. One girl, nearly 1 6 years of age, has been brought to the Lord."—The account of the Walham Green Sunday School is : " Two girls in the Bible-class have been con verted. Respecting others, we have good reason to hope, but I desire to see profession unmistakably verified, before saying much about them."—The statement of a Sunday School teacher at Southsea is : "I have been able to praise God for having converted three of the dear girls of my class ; they are very bright and happy. Others are anxious about their souls."—" At Fareham two have been led to the saving knowledge of the truth, within the past year."—The report of the Sunday School at Clayhidon, Blackdown Hills, is: "Five in the Bible Classes of the Sunday School have been converted during the past year, and each is (we believe) walking humbly and in the fear of the Lord."—In the Sunday School at Beer] six of the children were converted during the year.—Regarding the Sunday-School at Bishopswood the statement is : " Three of the elder children have borne testimony to having found peace and joy in believing ; and their walk, as believers, so far as I have been able to gather, by personal observation and in quiries about them, seems to bear out what they profess." There are now six Adult Schools, containing 97 scholars, connected with the Institution, and entirely supported by its funds. From what has been stated it will be seen that alto gether there are One Hundred and Nineteen Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 76 Day Schools, 3 7 Sunday-Schools, and 6 Adult Schools ; and that during the past year two Day Schools and 1 9 Sunday Schools were assisted. It will likewise be ob served, that in these One Hundred and Nineteen Schools, A.D. 1881.] 319 entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were altogether on May 26, 1881, 9,703 scholars. From the beginning, the total number attending the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, amounts to Eighty Two Thousand Four Hundred and Forty;, that is—there were 56,917 in all the Day Schools, 18,318 in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,205 in all the Adult Schools. The sum expended during the past year in con nection with the various Home Schools, amounts to £7,347. 12s. 5d. On the Mission Schools £1,652. 15s. 2d. has been spent. From the beginning there has been expended on the Home Schools £72,916. 14s. 2½d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1880 to May 26, 1881, is as follows : 13,986 Bibles have been sold. 238 Bibles have been given away. 73,393 New Testaments have been sold. 1,496 New Testaments have been given away. 183 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 24 Copies of the Psalms have been given away. 1,681 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. 75 Ditto have been given away. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 165,382 Bibles, 542,700 New Testaments, 19,907 copies of the Psalms, and 199,961 other small portions of the Holy Scrip tures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,767. 7s. 7½d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £25,897. 15s. 0½d. During the past year our circulation of the Holy Scriptures has again been very extensive, a circumstance which is owing to our supplying many colporteurs with copies of the Word of God at reduced prices, and espe cially brethren who preach the Gospel in connection with Bible Carriages, and who thus circulate Tens of Thou sands of the Holy Scriptures. Their work was most abundantly blessed as to their ministry, and a great 320 [A.D. 1881. many persons were converted, simply through the read ing of the Word of Goi. The chief mover in reference to these Bible Carriages in England (our excellent godly brother, Henry Moorhouse, who sank under the abund ance of his labours during the past year), wrote, on July 23, 1880: "The circulation of the Scriptures still goes on in a marvellous way, and God is blessing it. I enclose cheque for 5,000 New Testaments and 200 Bibles. I am sure God will reward you for this blessed work. God bless you, beloved Mr. Miiller."—On August 16, 1880, he writes : " Beloved Mr. Miiller, The blessed work is still going on, and we are constantly hearing of con versions through the circulation of the Scriptures and the preaching of the Gospel from the Bible Carriages. Our large carriage goes (D.V.) to-day to Stockton-on- Tees to the races, where we are hoping to give a good testimony for our Lord Jesus Christ, and to sell hundreds of New Testaments to the betting-men and pleasure- seekers there. I enclose cheque for 5,000 more Testa ments and 100 Family Bibles."—-A little later this dear brother wrote : "We have had glorious times at Stockton- on-Tees and Blackpool with the Bible work. There were numerous conversions to God, and great joy we all have had the last few weeks. Praise be to the Lord ! I enclose cheque for 5,000 Testaments and 600 Bibles, with many, many thanks for all your kindness."—On Sept. 2nd he writes : " Beloved Mr. Miiller, we have had a glorious time at Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees. Tens of Thousands at the latter place have heard the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus. We took the carriage to the races, and never had we such a week before at any place. We took for the sale of the Scriptures the large sum of £34. 18s. ; so you see how God is giving His blessing in the circulation of His own blessed Word. Could you see the hundreds listening with upturned faces, and many with tearful eyes, to the simple story of Calvary, your heart would rejoice, and you would feel repaid for all the loss you sustain in giving us the Scriptures and the little Gospel books at so cheap a rate. May God bless you, beloved Mr. Miiller. I enclose an order for 5,000 New Testaments and 600 Bibles, with many thanks for all your kindness and love." On December 27, 1880, this most valuable holy brother A.D. 1881.] 321 fell asleep, his labours for many years having been very great, and too great for his strength.. We have agreed to supply the Bible Carriages which were under his care (as during his lifetime) with the Holy Scriptures at very reduced prices, considering this work to be of deep im- portance. We do the same also in the case of approved Godly colporteurs. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid Mission- ~ _ ary efforts. During the last year the sum, of £4,272. 10s, 1d. was expended upon this object out of the funds of the Institution, and by this amount One Hundred and Fifty- one labourers in Word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India cies sec cec ccc ceeceeaes cov eeeeeecoeees 1382 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana ...... 12610 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain .................. 1269 14 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Italy..................... 12411 2 Also expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Glouces- terShire............ csesssecsersereeeesseeeee 22 14 11 The labours of the brethren, who as preachers of the Word were aided by the friends of the Tnstitution, from May 26, 1880 to May 26, 1881, were again, as usual, very greatly blessed, so that there is reason to believe, that again thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, through the instrumentality of. these 151 labourers in the Gospel ; but I have again to refer the reader for particulars to the Report published in 1881. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1881, is £184,449. 14s, 4d. There has been laid out for the circulation of Tracts and Books, from May 26, 1880 to May 26, 1881, the sum of £1,125. 14s. 104d.; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Three Millions and Eighteen Thousand (exactly 3,018,754) Tracts and P3 © 324 [A.D. 1881. been, as usual, throughout the year ; and when some have left, the Lord has sent in others to fill their places, so that we have been always full and the work regular. With respect to the chief object for which this work is carried on, viz., for the conversion of the children, one feels a reluctance in giving numbers, but blessed thought ' The Lord knoweth them that are His.' Among the girls there are six, at least, who manifest by their lives that they have been born again. We have great hopes of some others, but the work is not so clearly seen to human sight. With some of the boys evidence of spiritual life is often seen, and I believe several of them are really saved, and with not a few God is graciously working. The attention shown during the Scripture Lesson each day, which we find best to give in the middle of the morning, is very marked ; and I feel deep cause for gratitude to the Lord for the great privilege of being permitted with perfect liberty to sow the in corruptible seed daily in so many precious souls. Al though cast down at times, yet in His gentle way He cheers us on, renews our strength and fills us with joy." The mistress of an Infant School at Cardiff reports respecting her school : " It is very cheering to notice the spirit of love towards the Friend of little children, which is prevalent amongst them. Some of the elder ones I know love Him because He first loved them : they show it too, by trying to do right because it will be pleasing to Him ; and I find that they repeat at home the hymns they are taught here. One day during the Scripture lesson I was telling them that the gods of the heathen are made of silver, wood, clay, &c., and asked, but what is our God made of? not expecting any reply, one little girl of seven said brightly, ' Our God is made of good ness.' I did not try to spoil that answer. At the close of another lesson recently, a bonnie rosy child of five started up and said, ' Teacher ! I do love the Lord Jesus, I do.' During the day she again reiterated the eame words ; a few days later, and the Good Shepherd gathered this little one into the upper fold. Other little incidents might be mentioned, which would tend to show that even the youngest in this corner of the great harvest field are not without a sincere desire to belong A.D. 1881.] 325 to the Master, and I am grateful to Him for these signs that tiny grains of the Truth, sown throughout the year, have not all been lost amongst the thorns and stones ; for 1 believe that many of these children, if spared to pass to the upper schools, will there become decided Christians." Another master of a school in Cardiff, attended by 389 children, writes with reference to that school : "Though I am unable to report positively any conversions to God during the past year, yet I do cherish a hope, that amounts almost to a certainty, that amongst the children there are some who may be reckoned as lambs in the Saviour's fold. My hope is further confirmed by noticing that several of them attend regularly a meeting held ex pressly for young people every week, and also that during the year, several who were formerly scholars in the school have professed their attachment to the Sa viour, and have joined the Church." The master of the Boys' School in Bristol, sent in this account : " Four boys, having the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, have left the School during the year. I have had some very refresh ing seasons with the dear children—one little boy, timid and rather reserved, amiable in temper, professes to have given his heart to the Saviour. His reverent manner, when speaking of divine things, is very pleasing. The general tenour of his conduct evidences the sincerity of his profession. The general state of the school is promising. It has been a source of encouragement and gratification to me in meeting old scholars occasionally, and hearing from their lips that they have given their hearts to the Saviour and are members of Christian Churches." The mistress of the Girls' School in Bristol, writes : " With regard to the Spiritual condition of my School, I am thankful to record that a few more of the girls have been added to the number of those who were con verted last year. Two dear girls are under spiritual conviction. Those who professed a change last year have since walked consistently with that profession. I have heard a very good account of two girls who have left during the past year. I have reason to believe that one of them has exerted a most salutary influence on the 326 [A.D. 1881. members of her home circle. One girl asked me to pray for her mother's restoration to health, and another little girl is praying for the conversion of her father. We still hold our Prayer Meetings, and derive from them spiritual refreshment." The mistress of the School at Chittlehamholt writes : " We have had a case or two of conversion this past year. One has been received into fellowship. Several others, at times, manifest decided concern about their souls. We had hoped, ere this, to have seen more mani fest fruit, but believe the Lord is working with some. Several of our old scholars, who had not left the meet ings, have been converted and added to the church. This cheers us, as our children generally leave us young." The master of the Clayhidon School reports : " We have had much to encourage us in the spiritual condition of the children ; and for this we feel devoutly thankful. Many of those who professed conversion are, we believe, genuine cases. Of many who have professed conversion in the schools, several have left. As far as we can judge after five or six months' trial, we have no doubt whatever of ten or eleven ; of eight or ten more, we are not so con fident, as they are not so decided in their testimony, but we could not say that they are unreal." The mistress of a School in London writes : " I am thankful to be able to state that the Lord has graciously been pleased to own and bless my feeble efforts to serve Him here in various ways during the past year, especially amongst the dear children, four of whom have of late confessed Jesus as their Saviour. Their testimony is so clear that I trust they are safe in the fold. Their walk is very consistent, and they are sincerely desirous of increas ing daily in the knowledge of Him who so loved them. All who are old enough to understand, appear to delight in the reading of the Scriptures ; and I am convinced that they are used in bringing to their homes the word of Life, as they invariably mark the lessons read in school, that they may be able to read them at home to father or mother, besides being, very often, the bearers of tracts and Christian papers to their parents and friends." The master of the Boy's School at Exeter writes, in his report regarding the school : " It is cheering to hear A.D. 1881.] 327 from time to time of instances of conversion among the children who have left the school. Promise and prayer assure such gracious results, and we labour and pray for them, and expect them. Surely the Scriptures read, learnt and explained daily must be productive of untold good, in storing the memory with Divine truth, in check ing the commission of evil, in forming the character, in impressing the mind and heart, and in making them more receptive of holy influences. When such preliminary work has been going on for years, we can expect with greater reason and certainty, other things being equal, the hearts of the children to respond more readily to the appeals of Divine love and invitation." The teacher of the School at Hopton reports : " There is now, at the present time, a manifest work of the Spirit going on in many of the dear children. I have much joy in seeing prayer is being answered. I never remember such a spirit of awakening amongst the children before. I pray God it may increase, and that many, in these last solemn days, may not only be saved very early in life, but may be good soldiers of Jesus Christ and champions of His truth." The master of the Howie Hill School writes : " I am able to say that 1 6 children give evidence of having been converted to God during the past year, and of this num ber eleven are walking as children of light."—" I may here add that during the past winter the Lord has used the staff of the School in the salvation of sinners. Four of the children's parents were converted through them." The mistress of the North End School, near London, states : "I feel quite sure there is every proof of real earnestness, and a longing desire to please God, going on in the hearts of many of our scholars. Five girls and one boy'have professed Christ as their Saviour, and I believe there are not a few, who, although they have not spoken out so boldly as others, are none the less saved, as their lives and general conduct speak very loudly." The master of the School at Purton reports : " Some of our dear children are walking in the fear of the Lord, and others give us joy, because we believe they are wrought upon by the Spirit of God, although they have not yet openly confessed His name. Our special service for children, every Thursday, has afforded good oppor- . 328 [A.D. 1881. tunities for pressing upon their consciences the import ance of decision for Christ ; and young believers at the meetings have the privilege of speaking for the Master. One of our old scholars accompanied me, last Sunday afternoon, to an open-air service about two miles from home, and with others he preached the gospel to about 80 people. Our desire is, that the Lord would make every dear boy in our school a preacher of the Word of Life." The master of the School at Saul writes : " We are much cheered by the many good reports we get of num bers of our former pupils who are now scattered far and near, of their honest, truthful, active lives ; and that so many are giving evidence that they are new creatures in Christ Jesus, by loving and walking with Him. The promise, ' Cast thy bread upon the waters and thou shalt find it after many days,' spiritually and mentally has been fulfilled." The master of the School at Shaftesbury reports : " God has graciously answered our prayers and efforts in turning one to Himself, and stirring up many of the elder girls, both in the Day and Sunday Schools, to be con cerned about their souls. A special weekly prayer meet ing is now held for these, and is well attended." The master of the School at Stroud states : " I can confidently state that two of the dear boys have decided for Christ during the year. Since their decision, their conduct has been very exemplary, and indicates the change they have undergone. ' By their fruits ye shall know them.' " The master of Walham Green School writes : " We look upon the Children's Service, as a time when those, with whom God is working, have an opportunity of de claring themselves on the Lord's side. More than a hundred have so declared themselves during the past two years. Many of these have left the school, but some are with us to-day and give us pleasure by their consis tent walk. During the summer months the larger ser vice is discontinued, but a Bible-reading and meeting for prayer is held for the young ones professing Christ. In this meeting, last night, I found a boy, who has given very much trouble, in tears, and professing himself anxious about salvation. For lying, stealing, deceit and A.D. 1882.] 329 obstinacy, I do not know his equal in the school. What a trophy, if really converted to God ! " Further extracts from the letters of the teachers might be given. They are all more or less encouraged in their work. The number of pupils in the Home Day Schools of the Institution, on May 26, 1882, was 5,340; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,538; in all, 6,878. There are thirty-eight Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these thirty-eight Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1882, Two Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety-six scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, Twenty-two Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the thirty-eight Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, thirteen are in Spain, four in British Guiana, one in Italy, the rest are in England. The Superintendent of the Bethesda Sunday School in Bristol reports : " As regards conversions, we can only speak as to eight during the past year. There have been seven of our scholars who have joined the Church, and at present one has been proposed for fellowship ; and during the year one of our lads, whilst proposed, passed away to be with Christ ere he was admitted." The Superintendent of Stokes Croft Sunday School in Bristol writes : " Many of the cases of which we were hopeful last year, are now truly brought to the Lord. We have now to speak of seventeen who, we believe, are resting on Christ for salvation. And though we cannot in every case trace conversion immediately to the school, we remember the word ' One soweth and another reapeth,' and therefore rejoice. These are mostly in the upper classes. We are much pleased also with those who were converted prior to this year. In some of these, growth in grace is particularly noticeable. Another matter for thanksgiving is, that twenty-seven connected with the School have during the year been received into Church fellowship. We have received during the year 120, and have now 255 on the books. The teacher of the young men's class desires thankfully to acknowledge the Lord's continued help. The increased acquaintance with and desire for the Word of God, in this class cheers us much. There are 15 in this class, and 12 have been received 330 [A.D. 1882. into Church fellowship. The teacher of the young women's class is also much encouraged. She has re ceived many letters speaking of the blessing received in the class. Here there are 37 on the book, and 1 1 have been received into Church fellowship. There is but one unconverted in the class, and that is a hopeful case." The statement of the Sunday School at Lambeth is : "There have been some conversions, 14 we feel quite clear about, 10 have been received into Church fellow ship, 6 girls and 4 boys. Three girls, who have long been scholars, are now teaching junior classes. There are some others, about whom we are not so clear, and these I need not say are the cause of much care and anxiety." The report of the Hopton Sunday School is : " Three of the boys who have given us trouble, we have good reason to believe have been converted." In the Day and Sunday Schools at Clayhidon, twenty were hopefully converted during the year. The report respecting the North End Sunday School is : " Several of our scholars have professed to have found that peace which passeth all understanding, and we trust they will prove to be real conversions to God, which they certainly appear to be at present." The Superintendent of the Walham Green Sunday School states : " With regard to conversions I have not, in consequence of the short time I have been connected with the school, made any particular enquiries as to the number, although I know there have been many, and I was much pleased, a few Sundays since, in taking a girls' class during their teacher's absence, to find that they nearly all professed conversion to God." There are now six Adult Schools, containing 97 scholars, connected with the Institution, and entirely supported by its funds. From what has been stated it will be seen that alto gether there are One Hundred and Sixteen Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 72 Day Schools, 38 Sunday Schools, and 6 Adult Schools ; and that during the past year two Day Schools and 22 Sunday Schools were assisted. It will likewise be ob served, that in these One Hundred and Sixteen Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there A.D. 1882.] 331 were altogether on May 26, 1882, 9,671 scholars. From the beginning, the total number attending the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, amounts to Eighty Eight Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty- Seven ; that is, there were 61,111 in all the Day Schools, 19,821 in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,305 in all the Adult Schools. The sum expended during the past year, in con nection with the various Home Schools, amounts to £7,621. 5s. 10½d. On the Mission Schools £1,549. 2s. 10d. has been spent. From the beginning there has been expended on the Home Schools £80,538. 0s. 1d. The second Object of this Institution is, to circulate the Holy Scriptures. The number of Bibles, New Testaments and portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1881 to May 26, 1882, is as follows : 10,381 Bibles have been sold. 135 Bibles have been given away. 66,739 New Testaments have been sold. 1,008 New Testaments have been given away. 59 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 3,446 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 175,898 Bibles, 610,447 New Testaments, 19,966 copies of the Psalms, and 201,427 other small portions of the Holy Scrip tures. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £1,540. 7s. 7½d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £27,438. 2s. 8d. During the past year our circulation of the Holy Scrip tures has again been very extensive, a circumstance which is owing to our having supplied many colporteurs with copies of the Word of God at reduced prices, and espe cially brethren who preached the Gospel in connection with Bible Carriages, and who thus circulated Tens of Thousands of the Holy Scriptures. Their work was most abundantly blessed as to their ministry, and a great many persons were converted, simply through the read ing of the Word of God. 332 [A.D. 1882. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid Mis sionary efforts. During the past year the sum of £2,791. 18s. Id. was expended upon this object out of the funds of the Institution, and by this amount Fifty Three labourers in Word and Doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools, in connection with Missions in India £132 0 0 For the support of Schools, in connection with Missions in British Guiana 138 15 0 For the support of Schools, in connection with Missions in Spain 1,155 4 11 For the support of a School, in con nection with Missions in Italy 123 2 11 Expended in connection with some preach ing places, in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire 18 15 3 The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1882, is £187,241. 12s. 5d. There has been laid out for Books and Tracts, from May 26, 1881 to May 26, 1882, the sum of £1,033. 11s. 11d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Two Millions Five Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand (exactly 2,574,227) Tracts and Books. The sum total which has been expended on this object, since November 19, 1840, amounts to £33,377. 12s. 10½d. The total number of the Tracts and Books, which has been circulated to May 26, 1882, is more than Seventy Five Millions Nine Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand (exactly 75,956,838). More than Two Millions One Hundred and Nineteen Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were given away gratuitously. During the past year also, we heard again and again of cases in which the circulation of the Tracts, which had been sent out from the Institution, was blessed to the conversion of sinners. At the beginning of the year of the Institution, May 27, 1881, we had 1,984 Orphans and 110 helpers, in the five houses. During the past year there were A.D. 1882.] 333 received altogether 238 Orphans, so that, had there been no changes, we should, on May 26th, 1882, have had 2,222 Orphans in the five houses. But of these 2,222 twenty-four died. Only 24, though we had the measles, scarlet fever and typhoid fever during the past year in the Orphan houses ; and though three-fourths of the children have lost one or both parents by consumption. We admire the hand of God in this. Of these 24, ten were young infants, and seven died as decided believers. —Four boys we were under the painful necessity of expelling, because they were morally injurious to the other Orphans. —Twenty-Nine we were obliged to send to their relatives, either on account of their physical, mental, or moral state, because we were unable to re commend them as servants or apprentices; and 13 Orphans we delivered up to their relatives, who by that time were able and desirous to provide for them.—Four Orphans (two lads and two girls) were sent out as pupil teachers; 45 boys were apprenticed; and 131 girls were sent out for service. Of the boys who were sent out, 14 were believers, and of the girls 67, this makes 88 with the seven believing Orphans who died. Truly we do not labour in vain ! We have, therefore, to deduct from the 2,222 the number of 250 ; so that on May 26, 1882, we had actually only 1,972 Orphans in the five houses. The total number of Orphans we have had under our care, from April, 1836 to May 26, 1882, is 6,446. We enter now upon the statistics of the year, from May 26, 1882 to May 26, 1883. During this year there were Forty Day Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, of which there were 14 in Spain, 5 in India, 1 in Italy, and 6 in British Guiana. All the others were in England. In addition to these Forty Day Schools, entirely sup ported by the funds of the Institution, one Day School in Devonshire, and one in Wiltshire, were assisted. The master of the School at Clayhidon writes in re ference to his School : " The past year has not been as fruitful in conversions as many former years, only three having been brought to the Lord ; but these we are thankful for, and take courage therefrom. I am also glad to find that seed, sown in former days, is not lost. One young man, formerly in the School, I find the 334 [A.D. 1883. arrows of conviction have never left ; and now, after some years of absence from the neighbourhood, he is brought to the hopeful condition of felt-need and said last week, 'I have advanced in the path thus far; I know and feel I am a sinner; I want to be saved; I know and believe Jesus Christ died ; but I feel there must be a lack in my faith somewhere, for it does not give me rest.' Surely such a one is ' not far from the Kingdom of God.' There are several young lads and others in a similar state, for whose souls we are watching and praying and working." The mistress of the Girls' School in Exeter states : " Several of my old girls, now filling situations, have been admitted to church fellowship during the past year, and there is good reason to believe that two or three, now in the school, are the Lord's. Quite lately, parents have expressed to me their sense of the value of the truth taught, and more especially of the Scripture itself; so that we thank God and take courage." The master of Purton School reports : " The daily conduct of some of our scholars gives us great encourage ment in our work, and we cannot but believe that the Holy Spirit of God is working graciously in their hearts. We feel more than ever the importance of imparting line upon line, and precept upon precept, from the treasury of God's Word." The mistress of the Infant School at Purton writes : " During the past year we have seen many evidences of the working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the little ones ; and think we may safely say that many of them are the subjects of enlightening and saving grace. Some time since a little girl, in the Sunday School, was weeping, and, on being asked the cause, said, ' She wanted to love Jesus.' This child, with many others, pays very great attention to the Scriptural instruction given. We find that some of these are always ready to forego half an hour's play, at the dinner time, for a little prayer and singing." The master of the School at Yeovil reports on May 24, 1883 : " During the past year we have been cheered by the conversion to God of two, a girl and a boy. The former gives me much joy, and of the latter I have no doubt as to the reality of the work." A.D. 1883.] 335 The number of pupils in the Home Day-Schools of the Institution, on May 26th, 1883, was 1,242; in the Mission Day Schools, 1,514; in all, 2,756. There are forty-four Sunday Schools connected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these forty-four Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1883, Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-eight scholars. There were likewise, during the past year, Fifteen Sunday Schools, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the forty- four Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, fourteen are in Spain, six in British Guiana, one in Italy, five in India, the others are in England. The Fifteen Sunday Schools which were assisted are in England and Wales. The report regarding the North End Sunday School is : " I am thankful to say that we have every encourage ment to go on in this important work. We have in fellowship now 6 who have recently been converted in the school, and are working very earnestly in the open air ; and I am pleased to say there is a good work going on throughout the whole school. The Lord be praised !" The Superintendent of the Lambeth Sunday School writes : " We have but two manifested cases of con version, belonging to the senior boys' class, thus making the whole of the class on the Lord's side. Our senior girls are all converted, and most of them are sitting down at the Lord's table. During the past year it has given us great pleasure to add two more teachers to the school, taken from senior classes. The general condition of the school is good." In reference to the Sunday School at the Gospel Hall, Portsmouth, the statement is : " Four have been con verted to God." The report about the Sunday School at Purton is : " For the spiritual well-being of young and old we have a Bible reading and prayer meeting every evening in the week, and at 7 o'clock on Sunday morning, besides the usual Lord's day services. Several of our Sunday scholars are the children of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." The Superintendent of the Sunday School at Stokes 336 [A.D. 1883. Croft Chapel, Bristol, writes : " Not only have the num bers steadily increased, but better far, 12 have been brought to the Lord. Of these, 2 are in the young men's class, 4 in the young women's class, and the other 6 are in the upper classes of the school. Some of them, the teachers say, manifest great love for the Word, and all so walk as to give us great confidence and comfort. Besides this, many in the young women's class have spoken of the blessing they have received ; and one young man says he has obtained much spiritual help from the lessons. Eight have been received into Church fellowship during the year." In the Sunday School connected with Bethesda Chapel, Bristol, there have been also, during the past year, several conversions. There are now seven Adult Schools, containing eighty scholars, connected with the Institution, and entirely supported by its funds. From what has been stated it will be seen, that alto gether there are Ninety-one Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 40 Day Schools, 44 Sunday Schools, and 7 Adult Schools ; and that during the past year three Day Schools and 15 Sunday Schools were assisted. It will likewise be observed, that in these Ninety-one Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were altogether on May 26th, 1883, 5,824 scholars. From the beginning, the total number attending the Schools of the Institu tion, entirely supported by its funds, amounts to Ninety- Two Thousand One Hundred and Nine ; that is— there were 63,503 in all the Day Schools, 21,209, in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,397 in all the Adult Schools. The sum expended during the past year, in connection with the various Home Schools, amounts to £4,272. 8s. 4d. On the Mission Schools £1,620. 15s. 0d. has been spent. From the beginning there has been ex pended on the Home Schools £84,810. 8s. 5d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26th, 1882, to May 26th, 1883, is as follows : 5,592 Bibles have been sold. 170 Bibles have been given away. 11,097 New Testaments have been sold. AD. 1883.] 337 , 152 New Testaments have been given away 77 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 2,158 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. There have been circulated since March 5th, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 181,660 Bibles, 621,696 New Testaments, 20,043 copies of the Psalms, and 203,585 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures, The amount of the Funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £717. 10s. 10d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, on this Object, is £28,155. 13s. 6d. During the past year, from May 26, 1882, to May 26, 1883, the sum of £4,607. 2s. 5d. was expended on aiding Missionary operations, and by this amount Oné Hundred and Thirty-two labourers in Word and Doc- trine, in various parts of the world, were, to a greater or less degree, assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Tnndiia o.eceseseecesesesseevsceereescsseseces L176 0 0 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana ...... 171 18 9 For the support of Schools in connection with Missions in Spain .................. 1,130 3 4 For the support of a School in connection with Missions in Italy .................. 142 12 11 Expended in connection with some preach- _ing places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire...... 19 7 5 The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May-26, 1883, is £191,848, 14s. 10d. Our Lord gives us to understand, that one single soul is worth more than the whole world ; and, if it be re- membered, that many tens of thousands of souls were, instrumentally through the dear brethren, converted ; who have been aided by the funds of this Institution, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1883, how small a sum is £191,848. 14s. 10d., in comparison with what has been accomplished. Dear reader, remember the value of ONE soul! There has been laid out for the circulation of Tracts, + Q 338 [A.D. 1883. from May 26th, 1882 to May 26th, 1883, the sum of £830. 3s. 6d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-six Thousand (exactly 1,886,680) Tracts and Books. The sum total expended on this object, since November 19th, 1840, amounts to £34,207. 16s. 4½d. The total number of Tracts and Books circulated since November 19th, 1840 to May 26th, 1883, is more than Seventy-seven Millions Eight Hundred and Forty- three Thousand (exactly 77,843,518). More than One Million Forty Four Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were distri buted gratuitously. At the beginning of the year of the Institution, May 27th, 1882, we had 1,972 Orphans and 110 helpers, in the five houses. During the past year there were received altogether 239 Orphans, so that, had there been no changes, we should, on May 26th, 1883, have had 2,211 Orphans in the five houses. But of these 2,211 sixteen died. Notice, only sixteen, out of 2,211 ! We praise God for this His kindness, and ascribe it to Him. Of the sixteen who died, eight were decided believers, and had been so some time before their death. Eighteen of the Orphans we gave up to their relatives, as by that time their circumstances had altered, and they wished to provide for them. Thirty-one we were obliged, during the year, to return to their relatives, on account of their physical, mental, or moral state, as we were unable to recommend them for situations or to apprentice them. Forty-Three of the boys were apprenticed to a trade or business; One Hundred and Forty-Six young women were sent out to service ; and four Orphans were sent out as pupil teachers. Out of all those, who left the Orphan Institution, Ninety-Eight were believers, and by far the greater part had been converted for a consider able time. Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight are therefore to be deducted from the 2,211, so that on May 26th, 1883, we actually had only 1,953 Orphans and 110 helpers in the five houses. The total number of Orphans we have had under our care, from April, 1836 to May 26th, 1883, is 6,685. The total amount of the income, for the various Objects of the Institution, from May 26, 1882 to May 26, A.D. 1883.] 339 1883, amounted to £40,076. 7s. 24d.; the total expendi- ture was £37,200. 128. 1d. We enter now upon the statistics for the next year. From May 26, 1883 to May 26, 1884, there were 39 Day-Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Insti- tution, and one Day-School in Devonshire, was assisted by its funds. Of the 39 Day Schools, 14 are in Spain, 3 in India, 1 in Italy, and 7 in British Guiana; the others are in England. The master of the School at Clayhidon, writes on March 25, 1884, regarding his school: “On Saturday last I was called to see a poor lad, who formerly was in the day-school, but now was ill in bed, suffering from rheumatic fever. His parents are about the poorest eople in the parish, and his home the most wretched. His surroundings were anything but favourable to the growth of the good seed ; for he had been in farm ser- vice with most bitter opposers to the truth and most _ wicked people. When I saw him, wasted to a skeleton, he burst into a flood of tears, and said he was so glad to see me, for he was so miserable. I asked him why ?— and he said he was unsaved but wanted to know how he could be saved. I spent some time with him, pointing him to Jesus, and quoted Matt. xi. 28--when, with a heavenly smile, such as I think I never saw on any face before, he said, ‘I have just read that verse,’ and he repeated the whole passage ; adding, ‘ Jesus said, suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven ’—then, as though he had entered on a new world of vision, he burst out singing, ‘ Jesus loves me, this I know ; for the Bible tells me so, and commenced singing one hymn after another. He seemed quite ecstatic in his joy. ‘Where did you learn all these beautiful texts and hymns ?’ I asked. ‘ At your school, Sir!’ he replied. ‘And you believe that Jesus loves you?’ ‘Yes, oh yes, for He loved me and . died for me the Bible says, and he has said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I fo to prepare a place for you I will come again,” and He'll be sure to do it, won't He?’ If ever I felt a joy akin to the angels’ it was then, and could indeed praise God for allowing us to be the unworthy instruments of sowing seed, that, after many days, has sprung up to His glory and honour.” - Q2 340 [A.D. 1883. The same master reports to our School Inspector, with reference to the state of the School, on May 22, 1884; " In spiritual things, the year has been full of patient sowing, though the Lord has been pleased to cheer us by giving us to see ' the blade and the ear,' and, in some cases, we believe, ' the full corn in the ear.' We are hoping shortly to receive into church fellowship three who have received blessing—two of these while at school, the third after having left ; but in this case the i teaching of the Word, while at school, was blessed to his conviction of sin. Last week I was cheered by hear ing of one of my old scholars, who had been at the Day and Sunday Schools for years, and the subject of much prayerful interest while here, having been truly converted in America. While a lad in the Bible Class, he would very frequently leave weeping, and was ' almost per suaded.' The seed sown has sprung up there, and the grace of God glorified in God's own way. Thus are we strengthened to go onward and upward still." The master of the School at Yeovil reports to our School Inspector on December 27, 1883, in reference to his School : " Again I beg to forward the school accounts to the last week for this year. I trust that you will find them correct. During the months now nearly passed away we have proved much of the goodness and mercy of our God. None of the children have been taken by death. One has been very ill, but during the illness she found her rest in Christ. She is now restored and is giving manifest proof that the work is of God. Last night a mother called to tell me of the conversion of her daughter, who left some few months since for work. This cheers our hearts. During the past year the especial object I have had before me has been, to create and main tain a love and a reverence for the Scriptures of Truth." The same master writes on May 24, 1884, to the In spector : " I always hesitate to speak of definite numbers being converted. During the past year we have been encouraged in God, for we have beheld fruit of Calvary's cross in the conversion of some, and our hearts rejoice. Upwards of 1,000 children have passed through the school or are in it now, and each and all have been taught the Holy Scriptures. We are thankful for every present manifestation of His saving power,- but our A.D. 1883.] 341 hearts reach on to the great harvest day, when He shall see, to the full, of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. For this we work, pray, and wait."—On Feb. 5, 1884, we received the following information regarding the school at Hopton ; "We have joy in the sweet re membrance of the fulfilment of the sure promise, ' In due season we shall reap if we faint not.' When I watch the many dear children who have been taught in this school, some of them fathers and mothers of families now being trained by them for the Lord ; others, who have filled situations, manifesting they are walking with God, J and have been used in blessing to their fellow servants ' and some to their mistresses (in one case a dear sister was the means of leading to Christ an aged lady of 80 or more), this fills our hearts with unspeakable joy and gladness. Lord give us more grace to labour on, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer ! " The mistress of the Girl's School at Exeter writes regarding her school on May 26, 1884 : "The record of the past school year may be summed up in the word ' Ebenezer.' Good health of teachers and children ; happy working ; good numbers, and good averages. I know of nothing special in the way of difficulty, or indeed special at all. Only very much to be thankful for. Sometimes one meets with parents of children who have left, and are filling situations of some kind ; and it cheers one to be thanked for past care and labour. Several old pupils have joined the Church."—The mis tress of the Infant School at Exeter reports on May 24, 1884 : " The children greatly enjoy the Bible lesson, and I am often encouraged by seeing a number of people standing outside the door, listening to them, as they repeat chapters and Psalms learnt at school. ' My Word shall not return unto me void.' Pleading that promise we go on, from day to day, leaving results to Him, who will never disappoint." —The master of the Purton School reports to our School Inspector at the end of May, 1884 ; " This has been a year of encouragement to labour on in faith, sowing the seed of eternal truth in young hearts. Several letters have been received during the year from old scholars, who trace their conversion to the scriptural instruction received in their youthful days, and some, who are now attending, give us joy in the 342 [a.v. 1883. hope of their being on the Lord’s side. We must keep on praying, working, believing, and rejoicing. Faithful- ness to Christ and His Word will be sure to bring blessed results sooner or later. One of our monitors left school for business this year. She is a decided Christian.” The number of pupils in the Home Day Schools of the Institution, on May 26, 1884, was 1,279; in the Mission Day Schools 1,520 ; in all, 2,799. At present there are forty-two Sunday Schools con- nected with the Institution, which are entirely supported _ by its funds, In these forty-two Sunday Schools there were on May 26, 1884, Three Thousand and Eighty-three scholars. During the past year, Twenty-nine Sunday Schools were likewise, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the forty-two Sun- day Schools, entirely supported by its funds, fourteen are in Spain, six in British Guiana, one in Italy, four in India, the others are in England. The Twenty-nine Schools which were assisted are all in England or Wales. For fifty years, from March, 1834 to March, 1884, the Sunday School belonging to the church assembling at Bethesda Chapel, Bristol, has been entirely supported by the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. On ‘April 8, 1884, this School contained Three Hundred and Ninety-eight scholars, of whom 77 were believers and 24 in an anxious state about their souls. Of all our Sunday Schools, this has been the most particularly blessed ; but in March, 1884, the teachers decided that it was unsuitable the Institution should any longer bear the expense of this Sunday School, but that the Church, which furnishes it with teachers, should also supply the means. The same resolution was come to by the Sunday School at Stoke’s Croft Chapel, Bristol, where a branch of the Bethesda Church assembles. This school also has in every way been blessed ; spiritually it is in a most flourishing state ; and henceforth? will no longer be sup- ported by the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, but by the Church, which supplies it with teachers. The report of the Schools at Portsmouth is, that four of the scholars in one of them have been converted, and in another eight.—At North End, the Superintendent of the Sunday School states, that in the young men’s Bible . ¢lass four of the number have been converted.—The AD. 1883.] 343 Superintendent of the Walham Green Sunday School reports, that two of the older boys have confessed Christ, and that several of the girls are under conviction of sin. —The Superintendent of the Sunday School at Purton writes ; ‘We do all in our power to. keep the children under spiritual influences during the week, by having a special service for them every Thursday evening, a Dorcas meeting every Wednesday, and prayer-meetings every evening in the cottages around. Some of our children are in fellowship with the Lord’s people here and in other places. ; There are now 3 Mission Adult Schools, containing 65 scholars, connected with it, and entirely supported by its funds. From what has been stated it will be seen, that alto- gether there are HKighty-four Schools entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, 39 Day Schools, 42 Sun- day Schools, and 3 Adult Schools ; and that during the past year one Day School and 29 Sunday Schools were assisted. It will likewise be observed, that in these Eighty-four Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were altogether on May 26, 1884, 5,947 scholars. From the beginning, the total number attending the Schools of the Institution, entirely sup- ported by its funds, amounts to Ninety-five Thousand and One Hundred and Forty-three ; that is there were 65,237 in all the Day-Schools, 22,434 in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,472 in all the Adult Schools. The sum expended during the past year, in connec- tion with the various Home Schools, amounts to £2,379. 98. 104d. On the Mission Schools £1,727. 17s. has been spent. From the beginning there has been expended on the Home Schools £87,189. 18s. 34d. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from May 26, 1883 to May 26, 1884, is as follows: 7,472 Bibles have been sold. / 227 Bibles have been given away. 25,311 New Testaments have been sold. 768 New Testaments have been given away. 232 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 1,437 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. Ditto given away—62. wo 344 [A.D. 1883. There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 189,359 Bibles, 647,775 New Testaments, 20,275 copies of the Psalms, and 205,084 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. During the past year also many thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures have been sold at a reduced price to Bible Carriages and Colporteurs, and thus a great number of persons have been spiritually benefited. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, is £909, 18s. 9½d. The total amount spent since March 5, 1834, is £29,065. 12s. 3½d. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid Mis sionary efforts. During the past year the sum of £4,784. 17s. 7d. was expended upon this object out of the funds of the Institution, and by this amount One Hundred and Thirty-two labourers in Word and Doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. There was expended for the support of Schools in connection with Missions in India £176 ; for Schools in connection with Missions in British Guiana £172 ; for Schools in connection with Missions in Spain £1,242. 15s. 7d. ; for a School in connection with Missions in Italy £137. 1s. 5d. There was expended in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, £15. 0s. 7d. Though the size of this volume will thereby be in creased, yet I give once more a few extracts from some letters received from Missionary brethren, between May 26, 1883 and May 26, 1884, in order that the reader may not only see what kind of men we seek to help in the work of the Lord, but that also a little at least may be seen regarding the fruit of their labours. Mr. G. S. writes from Wenchow, China, April 18, 1883 (received in July): " I have just come in from the country, and have had a very pleasant and profitable time. On Lord's day two persons were accepted and baptized, and there are still a few hopeful inquirers. Also some, who were put under discipline last year, have A.D. 1883.] 345 been walking orderly for many months, and have asked to be restored to fellowship. At the same station a few new hearers are taking an interest in the truth, and some of the older brethren are doing something to spread abroad the knowledge of Jesus’ love. It is very gracious of the Lord to allow us to see some walking in the narrow way. On the Lord’s day before last we had four men baptized at Wen-chow. We have known them for a long time. One of them is an itinerant tailor, and, since he knew the way of truth and life, has not been hiding his light under a bushel. In his district, while working at his trade, he has opened four villages for preaching the gospel, and in each of them there are one or more hopeful inquirers, to whose houses we are made welcome at any time, and can make them a centre. This man’s brother-in-law was baptized at the same time, and has opened two large villages, his own with about 1,000 families, and his wife’s mother’s with about 1,500 families. Surely we ought to thank God and take courage. For about ten years I have been trying to gain a foothold in some of the many villages that cover this plain, but could not succeed; now seven in all are open, and our anxiety is how we shall be able to enter and possess them all. When He opens, no man can shut ; and when He shuts no man can open. My dear wife is also being encouraged to labour on among the women. The Lord’s day Bible class contains sometimes over forty. About twenty are believers, and some of them for years have been adorning the doctrine of Jesus Christ.” Again Mr. G. 8. writes from Shanghai, China, on July 20, 1883: “The Lord is still pleased to give His blessing on our labours. The Lord’s day before leaving, seven persons were baptized and there are still a number of candidates and inquirers, some of them giving us much hope and encouragement, for which we thank our God. His kindness to us in His service is more than we could tell. In countless temptations He has kept our feet from falling and guided us in His way, and through His redeemed ones has supplied all our temporal wants, so that we have lacked no good thing. Your kind gift has enabled us to take this change, which I hope will do us much good, and when I feel better I shall write to you.” 3 Q : 346 [A.D. 1883. Mr. A. W. D. writes from Chefoo, China, April 18, 1883 (received in July) : " I have charge of a hospital and dispensary in association with Dr. P< . The native church is also under my care, and we have many opportunities of preaching to the people who come from the surrounding towns and villages for medical assis tance. Several of our in-patients have been baptized, and are now in communion ; but as yet none of the three thousand out-patients who were relieved last year, have shown any interest in eternal things. Still we know this branch of our work is not in vain, for it brings us into contact with many whom we could never reach by any other means, and, by removing their pre judice against foreigners, we prepare them to receive the gospel. Since the dreadful famine which occurred in this province a few years ago, the preaching of the gospel has been attended with much success. Twenty years ago there was not a Christian in the province, but now there are over four thousand, besides many hundreds of inquirers and adherents, who have not yet decided to come boldly out on the Lord's side. One of the American missionaries has just returned from a journey, which has occupied five months, and reports that during that time he has baptized two hundred and eighty converts." Mr. W. D. R. writes from Shanghai, July 13, 1883: " One very encouraging feature of the work is, that so many come now and ask about the gospel. It is only a few years ago that it was a difficult thing to get people to listen to it attentively, but now they often come and ask us to tell them about the plan of salvation. Not long since, while on a visit to several of our out-stations, I walked about nine miles, and, having allowed plenty of time for the journey, sat down now and again to rest by the way ; and no sooner had I sat down, the first time, than I was asked to tell them about the gospel. Although I had been this road a good many times, I had never met with this before ; so I asked where they had heard about it, and found that they first heard it from one of our native helpers, who often goes this way, and had been to one of our little chapels not far distant. Soon after, an old man and his wife came out and brought a tract, asking me to explain it to them and to teach them how to pray. And so we went on all the A.D. 1883.] 347 way, having eight or ten attentive little congregations, who seemed to listen as I have seldom seen them do before. I had ample proof that our native helpers, in that district, are making known the gospel, and that their efforts are not in vain. An old woman came and began to ask questions. I asked her where she first heard the gospel, when she said, ' From you, nearly ten years ago, and I have never worshipped idols since.' " Mr. E. T. writes from Gan-King on May 15, 1883 (received in July) : " At the close of last year I had the great joy and privilege of baptizing eleven converts in a village which had never before been visited by a foreigner. They were all the result of the earnest efforts of one man, who had been converted at a place in the north of Kiang-su, during a visit of Mr. J. of the Baptist Mission. I found them a bright and earnest band, witnessing for the Master and enduring persecution. I spent eight happy days with them, and was surprised to find how much they knew of the Scripture and its teaching. They have no pastor and no foreign or native preacher in their midst. They stand alone, far removed from other Christian brethren, but meet for worship on the Lord's day, and study the Word of God, depending upon the Spirit for instruction. Would that we might see many more such. These are not men, sheltered by foreign influence, but exposed to the full force of temp tation and persecution from every side, with no hope of foreign intervention ; and supply a good answer to those who believe the Chinese are ' rice ' Christians. They treated me with great hospitality, and on my leaving brought out money to help pay my expenses home. Two of those whom I baptized brought us,,three days on our journey, and others lent us beasts to ride on and carry our luggage. Such things as these greatly cheer us and encourage us to labour on in hope. I would ask you to remember those people in prayer ; they need our prayers greatly ; their position is not an easy one, and their trials such as we can know little of." Again Mr. E. T. writes from the same place on July 24, 1883 : "In my last I told you of a remarkable work which had commenced in a village about 300 English miles from here. I am glad to be able to say that that work is still progressing in the same wonderful way. I 348 [A.D. 1883. paid a visit to the place this year, in the month of June, in company with another brother, and I can assure you we had good cause for praising God for what we saw there. We had not long arrived at the house of one of the Christians, in the principal street of the village, before about twenty men, believers, came in a body to welcome us, and at once commenced a warm prayer and praise meeting. Upon examination we found that more than 20 inquirers were seeking baptism, 19 of whom we accepted. They were all baptized in a mountain stream, their ages ranging from an old lady of 75 to a youth of 13. It was a time of praise amongst native Christians, that I have not had the privilege of witness ing before. From the time the first candidate stepped into the water till the last one came up out of it, they sang the doxology without ceasing. Such a din it was, each singing to his own time and tune. Amongst those baptized were several specially interesting cases. Two were men who had been violent persecutors of these poor people, and had come down to this place with the express intent of doing something to stop Christianity spreading. They were the owners of the farms cultivated by these people, and had thought to turn them out or sell off the property, if possible. But after they arrived and began to persecute them, the Spirit of God laid hold of them, in answer to the prayers of the Christians. They were both convicted, and repented, weeping bitterly for their sin, and especially on account of the way in which they had formerly been guilty of persecu ting the followers of the Lord. They now no longer think of selling these farms, but have, on the contrary, promised to build there a private chapel for Christian worship. Another man was the father of two brothers who were baptized on the previous visit. He too had formerly persecuted his sons, and made their lives bitter on account of their having become Christians ; but they had unitedly cried to God (often with tears) for his con version, and He heard them, and now this man and another of his sons confessed Jesus as their Saviour. Two lads of 13 and 16 years of age, were also baptized, and on the following day, early in the morning, they destroyed the idol Gnoine that was in the place, and broke the god to pieces. Another cause for praise is, A.D. 1883.] 349 that the work is spreading to other villages, so that in a place, 12 English miles distant, there are 5 or 6 waiting for baptism. We are having a remarkably pleasant summer here, and I am glad to say that both my dear wife and myself are being preserved in health and strength. Accept our united Christian love and sincere thanks for your kind remembrance of us. I cannot tell you in a letter the cheer you brought to our hearts ; the day will declare it." Mr. T. H. writes on July 25th, 1883, from Nursapur, India : " When out the other day, I visited a village in which a woman of high caste lives, who was baptized by me some time ago on confessing Christ. She seems happy in the Lord, of whom she speaks to others, but dreads the thought of being cast out altogether by her relations, who suspect, but are, perhaps, not sure, that she has broken caste. In the same village I met a Brahmin woman, who spoke confidently of her faith in Jesus and entire renunciation of idolatry. Her father and husband are also of the same mind, I hear." On Oct. 16th, 1883, Mr. T. H. writes : "I have lately had the pleasure of baptizing four persons in a village near Nursapur. They seemed quite to understand, from the Word, that they must not look for peace to surround ing circumstances, but only to the Lord, who, when here, had not where to lay His head. A youth, who has been placed there by our brother M., is diligent in reading the Scriptures to them, and one of them is able to read him self. A few children likewise are being taught there. Some at Nursapur are desiring baptism, whom we think sincere in their profession of faith ; but as they are closely connected with Christians, we have to be careful. Many are now talking about entering ' the religion ' instead of coming to Christ ; so we have to watch and pray, lest we err either in rejecting those, who have come to Christ, or in receiving those who have never come at all to Him for salvation." On Feb. 10th, 1884, Mr. T. H. writes from Nursapur: " We were very much cheered by the clear and hearty testimony of one man who has known the Lord only a few months. I think our brother M., who started for those parts, will baptize him to-day. We hope to baptize four young women in this town on Wednesday." 350 [A.D. 1883. On April 3rd, 1884, Mr. T. H. writes : " I returned a fortnight ago from a five weeks' tour, during which time I visited two large native festivals. I also spent a week in the jungles amongst the Kois." Mr. J. B. writes from Nursapur on July 17th, 1883 : " Work in the school is now proceeding in regular order, with a full school of more than 170 children and youths, exclusive of my wife's little school for girls which contains about 50 names, and is also progressing satisfactorily. There are one or two causes of encouragement and hope in the boys' school, afforded by the return of some lads who were withdrawn for apparently leaning towards the faith and practice of Christians, but who still manifest the same desire, though with much more caution and reserve." Mr. J. B. writes again on Oct. 20th, 1883 : " There are at least two of the young men, or rather lads, in the school, whose hearts have been apparently opened to attend to the things concerning their eternal peace. But it seems as if beyond opening their hearts to us, and expressing their confidence in the Word they have found to be life and peace to their souls, they are bound hand and foot as it were by reason of caste ties and tender age, and unable to take a practical and public stand as belonging to Christ. One of these two, a short time ago, left his place with a view to escape the dreadful results of making an open profession of his faith in Christ, and, if possible, to confess Him in baptism at another place where he would not be known. He was, however, pursued and captured by his friends on the way, and placed out of hearing the Word or seeing any of us. May the Lord help him and keep him. The numbers are still keeping up at the usual figure, there being now nearly 170 names on the books." On Feb. 16th, 1884, Mr. J. B. writes : " If we cannot fully rejoice that many more souls who hear the gospel are turning unto the Lord, yet we can rejoice with Paul that Christ is preached, and that by means of the schools the way of salvation is made known to many who have not, and perhaps would never have heard, the blessed sound. There are now in daily attendance in the boys' school 150 pupils, exclusive of the vernacular and elemen- ^ary classes numbering 30 children. To provide satisfac A.D. 1883.] 351 tory Scriptural instruction for all these is a matter that just now causes us considerable difficulty, for our native brother Venketachellam, who was brought to the Lord in the school, and for many years gave us much assistance, especially in the Scriptural instruction, having left us to labour in S. India, the burden of this part of our work falls now entirely on my brother and myself, and we find so large a number cannot satisfactorily be attended by us two only. I am sorry to say also my own health has lately, within the last two months, been rather seriously affected, so that I have been obliged to refrain from much of my usual labour. Indeed, a medical man I consulted strongly advised me not to remain in this place during another hot season. However, under the present pressure of work, I cannot but look after that which necessarily devolves on me. In addition to our own particular school duties, I am thankful to be able to report very favourably on the girls' school attended by heathen children, and under the superintendence of my wife; my brother's wife and her mother attend to the needlework, and, in addition, two teachers are employed. There are now 56 names of girls on the list, who learn every day, besides other useful knowledge, portions in the Bible and Gospel, and on Sunday they voluntarily attend, usually to the number of over 40, School. May the dew of the Holy Spirit's blessing fall upon these efforts to make known the Saviour of sinners, and permit us to see that they are not in vain in the Lord. The Lord gives us to see encouraging signs of His Spirit's working in various places in the district. In this place this week we had the pleasure of receiving into the church by baptism 4 persons who have been for some time past professing faith in Christ, and we hear of another elsewhere. We do want, however, not only to hear of baptisms in in creased numbers, but far more that those converted and bearing His name should be living witnesses amongst their heathen surroundings, to the saving and sanctifying power of the Holy Name they bear." Mr. C. B. writes on May 3, 1884, from Nursapur : "In addition to my school duties, I may have informed you before, that I have the oversight of a small church about four miles distant, where our blessed Lord has graciously separated a few for Himself. The Word has for many 352 [A.D. 1883. years been preached, making a little impression, but recently, through our brother and sister M.'s visits and others, many have been aroused to a sense of their true state before God, and have professed faith in the only Saviour. The church there now consists of 21 members, who are very happy in the Lord. At brother M.'s request, that he may be relieved and allowed to attend to the other churches further away, with the consent of the other brethren, I accepted this charge as from the Lord, whose grace alone, I feel, can fit and enable me to minister to them. Since the commencement of the year I have had the joy of baptizing and receiving eight persons into fellowship. Two others are desirous of con fessing their faith in Christ, whom I propose (God willing), to see to-morrow. May the Lord seal this little work with His Holy Spirit, so that many others may be brought to His feet, and all the praise shall redound to His own glory !" Mr. J. N. M., stationed at Palcole, India, writes on July 19th, 1883, from a camp, being out on a missionary tour in villages : " My dear wife, being now so much better, is able to travel in a country cart, and we have with us four preachers, a Bible woman, a teacher, and my Bible class of six young men selected from distant villages, so that we are quite a strong party. Our plan is, to travel five or six miles every three days or so, and while the preachers go out into the neighbouring hamlets, the Bible woman visits the women in the nearest villages, and endeavours to get them to come to the tent, or pre pares the way for my wife to visit them. In the mornings I take my Scripture class, and in the afternoons and evenings accompany the preachers. There is generally a willingness to listen to the Word, and less opposition than in the lower country, where Brahmins abound ; but we long to see a joyful reception of the Gospel, and many turning to the Lord. Being out of reach of post offices, I have not been able to send this letter off. Since writing the above we have moved on to the northward, and have found open doors and ready listeners. May the Holy Ghost mix faith with the Word in those that hear it. At Yewanagooden, our last stage, a large company of Brahmins and others came to the tent from one o'clock till dark, asking questions, and listening in a most A.D. 1883.] 353 interested manner. Here there seems an equally open door. Two of our brethren have been entertained by the people of the village they went to, and will stay all night ; and wherever the brethren go, there seems a great desire to hear the Word. This evening we had a good time in this village, the Gospel being fully proclaimed, while those who went to a neighbouring village have two invitations for to-morrow. Pray for us, for the labourers are very few. Our great want is efficient native workers full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." On Nov. 7th, Mr. J. N. M. writes from Palcole, India : " Yesterday brother J. B. and I went to a village where the Lord has been working of late. There were three men there who had been previously examined by brother C. B. and myself, whose testimony was satisfactory. One of them is a leper, lame on both feet, who was formerly a hinderer, if not an adversary, to the truth. After the preaching, they were again publicly questioned as to their faith, and then, a young man (who has long ap peared an interested hearer, though he opposed his brother's baptism in May last), confessed that he too had found the Lord about a month ago. Another young man also, hitherto quite a heathen, came forward and said that just a week ago he was led to see the folly of his ways, and had sought and found peace by believing in Jesus. His confession surprised some, but the brethren being satisfied that the change was real, we determined to baptize these two also. Whilst sitting down to re member the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, a woman came to say that the wife of the last mentioned brother had gone off with their son, saying she would never return to her husband, but he had grace given him to remain still, and I trust that it may be only an idle threat, though some are called to suffer the loss of all things. There are others at that village of Agatapalem interested in the truth ; one dear young girl especially, but her parents are much opposed to her in consequence." Again he writes from Palcole on Feb. 21st, 1884 : " Last Lord's day I was privileged to baptize a man and two women in a new village, and there are two others who I trust are believing, though their testimony is not quite clear. Old Mr. B. frequently visited this village in former days, but of late years it is only occasionally that 354 [A.D. 1883. our preachers have gone there ; now, however, through grace, fruit is found. This encourages us to go on ; for we bear precious seed, which shall not return void to Him who sent it." Mr. A. H. writes on June 27th, 1883, from Bethel, Jamtara, India : " Six native brethren go daily, two and two, preaching in different villages. May God strengthen them to uphold His name. Sixteen men and women, from six villages, were baptized during the last three months. Two are chiefs (headmen) of villages. One of the converts tried to kill his old mother and sister five years ago, for daring to believe in Christ, and for expressing a wish to be baptized. At present he sits at Jesus' feet, having been a believer in Christ for three years. Please do not omit to breathe a hearty prayer for the 100,000 unsaved people in our district." On Oct. 8th, 1883, Mr. A. H. writes : "Twenty-seven men and women have come out for the Lord, during the last six months, including two headmen of villages. I do wish 10,000 would turn besides ; it seems so sad that they should be left in Satan's hand." On Jan. 29th, 1884, Mr. A. H. writes from Bethel, Jamtara, India : " You will rejoice to hear what God has been doing here, since I wrote last. On the 9th December, 1883, I baptized two Brahmin priests and two Santhals. Again on the 30th December I baptized the headman of Poomona and one of his farmers, so that 34 men and women now (including the above) and three Manjhis (chiefs or headmen of villages) have been baptized. Two other Brahmin priests are wishing to be baptized, but the wife of one threatens to leave him if he dares to be ; and the other thinks it hard to lose the income as a priest that keeps him and his family in food, &c., and which has come to him from his forefathers. I asked him, recently, whether he was prepared to go to perdition for the sake of a little money ? Please to pray for them. After the baptism on the 9th Dec., all returned to the chapel to commemorate the Lord's death. Former mis sionaries would have jumped for joy if they could have seen 3 Brahmin priests, 4 Europeans, and a few score of Santhals and Hindoos taking the Lord's Supper together. Was there not joy even in heaven over one sinner who turned to God on earth ? I suppose, therefore, that there A.D. 1883.] 355 must have been great rejoicing, this year, in the presence of God, over these sinners who turned to Christ." On April 24th, 1884, Mr. A. H. writes : " You will re joice to hear that our Tabernacle, which is capable of seating from 500 to 600 people, was completed last month. As the concrete floor continues to need drying, we shall have to wait perhaps 14 days more before using it for divine worship. Our village schools have increased to 31, in which about 700 children are instructed in the way they should go. Six young men and four young women have been baptized from our boarding schools. Sixty-two men and women, including 3 Sahthals (head men of villages), 1 Hindoo (headman of a village), 3 Brahmin priests, 3 Brahmin ladies (their wives), and the wife of the Hindoo headman have been baptized during the last 12 months. They have come from 23 villages." Mr. W. M. writes on July 14th, 1883, from Penang, Straits Settlement : " On the 24th June, four men and two women confessed the living and true God in baptism here. On the 1st instant ten men and two women, in like manner, confessed Him in Laroot, and on the 8th another individual also was baptized in Penang. All of them were Chinese. Two Chinese brethren are labouring with me in the Gospel here, and the younger one shews at present much earnestness and diligence. Fourteen strangers from China, on their way to Rangoon, have been with us for several days. It was a privilege to be able to serve them. Four are professing Christians, the other ten are hearers of the Word. A new station for preaching the Word has been opened at Laroot, and many are hearing it there. The truth is being blessed, but there is also some opposition." On Nov. 6th, 1883, Mr. W. M. writes again: "The Christian Chinese sister, whose husband deserted her, departed to be with Christ, two days after his return from China. He took no interest in the funeral, but did not hinder its being conducted by Christians. A number of her relations were present, who heard of the glorious hope of the Christian through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The husband then wound up his affairs, so as to return finally to China. His youngest daughter, who had followed the footsteps of her mother, he de nounced at a family meeting, and, at the request of her 356 [4.D. 1883. believing uncle, gave her over into his charge. She has since been married, is now the wife of a Christian Chinese, and is very regular at the meetings. Our Heavenly Father has also heard and answered prayer on behalf of the Chinese youth mentioned in two letters. His soul has been restored and strengthened, so that he has assembled with Christians, has been baptized, and has joined with us at the Lord’s table. It has cost him, and does still cost him, much suffering to be faithful to the Lord in the face of the commands of both his parents, as well as the tears and entreaties of his mother; but he is helped of God, and has proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to many, including Europeans. Another young man, also a Chinese, who had been turned out of doors by his father for being an opium smoker, has been with us about four months. Now, not only is the opium given up, but he seems to have truly received Christ, for whose name he is suffering reproach.” On Dec. 19, 1883, the same brother writes from Penang: “I returned the night before last from the Malay Kingdom of Perak. Three Chinese were on this occasion baptized. On Saturday evening last a cottage prayer meeting was held in that land, and, after the Sunday night English preaching, another prayer meeting. At the latter, seven persons were present. It was said that these two meetings were the first of the kind held in that Kingdom.” On Aug. 4, 1883, Mr. R. writes from George Town, Demerara: “I write to acknowledge the receipt of cheque for £15., which came safely to hand, for which . kindly accept my grateful thanks in the Lord, as it was to us avery precious mark of the Lord’s goodness. I have to thank you likewise for two supplies of tracts ; also very especially for the grant of reward books for the Mission Schools, for which I am very thankful and glad ; and further still for the ‘continued help granted in circulating the Scriptures, through the assistance afforded by the Scriptural Knowledge Institution in granting supplies from the Depét, on such terms as enable me to carry on this service, by the Lord’s grace and continued help and blessing. It is a matter of great joy to me to receive so abundant a supply as has just arrived, and a precious privilege it is to spread them, by many ways, A.D. 1883.] 357 over the land. On Friday last, when I went to the Essequibo Coast, I took with me a good quantity, and, whilst visiting the Stations, sought to carry on some colporteur work also, by holding three sales amongst the people on the Coast ; £5. worth were thus disposed of on the journey. Brother G. kept the remainder, who is going to take his donkey and cart on to a large estate near (if permitted), and seek to sell amongst the people further up, where I did not visit. On Tuesday he assembled his school together, before the holiday, when we examined the scholars and had an opportunity of distributing these rewards amongst them, which we trust will stimulate the little people. He is a steadfast godly man, and the Lord helps him." On Oct. 18, 1883, Mr. R. writes: "The Lord con tinues to help us to preach the'gospel of the grace of God, both in the meeting-room and elsewhere, and to circulate His precious Word, which is a most interesting part of our work. It is remarkable how large quantities of the Scriptures gradually diminish, scattered all about, whilst it becomes more known that we have Bibles, &c., to sell." On Feb. 14, 1884, Mr. R. writes : "Last Lord's day we had the joy of baptizing 2 aged sisters, black per sons ; and a brother was restored. The gospel meetings are, through the Lord's help, sustained, and we realize His presence and grace in setting forth the truth to believers, though conscious of much feebleness and lack of power in our midst." Mr. A. W. writes on Feb. 12, 1884, from Hyde Park, Demerara River : " With respect to the beloved work of God in our hands, I am thankful to say that we still have much to cheer and encourage, both with regard to the numbers brought under the sound of the truth, and those who are brought under its blessed, mighty, transforming power. I have lately had the privilege of baptizing believers at two places up the river ; and I hope (God willing) to baptize some others next Lord's day, a few miles higher up this river. But whilst we are thankful for these tokens of the Lord's presence, we mourn over the many who yet live on, utterly regardless of eternal realities." On May 21, 1884, Mr. A. W. writes again from Hyde 358 [A..D. 1883. Park, Demerara River : " With respect to the beloved work of the Lord in which we are engaged, I am thankful to say that we still have much to cheer in the various gatherings and other places where I seek to carry the Gospel, both with respect to the numbers brought under the sound of the glad tidings, and to some who are brought under its blessed, saving, and transforming power. A few weeks ago I had the privilege of baptizing five persons at Dunoon ; last Lord's day I baptized three aboriginal Indians also, at the same place ; and at some of the other gatherings there are persons who thus desire to confess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But while thankful for the few thus rescued, we often mourn over the strange indifference of the many to eternal realities." Mr. A. F., labouring in Spain, writes from Madrid, on June 11, 1883 : "We had a very full day yesterday, a day of joy and blessing. In the afternoon I baptized seven persons, including two young men, formerly pupils in our school, and another, formerly in the school of another mission. A fourth, brought to Christ by one of them, could not be baptized yesterday, but will be to morrow. Two others, on account of health, could not be baptized. Thus the Lord has added ten more to us, making thirty-two since the year began. In the evening they broke bread. The Lord be praised for His great mercy to us. Our meeting in the evening was full, and some persons were .evidently impressed. I could have wished for an after meeting, but as it was 10 o'clock I was thoroughly tired out. The little house taken at Bellas Vistas, two and a half miles from here, was well filled again yesterday. I went on Wednesday evening, and the meeting was most encouraging. The poor people beg me to provide a school. They are in a most heathenish condition. I think we should get from 70 to 100 children very soon. As it is, 20 come for an hour's instruction before the meeting, and at each meeting mothers bring us more." On Nov. 20, 1883, Mr. A. F. writes : " On the opposite page I send the statistics of the five Madrid Schools. Thanks to God they hold their ground, but it is against very great and increasing opposition. The balance of numbers is not in our favour as compared with May 26, A.D. 1883.] 359 1883, when the totals of that year were,—'Received' 364 and ' attending' 350 ; the totals to-day being less by 57 and 13 respectively. The very trying winter, total stagnation of all branches of work, and change of govern ment, I think are the causes. What distresses us so much is, that we see so little fruit in conversion. Nearly 3,000 children have been instructed in the Scriptures, but very few have joined the churches after leaving school. We continually pray that upon this sown field showers of blessing may soon descend. Oh ! could we but visit the homes of our scholars, who can tell what would be the results. The doors are open to us, but we are physically unable to enter them. There is work for many helpers. Chamberi is the most promising part of Madrid. All here admit that it is so, for it has been well worked. In the consciences of the people we have a place. Are there not in Bethesda meeting, ladies who could learn Spanish and visit the children's homes ? And is there no brother who could come and help me 1 We ought to have preach ing in two or three places in Chamberi, also in Poras and in Clavel." On May 26, 1884, Mr. A. F. writes: "Since June, 1882, we have been graciously visited by the Holy Spirit's power. More than a hundred persons have been awak ened, and some of them saved ; but a large proportion gave way before the opposition of family, neighbours, and public opinion. Still, while many went back, and others found it easier to confess Christ in other parts of Madrid, a goodly number have been added to us, in all thirty-seven, men being the larger proportion. Over some of them we have had to mourn, for they could not stand the trial of faith, and have yielded to the influences of Rome, while telling us that in heart they are with us as before. Death has also removed some, and others have left the neighbourhood, so that we are still only a little flock. You will be glad to hear, as evidences of life, that the Spaniards themselves, with only a little help from us, have taken a cottage in a most wretched, godless place, and have gone regularly, all weathers, two miles, on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings for an hour, to teach poor children to read, and then hold a meeting another hour for adults. These winter evenings they are even exposed to danger, for the roads outside 360 [A.D. 1883. Madrid are very lonely and unsafe. The schools, now five in number, have prospered. I have always to report them fuller than ever. We have 420 children under Bible instruction at present, and, from the beginning, about 3,000 have been taught more or less of the Word of God and Gospel hymns. Our fifth school is in a very important district ; which for years we endeavoured to enter, and now God has given us excellent premises, the very spot we so often longed for in passing, and said, ' That would be the best place if God would give it to us.' Meetings, by invitation, are held in the school-room, which is well filled." Mr. H. P. writes on Nov. 1, 1883, from Barcelona, Spain : "The S. Gabriel Girls' School is now quite full, so that we cannot receive more. The others remain about the same as usual. We continue to look to the Lord for the Barcelona Schools, both for boys and girls, that suit able teachers may be given us. The second teacher of the girls' school, Ferlandina, commends herself to us in every way, both in godliness and in her school work. She was formerly a scholar in S. Gabriel School, and has since obtained a government certificate as teacher." Mr. H. P. writes from Barcelona, Dec. 12, 1883 : " Last month we had another baptism, when three were baptized. One was the fruit of the schools, a very pre cious case, a daughter of English parents, who for years have been moving about on the Continent. They came to Barcelona three or four years ago, and, hearing of our j Schools, sent their children to them. The testimony of the converted one is so good, that her father, who makes no profession, says he wishes all were such Christians as his daughter. I trust we shall see more fruit still in this family. During the year, nine have been received into fellowship with us, and of these, three are from the schools. There are others also of whom we are very hopeful, but wait to see more clearly the work of God in them. The number seems small compared with the many who still remain outside, but there is something encouraging in the conversion of children in Spain. They have not known the depths of Satan as many have of riper years, where sin, like cancer, seems to have eaten into their souls. Then they begin their spiritual life with a knowledge of the Word of God, and consequently A.D. 1884.] 361 with a better conscience; hence a clearer testimony is given. We have examples of this in a few who have been with us for some years ; and when we think of the surroundings of these children, their homes and their temptations, who can tell their dangers, and, if saved, what they have been saved from. In one family, we know, two of the children are converted, who have borne a steady testimony for the truth in the midst of family persecution ; and a younger daughter, the mother keeps, as far as she can, from all gospel influence, fearing that she too will be converted ; so she is led into the world by her parents, to the ball-room and the theatre. An other dark case in Gracia may be mentioned also. A girl of S. Gabriel School, not only attended the school, but the meeting and Sunday school afterwards ; but at last, having to decide between the world and Christ, she chose the world ; sank deeper and deeper into it, and at last, in her distress and shame, drank a dose of poison and died. How solemn !" With reference to the Schools— Mr. R. S. writes on May 12, 1884, from Barcelona : " The spirit manifested by the teachers is (I don't think it is too much to say) all that one could wish. They are most united, and seem very happy in their work. D. Pedro [a teacher who was obliged to become a soldier] is a great auxiliary. He has fought the Lord's battles during the three years he has been in the army, the result of which is that, instead of having received damage to his soul, his position has been the means, in the Lord's hand, of blessing to him ; for he has come out from his military career with more Christian experience and weight of character than when he entered it. This is a cause for much thankfulness, as his influence and help are so valuable, both in the church and also in connec tion with the schools. The meetings too have been well attended lately on the whole. Last evening, at the gospel meeting, there were not less than sixty or seventy persons present ; quite a monster meeting for Gracia. I understand it is some years since so many were seen at a preaching meeting at S. Gabriel. The Lord grant that the seed sown may bring forth fruit to eternal life in the souls of some of the hearers. I have with me for a few days a young man from Iqualada (Mateo Solar), who was converted through attending the meetings there, and who 362 [A.D. 1884. now holds a little meeting himself at a private house in that place every Lord's day afternoon. I am glad to find he is holding on. His interest in the things of God does not seem to have decreased, though he has been so separated from real Christian society." In May, 1884, there were in the Day Schools at Barcelona 456 pupils, and in the Sunday Schools 304. During the past fifteen years, whilst these schools have been in operation, more than eight thousand have been attending them. On May 31, 1884, Miss C. C. writes from Gracia, Barcelona : " For some months we have been much tried, by the indifference manifested by the very few who cared to attend the meetings. This led to much prayer, and now we see the Lord is giving us an answer, by not only awakening an interest in the public services, but by lead ing us also to fresh persons, who are thirsting for more knowledge of divine things than they can find in the Church of Rome. One case connected with the schools will interest you. A woman, whom we visited lately, on her return to Barcelona, told us of the death of her niece, a child of ten, who had formerly been taught in the Barcelona School, but had been obliged to leave on the removal of her parents to a town at some little distance. There, it seems, she was in the habit of reading the Bible to her family, and also to some of the neighbours who liked to listen, while she explained what she had learned of its meaning. A short time ago she was taken ill, and, after a few days' suffering, died, we quite hope, trusting in the Saviour. She loved her Bible, and, whilst ill, spoke often to her mother of the parable in Matt. xxii. 1—14. Her aunt said, if it had not been for the child, they would never have heard the gospel. She is not converted, but reads her Testament atten tively every day, and comes also to the services. We hope shortly to go to the town where the mother lives. Other cases, equally interesting, show us that the Lord is working, and He leads us to expect greater things." On June 4, 1883, Mr. T. B. writes from Pontevedra, Spain : " Since I wrote to you about the work here, eight- more have been baptized and received into fellowship. Others are asking for baptism. The Lord grant that they may be real cases." On Jan. 8, 1884, the same brother writes from Ponte- A.D. 1884] 363 vedra: ‘God is graciously blessing His own Word in the place. Fifty, belonging to this place and San Tomé, have professed their faith by baptism, and were received into fellowship last year. Every one of them has had to suffer the most violent persecution, both publicly and privately. At San Tomé the first convert (now a true worker for the goapel), has, in her love, given her little house to be pulled down, in order that a little chapel may be built in its place, and others are giving help, or are willing to give help, in carting stone, wood, etc., and also give trees and money. The young woman who acts so liberally, is only a plain needle-woman who gains her liveli- hood by going out to sew, besides possessing a little land.” Mr. J. P. G, labouring among the Jews, writes from London on Oct. 18, 1883: ‘You will, I am sure, be pleased to hear that, from the very favourable appearances around me, I cannot help thinking, bright gleams are beginning to pierce the dark overhanging clouds of Israel’s unbelief. A young Russian Jew, whom I recom- mended to read the New ‘Testament, said to me yesterday morning, ‘ You know what a self-righteous man I was, when first you told me to believe in Jesus, whom I then utterly despised ; but I am thankful to tell you, that a great change has taken place in me. Although I cannot call myself a Christian, it is my earnest desire to become one, and I daily ask the Lord God of Abraham to guide me into the right way.’ I was in the habit of preaching the good news of the Gospel to an old Rabbinical Jew from Poland, but it always appeared that the doctrine of the Cross did not make Tauch impression on him. On meeting him however last Saturday, he said, ‘I now believe that Jesus is my Saviour ; my convictions of the truth of the Gospel are such, that to disbelieve the claims of Christ appears to me equivalent to denying the existence of a God in the universe.’ Please to think of this dear old man in your prayers. He is more than 82 years of age.” On May 27, 1884, Mr. C. writes again: ‘ You will, I am sure, be pleased to hear that I am still encouraged in my feeble efforts among my brethren according to the flesh. Last Friday I met a Polish Jew, whom I recom- mended, six months ago, to read the New Testament, and was truly glad to hear him say, that the Lord had greatly blessed the Word to his soul. ‘You know,’ he , R 2 364 [A.D. 1884. said, ' what a self-righteous man I was when you first preached to me the Lord Jesus, whom I then so thoroughly despised, but I am thankful to tell you that a great change has come over me since then. I earnestly asked the Lord God of Abraham to guide me in the right way ; it has pleased Him to open my eyes to see, and my heart to receive the gospel of His love, and since then I have enjoyed much peace in my soul.' I saw tears trickling down his cheeks as he spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of what He suffered for him." Out of the many hundred letters, received from the 132 preachers of the gospel, whom we sought to assist during the year from May 26, 1883 to May 26, 1884, I have given a few extracts ; but during the past fifty-one years, that the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad has aided Missionary brethren, Tens of Thousands of similar letters have come to hand, quite enough to fill Thirty large volumes and more. We must therefore once more refer our readers to the Reports of the Institution, should they desire more minute informa tion. I only add, that Tens of Thousands of souls have been converted through the instrumentality of these beloved brethren, since March 5, 1834. The total amount of the funds of the Institution, which has been spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1884, is £196,633. 12s. 5d. There has been laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1883 to May 26, 1884, the sum of £829. 1s. 5½d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Two Millions Three Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand (exactly 2,375,816) Tracts and Books. The sum total expended on this object, since November 19th, 1840, amounts to £35,036. 17s. 9½d. The total number of Tracts and Books circulated since November 19, 1840 to May 26, 1884, is more than Eighty Millions Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand (80,219,334). More than One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand of the tracts and books, circulated during the year, were distributed gratuitously. At the commencement of the last year of the Institu tion, (May 27, 1883), we had 1,953 Orphans in the five houses, and 110 helpers. During the past year, 207 A.D. 1884.] 365 Orphans were received, so that, had there been no changes, we should, on May 26, 1884, have had 2,160 children in the five houses. But of these 2,160, thirty- four died, and twenty-one out of this number of con sumption. Three-fourths of the Orphans whom we receive (as we learn from the medical certificates of the death of their parents) lost one or both of them through this disease. The constitution therefore of the children being, in most cases, very weak, we cannot be surprised that many of them should die in consumption ; yet the Lord allows us the joy of seeing that, through His bless ing, upon thorough cleanliness, simple, yet wholesome and nourishing food, suitable clothing, a healthy locality, exercise, etc., a very small proportion only sink under disease. Three of the Orphans died from brain fever, and two from convulsions (one of them an infant during teething). Four young children, of weakly constitutions, died of whooping cough, with which many of the Orphans were afflicted during the past year. One of the children died of struma, one of atrophy, one of diarrhoea, and one of typhoid fever. Out of these thirty-four, thirteen were infants, and fourteen died as decided believers, most of whom had known the Lord a considerable time. One boy and one girl we were obliged to expel from the Institution, that the other children might not be corrupted by their ways. It was necessary also to send back fifteen of the Orphans to their relatives, as on account of mental, physical, or moral defects, we could not recom mend them for situations. Twenty-five likewise were given up to their relatives, because the latter were now in a position to support them, and had a desire to do so. Fifty of the boys were sent out to learn a trade or business ; and One Hundred and Thirty Five of the girls were sent out as domestic servants. One Orphan was placed out as nursery governess, two of the girls went out as pupil teachers, and two young men who had been trained as teachers in the Orphan Houses, were appointed as assistant masters. In addition to these last five, who were all believers, as well as the fourteen who fell asleep in Jesus, Fourteen of the boys who were apprenticed, and Seventy-Eight of the girls sent out as servants, were believers ; in all, therefore, One Hundred and Eleven had been converted. Truly, our labour is 366 [A.D. 1884. not in vain in the Lord, for year after year we see abundant fruit resulting from it. I judge, however, that all we see now is but the firstfruits, a!nd have ground for saying this, as year after year many letters are received in which those who were formerly in our Schools, or in the Orphan Houses, tell us, that, though they left without having made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus, yet that the instruction they received, either at the Orphan Houses or in the Schools, was afterwards the means of leading them to Christ. From the 2,160 therefore, 266 are to be deducted, so that on May 26th, 1884, we had 1,894 Orphans and 110 helpers in the five houses. From April, 1836 up to May 26, 1884, there have been alto gether 6,892 Orphans under our care. From the commencement of the Institution, up to May 26, 1884, I obtained, simply by prayer and faith, the sum of One Million Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Pounds sterling. We enter now upon the statistics of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, from. May 26, 1884 to May 26, 1885. During this year, Thirty Nine Day Schools were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Of these there are 14 in Spain, 3 in India, 1 in Italy, 7 in British Guiana, and the others are in England. In addition to these 39 Day Schools, 2 Day Schools in England were assisted. The master of the School at Clayhidon writes to the School Inspector of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution : " During the year we have had many difficulties to en counter ; but, on looking back, we have to register more mercies than troubles. Our hearts have been greatly cheered in seeing several in our Bible Class happily brought to Jesus, and some of these have been added to the Church. Quite an earnest work is going on in many hearts among the elder scholars ; and those who are the Lord's in the school are diligently seeking the blessing of others. Our Bible Class was never more encouraging nor better attended. The Day School continues at about the same number as for several years past (109). We trust the condition of the School generally has been improving. The work done by the children has been more satisfactory to the teachers. During the past A.D. 1884.] 367 winter the attendance has been seriously checked by the prevalence of whooping cough, measles, and small-pox. This last disease, though not actually visiting the parish, but being most prevalent in adjoining neighbourhoods, was sufficiently near, greatly to alarm many parents, and at one time it was deemed almost desirable to close the school for a while ; but the Lord heard prayer, and it was not found needful to do so. And so we have ex perienced all through our journey that ' the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe.' ' Ebenezer ' must be written over the year gone by, to the praise of His glory; and 'Jehovah- Jireh ' we inscribe on the commencement of the time to come. At times we have been well-nigh overcome by discouragements, but even then His loving kindness has held us up. We thank God and take courage. One thing greatly sustains us, and that is the assurance of the prayers of the Lord's honoured servants on Ashley Down. ' The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' During the past year eight were converted from the School." The head master of the Exeter School reports on May 25th, 1885, to our Inspector : " Occasionally we are gratified by the unsolicited expressions of appreciation from parents with respect to the knowledge of Scripture gained, and the progress in standard work made by their children. More gratifying was the recently volunteered information by a mother respecting thex;onversion of her son. Stopping me in the street, on leaving school, she inquired, ' Do you know that John has given his heart to Jesus V He had been in the school about seven years, and having passed the successive standards, had lately left to begin work. That conversions in the school are rare, is the burden of regret. All along the same means are used. The Scriptures are read daily; the way of salvation is made known; the necessity of complying with Jesus' terms in Mark i. 15, is enforced; the im portance of early decision is urged ; and many prayers are offered, but the results, notwithstanding, are appa rently small. It may be that the ' due season ' is not yet come ; but the more probable reason of small bless ing may lie in deficient spiritual aptitude, insufficient grace, or inadequate faith for the object aimed at. As 368 [A.D. 1885. time passes, and the reckoning-day approaches, the pri vilege, joy, and solemn responsibility of labouring for the Lord Jesus Christ among the young becomes more vividly recognized. Tiventy-jive years in all of happy toil in connection with children, must not be deemed any excuse for relaxed effort, lukewarmness, diminished sympathy or unfaithfulness to the trust committed. In these days of many and varied allurements to pleasure and evil, presented to the young, it is increasingly im portant to keep in mind the object for which the Schools are maintained. Where an earnest and prayerful desire to lead the children to Christ exists, surely there will also be a readiness to detect the slightest indications of spiritual life, and due care will be exercised in gently encouraging and helping the new weak life. Where a good work has begun in the heart, sooner or later its presence and reality will be manifested. "As to the number on the register (354), average attendance, tone, discipline and staff of teachers, the school, I think I may safely say, will compare favourably with the past. With comparatively exceptionable advan tages, the results, secular and spiritual, should be pro portionate. " It may interest you to know that many boys who have been scholars here are in respectable and fairly re munerative situations in the city. About a dozen are employed in the printing offices ; some in connection with the railways ; others are engaged as office clerks ; and three are telegraphists and sorting clerks in the Post Office. Cheek Street School has been an important link in the chain." The master of the schools at Stroud, attended by 260 children, writes to our School Inspector, on May 22nd, 1885 : " I am not aware of any conversions having taken place during the year ; but when the Bible lessons are given, very great interest is shown, especially by the elder children. I have lately been much encouraged, in sowing the seed of God's truth in youthful hearts, by meeting with some old scholars, who are now decided believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They attribute their happy state of heart to the Scriptural instruction im parted to them whilst attending our school." The mistress of the school at Hopton reports : " I am A.D. 1885.] 369 ; thankful to be able to state that I fully believe several of the dear children have believed in Jesus to the saving. of their souls. I have been convinced for a long time that blessing would come, and now we are rejoicing in the evidences the children clearly give that they are lambs of the Good Shepherd.” The head master of the schools at Yeovil, attended by 178 children, writes on May 25th, 1885: “ During the past year we have been much cheered by some of our old scholars, now fine young men, confessing Christ and openly speaking of their gratitude for the knowledge of the Scriptures gained whilst in the school. The value _of the daily reading of the Word of God, especially the Old Testament, has been made very manifest. To many it is simply a book of history ; but to those young men it is full of Christ. Also during the past year, God has been manifestly working with those in the school, and several—I do not like to speak of definite numbers— have been born again from above, among them my own eldest boy. Thus our God, whom we seek to serve, has given us a double cheer. The longer I am engaged in this work, the more I am convinced of the mighty power for good or evil of the life we live. It is very interesting to me sometimes to go into the infant room and hear their little prattling tongues engaged in telling Bible stories. The other day I heard them repeat nearly sixty verses of Scripture, with scarcely a single mistake. In the day of the Lord Miss R. will, I feel sure, reap much fruit from her quiet labour among the young ones of our school.” The master of the schools at Purton, attended by 187 children, writes on May 26th, 1885, to our School In- spector : ‘ We have again to speak of the loving-kindness of God our Father, in giving us tokens of His favour and blessing through another year. Some, who have recently left school for work, have written to us concern- ing their faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ; parents have also cheered us with encouraging letters regarding their children’s behaviour ; and tidings of old scholars have gladdened our hearts, on account of their steady perseverance in the ways of God. One is now superintendent of a large Sunday School, and others are serving the Lord as teachers and itinerant preachers. R3 : a 370 [A.D. 1885. This is a great joy to us, because in such instances we realize the blessedness of that promise, ' He will fulfil the desires of them that fear Him.' It is our constant prayer that all the dear children belonging to our schools should become servants of the Most High God, showing unto others the way of everlasting life. Our special difficulties are well known to you. We are surrounded by those who seek to draw the children from the path of simple faith in Christ for salvation into the delusive paths of ceremonialism and ritualism, and to our sorrow in some instances they succeed. Many of the children now attending give us joy, because we believe, from their attention to spiritual things, that the Holy Spirit of God is working upon their hearts. We lament that this is not the case with all, but, as dear Mr. R Chapman says, ' Sowing is reaping, and he that soweth spiritual things shall reap also spiritual things.' " The number of pupils in the Home Day-Schools of the Institution, on May 26th, 1885, was 1206 ; in the Mission Day-Schools 1597 ; in all, 2803. At present there are Forty-three Sunday Schools con nected with the Institution, which are entirely supported by its funds. In these forty-three Sunday Schools there were, on May 26th, 1885, Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-two scholars. During the past year, Twenty- five Sunday Schools were likewise, to a greater or less degree, assisted by the funds of the Institution. Of the forty-three Sunday Schools, entirely supported by its funds, twelve are in Spain, six in British Guiana, one in Italy, four in India, three in Somersetshire, six in Hamp shire, seven in Middlesex, one in Norfolk, one in War wickshire, and two in Gloucestershire. Of the Five-and- twenty Sunday Schools which were assisted, five are in Somersetshire, two in Staffordshire, one in Wiltshire, three in Middlesex, one in Worcestershire, two in Devon shire, two in Lancashire, two in Gloucestershire, one in Hampshire, one in Kent, and five in Wales. The report of the Hopton Sunday School is : "We have had one case of conversion, and indications of the Spirit's working in one or two others."—Of the Sunday School at Beer : " One case of conversion during the past year, and one of the scholars died, trusting in Jesus, Nearly all the young Christians in the gathering were A.D. 1885.] 371 members of our Sunday School."—The statement re garding the Sunday School at Bishopswood is : " Two were received into Church fellowship during the year ; and several older scholars encourage us to hope that God will graciously manifest them soon as His."—The report regarding the North End Sunday School is, June 1st, 1885 : " We have 328 children on the books. Several of the scholars are in Church Fellowship and several more are to be baptized this week. We have a good band of Christian workers in the School, and all have their hearts thoroughly in the work, having the one aim, the glory of God and the salvation of the scholars."—"At Portsea two have been converted in the Sunday School."—Re garding Portland Hall Sunday School the superintendent reports : " Four cases of special blessing have come under my notice."—The report of the Purton Sunday School is : " An interesting case of conversion has encouraged us in the young people's Sunday afternoon Bible Class, through the singing that sweet hymn, ' My faith looks up to Thee.' A special children's service is held every Thursday, and a Dorcas meeting for the girls every Wednesday. There are meetings every evening for the spiritual well-being of children and parents." There are now 3 Mission Adult Schools, containing 68 scholars, connected with the Institution, and entirely sup ported by its funds. From what has been stated it will be seen, that alto- fether there are Eighty-Five Schools entirely supported y the funds of the Institution, 39 Day Schools, 43 Sunday Schools, and 3 Adult Schools ; and that during the past year two Day Schools and 25 Sunday Schools were assisted. It will likewise be observed, that in these Eighty-Five Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, there were on May 26th, 1885, 5,613 pupils. From the beginning, the total number attending the Schools of the Institution, entirely supported by its funds, amounts to Ninety-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Five. There were 66,967 in all the Day Schools, 23,591, in all the Sunday Schools, and 7,547 in all the Adult Schools. The sum expended during the past year, in con nection with the various Home Schools, amounts to £2,239. 12s. 5d. On the Mission Schools £2,023. 19s. 4d. 372 [A.D. 1885. has been spent, which has been charged to the Mission Fund, to which it properly belongs. From the beginning, £89,429. 10s. 8½d. has been expended on the Home Schools. May I request the reader to pause a few moments 1 It is seen that Ninety-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Five souls have been brought under habitual instruction in the things of God in these schools, and many attended them for 5, 6, 7, and 8 years. How great has been the blessing ! But far more than this is the fact, namely, that thousands have thus been brought to the true know ledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have had years, when 50 and 60 even, in one school were converted in the course of a twelvemonth.—Whilst travelling on my Missionary journeys in 23 different countries, I met again and again with persons who were converted in our schools ; and I have received many letters from happy Christians, who owed their knowledge of the Lord Jesus entirely to the instruction they received in them. We therefore go on joyfully in this service, being assured that all the fruit we have seen already is but little in comparison with what we shall see in the day of Christ. The second Object of this Institution is, to circulate the Holy Scriptures. The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures, which has been circulated from. May 26th, 1884 to May 26th, 1885, is as follows : 10,332 Bibles have been sold. 306 Bibles have been given away. 85,788 New Testaments have been sold. 1,309 New Testaments have been given away. 216 Copies of the Psalms have been sold. 1,866 Other small portions of the Holy Scriptures have been sold. There have been circulated since March 5th, 1834, through the medium of this Institution, 199,997 Bibles, 734,872 New Testaments, 20,491 copies of the Psalms, and 206,950 other small portions of the Holy Scrip tures. During no previous year have we circulated so great a number of copies of the Holy Scriptures as during the past twelve months, which arises chiefly from the fact that we have supplied Colporteurs and Bible Carriages A.D. 1885.] 373 in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Australia with copies at reduced prices. In connection with these Bible Carriages the Gospel is preached in the open air, and thus not only have hundreds of thousands of persons heard of the way of salvation, but great numbers also have been truly converted. We praise God for having permitted us to help in this glorious service, and we ask Him to allow us the honour of thus serving Him more than ever. The amount of the funds of the Institution, spent during the past year on the circulation of the Holy Scrip tures, is £1,300. 4s. 3d. The total amount spent since March 5th, 1834, is £30,365. 16s. 6½d. The third Object of the Institution is, to aid Mis sionary efforts. Ever since my conversion (now 60 years ago), I have taken a deep interest in Missionary work. Indeed at five different times, within the first eight years after I had been brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, I offered myself to Him most solemnly for work among the heathen ; but each time it was most plainly shown to me, that I should serve Him by remaining in Europe. As I could not, therefore, go to heathen nations myself, I have sought to help on Missionary operations to the utmost, and was further stimulated to this through re ceiving the truth of the Lord's coming, to which I was led in July, 1829. The moment I saw this truth clearly revealed in the Holy Scriptures, the thought occurred to me, " What can I do to make Him known before His return, seeing that He may soon come ? " Ever since July, 1829, the certainty of the return of the Lord Jesus has been a stimulus for good to my soul, and especially in quickening me to exertion with regard to Missionary work. But more than ever I have been roused to effort since the Lord at last allowed me, after 58 years, to see the field of Missionary labour in India myself, to which, as a young believer, I had so earnestly desired to go. The sight of idolatry in India, in the many places which I visited in my Missionary tour, and especially at Benares, stirred my soul to the utmost, leading me more than ever to take the deepest interest in Missions, and to decide that I would devote every sovereign that could be spared to this object, besides being led to pray more than ever 374 [A.D. 1885. that God would incline the hearts of great numbers of His children to help me with their means. I have now to state that in some measure my prayers have been answered, for since my return from India (on May 1 9th, 1884) we have been enabled between May 26th, 1884 and May 26th, 1885, to devote £6,593. 6s. 4d. to Mis sionary operations, and, from the commencement of the Institution, £203,226. 18s. 9d. has been expended in this way. During the past year 136 labourers in word and doc trine, in various parts of the world, were assisted by the £6,593. 6s. 4d. spent on Missionary operations. There was expended for the support of the Schools in connec tion with Missions in India £264. ; for Schools in con nection with Missions in British Guiana £258 ; for Schools in connection with Missions in Spain £1,282 ; for the support of a School in Italy £219. 19s. 4d. Expended also in connection with some preaching places in spiritually dark villages in Somersetshire and Gloucestershire £14. 7s. Many hundreds of deeply interesting letters were re ceived from the 136 Missionaries, who were helped during the year, from which could be gathered that again thousands of souls had been won for our Lord Jesus Christ, through their instrumentality ; but I am obliged to refer the readers to the Forty-Sixth Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, for particulars, as otherwise this volume would be too large. The fourth Object of the Institution is, the circulation of such publications as may be calculated, with the bless ing of God, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. As it respects tracts for unbelievers, we especially aim at the diffusion of such as contain the truths of the Gospel clearly and simply expressed ; and as it regards 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 which have been particularly lost sight of, and may lead believers to return to the written Word of God. Each branch of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution was very small at the commencement. In the first year we circulated 19,000 tracts, a small number only, but this was a beginning ; for as time passed on, more was A.D. 1885.] 375 accomplished. It was not long before the 19,000 tracts were multiplied tenfold. But this was not all. Pam- phlets and excellent books, of a truly spiritual character, were added; and these precious books and pamphlets were circulated in many hundreds, and even thousands of copies ; and ere long there took place another tenfold increase ; so that now we circulate a hundred times as many tracts as during the first year. But even there we did not stop, for that would have been One Million and Nine Hundred Thousand only ; whereas we often issued in one year not only 2 Millions of books, pamphlets and tracts, but 24 Millions, 3 Millions, and even as many as . 3} Millions. And thus the work has now been going on for " many years. Let this encourage you therefore, dear Chris- tian reader, in seeking to labour for God. Be not discou- raged, because you cannot do great things at once, but go on labouring for God, letting your aim, however, TRULY be the glory of God ; accompany your work, too, habitually with earnest, believing prayer, on no account relying upon your own exertions, but seeking the blessing of God ; and, if this be done, it is impossible to say to what an extent you may be helped. During the past year we were able to circulate 154 times as many publications as we did the first year; but there have been years when the quantity was even 184 times greater than it was during the first year we began this branch of the Insti- tution. The whole number of books, pamphlets and tracts which we have been enabled to circulate now exceeds 83 Millions. They have been sent all over the world, and thousands of Christian men and women have helped in this service. Every year we receive many hundreds of applications for gratuitous grants of tracts, and, when- ever the cases are suitable, 3,000, 4,500, 6,000, 10,000, and sometimes as many as 50,000 at one time have been sent out gratuitously. Reflect, dear reader, on the greatness of the honour and privilege, which God has bestowed on us, in allow- ing us to send forth more than 83 Millions of books, pamphlets and tracts, wherein the plan of salvation is clearly set before the readers ; and be encouraged to ex- pect far greater help from God in your own service, than as yet you have ever had. Labour, aa if every thing < 376 [A.D. 1885. depended on your own diligence in service ; and yet do not trust in the least in your exertions, but look to God alone for blessing, as the result of believing prayer. Thousands of tracts and books may be circulated without any good resulting from them ; but, if God gives his bless ing, one little tract used by Him may become the means of great spiritual blessing. The circulation of tracts, is especially a work of faith, as regards the seeing of fruit ; but, if you commit the whole to God, in believing, persevering prayer, then, though you should not SEE much fruit of your labour here on earth, you will yet reap abundantly at the ap pearing of the Lord Jesus. At least once a day, for more than forty years past, the blessing of God has been sought by me in believing, expecting prayer on this branch of the Institution only, and I expect to meet thousands of saved souls in the glory, as the result of this labour, in addition to the very many cases of bless ing, which have already been brought to my knowledge. There has been laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1884 to May 26, 1885, the sum of £844. 11s. 0½d. ; and there have been circulated within the last year more than Two Million Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand (exactly 2,923,581) Tracts and Books. The sum total expended on this object, since November 19, 1840, amounts to £35,881. 8s. 10½d. The total number of Tracts and Books circulated since November 19, 1840 to May 26, 1885, is more than Eighty-Three Million One Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand (exactly 83,142,915). More than Two Million Six Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand of the tracts and books circulated during the year were distributed gratuitously. There are now kept on sale, 1,400 different books, large and small ; and 1,050 different Tracts, which num ber is continually added to. The fifth Object of the Institution is, to board, clothe, and scripturally educate destitute children, who have lost BOTH parents by death. Before entering upon the statistics of the Orphan Work for the year, I make the following statements. It is quite true that my heart was affected by the deplorable physical condition in which I saw destitute A.D. 1885.] 377 Orphans, before I began to care for them ; but a higher motive by far actuated me than merely seeking to benefit their health. For about fifty years we have constantly sought the physical well-being of the Orphans, and thou sands of them have been benefited, even as it regards their health. The lives of many hundreds have been saved (humanly speaking) through their having been received under our care, and their health has been estab lished, by the blessing of God, through wholesome food, proper clothing, thorough cleanliness, regular habits, and a healthy dwelling-place. The low death rate at the Orphan Houses, year after year, is in itself a proof, how the children are cared for physically. It is further true, that I had a desire to benefit the Orphans by seeking to educate them ; but I aimed at far more than this. For about half a century now, we have sought to develop and to cultivate their mental powers, and to what extent we have succeeded, will be seen by this, that, though the girls are more especially trained for domestic service, and the boys for trades, Very many of the girls, by reason of their good education, have become house-keepers and book-keepers in establish ments, and some are filling places of great responsibility. Many also are now teachers, and one of them is Post Mistress of a Branch Post Office. As it regards the boys, hundreds of them have now a business of their own, or are managers of businesses ; some are partners in large houses of business, others are clerks in offices, a consider able number have become teachers, one of them (if not more) has passed a competitive examination for the Civil Service, and many are engaged in preaching the Gospel publicly, or labour otherwise in the Church of God, by seeking to spread the truth as it is in Jesus. As a further illustration of the kind of education which our Orphan boys and girls receive, I will now give the result of the last examination of the Orphans by our School Inspector, Mr. Home. " The Annual Examination of the children was held during the months of February and March. The sub jects were Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Scripture, Dictation, Geography, History, Grammar, Composition and Singing. The Children were examined and arranged in the s 378 [A.D. 1885. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Standards, in many particulars according to the Government Code. Each child was examined separately in reading. Each child showed his or her Copy-book, to determine the Mark for Writing. Ten Questions were put on each of the following sub jects, viz., on Scripture, Geography, History and Gram mar. The answers were given in writing. Six Sums were given in Arithmetic. The answers were given on paper. - The average per cent. of all the Marks the children received during the Examination was 91 •!." To all who are acquainted with such matters, the last sentence will show, with what success ^our children are . j educated^ S/ J , '"Further, when I began the Orphan Work, I aimed from i the beginning at the salvation of the children. To make 1 them see their lost and ruined condition by nature, \ through instructing them in the Word of God, and to I lead them to put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, was my aim ; and God has given us the joy of seeing thousands of them brought to believe in Him, so that few institutions, perhaps, have been more abun- ' dantly blessed in this respect than the Orphan Houses on Ashley Down have been; yet even this was not the primary object I had in view when I began to care for poor destitute children bereaved of both parents by death ; but, in carrying on this work, simply through the instrumentality of prayer and faith, without applying to any human being for help, my great desire was, that it might be seen, that, now in the nineteenth century, God is still the Limng God, a/nd thai now, as well as thou sands of years ago, He listens to the prayers of His children, and helps those who trust in Him. In all the 23 countries ; through which I travelled during the past ten years of I my missionary service, numberless instances came before i me of the benefit which our Orphan Institution has been in ' this respect, not only in making men of the world see the reality of the things of God, and by converting them, but especially by leading the children of God more abundantly to give themselves to prayer, and by strengthening their faith. Far beyondwhatIatfirstexpected to accomplish, the Lord has been pleased to give to me. But what I have seen A.D. 1885.] 379 as the fruit of my labour in this way, may not be the ' thousandth part of what I shall see when the Lord Jesus comes again, as day by day, for fifty years, I have earnestly laboured, in believing prayer, that God would be pleased more abundantly to bless this service in the way I have stated. Further. When I began the Orphan work, its com mencement was very small, as was the case with the other branches of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. I rented a house, furnished it, and received 30 children, which was a very humble beginning ; but compare this with the magnitude of the five large Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, now the greatest Orphan Institution in the world, and let this fact be an especial encouragement to the children of God, who seek to labour for Him. On no account should they be discouraged, because they cannot begin with great things. If we truly seek the honour of God, and not our own, it is impossible to say to what an extent He may condescend to use us. Lastly. At the time, when it was especially laid on my heart to labour for Orphans, the total accommoda tion in all the Orphan Institutions in England, was for 3,600 Orphans, and at the same time, there were 6,000 Orphans under 8 years of age in the prisons of England, according to public statistics. This deeply affected me, and I sought therefore to enlarge the Orphan work under my direction to the utmost of my power. This ended in providing accommodation for 2,050 Orphan and 112 helpers at a time, and the result of this has been, that, by means of other individuals, or through Societies, one Institution after another has been opened for the reception of 20, 30, 50, or 100 Orphans ; or that Orphan Houses have been built for 200, 300, 400, and even 500 Orphans, so that now I am happy to say, there is accommgdation in England alone jbr at least One Hundred Thousand Orphans.' "Orphan Institutions in deed have multiplied to such an extent since I first began to labour in this way, that some time since the secretary of an Orphan Institution for 500 children (but where they have not quite Three Hundred), wrote to me, stating that if we had applications for more Orphans than we could receive, this Institution would gladly take 50 of them. I praise and adore God, there- .-• 380 [A.D. 1885. fore, that he has allowed me to give such an impetus for good in this work, and that during the last forty years He has caused many scores of Orphan Institutions to be established. I enter now upon the statistics of the Orphan work. At the commencement of the last year of the Institu tion (May 27th, 1884), we had 1,894 Orphans in the five houses. During the past year, 216 were received, so that, had there been no changes, on May 26th, 1885, we should have had 2,110 children in the five houses. But of these 2,110, twenty died. Only twenty, for which we praise God ! Of the 20 who died, one was an infant, twelve were believers, and some of them had been converted for a considerable time. Four girls we were obliged to expel from the Institution, but did so most reluctantly; in mercy, however, to the other Orphans, whom these ringleaders in evil sought to cor rupt, their removal was absolutely necessary, but we still follow them with our prayers. Thirty-nine of the children were returned to their relatives, after most of them had been for a long time under our care, because they could not be recommended as apprentices or for domestic service, on account of physical, mental, or moral defects ; and nineteen were given up to their relatives, because the latter were now in a position to provide for them, and desired to do so. Twenty-seven of the boys were apprenticed to trades or businesses, and 109 girls were sent out as domestic servants. Two of the Orphan girls were sent out as pupil teachers to assist in teaching in our schools in Purton and Exeter ; and two young men, who had been, the one 7 and the other 8 years in the Orphan Houses, and who were afterwards trained in them for five years, were appointed assistant masters. The last four were believers ; 9 of the boys also who were apprenticed were converted, as well as fifty-one of the girls who were sent out, and twelve died as believers ; making 76 altogether whose hearts had been given to the Lord. We have therefore to deduct 222 from 2,110, so that on May 26th, 1885, . we had 1,888 Orphans and 112 helpers in the five houses. From April, 1836, up to May 26, 1885, 7,108 Orphans altogether have been under our care. During the last twelve years we have sought to train Christian lads and girls from among the Orphans to be A.D. 1885.] 381 come teachers, if they manifest aptitude for teaching, have a desire to become teachers, and are in other respects suitable. The Lord has caused His especial blessing to rest upon this also, and we have been thus able to appoint many young men and young women already as assistant masters and mistresses at the Orphan Houses, and in the Day Schools, connected with the Institution. Without any one having been personally applied to for any thing by me, £692,071. 5s. l|d. has been given to me for the Orphans as the result of prayer to God, since the commencement of the work, which sum includes the amount received for the Building Fund for the five houses. It may also be interesting to the reader to know that the total amount given for the other objects, since the commencement of the work, amounts to £309,740. 11s. 10½d. ; that that which has come in by the sale of Bibles since the commencement, amounts to £15,224. 18s. 10d. ; by the sale of Tracts, £18,370. 6s. 9½d. ; and by the payment of the children in the Day Schools from the commencement, £18,920. 18s. 4½d. In all, One Million Fifty-Four Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Eight Pounds and One Shilling has been received by me, from March 5, 1834 to May 26, 1885. Besides this, a great variety of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, coal, &c., has also been given for the use of the Orphans. .^11 jhe propertvj connected with the Orphan Houses, is vested intEe hands _of eleven Christian gentlemen, whom I have chosen as trustees, and the deeds are enrolled in Chancery. CHAPTER IV. Matters more particularly connected with my own personal affairs, or those of my family, from June, 1874 to Dec. 31, 1885. The eleven years andji half of the evening of my life, which are embraced in fEis chapter, are very different from former years, as by far the greater part of this time was spent in Missionary Tours in three-and-twenty 382 [a.D. 1874. countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia. There are also some otr points, which make this period of X my life not without instruction to the reader. I now refer very briefly to some of these events. At the end of the Third Volume of this Narrative, it has been already stated that in March, 1874, my beloved wife had been laid very low by typhoid fever, and that, in consequence, we went for change of air to Burnham, | in Somersetshire, in May of that year. She derived benefit from this, but in August it became manifest that a further change was necessary, and we therefore spent September and October at Ventnor and Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. Whilst at Ventnor, I preached in one of the Nonconformist chapels several times. On the evening of the last Lord’s Day, in doing so, the excellent Chris- tian brother, for whom I had been preaching, and who had for very many years laboured in Word and doctrine, said to me, “Dear Mr. Miiller, I do not wish to flatter you, but I consider it my duty to tell you, for your encouragement, that this has been the happiest day o x my whole life.” Est SL er since coming first to Bristol in May, 1832, I had almost exclusively preached in Bristol, but had often said to myself, that I ought to seek to help on churches | out of Bristol, by the measure of experience I had ; and to preach the simple Gospel in other places atso. More- over, I had again and again been asked to go to other places ; and I now determined, after this statement at Ventnor, I would no longer confine my labours in the Word merely to Bristol, it go to other places likewise, as 8000 as ths Lord made my path plain. In the former parts of this Narrative, I have more than once referred to the deep importance of giving of that, with which God has blessed us in temporal things, systematically, and that, in doing so, we are blessed, both temporally and spiritually; and, at the end of Volume 3, I have, by my own experience, sought to illustrate this practically. I now do this again in the last chapter of the Fourth Volume. Dec. 31, 1874. During the past year I received by presents in clothes, provisions, &c., the value of £30. By anonymous donations, placed into the Chapel Boxes, £128, 3s. 12d. The reader of the former volumes AD. 1874.]. 383 knows, that in October, 1830, I gave up my stated; salary, as pastor and minister of the Gospel, and that, since: then, I have had neither as pastor of a large church, nor as director of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, any salary, stipend, or fixed income at_all. Nevertheless, has put it into the hearts of some of His children, in almost all parts of the world, to remem- ber my temporal necessities, and to send to me, entirely unsolicited, help in money as well as in clothes or provi- sions. Thus, with regard to the £128. 3s. 13d., little amounts in copper, silver, or gold were placed into the boxes for the poor, or missions, or expenses of our chapels, wrapped up in paper, and my name written on them. There was also sent to me by Bristol and Clifton donors, £201. 10s. 64d. On January 1, 1874, I also received the payment of a legacy of £400. (less duty=£360), left to me by a Christian lady at Wor- cester, whom I had seen but once. to addition to all this, £1,420. 1s. 84d. was sent to me by a great_variet, of donors, residing in various parts of the country an the world. Thus, altogether, my yearly income amounted to £2,139. 15s. 43d A aod sum, esteemed reader | Do you not say so? How Tow Nonconfornnist iiinistere have as much ; and not one out of twenty of the clergy of the Establishment have such an income. All this abundance I received simply in answer to prayer. For I have neither directly nor indirectly asked for anything for myself from man, since October, 1830, But I am — also fully assured, that God had again abundantly verified His word : “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good | 7 measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and run- af ning over, shall man give into your bosom. For with ™s the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be mea- sured to you again,” Luke vi, 38. I believe the state- ment of this divine testimony. Many hundreds of times this verse had been fulfilled in my experience. I had GIVEN, and God had caused to be GIVEN TO ME AGATN During the yéar I873;-as in previous years, I had given, and now I received back again, and bountifully. This is not said to my praise (for I am far from being what I ought to be) ; but to encourage the reader, to act on the same principles, that he also, both temporally and spiri- tually, may reap as I have done, and far more abundantly. 6 384 [a.D. 1874. Now, what did I do with this £2,139. 15s. 43d., my in- come for the year 1874? In all simplicity, dear reader, I tell it out for your benefit. £213. 2s. 6d. we gave to relatives, who either habi- tually or occasionally needed help. £151. 19s. 1d. we gave to the poor believers under my pastoral care ; and £2,557. 15s. 4d. we gave to the Scriptural Knowledge Institation, except about £8., which was given to other branches of the work of God: in a therefore, £2,922. 16s, 11d. Whe teaderwill say, your whole income for the year ‘was only £2,139. 158. 49d, and you gave away £2,922. 16s. 11d. within the year? Yes. The explana- tion is this. During the year 1873 I had received the payment of six legacies, making in all £1,035. Os 10d., the greater part of which money had been received onl at_the end of the year. Now, as I do not cone . if sinful to have some money, until I clearly see, ho God would have me to use it ir Him, as I am only His steward ; and as Thad no clear light how to use it; I continued waiting on God, and not long after received __ light, and gave in one donation £980. 9s. 7d. for the Missions of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution ; and thus the means I had in hand were pxpended for the Lord, and I remained a poor man, as I had been 45 years before, and thus also Tale room, to Him, to intrust_me with more. If the reader enters into the word of our Lord, * Tt is more blessed to give than to receive, he will not_be surprised at what T Ta. I BELIEVE what I find in the word of God, and, by His Grace, seek to AcT ACCORDINGLY ; thus I am blessed abundantly, and my peace and joy in the Holy Ghost increased more and more. This blessing ‘T desire the reader to share with me, if he is yet without it, and this is the reason, why I relate all these particulars. The readers, who have long been acquainted with theScriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, may remember, that there rae & time, which lasted above ten years, when my faith was greatly tried by the Towiiees of the funds of the Tnstitu- tion, and when, from August, 1838 fo April, 1849, there was very rarely any considerable amount of means at my disposal. By the grace of God, however, I was enabled } to trust in Him in the darkest days, and, with unshaken A.D. 1875.] 385 confidence, habitually to rely upon Him. Now in May, June, and July of last year (1874) the appearance was, that those days were coming again. I transcribe what I wrote in my journal under July 28, 1874, and the fol- lowing days, for the comfort of the reader, and that he may see how God honours those who honour Him, and be encouraged to look to God alone and to trust in Him under all circumstances, even the most trying. “July 28, 1874. For the last three months the in- come for the various Objects of the Institution has been so little, in comparison with the expenses, that within these three months our balance in hand has decreased | ~ about £6,500, Moreover, for several years our expenses have been more than our income. This does not arise from the fact, that our income has been decreased, but that our expenses have more and more increased, on account of the enlargement of the operations. Our in- come from May 26, 1873 to May 26, 1874, was as good as in any previous year, but the balance left was com- paratively little. On May 26, 1871, our balancein hand for the first four Objects was £2,417. 4s. 44d., and for the support of the Orphans £14,726. 2s. 53d. On May 26, 1872, the balance for the first four Objects was £844. 14s. Ofd., and for the support of the Orphans £10,673. 13s, ld. On May 26, 1873, the balance in hand for the first four Objects was £110. 11s. 3d. and for the support of the Orphans £7,570. 15s. 11jd. On May 26, 1874, the balance for the first four Objects was £167. 1s. 34d. and for the support of the Orphans £4,057. 128. 94d. Compare this with the balance for the support of the Orphans, 3 years before, and it will be seen, that we had then about £10,700. more in hand. When, however, yesterday, July 27, 1874, I had the accounts made up, for the last two months, I found, that there was a balance of £222. 4s. 9d. for the School—, Bible—, Missionary —and Tract Fund in hand, but that there were bills to be paid to the amount of about £220. for Schools, Tracts, and Bibles, so that we might say we had nothing at all left for these Objects, whilst our weekly current expenses, after the rate of last year, are £317. As for the balance of the Orphan Fund, it had still further been reduced since May 26, 1874, so that, instead of having then £4,057. 12s. 94d., we had now 5: & 386 [A.D. 1875, only £2,869. 8s. 1d. left, an amount so small, as that, if the income is not much more, than it has been for the last 3 months, we shall have in 6 weeks nothing at all left. But how did I feel, the reader may ask, under these circumstances ? The answer is, calm and peaceful. It has for months appeared to me, as if the Lorl meant, by His dealings with us, to bring us back to that state of things, in which we were for more than ten years, from August, 1838, to April, 1849, when we had day by day almost_without interruption, to look to Him for our daily supplies, and, for a great part of the time, Tm meat to meal. “The ‘difficulties ‘appeared “to me indééd \ Very great, as the Institution is now twenty times larger, than it was then, and our purchases are to be made in a wholesale way ; but, at the same time, I am comforted by the knowledge, that God is aware of all this; and that, if this way be for the glory of His name, and for the good of His church and the unconverted world, I am, by His grace, willing to go this way, and to do it to the end of my course. The Finds were thus fast expended ; but God, our “infinitely rich Treasurer, remains to us. It is this which gives me peace. Moreover, i it pleases “Him, with a work require about £44,000. a year, to make me do again at the evening of my life, what I did from August, 1838, to April, 1849, I am not only pre- pared for it, but gladly again I would pass through all these trials of faith, wih regard to means, if He “only \ might be glorified, and His Church and the world be ! benefited. Often and often this last point has of late passed through my mind, and I have Placed myself in the position of having no means at all left, and Two Thousand and One Thindred persons not only daily at the table, but with everything else to be provided for, and all funds gone; 189 Missionaries to be assisted, and nothing whatever left; about one hundred schools, with about nine thousand scholars in them, to be entirely supported, and no means for them in hand ; about Four Millions of Tracts and Tens of Thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures yearly now to be sent out, and all _, the money expended. Invariably, however, with this probability before me, I have said to myself: “ God, : who has raised up this work through me, God who has ; led me generally year after year to enlarge it, God who has A.D. 1875.] 387 supported this work now for more than forty years, will still help, and will not suffer me to be confounded, \ Becwise Lich - upon Him, I commit the whole work to Him, and He tl ‘provide me, with what I need, in future” also, though I know not, whence the means are to come.” Thus I wrote in my journal on July 28, 1874. The ; reader will now feel interested in learning how we fared under these circumstances. I therefore make further extracts from my journal. ‘“When I came home, last evening (July 27), I found, . letters had arrived, which contained £193., among which . there was one from a Missionary in Foreign lands, helped by the funds of this Institution, who, having come into the possession of some money, by the death of a relative, | ~ sent £153. Os. 4d. for Foreign Missions. This morning, July 28, came in £24. more, so that, when I met this afternoon with several of my helpers for prayer for means and various other matters, such as spiritual blessing upon the various Objects of the Institution, for more rain in this very dry season, the health of our fellow-labourers, etc., we had received, since yesterday afternoon, altogether £217. We thanked God for it, and asked for more. When the meeting for prayer was over, there was handed to me a letter from Scotland, containing £73. 17s. 10d., and a paper with 13s. This was the immediate answer to prayer for more means.— When I came home in the evening, I found £30. arrived from Reading, and £14. came in besides.” “July 29. This morning came in about £50. by the first delivery, and an Ottoman bond for £100., anony- mously, from Warwickshire, to be sold. On making up the account books for the past week, it was found that the income for the various Objects of the Institution, since the evening of the 22nd, has been £662. 5s. 104d.,|_- a proof that we do. not wait on the Lord in vain, though even this is not nearly enough to meet the average ex- penses of one week.—July 30. 6 p.m. Since last even- ing at this time, came in altogether £55. 2s. 7d.—July 31. 1lp.m. Since I wrote last evening, the Lord has, in answer to prayer, given altogether £95.—Aug. 1. 10 a.m. Since yesterday afternoon, the Lord has kindly sent in, for the various Objects, £233.—Aug. 5. During: the week, since last Wednesday, July 29, came in alto- : . s 2 sc 388 [A.D. 1875. gether £566.—Aug. 6. £50. came in to-day.—Aug. 7. £112. came in to-day.—Aug. 8. £550. was received to- day.—Though the outgoings are so immense just now, £200. or £300. daily, yet the Lord helps day by day, more or less.—Aug. 10. - The income since Saturday afternoon, Aug. 8, to this afternoon, has been £85.— Aug. 11. Since yesterday afternoon has come in £15. For more than 3 months we have had to haul water, 3 carts, 2 or 1 having been daily needed for this purpose ; for a long time 3 carts) We have day by day prayed for more rain. Now the Lord has answered fully our | requests in this respect. Last Saturday, Aug. 8, we were able to take off the last cart.—Aug. 12. The in- come since yesterday afternoon has been £82., and there has fallen still more rain. The income for this whole week, since Aug. 5, has been £897. 15s. 64d.—Aug. 13. Since yesterday afternoon we received £65., and there has been further much rain.—Aug. 14. Income £50.— | Aug. 15. Income £42.—Aug. 17. Monday. Income | since Saturday £50.—Aug. 18. Income £60.—Aug. 19. Income £105.—Aug. 20. Income £117.—Aug. 21. Income £85.—Aug. 22. £18.—Aug. 24. £62.—Aug. 25. Income £173.—The Lord be praised for it !—Aug. 26. Income £650.—Aug. 27. Income £44.—Aug. 28. Income £103. Three of the masters out of four, in the | New Orphan House No. 4, are ill. This is a great trial and occasions much difficulty, I have an object in view, why I give to the reader {| these extracts from my journal, and for that purpose request him to read a little more, that he may see to | what I refer. | Aug. 29. Income £28.—Aug. 31. Income £102— — Sept. 1. Income £140.—Sept. 2. £200.—Sept. 3. £333., of this sum came £100. from a clergyman.—Sept. 4. £100.—Sept. 5. £90.—Sept. 7. £250.—Sept. 8 £170.—Sept. 9. £180.—Sept. 10. £90. 15s. 10d— Sept. 11. £112. 7s. O4d—Sept. 12, £85. 28. 64d.— Sept. 14. £94. 17s. 54d.—Sept. 15. £67. 168. 2d.— Sept. 16. Just after having again prayed for the pay- ment of legacies, which have been Toft. I had a legacy receipt sent for the payment of a legacy for £1,800. The income to-day is £106. 2s. 24d.—Sept. 17. Income to day £136. 13s, 1d.—Sept. 18. Income £1,845. 7s., A.D. 1875.] 389 including the payment of the legacy for £1,800.—Sept. 19. £83. 198.—Sept. 21. £183. 5s. 7d.—Sept. 22. £16. 12s. 10d.—Sept. 23. Income to-day £5,365. 13s. 6d., of which there was sent in one donation £5,327. 7s. 6d. The Lord be praised ! T have given these extracts from my journal, to show the blessedness of waiting upon God. That, which came in from one prayer meeting to the other, which I had with some of my fellow-labourers, is recorded in the pre- vious pages. Besides this we received many answers to prayers for rain, for helpers in the work, for the restora- tion to health of the labourers in the work, and for the recovery of the children, also for spiritual blessing upon the various branches of the Institution, etc. One_par- | ticular point I have especially in view in giving these extracts, is, to bring before the reader, that in April, May, June and July, 1874, while the income for the funds of the Institution was so exceedingly small, my soul was, THROUGHOUT, without the least waverin | stayed upon’ God, believing that He, who had_ through me begun the Institution, enlarged it almost year after year, and upheld it for forty years in answer to prayer by faith, would do this still, and not suffer me to be con- fouiided! T~bélieved that He would help still, and‘ supply the means; but I was willing, and THOROUGHLY in heart prepared, if necessary, to pass again through the same seasons of trial, through which I had passed from Aug. 1838 to April, 1849. On March 26, 1875, I began my Preaching Tours, regarding which I had been much Ta prayer sincé tie previous October. We began with Brighton, where I preached many times, and orice also at Lewés, to which I went from Brighton. From Brighton my dear wife and I went to Sunderland, that I might preach for some time in the chapel of my old and valued friend, Mr. Arthur Rees. On our way to Sunderland, I preached once in the large Metropolitan Tabernacle for Mr. | - Spurgeon. After I had held meetings some time at Sunderland, we went to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where I preached 18 times and held a large meeting for Christian workers, in order to encourage them in their work, and to benefit them by my long experience in the Lord’s | service. After leaving Newcastle-on-Tyne, we went to re 390 [a.p. 1875. London, to be present at the Mildmay Park Conference, to which I had been again and again invited, but this was the first time that could accept the invitation. At this Conference I spoke three times to about 3,000 hearers. After the Conference I preached four times at Talbot Road Tabernacle, London, for Mr. Gordon Furlong, and on June 5, 1875, addressed about 1,500 Christian workers for an hour and a-half at the ‘‘Edin- burgh Castle,” London. This brought my first preaching tour to a close. From March 27 to June 5,I spoke seventy times in public. Miter Mra Mutter and myself had been in Bristol five weeks and four days, we set off again on a second mis- sionary tour. That which guided me in my moveniéMts this tine in particular, was a desire to help forward the work of the devoted brethren, Moody and Sankey, who, by that time, had left again for the United States. These dear brethren, from having been able to stay only a comparatively short time in each place, were unable to lead on the young converts in knowledge and grace; I therefore sought to follow up their labours, and, in my feeble measure, to do what T could to supply this lack of service. I had already been in York, Sunderland, and Newcastle, where they had laboured, and I now went to London, where I held 14 meetings at Mildmay Park Conference Hall, during the 15 days we were in London, which meetings were especially intended for young con- verts. This was only the beginning of this kind of service, for I went afterwards from city to city, in Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland, where these brethren had laboured, staying from one to six weeks in each place, with the above especial object before me. From London we went to Kilmarnock, Scotland, where I preached seven times, also once at Saltwater, in the neighbourhood of Kilmarnock. In September we were at Dundee, where, in 15 days I preached seventeen times to from | 1,000 to 2,500 people at each meeting. After leaving Dundee, we went to Perth, where I preached five times, and then proceeded to Glasgow, in which city I began ‘ my labours in addressin = Convention of about 5,000 ~ persons ; and, as all could not hear me, I was requested to give the address again to an overflow meeting of about _ £ 1,200, in a neighbouring church. We stayed in Glasgow “A.D. 1875.] 391 36 days, during which time I preached 38 times. Every ord’s day evening, for 5 weeks in succession, I preached at the Prince of Wales’ Theatre, to about 3,000 persons each time. On the week days, when this theatre could not be rented, I held meetings in various large churches in the city, especially for young converts, and had from 1,500 to 1,700 at a time present. The very first time I preached in the theatre in Glasgow, about 20 persons were led to care about their souls; and meeting after meeting brought blessing. While in Glasgow, I preached also once at Kirkentilloch to about 1,000 people. Many times I gave the address at the Noonday Prayer Meeting, at which generally, among the 800 or 900 hearers, 30 or 40 ministers were present. I also addressed on Nov. 9, 1,600 Sunday School Teachers and other Christian workers, for about one hour and a quarter. Our tour through Scotland, at this time, was inter- rupted by a pressing invitation from Dublin, by a special deputation, that I would come to the Dublin Convention, which I accepted, as I was particularly desired to address about 400 ministers, chiefly clergymen, at this Conven- tion. We left Glasgow on Nov. 19. On Nov. 21 I gave an address at the breaking of bread at Merrion Hall, Dublin; and in the evening preached to about 2,000 persons, in that Hall. On Nov. 22, I addressed, by request, at the Convention, an assembly of 400, con- sisting of ministers only, on ‘‘ What is holiness, and how is it attained?” and in the afternoon addressed about 2,000 hearers, at the same place, on “Faith, which worketh by love.” Both these meetings were of a weighty character, and, I doubt not, were greatly blessed. On Nov. 25 I spoke again at the Convention, and gave also an address at the Noonday Prayer Meeting on the 26th, and immediately, after closing it, gave it over again, by particular request, to an overflow meeting. Dec. 3 I preached at the Metropolitan Hall, and in the’ afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Exhibition Palace, where I addressed about 2,500 persons at least. This was @ precious meeting, and the power of the Spirit was felt. During the 20 days we were in Dublin, I preached 21 times. On Dec. 10 we left Dublin for Leamington. Whilst there, 27 days, I preached day by day in that town, as f 392 [A.D. 1875. also once at Warwick, once at Kenilworth, twice at Coventry, and once at Rugby, altogether 46 times during the 27 days, including the expositions of the Scriptures given at the Arboretum, a large Hydropathic Establish ment. Dec. 31, 1875.—During the past year we had sent to us articles of clothing, provisions, etc., worth to us £25. 10s. Through the boxes in the Chapels we received £81. 9s. 4d., from Bristol and Clifton Donors, £175. 7s. 8½d., and from donors out of Bristol, £1,740. 10s. 7½d. Altogether, therefore, in the course of the year, £2,022. 17s. 8d. During the year 1875 my dear wife and I gave away out of the £2,022. 17s. 8d., which we had received, £150. 10s. to relatives who needed help. £125. 15s. 7d. to the poor believers under my pastoral care ; and £1,590. 14s. 2d. for Missions, etc., to the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. The reader will see that I went on acting steadilyas to systematic giving, upon the same principles" accofcl- ihg to which I had acted many years before. It is just this, which brings blessing, both temporally and spiritu ally; forTwas not only thus further and further blessed in my inner man, but the Lord also continued to make me His steward, and over more and more. On Jan. 7, 1876, we went to Liverpool. I had been invited to preach some time at the immense Victoria Hall, which had been built for Messrs. Moody and Sankey. Here I preached day by day twice, viz., at noon and at seven in the evening, also on the Lord's day afternoons and evenings. On Sundays I had from 5,000 to 6,000 hearers, and on the week-days from 2,000 to 2,500. We stayed at Liverpool from Jan. 7 to Feb. 15, with the exception of three days spent at a Convention in York, where I preached 3 times. During the 35 days we were in Liverpool and 3 in York, I preached 58 times, and during the whole of this service I was greatly helped. The very first time I preached at the Victoria Hall, one of the former Orphans, a commander of a large merchant vessel, was converted. And thus, time after time, God gave blessing. On Feb. 15 my dear wife and I went to Kendal, where the Society of Friends kindly lent me their meeting-house to preach in, as it was the A.D. 1876.] 393 largest place to be obtained in the town. I preached also in the Sand Area Chapel. On Feb. 21 we went to ~ Carlisle, where I addressed on the same evening about 400 workmen of the Messrs. Carr. The day after, we . started for Annan in Scotland, where I held a meeting on Feb. 23, at the United Presbyterian Church. From Annan we went to Edinburgh, where we remained six | weeks. As soon as We arrived, the large General Assembly Hall of the Free Church was very kindly placed at my disposal, to hold meetings in every Sunday evening, also as often as I desired on the evenings of the week ; and I generally spoke every day at the Noon Prayer Meeting, whilst in that city. I preached in many of the Churches also; and in all 53 times, during our stay in Edinburgh. It was a precious time altogether in a variety of ways. I had a meeting, likewise, with a great number of pastors, whom I addressed for about an hour, and spoke to the theological students also of the Free Church College. On April 6 we left Edinburgh for Arbroath. Here and at Montrose I preached 8 times; and at Aberdeen, which we reached on April 16, held 31 meetings durin the 21 days we were there. In Aberdeen also f addressed a large number of pastors; but as my dear | wife has written an account of my Preaching Tours,* in which many interesting details are given that cannot be recorded here; I only add, that, after I had further preached at Ballater, Crathic, Braemar, Inverness, Wick, Canisbury (near John O’ Groat’s House), and Reading in Berkshire, this second preaching tour was brought to a close on July 5, 1876, after we had been absent from Bristol since August 14, 1875. 206 Dec. 31, 1876.—During the past year, were sent to us presents of clothes, provisions, etc., worth £20. 8s. 6d., and through the chapel boxes I received £64. 10s. 5d. From donors in Bristol and Clifton, besides, £139. 2s., and from donors in other parts of the country and the world, £1,517. 9s. 6d. There was also a legacy of - * Preaching Tours and Missionary Labours of George Miiller (of Bristol.) By Mrs. Miiller. 1883. London: J. Nisbet and Co., Berners Street. Price 3s. 6d, To be had also at the Bible and Tract Warehouse ; at the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, No. 34, Park Street ; and through all book- sellers. 53 Pal 394 [A.D. 187?. £1,000 left to me (less duty £900). In all, therefore, our income, during the year, amounted to £2,641. 10s. 5d. Is it not again a large sum, dear reader ? Now what did we do with it 1 We continued to lay up treasure in heaven ; for we believe in the value and blessedness of prayer for our temporal supplies. Of this £2,641. 10s. 5d. we gave to relatives £158., to poor believers £102. 11s., and to the Lord's work £2,018. 7s. 6d. This last sum went to the Mission Fund, etc., of the Scriptural Know ledge Institution, and thus we made room for other donations, that we might be used still further in our stewardship. May 26, 1877. —During the greater part of the past year, accompanied by my dear wife, I have been absent from Bristol on a preaching tour on the Continent of Europe, and preached repeatedly in Faris" Tn Swilzer- lancTl preached at Berne, at Zurich^nd the neighbour hood, at St. Gallon and various neighbouring places, at Herisau and the neighbourhood, at Glaris and the neigh bourhood, at Schaffhausen, at Winterthur and at Basle and various places in the neighbourhood. In Alsace I preached at Miilhausen and Strasburg. In the Kingdom of Wurtemburg I preached at Stuttgart, Kornthal, Lud- wigsburg, Reutlingen, Ober-Urbach and Heilbronn. In the Grand-Dutchy of Baden, I preached at Carlsruhe, Constance, Gernsbach, Heidelberg and Mannheim. In the Grand-Dutchy of Hesse Darmstadt, I preached in the Capital Darmstadt. In the Kingdom of Prussia, I preached at Frankfort on the Main, Bonn, Cologne, Diisseldorf, Diisselthal, Wesel, Miilheim on the Ruhr, Gladbach, Reydt, Viersen, Crefeld, Duisburg, Essen, Elberfeld, Barmen, Cassel, Halle, Berlin, Stettin, Hanover, Bielefeld, Soest, and Ruhrort. I preached also in the free town Lubeck. In the Kingdom of Holland, I preached at Nimwegen, Arnheim, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Zeist, Haarlem, Leyden, the Hague, and Rotterdam. Altogether I preached 302 times in sixty-eight places, most of which were large towns. To every place I had been invited by letter, as through my labours and writ ings I have been for more than thirty years as well known on the Continent as in England. I have referred to this preaching tour, in order that the Christian friends, who read this, may follow my past A.D. 1877.] 395 labours on the Continent with their prayers, that the Lord would be pleased abundantly to bless them ; for the Continent of Europe, as a whole, greatly needs such labours. I also do so, because I intend, if the Lord will, after some time to go again to the Continent, to labour there further in this way, as I have yet 63 written invi- tations for various parts of Germany, Switzerland and Holland, which I Tavs not been able to accept. Yea even from Vienna and St. Petersburgh I have received letters, to request me to go there. The abundant blessing, which the Lord has been pleased to allow to rest upon these my labours every- where, encourages me, to go on with this service, and to spend the evening of my life in going from city to city and country to country, as long as the Lord gives me health, and otherwise makes my way plain. My next sphere of labour, out of Bristol, will be America, if the Lord permit. I have had for many years very many invitations to the United States and Canada ; but of late they have been more pressing and more urgent than ever ; and, after much prayer and consideration, I have decided to comply with these requests, as I shall have vast spheres of usefulness in those countries, not only among the English speaking population, but also among the millions whose native language is German. We purpose, if the Lord will, to leave Bristol about the 10th | of August, and I commend myself and my beloved wife, } who will accompany me, for this service. While my dear wife and I were absent from Bristol, all went on as satisfactorily in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, as if I had been pre- sent; thus the Lord confirmed, by this also, that I should be engaged as I was. In cases in which my counsel or judgment were needed, it was given, as I received every week, once or twice, reports from Mr. Wright, who had the direction of the Institution during my absence. It is necessary that I distinctly state, that my preach- ing tour on the Continent had no connection whatever with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. It was not undertaken for the purpose of collecting money for it, nor even for the purpose of bringin “ié before my hearers on the Continent; but solely that by my experience and 396 [A.D. 1877. knowledge in divine things, I might benefit Christians, and especially younger believers, and that I might preach the Gospel to the unconverted. I did not even_refer to the Institution, except when especially requested "so to Ho. —'•' "Dec. 31, 1877.—During the past year we received presents of clothes, provisions, etc., worth £20., and through the chapel boxes £49. 10s. 8d., from donors in Bristol and Clifton £170. 9s. 2d., and from donors not residing in Bristol and Clifton £1,436. 7s. 9d. A legacy was also left to me, by an entire stranger, of £45. 9s. ld. ; and another of £2,538. 3s. 9d. See how God is willing to work for His children, who really and truly trust in Him ! The total of our income for the year was £4,260. 0s. 5d. More even, than we had ever received during one year. Of this £4,260. 0s. 5d., we gave to relatives £349. 3s. 6d. ; to the poor saints under my pastoral care £290. 1s. 6d. ; and to Missions, School —•, Bible and Tract Fund, etc., of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution £3,465. 4s. 11d. July 10, 1878. —When I began this Institution, and especially the Orphan Work, my hope was, that, by means of it, the Lord would be pleased to lead the Churcli at large increasingly to see the importance and valuoofjjrajfer, and that by this rnstitutioiTEnTTaltirof th*ei children of God would be strengthened, and to the world would be shown the reality of the things of God. i This my expectation (God be praised for it !) has been realized above my largest expectations. Thousands of instances were brought before me, through letters, or by personal intercourse, during very many years past, how God had been working in this particular ; but all that I had witnessed before was as nothing, in comparison with what has come before me during the last three years and three months, whilst I have been labouring in Word and doctrine in preaching tours in England, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, the German Empire, Holland, Canada, and the United States of America. ln every one of the hundreds of places where I preached (generally in large 1 cities), I met great numbers, who through reading the j yearly Reports of the Institution, or the Narrative of the '• Lord's dealings with me, had either been converted, or t had had their faith strengthened, or were more entirely AD. 1878.] 397 made to commit all their affairs into the hands of God by prayer and faith. Thus it came, that wherever I appeared, in these hundreds of different places, I was welcomed as an old friend, who had been loved for 20, 30 years or more; great numbers desired to see and converse with me and to listen to me whilst preaching the Word of Life ; and hundreds of thousands came thus in these various countries for further instruction. -— During the past year, as intimated in the last Report, I have been on a preaching Tour in the United States of America, in order that I might comply with the oft re- peated request to labour in the Word for a time in that vast country also. This earnest request I at last con- sidered, after much prayer, to be God’s,call ; and, accord- ingly, sailed for America with my dear wife on August 23, 1877, where we remained until June 27, 1878. After having preached a few times at Quebec, where we landed, we proceeded to the United States, in which I preached about ten months. In the State of New York I preached in the City of New York, Brooklyn, Hudson, Harlem, East New York, Staten Island and Williamsburg. In the State of New Jersey, in Newark, Bloomfield, Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Morristown, Camden and Had- donfield. In the State of Massachusetts, in Boston, Wellesley College, Charlestown, Cambridge, Newbury- port, Amherst College and Mount Holyoake Seminary. In the State of Rhode Island, in Providence. In Penn- sylvania, at Philadelphia, Germantown, Howard Uni- versity and Gettysburg. In the State of Maryland, in Baltimore and in Washington (District of Columbia). In Virginia I addressed the Students of Virginia Epis-| copal Theological Seminary, preached at Salem and ad- dressed the students of Roanoke College, and of the | Theological Seminary. In the State of South Carolina, I preached at Columbia and addressed the students of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and preached in ! Charleston In Georgia I preached at Savannah. In | Florida at Jacksonville. In the State of Alabama Tj preached at Montgomery and at Mobile, and in Louisiana, | at New Orleans. I also addressed the students of Lea- | land University and of Strait University, and preached many times at St. Louis, Missouri. In California I ; 4 preached at San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, San : A. LP £ 398 [A.D. 1878. Jose, Santa Clara, Stockton, Yo Semite and Sacramento. In the State of Utah, at Salt Lake City. We went out of our way, in going to Salt Lake City, that thus, at the very seat of the fearful errors of Mormonism, I might deliver aTeslimony for (Jod, and strengthen the hands of CTfrtstfa'ns "whcPare sound in the foundation truths. I preached both among Congregationalists and Methodist Episcopalians, and had also many Mormonites to hear me. In Illinois, at Chicago ; and in the State of Ohio, at Cleveland. In many of the largest cities I addressed, by particular request, the pastors and ministers of such cities and the neighbourhood, and had seventeen meetings of this kind, which were attended not only by 100 or 200, but once by about 300, and on another occasion by 500. To these meetings came the pastors and ministers of the various evangelical denominations. I addressed the ministers generally for an hour or more, and then they asked me 1 questions afterwards. These meetings I reckon to have been the most important jpart of all my service on this preaching tour. I addressed also, by the particular re quest of the presidents and professors, the students of fifteen Universities, Colleges, or Theological Seminaries. For this important service, which I was permitted to render, I desire to be especially grateful to my Heavenly Father. In addition to these Universities, Colleges and Seminaries, I gave addresses in five other higher educa tional establishments by request of the Principals. I had also in several large cities especial meetings for Christian workers, who varied in number from 500 to 2,500. In allT preached during this last preaching tour 299 times, and we travelled, by land and water, above nineteen thousand miles. Many thousands of tracts and little boolts were also given away, which service was chiefly accomplished by my dear wife, who very fre quently added a few words privately in giving them. My preaching was not confined to the English-speaking population, but I ministered also many times among the natives of Germany, of whom there are several millions in the United States ; nor was my service merely amongst I the white population, but often I ministered also to \ the coloured people, and had generally then also im- ! mense congregations. I did not labour among particular A.D. 1878.] 399 denominations, but, as I love all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and as I habitually seek more and more to pro- mote union amongst all the children of God, I preached among so-called Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congrega- tional Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Episcopal Metho- dists, Lutherans and Baptists. I had among them all many open doors, which I gladly entered, as_nothing was required of me by any one, which I could not do with @ good conscience ; and as T had to break of my preaching tour through the United Kingdom of Great Britain wi 104 written invitations to places, to which I have not yet been able to go, and my Continental preaching tour in Switzerland, the German Empire, and the Kingdom of Holland with 63 written invitations for preaching in places, which I have not yet been able to visit ; so we had to leave the United States with 108 written invita- | tions, many of which are for large cities, to which we | gould not go on this tour, as for various reasons it is im-' portant that I should every year be for a time in Bristol, especially that thus my dear son-in-law, Mr. Wright (upon whom rests the responsibility of directing the Institution , | in my absence), and my dear daughter, should have} some rest and change of air. If, however, the Lord|/ Jesus tarries, and life and health are continued to me! and my dear wife, the Lord willing we purpose to go! again to the United States, in order that I may accept these 108 invitations, to preach where I could not now ; and as for the 63 invitations on the Continent of Europe, if the Lord permit, I purpose to accept them during this autumn and the coming winter, when I hope again to | labour in Switzerland, (Germany and other countries. I have referred to this preaching tour in the United States, as I know that many of the Christian readers of | this Narrative feel interested in my labours, and in order | that they may follow this service intelligently with prayer. While I was absent from Bristol, all went on most satisfactorily, so that when we returned I could only admire the kindness of God. It is importamt that I state, that my preaching tour in the United States was not set about for the purpose. of collecting money for the Institution, nor even to bring it} before my hearers, but only that by my experience and | knowledge in Divine things I might benefit Christians, | & 400 [A.D. 1878. and particularly younger believers; and that I might | preach the Gospel to hose who knew not the Lord. I did not even speak about the Institution, except when especially Fequested so to do.” The tabsmonts Which _ have “appeared in some public papers, that I have ob- tained very large sums for the Institution in America, are entirely false; for all the donations handed to me for | the Tastiteion ‘would 1 not meet one half of its average ex- : penses for one single day, as I did not receive as much as £60, “This did not disappoint me, for spiritual blessing for believers and unbelievers, was the object of my labours in the United States, and not the obtaining of money either for ‘the Institution or myself; and this spiritual blessing the Lord was pleased to cause most abundantly to rest upon my labours, wherever I preached. Dec. 31, 1878. During this year it pleased the Lord to give to us, through Christian friends, presents in clothes and provisions worth £21. 10s.; through the chapel boxes, in money, £64. 4s. pd. ; through Bristol donors, £107. 1s. 4d.; and through Christian friends resid- ing in various parts of the world, £1,136. 15s. I say “in various parts of the world,” for we receive donations for ourselves from India, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Switzerland, Canada, &c. During this year we received likewise from a lady, an entire stranger, a legacy of £45.; and from a gentleman, as a legacy, 8 cottages, which were sold for £1,350. Our total in- come during the year, therefore, was £2,724. 11s. oad. You see, esteemed reader, how bountifully God provides for us ! Out of the £2,724. 11s. 34d., which the Lord had /75 \ been pleased to give to us in the year 1878, we were EL | enabled, by the grace of God, to give to relatives £175. 15s. 407 | We also gave £87. 8s. to the poor believers under my £70 | pastoral care; and £2,407. 12s. 2d. to the Scriptural / Knowledge Institution for Missions, &c., and entered again upon another year—July 10, 1879—trusting in God alone for our temporal supplies. When on July 8, 1878, I returned to Bristol from the United States, I found that there was only a small balance in hand, comparatively, for the support of the Orphans, and for the first four Objects of the Institution, the School—, Bible—, Missionary— and Tract Fund, we A.D. 1878.] 401 had nothing at all in hand. Yet we were not cast down, but hoped "in u-od, being assured, that all we had to do was, to seek to walk in His ways, and to carry on His work according to His will, and that then more prayer, and more exercise of faith and patience, would at last again bring more abundant pecuniary supplies, even as we had found so many times before. Looking at things naturally, we had indeed little prospect of brighter days with regard to the income, on account of the great de pression of mercantile affairs almost everywhere ; but, as we really trusted ir^ Gpd^and not in friends, nor circum stances, we were above these difficulties by faith, expect- i ing, day by day, help from God ; and, at the same time, seeking this help, day by day, earnestly in prayer. What follows will show how abundantly God has again honoured our trust in Him, by giving to us, as the result of prayer and faith, after having brought us so low, during the past year more means than we have had during any one of the previous forty-four years of the existence of the Institution. After having stayed in Bristol from July 8 to Sept. 5, 1878, I set off again, with my dear wife, for the Continent of Europe on a preaching tour, with the purpose of seek> ing in" tHe greatest simplicity to preach the Gospel of the grace of God, and to lend a helping hand to Chris tians, especially younger believers, by the experience I have had during the fifty-three years I have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. To prevent misappre hension, I state distinctly, that this was not a collecting tpurjvith reference to the Institution ; for I never even . referred to it, in my ministry, except when especially j desired so to do ; but having laboured in Word and Doc- J trine, almost exclusively, for 43 years in Bristol, I have dedicated the evening of my life to the precious and most honourable service of going from city to city, and country to country, to preach the Gospel and to build up believers in the faith while the Lord Jesus tarries, and life and health are continued to me. Having most efficient fellow labourers in the Church in Bristol, whose pastor I have been for 47 years ; and in my dear son-in-law, Mr. Wright, a co-director of the Scriptural Knowledge Insti tution, I am able to do, what in former times I could not have done ; for now all goes on as well in the Church, 402 [a.D. 1878. and with reference to the Institution, as if I were habi- [ tually on the spot. I also return every year for a thme to’ Bristol, to Kalo, by counsel and otherwise, in the Church and in the Institution, as may be desirable. Moreover, in all difficult matters my advice and judgment are habitually sought, as once or twice every week I receive accounts from Bristol. My ministry on the Continent was in English and German, and after I had become again by practice more familiar with French, in French also ; while in Spain and Italy I preached in one or the other of these three languages, and if necessary, with translation into Spanish or Italian. The blessing, which God has been pleased to bestow upon this preaching tour, has been very great ; but the day of the Lord alone will show the full result. In the meantime I praise God, for condescending to use & poor unworthy servant as I am, for such precious service. I have had in this way, not only opportunities of bringing the truth before the_middle and poorer classes, but also before many in the higher ranks af life, and before some of the Hobility and aristocracy of tit- ferent countries, who, chiefly on account of health, were in the cities on the Mediterranean, and elsewhere, where I preached. After I had preached three times in Paris, we went again, as two years before, to German Switzer- land, where we were most warmly received in Bern ; and after I had preached there ten times, three times at Gurzelen, twice at Interlaken and twice-at Thun, we went to Neuchatel, where the truth was set forth eight times to the English, German and French speaking population. From Neuchatel we went to Lausanne, where, as in the other places mentioned, we met with many excellent Christians, and where the German, English and French spedking Population had an oppor- tunity of hearing the truth twelve times. The brotherly intercourse I had with many Christians was particularly | pleasant in that city. The same was the case at Vevey, where I preached four times, at Montreux six times, at Bex twice, at Aigle once, and at Yverdun twice. In these places the preaching was in English, or German, or both. At Yverdun I saw the widow of a dear brother in Christ, gone to his rest many years ago, whom I knew _ on my first beginning to minister in the Word at Teign- A.D. 1878.] 403 mouth, at the commencement of the year 1830 ; and I learned from the widow only then that he was converted through my instrumentality. Thus, after more than 48 years, I heard for my encouragement of another instance of blessing through my early labours in the Word in England. From Yverdun we went to Geneva, where I preached twelve times, and again German, English and French speaking persons had a testimony for the Lord delivered in their hearing. In this city, where there are many true Christians, much love was shown to us. We were also deeply interested in seeing at Geneva a large, good, and verjr ^xact model of Jerusalem as IF is at present. From Geneva we went to Lyons, where I preached four times, thence to Marseille where I preached six times, and afterwards to Nimes, where I held six meetings. At Nimes we had not only the mournful sight of a temple, built to the honour of the Roman emperor Augustus, but a vast Roman Amphitheatre, in which many centuries ago most fearful scenes took place, as the early Christians had to fight there with wild beasts. At Nimes, too, after the Reformation, believers, who had left popery, had greatly to suffer. But these very sufferings have brought spiritual blessings to the Christians there, and also to those at Montpellier, to which town we went next, where I preached five times. From Montpellier we went to Spain, as I Desired greatly with my own eyes to see the Schools, which have been entirely supported for "a, number of years by the funds of the "Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and also, that I might see as much as possible of the Mission work gene rally, in aid of which we had sent so many thousand pounds to Spain, within the last ten years. We reached j Barcelona on the evening of the second day, December ' 13, 1878. Here we stayed a fortnight, and I gave alto gether twenty-three addresses, which, with the exception of a few in English and German without translation, were chiefly in English with Spanish interpretation. At Barcelona we had most happy intercourse with a number of brethren who labour in the Gospel, and our ten Day Schools, under the superintendence of Mr. Henry Payne, we found in a most satisfactory state. There were in these ten Day Schools, when I inspected them, 756 pupils, almost all the children of popish parents, who so greatly 404 [4-D. 1878. value these Schools, that, though through the threats and persuasions of the priests children are sometimes removed from them, yet they are generally brought back again after a week or two, because the parents say, they are so greatly benefited by going to our schools. From Barce- Iona we went to Saragossa, where I preached four times in English, with translation into Spanish. From Sara- gossa we proceeded to Madrid, where I spoke 15 times in English or German, or in English with Spanish inter- pretation. Our five Day Schools in. Madrid, under the superintendence of Mr. Fenn, I likewise found in a most satisfactory state, and we could only rejoice in seeing so many children, both in Barcelona and Madrid brought under the sound of the Gospel, whereby also the popish parents, in many instances, have been benefited, because their children read to them, when at home, out of the Word of God and sing their precious Gospel hymns. The Schools at Madrid contained at the time we were there 272 pupils. A sixteenth School, under the super- intendence of Mr. Senington at Igualada we did not see, | because that place was at a great distance, but we had very happy intercouse with our brother Senington himself. To the utmost of my power I sought to comfort and encourage all the dear labourers in the Gospel, with whom I met in Spain ; for their difficulties and trials are great and many, and, to this end, I repeatedly held meetings for intercourse with those brethren and sisters, who are engaged in missionary work, for the purpose of comforting, encouraging, and seeking to strengthen their hands in God. On account of the distance, which in- volved four days travelling day and night in a country where the languages we could speak would not have | been understood, we were reluctantly obliged to give up going to Vigo and some other places in Spain where missionaries reside whom we have sought to aid.-— Religious liberty in Spain is not increasing, in comparison with what it was 7 or 8 years since, but decreasing ; and the government yields to the power of the priests. I give only one instance of this. When our Schools at Madrid were established and a place was opened for preaching the Gospel, a sign was placed outside over the entrance announcing that this was an evangelical place | of worship for preaching the gospel. After this sign had A.D. 1878.] 405 existed a considerable time, official directions were sent to Mr. Fenn to have it painted over, so that the announce- -ment Tiight Bs -sbitorated. “But the painter, who had done the work, being at heart grieved at having to destroy his own work, and sorrowful also, that these schools should be hindered instead of being encouraged by the Government, painted the sign over with water colours, so that still in a méasure, Sat had been ‘painted beforé could be seen. Some time after also the rain made the former painting still more visible. Now the Government sent by night their own painter, to daub the Sign thickly over with oil paint ‘Way the Uhristian readers be led to pray much for Spain, that it still may be kept open for the preaching of the Gospel and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures; and may they also especially pray for those who labour in the Gospel in that, country. From Madrid we went back to France, where I held one meeting at Bayonne and one at Biarritz. We then went to Pau, which is a great resort of the English gentry during the winter, where I had nine precious and important meetings. From Pau we went to Bordeaux where I preached three times, and thence proceeded to La Force, where I preached twice. At La Force we saw some remarkable institutions, which the loving heart of Mr. John Bost has founded for the benefit of epileptics, idiots, the insane, and persons otherwise grievously afflicted in mind or body. We then went to Cannes where I preached 15 times, and had a very important and profitable time. After leaving Cannes we visited Nice, where I preached 14 times. From Nice we went to Mentone where I held 12 meetings. In all these different places on the Mediterranean, so exceedingly frequented during the winter months by visitors from various countries, I held meetings especially for them ; and this was just one point, which made my service s0 important, because many through my work and writings | knew me, and were ready to come and hear. I cannot ' leave this notice of Mentone, without mentioning, that, in addition to having very happy interviews with various Christians, I enjoyed especially the intercourse I had with Mr, Spurgeon, with whom I spent repeatedly a considerable time. After leaving Mentone we went into Italy. At Bordighera, on the frontier, I preached twice, . & 406 [A.D. 1879. at San Remo once, and thence we set out via Genoa and Pisa for Florence, where I preached 19 times, and where we spent a very happy and profitable time. From Florence we went to Rome, where I preached 20 times, in various languages, with or without translation into Italian, as I had done in Florence ; so that, as many as possible, who desired to hear the truth might be benefited. From my earliest days, through the classical education I .- had received, Rome had great attractions for me ; but I that which now, as a servant of the Lord Jesus especially I interested me, was the triumphal arch, erected by the ' people and the Senate to Titus, after his destruction of Jerusalem. This triumphal arch just eighteen hundred years old, is well preserved, and, under it, you see in sculpture the golden candlestick taken from the Temple, the two silver trumpets with which the priests had to blow, and the Jews led along by their conquerors in chains. The catacombs, in which the early Christians hid themselves, and where for a very long time they carried on their worship and buried their dead, being immensely long subterranean caverns and passages ex tending for hundreds of miles round the city, likewise interested us much; because for centuries these caves were thus used. One of the most affecting sights in Rome was, the Scala Santa, a staircase, upon which poor deluded devotees went up on their knees, because a papal indulgence connected with doing it is granted. But wherever the eye turned almost, you saw idolatry ; no longer now the idolatry of pagan Rome, but of SQrcalled Christian Rome : I counted it therefore an especial honour, to be allowed to witness for the Lord in Rome also. From Rome we went to Naples, where I was per mitted to preach twenty times ; it is the largest city in Italy. Here, as everywhere else, I had happy intercourse with Christians, preaching in all the various evangelical churches gladly, where they held the Head even Christ, and were sound in the foundation truths of our most holy faith ; for I take especial delight in seeking to pro mote love and union among the various bodies of believers. Whilst in Naples, we saw the awful destruction permitted by God through the eruption of Vesuvius, A.D. 79, just 1800 years ago, whereby many hundreds of persons suddenly lost their lives, and the two towns of Pompei AD. 1879.] 407 and Herculaneum were buried. They are now gradually being disinterred ; we saw hundreds of buildings, houses, temples, theatres, shops, bakeries, etc., which have been cleared from the ruins around them; even the very bread taken out of the ovens, which was in them, when the eruption came. The lava which we saw, in ascendin Vesuvius, impressed _me more with th iS power of God than anything I ever remember to have seen ; for these masses, which Howed out of the crater of that mountain in a liquid state, seemed to me far greater than the mountain itself What cannot God do? But IT must not enlarge here. After leaving Naples I preached also at Bologna twice, in Venice five times, in Brescia twice, at Como five times, in Milan nine times, at Turin five times and in the Waldensian Valleys seven times. I counted it an especial honour to be allowed to witness for the Lord in these valleys where so many thousands of Christians were martyred for the truth, wereimprisoned, banished, or suffered the loss of all their earthly possess- ions. I especially commend the descendants of these godly forefathers to the prayers of the Christian readers, that they may be blessed spiritually, and may greatly glorify God in this nineteenth century, as they now enjoy perfect religious liberty. We then went to Paris, and after I had preached there twice we left for Bristol, where we | arrived on June 18, 1879, after I had preached alto- | gether during these 9 months and 12 days 286 times, in | forty-six different towns or cities. ne The longer I thus move about on these preachin, tours, the more I see, how greatly my labours are owned by the Lord, and the more I am convinced, that it is His holy will, T should spend the evening of my life, whilst the Lord Jesus tarries, and health and strength are con- tinued to me, in going from city to city, and from country to country, to preach the Gospel of the grace of God, and in seéking to benefit. Christians through the amount of knowledge and experience I have obtained in the service of the Lord during the past fifty-three years. After we have tarried therefore about ten weeks in Bristol, we urpose, on August 28, to sail again for the United States, as I had to leave America last year with 108 written invitations, which I had not been able to accept, before we had to return to England. ra 408 [a-D. 1879. Dec. 31, 1879.—During the past year it pleased the Lord to give to us by presents in clothes and provisions, or expenses at the hotels paid for us, £99. 4s. Through the boxes at the chapels, £46. 14s. 7d. Through donors in Bristol and Clifton, £139. 1s. 84d. Through donors in various other parts of the world, £1,128. 3s. 9d. There were also two small legacies left to me, amounting to £16. Likewise some money owing to my dear wife, __ amounting to £77. 2s. 9d., was unexpectedly paid to her. ~ In all, therefore, our income was £1,506. 6s. 94d. Of this amount we gave to relatives £217., to poor believers under my pastoral care £86. 16s. 2d., and to the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution £1,156. 68. 9d. July 10th, 1880. Above forty-six years the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad has now existed. When I founded it, one of the principles on which I did so, yea the chief principle was, that The Living God should be_its Patron. This was stated in x print. I sought thus, in the most public manner, to - honour God. Accordingly, He has condescended, ever since, to honour me in upholding this Institution, en- larging it more and more, making it a blessing to hun- dreds of thousands of souls, and using me in other _ respects in blessing to the world and the Church. All this is, according to the word of God, “Them that honour Ip 7 | me I will honour,” I Samuel, ji, 30. [reckon it one6f Ki Ws preMmtest honors, which the Lord has condescended to bestow on His unworthy servant, in the evening of his life, to have been allowed for more than five years to go from city to city, and from country to country fe eleven countries up to the present time) to preach the Gospel, and to seek to benefit believers, especially younger Christians, by the experience I have had during the 54 years and 8 months that I have known the Lord, and to teach the truth more perfectly where it is needed. My labours in this way have been owned most abundantly. To the praise of God I have to say, that there is not one of the hundreds of towns or cities, in which I have thus laboured, in which there has not been clearly and dis- tinctly blessing left behind. All this most plainly proves, more and more (if proof be required), what is the will of God regarding me, namely, that, as long as health and A.D. 1880.] 409 strength are graciously continued, I should thus go on. As I stated in the last Report, that on August 28th, 1879, my dear wife and myself purposed to leave a second time for the United States, that I might accept some of the 108 written invitations for preaching in different cities, which I had not been able to accept while we were in America the first time, so we did. On September 6th we landed at New York, and from that time up to June 5th, 1880, when we embarked at Quebec to return to Europe, I preached altogether 299 times in 42 different places, having been 272 days in America, In the saloon of the Germanic on our oitward Foyass, I preached once, at Brooklyn once, at New York twice, at Morristown five | . times, at Madison once, at Troy eight times, at Lans¢n- | 1 burgionce, at Albany eight times, at Saratoga Springs five times, at Clifton Springs 23 times, at Rochester seven times, at Hamilton, Canada, five times, at Brantford, Canada, eight times, at Toronto twenty-four times, at Montreal nine times, at Ottawa four times, at Brockville twice, at Kingston seven times, at Buffalo, United States, sixteen times, at Woodstock, Canada, five times, at London, Canada, four times, a Detroit, United States, seventeen times, at Ypsilanti four, times, af Ann Arbor four times, at Olivet twice, at Kalamazoo six times, at ! Chicago fourteen times, at Milwaukee seven times, at | St. Paul nine times, at Minneapolis nine times, at North-' field four times, at Mount Vernon, Iowa, four times, at Davenport eight times, at Jacksonville four times, at Bloomington five times, at Indianapolis seven times, | at Cincinnati eleven times, at Covington once, at Dayton seven times, at Cleveland twice, at Dansville twenty i times, and at Quebec ‘once. I preached also five times ' on board the “Sardinian” during our voyage back to; England. ilst labouring in America, I had twelve meetings at which for about an hour or upwards I addressed the evangelical ministers of the cities where these meetings were held. A very large number generally gathered together ; and after speaking I answered questions, put to me regarding the ministry of the Word or pastoral labours. Three meetings also were held at which I addressed hundreds of other Christian workers each time. I addressed the students of Universities and Theological T 410 [A.D. 1880. Seminaries or Colleges fourteen times, when generally hundreds, and on one occasion about a thousand, were present. These things are mentioned in order that the Christian reader may kindly follow up these various ser vices with prayer. The meetings for pastors and for Christian workers to which I have referred, and the addresses given to students, I reckon to be a most im portant part of my service in America. Finally we had to leave the country with 154 written invitations, which ] I was unable to accept ; for the longer we stayed, the / more did these invitations increase. During this se_cond visit to America I made it very specially my business to prea'cK ?oTEe Germans (of whom > there are above nine millions in the 1151165 States), in I their own language ; a service which is greatly needed in • that country. Emigration from Germany and German Switzerland increases more and more; and again this spring vast numbers arrived in the United States. They greatly need to have the truth ministered to them, for they have not the advantages that many of the Americans have. As I am able therefore habitually to preach in America in two different languages, both in Canada and in the United States ; as my service in those countries has been signally owned by God ; and as I had to leave America with 154 written invitations for preaching, which I was not able to accept, though I generally preached 8, 9, and 10 times every week, after much prayer I consider it to be the will of God that we return again to America, after I shall have published the'new Eeport of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, ministered for a time in Bristol, laboured again personally for a season on Ashley Down, and given some rest to my dear son-in-law and daughter (Mr. and Mrs. Wright), upon whom, during our absence, the responsibilities of the work devolve. God willing, therefore, we purpose to sail from Liverpool in the " Sardinian," on September the 1 6th, for Quebec. Dec. 31, 1880. We received presents in clothes and provisions given to us, and in hotel bills paid, the amount of £102. 9s. Through the Chapel boxes we received £61. 16s. 2½d. From donors in Bristol and Clifton, £159. 6s. 6½d. From donors in various parts of the land and the world, £1,021. 3s. 10½d. There was also a A.D. 1880.] 411 legacy of £300. left us; so that, in all, our income for the year was £1,644. 15s. 74d. Of this amount we gave to relatives £236. 15s. To poor believers under my pastoral care, £113. 10s.; and to the Scriptural Knowledge Institution £1,158, 88. 10d. ; in all, £1,508. 13s. 10d. July 12, 1881, Ebenezer ! hitherto the Lord has helped x us! The longerT live, the more do I see my entire de- pendence upon Him. For above fifty years I have now walked, by His grace, in_a path of complete reliance upon Him, who ‘is the faithful one, for everything I have needed ; and yet I am increasingly convinced that it is by His help alone I am 2 Shab led to continue in this course ; for,, if left to myself, even after the precious enjoyment so long expe- rienced of walking thus in fellowship with God, Tshould yet be tempted to abandon this path of entire depend- yneé upon “Flin; "To. His raise, however, I am able to state, that for more than hall a century I have never had the least désiféto doso, In the last Report it was mentioned that I saw it to be the will of God we should visit America a third time, in order that I might preach the gospel, comfort Chris- tians, seek to lead them to more entire separation from the world and all that is contrary to His mind; endeavour to bring them back to His Word, as the only - standard by which every thing is to be judged ; strive to promote true brotherly love and union among Christians ; point out the true character and end of the present dis- pensation; preach the second coming of Christ ; and by my own experience encourage believers everywhere to commit all their matters to the Lord in believing prayer, and in this way seek to strengthen their faith. As these preaching tours form now so important a part of my service for the Lord, I trust that it may be in- teresting and profitable to the reader if I dwell upon our recent visit to America somewhat at length, and write a more detailed account of it, than has been given upon former occasions. On September 15, 1880, my dear wife and I left Bristol for Liverpool, and on the following day embarked for | Quebec in one of the steam ships belonging to the Allan Line. 3 . 7 T va 412 [4.D. 1880. — To the praise of God, I would here particularly men- tion that, in crossing the Atlantic upon this occasion for the fifth time, not only was I entirely free from sea sick- ness, but I had not the slightest indisposition during the whole voyage. Four years ago, when 1 received a hearty invitation from five pastors of the churches of five diffe- rent denominations to visit America and labour for a time in connection with them, I gave myself earnestly to prayer, in order to ascertain whether this was a call from God or not. Very many times during the previous twenty years I had received invitations to visit the United States, but never seriously considered the matter before. When, however, this joint letter from those five pastors was read before the Lord, my heart was willing to go to America if He called me thither, notwithstanding my natural antipathy to the voyage ; for thoug! ave been to sea DOW trenty. five times, direct service for the Lord has been my object in going, and never my own gratifica- tion. I told my Heavenly Father that, if it were His holy will we should go to America, not only was I willing to suffer greatly from sea sickness, as had been the case many years ago, but that T was ready to endure any other discomfort, or even to risk my Tife during the passage. And now, what has been the ‘result? Not only have I crossed the Atlantic six times, without suffering in the least, but I have been able carefully to attend to my dear wife (who at the commencement of each voyage was - extremely ill), preach the Word on board several times, and repeatedly in other ways to serve the Lord. This I mention, in order that my beloved fellow believers may not allow themselves to be kept from service, by the Pros pect of trial or suffering in connection with giving them- selves to the Lord’s work, “During the passage to Canada in September, 1880, I was able to preach eight times, On September 26th we landed at Quebec; on the same evening I preached in one of the churches there, and eight times more during the following seven days we remained in the city; for having given but little ! time to Quebec during our former visits, I desired to strengthen the hands of the Christians there, who are comparatively few in number, as they have many diffi- culties to contend with, because Roman Catholicism so _ greatly prevails. Here we had the joy of seeing a A.D. 1880.] 413 Roman Catholic gentleman of high position attend each of the last five meetings at which I preached. When they were over, I conversed with him about his soul, and he gladly accepted the three volumes of my Narra tive. On the 4th October we started for Boston, in the United States, and remained five weeks in that city. During our stay at Boston I repeatedly went to a mid-day prayer-meeting, called "The Market Men's Prayer Meeting," and gave addresses there. It is attended principally by men of business, who meet every day from 12 to 1 o'clock. A number of Christian trades men, consisting of grocers, butchers, provision dealers, etc., go to it out of their shops from the neighbouring streets, to pour out their hearts before God. They appeared to me to be earnest, simple hearted, godly men. Besides these, many other persons attend, for the sake of the spiritual blessing to be obtained at that meeting. Whilst at Boston I had the privilege of addressing about 100 Methodist Episcopal ministers for an hour ; and upon another occasion addressed more than 200 Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Lu theran, and other ministers, for the same time, answering questions put to me afterwards by them, with a view of ascertaining what is the most Scriptural way of carrying on the Lord's work. During our stay in the city, we went to Newton Centrkl, a few miles from Boston, where, at the Theological Seminary, I held a meeting for the students, 71 in number. On the next day I also addressed the students of " The Theological Seminary" of the University of Boston. Considering these meetings with students and pastors of churches to be a deeply important part of my service, I have had great numbers of them, both in Europe and America, during the past six years. On the 29th October we went to Wellesley College, where upon two occasions I addressed"~the 360 lady students who belong to it. We have seen nothing equal to the American colleges for ladies either in Great Britain or on the Continent of Europe. In four such institutions I have addressed the students, and upon inquiry, found not only that they are instructed in all , 414 tA- the various branches of a first-class education, but that in them the young ladies are also carefully instructed in domestic matters, each doing part of the daily work of the establishment, both for the sake of learning how it should be done properly, and also that physical exercise may be healthfully combined with mental cultivation. The religious tone of these colleges is of a high character, and the way in which the spiritual interest of the young ladies is provided for is excellent. Very many of them are Christians. During our stay at Boston, one of the most interesting parts of my service was a meeting held at Plymouth, New England, 37 miles distant, where I preached at the " Church of the Pilgrims," a particularly interesting place of worship, because it represents the church erected by the Pilgrim Fathers, on their first arrival in this country. Plymouth is noted as the place where they landed, December 22nd, 1620, and as being the site of the first house ever built in New England. At Pilgrims' Hall we saw a number of interesting relics brought over to this country by the pilgrims in the Mayflower, the ship which conveyed them across the Atlantic to their new home in this distant country, where they were obliged to take refuge from the perse cution for Christ's sake, by which they had been assailed in their native land. At Boston and in the neighbour hood I preached 38 times during the five weeks we were there, viz. 29 times in Boston itself, once at Chelsea, once at East Cambridge, once at Newtonyille, twice at Newton, once at Newton Central, once at Plymouth, and twice at Wellesley College. Milford, Massachusetts, was the next place we visited, where I preached four times; and on November 13th we proceeded to Ambers t. Here President Seeyle, with whom we had been in correspondence, kindly met us on our arrival, and the following afternoon a meeting was held at the College chapel, at which 339 of the students were present, whom I had the pleasure of addressing for nearly an hour. In the evening, at one of the churches in Amherst, I preached to a large, crowded congregation, and the next day attended a pastors' meeting, where the privilege was granted me of addressing fifteen fellow labourers in the gospel, and of seeking to strengthen A.D. 1880.] 415 their hands in the Lord. After leaving Amherst we went to Northampton, where I addressed 260 of the lady students at Smith's College. In this town the excellent President Edwards resided for many years, and the church in which he laboured so long we looked at with interest. On the 18th November we went to South Hadley, where the celebrated Mount Holyoke Female Seminary is situated, founded in 1837 by that holy, excellent woman, Mary Lyon. Here in the evening, and also the next morning, I had the privilege of addressing the 250 lady students who belong to it. From this Institution many godly, devoted young women have gone forth as missionaries, and numbers of eminent Christian teachers have received their education and training at Mount Holyoke. One particular feature of the system there is, the attention the young ladies are required to pay to the domestic arrangements.. They are expected in every way to make themselves useful, and not only do they cook, and wash their own clothes, but the entire household work of the large establishment is performed between them. The whole, however, is so conducted, that their education, which is of a very high order, both with reference to mental culture and re ligious training, is at the same time carried on admir ably. I believe it would be an excellent thing if the young ladies of Great Britain were more systematically instructed in those domestic occupations, which are so intimately connected with the comfort and welfare of well-regulated households. On the evening of November 19th I preached at South Hadley Church, and early the next morning addressed the young ladies at Mount Holyoke Seminary once more. The same day we went to Hartford, Connecticut, where I preached six times, andTield a meeting for pastors, when the privilege of addressing thirty brethren in Christ, and of replying afterwards to any questions they asked, was accorded me. In this city I held also three German meetings. At New Haven^ Connecticut, we arrived on the 27th November—a place which is famous as the seat of Yale College (or rather, University), founded in the year 1700, and containing 859 students. Through the cour tesy of the president and university chaplain I had 416 [A.D. 1880. twice an opportunity of addressing a considerable num ber of the students, a service in which I take the deepest interest, from having been converted myself while a student at the University of Halle. These my labours amongst the students of colleges, theological seminaries, and universities, both in Europe and America, the Lord has condescended to bless greatly in several instances, which have since come to my knowledge. In this place I had also a precious meeting with about fifty pastors from the city and neighbourhood, whom I addressed for an hour. At New Haven I preached 12 times, and once at Fair Haven, which is in the vicinity. Four of these meetings were in German. On December 8th we proceeded to New York. Dur ing our two former visits to America, I had been able to give comparatively but little time to this the largest of / all the cities in the United States, which now contains more than thirteen hundred thousand inhabitants. We considered it therefore to be the will of God that we should stay for a considerable time in this city, and seek to do what we could for its spiritual welfare. As in New York alone the Germans exceed 300,000 in number, and at Brooklyn (which adjoins it) there are 200,000 more, I had abundant opportunity of preaching among them. The English-speaking population of New York, Brooklyn and the neighbourhood is about one million and a half. We remained, therefore, at New York from I December 8th, 1880 to March 19th, 1881, a period of 14 weeks and 3 days. During our stay there were 9 meetings with pastors, when I addressed them upon each occasion : 4 I held for Christian workers, and addressed 125 students also of the Union Theological Seminary, by desire of the president and professors. During the whole period of our stay in New York, I preached 70 times in this city, 15 times at Brooklyn, once at Harlem, twice at Hoboken, New Jersey, twice at Tremont, and twice at Union Hill, New Jersey. 38 of these services were in ^GlSSanTlirid the others in English. On the 19th March we left New York for Newark, New Jersey, a city of about 120,000 inhabitants, among whom there are above 30,000 Germans. Before our arrival there, many German services had already been arranged, so that for nearly three weeks I A.D. 1881.] 417 preached almost exclusively among the Germans, and not in the large American churches of the city until a later period. During our stay at Newark I preached at Elizabeth three times, twice at Orange, twice at Bloom- field (all three of these cities in New Jersey), had two meetings with pastors, three for Christian workers, held one service for students, and preached 26 times at Newark. On April 18th we went to Port Chester, in the State of New York, where I preached 4 times ; and on April 22nd started for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 464 miles distant. In this city I held nine meetings in English and nine in German, as there are in Pittsburgh and Allegheny (the two cities join each other) nearly 60,000 Germans. I had also two meetings with the German and American pastors. On the 13th May we returned to New York, that I might fulfil a few preaching en gagements made before our departure thence, and embark for England after a stay of about 8 months in America. During this our third visit to the United States I preached altogether 244 times. At eighteen of these meetings I addressed German or American pastors, fifteen of them were held for the students of universities, theological seminaries, and colleges, and at seven I spoke to Christian workers as such. To the praise of the Lord I would state, that He helped me greatly during the ! whole period of my service, and in the day of Christ's ; appearing I have the fullest reason to expect abundant ! fruit as the result of these labours. My dear wife also received much help from God in her little service for Him, as she had many opportunities of speaking to inquirers privately, and was able to circu late a large number of books and tracts both amongst believers and the unconverted. She likewise assisted me greatly in a variety of other ways, especially in writing 738 letters for me, whilst we were the third time in America. On May 21st we left New York in the Britannic (White Star Line), and after a most favourable passage landed at Liverpool on May 30th, having much reason heartily to praise God for His abundant loving-kindness towards us during our travels by land and by water, The sad state of Switzerland and Germany (religiously) , having been particularly laid on my heart, in addition I T 3 418 [a.p. 1881. to the many calls I have had to ‘“‘Come over and help” in those and other countries on the Continent, we pur- pose (if the Lord permit), at the end of August to revisit the Continent of Europe, that I may have the privilege | of preaching there again, as I did upon former occasions. mention particularly, to the praise and honour of God, that during the last year, from May, 1880 to May, 1881, it has pleased the Lord to visit us with a gracious work of His Holy Spirit among the Orphans atin many of the Schools. While spending thrééiifonths on Ashley Down, from the middle of June to the middle of September, 1880, I felt particularly led to urge upon my dear fellow labourers to be very earnest in prayer, that it might please the Lord to visit us with the mighty working of His Holy Spirit among the children. Scarce had we landed in America, when most cheering informa- tion was sent to us from Ashley Down, that the Lord had been pleased to answer our many prayers in this particular, and that a most blessed work of conversion had commenced among the Orphans. This work has been going on more or less ever since. We have now, including those who were already converted, when this work of the Spirit commenced in October, 1880 (as far as man is able to judge), 512 Orphans in the five houses regarding whom there is Food ‘Scriptural Freund to heleve that they have been brought to rest pon “the Lord Jesus for the salvation of their souls. There are also 230 Orphans in a hopeful state, but regarding them the matrons and teachers cannot speak so confidently. Besides these, there are many among the Infants re- specting whom the teachers hesitate to speak decidedly, on account of their tender age, though, as far as outward appearances go, there is great hope entertained regarding them. Dec. 31, 1881. During this year we have received in presents of clothes, provisions, or in hotel expenses, having been paid for us, £72. 3s, 6d. Also through the Chapel boxes, £57. 15s. 5d. Through donations in Bristol and Clifton, not anonymously given, £131. 8s. 93d. From donors not residing in Bristol and Clifton £1,182. 4s. 6d. There were also two legacies left to me, one of £50., and the other of £532. 14s. 5d. In all, therefore, our income for the year was £2,026, 6s. 74d. A.D. 1882.] 419 Of this amount we gave to relatives, £203. 6s. 10d. To poor believers, £74.12s.2d. To the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, £1,530. 12s. 10d. As I began in the year 1830, giving systematically as the Lord was pleased to intrust to me the means, so I continued to do. — July 10, 1882. It was stated in the last Report, that the Lord had laid it on my heart to go again with my beloved wife to the Continent of Europe, that I might further preach there. This my eighth" long preching tour_was b on Aug, 23, 1881. —_— After I hed preached for some time at Berne, Ziirich, Mannedorf, Wadenschwyl, Basel (all in German Switzer- land), and at Stuttgart (capital of the Kingdom of Wur- temberg), we began our journey to the Holy Land, to which country we were led in a remarkably providential manner. I desired to comfort and encourage the many missionaries from England, Scotland, Ireland, America, Germany, Switzerland and other countries, who are labouring in Palestine, as their difficulties and trials are great, and also to preach to their congregations. Besides this, I particularly wished to visit the various German colonies in the Holy Land, in order to give them spiritual help, and to encourage them as much as possible. On Oct. 20th we left Marseilles by steamer for Alex- andria in Egypt, where we arrived after a voyage of 6 days. Here I found myself in the twelfth country of my preaching tours, and then it became necessary, When no English, German, or French speaking congregations could ES met with, to make use of interpretation into Arabic. At Alexandria we met with great kindness from the American missionaries, the Scotch minister, the | German pastor and the German deaconesses, who made . arrangements for meetings, so that I had a considerable amount of work during the 10 days we were there. The heat we felt much, the thermometer being about 90 degrees, although we were there as late in the year as the beginning of November, and the mosquitos and flies were most troublesome. On Nov. 5th we went by rail- way from Alexandria to Cairo, where I also preached several times for the German pastor, and in connection with the American mission, there being here likewise facility given for service to the full. ra 420 [A.D. 1882. Whilst at Cairo we spent one day in visiting the great Pyramids, 10 miles from the city, and upon another occasion went to the Museum, which contains a number of mummies, several of the embalmed bodies being those of Egyptian kings recently discovered. Among them there is the mummy of that great oppressor, the Pharaoh during whose reign the Israelites had most of all to suffer, until they were delivered by Jehovah through His servant Moses. On the 11th Nov. we left Cairo for Port Said, travelling by rail to Ismailia for 6 hours, and then proceeding in a very small mail steamer on the Suez Canal for about 7 hours to Port Said, where we did not arrive until two hours after midnight. Here also the Lord was pleased to give me deeply interesting work amongst the Germans and English. A remarkable circumstance was, that 14 men were present at an English service who had just suffered shipwreck ; so, as their lives had been saved, I took advantage of the impressive circumstance, and pressed upon them the acceptance of the gospel. At a German service, a con siderable number of young men and women, from Bohemia were present, who earn their bread at Alexandria, Cairo, Port Said, etc., by their great talent for music. They were all Roman Catholics. To each of them, a copy of the Bible or New Testament in German, was given, and to the English sailors a copy in English. On the afternoon of Nov. 14th we left Port Said for Jaffa (the ancient Joppa), on the coast of Palestine, on board a large Russian steamer, in which, besides the I saloon passengers, there were in the steerage from 100 to 150 Russian pilgrims with their priests of the Greek church, on their way to Jerusalem. All these pilgrims were supplied with a copy of the Holy Scriptures in Russ, by a Scotch evangelist, and an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, at a nominal price. These two brethren labour for the Lord habitually at Port Said, which is a most important sea-port, where they have many opportunities of meeting with people of various nationalities. The Russian Pilgrims to whom I \ have referred, though substantially holding all the fearful I errors of the Church of Rome, without being under the supremacy of the Pope, yet differ from papists in this particular, that their priests, instead of hindering them A.D. 1882.] 421 from seeking the word of God, encourage them to pur chase it. At 8 a.m. on Nov. 15th, we found ourselves off thei' coast of Palestine, at Jaffa, and cast anchor about a mile [ from the shore, as none of the towns on this part of the Mediterranean coast have harbours or proper places to land. Here we had to remain 24 hours on board for quarantine, because there was cholera at Mecca ; but on the 16th at 8 a.m. were permitted by the Turkish doctors to land. We had, however, an exceedingly rough, un pleasant passage from the vessel to the shore, in a boat rowed by 8 Arabs, the waves and surf being tremendous \ at Jaffa when the wind is high. The appearance of the I town from the ship was striking, but on walking through ( it, we found the streets extremely narrow and filthy. There being a German colony at Jaffa, as well as Ameri can and English missionaries, I had abundant opportunity of preaching to German and English congregations, or in either of these languages with Arabic interpretation, when neither English nor German was understood. I preached also at Sarona, another German colony, 3 miles from Jaffa. After having stayed 12 days at Jaffa, on Nov. 28th we started for Jerusalem, in an open Russian waggon with three horses. Between Jaffa and Ramleh, for about 12 miles, the cultivation of the land is pretty good, and the soil appears productive; but as soon as the moun tainous district commenced, which in the Holy Scriptures is called the mountains of Judaea, the aspect of the country became wild and dreary. Palestine, called so many times in the Scriptures, " the land flowing with milk and honey," and " the glory of all lands," has now a most barren and rocky appearance ; so that one is forced to see that God's curse rests even upon the land and not merely upon the people who once inhabited the country, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nevertheless the day is coming, when Jehovah will | remember even " the land," and when the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. After a journey of 12 hours, of the most rough andf trying character, over the only made road which exists in the whole of Palestine, but which is so bad that the worst of all European roads we ever travelled upon is 422 [A.D. 1881. better than it, we reached Jerusalem in the evening, and had to alight before the Jaffa Gate, as no carriage nor vehicle of any description can enter the city, the streets being far too narrow and too badlyjjaved for carriages to be driven along ^tEem. You must either walk in Jerusalem, or ride upon horses, mules, or donkeys • and the only way of conveying goods or merchandise from one part of the city to another, is upon these animals or upon camels. All the 9 weeks and 2 days we were staying at Jerusalem, we never saw a singlecarriage ; and even the uncomfortable Russian waggons, "Whfen wanted, must be ordered from Jaffa, where they are kept by the Germans. At the Mediterranean Hotel we took up our abode, and upon its flat roof which formed a kind of terrace, we often walked during our sojourn there, on account of the wretched state of the streets. From this elevated spot, we had a fine view of the Mount of Olives, the Mosque of Omar, where the Temple formerly stood, many of the public buildings, and could overlook almost the whole city. Close to our hotel, there was a small open space, on which a little market was held regularly every day (including Sundays) where very large radishes, eggs, oranges, bread cakes, wood, and a few other articles were offered for sale. We had thus an opportunity of seeing the extreme poverty of the country ; for the poor women who brought vegetables for sale, used to eat the coarse parts of those they offered, evidently pressed by hunger; and as for their wood, they brought from a considerable distance nothing but a few roots of olive trees (almost the only fuel to be had now at Jerusalem) to sell. So scarce is wood, that the comparatively few olive trees, which remain in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, are cut down, and their dried roots serve as fuel. Be sides these poor creatures, we saw multitudes of men, women and children half naked, or clothed in most miserable rags : and you cannot walk a short distance even, without being besieged for alms by a number of beggars, not a few of whom are lepers. Jerusalem is now a small city, in comparison with European cities, (round which you may walk in about 45 minutes,) and contains only 28,000 inhabitants, of A.D, 1881.] 423 which 8,000 are Jews, who are generally very poor. They settle there, because money is frequently sent by wealthier Israelites from Europe to Jerusalem to relieve their necessities ; but there is nothing yet like an exten- sive gathering of Jews to this city or to their own land. One of the missionary brethren told me on Dee. Ist, 1881, that the Pasha, or Governor of Jerusalem, had received orders from the Sultan of Constantinople, not to sell any considerable quantities of land to the Jews, for the sake of forming a Jewish colony, lest difficulty should arise to the Ottoman Empire, from the European powers. From all I could learn, the missionaries who labour - among the Jews, very excellent men, have comparatively little encouragement in their service, and greatly need on that account the help by prayer of all true Christians; for as soon as the Rabbis find that any Israelite is in the least degree tending towards Christianity, all support is at once cut off from him; and as the Jews in Jerusalem are generally very poor, none but those who are in earnest, come as inquirers after the way of salvation. The number of true converts from Judaism to Christianity is extremely small; this I do not mention as a discourage- ment for service, but I seek to stir up Christians to ‘ prayer. Whilst at Jerusalem we visited Bethany, saw the tomb of Lazarus, and from the summit of the Mount ~ of Olives, had an extensive view of part of Jordan, of the valley which Lot chose for himself, and of the neigh- bourhood of the cave of Adullam. From the Mount of Olives we also had by far the best view of Jerusalem which is to be obtained anywhere. The garden of Gethsemane was likewise visited by us, and the pool of Bethesda, also the Mosque of Omar where the Temple formerly stood, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built, as it is said, over the spot where our Lord was crucified. In going to Bethany we crossed the Brook Kidron, which however has water in it, only when there have been heavy rains, otherwise it is quite dry. One day we rode upon donkeys to Bethlehem, 6 miles from Jerusalem, and visited the church which, as it is said, has been erected, over the spot where the manger stood in which Jesus was laid after his birth. At another time we went to the “ Upper Pool,” where Rabshakeh spoke to the men “ 424 [A.D. 1882. on the wall, in the days of Hezekiah ; also the place where Herod's palace was, the castle to which Paul was taken, and the Pool of Siloam (now without water.) One of the most memorable places we saw was, " the Wailing Place of the Jews." Every Friday afternoon, shortly before sunset, 200 or 300 Jews assemble close to some immense stones, " the remains, it is supposed of the Temple ;" these they kiss, whilst they offer prayer, and bewail, some with tears in their eyes, the calamities which have befallen their city and country. May the Lord hasten the time when the spirit of grace and of supplication will be poured out upon them, and when they shall look upon Him whom they pierced ! During our stay at Jerusalem I held many meetings in German, and in English, and preached repeatedly in both these languages, with interpretation into Arabic. Twice also I addressed the patients in a hospital lor lepers, outside the city, where there were 14 men and 6 women afflicted with leprosy. On February 1st, 1882, we left Jerusalem after a stay there of 9 weeks and 2 days, and returned to Jaffa, in order to pursue our journey thence by sea to Haipha and Beyrout. At Jaffa we stayed from February 1st to February 8th. The weather there was cold, and there were heavy gales and violent storms of rain, so we suffered greatly from the unusual inclemency of the season, because it was impossible to order fires, as fire places, or stoves are rarely used in Palestine, except at Jerusalem, which stands about 2600 feet above the level of the sea, and is considered colder in winter than many other places in the country. At Jaffa I preached again repeatedly to the Germans, and on Feb. 8 we embarked for Haipha, that I might labour there in the midst of another German colony. Our passages to and from the steamship in a small open boat, during weather which was still tempestuous, were extremely rough and dis agreeable ; but we reached the Hotel du Mont Cannel at Haipha in safety soon after midnight the same evening. This little town is beautifully situated at the foot of Mount Carmel, and is close to the sea shore. During the 12 days we were there, I preached 14 times ; and the Lord was graciously pleased to grant an especial blessing upon these services. On the Monday after our A.D. 1882.] 425 arrival, we rode on donkeys to the top of Mount Carmel, and from a lighthouse close to a Monastery of Carmelite monks situated there, had a magnificent view of Mount Tabor in the extreme distance, of brook Kishon, the valley where the Sea of Tiberias lies, the Bay of Haipha, the town of Acre (or Akka) the other side of it, the plain of Esdraelon, and the vast expanse of the Mediterranean, stretching away as far as the eye could reach. The weather being fine, with bright sunshine, and the atmos phere beautifully clear, we viewed the whole scene under particularly favourable circumstances. Haipha is situated in the neighbourhood of the place where Elijah slew the false prophets, and by prayer brought down fire to con sume the sacrifice ; and upon Mount Carmel he prayed I that Jehovah would again give rain, after 3 years and 6 I months, during which time there had been neither rain | nor dew. On Feb. 20th we went on board a large Austrian steamer and sailed for Bevrout, Syria. Here we stayed ! 21 days, and in addition to my preaching many times in ; German, and in English, or in English and in German j with Arabic interpretation, I addressed the students also of the college, the theological students, and had three meetings with Christian workers. We were very kindly received by the brethren and sisters connected with the American mission in this city, the Scotch mission, the German pastor, the deaconesses from Kaiserwerth, and by English labourers in the Lord's service. On March 14th we left Beyrout by a steamer for Smyrna, in Asia Minor, where we arrived on March 18th, after touching for several hours at the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes in the Levant, and at Chios, one of the numerous islands of the Archipelago. Chios was fearfully devastated by earthquakes in the spring of 1881. The distance from Beyrout to Smyrna is 620 miles. At Smyrna I found work immediately on our arrival, and during our stay preached on the Lord's days twice, and every day in the week once or twice, either in English or in German; also several times with inter pretation into the Armenian ajid-Turkisii languages, and into modern Greek ; also once with Spanish translation, when addressing a congregation of Spanish Jews. Whilst at Smyrna we spent part of one day in going by rail to 426 [A.D. 1882. Ephesus, where we saw a number of very ancient ruins. Of the once magnificent temple of Diana, there is now nothing left except the spot where it stood, which is covered with a number of large stones, scattered on the ground, affording another illustration of the vanity of all the glory of this world. On April 6 we left Smyrna for Constantinople, where we arrived on the 8th. During our stay there, I preached 18 times within the twelve days that we remained. Twice I particularly addressed the Jews, and I had 6 opportunities of addressing hundreds of Jewish children in Schools connected with the London missionary Society to the Jews or the Scotch Mission to the Jews. These meetings were either in German, English, and French ; or with Turkish interpretation. On April 21st we left Constantinople for Athens, and arrived there on April 23rd. During the tenttSys we were at Athens I preached twelve times in English, but always with interpretation into modern Greek. I had also the opportunity of addressing 275 and 155 prisoners in two different prisons, having obtained permission from the Attorney-General so to do. Whilst at Athens we visited the Areopagus or Mars Hill, stood on the spot where Paul preached, and saw the ruins of many of the former idol-temples, some of which are nearly four thou sand years old. Athens, which about 40 or 50 years r ago was little more than a village, is now a beautiful I city, and with Rome bids fair to become as splendid a city as formerly. The difficulties of Missionaries in Greece are greater than in Turkey, as they have not the same amount of liberty for service as in that country. The Greek Government allows no schools to be established where priests of the Greek Church cannot go to give religious instruction ; and this of course greatly hinders our missionary brethren in their service. I commend this matter to the attention of Christians, and would ask them to pray that evangelical missionaries in Greece may be entirely free from the priests of the Greek Church. On May 3rd we left Athens for Brindisi, and went from thence to Rome. In the latter city we arrived on May 8th, and stayed still the 1 9th. In Rome I preached twelve times. During the three years since we were last A.D. 1882.] 427 in this city, it has been greatly enlarged and improved, and the cleanliness of the streets is particularly striking. With reference to the work of God in Home, it seems to have increased considerably, and the liberty which mis sionaries have is almost as great in every way as can be desired. On our way back to England we also visited Florence for a short time, where I had laboured twice before, three years ago. There I had five very happy, precious meetings. This closed my eighthjreaching tour. In addition to my regular services lor preaching, I had one meeting especially for pastors, three for theological students, six for other students in colleges, thirty-two meetings at various educational institutions, and sixteen more particularly for Christian workers, to comfort and encourage them. I very particularly commend missionary brethren and sisters in the East to the prayers of the Church of Christ ; for they labour almost all of them under very great difficulties, connected with the way in which the natives have been brought up, their habits, the enervating character of the climate, and are tried in a number of other ways. Pray also in particular that these dear brethren and sisters may have great faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, and believe that the Lord is able and willing to work as mightily in the East as in Europe and in America. ' In looking back on my service during this eighth long preaching tour, I have abundant reason to be grateful to the Lord for the honour He has bestowed upon me, in allowing me thus to labour for Him, and I have also reason to believe that my labours have been owned by Him. Indeed during all these tours for the past seven years and three months, I have clearly seen, that it is the wilFof my heavenly Father, I should thus spend the evening of my life, as long as health is continued to me, and in other respects my way is made plain. Dec. 31, 1882. It pleased the Lord to give to us through presents in clothes and provisions, and by having had OUT hotel expenses paid three times for us, £22. 15s. By means of chapel boxes, £42. 16s. came in. Through Bristol and Clifton donors, not anonymously, £131. 17s. Through donors, in other parts of the land 428 [4.D. 1883. and the earth, £1090. 2s. 8d. There were also two legacies left to me of £100. and £30. In all, therefore, our income during the year was £1417. 10s. 8d. Of this amount we gave to relatives £150. To the poor under my pastoral care £80. 6s. 6d. To the Scrip- tural Knowledge Institution £599. July 10, 1883. The year before last was full of a variety of difficulties and trials in connection with this Institution ; and, in particular, with respect to funds. Clinging to the Lord and His Word was the only thing to sustain us. This, by His grace, and only by His grace, we were able to do ; and thus it was, that we were not overpowered by the trial of faith, We considered that, not in displeasure—far less in anger and for the purpose of confounding us—but only for the trial of our faith and patience, and that we might learn the lesson which our Heavenly Father meant to teach us, we were thus dealt with. Further help from Him was confidently expected, and brighter days, even as it regarded means ; and during the past year it has been seen that we did not trust in the Lord in vain. A few Christian friends, who wished well to the In- stitution, desired me to digcontinue my long Missi Tours, as it appeared to them that “hat aa. the. especial reason why the income had fallen off. J did not think so, however, because year after year, for several months at a time, the Scriptural Knowledge Institution had been left during my absence, under the godly and able direction of Mr. Wright, assisted by a staff of very efficient helpers ; : and whenever I returned to Bristol, 1 found that each | branch of the Institution was in as good working order ‘as if I had been on the spot during the whole year myself, which, for the first forty-one years after the founding of it, was the case. This fact, therefore, was looked upon by me as God’s approval of my continuing to go on, spending the ‘evening of my life in preaching” Christ in other cities and countries also, and of my seek- ing to help on individual Christians or assemblies of them, with the experience and knowledge He had been pleased to give me, during more than half a century that I have known Him. 4. ) I considered further, that Mr. Wright had the oppor- tunity of availing himself of my judgment in difficult A.D. 1883.] 429 cases, should he need it, as I generally hear once every week from him, if not more frequently; and lastly, I knew that God—on whom I wait continually in these matters—would have me go on with my Missionary Tours, because I could help by prayer and counsel when at a distance as Well as if in Binstol. “And, lastly, F-never considered it nécessary that T should be at home in order that we might be supplied with means ; for the third year, after I had commenced my Missionary Tours, we had a larger income for the various departments of the Scrip- tural Knowledge Institution than wé had ever had during the previous forty-four years of its existence. “I had, therefore, for these reasons, to leave unnoticed, apparently, the loving advice of a few donors, to remain in Bristol, on account of the falling off of the funds; and had practically to show, what I had repeatedly stated before in the Reports, that real trust in God ts above circumstances and appearances. me “After much prayer I set out again, accompanied by my dear wife, on my ninth great Missionary Tour ; and the result has proved—in a way that only in the day of , Christ will be fully made manifest, that I was especially helped oy God and used, particularly in Russia and in Russian Poland. . : On August 8th, 1882, we began our ninth Missionary Tour. The first place at which I preached was Wey- mouth, where I spoke in public four times. From | Weymouth we went, by way of Calais and Brussels, to Diisseldorf on the Rhine, where I preached many times six years before. During this visit, I spoke there in public eight times. Regarding my stay at Diisseldorf, for the encouragement of the reader, I relate the following’ circumstance. During our first visit to that city, in the year 1876, a godly City Missionary came to me one day, greatly tried, because he had six sons, for whose con- version he had been praying many years, and yet they remained unconcerned about their souls, and he desired me to tell him what todo. My reply was, “‘ Continue to Prey for your sons, and expect an answer to your prayer, and you will have to praise God.” Now, when after six; years I was again in the same city, this dear man came} fe me and sail he was surprised he had not seen before! himself what he ought to do, and“that he had resolved 430 [A.D. 1883. to take my advice and more earnestly than ever give himself to prayer. Two months after he saw me, five of his six sons wer£ converted vnthin eight ,dav_s, and have for six years now walked in the ways of the Lord, and he had h'ope that the sixth son also was" Begnining to be concerned about his state before God. May the Christian reader be encouraged by this, should his prayers not at orice be answered ; and, instead of ceasing to pray, wait upon God all the more earnestly and perseveringly, and expect answers to his petitions. From Diisseldorf we went to Neu Kirchen, a village, in which a beloved Christian brother, the minister of the place, labours very earnestly for the Lord, and has, in dependence upon Him, and greatly encouraged by my life and labours, established various Christian Institutions. On the day after our arrival, the dedication to the Lord of a mission house took place, in which young Christian men are to be helped forward, that they may be able to labour profitably in His service, either at home or abroad. In the morning I preached in the Parish Church, and in the afternoon addressed a vast audience in a very large Hall for more than an hour, in connection with the object for which they had assembled from various places. I sought to encourage them in their work amongst the Orphans, and in their endeavours to train missionaries also, by speaking of the Lord's help granted to me whilst labouring in this way, though my beginning, like their's, was but small. After we had left Neu Kirchen, we went to Mulheim an der Ruhr, where, on that day and the next, I addressed assemblies of from 1600 to 1800 three times, very many of whom are truly godly persons. During the last cen tury a very godly man—Tersteegen—laboured at Mul heim and in the neighbourhood for many years ; and the fruit of his precious service is to be seen up to this day. What an encouragement this should be to Christians, to be really in earnest for the Lord, and to give themselves wholly to Him for His service ! IFrom Mulheim we went to Wiesbaden,where I preached eight times altogether ; six times at the large Hall of the " Vereins Haus," once at " The Paulinen Institute," and , once at the largest Church of the city, "The Haupt- kirche." One of these meetings was especially for Chris A.D. 1883.] 431 tian workers. After we had left Wiesbaden we went to Mannheim, where I preached four times in the Hall of Mr. Wissewasser, a godly man, who labours for God with great earnestness in that fine aristocratic city, where there is exceedingly little spiritual life.—Heidelberg was our next resting place, a most attractive town, and greatly frequented by foreigners of various nations ; but needing spiritual blessing very much. After the comparatively small number of true Christians there, had sought again and again in vain, when a vacancy in one of the Churches occurred, to fill it with a truly Christian man as minister, and had always been outvoted by the majority of uncon verted or neologian persons ; they at last built a Church at their own expense, and support an excellent Christian brother as minister at their own cost. At this Church I preached five times, where I preached also repeatedly six years before. At places like these I desire to labour par- ; ticularly, in order to encourage believers and to strengthen their hands in God, as well as to preach the gospel to the unconverted. Our next place for service was Munich, the capital of the kingdom of Bavaria. Popery prevails here ; yet even at Munich, through the kindness of the highest eccle siastical functionary of the Evangelical churches, who treated me with the greatest affection, I obtained open ings for preaching in the principal Evangelical Church of this City, also for holding meetings at a Hall, and for preaching at a Church connected with the Deaconesses' Institution. After I had preached seven times at Munich, we went to Vienna, where, notwithstanding difficulties on account of the want of religious liberty in Austria, I had the joy of being able to preach 13 times, both in Halls and at Churches, and a few times also in English, at the Presby terian Church ; for up to this time all my preaching on the Continent had been in German. As it had been at Munich, so it was also at Vienna. Through the highest ecclesiastical functionaries of the evangelical churches in the empire, who knew about my life and labours, I ob tained openings for service. One of the meetings was particularly for Christian workers and colporteurs, who go about from place to place with great difficulty, in order to circulate the Holy Scriptures in connection with the 432 [A.D. 1883. British and Foreign Bible Society. If an extra service is to be held at Vienna, in any Church or Hall, notice of this must be given three days beforehand to the police ; otherwise the meeting is not allowed. Are Christians in England and elsewhere truly grateful for the religious liberty they enjoy ; and are they praying that it may be continued to them ? My labours in the Word, in Europe, America, Africa and Asia had hitherto been in seventeen different countries ; but now, having entered Austria, we were in the eighteenth country, and entered afterwards into the nineteenth" by going to Pesth, the" capital of Hungary. TEough Pesth, as well as Vienna and Munich, is full of popery, and the Protestants are a very small proportion only ; yet in Hungary there was somewhat more liberty than at Vienna. While at Pesth, I preached nine times ; at the German Reformed Church four times, and three times at the Baptist Chapel ; I held a meeting for colporteurs and other Christian workers also, and preached at the Kaiserwerth Deaconesses' Institution. After we had left Pesth, we went to Prague, Bohemia, the twentieth country in which I have preached. Here, too, there is very little religious liberty ; yet the Lord allowed me even there the joy of labouring for Him in word and doctrine. I preached six times at Prague, four times to English-speaking congregations, and twice with Bohemian translation. Our next place of service was Dresden, the capital of the kingdom of Saxony, where I preached three times ; and then went to Leipsic, where I preached four times, addressing about 200 students of the University of Leipsic also, together with some of their professors. After this I had the great joy and precious privilege of preaching the Gospel twice at Kroppenstadt, the little town where I was born, which I had not seen for about 64 years. Here I held meetings in the largest Hall to be had (as the parish church was under repair, and could not be used), and was greatly aided in this service by an excellent Christian minister of the place. The result of these two meetings was precious. They will bear fruit to the praise of God ; and I rejoice at having been per mitted in my seventy-eighth year to bear witness there also for the Lord. On the day we left Kroppenstadt we proceeded to A.D. 1882.] 433 Berlin, where I preached several times at St. John’s Church, Alt Moabit, for my old friend Dr. Prochnow, three times at Christ Church, four times at Jesus Church, twice at the Hall of the Moravian brethren, etc. ; fifteen times altogether. After having left Berlin, we went to Danzic, where I © obtained permission from the commandant of this large fortified town, to preach in the Garrison Church, and did so several times; I preached also three times at the Church of the Moravian brethren, and once at the Baptist Chapel. All the meetings were well attended. In this city I found two aged Christian brethren, who 56 years ago were my Christian University friends at Halle. Both of them had been more than fifty years ministers at Danzic, and had celebrated their jubilee as pastors of churches. I had very happy intercourse with them. Our next visit was to K6nigsberg, on our way to St. Petersburg. Here I preached twice at a large Hall, three times at the Church of the Moravian brethren, and tre times at Tragheimer Church, an exceedingly large build- ing, where I had 3,000 hearers. Every seat was occupied and a number of persons had to stand. The gospel is faithfully preached in this church by two excellent Chris- tian ministers, who treated me with great affection. Here, as every where, blessing, I doubt not, was the result of my labours. On Dec, 29th, after leaving this city, we began our journey into Russia; and in thirty hours, on the evening of Dec. 30th, 1882, arrived at St. Petersburg, where we were met at the station by Colonel Paschkoff, one of the most active Christians in the whole vast empire, and Princess Lieven, who both welcomed us affectionately. The latter Invited us mosf_kindly to her house ; but as we rarely accept invitations to stay with friends, because I require as much rest and time to myself as possible, we declined the proposal, and went to an hotel, where we re- mained two nights. Finding, however, that the Princess eatly desired we should be her and that she ald Fase hoa auch disappointed i we had continued to refuse her kind offer of hospitality, on Monday, Jan. 1st, we went 0 her mansion, and Were most ikindiy entertained there, for upwards of eleven weeks, On: Sunday, Dec. 31st, I preached twice—according to pre-. o U 434 [A.D. 1883. vious arrangement—at the British and American Chapel, in English, and, during our stay with the Princess, was able not only to labour for the Lord in the way I am accustomed to do at all the places that we visit, but had frequent intercourse also with persons of high rank, whom I sought to benefit spiritually. This was unsought for on my part ; but the Lord opened deeply important service for me in this manner, which, I doubt not, will be found in the day of Christ to have been helpful not only to those dear Christians amongst whom I more parti cularly laboured, publicly and privately ; but also, through them, to many others in the vast empire. During our stay at St. Petersburgh I preached many times in German at the Reformed Church and at the Moravian Church ; and at the British-American Chapel in English ; held many large drawing-room meetings, had meetings for Christian workers ; preached to the Swedes, etc. In all I was occupied at 112 services or meetings, either in preaching or more particularly in teaching, and gave addresses also at the breaking of bread on the morning of the Lord's day. So precious was all this work, and so manifestly owned of God, that I could only admire Him for allowing me to labour as I was allowed to do. Again and again our Christian friends at St. Petersburg told me, that God knew their need, and that just at the right time He sent me to them. The pastors of the Reformed Church, of the Moravian Church, and of the English Chapel, showed me great kindness : and I had open doors for service given to me by them. Christians who seek to labour for the Lord in Russia, do so under particular difficulties, as there is very little real religious ub^rty in that country. I mention this, in order that the children of God may give themselves to prayer, and ask the Lord, graciously to open that vast empire for the spread of the truth more fully. When we arrived at St. Petersburg, Ijiould only preach in English, because the British-American CFapeTTias no con nectibn with the State. After about twelve days, how ever, through application by friends to the Minister of the Interior, I obtained permission to preach at the German Churches in St. Petersburg, and also to the Swedes—with translation—in the British Chapel. The written document from the Minister of the Interior was . A.D. 1883.] 435 in Russ, which neither I, nor the friends who handed it to me understood, so they only told me, that the desired ‘permission had been granted. Very soon, however, after Thad begun to hold meetings in a large drawing-room at Cor. Paschkoff’s house (one of them with translation into ise} 1 was ordered to appear before fhe rector of _the police in St. Petersburg, and told that Thad gone beyond my ermission. After"thts, the meetings at Col. Paschiotts fouse had ‘to be given up. This dear brother in the Lord is followed everywhere. From his own country house near Moscow ié was-banished, because he expounded the Scriptures to the poor. He held meetings in his own house at St. Petersburg, which were attended habitually by from 1,000 to 1,300 persons. These were stopped, and. at present he is not allowed to have more | p< than 20 persons at his meetings. He was banished from St. Petersburg also, as well as from Moscow ; and during our visit, when reading the Scriptures one day in Russ, with seyen poor Russians, a policeman entered the room, broke up the meeting, and ordered the poor people to leave the house. This was done toa Christian lady also, who was in the habit of reading the Scriptures to a few Russian peasants. Pray, pray, dear Christian readers, for Russia, that God, in the riches of His grace, may give real religious liberty in that country. After our departure from St. Petersburg, we left for Warsaw, the capital of Russian Poland, where I held six meetings only, and then we went to the neighbourhood of Pruszkow. Here I preached once, at the Hall of an Orphan Institution, and from there we proceeded to Taig, the second large city in Russian Poland, which is full of manufactories. My service began on a Wednesday evening at half past eight o'clock ; but though this hour | seemed unfavourable, I found the Chapel, at which I | reached, crowded to the utmost, and about 150 persons | had to stand during the whole of the service. Altogether — there were about 1,200 persons present. On Thursday and Friday evenings it was the same. On Saturday it | was necessary to give opportunity for the Chapel to be cleaned, and there was no meeting. On Sunday twice the place was again crowded as before, and so it was on Monday evening. By this time I had heard from the pastor, from ‘a Christian colporteur, and from others, that U2 436 [a.D. 1883. almost the whole town seemed moved by my preaching, and that it was the topic of conversation at many of the manufactories of the city, at the public houses, and in families generally. I was told also, that on the previous evening, a number of “ freethinkers,” as they are called, viz., sceptics or infidels, had been at the meeting, who left, melted to tears. The next morning I received a note in German, of which the following is a translation. “T, and almost the whole population of this town, in the name of the Lord Jesus, entreat that you will have the kindness to remain with us until after next Sunday. In the name of many thousands, I thank you for your ministry.” The crowds who came at first, continued to attend all the meetings, and at the twelfth service, the number of persons present, was as large as it was at the beginning ; that is to say there were about 1,200, as many as could possibly be accommodated. There is good reason to believe, that the Spirit of God worked mightily amongst them. We should gladly have stayed longer, but other work obliged me to leave Lodz. On our way to England I preached once more at Dresden; and in London and the neighbourhood eleven times, before going to Bristol, where we arrived on June 1. Thus my ninth long missionary tour from Aug. 8, 1882 to June 1, 1883;was brought'to a close. In looking back upon it, we can only praise and admire the Lord’s condescension in using me so extensively in such precious service, and causing such blessing to rest on my efforts to labour for m. Our intention last year was to have gone a fourth | time to the United States, and our aassage was actually engaged, when tem illness made it needful to give up_this intention. We purpose, the Lord willing this year to Ieavé England on the 26th of September for Madras, in order to spend six months in India, as my tenth Missionary tour, and we earnestly commend our- — selves to the prayers of the Lord’s people for this service. Dec. 31, 1883.—It pleased the bord, during this year, to give to us, by presents in clothes and provisions, or hotel expenses being paid for us, £151. 18s. Through the Chapel boxes, £40. 13s. 1}d. Through donors in Bristol and Clifton, £143. 14s. Ofd. Through donors in other parts of the country or the earth, A.D. 1884.] 437 £1,022. 10s. 4d. My dear wife and I received, through three legacies from her relatives, £2,476. 10s. 7d. There were also two legacies of £79. 11s. 4d. and £89. 6s. 8d. left to me by two ladies, whose names even I had not known. In all £4,004. 4s. 1d. Of this amount we were enabled, by the grace of God, to give to relatives £92. 1s. To poor believers under my pastoral care £65. 17s. 6d. To the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, for Missions, the Orphans, etc., £2,411. 11s. 5d. The reader cannot fail to see, how, year after year, the Lord most abundantly supplies me with means. And what is the reason ? I give systematically, as He is pleased to give to me. This is the reason. You say, perhaps, the legacies brought this year the greatest part of the income. True ; but the legacies might never have been left to us ; or the relatives might have outlived us ; or, for many other reasons, the legacies might not have been paid to us. The finger of God is to be seen in all this. July 12, 1884.—Soon after my conversion in November, 1825, it was my desire to go to the East Indies as a mis sionary ; but as my father would not give his consent to this, no Missionary Society in Germany could receive me. After this, within the first eight years after my conver sion, I offered myself four times most solemnly and prayerfully To the Lord "for the same service; Tmt the more I prayed, the more' manifest it was, that I should remain in England, and not go to India, because He had other work for me to do. But now, in the seventy-ninth year of my life, after fifty years had passed away, since I last offered myself to the Lord for missionary work in India, He allowed me to carry_outjaiy desire, and to add to all my other missionary tours in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, during the last nine years, the joy of going to India also, which has been the jihree-and-twentieth country of my service in the Gospel. My especial object" in going to that distant land, was, to encourage the beloved missionary brethren and sisters who labour under a burning sun, and to strengthen their hands in God. I desired also to preach Christ in great simplicity to the many thousands of Europeans, Eurasians, and educated natives with whom I might come into contact, and to set 438 [A.D. 1884. forth the truths of the Gospel before the lower orders of natives likewise, well knowing how vast would be the field I should find everywhere for service. In addition to having these objects before me, I went to India also with a great desire to promote brotherly love amongst all the followers of the Lord Jesus, and tried to stir up His disciples to increased heavenly mindedness. I sought, too, to lead them to love the word of God more and more, and to point out that it alone should be their rule in all spiritual matters ; to teach the true character of the present dispensation, namely that the whole world will not be converted, but that God is every where gathering out from the unsaved around a people for His name ; and to stir up believers to " Look for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God, our Saviour Jesus Christ." Before setting out for India, I accepted an invitation to attend the Perth and Dundee Conferences in September, 1883, where I spoke in public many times. On September 26, 1884, my dear wife and myself left Gravesend in the steamship " Siam." Our voyage lasted thirty-four days. In our feeble measure we sought to witness for the Lord on board. I preached three times, taking turns with a Presbyterian minister, and after the service stated publicly that I should be glad to converse on spiritual subjects with any who felt interested in them ; but, out of the many passengers on board, none availed themselves _of the opportunity. We gave away a number of little books andTracts, Tiowever, and set the truth before some of our fellow passengers. On reaching Colombo, Ceylon, a Christian gentleman, who had heard we were in the " Siam," came on board, to meet and take us on shore, where we found his carriage waiting to convey us to the house of Mr. Ferguson, because the steamer was going to anchor for about 28 hours at Colombo. In the afternoon we visited a mission school, where I addressed thirty native girls ; and in the evening there was a meeting at Mr. Ferguson's house, to which between forty and fifty Christian gentlemen and ladies had been invited. Among these there were about thirty missionary brethren and sisters, whom I addressed for an hour, particularly with reference to their service. These missionaries were of various denominations. It A.D. 1884] 439 was a very happy, profitable meeting, and our friends greatly regretted that we could not remain longer. On October 30, 1883, we landed at Madras, where Mr. Frederick Bowden met and conducted us to the house of the Messrs. Franck, who, with their sisters, received and entertained us during the whole of our stay, and showed us the utmost kindness. While in Madras, I preached 26 times, held two meetings for educated natives, two for Christian workers, and had one meeting especially for missionaries, at which I spoke to about forty missionary brethren and sisters for more than one hour concerning their service. One of the meetings for educated natives was attended by 400 young men, many of whom were lawyers ; I addressed them for 45 minutes, and they listened with marked attention. After having been three weeks in Madras, we left for Bangalore, and when there stayed at the house of Colonel Wraughton. At Bangalore I preached eight times during our nine days' visit, held one meeting for educated natives, and spoke for an hour to many missionary brethren and sisters, gathered at the house of one of their number. On November 30 we left Bangalore for Colar (a native town of 10,000 inhabitants), to visit Miss Anstey's Orphan Institution, where, during our stay of thirty hours, I spoke three times to 350 native boys, girls, young men and young women with their many helpers and teachers. We were greatly interested in this work, which commenced during the dreadful famine of 1877, when hundreds of poor, starving children were taken up and cared for. From Colar we proceeded to Coimbatore, and after I had preached twice there to Europeans and Eurasians, and once to educated natives, we went on to Coonoor on the Nilgiri Hills, where, during a stay of 13 days, we were most kindly entertained by our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stanes. Whilst there, I held fifteen meetings. After leaving Coonoor we spent four days at Ootaea- mund, where I conducted five services. Whilst on the Nilgiri Hills (7,700 feet above the level of the sea), for two days and a half we were constantly in the clouds. From " The Hills " we returned to Madras, in order to go by steamer to Calcutta ; and when on board the " Teheran " I preached twice during our voyage. 440 [A.D. 1884: On our arrival at Calcutta we were met by Mr. Souttar, who very kindly took us to his house, and, with Mrs. Souttar, did all that Christian kindness could do to make us comfortable. While staying in Calcutta, the capital of the vast empire of India, which in appearance resembles some of the largest and finest capitals of Europe, I preached nineteen times ; once out of doors in Wellington Square I addressed a company of natives; spoke to a religious native devotee in one of the streets, who was surrounded by many Hindus ; addressed educated natives twice in two of the large colleges, preached once to natives with translation into Hindustani, addressed a meeting of 60 missionaries for 45 minutes, held a second meeting for 70 pastors and missionaries, spoke for an hour to 78 ladies connected with Zenana Missions, and attended the breaking of bread at the Gospel Hall. The whole of my service was of the most important character. Many Episcopalian clergymen, as well as ministers of the various denominations, were present at the meetings, and took part in them. This was also the case at Madras, Coonoor, and Ootacamund. From Calcutta we went to Darjeeling, on the Himalayas, about 8,000 feet above the level of the sea, where I preached five times during our stay of six days, and con- versed a good deal with various Christians. The cold was severe, and was felt by us all the more after experi- _ encing the heat of the Red Sea, and of Madras. On the fifth day of our stay at Darjeeling the sky was clear enough for us to see the highest mountain range in the world, which is perpetually covered with snow. ‘Kinchin. junga (the second highest mountain on the globe, twenty- Sight thousand Teet above the Tevat-of the sea) though 45 miles distant, could be clearly seen; but Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, twenty-nine thousand feet high, was not visible, as it cannot be seen without going to a spot six miles from Darjeeling. The amazing grandeur and magnificence of this mountain range will never be erased from the mind of any God- fearing person who has seen it. From Darjeeling we went back to Calcutta and then started for Bankipore (Patna), where we stayed at a mission-house ; but here I only expounded the Scriptures twiee, and conversed about the things of God, without AD. 1884.] 441 preaching publicly, as no arrangements had been made for public-meetings. From Bankipore we went to Dina- pore, where I had four very happy services, which were attended by many soldiers as well as others, because Dinapore is a military station. Here we were kindly entertained by a Scotch lady. From Dinapore we went to Benares, having accepted a most affectionate invitation from Dr. and Mrs. Hewlett, of the London Missionary Society, to stay at their house, accompanied by an earnest request that I would preach at Benares. Of all the places we had seen up to this time, none showed to us the awful character of idolatry, and especially of Hindu idolatry, aa Benarés did. Benares is to the two hundred millions of Hindus of India, what Rome is to the Papists, It is the chief sacred city of the Hindus. In this one city, containing about two hundred thousand inhabitants, there are 1,550 Ado} temples and 250 mosques; the latter being™Matiome air places 0 worship. Its sacred wells and tanks, the bathing places on The left bank of the Ganges, and especially the many hundreds of schools of Hindu literature and philosophy, in which twenty-five thousand pundits teach, give to Benares great renown ; and millions of deluded pilgrims, in order to insure salvation, go to this city, at least once in a their lives. Aik Visited one of these seats of Sansicrit philosophy, and found 450 young men, besides older persons, chiefly Brahmins, eagerly engaged in studying under their famous pundits. There are also about five hundred Mahomedan Schools in Benares, which is emi- _ nently the city of learning for the natives of India. Whilst there we saw thousands of poor deluded Hindus bathing in the Ganges, before they entered their idol temples. Three dead human bodies too were floating down the Ganges, which had been thrown in by persons not sufficiently well off to incur the expense of burning their dead. On these bodies crows were perched feedi upon their flesh. A second time we saw two other dead bodies in the Ganges, in a different part of the river ;! likewise two corpses carried to the river's side to be| burnt. At other times large piles of burning wood were | visible in the distance, consuming the bodies of the dead. ' The impression, produced on our minds by all we witnessed of the utter blindness and delusion of these , 442 [A.D. 1884. poor idolaters, was one of lively gratitude to God for what He has done for us in the gift of His only begotten Son, and filled us with compassion for these poor deluded souls, such as we had never felt before—Christians, cry mightily to God for India ! At Benares I preached three times, addressed 150 edu cated natives also, and spoke for an hour to 51 missionary brethren and sisters. From Benares we went to Allahabad, and stayed there six days, during which time I held seven meetings, and expounded the Scriptures eight times to twelve ladies connected with Zenana Missions. From Allahabad we went on to Lucknow, one of the J principal scenes of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Here ) places of deep interest were pointed out to us, where great numbers of Europeans were killed by the rebellious sepoys, and where the most fearful sufferings were endured. The ruins of the Residency, Sir Henry Havelock's monu ment in the Alum Bagh, the Secundra Bagh, etc., etc., we saw ; but the remembrance of all that took place here, twenty-seven years ago (permitted, no doubt, as God's righteous judgment for the sins of Europeans), is too painful to dwell upon. I preached five times in Lucknow, expounded the Scriptures five times also to a number of Zenana teachers, and addressed one hundred native girls. . From Lucknow we went to Cawnpore. a place not less ! deeply interesting than Lucknow, in connection with the (fearful scenes which occurred during the Indian Mutiny. We saw the Memorial Well—that is, a monument raised over the well, into which the bodies of a great company of Christian people, the dying with the dead, were thrown, after they had been cruelly massacred by two Mahomedan butchers. We likewise visited the Memorial church, which contains 14 long upright marble tablets, on which the names of more than a thousand Europjean gentlemen, ladies, children and others areTnscribed, who were killed during the Mutiny near that church. At Cawnpore we stayed four days, and there I preached four times, gave addresses at two educational establishments, and had a meeting with eighty Christian workers, many Missionary brethren and sisters being among them, whom I addressed for an hour on their service for the Lord. A.D. 1884.] 443 On March 15th we left Cawnpore for Agra, and stayed there five days. At Agra I preached 8 times, and held one meeting for missionaries and Christian workers. Whilst there, we were entertained with the kindest hos pitality by Dr. and Mrs. Wilson. From Agra we went on March 20th to Lahore, in the Punjab, and stayed for ten days at Government House, having been kindly invited by Sir Charles Aitchison (Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab) to visit him. Whilst at Lahore, I preached seven times, held a meeting for 70 Christian workers and missionaries, to whom I spoke for an hour, and had a meeting also for 500 educated natives whom I addressed for three quarters of an hour. Our stay at Lahore was both pleasant and profitable. I found that Sir Charles Aitchison (like myself) had studied at the University of Halle in Prussia, and that he knew well some of my oldest and dearest German Christian friends, which in a peculiar manner endeared this Chris tian gentleman to my heart. After leaving Lahore, our next resting place was Delhi, where we arrived at 3 P.M. on April 1st. Whilst ordering a carriage to drive us to an hotel, a letter was handed to my dear wife, inviting us to take up our abode at Ludlow Castle, the residence of the Commissioner, where Mr. and Mrs. Tremlet did all they possibly could do to make our stay agreeable. At Delhi I preached once to a company of soldiers at the fort, and had a private meeting with four Cambridge missionaries during the three days that we remained. Having left Delhi at 3.20 P.M. on April 4th, we arrived at Ajmere on the 5th at noon, and went by invitation to the house of Dr. Husband, a Scotch medical missionary, residing there. During the three days we were at Ajmere, I preached twice. On April 8th we left for Mhow (Central India), having been invited by General Sir Robert Phayre (a well-known Christian gentleman) to rest at his house, and break our long journey to Bombay. At Mhow I held six meetings, and we had mostpleasant intercourse with the General and his son, Captain Phayre, both very decided Christians. On April 14th, at 11.45 P.M., we left for Poona, arrived there on the 16th at 3 P.M., and went to the Mission House, where Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont, Missionaries of .' 444 [A.D. 1884. the Free Church of Scotland, reside, who had kindly invited us to be their guests. During the five days we stayed at Poona, I preached five times. The Lord greatly blessed my labours there, as indeed He did (there is reason to believe) at every place in India where I ministered. At 11 P.M. on April 21st we left Poona, and arrived at Bombay, our last station in India, on the 22nd at 7 A.M. Here again Christian love had provided for us a pleasant resting place at the house of Captain and Mrs. Hutchinson, with whom we stayed till May 2nd, the day of our embarkation in the " Indus " for England. Whilst at Bombay I preached six times, held two meetings besides for missionaries and other Christian workers, and addressed 150 educated natives also. On board the " Indus " I preached once, and spoke also at a reading-meeting. During the whole of this long Indian Missionary Tour, though about two months were taken up by the voyage and journey to and fro, and though . the excessive heat obliged me to consider my health occa- I sionally, yet I was enabled to preach altogether 206 I times. Of the meetings I held, twenty-seven were espe cially for missionaries and Christian workers, whom I addressed each time for an hour, so that I had oppor tunities of giving a word of comfort, counsel, exhortation or instruction to thousands engaged in the Lord's work in India. Ten meetings I held for Natives and eight for educated Natives, and was thus permitted to preach the Gospel to thousands of Hindus or Mahomedans. Three services besides, were especially for pupils in educa tional establishments. In looking back on this long Missionary Tour of Twenty On.e Thousand Miles. I praise God for having given me tKeTgreat honour, in my seventy-ninth year, of not only in a little measure labouring myself" ml)he vast country of India amongst the heathen, but also of strengthening in God the hands of my dear missionary brethren and sisters, as well as those of other Christian workers. This latter service I always keep particularly before me in all my Missionary tours. For all that God has allowed me to accomplish on this my tenth great Missionary Tour, I praise and adore and magnify Him. Dec. 31, 1884. In August and September of this year I preached in Herefordshire and Wales, having intended, A.D. 1884.] 445 if the Lord permitted, to labour in the Word in many parts of Wales. At the end of September, however, my dear wife had a grave attack of erysipelas in the face ; and though she was after a week renfored, yet as the weather now became cold and rainy, her medical adviser thought it best we should return home, in order that she might not have a return of the malady. During this year the Lord was pleased to give to us by means of clothes and provisions, and in the way of hotel expenses being paid for us, whilst travelling for the Lord, £134, 28. By means of the Chapel boxes in Bristol by gifts placed into them anonymously, with my name written on the packets, £47. 6s. 54d. From donors in Bristol and Clifton we received £101. 15s. 6d. From donors in other parts of the country or the earth, £885. 11s. 8d. There were also left to me two legacies of £42. and £20. ; and to my dear wife came from a deceased uncle a legacy of £2,619. 19s. In all our income for the year was, therefore, £3,850. 14s. 7$d. During the year we gave to relatives £105. 6s. 6d. To the poor believers under my pastoral care, £108, 8s. 4d. To the Orphans and the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, £3,646. 3s. See, esteemed reader, how great the honour and how vast the privi- lege, which the Lord is ready to bestow even upon poor stewards such as we are, provided any one is willing really to be a STEWARD, and not to act, as if he were already come to the possession of the inheritance. Accord- ing to the principle of GIVING, as the Lord is pleased to prosper me, I have now acted 56 years; and, by His help, I purpose to do so to the end of my course. It will be obvious, that we gave away more during the year, than we had received. The explanation is that a part of Mrs. Miiller’s le acy, received during the past year, had come in at the end thereof, and the money was not yet expended, when the year closed. I cannot for-: bear here to mention, that in my dear wife the Lord has given me a helper, who is entirely of one mind with me in money matters, as ready to act as a steward for God, as myself. The total of the legacies from her relatives, received in 1883 and 1884, amounting to £5,096. 9s. 7d., ! she gave to the Orphans and other Objects of the Institu- tion, and had previously given £474., £150. and £10., , 446 [A.D. 1885. in all £5,730. 9s. 7d. I count it a great blessing, to have in her, in this particular, a helper, and not a hinderer. Dec. 31, 1885. During this year I began in the spring a preaching tour in Shropshire, with the inten tion of preaching for some time in Ireland ; but a feverishjipld, which settled in my foot, the result of a very large crowded meeting, and consequent severe draught, laid me up with my lame foot for several weeks, and I was obliged to return finally to Bristol, without being able to go to Ireland. In September and the early part of October, I preached in Dundee in Scotland, and in Liverpool ; and in the early part of November I preached five times at Talbot Road Tabernacle, Bayswater, London, and then set out with my dear wife the fourth time for the United States. On Nov. 1 9th we went oh board the "Germanic"" of Ihe White Star Line, and reached New York on Nov. 28th. Whilst in New York I preached several times to the Germans, and gave an hour's address, by invitation, to a large assembly of ministers in English, with especial help of the Holy Spirit. On Dec. 19 we left New York for San Francisco, California, with the intention of embarking there for Sydney, New South Wales, in order that I might accept an invitation from Melbourne, which had reached me, signed by the leading Christians of Victoria. In entire dependence on God, therefore, I enter upon this my eleventh long preaching tour, if the three short ones that preceded it, are not included. During this year it pleased God to give to me by clothes, provisions, and two valuable pieces of furniture, £47. 10s. By anonymous donations, through the Chapel boxes, £35. 16s. 6½d. Through donations in money from Bristol and Clifton donors, not anonymously, £127. 19s. Through donors, not residing in Bristol or Clifton, £949. 14s. 9½d. By an especial donation from the Church, in commemoration of my 80th birthday, on Sept. 27th, and as a mark of love and gratitude for having laboured 53 years among them, £400. 16s., with a writing table and chair for myself, and a table and chair for my dear wife. There were also three legacies left to me, of £193. 13s. 1d., £20., and £131. In all our yearly income, therefore, was £1,906. 9s. 5d. Of A.D. 1885.] 447 this amount we gave to relatives, £135. 17s; to the poor believers under my pastoral care, £177. 28, 4d.; and to the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, £932. 11s. 9d. In now summing up the whole, from the year 1874, to the year 1885, we received during these twelve years, _ £30,145. 3s, altogether; and to this may be added about £855, by sale of our publications. Of this amount we gave to relatives, £2,185. 17s, 4d. : and to poor believers under my pastoral care, £1,464. 88. 2d. Tothe Missions, Orphans, etc., of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, | £23,464. 8s. 8d., and altogether £27,111. 14s, 2d. To this last sum is to be added many hundred pounds, spent out of my own means, in connection with our missionary tours, during the last 10 years and 9 months. In adding all this, to what has been stated at the close of the third volume of this narrative, the reader will see, that the Lord has honoured me with the great privilege of giving away, since Jan. Ist, 1831, about | S57,000, Of this sum £45,000 was given to the rphans, Missions, and other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. You will now see, esteemed reader, from what has gone before, the result of systematic giving ; but of the joy in God, and the blessing received in my own soul, I can give you no description whatever. aaa dow farewell. I am in my 81st year on my eleventh great missionary tour, and commend my beloved wife and myself to your prayers, that we may finish our course with 18 and be blessed with all the grace and strength and vigour of mind and body, which our ser- vice for the Lord requires. BRARY OF > yy UNION“ » THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY “fo « New YO pe DRYDEN PRESS: DAVY & SONS, 137, LONG ACRE. ^^^S^^^m ¥,"* •s / ***n . ,. >',—i ^_ -_-.--:• , fOI, /7 P | t ISRARY bircrag, holy 80288773 a | 1Ql MOK6 ¥94———_ > 1874 . ; ary | et