Thus, amidst many difficulties and trials and some discouragements, we had abundant cause to praise G.o.d for his goodness, and to go forward in the strength of the Lord.
Dec. 31, 1851. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me, for my personal expenses, 465, 13s. 1d.
CHAPTER XXII.
REAPING IN JOY.
1852-1854.
EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM G.o.d--MUNIFICENT DONATION--INCREASING USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSt.i.tUTION--ACCESS TO G.o.d THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT OF WAITING G.o.d"S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY RELIANCE--"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY ALL"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTIc.i.p.aTED--COUNSEL TO TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH.
On May 26, 1852, there was in hand toward the erection of the second new Orphan House three thousand five hundred and thirty pounds nine shillings sixpence and one farthing. Donations varying in amount from three hundred pounds to fourpence continued to be received in answer to prayer. On the 4th of Jan.
1853, Mr. M. writes:--
From London two shillings sixpence. Day by day I have now been waiting upon G.o.d for means for the building fund for more than nineteen months, and almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the amount which will be required for the completion of this object; nevertheless, they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of his dear Son, listens to my supplications, and to those of my fellow-laborers and helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to continue to wait upon G.o.d. I have been for many months a.s.sured that the Lord, in his own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for this I have been more and more earnestly entreating him during the last months. Now at last he has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered my request. I received to-day the promise that, as _the joint donation of several Christians_, there should be paid me a donation of eight thousand and one hundred pounds, for the work of the Lord in my hands.
It is impossible to describe the spiritual refreshment which my heart received through this donation. Day by day, for nineteen months, I had been looking out for more abundant help than I had had. I was fully a.s.sured that G.o.d would help me with larger sums; yet the delay was long.
See how precious it is to wait upon G.o.d! See how those who do so are not confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but in the end it will most a.s.suredly be seen that those who honor G.o.d he will honor, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in the least surprise me; _for I expect_ GREAT _things from G.o.d_. Have I been boasting in G.o.d in vain? Is it not manifest that it is most precious in every way to depend upon G.o.d? Do I serve G.o.d for naught? Is it not obvious that the principles on which I labor are not only applicable to the work of G.o.d _on a small scale_, but also, as I have so many times affirmed during the past nineteen years, _for the most extensive operations for G.o.d_?
During the year ending May 26, 1853, nine thousand and one pounds three shillings was received toward the building fund, making the present amount of that fund twelve thousand five hundred and thirty-one pounds twelve shillings one farthing.
For the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution, viz.
for school, missionary, Bible, and tract purposes, I had to expend during the year from May, 1852, to May, 1853, about six hundred pounds per month, or above seven thousand pounds in all; but I had sufficient to meet every demand; and over and above I was helped by the Lord to increase the building fund nine thousand pounds. The current expenses of the Inst.i.tution were never so great during the previous nineteen years; but the extent of its operations, and the means which the Lord was pleased to send in, were also never so great.
You see, dear reader, that we are richly recompensed for our waiting upon G.o.d. You perceive the readiness of his heart to listen to the supplications of his children who put their trust in him. If you have never made trial of it, do so now. But in order to have your prayers answered, you need to make your requests unto G.o.d on the ground of the merits and worthiness of the Lord Jesus. You must not depend upon your own worthiness and merits, but solely on the Lord Jesus, as the ground of acceptance before G.o.d, for your person, for your prayers, for your labors, and for everything else. Do you really believe in Jesus? Do you verily depend upon him alone for the salvation of your soul? See to it well, that not the least degree of your own righteousness is presented unto G.o.d as a ground of acceptance. But then, if you believe in the Lord Jesus, it is further necessary, in order that your prayers may be answered, that the things which you ask G.o.d should be of such a kind that G.o.d can give them to you, because they are for his honor and your real good. If the obtaining of your requests were not for your real good, or were not tending to the honor of G.o.d, you might pray for a long time without obtaining what you desire. The glory of G.o.d should be always before the children of G.o.d, in what they desire at his hands; and their own spiritual profit, being so intimately connected with the honor of G.o.d, should never be lost sight of in their pet.i.tions. But now, suppose we are believers in the Lord Jesus, and suppose we make our requests unto G.o.d, depending alone on the Lord Jesus as the ground of having them granted; suppose also, that, so far as we are able honestly and uprightly to judge, the obtaining of our requests would be for our real spiritual good, and for the honor of G.o.d; we yet need, lastly, to _continue_ in prayer until the blessing is granted unto us. It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue _for a time_ to pray; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and, further, we have not only _to continue_ in prayer unto the end, but we have also _to believe_ that G.o.d does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail _in not continuing_ in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and _in not expecting_ the blessing. As a.s.suredly as in any individual these various points are found united together, so a.s.suredly will answers be granted to his requests.
During the year 1852-53, the expense of the support of the orphans was fully met by unsolicited donations. Two or three particulars only will be given.
June 29, 1852. To-day I received one of the most remarkable donations which I ever had. I give the whole account, without the name of the donor.
LYONS, JUNE 24, 1852,
DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST:
It is now several years that I read with great interest, and I hope with some benefit to my soul, the account of your labors and experiences. Ever since then your work was the object of many thoughts and prayers, and I gave many copies of your book to Christian friends. One of them has read it in Syria, on Mount Lebanon, where he is for commercial business; and, whilst praying for you and your dear orphans, the Lord put it in his heart to send you two pounds, to which my husband added two others; and we beg you to accept that small offering in the name of the Lord. If you have published anything of the Lord"s dealings with you since the year 1844, we shall be very happy to receive it. You could forward it to Messrs. * * * *, London, for * * * * of Lyons. And now, dear brother, may the grace and peace of the Lord rest on you and your dear home"s inhabitants.
Affectionately yours in the Lord, * * * *
I have had donations from Australia, the East Indies, the West Indies, the United States, Canada, from the Cape of Good Hope, from France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, etc.; and now comes also this donation from Mount Lebanon, with the prayer of a Christian brother whose name I never heard nor know even now. See, dear reader, this is the way in which the Lord has helped me in this precious service for twenty-two years. With my fellow-laborers, or without them, and they without me, our prayers are offered up unto the Lord for help, and he is pleased, for Jesus"
sake, to listen to our supplications, and to influence the hearts of some of his children, known to us or not, to send us help. The donors may be rich or poor; they may live near, or at a distance of more than ten thousand miles; they may give much or little; they may have often given before, or never; they may be well known to us, or not at all: in these and many other things there may be constant variations; but G.o.d continually helps us; we are never confounded. And why not? Simply because we are enabled by the grace of G.o.d to put our trust in him for what we need.
Oct. 9. This morning Luke vii. came in the course of my reading before breakfast. While reading the account about the centurion and the raising from death of the widow"s son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord Jesus thus: "Lord Jesus, thou hast the same power now. Thou canst provide me with means for thy work in my hands. Be pleased to do so."
About half an hour afterwards I received two hundred and thirty pounds fifteen shillings; also one shilling. This two hundred and thirty pounds fifteen shillings was left at my disposal, as most needed. I took one half of it for the current expenses for the orphans, and the other half for the other objects. I am now amply provided for meeting the demands of this day.
The joy which such answers to prayer afford cannot be described. I was determined to wait upon G.o.d only, and not to work an unscriptural deliverance for myself. I have thousands of pounds for the building fund; but I would not take of it, because it was once set apart for that object. There is also a legacy of one hundred pounds for the orphans two months overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might be naturally inclined to use some money from the building fund, to be replaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus step out of G.o.d"s way of obtaining help. At the very time when this donation arrived, I had packed up one hundred pounds which I happened to have in hand, received for the building fund, in order to take it to the bank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon G.o.d. My soul does magnify the Lord for his goodness!
This last paragraph is copied out of my journal, written down at the time. I add a few words more to the last sentences.
The natural mind is ever p.r.o.ne _to reason_, when we ought _to believe_; to be _at work_, when we ought to be _quiet_; to go our own way, when we ought steadily to walk on in G.o.d"s ways, however trying to nature. When I was first converted, I should have said, What harm can there be to take some of the money which has been put by for the building fund? G.o.d will help me again after some time with means for the orphans, and then I can replace it. Or, there is this money due for the legacy of one hundred pounds. This money is quite sure; may I not, therefore, on the strength of it, take some of the money from the building fund, and, when the legacy is paid, replace the money which I have taken? From what I have seen of believers, I know that many would act thus. But how does it work, when we thus antic.i.p.ate G.o.d, by going our own way? We bring, in many instances, guilt on our conscience; but if not, we certainly weaken faith instead of increasing it; and each time we work thus a deliverance of our own we find it more and more difficult to trust in G.o.d, till at last we give way entirely to our natural fallen reason, and unbelief prevails. How different, if one is enabled to wait G.o.d"s own time, and to look alone to him for help and deliverance! When at last help comes, after many seasons of prayer it may be, and after much exercise of faith and patience it may be, how sweet it is, and what a present recompense does the soul at once receive for trusting in G.o.d, and waiting patiently for his deliverance! Dear Christian reader, if you have never walked in this path of obedience before, do so now, and you will then know experimentally the sweetness of the joy which results from it.
Oct. 12. By sale of rags and bones twelve shillings sixpence. I copy literally from the receipt book. We seek to make the best of everything. As a steward of public money, I feel it right that even these articles should be turned into money; nor could we expect answers to our prayers if _knowingly_ there were any waste allowed in connection with this work. For just because the money is received from G.o.d, simply in answer to prayer only, therefore it becomes us the more to be careful in the use of it.
From Dec. 20, 1852, to Jan. 4, 1853, we had nothing in advance of our wants. Means came in only as they were required for pressing needs. But on the 4th January, we received, as stated under another head, the largest donation I ever had, of which I took six hundred pounds for the support of the orphans. These facts I state, in order to give a practical ill.u.s.tration that those are entirely mistaken who suppose that the work is now _no longer_ a work of faith, as it used to be in former years. It is true, we have now a larger income than we used to have in the years 1838, 1839, and 1840; but it is also true that our expenses are three times as great. We have no regular income now, even as we had not then. We ask no human being now for help; even as we did not then.
We depend alone upon G.o.d, by his grace; even as we did then. Who is there in the whole world who will state that I ever asked him for help in this orphan work, from its commencement, on Dec. 9, 1835, up till now? Now, as we have no funds to live upon; as we have no regular subscribers or donors upon whom we could depend; as we never ask help from man, but G.o.d alone; and as, finally, we never did go into debt for this work, nor do we now: why is it not now a work of faith, as formerly? Will those who say it is not, place themselves in the position in which I was, when, at the close of the year 1852, I had not two pounds left, and about three hundred and thirty persons were day by day to be provided for, with all they need, and prove whether it is now anything else than a work of faith? But perhaps I have said too much about this. For every one, except those who are _determined_ not to see, will have no difficulty in perceiving that now, as formerly, one could only be kept from being overwhelmed in such a position by looking day by day to the Lord, and that not merely for pecuniary supplies, but for help under the numberless difficulties which continually are met with in such a work.
How can I sufficiently praise, and adore, and magnify the Lord for his love and faithfulness in carrying me thus from year to year through this his service, supplying me with all I need in the way of means, fellow-laborers, mental strength, and, above all, spiritual support! But for his help and support I should be completely overpowered in a very short time; yet, by his help I go on, and am very happy, spiritually, in my service; nor am I now generally worse in health than I was twenty years ago, but rather better.
During the year 1852-53, there were four day schools, with 235 children in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Inst.i.tution. Further, one Sunday school in Bristol, with 150 children, was entirely supported, and three others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with 280 children, were a.s.sisted. Lastly, one adult school, with 103 adult scholars, was entirely supported by the funds of the Inst.i.tution. There were under our care, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1853, in the various day schools 5,686 children, in the Sunday schools 2,673 children, and in the adult school 2,132 persons. There was expended of the funds of the Inst.i.tution during this year, for the various schools, 349, 12s. 11d.
During this year there was laid out of the funds of the Inst.i.tution, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, 431, 5s, 1d., and there were circulated 1,666 Bibles and 1,210 New Testaments. There were circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1853, 10,476 Bibles, and 6,061 New Testaments.
For several years past this part of the work has appeared more and more important to me on account of the fearful attempts which have been made by the powers of darkness to rob the church of Christ of the Holy Scriptures. I have on this account sought to embrace every opportunity to circulate the Holy Scriptures in England, Ireland, Canada, British Guiana, the East Indies, China, Australia, etc. Every open door which the Lord was pleased to set before me in these or other parts of the world, I have joyfully entered; yea, I have counted it a privilege, indeed, to be permitted of G.o.d to send forth his Holy Word. Many servants of Christ, in various parts of the world, have a.s.sisted me in this service, through whose instrumentality copies of the Holy Scriptures have been circulated.
During this year there was spent of the funds of the Inst.i.tution for missionary objects 2,234, 2s. 6d. By this sum fifty-four laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree a.s.sisted.
There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1852, to May 26, 1853, the sum of 555, 16s. 7d.; and there were circulated within this year 733,674 tracts.
The total number of tracts which were circulated up to May 26, 1853, was 1,820,040. From Nov. 19, 1840, to May 10, 1842, the first period that the circulation of tracts was in operation in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution for Home and Abroad, there were circulated 19,609; from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, 489,136; and during this period 733,674.
At the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into it 13 orphans, making 313 in all. The total number of orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1853, was 528.
_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, the sum of 55,408, 17s. 5d. was given to me for the orphans, _as the result of prayer to G.o.d_, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1853. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total amount which was given for the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1853, amounted to 19,163, 14s.
1d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to 3,490, 7s.
1d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given _for the use_ of the orphans.
The expenses in connection with the support of the 300 orphans and the apprentices during this year were 3,453, 15s. 1d.
Dec. 31, 1852. During this year there have been received into fellowship 35 believers. The Lord has been pleased to give unto me 445, 8s.
8d.
My brother-in-law, Mr. A. N. Groves, of whom mention has been made in the first part of this Narrative, as having been helpful to me by his example when I began my labors in England in 1829, in that he, without any visible support, and without being connected with any missionary society, went with his wife and children to Bagdad, as a missionary, after having given up a lucrative practice of about one thousand five hundred pounds per year, returned in autumn 1852, from the East Indies, a third time, being exceedingly ill. He lived, however, till May 20, 1853, when, after a most blessed testimony for the Lord, he fell asleep in Jesus in my house.
I have already stated that on May 26, 1853, I had on hand toward building premises large enough for the accommodation of 700 children, the sum of 12,531, 12s. 0d.
A single circ.u.mstance will ill.u.s.trate the widely diverse sources from which donations are received, as well as the great disparity in amount.
Jan. 17, 1854. From S. R. and E. R., two poor factory girls, near Stroud, 1s. 7d. This day I also received the promise that there should be paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, 5,207, to be disposed of as I might consider best.
The whole amount received for the new Orphan House, during the year closing May 26, 1854, was 5,285, 17s. 5d., which made the total of 17,816, 19s. 5d. in hand on May 26, 1854.
During this year the current expenses for the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution for Home and Abroad amounted to 7,507, 0s. 11d., being 471, 8s. 11d. more than during any previous year; yet the Lord not only enabled me to meet them all, but to add the sum of 5,285, 7s. 5d. to the building fund.
There is yet a large sum required before I shall be enabled to build another house for 700 orphans; nor have I now, any more than at the first, any natural prospect of obtaining what is yet needed; but my hope is in the living G.o.d. When I came to the conclusion that it was the will of G.o.d that I should build another Orphan House, I had not only no natural prospect of obtaining the 35,000 which would be needed for this object, but also I had no natural prospect of being able to provide for the necessities of the three hundred orphans already under my care.
Three years have elapsed since then, and I have had all I needed for them, amounting to about 10,500; and 17,816, 19s. 5d. I have received for the building fund. May I not well trust in the Lord for what is yet needed for the building fund? By his grace I will do so, and delight in doing so; for I know that at last all my prayers will be turned into praises concerning this part of the service.