CHAPTER I
BEGINNING AND EARLY DAYS OF THE ORPHAN WORK.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."--1 Peter, i. 7.
Mr. George Müller, the founder of the New Orphan-Houses, Ashley Down,
Bristol (institutions that have been for many years the greatest monuments of
modern times to a prayer-answering God), gives in that most valuable and
instructive book, "A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George
Müller," Vol. I., among other reasons for establishing an Orphan-House, the
following:--
"Sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect of old age,
when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore were harassed
by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such a case I pointed out
to them, how their Heavenly Father has always helped those who put their
trust in Him, they might not, perhaps, always say, that times have changed;
but yet it was evident enough, that God was not looked upon by them as the
LIVING God. My spirit was ofttimes bowed down by this, and I longed to set
something before the children of God, whereby they might see, that He does
not forsake, even in our day, those who rely upon Him.
"Another class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in their
souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on their business,
almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The competition in trade,
the bad times, the over-peopled country, were given as reasons why, if the
business were carried on simply according to the word of God, it could not be
expected to do well. Such a brother, perhaps, would express the wish, that he
might be differently situated; but very rarely did I see that there was a stand
made for God, that there was the holy determination to trust in the living God,
and to depend on Him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained.
To this class likewise I desired to show, by a visible proof, that God is
unchangeably the same.
"Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in professions
in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or persons who were
in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual things; but both classes
feared, on account of the consequences, to give up the profession in which
they could not abide with God, or to leave their position, lest they should be
thrown out of employment. My spirit longed to be instrumental in strengthening
their faith, by giving them not only instances from the word of God, of His
willingness and ability to help all those who rely upon Him, but to show them
by proofs, that He is the same in our day.
I well knew that the Word of God
ought to be enough, and it was, by grace, enough, to me; but still, I considered
that I ought to lend a helping hand to my brethren, if by any means, by this
visible proof to the unchangeable faithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen
their hands in God; for I remembered what a great blessing my own soul had
received through the Lord's dealings with His servant A. H. Franke, who in
dependence upon the living God alone, established an immense
Orphan-House, which I had seen many times with my own eyes. I, therefore,
judged myself bound to be the servant of the Church of God, in the particular
point on which I had obtained mercy: namely, in being able to take God by His
word and to rely upon it.
All these exercises of my soul, which resulted from
the fact that so many believers, with whom I became acquainted, were
harassed and distressed in mind, or brought guilt on their consciences, on
account of not trusting in the Lord; were used by God to awaken in my heart
the desire of setting before the church at large, and before the world, a proof
that He has not in the least changed; and this seemed to me best done, by the
establishing of an Orphan-House. It needed to be something which could be
seen, even by the natural eye.
Now, if I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith, obtained without asking any individual, the means for establishing and carrying on an Orphan-House, there would be something which, with the
Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children
of God, besides being a testimony to the consciences of the unconverted, of
the reality of the things of God. This, then, was the primary reason for
establishing the Orphan-House. I certainly did from my heart desire to be used
by God to benefit the bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and
seek in other respects, with the help of God, to do them good for this life;--
I also particularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans trained
up in the fear of God;--but still, the first and primary object of the work was
(and still is:) that God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under
my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without
anyone being asked by me or my fellow-laborers whereby it may be seen, that
God is FAITHFUL STILL, and HEARS PRAYER STILL.
That I was not mistaken, has been abundantly proved since November, 1835, both by the
conversion of many sinners who have read the accounts, which have been
published in connection with this work, and also by the abundance of fruit that
has followed in the hearts of the saints, for which from my inmost soul, I desire
to be grateful to God, and the honor and glory of which not only is due to Him
alone, but, which I, by His help, am enabled to ascribe to Him."
"OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE."
In the account written by Mr. Müller dated Jan. 16, 1836, respecting the
Orphan-House intended to be established in Bristol in connection with the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, we read:--
"When, of late, the thoughts of establishing an Orphan-House, in dependence
upon the Lord, revived in my mind, during the first two weeks I only prayed
that if it were of the Lord, he would bring it about, but if not that He graciously
would be pleased to take all thoughts about it out of my mind. My uncertainty
about knowing the Lord's mind did not arise from questioning whether it would
be pleasing in His sight, that there should be an abode and Scriptural
education provided for destitute fatherless and motherless children; but
whether it were His will that I should be the instrument of setting such an
object on foot, as my hands were already more than filled. My comfort,
however, was, that, if it were His will, He would provide not merely the means,
but also suitable individuals to take care of the children, so that my part of the
work would take only such a portion of my time, as, considering the
importance of the matter, I might give, notwithstanding my many other
engagements. The whole of those two weeks I never asked the Lord for
money or for persons to engage in the work.
"On December 5th, however, the subject of my prayer all at once became
different. I was reading Psalm lxxxi., and was particularly struck, more than at
any time before, with verse 10: "Open thy month wide, and I will fill it." I
thought a few moments about these words, and then was led to apply them to
the case of the Orphan-House. It struck me that I had never asked the Lord for
anything concerning it, except to know His will, respecting its being
established or not; and I then fell on my knees and opened my mouth wide,
asking Him for much. I asked in submission to His will, and without fixing a
time when He should answer my petition. I prayed that He would give me a
house, i. e., either as a loan, or that someone might be led to pay the rent for
one, or that one might be given permanently for this object; further, I asked
Him for £1000; and likewise for suitable individuals to take care of the children.
Besides this, I have been since led to ask the Lord, to put into the hearts of
His people to send me articles of furniture for the house, and some clothes for
the children. When I was asking the petition, I was fully aware what I was
doing, i. e., that I was asking for something which I had no natural prospect of
obtaining from the brethren whom I know, but which was not too much for the
Lord to grant."
"December 10, 1835.--This morning I received a letter, in which a brother and
sister wrote thus:--"We propose ourselves for the service of the intended
Orphan-House, if you think us qualified for it; also to give up all the furniture,
which the Lord has given us, for its use; and to do this without receiving
any salary whatever; believing that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, He
will supply all our needs, and care."
"Dec. 13.--A brother was influenced this day to give 4s. per week, or £10 8s.
yearly, as long as the Lord gives the means; 8s. was given by him as two
weeks' subscriptions. To-day a brother and sister offered themselves, with all
their furniture, and all the provisions which they have in the house, if they can
"When, of late, the thoughts of establishing an Orphan-House, in dependence
upon the Lord, revived in my mind, during the first two weeks I only prayed
that if it were of the Lord, he would bring it about, but if not that He graciously
would be pleased to take all thoughts about it out of my mind. My uncertainty
about knowing the Lord's mind did not arise from questioning whether it would
be pleasing in His sight, that there should be an abode and Scriptural
education provided for destitute fatherless and motherless children; but
whether it were His will that I should be the instrument of setting such an
object on foot, as my hands were already more than filled. My comfort,
however, was, that, if it were His will, He would provide not merely the means,
but also suitable individuals to take care of the children, so that my part of the
work would take only such a portion of my time, as, considering the
importance of the matter, I might give, notwithstanding my many other
engagements. The whole of those two weeks I never asked the Lord for
money or for persons to engage in the work.
"On December 5th, however, the subject of my prayer all at once became
different. I was reading Psalm lxxxi., and was particularly struck, more than at
any time before, with verse 10: "Open thy month wide, and I will fill it." I
thought a few moments about these words, and then was led to apply them to
the case of the Orphan-House. It struck me that I had never asked the Lord for
anything concerning it, except to know His will, respecting its being
established or not; and I then fell on my knees and opened my mouth wide,
asking Him for much. I asked in submission to His will, and without fixing a
time when He should answer my petition.
I prayed that He would give me a house, i. e., either as a loan, or that someone might be led to pay the rent for one, or that one might be given permanently for this object; further, I asked
Him for £1000; and likewise for suitable individuals to take care of the children.
Besides this, I have been since led to ask the Lord, to put into the hearts of
His people to send me articles of furniture for the house, and some clothes for
the children. When I was asking the petition, I was fully aware what I was
doing, i. e., that I was asking for something which I had no natural prospect of
obtaining from the brethren whom I know, but which was not too much for the
Lord to grant."
"December 10, 1835.--This morning I received a letter, in which a brother and
sister wrote thus:--"We propose ourselves for the service of the intended
Orphan-House, if you think us qualified for it; also to give up all the furniture,
&c., which the Lord has given us, for its use; and to do this without receiving
any salary whatever; believing that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, He
will supply all our needs, and cares."
"Dec. 13.--A brother was influenced this day to give 4s. per week, or £10 8s.
yearly, as long as the Lord gives the means; 8s. was given by him as two
weeks' subscriptions. To-day a brother and sister offered themselves, with all
their furniture, and all the provisions which they have in the house, if they can
be usefully employed in the concerns of the Orphan-House."
A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.
"Dec. 17.--I was rather cast down last evening and this morning about the
matter, questioning whether I ought to be engaged in this way, and was led to
ask the Lord to give me some further encouragement. Soon after were sent by
a brother two pieces of print, the one seven and the other 23¾ yards, 6¾
yards of calico, four pieces of lining, about four yards altogether, a sheet, and
a yard measure. This evening another brother brought a clothes horse, three
frocks, four pinafores, six handkerchiefs, three counterpanes, one blanket, two
pewter salt cellars, six tin cups, and six metal tea spoons; he also brought 3s.
6d. given to him by three different individuals. At the same time he told me that
it had been put into the heart of an individual to send to-morrow £100."
ONE THOUSAND POUNDS.
"June 15, 1837.--To-day I gave myself once more earnestly to prayer
respecting the remainder of the £1000. This evening £5 was given, so that
now the whole sum is made up. To the Glory of the Lord, whose I am, and
whom I serve, I would state again, that every shilling of this money, and all the
articles of clothing and furniture, which have been mentioned in the foregoing
pages, have been given to me, without one single individual having been
asked by me for anything."
ORPHANS FOR THE BUILDING.
In a third statement, containing the announcement of the opening of the
Orphan-House, for destitute female children, and a proposal for the
establishment of an Infant Orphan-House, which was sent to the press on May
18, 1836, Mr. Müller wrote:--
"So far as I remember, I brought even the most minute circumstances
concerning the Orphan-House before the Lord in my petitions, being
conscious of my own weakness and ignorance. There was, however, one
point I never had prayed about, namely that the Lord would send children; for I
naturally took it for granted that there would be plenty of applications. The
nearer, however, the day came which had been appointed for receiving
applications, the more I had a secret consciousness, that the Lord might
disappoint my natural expectations, and show me that I could not prosper in
one single thing without Him. The appointed time came, and not even one
application was made. I had before this been repeatedly tried, whether I might
not, after all, against the Lord's mind, have engaged in the work. This
circumstance now led me to lie low before my God in prayer the whole of the
evening, February 3, and to examine my heart once more as to all the motives
concerning it; and being able, as formerly, to say, that His glory was my chief
aim, i. e., that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing to trust in the living
God,--and that my second aim was the spiritual welfare of the
orphan-children,--and the third their bodily welfare; and still continuing in
prayer, I was at last brought to this state, that I could say from my heart, that I
should rejoice in God being glorified in this matter, though it were by bringing
the whole to nothing. But as still, after all, it seemed to me more tending to the
glory of God, to establish and prosper the Orphan-House, I could then ask
Him heartily, to send applications. I enjoyed now a peaceful state of heart
concerning the subject, and was also more assured than ever that God would
establish it. The very next day, February 4, the first application was made, and
since then 42 more have been made."
"JUST FOR TO-DAY."
Later on, when there were nearly 100 persons to be maintained, and the funds
were reduced to about £20, Mr. Müller writes:--
"July 22 [1838].--This evening I was walking in our little garden, meditating on
Heb. xiii. 8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever."
Whilst meditating on His unchangeable love, power, wisdom, &c.--and turning
all, as I went on, into prayer respecting myself; and whilst applying likewise
His unchangeable love, and power and wisdom, &c., both to my present
spiritual and temporal circumstances:--all at once the present need of the
Orphan-House was brought to my mind. Immediately I was led to say to
myself, Jesus in His love and power has hitherto supplied me with what I have
needed for the Orphans, and in the same unchangeable love and power He
will provide me with what I may need for the future. A flow of joy came into my
soul whilst realising thus the unchangeableness of our adorable Lord. About
one minute after, a letter was brought me, enclosing a bill for £20. In it was
written: "Will you apply the amount of the enclosed bill to the furtherance of
the objects of your Scriptural Knowledge Society, or of your Orphan
Establishment, or in the work and cause of our Master in any way that He
Himself, on your application to Him, may point out to you. It is not a great sum,
but it is a sufficient provision for the exigency of to-day; and it is for to-day's
exigencies, that, ordinarily, the Lord provides. To-morrow, as it brings its
demands, will find its supply, etc."
"[Of this £20 I took £10 for the Orphan fund, and £10 for trip other objects, and
was thus enabled to meet the expenses of about £34 which, in connection
with the Orphan-Houses, came upon me within four days afterwards, and
which I knew beforehand would come.]"
WAITING FOR HELP.
"Nov. 21, 1838.--Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day. There was not
a single halfpenny in hand between the matrons of the three houses.
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