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LIFE OF TRUST

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THE

LIFE OF TRUST:

BEING A

NARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS

WITH

GEORGE MtJLLER, £^4.

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EDITED AND CONDENSED BY

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EEV. H. LINCOLN WAYLAND,

PABTOR OV THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MAPI.

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BY

FRANCIS WAYLAND.

BOSTON:

GOULD AND LINCOLN,

59 WASHINGTON STREET.

NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY. CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHAKD.

oar As interesting Letter from REV. DB. SAWTELL, of Havre, dated Bristol, Jec 14, 188ft, havinpr reference to the subject of this volume, and designed as an INTBODUCTIOIT to it, will be found in the Appendix, p. 477, to which the reader is specially referred.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year I860, by

GOULD AND LINCOLN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

HAVING been requested by MESSES. GOULD AND LINCOLN to ex- amine the work entitled "A NARRATIVE OP SOME OP THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE MULLER," the Editor was convinced that its republication in this country would greatly promote the piety of American Christians. But to reproduce the work in its original form was attended with difficulty. The "Narrative," in four parts, (pub- lished respectively in 1837, 1841, 1845, and 1856,) and the four "Annual Ecports" issued in 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860, would occupy not less than eighteen hundred pages of the size of those contained in this volume. The cost of such a work would greatly limit its circulation and its usefulness, if indeed any publisher should undertake its issue. There seemed no alternative except to abandon the idea of an American edition altogether, or to present it to the public in a condensed form.

Such a condensation seemed, on examination, to be entirely practicable. Owing to the " Parts " of the " Narrative " having been published at four separate periods, it often happens that the same matter is several times repeated. A large portion of the space is occupied with the acknowledgment of donations received. These entries, although appro- priate in a report made to the donors and to the British public, have

vi EDITOR'S PREFACE.

not the same interest for American readers. The discussion of some points in church polity, and the account of the Author's journeys upon the Continent, though interesting and instructive, are not necessary to the continuity of the history. Although in some cases the portions which have been omitted cover a considerate period of time, yet it is believed that all which is essential has been retained. No pains have been spared on the part of the Editor to preserve the value of the work while reduc- ing its compass, and to give, in a form universally accessible, a clear exhibition of the wonderful results of the life of George Muller, as well as of the principles by which his life has been governed.

Believing that the book would be rendered more attractive to the reader, and more convenient for reference, the Editor has divided it into Chapters, and has prefixed to each a brief statement of some of the leading subjects introduced in the Chapter. For these " contents," as well as for the headings of the Chapters, and for the general title of the volume, the Editor alone is responsible.

The "Narrative" of George Muller has been blessed in other lands to the awakening of spiritual life. It was the means, as will be observed by the reader, of greatly forwarding, if not of originating, the work of grace now advancing in Ireland. " THE LIFE OP TRUST " is submitted to the Christian public of America, in the hope that its still small voice may be heard even amid the clangor of political strife and the revulsion of commercial interests, and that it may be used by the Divine Spirit to promote and strengthen in the hearts of American Christians, FAITH IN HIE LIVING GOD.

H. L. W. WORCESTER, DEC. 12, 1860

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AUTHOR'S PREFACE

IT was only after the consideration of many months, and aflef much self-examination as to my motives, and after much earnest prayer, that I came to the conclusion to write this work. I have not taken one single step in the Lord's service concerning which I have prayed so much. My great dislike to increasing the number of religious books would, in itself, have been sufficient to have kept me forever from it, had I not cherished the hope of being instrumental in this way to lead some of my brethren to value the Holy Scriptures more, and to judge by the standard of the Word of God the principles on which they act. But that which weighed more with me than anything, was, that I have reason to believe, from what I have seen among the children of God, that many of their trials arise either from want of confidence in the Lord as it regards temporal things, or from carrying on their busi- ness in an unscriptural way. On account, therefore, of the remark- able way in which the Lord has dealt with me as to temporal things, I feel that I am a debtor to the church of Christ, and that I ought, for the benefit of my poorer brethren especially, to make known the way in which I have been led. In addition to this, I know that to many souls the Lord has blessed what I have told them about the way in which he has led me, and therefore it seemed a duty to use such means, whereby others also, with whom I could

VIII AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

not possibly converse, might be benefited. That which induced me finally to determine to write this Narrative was, that if the Lord should permit the book to sell, I might, by the profits arising from the sale, be enabled in a greater degree to help the poor brethren and sisters among whom I labor, — a matter which, just at that time, weighed much on my mind. I therefore began to write. But after three days I was obliged to lay the work aside on account of my other pressing engagements. Subsequently, I was laid aside on account of an abscess ; and being unable, for many weeks, to walk about as usual, though able to work at home, I had time for writing. When the manuscript was nearly completed I gave it to a brother to look over, that I might have his judgment ; and the Lord so refreshed his spirit through it, that he offered to advance the means for having it printed, with the understanding that if the book should not sell he would never consider me his debtor. By this offer not a small obstacle was removed, as I have no means of my own to defray the expense of printing. These last two circum- stances, connected with many other points, confirmed me that I had not been mistaken, when I came to the conclusion that it was the will of God that I should serve his church in this way.

The fact of my being a foreigner, and therefore but very imper- fectly acquainted with the English language, I judged to be no sufficient reason for keeping me from writing. The Christian reader, being acquainted with this fact, will candidly excuse any inaccu- racy of expression.

For the poor among the brethren this Narrative is especially Intended, and to their prayers I commend it in particular.

GEORGE MULLER.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.

gogljoob aitb gotttjj,

1805—1825.

BIRTH — EARLY DISHONESTY — INSENSIBILITY — CONFIRMATION IN THE STATE CHURCH — DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE — THE HARD WAY OF TRANS- GRESSORS— THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN— THE UNIVERSITY AT HALLE — ROVINGS 31

CHAPTER II.

&\t frobxgal's

1825—1826.

A TREASURE FOUND — DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE — THE PEACE OF GOD — "I AM COME TO SETA MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER" — "LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME" — THE FIRST SERMON — DELIGHT IN THE LORD— A COMMON ERROR — THE FOUNTAIN NEGLECTED . . . 38

CHAPTER III.

1826—1829.

PESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR — PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM MILI- TARY SERVICE — VISIT AT HOME — LED TO THE LAND OF HIS FUTURE LABORS — PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE —DESIRE FOR IMMEDI- ATE USEFULNESS ..................... , ....... 47

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.

on

1830—1832.

A DOOR OPENED— TOKENS FOE GOOD — TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD — THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT — TRUSTING IN GOD FOR DAILY BREAD — BLESSEDNESS OV WAITING UPON THE LORD — "OWE NO MAN" — "ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU" — THE GIFT OF FAITH AND THE GRACE OF FAITH ... .68

CHAPTER V.

Hi griatol

1832—1833.

"HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY " — CAUTION TO THE CHRISTIAN TRAVELLER — NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD — THE WAY MADE CLEAR — MEET- INGS FOR INQUIRY — NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD — FRANCKE, "BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH" — DAILY BREAD SUPPLIED — A PECULIAR PEOPLE .... .80

CHAPTER VI.

Scriptural

1834—1835.

DNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND BENEVO- LENT SOCIETIES— A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED— GOD'S WORD THE ONLY RULE, AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY DEPENDENCE — " IN EVERY- THING LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD"— EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING ON THE INSTITUTION — BEREAVEMENT — HELPER SEASONABLY SENT— REWARD OF SEEKING GOD'S FACE. . . 94

CHAPTER VII.

for gestitnte ©rp

1835—1836.

FBANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM — A GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED — REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE — PRAYER FOR GUID- ANCE — TREASURE LAID UP IN HEAVEN — IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH THE WORK IS BEGUN ......................... Ill

CONTENTS. XI

CHAPTER VIII.

1836—1837.

AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE — IMPLICIT SUBMISSION — A SECOND ORPHAH HOUSE PROPOSED — AN ENCOURAGING TEXT — THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSB OPENED — COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER — PROGRESS OF THE LORD'S WORK — THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK 125

CHAPTER IX.

1838. .

THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS — PEACE OF MIND— JESUS A PRESENT HELP — DEEP POVERTY — PLEADING WITH GOD — UNITED PRAYEE ..... 138

CHAPTER X.

1838.

" PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR " — FAITH JUSTIFIED— A LESSON OF OBEDIENCE — BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES — SPIRITUAL INGATHERING — A 'DAY OF MERCIES — TIMELY AID — A SEASON OF PLENTY — OBEDIENCE RE- WARDED ........................... .... .151

CHAPTER XI

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1839.

HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS — THE UNFAILING BANK — MEANS EXHAUSTED — LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER — " HE KNOWETH OUR FRAME " — REDEEMING THE TIME — GODLINESS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS, 167

CHAPTER XII.

J! 1 * it t g a n k 221 a it t.

1840.

A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED — A JOURNEY PROPOSED — SEASONABLE PRO- VISION—LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD — THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISING GOD— A PROMISE FULFILLED — BENEFIT OF TRIAL — NEW SPRINGS OPENED — BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER — TRUST IN GOD COM- MENDED—SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS 181

XII CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIII.

Jfaiilj £5ir*n0ifjen£b bg <8 * * r e i s e .

1841.

A WANT SUPPLIED — RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND — E TIL OF SURETYSHIP — POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE — GOD'S WORD THE FOOD OF THE SOUL — PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF TRIAL — POVERTY — DEPENDING ONLY ON THE LIVING GOD 200

CHAPTER XIV. 8& a I k i tr g in Jl a r Ii it t * g.

1841—1842.

"GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL " — GROUNDS OF THANKFULNESS — PRO- TRACTED DARKNESS — CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED — TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED — THE MEANS OF ITS ATTAINMENT — REVIEW OF THE WORK 214

CHAPTER XV.

|) r o g p t x i i jr .

1842—1843.

ABUNDANT SUPPLIES — RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD — "SEEKING AND FINDING"— ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED — PERSEVERING AND PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED — " LENGTHENING THE CORDS AND STRENGTHENING THE STAKES " — A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE .... 241

CHAPTER XVI.

1844.

EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES — SEEKING THE KINGDOM OP GOD — FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER — THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT — EXAMPLES — MISTAKES ......................... 259

CHAPTER XVII.

1845—1846.

AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST — DELIBERATION — A GREAT UNDERTAKING — EELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING GOD — AN ANSWEB

CONTENTS. XIII

EXPECTED AND RECEIVED — PRAYER FOR FAITH AND PATIENCE — FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR — THE BLESSEDNESS OF DEVISING IJBEBAL THINGS 29*

CHAPTER XVIII.

*

cfsiilj Confxrnub bg JJrosperiig.

1846—1848.

THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER ANSWERED — THE TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S BOUNTY — FAITH NOT SHAKEN — DEALING ONLY WITH GOD— THE NEEDED AMOUNT FURNISHED — PER- PETUAL " NEED " — NOT WEARY IN GOD'S WORK — JOY IN ANSWERED PRAYER — FOUR REQUESTS GRANTED — " CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER " — THE BUILDING COMMENCED — PERSONAL HISTORY — A MARKED DELIVERANCE 319

CHAPTER XIX.

& o ntinn tb ^lercies.

1848—1850.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS — DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS — THE ORPHANS PRO- VIDED FOR — A MEMORABLE DAY — MONEY "AT INTEREST" — MEANS FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE — THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE— MEANS PROVIDED FOR ITS COMPLETION— INEXPRESSIBLE DE- LIGHT IN GOD— REVIEW OF THE TWO YEARS PAST . , . 347

CHAPTER XX.

§i Jpjefcr sO'icforg of ^ait^*

1850—1851.

PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS — A HOUSE FOR SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED — WALKING BY FAITH — COUNSEL SOUGHT FROM GOD — THE PURPOSE FORMED — DELIGHT IN THE MAGNITUDE AND DIFFICULTY OF THE DESIGN 364

CHAPTER XXI.

"Sttfcarging |) rosp^rilg.

1850—1852.

DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED — A LARGE DONA- TION ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED — REVIEW OF 1851 — PERSONAL EX- PERIENCE — BUILDING FUND FOR THE SECOND NEW ORPHAN HOUSE — DOUBT RESISTED — WATTING ON GOD NOT IN VAIN — REVIEW OF 1852, 389

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXII.

in log.

1852—1854.

EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD— MUNIFICENT DONATION — INC&E AS • . ING USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION — ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST — A VrOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON — BENEFIT OF WAITING GOD'S TIME — CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP — FAITH, THE ONLY RELIANCE — " THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY ALL"— GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICI- PATED — COUNSEL TO TRACT DISTRIBUTORS — A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH 402

CHAPTER XXIII.

%\itt gears of |)rc

1854—1857.

THE SITE SELECTED — SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON — HOW TO ASK FOR DAILY BREAD — REVIEW OF TWENTY -FOUR YEARS — "TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW " — INSURANCE AGAINST BAD DEBTS .426

CHAPTER XXIV.

Conclusion.

1857—1860.

THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED — PRAYER MORE THAN ANSWERED — THE RESORT IN TROUBLE — AN OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT ON THE ORPHANS — LAND FOR A NEW BUILDING PURCHASED — "BUT ONE LIFE TO SPEND FOR GOD " — " SCATTERING, YET INCREASING" — A MEMO- RABLE YEAR — THE GERM OF THE IRISH REVIVAL — LETTER FROM AN ORPHAN — THE FRUIT OF SIX MONTHS' PRAYER— TUB RESULTS OF THE WORK — REVIVAL AMONG THE ORPHANS . . . 446

APPENDIX 473

LIST OF ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED 473

AUDITOR'S REPORT FOR 1859-60 476

LETTEK FROM RE* DR SAWTELL 477

T7FJ7BRSIT7

NTEQDUCIION.

WHAT is meant by tlie prayer of faith? is a question which is beginning to arrest, in an unusual degree, the attention of Christians. What is the significance of the passages both in the New Testament and the Old which refer to it ? What is the limit within which they may be safely received as a ground of practical reliance ? Were these promises limited to prophetical or apostoli- cal times ; or have they been left as a legacy to all believers until the end shall come ?

Somehow or other, these questions are seldom discussed either from the pulpit or the press. I do not remember to have heard any of them distinctly treated of in a sermon. I do not know of any work in which this subject is either theoretically explained or practically enforced. It really seems as if this portion of Revela- tion was, by common consent, ignored in all our public teachings. Do not men believe that God means what he appears plainly to have asserted ? or, if we believe that he means it, do we fear the charge of fanaticism if we openly avow that we take him at his word?

The public silence on this subject does not, however, prevent a very frequent private inquiry in respect to it. The thoughtful Christian, when in his daily reading of the Scriptures he meets with any of those wonderful promises made to believing prayer, often pauses to ask himself, What can these words mean ? Can it be that God has made such promises as these to me, and to such men as I am ? Have I really permission to commit all my little affairs to a God of infinite wisdom, believing that he will take

XVI INTRODUCTION.

charge of them and direct them according to the promptings of boundless love and absolute omniscience? Is prayer really a power with God, or is it merely an expedient by which our own piety may be cultivated ? Is it not merely a power (that is, a stated antecedent accompanied by the idea of causation), but is it a transcendent power, accomplishing what no other power can, over- ruling all other agencies, and rendering them subservient to its own wonderful efficiency ? I think there are few devout readers of the Bible to whom these questions are not frequently sug- gested. We ask them, but we do not often wait for an answer.

t- These promises seem to us to be addressed either to a past or to a coming age, but not to us, at the present day. Yet with such views as these the devout soul is not at all satisfied. If an invaluable treasure is here reserved for the believer, he asks,

j why should I not receive my portion of it ? He cannot doubt that God has in a remarkable manner, at various tunes, answered his prayers ; why should he not always answer them ? and why should not the believer always draw near to God in full confidence that he will do as he has said ? He may remember that the prayer which has been manifestly answered was the offspring of deep humility, of conscious unworthiness, of utter self-negation, and of simple and earnest reliance on the promises of God through the mediation of Christ. Why should not his prayers be always of the same charac- ter ? With the apostles of old he pours out his soul in the petition,

* " Lord, increase our faith."

And yet it can scarcely be denied that the will of God has been distinctly revealed on this subject. The promises made to believing prayer are explicit, numerous, and diversified. If we take them in their simple and literal meaning, or if in fact we give to them any reasonable interpretation whatever, they seem to be easily

1 understood. Our difficulty seems to be this : the promise is so *• exceeding great " that we cannot conceive God really to meao

INTRODUCTION. XVII

what lie clearly appears to have revealed. The blessmg seems too vast for our comprehension ; we " stagger at the promises, through unbelief," and thus fail to secure the treasure which was pur- chased for us by Christ Jesus.

It may be appropriate for us to review some of the passages which refer most directly to this subject : —

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you ; for every one that asketh receive th, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." " If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him."1

In the Gospel of Luke the same words are repeated, with a single variation at the close. " If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." 2

" I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." 3

" Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do that which is done to the fig-tree, but also ye shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." 4

The same promise, slightly varied in form, is found in the Gospel of Mark. "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou last into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe

i Matthew vii. 7-11. 2 Luke xi. 13.

8 Matthew xviii. 19, 20. * Matthew xxi. 21, If*

XV 111 INTRODUCTION.

that those things which he hath said shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." J

Now I do not pretend that we are obliged to receive these words literally. Unless, however, we believe the Saviour to have spoken repeatedly on the same subject, at random, and with no definite meaning, we must understand him to have asserted that thinga impossible by the ordinary laws of material causation are possible by faith in God. I do not perceive, if we allow these words to have any meaning whatever, that we can ascribe to them any othei significance.

" Verily I say unto you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it." 2

" Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."3

" The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much;"* that is, it is a real power, a positive energy. The apostle illustrates what he means by availing prayer by the example of Elias, a man subject to like passions as we are : " He prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months ; and he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."5

The conditions on which prayer will be heard are in various places specified, but particularly in John xv. 7 : " If ye abide

i Mark xi. 22-24. 2 john xiv. 12-14. » John xvi. 23, 24.

« James v. 16. * V. 17, 18.

INTRODUCTION. XIX

In me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask wJiat ye will, and it- shall be done unto you." That is, if I understand the passage, prevalence in prayer is conditioned by the conformity of our souls to the will of God ; " if ye abide in me and my words abide in you." On this condition, and on this only, may we ask what we will, with the assurance that it will be done unto us. Faith, in its most simple meaning, is that temper of the mind in the creature which responds to every revealed perfection of the Creator. Just according to the degree in which this correspondence exists, is the promise made that we shall have whatsoever we ask.

It is evident, from the eleventh of Hebrews, that the views of the Apostle Paul concerning faith were entirely in harmony with the passages recited above. He reviews the lives of the most eminent saints, for the express purpose of showing that the impressive events in their history, whether physical or moral, were controlled entirely by faith. He sums up the whole in this remarkable language : —

" And what shall I say more ? For the time would fail me to tell of those who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought right- eousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weak- ness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens ; women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." We are, I think, taught by this passage that the apostle believed faith to be a power ( capable of transcending and modifying every other agency, by which changes became possible which to every other known power were impossible. We see that in this catalogue of the victories of faith he includes the subjection of almost every form of what we call natural laws. The whole passage seems an illustration of the meaning of our Lord, when he says, " If ye have faith as a grain

XX INTRODUCTION.

of mustard seed, ye shall say to this -sycamine tree, Be thou removed and planted in the midst of the sea, and it shall obey you."

It ^seems then apparent that the doctrine of the peculiar and wonderful power of the prayer of faith is as clearly revealed in the Scriptures as any other doctrine. It would seem evident, at any rate, from the passages just quoted, that the Apostle Paul understood the teachings of our Saviour to mean what they say. From the general tenor of the Scriptures I think we may learn two important truths : First, that there is a certain state of mind in a devout soul to which God has promised all that it asks, subject, however, as to the manner of the answer, to the dictates of his infinite wisdom and goodness ; and, second, that in granting such petitions lie does not always limit his action within the ordinary or acknowledged laws of matter or of mind. I do not perceive how we can interpret the passages above cited, as well as many others, without giving them a meaning at least as extensive as this.

Why is it, then, that this whole range of revealed truth has so generally been looked upon as an unknown and unexplored region ? Why should we limit either the goodness or the power of God by our own knowledge of what we call the laws of nature ? Why should we not admit that " there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy"? In a universe governed by moral law, why should not moral laws take precedence of all others? Why should we deny that there is a power in prayer to which we have not commonly attained ? We are straitened in ourselves, and suppose that we are straitened in God. We interpret the gracious promises of our most loving Father in heaven by the rule of our own imperfect and unbelieving piety. We ask for light from without, while the light can only come from a more elevated piety within. We ask for examples of the effects of faith at the present day, corresponding to those spoken of in

INTRODUCTION. XX*

the sacred Scriptures. Thoughtful men acknowledge that there must be a meaning in these promises, which they have not yet understood, and they see plainly that the kingdom of God can never come with power until this prevalence in prayer shall have become a matter of universal attainment ; and yet they dare hardly believe that God is as good as he has revealed himself to be.

There have, nevertheless, from time to time, occurred, what plainly appear to be, remarkable instances of answers to prayer. Many of them have faded from recollection, with the genera- tion in which they occurred; those which are remembered, how- ever, seem to teach us that God is a living God now as truly as in times past. The history of persecutions is always filled with remarkable answers to prayer. The rescue of Peter from the power of the Sanhedrim in one case, and from the power of Herod in another, has been a thousand times repeated in the history of the church of Christ. The answer to prayer for divine direction as to the time and manner of performing some Christian service, to which an individual has felt himself specially called, has fre- quently been very remarkable. The biographies of the early anc of many of the later Friends are replete with such instances. Any one who will read the edifying memoirs of George Fox, John Woolman, William Allen, and Stephen Grellet, will find what I have alluded to abundantly exemplified. The well-authenticated accounts of the late revivals in this country and in Ireland teach us that most remarkable instances of answers to prayer were of almost daily occurrence. In the last century a single instance deserves particular remembrance ; it was the founding of Franke's Orphan House at Halle. It seemed to him to be a Christian duty to attempt something for the relief of orphans, and he commenced the undertaking. From time to time, as the number of applicants increased, the means for their support was provided, in answer, as he firmly believed, to fervent and unceasing prayer. Thus an ex-

XXII INTRODUCTION.

tensive establishment was reared, which has continued to the present day, providing education and support for thousands of the poor and destitute, and it has been for a century and a half one of the most honored of the charitable institutions of the continent of Europe.

The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of prayer with which I am acquainted, is that recorded in the following pages. It seems, in fact, to be a practical illustration of the meaning of those passages of Scripture which I have already recited. A young German Christian, friendless and unknown, is conscious of what he believes to be a call from the Lord to attempt something for the benefit of the poor vagabond children of Bristol. He is at this time preaching the gospel to a small company of believers, from whom, at his own suggestion, he receives no salary, being supported day by day by the voluntary offerings of his brethren. Without the promise of aid from any being but God, he commences his work. In answer to prayer, funds are received as they are needed, and the attempt succeeds beyond his expectation. After a few years he is led to believe that God has called him to establish a house for the maintenance and education of orphans. He was impelled to this effort, not only from motives of benevolence, but from a desire to convince men that God was a LIVING GOD, as ready now as ever to answer prayer ; and that, in the discharge of any duty to which he calls us, we may implicitly rely upon his all-sufficient aid in every emergency.

Mr. Miiller was led to undertake this work in such a manner that aid could not be expected from any being but God. He did not of course expect God to create gold and silver and put them into his hands. He knew, however, that God could incline the hearts of men to aid him, and he believed, if the thing that he at- tempted was of Him, that he would so incline them, in answer to prayer, as his necessities should require. Most men in making Mrh an attempt WDuld have spread the case before the public.

INTRODUCTION. X.XTI1

employed agents to solicit in its behalf, and undertaken nothing until funds adequate to the success of the enterprise had been already secured. But Mr. Miiller, true to his principles, would do no such thing. From the first day to the present moment he has neither directly nor indirectly solicited either of the public or of an individual a single penny. As necessities arose he simply laid his case before God and asked of him all that he needed, and the supply has always been seasonable and unfailing.

The conductors of benevolent enterprises generally consider it important to publish the names of donors, appealing thus to what is considered an innocent desire in man to let our good deeds be known, and thus also to stimulate others to do likewise. Ignoring every motive of this kind, Mr. Miiller made it his rule to publish the name of no contributor. When the name was known to him, which, however, was not often the case, he made a private acknowl- edgment ; while in his printed account he only made known the sum received, and the date of its reception. In this manner, for- saking every other reliance but God, and in childlike simplicity looking to him alone for the supply of every want, all that he needed was furnished as punctually as if, in possession of millions, he had drawn from time to time on his banker.

Thus has he continued from, I think, the year 1834. By degrees the establishment increased, and it was necessary to leave the hired houses in which the children had thus far been accommodated. Laud was purchased, and a building was erected in the vicinity of Bristol. This was soon filled to overflowing, and another building was demanded. This was erected, and it also was very soon filled. These buildings were sufficient to accommodate seven hundred orphans. At the present moment, a third building, larger than either, is in the process of erection, and is to be finished in the course of the ensuing summer. When this shall be completed, accommo- dations will have been provided for eleven hundred and fifty orphans. These expensive buildings have been erected ; the land

XXIV INTRODUCTION.

has been purchased on which they stand ; this multitude of children has been clothed and fed and educated ; support and remuneration have been provided for all the necessary teachers and assistants, and all this has been done by a man who is not worth a dollar. He has never asked any one but God for whatever they needed, and from the beginning they have never wanted a meal, nor have they ever allowed themselves to be in debt. There seems in this to be something as remarkable as if Mr. Miiller had commanded a sycamine tree to be removed and planted in the sea, and it had obeyed him.

But this is not all. Mr. Miiller saw that there was a great demand for copies of the Holy Scriptures, both in Great Britain and on the Continent, and he commenced the work of Bible distribution. This so rapidly extended itself that he was soon obliged to open in Bristol a large Bible House. He believed that great good might be done by the circulation of religious tracts, and he has carried on this work extensively. He was moved to make an attempt to aid and even to support missionaries among the heathen, as well as other good men, of various denominations, who, with very inade- quate means of living, were preaching the gospel to the poor and destitute at home. He began to aid them as their necessities came to his knowledge, and now one hundred such men are depending on him, wholly or in part, for support.

Here, then, we certainly behold a remarkable phenomenon. A single man, wholly destitute of funds, is supporting and educating seven hundred orphans, providing everything needful for their education, is in himself an extensive Bible and Tract and Mission- ary Society, the work is daily increasing in magnitude, and the means for carrying it on are abundantly supplied, while he is con- nected with no particular denomination, is aided by no voluntary association, and he has asked the assistance of not a single indi- vidual. He has asked no one but God, and all his wants have been 'egularly supplied. In these labors of love he has, up to the

INTRODUCTION. XXV

present time, expended nearly a million of dollars. It is thus that he has endeavored to show to an unbelieving -world thai God is a living God, and that he means what he has said in every one of his promises.1

I have referred to Mr. Miiller as if he were the sole agent in this work. This, however, is by no means true. His co-workers in the Institution are all of the same spirit as himself. Mr. Craik, a gen- tleman from Scotland, has been with him from the beginning, has shared in all the labors and responsibilities of these vast undertak- ings, and has been specially blessed as a preacher of the gospel. The remuneration of all the assistants is contingent on the means received in answer to prayer. When sacrifices are to be made, they are all prompt to make them, and they do not expect an answer to prayer until they have contributed, from their own scanty wages, whatever can be spared after providing for their actual necessities.

The last Report of Mr. Miiller's labors has just been received. From this we learn another interesting fact. It seems that the

i The following brief statistics will show the magnitude of the work already accomplished : —

The number of pupils hitherto instructed in all the day, evening, and Sunday schools, is 13,124. The whole number of orphans educated within the establish- ment is 1,153. Of the 700 now in the Institution, 200 are hopefully pious. Mis- sionaries aided at the present time, 100. Since 1834 there have been circulated, — Bibles, 24,708; Testaments, 15,100; Psalms, 719 ; other portions of Scripture, 1,876; or, total, 42,463 Bibles or portions of Scripture. Tracts and books (not pages, but separate publications), 11,493,174.

Two large buildings have been erected, a third is in the process of erection; the land on which they stand has been purchased. The expense of the orphan work alone has amounted to £133,528 sterling, and the expenses are daily increasing.

The contributions by which these expenditures have been met have been sent from every quarter of the globe. The largest amounts have been as might be expected, from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales ; but to these may b* added the Cape of Good Hope, Mt. Lebanon, Demerara, Newport, R. I., New York, Philadelphia, California, France, Holland, Sardinia, Australia, etc., et». C

XXVI INTRODUCTION.

late revival in Ireland is indirectly connected with these labors in Bristol. A pious young Irishman read " The Dealings of the Lord with George Miiller," and received from it new views of the power of believing prayer. He felt the need of prayer for the perishing around him, and determined by prayer and conversation to labor for their salvation. First, however, he asked that God would give him an associate. This prayer was granted. These two then united in earnest prayer for some additions to their num- ber. This prayer was granted. In this manner a small company was united in asking for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their neighborhood. They devoted themselves to prayer and to labor among the people by whom they were surrounded. Their prayers were answered. The Spirit was poured out ; twenty-five souls were converted. Multitudes united with them in supplication. They went from place to place, praying and laboring for the conversion of men ; and thus the work extended, until the whole district of Ulster was visited with that remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

All these we suppose to be indisputable facts. If in any respect there has been a misstatement, or even an exaggeration, the means are abundant for detecting it. The whole work has been carried on in the presence and under the inspection of the whole city of Bristol. There stand those large and expensive buildings. There are seen the seven hundred orphans who are in every respect admirably cared for. Everything has been paid for, for Mr. Miil- ler is never in debt. His poverty is well known, and he will not accept of any money as a provision for his future necessities. His accounts have been annually audited by a competent committee. There is not the man living who can contradict his assertion, " I never asked aid from a single individual." Hundreds weekly visit the Institution, and no one has ever found in it anything at vari- ance with Mr. Miiller's published statements. Last of all, the Rev. Dr. Sawtelle, a gentleman known to thousands in this country, has added his independent testimony to the truth of all that is her«

INTRODUCTION. XXVII

related. More conclusive evidence to the truth of facts cannot be desired. (See Appendix, p. 477.)

To account for a fact is to refer it to some general law whose existence is already established. When it is therefore asked, How shall these facts be accounted for ? we inquire, to what known law can they be referred ? They cannot certainly be referred to any known law of human action. How would we decide if a similar case should occur in physics ? Suppose a series of experiments should be made daily for twenty-five years in chemistry or mechan- ics, with the same invariable result, and this result could be referred to rvo previously established law, — to what conclusion should we arrive ? There could be but one conclusion, in which all men of science would unite. They would all declare that a new law had been discovered, and would modify their systems accordingly. It seems to me that on all sound philosophical principles we are bound to come to the same conclusion in the present case. We can refer these facts to no other law than to that announced by the Saviour in his promise to answer the prayer of faith. There is no reason to suppose that in the case of Mr. Muller and his associates there is anything exceptional or peculiar. What God has done for