From what I have stated, the Reader will have seen that my prayer had been especially, that the Lord would be pleased to furnish me with means for the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and for missionary operations; and it has been shown how He granted this my request through the large sums which He sent me (entirely unasked for, so far as man is concerned), on November 11, 13 and 19; but even this was but little in comparison with what He did for me afterwards, when He was pleased to place far greater sums at my disposal for these objects, to which reference has been already made, when speaking about the donations which came in for the Building Fund on November 27, 1852, and on January 3 and 4, 1853.
Thus I was carried through all the expenses for these various objects, and was enabled to enter into every open door which the Lord set before me for circulating the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and for aiding missionary operations; and not only so, but was enabled to do for these various objects more then during any one period within the nineteen previous years.
Means for the support of the 300 Orphans already under our care, sent in answer to Prayer, from May 26, 1852, to May 26, 1853.
When we began this period, we were not only not in debt, but had in hand the balance of 134l. 8s. 10 ¾ d. To those who are in very poor circumstances, this amount would appear a considerable sum, and they might think, this sum would last a long tine. Such need, however, to know, that it would only furnish the current expenses of two weeks, and that often in one week much more than that sum has been disbursed for the Orphans. To those, on the other hand, who would say, "This is very little, and what will you do, with so small a sum in hand, when day by day 330 persons need to be provided for?" our reply is, God is able to send us more, before this sum is gone. We seek for grace, to live by the day. We seek to be enabled to attend to the commandment and affectionate counsel of the Lord, to be anxious about nothing. It was in this way that no care came over our mind with regard to the future, when we looked at this large Orphan Establishment, with all its large daily wants; for we were assured, that the Lord would surely give us something before all was expended. And thus it was.
I will now furnish the Reader with a few instances from my journal of the particular providence of God, manifested in caring for us, and granting us help in answer to our prayers; for I do especially desire it to be understood, that, though the work is now so very much larger than it was in former years, and therefore far larger sums are needed than before; yet the principles of trusting in God, and depending upon Him alone, are now acted upon as formerly, only with this difference, that year by year, by the grace of God, my soul becomes more and more rooted and established in them. It would therefore be entirely a mistake, to suppose that it is no longer a work of faith. If it was formerly a work of faith on a small scale, it is now a work of faith on a large scale. If we had trials of faith formerly, about comparatively little things; we have now trials of faith about comparatively great things. If we formerly hind no certain income, so now have we none. We have to look to God for every thing in connexion with the world, of which often, however, the pecuniary necessities are the smallest matter; but to Him we are enabled to look, and therefore it is, that we are not disappointed.
During the very first month, from May 27th to June 27th, 1852, there came in, by ninety-two different donations or sums, 354l. 1s. 5d.: so that we had, after a month, more in hand than before. Unbelief, which said, what will you do with so little as 134l.? was therefore confounded. The Lord increased thus little, before it was expended.
June 29, 1852. Today 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 labours 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 clear Orphans, the Lord put it in his heart to send you 2l., 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.