I would repeat that I consider it a great privilege to be permitted to defray in part or altogether, from time funds of this Institution, the expenses connected with the voyage and outfit of brethren who desire to go out as Missionaries, or to help them after their arrival in their field of labour; but I do not bind myself to support them habitually, seeing that thus they would be out of the position of simple dependence upon God for their temporal supplies.
4. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1852, to May 26, 1853, the sum of 555l. 16s. 7 ½ d.; and there were circulated within this year 733,674 Tracts.
The total number of Tracts circulated up to May 26, 1853, was One
Million Eight Hundred Twenty Thousand and Forty.
The Lord is pleased to increase this part of the work more and more, as will be seen by a comparison of the years in which this part of the Institution has been in operation. From Nov. 19, 1840, to May 10, 1842, the first period that the circulation of Tracts was in operation in connexion with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, there were circulated 19,609 from May 10, 1842, to July 14, 1844, 39,473; from July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, 40,565; from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, 64,021; from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, 130,464; from May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851, 303,098; from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, 489,136; and during this period 733,674.
In these increased opportunities to spread the truth, we rejoice. Moreover, we would, by the help of God, seek to labour still far more abundantly in this particular also, and would seek to press into every open door, which the Lord may set before us. Yea, we would labour, as has been stated before, as if everything depended upon our diligence and carefulness in the use of the means; whilst, in reality, we would not depend upon them in the least degree, but only upon God for His blessing. This blessing of God we have been enabled to seek upon the labours of missionary brethren, the circulation of time Holy Scriptures, and upon the distribution of Tracts. As the days come, so our heart is drawn out in prayer for blessing upon these objects, in connexion with the various Schools and the Orphan Work. How, then, could it be otherwise, but that sooner or later there should come showers of blessing? Thus it was during this year. This year stands alone, in that more money came in, than during any year previously. It stands alone, in that the operations of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution were extended beyond whatever they mad been before. But it stands alone, also, in the abundant blessing, which God granted to our efforts, and which was greater than during any previous period. And, as in other respects, so in particular likewise, the gratuitous distribution of Tracts was abundantly owned of God. Instance upon instance, not 2, nor 5, nor 10, but many, in the way of conversion, and also of blessing to believers, was I informed of by those Godly brethren, who in various parts of the world, aid me in this service. How can I sufficiently magnify the Lord for this! By His grace I would desire to labour on, though I were not to see one single instance of blessing, being assured that "in due season we shall reap," and that our "labour is not in vain in the Lord;" yet how kind of the Lord, to grant such abundant blessing to rest upon our labours!
Often, I fear, Tract distributors have expected little result from their labour; and therefore they have seen little fruit. According to their expectation, they have received. Often, also, I fear, the mere distribution of Tracts has been rested in, and the work done has been estimated by the number of Tracts which were circulated, without earnestly preceding their circulation with prayer, and without earnestly following them with prayer, may I, therefore, be allowed to caution my fellow-believers on these two points? Look out for blessing, but seek also the blessing earnestly in prayer; and you will not fail to receive abundantly.
Should any believer be discouraged, because he has not had much fruit resulting from the circulation of Tracts, let such a one, with renewed earnestness and prayerfulness, go on in his work; let him also expect fruit, and he will surely reap abundantly; if not now, at least in the day of Christ's appearing.
5. At the beginning of this period, there were Three Hundred Orphans in the New Orphan-House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into it 13 Orphans, making 313 in all. Of these 313, (we own it with thankfulness to God,) not one died during the year; for not a single death occurred for about 15 months. One of the Orphans, who had been received after he had long had his own way, and who having long been borne with, and repeatedly been received back again on a confession of sorrow, at last ran away again, and had then to be placed by his relatives in the Union. One Orphan was sent to relatives, who were by that time able to care for her. Five girls were, at the expense of the Establishment, fitted out for service or learning a business, and were sent out;—also six boys were, at the expense of the Establishment, fitted out and apprenticed. Thus makes the number removed as great as the number received, so that there were still 300 Orphans in tire New Orphan-House on May 26, 1853. The total number of Orphans, who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1853, was Five Hundred and Twenty-eight.
I notice further the following points in connexion with the Orphan
Work.
a. Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me, the sum of 55,408l. 17s. 5 ¾ d. was given to me for the Orphans, as the result of prayer to God, 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 given for the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1853, amounted to 19,163l. 14s. 1 ½ d.; 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 3,490l. 7s. 1 ¾ d.— Besides this, also a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &c., were given for the use of the Orphans.