I cannot help remarking here, that the Lord has used some of the most unlikely persons during the past twenty-two years, in providing me with means for His service. So it was particularly in the case of this brother in the Lord, from whom I received the last-mentioned donation of 110l. I had not the least natural expectation of receiving this sum, when this brother, sitting before me at the New Orphan-House, took out of his pocket a packet of Bank Notes, and gave to me this amount, reserving to himself, as his whole property in this world, a smaller sum than he gave to me, because of his joy in the Lord, and because of his being able to enter into the reality of his possessions in the world to come. I delight in dwelling upon such an instance, because 1, it shows that there is grace, much grace, to be found among the saints even now; 2, it shows the variety of instrumentality which the Lord is pleased to employ, in supplying me with means for His service; and 3, because it so manifestly proves that we do not wait upon Him in vain, when we make known our requests to Him for means.
July 20. From Philadelphia, in the United States, 5l.
Aug. 20. From the neighbourhood of Mallow in Ireland 17s. 6d, and 2s. 6d.—Anonymously from a "Brother Christian and Well-wisher," through his bankers in London, 100l.
Aug. 27. From Caistor 5s.—From Gumeracka, near Adelaide, Australia, 2l. 10s. From the same place 10s.—From Cheltenham 2s. 6d.—From Frampton-on-Severn seven silver coins.
You see, esteemed reader, how much variety there is in the kind of donations as well as in the amount, the places whence they are sent, and the friends who send them. But all these donations come from the living God. All come to us in answer to prayer, and are received by us as answers to prayer; and with every donation, however small, we receive thins a fresh encouragement, to continue in prayer, and have, as it were, another earnest from our Heavenly Father, that at last He not only will give larger sums, but the whole amount which is needed for the Building Fund. Every one of these donations comes unsolicited. Ever since the Orphan Work has been in operation, we have never asked any one for anything. Be therefore, dear reader, encouraged by this, to make trial for yourself, to prove the power of prayer, if you have never done so before.
Dec. 31. This is the last day of another year. Two years and a half I have new been day by day seeking the Lord's help in player for this object. He has also been pleased to give us many proofs, that He is remembering our requests, still as yet I have only 13,670l. 11s. 7 ¾ d. in hand. Considerably more than double this sum will be needed. But, by the grace of God, I am not discouraged. The Lord is able and willing to help us. This is my comfort. In His own time the Almighty God will manifest His power. In the meantime I desire to continue to wait upon Him, and to receive every fresh donation, however small, as an earnest, that in His own time He not only will give larger sums, but the whole amount needed for this object.
Jan. 17, 1854. This day I received the promise, that there should be paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, 5,207l., to be disposed of as I might consider best.
This large donation was shortly after paid to me, and was portioned out thus: For the Building Fund 3000l.; for the support of the 300 Orphans 707l.; for foreign missions 500l.; for labourers in the Word in England, Ireland and Scotland 500l.; for the gratuitous circulation of the Holy Scriptures among the poor 200l.; for the gratuitous circulation of Gospel Tracts 200l.; and for the various schools, supported or assisted by the Funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, 100l.
Behold, esteemed reader, the goodness of God! Behold also the recompense, which sooner or hater, the Lord gives to His children, who wait upon Him and trust in Him Often it may appear that we wait upon the Lord in vain; but, in His own time God will abundantly prove, that it was not in vain. Go on therefore, Christian reader, to wait upon the Lord. Continue to make known your requests to Him; but do also expect help from Him. You honour God, by believing that He does hear your prayers, and that He will answer them.
The joy which such answers to prayer give, cannot be described; and the impetus which they thus afford to the spiritual life is exceedingly great. The experience of this happiness I desire for all my Christian readers. Nor is there anything to hinder any believer from having these joys. If you believe indeed in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, if you walk uprightly and do not regard iniquity in your heart, if you continue to wait patiently, and believingly upon God; then answers will surely be given to your prayers. You may not be called upon to serve the Lord in the way the writer does, and therefore may never have answers to prayer respecting such things as are recorded here; but in your various circumstances, as to your family, your business, your profession, your church position, your labour for the Lord inn army way, you may have answers as distinct as any here recorded.