I cannot, however, dismiss this subject, without commending this poor widow to the prayers of all who love our Lord Jesus, that she may be kept humble, lest, thinking highly of herself, on account of what she has been enabled to do, by the grace of God, she should not only lose blessing in her own soul, but this circumstance should become a snare to her. Pray also, believing Reader, that she may never be allowed to regret what she has done for the Lord.
May 23. Yesterday I looked over the list of the 56 labourers in the Word, whom I seek to assist, in order to see to whom it would be desirable to send help; and, having drawn out a list, with the respective amounts for each, I found that it would be desirable to send out this week 327l., but I wanted at least 50l. more, to be able to accomplish this. Accordingly I gave myself to prayer, if it might please the Lord to send me the means. And now, this morning, in answer to prayer, I received anonymously from bankers in London 100l., which the donor desired to be applied for the current expenses for the Orphans, and for labourers in the Gospel at Home and Abroad. I took therefore 50l. for the Orphans, and 50l. for home and foreign labourers.
By the same post I received also from the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury 10l., the disposal of which being left to me, I took for missionary objects.—I have now the desire of my heart granted, being able to send out the full amount of what it yesterday appeared to me desirable that I should send to the brethren whom I seek to help.
Means for the support of the 300 Orphans, already under our care, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854.
At the commencement of this period, there was in hand the balance of 117l. 10s. 9d. This was the visible support, in the way of pecuniary means, which we had to look to for 320 inmates in the New Orphan House, whilst often two or three days might call for such an amount as this. But we hoped in God, as in former years, and, by His grace, were upheld, and our faith was not allowed to fail, though it was not a little tried, as the following pages will show.
Of the donations which came in between May 26, and June. 13, 1853, I will only mention the following. On June 1st I received from Cape Town 2l. for the Orphans, and 3l. for tracts. On June 8th I received from Rhode Island, United States, 20 dollars and 5 dollars (4l. 15s. 9d. English), when I had scarcely anything left for the Orphans. Observe, dear Reader, from Africa and from America the Lord sends help to us, yea from almost all parts of the world. Thus is He saying to us more and more; "Only believe." On June 10th I received 5l. from a brother in the Lord at a distance, as a thank-offering to God, that, having been thrown from his horse, he had not been killed, but only greatly hurt.
June. 13. We were now very poor. Not indeed in debt, nor was even all the money gone; for there was still about 12l. in hand; but then there needed to be bought flour, of which we buy generally 10 sacks at a tine, 300 stones of oatmeal, 4 cwt. of soap, and there were many little repairs going on in the house, with a number of workmen, besides the regular current expenses of about 70l. per week. Over and above all this, on Saturday, the day before yesterday, I found that the heating apparatus needed to be repaired, which would cost in all probability 25l. It was therefore desirable, humanly speaking, to have 100l. for these heavy extra expenses, besides means for the current expenses. But I had no human prospect whatever of getting even 100 Pence, much less 100l. In addition to this, today was Monday, when generally the income is little. But, in walking to the Orphan House this morning, and praying as I went, I particularly told the Lord in prayer, that on this day, though Monday, He could send me much. And thus it was. I received this morning 301l. for the Lord's service, as might be most needed.—The joy which I had cannot be described. I walked up and down in my room for a long time, tears of joy and gratitude to the Lord running plentifully over my cheeks, praising and magnifying the Lord for His goodness, and surrendering myself afresh, with all my heart, to Him for His blessed service. I scarcely ever felt more the kindness of the Lord in helping me.—I took of this money 201l., for the current expenses for the Orphans, and 100l. for missionary objects, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts, and for the various Schools.
Of the donations which came in between June 13th and Aug. 31st, amounting to more than 600l., I will only mention: 50l., through a most unexpected circumstance, from Glasgow, on June 29th. 2l. from Sunderland on July 23rd, of which 1l was made up, by an individual putting by one half-penny daily for the Orphans, and a poor widow one penny per week. On Aug. 19th I received from a Christian Negro in Demerara an old silver watch, a gold pin and brooch, and Five Dollars.
Aug. 31. When there was less than 20l. in, hand, I received today a donation of 220l., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. for my own personal expenses, and to use the other for the work of the Lord as most needed. I therefore took 150l. for the Orphans, and 50l. for the other objects, and was thus enabled to advance today 30l., as usual, for the house-keeping expenses; money being called for, which, otherwise, I should not have been able to supply.
Of the donations received between Aug. 31st and Oct. 24th, amounting to about 550l., I only notice 2l. 7s. 6d. "From South Africa," 1l. from Malta, and 6s. 4d. from Demerara.