Dec. 8. From various believers at Hull 12l. 12s.
Dee. 30. From Orleans, in France, five francs.
Thus ended the year 1854. Only 426l. 16s. 4d. altogether had come in for the Building Fund from May 26 up to the end of the year. My faith and patience were therefore tried; but, while they were tried, they were, by God's grace, sustained. Day by day I had been enabled from May 26 to Dec. 31, 1854, as well as during the three years previously, to bring this object before the Lord in player; and day by day, by God's grace, my heart had been fully assured, without wavering, that He, in His own time, would not only give larger sums, but the whole amount required. I desired only His honour in the building of premises for 700 more destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents; and as God, who cares infinitely more for poor Orphans than I do, did not consider the time to have come for the building of another house, I might well be quiet. My heart longed indeed to begin to build; for there were not only 602 Orphans waiting for admission, when the last report was published but there had been application made for 125 more since then, so that on Dec. 31, 1854, 714 were waiting for admission, as only 13 could be received of the total number of 727, no more vacancies having occurred. But though it was so, I judged it was the will of God, that, by patiently waiting His own time, I should glorify Him.—I now proceed to relate how the Lord further dealt with me.
Jan. 1, 1855. 6s. 3d.—From an Orphan 1s., Ditto 1s.—From Manchester 10s.—From three children in Ireland 5s.—Anonymously from Culworth 1l.—From P. 2s. 6d.
Jan. 8. On this day I received from several Christian friends the promise, that 5,700l. should be paid to me for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged.—This donation was paid to me, in different installments, by the middle of April. I took of this sum, for the Building fund 3,400l., for the support of the Orphans 900l., for missionary objects 1,000l., for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures 150l., for the circulation of Tracts 150l., and for the various day schools, Sunday schools, and the adult school 100l. Thus the Lord is hastening on the time when the building may be commenced. His name be magnified! How refreshing this help was, and how seasonable with regard to all the various objects, can scarcely be described. The Lord may allow us, to have our faith and patience tried; but if we are enabled to continue to look to Him, and to trust in Him alone, a rich recompense will result from doing so.
Jan. 11. From a distance of several hundred miles 13l. 15s, with a letter containing the following paragraph: For the last six months, we (i.e. the donor and his wife) have laboured in prayer for the different departments of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and especially that our Heavenly Father would be pleased this year largely to increase the Building Fund, and let the work proceed. Two months ago, while continuing in prayer, it was laid upon our minds, that we should set apart, whatever monies the Lord might send us between that time and the new year. The sum contained in the order is what the Lord has given us and we rejoice in being able to send it." What various ways has the Lord to help us! The donor of the 13l. 15s. is a brother who serves the Lord in the ministry of the Gospel among very poor and wretched persons, whilst he labours in dependence upon Him for his temporal supplies. He has been greatly encouraged by the accounts of the Lord's dealings with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; and now he is a fellow-helper in prayer, and, as this instance shows, also in contributing out of that which the Lord gives to him as the fruit of prayer. This donation greatly refreshed my spirit; for it is so manifest a proof that the Lord is mindful of this work, that He surely, in His own time, will provide for the accommodation of 700 more Orphans, and that thus this dear donor's prayers, and our prayers, will be turned into praises.
Feb. 7. From London 400l., of which the donor kindly wished me to keep 20l. for my family expenses, and to lay out the 380l. for the Lord's work, as I might think best. I took therefore 100l for the Building Fund, 140l. for the support of the Orphans, and 140l. for the other objects.
Feb. 10. Received 197l. 17s. 3d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. for my own expenses, and the rest to be used as might be most needed for the Lord's work. I took therefore 57l. 17s. 3d. for the Building Fund, 60l. for the support of the Orphans and 60l. for the other objects.
March 28. From one of the Orphans, formerly for many years under our care, but now in service, 10s., with the following letter:
"Dear Sir,—Will you graciously accept this mite from one who thinks of you and yours with gratitude. It is indeed a very small sum. I regret that I have no more to bestow upon such a noble work. It will perhaps put a corner stone in the wall of the intended Orphan House. I think I should like to labour for the Lord in that blessed house, if it is His own will, and be the means in the Lord's hand of bringing many of the dear Orphans to know the truth as it is in Jesus. It was in the Orphan House in Wilson Street, 1846, that first the light of life dawned upon my benighted soul. It was there, that I first learned to call God my Father. I have need therefore to love the Orphan House, not only as concerning temporal things, but especially as its being my spiritual birth-place. May the Lord reward you, dear Sir, for all you have done for me. I am sure He will.