Oct. 12. The very great need of some of the dear brethren who labour in the Word, and whom I seek to assist, had led me again day by day to bring their cases before God. I also needed help for the School, Bible and Tract Fund. Now this evening the Lord has once more helped me by a donation of 180l., of which I took 40l. for the Orphans, 100l. for home and foreign labourers and 40l. for the School, Bible and Tract Fund. How seasonable and how precious this help! How precious to me as the fruit of many prayers, and how seasonable to many who are in need, and who will be thus assisted! Moreover, I am just now in deep sorrow and great trial, the cause of which I will not mention here; and thus God Himself cheers and refreshes my heart, and tells me by this fresh precious and manifest answer to prayer, that He is mindful of His poor unworthy servant, and of the work in which he is engaged. There came in five small donations besides today.
Dec. 30. When in the greatest need, so that I should not have been able to pay the weekly salaries of the teachers of the day schools next Tuesday, I received today from C. W. 10l., the disposal of which being left to me, I took half of it for the school fund and half for the Orphans.
Dec. 31. The year closes under the smiles of our Heavenly Father upon this work, in giving us another proof that He is indeed mindful of our need and attentive to our supplications. I received today 100l., to be used as most needed. I took of it 50l. for these objects and 50l. for the Orphans. I scarcely ever received a donation more seasonably; for there are only means enough for next week for the teachers, Bibles and tracts are needed, and I have been long waiting upon God for means for home and foreign labourers. But this donation only furnishes me with means for present necessities for the schools, and to order some tracts. As to ordering Bibles and sending help to foreign and home labourers, I must still further wait upon God.
Jan. 1, 1848. Today I received still further, for the benefit of the day schools, the sum of 10l.
Jan. 6. Only 1l. 5s. has come in since the first. This evening 120l. was given to me, of which the donor intends 20l. for home and foreign labourers. The other 100l. was left at my disposal. I took therefore of it 70l. for the Orphans, 10l. for the various schools, 10l. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and 10l. for the circulation of tracts.
Feb. 10. There came in about 65l. more for missionary purposes during the month, of January, and today was given to me a donation of 100l., the disposal of which being left to me, I took half of it for these objects, and half for the Orphans, and thus I am able, after much waiting upon God for it, to send a little more help to brethren who labour in the Word.
April 13. This is only the second time, since May 26, 1846, that the means for these objects have been completely exhausted, though we have been two or three times besides brought very low in funds. The last money there was in hand was spent in paying the weekly salaries of the teachers the day before yesterday. There was therefore nothing for this purpose for next week, nor were there any means for the circulation of Bibles and tracts, and for aiding missionary efforts. Under these circumstances prayer and faith were again resorted to. For my universal remedy in need of any kind is, to make known my requests unto God, and then I seek to believe that God has heard me for His dear Son's sake, and I look out for answers to my petitions, and fully expect them. I had also particularly requested four brethren, masters of the boys' day schools, to help me with their prayers, as I should not be able to pay them their weekly salary, next week, except the Lord were pleased to send in means.—Thus situated, I received this morning, as the fruit of many supplications, the sum of 90l., which was a great refreshment to my spirit. It being left to me to use this money as needed, I put 50l. of it to the funds for these objects, and 40l. to the Orphan-Fund. Thus we are once more helped, and my heart is encouraged more and more to trust in God.
April 29. One of the labourers gave 10l. for missionary purposes, whereby at least one of the most needy among the brethren who labour in the Word could be helped.—It has pleased God not to allow me, during the last five months, to have the honour of helping the dear brethren, who labour in the Word, to the same extent as the eighteen months before. I confess that I am not worthy to be used any longer by the Lord as a steward, to assist these His servants; still my heart craves after it, and still prays that God would count me worthy for His dear Son's sake to supply me with means for them, as I know they are in great need, and many of them, through particular circumstances, in far greater need than ever.
May 26, 1848. By the Lord's faithful love I have been enabled to meet all the heavy expenses connected with these objects during the last two years, amounting to nearly Two Thousand Six Hundred Pounds, and at the same time owe no one anything, and have a balance of 5l. 19s. 7 ¼ d. left in hand.
Supplies for the support of the Orphans, sent in answer to prayer, from
May 26, 1846, to May, 26, 1848.