We sometimes hope, several of them will chuse to be entirely devoted to God. If so, they may continue together when they grow up, each following such an employment as she is fit for, and all throwing the produce of their labour into a common stock, and may not God be pleased to call some young women, not brought up with us, who have a desire to devote themselves wholly to God, to cast in their lot with us? Perhaps some who do not want, may be glad to get out of the hurry of the world, at least for a season, that the tender flame may not be put out, nor any unhallowed fires mix with it. How much is something of this kind wanted? A place of refuge for the weak and unexperienced? How often do we see those who are just setting out in the good way, either wholly turned aside, or at least persuaded to take up with a lower way, than the Spirit of God at first pointed out?
But if ever this design be brought to perfection, it is God only that must chuse the persons, and bring us together, as it is he only that maketh men to be of one mind in an house. And whosoever comes to us, must desire to be conformed to their crucified head. We can promise them only poverty, labour and sorrow, the inward and outward cross. But when they embrace this with their whole hearts, they assuredly experience, that in poverty is riches, in labour ease, and in sorrow constant rejoicing.
All this is in the hand of my God, as also another thought I had, concerning aged widows. But so exceeding great is his faithfulness, that I know not how to despair of any thing. A few of the many instances hereof, which we have received, you must give me leave to mention.
I have been always led, since I had any work of God upon my soul, to walk by faith in outward things as well as inward. Hence I have frequently, when an object of distress presented, gone beyond my income, believing God would make it up in the time of need. In this confidence, I received four or five more children, though I had nothing in hand, and more bedding and cloaths were to be bought immediately. For this we wanted two guineas directly. Some friends sending us word, they would call on such a day; my friend prayed, that God would put it into their hearts to help us. They came, and one of them put two guineas into my hand. We praised the Lord, and received it as a token for good.
Soon after we were advised to put up a poor box. I found great reluctance to it, which convinced me, it requires less grace in some cases, to give than to receive. However, laying it before the Lord in prayer, I saw it was his will, and consented. So on Tuesday, February 1, it was put up in the passage-room, with this inscription, “For the maintenance of a few poor orphans, that they may be brought up in the fear of the Lord.” A few days after we took out 2s. 7d. but no more for a great while. During this time we were much straitened, not having the nursery furnished, nor the necessaries for the children. It was now strongly suggested, “You see you have done wrong, and God will not help you any more.” But having recourse to prayer, our faith was strengthened.
Soon after, the following thought was much imprest on my mind. If Christ was now upon earth, and in want of food and raiment, should I be afraid to give him mine, lest I should want it myself? Should I not rather say, “Let all I have be offered, for the necessities of my Lord. He is well able to repay it, and if he is not, then let us want together.” I saw the case with the children was the same, and that what was done to one of these, was done to him. A light broke in upon my mind which quite satisfied me, and constrained me to say, “Lord, thy word is enough, thou hast said, Love one another as I have loved you: let their wants be mine, my substance theirs.”
We were now not only in want of the things above-mentioned, but of money to keep the house. Just then a guinea was put into the box, and soon after, another: in a few days one brought us thirty shillings, saying, “Fear not: only believe.” About the same time we received four guineas from another hand, which helped us through that quarter. To avoid tediousness, I pass over many other helps which we received from time to time; confining myself to those wherein the hand of the Lord is more eminently to be observed.
*Some time since, being obliged to pay a sum of money in a day’s time, and having none in the house, nor any due, I attempted to borrow it of a friend, but could not. I tried another, and was disappointed there also. Not knowing what to do, I went up stairs and waited before the Lord, telling him I would yet trust him and praise him. Opening the last volume of sermons, I cast my eye on this sentence, “Christ charges himself with all our temporal affairs, when we charge ourselves with those that relate to his glory.” It was applied to my heart with such a power, as I had very seldom felt. And such a sense of the immediate presence of God seized my soul as almost overwhelmed it. O what a freedom of spirit did I feel! I could truly say,
“All my care on thee is cast.”
In the evening, a person desired to speak with me, and brought me a little above the sum.