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be almost invariably this: that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result of this is that my inner man almost invariably is sensibly nourished and strengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful, if not happy state of heart."

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This unreserved and perpetual adherence "to the word and the testimony," is the secret of the faith of George Muller, that has sounded out from the rising sun to the setting thereof. And what has not this faith in the promise of God wrought? Reader, cast your eye upon those five orphan houses and the lands adjacent. Step into these five orphan houses-what do you behold? 2,050 orphans under his care, fed, clothed and educated. Consider the day-schools, Sunday-schools, schools for adults, in which instruction is given upon Scriptural principles, by teachers professing faith in the Lord Jesus.

Look at the 150 missionaries sent out into various parts of the world, the thousands on thousands of Bibles going forth annually into the dark corners of the earth-the millions on millions of Gospel tracts (not novels) flying on the wings of the wind, "leaves for the healing of the nations." How is this marvellous work of benevolence

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grace and salvation, carried forward? by what means? How are means obtained? By begging? sending forth agents to collect funds from believers and unbelievers? By getting up a fancy fair, tea or strawberry party, a soiree or an oyster supper? Or by faith and prayer, prayer and faith! No being has ever been solicited for a farthing, but God alone. "More things are done by prayer than this world dreams of." Has brother Muller or his family lacked anything? Have the thousands of orphans for thirty-eight years lacked food, raiment, heavenly inculcations? Have the numerous missionaries with no stated salaries lacked anything?

"And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing."-Luke xxii. 35.

"Ask and it shall be given." God stirs up the hearts of his people in answer to the prayer of faith to contribute. Donations for this "light-house," this "city set on a hill," have flown in from all parts of the world, from the widow's mite, to eight hundred pounds or more.

Reader, here's a lesson for me, for you, for every one naming the name of Christ. Brother Muller tells us it's not for every one to build orphan houses, to do exactly what he is doing in the various benevolent operations, but it is the blessed privilege of every disciple of the Lord Jesus to "walk thus by faith and not by sight."

"Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."-Psa. xxxvii. 3. Mr. Muller says: "I repeat here again, what has been stated in the previous Reports, for the sake of those who do not know it, that in November, 1830, I was led to give up my salary in connection with the ministry of the Gospel, and during these 35 years and 6 months I have never had

any salary nor other stated income, either in connection with the ministry of the Word, or as Director of the scriptural knowledge institution for home and abroad. If, however, one or the other of the readers should suppose, that, on that account, I have been a sufferer or loser, my reply is, that it has been the very reverse. The Lord, whose servant

I

am, and whom I delight in serving, having condescended to employ me now for more than forty years, has amply, most amply, provided for me, by putting it again and again into the hearts of his children to give to me of their means. Had I with never so much earnestness sought to provide well for myself, I should not, in all human probability, have succeeded half as well, as God, without my seeking, has done it for me. I take pleasure in bearing this testimony for God, to the honor of His name. But I cannot send this forth, without again cautioning any who may read it, against doing the same by way of imitation. Let any one trust in God, as I by His grace did, and have Scriptural warrant for doing so; and the Lord will surely honor this confidence in Himself; but, as assuredly as any one professes to trust in God, his profession of faith will be tested, and greatly tested, even as mine was; and then it will be soon seen, whether the trust in God is real or not. When I took this step, in November, 1830, I determined, really, truly, solely, habitually, by God's help, to look to Him, and under no circumstances, either directly or indirectly, to make known my present position, however needy, to my fellow men, in order that the hand of God might be seen, when He helped. In this way I have continued ever since; and, by the help of God, purpose to continue to the end of my course. Now, because many, who have professed to look to the Lord alone for their temporal supplies, have failed in

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this, and have made their wants known to their fellow men, to induce them to help them, they have thus failed in obtaining the wholesome food for their faith, and their faith has become weaker instead of stronger. But, further, no one, I judge, can be truly happy in such a path, except he be content, to the end of his course, to remain only a steward for God; so that, if he be intrusted by Him with more than he needs, he be willing to give it back to God, who gave it to him. Let these two points' be carried out, in an humble prayerful state of heart, and happy and blessed will that servant of God be. All whom I have known to have acted thus, have, without a single exception, done well; but those, who merely said that they trusted in God, without doing it, and who therefore did not act as stated above, sooner or later broke down. God looks for reality. Faith may be weak at first, but it must be real.

"The reader who desires to know further particulars as to the reasons which led me into this course of life, will find them in my Narrative, Part I, pages 68 and 69.”

No Contracting Debts.

"Owe no man anything but love."

Mr. Muller goes on to say in his last Report (1871): As from the beginning, so now also, we would under no circumstances contract debts, but act according to God's mind, by first obtaining the needed means for the contemplated enlargement; for if we are the persons through whom God will do His work, and if His time has come for us to do His work, He will certainly, in answer to believing prayer, give to us the needed pecuniary means.

"With regard to pecuniary supplies to carry on the various operations in connection with the Institution, we have obtained from the beginning above five hundred thousand pounds, as the result of prayer and faith, which, we trust, is a plain proof, that waiting upon God for means is not in vain. It also shows, that the work of God may be carried on, on the above principles, not only whilst small, but when it is large, yea very large.

"The reader, who is unacquainted with the previous Reports, may ask, And what has been accomplished, through, the five hundred thousand pounds, which have come in for this Institution? To such our answer is: Twenty-three thousand children, or grown-up persons, have been taught in the various schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, besides the tens of thousands who have been benefited in the schools, which were assisted by its funds; more than sixty-four thousand Bibles, eighty-five thousand Testaments, and one hundred thousand smaller portions of the Holy Scriptures, in various languages, have been circulated since the formation of the Institution; and thirty-nine millions of tracts and books, likewise in several different languages, have been circulated. There have been, likewise, from the earliest days of this Institution, missionaries assisted by its funds, and of late years more than one hundred and fifty in number. On this object alone above one hundred and four thousand pounds have been expended from the beginning. Also 3575 orphans have been under our care, and five large houses, at an expense of one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds, have been erected and fitted up, for the accommodation of 2050 orphans. As to the spiritual results, I will here say nothing; indeed eternity alone can unfold them; yet, even in so

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