PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Answers to Prayer, from George Müller's Narratives
Müller, George, 1805-1898 · 32,187 words · 75 reading sections
Part 1
E-text prepared by A. Folland, the Bookworm <bookworm.librivox AT gmail.com>, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)…
24 wordsSECTION 2ANSWERS TO PRAYER
From George Müller's Narratives Compiled by A. E. C. Brooks. The Moody Press 153 Institute Place Chicago "I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now (in March, 1895) of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by _the teaching of the Holy Gh…
118 wordsSECTION 3GEORGE MÜLLER.
Printed in United States of America [Illustration: Fac simile of Mr. Müller's permission for the compilation of this book.]…
19 wordsSECTION 4PREFACE
Mr. Brooks, in this compilation, has endeavored to select those incidents and practical remarks from Mr. Müller's Narratives, that show in an unmistakeable way, both to believers and unbelievers, the secret of believing prayer, the manifest hand of a living God, and His unfailing response, in His own time and way, to e…
191 wordsSECTION 5HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD
I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this…
268 wordsSECTION 6BEGINNING AND EARLY DAYS OF THE ORPHAN WORK.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."--1 Peter, i. 7. Mr. George Müller, the founder of the New Orphan-Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol (institutions that have bee…
367 wordsSECTION 7Part 7
"Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual things; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give up the profession in which they coul…
642 wordsSECTION 8"OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE."
In the account written by Mr. Müller dated Jan. 16, 1836, respecting the Orphan-House intended to be established in Bristol in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, we read:-- "When, of late, the thoughts of establishing an Orphan-House, in dependence upon the Lord, revived in my mi…
637 wordsSECTION 9A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.
"Dec. 17.--I was rather cast down last evening and this morning about the matter, questioning whether I ought to be engaged in this way, and was led to ask the Lord to give me some further encouragement. Soon after were sent by a brother two pieces of print, the one seven and the other 23¾ yards, 6¾ yards of calico, fo…
139 wordsSECTION 10ONE THOUSAND POUNDS.
"June 15, 1837.--To-day I gave myself once more earnestly to prayer respecting the remainder of the £1000. This evening £5 was given, so that now the whole sum is made up. To the Glory of the Lord, whose I am, and whom I serve, I would state again, that every shilling of this money, and all the articles of clothing and…
87 wordsSECTION 11ORPHANS FOR THE BUILDING.
In a third statement, containing the announcement of the opening of the Orphan-House, for destitute female children, and a proposal for the establishment of an Infant Orphan-House, which was sent to the press on May 18, 1836, Mr. Müller wrote:-- "So far as I remember, I brought even the most minute circumstances conce…
375 wordsSECTION 12"JUST FOR TO-DAY."
Later on, when there were nearly 100 persons to be maintained, and the funds were reduced to about £20, Mr. Müller writes:-- "July 22 [1838].--This evening I was walking in our little garden, meditating on Heb. xiii. 8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Whilst meditating on His unchangeable …
320 wordsSECTION 13WAITING FOR HELP.
"Nov. 21, 1838.--Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day. There was not a single halfpenny in hand between the matrons of the three houses. Nevertheless there was a good dinner, and by managing so as to help one another with bread, etc., there was a prospect of getting over this day also; but for none of the houses…
248 wordsSECTION 14BEYOND DISAPPOINTMENT.
"Sept. 21 [1840], Monday. By what was in hand for the Orphans, and by what had come in yesterday, the need of to-day is more than supplied, as there is enough for to-morrow also. To-day a brother from the neighbourhood of London gave me £10, to be laid out as it might be most needed. As we have been praying many days f…
269 wordsSECTION 15A GREAT SINNER CONVERTED.
In his REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1841, Mr. Müller writes:-- "During this year I was informed about the conversion of one of the very greatest sinners, that I ever heard of in all my service for the Lord. Repeatedly I fell on my knees with his wife, and asked the Lord for his conversion, when she came to me in the deepest dis…
173 wordsSECTION 16PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BLESSING AMONG THE SAINTS.
"On May 25th, I began to ask the Lord for greater real spiritual prosperity among the saints, among whom I labour in Bristol, than there ever yet had been among them; and now I have to record to the praise of the Lord that truly He has answered this request; for, considering all things, at no period has there been more…
118 wordsSECTION 17WITHHOLDING THE REPORT.
"Dec. 9 [1841].--To-day came in for the Orphans by the sale of stockings 10s. 10d.--We are now brought to the close of the sixth year of this part of the work, _having only in hand the money which has been put by for the rent_; but during the whole of this year we have been supplied with all that was needed. "During t…
652 wordsSECTION 18"HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL."
Under the date Jan. 25, 1842, Mr. Müller writes:-- "Perhaps, dear reader, you have said in your heart before you have read thus far: 'How would it be, suppose the funds for the Orphans were reduced to nothing, and those who are engaged in the work had nothing of their own to give, and a meal time were come, and you ha…
252 wordsSECTION 19DELAYED BUT SURE.
"March 9 [1842].--At a time of the greatest need, both with regard to the Day-Schools and the Orphans, so much so that we could not have gone on any longer without help, I received this day £10 from a brother who lives near Dublin. The money was divided between the Day-Schools and the Orphan-Houses. The following littl…
197 wordsSECTION 20"LIKE AS A FATHER."
"March 17.--From the 12th to the 16th had come in £4 5s. 11½d. for the Orphans. This morning our poverty, which now has lasted more or less for several months, had become exceedingly great. I left my house a few minutes after seven to go to the Orphan-Houses, to see whether there was money enough to take in the milk, w…
326 wordsSECTION 21TRUST IN THE LORD BETTER THAN MAN'S PROMISES.
"May 6 [1845].--About six weeks ago intimation was kindly given by a brother that he expected a certain considerable sum of money, and that, if he obtained it, a certain portion of it should be given to the Lord, so that £100 of it should be used for the work in my hands, and the other part for Brother Craik's and my o…
946 wordsSECTION 22Part 22
"2. This faith which is exercised respecting the Orphan-Houses and my own temporal necessities, shows itself in the same measure, for instance concerning the following points: I have never been permitted to doubt during the last sixty-nine years that my sins are forgiven, that I am a child of God, that I am beloved of …
1,040 wordsSECTION 23Part 23
"I.--Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James i. 17. As the increase of faith is a good gift, it must come from God, and therefore He ought to be asked for this blessing. "II.--The following means, h…
899 wordsSECTION 24Part 24
"Yea, however weak our faith may be, God will try it; only with this restriction, that as in every way, He leads on gently, gradually, patiently, so also with reference to the trial of our faith. At first our faith will be tried very little in comparison with what it may be afterwards; for God never lays more upon us t…
460 wordsSECTION 25A GIFT OF £12.
"Aug. 20 [1838].--The £5 which I had received on the 18th. had been given for house-keeping, so that to-day I was again penniless. But my eyes were up to the Lord. I gave myself to prayer this morning, knowing that I should want again this week at least £13, if not above £20. To-day I received £12 in answer to prayer, …
88 wordsSECTION 26A SOLEMN CRISIS.
Regarding one of the sharpest times of trial Mr. Müller writes:-- "Sept. 10 [1838]. Monday morning. Neither Saturday nor yesterday had any money come in. It appeared to me now needful to take some steps on account of our need, _i. e._, to go to the Orphan-Houses, call the brethren and sisters together, (who, except br…
387 wordsSECTION 27A PRECIOUS DELIVERANCE.
"Sept. 17 [1838].--The trial still continues. It is now more and more trying, even to faith, as each day comes. Truly, the Lord has wise purposes in allowing us to call so long upon Him for help. But I am sure God will send help, if we can but wait. One of the labourers had had a little money come in of which he gave 1…
500 wordsSECTION 28THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSES, ASHLEY DOWN.
A complaint having been received from a gentleman in October, 1845, that some of the inhabitants of Wilson Street were inconvenienced by the Orphan-Houses being in that street, Mr. Müller ultimately decided for that and other reasons, after much prayerful meditation, to build an Orphan-House elsewhere to accommodate 30…
479 wordsSECTION 29"BECAUSE OF HIS IMPORTUNITY."
"Nov. 19 [1846].--I am now led more and more to importune the Lord to send me the means, which are requisite in order that I may be able to commence the building. Because (1) it has been for some time past publicly stated in print, that I allow it is not without ground that some of the inhabitants of Wilson Street cons…
591 wordsSECTION 30MR. MÜLLER'S FIRST ORPHAN-HOUSE.
"Jan. 25 [1847].--The season of the year is now approaching, when building may be begun. Therefore with increased earnestness I have given myself unto prayer, importuning the Lord that He would be pleased to appear on our behalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required, and I have increasingly, …
314 wordsSECTION 31ORPHAN-HOUSES NOS. 2 & 3.
"March 12, 1862.--It was in November, 1850, that my mind became exercised about enlarging the Orphan Work from 300 Orphans to 1000, and subsequently to 1150; and it was in June, 1851, that this my purpose became known, having kept it secret for more than seven months, whilst day by day praying about it. From the end of…
212 wordsSECTION 32PRAYING THREE TIMES DAILY FOR HELPERS.
"As in the case of No. 2, so also in the case of the New Orphan-House No. 3, I had daily prayed for the needed helpers and assistants for the various departments. Before a stone was laid, I began to pray for this; and, as the building progressed, I continued day by day to bring this matter before God, feeling assured, …
502 wordsSECTION 33DIFFICULTIES REMOVED AFTER PRAYER AND PATIENCE.
Mr. Müller relates the following incidents in connection with the purchase of the land for the Fourth and Fifth Orphan-Houses, after receiving five thousand pounds for the Building Fund: "I had now, through all that had come in since May 26th, 1864, including this last-mentioned donation, above Twenty-Seven Thousand P…
568 wordsSECTION 34Part 34
"Pause here for a few moments, esteemed Reader. You have seen, how the Lord brought me so far, with regard to pecuniary means, that I felt now warranted to go forward; and I may further add, that I was brought to this point as the result of thousands of times praying regarding this object; and that there were, also, ma…
804 wordsSECTION 35ORPHAN-HOUSES NOS. 4 & 5.
"March 5, 1874.--Both houses, No. 4 and No. 5, have now been for years in operation, No. 4 since Nov. 1868 and No. 5 since the beginning of the year 1870, and above 1,200 Orphans have been already received into them, and month after month more are received, as the Orphans are sent out from them as apprentices or servan…
153 wordsSECTION 36PRECIOUS ANSWERS TO PRAYER
In remarkable ways God helped Mr. Müller as "The Narratives" show:--…
11 wordsSECTION 37THE ARTIST'S FIRST RETURN.
"April 30 [1859].--Received the following letter from a considerable distance: 'My dear Christian Brother, I am the husband of Mrs. ---- who sends you by this post the two Sovereign piece. How can we better dispose of this relic of affectionate remembrance, than by depositing it in the bank of Christ, who always pays t…
305 wordsSECTION 38THE NORTH WIND CHANGED INTO A SOUTH WIND.
"It was towards the end of November of 1857, when I was most unexpectedly informed that the boiler of our heating apparatus at No. 1 leaked very considerably, so that it was impossible to go through the winter with such a leak.--Our heating apparatus consists of a large cylinder boiler, inside of which the fire is kept…
867 wordsSECTION 39Part 39
"'We would rather, Sir,' said the leader, 'work all night.' Then remembered I the second part of my prayer, that God would give the men 'a mind to work.' Thus it was: by the morning the repair was accomplished, the leak was stopped, though with great difficulty, and within about 30 hours the brickwork was up again, and…
97 wordsSECTION 40CONVERSION OF THE ORPHANS.
"May 26, 1860.--Day after day, and year after year, by the help of God, we labour in prayer for the spiritual benefit of the Orphans under our care. These our supplications, which have been for 24 years brought before the Lord concerning them, have been abundantly answered, in former years, in the conversion of hundred…
445 wordsSECTION 41APPRENTICING THE ORPHANS.
"In the early part of the summer, 1862, it was found that we had several boys ready to be apprenticed; but there were no applications made by masters for apprentices. As all our boys are invariably sent out as indoor apprentices, this was no small difficulty; for we not only look for Christian masters, but consider the…
224 wordsSECTION 42SICKNESS AT THE ORPHANAGE.
Sickness at times visited the houses. "During the summer and autumn of 1866 we had also the measles at all the three Orphan-Houses. After they had made their appearance, our especial prayer was: 1. That there might not be too many children ill at one time in this disease, so that our accommodation in the Infirmary roo…
247 wordsSECTION 43HELP FOR NEEDY BRETHREN.
1863.--"The end of the year was now at hand, and, in winding up the accounts, it was my earnest desire, to do once more all I could, in sending help to needy labourers in the gospel. I went therefore through the list, writing against the various names of those to whom I had not already recently sent, what amount it app…
321 wordsSECTION 44THE HEART'S DESIRE GIVEN TO HELP MISSION WORK IN CHINA.
"Sept. 30 [1869].--From Yorkshire £50.--Received also One Thousand Pounds to-day for the Lord's work in China. About this donation it is especially to be noticed, that for months it had been my earnest desire to do more than ever for Mission Work in China, and I had already taken steps to carry out this desire, when th…
129 wordsSECTION 45THE JOY OF ANSWERS TO PRAYER.
"The joy which answers to prayer give, cannot be described; and the impetus which they afford to the spiritual life is exceedingly great. The experience of this happiness I desire for all my Christian readers. If you believe indeed in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, if you walk uprightly and do not regar…
141 wordsSECTION 46THE GREAT NEED OF BEING SAVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
"Should this, however, be read by any who are not believers in the Lord Jesus, but who are going on in the carelessness or self-righteousness of their unrenewed hearts, then I would affectionately and solemnly beseech such, first of all to be reconciled to God by faith in the Lord Jesus. You are sinners. You deserve pu…
308 wordsSECTION 47A DOUBLE ANSWER.
"July 25 [1865].--From the neighbourhood of London £100, with the following letter: 'My dear Sir, I believe that it is through the Lord's actings upon me, that I enclose you a cheque on the Bank of England, Western Branch, for £100. I hope that your affairs are going on well. Yours in the Lord * * * *.' This Christian …
409 wordsSECTION 48CHRISTIANS IN BUSINESS.
"Jan. 1 [1869].--From Scotland £50 for Missions, £25 for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and £25 for the circulation of Tracts. Received also from a considerable distance £10 for these objects, with £10 for the Orphans. About this latter donation I make a few remarks. At the early part of the year 1868, a Christ…
448 wordsSECTION 49REVIVAL IN THE ORPHAN-HOUSES.
"In giving the statistics of the previous year [1871-72], I referred already to the great spiritual blessing, which it pleased the Lord to grant to the Orphan Work at the end of that year and the beginning of this; but, as this is so deeply important a subject, I enter somewhat further and more fully into it here. It w…
365 wordsSECTION 50MR. MÜLLER'S MISSION TOURS.
In the year 1875, when seventy years of age, Mr. Müller was led to start on his Missionary Tours, and during the next twenty years preached to more than three million people, in forty-two countries of the world. "On August 8th, 1882," Mr. Müller says, "we began our ninth Missionary Tour. The first place at which I pre…
330 wordsSECTION 51THE DIVINE PLAN FOR SENDING OUT FOREIGN MISSIONARIES.
The Bristol Church with which Mr. Müller was connected has been privileged to set an example to the Church of God of the way in which Foreign Missionaries (who are so greatly needed) can be sent forth in answer to prayer. Mr. Müller writes on p. 516, Vol. I. of his Narrative:-- "I also mention here, that during the ei…
751 wordsSECTION 52THE BEGINNING OF THE 1859 REVIVAL.
"In November, 1856, a young Irishman, Mr. James McQuilkin, was brought to the knowledge of the Lord. Soon after his conversion he saw my Narrative advertised, viz.: the first two volumes of this book. He had a great desire to read it, and procured it accordingly, about January, 1857. God blessed it greatly to his soul,…
797 wordsSECTION 53Part 53
"Such was the _beginning_ of that mighty work of the Holy Spirit, which has led to the conversion of hundreds of thousands; for some of my readers will remember how in 1859 this fire was kindled in England, Wales and Scotland; how it spread through Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland; how the Continent of Europe was m…
163 wordsSECTION 54MR. MÜLLER'S MARRIAGE.
In Vol. 3 of The Narrative, Mr. Müller shows the ordering of God in his meeting with and subsequent marriage to his first wife, Miss Mary Groves. "In giving her to me, I own the hand of God; nay, His hand was most marked; and my soul says, 'Thou art good, and doest good.' "I refer to a few particulars for the instruc…
949 wordsSECTION 55Part 55
"Let me here add a word of Christian counsel. To enter upon the marriage union is one of the most deeply important events of life. It cannot be too prayerfully treated. Our happiness, our usefulness, our living for God or for ourselves afterwards, are often most intimately connected with our choice. Therefore, in the m…
194 wordsSECTION 56DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF MR. MÜLLER'S DAUGHTER.
"In July, 1853, it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which before it had not been tried. My beloved daughter and only child, and a believer since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June 20th. "This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3rd there seemed no hope of her reco…
451 wordsSECTION 57THE DAILY BREAD.
"Aug. 3, 1844. Saturday. With the 12s. we began the day. My soul said: 'I will now look out for the way in which the Lord will deliver us this day again; for He will surely deliver. Many Saturdays, when we were in need, He helped us, and so He will do this day also.' Between nine and ten o'clock this morning I gave mys…
672 wordsSECTION 58"THE POOR WITH YOU ALWAYS."
"Feb. 12, 1845.--After I had sent off this morning the money which was required for the housekeeping of to-day, I had again only 16s. 2½d. left, being only about one-fourth as much as is generally needed for one day, merely for housekeeping, so that there was now again a fresh call for trusting in the Lord. In the morn…
307 wordsSECTION 59THE LORD DIRECTING THE STEPS.
"Feb. 1, 1847.--Before breakfast I took a direction in my usual morning's walk, in which I had not been for many weeks, feeling drawn in that direction, just as if God had an intention in leading me in that way. Returning home I met a Christian gentleman whom formerly I used to meet almost every morning, but whom I had…
248 wordsSECTION 60CONTINUED TRIALS OF FAITH AND PATIENCE.
With the enlargement of the work, by which some 330 persons needed to be provided for, the trials of faith continued. Mr. Müller writes:-- "If we formerly had no certain income, so now have we none. We have to look to God for everything in connection with the work, of which often, however, the pecuniary necessities ar…
845 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.