PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
George Müller of Bristol, and His Witness to a Prayer-Hearing God
Pierson, Arthur T. (Arthur Tappan) · 137,521 words · 207 reading sections
Introduction
Produced by Carl D. DuBois BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON Author of "The Crisis of Missions," "The New Acts of the Apostles," "Many Infallible Proofs," etc.; editor of "The Missionary Review of the World," etc. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JAMES WRIGHT Son-in-law and successor in the work of George Muller Illustrated NEW YORK CHI…
721 wordsSECTION 2James Wright.
I therefore intimated to my dear friend that, provided he would allow me to read the manuscript and have thus the opportunity of making any suggestions that I felt necessary, I would, as my beloved father-in-law's executor and representative, gladly endorse his work as the authorized memoir for British as well as Ameri…
606 wordsSECTION 3From His Birth To His New Birth
Table of Contents PAGE George Muller of Bristol A HUMAN life, filled with the presence and power of God, is one of God's choicest gifts to His church and to the world. Things which are unseen and eternal seem, to the carnal man, distant and indistinct, while what is seen and temporal is vivid and real. Practically,…
747 wordsSECTION 4From His Birth To His New Birth
The first period may be passed rapidly by, for it covers only the wasted years of a sinful and profligate youth and early manhood. It is of interest mainly as illustrating the sovereignty of that Grace which abounds even to the chief of sinners. Who can read the story of that score of years and yet talk of piety as the…
697 wordsSECTION 5From His Birth To His New Birth
When he came to the age for confirmation He had to attend the class for preparatory religious teaching; but this being to him a mere form, and met in a careless spirit, another false step was taken: sacred things were treated as common, and so conscience became the more callous. On the very eve of confirmation and of h…
725 wordsSECTION 6From His Birth To His New Birth
Ten or twelve days passed in this wretched fellowship, until disagreement led to a sullen silence between them. And so passed away twenty-four dark days, from December 18, 1821, until the 12th of January ensuing, during all of which George Muller was shut up in prison and during part of which he sought as a favour the …
671 wordsSECTION 7From His Birth To His New Birth
It is hard to believe that this young man of twenty could lie without a blush and with the air of perfect candor. When dissipation dragged him into the mire of debt, and his allowance would not help him out, he resorted again to the most ingenious devices of falsehood. He pretended that the money wasted in riotous livi…
656 wordsSECTION 8From His Birth To His New Birth
The party were back in Halle before the end of September, and George Muller went home to spend the rest of his vacation. To account plausibly to his father for the use of his allowance a new chain of lies was readily devised. So soon and so sadly were all his good resolves again broken. When once more in Halle, he lit…
276 wordsSECTION 9The New Birth And The New Life
THE lost days of sin, now forever past, the days of heaven upon earth began to dawn, to grow brighter till the perfect day. We enter the second period of this life we are reviewing. After a score of years of evil-doing George Muller was converted to God, and the radical nature of the change strikingly proves and displ…
650 wordsSECTION 10The New Birth And The New Life
During his wanderings as a backslider, Beta had both joined and aided George Muller in his evil courses, but, on coming back from the Swiss tour, his sense of sin had so revived as to constrain him to make a full confession to his father; and, through a Christian friend, one Dr. Richter, a former student at Halle, he h…
813 wordsSECTION 11The New Birth And The New Life
We should lose one of the main lessons of this life-story by passing too hastily over such an event as this conversion and the exact manner of it, for here is to be found the first great step in God's preparation of the workman for his work. Nothing is more wonderful in history than the unmistakable signs and proofs o…
693 wordsSECTION 12The New Birth And The New Life
The thought of a divine plan which is thus emphasized at this point we are to see singularly illustrated as we mark how stone after stone and timber after timber are brought to the building site, and all so mutually fitted that no sound of any human tool is to be heard while the life-work is in building. Of course a m…
801 wordsSECTION 13The New Birth And The New Life
The new year 1826 was indeed a _new year_ to this newborn soul. He now began to read _missionary_ journals, which kindled a new flame in his heart. He felt a yearning--not very intelligent as yet--to be himself a messenger to the nations, and frequent praying deepened and confirmed the impression. As his knowledge of t…
775 wordsSECTION 14The New Birth And The New Life
Then, seeing that son unmoved in his quiet steadfastness, he changed tone, and from threats turned to tears of entreaty that were much harder to resist than reproaches. The result of the interview was a _third_ significant step in preparation for his son's life's mission. His resolve was unbroken to follow the Lord's l…
354 wordsSECTION 15Making Ready The Chosen Vessel
THE workman of God needs to wait on Him to know the work he is to do and the sphere where he is to serve Him. Mature disciples at Halle advised George Muller for the time thus quietly to wait for divine guidance, and meanwhile to take no further steps toward the mission field. He felt unable, however, to dismiss the q…
806 wordsSECTION 16Making Ready The Chosen Vessel
Moreover the conviction grew that, could he have followed the lot, his choice would have been a life-mistake. His mind, at that time, was bent upon the East Indies as a field. Yet all subsequent events clearly showed that God's choice for him was totally different. His repeated offers met as repeated refusals, and thou…
759 wordsSECTION 17Making Ready The Chosen Vessel
George Muller 'got through' his painful effort of August 27, 1826, reciting this memoriter sermon at eight A.M. in the chapel of ease, and three hours later in the parish church. Being asked to preach again in the afternoon, but having no second sermon committed to memory, he had to keep silent, or _depend on the Lord …
652 wordsSECTION 18Making Ready The Chosen Vessel
He was at this time overworking, writing sometimes fourteen hours a day, and this induced nervous depression, which exposed him to various temptations. He ventured into a confectioner's shop where wine and beer were sold, and then suffered reproaches of conscience for conduct so unbecoming a believer; and he found hims…
687 wordsSECTION 19Making Ready The Chosen Vessel
One lesson, yet to be learned, was that the one fountain of all wisdom and strength is the Holy Scriptures. Many disciples practically prefer religious books to the Book of God. He had indeed found much of the reading with which too many professed believers occupy their minds to be but worthless chaff--such as French a…
745 wordsSECTION 20New Steps And Stages Of Preparation
Blessed are they who have thus learned to use the key which gives free access, not only to the King's Treasuries, but to the King Himself! PASSION for souls is a divine fire, and in the heart of George Muller that fire now began to burn more brightly, and demanded vent. In August, 1827, his mind was more definitely t…
731 wordsSECTION 21New Steps And Stages Of Preparation
In February, 1829, he left for London, on the way visiting his father at Heimersleben, where he had returned after retirement from office; and he reached the English metropolis March 19th. His liberty was much curtailed as a student in this new seminary, but, as no rule conflicted with his conscience, he submitted. He …
691 wordsSECTION 22New Steps And Stages Of Preparation
Even so a child of God who, like Elijah, stands before Him as a waiting, willing, obedient servant, and has both likeness to God and power with God, may get under the juniper-tree of despondency, cast down with the sense of unworthiness and ill desert. As godliness increases the sense of ungodliness becomes more acute,…
675 wordsSECTION 23New Steps And Stages Of Preparation
Mr. Muller had been back in London scarcely ten days before health again declined, and the conviction took strong hold upon him that he should not spend his little strength in confining study, but at once get about his work; and this conviction was confirmed by the remembrance of the added light which God had given him…
772 wordsSECTION 24New Steps And Stages Of Preparation
So rapid was Mr. Muller's recovery out of this Satanic snare, through continuance in prayer, that, on the evening of that same Christmas day whose dawn had been so overcast, he expounded the Word at family worship in the house where he dined by invitation, and with such help from God that two servants who were present …
513 wordsSECTION 25The Pulpit And The Pastorate
No work for God surpasses in dignity and responsibility the Christian ministry. It is at once the consummate flower of the divine planting, the priceless dower of His church, and through it works the power of God for salvation. Though George Muller had begun his 'candidacy for holy orders' as an unconverted man, seeki…
675 wordsSECTION 26The Pulpit And The Pastorate
They naturally asked his opinion on the subject about which they were talking, and he replied that, having been baptized as a child, he saw no need of being baptized again. Being further asked if he had ever yet prayerfully searched the word of God as to its testimony in this matter, he frankly confessed that he had no…
679 wordsSECTION 27The Pulpit And The Pastorate
Conviction compelled action, for in him there was no spirit of compromise; and he was accordingly promptly baptized. Years after, in reviewing his course, he records the solemn conviction that "of all revealed truths, not one is more clearly revealed in the Scriptures--not even the doctrine of justification by faith--a…
653 wordsSECTION 28The Pulpit And The Pastorate
1. A stated salary implies a fixed sum, which cannot well be paid without a fixed income through pew-rentals or some like source of revenue. This seemed plainly at war with the teaching of the Spirit of God in James ii. 1-6, since the poor brother cannot afford as good sittings as the rich, thus introducing into church…
785 wordsSECTION 29The Pulpit And The Pastorate
Married life has often its period of estrangement, even when temporary alienation yields to a deeper love, as the parties become more truly wedded by the assimilation of their inmost being to one another. But to Mr. and Mrs. Muller there never came any such experience of even temporary alienation. From the first, love …
685 wordsSECTION 30The Pulpit And The Pastorate
On August 9, 1831, Mrs. Muller gave birth to a stillborn babe, and for six weeks remained seriously ill. Her husband meanwhile laments that his heart was so cold and carnal, and his prayers often so hesitating and formal; and he detects, even behind his zeal for God, most unspiritual frames. He especially chides himsel…
677 wordsSECTION 31The Pulpit And The Pastorate
Yet another law, kindred to this and thoroughly inwrought into Mr. Muller's habit of life, was _never to contract debt,_ whether for personal purposes or the Lord's work. This matter was settled on scriptural grounds once for all (Romans xiii. 8), and he and his wife determined if need be to suffer starvation rather th…
389 wordsSECTION 32"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
THINGS which are sacred forbid even a careless touch. The record written by George Muller of the Lord's dealings reads, especially in parts, almost like an inspired writing, because it is simply the tracing of divine guidance in a human life--not this man's own working or planning, suffering or serving, but the _Lord'…
786 wordsSECTION 33"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
Looking at this narrative as a whole, certain prominent peculiarities must be carefully noted. We have here a record and revelation of seven conspicuous experiences: 1. An experience of frequent and at times prolonged _financial straits._ The money in hand for personal needs, and for the needs of hundreds and thousan…
668 wordsSECTION 34"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
5. An experience of conscientious _care in accepting and using gifts._ Here is a pattern for all who act as stewards for God. Whenever there was any ground of misgiving as to the propriety or expediency of receiving what was offered, it was declined, however pressing the need, unless or until all such objectionable fe…
663 wordsSECTION 35"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
The brief review of the lessons taught in his journal may well startle the incredulous and unbelieving spirit of our skeptical day. Those who doubt the power of prayer to bring down actual blessing, or who confound faith in God with credulity and superstition, may well wonder and perhaps stumble at such an array of fac…
684 wordsSECTION 36"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
* Vol. I. 73. Another fact that grows more conspicuous with the perusal of every new page in his journal is that in things common and small, as well as uncommon and great, he took no step without first asking counsel of the oracles of God and seeking guidance from Him in believing prayer. It was his life-motto to lear…
660 wordsSECTION 37"The Narrative Of The Lord'S Dealings"
For example, early in 1832 he broke a blood-vessel in the stomach and lost much blood by the hemorrhage. The very day following was the Lord's day, and four outside preaching stations needed to be provided for, from which his disablement would withdraw one labourer to take his place at home. After an hour of prayer he …
779 wordsSECTION 38Led Of God Into A New Sphere
To sum up very briefly the impression made by the close perusal of this whole narrative with the supplementary annual reports, it is simply this: CONFIDENCE IN GOD. In a little sketch of Beate Paulus, the Frau Pastorin pleads with God in a great crisis not to forsake her, quaintly adding that she was "willing to be th…
661 wordsSECTION 39Led Of God Into A New Sphere
On April 20th Mr. Muller left for Bristol. On the journey he was dumb, having no liberty in speaking for Christ or even in giving away tracts, and this led him to reflect. He saw that the so-called 'work of the Lord' had tempted him to substitute _action for meditation and communion._ He had neglected that still hour' …
806 wordsSECTION 40Led Of God Into A New Sphere
If we seek the secrets of the life George Muller lived and the work he did, this is the very key to the whole mystery, and with that key any believer can unlock the doors to a prosperous growth in grace and power in service. God's word is His WORD--the expression of His thought, the revealing of His mind and heart. The…
758 wordsSECTION 41Led Of God Into A New Sphere
Within a few weeks the Lord's will, as to their new sphere, became so plain to both these brethren that on May 23d Mr. Muller left Teignmouth for Bristol, to be followed next day by Mr. Craik. At the believers' meeting at Gideon Chapel they stated their terms, which were acceded to: that they were to be regarded as acc…
985 wordsSECTION 42Led Of God Into A New Sphere
This expression, found in Paul's second letter to Timothy, is a very peculiar one ([Transcriber's Note: Greek source text for the English phrase quoted in the paragraph immediately above appears here]). It seems to be nearly equivalent to the Latin phrase _recte viam secare--to cut a straight road_--and to hint that th…
767 wordsSECTION 43Led Of God Into A New Sphere
As early as June 12, 1833, when not yet twenty-eight years old, the inward flame began to find vent in a scheme which proved the first forward step toward his orphan work. It occurred to him to gather out of the streets, at about eight o'clock each morning, the poor children, give them a bit of bread for breakfast, and…
592 wordsSECTION 44A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
THE time was now fully come when the divine Husbandman was to glorify Himself by a product of His own husbandry in the soil of Bristol. On February 20, 1834, George Muller was led of God to sow the seed of what ultimately developed into a great means of good, known as "The Scriptural Knowledge Institution, for Home an…
650 wordsSECTION 45A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
3. Pecuniary aid, or help in managing or carrying on its affairs, is not to be asked for or sought from those who are not believers. 4. Debts are not to be contracted or allowed for any cause in the work of the Lord. 5. The standard of success is not to be a numerical or financial standard. 6. All compromise of the …
720 wordsSECTION 46A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
Meanwhile another _object_ was coming into greater prominence before the mind and heart of Mr. Muller: it was the thought of _making some permanent provision for fatherless and motherless children._ An orphan boy who had been in the school had been taken to the poorhouse, no longer able to attend on account of extreme…
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3. Next, his _renunciation of self._ In more than one instance he was enabled to give up for Christ's sake an earthly attachment that was idolatrous, because it was a hindrance to his full obedience and single-eyed loyalty to his heavenly Master. 4. Then his _taking counsel of God._ Early in his Christian life he form…
709 wordsSECTION 48A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
18. His _stress upon voluntary offerings._ While he courageously gave up all fixed salary for himself, he taught that all the work of God should be maintained by the freewill gifts of believers, and that pew-rents promote invidious distinctions among saints. 19. His _surrender of all earthly possessions._ Both himself…
676 wordsSECTION 49A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
There are several important episodes in Mr. Muller's history which may be lightly passed by, because not so characteristic of him as that they might not have been common to many others, and therefore not constituting features so distinguishing this life from others as to make it a special lesson to believers. For exam…
672 wordsSECTION 50A Tree Of God'S Own Planting
About the middle of the following month, Mr. Muller was quite disabled from work by weakness of the chest, which made necessary rest and change. The Lord tenderly provided for his need through those whose hearts He touched, leading them to offer him and his wife hospitalities in the Isle of Wight, while at the same tim…
257 wordsSECTION 51The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
THE last great step of full entrance upon Mr. Muller's life-service was the _founding of the orphan work,_ a step so important and so prominent that even the lesser particulars leading to it have a strange significance and fascination. In the year 1835, on November 20th, in taking tea at the house of a Christian siste…
764 wordsSECTION 52The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
* Appendix E. Narrative 1:143-146, 148-152, 154, 155. At every critical point Mr. Muller is entitled to explain his own views and actions; and the work he was now undertaking is so vitally linked with his whole after-life that it should here have full mention. As to his proposed orphan house he gives three chief reaso…
689 wordsSECTION 53The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
Other similar self-giving followed, proving that God's people are willing in the day of His power. He who wrought in His servant to will and to work, sent helpers to share his burdens, and to this day has met all similar needs out of His riches in glory. There has never yet been any lack of competent, cheerful, and dev…
671 wordsSECTION 54The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
The first house had scarcely been opened for girls when the way for the second was made plain, suitable premises being obtained at No. 1 in the same street, and a well-fitted matron being given in answer to prayer. On November 28th, some seven months after the opening of the first, this second house was opened. Some of…
659 wordsSECTION 55The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
It was in the year 1837 that Mr. Muller, then in his thirty-second year, felt with increasingly deep conviction that to his own growth in grace, godliness, and power for service _two things_ were quite indispensable: first, more _retirement for secret communion with God,_ even at the apparent expense of his public work…
679 wordsSECTION 56The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
One thing he noticed and recorded: that, even during this head trouble, prayer and Bible-reading could be borne better than anything else. He concluded that whenever undue carefulness is expended on the body, it is very hard to avoid undue carelessness as to the soul; and that it is therefore much safer comparatively t…
650 wordsSECTION 57The Growth Of God'S Own Plant
Three entries, found side by side in his journal, furnish pertinent illustration and most wholesome instruction on this point. One entry records his deep thankfulness to God for the privilege of being permitted to be His instrument in providing for homeless orphans, as he watches the little girls, clad in clean warm ga…
655 wordsSECTION 58The Word Of God And Prayer
* Comp. Numbers xiv. 13-19; 1 Kings xix. 10; Jer. xiv. 21. Looking back over the growth of the work at the end of the year 1837, he puts on record the following facts and figures: Three orphan houses were now open with eighty-one children, and nine helpers in charge of them. In the Sunday-schools there were three hun…
751 wordsSECTION 59The Word Of God And Prayer
The passion of George Muller's soul was to know fully the secrets of prevailing with God and with man. George Whitefield's life drove home the truth that God alone could create in him a holy earnestness to win souls and qualify him for such divine work by imparting a compassion for the lost that should become an absorb…
851 wordsSECTION 60The Word Of God And Prayer
It was habits of life such as these, and not impulsive feelings and transient frames, that made this man of God what he was and strengthened him to lift up his hands in God's name, and follow hard after Him and in Him rejoice.* Even his sore affliction, seen in the light of such prayer--prayer itself illuminated by the…
698 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.