1. As to the church.
68 brethren and sisters we found in fellowship, when brother Craik and I came to Bristol.
458 have been admitted into fellowship since, so that the total number would be
526 had there been no changes. But,
31 have fallen asleep.
28 are under church discipline, which is the total number of all the cases of separation from communion within these six years and seven months.
36 have left Bristol
26 have left us, but are still in Bristol. Only 26 within six years and seven months!
Total 121. There are therefore only 405 at present in fellowship with us. 61 have been added during the last year, of whom 36 have been brought among us to the knowledge of the truth.
II. As to my temporal supplies
The Lord has been pleased to give me during the past year:
1. By the Freewill Offerings through the boxes £151 6s. 8d.
2. By presents in money from believers in and out of Bristol £141 18s. 0d.
3. By money, through family connexion £40 0s. 0d.
4. By presents in clothes, provisions, etc., which were worth to me, at least £12 0s. 0d.
We have been living for six months, half free of rent whereby we have saved at least £5 0s. 0d.
Altogether £350 4s. 8d.
During no period of my life had I such need of means, on account of my own long illness and that of my dear wife, and on account of the many and particular calls for means as during the past year; but also during no period of my life has the Lord so richly supplied me. Truly, it must be manifest to all that I have served a most kind Master, during this year also, and that, even for this life, it is by far the best thing to seek to act according to the mind of the Lord, as to temporal things.
January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1830. We have had three especial church prayer meetings these three days. The year commenced with mercies. In the first hour of the year there came in for the Orphans 2l. 7s., which was given after our usual prayer meeting on December 31, which this time lasted from seven in the evening till after midnight.
Jan. 11. Since December 20, came in several donations for the Orphans, so that we were supplied, before that which we had in hand was quite gone. On the seventh, however, all our money was again expended, when a brother, from the neighbourhood of London, who, is staying here, gave me 10l. Today, when this 10l. was given out, I received from London 3l. 7s., and 4s. besides. Thus the Lord, as our need is, sends help, and all in answer to prayer, without our asking any one.
Jan. 17. Since the 11th 22 small donations have again come in, by which we have been helped thus far. This afternoon all which was in hand was given for housekeeping, and I was again penniless. The Lord, however, was mindful of this, and in the evening two sovereigns were left anonymously at my house. In the paper was written: "The enclosed are for the use of the Orphan-Houses, from J. H., who thinks he ought to do something for the Institution." J. H. will have in this a proof that the Lord touched his heart to give the money, because there was not a penny in hand for those who are the especial care of Him who is the "Father of the fatherless."