Oct. 15. During the last six weeks little only, comparatively, has been received for these objects; but I have sent out much for missionary objects, and for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. Thus the funds for these various objects were this morning reduced to 29l. 15s. 6 ¼ d. Yet my heart desired to send out, before the close of this month, a considerable amount to preachers of the Gospel, and to spend further sums on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts. This my desire has been in a measure already granted, for I received this morning 192l. 1s. Of this sum I took 100l. for these objects, and the remainder for the current expenses for the Orphans. The Lord be magnified for this kindness! There was also much need for fresh supplies for the Orphans, when this donation was received. With more than usual exercise of faith and patience have I had to wait upon God for the last four weeks, during which time the income has been very little and the outgoing very great.
Dec. 8. Today I received three autographs of King William IV., one of Sir Robert Peel, and two of Lord Melbourne (with six postage stamps), to be sold for the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.--See what a variety of donations the Lord sends us for the support of the work!
Dec. 11. For several years I have not been so poor for these objects, as during the last six weeks. Day by day have I besought the Lord for more means, and almost daily has He also sent in something; yet the income has not been adequate to help the 56 brethren, whom I seek to assist as preachers of the Word at home and abroad, in the measure I have desired. I had reason to believe, that several were in need, but I had nothing to send to them, and could only labour on in prayer, finding relief in the knowledge that God could help them irrespective of my instrumentality, and make this their trial of faith and patience a blessing to their souls, even as I have found this season profitable to myself. But now at the last the Lord has refreshed my spirit exceedingly, by a donation of 300l., left at my disposal; of which I have taken 150l. for these objects, and 150l. for the Orphans, for whom also fresh supplies were greatly needed, so much so, that we had not once been so poor since the New Orphan-House was first opened.
Jan. 17, 1854. Received from an anonymous donor, through London bankers, a Bank Post Bill for 50l. "for general purposes." I took of this amount one half for these various objects, and the other half for the benefit of the Orphans. This donation came at a time of great need.
But the Lord helped me still mere bountifully; for I received also, on that day, the promise of the donation of 5,207l., spoken of already under the Building Fund, and of which donation I took for these objects altogether 1,500l. whereby I was so abundantly helped, that, with what the Lord was pleased to send in besides for these objects, up to May 26, 1854, I was enabled to meet all their many and heavy expenses.
The following circumstance is so remarkable, that I give it at full length as an illustration of the various ways, and the remarkable manner, in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to prayer, to supply me with means.
On Aug. 9th, 1853, I received a letter, from a Christian brother, accompanied by an order for 88l. 2s. 6d. on his bankers, of which 3l. 2s, 6d. were the proceeds of an Orphan-Box in a meeting place of believers, and 85l. from a poor widow, who had sold her little house, being all her property, and who had put 90l., the total amount she had received, into that Orphan-Box two months before, on June 9, 1853. In this box the money remained till it was opened, and then the 90l., with a few lines, without name, were found in it. As, however, the fact of her intending to sell the house, and sending me the money, for the Lord's work, had been known to the brother, who sent me the money, he did not feel free to send it to me, without remonstrating with her through two brethren, whom he sent with the money, offering it again to her; for he knew her to be very poor, and feared that this might be an act of excitement, and therefore be regretted afterwards. These brethren could not prevail on her to receive back the money, but they did persuade her to receive back 5l. of the amount, and then the brother, referred to, felt no longer free to keep the money from me, but sent me the 85l.