There have been many instances, in which, along with the donations for missions, or for the support of the Orphans, or the Building Fund, there were also presents in money sent for my own personal expenses, or those of my family. These instances I have gladly recorded, as they came in connexion with the donations referred to, because they afforded me an opportunity of speaking well of the kindness and faithfulness of the Lord in supplying my own personal or family need. It is now [i.e. in 1856] above Twenty Five years, since I have not had any regular income whatever. In the year 1830, I saw it to be the Lord's will to give up my regular income in connexion with the ministry of the Word, and to trust in Him, alone for the supply of all my temporal necessities. I have been enabled to continue in this path, and have not been allowed to regret the step which I then took. Thus it is also in my position as director of the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. I have no salary in this position; but the Lord abundantly supplies my need; yea, though there are many expenses connected with this very position, He abundantly meets all my wants, and gives me far more than I need. If with all my might I had sought to obtain a lucrative place, either as a preacher of the Gospel, or in some other way, I should not have had more, I have reason to believe, if as much, as, unsought, unasked for, so far as it regards man, I receive day by day out of the loving hand of my Heavenly Father. When I look at His kindness to me in saving my guilty soul, I am overwhelmed with the boundlessness of His love and grace towards me in Christ Jesus; and when I look at His kindness to me, even as it regards temporal things, I know not where to begin, nor where to end, in speaking well of His name. I do desire to magnify Him, and therefore declare in this public way His great goodness to me in thus so abundantly supplying my temporal necessities; and I do so also, if it may please God, by this means, to encourage the hearts of His children more and more unreservedly to trust in Him. It is now above twenty-five years since I have asked help for myself from any human being; but God has been indeed my helper. And now the very work even with which I am connected, respecting which I had every reason to believe, when I commenced it, that it would be connected with great expenses to myself, as well as be the means, looked at naturally, of decreasing my own income, God has, though unsought for on my part, used as the instrument to bring along with it many supplies for myself also, thus not only abundantly meeting my increased expenses, but giving me far more than I need for myself. How great is His goodness! Dear Christian Reader, be encouraged by this! Do but trust in God with all your heart, and you will find that you will not be confounded. Only let it be trust in God, not in man, not in circumstances, not in any of your own exertions, but real trust in God, and you will be helped, in your various necessities.--I refer to a few more of the donations.
Jan. 25. From various believers at Melbourne, Australia, 20l. for the Orphans, and 20l. for the other objects.
Feb. 23. Received a very valuable gold watch, a gold watch chain, 2 gold watch keys, a gold seal, a silver mustard pot and spoon, a silver salt stand, a scent bottle, a china basket, 3 china jugs, a china cup and saucer and mug 2 taper candlesticks, a ring stand, 2 spill cups, a card stand, a lamp, a claret jug, a pair of decanters, 6 hock glasses, 14 claret glasses, 6 finger glasses, and a set of china tea things. The donor has found true riches and peace to his soul in the Lord Jesus; and he is thus led to send these articles for the benefit of the Orphans.
April 18. 100l. from a distance, of which the donor kindly intends 20l. for myself, and 80l. for the benefit of the Orphans.
May 5. 219l. 9s. 4d. from a distance, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep 19l. 9s 4d. for myself, and to use the other as it might be required for the Lord's work. I took 100l. for the support of the Orphans, and 100l. for the other objects. This donation was especially refreshing to my spirit, because of its coming at this period, when the outgoings are very great.