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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the
Lord's Dealings With George Müller, by George Müller

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Title: The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings With George Müller

Author: George Müller

Editor: H. Lincoln Wayland

Release Date: November 17, 2008 [EBook #27288]

Language: English


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ASHLEY DOWN ORPHAN HOUSES, BRISTOL, ENG. ASHLEY DOWN ORPHAN HOUSES, BRISTOL, ENG. THE
LIFE OF TRUST: BEING A

NARRATIVE OF THE LORD’S DEALINGS

WITH

GEORGE MÜLLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
EDITED AND CONDENSED BY

REV. H. LINCOLN WAYLAND,
PASTOR OF THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASS.

With an Introduction
BY
FRANCIS WAYLAND.

BOSTON:
GOULD AND LINCOLN,
59 WASHINGTON STREET.
NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY.
CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD.

1861.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by
GOULD AND LINCOLN,
In the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY
GEO. C. RAND AND AVERY, 3 CORNHILL.

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

Having been requested by Messrs. Gould and Lincoln to examine the work entitled “A Narrative of some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Müller,” the Editor was convinced that its republication in this country would greatly promote the piety of American Christians. But to reproduce the work in its original form was attended with difficulty. The “Narrative,” in four parts, (published respectively in 1837, 1841, 1845, and 1856,) and the four “Annual Reports” issued in 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860, would occupy not less than eighteen hundred pages of the size of those contained in this volume. The cost of such a work would greatly limit its circulation and its usefulness, if indeed any publisher should undertake its issue. There seemed no alternative except to abandon the idea of an American edition altogether, or to present it to the public in a condensed form.

Such a condensation seemed, on examination, to be entirely practicable. Owing to the “Parts” of the “Narrative” having been published at four separate periods, it often happens that the same matter is several times repeated. A large portion of the space is occupied with the acknowledgment of donations received. These entries, although appropriate in a report made to the donors and to the British public, have not the same interest for American readers. The discussion of some points in church polity, and the account of the Author’s journeys upon the Continent, though interesting and instructive, are not necessary to the continuity of the history. Although in some cases the portions which have been omitted cover a considerable period of time, yet it is believed that all which is essential has been retained. No pains have been spared on the part of the Editor to preserve the value of the work while reducing its compass, and to give, in a form universally accessible, a clear exhibition of the wonderful results of the life of George Müller, as well as of the principles by which his life has been governed.

Believing that the book would be rendered more attractive to the reader, and more convenient for reference, the Editor has divided it into Chapters, and has prefixed to each a brief statement of some of the leading subjects introduced in the Chapter. For these “contents,” as well as for the headings of the Chapters, and for the general title of the volume, the Editor alone is responsible.

The “Narrative” of George Müller has been blessed in other lands to the awakening of spiritual life. It was the means, as will be observed by the reader, of greatly forwarding, if not of originating, the work of grace now advancing in Ireland. “The Life of Trust” is submitted to the Christian public of America, in the hope that its still small voice may be heard even amid the clangor of political strife and the revulsion of commercial interests, and that it may be used by the Divine Spirit to promote and strengthen in the hearts of American Christians, Faith in the Living God.

H. L. W.

Worcester, Dec. 12, 1860

AUTHOR’S PREFACE.

It was only after the consideration of many months, and after much self-examination as to my motives, and after much earnest prayer, that I came to the conclusion to write this work. I have not taken one single step in the Lord’s service concerning which I have prayed so much. My great dislike to increasing the number of religious books would, in itself, have been sufficient to have kept me forever from it, had I not cherished the hope of being instrumental in this way to lead some of my brethren to value the Holy Scriptures more, and to judge by the standard of the Word of God the principles on which they act. But that which weighed more with me than anything, was, that I have reason to believe, from what I have seen among the children of God, that many of their trials arise either from want of confidence in the Lord as it regards temporal things, or from carrying on their business in an unscriptural way. On account, therefore, of the remarkable way in which the Lord has dealt with me as to temporal things, I feel that I am a debtor to the church of Christ, and that I ought, for the benefit of my poorer brethren especially, to make known the way in which I have been led. In addition to this, I know that to many souls the Lord has blessed what I have told them about the way in which he has led me, and therefore it seemed a duty to use such means, whereby others also, with whom I could not possibly converse, might be benefited. That which induced me finally to determine to write this Narrative was, that if the Lord should permit the book to sell, I might, by the profits arising from the sale, be enabled in a greater degree to help the poor brethren and sisters among whom I labor;—a matter which, just at that time, weighed much on my mind. I therefore began to write. But after three days I was obliged to lay the work aside on account of my other pressing engagements. Subsequently, I was laid aside on account of an abscess; and being unable, for many weeks, to walk about as usual, though able to work at home, I had time for writing. When the manuscript was nearly completed I gave it to a brother to look over, that I might have his judgment; and the Lord so refreshed his spirit through it, that he offered to advance the means for having it printed, with the understanding that if the book should not sell he would never consider me his debtor. By this offer not a small obstacle was removed, as I have no means of my own to defray the expense of printing. These last two circumstances, connected with many other points, confirmed me that I had not been mistaken, when I came to the conclusion that it was the will of God that I should serve his church in this way.

The fact of my being a foreigner, and therefore but very imperfectly acquainted with the English language, I judged to be no sufficient reason for keeping me from writing. The Christian reader, being acquainted with this fact, will candidly excuse any inaccuracy of expression.

For the poor among the brethren this Narrative is especially intended, and to their prayers I commend it in particular.

GEORGE MÜLLER.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTIONXV

CHAPTER I.
Boyhood and Youth.
1805-1825.

BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN THE STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE UNIVERSITY AT HALLE--ROVINGS31

CHAPTER II.
The Prodigal’s Return.
1825-1826.

A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF GOD--“I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER”--“LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME”--THE FIRST SERMON--DELIGHT IN THE LORD--A COMMON ERROR--THE FOUNTAIN NEGLECTED38

CHAPTER III.
Self-Dedication.
1826-1829.

DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM MILITARY SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS FUTURE LABORS--PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE--DESIRE FOR IMMEDIATE USEFULNESS47

CHAPTER IV.
Leaning on Jesus.
1830-1832.

A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD FOR DAILY BREAD--BLESSEDNESS OF WAITING UPON THE LORD--“OWE NO MAN”--“ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU”--THE GIFT OF FAITH AND THE GRACE OF FAITH 58

CHAPTER V.
Ministry at Bristol Begun.
1832-1833.

“HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY”--CAUTION TO THE CHRISTIAN TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR INQUIRY--NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD--FRANCKE, “BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH”--DAILY BREAD SUPPLIED--A PECULIAR PEOPLE 80

CHAPTER VI.
The Scriptural Knowledge Institution.
1834-1835.

UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD’S WORD THE ONLY RULE, AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY DEPENDENCE--“IN EVERYTHING LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD”--EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING ON THE INSTITUTION--BEREAVEMENT--HELPER SEASONABLY SENT--REWARD OF SEEKING GOD’S FACE 94

CHAPTER VII.
Home for Destitute Orphans.
1835-1836.

FRANKE’S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--A GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED--REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE LAID UP IN HEAVEN IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH THE WORK IS BEGUN 111

CHAPTER VIII.
The Field Widening.
1836-1837.

AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND ORPHAN HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE OPENED--COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER--PROGRESS OF THE LORD’S WORK--THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK 125

CHAPTER IX.
Trial.
1838.

THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER 138

CHAPTER X.
Deliverance.
1838.

“PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR”--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON OF OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL INGATHERING--A DAY OF MERCIES--TIMELY AID--A SEASON OF PLENTY--OBEDIENCE REWARDED 151

CHAPTER XI.
Asking and Receiving.
1839.

HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--“HE KNOWETH OUR FRAME”--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS 167

CHAPTER XII.
Plenty and Want.
1840.

A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISING GOD--A PROMISE FULFILLED--BENEFIT OF TRIAL--NEW SPRINGS OPENED--BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS 181

CHAPTER XIII.
Faith Strengthened by Exercise.
1841.

A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD’S WORD THE FOOD OF THE SOUL--PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF TRIAL--POVERTY--DEPENDING ONLY ON THE LIVING GOD 200

CHAPTER XIV.
Walking in Darkness.
1841-1842.

“GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL”--GROUNDS OF THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE MEANS OF ITS ATTAINMENT--REVIEW OF THE WORK 214

CHAPTER XV.
Prosperity.
1842-1843.

ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--“SEEKING AND FINDING”--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING AND PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED--“LENGTHENING THE CORDS AND STRENGTHENING THE STAKES”--A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE 241

CHAPTER XVI.
Stewardship.
1844.

EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES 259

CHAPTER XVII.
Reaping Bountifully.
1845-1846.

AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING GOD--AN ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED--PRAYER FOR FAITH AND PATIENCE--FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR--THE BLESSEDNESS OF DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS 294

CHAPTER XVIII.
Faith Confirmed by Prosperity.
1846-1848.

THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER ANSWERED--THE TIME OF MAN’S NEED AND OF GOD’S BOUNTY--FAITH NOT SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WITH GOD--THE NEEDED AMOUNT FURNISHED--PERPETUAL “NEED”--NOT WEARY IN GOD'S WORK--JOY IN ANSWERED PRAYER--FOUR REQUESTS GRANTED--“CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER”--THE BUILDING COMMENCED--PERSONAL HISTORY--A MARKED DELIVERANCE 319

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