This is but a sample of many occasions upon which, having waited upon G.o.d in simple faith, help has arrived at the very hour it has been needed.
Some paragraphs in Muller"s yearly reports read almost like a fairy story, only they are far more beautiful, being a record of _facts_.
Thus in May, 1892, when the financial year of the inst.i.tution began, they had in hand for their School, Bible, Missionary and Tract funds only 17 8s. 5-1/2 d.
In June of that year a packet was found at Hereford Railway Station containing eleven sovereigns, addressed to Mr. Muller, with nothing but these words inside, "From a Cheerful Giver, Bristol, for Jesus"
Sake". In the same month came 100, "from two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in Heaven".
A Newcastle man wrote that though finances were low he doubled the sum usually sent to the inst.i.tution, "in faith and also with much joy".
A sick missionary in the wilds of Africa sent 44 17s. 5d., being apparently all the money he possessed.
"Again and again," writes Mr. Muller, "I have had cheques amounting even to 5000, from individuals whose names I knew not before receiving their donations."
Other paragraphs in the report read thus: "Received anonymously five large cheeses; received a box of dessert knives and forks, a cruet, a silver soup ladle and a silver cup; from Clifton, twelve tons house coals; from Bedminster, a monster loaf, 200 lbs. in weight, and ten feet long and twenty-one inches broad".
On 1st August 82 5s. came "from a Christian gentleman in Devon, who for more than forty-five years has from time to time helped us, though I have never seen him".
"To-day," writes Muller on 7th September, "our income altogether was about 300--a plain proof that we do not wait on the Lord in vain; for every donation we receive is a direct answer to prayer, because we never ask a single human being for anything." On 29th October Mr.
Muller writes: "For several days very little has come in for the support of the various objects of the inst.i.tution. To-day, again, only about 15 was received by the first four deliveries of letters; at 5:45 I had for the third time that day prayer with my dear wife, entreating G.o.d to help us, and a little after 6 p.m. came a cheque for 200 by the fifth delivery, from Edinburgh."
A gold chain and watch-key, two gold brooches, and a pair of earrings were sent to Mr. Muller, with the following comment: "My wife and I having, through the exceeding riches of G.o.d"s grace, been brought to the Lord Jesus, wish to lay aside the perishing gold of the world for the unsearchable riches of Christ, and send the enclosed for the support of the orphans".
The above are from a single yearly report--that for 1893. Scores of similar donations in money and kind are recounted in the same annual statement. In that year Mr. Muller was able to speak of his conversion as having taken place nearly sixty-eight years ago. The work has been wonderfully blessed. In the report mentioned Mr. Muller stated that the total amount he had received by prayer and faith for the various objects of his inst.i.tutions, since 5th March, 1834, had been 1,309,627; that no fewer than 8727 children had been under his care; and that he had room at his Homes for 2050 orphans.
A LABOURER IN THE VINEYARD.
THE STORY OF ROBERT MOFFAT.
"Oh, mother! ask what you will, and I shall do it."
So said Robert Moffat as he stood with his mother on the Firth of Forth waiting for the boat to ferry him across.
He was sixteen years old, and having got a good situation as gardener in Cheshire was bidding farewell that day to home and parents, and about to face the world alone.
His mother had begged him to promise to do whatsoever she asked, and he had hesitated, wishing to know first what it was that she wanted.
At last, however, remembering how good and loving she had always been, he had consented. Her request was a very simple one, but it was very far reaching.
"I only ask whether you will read a chapter in the Bible every morning and another every evening."
"Mother," he replied, "you know I read my Bible."
"I know you do," was her answer; "but you do not read it regularly, or as a duty you owe to G.o.d, its Author."
"Now I shall return home," she observed when his word had been pledged, "with a happy heart, inasmuch as you have promised to read the Scriptures daily. O Robert, my son, read much in the New Testament! Read much in the Gospels--the blessed Gospels! Then you cannot well go astray. If you pray, the Lord Himself will teach you."
Thus they parted--he starting on his life"s journey with her earnest pleadings ringing in his ears.
Travelling in those days (1813) was so slow that it took him a full month to get to High Leigh in Cheshire; and on the way he narrowly escaped being captured by the pressgang and made to serve on a British man-of-war, which was short of hands. The vessel in which he was going south was indeed boarded, and one man seized; but Robert says, "I happened to be in bed, and keep it there as long as they were on deck".
He kept manfully the promise he had made his mother. Notwithstanding the difficulty he experienced in his busy life of setting aside the necessary time for reading two chapters a day from his Bible, he nevertheless faithfully did it.
At first this practice seemed to bring him trouble. It made him feel that he was a sinner, but how to get grace he knew not.
Ere long, however, his fears rolled away. He perceived that being justified by faith he had peace with Christ, and rejoiced in the grace and power of the Lord.
Some good Wesleyans took an interest in the young gardener, and he attended their meetings, which he found very helpful.
When a little later on he was offered a much better situation on the condition that he gave up Methodism he refused it, preferring, as he says, "his G.o.d to white and yellow ore".
One day he went to Warrington, and whilst there saw a placard announcing a missionary meeting, at which the Rev. William Roby was to speak. The sight of this reminded him of the descriptions his mother used to read of mission work in Greenland, and the subject became fixed in his mind.
A little later he had the opportunity of hearing Mr. Roby, and determined to call upon him and offer himself for mission work.
So great was his dread of making this call that he asked a companion to accompany him, and be present at the interview, but could only induce his friend to wait for him outside.
When he got to Mr. Roby"s door his courage failed him; he looked longingly at his friend and began to retreat. However, his conscience would not allow him to surrender; and back again he went to the house, but still feared to knock.
At length after walking up and down the street in a state of painful indecision he returned and ventured to knock. A terrible moment followed. He would have given anything to run away, and hoped with all his heart Mr. Roby would be out.
This, however, was not the case; and, brought face to face with the mission preacher, he told his story simply and effectively, and Mr.
Roby promised to write to the Missionary Society about him.
At first the offer of his services was declined, but later on it was accepted; and on 30th September, 1816, he was ordained at Surrey Chapel. Amongst others set apart at the same time was John Williams, the martyr of Erromanga.
It was at first proposed that Williams and Moffat should go together to Polynesia; but Mr. Waugh remarked that "thae twa lads were ower young to gang together," so they were separated.
At the age of twenty-one Moffat sailed for South Africa. The ship reached Cape Town, after a voyage of eighty-six days, on 13th January, 1817; and forthwith he started on his career in receipt of a salary of twenty-five pounds per year.
On his journey into the interior he stopped one evening at a Dutch farmer"s, where he was warmly welcomed, and was requested to conduct family worship.
Before commencing he asked for the servants. The farmer, roused to indignation by such a request, said he would call in the dogs and baboons if Moffat wanted a congregation of that sort!
But the missionary was not to be denied. In reading the Bible he selected the story of the Syrophoenician woman. Before many minutes had pa.s.sed the farmer stopped him, saying he would have the servants in.
When the service was over the old man said to Moffat, "My friend, you took a hard hammer, and you have broken a hard head".
[Ill.u.s.tration: MOFFAT PREACHING TO THE BOERS.]
His early missionary efforts were crowned with success. He visited the renowned chief Afrikaner in Namaqualand. This man had given much trouble to the Government, and 100 had been offered for his head. He became, however, sincerely attached to Moffat, and after a time he went to Cape Town with him. The authorities could hardly believe that this notorious robber had become so altered; but right glad were they at the change, and, when Afrikaner returned home, he took with him numerous presents from the Government.
In December, 1819, Moffat was married to Mary Smith at St. George"s Church, Cape Town. She had been engaged to him before he left England, and had given up home and parents to go out to Africa and become a missionary"s wife. No truer helper could Moffat have found, for she loved the work, and experienced great happiness in her life, notwithstanding all its toils and danger.
Shortly after, Mr. and Mrs. Moffat started for Bechua.n.a.land. They went through many privations, and suffered much from hunger and thirst; but the Gospel was preached to the tribes. Moffat in those days was not only teacher and preacher, but carpenter, smith, cooper, tailor, shoemaker, miller, baker and gardener!
For some years Moffat laboured without seeing much result. One day he said to his wife, "This is hard work, Mary". "It _is_ hard work." she replied; "but you must remember the Gospel has never yet been preached to them _in their own tongue_."