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

George Müller

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• Publié par: onjoe
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 23
• Langue: English

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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 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org 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 Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF TRUST *** Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible; please see list of printing issues. ASHLEY DOWN ORPHAN HOUSES, BRISTOL, ENG. THE LIFE OF TRUST: BEING A N A D R E WITH R A A L T I I N V G E GEORGE MÜLLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. E D I T E D A N D REV. H. LINCOLN WAYLAND, PASTOR OF THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASS. With an Introduction BY F R A N C I S W A BOSTON: G O U L D A N D 59 WASHINGTON STREET. NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY. CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD. 1861. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by G O U L D A N D L I N C In the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY G E O . C . R A N D A [v] N D EDITOR’S PREFACE. Having been requested by MESSRS. G OULD AND L INCOLN 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 [vi] 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, D EC. 12, 1860 [vii] AUTHOR’S PREFACE. It was only after the consideration of many months, and after much selfexamination 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 [viii] 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. [ix] CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. Boyhood and Youth. 1805-1825. XV BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY-CONFIRMATION IN THE STATE CHURCH-DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY O F TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE UNIVERSITY AT HALLE-ROVINGS CHAPTER II. The Prodigal’s Return. 1825-1826. 31 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 NEGLECTED CHAPTER III. Self-Dedication. 1826-1829. 38 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 USEFULNESS CHAPTER IV. Leaning on Jesus. 1830-1832. 47 A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD-TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF T H E 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 CHAPTER V. Ministry at Bristol Begun. 1832-1833. 58 “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 CHAPTER VI. The Scriptural Knowledge Institution. 1834-1835. 80 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 CHAPTER VII. Home for Destitute Orphans. 1835-1836. 94 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 CHAPTER VIII. The Field Widening. 1836-1