work, as we
consider it unscriptural to contract debts. During five days, we prayed
several times, both unitedly and separately. After that time, the Lord
began to answer our prayers, so that, within a few days, about 50l. was
given to us. I would further say, that the very gracious and tender
dealings of God with me, in having supplied, in answer to prayer, for the
last five years, my own temporal wants without any certain income, so that
money, provisions and clothes have been sent to me at times when I was
greatly straitened, and that not only in small but large quantities; and
not merely from individuals living in the same place with me, but at a
considerable distance; and that not merely from intimate friends, but from
individuals whom I have never seen: all this, I say, has often led me to
think, even as long as four years ago, that the Lord had not given me this
simple reliance on Him merely for myself; but also for others. Often, when
I saw poor neglected children running about the streets at Teignmouth, I
said to myself: "May it not be the will of God, that I should establish
schools for these children, asking Him to give me the means?" However, it
remained only a thought in my mind for two or three years. About two years
and six months since I was particularly stirred up afresh to do something
for destitute children, by seeing so many of them begging in the streets
of Bristol, and coming to our door. It was not, then, left undone on
account of want of trust in the Lord, but through an abundance of other
things calling for all the time and strength of my brother Craik and
myself; for the Lord had both given faith, and had also shown by the
following instance, in addition to very many others, both what He can and
what He will do. One morning, whilst sitting in my room, I thought about
the distress of certain brethren, and said thus to myself:--"O that it
might please the Lord to give me the means to help these poor brethren!"
About an hour afterwards I had 60l. sent as a present for myself, from a
brother, whom up to this day I have never seen, and who was then, and is
still, residing several thousand miles from this. Should not such an
experience, together with promises like that one in John xiv. 13, 14,
encourage us to ask with all boldness, for ourselves and others, both
temporal and spiritual blessings? The Lord, for I cannot but think it was
He, again and again, brought the thought about these poor children t