one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine
pounds.

The following incident illustrates the author's reliance upon
God for his own future support.

On Oct. 12, 1856, was sent to me a check for one hundred pounds, with
the request of the donor to receive this for myself, as the beginning of
raising a fund for my support when advanced in years, and for that of my
family. This very kind and well-intended proposal by the donor, who
since has died, appeared to me as a subtle temptation laid for me,
though far from being intended so by him, to depart from the principles
on which I had been acting for twenty-six years previously, both
regarding myself and the orphan work. I give the account of this
circumstance fully, as it may be profitable to one or other of the
readers.

* * * * OCT. 11, 1856.

DEAR SIR:--

In admiration of the services which you have rendered to poor
orphans and mankind in general, I think it right that some
provision should be made for yourself. I think it right to send
you one hundred pounds, as a beginning to form a fund, which I
hope many good Christians will add to, * * * * for the
maintenance of you and your family, if your own labors should be
unequal to it, and I hope you will lay out this as a beginning
accordingly. May God bless you and your labors, as he has
hitherto done everything connected with your Institutions.

I am, dear Sir,
* * * *

By God's grace I had not a moment's hesitation as to what to do. While I
most fully appreciated the great kindness of the donor, I looked upon
this as being permitted by God as a temptation to put my trust in
something else than himself, and I therefore sent the following letter
in reply:--

BRISTOL, OCT. 12, 1856.

MY DEAR SIR:--

I hasten to thank you for your kind communication, and to inform
you that your check for one hundred pounds has safely come to
hand.

I have no property whatever, nor has my dear wife; nor have I
had one single shilling regular salary as minister of the gospel
for the last twenty-six years, nor as the director of the Orphan
House and the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution for Home and Abroad. When I am in need of anything,
I fall on my knees, and ask God that he would be pleased to give