at there are others who also
labour, but who are not supported in the same way. This fact is
fitted to give the impression to those who do not know us, that we
were seeking to keep our place in the church by some outward title,
rather than just filling it up in obedience to the Lord, and quietly
leaving it with His Spirit to produce subjection unto us on the part
of the saints.

4. Lastly, from the manner in which our names appear in public, we
have reason to believe that some of the saints look upon us as
exclusively the "ministers," and thus that some may have felt
themselves neglected because not visited personally by us. The notion
that two individuals should be able to exercise pastoral inspection
over about five hundred and fifty believers, we consider to be very
unsound; but for ourselves we feel that it is a responsibility which
we dare not take. According to our gift and strength we desire to
rule, teach, and feed the sheep of Christ; but we dare not undertake
the personal inspection of all who are already gathered, or may be
gathered, simply as believers in the Lord Jesus, in this city.

Thus we have endeavoured very briefly to state our reasons for
declining any longer to receive your offerings through boxes publicly
put up, and having our names appended to them. We desire grace to
serve you more faithfully than ever, and cast ourselves, as we have
done hitherto, upon Him who hath said, "If any man serve me him will
my Father honour."

HENRY CRAIK, GEORGE MUeLLERMueller

Bristol, July 7, 1841. .

When this alteration was made, I had another proof of the many
blessings which are connected with the life of faith. Under other
circumstances the question would have naturally arisen in my mind,
And what will you do for support, if the boxes are removed? How will
the offerings come in? Will any come in? But none of these things
troubled me even for a moment. I said to myself, somehow or other the
Lord will provide for me. If not through the instrumentality of the
saints in Bristol, He will send help by means of those who live
elsewhere. All I have to do in this matter is, to serve the Lord and
to trust in Him, and He will surely take care of my temporal
necessities. And thus it has been since July 1841 also, even as
before. The reader may desire to know, how the Lord has since that
time provided for my temporal necessities, seeing that the boxes,
which were put up in the two chapels for the reception of t