Majibu ya Thamani ya Maombi

Kwa njia za ajabu Mungu alimsaidia Bw. Müller kama "Masimulizi" yanavyoonyesha:—

MAPATO YA KWANZA YA MSANII.

"April 30 [1859].—Nilipokea barua ifuatayo kutoka mbali kabisa: 'Ndugu yangu mpendwa katika Kristo, mimi ni mume wa Bibi —— anayekutumia kwa posta hii vipande viwili vya Sovereign. Twawezaje kuitumia vyema zaidi kumbukumbu hii ya mapendo, kuliko kwa kuiweka katika benki ya Kristo, ambaye siku zote hulipa faida iliyo bora, wala hakosi kamwe.—Basi, mshauri wangu bora wa kiroho, siwezi kukueleza furaha kuu isiyo kifani ninayohisi, katika kusimulia yafuatayo. Mimi ni msanii, msanii maskini, mchoraji wa mandhari. Kama majuma mawili yaliyopita nilipeleka picha Bristol kwa ajili ya maonyesho, mara tu nilipomaliza kusoma kitabu chako kilichoazimwa kwetu. Kwa unyenyekevu mwingi na kwa bidii nilimwomba Mungu anijalie, kwa kuuza picha yangu ya Bristol, kupata heshima ya baraka ya kukutumia nusu ya mapato. Bei ya picha ni £20. Sasa tazama. Mara tu maonyesho yalipofunguliwa, Mungu, kwa rehema zake, akiyakumbuka maombi yangu, akaniletea mnunuzi. Nilikuwa nimewahi kuonyesha Bristol hapo awali, lakini sikuwahi kuuza picha. Ee! rafiki yangu mpendwa, moyo wangu kabisa unarukaruka kwa furaha. Sijawahi kuwa karibu na Mungu hivi kamwe. Kwa njia yako nimewezeshwa kumsogelea Mungu zaidi, kwa bidii zaidi, imani zaidi, tamaa takatifu zaidi.—Haya ndiyo mapato ya kwanza ambayo Mungu amenibariki nayo kwa kazi zangu zote za mwaka jana. Baraka iliyoje kuyapata yakirudishwa hivyo!—Ee, kwa furaha iliyoje nilisoma kitabu chako!—Picha ninayoisema sasa inaonyeshwa katika chuo cha sanaa huko Clifton, ikiwa na nambari katika Katalogi ——, jina lake ni ——. Siwezi kukulipa mpaka mwisho wa maonyesho, kwa maana sitalipwa hadi wakati huo, &c.' Barua kama hizo nimezipokea maelfu katika kipindi cha miaka 40 iliyopita."

UPEPO WA KASKAZINI KUGEUZWA KUWA UPEPO WA KUSINI.

"Ilikuwa karibu na mwisho wa November ya 1857, nilipoarifiwa bila kutazamia hata kidogo kwamba tanki la mtambo wetu wa kupasha joto katika Nyumba Na. 1 lilikuwa likivuja sana, hata ikawa haiwezekani kupitisha majira ya baridi na uvujaji kama huo.—Mtambo wetu wa kupasha joto una tanki kubwa la mviringo, ndani yake ambamo moto huwekwa, na tanki hilo limeunganishwa na mabomba ya maji yanayopasha vyumba joto. Hewa ya moto pia imeunganishwa na mtambo huu. Tanki hilo lilikuwa limehesabiwa kuwa lafaa kwa kazi ya majira ya baridi. Kudhania kwamba limechakaa, na kutofanya lolote kulibadilisha kwa jipya, na kusema, Nitamtumaini Mungu katika jambo hili, kungekuwa ni kiburi cha uzembe, bali si imani katika Mungu. Kungekuwa ni imani ya uongo.

"Tanki hilo limezungukwa kabisa na matofali; kwa hiyo, hali yake haingeweza kujulikana bila kubomoa matofali; jambo hili, kama lisingekuwa la lazima, lingeliliumiza tanki zaidi kuliko vinginevyo; na kwa kuwa kwa majira nane ya baridi hatukuwa tumepata shida kwa njia hii, hatukuwa tumeitazamia sasa. Lakini ghafla, na bila kutazamiwa kabisa, mwanzoni mwa majira ya baridi, shida hii ikatokea. Basi, kufanyike nini? Kwa ajili ya watoto, hasa wachanga zaidi, nilihuzunika moyoni sana, wasije wakateseka kwa kukosa joto. Lakini tungepataje joto? Kuweka tanki jipya kungechukua, bila shaka, majuma mengi. Kutengeneza tanki lilikuwa jambo lenye shaka, kwa sababu ya ukubwa wa uvujaji; lakini, kama sivyo, hakuna lolote lingeweza kusemwa juu yake, mpaka chumba cha matofali ambamo limefungiwa kingebomolewa, angalau kwa sehemu; lakini hilo lingechukua, kadiri tulivyoweza kukisia, siku kadhaa; na kufanyike nini wakati huo, ili kupata vyumba vyenye joto kwa ajili ya watoto 300? Kwa kawaida ilinijia wazo, la kuweka majiko ya gesi ya muda; lakini nilipopima jambo hilo zaidi, ikaonekana kwamba hatungeweza kupasha joto vyumba vyetu vikubwa sana kwa gesi, isipokuwa tungekuwa na majiko mengi, ambayo hatungeweza kuyaweka, kwa kuwa hatukuwa na kiasi cha gesi cha kutosha kuipunguza kutoka mtambo wetu wa taa. Zaidi ya hayo, kwa kila jiko kati ya haya tulihitaji dohani ndogo, ili kutoa hewa chafu. Kwa hiyo namna hii ya kupasha joto, ingawa yafaa kwa ukumbi, ngazi, au duka, isingefaa kwa kusudi letu. Nilifikiri pia kuweka kwa muda majiko ya Arnott; lakini yasingefaa, yakihitaji dohani ndefu (kwa kuwa yangekuwa ya muda) ili zitoke nje ya madirisha. Kwa sababu hii, kutokuwa na uhakika kama yangefaa katika hali yetu, na kuiharibu sura ya vyumba, kulinifanya niache mpango huu pia. Lakini kufanyike nini? Kwa furaha ningelilipa £100, kama kwa hivyo shida ingeweza kuondolewa, na watoto wasije wakateseka kwa siku nyingi kwa kuwa katika vyumba vya baridi. Mwishowe nilikata shauri kujitupa kabisa mikononi mwa Mungu, aliye mwingi wa rehema na huruma nyororo, nikaamua kufunguliwa kwa chumba cha matofali, ili kuona ukubwa wa uharibifu, na kama tanki lingeweza kutengenezwa, hata litupitishe katika majira ya baridi.

"Siku ilipangwa, ambayo mafundi wangefika, na maandalizi yote yaliyohitajika yakafanywa. Bila shaka, moto ulipaswa kuzimwa wakati matengenezo yakiendelea. Lakini sasa tazama. Baada ya siku ya matengenezo kupangwa, upepo mkali wa kaskazini ukaanza. Ulianza kuvuma ama Alhamisi au Ijumaa kabla ya alasiri ya Jumatano, wakati moto ulipopaswa kuzimwa. Sasa yakaja majira ya kwanza ya baridi kali kabisa, tuliyoyapata mwanzoni mwa majira hayo ya baridi, katika siku za kwanza za December. Kufanyike nini? Matengenezo hayangeweza kuahirishwa. Sasa nikamwomba Bwana mambo mawili, yaani, kwamba aone vema kuugeuza upepo wa kaskazini kuwa upepo wa kusini, na kwamba awape mafundi 'moyo wa kufanya kazi'; kwa maana nilikumbuka jinsi Nehemia alivyofanya mengi katika siku 52, alipokuwa akijenga kuta za Yerusalemu, kwa sababu 'watu walikuwa na moyo wa kufanya kazi.' Basi, siku ile ya kukumbukwa ikaja. Jioni iliyotangulia, upepo mkali wa kaskazini ulikuwa bado ukivuma: lakini, siku ya Jumatano, upepo wa kusini ukavuma: sawasawa kabisa na jinsi nilivyokuwa nimeomba. Hali ya hewa ilikuwa nzuri hata haukuhitajika moto. Matofali yakabomolewa, uvujaji ukagunduliwa upesi sana, watengenezaji wa tanki wakaanza kutengeneza kwa bidii ya kweli. Yapata saa mbili na nusu usiku, nilipokuwa nikienda nyumbani, niliarifiwa pale getini, kwamba kaimu mkuu wa kampuni, ambako watengenezaji wa tanki walikotoka, alikuwa amefika kuona jinsi kazi ilivyokuwa ikiendelea, na kama angeweza kwa njia yoyote kuiharakisha. Kwa hiyo nikaenda mara moja chini pishini, kumwona pamoja na wafanyakazi, ili kutafuta kuiharakisha kazi. Nilipomweleza mkuu huyo jambo hili, akasema wakiwa wanasikia, 'watu hawa watafanya kazi mpaka usiku wa manane leo, na kurudi mapema sana tena kesho.'

"'Sisi tungependelea zaidi, Bwana,' akasema kiongozi, 'kufanya kazi usiku kucha.' Ndipo nikakumbuka sehemu ya pili ya maombi yangu, kwamba Mungu angewapa watu 'moyo wa kufanya kazi.' Ndivyo ilivyokuwa: kufikia asubuhi matengenezo yalikuwa yamekamilika, uvujaji ukazuiwa, ingawa kwa shida kubwa, na ndani ya kama saa 30 matofali yalikuwa yamerudishwa tena, na moto ukawa katika tanki; na muda wote upepo wa kusini ulivuma kwa upole hata haukuwepo uhitaji hata kidogo wa moto.

"Basi, hii ni mojawapo ya shida zetu iliyoshindwa kwa maombi na imani."

KUONGOKA KWA YATIMA.

"May 26, 1860.—Siku baada ya siku, na mwaka baada ya mwaka, kwa msaada wa Mungu, twafanya kazi katika maombi kwa ajili ya faida ya kiroho ya Yatima walio chini ya uangalizi wetu. Maombi yetu haya, ambayo kwa miaka 24 yameletwa mbele za Bwana kuhusu wao, yamejibiwa kwa wingi, katika miaka iliyopita, kwa kuongoka kwa mamia miongoni mwao. Pia, tumekuwa na majira ya kurudiarudia ambapo, ndani ya muda mfupi, au hata mara moja, wengi wa Yatima waliongoka. Majira kama hayo tuliyapata kama miaka mitatu iliyopita, ambapo, ndani ya siku chache, kama 60 waliletwa kumwamini Bwana Yesu; na majira kama hayo tumeyapata tena mara mbili katika mwaka wa kwanza. Ya kwanza yalikuwa July, 1859, ambapo Roho wa Mungu alitenda kwa nguvu nyingi katika shule moja ya wasichana 120, hata wengi sana, naam zaidi ya nusu, wakaingiwa na huzuni nzito kuhusu wokovu wa nafsi zao. Zaidi ya hayo, kazi hii haikuwa msisimko wa kitambo tu; bali, baada ya kupita zaidi ya miezi kumi na moja, wapo 31 ambao kwao kuna hakika kamili juu ya kuongoka kwao, na 32 ambao kwao vivyo hivyo kuna kiasi kizuri cha hakika, ingawa si kwa kiwango kile kile, kama kwa wale 31. Kwa hiyo wapo 63 kati ya Yatima 120 katika Shule ile moja ambao wanahesabiwa kuwa waliongoka July, 1859. Kazi hii yenye baraka na yenye nguvu ya Roho Mtakatifu haiwezi kufuatishwa kwa sababu yoyote ya pekee. Lakini ilikuwa jibu la thamani sana la maombi. Hivyo ndivyo tunavyoiona, nasi twatiwa moyo nayo kumwendelea kumngoja Mungu. Majira ya pili ya kutenda kwa nguvu kwa Roho Mtakatifu miongoni mwa Yatima, katika mwaka uliopita, yalikuwa mwishoni mwa January na mwanzoni mwa February, 1860. Habari zake ni za kupendeza sana; lakini sina budi kutosheka kwa kusema, kwamba kazi hii kuu ya Roho wa Mungu mnamo January na February, 1860, ilianza miongoni mwa kundi la watoto wadogo zaidi walio chini ya uangalizi wetu, wasichana wadogo wa kama miaka 6, 7, 8 na 9; kisha ikaenea hadi kwa wasichana wakubwa zaidi; na kisha kwa wavulana, hata ndani ya kama siku 10 zaidi ya Yatima 200 waliamshwa kuhangaikia nafsi zao, na katika hali nyingi walipata amani mara moja, kwa imani katika Bwana wetu Yesu. Mara moja waliomba waruhusiwe kufanya mikutano ya maombi miongoni mwao wenyewe, nao wamekuwa na mikutano hii tangu wakati huo. Wengi wao pia walionyesha kuhangaikia wokovu wa wenzao na jamaa zao, wakasema au kuwaandikia, kuhusu njia ya kuokolewa."

KUWAWEKA YATIMA UANAGENZI.

"Mwanzoni mwa kiangazi, 1862, ilionekana kwamba tulikuwa na wavulana kadhaa waliokuwa tayari kuwekwa uanagenzi; lakini hakukuwa na maombi yaliyofanywa na mabwana wa kazi kutaka wanagenzi. Kwa kuwa wavulana wetu wote daima hupelekwa kama wanagenzi wa kukaa ndani, hii haikuwa shida ndogo; kwa maana hatutafuti tu mabwana wa kazi walio Wakristo, bali huchunguza biashara yao, na kuangalia hali yao, ili kuona kama wanafaa; tena bwana wa kazi lazima awe tayari kumpokea mwanagenzi katika jamaa yake mwenyewe. Katika hali hizi, tena tukajitoa kwa maombi, kama tulivyokuwa tumefanya kwa zaidi ya miaka ishirini iliyotangulia, kuhusu jambo hili, badala ya kutangaza, jambo ambalo, bila shaka, lingetuletea tu mabwana wa kazi wanaotaka wanagenzi kwa ajili ya malipo. Tulikumbuka jinsi Bwana alivyokuwa mwema kwetu, kwa kutusaidia mara mamia hapo awali, katika jambo hili hasa. Majuma kadhaa yakapita, lakini shida ikabaki. Hata hivyo tuliendelea katika maombi, kisha ombi moja likafanywa, kisha lingine; na tangu tulipoanza kuomba kuhusu jambo hili, kiangazi kilichopita, tumeweza kupeleka jumla ya wavulana 18 hadi May 26, 1863; hivyo shida ikashindwa tena kabisa kwa maombi, kwani kila mmoja wa wavulana, ambao ilipendeza kuwapeleka, amepelekwa."

MAGONJWA KATIKA NYUMBA YA YATIMA.

Nyakati fulani magonjwa yaliyatembelea nyumba hizo.

"Wakati wa kiangazi na vuli ya 1866 tulikuwa pia na ugonjwa wa surua katika Nyumba zote tatu za Yatima. Baada ya kutokea kwake, ombi letu la pekee lilikuwa: 1. Kwamba wasiwepo watoto wengi mno wakiugua kwa wakati mmoja ugonjwa huu, ili nafasi yetu katika vyumba vya wagonjwa au vinginevyo iweze kutosha. Ombi hili lilijibiwa kikamilifu; kwa maana ingawa katika Nyumba Mpya ya Yatima Na. 1 tulikuwa na visa visivyopungua 83, katika Na. 2 jumla 111, na katika Na. 3 jumla 68; hata hivyo Mungu kwa neema aliona vema kusikiliza maombi yetu, hata vyumba vyetu vya ziada vilipojaa wagonjwa, akauzuia kuenea kwa surua kwa muda mrefu hadi idadi ya kutosha ikapona, ili kutoa nafasi kwa wengine, waliokuwa wameugua. 2. Zaidi ya hayo tuliomba, kwamba watoto, waliougua surua, waweze kupitishwa salama wasife. Ndivyo ilivyokuwa. Tulipata jibu kamili la maombi yetu; kwa maana ingawa watoto 262 jumla walikuwa na surua, hakuna hata mmoja wao aliyekufa. 3. Mwisho tuliomba, kwamba yasiwepo madhara mabaya ya kimwili yaliyofuatia ugonjwa huu, kama ilivyo mara nyingi; hili pia lilijaliwa. Watoto wote 262 hawakupona tu, bali walikuwa hali njema baadaye. Kwa shukrani naiandika rehema hii ya wazi na baraka ya Mungu, na jibu hili kamili na la thamani la maombi, kwa heshima ya jina lake."

MSAADA KWA NDUGU WENYE UHITAJI.

1863.—"Mwisho wa mwaka sasa ulikuwa umekaribia, na, katika kufunga mahesabu, ilikuwa shauku yangu ya moyoni, kufanya tena yote niliyoweza, katika kupeleka msaada kwa watendakazi wenye uhitaji katika injili. Kwa hiyo nikapitia orodha, nikiandika kando ya majina mbalimbali ya wale ambao sikuwa nimewapelekea hivi karibuni, kiasi kilichoonekana kufaa kupeleka; nikaona, hesabu hizi zilipojumlishwa pamoja, jumla ilikuwa £476, lakini £280 ndiyo yote niliyokuwa nayo mkononi. Kwa hiyo nikaandika hundi ya £280, ingawa ningefurahi kupeleka £476, lakini nikahisi shukrani, wakati huo huo, kwamba nilikuwa na kiasi hiki mkononi kwa ajili ya ndugu hawa. Baada ya kuandika hundi, kama kazi ya mwisho ya siku, ndipo yakaja majira yangu ya kawaida ya maombi, kwa ajili ya mambo mengi ambayo kila siku, kwa msaada wa Mungu, nayaleta mbele zake; kisha tena, nikaleta pia habari za wahubiri hawa wa Injili mbele za Bwana, nikamsihi kwamba hata sasa aone vema kunipa bado kiasi kizuri kwa ajili yao, ingawa zilikuwa zimebaki siku tatu tu kufikia mwisho wa mwaka wetu. Baada ya hili kufanyika, nikaenda nyumbani yapata saa tatu usiku, nikakuta kumekuwa kumefika kutoka mbali sana £100 kwa ajili ya Misheni, pamoja na £100 iliyoachwa nitumie kadiri nionavyo, na £5 kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe. Kwa hiyo, nikachukua £200 yote kwa ajili ya Misheni, na hivyo nikawa na £480 mkononi kukidhi zile £476 nilizozitaka kwa kusudi hili. Wale wanaojua baraka ya kumtumaini Mungu kweli, na kupata msaada kutoka kwake, kama katika kisa hiki, kwa kujibiwa kwa maombi, wataweza kuingia katika furaha ya kiroho niliyokuwa nayo katika kupokea sadaka ile, ambamo jibu la maombi lilijaliwa, na pamoja nayo furaha kuu ya kuifurahisha mioyo ya watumishi wengi wa Kristo waliojitoa."

SHAUKU YA MOYO KUTIMIZWA KUSAIDIA KAZI YA MISHENI CHINA.

"Sept. 30 [1869].—Kutoka Yorkshire £50.—Nilipokea pia Paundi Elfu Moja leo kwa ajili ya kazi ya Bwana huko China. Kuhusu sadaka hii yapasa kuangaliwa hasa, kwamba kwa miezi mingi ilikuwa shauku yangu ya moyoni kufanya zaidi kuliko wakati wowote kwa ajili ya Kazi ya Misheni huko China, na nilikuwa tayari nimechukua hatua kutimiza shauku hii, sadaka hii ya Paundi Elfu Moja ilipofika mkononi. Jibu hili la thamani la maombi kwa ajili ya mahitaji lapasa kuwa kitia-moyo cha pekee kwa wote wanaojishughulisha na kazi ya Bwana, na ambao wanaweza kuhitaji mahitaji kwa ajili yake. Lathibitisha tena, kwamba, kama kazi yetu ni kazi yake, nasi tukimheshimu, kwa kumngoja na kumtazamia yeye kwa ajili ya mahitaji, hakika, kwa wakati wake na kwa njia yake mwenyewe, atayaruzuku."

FURAHA YA MAJIBU YA MAOMBI.

"Furaha ambayo majibu ya maombi hutoa, haiwezi kuelezwa; na msukumo wanaoutoa kwa maisha ya kiroho ni mkuu mno. Uzoefu wa furaha hii nawatakia wasomaji wangu wote walio Wakristo. Kama unamwamini kweli Bwana Yesu kwa ajili ya wokovu wa nafsi yako, kama unaenenda kwa unyofu wala hutii uovu moyoni mwako, kama unaendelea kungoja kwa saburi, na kwa imani, mbele za Mungu; ndipo hakika majibu yatatolewa kwa maombi yako. Huenda usiitwe kumtumikia Bwana kwa njia ile ambayo mwandishi hufanya, na kwa hiyo huenda usipate kamwe majibu ya maombi kuhusu mambo kama yaliyoandikwa hapa; lakini, katika hali zako mbalimbali, jamaa yako, biashara yako, kazi yako, cheo chako kanisani, kazi yako kwa ajili ya Bwana, n.k., waweza kupata majibu yaliyo dhahiri kama yoyote yaliyoandikwa hapa."

UHITAJI MKUU WA KUOKOLEWA KWA IMANI KATIKA KRISTO YESU.

"Lakini, kama haya yatasomwa na yeyote asiye mwamini katika Bwana Yesu, bali anayeendelea katika uzembe au kujihesabia haki kwa mioyo yao isiyofanywa upya, basi ningewasihi hao kwa mapendo na kwa uzito, kwanza kabisa wapatanishwe na Mungu kwa imani katika Bwana Yesu. Ninyi ni wenye dhambi. Mnastahili adhabu. Kama hamwoni hili, mwombeni Mungu awaonyeshe. Hili sasa na liwe ombi lenu la kwanza na la pekee. Mwombeni Mungu pia awatie nuru si kwa habari ya hali yenu ya asili tu, bali hasa amfunue Bwana Yesu mioyoni mwenu. Mungu alimtuma, ili aichukue adhabu, inayotustahili sisi wenye dhambi wenye hatia. Mungu huukubali utii na mateso ya Bwana Yesu, badala ya wale wanaomtegemea kwa ajili ya wokovu wa nafsi zao; na papo hapo mwenye dhambi amwaminipo Bwana Yesu, hupata msamaha wa dhambi zake zote. Anapopatanishwa hivyo na Mungu, kwa imani katika Bwana Yesu, na amekwisha pata msamaha wa dhambi zake, ana ujasiri wa kuingia mbele za Mungu, kumjulisha maombi yake; na kadiri anavyowezeshwa kutambua kwamba dhambi zake zimesamehewa, na kwamba Mungu, kwa ajili ya Kristo, amependezwa na wale wanaomwamini yeye, ndivyo atakavyokuwa tayari zaidi kuja na mahitaji yake yote, ya kimwili na ya kiroho, kwa Baba yake wa Mbinguni, ili ayaruzuku. Lakini maadamu utambuzi wa hatia isiyosamehewa unabaki, ndivyo tutakavyowekwa mbali na Mungu, hasa kuhusu maombi. Kwa hiyo, msomaji mpendwa, kama wewe ni mwenye dhambi usiyesamehewa, ombi lako la kwanza na la pekee na liwe, kwamba Mungu aone vema kuufunulia moyo wako Bwana Yesu, Mwanawe mpendwa."

JIBU MARADUFU.

"July 25 [1865].—Kutoka jirani ya London £100, pamoja na barua ifuatayo: 'Bwana mpendwa, naamini kwamba ni kwa kutenda kwa Bwana ndani yangu, hata nakuambatanishia hundi ya Benki ya Uingereza, Tawi la Magharibi, ya £100. Natumaini kwamba mambo yako yanaendelea vema. Wako katika Bwana * * * *.' Bwana huyu Mkristo, ambaye sijawahi kumwona, na anayejishughulisha na biashara kubwa sana huko London, alikuwa amenitumia mara kadhaa hapo awali kiasi kama hicho. Siku moja au mbili kabla sijapokea sadaka hii ya mwisho ya ukarimu, nilikuwa nimemwomba Bwana, kwamba aone vema kuushawishi moyo wa mtoaji huyu kunisaidia tena, jambo ambalo sikuwa nimefanya kamwe hapo awali kumhusu; na hivyo nikapata jibu maradufu la maombi, kwa kuwa si fedha tu iliyoingia, bali fedha kutoka kwa yeye. Msomaji sasa ataona maana katika barua ya mtoaji, alipoandika 'naamini kwamba ni kwa kutenda kwa Bwana ndani yangu hata nakuambatanishia hundi, &c.' Kweli ni Bwana aliyemtendea bwana huyu, ili anipelekee kiasi hiki. Labda msomaji atafikiri, kwamba katika kukiri kupokea sadaka, nilimwandikia mtoaji yale niliyoyaeleza hapa. Sikufanya hivyo. Sababu yangu ya kutofanya hivyo ilikuwa, asije akadhani nilikuwa katika uhitaji wa pekee, na hivyo akashawishika kupeleka zaidi. Katika kumjua Bwana kweli, katika kumtegemea kweli yeye na yeye peke yake, hakuna haja ya kutoa ishara kwa njia ya moja kwa moja au isiyo ya moja kwa moja, ambazo kwazo watu waweza kushawishiwa kusaidia zaidi. Ningeweza kumwandikia mtoaji (kama ilivyokuwa kweli), nahitaji kiasi kikubwa siku baada ya siku kwa ajili ya gharama za kawaida za makusudi mbalimbali ya Taasisi, na pia ningeweza kumwambia kwa ukweli, wakati huo, kwamba bado nilihitaji kama Paundi Elfu Ishirini, ili kuniwezesha kukidhi gharama zote zinazohusiana na upanuzi uliokusudiwa wa kazi ya Yatima. Lakini desturi yangu ni, kutodokeza kamwe lolote la mambo haya katika mawasiliano yangu na watoaji. Ripoti ichapishwapo, kila mtu aweza kuona, mwenye kutaka kuona, jinsi mambo yalivyo; na hivyo naacha mambo mikononi mwa Mungu, kusema kwa niaba yetu mioyoni mwa mawakili wake. Naye hufanya hivi. Kweli hatumngoji Mungu bure!"

WAKRISTO KATIKA BIASHARA.

"Jan. 1 [1869].—Kutoka Scotland £50 kwa ajili ya Misheni, £25 kwa ajili ya kuenezwa kwa Maandiko Matakatifu na £25 kwa ajili ya kuenezwa kwa Vijitabu. Nilipokea pia kutoka mbali kabisa £10 kwa ajili ya makusudi haya, pamoja na £10 kwa ajili ya Yatima. Kuhusu sadaka hii ya mwisho nasema maneno machache. Mwanzoni mwa mwaka 1868, mfanyabiashara mmoja Mkristo aliniandikia kutaka ushauri katika mambo yake ya biashara yaliyokuwa magumu ya pekee. Barua yake ilionyesha kwamba alikuwa na shauku ya kwenda katika njia za Bwana, na kuendesha biashara yake kwa utukufu wa Mungu; lakini hali zake zilikuwa za kutatiza mno. Kwa hiyo nikamwandikia aje Bristol, ili niweze kumshauri. Ipasavyo akaufanya safari ndefu, nami nikawa na mazungumzo naye, ambayo kwayo niliona hali yake ya kutatiza mno katika biashara. Baada ya kuzungumza naye kikamilifu, nikampa ushauri ufuatao: 1, Kwamba siku baada ya siku, mahsusi kwa kusudi hilo, ajitenge pamoja na mke wake Mkristo, ili kwa umoja waeneze shida zao za biashara mbele za Mungu katika maombi, na kufanya hivi, ikiwezekana, mara mbili kwa siku. 2, Kwamba atazamie majibu ya maombi yake, na kutumaini kwamba Mungu atamsaidia. 3, Kwamba aepuke hila zote za biashara, kama vile kuweka kuuza vitu viwili au vitatu, vilivyowekwa alama chini ya bei ya gharama, kwa ajili ya kuvutia wateja, kwa sababu haimpasi mwanafunzi wa Bwana Yesu kutumia hila kama hizo; na kwamba, akifanya hivyo, hangeweza kutegemea baraka ya Mungu. 4, Nikamshauri zaidi, atenge; kutoka faida zake, juma baada ya juma, sehemu fulani kwa ajili ya kazi ya Mungu, kipato chake kikiwa kingi au kidogo, na kutumia kipato hiki kwa uaminifu kwa ajili ya Bwana. 5, Mwisho, nikamwomba, anijulishe, mwezi baada ya mwezi, jinsi Bwana alivyomtendea.—Msomaji atapendezwa kujua, kwamba tangu wakati huo Bwana aliona vema kuifanikisha biashara ya ndugu huyu mpendwa Mkristo, hata mapato yake kuanzia tarehe 1 March, 1868, hadi March 1, 1869, yalikuwa £9,138 13s. 5d., ambapo katika kipindi kile kile mwaka uliotangulia yalikuwa £6,609 18s. 3d. tu, kwa hiyo £2,528 15s. 2d. zaidi ya mwaka uliotangulia. Aliponitumia sadaka iliyotajwa hapo juu, aliandika pia, kwamba alikuwa amewezeshwa kutenga katika mwaka uliotangulia £123 13s. 3d. kwa ajili ya kazi ya Mungu au uhitaji wa maskini.—Nimekaza sana juu ya jambo hili, kwa sababu Wakristo walio katika biashara waweza kufaidika nalo."

UAMSHO KATIKA NYUMBA ZA YATIMA.

"Katika kutoa takwimu za mwaka uliotangulia [1871-72], nilirejea tayari baraka kuu ya kiroho, ambayo Bwana aliona vema kuijalia Kazi ya Yatima mwishoni mwa mwaka ule na mwanzoni mwa huu; lakini, kwa kuwa hili ni jambo la maana sana, naingia hapa kwa kina zaidi na kikamilifu zaidi. Ilielezwa hapo awali, kwamba hali ya kiroho ya Yatima kwa ujumla ilitupa huzuni kubwa ya moyo, kwa sababu walikuwa wachache mno, kwa kulinganisha, miongoni mwao, waliokuwa na bidii kuhusu nafsi zao, na kutegemea kifo cha upatanisho cha Bwana Yesu kwa ajili ya wokovu. Huzuni yetu hii ilituongoza kuliweka jambo hilo juu ya wafanyakazi wote wasaidizi, wasimamizi na walimu, kutafuta kwa bidii baraka ya Bwana juu ya nafsi za watoto. Hili lilifanywa katika mikutano yetu ya maombi ya pamoja, na, nina sababu ya kuamini, kwa siri pia; na kwa kujibiwa kwa maombi yetu haya ya siri na ya pamoja, katika mwaka 1872, kulikuwa, kama tokeo la hili, na waamini wengi zaidi kwa mbali miongoni mwa Yatima kuliko wakati wowote. Mnamo Jan. 8, 1872, Bwana alianza kutenda kazi miongoni mwao, na kazi hii iliendelea kwa kadiri fulani baadaye. Katika Nyumba Mpya ya Yatima Na. 3, ilijidhihirisha kidogo zaidi, hata Bwana alipoona vema kuuweka mkono wake kwa uzito juu ya nyumba ile, kwa ndui; na, tangu wakati huo kutenda kwa Roho Mtakatifu kulisikika katika nyumba ile pia, hasa katika idara moja. Mwishoni mwa July, 1872, nilipokea taarifa za wasimamizi na walimu wote katika nyumba tano, walioniarifu, kwamba, baada ya kuangalia kwa makini na kuzungumza, walikuwa na sababu njema ya kuamini kwamba 729 wa Yatima waliokuwa chini ya uangalizi wetu wakati huo, walikuwa waamini katika Bwana Yesu. Idadi hii ya Yatima waaminio ni kubwa kwa mbali kuliko tuliyowahi kuwa nayo, ambayo kwayo twamwabudu na kumsifu Bwana! Tazama jinsi Bwana alivyolishinda jaribu kubwa, lililosababishwa na ndui, na kulligeuza kuwa baraka kubwa! Tazama, pia, jinsi, baada ya hali ya chini hivyo, kwa kulinganisha, iliyotuongoza kwa maombi, maombi ya bidii, kutenda kwa Roho Mtakatifu kulivyodhihirika zaidi kuliko wakati wowote!"

SAFARI ZA MISHENI ZA BW. MÜLLER.

Katika mwaka 1875, alipokuwa na umri wa miaka sabini, Bw. Müller aliongozwa kuanza Safari zake za Kimisheni, na katika miaka ishirini iliyofuata alihubiri kwa watu zaidi ya milioni tatu, katika nchi arobaini na mbili za dunia.

"Mnamo August 8, 1882," asema Bw. Müller, "tulianza Safari yetu ya tisa ya Kimisheni. Mahali pa kwanza nilipohubiri palikuwa Weymouth, ambapo nilisema hadharani mara nne. Kutoka Weymouth tulikwenda, kupitia Calais na Brussels, hadi Düsseldorf iliyoko mto Rhine, ambapo nilihubiri mara nyingi miaka sita iliyotangulia. Katika ziara hii, nilisema pale hadharani mara nane. Kuhusu kukaa kwangu Düsseldorf, kwa kitia-moyo cha msomaji, nasimulia jambo lifuatalo. Wakati wa ziara yetu ya kwanza katika mji ule, katika mwaka 1876, Mmisheni mmoja mtauwa wa Mjini alinijia siku moja, akiwa amejaribiwa sana, kwa sababu alikuwa na wana sita, ambao kwa ajili ya kuongoka kwao alikuwa akiomba miaka mingi, na hata hivyo walibaki bila kujali nafsi zao, naye akataka nimwambie afanye nini. Jibu langu lilikuwa, 'Endelea kuwaombea wanao, na tazamia jibu la maombi yako, nawe utampasa kumsifu Mungu.' Basi, baada ya miaka sita nilipokuwa tena katika mji ule ule, mtu huyu mpendwa alinijia akasema alishangaa kwamba hakuwa ameona yeye mwenyewe hapo awali lililompasa kufanya, na kwamba alikuwa amekusudia kufuata shauri langu na kwa bidii zaidi kuliko wakati wowote kujitoa kwa maombi. Miezi miwili baada ya kuniona, wana watano kati ya sita wake waliongoka ndani ya siku nane, na kwa miaka sita sasa wameenenda katika njia za Bwana, naye alikuwa na tumaini kwamba mwana wa sita pia alikuwa akianza kuhangaikia hali yake mbele za Mungu. Msomaji Mkristo na atiwe moyo na jambo hili, ikiwa maombi yake hayatajibiwa mara moja; na, badala ya kuacha kuomba, amngoje Mungu kwa bidii zaidi na kwa saburi zaidi, na tazamia majibu ya maombi yake."

MPANGO WA KIMUNGU WA KUWATUMA WAMISHENI WA NCHI ZA NJE.

Kanisa la Bristol ambalo Bw. Müller alihusiana nalo limepata heshima ya kuweka mfano kwa Kanisa la Mungu wa jinsi Wamisheni wa Nchi za Nje (ambao wanahitajika sana) wawezavyo kutumwa kwa kujibiwa kwa maombi. Bw. Müller aandika katika uk. 516, Juz. I. ya Masimulizi yake:—

"Nataja pia hapa, kwamba katika kipindi cha miaka minane kabla ya kwenda kwangu Ujerumani kufanya kazi huko, ilikuwa imewekwa moyoni mwangu, na katika mioyo ya baadhi ya ndugu wengine miongoni mwetu, kumwomba Bwana kwamba aone vema kutuheshimu, kama kundi la waamini, kwa kuitisha kutoka miongoni mwetu ndugu, kwa ajili ya kuipeleka kweli katika nchi za nje. Lakini maombi haya yalionekana kubaki bila kujibiwa. Lakini sasa, ulikuwa umefika wakati ambapo Bwana alikuwa karibu kuyajibu, nami, ambaye moyoni mwangu hasa jambo hili lilikuwa limewekwa, ndiye niliyepaswa kuwa wa kwanza kuipeleka kweli kutoka miongoni mwetu. Karibu na wakati ule hasa Bwana aliwaita ndugu zetu wapendwa Barrington kutoka miongoni mwetu, waende Demerara, kufanya kazi huko kwa ushirikiano na ndugu yetu tunayemheshimu Strong, na ndugu zetu wapendwa Espenett, waende Uswisi. Ndugu hawa wote wapendwa waliondoka muda mfupi tu baada ya mimi kwenda Ujerumani. Lakini haya hayakuwa yote. Ndugu yetu tunayemthamini sana Mordal, aliyekuwa amejionyesha mwenyewe kuwa mstahili kwa watakatifu kwa utumishi wake mwaminifu usiochoka miongoni mwetu kwa miaka kumi na miwili, tangu Aug. 31, 1843, (siku ambayo ndugu Strong na Barrington walisafiri kwa meli kutoka Bristol kwenda Demerara), naye alikuwa na nia yake vivyo hivyo ikijishughulisha na utumishi huko, akatoka miongoni mwetu miezi kumi na moja baadaye. Yeye, pamoja nami, alikuwa amelipata jambo hili likiwekwa hasa moyoni mwake, katika kipindi cha miaka minane iliyotangulia, kumwomba Bwana tena na tena aitishe watendakazi kutoka miongoni mwetu kwa ajili ya utumishi wa nchi za nje. Kati ya watu wote yeye, baba wa jamaa kubwa, na mwenye umri wa kama miaka 50, alionekana asiyetazamiwa hata kidogo kuitwa kwa kazi ile; lakini Mungu alimwita kweli. Alikwenda, akafanya kazi kwa kitambo huko Demerara, kisha, January 9, 1845, Bwana akamchukua kwenye pumziko lake.—Tunapomwomba Mungu jambo, kama vile aone vema kuwainua watendakazi kwa ajili ya mavuno yake, au kupeleka mahitaji kwa ajili ya kuendesha kazi yake, swali la unyofu litakalowekwa mioyoni mwetu lapasa kuwa hili: Je, mimi niko tayari kwenda, kama akiniita mimi? Je, mimi niko tayari kutoa kwa kadiri ya uwezo wangu? Kwa maana huenda tukawa ndio watu hasa ambao Bwana atawaita kwa kazi, au ambao mahitaji yao atapenda kuyatumia."

Katika Ripoti ya Taasisi ya Maarifa ya Kimaandiko ya mwaka 1896 Bw. Müller aonyesha jinsi kundi hili la waamini lilivyoheshimiwa sana na Mungu.

"Kutoka miongoni mwetu wenyewe, kama kanisa ndugu sitini wa kiume na wa kike wamekwenda katika mashamba ya kazi ya nchi za nje, ambao baadhi yao wamekwisha maliza kazi yao duniani; lakini bado wapo kama arobaini wanaojishughulisha na utumishi huu wa thamani."

Kwa nini uhitaji mkubwa na wa kulia sana wa watendakazi katika Asia, Afrika, na sehemu nyingine za dunia usikidhiwe hivyo na maelfu ya makanisa katika Ulaya na Amerika yakifuata mpango huu wa kimungu wa kumwomba Bwana wa mavuno kwamba atume watendakazi kutoka miongoni mwao?

Bila shaka waweza kutazamia Mungu kuyajibu maombi yao kama alivyoyajibu maombi ya kanisa hili la Bristol.

Tazama yaliyofanyika China kwa kutumia kwa uaminifu njia ya Mungu! Twanukuu maneno ya Bw. Hudson Taylor kama yalivyotolewa katika China's Millions ya July, 1897:—

"Kwa ajili ya kupata watendakazi wenzetu tulishika maagizo ya Bwana, 'Mwombeni Bwana wa mavuno.' Kama kwa wale watano wa kwanza kabla ya Misheni kuundwa, ndivyo kwa wale ishirini na wanne ambao kwao tuliomba kwanza kwa ajili ya C.I.M.; kwa ajili ya nyongeza zaidi zilipohitajika; kwa ajili ya wale sabini katika miaka mitatu, kwa ajili ya wale mia katika mwaka mmoja, na kwa ajili ya nyongeza zaidi mara kwa mara, sikuzote tumeutegemea mpango huu. Je, yawezekana kwamba kwa njia nyingine yoyote kundi kama hilo la watendakazi kutoka karibu kila dhehebu, na kutoka nchi nyingi, lingeweza kukusanywa na kuwekwa pamoja kwa miaka thelathini bila kifungo kingine ila kile ambacho wito wa Mungu na upendo wa MUNGU umekithibitisha—kundi ambalo sasa lina zaidi ya wanaume na wanawake mia saba, wakisaidiwa na watendakazi wenyeji zaidi ya mia tano."

MWANZO WA UAMSHO WA 1859.

"Mnamo November, 1856, kijana mmoja Mwairishi, Bw. James McQuilkin, aliletwa kwenye maarifa ya Bwana. Muda mfupi baada ya kuongoka kwake aliona Masimulizi yangu yakitangazwa, yaani: juzuu mbili za kwanza za kitabu hiki. Alikuwa na shauku kubwa ya kuyasoma, akayapata ipasavyo, yapata January, 1857. Mungu aliyabariki sana kwa nafsi yake, hasa katika kumwonyesha, kile kiwezacho kupatikana kwa maombi. Alijiambia kitu kama hiki: 'Tazama kile ambacho Bw. Müller hukipata kwa maombi tu. Hivyo naweza kupata baraka kwa maombi.' Sasa akajiweka kuomba, kwamba Bwana ampe mwenzi wa kiroho, ajuaye Bwana. Muda mfupi baadaye akafahamiana na kijana mmoja aliyekuwa mwamini. Hawa wawili wakaanza mkutano wa maombi katika mojawapo ya Shule za Jumapili katika parokia ya Connor. Baada ya maombi yake kujibiwa kwa kupata mwenzi wa kiroho, Bw. James McQuilkin akamwomba Bwana amwongoze afahamiane na wengine zaidi wa wale wake waliofichwa. Muda mfupi baadaye Bwana akampa vijana wawili zaidi, waliokuwa waamini tangu awali, kadiri alivyoweza kupambanua. Katika Vuli, 1857, Bw. James McQuilkin akawaeleza vijana hawa watatu, aliopewa kwa kujibiwa kwa maombi ya imani, baraka aliyoipata kutokana na Masimulizi yangu, jinsi yalivyomwongoza kuiona nguvu ya maombi ya imani; naye akapendekeza kwamba wakutane kwa maombi kutafuta baraka ya Bwana juu ya kazi zao mbalimbali katika Shule za Jumapili, mikutano ya maombi, na kuihubiri Injili. Ipasavyo katika Vuli, 1857, vijana hawa wanne wakakutana pamoja kwa maombi katika nyumba ndogo ya shule karibu na kijiji cha Kells, katika parokia ya Connor, kila jioni ya Ijumaa. Kufikia wakati huu kutenda kuu na kwa nguvu kwa Roho, mnamo 1857, katika Nchi za Muungano, kulikuwa kumejulikana, naye Bw. James McQuilkin akajiambia, 'Kwa nini nasi tusiwe na kazi kama hiyo yenye baraka hapa, kwa kuwa Mungu alimtendea Bw. Müller mambo makuu namna hiyo, kwa kujibiwa kwa maombi tu.' Mnamo January 1, 1858, Bwana akawapa jibu la kwanza la ajabu la maombi katika kuongoka kwa mtumishi mmoja wa shamba. Akaingizwa katika idadi, na hivyo wakawapo watano waliojitoa kwa maombi. Muda mfupi baadaye, kijana mwingine, wa kama miaka 20, akaongoka; sasa wakawa sita. Hili likawatia moyo sana wale wengine watatu waliokutana kwanza na Bw. James McQuilkin. Sasa wengine wakaongoka, ambao pia waliingizwa katika idadi; lakini waamini tu ndio walioruhusiwa katika mikutano hii ya ushirika, ambamo walisoma, wakaomba, na kutoleana wao kwa wao mawazo machache kutoka Maandiko. Mikutano hii na mingine kwa ajili ya kuihubiri Injili ilifanywa katika parokia ya Connor, Antrim, Ireland. Kufikia wakati huu yote yalikuwa yakiendelea kwa utulivu mwingi, ingawa nafsi nyingi ziliongoka, Hapakuwa na kuanguka kwa mwili, kama ilivyokuwa baadaye.

"Karibu na Krismasi, 1858, kijana mmoja, kutoka Ahoghill, aliyekuwa amekuja kuishi Connor, na aliyekuwa ameongoka kwa njia ya kikundi hiki kidogo cha waamini, alikwenda kuwaona rafiki zake huko Ahoghill, akazungumza nao kuhusu nafsi zao wenyewe, na kazi ya Mungu huko Connor. Rafiki zake wakatamani kuwaona baadhi ya waongofu hawa. Ipasavyo Bw. James McQuilkin, pamoja na wawili wa wale wa kwanza waliokutana kwa maombi, akaenda February 2, 1859, akafanya mkutano huko Ahoghill katika mojawapo ya Makanisa ya Kipresbiteri. Wengine wakaamini, wengine wakadhihaki, na wengine wakadhani kulikuwa na kiburi kingi katika waongofu hawa vijana; lakini wengi walitamani kuwa na mkutano mwingine. Huu ulifanywa na vijana hao hao watatu February 16, 1859; na sasa Roho wa Mungu akaanza kutenda kazi, na kutenda kwa nguvu. Nafsi zikaongoka, na tangu wakati huo kuongoka kukazidi kwa haraka. Baadhi ya waongofu hawa walikwenda mahali pengine, wakachukua moto wa kiroho, kwa kusema hivyo, pamoja nao. Kazi yenye baraka ya roho ya Mungu ikaenea katika mahali pengi.—Mnamo April 5, 1859, Bw. James McQuilkin alikwenda Ballymena, akafanya mkutano huko katika mojawapo ya Makanisa ya Kipresbiteri; na April 11 akafanya mkutano mwingine katika lingine la Makanisa ya Kipresbiteri. Kadhaa walisadikishwa juu ya dhambi na kazi ya Roho wa Mungu ikasonga mbele huko Ballymena.—Mnamo May 28, 1859, alikwenda Belfast. Katika juma la kwanza kulikuwa na mikutano iliyofanywa katika Makanisa matano mbalimbali ya Kipresbiteri, na tangu wakati huo kazi yenye baraka ikaanza huko Belfast. Katika ziara hizi zote aliandamana na kusaidiwa na Bw. Jeremiah Meneely, mmoja wa wale vijana watatu waliokutana naye kwanza, baada ya kusoma Masimulizi yangu. Tangu wakati huu kazi ya Roho Mtakatifu ikaenea mbali na mbali zaidi; kwa maana waongofu vijana walitumiwa na Bwana kuipeleka kweli kutoka mahali pamoja hadi pengine.

"Huo ndio ulikuwa mwanzo wa kazi ile yenye nguvu ya Roho Mtakatifu, iliyoongoza kwenye kuongoka kwa mamia ya maelfu; kwa maana baadhi ya wasomaji wangu watakumbuka jinsi mnamo 1859 moto huu ulivyowashwa katika Uingereza, Wales na Scotland; jinsi ulivyoenea katika Ireland, Uingereza, Wales na Scotland; jinsi Bara la Ulaya lilivyoshiriki kwa kadiri fulani katika kutenda huku kwa nguvu kwa Roho Mtakatifu; jinsi ulivyoongoza maelfu kujitoa kwa kazi ya Wainjilisti; na jinsi hadi mwaka 1874 si athari za kazi hii tu, iliyoanza kwanza Ireland, zinazoonekana, bali kwamba bado kwa kadiri fulani kazi hii yenye baraka inaendelea katika Ulaya kwa ujumla. Ni jambo lisilo la lazima karibu kuongeza, kwamba heshima haistahili kwa vyombo hata kidogo, bali kwa Roho Mtakatifu peke yake; hata hivyo mambo haya yanaelezwa, ili ionekane, furaha aliyo nayo Mungu katika kuyajibu kwa wingi maombi ya imani ya watoto wake."

NDOA YA BW. MÜLLER.

Katika Juz. 3 ya Masimulizi, Bw. Müller aonyesha uongozi wa Mungu katika kukutana kwake na kisha kuoana kwake na mke wake wa kwanza, Bi. Mary Groves.

"Katika kunipa yeye, naukiri mkono wa Mungu; naam, mkono wake ulikuwa dhahiri kabisa; na nafsi yangu husema, 'Wewe u mwema, na mtenda mema.'

"Narejea mambo machache kwa mafundisho ya wengine. Mwishoni mwa mwaka 1829, nilipoondoka London kwenda kufanya kazi Devonshire katika Injili, ndugu mmoja katika Bwana alinipa kadi, iliyokuwa na anwani ya mwanamke mmoja Mkristo maarufu, Bi. Paget, aliyekuwa akiishi Exeter wakati huo, ili nimtembelee, kwa kuwa alikuwa Mkristo bora. Nilichukua anwani hii nikaiweka mfukoni mwangu, lakini sikufikiri sana juu ya kumtembelea. Kwa majuma matatu nilichukua kadi hii mfukoni mwangu, bila kufanya jitihada ya kumwona mwanamke huyu; lakini mwishowe niliongozwa kufanya hivyo. Hii ilikuwa njia ya Mungu ya kunipa mke wangu bora. Bi. Paget aliniomba nihubiri Jumanne ya mwisho ya mwezi wa January, 1830, katika chumba alichokuwa amekiandaa huko Poltimore, kijiji karibu na Exeter, na ambapo Bw. A. N. Groves, aliyekuja kuwa shemeji yangu baadaye, alikuwa amehubiri mara moja kwa mwezi, kabla ya kwenda kama Mmisheni Bagdad. Nilikubali kwa hiari mwaliko huo, kwa kuwa nilitamani, kila mahali kuidhihirisha kweli ya thamani ya kurudi kwa Bwana, na kweli nyingine za maana sana, ambazo si muda mrefu uliopita nafsi yangu mwenyewe ilikuwa imejazwa nazo.

"Nilipoondoka kwa Bi. Paget, alinipa anwani ya ndugu mmoja Mkristo, Bw. Hake, aliyekuwa na Shule ya Bweni ya Watoto Wachanga kwa vijana wa kike na wa kiume, katika Northernhay House, makazi ya zamani ya Bw. A. N. Groves, ili niweze kukaa huko nitakapofika Exeter kutoka Teignmouth. Mahali hapa nilikwenda kwa wakati uliopangwa. Bi. Groves, aliyekuja kuwa mke wangu mpendwa baadaye, alikuwa pale; kwa maana Bibi Hake alikuwa mgonjwa sana kwa muda mrefu, na Bi. Groves alimsaidia Bw. Hake katika taabu yake kubwa, kwa kusimamia mambo ya nyumba yake. Ziara yangu ya kwanza iliniongoza kwenda tena kuhubiri Poltimore, baada ya kupita mwezi mmoja, nikakaa tena katika nyumba ya Bw. Hake; na ziara hii ya pili iliniongoza kuhubiri mara moja kwa juma katika kanisa dogo huko Exeter; na hivyo nikaenda, juma baada ya juma, kutoka Teignmouth hadi Exeter, kila mara nikikaa katika nyumba ya Bw. Hake. Muda huu wote kusudi langu lilikuwa, kutooa kabisa, bali kubaki huru kwa kusafiri huku na huko katika utumishi wa Injili; lakini baada ya miezi kadhaa niliona, kwa sababu nyingi, kwamba ilikuwa bora kwangu, kama Mchungaji kijana, mwenye umri chini ya miaka 25, kuoa. Swali sasa lilikuwa, nitaunganishwa na nani? Bi. Groves alikuwa mbele ya nia yangu; lakini mvutano wa maombi ulikuwa mrefu, kabla sijafikia uamuzi; kwa maana singeweza kustahimili wazo, kwamba ningemwondolea Bw. Hake msaidizi huyu wa thamani, kwa kuwa Bibi Hake aliendelea kutoweza kubeba jukumu la nyumba kubwa hivyo. Lakini niliomba tena na tena. Mwishowe hili likaniamulisha, nilikuwa na sababu ya kuamini kwamba nilikuwa nimezaa mapendo katika moyo wa Bi. Groves kwangu, na kwamba kwa hiyo ilinipasa kumpelekea pendekezo la ndoa, hata ingawa ningeonekana kutenda bila fadhili kwa rafiki na ndugu yangu mpendwa Bw. Hake, na kumwomba Mungu ampe msaidizi anayefaa kumrithi Bi. Groves. Kwa hiyo Aug. 15, 1830, nilimwandikia, nikimpendekezea awe mke wangu, na Aug. 19, nilipokwenda kama kawaida Exeter kuhubiri, alinikubali. Jambo la kwanza tulilofanya, baada ya mimi kukubaliwa, lilikuwa, kupiga magoti yetu, na kuomba baraka ya Bwana juu ya muungano wetu uliokusudiwa. Katika kama majuma mawili au matatu Bwana, kwa kujibu maombi, akampata mtu, aliyeonekana kufaa kufanya kazi ya kutunza nyumba, wakati Bibi Hake alipoendelea kuugua; na Oct. 7, 1830, tuliunganishwa katika ndoa. Ndoa yetu ilikuwa ya namna sahili kabisa. Tulikwenda kanisani kwa miguu, hatukuwa na karamu ya harusi, bali alasiri tulikuwa na mkutano wa rafiki Wakristo katika nyumba ya Bw. Hake na kuadhimisha kifo cha Bwana; kisha nikaondoka kwa gari la abiria pamoja na bibi arusi wangu mpendwa hadi Teignmouth, na kesho yake tukaenda kufanya kazi kwa ajili ya Bwana. Kama vile mwanzo wetu ulivyokuwa sahili, na tofauti na desturi za ulimwengu, kwa ajili ya Kristo, ndivyo lengo letu la utauwa lilivyokuwa, kuendelea hivyo tangu wakati huo. Sasa tazama mkono wa Mungu katika kunipa mke wangu mpendwa kabisa:—1, anwani ile ya Bi. Paget nilipewa chini ya uongozi wa Mungu. 2, Ilinipasa mwishowe kufanywa nimtembelee, ingawa nilikuwa nimekawia sana. 3, Angeweza kunipatia mahali pa kupumzika kwa rafiki mwingine Mkristo, ambapo nisingemwona Bi. Groves. 4, Nia yangu ingeweza mwishowe, baada ya yote, kuamua, kutompelekea pendekezo; lakini Mungu alilimaliza jambo hilo hivi kwa kusema nami kupitia dhamiri yangu—wajua kwamba umezaa mapendo katika moyo wa dada huyu Mkristo, kwa jinsi ulivyomtendea, na kwa hiyo, ingawa yaweza kuwa ni chungu, kuonekana kutenda bila fadhili kwa rafiki na ndugu yako, yakupasa kumpelekea pendekezo. Nilitii. Niliandika barua ambamo nilifanya pendekezo, na hakuna kitu ila mkondo mmoja uliolingana wa baraka umekuwa tokeo lake.

"Na niongeze hapa neno la ushauri wa Kikristo. Kuingia katika muungano wa ndoa ni mojawapo ya matukio ya maana sana ya maisha. Haliwezi kushughulikiwa kwa maombi kupita kiasi. Furaha yetu, manufaa yetu, kuishi kwetu kwa ajili ya Mungu au kwa ajili yetu wenyewe baadaye, mara nyingi huhusiana kwa undani sana na chaguo letu. Kwa hiyo, kwa namna ya maombi mengi, chaguo hili lapasa kufanywa. Wala uzuri, wala umri, wala fedha, wala nguvu za akili, visiwe ndivyo vinavyochochea uamuzi; bali 1, Kumngoja Mungu sana kwa ajili ya uongozi kwapasa kutumiwa; 2, Kusudi la moyoni, la kuwa tayari kuongozwa naye kwapasa kulengwa; 3, Utauwa wa kweli usio na kivuli cha shaka, wapasa kuwa sifa ya kwanza na ya lazima kabisa, kwa Mkristo, kuhusu mwenzi wa maisha. Zaidi ya hayo, hata hivyo, yapasa, wakati huo huo, kupimwa kwa utulivu na kwa saburi, kama, kwa mambo mengine, kuna kufanana.

Kwa mfano, kwa mtu aliyeelimika kumchagua mwanamke asiyeelimika kabisa, si jambo la busara; kwa maana ijapokuwa upande wake upendo waweza kuwa tayari kufunika upungufu huo, litafanya kazi kwa taabu sana kuhusu watoto."

UGONJWA HATARI WA BINTI YA BW. MÜLLER.

"Mnamo July, 1853, Bwana aliona vema kuijaribu imani yangu kwa njia ambayo haikuwa imejaribiwa hapo awali. Binti yangu mpendwa na mtoto wangu wa pekee, na mwamini tangu mwanzo wa mwaka 1846, aliugua June 20th.

"Ugonjwa huu, mwanzoni homa ndogo, ukageuka kuwa typhus. July 3rd ilionekana hakuna tumaini la kupona kwake. Sasa likawa jaribu la imani. Lakini imani ikashinda. Mimi na mke wangu mpendwa tuliwezeshwa kumtia mikononi mwa Bwana. Alitutegemeza sisi wote wawili sana. Lakini nitasema juu yangu mimi tu. Ingawa mtoto wangu wa pekee na mpendwa aliletwa karibu na kaburi, hata hivyo nafsi yangu ilikuwa katika amani kamili, imetosheka na mapenzi ya Baba yangu wa Mbinguni, nikiwa na hakika kwamba angemtendea yeye na wazazi wake lile tu, ambalo mwishoni lingekuwa lililo bora. Aliendelea kuugua sana hadi yapata July 20th, ambapo kupona kukaanza.

"Aug. 18th alikuwa amepona kiasi kwamba angeweza kuhamishiwa Clevedon kwa kubadili hewa, ijapokuwa alikuwa dhaifu mno. Wakati huo ilikuwa siku 59 tangu aliugua kwa mara ya kwanza. * * * * * *

"Wazazi wanajua mtoto wa pekee, mtoto mpendwa ni nini, na kwa wazazi waaminio mtoto wa pekee, mtoto aaminiye lazima awe nini. Basi, Baba aliye Mbinguni alisema, kana kwamba, kwa maongozi haya yake, 'Je, u tayari kunipa mtoto huyu?' Moyo wangu ukajibu, Kama ionekanavyo vema kwako, Baba yangu wa Mbinguni. Mapenzi yako yatimizwe. Lakini kama vile mioyo yetu ilivyofanywa tayari kumrudishia mtoto wetu mpendwa yeye aliyekuwa ametupa, ndivyo alivyokuwa tayari kutuachia yeye, naye akaishi. 'Nawe utajifurahisha katika Bwana, naye atakupa haja za moyo wako.' Zaburi 37:4. Haja za moyo wangu zilikuwa, kumbakiza binti mpendwa kama ingekuwa mapenzi ya Mungu; njia ya kumbakiza ilikuwa kutosheka na mapenzi ya Bwana.

"Kati ya majaribu yote ya imani ambayo hadi sasa nimepaswa kuyapitia, hili lilikuwa kubwa kuliko yote; na kwa rehema tele za Mungu, naukiri kwa sifa yake, niliwezeshwa kujifurahisha katika mapenzi ya Mungu; kwa maana nilihisi kwa hakika kabisa, kwamba, kama Bwana angemchukua binti huyu mpendwa, ingekuwa bora kwa wazazi wake, bora kwake yeye mwenyewe, na zaidi kwa utukufu wa Mungu kuliko kama angeishi: fungu hili lililo bora nilitosheka nalo; na hivyo moyo wangu ukawa na amani, amani kamili, wala sikuwa na wasiwasi hata dakika moja. Ndivyo ingekuwa katika hali zote, hata ziwe za uchungu kiasi gani, ikiwa mwamini anatumia imani."

MKATE WA KILA SIKU.

"Aug. 3, 1844. Jumamosi. Kwa zile 12s. tuliianza siku. Nafsi yangu ikasema: 'Sasa nitautazamia njia ambayo kwayo Bwana atatuokoa siku hii tena; kwa maana hakika atatuokoa. Jumamosi nyingi, tulipokuwa katika uhitaji, alitusaidia, na ndivyo atakavyofanya siku hii pia.' Kati ya saa tatu na saa nne asubuhi hii nilijitoa kwa maombi kwa ajili ya mahitaji, pamoja na watatu wa wafanyakazi wenzangu, nyumbani kwangu. Tulipokuwa katika maombi, kukagongwa mlango wa chumba changu, nami nikaarifiwa kwamba bwana mmoja alikuwa amekuja kuniona. Tulipomaliza maombi, ikaonekana ni ndugu kutoka Tetbury, aliyekuwa ameleta kutoka Barnstaple £1 2s. 6d. kwa ajili ya Yatima. Hivyo tuna £1 14s. 6d., ambayo kwayo lazima nirudishe mfuko wa barua kwenye Nyumba za Yatima, nikimtazamia Bwana kwa ajili ya zaidi.

"Aug. 6.—Bila senti moja tu mikononi mwangu siku ilianza. Posta haikuleta kitu, wala sikuwa nimepokea kitu bado, ilipofika dakika kumi baada ya saa nne asubuhi hii mfuko wa barua uliletwa kutoka Nyumba za Yatima, kwa ajili ya mahitaji ya leo.—Sasa tazama wokovu wa Bwana! Katika mfuko nilikuta barua kutoka kwa mmoja wa wafanyakazi katika Nyumba za Yatima, iliyoambatanisha sovereign mbili, alizozituma kwa ajili ya Yatima, akieleza kwamba ilikuwa sehemu ya zawadi aliyokuwa amepokea bila kutazamia, kwa ajili yake mwenyewe.—Hivyo tumeruzukiwa kwa ajili ya leo.

"Sept. 4.—Robo peni moja tu ndiyo iliyokuwa mikononi mwangu asubuhi hii. Simama kitambo, msomaji mpendwa! Robo peni moja tu mkononi siku ilipoanza. Fikiri jambo hili, na uwafikirie karibu watu 140 walio na uhitaji wa kuruzukiwa. Ninyi, ndugu maskini, mlio na watoto sita au wanane na mishahara midogo, fikirini jambo hili; nanyi, ndugu zangu, msio wa jamii za wafanyakazi, bali mlio, kama isemwavyo, na mahitaji finyu sana, fikirini jambo hili! Je, hamwezi kufanya, tunayoyafanya, chini ya majaribu yenu? Je, Bwana anawapenda kidogo kuliko anavyotupenda sisi? Je, hawapendi watoto wake wote kwa upendo usiopungua ule, ambao kwao ampenda Mwanawe pekee, kama ilivyo katika Yohana 17:20-23? Au sisi ni bora kuliko ninyi? La, je, sisi wenyewe si wenye dhambi maskini wanyonge kama ninyi; na je, yeyote wa watoto wa Mungu ana dai lolote juu ya Mungu, kwa sababu ya ustahili wao wenyewe? Je, kile, ambacho peke yake chaweza kutufanya tustahili kupokea chochote kutoka kwa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni, si haki ya Bwana Yesu, inayohesabiwa kwa wale wanaomwamini yeye? Kwa hiyo, msomaji mpendwa, kama tuombavyo katika kila uhitaji wetu, wa namna yoyote uwavyo, kuhusiana na kazi hii, kwa Baba yetu aliye Mbinguni kwa msaada, na kama atusaidiavyo, ndivyo alivyo tayari kuwasaidia watoto wake wote wamtumainio.—Basi, na tusikie sasa, jinsi Mungu alivyosaidia wakati kulipokuwa na robo peni moja tu iliyobaki mikononi mwangu, asubuhi ya Sept. 4, 1844.

"Muda kidogo baada ya saa tatu nilipokea sovereign kutoka kwa dada mmoja katika Bwana, asiyependa jina la mahali, anapoishi, litajwe. Kati ya saa nne na saa tano mfuko ulitumwa kutoka Nyumba za Yatima, ambamo katika barua ilielezwa kwamba £1 2s. zilihitajika kwa ajili ya leo. Sikutulia kuisoma hii, gari la kukokotwa likasimama mbele ya nyumba yangu, na bwana mmoja, Bw. ——, kutoka jirani ya Manchester, akatangazwa. Nikaona kwamba alikuwa mwamini, aliyekuwa amekuja kwa shughuli za biashara Bristol. Alikuwa amesikia kuhusu Nyumba za Yatima, akaonyesha mshangao wake, kwamba bila mfumo wowote wa kawaida wa michango, na bila kumwomba mtu yeyote binafsi, kwa imani na maombi tu, nilipata £2,000 na zaidi kila mwaka kwa ajili ya kazi ya Bwana mikononi mwangu. Ndugu huyu, ambaye sikuwa nimemwona kamwe hapo awali; na ambaye sikuwa najua hata jina lake kabla hajaja, alinipa £2, kama kielelezo cha yale niliyokuwa nimemweleza."

"MASKINI DAIMA PAMOJA NANYI."

"Feb. 12, 1845.—Baada ya kutuma asubuhi hii fedha iliyohitajika kwa ajili ya matumizi ya nyumba ya leo, nilibaki tena na 16s. 2½d. tu, ikiwa ni kama robo moja ya kiasi kinachohitajika kwa kawaida kwa siku moja, kwa ajili ya matumizi ya nyumba tu, hata sasa kukawa tena na wito mpya wa kumtumaini Bwana. Asubuhi nilikutana tena, kama kawaida, na mke wangu mpendwa na dada yake, kwa maombi, kumwomba Bwana baraka nyingi kuhusiana na kazi hii, na kwa ajili ya mahitaji pia.

"Kama saa moja baadaye, nilipokea barua kutoka Devonshire, iliyokuwa na hawala ya £22 ambayo £10 ilikuwa kwa ajili ya Yatima, £2 kwa ajili ya ndugu maskini mmoja huko Bristol, na £10 kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe.—Mbali na kuwa hivyo na uthibitisho mpya wa utayari wa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni kuyajibu maombi yetu kwa niaba ya Yatima, kuna hili, tena, la kuangaliwa. Kwa miezi mingi iliyopita, mahitaji ya watakatifu maskini walio miongoni mwetu yamewekwa hasa moyoni mwangu. Neno la Bwana wetu: 'Sikuzote mnao maskini pamoja nanyi,' na 'wakati wowote mpendapo mwaweza kuwatendea mema,' limeniamsha tena na tena kwa maombi kwa niaba yao, na ndivyo ilivyokuwa tena hasa asubuhi hii. Ilikuwa asubuhi ya baridi kuliko zote tulizopata majira yote ya baridi. Katika matembezi yangu ya asubuhi kwa maombi na kutafakari nilifikiri jinsi nilivyokuwa nimeruzukiwa vema kwa makaa, chakula chenye lishe, na mavazi ya joto, na jinsi wengi wa watoto wapendwa wa Mungu wangeweza kuwa katika uhitaji; nikauinua moyo wangu kwa Mungu anipe mahitaji zaidi kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe, ili niweze, kwa matendo, kuonyesha huruma tele zaidi kwa waamini maskini katika uhitaji wao; na ilikuwa saa tatu tu baadaye niliyopokea hizi £10 kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe."

BWANA AKIONGOZA HATUA.

"Feb. 1, 1847.—Kabla ya kifungua-kinywa nilishika njia katika matembezi yangu ya kawaida ya asubuhi, ambayo sikuwa nimeiendea kwa majuma mengi, nikihisi kuvutwa upande ule, kana kwamba Mungu alikuwa na kusudi katika kuniongoza njia ile. Nikirudi nyumbani nilikutana na bwana mmoja Mkristo ambaye zamani nilikuwa nikikutana naye karibu kila asubuhi, lakini ambaye sikuwa nimekutana naye kwa majuma mengi, kwa sababu sikuwa nikitembea upande ule. Alinisimamisha akanipa £2 kwa ajili ya Yatima. Ndipo nikajua kwa nini nilikuwa nimeongozwa hivyo; kwa maana bado hakuna cha kutosha mkononi, kuwaruzuku wasimamizi kesho jioni kwa mahitaji ya lazima ya matumizi ya nyumba kwa juma jingine.

"Feb. 4.—Jana hakuna kilichoingia. Asubuhi hii, muda mfupi tu kabla sijajitoa kwa maombi kuhusu Yatima, dada mmoja katika Bwana alituma sovereign, aliyokuwa ameipokea, kama aandikavyo, 'Kutoka kwa rafiki aliyekuwa amekutana na Wavulana wa Yatima, na alipendezwa hasa na sura yao safi na yenye utaratibu.' Baada ya kupokea hii £1, niliomba mahitaji kwa matumizi ya sasa, ingawa sikuyafunga maombi yangu kwa hilo tu. Yapata robo saa baada ya kuinuka magotini mwangu, nilipokea barua, yenye hawala ya £5. Mtoaji aandika, kwamba ni 'mapato ya kipande cha ardhi, kilichouzwa kwa kampuni ya reli.' Ni mahitaji ya namna mbalimbali ambayo Bwana huyatumia kutupelekea msaada, kwa kujibu maombi yetu!"

MAJARIBU YA IMANI NA SABURI YALIYOENDELEA.

With the enlargement of the work, by which some 330 persons needed to be provided for, the trials of faith continued. Mr. Müller writes:—

"If we formerly had no certain income, so now have we none. We have to look to God for everything in connection with the work, of which often, however, the pecuniary necessities are the smallest matter; but to Him we are enabled to look, and therefore it is, that we are not disappointed."

"Oct. 7, 1852.—This evening there was only £8 left in hand for the current expenses for the Orphans. Hitherto we had generally abounded. But though much had come in, since the commencement of this new period, yet our expenses had been greater than our income, as every donation almost of which the disposal was left with me, had been put to the Building Fund. Thus the balance in hand on May 26, 1852, notwithstanding the large income since then, was reduced to about £8. I therefore gave myself particularly to prayer for means, that this small sum might be increased.

"Oct. 9.—This morning Luke vii came in the course of my reading before breakfast. While reading the account about the Centurion and the raising from death the widow's son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord Jesus thus: 'Lord Jesus, Thou hast the same power now. Thou canst provide me with means for Thy work in my hands. Be pleased to do so.' About half an hour afterwards I received £230 15s.

"The joy which such answers to prayer afford, cannot be described. I was determined to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural deliverance for myself. I have thousands of pounds for the Building Fund; but I would not take of this sum because it was once set apart for that object. There is also a legacy of £100 for the Orphans two months overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might be naturally inclined to use some money of the Building Fund, to be replaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus step out of God's way of obtaining help. At the very time when this donation arrived, I had packed up £100 which I happened to have in hand; received for the Building Fund, in order to take it to the Bank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon God. My soul does magnify the Lord for His goodness.

"June 13, 1853.—We were now very poor. Not indeed in debt, nor was even all the money gone; for there was still about £12 in hand; but then there was needed to be bought flour, of which we buy generally 10 sacks at a time, 300 stones of oatmeal, 4 cwt. of soap, and there were many little repairs going on in the house, with a number of workmen, besides the regular current expenses of about £70 per week. Over and above all this, on Saturday, the day before yesterday, I found that the heating apparatus needed to be repaired, which would cost in all probability £25. It was therefore desirable, humanly speaking, to have £100 for these heavy extra expenses, besides means for the current expenses.

"But I had no human prospect whatever of getting even 100 pence, much less £100. In addition to this, to-day was Monday, when generally the income is little. But, in walking to the Orphan-House this morning, and praying as I went, I particularly told the Lord in prayer, that on this day, though Monday, He could send me much. And thus it was. I received this morning £301 for the Lord's service, as might be most needed.—The joy which I had cannot be described. I walked up and down in my room for a long time, tears of joy and gratitude to the Lord raining plentifully over my cheeks, praising and magnifying the Lord for His goodness, and surrendering myself afresh, with all my heart, to Him for His blessed service. I scarcely ever felt more the kindness of the Lord in helping me.

"Nov. 9.—Our need of means is now great, very great. The Lord tries our faith and patience. This afternoon, a brother and sister in the Lord, from Gloucestershire, called to see me at the New Orphan-House, before going through the house. After a few minutes I received from the sister a sovereign, which she had been requested to bring to me for the Building Fund; and she gave me from herself £1 for my own personal expenses, and £1 for the Building Fund, and her husband gave me £5 for the Orphans, and £5 for Foreign Missions.

"Thus the Lord has refreshed my spirit greatly; but I look for more, and need much more.

"Nov. 12.—This evening, while praying for means, came a little parcel, containing ten sovereigns, from a Christian lady, living not far from the New Orphan-House. This was a very great refreshment to my spirit.

"Oct. 17, 1854.—This morning at family prayer, came, in the course of reading, Exodus v, which shows that, just before the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt, their trials were greater than ever. They had not only to make the same number of bricks as before, but also to gather stubble, as no straw was given them any longer. This led me, in expounding the portion, to observe that even now the children of God are often in greater trial than ever, just before help and deliverance comes. Immediately after family prayer it was found, that by the morning's post not one penny had come in for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged, though we needed much, and though but very little had come in during the three previous days. Thus I had now to remember Exodus v, and to practice the truths contained therein. In the course of the day nothing was received. In the evening I had, as usual, a season for prayer with my dear wife, respecting the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and then we left the New Orphan-House for our home.

"When we arrived at our house, about nine o'clock, we found that £5 and also 5s. had been sent from Norwich in two Post Office Orders for the Building Fund, and that £8 3s. 11d. had been sent in for Bibles, Tracts, and Reports, which had been sold. This called for thanksgiving. But a little later, between nine and ten o'clock, a Christian gentleman called and gave me £1 for the Orphans and £200 for foreign missions. He had received these sums from an aged Christian woman, whose savings as a servant, during her whole life, made up the £200, and who, having recently had left to her a little annual income of about £30, felt herself constrained, by the love of Christ, to send the savings of her whole life for foreign missions. * * *

"Our especial prayer had been again and again, that the Lord would be pleased to send in means for missionary brethren, as I had reason to believe they were in much need of help; and only at eight o'clock this evening I had particularly besought the Lord to send help for this object. By the last mail I had sent off £40 to British Guiana, to help seven brethren there in some measure. This amount took the last pound in hand for this object. How gladly would I have sent assistance to other brethren also, but I had no more. Now I am in some degree supplied for this object.

"July 12, 1854.—Our means were now again reduced to about £30, as only about £150 had come in since June 15. In addition to this, we had very heavy expenses before us. This morning, in reading through the book of Proverbs, when I came to chapter xxii. 19—'That thy trust may be in the Lord, &c.,' I said in prayer to Him: 'Lord, I do trust in Thee; but wilt Thou now be pleased to help me; for I am in need of means for the current expenses of all the various objects of the Institution.' By the first delivery of letters I received an order on a London bank for £100, to be used for all the various objects 'as the present need might require.'"

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR ETERNITY?

"In looking over my account books, I meet again and again with the name of one and another who has finished his course. Soon, dear reader, your turn and mine may come. Are you prepared for eternity? Affectionately I press this question upon you. Do not put it away. Nothing is of greater moment than this point; yea, all other things, however important in their place, are of exceedingly small importance, in comparison with this matter. Do you ask, how you may be prepared for eternity, how to be saved, how to obtain the forgiveness of your sins? The answer is, believe in the Lord Jesus, trust in Him, depend upon Him alone as it regards the salvation of your soul. He was punished by God, in order that we guilty sinners, if we believe in Him, might not be punished. He fulfilled the law of God, and was obedient even unto death, in order that we disobedient, guilty sinners, if we believe in Him, might, on His account, be reckoned righteous by God. Ponder these things, dear reader, should you have never done so before. Through faith in the Lord Jesus alone can we obtain forgiveness of our sins, and be at peace with God; but, believing in Jesus, we become, through this very faith, the children of God; have God as our Father, and may come to Him for all the temporal and spiritual blessings which we need. Thus everyone of my readers may obtain answers to prayers, not only to the same extent that we obtain them, but far more abundantly.

"It may be that few, comparatively, of the children of God are called to serve the Lord in the way of establishing Orphan-Houses, &c.; but all of them may, yea, are called upon to trust in God, to rely upon Him, in their various positions and circumstances, and apply the word of God, faith, and prayer to their family circumstances, their earthly occupation, their afflictions and necessities of every kind, both temporally and spiritually; just as we, by God's help, in some little measure seek to apply the word of God, faith and prayer to the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. Make but trial of it, if you have never done so before, and you will see how happy a life it is. * * * *

"Truly I prefer by far this life of almost constant trial, if I am only able to roll all my cares upon my Heavenly Father, and thus become increasingly acquainted with Him, to a life of outward peace and quietness, without these constant proofs of His faithfulness, His wisdom, His love, His power, His over-ruling providence, &c."

WAITING ONLY UPON GOD.

"Sept 6, 1854.—Received from Clerkenwell £50 to be used one-half for missions, and the other half as I thought best. I took the one-half for the support of the Orphans, and find the following remark in my journal respecting this donation: 'What a precious answer to prayer!' Since Aug. 26th we have been day by day coming to the Lord for our daily supplies. Precious, also, on account of Missionary brethren, whom I seek to help, for whom there was nothing in hand when this donation was received."

Mr. Müller adds a few remarks to this part of the Narrative:—

"1. Should anyone suppose, on account of its having been stated in the previous pages that we were repeatedly brought low as to means, that the Orphans have not had all that was needful for them; we reply that never, since the work has been in existence, has there a meal-time come, but the Orphans have had good nourishing food in sufficient quantity: and never have they needed clothes, but I have had the means to provide them with all they required.

"2. Never since the Orphan work has been in existence have I asked one single human being for any help for this work; and yet, unasked for, simply in answer to prayer, from so many parts of the world, as has been stated, the donations have come in, and that very frequently at a time of the greatest need."

Mr. Müller writes under date, 1859:—

"Every Wednesday evening I meet with my helpers for united prayer; and day by day I have stated seasons, when I seek to bring the work with its great variety of spiritual and temporal necessities, before the Lord in prayer, having perhaps each day 50 or more matters to bring before Him, and thus I obtain the blessing. I ask no human being for help concerning the work. Nay, if I could obtain £10,000 through each application for help; by God's grace, I would not ask. And why not? Because I have dedicated my whole life cheerfully to the precious service of giving to the world and to the church, a clear, distinct, and undeniable demonstration, that it is a blessed thing to trust in, and to wait upon, God; that He is now, as He ever was, the Living God, the same as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that if we know and are reconciled to Him through faith in the Lord Jesus, and ask Him in His name for that which is according to His mind, He will surely give it to us, in His own time, provided that we believe that He will. * * * * *

"Nor has God failed me at any time. Forty years have I proved His faithfulness, in this work."

IN THE LORD JEHOVAH IS EVERLASTING STRENGTH.

Under date Nov. 9, 1861, Mr. Müller wrote:—

"Nov. 9. Saturday evening. When this week commenced, I received only £3 19s. by the first delivery. Shortly after there came in the course of my reading, through the Holy Scriptures, Isaiah xxvi, 4, 'Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.'—I laid aside my Bible, fell on my knees, and prayed thus: I believe that there is everlasting strength in the Lord Jehovah, and I do trust in Him; help me, O Lord, for ever to trust in Thee. Be pleased to give me more means this day, and much this week, though only so little now has come in.—That same day, Nov. 3rd, I received £10 from Surbiton, £5 from a donor residing in Clifton, £2 from a Bristol donor, and in the course of the week altogether £457 came in; thus Jehovah again proved, that in Him is everlasting strength, and that He is worthy to be trusted.—Dear believing reader, seek but in the same way to trust in the Lord, if you are not in the habit of doing so already, and you will find as I have found thousands of times, how blessed it is. But if the reader should be yet going on in carelessness about his soul, and therefore be without the knowledge of God and His dear Son, then the first, and most important thing, such a one has to do, is to trust in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of his soul, that he may be reconciled to God, and obtain the forgiveness of his sins."

JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TO-DAY, AND FOREVER.

"May 26, 1861.—At the close of the period I find, that the total expenditure for all the various objects was £24,700 16s. 4d., or £67 13s. 5¾d. per day, all the year round. During the coming year I expect the expenses to be considerably greater. But God, who has helped me these many years, will, I believe, help me in future also.

"You see, esteemed reader, how the Lord, in His faithful love helped us year after year. With every year the expenses increased, because the operations of the Institutions were further enlarged; but He never failed us. You may say, however, 'What would you do, if He should fail in helping you?' My reply is, that cannot be, as long as we trust in Him and do not live in sin. But if we were to forsake Him, the fountain of living waters, and to hew out to ourselves broken cisterns, which cannot hold water, by trusting in an arm of flesh; or if we were to live in sin, we should then have to call upon Him in vain, even though we professed still to trust in Him, according to that word: 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.' Psalm lxvi, 18.

"Hitherto, by God's grace, I have been enabled to continue to trust in Him alone; and hitherto, though failing and weak in many ways, yet, by God's grace, I have been enabled to walk uprightly, hating sin and loving holiness, and longing after increased conformity to the Lord Jesus.

"Oct. 21 1868—As the days come, we make known our requests to Him, for our outgoings have now been for several years at the rate of more than One Hundred Pounds each day; but though the expenses have been so great, He has never failed us. We have indeed, as to the outward appearance, like the 'Burning Bush in the Wilderness;' yet we have not been consumed. Moreover, we are full of trust in the Lord, and therefore of good courage, though we have before us the prospect, that, year by year, our expenses will increase more and more. Did all my beloved fellow disciples, who seek to work for God know the blessedness of looking truly to God alone, and trusting in Him alone, they would soon see how soul refreshing this way is, and how entirely beyond disappointment, so far as He is concerned. Earthly friends may alter their minds regarding the work in which we are engaged; but if indeed we work for God, whoever may alter His mind regarding our service, He will not. Earthly friends may lose their ability to help us, however much they desire so to do; but He remains throughout eternity the infinitely Rich One. Earthly friends may have their minds after a time diverted to other objects, and, as they cannot help everywhere, much as they may desire it, they may, though reluctantly, have to discontinue to help us; but He is able, in all directions, though the requirements were multiplied a million times, to supply all that can possibly be needed, and does it with delight, where His work is carried on, and where He is confided in. Earthly friends may be removed by death, and thus we may lose their help, but He lives for ever, He cannot die. In this latter point of view, I have especially, during the past 40 years, in connection with this Institution, seen the blessedness of trusting in the Living God alone. Not one nor two, nor even five nor ten, but many more, who once helped me much with their means, have been removed by death; but have the operations of the Institution been stopped on that account? No. And how came this? Because I trusted in God, and in God alone."

THOROUGHLY IN HEART PREPARED FOR TRIALS OF FAITH.

Under date July 28, 1874, Mr. Müller wrote:—

"It has for months appeared to me, as if the Lord meant, by His dealings with us, to bring us back to that state of things, in which we were for more than ten years, from August, 1838, to April, 1849, when we had day by day, almost without interruption, to look to Him for our daily supplies, and, for a great part of the time, from meal to meal. The difficulties appeared to me indeed very great, as the Institution is now twenty times larger, than it was then, and our purchases are to be made in a wholesale way; but, at the same time, I am comforted by the knowledge, that God is aware of all this; and that, if this way be for the glory of His name, and for the good of His church and the unconverted world, I am, by His grace, willing to go this way, and to do it to the end of my course. The funds were thus fast expended; but God, our infinitely rich Treasurer, remains to us. It is this which gives me peace. Moreover, if it pleases Him, with a work requiring about £44,000 a year, to make me do again at the evening of my life, what I did from August, 1838, to April, 1849, I am not only prepared for it, but gladly again I would pass through all these trials of faith, with regard to means, if He only might be glorified, and His church and the world be benefited. Often and often this last point has of late passed through my mind, and I have placed myself in the position of having no means at all left, and Two Thousand and One Hundred persons not only daily at the table, but with everything else to be provided for, and all funds gone; 189 Missionaries to be assisted, and nothing whatever left; about one hundred schools, with about nine thousand scholars in them, to be entirely supported, and no means for them in hand; about Four Millions of Tracts and Tens of Thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures yearly now to be sent out, and all the money expended. Invariably, however, with this probability before me, I have said to myself: 'God, who has raised up this work through me, God who has led me generally year after year to enlarge it, God who has supported this work now for more than forty years, will still help, and will not suffer me to be confounded, because I rely upon Him, I commit the whole work to Him, and He will provide me with what I need, in future also, though I know not, whence the means are to come.'

"Thus I wrote in my journal on July 28, 1874. The reader will now feel interested in learning how we fared under these circumstances.

"When I came home, last evening (July 27), I found letters had arrived, which contained £193, among which there was one from a Missionary in Foreign lands, helped by the funds of this Institution, who, having come into the possession of some money, by the death of a relative, sent £153 0s. 4d. for Foreign Missions. This morning, July 28, came in £24 more, so that, when I met this afternoon with several of my helpers for prayer for means and various other matters, such as spiritual blessing upon the various Objects of the Institution, for more rain in this very dry season, the health of our fellow-labourers, etc., we had received, since yesterday afternoon, altogether £217. We thanked God for it, and asked for more. When the meeting for prayer was over, there was handed to me a letter from Scotland, containing £73 17s. 10d., and a paper with 13s. This was the immediate answer to prayer for more means.

"Aug. 12.—The income for this whole week, since Aug. 5, has been £897 15s. 6½d.

"Sept. 16.—Just after having again prayed for the payment of legacies, which have been left, I had a legacy receipt sent for the payment of a legacy for £1,800.

"Sept. 23.—Income to-day £5,365 13s. 6d., of which there was sent in one donation £5,327 7s. 6d. The Lord be praised!"

STRONG IN FAITH, GIVING GLORY TO GOD.

On March 27, 1881, Mr. Müller found that no money remained in hand for the School, Bible, Missionary and Tract Funds. Nearly £1,400 had been spent for these Objects during the previous month. He writes:—

"What was now to be done, dear reader, under these circumstances, when all the money for the above Objects was again gone? I reply, we did what we have done for 47 years, that is, we waited continually upon God. My dear fellow-labourers in Bristol, and my dear wife and myself in America, brought our necessities again and again before the Lord.

"Here in the United States, besides our habitual daily prayer for help, we had especial seasons 4, 5, and 6 times a day additionally, for pouring out our hearts before our Heavenly Father, and making known our requests unto Him, being assured that help would come: and we have not waited upon the Lord in vain. This plan may be despised by some, ridiculed by others, and considered insufficient by a third class of persons; but, under every trial and difficulty, we find prayer and faith to be our universal remedy; and, after having experienced for half a century their efficacy, we purpose, by God's help, to continue waiting upon Him, in order to show to an ungodly world, and to a doubting Church, that the Living God is still able and willing to answer prayer, and that it is the joy of His heart to listen to the supplications of His children. In Psalm ix. 10, the Divine testimony regarding Jehovah is, 'They that know thy name will put their trust in Thee.' We know Him, by His grace, and do therefore put our trust in Him.

"April 27.—On March 27th we had no means at all in hand for these Objects, as stated under that date. We have now been helped through one more month, in answer to prayer, and have been supplied with all we needed, though that amounted to nearly £1000, and have £23 8s. 6¼d. left.

"April 29.—A servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, having received a legacy of £532 14s. 5d., gave £500 of it for these Objects.

"July 28, 1881.—The income has been for some time past only about the third part of the expenses. Consequently, all we have for the support of the Orphans is nearly gone; and for the first four Objects of the Institution we have nothing at all in hand. The natural appearance now is, that the work cannot be carried on. But I believe that the Lord will help, both with means for the Orphans and also for the other Objects of the Institution, and that we shall not be confounded; also, that the work shall not need to be given up. I am fully expecting help, and have written this to the glory of God, that it may be recorded hereafter for the encouragement of His children. The result will be seen.

"The foregoing was written at 7 A. M. July 28, 1881. As yet we have the means to meet our expenses, and I expect that we shall not be confounded, though for seven years we have not been so poor."

The result has indeed been seen, and will be seen. For more than 20 years since those words were written and Mr. Müller had thus recorded his confidence in the Lord's help, God has sustained the work, and in May, 1902, there was a balance in hand of some thousands of pounds, notwithstanding that more than £500,000 had been received and expended since this entry was made in Mr. Müller's journal on July 28, 1881.

During these 20 years faith and patience were at times greatly tried:

"Aug. 15, 1881.—The balance for the Orphans is now reduced to £332 12s. 7d., lower than it has been for more than twenty-five years. This sum we have in hand to meet the daily expenses in connection with 2,100 persons. It is only enough for the average outgoings of 4½ days. But our eyes are upon the Lord. I look to my heavenly Provider. The total income of to-day has been £28 5s. 2½d.

"Aug. 22.—Part of a legacy, left years ago, £1,000, was paid, as the answer to many prayers.

"Feb. 26, 1882.—The balance in hand to-day for the Orphans is £97 10s. 7½d., viz., £24 more than the average expenses of one single day.

"March 2.—Our position now regarding the Orphan work is, praying day by day 'Give us this day our daily bread'. For a considerable time we have had day by day to look to the Lord for the supply of our daily wants; but God has helped us thus far.

"April 20, 1882.—When in the greatest need we received from Edinburgh £100 with this statement: 'The enclosed was intended as a legacy, but I have sent it in my lifetime.'

"June 3.—From Wottan-under-edge £500. A glorious deliverance was this donation, and a precious earnest of what God would do further for us.

"Oct. 21.—Received from Wottan-under-edge £1,000. * * * * * God, in answer to our prayers, spoke to His dear child, and inclined his heart to send to us more than ever. Thus He also gives proof, that during the previous year, when we were so low as to funds, it was only for the trial of our faith and patience, and not in anger; nor did He thereby mean to indicate, that He would not help us any more. For my own part, I expected further great help from God, and I have not been confounded.

"Aug. 17, 1883.—Our balance was reduced this afternoon to £10 2s. 7d. Think of this, dear reader! Day by day about 2,100 persons are to be provided for in the Orphan Institution, and £10 2s. 7d. was all that was in hand to do this. You see that we are just in the same position in which we were 46 years since as to funds. God is our banker. In Him we trust, and on Him we draw by faith. This was Saturday. In the evening £30 was received. On Monday we received £129 further, but had to pay out £60. On Tuesday we received £295, but had to pay out £180. * * * * *

"God is pleased continually to vary His mode of dealing with us, in order that we may not be tempted to trust in donors, or in circumstances, but in Him alone, and to keep our eye fixed upon Him. This, by His grace, we are enabled to do, and our hearts are kept in peace."

Some ten months later, when the balance in hand was only £41 10s., a very little more than one-half of the average expenses for the Orphans for one day, and there were sanitary operations advisable to be carried out, the expenses of which would amount to upwards of £2,000, Mr. Müller received a legacy of £11,034 6s.

"June 7, 1884.—This is the largest donation I have ever received at one time. This legacy had been above six years in Chancery, and year after year its payment was expected, but remained unsettled by the Chancery Court. I kept on praying, however, and for six years prayed day by day that the money might be paid, believing that God in His own time (which is always the best), would help at last; for many legacies in Chancery I had prayed out of the Court, and the money was eventually paid. In the present case, too, after faith and patience had been sufficiently exercised, God granted this request likewise."

1893.—In the Fifty-fourth Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution Mr. Müller says:—

"The readers of the last report will remember, under what particular trials we entered upon the last financial year of the Institution, from May 26th, 1892, to May 26th, 1893; but we trusted in God; with unshaken confidence we looked to Him, and we expected that we should somehow or other be helped. * * While thus we went on, my heart was at peace habitually, being assured that all this was permitted by God, to prepare a blessing for thousands, who would afterwards read the record of His dealings with us, during the year from May 26th, 1892, to May 26th, 1893. With reference to our dear fellow-labourers, Mr. Wright and I have seen already, while passing through the trial, how God has blessed it to them.

"Aug. 30, 1892.—This evening, whilst reading in the Psalms, I came to Psalm lxxxi, 10, and remembered the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart, when reading this verse on Dec. 5, 1835, and the effect which this had, not only on leading me to found the greatest Orphan Institution in the world, but I thought also of the blessing which has thus been brought to tens of thousands of believers and unbelievers all over the world. Putting aside the Bible, therefore, I fell on my knees and asked God that He would graciously be pleased to repeat His former kindness, and to supply me again more abundantly with means. Accordingly in less than half an hour, I received £50 from a Bristol Donor and from Redland a large quantity of fish, in addition to £97 already received to-day as the result of much prayer. By the last delivery, at 9 p. m., I received £5 more also, and had thus £152 in all, this day, as the result of prayer.

"Nov. 11.—There came in to-day, by the first two deliveries, only about £8, but the Lord increased the income to more than £200 this day. I am never discouraged by very little only coming in, but say to myself, and also to my dear helpers, 'More prayer, more patience, and more exercise of faith will bring greater blessing'; for thus I have invariably found it, since October, 1830, now 63 years ago, when I first began this life of entire dependence upon God for everything.

"March 1, 1893.—The income during this week, ending to-day, was £92 8s. 8¾d. for the Orphans, and £9 11s. 2d. for the other Objects, being about the sixth part of our weekly expenses; but now the great trial of our faith was nearly brought to a close, as will presently be seen.

"March 4.—This very day God begins to answer our prayers, as we have received a very good offer for the land we have to sell, even £1,000 per acre. The beginning of the day was darker as to outward appearances than ever: but we trusted in God for help. The first three deliveries of letters brought us only £4, and the remaining three brought us so little that the whole day's income was only £8 instead of £90, the amount we require every day to meet all our expenses. But God has now helped us. We have been able this evening to sell ten acres of land and two-fifths of an acre at £1,000 per acre, and shall receive £10,405 altogether for the whole of one field. The contract was signed at 8 o'clock this evening."

MR. MÜLLER'S DEPARTURE TO BE WITH CHRIST.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 9th, 1898, Mr. Müller took part in the usual meeting for prayer held in the Orphan-House No. 3; retired at his usual hour to rest, and early on the following morning (the 10th of March) alone, in his bed-room, breathed his last, realizing what had long been with him a most joyous anticipation, viz., that "to depart and to be with Christ is far better."

March 14.—This day Mr. Müller's earthly remains were laid in the grave of his first and second wives, at Arno' Vale Cemetery. The attendant circumstances, throughout, were very remarkable and interesting to the Christian mind chiefly as illustrating God's eternal principle—"Them that honour Me I will honour." The man who in life sought not his own glory, became in death the one to whom all classes delighted to show respect and honour.

From the masses of sympathizing spectators that lined the streets, from the tearful eyes, and the audible prayerful ejaculations that escaped the lips of bystanders (many of them the poorest of the poor), as the orphans filed past, following the hearse; from the suspension of all traffic in the principal streets, the tolling of muffled bells, and the half-masted flags, and from the dense crowds in the cemetery that awaited the arrival of the funeral company, it seemed as if the whole city had spontaneously resolved to do honour to the man who had not lived for himself, but for the glory of God and the good of his fellows.

For some 21 months before Mr. Müller's death the trials of faith and patience were great. Mr. James Wright, Mr. Müller's successor, writes:

"He who is pleased, sometimes, to teach His servants 'how to abound,' sees it best for them, at other times 'to be instructed how to suffer need.' For many of the 64 years during which this work has been carried on, the former was our experience; we abounded and richly abounded, latterly, and especially during the last 2 or 3 years it has been the very reverse. Pressing need has been the rule; a balance in hand, over and above our need, the rare exception. Yet we have never been forsaken."

"Sept. 23, 1897.—Residue of the legacy of the late G. J., Esq., £2,679 18s. 7d. This sum was received when we were in the deepest need; and after it had pleased the Lord to allow a very protracted trial of faith and patience; but see, beloved reader, He did not disappoint nor forsake us, as He never does those who really trust in Him. The joy of such a deliverance cannot be tasted without the experience of the previous trial.

"Feb. 26, 1898.—The following entry, under this date, is in Mr. Müller's own hand-writing:

"The income to-day, by the two first deliveries, was £7 15s. 11d. Day by day our great trial of faith and patience continues, and thus it has been, more or less, now, for 21 months, yet, by Thy grace, we are sustained."

March 1, 1898.—The following, again, is from a memorandum in Mr. Müller's own hand-writing, under this date:

"For about 21 months with scarcely the least intermission the trial of our faith and patience has continued. Now, to-day, the Lord has refreshed our hearts. This afternoon came in, for the Lord's work, £1,427 1s. 7d. as part payment of a legacy of the late Mrs. E. C. S. For 3 years and 10 months this money had been in the Irish Chancery Court. Hundreds of petitions had been brought before the Lord regarding it, and now at last, this portion of the total legacy has been received."

Thus the Lord, in love and faithfulness, greatly refreshed the heart of His servant, only nine days before taking him home to be with Himself.

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Appendix A

FIVE CONDITIONS OF PREVAILING PRAYER

Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of any claim for blessing. (See John xiv. 13, 14; xv. 16, etc.)

2.—Separation from all known sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin. (Psalm lxvi. 18.)

3.—Faith in God's word of promise as confirmed by His oath. Not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer. (Hebrews xi. 6; vi. 13-20.)

4.—Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly: we must not seek any gift of God to consume it upon our lusts. (1 John v. 14; James iv. 3.)

5.—Importunity in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting for God, as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest. (James v. 7; Luke xviii. 1-8.)

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