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Introduction
Introduction
VERY soon after the decease of my beloved father-in-law I began to receive letters pressing upon me the desirableness of issuing as soon as possible a memoir of him and his work. The well-known autobiography, entitled "Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller," had been, and was still being, so greatly used by God in the edification of believers and the conversion of unbelievers that I hesitated to countenance any attempt to supersede or even supplement it. But as, with prayer, I refl
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A Prefatory Word
A Prefatory Word
DR. OLIVER W. HOLMES wittily said that an autobiography is what every biography ought to be. The four volumes of "The Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller," already issued from the press and written by his own hand, with a fifth volume covering his missionary tours, and prepared by his wife, supplemented by the Annual Reports since published, constitute essentially an autobiography—Mr. Müller's own life-story, stamped with his own peculiar individuality, and singularly and minutel
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FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS NEW BIRTH
FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS NEW BIRTH
A HUMAN life, filled with the presence and power of God, is one of God's choicest gifts to His church and to the world. Things which are unseen and eternal seem, to the carnal man, distant and indistinct, while what is seen and temporal is vivid and real. Practically, any object in nature that can be seen or felt is thus more real and actual to most men than the Living God. Every man who walks with God, and finds Him a present Help in every time of need; who puts His promises to the practical pr
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THE NEW BIRTH AND THE NEW LIFE
THE NEW BIRTH AND THE NEW LIFE
THE lost days of sin, now forever past, the days of heaven upon earth began to dawn, to grow brighter till the perfect day. We enter the second period of this life we are reviewing. After a score of years of evil-doing George Müller was converted to God, and the radical nature of the change strikingly proves and displays the sovereignty of Almighty Grace. He had been kept amid scenes of outrageous and flagrant sin, and brought through many perils, as well as two serious illnesses, because divine
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MAKING READY THE CHOSEN VESSEL
MAKING READY THE CHOSEN VESSEL
THE workman of God needs to wait on Him to know the work he is to do and the sphere where he is to serve Him. Mature disciples at Halle advised George Müller for the time thus quietly to wait for divine guidance, and meanwhile to take no further steps toward the mission field. He felt unable, however, to dismiss the question, and was so impatient to settle it that he made the common blunder of attempting to come to a decision in a carnal way. He resorted to the lot, and not only so, but to the l
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CHAPTER IV NEW STEPS AND STAGES OF PREPARATION
CHAPTER IV NEW STEPS AND STAGES OF PREPARATION
PASSION for souls is a divine fire, and in the heart of George Müller that fire now began to burn more brightly, and demanded vent. In August, 1827, his mind was more definitely than before turned toward mission work. Hearing that the Continental Society of Britain sought a minister for Bucharest, he offered himself through Dr. Tholuck, who, in behalf of the Society, was on the lookout for a suitable candidate. To his great surprise his father gave consent, though Bucharest was more than a thous
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CHAPTER V THE PULPIT AND THE PASTORATE
CHAPTER V THE PULPIT AND THE PASTORATE
No work for God surpasses in dignity and responsibility the Christian ministry. It is at once the consummate flower of the divine planting, the priceless dower of His church, and through it works the power of God for salvation. Though George Müller had begun his 'candidacy for holy orders' as an unconverted man, seeking simply a human calling with a hope of a lucrative living, he had heard God's summons to a divine vocation, and he was from time to time preaching the Gospel, but not in any settl
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CHAPTER VI "THE NARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS"
CHAPTER VI "THE NARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS"
THINGS which are sacred forbid even a careless touch. The record written by George Müller of the Lord's dealings reads, especially in parts, almost like an inspired writing, because it is simply the tracing of divine guidance in a human life—not this man's own working or planning, suffering or serving, but the Lord's dealings with him and workings through him. It reminds us of that conspicuous passage in the Acts of the Apostles where, within the compass of twenty verses, God is fifteen times pu
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CHAPTER VII LED OF GOD INTO A NEW SPHERE
CHAPTER VII LED OF GOD INTO A NEW SPHERE
IF much hangs and turns upon the choice of the work we are to do and the field where we are to do it, it must not be forgotten how much also depends on the time when it is undertaken, the way in which it is performed, and the associates in the labour. In all these matters the true workman will wait for the Master's beck, glance, or signal, before a step is taken. We have come now to a new fork in the road where the path ahead begins to be more plain. The future and permanent centre of his life-w
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CHAPTER VIII A TREE OF GOD'S OWN PLANTING
CHAPTER VIII A TREE OF GOD'S OWN PLANTING
THE time was now fully come when the divine Husbandman was to glorify Himself by a product of His own husbandry in the soil of Bristol. On February 20, 1834, George Müller was led of God to sow the seed of what ultimately developed into a great means of good, known as "The Scriptural Knowledge Institution, for Home and Abroad." As in all other steps of his life, this was the result of much prayer, meditation on the Word, searching of his own heart, and patient waiting to know the mind of God. A
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CHAPTER IX THE GROWTH OF GOD'S OWN PLANT
CHAPTER IX THE GROWTH OF GOD'S OWN PLANT
THE last great step of full entrance upon Mr. Müller's life-service was the founding of the orphan work, a step so important and so prominent that even the lesser particulars leading to it have a strange significance and fascination. In the year 1835, on November 20th, in taking tea at the house of a Christian sister, he again saw a copy of Francke's life. For no little time he had thought of like labours, though on no such scale, nor in mere imitation of Francke, but under a sense of similar di
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CHAPTER X THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER
CHAPTER X THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER
HABIT both shows and makes the man, for it is at once historic and prophetic, the mirror of the man as he is and the mould of the man as he is to be. At this point, therefore, special attention may properly be given to the two marked habits which had principally to do with the man we are studying. Early in the year 1838, he began reading that third biography which, with those of Francke and John Newton, had such a singular influence on his own life—Philip's Life of George Whitefield. The life-st
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CHAPTER XI TRIALS OF FAITH, AND HELPERS TO FAITH
CHAPTER XI TRIALS OF FAITH, AND HELPERS TO FAITH
GOD has His own mathematics: witness that miracle of the loaves and fishes. Our Lord said to His disciples: "Give ye them to eat," and as they divided, He multiplied the scanty provision; as they subtracted from it He added to it; as they decreased it by distributing, He increased it for distributing. And it has been beautifully said of all holy partnerships, that griefs shared are divided, and joys shared are multiplied. We have already seen how the prayer circle had been enlarged. The founder
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CHAPTER XII NEW LESSONS IN GOD'S SCHOOL OF PRAYER
CHAPTER XII NEW LESSONS IN GOD'S SCHOOL OF PRAYER
THE teacher must also be a learner, and therefore only he who continues to learn is competent to continue to teach. Nothing but new lessons, daily mastered, can keep our testimony fresh and vitalizing and enable us to give advance lessons. Instead of being always engaged in a sort of review, our teaching and testimony will thus be drawn each day from a new and higher level. George Müller's experiences of prevailing prayer went on constantly accumulating, and so qualified him to speak to others,
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CHAPTER XIII FOLLOWING THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE
CHAPTER XIII FOLLOWING THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE
"THE steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." (Psalm xxxvii. 23.) Some one quaintly adds, "Yes, and the stops, too!" The pillar of cloud and fire is a symbol of that divine leadership which guides both as to forward steps and intervals of rest. Mr Müller found it blessed to follow, one step at a time, as God ordered his way, and to stand still and wait when He seemed to call for a halt. At the end of May, 1843, a crisis was reached, which was a new example of the experiences to which faith
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CHAPTER XIV GOD'S BUILDING: THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSES
CHAPTER XIV GOD'S BUILDING: THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSES
How complex are the movements of God's providence! Some events are themselves eventful. Like the wheels in Ezekiel's vision—a wheel in the middle of a wheel,—they involve other issues within their mysterious mechanism, and constitute epochs of history. Such an epochal event was the building of the first of the New Orphan Houses on Ashley Down. After October, 1845, it became clear to Mr. Müller that the Lord was leading in this direction. Residents on Wilson Street had raised objections to the no
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CHAPTER XV THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD
CHAPTER XV THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD
SOME one has quaintly said, in commenting upon the Twenty-third Psalm, that "the coach in which the Lord's saints ride has not only a driver, but two footmen"— "goodness and mercy shall follow me." Surely these two footmen of the Lord, in their celestial livery of grace, followed George Müller all the days of his life. Wonderful as is the story of the building of those five orphan houses on Ashley Down, many other events and experiences no less showed the goodness and mercy of God, and must not
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CHAPTER XVI THE SHADOW OF A GREAT SORROW
CHAPTER XVI THE SHADOW OF A GREAT SORROW
"WITH clouds He covereth the light." No human life is without some experience of clouded skies and stormy days, and sometimes "the clouds return after the rain." It is a blessed experience to recognize the silver lining on the darkest storm cloud, and, better still, to be sure of the shining of God's light behind a sky that seems wholly and hopelessly overcast. The year 1870 was made forever pathetically memorable by the decease of Mrs. Müller, who lived just long enough to see the last of the N
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CHAPTER XVII THE PERIOD OF WORLD-WIDE WITNESS
CHAPTER XVII THE PERIOD OF WORLD-WIDE WITNESS
GOD'S real answers to prayer are often seeming denials. Beneath the outward request He hears the voice of the inward desire, and He responds to the mind of the Spirit rather than to the imperfect and perhaps mistaken words in which the yearning seeks expression. Moreover, His infinite wisdom sees that a larger blessing may be ours only by the withholding of the lesser good which we seek; and so all true prayer trusts Him to give His own answer, not in our way or time, or even to our own expresse
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CHAPTER XVIII FAITH AND PATIENCE IN SERVING
CHAPTER XVIII FAITH AND PATIENCE IN SERVING
QUANTITY of service is of far less importance than quality. To do well, rather than to do much, will be the motto of him whose main purpose is to please God. Our Lord bade His disciples tarry until endued with power from on high, because it is such enduement that gives to all witness and work the celestial savour and flavour of the Spirit. Before we come to the closing scenes, we may well look back over the life-work of George Müller, which happily illustrates both quantity and quality of servic
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CHAPTER XIX AT EVENING-TIME—LIGHT
CHAPTER XIX AT EVENING-TIME—LIGHT
THE closing scene of this beautiful and eventful life-history has an interest not altogether pathetic. Mr. Müller seems like an elevated mountain, on whose summit the evening sun shines in lingering splendour, and whose golden peak rises far above the ordinary level and belongs to heaven more than earth, in the clear, cloudless calm of God. From May, 1892, when the last mission tour closed; he devoted himself mainly to the work of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and to preaching at Bethesd
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CHAPTER XX THE SUMMARY OF THE LIFE-WORK
CHAPTER XX THE SUMMARY OF THE LIFE-WORK
DEATH shuts the door upon earthly service, whatever door it may open to other forms and spheres of activity. There are many intimations that service beyond the grave is both unceasing and untiring: the blessed dead "rest indeed from their labours" —toilsome and painful tasks—"but their works"—activities for God—"do follow them," where exertion is without exhaustion. This is therefore a fit point for summing up the results of the work over which, from its beginning, one man had specially had char
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CHAPTER XXI THE CHURCH LIFE AND GROWTH
CHAPTER XXI THE CHURCH LIFE AND GROWTH
THROUGHOUT Mr. Müller's journal we meet scattered and fragmentary suggestions as to the true conception of Christian teaching and practice, the nature and office of the Christian ministry, the principles which should prevail in church conduct, the mutual relations of believers, and the Spirit's relation to the Body of Christ, to pure worship, service, and testimony. These hints will be of more value if they are crystallized into unity so as to be seen in their connection with each other. The fou
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CHAPTER XXII A GLANCE AT THE GIFTS AND THE GIVERS
CHAPTER XXII A GLANCE AT THE GIFTS AND THE GIVERS
THERE is One who still sits over against the Treasury, watching the gifts cast into it, and impartially weighing their worth, estimating the rich man's millions and the widow's mites, not by the amount given, but by the motives which impel and the measure of self-sacrifice accepted for the Lord's sake. The ample supplies poured into Mr. Müller's hands came alike from those who had abundance of wealth and from those whose only abundance was that of deep poverty, but the rills as well as the river
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CHAPTER XXIII GOD'S WITNESS TO THE WORK
CHAPTER XXIII GOD'S WITNESS TO THE WORK
THE eleventh chapter of Hebrews—that "Westminster Abbey" where Old Testament saints have a memorial before God—gives a hint of a peculiar reward which faith enjoys, even in this life, as an earnest and foretaste of its final recompense. By faith "the elders obtained a good report," that is, they had witness borne to them by God in return for witness borne to Him. All the marked examples of faith here recorded show this twofold testimony. Abel testified to his faith in God's Atoning Lamb, and God
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CHAPTER XXIV LAST LOOKS, BACKWARD AND FORWARD.
CHAPTER XXIV LAST LOOKS, BACKWARD AND FORWARD.
THE mountain-climber, at the sunset hour, naturally takes a last lingering look backward at the prospect visible from the lofty height, before he begins his descent to the valley. And, before we close this volume, we as naturally cast one more glance backward over this singularly holy and useful life, that we may catch further inspiration from its beauty and learn some new lessons in holy living and unselfish serving. George Müller was divinely fitted for, fitted into his work, as a mortise fits
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APPENDIX A SCRIPTURE TEXTS THAT MOULDED GEORGE MÜLLER
APPENDIX A SCRIPTURE TEXTS THAT MOULDED GEORGE MÜLLER
CERTAIN marked Scripture precepts and promises had such a singular influence upon this man of God, and so often proved the guides to his course, that they illustrate Psalm cxix. 105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path." Those texts which, at the parting of the way, became to him God's signboards, showing him the true direction, are here given, as nearly as may be in the order in which they became so helpful to him. The study of them will prove a kind of spiritual biograph
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APPENDIX B APPREHENSION OF TRUTH
APPENDIX B APPREHENSION OF TRUTH
SOME points which God began to show Mr. Müller while at Teignmouth in 1829: 1. That the word of God alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things; that it can be explained only by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day, as well as in former times, He is the teacher of His people. The office of the Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that time. Indeed, of the office of each of the blessed persons, in what is commonly called the Trinity, I had no experimental apprehension.
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APPENDIX C SEPARATION FROM THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS.
APPENDIX C SEPARATION FROM THE LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS.
IT became a point of solemn consideration with me, whether I could remain connected with the Society in the usual way. My chief objections were these: 1. If I were sent out by the Society, it was more than probable, yea, almost needful, if I were to leave England, that I should labour on the Continent, as I was unfit to be sent to eastern countries on account of my health, which would probably have suffered, both on account of the climate, and of my having to learn other languages. Now, if I did
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APPENDIX D THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION FOR HOME AND ABROAD
APPENDIX D THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION FOR HOME AND ABROAD
I. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION. 1. WE consider every believer bound, in one way or other, to help the cause of Christ, and we have scriptural warrant for expecting the Lord's blessing upon our work of faith and labour of love: and although, according to Matt. xiii. 24-43, 2 Tim. iii. 1-13, and many other passages, the world will not be converted before the coming of our Lord Jesus, still, while He tarries, all scriptural means ought to be employed for the ingathering of the elect of God. 2
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APPENDIX E REASONS WHICH LED MR. MÜLLER TO ESTABLISH AN ORPHAN HOUSE
APPENDIX E REASONS WHICH LED MR. MÜLLER TO ESTABLISH AN ORPHAN HOUSE
I HAD constantly cases brought before me which proved that one of the especial things which the children of God needed in our day was to have their faith strengthened. For instance: I might visit a brother who worked fourteen or even sixteen hours a day at his trade, the necessary result of which was that not only his body suffered, but his soul was lean, and he had no enjoyment in the things of God. Under such circumstances I might point out to him that he ought to work less, in order that his
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APPENDIX F ARGUMENTS IN PRAYER FOR THE ORPHAN WORK
APPENDIX F ARGUMENTS IN PRAYER FOR THE ORPHAN WORK
THE arguments which I plead with God are: 1. That I set about the work for the glory of God, i.e., that there might be a visible proof, by God supplying, in answer to prayer only, the necessities of the orphans, that He is the living God, and most willing, even in our day, to answer prayer: and that, therefore, He would be pleased to send supplies. 2. That God is the "Father of the fatherless," and that He, therefore, as their Father, would be pleased to provide. (Psalm lxviii. 5.) 3. That I hav
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APPENDIX G THE PURCHASE OF A SITE, ETC.
APPENDIX G THE PURCHASE OF A SITE, ETC.
MR. BENJAMIN PERRY gives an account of the circumstances under which the land was purchased, prior to the erection of the orphan houses on Ashley Down, as he heard it from Mr. Müller's own mouth, showing how directly the Lord worked on the mind of the owner. Mr. Müller had been making inquiries respecting the purchase of land much nearer Bristol, the prices asked being not less than £1000 per acre, when he heard that the land upon which the Orphan Houses Nos. 1 and 2 stand was for sale, the pric
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APPENDIX H GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN PROVIDING
APPENDIX H GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN PROVIDING
MR. PERRY writes: At one meeting at Huntly, by special request Mr. Müller gave illustrations of God's faithfulness in answer to prayer, connected with the orphan work, of which the following are examples: a. He stated that at various times, not only at the beginning of the work, but also in later years, God had seen fit to try his faith to the utmost, but only to prove to him the more definitely that He would never be other than his faithful covenant-keeping God. In illustration he referred to a
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APPENDIX K FURTHER RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. MÜLLER
APPENDIX K FURTHER RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. MÜLLER
MR. PERRY furnishes also the following reminiscences: As George Müller was engaged in free, homely conversation with his friends on a Sunday afternoon within about three weeks of his departure to be with the Lord, he referred to two visits he had made during the previous week to two old and beloved friends. He had fully appreciated that, though they were about ten years younger than himself, his power to walk, and specially his power to continue his service for his Lord, was far greater than the
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APPENDIX L CHURCH FELLOWSHIP, BAPTISM, ETC.
APPENDIX L CHURCH FELLOWSHIP, BAPTISM, ETC.
WHEN brother Craik and I began to labour in Bristol, and consequently some believers united with us in fellowship, assembling together at Bethesda, we began meeting together on the basis of the written Word only, without having any church rules whatever. From the commencement it was understood that, as the Lord should help us, we would try everything by the word of God, and introduce and hold fast that only which could be proved by Scripture. When we came to this determination on Aug. 13, 1832,
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APPENDIX M CHURCH CONDUCT
APPENDIX M CHURCH CONDUCT
I.—QUESTIONS RESPECTING THE ELDERSHIP. (1) How does it appear to be the mind of God that, in every church, there should be recognized Elders? Ans. From the following passages compared together: Matt. xxiv. 45; Luke xii. 42. From these passages we learn that some are set by the Lord Himself in the office of rulers and teachers, and that this office (in spite of the fallen state of the church) should be in being, even down to the close of the present dispensation. Accordingly, we find from Acts xi
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THE WISE SAYINGS OF GEORGE MÜLLER
THE WISE SAYINGS OF GEORGE MÜLLER
FEW who have not carefully read the Narrative of Mr. Müller and the subsequent Reports issued year by year, have any idea of the large amount of wisdom which there finds expression. We give here a few examples of the sagacious and spiritual counsels and utterances with which these pages abound. I find it a difficult thing, whilst caring for the body, not to neglect the soul. It seems to me much easier to go on altogether regardless of the body, in the service of the Lord, than to take care of th
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