A Narrative of some of the Lords Dealings with George Müller | Page 4

from the vessel in
which she came yesterday, and we arrived before the steamer had left.
In all these four points I felt my dependence upon the Lord, and He,
having put prayer into my heart, answered it in each of these four
particulars.
Sept. 15. This evening we had a meeting for inquirers and applicants
for fellowship. There were more than we could see within three hours;
and when all strength was gone, we had to send away four. Among

those whom we saw was E. W., who had been kept for some time from
applying for fellowship, on account of not seeing believers' baptism to
be scriptural. She wished to be taught, but could not see it. She felt
grieved that on that account she could not attend to the breaking of
bread, which she did see to be scriptural. As soon as open communion
was brought about at Bethesda, she wished to offer herself for
fellowship, but was twice prevented by circumstances from doing so.
Last Wednesday evening she came to the baptizing, when once more,
after the lapse of more than two years, I preached on baptism, which
fully convinced her of its being scriptural, and she desires now to be
baptized. Her difficulty was, that she thought she had been baptized
with the Spirit, and therefore needed no water baptism, which now,
from Acts x. 44-47, she sees to be an unscriptural objection.--Though it
is only one month this day since my Narrative was published, I have
already heard of many instances in which the Lord has been pleased to
bless it.
This morning we received a parcel with clothes and some money for
the Orphans, from a sister at a distance. Among the donations in money
was a little legacy, amounting to 6s. 6 1/2d. from a dear boy, the
nephew of the sister who sent the things, who died in the faith. This
dear child had had given to him, in his last illness, some new shillings,
sixpences, and other smaller silver coins, amounting to the
above-mentioned little sum. Shortly before he fell asleep, he requested
that this his little treasure might be sent to the Orphans. This precious
little legacy is the first we have had.
Sept. 19. Two things were today particularly impressed upon my heart,
and may the Lord deepen the impression. 1. That I ought to seek for
more retirement, though the work should apparently suffer ever so
much. 2. That arrangements should be made, whereby I may be able to
visit the brethren more, as an unvisited church will sooner or later
become an unhealthy church. Pastors, as fellow-labourers, are greatly
needed among us.
Sept. 28, I have for a long time been too much outwardly engaged.
Yesterday morning I spent about three hours in the vestry of Gideon, to

be able to have more time for retirement. I meant to do the same in the
afternoon, but before I could leave the house I was called on, and thus
one person after the other came, till I had to go out. Thus it has been
again today.
Oct. 16. For a long time past brother Craik and I have felt the
importance of more pastoral visiting, and it has been one of our greatest
trials, that we have been unable to give more time to it. This evening
we had purposely a meeting of the two Churches, at which brother
Craik and I spoke on; I. The importance of pastoral visiting. II. The
particular obstacles which hindered us in attending to it. III. The
question whether there was any way of removing some of the obstacles.
I. As to the importance of pastoral visiting, the following points were
mentioned: 1. Watching over the saints, by means of visiting them, to
prevent coldness, or to recover them from backsliding. 2. To counsel
and advise them in family affairs, in their business, and in spiritual
matters. 3. To keep up that loving familiar intercourse, which is so
desirable between the saints and those who have the oversight of
them.--These visits should be, if possible, frequent; but in our case
there have been several obstacles in the way.
II. The particular obstacles in our case are: 1. The largeness of the
number who are in communion with us. One hundred would be quite as
many as we have strength to visit regularly, and as often as would be
desirable; but there are nearly 400 in fellowship with us. 2. The
distance of the houses of the saints from our own dwellings, as many
live more than two miles of. 3. The Lord's blessing upon our labours.
Not one year has passed away, since we have been in Bristol, without
more than fifty having been added to our number, each of whom, in