A Narrative of some of the Lords Dealings with George Müller | Page 5

general, needed several times to be conversed with before being
admitted into fellowship. 4. That brother Craik and I have each of us
the care of two churches. At the first sight it appears as if the work is
thus divided, but the double number of meetings, &c., nearly double
the work. 5. The mere ruling, and taking care, in general, of a large
body of believers, irrespective of the other work, takes much more time,
and requires much more strength, than the taking care of a small body

of believers, as we, by grace, desire not to allow known sin among us. 6.
The position which we have in the church at large brings many brethren
to us who travel through Bristol, who call on us, or lodge with us, and
to whom, according to the Lord's will, we have to give some time. 7. In
my own case an extensive needful correspondence. 8. The weakness of
body on the part of both of us. When the preaching is done,--when the
strangers who lodge with us are gone,--when the calls at our house are
over,--when the needful letters, however briefly, are written,--when the
necessary church business is settled;--our minds are often so worn out,
that we are glad to be quiet. 9. But suppose we have bodily strength
remaining after the above things have been attended to, yet the frame of
mind is not always so, as that one could visit. After having been
particularly tried by church matters, which in so large a body does not
rarely occur, or being cast down in one's own soul, one may be fit for
the closet, but not for visiting the saints. 10. Lastly, in my own case, no
small part of my time is taken up by attending to the affairs of the
Orphan-Houses, Schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, the aiding
Missionary efforts, and other work connected with the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution.
III. What is to be done under these circumstances? 1. In the days of the
Apostles there would have been more brethren to take the oversight of
so large a body as we are. The Lord has not laid upon us a burden
which is too heavy for us; He is not a hard master. It is evident that He
does not mean us even to attempt to visit all the saints as much as is
absolutely needful, and much less as frequently as it would be desirable.
We mention this, to prevent uncomfortable feelings on the part of the
dear saints under our pastoral care, who find themselves not as much
visited as they used to be when we came to Bristol, when the number of
them was not 70, and now it is about 400, and when in many other
respects the work in our hands was not half so much, as it is now, and
when we had much more bodily strength. 2. it is therefore evident that
there are other pastors needed; not nominal pastors, but such as the
Lord has called, to whom He has given a pastor's heart, and pastoral
gifts. 3. Such may be raised up by the Lord from our own number, or
the Lord may send them from elsewhere. 4. But in the meantime we
should at least see whether there are not helpers among us. 5. As to the

work itself, in order that time may be saved, it appears desirable that
the two churches, Bethesda and Gideon, should be united into one, that
the breaking of bread should be alternately, and that the number of
weekly meetings should be reduced.
Oct. 21. A few weeks since I had rented a very large and a very cheap
house for the Boys' Orphan-House; but as the persons who lived in that
neighbourhood threatened the landlord with an action, on account of
letting his house for a charitable institution, I, at once, gave up all claim.
That which led me to do so, was the word of the Lord; "As much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." I was quite sure when I gave
up the agreement, that the Lord would provide other premises. On the
same morning when this took place, Oct. 5, the Lord, to show His
continued approbation of the work, sent 50l. by a sister, who is far from
being rich, for the furnishing of the Boys' Orphan-House. Now, today,
the Lord has given me another house for the Orphan-Boys, in the same
street, in which the other two Orphan-Houses are. Thus, in His own
time, He has sent help in this particular also. Indeed in everything, in
which I have had to deal with Him alone in this work, I have never
been disappointed.
Oct. 23. Today two young sisters were received into