ight be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the
children of God besides being a testimony to the consciences of the
unconverted, of the reality of the things of God. This, then, was the
primary reason, for establishing the Orphan-House. I certainly did from my
heart desire to be used by God to benefit the bodies of poor children,
bereaved of both parents, and seek, in other respects, with the help of
God, to do them good for this life;--I also particularly longed to be used
by God in getting the dear orphans trained up in the fear of God;--but
still, the first and primary object of the work was, (and still is:) that
God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under my care are
provided, with all they need, only by prayer and faith, without any one
being asked by me or my fellow-labourers, whereby it may be seen, that God
is FAITHFUL STILL, and HEARS PRAYER STILL. That I was not mistaken, has
been abundantly proved singe November, 1835, both by the conversion of
many sinners who have read the accounts, which have been published in
connexion with this work, and also by the abundance of fruit that has
followed in the hearts of the saints, for which, from my inmost soul, I
desire to be grateful to God, and the honour and glory of which not only
is due to Him alone, but which I, by His help, am enabled to
ascribe to Him.

November 28. I have been, every day this week, very much in prayer
concerning the Orphan-House, chiefly entreating the Lord to take away
every thought concerning it out of my mind, if the matter be not of Him;
and have also repeatedly examined my heart concerning my motives in the
matter. But I have been more and more confirmed that it is of God.

December 2. I have again these last days prayed much about the
Orphan-House, and have frequently examined my heart, that if it were at
all my desire to establish it for the sake of gratifying myself I might
find it out. To that end I have also conversed with brother Craik about
it, that he might be instrumental in showing me any hidden corruption of
my heart concerning the matter, or any other scriptural reason against
my engaging in it. The one only reason which ever made me at all doubt as
to its being of God, that I should engage in this work, is, the
multiplicity of engagements which I have already. But that which has
overbalanced this objection in my mind has been:--1. That the matter
is of such great importance. 2. That if the matter be of Go