m actually to have done so. "Greater and
more manifest nearness of the Lord's presence I have never had than
when after breakfast there were no means for dinner for more than a
hundred persons; or when after dinner there were no means for the tea,
and yet the Lord provided the tea; and all this without one single
human being having been informed about our need.... Through Grace my
mind is so fully assured of the faithfulness of the Lord, that in the
midst of the greatest need, I am enabled in peace to go about my other
work. Indeed, did not the Lord give me this, which is the result of
trusting in him, I should scarcely be able to work at all; for it is
now comparatively a rare thing that a day comes when I am not in need
for one or another part of the work."[311]

[311] The Life of Trust; Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings with
George Muller, New American edition, N. Y., Crowell, pp. 228, 194, 219.

In building his orphanages simply by prayer and faith, Muller affirms
that his prime motive was "to have something to point to as a visible
proof that our God and Father is the same faithful God that he ever
was--as willing as ever to prove himself the living God, in our day as
formerly, to all that put their trust in him."[312] For this reason he
refused to borrow money for any of his enterprises. "How does it work
when we thus anticipate God by going our own way? We certainly weaken
faith instead of increasing it; and each time we work thus a
deliverance of our own we find it more and more difficult to trust in
God, till at last we give way entirely to our natural fallen reason and
unbelief prevails. How different if one is enabled to wait God's own
time, and to look alone to him for help and deliverance! When at last
help comes, after many seasons of prayer it may be, how sweet it is,
and what a present recompense! Dear Christian reader, if you have
never walked in this path of obedience before, do so now, and you will
then know experimentally the sweetness of the joy which results from
it."[313]

[312] Ibid., p. 126.

[313] Op. cit., p. 383, abridged.

When the supplies came in but slowly, Muller always considered that
this was for the trial of his faith and patience When his faith and
patience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means.
"And thus it has proved,"--I quote from his diary--"for to-day was
given me the sum of 2050 pounds, of which 2000 are for the building
fund