e. While
he was thus lying awake his mind was all the time occupied about the
piece of land respecting which inquiry had been made of him for the
building of an Orphan House, at my request; and he determined with
himself that, if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have
it, but for one hundred and twenty pounds per acre, instead of two
hundred pounds, the price which he had previously asked for it. How good
is the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased a
field of nearly seven acres, at one hundred and twenty pounds per acre.

Observe the hand of God in my not finding the owner at home last
evening! The Lord meant to speak to his servant first about this matter,
during a sleepless night, and to lead him _fully_ to decide before I had
seen him.

Feb. 8. I wrote the day before yesterday to the architect, who has
offered his help gratuitously.

Feb. 11. Received from a sister in the Lord five pounds. Received also
from the architect the following reply to my letter:--

MY DEAR SIR:

It will afford me a gratification, beyond what I can communicate
by letter, to lend you the helping hand in the labor of love you
are engaged in, and I shall esteem it a very great privilege
being allowed to exercise my abilities as an architect and
surveyor in the erection of the building you propose to erect
for the orphans. I really do mean what I say, and, if all is
well, by the blessing of God, I will _gratuitously_ furnish you
with plans, elevations, and sections, with specification of the
work, so that the cost may be accurately estimated. I will also
make you an estimate and superintend the works for you
_gratuitously_, etc.

The total amount which has been given for the building fund, up to June
4, 1846, is two thousand seven hundred and ten pounds three shillings
five and a half pence. This is only a small part of what will be needed;
but, by the grace of God, I am in perfect peace, being fully assured
that God in his own time will send the whole sum which is required. Many
and great have already been the exercises of faith and patience since I
first began to give myself to prayer about this work, and still greater
they may be, before it is accomplished; but God, in the riches of his
grace, will help me through them all. It is now (June 4, 1846) two
hundred and twelve days since I first began to pray about this work, and
day after day, since then, h