articularly to bless me by them, with regard to the work
before me, and that I should especially need patience as well as faith,
I stayed at Kendal from the evening of Dec. 4 to Dec. 8, when I left for
Bristol, where I arrived on Dec. 9th. It was now 35 days that I had been
day by day bringing this matter before God, as to the various points
connected with it, and especially also asking the Lord for means; but
nothing whatever had been given to me. On the day after my return I
renewed our united prayer meeting with my dear wife. Now observe: on the
36th day, after having begun to pray, on Dec. 10, 1845, I received
1000l. towards the building of the Orphan-House. This is the largest
donation that I had received up to that time for the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm, as quiet,
as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was looking out for
answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers to my prayers.
Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this donation did not in
the least surprise me. Yea, if Five Thousand Pounds, or Ten Thousand
Pounds, had been given to me, instead of One Thousand Pounds, it would
not have surprised me.

Dec. 13. On the 39th day my sister-in-law, who had been for some weeks
absent in London, and who had now returned to Bristol, told me that she
had met a gentleman in London, who, having quite recently read with deep
interest the Narrative of the Lord's dealings with me, wished to know
as many particulars about the work in my hands as he could. Being told
by my sister-in-law that I purposed to build an Orphan-House, he, an
architect, offered to make the plan, and superintend the building,
gratuitously. Unsolicited he pressed this matter upon her with deep and
lively interest. I hear also that he is a Christian. The fact, that this
offer comes unsolicited and from a Christian architect, shows especially
the hand of God. This is the second proof that God will help me in this
matter.

Dec. 23. This is now the 50th day since I have come to the conclusion to
build, and the 49th day since we have been daily waiting upon God for
help. Nothing more has come in since Dec. 10th, not even one penny. This
morning I have been particularly encouraged by the consideration that
the Lord has sent me the 1000l. and the promise from that pious
architect, whom I have never seen, and of whose name I am as yet in
ignorance, not to mock me, but as an earnest th