is thing in particular; I have therefore the
comfortable assurance that He will direct my paths concerning this part
of my service, as to whether I shall be occupied in it or not. Further:
"The integrity of the upright shall preserve them; but the perverseness
of fools shall destroy them." Prov. xi. 3. By the grace of God I am
upright in this business. My honest purpose is to get glory to God.
Therefore. I expect to be guided aright. Further, "Commit thy works unto
the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established." Prov. xvi. 8. I do
commit my works unto the Lord, and therefore expect that my thoughts
will be established.--My heart is more and more coming to a calm,
quiet, and settled assurance, that the Lord will condescend to use me
yet further in the Orphan Work. Here, Lord, is Thy servant!

Jan. 14. Twelve days have passed away since I wrote the last paragraph.
I have still, day by day, been enabled to wait upon the Lord with
reference to enlarging the Orphan Work, and have been, during the whole
of this period also, in perfect peace, which is the result of seeking in
this thing only the Lord's honour and the temporal and spiritual
benefit of my fellowmen. Without an effort could I, by His grace, put
aside all thoughts about this whole affair, if only assured that it is
the will of God I should do so; and, on the other hand, would at once go
forward, if He would have it to be so. I have still kept this matter
entirely to myself. Though it is now about seven weeks, since day by
day, more or less, my mind has been exercised about it, and since I have
daily prayed concerning it; yet not one human being knows of it. As yet
I have not mentioned it even to my dear wife, in order that thus, by
quietly waiting upon the Lord, I might not be influenced by what might
be said to me on the subject. This evening has been particularly set
apart for prayer, beseeching the Lord once more, not to allow me to be
mistaken in this thing, and much less to be deluded by the Devil. I have
also sought to let all the reasons against building another
Orphan-House, and all the reasons for doing so, pass before my mind; and
now, for the sake of clearness and definiteness, write them down.

Reasons against establishing another Orphan-House for

Seven Hundred Orphans.

1. Would not this be going beyond my measure spiritually? according to
that word: "For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that
is among you, not to think of himse