ly brought in during this
year, as the audited accounts show, a little more than they cost.

But, perhaps, you say, Yes, it is just these Reports, why there is
nothing at all remarkable in the matter. Our reply is: We do not pretend
to miracles. We have no desire even, that the work, in which we are
engaged, should be considered an extraordinary one, or even a remarkable
one. We are truly sorry that many persons, inconsiderately, look upon it
almost as a miraculous one. The principles on which we are acting are as
old as the Holy Scriptures. But they are forgotten by many; and they are
not held in living faith by others; and by some they are not known at
all; nay, they are denied even to be Scriptural by not a few, and are
considered as wild and fanatical. It is ascribed to my being a foreigner
that I succeed so well, or to the novelty of the thing, or to some
secret treasure to which I have access; but when all will not account
for the progress of the work, it is said, the Reports produce it all. My
reply to these different objections is: My being a foreigner, looked at
naturally, would be much more likely to hinder my being intrusted with
such large sums, than to induce donors to give. As to the novelty
procuring the money, the time is long gone by for novelty, for this is
June 1856, and the work commenced in March 1834. As to the secret
treasure to which I have access, there is more in this supposition than
the objectors are aware of; for surely God's treasury is
inexhaustible, and I have that (though that alone) to go to, and have
indeed drawn out of it, simply by prayer and faith, more than 113,000l.
since the beginning of the work. But now as to the last objection, that
the Reports are the means by which all the money is obtained: let us
consider this a little, for I do heartily desire that the Reader may not
lose the blessing, which this Institution is intended to convey to his
soul. My reply is: There is nothing unusual in writing Reports. This is
done by public Institutions generally, but the constant complaint is,
that Reports are not read. Our Reports are not extraordinary as to the
power of language, or as to striking appeals to feelings. They are
simple statements of facts. These Reports are not accompanied by
personal application for means; but they are simply sent to the donors,
or to any other individuals who wish to have or purchase them. If they
produce results, which Reports generally do not, I can onl