y ascribe it
to the Lord.

I do not mean to say that God does not use the Reports as instruments in
procuring us means. They are written in order that I may thus give an
account of my stewardship, but particularly, in order that, by these
printed accounts of the work, the chief end of this Institution may be
answered, which is to raise another public testimony to an unbelieving
world, that in these last days the Living God is still the Living God,
listening to the prayers of His children, and helping those who put
their trust in Him; and in order that believers generally may be
benefited and especially be encouraged to trust in God for everything
they may need, and be stirred up to deal in greater simplicity with God
respecting everything connected with their own particular position and
circumstances; in short, that the children of God maybe brought to the
practical use of the Holy Scriptures, as the word of the Living God.--
But while these are the primary reasons for publishing these Reports, we
doubt not that the Lord has again and again used them as instruments in
leading persons to help us with their means. For as we continually stand
in need of considerable sums, and as even hundreds of pounds go but a
very little way, I entreat the Lord day by day, and generally several
times every day, to supply me with means, to speak to the hearts of His
dear children, and to constrain them by the love of Christ to help me
out of the means, with which He has intrusted them; and so it comes to
pass, I doubt not, that the Lord again and again works by His Spirit in
the hearts of those who have read or heard the Reports. But whether we
are supplied with means through the Reports or irrespective of them; in
either case it is God, who is working for us, and it is to this I wish
to direct the mind of the Reader.

Means for the support of the 300 Orphans already under my care, sent in
answer to Prayer, from May 26, 1855, to May 26, 1856.

When this period commenced, I had 116l. 17s. 8 1/2 d. in hand for the
support of the Orphans, an amount so small, looking at it naturally,
that one would be ready to say, there would be soon nothing in hand.
Thus indeed it would have been, had the Lord not been pleased further to
send in means; but He, in His fatherly care, never ceased to remember
our need and to provide for its supply. The expenses were very heavy,
month after month, not only because of the greatness of the
Establishment, but i