ar." [The individual who gave this 4l. 10s.
for the rent of the Orphan-Houses for the first three weeks after the
public meetings, at which the matter about the rent, for the
instruction of the brethren, was fully stated, continued for three
years, up to Dec. 10, 1841, to give regularly, but anonymously, 1l.
10s. a week for the same purpose, which was exactly the sum required
every week for the rent of those three houses. Thus the Lord rewarded
our faithfulness, in carrying out the light which He had given us.
But the chief blessing, resulting from this circumstance, I consider
to be this, that several brethren, who earn their bread by the labour
of their hands, have learned through this circumstance, that it is
the will of the Lord they should lay by their rent weekly. I beseech
those brethren who are not pursuing this course, to do so, and they
will soon prove by experience the benefit of acting on Scriptural
principles even as it regards this life.]

Dec. 17. Today eleven brethren and sisters were proposed for
fellowship. The Lord still uses us as instruments. Truly, our labour
in the Lord is not in vain!

Dec. 20. As the expenses for the Orphans have been above 47l. within
the last six days, and as but little above 13l. has come in, and as
the money for printing the Report had to be kept back, in order that
we might not be in debt, we were again today very low in funds,
though it is but six days since the public meetings. As I knew that
tomorrow several pounds would be needed to supply the matrons, I gave
myself this morning to prayer. About a quarter of an hour afterwards
I received 3l., the payment of a legacy, left by a sister, who fell
asleep in Jesus several months since, in Ireland. Besides this I
received from the brother, through whom the legacy was paid, 2l. 10s.
for the Orphan-Fund. With this 5l. 10s. I hope to be able to meet the
expenses of tomorrow.

I observe here that it might have been naturally supposed that every
heart would be touched, through what was publicly stated about the
remarkable manner in which the Lord had provided for us for nearly
150 days, and that consequently an abundance of means would have come
in. To this is to be added, that 50l. 5s. 3d. was in hand on Dec. 10,
and that therefore it seemed not likely that we should be in need;
and yet, by Dec. 20, we were again so poor, that there was nothing to
meet the expenses of the next day, as has just been related. All this
came not