y more than a trial of faith, had the
Lord in anger shut up His hands, we should not receive any thing at
all. But this is not the case. For even this very day two sacks of
potatoes were sent by the same brother who sent twenty sacks a few
days since, with the promise to send still more. We have no means to
lay in a stock for the winter, else we should have bought, perhaps,
fifty or sixty sacks; but our kind Father does it for us. There has
been also a toy chest of drawers promised for sale.

Nov. 16. Our prayer was last evening, in particular, respecting the
necessities of today, as two days' provisions would be needed, it
being Saturday. Besides this, about 2l. 10s. was needed to pay the
weekly salaries of the brethren and sisters who labour in the
Day-Schools. For all these demands there was nothing in hand, nor
have we any more needless articles to dispose of; and useful ones we
do not consider it right to sell, as our Father knows our need. When
we met about twelve o'clock this morning, I found that last evening
there had been Bibles unexpectedly sold to the amount of 1l. 11s.
6d., and about 10s. had been given besides. Thus we had nearly enough
for the School-Fund. Moreover, 15s. had come in for the Orphan-Fund.
A large sea-chest was given by a brother several months since, for
the benefit of the Orphans, which had never been disposed of, and
which, in this our great need, was sold for 15s. Yet this 15s. was
needed to pay what was due for washing; and, therefore, we had still
nothing to take in provisions with. It occurred to one of the
labourers, that there might be a little advanced on his watch, of the
money which had been laid by for rent, as had once or twice before
been done; and that the watch might be sold at quarter-day, in case
there should not come in enough to make up the deficiency. Yet even
this plan we did not any longer think to be quite Scriptural, as he
needs the watch in the Lord's service, and as our Lord is so kind,
that He would otherwise send us means, were it well for us. In short,
it appeared to us quite clear, that while we ought, in such a strait,
to dispose of things which we do not need, nothing ought to be
disposed of which is needed, in order that the Lord's own deliverance
might be so much the more manifest. All we could think of for sale
was five pewter dishes, which had been given nearly four years ago,
but which were never used, as they were not convenient. These we
agreed shoul