Account of a Second Preaching Tour - George Mueller

Account of a Second Preaching Tour

After the singing of a hymn and prayer, Mr. Müller said, – One object, beloved brethren and sisters, why I propose that we should have this meeting is, as knowing how earnestly you prayed for myself and my beloved wife, both with regard to the service for the Lord, and with regard to blessing for our health of body and blessing to our souls, it seems right, suitable, and becoming, to bring before you cause for thanksgiving, for the Lord has been remarkably good to us in every way.  As to our health, we have been remarkably well.  If I may refer to myself, I have cause to say that during the forty-three years I have been in England, I have never had one single year that I have been in better health than during the past twelve months, and I find myself now as capable of work and labour, both as regards the body and mind, as I was fifty years ago.  I do not know of a particle of difference as to energy of mind and strength.  And as to voice, never during my whole life was it stronger than during the past twelve months, nor even when I first began to minister the Word, and ministered ten or twelve times a week, including services in the open air.  I never had an engagement made but I was able to fulfill it though during the time I was away I preached 328 times.  Now this is a matter for thanksgiving and as I know that you have been so kindly again and again remembering us, not only at these meetings but in the other chapels, and as I have the fullest reason to believe, in secret also, I feel it right to let this be known as a subject for praise and thanksgiving, how the Lord has been listening to your prayers; and we thank you heartily for the kind interest you have taken in us.  Nothing happened, all the thousands of miles we have traveled, in the way of harm.

Then with regard to the help which the Lord has given, eternity only can prove with regard to spiritual profit and blessing; but this I do say to the praise of His name, whatever the appearance may be, though I say it myself, I am certain I ­was never in one single city or town but the Master’s print was left behind.  Blessing, blessing in abundance, left behind, more especially among the children of God, though as to blessing among the unconverted there was a good deal.  My especial object was not to go as an evangelist, though I did it, and with greater power and help than ever; yet that was not the object, but my particular object was the edification of the people of God, to seek to help on the believers, and especially to care about strengthening the young disciples; and in every way and in every place God most abundantly blessed the labours, so that again and again I had thanks given me for the kindness in coming to them.  And again and again deputations were sent to thank me for coming to the place, on account of the blessing they had received.  What I have to say savours of praising myself.  I have counted the cost; I know well how one or the other who does not know me, and who does not desire to receive it from me as the desire to praise the Lord, will hear words of self-complacency and self-esteem.  But this I must leave with Him.  I seek to please Him.  But this you know, that if I sought to praise myself, the blessed Lord would soon put me down. 

When we set out, the first stage was London.  We were there fifteen days, and I preached four­teen times.  This sphere of service has always appeared to me one of the most glorious parts of my labour for the Lord, for I had from perhaps fifty or one hundred different Churches, individuals coming, so that among the 3,000 or more who heard me in the Conference Hall at Mildmay Park, were persons who came from all quarters of the city.  During the whole time I was exceedingly helped by the Lord, and I believe most abundant blessing resulted.  I preached to young converts five times, as well as to other Christians, and attended the noon meeting.

After this we turned our steps towards Scot land, for in the previous preaching tour we had not reached Scotland, and that was particularly laid on my heart. 

Mr. Müller then stated again the circumstances which at first led him to devote his time to this service, and gave as his chief reasons: first, be­cause in his work and labour in connection with the Church in Bristol for forty-three years, he had gathered a measure of experience on account of the length of time; and, second, because he had also gathered considerable experience in connection with the Orphan work which might be useful to others. 

On these accounts, he said: I felt a measure of responsibility laid on my heart to benefit other children of God in the way of comfort, instruction, warning, and that I should do my best to lend a helping hand to other believers.  Then many can bear me witness how for years I have again and again brought before you the importance not only of praying for evangelists, and to be thankful for evangelists, but to pray for pastors and teachers, that the young converts might be led on, Then I had it laid on my heart to follow up the work which God had wrought by the instrumentality of the beloved brethren Moody and Sankey, going to the places where they had been, and seeking to benefit the young converts.  This I have been enabled to do, so that now scarcely any place remains unvisited.  We have been to York, Sunderland, Newcastle, London (twice), Dublin, Glasgow, Dundee, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Wick; so that as far as I know there only remain Manchester and Birmingham.  And as I was going about from place to place I saw the deep importance yet further and further of being engaged in the work in which I was, because the blessing which has been communicated through these beloved American brethren was here and there in a measure beginning to grow cold; therefore the deep importance to lend a helping hand, to rouse, to strengthen the disciples, to bring before them not to be satisfied with first impressions, but to seek to grow, and particularly to be careful lest they should lose their first love. 

The first place visited in Scotland was Kilmarnock.  The largest parish church, holding 1,800, was placed at my disposal by the aged minister, a true evangelical man.  I preached there three times; also preached in two different Free churches, the church of the Evangelical Union, and the meeting-place of so-called Brethren,­ seven times altogether; also once at Saltcoats, Everywhere we were received with the greatest kindness, letters of commendation were not needed to one single place.  I was known every­where; everywhere I was loved and esteemed.  Hearts were opened, and pulpits were opened with delight.  This I felt to be the finger of God pointing out what was His will regarding me.  I had reason to believe it would be so, for my heart has been towards the Church of Christ for many a year.  I love all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and I was loved among all the denominations, and by them all received with open arms, and the greatest kindness shown by everyone, by Episcopalians, National Churches, United Presbyterians, Morrisonians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and so-called Brethren, – nothing but love shown me in all quarters!  If I had had ten times the amount of time I could have used it all, so vast the openings, so abundant the open­ings, – and in no little corners, but to vast congregations.  Now all this was God’s confirmation as to what He would have me do, even to make good use of these precious, blessed talents which He had put into my hands to use for Him in the closing days of my earthly pilgrimage.  Many of you have heard me pray that He would make the remaining days of my life the best part of my whole journey.  I believe He is answering my prayers in this way, in condescending to use a vile, wretched, miserable worm, to the blessing of tens and hundreds of thousands, as in the past year. 

After being in Kilmarnock a week, we went to Dundee.   We went to no place without clear guidance.  It was always manifest in every place that God had sent us there.  Work was ready for us, and blessing followed.  Our way to Dundee was instrumentally opened in this way.   We had a very affectionate invitation to go to the Conference there.  We waited on God about it, and as we prayed about it the matter became clear and distinct.  We went to Dundee.  At this Conference there was a large and particular service.  A vast number of brethren in the ministry were present, and among them I could seek just to do what could be done to lend them a helping hand in the way of encouragement; and though it may seem boasting, I dare not keep it back, for on the 17^th of next month it will be just fifty years I have been engaged in the ministry of the Word, and if I had nothing to say to my younger brethren in the ministry, it would be a shame to me.  I ought to be able to comfort, to encourage, and to help them, and by the grace of God I felt I had something to say.  There was no keeping back in the way of false humility, for to the praise and honour and glory of Gad I could bring out what I had to say.  At all these meetings I had blessed opportunities of giving out what I had learned, and all my mistakes I could bring out in the way of warning.  To speak within bounds, I have had the opportunity of bringing the truth before 2,000 ministers.  On one occasion alone I addressed for about an hour 500 of them, and at all the meetings they were present in great numbers.  For instance, I brought out how profitable I had found the inquirers’ meetings from my earliest days in the ministry; for although they were comparatively new in England, yet they were not new to me, as I had begun to hold them in Germany in 1828.  Then, “How to get a text?” How deeply important not only to preach but to have the very message God would have us to deliver.  Then, “What was the most profitable way of ministering?” Not sermonizing, but expounding the Scriptures, in order to lead the disciples to a love for the Word of God.  Everywhere I went entreating and beseeching them to make good use of the Word of God, more and more to became men and women of one Book, to be taken up with the Bible, and to find all and all with regard to spiritual things in this blessed Book.  And again and again they have thanked and blessed God that they have been stirred up to care about these things. 

In Dundee I preached in an immense hall, called Kinnaird Hall, to 2,000 or 3,000 people.  I preached also in a number of churches besides.  Among others, in the church where beloved holy McCheyne preached – St.  Peter’s church; also in the McCheyne Memorial church.  In all these places I attended the noon prayer-meetings, and particularly sought to revive the spirit of prayer, for I brought before them how entirely everything depended on earnestly dealing with God.  Everywhere I went the prayer-meetings increased fourfold or fivefold, and sometimes to a greater number than that; because I sought to bring before beloved brethren what it was to deal with God in simplicity, expecting great things from God; and the beloved brethren were encouraged thus to wait upon God, and blessing came.  During the sixteen days we were in Dundee I preached sixteen times, and once in the neighbourhood of Dundee, at Broughty Ferry. 

From Dundee we went to Perth.  I had been invited by a Baptist minister at Perth to come and preach there.  I knew nothing of the place except that this dear brother was a godly man, and that there were some beloved brethren in fellowship for many years, friends of beloved Mr. Craik, who had preached again and again in this Baptist chapel.  This I found to be a small place, and it was crowded to the utmost.  I next preached in the City Hall.  When we arrived there, there were ten or twelve of the ministers of the town waiting to receive us.  As they had no service in the evening (the preaching in Scotland being generally in the morning and afternoon), they were there to give me and my beloved wife the right hand of fellowship.  Then we went into the hall.  When they saw this hall crowded, they said, “It has been announced Mr. Müller will preach in the Baptist chapel, but the people cannot go in there;” and therefore they gave notice that I would preach in the United Presbyterian Church close by.  This they arranged entirely by themselves, without consulting me in the least showing by their lovely spirit and readiness to receive me.  We only stayed there five days, and then went to Glasgow, not only because there these American brethren had laboured, but because I was invited to come to the Conference.  At the Conference the crowd was immense, – about 5,000 being present, and hundreds unable to get in.  There was all but a complete disturbance on this account; but it was stated that Mr. Müller would repeat his address in one of the neighbouring churches, which I did, and also had the opportunity of enlarging upon the subject there, which I could not do at the Conference, on account of the number of speakers.  Every Lord’s-day I preached in the Prince of Wales’ Theatre to between 3,000 and 4,000.  Among these there were about 2,000 Christians, who had come there to get some spiritual food, as there are no churches open in the evening.  On the week evenings I preached in the largest churches in the place.  Five different Monday evenings I preached to young converts, and the places were crowded to the utmost, – aisles and pulpit-stairs being occupied, the number present being about 1,600, all young converts.  At another time I spoke to Christian workers in a church holding 1,600 or 1,700 people.  They were admitted by ticket, to insure that all should be bona fide Christian workers.  Then I also preached in the church in which Dr. Craik (brother of our de­parted brother Mr. Craik) preached.  At the noon meeting I was present as often as possible; and there, at twelve o’clock every day, I had a congregation of about 1,000, among which were a great number of ministers.  An Episcopalian bishop was again and again among my hearers, and I also had some conversation with him, Thus I went on in various places.  I may just mention that the longer I remained in places, not the fewer came, but the number increased; the taste and relish for the truth increased.

In Inverness I began with 400 or 500, but by the time we were leaving, the place was crowded.  I did not seek to excite the people, but to bring them to the Bible, and to make them value the Bible and prayer, and to expect great things from the Lord.

We were in Glasgow thirty-five days, and I preached thirty-five times.  Also at Kirkintilloch once, Pollockshaws once, and Hamilton once, making a total of thirty-eight times. 

While in Glasgow I had a pressing invitation from Dublin to go to the Conference there, but hesitated about accepting it, on account of the great blessing in Glasgow.   Then came a letter signed by seventeen ministers in Dublin, entreat­ing me to come.  At last I felt I ought to leave, as I should have a most blessed opportunity in Dublin.  Notwithstanding my natural disinclination for going to sea, we went; though in the depth of winter, we went; and it was of God that we went, for the opportunities were most blessed, I preached in the three largest halls, viz., the Metropolitan and Merrion Halls, and Exhibition Palace.  Then I preached also at one of the Free churches beside, and attended the noon meetings.  Wherever I went these noon meetings were placed at my disposal at once.  “Dear Mr. Müller, you may have them entirely to yourself, and give addresses at every one of them;” and in most places I did so.  In Dublin the Lord was with me, and blessed abundantly. 

While in Dublin I had time to look over letters I had received while in Glasgow, and among them was one inviting me to come to Liverpool and preach in the Victoria Hall, which letter I had not read till then.  Since my return I may say that I have looked over the letters of invitation, and I have now no less than ninety-eight letters of invitation from the largest towns.  When I read the letter from Liverpool, I thought this is too mighty for my voice, on account of the size; but we prayed about it, and I eventually agreed to go there.  We were twenty-one days in Dublin, and I preached twenty-four times. 

Before going to Liverpool, we went to Leamington in Warwickshire, where I preached fifteen times; to Coventry, where I preached twice; at Rugby once; at Kenilworth once.  During the twenty-seven days I was in Leamington and neighbourhood, I expounded the Scriptures every morning at a large establishment. 

Then we went to Liverpool.  On the Lord’s-day mornings we went to the Albion Hall for the breaking of bread, and in the evening to the Victoria Hall.  The Lord strengthened my voice, and I preached eleven times the first week in this place.  We went to York for one week.  Then back to Liverpool, and preached again at Victoria Hall six days following.  Many of the Liverpool merchants came from the Exchange to hear the address at the noon meetings.  Altogether, I preached at the Victoria Hal!  thirty­-nine times. 

From thence we went to Kendal; and here, remarkable to say, as a large place was desired, the beloved Society of Friends offered their meeting-place, it being the largest in the town.  I preached there twice, and twice in other places.  Next we went to Carlisle, where I preached once. 

Then to Annan, where I preached at the United Presbyterian Church.  In this place the total inhabitants are 3,000, but out of these 600 were present. 

Next we went to Edinburgh, where we remained six weeks.  The Free Church Assembly Hall was placed at my disposal, and I was re­quested to give addresses at all the noon prayer meetings, and hold as many meetings as I had strength for.  In Edinburgh I preached fifty-three times.  When in Glasgow I had a meeting with about 100 ministers of all denominations.  In Edinburgh I had a similar meeting, with about sixty or seventy of the ministers.  They asked a number of questions regarding pastoral work and the ministry of the Word, and everything was of the most affectionate character.  I also addressed a meeting of about 800 Christian workers, and by the request of a professor, addressed many divinity students for about an hour.

After leaving Edinburgh we went to Arbroath; then to Montrose, preached there four times; then to Aberdeen, where we stayed three weeks.  Here, in addition to other meetings, I had two meetings for women only: one meeting of 1,600, and another of 1,000.  The very first evening God gave testimony in the winning of one of them, who was a teacher, and was brought to the knowledge of the Lord.  From thence we went to Ballater, and then to Crathie.  I preached six times close to Her Majesty’s ground, the castle being within sight.  Several of the Queen’s household came: one, a German lady; also the housekeeper; and the head gardener, who is also one of the elders of the Free Church.  At that time it so happened there was a communion in the Free Church, and the dear minister asked me to speak at this service. 

Then we went to Braemar, where I preached twice.  Then to Inverness, Wick; and to the extreme end of Scotland, preaching in the parish where John O’Groat’s house is; and the scattered population came from three to six miles to hear.  Then to Inverness again, and back to England.  I purposed to have stayed a fortnight longer in Scotland, but the death of an aged Christian friend made it necessary that I should came back sooner.   We came to Reading, where we stayed thirteen days, and I preached thirteen times.  Then to London again for ten days, preaching ten times. 

Now I leave it with you, my beloved brethren, to form your own judgment as to what my business is.  But to whatever conclusion you might come, I can only say this, -Day by day we have been crying to God for guidance, light, and direction; and the longer I have been engaged in this service, the more I see it is the will of God I should devote the evening of my life to this blessed work.  Here I am: this seems the will of my heavenly Father; and until He speaks differently, what can I do but give myself to this service?  For I feel there is responsibility laid on me to attend to it, on account of the openings I have in every place; on account of the love I have received in every place; on account of the confidence saints have in me everywhere I go.  They say, “We know you by name for ever so long; and are delighted to see you and hear what you have to say!” I have found that where no one else could go, I have been received with open arms.  Brethren have told me, “Well, we will go and tell such a minister in the way of respect; but there is no prospect he will let you preach.”  The reply has been, “Is it Mr. MüIler of Bristol?  Mr. Müller of the Orphan Houses?  delighted to let him preach.”  Such a thing never heard of before.  Thus you see the openings God gives in every direction, and I feel the responsibility to use them.  I have felt like this: “I have been the servant of the saints here for forty-three years, and delighted to minister among you; and formerly when I went away for a month, it was always like banishment to me, and delighted I was when the time came to come back.  All this is now different.  I see God leads me; and just as much as I was opposed to go from Bristol, I am ready to follow the leadings of the Lord.  As long as He pleases to give health and strength and voice, and to give to Mr. Wright health and strength, and as long as there is nothing of a pressing character calling me back; what can I do but obey, and attend to this evident call from God to give myself to it?  What of course may be next year I cannot say, for I am now nearly seventy-one years of age; but at present this is my happy blessed service, in which I purpose to spend the evening of my life. 

Now I commend this matter to you, my beloved brethren, asking you to help by your prayers; asking God to sustain us physically, mentally, and spiritually, in our precious service; to be pleased to make use of us, both myself and my beloved wife, who gives away tracts and speaks a word in private.  All we can do is to commend ourselves to your prayers, that He would make it increasingly plain regarding us. 

George Mueller