Leader in the Plymouth Brethren movement;
founder of Christian orphanages.
Among the greatest monuments of what can be
accomplished through simple faith in God are the
great orphanages covering thirteen acres of
ground on Ashley Downs, Bristol, England. When
God put it into the heart of George Muller to
build these orphanages, he had only two shillings
(50 cents) in his pocket. Without making his
wants known to any man, but to God alone, over
a million, four hundred thousand pounds
($7,000,000) were sent to him for the building
and maintaining of these orphan homes. When the
writer first visited them, near the time of Mr.
Muller's death, there were five immense buildings
of solid granite, capable of accommodating two
thousand orphans. In all the years since the first
orphans arrived the Lord had sent food in due
time, so that they had never missed a meal for
want of food.
Although George Muller became famous as one of
the greatest men of prayer known to history, he
was not always a saint. He wandered very deep
into sin before he was brought to Christ. He was
born in the kingdom of Prussia, in 1805. His
father was a revenue collector for the
government, and was a worldly-minded man. He
supplied George and his brother with plenty of
money when they were boys, and they spent it
very foolishly. George deceived his father about
how much money he spent, and also as to how he
spent it. He also stole the government money
during his father's absence.
At ten years of age, George was sent to the
cathedral classical school at Halberstadt. His
father wanted to make a Lutheran clergyman of
him, not that he might serve God, but that he
might have an easy and comfortable living from
the State Church. "My time," says he. "was now
spent in studying, reading novels, and indulging,
though so young, in sinful practices. Thus it
continued until I was fourteen years old, when
my mother was suddenly removed. The night she
was dying, I, not knowing of her illness, was
playing cards until two in the morning, and on
the next day, being the Lord's day, I went with
some of my companions in sin to a tavern, and
then, being filled with strong beer, we went
about the streets half intoxicated."
"I grew worse and worse," says he. "Three or
four days before I was confirmed (and thus
admitted to partake of the Lord's supper), I was
guilty of gross immorality; and the very day
before my confirmation, when I was in the vestry
with the clergyman to confess my sins (according
to the usual practice), after a formal manner, I
defrauded him; for I handed over to him only a
twelfth part of the fee which my father had
given me for him."
A few solemn thoughts and desires to lead a
better life came to him, but he continued to
plunge deeper and deeper into sin. Lying,
stealing, gambling, novel-reading, licentiousness,
extravagance, and almost every form of sin was
indulged in by him. No one would have imagined
that the sinful youth would ever become eminent
for his faith in God and for his power in prayer.
He robbed his father of certain rents which his
father had entrusted him to collect, falsifying
the accounts of what he had received and
pocketing the balance. His money was spent on
sinful pleasures, and once he was reduced to such
poverty that, in order to satisfy his hunger, he
stole a piece of coarse bread, the allowance of a
soldier who was quartered in the house where he
was. In 1821 he set off on an excursion to
Magdeburg, where he spent six days in "much
sin." He then went to Brunswick, and put up at
an expensive hotel until his money was
exhausted. He then put up at a fine hotel in a
neighboring village, intending to defraud the
hotel-keeper. But his best clothes were taken in
lieu of what he owed. He then walked six miles to
another inn, where he was arrested for trying to
defraud the landlord. He was imprisoned for this
crime when sixteen years of age.
After his imprisonment young Muller returned to
his home and received a severe thrashing from his
angry father. He remained as sinful in heart as
ever, but in order to regain his father's
confidence he began to lead a very exemplary life
outwardly, until he had the confidence of all
around him. His father decided to send him to the
classical school at Halle, where the discipline was
very strict, but George had no intention of going
there. He went to Nordhausen instead, and by
using many lies and entreaties persuaded his
father to allow him to remain there for two years
and six months, till Easter, 1825. Here he studied
diligently, was held up as an example to the other
students, and became proficient in Latin, French,
History, and his own language (German). "But
whilst I was outwardly gaining the esteem of my
fellow-creatures," says he, "I did not care in the
least about God, but lived secretly in much sin, in
consequence of which I was taken ill, and for
thirteen weeks confined to my room. All this time
I had no real sorrow of heart, yet being under
certain natural impressions of religion, I read
through Klopstock's works, without weariness. I
cared nothing about the Word of God."
"Now and then I felt I ought to become a
different person," says he, "and I tried to amend
my conduct, particularly when I went to the
Lord's supper, as I used to do twice every year,
with the other young men. The day previous to
attending that ordinance I used to refrain from
certain things, and on the day itself I was
serious, and also swore once or twice to God with
the emblem of the broken body in my mouth, to
become better, thinking that for the oath's sake
I should be induced to reform. But after one or
two days were over, all was forgotten, and I was
as bad as before."
He entered the University of Halle as a divinity
student, with good testimonials. This qualified
him to preach in the Lutheran state church. While
at the university he spent all his money in
profligate living. "When my money was spent,"
says he, "I pawned my watch and part of my linen
and clothes, or borrowed in other ways. Yet in
the midst of all this I had a desire to renounce
this wretched life, for I had no enjoyment in it,
and had sense enough left to see, that the end
one day or other would be miserable; for I should
never get a living. But I had no sorrow of heart
on account of offending God."
At the University he formed the acquaintance of
a miserable backslider, named Beta, who was
trying by means of worldly pleasures to drown out
his conviction of sin. They plunged into sin
together, and in June, 1825, George was again
taken sick. After his recovery they forged letters
purporting to be from his parents. With these
they obtained passports and set out to see
Switzerland. Muller stole from the friends who
accompanied him and the journey did not cost him
so much as it did them. They returned home to
finish up the vacation and then went back to the
University, Muller having lied to his father about
the trip to Switzerland.
At the University of Halle there were about nine
hundred divinity students. All of these were
allowed to preach, but Muller estimates that not
nine of them feared the Lord. "One Saturday
afternoon, about the middle of November, 1825,"
says he, "I had taken a walk with my friend Beta.
On our return he said to me, that he was in the
habit of going on Saturday evenings to the house
of a Christian, where there was a meeting. On
further inquiry he told me that they read the
Bible, sang, prayed, and read a printed sermon.
No sooner had I heard this, but it was to me as
if I had found something after which I had been
seeking all my life long. I immediately wished to
go with my friend, who was not at once willing to
take me; for knowing me as a merry young man,
he thought I should not like this meeting. At last,
however, he said he would call for me."
Describing the meeting, Muller said: "We went
together in the evening. As I did not know the
manners of the brethren, and the joy they have
in seeing poor sinners, even in any measure
caring about the things of God, I made an
apology for coming. The kind answer of this dear
brother I shall never forget. He said: 'Come as
often as you please; house and heart are open to
you."' After a hymn was sung they fell upon their
knees, and a brother, named Kayser, who
afterwards became a missionary to Africa, asked
God's blessing on the meeting. "This kneeling
down made a deep impression upon me," says
Muller, "for I had never either seen any one on
his knees, nor had I ever myself prayed on my
knees. He then read a chapter and a printed
sermon; for no regular meetings for expounding
the Scriptures were allowed in Prussia, except an
ordained clergyman was present. At the close we
sang another hymn, and then the master of the
house prayed." The meeting made a deep
impression upon Muller. "I was happy," says he,
"though if I had been asked why I was happy, I
could not clearly have explained it."
"When we walked home, I said to Beta, all we
have seen on our journey to Switzerland, and all
our former pleasures, are as nothing in
comparison with this evening. Whether I fell on
my knees when I returned home I do not
remember; but this I know, that I lay peaceful
and happy in my bed. This shows that the Lord
may begin his work in different ways. For I have
not the least doubt that on that evening He
began a work of grace in me, though I obtained
joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with
scarcely any knowledge. But that evening was the
turning point in my life. The next day, and
Monday, and once or twice besides, I went again
to the house of this brother, where I read the
Scriptures with him and another brother; for it
was too long for me to wait until Saturday came
again."
"Now my life became very different, though not
so, that my sins were all given up at once. My
wicked companions were given up; the going to
taverns was discontinued; the habitual practice
of telling falsehoods was no longer indulged in,
but still a few times more I spoke an untruth... I
now no longer lived habitually in sin, though I
was still often overcome and sometimes even by
open sins, though far less frequently than
before, and not without sorrow of heart. I read
the Scriptures, prayed often, loved the brethren,
went to church from right motives and stood on
the side of Christ, though laughed at by my
fellow students."
For a few weeks after his conversion Muller made
rapid advancement in the Christian life, and he
was greatly desirous of becoming a missionary.
But he fell in love with a Roman Catholic girl, and
for some time the Lord was well nigh forgotten.
Then Muller saw a young missionary giving up all
the luxuries of a beautiful home for Christ. This
opened his eyes to his own selfishness and enabled
him to give up the girl who had taken the place
of Christ in his heart. "It was at this time," says
he, "that I began to enjoy the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding. In this my joy I
wrote to my father and brother, entreating them
to seek the Lord, and telling them how happy I
was; thinking, that if the way to happiness were
set before them, they would gladly embrace it. To
my great surprise an angry answer was
returned."
George could not enter any German missionary
training institution without the consent of his
father, and this he could not obtain. His father
was deeply grieved that after educating him so
that he could obtain a comfortable living as a
clergyman he should turn missionary. George felt
that he could no longer accept any money from
him. The Lord graciously sent him means with
which to complete his education. He taught
German to some American college professors at
the University, and they handsomely remunerated
him for his services. He was now the means of
winning a number of souls to Christ. He gave
away thousands of religious tracts and papers,
and spoke to many persons concerning the
salvation of their souls.
Although, before his conversion, Muller had
written to his father and told him about sermons
he had preached, he never really preached a
sermon until some time after his conversion. He
thought to please his father by making him
believe that he was preaching. His first sermon
was a printed one which he had memorized for
the occasion. He had but little liberty in
preaching it. The second time he preached
extemporaneously and had some degree of liberty.
"I now preached frequently," says he, "both in
the churches of the villages and towns, but never
had any enjoyment in doing so, except when
speaking in a simple way; though the repetition
of sermons which had been committed to memory
brought more praise from my fellow creatures.
But from neither way of preaching did I see any
fruit. It may be that the last day will show the
benefit even of those feeble endeavors. One
reason why the Lord did not permit me to see
fruit, seems to me, that I should have been most
probably lifted up by success. It may be also
because I prayed exceedingly little respecting the
ministry of the Word, and because I walked so
little with God, and was so rarely a vessel unto
honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use."
The true believers at the University increased
from six to about twenty in number before Muller
left. They often met in Muller's room to pray,
sing and read the Bible. He sometimes walked ten
or fifteen miles to hear a really pious minister
preach.
In 1827 Muller volunteered to go as a missionary
pastor to the Germans at Bucharest, but the war
between the Turks and Russians prevented this.
In 1828, at the suggestion of their agent, he
offered himself to the London Missionary Society
as a missionary to the Jews. He was well versed
in the Hebrew language and had a great love for
it. The Society desired him to come to London
that they might see him personally. Through the
providence of God he finally secured exemption
for life from serving in the Prussian army, and
he went to England in 1829, at twenty-four
years of age. He was not able to speak the
English language for some time after he landed in
England and then only in a very broken manner at
first.
Soon after coming to England Muller received a
deeper Christian experience which entirely
revolutionized his life. "I came weak in body to
England." says he, "and in consequence of much
study, as I suppose, I was taken ill on May 15,
and was soon, at least in my own estimation,
apparently beyond recovery. The weaker I got in
body, the happier I was in spirit. Never in my
whole life had I seen myself so vile, so guilty, so
altogether what I ought not to have been, as at
that time. It was as if every sin of which I had
been guilty was brought to my remembrance; but
at the same time I could realize that all my sins
were completely forgiven -- that I was washed
and made clean, completely clean, in the blood of
Jesus. The result of this was great peace. I
longed exceedingly to depart and to be with
Christ..."
"After I had been ill about a fortnight my medical
attendant unexpectedly pronounced me better.
This, instead of giving me joy, bowed me down,
so great was my desire to be with the Lord;
though almost immediately afterwards grace was
given me to submit myself to the will of God."
That Muller always regarded the above experience
as one which deepened his whole spiritual life is
clearly shown by a letter of his which appeared in
the British Christian , of August 14, 1902. In this
letter Muller says: "I became a believer in the
Lord Jesus in the beginning of November, 1825,
now sixty-nine years and eight months. For the
first four years afterwards, it was for a good
part in great weakness; but in July, 1829, now
sixty-six years since, it came with me to an
entire and full surrender of heart. I gave myself
fully to the Lord. Honors, pleasures, money, my
physical powers, my mental powers, all were laid
down at the feet of Jesus, and I became a great
lover of the Word of God. I found my all in God,
and thus in all my trials of a temporal and
spiritual character, it has remained for sixty-six
years. My faith is not merely exercised regarding
temporal things, but regarding everything,
because I cleave to the Word. My knowledge of
God and His Word is that which helps me."
Being advised to go into the country for his
health, he prayed about it and finally decided to
go. He went to Devonshire, where the great
blessing he had already received was greatly
augmented by his conversations and prayers with
a Spirit-filled minister whom he first heard
preach at Teignmouth. Through the conversations
and sermons of this minister he was led to see as
never before "that the Word of God alone is our
standard of judgment in spiritual things; that it
can be explained only by His Holy Spirit; and that
in our day, as well as in former times, He is the
teacher of His people. The office of the Holy
Spirit I had not experimentally understood before
that time," says he. "The result of this was, that
the first evening that I shut myself into my room
to give myself to prayer and meditation over the
Scriptures, I learned more in a few hours than I
had done during a period of several months
previously." Again, he says: "In addition to these
truths, it pleased the Lord to lead me to see a
higher standard of devotedness than I had seen
before."
On his return to London, Muller sought to lead his
brethren in the training seminary into the deeper
truths he had been brought to realize. "One
brother in particular," says he, "was brought into
the same state in which I was; and others, I
trust, were more or less benefited. Several
times, when I went to my room after family
prayer, I found communion with God so sweet
that I continued in prayer until after twelve, and
then being full of joy, went into the room of the
brother just referred to, and finding him also in
a similar frame of heart, we continued praying
until one or two, and even then I was a few
times so full of joy that I could scarcely sleep,
and at six in the morning again called the
brethren together for prayer."
Muller's health declined in London and his soul was
also now on fire for God in such a way that he
could not settle down to the routine of daily
studies. His newly acquired belief in the near
coming of Christ also urged him forward to work
for the salvation of souls. He felt that the Lord
was leading him to begin at once the Christian
work he was longing to do, and as the London
Missionary Society did not see proper to send him
out without the prescribed course of training, he
decided to go at once and trust the Lord for the
means of support. Soon after this he became
pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, Teignmouth,
Devonshire. His marriage to Miss Mary Groves, a
Devonshire lady, followed. She was always of the
same mind as her husband and their married life
was a very happy one. Not long after his
marriage he began to have conscientious scruples
about receiving a regular salary, and also about
the renting of pews in his church. He felt that
the latter was giving the "man with the ring on
his finger" the best seat, and the poorer brother
the footstool, and the former was taking money
from those who did not give "cheerfully" or "as
the Lord had prospered them." These two customs
were discontinued by him. He and his wife told
their needs to no one but the Lord. Occasionally
reports were spread that they were starving; but
though at times their faith was tried, their
income was greater than before. He and his wife
gave away freely all that they had above their
present needs, and trusted the Lord for their
"daily bread."
Muller preached in many surrounding towns, and
many souls were brought to Christ in his
meetings. In 1832 he felt profoundly impressed
that, his work was ended in Teignmouth, and
when he went to Bristol the same year he was as
profoundly impressed that the Lord would have
him work there. When the Spirit, the Word, and
the providence of God agree, we may be quite
certain that the Lord is leading us, for these
three are always in harmony and cannot disagree.
Not only did Muller feel led of the Lord to work in
Bristol, but the providence of God opened the
way, and it seemed in harmony with the Word of
God.
Muller began his labors in Bristol in 1832, as co-
pastor with his friend Mr. Craik, who had been
called to that city. Without salaries or rented
pews their labors were greatly blessed at Gideon
and Bethesda Chapels. The membership more than
quadrupled in numbers in a short time. Ten days
after the opening of Bethesda there was such a
crowd of persons inquiring the way of salvation
that it took four hours to minister to them.
Subsequently Gideon Chapel was relinquished, and
in the course of time two neighboring chapels
were secured. These churches, though calling
themselves non-sectarian, were usually classed
with the people commonly known as "Plymouth
Brethren." Muller continued to preach to them as
long as he lived, even after he began his great
work for the orphans. At the time of his death he
had a congregation of about two thousand
persons at Bethesda Chapel.
In 1834 Mr. Muller started the Scripture
Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. Its
object was to aid Christian day-schools, to assist
missionaries, and to circulate the Scriptures.
This institution, without worldly patronage,
without asking anyone for help, without
contracting debts; without committees,
subscribers, or memberships; but through faith in
the Lord alone, had obtained and disbursed no
less a sum than £1,500,000 ($7,500,000) at the
time of Mr. Muller's death. The bulk of this was
expended for the orphanage. At the time of Mr.
Muller's death 122,000 persons had been taught in
the schools supported by these funds; and about
282,000 Bibles and 1,500,000 Testaments had been
distributed by means of the same fund. Also
112,000,000 religious books, pamphlets and tracts
had been circulated; missionaries had been aided
in all parts of the world; and no less than ten
thousand orphans had been cared for by means of
this same fund.
At the age of seventy, Mr. Muller began to make
great evangelistic tours. He traveled 200,000
miles, going around the world and preaching in
many lands and in several different languages. He
frequently spoke to as many as 4,500 or 5,000
persons. Three times he preached throughout the
length and breadth of the United States. He
continued his missionary or evangelistic tours
until he was ninety years of age. He estimated
that during these seventeen years of evangelistic
work he addressed three million people. All his
expenses were sent in answer to the prayer of
faith.
Greatest of all Muller's undertakings was the
erection and maintenance of the great
orphanages at Bristol. He began the undertaking
with only two shillings (50 cents) in his pocket;
but in answer to prayer and without making his
needs known to human beings, he received the
means necessary to erect the great buildings and
to feed the orphans day by day for sixty years.
In all that time the children did not have to go
without a meal, and Mr. Muller said that if they
ever had to go without a meal he would take it as
evidence that the Lord did not will the work to
continue. Sometimes the meal time was almost at
hand and they did not know where the food would
come from, but the Lord always sent it in due
time, during the twenty thousand or more days
that Mr. Muller had charge of the homes.
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