Part 13 (1/2)

This work of translation she partially accomplished, though somewhat imperfectly; and the whole occurrence impressed Mr. Muller as an indication that G.o.d was once more leading him in the direction of Germany, for another season of labour in his native land. Much prayer deepened his persuasion that he had not misread G.o.d's signal, and that His time had now fully come. He records some of the motives which led to this conclusion.

1. First, he yearned to encourage believing brethren who for conscience'

sake had felt constrained to separate themselves from the state churches, and meet for wors.h.i.+p in such conditions as would more accord with New Testament principles, and secure greater edification.

2. Being a German himself, and therefore familiar with their language, customs, and habits of thought, he saw that he was fitted to wield a larger influence among his fellow countrymen than otherwise.

3. He was minded to publish his Narrative in his own tongue wherein he was born, not so much in the form of a mere translation, as of an independent record of his life's experiences such as would be specially suited to its new mission.

4. An effectual door was opened before him, and more widely than ever, especially at Stuttgart; and although there were many adversaries, they only made his help the more needful to those whose spiritual welfare was in peril.

5. A distinct burden was laid on his heart, as from the Lord, which prayer, instead of relieving, increased--a burden which he _felt_ without being able to explain--so that the determination to visit his native land gave him a certain peace which he did not have when he thought of remaining at home.

To avoid mistake, with equal care he records the counter-arguments.

1. The new orphan house, No. 4, was about to be opened, and his presence was desirable if not needful.

2. A few hundred pounds were needed, to be left with his helpers, for current expenses in his absence.

3. Money was also required for travelling expenses of himself and his wife, whose health called for a change.

4. Funds would be needful to publish four thousand copies of his Narrative and avoid too high a market-price.

5. A matron for the new orphan house was not yet found, suitable for the position.

In this careful _weighing of matters_ many sincere disciples fail, p.r.o.ne to be impatient of delay in making decisions. Impulse too often sways, and self-willed plans betray into false and even disastrous mistakes.

Life is too precious to risk one such failure. There is given us a promise of deep meaning:

”The meek will He guide in judgment; And the meek will He teach His way.”

(Psalm xxv. 9.)

Here is a double emphasis upon _meekness_ as a condition of such guidance and teaching. _Meekness is a real preference for G.o.d's will._ Where this holy habit of mind exists, the whole being becomes so open to impression that, without any _outward_ sign or token, there is an _inward_ recognition and choice of the will of G.o.d. G.o.d guides, not by a visible sign, but by _swaying the judgment._ To wait before Him, weighing candidly in the scales every consideration for or against a proposed course, and in readiness to see which way the preponderance lies, is a frame of mind and heart in which one is fitted to be guided; and G.o.d touches the scales and makes the balance to sway as He will.

_But our hands must be off the scales,_ otherwise we need expect no interposition of His, in our favour. To return to the figure with which this chapter starts, the meek soul simply and humbly waits, and _watches the moving of the Pillar._

One sure sign of this spirit of meekness is the entire _restfulness_ with which apparent obstacles to any proposed plan or course are regarded. When waiting and wis.h.i.+ng only to know and do G.o.d's will, hindrances will give no anxiety, but a sort of pleasure, as affording a new opportunity for divine interposition. If it is the Pillar of G.o.d we are following, the Red Sea will not dismay us, for it will furnish but another scene for the display of the power of Him who can make the waters to stand up as an heap, and to become a wall about us as we go through the sea on dry ground.

Mr. Muller had learned this rare lesson, and in this case he says: _”I had a secret satisfaction in the greatness of the difficulties which were in the way._ So far from being cast down on account of them, they delighted my soul; for I only desired to do the will of the Lord in this matter.”

Here is revealed another secret of holy serving. To him who sets the Lord always before him, and to whom the will of G.o.d is his delight, there pertains a habit of soul which, in advance settles a thousand difficult and perplexing questions.

The case in hand is an ill.u.s.tration of the blessing found in such meek preference for G.o.d's pleasure. If it were the will of the Lord that this Continental tour should be undertaken at that time, difficulties need not cast him down; for the _difficulties could not be of G.o.d;_ and, if not of G.o.d, they should give him no unrest, for, in answer to prayer, they would all be removed. If, on the other hand, this proposed visit to the Continent were _not_ G.o.d's plan at all, but only the fruit of self-will; if some secret, selfish, and perhaps subtle motive were controlling, then indeed hindrances might well be interferences of G.o.d, designed to stay his steps. In the latter case, Mr. Muller rightly judged that difficulties in the way would naturally vex and annoy him; that he would not like to look at them, and would seek to remove them by his own efforts. Instead of giving him an inward satisfaction as affording G.o.d an opportunity to intervene in his behalf, they would arouse impatience and vexation, as preventing self-will from carrying out its own purposes.

Such discriminations have only to be stated to any spiritual mind, to have their wisdom at once apparent. Any believing child of G.o.d may safely gauge the measure of his surrender to the will of G.o.d, in any matter, by the measure of impatience he feels at the obstacles in the way; for in proportion as self-will sways him, whatever seems to oppose or hinder his plans will disturb or annoy; and, instead of quietly leaving all such hindrances and obstacles to the Lord, to deal with them as He pleases, in His own way and time, the wilful disciple will, impatiently and in the energy of the flesh, set himself to remove them by his own scheming and struggling, and he will brook no delay.

Whenever Satan acts as a hinderer (1 Thess. ii. 18) the obstacles which he puts in our way need not dismay us; G.o.d permits them to delay or deter us for the time, only as a test of our patience and faith, and the satanic hinderer will be met by a divine Helper who will sweep away all his obstacles, as with the breath of His mouth.

Mr. Muller felt this, and he waited on G.o.d for light and help. But, after forty days' waiting, the hindrances, instead of decreasing, seemed rather to increase. Much more money was spent than was sent in; instead of finding another suitable matron, a sister, already at work, was probably about to withdraw, so that two vacancies would need to be filled instead of one. Yet his rest and peace of mind were unbroken.

Being persuaded that he was yielded up to the will of G.o.d, faith not only held him to his purpose, but saw the obstacles already surmounted, so that he gave thanks in advance. Because Caleb ”followed the Lord fully,” even the giant sons of Anak with their walled cities and chariots of iron had for him no terrors. Their defence was departed from them, but the Lord was with His believing follower, and made him strong to drive them out and take possession of their very stronghold as his own inheritance.

During this period of patient waiting, Mr. Muller remarked to a believing sister: ”Well, my soul is at peace. The Lord's time is not yet come; but, when it is come, He will blow away all these obstacles, as chaff is blown away before the wind.” _A quarter of an hour later,_ a gift of seven hundred pounds became available for the ends in view, so that three of the five hindrances to this Continental tour were at once removed. All travelling expenses for himself and wife, all necessary funds for the home work for two months in advance, and all costs of publis.h.i.+ng the Narrative in German, were now provided. This was on July 12th; and so soon afterward were the remaining impediments out of the way that, by August 9th, Mr. and Mrs. Muller were off for Germany.

The trip covered but seven months: and on March 6, 1844, they were once more in Bristol. During this sojourn abroad no journal was kept, but Mr.