numbering in all 118, were removed from the rented houses on Wilson street, to the new Orphan House, amply furnished and complete for the accommodation of 300 in

mates.

In the close of the year 1850, Mr. Müller, reviewing the progress of the work, states that there were, then, 308 persons, including orphans, teachers, nurses and servants, connected with the establishment. From the beginning, 443 orphans had been under his care, and nearly $160,000 had been given for the support of the orphans and the erection of the building, in answer to prayer and without any one having been asked to contribute. About this time the applicants for admission far exceeded the capacity of the building, and the thought was suggested that it might be to God's glory that another house, capable of accommodating 700 orphans, making 1000 in all, should be erected. Months were spent in prayer and self-examination before this thought was mentioned to any one. But at last the way was made plain, and, after four years of patient waiting, the original thought was so far modified that it was judged best to commence the erection of a building capable of containing 400 orphans, on the south side of the new Orphan House, with the design of subsequently erecting a building capable of containing 300 more on the north side. At this time there were 715 applicants waiting for admission; and Mr. Müller's zeal was quickened by a fact which appeared in the census of Great Britain, that there were about 6000 young orphans in the prisons of England. On November 12, 1858, he writes, "The long looked for and long prayed for day had now arrived when the desire of my heart was granted to me, to be able to open the house for 400 additional orphans ;" and, encouraging Christians patiently to wait on God, he adds: "You may have to pray

long, as I had in this case for nearly seven years, but the answer is certain." Up to this time the heart of this faithful servant of the Lord and those associated with him in the instruction of the orphans had often been cheered by conversions among the children, and several of them had fallen asleep in Jesus. But during this year there was a remarkable work of grace in the Institution. Out of 140 girls in the original Orphan House there were 23 respecting whom there was no doubt that they were believers; and many more in both houses were under concern for their souls.

Mr. Müller designed to erect an additional building for 300 orphans on the north side of the original building, but it was thought better to procure additional ground for the purpose. Accordingly, 114 acres of land were bought, only separated from the original site by the road, and on this it was decided to erect a house with accommodation for 450 instead of 300. This building was commenced in July, 1859, and was opened on March 12, 1862, so that the report for that year is entitled, "Brief Narrative of Facts relative to the New Orphan Houses, for 1150 Children, on Ashley Down, Bristol, etc." In recording the opening of Orphan House No. 3, Mr. Muller says: "Observe then, esteemed reader, how long it may be before a full answer to our prayers is granted, though these prayers may be believing prayers, earnest prayers, and offered up in the name of Jesus; and though we may desire the answer only for the honor of our Lord. For I did, by the grace of God, without the least doubt or wavering, look for more than eleven years for the full answer; I earnestly importuned the Lord; I alone looked for the answer on the ground of the worthiness of the Lord Jesus, judging myself entirely unworthy of an answer; and I only sought in this matter the glory of God."

Before this third house was completed his spirit was exercised about a still further enlargement of the work. For weighty reasons, and after much prayer, he determined to aim at the erection of two additional houses, Nos. 4 and 5, for the accommodation of 850, which, with the houses already opened, will make accommodation for 2000 orphans in all. These two buildings it is estimated will cost $200,000, but it is proposed to proceed with the erection of No. 4 so soon as there shall be about $100,000 in hand, and of this over $60,000 had been received up to May 26, 1863. At that date there were 1060 orphans in the three houses already opened, and the total number who had been under Mr. Muller's care from April 11, 1836, is 1681. The amount that has been given for the orphans during that period exceeds $800,000, all given as the result of prayer to God, without personal application to any man. So scrupulous has Mr. M. been on this point that, when persons desirous to aid the institution have inquired into the state of its funds, he has declined to answer, though at the time he may have stood greatly in need of aid. In all his reports he dwells upon the peace he has enjoyed in relying upon God for every thing, and we only regret that space is not afforded us to cite some of the marvellous interpositions of God on behalf of His trusting servant. In his narrative he seeks to encourage believers "fully, unreservedly, and habitually to depend upon God for every thing."

Speaking of the mode of admitting orphans to the benefits of the institution, he says: "Without any sectarian distinction whatever, and without favor or partiality, the orphans are received in the order in which application is made for them. I do not belong to any sect, and am not therefore influenced by sectarianism. The new Orphan Houses on Ashley Down are not my Orphan Houses, nor the Orphan

Houses of any sect or party; but they are God's Orphan Houses, and the Orphan Houses for any and every destitute orphan who has lost both parents by death, provided, of course, there be room for them.”

We have only been able to state the general results of a life of faith, in which God has glorified Himself in our day, and we must leave the statement without comment. The narratives from which we have gathered these facts have been widely blessed not only to the comfort of the children of God, but to the conversion of sinners. They were mainly instrumental in originating the recent extensive revival and awakening in Ireland. We cannot but cherish the hope that even this imperfect abstract may encourage some timid believer to greater boldness at a throne of grace. At least it will turn the hearts of Christians to Mr. Muller and the orphans in fervent sympathy; prayers on their behalf will ascend, and God's name will be magnified in abundant thanksgiving in view of the monument to His grace and faithfulness which He has reared in the face of an unbelieving age.

THE DISPENSATIONS, PROPHETICALLY AND DOCTRINALLY

CONSIDERED.

BY W. C. BAYNE MCGILL UNIVERSITY.

IN undertaking to sketch, in a series of articles, the leading features of the Dispensations, as prophetically and doctrinally considered, the experience of many years attests that nothing is better calculated to strengthen faith than to trace in the earlier revelations, as in the womb and dawn of time, the great purposes of God which are about to be fulfilled, and which are clearly unfolded on thees of Scripture with more immediate reference to our own dispensation. Though the limits of these articles necessarily render the view brief and fragmentary, still, being convinced that the comparison of things new and old out of the treasury of God, is the safest clue to the meaning of Scripture, we cherish the hope that enquiry may be stimulated, and that, by Divine help, enquiry may be, though we cannot pretend to satisfy it, since the subjects are inexhaustible.

As introductory to the whole subject, a few words in defence of the study of prophecy may not be out of place. Those who object to the study do not reflect how much our daily pursuits and expectations are influenced by prophecy. Our confidence in the continued rotation of the seasons rests, not on the order of Nature, but on the promise made to Noah, Gen. viii. 22, that "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and win