6 necessary; nor was any religious creed or opinion rejected; but the simple fact of the child having been born in lawful wedlock, and both the parents dead, were sufficient to insure admission. At the close of the year 1837, Mr. Müller thus sums up the progress of his work. Two years ago this day (December 9th), I stated my intention of establishing an Orphan House, if God should permit. What has God wrought since? Seventy-five orphans are now under our care, and twenty-one more we can receive. Several more are daily expected. During the last twelvemonth, the expenses have been about £240, and the income about £840. In addition to this, about £400 have been expended upon the schools, the circulation of the Scripture, and in aiding missionary purposes. More than £1000 have been needed during the past year, and all, our good Lord has supplied, without one single person having been asked for anything.' It is interesting and instructive to trace the steps, by which this devout foreigner was led on from the first conception of the design of the Orphan House, and the first years of its existence, to the magnitude and importance to which it has now attained on Ashley Down; and to witness the ups and downs, so to speak, of the state of the funds; being frequently reduced so low as to be unable, without that morning's providential contribution, to pay for the milk for breakfast. Their regular daily breakfast marked the hand of a canny Scotchman. It consisted of oatmeal porridge and milk, which without doubt is the best food for children that can be given; for there is considerably more nourishment in oatmeal than there is in the flour of wheat. But During the month of August, 1838, the faith of these benevolent men was daily put to the test; nevertheless, it failed not, and help invariably came in from one source or another. On September 1st, Mr. Müller wrote in his Journal:-The Lord, in His wisdom and love, has not yet sent help. Whence it is to come need not be my care. I believe God will, in due time, send help. As there was money needed in the boy's Orphan House also, the same brother just alluded to gave £2 for that also. Thus, we were delivered at this time also. But now his means are gone. This is the most trying hour that I have as yet had in the work, as regards means; but I know that I shall yet praise the Lord for His help. I have mentioned my arguments before Him, and my gracious Lord, the 'Father of the fatherless,' will send help.' Accordingly, after waiting patiently many days, sixpence was found in the box at Gideon Chapel, which he took as an earnest that God would have compassion, and send more; an hour afterwards, sister' called on his wife, and left four sovereigns for the orphans, which were immediately invested in porridge and milk. In this sort of way he went on, with many severe trials of faith; and though we have often been reduced to the greatest extremity, yet the orphans have lacked nothing.' 6 a From the year 1840 till 1844, Mr. Müller's and his friend's faith was sharply tried; he says, 'Of all the seasons that I have ever passed through, since I have been living in this way, which is now about twelve years, I never knew any period in which my faith was so severely tried, as during the four months from December 12th, 1841, till April 12th, 1842.' Till August, 1844, it pleased God to supply all the needs of the orphans, and those connected with the Institution, by granting far larger sums for its support than ever, and for more than twelve months, with constant abundance, through voluntary and unsought contributions, in answer to their prayers. In 1843, Mr. Müller and his associates fitted up another house, No. 1 in the same street. One of his chief difficulties was to obtain suitable and godly persons for it-suitable in age, health, gifts, experience, love for children, true godliness, and of a ready mind to serve God in the work; for the work of God in their hands is really carried on with a true purpose to serve God. And he resolved, by divine grace, never to give to any brother or sister a situation in connexion with the Institution, for the sake of providing for them, if they are not suitable for it, according to the light which God gives him. Towards the end of the year 1845, Mr. Müller began to contemplate the erection of a large building on Ashley Down, capable of containing upwards of three hundred orphans; and he was impelled to this step, not only by increasing demands for admission, but from the intimations of dislike which he received to the proximity of his present houses to the dwellings of his neighbours in Wilson Street. He says, 'After I had spent a few hours in prayer and meditation over the subject, I began to see that the Lord would lead me to build; and that His intentions not only were the benefit of the orphans, and the better ordering of the whole work, but also the bearing still farther testimony that He could and would provide larger sums for those who need them, and trust to Him for them.' Accordingly, Mr. Muller, in conjunction with his wife, commenced daily prayer for clearer light on several points connected with the proposed building; and as he felt certified that it was the Lord's will that he should build, he began to ask of God for means to enter upon the work. He considered that premises sufficient to accommodate three hundred boys and girls from infancy to sixteen years of age, rooms to teach the boys trades, and ground for spade husbandry, could not cost less than £10,000. He was not discouraged, but put his trust in the Living God ;' and he was not disappointed. He rested on St. Paul's words, 'Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.' After he and his partners had continued many days in prayer, on the-thirty sixth day he received his first donation of £1,000, for the building of the Orphan House. Twenty days afterwards another donation of £1,000 was received for the same purpose. In a short time seven acres of land were purchased, at a reduced price, from a brother in the Lord;' in July 1846 a donation was received of £2,000; and during the rest of this year donations ranging from £50 to to £300-besides many smaller sums-were received; and at the close of the year, a donation of £1,000 was received. He would not begin building until he had received the requisite sum. On the 25th of January, 1847, he made the following entry in his Diary: 'The season of the year is now approaching when building may be begun. Therefore, with increased earnestness, I have given myself unto prayer, importuning the Lord that He would be pleased to appear on our behalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required, and I have increasingly of late felt, that the time is drawing near when the Lord will give me all that which is requisite for commencing the building. All the various arguments which I have often brought before God, I brought also again before Him. It is now fourteen months and three weeks since, day by day, I have uttered my petitions to God, in behalf of this work. I rose this morning in full confidence from my knees, not only that God could, but also would send the means, and that soon. Never, during all these fourteen months and three weeks, have I had the least doubt that I should have all that is requisite. And now, dear believing reader, rejoice and praise with me. About an hour after I had prayed thus, there was given to me the sum of £2000 for the Building Fund. Thus, I have received altogether £9,285 38. 93d. towards this work. I cannot describe the joy I had in God when I received this donation. It must be known from experience, in order to be felt. **** Add to this, what came in during that time [447 days] for present use, for the various objects of the Institution, and the total is above £12,500, entirely the fruit of prayer unto God! (To be continued). DESCRIPTION OF CEYLON. WE have extracted the following description of Ceylonits climate, extent, and population, from the Colombo Observer of May 29th, 1856; being the first letter of a series on the statistics of Ceylon, which are to be published in that newspaper. In sailing along the coast, strangers are de lighted with the noble prospect which the Island of Ceylon presents; being in a high degree mountainous; hills appearing beyond hills, some of which are covered with trees, whilst others present bold rocky fronts and very singular shapes; giving to the whole coast a most beautiful and romantic appearance. The eye dwells upon the lovely prospect with pleasure, and feels refreshed by the grateful verdure. We gather, however, from the itinerary of the late Rev. James Cordiner, a native of Peterhead, and in 1820 the schismatical minister of St. Paul's Chapel in Aberdeen, who was for several years in that Island; that 'Ceylon is spoken of at Madras with great disrespect, looked down upon as a very inferior field of employment, and represented to strangers in the most unfavourable light. Ever since it was 'Land of delight! than which the rolling sun This beautiful Island, which is nearly as large as Ireland, lies at the foot of one of the most extensive continents of the world. It has been aptly compared to a pearl-drop from the brow of India.' The Gulf of Manaar separates its North-Eastern Coast from the shores of the continent, whilst on all the other sides it is washed by the Indian Ocean. The sea shore is in general level and monotonous, but the greater part of the interior is diversified by mountains. The general direction of the mountain chain is from South to North; but it is much broken up and intersected by beautiful, broad and fertile valleys, varying from one to six thousand feet above the level of the sea. The mountains themselves vary from 3,000 to 8,280 feet, the latter being the elevation of Pedrotallagalla, a rounded dome which overlooks the valley of Newera-Etha on the one side, and that of Maturatta on the other. The peaks which come next to this one, in point of elevation, are Kirigalpotta to the south of it, which is 7,810 feet; Totapella to the Eastward, which is 7,720 feet; and Adam's Peak, which for a long period was considered, as it is still by the natives, to be the highest of all, 7,420 feet; taking their rise in these mountains and traversing the valleys are a number of streams of various sizes. The largest of these is the Mahavilleganga-the Ganges of Ptolemy which has its origin near the summit of Pedrotallagalla, and after a tortuous course falls into the sea near Trincomalie on the North-East side of the Island. Three or four other streams of considerable size empty themselves on the West coast. The Island, being open to the influence of two monsoons, which alternately prevail in the Indian seas, includes |