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GEORGE MUELLER OF BRISTOL
Appendix
D. The Scriptural Knowledge Institution For Home And Abroad
I. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION.
1. WE consider every believer bound, in
one way or another, to help the cause of Christ, and we have scriptural
warrant for expecting the Lord's blessing upon our word of faith and labour
of love: and although, according to Matt. xiii.24-43, 2 Tim. iii. 1-13, and
many other passages, the world will not be converted before the coming of
our Lord Jesus, still, while He tarries, all scriptural means ought to be
employed for the ingathering of the elect of God.
2. The Lord helping us, we do not mean to
seek the patronage of the world; i.e., we never intend to ask
unconverted persons of rank or wealth to countenance the Institution,
because this, we consider, would be dishonourable to the Lord. In the name
of our God we set up our banners, Ps. xx.5; He alone shall be our Patron,
and if He helps us we shall prosper, and if He is not on our side, we shall
not succeed.
3. We do not mean to ask
unbelievers for money (2 Cor. vi.14-18); though we do not feel ourselves
warranted to refuse their contributions, if they, of their own accord
should offer them. (Acts xxviii. 2-10.)
4. We reject altogether the help of
unbelievers in managing or carrying on the affairs of the Institution. (2
Cor. vi.14-18.)
5. We intend never to enlarge the field
of labour by contracting debts (Rom. xiii.8), and afterwards appealing to
the church of God for help, because this we consider to be opposed both to
the letter and the spirit of the New Testament; but in secret prayer, God
helping us, we shall carry the wants of the Institution to the Lord, and
act according to the means that God shall give.
6. We do not mean to reckon the success
of the Institution by the amount of money given, or the number of Bibles
distributed, etc., but by the Lord's blessing upon the work (Zech. iv.6);
and we expect this, in the proportion in which He shall help us to wait
upon Him in prayer.
7. While we would avoid aiming after needless singularity, we desire to go on simply according to Scripture, without compromising the truth; at the same time thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced believers, after prayer, upon scriptural ground, may have to give us concerning the Institution.
II. THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION ARE:
1. To assist day-schools,
Sunday-schools, and adult-schools, in which instruction is given upon
scriptural principles, and, as far as the Lord may give the means, and
supply us with suitable teachers, and in other respects make our path
plain, to establish schools of this kind.
b. Sunday-schools, in which all the
teachers are believers, and in which the Holy Scriptures alone are the
foundation of instruction, are such only as the Institution assists with
the supply of Bibles, Testaments, etc.; for we consider it unscriptural
that any persons who do not profess to know the Lord themselves should be
allowed to give religious instruction.
We sell Bibles and Testaments to poor persons at reduced price. But while we, in general, think it better that the Scriptures should be sold, and not given altogether gratis, still, in cases of extreme poverty, we think it right to give, without payment, a cheap edition.
We desire to assist those missionaries whose proceedings appear to be most according to the Scriptures.
It is proposed to give such a portion of the amount of the donations to each of the fore-mentioned objects the Lord may direct; but if none of the objects should claim a more particular assistance, to lay out an equal portion upon each; yet so that if any donor desires give for one of the objects exclusively the money shall be appropriated accordingly.
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