"Would the believer, therefore, have his faith strengthened, he must especially, _give time to God_, who tries his faith in order to prove to His child, in the end, how willing He is to help and deliver him, the moment it is good for him." In the early years of the Institution Mr. Müller and his fellow labourers had to endure many severe trials of faith, as some of these instances show. Mr. Müller when writing of this period says:-- "Though now (July, 1845) for about seven years our funds have been so exhausted, that it has been a _rare_ case that there have been means in hand to meet the necessities of more than 100 persons for _three days_ together; yet I have been only once tried in spirit, and that was on September 18, 1838, when, for the first time the Lord seemed not to regard our prayer. But when He did send help at that time, and I saw that it was only for the trial of our faith, and not because He had forsaken the work, that we were brought so low, my soul was so strengthened and encouraged, that I have not only not been allowed to distrust the Lord, but _I have not been even cast down when in the deepest poverty_ since that time." A GIFT OF £12. "Aug. 20 [1838].--The £5 which I had received on the 18th. had been given for house-keeping, so that to-day I was again penniless. But my eyes were up to the Lord. I gave myself to prayer this morning, knowing that I should want again this week at least £13, if not above £20. To-day I received £12 in answer to prayer, from a lady who is staying at Clifton, whom I had never seen before. Adorable Lord, grant that this may be a fresh encouragement to me!" A SOLEMN CRISIS. Regarding one of the sharpest times of trial Mr. Müller writes:--