Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the GospelYeardley, John
Religion
Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel
Yeardley, John
Clergy -- United States -- Biography; Quakers -- Biography; Yeardley, John, 1786-1858
This has been a day of great trial on account of my dear Martha being much
worse. My poor mind has been distressed at her weak state: I should sink
under discouragement, did I not consider that He who sends affliction can
support in it, and he who brings low can raise up in his own time, if it
be his blessed will, to which all must be submitted.
In the Seventh Month he took her to Harrowgate, where her health became
very much restored, and soon after their return they paid a religious
visit to Ackworth School and to the families of Friends in Barnsley.
Some of the opportunities at Ackworth, writes John Yeardley, were seasons
of much contrition of spirit; feeling deeply humbled under a sense of
Divine goodness and mercy in restoring this large family to usual health
after a time of deep affliction.
In the latter part of this year they were much occupied in establishing an
Infant School at Barnsley; and also in collecting and remitting
subscriptions to Mary Anne Calame for her Orphan Institution. In
acknowledging to Martha Yeardley one of these remittances, M.A.C. writes
thus:
May our Heavenly Father render thee a hundredfold what thy charity has
prompted thee to do for my numerous family of children; and may his
blessing rest on all those who have contributed to it.
We think of you every day, and we desire to live only to do the holy will
of our God. Your visit has been a testimony of his love towards us; he has
permitted that it should be blessed to us; for the remembrance of you
carries as towards Him who is the finisher of our faith, where we mingle
with you in the unfathomable sea of the divine mercy.
My large family is much blessed; good and happy tendencies manifest
themselves in many, and in general peace reigns through the house. The
assistant masters and mistresses walk more or less in the presence of the
Lord; the governess [M. Zimmerling] especially grows deeper in the divine
life: she is often ill, but she bears this cross, by the help that is
given her from above, with much submission and faith.
Last month we had the pleasure of making a little journey to Berne and the
neighborhood, to visit our friends there who love you so much. We heard
that you had both fallen into the sea, and that thou wast ill in
consequence. Thou mayst understand how the wishes of our hearts
encompassed thee; I have felt my soul for ever united to thine in the
Lord; and it seems to me that if my eyes should never again meet thine in
this land of exile, I should speedily recognize thee in the happy mansions
where the goodness of the Redeemer has prepared us a place. O, my sister,
may he bless thee, may he bless John whom he has given thee to accomplish
his work; may he open thy mouth and direct all thy steps, and give seals
to thine and thy husband's ministry, and make you increase together unto
the stature of Christ.--(12 _mo_. 14, 1828.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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