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
The entries in the Diary at this period are not numerous: we select from
them the following short memorandum:--
1829. 4 _mo_. 9.--In our usual reading this morning, I was struck
with these words: "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in
heaven." (Matt, xviii. 19.) A fervent desire was raised in my heart that
we might unitedly ask for faith and strength to do the will of our
Heavenly Father, and that his blessing and preservation might attend all
that concerns us.
In the Fifth Month they attended the Yearly Meeting; and John Yeardley was
present at the anniversary of the Peace Society.
5 _mo_. 19.--Attended a meeting of the Peace Society, much to my own
satisfaction. It was truly gratifying to hear from those not in profession
with us, such strong and decided sentiments against all war, as being not
only inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, but also contrary to
sound policy. I am convinced _public_ meetings are necessary to keep
alive _public_ feeling, as well as to excite individual interest. As
it regards myself, I can say, before attending the meeting I felt but
little concern with respect to this great question.
Soon after their return home, they were comforted by the intelligence that
a few of those persons at Neufchatel who had so joyfully received their
gospel message, had found strength to establish a meeting for worship.
This information was contained in a letter from Auguste Borel, from which
the following is an extract:--
He who tries the heart, and who knew the sincerity of my desires, deigned
to hear my prayer on the 24th of February, when, without any previous
understanding, we met four in number at my house at ten o'clock in the
morning. This day is called with us _Torch Sunday_, and is a day of
rejoicing in the world; and, if I ought to say so, during my carnal life
it was to me a day of true pleasure, which I always looked for with
impatience, because of the great bonfires which are then lighted, and
which are seen from our city, illuminating every point of the wide
horizon. It is my hope that the God of love, in the analogy of the
spiritual order of things, may have kindled in our hearts his sacred fire,
and will condescend to maintain and increase it in time and in eternity.
Since that time we have continued our meetings without interruption: our
number has not yet exceeded six or seven. We do not force the work, but,
recognising that it is the Lord alone who has begun it, I feel daily more
and more that He alone ought to direct it.
A portion of this summer and autumn was occupied by John and Martha
Yeardley with holding public meetings for worship within the compass of
Pontefract and Knaresborough Monthly Meetings. Amongst the notices in the
Diary of these meetings, are the following:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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