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
He was, say they, formerly minister at Bordeaux, but received a strong
impression that it was his religious duty to come to Paris. Soon after he
left Bordeaux, a great awakening took place in that neighborhood under the
ministry of his successor, while with himself at Paris all seemed darkness
and discouragement. This induced him to think he had done wrong in
removing, and he was much distressed; but as he persevered in doing what
presented as his duty, his way for usefulness in this great city opened in
a remarkable manner. He first opened the chapel in the Taitbout, and then
one in the Faubourg du Temple, where his labors have been crowned with
success. He told us with great simplicity that he never premeditated or
wrote his sermons, but after reading a portion of Scripture proceeded to
speak from what he felt to impress his mind at the time. He said some of
the ministers considered their discourse before delivering it, and he
believed their mode of preaching was also blessed. Being accustomed to
arrange their thoughts in methodical order, perhaps such might not perform
so well in any other way, and the people were used to it; but he preferred
speaking from a more spontaneous spring of thought, though not so well
arranged as to theological order.
We felt much inclined to hear him for ourselves, and attended in the Rue
St. Maur on First-day evening; and we have this testimony to bear,--that
we heard the _gospel_ preached to the _poor_. He first read the
25th Psalm, and then part of the Epistle to the Romans, which formed the
basis of his exhortation. It reminded me of [what I have read of] the
preaching of the early Christians. My very heart went with his impressive
exhortation to believe in the Lord Jesus as the only means of salvation,
and of the necessity of bringing forth fruits unto holiness.
7 _mo_. 5.--Pastor Grandpierre came to pay us a visit with four of
his missionary students. We had a precious religious opportunity with
them. The Pastor expressed his belief that the power and presence of the
Saviour had been evidently felt among us. The young men were much
tendered; one of them was a grandson of the late Pastor Oberlin, and had
been sensibly affected by what Stephen Grellet had said in a meeting at
his father's place of worship in the Ban de la Roche. Three of the young
men who were in the institution at our last visit to Paris are now in
Africa. We admire the principle on which this establishment is conducted;
the inmates are not sent out unless they believe it to be their duty to
go; if this be not the case at the expiration of their term, they return
home.
On the 7th John Yeardley, accompanied by Joseph Grellet, brother of
Stephen Grellet, visited the Sabbath-school in the Rue St. Maur. Martha
Yeardley was indisposed and unable to leave the house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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