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 next halting-place on their route was Basle. This city, and the little
canton of which it is the capital, were then in a state of civil war. The
great political eruption of 1830, by which half Europe had been convulsed,
continued to agitate Switzerland long after it had spent its force
elsewhere. On the 3rd of the month, a little more than two weeks before
the date at which we are arrived, a large body of the citizens, under
arms, went out to reduce the peasants to subjection: the latter gave them
battle amongst the hills and entirely defeated them, killing 200 of their
number. The ferment was gradually subsiding when J. and M.Y. were in the
city.
They found the town pretty quiet, though full of soldiers. A general
sentiment seemed to prevail amongst serious persons, that the judgments of
the Lord were upon the country.
Poor Switzerland, exclaims J.Y., what an awful judgment is come upon thee!
Is it to be wondered at? within the last six months they have persecuted
and banished twenty ministers from the Canton of Basle, simply because
they preached the gospel, and the unbelieving inhabitants could not bear
it.
They visited the Mission-House, and held a large meeting there with the
students and others; Pastor Majors, who was present, from Strasburg,
interpreting for them. "It was," says J.Y., "a season long to be
remembered."
From Basle, they took the Diligence direct to Locle, where they spent two
days with M.A. Calame's large and interesting family. They were introduced
to Argyri Climi, whom they describe as a girl of "pensive character and
genteel manners." On the 26th they descended the slope of the Jura to
Neufchatel.
About 5 o'clock, says John Yeardley, we came in sight of the snow-capped
Alps. I saw them for some time through the trees, but the sun shone so
bright that I did not for a moment imagine they were any other than
clouds; but coming out from the wood I soon discovered my mistake; and a
most majestic, sublime sight, indeed it is.
At Neufchatel they took a lodging a little way out of the town, by the
lake, and remained there a month, receiving and making calls and holding
meetings for worship at the houses of their friends, as Professor
Petavel's, ---- Chatelain's, and in their own rooms. At the close of a day
spent in this manner J.Y. says:--
I feel this evening a degree of sweet peace, and a strong desire to become
more united to my Saviour, who died that we might live. When the mind is
fixed on eternity, how little do all other things appear! Lord, redeem me
from the world, and grant me power to live for thee alone!--(9
_mo_. 1.)
His observations on another similar occasion mark the religious state of
the deeply interesting company in this place, amongst whom they went about
in the liberty of the gospel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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