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
I am now left alone for a short time; my young companion is at Norwich. If
thou wert at home, pretty well in health, and withal not so much occupied
as sometimes, it would be a great pleasure and gratification to me to pay
thee a short visit; but, as an absolute condition, I must request thee to
say, in perfect freedom, if it would be quite convenient. I want to ask
thee _many, many_ things.
Thy friend, affectionately and very sincerely,
JOHN YEARDLEY.
After his return home, having also visited Saffron Walden, he writes:--
1 _mo_. 25.--Just returned from a visit to Essex. I lodged a week at
my dear friend S.C.'s, and was edified and comforted in her company. It
has been a promised pleasure of some years' standing. The morning meeting
on First-day, as well as the one on Fourth-day, was a season of spiritual
refreshment, for which I was truly thankful. The Friends testified their
unity and comfort: I called on most of them.
On the Seventh-day, C.M. conveyed me across the country to Saffron Walden.
On the way we paid a sweet visit to the afflicted family of ----. At
Walden I was affectionately cared for, and was much interested in the
Friends there, whom I had not seen for eighteen years.
CHAPTER XXI.
LAST JOURNEY AND DEATH, 1858.--CONCLUDING REMARKS.
We are now arrived at the closing scene of John Yeardley's labors. The
impression which he had received, during his visit to Turkey in 1853, of
the opening for the work of the Gospel in the Eastern countries, had never
been obliterated; it had rather grown deeper with time, although his
ability to accomplish such an undertaking had proportionately diminished.
This consideration, however, could not satisfy his awakened sympathies,
and, according to his apprehension, no other course remained for him but
to prepare for a visit to the missionary stations in Asia Minor and the
countries beyond, in order to deliver to the inquiring inhabitants amongst
whom those stations are planted, the message of Christ's love to their
souls with which he believed himself to be charged. And when he
communicated to his friends the apprehension that this journey was
required of him as the last offering of thanksgiving before his day
closed, they were satisfied to "lay their hands upon him" for the work,
thinking, perhaps, that the veteran soldier could not better end his
campaign than with his arms in his hands, actively contending for the
faith. That such might not improbably be the issue of the enterprise, John
Yeardley himself believed; but it is doubtful if he correctly estimated
the arduous nature of the journey. It would have been a bold undertaking
in the vigor of his days: at his time of life, and with his declining
strength, it was, humanly speaking, impossible that he should accomplish
nearly all he had in view.
His Diary unfolds his spiritual exercises and his natural feelings in the
prospect before him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account