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
You sometimes are restless in these meetings, not knowing how to keep your
thoughts fixed on heavenly things, and perplexed for want of some visible
means of instruction. I believe your tender Saviour may often feed you,
even while in this state, with food convenient for you. But remember, dear
children, that he is always calling to every one of you, Come unto Me.
Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not. O! come to
him, my precious lambs, and he will feed you, and "lead you beside the
still waters, and make you lie down in green pastures."
* * * * *
(12 _mo_. 8, 1854 At a Funeral.)
_And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs
and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away._--(Isa. xxxv. 10.)
In the pain of parting with the beloved object of our heart's affection,
we forget the rejoicing which welcomes the ransomed spirit to its
everlasting rest. But when the time is come for the Lord to pour in the
healing balm into the sorrowing soul, then we find a little comfort. ....
"Watchman! what of the night? Watchman! what of the night? The watchman
said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire
ye: return; come." There are many in this company in the morning of life,
enjoying the prospect of many days, and forming many plans for the future,
with all the ardor of their youthful minds. May the present occasion prove
the morning of their spiritual day; and may they remember that the
_night cometh as well as the morning_.
How thin is the partition which separates the present state from that of
eternity! We mourn over those who are taken away from us, and we fancy we
are left alone. But we are called to be _one in Christ_. I have great
faith in the communion of saints, in the union of saints on earth with
saints in heaven. And we are all called to be saints by walking in faith,
by leading a life of holiness in the fear of the Lord. We say our beloved
friends who have gone before us are dead. _They are not dead: they have
but just entered into life._ Let us not mourn, then, as those who have no
hope. Let us rather rejoice with them and for them, and so live that we
may be among the ransomed of the Lord, who shall return and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, and sorrow and sighing
shall flee away.
THE END.
[Footnote 1:
The memorandum here referred to is in the Diary, under date of the 18th of
the Sixth Month.]
[Footnote 2:
Life of B. Grubb, 2nd ed., p. 219.]
[Footnote 3:
The introduction was made by Thomas Shillitoe, at the time of the Yearly
Meeting. He said to M.S., "Let me introduce thy brother to thee."
"_Brother_!" she exclaimed, with surprise. "Yes," answered the good
old man; "all who have been on the Continent are brothers and sisters."]
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