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
1 _mo_. 3.--This day I am thirty-five years old. Whether I may be
spared as many more, or whether I may only survive as many months, weeks,
days or hours, as I have now lived years, is altogether in the breast of
Him who has hitherto preserved me as a monument of his mercy. How awful
the consideration! To think that we may be called to give an account at
any hour of the day, and not frequently to examine the state of affairs
between us and our God, is complete infatuation. Strange as it may seem,
as it regards myself I stand condemned. I am sensible sufficient attention
is not paid to the important work of self-examination. O that this fresh
year may produce fresh vigilance!
In the Second Month, Ann Jones, accompanied by her husband and Isabel
Richardson, visited Bentham on a religious mission. Ann Jones had much
service, both in public and private. What she had to declare to John
Yeardley in particular was very remarkable, and reminded him of the
discourse of Sarah Lamley in 1814. He says;--
She said a good deal which so struck home to my feelings, that I have not
been so deeply reached in the same manner since dear Sarah Lamley visited
families at Barnsley. (_Letter to his brother._)
In the Third Month he found it to be his duty to attend some meetings of
Friends in going and returning from the Quarterly Meeting at Leeds. In his
diary of the 14th of the Third Month he speaks of making the necessary
application to the Monthly Meeting for its sanction, and, in that and some
succeeding entries, records his feelings on the occasion, and the help
which he received by the way.
This was new work to me; how I was humbled before I could be made willing
to mention my concern to my friends! which was done in such a faltering
manner that I believe many sympathized with me. When I had received the
meeting's approbation, I was thoughtful how I should get most conveniently
on my way. After our meeting I received a letter from dear S.S., saying
that he had felt a prayer raised in his heart, that I might be helped in
my undertaking by Him from whom best help comes, and that he was most easy
to propose accompanying me on my way in his gig. A very agreeable
companion he proved to be, and for this little act of dedication he shall
not lose his reward.
I left home on First day, the 25th, for Newton, over the Fells. There fell
much rain the day before, which swelled the waters so that my wife and I
became very thoughtful how I should get over the river to Newton, over
which there is no bridge. I thought that should I be favored to get over
safe and dry I would take it as a sign for good in the journey; and so it
was in mercy granted; for when I came to the water-side, I met a man on
horseback who let me ride his horse over. This was in a wild part of the
country, with not a house near. Simple as this may appear to some, I could
not but acknowledge in it a providence for which I was thankful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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