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 went there on the 9th inst., and my intention to be there being known a
few days before caused many of these awakened people to attend the meeting
so that the little school-room was quite full, and many stood in the
passage. I was truly thankful to be amongst them, for it proved a most
satisfactory season. They are a rustic set of folks, but have each a soul
to save or to lose, and all souls are of equal value in the sight of the
Judge of the whole earth. Lewis Seebohm kindly gave up his time to attend
me as interpreter, for I still prefer help of this sort when it can be
done through one who is so feelingly capable. I often feel as a poor
wandering stranger in a strange land, and yet I dare not complain. The
goodness of the Lord is great towards me; he opens the hearts of those
whom I am concerned to visit, to receive me into their hearts and houses,
so that it affords me great freedom in speaking to them on serious
subjects relating to their best interests, both spiritual and temporal. I
am convinced if we mean to be useful to a people of a strange land, all
must be done in a spirit of love and humility; with the weak we must be
willing to become weak; only we must be on our guard and not flinch from
our well-known testimonies.
The reflection contained in the passage which follows is of deep
significance, and the lesson it conveys is one which the Church has as
much need to learn now as at any former period.
15_th_.--We find recorded in the writings of our ancient Friends that
occasionally a few words spoken in the course of common conversation made
a deep impression on the minds of those to whom they were addressed. The
cause must have been that they lived in a more retired state of mind, and
were consequently better prepared to feel the smallest of good impressions
in themselves, and were also more attentive to embrace every opportunity
of improving the minds of others. I fail in this respect; I do not live
enough in what may be truly called a spirit of prayer. I must be more
watchful over my thoughts, words and actions, and improve my seasons of
retirement; for there is no other way of preservation than by waiting and
praying for a renewal of spiritual strength.
John Yeardley then reverts, as he so often does, to the love of souls in
Germany, which was the means of causing him to leave his native land, and
which he says had not diminished during his eighteen months' residence
among them. To these thoughts he adds some considerations regarding the
temporal condition of the Society of Friends there, on account of which he
was often very solicitous.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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