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
J.Y. says, we sat until they had performed part of their worship, and then
the leader signified to the company that a few Friends from England were
present, and told us that if we had anything to offer we had full liberty
to do so. Silence ensuing, dear M.S. found herself constrained to address
them in a way suited to the occasion; I was also enabled to express what
came before me. They afterwards expressed their thankfulness for the
opportunity.
From Basle William Seebohm returned to Pyrmont, and the English Friends,
hoping that they might meet Louis Majolier at Berne, went forward to that
city, but were again disappointed.
Although they were anxious to reach Geneva as quickly as possible, the
attraction of gospel love towards Zurich was so strong that they could not
continue their journey until they had visited that city. They arrived
there on the 2nd of the Twelfth Month. The state of their own feelings and
the refreshing Christian intercourse which awaited them are thus described
in the Diary:--
First-day, we sat down to hold our little meeting. It was to me a low
time, but I still thought the hand of divine help was near to comfort us,
and before the close dear M. S. was drawn into supplication in a way which
expressed the feelings of all our hearts. After this season of spiritual
refreshment, we called on Professor Gessner, who, with his wife and
family, was truly glad to see us. Being near dinner-time, we could not
stay long; but their daughter offered to accompany us to her aunt's this
afternoon, and accordingly came to our inn, and went with us to "Miss"
Lavater, who, with Gessner's wife, is a daughter of the pious author
Lavater. She received us with open arms, but spoke only German, or at
least but very little French, so that M. S. conversed with her in German.
She spoke of Stephen Grellet with much interest and affection: he lives in
the remembrance of all in this country who have seen and known him, as
well as William Allen. How pleasant it is to find that such devoted
instruments have left such a good savor behind them! Wherever we follow
dear Stephen, his presence has made a sufficient introduction to us; but I
regret exceedingly my own incapability of being sufficiently useful in
these precious opportunities which we meet with: but, as we often say in
our little company, This is like a voyage of discovery; and our humble
endeavors, however weak, may have a tendency to open the way for others
who may be made more extensively useful, should such ever be led to visit
the solitary parts where we have been.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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