Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel Part 47

To this shrewdness of observation, he added a racy humor which those who knew him in his hours of relaxation and familiarity will not easily forget. His mind was stored with quaint and pithy phrases, and apt ill.u.s.trations, which he not unfrequently seasoned with his native idiom, the broad Barnsley dialect. His north-country p.r.o.nunciation, indeed, never entirely forsook him; and the singular graft of German which he made upon it during his residence abroad, caused it to be commonly supposed, by those who were strangers to his history, that he was a native of Germany.

The same moral const.i.tution that enabled John Yeardley to pursue his objects with indomitable perseverance, sometimes betrayed him, as may easily be imagined, into a tenacity of purpose, bordering upon obstinacy.

To the same strength of will also, acting on the defects incident to a neglected education in early life, must be attributed those strong prejudices which were at times to be remarked in him, and of which he found it extremely difficult to divest himself. But it was the triumph of grace, that whilst these faults of character and disposition remained for the most part only as a hidden thorn, the messenger of Satan to buffet him, the virtues to which they were allied, and all the faculties of his mind, were consecrated to the service of G.o.d and of his fellow-man, and his whole nature was enlarged, refined and elevated, by the all-powerful energy of the gospel.

"Very sweet and instructive are our recollections of the humility of his walk amongst us, and of the liveliness of his ministry, marked as it was by much simplicity, love and earnestness." To this testimony of his Monthly Meeting, all who were accustomed to hear him will readily subscribe.

We are able to append some notes of a few of his public testimonies, which we give as likely to be at once gratifying and instructive to the reader.

The friend to whom we are indebted for them informs us that "the notes were written immediately after meeting, and are as nearly the words used as his memory would furnish." He adds, "They bring before the mind's eye and ear the face and voice of a dear departed friend, and, I believe, a true and enlightened servant of the Lord."

(8 _mo_, 1850.)

_Keep thy heart, with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life_.--(Proverbs iv. 23.)

We often are made to feel the force of this truth, when we have been unwatchful, and some cross occurrence has tried our tempers. How often we are made to see, and to show before others, what manner of spirit is in as.....

Sometimes we are favored with such clear convictions of the worthlessness of mere worldly possessions and pursuits, and such delightful realizations of the happiness of seeking to do the Lord's work, that we are ready to express our astonishment that any human beings can be found so foolish as to devote their energies to the pursuit of things which never can give satisfaction, and which must needs perish. And then, perhaps, we are brought into a state of darkness and despondency, to show us our utter helplessness and unworthiness, and the need there is for every one of us to "keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."....

Every individual, no doubt, has his own particular path of duty, which is designed to promote his own best happiness and the well-being of all mankind. How important for each to follow that path in watchfulness and obedience, that the work may not be marred! How important to keep the heart with all diligence, that the issues of life may be in accordance with divine will!

(9 _mo_. 1, 1850.)

_Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty_.--(2 Chronicles x.x.xi. 10.)

These words have been impressed upon my mind this morning, and I have thought they were instructive, in a spiritual sense. I believe, if we were more earnest in bringing offerings into the house of the Lord--if each one of us was more diligent in contributing his share, and doing his part of the Lord's business,--we should have less anxiety about worldly things; we should have faith in the Lord's providence, and, not only spiritually, but naturally also, we should have "enough to eat and plenty left."

(11 _mo_. 24, 1850.)

In looking at the world around, we may be apt to think that the day is very far off when the Lord's kingdom, shall be established in peace: but to those who, through the regenerating power of Christ, have become subjects of the Prince of Peace, that day has commenced already; and whatever storms may rage without, they will experience peace within. For "he will keep them in perfect peace whose minds are staid on him, because they trust in him."

(9 _mo_. 19, 1852.)

John Yeardley addressed the children with much feeling, telling them to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ in all their ways--to let him carry them in his bosom, and to run to him in danger or trouble, as they would to their tender mothers.

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. x.x.xv. 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 part.i.tion 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."]

[Footnote 4: Pastor Fliedner has since become more extensively known by the inst.i.tution for Deaconesses which he has founded at Kaiserswerth, where, with many other useful and exemplary women, Florence Nightingale was trained.

Kaiserwerth has become the parent of several other kindred inst.i.tutions.]

[Footnote 5: This is one of the earliest burial-grounds which belonged to Friends. Over the gateway was a curious inscription on bra.s.s, now removed to Barnsley.

It is as follows:

"Anno Domini 1657. Though superst.i.tious minds doe judge amisse of this buriall plane, yet lett them know hereby that the Scripture saith, The earth, it is the Lord's. And I say soe is this, therefore seeing we, and by his people also sett apart for the churches use, or a buriall place, it is holy, or convenient and good for that use and service, as every other earth is. And it is not without Scripture warrant or example of the holy men of G.o.d to burie in snoh a place; for Joshua, a servant of the Lord and commander in chiefe or leader and ruler of the people of G.o.d when he died was neither buried in a steeple-house now called a parish church, nor in a steeple-house-yeard, but he was buried in the border of his inheritance, and on the north side of Mount Gaash, as you may read; see Joshua, the 24th chapter, and the 29th and 30th verses. And Eleazer, Aaron's son, who was called of the Lord, when he died, (they buried him not in a parish house, nor a steeple-house yeard, but) they buried him in the hill of Phinehas, his son, which was given him in Mount Ephraim, as you may read, Joshua, the 24th, the 33rd v. And these were noe superst.i.tious persons, but beloved, of the Lord, and were well buried. And soe were they In Abraham's bought field, Genesis, the 23rd chapter, the 17, 18, 19, and 20 verses: though superst.i.tious minds now are unwilling unto the truth to bow, who are offended at such as burie in their inheritance or bought field, appointed for that use."]

[Footnote 6: This young person, under the name of Amanda, is the subject of No. 7 of a series of small tracts published by John Yeardley in the latter years of his life.]

[Footnote 7: She brought an affectionate epistle from M.A. Calame. The felicity of style and beauty of penmanship which distinguished the letters of this extraordinary woman agreed with the rest of her character. We have the epistle in question now before us, exquisitely written. It ends with these words;--

"Il nous eut ete bien doux de p.r.o.nonger les moments de la voir encore, mais la sagesse demande que tout se fa.s.se avec ordre; voila pourquoi notre chere enfant vous est confiee plus tot; que le seigneur l'accompagne et vous aussi, precieux amis; nous vous confions tous trois a la garde divine, et nous vous a.s.surons encore ici de l'affection Chretienne qui unit nos ames aux votres en Celui qui est le lieu indissoluble.

M. A. Calame."

Locle, 24 du 9 mois, '33.]

[Footnote 8: We believe Joseph John Gurney is here referred to.]

[Footnote 9: See _The Widow's Mite_, No. 5 of J.Y.'s Series of Tracts.]

[Footnote 10: The visits of J. and M.Y. to Kreuznach, in this journey, form the subject of No. 8 of John Yeardley's Series of Tracts, _The German Farmer become Preacher._ We extract from it the following more particular description of their visit to the three villages mentioned in the text:--

"We started on a bright, hot sunny morning; and a pleasant drive, through the vines and under the agreeable shade of double rows of fruit trees, brought us to the place of destination. At the first farmhouse where we alighted the people were busy at their out-door work, which, however, on hearing of the arrival of strangers, they soon left, and came to welcome the travellers with outstretched hand and smiling countenances. They soon gave proof of their hospitality, by ordering us to be served with fruit, milk, and b.u.t.ter-bread, nor were we allowed to depart before partaking of a cup of coffee. The master of the house was an intelligent, pious man, and gave us much information as to the state of religion among the people.

After wending our way from village to village and from house to house, we returned to our lodgings, favorably impressed with the piety and apparent sincerity of this simplehearted people."]