ntiment of danger which this passage describes was speedily
fulfilled, as was also the hopeful promise by which it was accompanied.
They were detained at Cherbourg until the 13th, waiting for a vessel.
Leaving port early that morning, they landed in Guernsey the next day; and
it was in going ashore that they were exposed to some danger of their
lives. John Yeardley thus relates the occurrence:--
I descended first into a little boat, and standing on the side to take my
M.Y. down, the man not holding the boat secure to the ship, our weight
pushed it from us, and we plunged headlong into the sea. My dear M.Y.'s
clothes prevented her from sinking, and she was first assisted again into
the boat. I went overhead, and had to swim several turns before I could
reach the boat. The salt water being warm, and the time not long, we
received no further injury. What shall we render unto the Lord for all his
mercies to us, his poor unworthy servants! how often has he made bare his
mighty arm for our deliverance. In the midst of danger fear was removed
from us, and we were blessed with the unspeakable advantage of presence of
mind, and enabled to use the best means under Divine Providence to save
our lives.
They visited the Friends and a few other persons in Guernsey and Jersey,
and then proceeded to Weymouth, and on the 25th to Bristol. At Bristol
and Tewkesbury they were deeply interested in the state of the meetings,
and had some remarkable service in both places. Taking also Nottingham and
Chesterfield in their way, and being "well satisfied in not having overrun
them," they arrived at the cottage at Burton on the 8th of the Fourth
Month, having been absent about nine months.
In the retrospect, say they, of this long and arduous journey, we have
this testimony unitedly to bear,--that the Arm of divine love has been
underneath to support and help us; and although we have had many deep
baptisms to pass through, especially when we beheld how in many places the
fields are white unto harvest, and were fully sensible of our own
inability to labor therein, yet He who, we trust, sent us forth was often
pleased to raise us from the depth of discouragement, to rejoice in him
our Saviour. If any fruits arise from our feeble efforts to promote his
cause, it will be from his blessing resting upon them, for nothing can
possibly be attached to us but weakness and want of faith. But, blessed be
his holy name, he knew the sincerity of our en
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