he satisfaction he felt in having given up to this
little service.
Joseph Wood in his diary relates the same visit more at large. We have
extracted the account of that portion of it in which John Yeardley was
engaged, and believe the reader will find it interesting in several
respects.
1818. 6 _mo_. 10.--Reached my beloved friend John Yeardley's house,
in Bentham, about half-past eight o'clock, where we took up our quarters,
and where we were favored with a renewed feeling of that love which had
many times nearly united our spirits together.
On the 11th we spent this day very comfortably with these long-beloved and
truly valuable friends, and in the evening Lad a public meeting appointed
for Friends and people of other societies in their meeting-house in
Bentham, about a mile and a half from their house. We walked thither, it
being very pleasant through the fields. The meeting began at half-past
six, and held two hours and a quarter. A pretty many who usually attend
meetings, and a great concourse of people of other societies, attended,
that the meeting-house, both above and below stairs, was well filled, and
several were in the passage and in an adjoining room. A precious solemnity
mercifully overshadowed us, whereby the minds of many were prepared to
receive what the Lord was pleased instrumentally to communicate to the
many different states; and O that they may individually profit thereby!
for sure it was a time of favor unto many. I had a very long testimony to
bear therein, first from Isaiah lviii. 1, 2. John Yeardley held a pretty
long time next, from John ii. 4. I next, from 1 Cor. xiv. 19.
On the 12th we set out for Wray in Lancashire, five miles, John Yeardley
being our guide, taking his wife and Ann Stordy along with him in a taxed
cart. We had a very pleasant ride thither, down a beautiful valley,
through which the river Wenning runs; had on our right hand a line view of
Hornby Castle, now in part gone to decay. Got to Wray about half-past ten,
and went to the meeting, which began at eleven o'clock. Twenty-three
persons attended, one of whom appeared to be of another society. I sat
therein for a considerable time in a very low state, and feeling a concern
to stand up, I gave up, although in great weakness: different states
opened and were spoken to in the authority of the gospel; and I had a long
testimony to bear from Luke xv. 8. John Yeardley had a pretty long time
next, from Lam. iii. 26; afterwar
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