1 mo. 29, 1808.—­Sat with T.D.  Walton and his wife, and his man John Yeardley.  I had two pretty long testimonies to bear from Colossians iv. 17.  I had to show the necessity there was for those who had received a gift in the ministry to be faithful, and, as Satan was as busy about these as any others, to be careful to withstand his temptations, that nothing might hinder our fulfilment of this gift, nor anything be suffered to prevail over us that might hinder its proper effect upon others.

After Thomas was gone to breakfast, my mind was unexpectedly opened in a pretty long encouraging testimony to John, from John xxi. 22—­“What is that to thee? follow thou me;” having gently to caution him not to look at others to his hurt, but faithfully follow his Master, Jesus Christ, in the way of his leadings.

In 1809 John Yeardley married Elizabeth Dunn.  She was much older than himself, “plain in person,” but “full of simplicity and goodness,” and of a “most lovable” character.  Like her husband she had come into the Society by convincement; and like him she had partaken in a large degree of the paternal sympathy and oversight of Joseph Wood.  She had been a Methodist, and was one of the first who joined with Friends at Barnsley in the awakening which took place there in the beginning of the century.

John Yeardley and his wife inhabited, on their marriage, a small house at the southern extremity of the town, whither very soon afterwards was transferred the afternoon meeting which it was customary to hold at some Friend’s house in Barnsley.  The morning meeting continued to be held at.  Burton until 1816, when a new meeting-house was built in the town.

They had only one child, a son, who died in infancy.

John Yeardley commenced his Diary in 1811; and this valuable record of his religious experience, and of his travels in the service of the Gospel, was maintained with more or less regularity to the end of his life.  The motive which induced him to adopt this practice is given in the following lines, with which the manuscript commences:—­

It may seem a little strange that I should, in my present situation, attempt to keep any memorandums of the following kind; but feeling desirous simply to pen down a few broken remarks as they may at times occur to my mind, I apprehend no great harm can arise; and if, by causing a closer scrutiny into my future stepping along, they should in any degree exercise my mind to spiritual improvement, the intended purpose will be fully answered.

The first entry is dated the 6th of the Tenth Month, 1811:—­

First-day.—­Have been sweetly refreshed at our little meeting this morning.  I have long felt assured that Time calls for greater diligence in me than has hitherto been rendered.  And when I consider the innumerable favors and privileges which I enjoy at the hands of Divine Providence, beyond many of my fellow-creatures, and the few returns of gratitude I am making, it raises in me an inexpressible desire that my few remaining days may be dedicated, in humble obedience, to Him whose great and noble cause I am professing to promote.