hope this season of remarkable favor will not soon be forgotten by him.


On his return home Joseph Wood wrote him the following letter:--


Newhouse, 10 mo. 24, 1803

BELOVED FRIEND, JOHN YEARDLEY,

Thou hast often been in my remembrance since I last saw thee, accompanied
with an earnest desire that the seed sown may prosper and bring forth
fruit in its season, to the praise and glory of the Great Husbandman, who,
I believe, is calling thee to glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.
And O mayest thou be willing in this the day of his power to leave all and
follow him who hath declared, "Every one who hath forsaken houses, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or
lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall
inherit everlasting life."

Not that we should be found wanting in our duty to our near connexions,
for true religion does not destroy natural affection, but brings and
preserves it in its proper place. When our earthly parents command one
thing, and the Almighty another, it is better for us to obey God than man,
and herein is our love manifested unto him by our obedience to his
commands though it may sometimes clash against our parents' minds. At the
same time it is our duty to endeavor to convince them, that we are willing
to obey all their lawful commands, where they do not interfere with our
duty to Him who hath given us life, breath, and being, and mercifully
visited us by his grace. I thought a remark of this kind appeared to be