'Let us go down in the cellar, then,' replied Jacob, 'it is quite dark there, and no one can possibly see us.' Anna replied, 'O, my dear brother, do you really think that no one can see us there? Do you know nothing of that Eye far above, which pierces through the walls, and looks into the darkness?' Jacob was frightened, and said, 'You are right, dear sister, God sees us when no mortal eye can see us; we will then do evil nowhere.' Anna was delighted that Jacob took her words to heart, and she afterwards gave him a pretty picture-the Eye of Providence surrounded with rays, was represented above; and below was written Bethink thee, child, that God's all-seeing eye, MEMOIR OF S. LYNE, OF STOCKPORT. SAMUEL LYNE was born January 3rd, 1829; joined the church in the latter end of the year 1842, in the 14th year of his age; died July 11th, 1854, in his 26th year, and the 12th of church membership. He was (as his sister Ann writes,) born of poor but pious parents, who led from infancy their offspring to the house of God. He being thus trained, acquired a habit and taste for that house, which remained with him through life. When very young, he was admitted as a scholar in the Sabbathschool, and when about five years of age committed to memory that beautiful hymn of Dr. Watts commencing"Lord, how delightful 'tis to see," and recited the same in public school; and in the places where Providence had cast his lot, his love to that institution has been practically shown. Efforts were made in the home circle, to discipline him in tender years for God's service and glory. By the favourable influence brought to bear upon him, he was restrained from bad company, and preserved from their follies and vices. His sister, who was his companion at home and abroad, says, she never heard him take God's name in vain; and he not only experienced restraining but saving grace in youth; the Lord worked upon his mind, and infusing divine light therein, showed him that he was a sinner, and his absolute need of a Saviour, and enabled him to flee to the Lord Jesus Christ as his only refuge. He obtained salvation in a prayer-meeting at Stalybridge one Sabbath evening, (about the time that he began meeting in class) held at the close of a sermon by J. Harris, from those words, "My son, give me thine heart," after which time he often sang those verses commencing,— "Bless God for what He's done for me," and "He brought me out of the miry clay." He became truly devoted to God; though young in years, he not only attended to private prayer, and reading God's word, but to public duties also. When only a boy, he engaged in public prayer in the Sabbath-school, and he and a number more young persons, some of whom were brought in at or about the same time as himself, used to attend a prayer meeting at six o'clock on Sunday morning. They used to meet together, and sing through the street to the school, Samuel giving out the hymn. 'We had good meetings', says one of the party. The first time he presented himself to receive the Lord's Supper, the minister placed him and his sister side by side, observing that it was a beautiful sight to see them partake of that Supper together. In the year 1844, the family removed to Stockport and Samuel connected himself with the church and school here (Association), in union with which he still put forth his energies in the best of causes. He was punctual in attendance at school, and assiduously discharged the work allotted to him there-as reciter, teacher, secretary; he was diligently regular at the service of the sanctuary, and for years took a prominent part therein. He was seldom absent from his class-meeting, (when it met), including times of sickness, an account of which is to be found in the records of one and the same class with which he has been identified between eight and nine of the last years of his life. The two last class-nights he lived to see, not being able to hear in the class, he endeavoured to enjoy the meeting in an adjoining room by himself, the door communicating with the class-room being open. For some time back, the Lord was deepening the work of grace in Samuel's soul, the tone of his Christian experience was improved, and he gave cheering details in class of the goodness of God to him when at his daily avocation; and of the sweetness of true religion. During his illness the Lord graciously sustained his mind; he had a desire to recover, and be spared awhile longer in health, yet endeavoured to sink into the will of God (he said it was sinful to murmur), that God could do it when the skill of man failed, if it was his divine will to do so, and that he thought it best to leave himself in such hands; and when it was demonstratively evident that he was taking rapid strides towards the grave, he was enabled to say,—the will of the Lord be done. He was not only resigned but thankful: often did he thank God in affliction for the help afforded day by day, and pray for increased gratitude and humiliation of soul, and would exclaim in the language of the poet, "Oh to grace how great a debtor." He was sometimes afraid lest he should not in patience sufficiently possess his soul, yet was enabled to say, that the Lord laid no more upon him than he by grace was able to bear: it was so to the last. The two first verses of the hymn commencing, "Jesus, lover of my soul," were favourites with him, repeated at home at his request, and sung in school when visited by him for the last time. They seemed to be peculiarly applicable to his case. His trust was in God, yet he sought a closer acquaintance with him, a fuller manifestation of Christ in him, the hope of glory: this he experienced in connection with a visit from Mr. Heywood, when the Lord broke into his soul afresh, and filled him with peace and joy through believing. As death approached-his hope was like an anchor cast within the veil, both sure and steadfast. No fear, death had lost its sting, he met the stroke with fortitude. The last Sabbath of Samuel's life witnessed him in the house of God, where, on that day, two of the companions of his boyhood ministered the word of life, but unable to remain to the close of the morning service, he was carried home in a chair by kind friends, and returned no more. In the after part of the day he was much worse; in the evening, he for some time appeared to be dying, he however revived, and lingered until the following Tuesday. About eight o'clock on the following morning-the day of his death-beckoning one of his sisters, and directing her towards one part of the room, said, "See! Don't you see them? they are come!" Some of his last words were "Sweet Jesus! sweet Jesus! Hallelujah." "Come, my Redeemer." "Take me, Jesus!" "Take me, Jesus!" When his mother wet his lips, he whispered, "It's Jesus! Jesus!' Then repeated "Jesus" a few times over, and quietly fell asleep in Jesus, about one o'clock at noon. Samuel was tender-hearted and forgiving in childhood, attentive to his school and his book; was industrious and obliging in youth and manhood, and might be drawn with a straw, but not driven with a scourge; he was of a warm temperament which sometimes evinced itself like a flash in the pan. Samuel was beloved by his parents brother, and sisters; his companions, shopmates, and employers. His affection for his parents was strong; he laboured hard for their support and comfort; was prompt in attention to their wants; in seasons of affliction would dart from his bed into the cold, to sympathize with, and aid them. He bowed to their authority, and was obedi ent to their commands; he revered parental counsel and advice, and acted out the same, and would give up his own will in order to oblige. A father's frown, or a suspicion in his own mind that he offended or grieved a parent, would make him unhappy. Leaving his parents behind him was a trial to him, but the consideration that they were in the hands of the Lord relieved his mind. He was also an affectionate brother; the welfare of those with whom he was identified as such lay near his heart. The foregoing sketch was prepared by members of S. Lyne's own family, and was read by myself on improving his death. This was done to the largest congregation that I ever saw in our chapel at Stockport. It was a time of much solemnity and power. Several appropriate pieces were sung in the orchestra, brother Lyne, having been for years one of the choir. My acquaintance with brother Lyne was not such as to make me intimate enough with him to say very much from personal observation, but all I saw was in general harmony with the foregoing account. If one thing struck me more than another about him, it was his intense affection for his parents; his conduct toward them, was beyond all praise. During my visits to him while afflicted, he ever evinced Christian fortitude and patience, reposed alone on Jesus, and has, I doubt not, gone where the weary are at rest. I fear that this sketch is already larger than you can well find room for, but if your space permits, I will add a short extract from a letter of my predecessor (Mr. Hopper,) addressed to Samuel's father: "Though I had frequent opportunities of observing your son's conduct, and thus to some extent knew him, yet my acquaintance with him was not intimate. I can, however bear testimony to the order and regularity of his movements, the steadiness of his conduct, the seriousness of his deportment in the house of God, his creditable attainments, his faithful attention to what was entrusted to him by the church and the school, and to the piety with which he expressed himself, when |
