Religion in Earnest: A Memorial of Mrs. Mary Lyth, of YorkLyth, J. (John)
Religion
Religion in Earnest: A Memorial of Mrs. Mary Lyth, of York
Lyth, J. (John)
Lyth, Mary, 1782-1860
Her knowledge of scripture was remarkable, and her
apprehension of its great doctrines distinct and clear as noonday.
"With increasing ardour she continued to dig in this inexhaustible
mine of truth, until the close of life, and within the last three or
four years waded through the greater part of Henry's Commentary.
Her study of divine truth was mainly prosecuted with a view to its
experience and practice; and hence her piety assumed that rare and
exalted character which develops itself evenly in all the various
relations of life. In her, the image of Christ was not, as in too
many instances, caricatured; but presented in its just and fair
proportions; and, as a necessary consequence, Impressed all who came
in contact with her with the certain conviction of its genuineness.
Zealous in the church, she was equally active and faithful at home.
_Little_ duties were not neglected on the pretext of performing others
of a higher character. By a strict economy of time, which she prized
more than, gold; by early rising, method and punctuality, she found
time for everything; so that her house was a pattern of neatness and
order, and her family was as well provided for as though she had no
public duties to perform. "She looked well to her own household, and
ate not the bread of idleness." Naturally of an active temper of mind,
she was always employed; and, from an habitual consciousness of her
responsibility, well employed. Her hand was ready at every turn,
and knew nothing of that silly squeamishness which leads a woman to
suppose that she demeans herself by meddling with household affairs.
Fond of singing, and possessed of a good voice, she lightened her
daily toil with the voice of song, and discharged the humblest duties
as a sacrifice well-pleasing to God. Her conscientiousness in little
things was remarkable. She was a determined enemy of all trifling and
tittle-tattle, as not only unbecoming the Christian character, but
destructive of religious feeling; and the consciousness of having
uttered a useless word, or engaged in unprofitable conversation,
always occasioned her pain. Among other peculiarities she displayed
a singular aversion to debt, and if by any means such an obligation,
however small, was incurred, she never rested until it was discharged.
The writer remembers on one occasion walking a couple of miles to pay
the trifling sum of sixpence to a party, who was at the time indebted
to his father as many pounds. Notwithstanding the severity with
which she judged her own actions, her piety was entirely free from
asceticism;--it was always cheerful, recollected, and heroic; and
in her intercourse with others, characterised by great humility and
christian courtesy. In prayer she was simple and earnest, zealous
without passion, and often particularized in the devotions of the
family the special cases of its individual members. Her's was the cry
of a child to its father, the appeal for help, that felt confident of
success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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