Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/125

Rh heightens devotion, lowers the spirit of pride, and gives a habit and disposition to his service; it makes us tremble at folly and profaneness, and commands reverence and prostration to his great and holy name."

"That women," says she, "are capable of such improvements, which will better their judgments and understandings, is past all doubt; would they but set to it in earnest, and spend but half of that time in study and thinking, which they do in visits, vanity, and folly, it would introduce a composure of mind, and lay a sound basis and ground work for wisdom and knowledge; by which they would be better enabled to serve God, and help their neighbours."

The character which Mr. Collier has given her, in his great Historical Dictionary, though short, is so comprehensive, as to take in some particulars not noticed by Mr. Prude. "Anne Baynard," says he, "for her prudence, piety, and learning, deserves to have her name perpetuated; being not only well skilled in the learned languages, but in all manner of learning and philosophy, without vanity or affectation. Her words were few, well chosen, and expressive. She was seldom seen to smile, being rather of a reserved and stoical disposition; which sect of philosophers she most affected; their doctrine, in most parts, seeming agreeable to her natural temper; for she never read or spake of them but with a sort of delight and pleasingness in her countenance: she had a contempt of the world, especially of the finery and gaiety of life: she had a great regard and veneration for the sacred name of God, and made it the whole business of her life to promote his honour and glory; and the great end of her study was, to counter