Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/198

184. She had no skill in the learned languages; but having made the scriptures her chief study, by the help of English commentators, and the clergy, with whom she frequently conversed, she attained a great degree of knowledge in them. Though her mind was naturally inquisitive, her apprehensions quick, and her judgment solid, she confined her inquiries to a few things. Therefore, when she had made some progress, both in geometry and philosophy, she laid these studies aside, though she had both a genius and a relish for them. Her chief care was to govern her passions, to subdue her affections, and to obtain an entire resignation and conformity to the will of God. She was constant in reading the scriptures daily. She used to say, that as to the practical parts, the reading them with a spirit of humility and simplicity of heart, together with earnest prayer to understand the will of our heavenly Father, was the best way to know whether any doctrine was of God, or not.

In her general discourse, she suited herself to the company she was in, as far as was consistent with the rules of propriety and charity. She was generally cheerful, but set a most strict guard over her lips, without seeming to do so. Her design, indeed, was to render a strictness in religion as agreeable as possible, and to show that it did not take away that ease and freedom which is the life of conversation.

Nobody despised more the pomps of the world, yet she conformed to the apparel and way of life, which was suitable to her rank, without affecting singularity in any thing.

Her constitution was always very tender; but in the year 1707, it declined so fast, that she was advised to go to Spa, for the recovery of her health. By this means