Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/200

186 was an uncommon benefactress; but especially applied herself to Hebrew, which, by long application and practice, she rendered so familiar and easy, as frequently to quote the original, when the true meaning of some particular texts of scripture depended upon it. She made critical remarks on the idioms and peculiarities of that language, which were found among her papers after her decease.

Another study which she took much pleasure in was anatomy and medicine, being led and prompted to it by her own ill health, and a desire of being useful to her neighbours. But, however she amused herself with these, her constant and favourite study was divinity, especially the scriptures; having, from her childhood, taken God's testimonies for her counsel. But notwithstanding all her knowledge and unusual attainments, in so many professions, faculties, kinds of literature, and important truths of religion, she always confessed and bewailed her own ignorance, saying that she knew little in comparison of what others did, or what she ought to have known.

She was very charitable to the poor, sparing no pains nor expence, in her widowhood, to carry on her designs for the relief of miserable families exiled for religion; for erecting charity schools; for the maintenance of ministers and candidates, and for a stock of bibles and practical books to be distributed as she should see occasion. She very much approved of every one's devoting a certain part of their estates to pious and charitable uses; "for then," says she, "they will not grudge to give out of a bag that is no longer their own." She was very exemplary in her devotions, and would often say she wondered how people could, by any omission of duty, deprive themselves of one of the greatest leges