THE SERVANT OF GOD. October, 1746 ; leaving to his widow the uncon- trolled management of her children-Francis, the heir, Henry, Elizabeth, and Selina, and of their fortunes, which he knew she would improve with the greatest fidelity. Thus left her own mistress, she had it now fully in her power to carry out many schemes of usefulness in which she could not pre- viously engage. Everything which she possessed was given up to the cause to which she was devoted heart and soul ; for " never was creature apparently more dead to self-indulgence," remarks Dr. Haweis, " or more liberally disposed to support the calls of the Gospel.. I believe, during the many years I was honoured with her friendship, she often possessed no more than the gown she wore. I have often said she was one of the poor who lived on her own bounty." She would not, for any other purpose, take from the store she set apart for the grandobject of her life. A minister of the Gospel conversing once with her about the wants of a family that appeared in distress, her ladyship observed, " I can do for them but very little. I am often obliged to be a spectator of miseries which I pity, but cannot relieve : for when I gave myself up to the Lord, I likewise devoted to Him all my fortune, with this reserve, that I would take with a sparing hand what might be necessary for my food and raiment, and for the support of my children, should they live to be so reduced. I was led to this from a considera- tion that there were many benevolent persons who 17
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