The life of the Lady VVarner of Parham in Suffolk, in religion call'd Sister Clare of Jesus written by a Catholic gentleman.

CHAP. III.

Her exact compliance with Mother Abbesses Orders, in taking care of her Children, in which she exprest more of a careful Mistress, than a tender Mother; and hereby manifested, that Pure Obedience, the inclination of Grace; and not affection to her Children, the inclina∣tion of Nature; mov'd her to accept this employment.

AFter she had made her Profession, as above declar'd; the first thing she set upon, was strictly to perform, what she had so lately promis'd. Obedience was her chief care, and thô nothing was more contrary to her inclina∣tion, than to look after her Children; yet see∣ing this charge was impos'd upon her, by her Superior, she chearfully undertook it. She knew by experience, what advantages, order and method always brought with it; and therefore was sollicitous, that every moment should be rightly spent by her Children. For this end, she made them an exact Distribution, or Jour∣nal, for every hour of the Day, accommodated to their Age and Years. She spar'd no labor to Cultivate these tender Plants, and even from their

Infancy, to prepare them for the Garden of Re∣ligion, if God should make them so happy, as to call them to that blessed State. To set down the whole Distribution of time she had made for them, would I fear seem too tedious; yet I can∣not but let the Reader see some part of it, and thereby give him a knowledge of her own Devo∣tions, she without doubt practising her self, what she endeavor'd to instil into them. She order'd them that the first thing they did as soon as they awak'd, should be to make the Sign of the Cross, adding the following words, Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever. Amen. And having done this, she bids them tell sweet Jesus, that they would suffer the Mortification of rising in the cold, and of leaving the comfort of their warm bed, for his sake, who left Heaven for theirs. Then, as soon as they were up, she Counsels them to kiss the ground, in Memory of that dust, out of which they came, and to which they were to re∣turn; and to make an Act of Adoration, and Thanksgiving to the Divine Majesty, for having Created them of nothing, capable of lov∣ing, serving and enjoying him for all Eternity; and also for having preserv'd them the Night past from all dangers. Then that they should make an Oblation of themselves to his Infinite good∣ness. Afterwards to say an Ave Mary to beg our Ladies blessing upon them for that Day; whom they were to love and confide in, as in a Mother; having recourse to her in all their necessities as such, and dayly beg her Intercession, by saying

their Beads together, at the time she had ap∣pointed. Then she order'd them to say a Gloria Patri, &c. in thanksgiving to God, for the glory given to their good Angels, and for the honor given to themselves, by bestowing upon them such Beau∣tiful and Powerful Protectors; whose Protection that Day, they were humbly to beg; and then to recommend themselves to their particular Pa∣trons and Saints of their Name, and Pray for their friends; especially; for their Grand-fathers and Uncles Conversion.

This done, she order'd them before they came to School to her, to go to their Closset, and there offer up that, and all the other actions of that Day, with a pure intention (for want of which many even of our best actions were frequently lost, and the Merit also of our other actions, which are indifferent, and of no Merit without such an intention) that as soon as they came thither they should strive which of them should first kiss sweet Jesus's Feet in their Crucifix, and remem∣ber they had chosen St. Mary Magdalen for one of their Patronesses, whose place was at the foot of the Cross, when Christ dy'd upon it; and wish to Love him as she did, saying a Pater and Ave, and telling our dear Savior they were going to School to please him, and that all their actions that Day shall be for no other end.

When they came to School, to confirm them in the practice of that profitable Devotion to their good Angel, she had recommended to them, she gave them an example of it her self; and took out

of her breast a little Paper Picture of her good Angel, she always carry'd about her, and placeing it before her, and them (to put them in mind of their good Angels who were present, thô invisible) she recommended her self and Children to them. To these she added, also other profitable Documents, and necessary Instructions; as of submission, of obedience, but most particularly of that of Humility; a Virtue very necessary to be acquir'd in young Years, where Nature still leads to the contrary. For this end, she would have them always, call their Maid Sister, in which she show'd no little sign of Humility in her self, by commanding them to give the same Title to their Servant, they gave to her self: And thô nothing could be more taking, than the sweet and submissive humor or these Children towards her; yet she forc'd the efforts of Nature, always to give place to those of Grace; as may be gather'd from the following passage.

The Governours Lady, being one Day within the Inclosure amongst the Religious, desir'd to see Sister Clare, and her Children together; upon this, she was order'd to come, and as she enter'd the Room, the Lady wisper'd one of them in the Ear, from whom I had the Re∣lation, saying, I see, 'tis not a poor and mean Habit, that can hide true Mobility and VVorth; and beholding her very attentively, she was so struck, that words were too scant to express the sentiments of her mind; till some Tears had made way for them,

and then recovering her self, in a passionate and abrupt manner, she said; Here needs a Powerful Hand, to sustain this great work; and being still in a kind of confusion, she could not proceed far∣ther, upon that subject, but looking stedfastly upon the Children (who all this time, by mo∣ving Language Caress'd their Mother, and hung about her Neck) she broke out again into this expression. O Madam, how is it possible, to leave such Children? This is a touch of God, that strangely surprizes me. Another Person of Quality that ac∣company'd the Governors Lady, seeing their Mother express so little kindness and tender∣ness towards them, endeavor'd to Caress them, and show as much fondness towards them as she was able. Telling them, They did mistake their Mother, and that she her self was their Mother, and not Sister Clare; upon which the Children ran from her to their Mother, hanging about her, and speaking to her in such moving Language, as melted the Ladys heart; and mov'd her with Tears, modestly to inveigh against the leaving such little Angels; declaring, That her change of Condition, was an act above her Sex; nay, even above Flesh and Blood, and was in her opinion, rather to be admir'd then imitated. This Rhetoric of both these Ladies had no in∣fluence upon Sister Clare; she seem'd as if their words had not concern'd her, or as if she had not heard them; and by this her humble and modest comportment, much amaz'd the standers by; who ad∣mir'd to see God Almighties Grace so strangely Tri∣umphing over the bent, and inclination, or Nature.