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

CHAP. IV.

Her Zeal for the Conversion of her Relations to the Catholic Faith, her Prayer for them, and Ferverous Letters to her Father, expres∣sing her passionate Love towards him, by her fervent Zeal for his Conversion, not∣withstanding his great severity, and unkind∣nesses towards her.

BUt this Heroical abnegation, of whatsoever the tenderness of Nature was able to suggest, thô very extraordinary, as we have seen in the foregoing Chapter, did no ways hinder that rest∣less Zeal, she always had for the Conversion of her friends. Her own words, sufficiently prove that her Charity had no other tendency; as the following Prayer she made for her nighest Relations will evidence: Which I find in her own hand amongst the rest of her Papers.

O Most great God of Mercy, look with the Eyes of compassion upon my near Rela∣tions, and Friends, who are yet detain'd in Schism and Heresie. And remember I beseech you, that you did not bring them out of their Eternal Nothing, and Stamp upon their Souls

your own Sacred Image, in order to destroy, and abandon those perfect products of your powerful hand, having been pleas'd to send your only Son, to pay the ransome for them, as well as for my unworthy self, with the price of your most precious Blood. Dart therefore, O most merciful God, some beams of your light into their dark, and deceived understandings: Have mercy upon them, and let the light of your Countenance shine upon them, that they may see the Truth of your Sacred Mysteries: Give them Grace to submit their Necks to the sweet and easie Yoke of your Precepts, propos'd, and deliver'd by your Holy Church. O my dear Redeemer, what have I done for you? Or what have I deserv'd at your hands, that I should be called to your saving Faith, and be made a member of your Holy Church. Impart I beseech you, the like favor, by your bitter Death and Passion, to those your misled, and unbelieving Creatures my Friends and Relations; that together with my self they may faithfully acknowledge, adore, and love you, their glori∣ous Creator and Redeemer, here in this World, and in the World to come, praise and magnifie your goodness, and joyfully Celebrate your Mer∣cies with Canticles of Eternal Gratitude, and Thanksgiving. Amen.

If this Zeal was so particular for her friends, you may imagine how active it was for the con∣version of her Father; whom she so passionately lov'd, that no want of Affection in him, was ever able to lessen it: Who, thô he Wrote se∣veral Letters to her; yet he never gave her the Title of Child, or Subscrib'd himself, her Father. But oftentimes in his Letters, he upbraids her, for committing an unheard of ingratitude, in tak∣ing such a course as this was, without asking his advice or consent: The news of which (as he said in one) seem'd to him incredible, because he never judg'd, that her Husband's or her Af∣fections to one another, had been so moderate (by any thing he had ever heard or seen,) as that they could be perswaded upon pretence of Christianity, to embrace such a strange and hor∣rid undertaking, by breaking the Solemn Vow of Matrimony. That hereby, she seem'd to have suckt the Milk of a Tygress, rather than of a Woman; and to have lost all good Nature, and even Humanity it self. He added, that it was an injury done to Heaven, to call such follies, and Insinuations as these Inspirations, and godly motions; assuring her upon his Faith, that all the Catholics he had spoken with, condemned this rash and inconsiderate Action of theirs; and therefore conjur'd her, either to return to England, that he might have the comfort of visit∣ing them there; or to live together some where in France, or Flanders; whether he would come to see them: Requiring her to obey this his advice,

as the Counsel of a Father: Which if she did not, he would never give her his blessing; and ends his Letter by a bare subscription of his Name. These severe checks from a Father, she lov'd so tenderly, must needs have wrought upon her, had not the Grace of Almighty God in a particular manner assisted her, so piously to bear them; and that she did so, is evident, from the Dutiful Answer she return'd him, to his Letter couch't in so hard and severe terms.

SIR,

THe great condescention of your Goodness to me, I did not receive till almost two Months after it's date, else I had not deferred my acknowledgment of it a Minute, and was not all that time without great perplexity, whether I might (without an unpardonable presumption) attempt to beg your blessing; since my Actions have unhappily appear'd to you so Crimi∣nal, as rather to deserve the contrary. Wherefore I most humbly beg you upon my Knees, to give me leave to offer unto you, the sole Mo∣tives of our so much wonder'd at resolutions. You know Sir, that the State of Life I am now in, is but what God Almighty has been pleas'd to grant me, after a long and earnest pursuit of it; and which if it had pleas'd him to move

you to grant me sooner, as he was pleas'd to move my dear Sir John Warner, not only to consent to, but even to propose, might have prevented the unhappy disturbance, I have since given you. Those that consider his Vertue, and that our Affections were wholy grounded on that, will not wonder we should deprive our selves of those Temporal enjoyments, we had here, to make one another a present of Eternal ones; and indeed Sir, I presume to say, I believe you have that opinion of my kind∣ness to him, (thô you were never pleas'd to be∣lieve I had those due Respects and Affections I ought for you) which might make you miti∣gate that severe Censure you are pleas'd to make of my Actions towards you. Certainly Sir, less than a particular and strong Impres∣sion, that the World was not safe for me, had not been sufficient to have made me part with such an Husband; if you will give me leave to say nothing of your self. But I must now acknowledge Sir, that every word of this with∣out your particular goodness, may be offensive: Therefore, I do not Write without extraordi∣nary pain. As to the Infinite blessing of a Fathers presence, that you were pleas'd to men∣tion; 'twas too great to be offer'd, till we were out of the Power of enjoying it; and if you did not name it for a Torment to me, you

would find these Countries (considering the nearness of the Spaw) very convenient for you; here being such entertainments, and so good Conversations, which, if I were not here might perhaps be an invitation to you. Oh Sir, I wish since God has thus dispos'd of me by his infinite mercy, that we had a Monastry near you in Wales; for if I am to have any hap∣piness in this World, I wish it might be by your procurement: For then my heart would be at rest, that you had forgiven me; but a∣bove all, that by so acceptable a work as this, you had gain'd those blessings of Almighty God, which in my Prayers I shall never cease to ask; knowing you would then find that true content, which the World has not yet been able to give you. Which that you may, I beseech him of his mercy to move you to pardon, whatever ap∣pears to you, as Criminal in me; since what contradicts not the Duty I owe my Hea∣venly Father, I shall ever confess due to you. With all Humility upon my Knees, I beg your blessing, for my self and Children,

Your most passionate and af∣fectionate Poor Child, CLARE of JESUS.

To which Letter she adds this Post-Script.

Sir, I thought fit to send you these, but I beseech you forget them, as soon, you have read them, and forgive me, who am the cause of so much trouble to you.

Nor did her restless Zeal for her Father's Con∣version terminate here, but she still us'd new Methods of endeavouring it. And receiving no Answer to her last Letter, she procur'd a Catho∣lic Gentleman (who was extreamly well verst in Controversie, and a Neighbor to Sir Thomas Hanmer) to take the occasion of giving him a Visit, and Discoursing with him, concerning Catholic Religion; and withal, desir'd him to carry this second Letter, no less passionate then the former, that by his Conversation, he might come to a better knowledge of the truth of the Roman Catholic Religion.

SIR,

MY Obligations, and ardent affection for you, will not suffer me to be long silent, nor to fear, or excuse my often troubling you; and I do now do it, in hopes that the Con∣versation, and acquaintance of this Gentleman (who is the bearer) will be so welcome to you; that you will esteem his Company a divertis∣ment

At least Sir, grant me this only re∣quest and satisfaction, to hear you have dis∣coursed with him. I do really assure my self that if you were convinced of the necessity, and had weighed the many reasons why you ought to be other than what you are; your heart is too great and Noble, to be kept back by any Worldly consideration. St. Austin had surely something extraordinary in his Soul, before it me with it's right Object; and give me leave to say Sir, so have you; and I hope you may live to teach many to Love as he did; if once all hindrances were taken away betwixt you and that ravishing goodness of God. What is it we seek after, but full contentment of mind? And who can give that, but the plenitude of all goodness? In him there is nothing but love and joy, his nature is to make all things happy in him, and whoever has once experienced, the de∣lights he gives proper for the Soul, will immediately abhor those of Sense, and confess them to be real pains. Sir, what can you leave, or suffer, but he can fortifie you to undergo; and change into comfort, what by nature you most of all fear? And infallibly his goodness will do so, if you will only hear and Discourse impartially: Which on my Knees I humbly beg for Christ's sake, in remembrance of all he suffer'd for you. Sir, do not deny me; behold me at your Feet

embracing them, with the affection of my whole heart, and be no longer cruel to your self, who are so dear to me; since all the joys in this World can be nothing to me, without your being happy. Pardon me this importunity: I could Write, I confess, and never give over, but for fear of troubling you, being truly, thô your un∣worthy, yet

Your most passionate and af∣fectionate poor Child, CLARE of JESUS.

One would have thought, that these lines so full of respect and affection, might have deserv'd an Answer, if the former had not; and have con∣vinced him, that the want of affection was not the cause of her pious undertaking, which he taxt her with; but that this happy change of hers, had purified that love, which she before had for him; in giving her so great a concern, as she ex∣presses in this, for his Conversion; on which de∣pended his Eternal happiness. And thô neither this, nor those dayly Prayers and Tears she of∣fer'd for him, could gain the least upon him; yet still she continu'd her sollicitations to Heaven in his behalf, and that her Prayers might be the more efficacious, she endeavour'd the more earnestly to obtain a more perfect and hap∣py Union with God.