THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES 537 ha J\lhaju. 3My $ tt'tha/. P^t i^ A SHORT ACCOUNT O F T H E LIFE and VIRTUES Of the Venerable and Religious Mother, MARY of the Holy Cross, Abbefs of the EngHJh Poor Clares at Rouen ; Who died there in the fweet Odour of Sandlity, March 21, Anno 1735. By A. B. O Quam pulchra eft Cafta Generatio cum Cla- ritate : immortalis eft enim Memoria Jllius : quoniam et apud Deum nota eft, et apud Ho- mines. Sap. iv. 1. w LONDON: Printed with PermilTion and Approbation of Su- periours. Anno m.dcc.lxvii. ' a y 6 PREFACE. TH E holy Providence of Al- mighty God mines forth infi- nitely adorable and infinitely amiable in all His Ways, fweetly conducting all Things to their End with unerring Wifdom, and irrefutable Strength and Power. A Chriflian who con- templates with the Eyes of Faith the lowed human Event, is dazzled and ftruck with Wonder and Amazement at the bright Marks of eternal and unfathomable Love, Goodnefs, Juf- tice and Sanctity, which he difcerns in every Circumftance of the Divine Appointments. He is not able to exprefs the Raptures which his Heart feels in adoring and glorifying the B Great ( a ) Great and Holy Author, in the Con- federation of the leait. of his Works. At the fame Time we confefs that His Counfels are unfearchable to the higheft Cherubims, and infinitely above the Reach of the mod fublime created Underftanding ; and that a- midft the Darknefs with which we are encomparTed in our prefent mor- tal State, we fee only the fmalleir. Part of the Links in the Chain of Divine Providence, the great Springs in every Action being now concealed from us, and the Iflues hid in the deep Abyfs of an Eternity, not yet revealed to us. Neverthelefs, the awful Scene is fo far opened to us in our prefent State, as (Irongly to awake all the Powers of our Soul to the wonderful iVlyfieries of this Provi- dence in every Event, and to call forth our moll profound Adoration, Fear, Love, Thankfgiving and Praife. Other human Events are fubordi- nate, and bear no Proportion to the jjanctifkation and Salvation of the Eleft, ( iii , ) Licet, the admirable Fruit of the Incarnation and Death of the Son of God, and the great Mafterpiece of Divine Providence. The Confidera- tion of this moft Angular Mercy in every Circumftance, mud tranfpor'c our Souls with Love and Gratitude* For what Chriftian Soul, that has the leaft Senfe of her unfpeakable Happinefs, in being called to know and ferve her God, can, without ihuddering, can: her Eyes around her on the tempeftuous Sea of the World, worked up and raging with the Storms of the criminal Pailions of Men, and covered on every PaFt with the Wrecks of Souls, miierably drowned in Sin, and linking every Moment by Crouds into the deep Gulph of eternal Perdition! In what Tranfports of Love and Praife mud we adore that Almighty Hand which by the molt gracious Mercy ifirft fe- parated us from that unhappy Mafs, tranflating us from the Region of Darknefs into the admirable Light B 2 or ( ft ) of his Grace,, by which we were called to know and ferve our God ? Our fenfe of this Mercy will be in- comparably heightened if we look back on our whole Life paft, and take a View of the numberlefs Sins, Snares and Dangers from which we have been moft wonderfully refcued and preferved, efpecially from the moft dreadful of all Misfortunes, that of being cut off by Death in a State of Sin, which, perhaps, we have often narrowly efcaped. With what infinite Tendsrnefs and Predilection, and by what a continued Chain of wonderful Mercies and powerful Graces does God deliver .us daily from thofe Dangers, in which Milli- ons continually perim, ftretching out his merciful Arm to fave us, ready to conduct us with a ftrong Hand thro' the Waters which threaten every Moment to overwhelm us, to the happy Port of eternal Glory. JJnlefs the herd had been my Helper, my Soul had ( v ) had ahnofi dwelt in HelL ( i ) When we look on thofe unhappy Souls which groan for Eternity amidft the fcorching Flames of Hell ; do we not tremble and fay to ourfelves, Ac- complices with them, as we are, in Guilt, how comes it that we have cfcaped that unutterable Calamity ? Only the diftinguiming Mercy of God can anfwer this Queftion : by it alone have we been hitherto fpared. Why are we not with fo many whole Nations involved in the dark Shades of Infidelity, or in the Mazes of the moft deplorable Ignorance of the faving Myfteries of the Divine Mer- cy, and the moft effential Truths of eternal Life ? Why are we not aban- doned to the Slavery of vicious Ha- bits, and to a fpiritual Blindnef$_and Hardnefs of Heart ? God alone is our moft gracious Deliverer. There is no Evil into which any have ever fal- len, into which we mould not have been plunged by our own Malice, .B 3 had (i) Pf. xciii. (Hcbr. xciv.) >;. ( vi ) had not the Divine Succour been our fpecial and only Protection, as St. Aujlin frequently repeats. The Mer- cies of the Lord that we are not con- fumed: becaufe his tender Mercies have not failed. \ 2) The Blended in Heaven having happily efcaped all Dangers, and triumphed over their fpiritual Enemies, never interrupt their Songs of Thankfgiving and Praife, confe- iing that God has crowned in them only his own Gifts and Mercies. Our Soul hath been delivered as a Sparrow out of the Snare of the Fowlers. The Snare is broken and we are delivered. Our Help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. f^J Thus the Wife Man fays : They fang to Thy holy Name, O Lord, and they prai/ed with one Accord Thy viclorious Hand. (\) They are penetrated with the molt, feeling Senfe of the Divine Mercy in their Favour, by clearly difcerning that God had done all Things (2) Tcr. Lam. iii. 12. (3) Pf. cxxiih ' 1-kbr. cxxiv..) (4.) Wifd. x. 20. ( vii ) Things for the EleB. (5) That the difplay of all His glorious Myfteries, and all the Difpenfations of His Pro- vidence, in the Creation and Admi- nistration of the Univerfe, for fheir Sakes are ordained and directed to ferve the great End of their Predefti- rtation. In the Revolutions of States and Empires, in Wars and Peace, in public and private Tran factions, in the Rife and Fall of Families, in ths Succefnon of Ages, God has often in View one chofen Soul, in whom he is pleafed, in a fpecial Manner to glorify His holy Name, and difplay His Mercy and Goodnefs to Eternity. Profperity and Adveriity, every Event, every Circnmftance of her Life on Earth, is appointed by Heaven, in infinite Love and Mercy, with a View to her Sanftincuion. To them that love God, all Things wark together unto Good t to fuch as, according to His pur- fife are called to be Saints. (6 J B 4 The (5) Rom. viii &c. (6^ Rem. viii. ?.%,. ( viii ) The continual Inftanees of God's extraordinary Mercies and Graces in thefe Refpects, through the whole Courfe of our Lives, call upon us to make him, our conftant, moil grate- ful and humble Acknowledgment of our eflential Dependance upon Him, and of his unfpeakable Goodnefs, by which He is every Moment fo many Ways our nioft merciful and moft powerful Deliverer and Protector. But, alas ! we perhaps pafs our Lives in an ungrateful and criminal infenfi- bility, and by a fhameful Inattention, fuffer the moft extraordinary In- ftanees of fuch unparallelled Good- nefs, to flip by unnoticed by us. In order to kindle in our Hearts the warmed Sentiments of Love and Gratitude, and* to know God and ourfelves ; his boundlefs Mercy and Goodnefs, and our Bafenefs, Miferies, Ingratitude and Weaknefs; we ought frequently to lift up our Eyes to God, then to turn them on ourfelves, and by confidering our Souls as eternal Mo- ( & ) Monuments of God's Goodnefs, and Compounds of his mofl: aftonifhing Mercies, ftir up ourfelves to break forth into the warmed Acts of Thanks- giving, Love, and Praife; and to in- vite the Citizens of Heaven to all Eternity, and all other Creatures, to look on us, to coniider the wonder- ful Works of God in us, and never ceafe to praife His Name for us with their moil profound Homages, i" will praife Thee, O Lord, my God, with my whole Heart, and I will glorify Thy Name jor ever : For Thy Mercy is great towards me j and Thou haft deli- vered my Soul out of the lower Hell, (y) O magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol His Name together. fSJ Praife ye Him according to the Multitude cf His Great nefs. fgj Remarkable In- stances of this Providence, though fometimes not greater in themfelves than thofe wrought in our own Fa- vour, fet the Divine Mercy in a B 5 ftronger (7) V{. lxxxv. (FTebr. lxxxvi.) 12. 13. (8) Pf. xxxiii. (Heb. xxxiv.) 2. 3. (9) cl. 2. &c. ( * I Wronger Light, and more fenfibly raife our Attention and Devotion. Of this we have an Example in a Letter of St. Francis of Sales,, in which he expreffes the Tranfports of Joy and Gratitude, in which he a- dored the -Divine Goodnefs, in the Cafe of a poor Servant Maid, whom he found living a fervent Servant, of God,, in a-Proteflant Family, in the Midft of the City of Geneva. From her Cradle Almighty God had pre- ferved her from numberlefs Snares and Dangers,, which had been con- tinual Incitements to greater Watch.- fulnefs over herfelf, greater Fervour in all religious Exercifes, and greater Fidelity in every Duty to God and Man. He could not refrain from Tears of Joy to meet a hidden Saint, who ferved God with a Purity and Fervour of Heart,, feldom to be equalled in the very Sanctuaries of Piety, in a Situation deflitute of the chief external Helps of Virtue, and amidft the moft dangerous Occafions of ( *i y of fpiritual Sloth, Ignorance, Vice, and aForgetfulnefs of every Duty, and every faving Truth. Of this merciful Providence we have a moil remarkable Example in the Life of the Venerable Mother, Mary of the Holy CroiV, who having been won- derfully converted to God, was 33 Years Abbefs of the Englifi Po:r Clares, at Koilen, and died in the - Odour of Sanctity, in the Year 1735. And as her Call and Deliverance from the very Gulph of Perdition, was an aftonifhing Work of Divine Grace, fo was her Fidelity in correfponding with the fime Grace. No fooner was me brought to the Knowledge and PofTefTion of the Heavenly Treafure, than Hie thought no Care, no Precau- tions too great to fecure and improve the fame; She immediately fled from, the contagious Air of the World, and made a generous Sacrifice of all its; alluring Vanities and falfe Plea fures, in order, as much as pofTible- in this Mortal State, to cut off the molt ( X" ) moft fatal Occafions of Danger, and remove all Gbftacies to her fpiritual Progrefs. She fhut herfelf up in an auflere Monaftery, that by devoting herfelf to the moil heroic Exercife of every Chriftian Virtue her Holo- caust might be complete. Such a Fervour condemns our Indolence and bafe Infidelities, by which we per- vert the Divine Mercies themfelves into our moft grievous Condemna- tion. Though we may not be called to a Religious State, we are all called and obliged to be Saints ; and though the particular Duties of our Callings may vary, our End is the fame. Whether we live in the World or in a Cloifter ; howfoever our Circum- stances and ordinary Exercifes may differ, we are bound to pra&ife the great Means of Virtue, which the Gofpel and the Example of Chrift and all his Followers, prefs upon all Christians without Exception; name- ly, Self-denial, Obedience, Humi- lity, Meeknefs, Self-examination, Watch- ( xiii ) Watchfulnefs over our Hearts, and all our Senfes, Fidelity in every Du- ty, the devout Ule of the Sacraments, and all other Exercifes of Religion. Every Chriftian is bound to die to himfelf and the World, to crucify his irregular Appetites, to fubdue his Paffions, and to put off the Old Man, and put on the New, which confifts in the Spirit of Chrift; that is, of his perfect and iincere Humi- lity, Meeknefs, tender Love, and burning Zeal, by which he bears a Refemblance to Him. Whoever falls fhort of this Perfection, at leafl in his unfeigned Defires and Endea- vours, cannot be faid to fquare his Life according to the Gofpel, or to bear the Image of Chrift, the Badge of the Elect. Therefore the Exam- ple of a virtuous religious Perfon, is a true Model even to thofe who are engaged in the World. The Example of this holy Servant of God will ftrongly contribute to iix our Irrefolution, to rouze our Sloth, ( *iv y Jfloch^and difpel our imaginary Fears. In Her we fee that Fervour makes- even the greateft Aufterit-ies and La- bours light and fweet. We want Courage to afpire fi-ncerely at truer Virtue, or to undertake the neceflary Means, becaufe Puiillanimity is dif- heartened at -Shadows* and the leaft Sacrifice feems^to the Slothful a Trial of Blood. But- true Refolution dis- arms every Enemy; all Difficulties difappear before it. Conflicts and Obflacles do but raife its Ardour, as Fire is not obftructed, but exceed- ingly increafed by meeting a Field of dry Stubble, or a Heap of Chaff. If the Practice of Virtue has its Labours and Severities, a true Love' of God, and the Unction of his Grace, con- vert thefe into Delights and Joy. The Example of the Saints at the fame Time removes the Prejudices and practical Errors which reign a- mongft Wordlings on the Obligation and Rules of true Virtue. The falfe Maxims of the World, in this dege- nerate ( *V ) nerate Age, feem almofl to obliterate thofe of the Goipel, even in the Hearts of Christians,, and. firengthen the Excufes of fpiritual Sloth and Pufillanimity. To difcover their Fal- lacy, and difguifed mortal Poif>n, we muft -ftudy the Divine Truth in its genuine Oracles, and turn our Eyes from the Croud, which we fee walking in the broad Way of Perdi- tion, to contemplate the Lives of the Saints. That of our Venerable Abbefs will furnifh us with an Anti- dote, and will (hew us that we muit walk with the Few in the narrow Path of the Gofpel, if we fincerely defire to be of the happy Number of thofe that. are faved.. The Compiler of this AbftracT ap- prehends it will appear defective and imperfect, and rather difappoint than give Satisfaction to an inquifitive Reader, both through the Scan tin efs of his Memoirs and Informations, and from his Want of Abilities to do Juftice to fo bright a Character, and foi t xvi ) fo fublime a Virtue. Only a Saint can draw the true Portraiture of a Saint. Only a Saint Bonaventure could prefent to us in the dead Letter the living Image and true Spirit of a Saint Francis. One unacquainted with the heroic Sentiments of Virtue, and the interiour Life of the Saints, is utterly a Stranger to that Spirit, which ani- mates every Action, and every Sacri- fice of their Hearts ; much lefs is he capable of giving to Words that Life, which only the perfect Spirit of thofe fublime Virtues of Devotion, Love, Zeal, Humility, and the reft, that characterizes the Saints, can dictate or fuggeft. Hence we have often left this faithful Imitatrefs of the Saints to fpeak herfelf, that by her own Words, her eminent Spirit may be better conveyed, and make a deep- er Impreflion on the Reader. If the Writer has incurred any Cenfure by depreciating fo great a Virtue by his lifelefs Narrative, he has at leaft been agreeably flattered with the Pleafure of ( xvii ) of entertaining himfelf on fo fublime and fo edifying a Model of Virtue, produced in an Age, in which all Hearts feem frozen to the Divine Love, and the very Idea of true Sanc- tity is almoft obliterated amongfl the greateft Part of Chrirtians. Doctor Bonaventure Giffard, after- wards Bifhop of Madaura, and Vicar Apoftolick. at London, who going from Paris to Rouen, was for a con- fiderable Time fpiritual Director of this holy Servant of God, three Years after her religious Profeffion, always retained the higheft Venera- tion for her eminent Sanctity, 2tnd to his Death had no greater Pleafure than to entertain others on the Edifi- cation and Comfort he had received from her Acquaintance. He commit- ted to writing an Account of the wonderful Converfion, the Circum- stances of which he had received part- ly from her own Mouth, and partly from others, who were Perfons of unexceptionable Veracity. This Nar- rative ( xviii ) rative I have in his own Hand, figned Bonav. Bijhop of Madaura. This Ve- nerable Prelate earneftly and fre- quently entreated the EngliJJo Nuns at Rouen to engage fome one who might have Leifure to write the Life of this great Servant of God. He repeated this Charge upon his Death- bed tohisCoadjutorand SuccefTor, the Right Reverend Benjamin Pctre, ti- tular Bifliop of Prujciy who by Letters imparted this dying Requeft of his moft zealous and illuftrious Prede- ceflbr (whofe Name will ever remain in Benediction) to Mother Clifton, the Abbefs who was immediate SuccefTor to the Venerable Mary of the Crofs, The following Abftracl of her Life is compiled from the Relation of her Converfion, written by the above- faid Venerable Bifhop, from a great Number of Manufcript Exercifes of Devotion, and Rules of Piety, drawn up by this holy Abbefs, and ftill kept in her own Hand, in her Monailery at Rouen : from the Manufcript Diary of ( x ) of the fame Houfe, and from the au- thentic Relations given by feveral Nuns, who had for many Years been her fpiritual Daughters, - and from fome Perfons of Quality, who had long been intimately acquainted with her, had often enjoyed her Heavenly Converfation, and been edified by the heroick Spirit, and Example of her angelical Virtue* A ihortr A - S H o rV ACCOUNT O F T H E LIFE and VIRTUES Of the Venerable and Religious Mother, MARY of the Holy Cross, Abbefs of the Englijh Poor Clares at Rouen, TH E Venerable Abbefs, Mary of the Holy Crofs, was fo careful to conceal the Advantages of her Birth and Parentage, that none of her Reli- gious Sifters were able to difcover her Family during all the Time fhe lived in the Monaftery. It was clear, from many evident Circumftances, that fhe was of high Quality. It was no lefs certain that ihe was born in lawful Wedlock, of which an authentick Evidence was fent to the Confcffor of the Monaftery, in a Letter ( ) Letter from England. And had it been oiherwife, fhe v/ould not have failed to aliedge the Irregularity of her Birth, when fhe was choien Abbefs, to which Dignity it would have been a Bar without a Diipenfation, which fhe never had, and never flood in need of. She often fpoke of feveral Perfons of the moft noble Fa- mily of the Howards, efpecially of the two Branches of the Earls of BerkJIjire and Carlifle, with fome of whom fhe lived in her Childhood, and from whom fhe received her firft Education, though fhe never called them her Relations ; and not only the Carlifle Branch, but alfo Thomas Duke of Norfolk, William Earl of Stafford, and other Noblemen of the Norfolk or Howard Family, have on fe- veral Occafions, fpoke of her as being of it. The preient Abbefs at Rouen, the Reverend Mother Margaret 'Terefa Va- rafour, and others, remember they have heard her fay, that her Father was out in an Expedition on Sea, at the Time when flie was born. And when fhe was grown infirm in her old Age, fhe laid pleafantly one Day : Children, you muff not wonder that I am weather-wife, for when my Mo- ther was with child of me, fhe was always at ( 23 ) at her Window, watching Winds and Tea~ thcr. This Circumitance feems to have given Occafion to the Opinion which prevailed amongft the Nuns, that fhe was Daughter to Prince Maurice (a) by Lady Mary (a) Frederick V. Elector Palatine of the Rhine, and Duke of Ba'vaiia, elected and crowned King of Bohemia by the Calvinijls, but defeated by the Emperor his Antagoniir, died at Mentz in 1623. By his Wife Elizabeth, Daughter of James I. King of England, he left feveral Children. The eldeft furvivicg Son, Charles Lewis, born in 161 7, was leftored to the Electorate of the Lower Palatinate, in 1650, and died without IfTue in 1680. Prince Rupert, born at Prague, in 1619; and Prince Mau- rice, born January 6th, 1620, were fettled in Eng- land, in Quality of Princes of the Blood, by their Uncle King Charles I. The younger perifhed in the Expedition which he commanded at Sea, in 1654 : Prince Rupert, after having diftinguifhed himfclf by his martial Exploits, both at Sea and Land, and by his chymical Studies and Discoveries, died at Wind/or Caltle, the Place of his Reiidencc, and was buried in the Royal Vault, in Henry Vllth's Chapel, in 1682. The Princefs Elizabeth born in 1618, was Abbefs of Herverdcn, a Proteftant Nun- nery, near Ravenjbsrg, and an Admirer of Philofo- phy and the Mufes. She died in 1680. The Princefs Louifa Hollandina was born in 1622, at the Hague, the States of Holland, and Chriilian Duke of Brunf'vjick being her Godfathers, the former fettled upon her a yearly Penfion for Life, and the latter fent her, fojne Hours "after her Christening, a Prelent of 10,000 Crowns in a Gold Box. ( 24 ) Mary Howard* whom they iuppofe him to have privately married a little before he Box. Her Converfion to the Catholick Faith we mall mention below. Ednxard Count Palatine, who was born in 1625, went into France., where he became Catholick, and married Anne Gonzaza, Daughter of Charles Duke of Never* , and Sifter to the Queen of Poland. He died in 1 684. Hen- rietta Maria, born in 1626, was married to Sigif- mund Ragotzi, Prince of Tranjilvania in 1651, and died in the fame Year. Sophia born in 1630, was married in 1658 to Ernefi Auguftus, Duke of Ha- nover and Brunfiwick-Lunenberg, made Elector of Brunjhvick in 1692. She was left a Widow by his Death, in 1698 ; was declared by the Acl of Set- tlement in 1701-2, next Proteftant Succeflbr to the Crown of England after Queen Anne, before whom me died only fifty-three Days on the 8th of June, 17 14. Her Son King George fucceeded Queen Anne in England, had before that Time fucceeded his Father in the Dukedom of CalenSurg, (of which Hanover is the capital City) he inherited the Duke- dom of Zell, in 1705, upon the Demife of his Uncle, who was alfo his Father-in-law, George- William, elder Brother to his Father : Of his four Brothers two were killed fighting againft the Turks: the third Maximilian-William became a Catholick, and died a General in the Imperial Service, in 1 702. Ernefi Auguftus, the youngeft. Brother, died Bifhop of Ofnalrug, in 171 5. To refume the Hiftory of the Countefs Palatine Loui/a Hollandhia, fhe was remarkable from her In- fancy for her Wit, Underftanding, Candour, and Goodnefs of Heart, and by the Help of the belt Mailers, was poffefled of every Accomplifhment of her ( *5 ) he went Commander upon that Expedi- tion at Sea, in which he perifhed by Ship- her Rank and Sex. In the 34th Year of her Age, by converfing often with the Catholick Princefs of Oxfordre, Elizabeth of Bergues, fhe began to be convinced of the true Faith : by reading fevcral Hiftories fhe was exceedingly fcandalized at the Methods-by which Proteftantifm was introduced in England; and difcovered many capital Falsificati- ons in the Writings of fome eminent Calvinijl Theologians. She then contrived to have frequent Interviews with certain Irijh Priefts, by whom fhe was thoroughly inftrucled in all the controverted Articles, and fhe was entirely convinced by perufing a Treatife written againfl the Minifters of Bess- ie due. She faw it would be impoffible for her to embrace the Catholic Faith fo long as fhe lived with her Mother, the Queen of Bohemia. She therefore took a Refolution, whatever it might coft her, to retire into fome Catholick Country, and to be- come a Nun. This fhe put in Execution in the Beginning of Advent, in the Year 1657, being then 35 Years old. Being arrived at Antwerp fhe fpent two Months in the Convent of the Englijh Carmelite Nuns, there made her Abjuration on the 25th of January 1658, and received Confir- mation from the Hands of the Pope's Nuncio. Afterwards embarking for France fhe landed at Havre. At Roiien fhe was met by her Brother Edward, Prince Palatine, who conduced her to Chaillot, near Paris, where her Aunt Henrietta, Queen of England, lived in the Monaflery of the Yiiitation. The Queen received her, and ever after treated her as if fhe had been her own Daugh- ter, and ftraight prcfentcd her to the Queen Re- C gent, ( 26 ) Shipwreck, in aHurricane not farfrom the Carribee Iilands, in February 165$. (which, be- gent, Anne of Aujlria, and afterwards to the King, His Majefty fettled upon her an annual Penfion of 12,000 Crowns, and the Queen Regent made her a Prefent of a rich Set of Plate. The Princefs Louifa ftaid a Year in this Monaftery, to accuftom Herfelf to the Exercifes of a religious State, in all which, even in manual Labour, as making Hay, Needle-work, &c. ihe furpaiTed the Nuns them- felves ; in Fervour, Exactitude, Regularity, and Recolledlion. -Through the Mediation of the Queen of England, fhe by the moft dutiful Letters, brought about a Reconciliation with her offended Mother, who at firft fet no Bounds to her Rage j but from this Time to her' Death kept a frequent Correfpondence with her. The Year following the Princefs went to Maubuifibn, a Royal Cijlef- cian Nunnery, near Pontci/e, feven Leagues from Paris. It was founded by Queen Blanche of Cajiile and her Son S. Lewis, and Dame Magdalen of Peze, one of the brighteft Geniufes, and moft virtuous Ladies of the Age, had fettled there an auftere Re- formation of the Rule. The Princefs took the Habit 25th of March 1659, and made her religious Pro- feffion 1 9th of September 1660. She was frem her very Novitiate a zealous Enemy to the leaft Miti- gation in Discipline, and chearfully embraced the moil humbling and moft painful Exercifes. For a long Time Ihe fwept out the Chuich every Day ; flic went through the Offices of Sacriftan, Portrefs, and Sub-priorefs. Four Years after her Profeffion, by the unanimous Vote of the Community, ihe was chofen and named by the King, Abbei's ; of which Dignity ihe took Poffeiuon on the 14th of No- ( 27 ) beginning the new Year only on the 25th of November 1664, upon the Death of the Abhefs, Catherine Angelica of Orleans, of Longue\ March, fome Hiftorians call 1653) (i) But doubtlefs many other Officers of the Royal Army were abroad at Sea the Year after again to fleep, yet from her awful Attention to Holy Things, at her Prayers or when fome pious Book was read to her, me never feemed fubjecl: to that lethargick Difpofition. After receiving the lift Sacraments, me calmly expired the nth of February 1709, hHng 87 Years old, bating two Montis. A celebrated Lawyer pleading before the Parliament of Paris againlt her Succeflbr, frame de ChateatirMorand, to mew the Contrail, draws the Portraiture of the late Abbefs, the Princefs Palatine, as follows : " Born amidil the 14 Splendour of a Throne, me had renounced with " joy the glittering and alluring Pomp of worldly '< Grandeur, to bury and annihilate herfclf in a '-' Cloifter. The Daughter of fo many Kings, '* far from exacting the Homages of Refpeft due " to her Birth, flie refufed the common Marks of " Honour which are always allowed to the Dignity " of Abbefs. There was no Diftin&ion between " her and the laft of her Nups : the fame Table, '* the lame Diet, the fame Simplicity in Furni- " ture and Apparel, &c." This Account of that Branch of the Royal Family may fufiice to fliew how improbable it is that the Venerable Abbefs at Rouen could belong to it, yet be unknown to it in the Heart of France. It may, alfo, give fome Satisfaction to thole who were in that Miilake. ( 1 ) See Frr.ncis Saxdfbrd, Efq ; Lancajlcr He- rald, in his Geanological Hiftory of the King's of England; published in Charles the lid's Time, and ipiKinued to 1707 by Samuel Sickling, Efq; Somer- Jet Herald, in his 2d FJdition. ( =9 5 after the Battle of IVorcejler, whilft Crcni- well was ftudying to extend his Conquefts,- and to fettle his Ufurpation, and whilit the Royalifts were ftill in Motion, both to fly from his Power, and to form new Projects againft it. Nor does it appear credible that the Queen of England, who then refided at Chaillot, and the other near Relations of Prince Maurice m France, mould not have been apprized of fuch a Daughter, if he had any. Neither" is any Mention made of any fuch Marriage in the Pedigrees of any of the Branches of the Howard Family. And this Doubt feems entirely removed by the unexcep- tionable Evidence given me by the Ho- nourable Mrs. Mary Plowden, Widow of Francis Plowden, Efq- Siller to William Stafford Howard, Earl of Staffor d, who had with her Brother, a Nobleman of great Sagacity and Learning, made particular Inquiries about the Family of this Ab- befs, with whom they were both well ac- quainted. This Lady, who died only in the Year i 765, and was then Eighty-two Years old, a Mured me that Siller Mary of the Crois was Daughter to Sir Robert Howard. Thae Gentleman married for his firfl Wi;e Honora, Daughter and Fleirefs of Henry C 3. Ohrien y ( 3 ) Obrien, Earl of Thorn ond, by whom he had one Son, 'Thomas. He had feveral Children, as is frequently mentioned, yet the Names of no other IfTue by this or any other Wife, ftand upon Record in his Pedigree, which is very imperfect, or in the Herald's Office. The Name of his fecond "Wife was Mrs. Uphill. The Name of his third wife is not fet forth in his Pedigree, nor any where to be found. It is therefore no Wonder that the Name of this Daughter mould not be recorded in a Pedigree evidently fo defective. That ihe was brought up by and in the Berkfljire Family is evident from the Names of Lady Anne and Mr. Philips and Mr. William Howard, of whom ihe ufed often to fpeak, as Perfons to whom ihe had the greateft Obligations in her Childhood, though fhe took Care never to call them her Relations. For fhe was always moft ingenious in conceal- ing her Family in the Monaftery ; and fuch was the Refpect which all the Nuns bore her, that no one durft put any Queftions to her which fhe faw would give her Uneafinefs. Even a little before her Death a Letter came to her which fhe read, and immediately threw into the Fire, de- ( 3' ) defiring, as the Nuns that were with he? imagined, to die in Obfcurity as me had lived. She had before in the fame Man- ner deftroyed all the Letters, which flie ever received from her own Family. It appeared evident that her extreme Care and Attention to live always unknown, was the Effect of her fincere Humility. The prefent Abbefs, Margaret Terefa Vavafour, affures that this Venerable Ab- befs told her in the pious Instructions which fhe was giving her, that me chofe the remote Monaftery at Rouen^ becaufe in it fhe hoped to hide herfelf for ever from all human Creatures, as well as for the Opinion fhe had conceived of its Aufterity and Regularity. But notwith- ftanding all her Artifices to live concealed and difguifed, her very Carriage difco- vered her to be a Perfon of Quality and educated fuch : for her Difpofitions were moft noble, and her Behaviour that of a Princeis, even after her religious Pro- feffion, and joined with the moft perfect Spirit of an humble religious Poor Clare : and when fhe was a zealous Superior, and a moft tend ix Mother to all under htr Care, fhe always loved particularly C 4 the ( 3* ) the Poor, fo as to love to fee herfelf poor, and to appear fuch. The Earl of Carlijlis Family, the youngeft, but richeft among the colla- teral Branches of the Howards of Norfolk, always took moft Notice of her after her Converfion to the Catholic Faith, being themfelves Catholics for fome Time after her religious Profeftion. This Earl, by the Prefents which he feat her to Paris after fhe had changed her Religion, ena- bled her to go to the Monaftery at Rouen, though he did not know her Deftgn of going thither. Even theyoung Lord, who was a Proteftant, a Defcendant of that Earl, came to the Monaftery at Roiien, and en- quired after her when me was dead j which when he found, he faid no more, and went away. Lady Mary Howard of the Carlifle Family, who was mentioned fometimes by Sifter of the Crofs among her Friends in her Childhood, muft have been Wife to Sir William Howard, Father to Charles Earl of Carli/le. (b) It feems how- (b) William Lord Howard, third Son of Tho- mas, the id Duke of Norfolk, married Elizabeth, Daughter to 1 homos Lord Dacres, of Gillijland. His Son and Heir, Philip Howard, was Father to Sir William Howard, who took to wife Mary, elddl ( n )' However, that fhe could only have {orfrtf-* times accidently feen her in London. For' rhis Branch of the Howards was then of the Catholick Religion, whereas the' Ab- befs, Mary of the Crofs, ufed often to fay, thanking' God for his Angular Mercies' to her, that all her Friends in England, among whom fhe had her Education, were either Proteftauts, or of rto Reli- gion, and that in her Childhood all her Acquaintance lay only among fuch. She was born on Holy Innocents ^ g irt j Jt . Day, the 2 8th of December 1 653.- G 5 Her eldcft Daughter to Lord Sure, the Lady here- meant. For they had no Daughter called Mary. Sir William's Son and Heir Charles, was created by King Charles the lid, in 1661, after the 'Re-- Iteration, Baron Danes of GilliJJand, Vifcount Howard of Morpeth, and Earl of Ccrlijle, and died in 1692. His Son Edward fucceeded him in- his Honours and was of the Privy Council to Wi'liatn the Hid, Q^ .Anne, and George the 111, by this latt was appointed one of the Regents till he arrived from Hanover, and afterwards firft; Commiffioner of the Treafury, Conllable of the Tower, &c. and by George the lid Conllable of Wind/or Cattle, &c. His Son Henry was born in 1694, wasftiled Vifcount Morpeth-, became Earl of Carlijle'va 1 742; had two Sons, Charles Vif- count Morpeth, (who died before his Father in 1743, and feems .0 have been the young Lord who called at Rouen in his Travels, after the Death of" the Abbefs, Mother Mary of the Crofs) and Rolert, ( 34 ) Her Friends being all Proteftants me was brought up in that Perfuafion, chiefly in Company with Lady Anne Howard. By this Circumflance fhe feems in her tender Years to have lived chiefly with the Cbuntefs of Berkjhire(c) probably after the Death of her Mo- ( c) Thomas Earl of Berkjhire was fecond Son to Thomas Hoivard, Earl of Suffolk, a younger Branch of the noble Family of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk. This Earl by his Lady Elizabeth (one of the Daughters and Coheirs to William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, Son and Heir to Thomas Earl of Exeter) had nine Sons, Charles, Thomas, Henry, William, Ed-ward, Sir Robert, Philip, Algernon, and James. His eldeft Son Charles, fucceeded him in his Ho- nours in 1669. Sir Robert refcued Lord Wilmot, Lieutenant General of the King's Forces, when he was wounded and taken Prifoner at Cropley- Bridge, on the 29th of June, 1 644 ; for which gal- lant A&ion he was knighted by King Charles the lid. He warmly engaged himfelf in the Royal Caufe, as did all the reft of his Family. After the Reftoration he was in great Favour at Court, and a leading Member in the Parliament-Houfe. In 1678 he was made Auditor of the Exchequer; which is a Patent Place for Life ; fo honourable and lucrative, that ufually a Minifter of State, when it falls vacant, looks upon it as the belt Settlement he can procure for his neareft Relation ; it was even then worth feveral Thoufands a Year. Sir Robert was four Times married, and had feveral Children ; but by the Failure of Iflue in his Grandchildren, the large F.ftates of which he was poflerTed in Suf- folk, and SuJ/c.x, fell to the Heirs general, except a Part ( 35 ) Mother. When Mifs Mary was taken out of the Hands of the Nurfes, fhe was placed in a very genteel Boarding-fchool, her Edu~ where fhe learned all the Accom- cation. plifhments of aLady of Quality , here flie had for Companions Lady Anne Howard, and another young Lady whom fhe often named, but whofe Name none of the Nuns now living, can recollect. She fometimes related, that when they were all three allowed to chufe Mailers, ac- cording to their Inclinations, fhe made Choice a Part which reverted to the Earl of Berkjbire. His eldeft Sifter Elizabeth being married to John Dry- den, efq; the great Englijh Poet, Sir Robert lived in clofe Intimacy with the politeft Wits of that Age, and wrote many Things himfelf . His Poems which are collected into one fmall Volume, gained him no Reputation, though they are fuperior to thofe of his Brothers, Edward and James. Mr. Dryden, his Brother-in-law, paid him a Compli- ment upon them in Verfe, in which he commends the sentiments ; yet in other Places he refufes to allow his Verfification to be a Production of a true Son of Parnajfus. Sir Robert's fix Comedies make a feparate Volume, and among thefe the Committee and the Indian Queen, are faidto have a great Share of Merit and Genius : a Proof of which is the Rank they long held on the Englijh Stage, where the Committee ftill continues to make its Appear- ance, though the Character againft which its Sa- tyre is pointed, fubfifts no more, nay, is almoft for- ( *6 ) -Choice of a Latin Matter, thinking within herfelf, though at that Time a Proteitr ant, that if fhe fhould ever be a Nun, it would be of Service to her. By this it appears that even then fhe looked upon a religious Life as a State wholly devoted to the moft heroick Exerciies of Religion and Piety, and that from her natural Love of Virtue, fhe entertained no un- favourable Opinion of it, though on Account of her DifFerenceof Religion fhe could then have, no ferious Thoughts of ever embracing it. Her forgotten, viz. the Enthufialm of the Puritanical Zealots, and Enemies to Monarchy of thofe Times. Sir Robert was a Man of Pleafure, as appears by his Fundnefs for the Stage ; and always a Courtier. The Political Principles which he had warmly efr poufed in theJReigns of Charles the lid, and James the lid, and which he had publifhed in his Com-: mittee, he publickly abjured, and being made of the Privy-council to William the Illd, in 1688 was one of the moft rigid Perfecutors of the Non-jurors. In 1692, when he could not be much younger than 70 Years of Age, he married Mrs. Dives t one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Mary. See his Poems and Plays, alfo the Mifcellaneous Notes, and Prefaces to the Works of M,r. Dryden, in four Volumes, 1760. V. 2. p. xxv. and in other Places ; alfo Langbaine, Jacob, and Cibber, in their .Lives of Englijh Poets ; and the Companion of the Play- houfe, or Lives of our Dramatick Poets. T. 2. v. Howard.' C 37 ) Her extraordinary Endowments of Mind and Body, and her rapid Improve- ment in every tine Accomplifhment of her Sex, made her even in the Bloom of Life, the Admiration of all who knew her, and promiied her the higheft and moft aflured Favours of the World, and every flattering Part of its Prolperity.. Whilft her Relations and Friends eagerly purfued its falfe Blaze in the full Career of the higheft Honours, Riches, and Reputation of Wit and Genius, fhe by a Angular Call of the Divine Mercy, found true Happinefs and Glory in a Contempt of thefe empty Bubbles. In her tender Age fhe renounced the World, her Friends and Country, to confecrate her Heart with the iineft Genius, and the moft mining Accomplifhments of Mind and Body, a young Lady could appear pofTeiTed of, to theheroickPurfuitof Vir- tue alone. Shut up in an humble Cell, a Stranger to the WorLd, and the tu>- multuous Scenes of its Vanity and Am- bition, fhe looked upon Heaven as her only Portion. There fhe placed all her Comfort and Joy ; there fhe dwelt in her Heart, far from Hinderance or Diftracli- ons, converfing with her God, and glo- ( 3 ") rifying Him by pure Homages of Com- punction, Love and Praife, and by the moft heroick Exercifes of all other Vir- tues. By thefe her Soul was daily more and more purified from the Contagion of earthly Drofs, and exalted to a State of Purity in all her Affections and Powers, and of perfect Virtue, refembling that of the Angels, by which (he continually made nearer approaches to God, the Fountain of infinite Sanctity. By anti- cipating the Functions of the BlefTed me filled her Soul with Divine Lights and glowing pure Sentiments and Affections, and fitted and prepared it one Day to join their Heavenly Choirs, and enjoyed in this mortal State fome Kind of Fore- tafte of the pure Delights which overflow in that Region of everlaiting Joy : a happy Exchange for the bafe Pleafures and empty Amufements in which blinded "Worldlings drown, defile and degrade their immortal Souls, on which God had ftamped his divine Image, and which he created for much nobler and holy Purpo- fes and Functions. The Sequel of her Life will difcover to us fome Part of that 'wonderful Chain of Graces and Mercy by which fhe was called and raifed to fo in- ( 39 ) incomprehenfible a ' Happinefs, from art Abyfs of fpiritual Blindnefs, and will fet before our Eyes for our Imitation, the Means by which the fame divine Grace wrought in her the moft faithful Corref- pondence to it. As Ihe grew up the Sweetnefs of her Temper, the Pregnancy of her Wit, the Quicknefs and Juflnefs of her Under- ftanding, the amazing Beauty and Come- linefs of her Perfon, and the Genteelnefs of her Carriage, made her much admired and fpoke of, without any Prejudice to that Modefty which added the greateft Grace to all her other Accomplishments and Virtues. Leaving the Boarding- fchool fhe returned to the fame Lady, who feems to have been the Countefs of Berk/hire, who charged herfelf with the Care of finifhing her Education, and in- troducing her into the World j and who treated her in every Thing as fhe did her own Children (d). Living in this Lady's Fa- (d) Charles Honuard, eldeft Son to Thomas Earl of Berkjhire, fucceeded his Father in Title and Kftates, in 1669. He married Dorothy, Daughter of" Thomas Vifcount Savage, afterwards Earl Ri- vers, and had by her three Sons and two Daugh- ters. All thefe Children died young, except An?,e the ( 4 } Family, and almoft conftant Company,- fhe was here again much taken Notice of on Account of her rifmg Geniusj and the' promifmg Appearance 'fhe made, in which there was fomething that attracted the Regard of all who faw her. To this we may perhaps attribute, in Part, the fol- lowing Incidents, related by the Lord Bifliop Giffard; in the Account he has left of her in Writing, and which he had from her own Mouth. On a certain Oc- cafion, as fhe was going up to London in' a Stage-coach, a Gentleman in the fame Coach, who wa3 entirely a Stranger to' her, faid: " Madam, remember 1 tell you, elder of the Daughters. Upon the Death of Earl Charles, the Title devolving upon his fecond Bro- ther Thomas, the Lady Anne, Earl Charles's only furviving Child, became fole Heirefs to his perfo- nal Eftate, and was afterward married to Sir Henry. Bedingfeld, of Oxborougk, in Norfolk, Baronet. In this moft virtuous and zealous Gatholick Family, me publickly embraced the Catholiclc Faith, vfiv moft devout and zealous in all the Duties of Re- ligion, a great Encourager of Piety and a Mother to all in Diftrefs. She died in the moft edifying Sentiments of Piety, , on . the 19th of September, in> the Year of our Lord 1682, of her Age 34. She was therefore born in 1648, confequently was- four Years older than our Venerable Abbefs. The- juft Praife of her Alms and other Virtues is reai in her Epitaph' in Oxborough Church. ( 4> ) * you, that God has extraordinary De~- H ligns of Mercy upon you." Thefe Words coming from a Perfon who ap- peared deeply penetrated with Sentiments of Religion, made a ftrong ImprefTion upon her Mind, and gave her far more Pleafure than all the flattering Compli- ments with which me was often entertain- ed. The fame Right Reverend Prelate tells us, that when me was about fifteen Years of Age, being one Day abroad in the Lady's Coach with her Children and their Governefs, there came up to the Side of the Coach an unknown Perfon, whofe Habit and Staff feemed like a Pil- grim's i this Stranger fixing his Eyes on her faid : " The Bleffing of God will light " upon you, and upon none but you, and M the Queen of Heaven protects you." Having faid this, he prefently abfconded, and was feen no more. The Governefs re- fented what he faid, becaufe he feemed to flight the other Children, who feemed principally to have deferved Notice, be- ing in their own Coach, though they were younger than Mifs Mary\ by which Circumftance it is clear, that Lady Anne Howard could not have been in this Coach. It is remarked of the Lady whole ( 42 ) whofe Memoirs we are writing, that dif- ring the whole Courfe of her Life ihe had a wonderful fine Afpecl:, which drew the Eyes of thofe that beheld her, and that a furprizing amiable Sweetnefs and Grace appeared in her Countenance. Two of the Brothers of the Earl of Berk/hire, the Honourable Philip and William Howard took the principal Care of her whilft ihe was at the Boarding-fchool, frequently vifited her there, and made her many handfome Prefents, both then and after- ward, when fhe Was with the Countefs of Berk/hire, and alfo when Ihe was at Paris, as Ihe often mentioned with a great Senfe of Gratitude, though fhe always conceal- ed that they were her Uncles. Mils Mary Howardw&s 1 8 Years of Age, and continued to live with the fame Lady, when King Cbarksll. who faw her at a Play, was exceedingly taken with her Beauty, and inquired who fhe was. This being told her the next Day, fhe was much difturbed and afrighted, and fpoke to her Friends in Town about the Matter with the greateft Alarms. The Hon. Col Philip Howard, and the H.on.Edward Howard, { her Uncles, tho' fhe never added this laftCircumftance when flie mentioned this Affair) and above all ( 43 ) all the Lady Mary Howard perfuaded her out of Hand to fteal privately over to France. In Confequence of this Advice, Hie faid to a certain Lady, her intimate Acquaintance, that abfolutely fhe would go to France. " Well," faid that Lady, M if you will go, I will go too." Accord- ingly, fo foon as Things could be made ready for their Journey, the Lady fet out for Paris, taking with her this young Ward, who going a- She goes to broad, took the Name of Tal- ** < hot, and a Daughter of her ^ ame f own, who was then ten Years Talbot, old. Upon her Arrival there fhe placed them both in the great Be- neditlin Nunnery of Val de Grace, that they might learn the French Language. This Place appeared to Mifs Talbot a Kind of Terreftrial Paradife. The Nuns indeed here live in great Auf- terity and obferve a perpetual Abflinencc from Flefh, being a reformed Congre- gation of the Order of St. Benedibl, upon the Model of that of the Monks of St. Maur, in France, and of that of St. Vanne, in Lorraine. The Piety and Devo- tion which the very Walls and Furniture of this flately Solitude feemed to breathe in ( 44 J ffl ever} 7 Part, railed her Mind to Heaven". But the deep Senfe of Religion, which the very Place itfelf infpired, was more ftrongly lmprefifed by the Example and Converfation of its holy Inhabitants, who both by their holy Functions, and by the Spirit of Humility, Meeknels, Simplici- ty, holy Love, Candour and Ardour iii every Practice of Virtue, and every Office of tender Charity towards each other, converted like Angels in a Human Frame. Particularly, in fmging the Divine Offices at the Foot of the Altar, all the Powers of their Souls evaporating in Holocaufts of pure Love, they feemed to vie witli the Choirs of glowing Seraphims, which without Interruption, found forth the Praifes of God at the Foot of his Throne in Heaven. And in their whole Deport- ment it appeared that their Minds were under the ftrongeft Conviction, and their Hearts penetrated with the moft lively Senfe of the Judgments of God, and of the incomprehenfible Myfteries of his Love and Merc) . Thefe fublime Truths, to which the young Lady had never hi- therto given any feriocis Attention, fhe now began to confider in fuch a Manner as to fee their Evidence, and their infi- nite ( 45 ) tike Excellence and Importance, quite in a new Light, and to be ravifhcd with the Beauty, Dignity, and Happinefs of our Divine Religion, and its perfect Virtue. Thefe Things made every Day deeper Impreffions on her Soul, enforced by the great Examples of Virtue which fhe had continually before her Eyes. For being naturally of a mod fweet and teachable Diipofition, and eafily inclined to the Love of Piety, Divine Grace found lefs Obstacles in fubduing her Heart to its powerful Influence and Guidance. The Devotions of the holy Seafon of Lent having affected her Soul in a particular Manner, on Good-Friday fhe would afilit at the Stations of Prayer, which the Nuns made to honour the Stations of the Suf- ferings of our Divine Lord. On this Oc- cafion fhe was fo moved by devoutly meditating on thofe facred Myfteries and Pledges of the unfathomed Love of our gracious God and Redeemer, that after having finifhed the Round of thefe Devo- tions with the Nuns, fhe privately fell on her Knees, and without Referve dedicated herfelf with the greateft Fervour her Con- fhe was able to the Divine Ser- vcr/un. vice, earneftly begging God to ftrengthen and ( 46 1 and direct her in the Execution of the holy Defires, with which, through his Grace, fhe found herfelf fo ftrongly animated. Being now fufficiently convinced of the Catholick Faith, fhe made a firm Refolu- tion not only to embrace it without De- lay, whatever Sacrifices it might coft her, but alfo in order to make the Confecra- tion of herfelf to God more fecure and entire, to devote herfelf to him in the moft perfect religious State. She made her Profeffion of the Catholick Faith privately in this Monaftery, in the Hands of an Englijh Benediflin Monk, and would have taken the religious Veil in the fame Houfe had fhe not found herfelf ftrongly called to a more auftere Order, and a more pri- vate Houfe, though the Abbey of Vol de Grace has always been remarkable for ftricl: Obfervance of regular Difcipline. Our young Convert was from that Mo- ment a Model of Edification to the whole Monaftery-, for fhe no fooner began truly to know God, but fhe burnt with an ar- dent Defire of living to him alone in all her Actions, in the moft perfect Manner "fhe was able, regretting bitterly all the Moments of her Life paft, which fhe had loft in the Ignorance of her fovereign and only Good. When ( 47 ) When the two young Ladies had been fome Time at Veil de Grace, they were taken out of the Monaftery by the Lady to live with her again in the Town (e). Mils Talbot durft not acquaint the Lady that fhe had changed her Religion ; which, however that Lady foon difcovered. For perceiving that fhe would no more eat any Flefh-meat on Fridays and Saturdays^ fhe (t) This Lady is commonly called at Paris and in the Monaftery Lady Danby, becaufe fhe became afterwards molt confpicuous under that Title, but at this Time fhe could only be Lady OJborne. Bridget, fecond Daughter of Mountague Bertie, Earl of Lindjey, was married to Sir Thomas OJborne, of Yorkjbire, Bart, who was created Earl of Danby by Charles the lid, in 1674, andbefides other great Honours, made Lord High Treafurer; with the principal Share of the Adminifcration, in which Jiis Name will ever be recorded in the Englijh Hiitory. He was afterwards created Duke of Leeds, by William the Hid, in 1694, having been inftru- mental in his Match, and in the Revolution. He died in 1712, fhe in 1704. They had fix Daugh- ters, the eldeft of which called Elizabeth, died at Paris unmarried. She lived there with Mifs Tal- bot, and at Val de (Jrace deiired with her to become a Catholick, and was inftru&ed in the Faith. But when fhe left the Monaftery was compelled by her Mother to conform to her former Profeffion, fhe being then only Eleven or Twelve Years of Age. The Year following Mifs OJborne died at Paris, cut pft" by a fudden Fever. ( 48 ) iihe immediately fufpected the Reafon, and faid to her, " I hope the Nuns have " not made you a Papiit?" No Madam: me replied , " the Nuns have not done " it, but God Almighty by his Grace has " made me one, and I fhall never change." It is not to be imagined into what a Rage this threw the Lady, and from that Mo- ment fhe perlecuted her, as it feemed, even to Death had it been in her Power. On Fridays and Saturdays fhe would allow nothing to be given her but Flelh-meat, that fhe might be compelled to eat it, which yet fhe constantly refufed to do, contenting herfelf with taking a little dry Bread. On Sundays and Holy days the Lady locked her up in her Room, that fhe might not hear Mafs, faying, that me knew flie committed a Mortal Sin by mif- fing it on thole Days. As if any Thing can be a Sin which is not voluntary. This Lady, though fhe profeffed herfelf a Proteflant, feemed by her Behaviour, and by what fhe often advanced in Dif- courfe, to be a mere Sceptick in Point of Religion, fo as to believe, or at leaft prac- tife, none at all ; which Circumftance made her Perfecution the more unreafon- able. She had fometimes been accuftom- ed ( 49 ) ed before to treat Mifs Talbot with Harfh- nefs, out of Capricioufnefs or Jealoufy, when fhe faw her more admired and ca- refied than her own Daughter. However, thefe were only pafTing Trials, which the Lady herfelf loon endeavoured to make amends for by more tender Carefies, and greater Tokens of Affe&ion andKindnefs. But Mifs Talbot's Change of Religion en- tirely alienated her from her, and fo en- raged her that it is not to be exprefTed what Severities, Threats and Reproaches the young Lady had continually to bear, and by how many Perfecutions her Con-, ftancy was put to the Trial. Once this Lady fhut her up with an Earl's Son, on purpofe that fhe might be feduced and forfeit her Virtue, or at leaft lofe her Ho- nour. But Almighty God preferved her from that Snare, and they only converfed innocently together. A certain French Clergyman ofDiflinc- tion, who often vifited the Lady, faw fo much of the ill Treatment which Mifs Talbot every Day received, that he had great Companion, efpecially knowing fhe luffercd all this purely for the Sake of her Religion. Finding no other Means of pro- curing her any Relief, he contrived an D Oopor ( 50 ) Opportunity one Day, when the Lady was out, of making her Efcape in his Coach, and helping her to take Shelter in the Abbey of Val de Grace. When the Lady had found this out, (he threat- ened to make her Complaint to the King, fo that the young Lady was fent back again to her, upon her promifing to treat her in a more gentle Manner. Notwith- standing this, the Perfecution of the young Lady feemed no way abated : and befides what fhe had continually to fuffer by eve- ry Kind of harfh Treatment, the Lady ever after carried about with her two Pif- tols loaded with Balls, to prevent any other fuch an Attempt, faying fhe would moot her if fhe offered to leave her Houfe : even in the Night Time fhe made her lie with her, and had one of thefe Piflols in the Bed, which gave Mifs Tal- bot no fmall Apprchenfion, for fear of fome Accident. The Lady, however, was at length prevailed upon to promife fhe would allow her to go into fome Mo- naftery, and carried her to that of the BenedWin Nuns of the Holy Sacrament. The Bargain being made, and every Thing fettled, juft as Mils Talbot was ready to go into the Monaftery, the Lady ma.- ( 5' ) malicioufly afked the Priorefs if her Walls were high enough ? At this Quei- tion the other was fo ftruck that fhe re- fufed to receive her upon any Terms, imagining that fhe was a Peribn of light Behaviour, or that fome Attempt might be made by others to carry her off, by which Scandal, Trouble and Diffraction might be brought upon the Monaftery. This Difappointment caufed the young Lady many bitter Tears ; but the Lady told her with Fury in.her Eyes, that fhe had now done what fhe had promifed, and that the Nuns would not take her on Ac- . count of her Mifdemeanors and bad Be- haviour. Thus, to her great Grief and farther Trials, fhe was obliged to return home with the Lady, who breathed no- thing but the Spirit of the World and its Pleaiures, and took Mifs Talbot with her to Plays, Balls, and Operas. This v/ould have been to many a more dangerous Temptation than the moil violent Perfe- cucion , and it was doubtlefs a Stratagem by which the Devil endeavoured to weak- en her Refolution, and by Degrees infen- fibly inlinuate himfelf into her tender Soul. But Almighty God having taken entire Poflefnon of her Heart, all thefe D 2 Things ( 5? ) Things were grievous Torments to her, and {he fighed after nothing but the happy Opportunity of giving herfe!f entirely to God, which Sacrifice die continually repeated in Defire, and every Day with irefh Fervour. It pleafed God at length to put an End to this long and fcvere Perfecuticn. And the Lady elefpairing to overcome her Re- solution, gave her leave, at her earnefl Requeft, to s;o to the Monafterv of Re- gular Ccmiejjes of St. Auftin, at Chailloty near Paris. Some Time after this Lady having left her own Daughter, who died of a Fever, as mentioned in the Note, went to fee Mifs 'J'albct there, and tokl her that fhe was going for England, and that if fne would go with her, fhe would take her to henden, continue her former Kindnefs to her, and take Care of her Fortune : but if not, that fhe would a- bandon her, and that none of her Friends would ever more take Notice of her, or have any Concern for her. The young Lady feeing herielf upon the Point of being utterly forfaken, without any Friend to depend upon, or make the lean: Provi- fion for her in this World, caft herfelf into the Hands of God, and told the Lady that ( 53 ') that ine committed herfelt to Divine Pro-* vidence, and would never return into the World. The Lady having received this reibkue Anfwer, abruptly left her, and was never known to have inquired any more after her. Mils Talbot's Relations in England were very angry with this La- dy upon her Return, becaufe fhe had left Mils Talbot behind her: And fome of her Relations came afterwards to Paris, in order to find her out, and bring her back to England. And after many In- quiries, being informed that me was gone to Rouen, they followed her thither ; but finding her in the Monaltery and a Nun, and feeing that all Endeavours to reftore her to her Family would be fruit- lefs, they returned Home without making any Noife, which they apprehended would only turn to their Difgrace. Mifs Talbot, feeing' hetferf thus aban- doned by the Lady who had undertaken to be her Guardian, did not lofe Courap-e, and God was pleafed to fend her a fpeedy Comfort, in Reward of her heroick Sacri- fice, and repeated Victories over herfelf and her fpiritual Enemies. P'or a young Gen- tlewoman of the fame Age with her, who- D 3, was ( 54 ) was Daughter to the firft Prefident of the Parliament, and very rich, and who had feen her at Val de Grace, made her a Vi- fit at Chaillot. And fuch was the Affec- tion which this Lady conceived for her, that me came and lived with her in that Monaftery between two and three Years, providing handfomcly for her in all her Neceffities , me even offered to fettle upon her half her Fortune if fhe would conti- nue with her; but Mifs Talbot finding her Defire of embracing a mod auftere, pe- nitential, religious Order, grow every Day ftronger, addrefied iierlelf to the Convent of the reformed Poor Clares of Ave Maria, at Paris, this being then ef- teemed the mod auftere Monaftery of Nuns in the World ; and fuch it may perhaps be ft ill reputed if we except that of Clarets, fubjedt to the Reformation and Jurildiction of the Abbot of the re- formed Cijiercians of La Trappe. In the mean Time the Englifo Benedittin Father who had received Mifs Talbot into the Church, hearing of her Inclination, ad- vifed her rather to enter among her Coun- try-women, telling her there was at Roikn a very regular Convent of EngliJJj Poor Clares, ( 5? ) Clares, (e) This Information gave her great Pleafure ; for fhe had never before heard of any Engli/h Monaftery of fuch an Order j and fo ardent was her Defire to (e) The Religious Order of Poor Clares was in- rHtuted by St. Francis of JJfiJio, in 1212, when he gave the Habit to St. Clare. His Friars he al- lowed the Liberty of eating Flefh-meat at certain Seafons, that they might be lcfs bui thenfome to fecular Perfons, amonglt. whom they fometimes converfe and receive their Subfiflence. For the Sake of a like Conformity in many other religion"; Orders, in which the fpiritual or corporal Service of others is a capital Duty, an abatement has been made of the Severity of perpetual Abftinence from Flefh, which (except in Cafes where Charity requires a Difpenfation) was an inviolable Rule of the Mo- naftick State for feveral Ages, and is Mill obferved in all the Eaftern Churches. St. Francis not think- ing fuch an Indulgence necefTary for his Nuns, en- joined them a moil inviolable Rule of perpetual Abftinence, which is obferved by them to this Day, without the lead Mitigation. St. Francis out of a Spirit of Penance, and of the moft perfect Difengagement from the World, eftabliihed his whole Order upon the Foundation of the molt ri- gorous Poverty, even in .common. Hence the Poor Clares (without a Difpenfation in extraordi- nary Cafe) never enjoy any Rents, either in Lands or in Funds, but live upon the Capital whicli the particular Fortunes of the Nuns bring in, or upon the Alms and charitable Contributions of the Faithful. Pope Urban IV, in 1263, granted the Liberty to fome Monafteries of this Order, to re- D 4. ccive ( 56 ) to aecomplifh her Refohition, and cont- plete her intended Sacrifice,, that two Days after fhe fet out for Rouen, thinking every Delay, even of a Day, a great Lofs. The teive and enjoy fettled Revenues and Eftates in common. Thefe are called Vrbanijls. Some of the Nunneries of this Older in England, be- fore the Difiblution of religious Houfes, were of Urbanijis, particularly their rich Nunnery in Lou- den, on the Spot which ftill retains from them the Name of the Mincries, between the Tcnver and Mdgate. Other Houfes of the Poor Clare sin England, as they had no Revenues, are no where recorded, except fome few of which we find Mention made accidentally, as the fecond Monastery of Clares, in London, of which St. Agatha was titular Saint, the Site of which is not now known. Seme Au- thors imagine the Englijh Monafteries of Poor Clares in the Low Countries and in France, derive a Succefiion from this Houfe. For we are informed by F. Angelas Mejon, in his Certamen Scraphkum, that F. Stephen Fox, Warden of the Francijcan Friars, at Greenwich, being expelled England in the 2d Year of Queen. Elisabeth,. 1559, retired to Antwerp, from whence with twenty Englijh Poor Clares he went to Rouen, and foon after to Lifiov, where Philip II.. then was, by whom they were gracioufly received :. by his Command a Monaflery and Church were founded for thefe Nuns, at Lijbcn, in which F. Fox was buried in 1580, as F. Parkin- fon relates in his cuiicus Ililtory of his Engli/hPro- vincc of the Friar Minors. We find no farther Mention of thefe Englijh Peer Clares, at Lijlov, and we meet with Englijh Poor Clares foon after thii ( ?7 y The Honourable PM//> and WiBamHow- crd made her confiderable Preients at P*m, and the Earl of Carlifle ('who was a CatholiokJ hearing of her Converfion, lent this at St. Gmer, feeking a Settlement, and depart- in^ thence to build- a Monaftery at Gravelines, which was completed in 1603. F. Parkin/on ima- gines that thefe Englijb Poor Clares returned from Lijlon to St. Gmer, and that fome of thefe foon after went to Gravelines. But' this Account, how- ever plaufible, cannot be admitted: for it is con- tradicted by the authentick Records concerning the nrlt Foundation of the Englifi Poor Clares, at Gra- 'velir.es. This indeed preceded the Re-eftablifhment- of the Englijb Province of the F rend/cans, which was brought about by the Zeal of that truly great Man, F. John Gcnnings. This Gentleman was a virtuous Prieft of the Englijh College, at Douay, Brother to Mr. Edmund Gcnnings, the holy Prieir. of that College, who was crowned with Martyr- dom in 1 59 1, at London, and whofe edifying Life he wrote, printed in Quarto, 1614. Mr. John Gennings, nd feme Scholars of the fame College, took the Francifccn Habit in 1614. By their Means the Englijh Convent and College of that Order, at Douay, was finifhed in 1617, and focn after they obtained a Bull of the Pope, by which the Engli/h Province of Grey Friars, of the Order of St. Francis, was reftored. In 1625, in the ge- neral Chapter of the Order, it was allowed to re. tain its ancient Rank and Precedency, of the fourth in the Order, and fecond among thofe on this Side of the Alps, the firft being that of St. Francis of AJJiJio, the fecond that of France, the third D 5. tha t ( 53 ) fent her a very rich Pair of Beads, which on this Occaiion fhe fold for an Hundred Pounds Sterling. This Sum enabled her to undertake her Journey to Rouen : thi- ther that of Rome, the fourth the Englijb. In 1629 Mr. John Gennings was appointed the firft Provin- cial. Though the Englijh Poor Clares had procured an Eftabliihment at Gravelines long before this in 1603, they could not be of the Number of thofc, who had taken Refuge at Lijbon, who feem to have died there without leaving any SuccefTors ; for we find no farther Mention of them. The Ladies who reftored their Order at Gra. Clare, or Davenport, Prefident of St. Bona-ventrire's College at Douay, and Reader of Divinity there* and F. John Barnvoell, Reader of Divinity in St. Anthonys College of Irzjb Friars, at Lowvain, both appointed CommifTaries for this Purpofe by F. Jo- Jeph Bergaine, Gommiflary General of the Bdgick and annexed Provinces. On Whitfunday, the 19th of May, 1629, , the Abbefs, Sifter Margaret of St. Paul, called in the World Margaret Radcliffe, who had made her Profeflion at Grwvelines, in 1612, having fent tv/o Colonies of her Nuns before, took her Lodgings with them in the King's Hall, at Aire, which the Infanta had lent them for the interim. So foon as their own Monailery was ready for their Inclofure, the faid F. Francis, by a fpecial Commimon from the CommiiTary General, vifited the fame, and gave the Nuns, when he had fettled them then*, the free Election of their Offi- . cers. Sifter Margaret was re-chofen Abbefs, and had in her Community eighteen other choir Nuns, two Novices, and three Lay-fifters. On the 10th of December, 1630, in the firft Provincial Chapter of the EnglifoFrancifcanY riars, after the Reftora- ti'xn ( 6 1. ) Houfe defired fhe would firftfee her, and then refufe to admit her if fhe would j faying fhe was of fo modeft, virtuous, and graceful an Afpect, that no one could tion of their Province, held in the Convent of St;. Elizabeth, at Brufels, with the Confent of F. Gai- nings, the Provincial, F. Cujlos, and the De.iu.- t(>rs, it was incorporated into this Province, which was confirmed by F V *jfofeph Bergaine, Com mi /far/ General over this Province, having fjpecial Autho- rity for this Effect from F. Bernardin de Sienis, M\- niiter General of the whole Order. Thii Nunnery of Aire is the only Englifi Houfe of Poor Claris which is fubject to the Superiours of the Order, and adopted into the Englifo Province, the reft being fubjeft to the Bilhops of the rcfpectivc Dic- ccfes. Indeed a Nunnery at Bruges, of the third Order of St. Francis is in like Ma-iner of this Pro- vince, and futijeft to its Ssperiours and Govern- ment. This was at firft a fmall Houfe, founded at Brujj'els, on the ioth of Auguft, in 162 1 , by Mrs. Catherine Greenhury, under the Direction of Englijh Franci/can Friars. She was chofen firfc Superiour. Their Number growing too large for their Houfe, they removed for the Sake of one more commodious to Nieuport, in 1637, and in 1661, purchafed the old Palace of the Counts of Flanders at Bruges, called Princcnhojf, with the Privileges annexed to the Site. To return to the Poor Clares, their Numbers at Cra-velines being again too great for the Commu- nity to find Subfillence in fo inconvenient a Situa- tion, Sifter Anne Bro-wn, Niece to Lord Vifcount Mbutague, a profefTed Nun at Gravelines, was per- mitted ( 62 ) could behold her without being ftruck with Surprize, and without conceiving the higheft Opinion of her. Nor was he lingular in his Judgment, for the whole mitted to attempt the Foundation of another Houfe of this Order, at Dunkirk, in 1652. This me effected with three religious Sifters, whom (he took with her, Mary Clark, Anne Anderton, and Frances Rcok-ivcod; Sifter Anne Brown was chofen the firft Abbefs, in September 1659. The Nunnery of the Poor Clares, at Rouen, is commonly known in that City by the Name of Les Gravelines, becaufe it is a Colony from the fame Houfe, which was fettled there in 1650. For in 1644, to eafe the Mother-houfe, ready to fink under the Miferies of the Times, after the Matter had been earneftly recommended to God by long Prayer, Application was made to the Queen of England, then at Paris, and to her Treafurer, Sir Richard Fcjler, and at her Majefty's Requeft a Let- tre de cachet was granted by the Queen Regent of France, for permitting fixteen of thefe Nuns to go to Rouen in Normandy. At the Head of this Colony went, Sifter Mary Francis, called in the World Tay- lor, who had made her religious Profeftion at Grave- lines, in 161 4, at the Age of feventeen, and had there difcharged with extraordinary Prudence and Vir- tue the Office of Miftrefs of Novices feven Years, and of Vicarefs eighteen, and had already fpent thirty-one Years in a religious State. Amongft the other fifteen were the Sifters Mary Magdalen Clare, (alias Browne) Lncy Clare, (alias Perkins) Marga- ret Ignatius, (alias Bcdingfield) Elizabeth Petrc, (alias Salijlury) Wenefrid Clare, (alias GiJ'ard ) two Brad- ( 63 ) if/hole Community was charmed with" her humble and religious Deportment, and with* the Simplicity with which me gave an Account of herfelf; flie was there- Bradfoaws, &e. and with them Mr. Robert Rook- ivood, Confeflbr of the Houfe, who was a great Afiiftant in making this new Eftablifliment, and in fettling in it the moft perfect Spirit of Devotion and Penance. The Houfe was put under the ftrideft Form of the Reformation, drawn from that of St. Colette, through the Intereft of the Queen of Eng- land, then at Pan's, and authorized by Letters Patent, i-gncd by Lewis the XlVth, in 1650. ThefeNuns, upon their Arrival at Rouen, were lodged in a fecular Houfe, and there in Jan. 1645, Mother Vicarefs Taylor was unanimoufly chofen Abbefs. They ob- ferved fnclofure in their fecular Houfe, till the new Monaftery being finifhed the Abbefs led thi- ther her Community on the 9th of Oftobcr, 1652. The principal Benefactors were Sir Richard F oft er, Mr. John Petre, the City of Rouen, efpecially the firft Prefident of the Parliament and his Lady ; Lord Arundel, who fent his only Daughter Penfi- oner to the Houfe, where me afterwards made her religious Profeihon, the three Lady Weftons, the Earl of Portland's three Daughters, Sir Henry Rro have been in the flace of Peter. This 4< Grace of fuffering Chains isfomething * far greater than to flop the Sun, to " move the World, or to command the " Devils." Such were the heroick Sen- timents of the Saints, whole Example confounds and loudly condemns thofe nominal delicate Chriftians who walk Enemies to the Crofs of Chrift, and Strangers to this fublime Myftery, the great Secret of the Christian Theology. Mifs Talbot, though yet a Novice in Re- jigion, had already fo thoroughly medi- cated on the Love and Sufferings of her cru- ( 7 ) crucified Redeemer, and the fublime Maxims of his Gofpel, and had walked with fuch Fidelity, and heroick Conftan- cy and Patience in the high Road of the Crofs, under the Trials and Perfecutions fhe had met with in her firft Converfion to God, that fhe was deeply penetrated with the Spirit of the Crofs, and a true Senfe of the ineftimable Treafures and Happinefs that are hid in Sufferings un- dergone for Chrift, the fpiritual Advan- tages which accrue to a Soul from them, and the incomparable Sweetnefs, which through the divine Grace fhe often finds in them, as Honey hid in the Combs. This devout Efteem and Relifh of the Crofs fhe exprelfed both by bearing that Name, and in her whole Deportment. For from the fame Source fprang in her a perfect Spirit of voluntary Mortification and Self-denial, and a vehement Defire of embracing a crucified and penitential Life. The Life of the Flefh, which is a SJfdr l Slavery of the Soul to necejfary^rell fenfual Appetites, and the minary Condi- Life of the Spirit, Or of ticn in a Chri- divine Grace, are two Op- JlianLif*. pofites, and mutually de- ftroy each other, as St. Paul affures us. ( 7' ) us (7). Wherefore, to beat down the Afcendant which the inordinate Gratifi- cation of Senfe threatens to hold over us, all who defire to belong to Chrift, are bound to crucify the Flefh with its Vices, and to carry their Crofs after Chriit. This preliminary Condition is required both to ftrengthen our Victory over our Paf- fions, and to difpofe our Souls to the Practice of heroick Virtue. For as our earthly Body cannot be raifed to a Life of Glory, unlefs it be firft deftroyed by natural Death, fo neither can any one rife fo as to live by the Spirit, unlefs he be firft dead to a fenfual Life, by the Cru- cifixion of its inordinate Appetites, and a perfect Difengagement of the Heart from all irregular Attachments to the Vanities and dangerous Allurements of the World, and of Senfe. And the more perfect: this fpiritual Death or Crucifixion is, fo much the more perfectly, and with fo much the greater Eafe, "will the Difciple of Chrift be difpofed to live and walk by the Spirit. Thefe great and effential Truths, which moft Chriftians, deluded by the Blinds of Self-love, and their Paf- iions, ftudy to foften and adulterate, our young (7) Gal. v. 17. ( 7* ) young Novice had fo well learned and re- liihcd, that her Love of Penance, and her Fervour in its molt Severe Practices feemed infa liable. As me had embraced the moil auitere Lnftitute, out of an ear- ned Defire of crucifying in her Soul all carnal Appetites, me found all the Auf- terities prefcribed by the Rule, light and eafy, and far from feeding to miti- gate any Part, it was her Study and De- light to give to every Circumitance its full Severity. Neverthelefs, to avoid all Danger of Illufion, Singularity, or indif- creet Rigour, it was her Care to meafure all her Practices of Penance and Devo- tion by her Rule, by Obedience and holy Difcretion. Such a continual Martyrdom of Penance, fome perhaps, will think more apt to difcourage and afright, than to edify thofe to whom it is not linkable. It is true, that in moft States the Aufte- rities practifed in feveral religious Orders, could not be attempted ; yet fuch Exam- ples are a Spur to our Sloth and Cowar- dice : and a true Spirit of Penance and habitual Reflraint laid on our Senfes, are efiential general Duties of all Chriftians, efpecially Self-denial or inward Mortifi- cation of the Will. Nor are Opportuni- ties ( 7i ^ \ /J I ties wanting in every Station of Life, nay in every Occurrence, particularly in the civil Commerce of Society, which is only entertained by continual Offices of Cha- rity, and the Exercife of Humility, Pa- tience, Meeknels, Condefcenfion, Obe- dience and the like Virtues, the moil he- roick Sacrifices of Self-love and our own Will. Even that conftant Watchfulnefs over our Hearts and Senies, in which every Chriftian is obliged to live , a Fer- vour and Exactitude in all Duties, and a careful Attention to do the Will of God in all our Actions, are a perpetual War againft Sloth and Self-love, in which no Succefs can be hoped for without great Courage and Refolution in denying and dying to ourfelves, and fuch an habitual Practice of the fame, as gives an eafy Victory over the Appetites of corrupt Nature, which if not kept in Subjection by conitantReftraint, by their own Weight impede or weaken the Exertion of Virtue in every Action. This Violence and Re- ftraint becomes eafy by Degrees and gives true Liberty, and that happy inward Peace, which richly compeniates the Pains it may coft by the Comforts and Victory which are its Fruit. In a religious Life E this ( 74 ) this is fo much the more eafily acquired, as the Exercifes by which it is attained are more obvious, more eafy, and gene- rally more perfect ; furnifhed by the bare Obfervance of the Rule, if complied with in that heroick Spirit which it pre- scribes. Of this Sifter Mary of the Crofs was an edifying and wonderful Inftance. By her perfect habitual Practice of Hu- mility and Self-denial, her Will was fo readily bent to obey the Call of every Virtue and Duty, and fo perfectly fubject and united to God, that his holy Will feemed entirely to govern her, and regu- late all her Defires, Affections and Acti- ons. Her Thoughts and Imagination were curbed by holy Recollection and Compunction, and all her Faculties, Senfes, and Pafllons were reftrained by the watchful Guard Cne kept upon them, with fo great Eafe that it feemed natural, and to cofther no Conftraint or Violence. By a perfect Victory over herfelf flie pof- feffed her Soul with fuch a happy Com- mand over its Appetites, that no one ever perceived her Mind to be ruffled by any fudden Motion of Anger or Impa- tience. And in the Serenity of her Coun- tenance, the Sweetnefs and Evennefs of her ( 7S ) her Temper, and her ready Obedience and Submifiion to others, every one dif- cerned and admired the Peace, Humility, Meeknefs and Charity towards all which reigned in her Soul. This perfect Spirit of Humility and Self-denial, and this Victory over herfelf was the Foundation of the eminent Spirit of Prayer, and other fublime fpiritual Privileges to which the divine Grace raifed her Soul. So very few attain this high Gift of Prayer, be- caufe fo few ftudy truly to die to the World and to themfelves, and to difen- gage their Hearts from the inordinate Love of Creatures. For fo long as the Soul remains Earthly or Senfual, wedded to Creatures, enflaved to the Senfes and Paflions, neither can God admit her to an holy Union with himfelf, nor can his Grace enlighten her Mind, or kindle its pure Flames in her fordid and proftituted Affections. Mortification, however, is no more than -f^f* , xii. 15. (25) ffa> vi. ( 8 7 ) that Deluge of Abominations, with which it is on all Sides covered. For in what does Heaven confift but in the Pu- rity and Sanctity of its Inhabitants, and in their uninterrupted Contemplation, Love, and Praifc of God. The Con- templation in Heaven is indeed intuitive and beatifick \ that on Earth imperfect, through a Glafs, in an abftracted State, and at a Diftance. This, however, is juftly called a Novitiate of the other, and thofe will be more abundantly filled from the infinite Source of Love and Joy for all Eternity in Heaven, whofe Hearts have been more perfectly and more afiiduoufly exercifed in this Life, in the Exercifes of divine Contemplation and Love, and more continually enlarg- ed by holy Defires. Upon thefe Motives our young Novice looked upon the Of- fice of the Church as the moft eilential among her Duties, and of all others, next to the adorable Sacrifice of the Al- tar, and the holy Sacraments, the moft excellent and fublime. Oh ! that thofe who, to the Difhonour of that God into whofe Service they are en lifted, to the Scandal of the Church, and their own moft juft Condemnation, run to the Choir with- ( 88 ) without Awe or Attention, and perform carelefsly this tremendous Office, aflbci- ated as they are by it to the heavenly Spirits, who fing, proftrate, and veiled with their Wings before the Throne of God, were duly penetrated with the like Sentiments ! With what Dread, Dili- gence, Zeal, and Devotion would they difcharge this Duty, which they fo fhame- fully huddle or yawn over, as if it were a Talk ! In this deep Senfe of fo fu b- lime and divine a Function, Silter Mary of the Crofs ftudied the Spirit of every Part of the Office, and the Rites and Ceremonies prefcribed by the Church for duly performing it. To have ever come one Moment late, or not to have been {iifficiently careful and earneft in her Attention to the divine Prefence, and in every Part of the Preparation of her Soul for Prayer, fhe would have thought an unpardonable Crime of Sloth in fo holy a Function. At Prayer fhe was pe- netrated with a moll profound Awe of the divine Prefence, as if fhe had been prefented in Heaven before the bright Throne of the inacceffible Light of infi- nite Majefty. And the humble Reve- rence and flaming Devotion, which ap- peared ( 9 \ peered in her whole Attitude and De- portment-, in her Eyes and other Senles ihut to all earthly Objects ; in her glow- ing Countenance, frequently bedewed with Tears, and in the very Accent of her Voice, befpoke an interiour Fervour 01" Soul, which might rather have feemed that of a heavenly Seraphim praiiing God in the intuitive Contemplation or the Divinity, Face to Face, than of one deprefTed under the Weaknefs of a Mor- tal Body in this State of Corruption and Sin : So lively was her Faith by which fhe contemplated the divine Myf- teries, and faw him who is invijible 9 as if he were vifible (26) and prefent to the Eyes of her Soul, and in whom me ap- peared wholly abforpt in Adoration, Love, Compunction, and an entire An- nihilation of herfelf. She was particu- larly affected with every Part of the di- vine Office, every Canonical Hour of which, out of a tender Devotion to the Sufferings of our blefled Redeemer, {he offered, amongft other pious Intentions, to honour the different Stations of his facred Paflion. The Law and Cuftom of rifing to the Midnight Office pleaied her (26) Hebr. xi. 27. ( 90 ) her above the other Parts, both that flic might not fall fhort of the Fervour of the primitive Church, and of fo many Saints, and becaufe the Silence of the Night helped her Recollection, and in- flamed her Fervour, and the Circum- itance of not admitting too long an In- terruption of the divine Praifes, extremely gratified her Zeal. She carried her Fi- delity to the leaft Circumftance and Cere- mony in the divine Office, and all her Devotions, not out of Scrupulofity, but from a Spirit of Religion, the lighted Tincture of which fuffices to teach us that nothing is to be looked upon as fmall in the divine Service. With what Atten- tion and Refpedt do we fee Princes ferved by their Attendants ! With what Awe does diabolical Superftition prompt the moft favage Idolaters to behave in the vain Worfhip of their imaginary Deities, dumb Stocks and Stones ? And mail the moft facred Rites of the divine Worfhip, mall the moft folemn Service of the living God, our moft merciful Lord and Re- deemer, be treated in fuch a Manner as to be made the Scandal and Reproach of Religion itfelf ? The ( 9i ) The due Performance 0thet . Branches of the divine Office, indeed f Prayer. of all other Duties of Pray- er, requires an eminent Spirit of Devo- tion, -which can neither be obtained nor cultivated but by an habitual clofe Union of the Soul with God. This Sifter Mary made her chiefeft Aim, and the Object of her moft fervent Petitions to God, with fo much the greater Ardour, as me confidered the End and very Eflence of her religious State to be no other than the moft perfect Life of Prayer. Her pri- vate Devotions fhe regulated with the utmoft Care and Difcretion ; fo that they excellently anfwered and filled up all the different Duties of Piety. Amongft thefe the Sufferings of our divine Redeemer, and the other Myfteries of his facred Hu- manity, were always her favourite Object, both in her Meditations and vocal Prayers. Jn her whole Progrefs in an interiour Life, fhe reaped the greateft Advantage from her Affection for, and conftant Practice of holy Meditation, the fove- reign Influence of v/hich Exercife over her whole Life appeared vifibly in all her Actions. For, according to the Maxim of St. Terefa, fhe looked upon that Prayer as as fruitlefs and liable to dangerous Illu- fions, which remains barren, and paries not beyond bare Defires, fuch being in a great Meaiure merely imaginary, and proper only to put a Cheat upon the Soul, that is lounhappyas to reft in them. Not content with kindling the warmed AfFefbions and Sentiments of Virtue in her Heart, fhe never failed to crown them with effectual particular Reibiutions ; which fhe was no leis careful with equal Fervour to carry into Execution. Hence by this holy Exercife growing in all fpiritual Sci- ence and experimental Sentiments of Vir- tue, me ever returned from Prayer rilled with heavenly Light, in a feeling Know- ledge of the Myfteries of the divine Love and Mercy, of God's Immenfity, and her own Nothingncfs and Miferies ; and glowing with Zeal for the divine Ho- nour, and the Advancement of the King- dom of his Love by the Crucifixion of Self-love in her own Heart: more humble, more meek, more patient and obedient : the Fruit of which immediately appeared in her Words and Actions. In order to live every Moment to God alone, and make all her Actions an un- interrupted Chain of Virtue, and a con- tinued ( 93 ) tinued Holocauft of herfclf and all her Faculties and Works to God, fhe had always in View the moft perfect Accom- plishment of his holy Will. To renew this Oblation of every Action with the entire Confecration of herfclf to him, ihe began every Prayer and other Work by earneftly begging of God in a fervent Afpiration, that he would infpire and Jirengthcn her by that Prayer (or other Work) to glorify him by the perfect Sa- crifice of her Heart, with all her Powers, and with her whole Strength, in that Manner which would be moft to his di- vine Honour ; and that he would form in her Heart thofe pure Defires and un- fpeakable Sighs, by which he might be moft powerfully moved to grant his moft abundant Graces and Mercies. Nothing is of more Advantage in a fpiritual Life than an Habit of doing every Action with a View purely to the Will of God, and an Attention to his divine Prefence, and of frequently form- ing fuch Afpirations, if it were but by repeating : Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven \ i. e. as readily, as per- fectly, with like Fervour and Constancy. Qi that of St. Macarius: Lord, have Mer- ( 9+ ) Mercy en me, as in thine infinite Wijdom and Goodnefs thou feefi and willeft beft. Or: May I be all thine now and for ever more, through thy beloved Son, Jefus Chrift. Or: Teach me to love thee with my whole Heart, now and evermore. But fuch a Practice derives the Value which it gives to every Sacrifice, from the Purity and Fervour of the Defire to ferve God, ,in which the Soul entirely dedicates herfelf to him. This habitual Confecration, which the Soul makes of herfelf to God, is virtually renewed in every Action which it directs, this total holy Sacrifice being comprifed, imbibed, and as it were re- peated in every fuch virtuous Action, as St. Thomas Aquinas ihews, fpeaking of a religious State. But all the Sacrifices of Creatures bearing no Proportion to the infinite Majefty of God, it is necef- fary always to call in the Merits of Chrift, which being infinite, are an adequate Homage to the Deity. Though Man is Corruption and Bafenefs, his Offerings, made through Chrift, and in Union with his adorable Sacrifice, will be accepted of by God. For he hath made us acceptable h his beloved Son (27). In this View Sif- ter (27) Epbef, i. 6, ( 95 ) ter Mary of the Crofs, not fuperficially, or inattentively, but with the moll lively Devotion and Confidence, clofed every Prayer with thofe Words of the Church, through Chrifi our Lord, or the like ; and always made the Tender of her Heart and Actions to God, in Union with Chrift's Sufferings and Death, or of his adorable Zeal or Intention of glorifying his Father, according to his immenle Greatnefs, by an infinite Homage, in e- very Prayer and Action of his facred Life on Earth. Silence and Recollection be- Love of ins an eflential Part of an in- s j! ence and t / t T u - j Retirement. tenour Lire, or a Lire hid in God, (that is, a Life of Prayer) and an indiipenfible Duty of a religious State, efpecially, in the holy Order of St. Fran- cis, in which it is ftrongly enjoined and enforced by the Founders, St. Francis and St. Clare -, this faithful Novice inhe- rited the higheft Efteem of that great Virtue, and Means of Chriftian Perfec- tion. Superfluous or idle Converfation is a Source of numbcrlefs Failings and Sins, and a fatal Poifon to an interiour Life, and the clofe Union of a Heart with God. It feeds and ftrengthens a Thou- ( 96 ) Thoufand petty Paflions, particularly of Vanity, Pride, and Self-love, and is ufually among Worldlings, a mutual im- perceptible Communication of their fe- cret Poifon. It diflipates the Mind, and fills it with a Thoufand vain Images, and the Heart with idle Defires, by which it is difpcfed to contract irregular Attach- ments, which raife a Wall of Separation between the Soul and God. Perpetual Solitude or Silence is in ihofe, who have not embraced a State in which it is prac- tifed, incompatible with many focial Du- ties , and it is what very few are capable of bearing, efpecially of the Female Sex: but even to fee others now and then is a Relief to the Mind, and to interchange fometimes a Word or two may fuffice. And one, who has begun to learn the di- vine Art of converfing interiourly with God, foon loathes all Converfation which does not raife the Heart thither. This was mod remarkable and edifying in our pi- ous Servant of God. Even on fpiritual Subjects fhe chofe rather to liften to others than to fpeak much herfelf, and what (lie faid was delivered with the greater!: Mo- defty, and in few Words. Even in Times of Recreation her Difcourfe ieem- ed ( 97 ) ed confined to the Offices of Charity and Neceflky ; her Words were always fea- foned with an extraordinary Spirit of Piety and Humility, and befpoke her Soul abforpt in God, and penetrated with the awful Senfe of his divine Pre- fence. Particularly, fhe never let drop the lead Word of Complaint or Anger, and never fpoke to others of her Suffer- ings in any kind, unlefs when obliged by fome Neceflky, or to afk Advice. Upon meeting with any Difficulty or Crofs, (he immediately recollected herfelf, renewed her Spirit interiourly in God, ftirred herfelf up fweetly to bear it with Courage and Cheerfulneis , adored, and as it were, killed the Hand of his divine Providence with perfect Submiflion to his merciful Appointments, and haften* ed to hide herfelf with her little Crofs in the Heart of Jefus, that fhe might learn to bear it with him, and for his Love. In the Sanctuary of his divine Heart (he found all Sweetnefs and Com- fort : we in vain feek for it in Creature?, which, inftead of affording any Eate, can only increafe our Trouble and Pain. To ftudy and put on the Spirit of Chritt, fhe meditated daily on fome of the adore- F able ( 98 ) able Myfteries of his divine Life, enter- tained herfelf frequently on them in the Day by devout Afpirations, endeavour- ing never to act or think but with him, and in his Spirit. The Virtues themfelves, and the whole Lives of moft Chriftians, are full of Imperfection, Infidelities and Sin, becaufe they give little heed to their Interipur, and are carelefs in watching over it, and regulating the inward Mo- tions, Defires, and AfFe&ions of their Soul. By diligent Self-examination, Watchfulnefs over her Heart and Senfes, and Compunction , and by holy Meditati- on, Prayer, and converfing with God, this his true Servant fo governed and quick- ened her Interiour, that animated with the fervent and perfect Spirit of all Virtue fhe produced in all her Actions continual Fruits of Humility,' Zeal, Charity, and other Virtues, and her whole Converfa- tion feemed a perfect Model of a reli- gious State, or the Rule of evangelical Perfection, exemplified in Practice. A IS'ovice lo accompli fhed in all Vir- Her reli- tue was readily admitted by g'wus Fro/ef- the unanimous Votes of the fon. Community to make her re- ligious Profefllon, and the Year of her No- ( 99 ) Noviciate being expired, after the regu- lar Examination of her Vocation by the great Vicar by Virtue of a Commiffion of the Archbifhop, fhe pronounced het folemn Vows on the Feaft of the Nati- vity of the BlefTed Virgin, in the Year 1675. From what has been already faid it may be better imagined than defcribed with what Fervour and Humility {he confummated her Sacrifice on that Occa- fion. St. T'erefa one Day complained to our- Lord that we no longer fee among; Souls which dedicate themfelves to his Sen-vice, thofe wonderful Effufions of Grace, by which he formed among!! the primitive Monks fo many eminent Saints and divine Men -, andfhe afked him how this comes to pafs fince his Power is not weakened, nor can the Fountain, of his Grace be impaired ? He anfwered her in a Vifion, that the Reafon of this Dif- ference arifes from Men, not from him who is unchangeably the fame. His Arm is not fhortened, nor is his Good uefs lefs defirous to communicate his choiceft Graces : but we fo contract our Hearts, as to fhut them againft him, and by our criminal Referves remain incapable of receiving the extraordinary Effects of F 2 his ( IOO ) his Bounty. The Fault is wholly in us that we are fo poor, fo deftitute of hea- venly Goods. For whilft our infinitely gracious God makes himfelf all ours, and is ready to refufe us nothing, we obftruct the Defigns of his Love and Mercy, for Want of Courage and Refo- lution in removing the Obftacles, and in making the Sacrifice of cur Hearts en- tire. For lb long as Self-love ftill main- tains its Hold by any inordinate Attach- ment or Faflion, the Reign of divine Grace and Love cannot be triumphantly eitablifhed in our Souls. Our Sloth is the more unpardonable, inafmuch as this Refer ve is often in the moft fooliih Trifle, in a nothing, which after all our good Refolutions we could never find in our Hearts perfectly to renounce. In one this is a filly Caprice or Humour, in an- other a Frowardnefs of Temper, in a third a difguifed flight Vanity, or a petty infignincant Senfuality, Sloth, or the like. What a Pity is it, that after making the greateft Sacrifices we fhould fall fhort for the Sake of fuch Bubbles ! To thofe generous Souls which give all to God, who courageoufly refolve to fpare nothing that they may be altogether bis, ( .101 ) his, he communicates himfelf with fucrk an Excefs of Goodnefs and Prof u lion, as to raife eternal Aftonifhment in the An- gels. With whatheroickDifpofuions of Soul Sifter Mary made the entire Sacrifice of herfelf, we may gather from the Fervour of her Preparation, from the extraordi- nary Devotion and Humility with which fhe performed that facred Ceremony of the folemn Dedication of herfelf to God, and from the Influence it had upon her whole Life and Deportment , to the laft Moment in which fhe crowned her Holo- cauft. With the greateft Joy and Grati- tude to God fhe now faw her mod ardent Defires accomplished, and herfelf, by this folemn Act, as bv a new Tie and Obli- gation, belonging entire to God, for ever devoted and confecrated to his Service and fweet Love. She therefore ltudied with all her Powers and her whole Strength to glorify him, and to do what was moft pleafing to him in every Action. In this View fhe regulated the Manner of performing every Duty of the Day in the moft perfect Manner (lie was able, and fhe made every Action a new entire Sacrifice of herfelf to God. But every F % Day ( 102 ) Day before and after Mafs {he fervently- renewed the folemn Confecration me had made of herfelf in her religious Profef- fion, earneftly begging to be accepted through, and in Union with the fpotlefs Victim of the Altar, and to be power- fully ftrengthened by the divine Grace faithfully to accomplifh the fame by her Martyrdom of Penance. In this Spirit and perfect Fidelity me lived a burning and Jhining Light (28) to the Commu- nity ; mining by the Light of the moil lively and active Faith, in which fhe ap- peared to contemplate God with the moft ardent and pure Love, and to be totally devoted to him in every Action : burning with holy Zeal for his Honour, fo as to kindle in the Breads of others, by her Words and Deportment, a Spark of that holy Love of God, which burnt in her own. For fome Time after her Profeffion me was carried on fweetly in the Paths of Virtue and religious Difcipline, upon the Wings of divine Love, and plenti- fully fed with the Milk of heavenly Con- folations ; me ardently followed her di- vine Spoufe in the fweet Odour of his Oint- (28) John v. 35. ( io3 ) Ointments, crying out with the loving Soul in the Canticles : I fat down under his Shadow whom I dejired, and his Fruit was fweet to my Palate. He hath brought we into the Wine-cellar : He hathfet in Or- der Charity in me (29). And with the Pfalmift: My Soul/hall rejoice in the Lor d> and fa all be delighted in his Salvation. All my Bones Jhall fay, Lord, who is like t& thee (30). The Servants of God allure us, that fo great is the Sweetnefs of hea- venly Comfort, which God frequently affords devout Souls in this Life that it far furpafies all terreftrial Delights, at whatever it could come into the Minds of carnal Men to imagine, and that a Ptr- fon here truly finds the hundred-fold for all he can have forfaken for Chrift, be- fides the Reverfion of that never-fading Crown which is prepared for him in ever- lafting Glory. For though the Reward is referved for the World to come, Chrift promifes an Earneft in Hand, as Labour- ers receive their Wages when the Work- is done, but in the mean Time prefenc Refrefhment and Support. This his Ser- vants abundantly experience, not only in the pure and holy Joy which his di-. F 4 vine (29) Cant. ii. 3. 4. (30) Pf. xxxiv. 9. 10. ( *4 ) vine Love and inward Peace afford even under the fharpeft Trials, but likewife by the Dew of heavenly Confolations, with which he often refreshes their Souls, as a Foretafte of his eternal Banquet, and an Earneft of his Love. Ihe fprouting Plant flj all rejoice in its Droppings (31 ). Thefe rweeten their Crofles themielves, and feafon their Tears with holy inexpref- fible Joy. " I am aftcnifhed, fays St. " John Climacus (32), when 1 confider " happy Compunction, and I wonder " how carnal Men can think it Affliction. " In it is found a fweet Pleafure and fpi- " tual Joy, as Honey is contained in *.' the Combs. God invifibly vifits and *' comforts the Heart that is broken with '* holy Sorrow. St. Chryfcjlcm writes : ** When you hear Mention made of Tears *' in Devotion, conceive not any Thing " bitter or grievous. They arefweeter *' than any carnal Delights which the " World can enjoy^)." And St. Auftin fays : '* The Tears of Prayer arefweeter " than the Joys of Theatres (34)." If fuch (31) ?{. lxiv. 11. (32) St. Jo. dim. gr. 7. p. 427. {11) St. Cbryf. I. de Virginit. t. 1. p. 321. cd Ben. (34) St. Jug. Enar. in P xiZ. u 4. ( >5 ) fuch is the Sweetnefs of the Tears of holy Compunction, and God fo tenderly wipes them off, can we be furprifed at the wonderful Things we are told by the Saints of the incomparable fpiritual Corn- fort and holy Joy which the clofe Union of a Soul with God often infufes in the Jubilee of pure Love and Praife. " The 44 Confolation of the Holy Ghofl," fays an experienced Author, " far exceeds all 41 worldly Pleafures, if they could be cen- 44 tered in one Man, and be all enjoyed 44 together. In it the Heart melts away 44 through Excefs of Joy, and is not able 44 to contain it felf (35)." This State is truly a Paradife of heavenly Delights. 44 The Soul of a Servant of God," fays St. 'John of the Crofs (36), " always 44 fwims in Joy, always keeps Holyday, 44 always lives in her Palace of Jubilee, 44 ever finging a new Song of Love, 44 with frefh Ardour, and a Joy con- 44 flantly new." It is true thefe Favours muft not be prcfumptuoufly defired or confidered as valuable in themfclvcs ; nor F 5 muft (35) Ruijhroch Spirit. Nuptiar. I. z. c, 19. See St. Fr. of Sales, on the Love of God. 1. 6. c. 1 -. The Lives of St Epbrem, St. Fr. Xaiirr, St. Pu'l. Keri, Sec. (56) Flame of divine Love. p. r-.-. ( io6 ) muft a Soul dwell or fix her Attention. on them, but on the Giver ; acknowledg- ing them the Work of his pure Mercy toward the moil unworthy of all Crea- tures, finking deeper into the Abyfs of her own Bafenefs, and trembling left flie abufe fo undeferved.a Mercy. At the lame Time fhe is ready to bear all Trials, and prepares herfelf in Spirit for them, knowing this VicifTitude to be the Con- dition of this Mortal Life, and fhe is even animated with a Defue of fuffering Labour and Hardfhips tor the Love of Chrilt (37). Such were the Difpofitions, and fuch the Conduct of our holy Nun, under thefe heavenly Vrfitations, which by her Siience, Humility, and Fidelity, flie improved to her daily Advancement in the Love of God, attracted by the Charms of' Ins Goodnefs. Her Love feemcd al- ready all Enjoyment, and the Road to Heaven was all lb ftrewed with fragrant Roles and pure Delights, that nothing could appear rugged in it \ her Life and all her Exercifes feemcd not barely a No- viciate, but at the fame Time a Com- mencement of that Blifs after which fhe af- (37) Imitof Chr. 1. 2. c. 9, and 10. 1. 1. c. 20, &c. ( i7 ) afpired.' But Calvary muft be patted over before we can arrive at Mount Olivet. To reign with Chrift, we muft carry our Crois after him : the Crown, which he holds forth, is not to be purchaied upon any other Conditions. F. Lewis of Granada, that experienced Mailer of a fpiritual Life, makes this Remark, that Almighty God is pleaied frequently to favour fervent young No- vices with the Carefles of his heavenly Comfort, to engage them by this Tafte of the Sweetneis of his Love, and this Earnelt of his Tendernefs and Goodnefs, to run after him more chearfully in the Odour of his J wee t Ointments (38), and to give them Strength and Courage under iubfequent Trials. But thefe fenfible CarefTes do not lad; always. It is necef- fary that Souls whom God prepares to be chofen Veffels of his Grace, mould ftill more perfectly cleanfe and purify their Affections in the Crucible : in order to which he ufually vifits them with fevere interiour Trials. The outward Perfecu- tions which our zealous young Convert had fuffered from Men, jointly with her habitual Practice of Self-denial, Watch- fulness (38) Cant. i. 3, ( io8 ) fulnefs and Compunction, had exceed- ingly contributed by the divine Grace to wean and difengage her Affections from the World, to promote the great Work of the Crucifixion of her Heart to it, and to difcipline and train her up in the Exercifes and Spirit of the moft difficult and heroick Chriftian Virtues. Never* thelefs, 'fo fubtle is the baneful Poifon of Self-love, as often to efcape the moft watchful Eye, and fo deeply is it rivetted in the Soul fince the Corruption of our Nature by fin, that it is net to be tho- roughly expelled without the farther powerful Aid of lharp interiour Trials, which, when fupported by a perfect Spi- rit of Prayer, penetrate and cleanfe the innermoft Affections of the Soul. The fame are alfo Occafions or Inftruments of the moft heroick Virtues, inalmuch as they are far more feverely felt than out- ward Afflictions. It therefore happens by afpecial Difpofition of the divine Mercy and Providence, that Souls which God defigns to raife to higher Privileges of Grace, ufually meet with thefe firey Trials. Infinitely merciful and infinitely wife. is this Difpenfation of divine Providence in favour of his Elect j who, by giving ftronger ( i9 ) ilronger Proofs of their Fidelity, and by exerting their moil vigorous Efforts, grow in Fervour, and are particularly recom- mended to the divine Favour : and by a Crucifixion of all fenfual Appetites, and the Purification of their inward Powers and Faculties, are prepared for the Efta- blifhment of the perfect. Reign of divine Grace, and to bear the Image of their crucified Redeemer* He was pleafed to fuffer not only cruel Torments in his Body, but alfo the moft bitter Anguifh of Soul in the Garden, and upon the Crofs, to expiate the Diforders of our inward Man, and to be our Model in inward Trials, of all others the moft fe- vere. On the other Side, the infernal Fiend, who fees a Soul devote herfelf with Fervour to the divine Service, and dreads her fpirit of Humility, Mortificati- on and Prayer, afiaults her with the ut- moft Rage which Malice can infpire, and leaves nothing unattempted to compafs her Ruin, or at leaft to warp or damp her Refolution, and to traverle the Exe- cution of her holy Defires. God in Mercy, and for the Triumph of his Ser- vants, permits the Devil to try them to a certain Degree, as he did Job) nay, God him- ( 'to ) himfelf feems fometimes as if he were leagued againfl his own faithful Servant, in raifmg up Perfecutors againft her, in leaving her Intellect in Darknefs, aban- doning her Mind and Imagination to Diftrations, and fufFering them to be filled with frightful Images, haunted by Objects of Horror and Abomination, and miferably perplexed with vain Fears and Alarms, and troublefome importu- nate Temptations, depriving her Will of all fenfible Relifh of Devotion, and a- larming it with unfpeakable Horrors : in a Word, airlifting all her inward Powers in a Manner not to be expreiTed, nor even uncle* flood by any who have not learned :. by their own Experience of that State (39). This his Con duel: feems full of Rigour, but it is in Reality an Effect of infinite Mercy and Good- nefs. He. knows our Ncceflities and the Depth of our Wounds, and he adapts and prop or n. r.e Remedy. He knows the Value ire has Itaraped upon the Crois, the Advantages to be reaped by us from it (39) See t. Tere/a in her own Life, c. 30, and Manfion 6, >t. Join of the Crofs, in his Oh/cure Night, sn<} his Jjcent of Mount Car met, Hilton > Harpbius, '6 ) rous Courage, that no Traces thereof feemed to remain in her : fhe even feared left it might not have been an Illufion of the Enemy. She faw nothing in herfelf but Darknefs, and felt nothing but Cold- nefs, Wretchednefs, and cruel Sadnefs, with-which fhe was quite overwhelmed. All this Time fhe ceafed not to lament her paft Sins and Abufe of Grace, to which fhe imputed this Chaftifement : fhe adored the Hand of God, acquiefced in his Will, and offered herfelf to fuffer whatever Severities he mould be pleafed to treat her with : and with many Tears implored his Mercy, and the Grace of his holy Love. The very Shadow of Sufferings which were formerly her Joy, now alarmed and terrified her. Yet fhe bore her heavy Crofs with Conftancy and Submiflion, under which fhe fought no Relief but in Obedience, the Sacraments, pious Books and Prayer, which never- thelefs afforded her no fenfible Comfort. 6he feemed to walk on the Brink of the moft frightful Precipices, in Danger e- very Moment of falling into the Gulph of that falfe Humility, of which B. An- ge/a, of Fulgineo, draws a jull and horri- ble ( "7 ) ble Portraiture f42j, or of Vain- glory .and Pride : of Puiillanimity, Defpon- dency and Defpair: of fpiritual Sloth, Lukewarmnefs, and Indifference : or of abandoning her Exercifes and feeking Comfort in Creatures. Amidft thefe Precipices God held his Servant by the Hand, fupported her, and conducted her fafe. In the Strength of his Almighty Arm me walked without Hurt over the Afpick and the Bafilifk, and trampled on the Lion and Dragon (43). A Soul in fuch a State feems to herfelf to be doing nothing, and fears that even her Prayers are an Abomination before God, that fhe is abandoned by him, and wandering from the Path of true Virtue. But if lhe ftedfaftly cleaves to God, me then advances moll toward him by learning fmcerely to enter into a deep Senfe of her own Nothingnefs, fpiritual Poverty, Nakednefs, and abfolute Unworthinefs, and to have no Reliance but on God alone. He by this feeming Rigour com- pletes the great Work of the Crucifix- ion of the Old Man. in her, and cleanfes all her Affections and Powers, in order to (42) In her own Life, or Theology of the Cro/s, b. 2. part 1. c. 5. (43) Pf. xc. 13. ( II? ) to open to her all the Treafures of his Grace, to take entire PofiefTion of her Heart, and fill it with himfelf alone. And he never is more powerfully with her than whilft he feems in this State to have moft abandoned her ; then it is that he moft vifibly covers her with the Shield of his omnipotent Prefence, and gives her that Strength by which, like another Job, fhe foils the Enemy in all his Af- iaults, and triumphs over the'Powers of Hell. Mary in this State fuffered a true in- ward Martyrdom. Almighty God, who all this Time fought in her, and with her, beheld her Conflicts with fingular Complacency, and in his tender Bowels of infinite Love and Mercy, waited the Term to put an End to this fevere Pro- bation, that he might difplay his Good- nefs in her in fuch a Manner as to com- penfate the apparent Rigour of his long Abfertce by lweeter CarefTes, and more fenfible Evidences of his Love. At length her Fears, and that s Darknefs which cloudecl her Underftanding, were difpelled : fhe found a bright Gleam of heavenly Light on a fudden break in upon her Soul, and from that Moment fhe ( 9 ) fhe was reftored to her former Peace and holy Joy. She then began to enlarge her Affections in divine Love, Thanks- giving, Praife, and Compunction, with an Ardour and ravifhing Sweetnefs, far beyond what fhe had ever be/ore expe- rienced. Then it appeared by her pro- found Humility, unalterable Meeknefs, and the Fervour of her Charity and De- votion i how furprifing a Change the di- vine Grace had wrought in her, and what a Progrefs fhe had made in all Virtues by theie Trials. From the entire Anni- hilation of herfelf, and the moft inti- mate Senfe of her own Wretchednefs, Poverty and Weaknefs, and her moll en- larged feeling Conceptions of God's boundlefs Goodnefs, Mercy, Sanctity, Love, Immenfity, and other Attributes, fhe was fo grown in all Spiritual Science as to have attained to the Lights of the Saints. This twofold Knowledge of God and herfelf taught her to penetrate with the moft feeling Sentiments of Devotion into the unfathomed Abyfs of the Myf- teries of the divine Mercy, and of our holy Religion, and to contemplate them v/ith Raptures of unutterable Fervour, in Adoration, Compunction, Love, and Thankf- . . ( . 12 ) . Thankfgiving, with the entire Sacrifice of herfelf to God, through our divine Redeemer, and to live in the clofeft Uni- on of her Soul with him, enriching her- felf more and more by the Communica- tion of his Graces, and drawing his Image more and more perfect in her Soul by . the Tranfcript of all Virtues from their great Original, and the Source of all Graces. This fpirituai experimental Knowledge, and lively active Faith was in her the Root or Foundation of a per- fect Spirit of Humility, Meeknefs, Hope, Love, and all other Virtues ; and in the firft Place of an extraordinary Gift or Spirit of Prayer. A Spirit of Prayer is the eldeftDaugh- . ter of divine Love, or Her eminent . . , _, . , . , , Spirit of Pray- a principal I ruit which that ,-, and its Ad- divine Seed produces in us. vantages. j t i s tne p r0 per Employ of his Love, its Nourifhment, Comfort, and Support : Nay of actual divine Love it may be called the vital Action or Exer- cife , in it we glorify God by our moft perfect Homages, and by the Tribute of our Affections, and all our Powers, and are reciprocally glorified and enriched by him, who through the Channel of holy Prayer ( '^ ) Prayer bellows on us all the Treafures of his Grace, and raifes us even to a clofe Union with himfelf, whilft the Soul an- nihilates herfelf before him, and enlarges her Affections in Acts of Adoration, Thankfgiving, Praife, Love, Compunc- tion, and Supplication, laying open her fpiritual Miferies and Neceffities to him, and with unutterable Sighs imploring his Mercy , he on his Side vilits her with in- finite Tendernefs and Bounty, diipels the Darknefs of her Underftanding by the bright Rays of his heavenly Light, in which he teaches her to penetrate, and form enlarged Conceptions of the great Truths of his holy Scriptures, of our di- vine Faith, and of the incomprehenfible Myfteries of his Love, Mercy, and Jui- tice, alio of all the Theological and Mo- ral Virtues, and their Motives, &c. In a Word, he experimentally inftructs her in a feeling Knowledge of herfelf, her Sinful- nefsandMiferies,andofHim,heribvereign Good and laft End. At the lame Time he purifies and fills her Imagination and Memory with pure and holy Images, and inflames her Will with the ftrongefi: heavenly Defires and Affections, and re- pleniihes her with challe Delights and G Joy, ( 122 ) Joy. Thus heavenly Contemplation takes its Rife from divine Love, being its Daughter and its Exercife, as St. Thomas Aquinas pbferves ( i) : For Love moves the Soul to fix her Eyes on her Beloved, by defiring to behold, contem- plate, and glorify him. Again by con- templating him -with Admiration, Joy, and Love, invited by his Goodnefs and other infinitely adorable and amiable Per- fections fhe is inflamed with more ardent Love, from which again her Knowledge of God is more and more enlarged, and the Light of her Understanding much increafed. Hence in Contemplation, and in all devout Prayer, the Powers of the Soul move, and mutually affift each other in a wonderful Kind of Circle. For the Will by Love is the firfl Spring in Contemplation, and this, which is an Action of the Understanding, kindles afrefh, and more vehemently the Fire of Love in the Will, which again cafts brighter and clearer Rays of divine Light and Knowledge upon the Under- ftanding. With divine Love all other Virtues are here Strengthened, improved, and perfected. Faith becomes lively and (i) St. Tbo. 2. 2, qu. i8o. a. i. ( i*3 ) and vigorous ; Hope invincible ; Penance and Mortification are flirred up to cut off and expiate all Offences , Tempe- rance to fubdue and govern all the Ap- petites and Pafllons : Humility in the firtt Phce to purge away all the fubtle Leaven of Pride : thefe and all other Vir- tues to exert themfelves in all heroick Actions, with incredible Ardour and Courage, which feels no Labour or Dif- ficulties (2). This Spirit of Grace and Prayer (3), the admirable Key of all heavenly Trea- fures and Graces, and the great Teacher of divine Love, was promifed by the Prophets to be poured forth with un- bounded Profufion in the new Law of Grace and Love ('4), in which all the Children of the Church arc to be taught of God. By it in the primitive Ages fo many great Paflors fo many devout Monks and Hermits, fo many Saints in every Station amidft the World, all emi- nently Men of Prayer, appeared like Angels on Earth to fanctify it. How comes it that in thefe later Ages this G 2 hea- (2) J/a. hi. n. (3) Zacb. xii. 10. (4) lb. and John vi. 45. l. John, ii. 27. Jchn, 4. 23. ( 1*4 ) heavenly Grace is fo fparingly bellowed that fcafcc are any Traces of it to be found. Even in thofe holy States of Life in which Men are fequeitered from the World, in Order to devote themfelves to the holy Exercifes of Penance and Prayer, whether in the publick Miniflry cf the Church, or in the retired Sanctua- ries of Reclufes, where mall we find the true Heirs of this Spirit ? Do not Chrif- tians in general feem 'now-a-days even Strangers to it ? So little are many ac- quainted with it as to feem to fufpeel its very Name or Definition, which is to them a ftrange Language. Neverthelefs, let chafte Souls which bum with holy Zeal for the divine Honour, be comforted amidfl fo frightful a Contagion, fo gene^ ral a Defolation, God, ever faithful to his Word, raifes up continually in the facred Sanctuary of his Church, many holy terreftrial Angels, by whom his Name will be to the End of Time glori- fied on Earth, and the Church militant ever joined with the triumphant in paying him inceffant pure Homages of Adora- tion, Thankfgiving, Praife, Compunc- tion and Love : Adorers in Spirit and Truth. Their Number indeed is exceed- ing ( '25 ) ing fmall, and as St. AuJUn pathetically complains, lb fmall, and often their Life fo perfectly hidden in Chrift, as not to appear difcernible in the World, in Com- panion of the great Number of'thofe who are funk, in different Degrees, under a carnal Spirit, or at baft fettered by the unhappy Ties of Self-love, and blinded by its falfe lllufions. But though thefe true and perfect: Servants of God are few in comparifon of thofe, who walk not in this Path, they will be found to make a great and glorious Affemblyat the laft Day, when united in the Company of the heavenly Spirits. Even now on Earth they form continually in the Church a happy Society of Saints, glorious and acceptable in the Sight of Heaven; and by them a Tri- bute of holy Praife is fent up as a fweet Incenfe from Earth to the Throne of God (5). After all, can we wonder that an in- filled fpecial Gift of Prayer, though by the divine Mercy it is offered to all, mould be fo rare a Privilege ? It is a Property, or the Offspring of perfect Charity, whic'i can only be built upon the Ruins of van- quished Cupidity, or inordinate Self-love, G 3 ri.e (5) Jferm. 3 in Cant. ( '35 ) ci nitely unworthy as I am. How then '* do I prefume to afk a Salute of his M Mouth. I am not infeniible of his " immenie Greatnefs, and infinite Sanc- * tity, nor of my own Nothingnefs and tc Bafenefs. But I feel the Violence of " his Love, and I know and experience " the Excels of his Goodnefs. The Ve- " hemence of Love is not to be held " back , I am not ungrateful for Fa- " vours received, of the leaft of which " I am the moil undeferving. But the " Defire of his Salute fuffers me not to " liften to motives of Awe and Bafhful- " nefs. Call it not Prefumption, where " ftrong Love filences all other Confide- " rations. The Confciouihefs of my " own Bafenefs cries out to withhold iS me, and check my impetuous De- " fires i but Love conquers all Obfta- " cles. I am no Stranger to the fove- " reign Majefty of the King, and I am " fenfible what Refpecl: and Dread it " commands : but Love is not to be " reftrained. He, whofe very Eflence " is Love and Goodnefs itfelf, will liften '* to its Cry. I beg, I fupplicate, I in- " treat : May he falute me with the " Kifs ( >3* ) u Kits of his Mouth (20;." Such like burning Afpirations after the Enjoyment of God, and the cloleft Union of her Soul with him, by Tweet Love, the holy Servant of God repeats in all Farts of her manufcript Instructions and Devoti- ons, with fingular Tendernefs and Ar- dour-, but every where intermixed with the moft profound Sentiments of Com- punction and Humility. She was molt careful never, if poflible, to difcover any Thing of extraordinary heavenly Favours received in Prayer, which others might any Way perceive. Much lefs did me ever defire or afk them of God. In profound Humility me ra- ther cried out with St. Peter, Depart from Trie, O Lord, for lam a Sinner. And with her Patronefs, St. Colette: Lord God, it is enough for me if I know thee, and the Sins which I have committed againfi thee, that by (20) Non fum ingrata, fed amo. Accepi, fateor, meritis potiora fed prorfus inferiora votis : Defi- derio feror, non Ratione. Ne quxfo caufemini Prsefumptionem, ubi AffecKo urget. Pador fane reclamat, fed fuperat Amor. Nee ignoro quod fionor Regis Judicium diligit ; fed Pr seeps Amor, nee Judicium prasftolatur, nee Confilio Tempera- tur, nee Pudore fnenatur, nee Rationi fubjicitur, rogo, fupplico, flagito, Ofcukiur me ofculo oris fui. Serm. 9. in Cant. ( *17 ^ hy continual penitential 'Tears I may obtain cf thee Pardon for them. With St. Terefa, B. Angela, of Foligni, and other humble Servants of God, flie endeavoured to refill extraordinary Favours of Spiritual Comforts, when able, efpecially in pub- lick Prayer, and where others were pre- lent. This Rule is often inculcated by the moft experienced Mailers of a fpiri- tual Life ; the Venerable John of Avild, in feveral Epiflles, the Devout Hilton, and others. An eminent Penitent and Contemplative explains the Motives as follows (2 1): " To God it belongethto " beftow rare and excellent Gifts, and to " the Creature to decline and refufc " them. It is fuitable to the divine " Goodnefs to draw near to a Soul , and " it is the Duty of a Soul in Humility " to draw back, as St. Peter did, becaufc " it is her Duty to humble and abafe her- " felf. For, as corrupt iN T ature leeks in " all Things Elevation, fo our Soul, " enlightened by Grace, ought incefiant- " ly, and on all Occafions, to embrace " Poverty and Lowlinefs, that fo fhe " may be no lefs careful and reiblute to " overcome herfelf, and be upon her " Guard (21) Pr. On Interiour Abnegation. ( *38 ) " Guard againft the Snares of Pride " than Self-love is to leek itfelf. Thus " there muft be a continual Conteft be- " tween God and the humble Soul, ef- " pecially thofe Souls which are more " inclined to aim at fublime Things, " muft necelfarily make more Refift- < s ance, and not yield till God fo forci- " bly attracts them, as to take from " them the Power of withdrawing them- " felves." The leaft Self-complacency, or prefumptuous Defirejn thefe Matters, deftroys in the Heart the true Spirit of Humility and Compunction, the Soul of the interiour Life, and of folid De- votion ; and by the Abufe of the di- vine Grace leads into the moft frightful Abyfs of Ruin. " I would not have ** that Confolation which taketh from " me Compunction and the Knowledge " of myfelf; nor. that Contemplation " which leads to be high-minded. Every high Thing is not holy, nor every 11 fweeet Thing good, nor every Defire " pure, nor every Thing that is dear " to uspleafing to God. I willingly ac- " cept that Grace, whereby I may be- *' come more humble, may fear God " more, ( *39 ) ** more, and learn more readily to re- " nounce myfelf ( 22)." With this eflential Precaution, with thefe Difpolitions, the extraordinary Gifts of Grace in Prayer, efpecially the Prayer of Union^ are, as was before ob- ferved, wonderfully profitable in advanc- ing the perfect Sanetification of a Soul. For though this Prayer be called Pa/five, inafmuch as no one can either difpofe himfelf to it, or procure it, at Pleafure and by his own Endeavours, or always refill and reject this free infufed Grace, and its Action is fcarce perceptible to the Soul herielf ; yet we are not to ima- gine it to be an Inaction ; for the Soul in it is employed in the molt fublime Acts of Love and Contemplation. By thefe the Underilanding is wonderfully enlightened in the Knowledge of fpiritual Things, and the Affections of the Will are purified, ftrengthened, and inflamed by an unutterable Relifh of the fame. Here a Soul more perfectly fees and feels her own Nothingnefs, Miferies, and Bafenefs, and on the other Side is moll feelingly penetrated with a Senfe of God's fpotlefs Sanctity, and infinite Wif- (22) Imit, b. ii. ch. iq. ( M J Wifdom, Goodnefs and Majefty-, and hereby is exceedingly advanced in perfect Humility and divine Love. In this hea- venly Light and Grace many molt fubtle Defects and fecret Stains of her Affecti- ons and Actions are difcovered and per- fectly removed, as the fmalleft Motes become vifible by being placed in the ftrong Light of the Sun-beams. Hence from a fingle Act of this Prayer, an Habit remains ingrafted in the Soul of forming more pure and fervent Afpira- tions and Prayers, and the Imagination and other Powers of the Soul are more perfectly fubdued, and more eafy and habitually governed and restrained by a fweet and eafy Recollection and Tendency to heavenly Things. In a Word, Meek- nefs and all other interiour Virtues are hence exceedingly perfected, fo that an experienced Matter afiures us, that many Years fpent in Mortification and other Exercifes of Prayer, do not ufually fo much purify and reform the Heart and Affections, as this Grace in a few Mi- nutes. This is not to be understood as if Prayer alone could have this wonderful Effect. It rnu it be founded in a fincere Spl- ( '4i ) Spirit of Humility, Compunction, and holy Love, and accompanied with an ha- bitual Practice of Self-denial, and all Virtues. Without this Condition the true Spirit, and all other necefTary Con- ditions of Prayer, are fo far wanting that it will be rather a Lip-fervice than an Ho- mage of the Heart. Thus iome after fpending the whole Morning in the Church, come home more peevifh, proud, and froward, than at other Times, to the Scandal of Devotion, which they abufe. Such live continually Slaves to Self-love and various PalTions, a Difgrace to Religion, which they practice ill, and Strangers to the admirable Advantages and Sweetnefs of holy Prayer, and unac- quainted with an interiour Life. The Stench of that Corruption which their Heart exhales, buried under the Dunghill of their vicious Appetites, drives away the Holy Ghoft, or at leaft compels him to withhold his precious Gifts, and elpe- cially his excellent Spirit of Prayer. What Wonder if fuch who miflake the very Nature of Prayer, place it in the Multitude of their Words, and meafure it by the Hours they employ in it ; never learn in what this divine Art confifts, and ( M2 ) and never reap any Share in the wonder- ful Fruits it produces in the Man of D^f res, in the Soul which pours forth itfelf in the Spirit of Grace and Prayer, with unutterable Groanings, which the Holy Ghoft him- felf excites in her. So remarkable are thefe Effects of holy Prayer, that a truly devout Perfon returning from converfing humbly with God in this heavenly Exer- cife, feems to bear the Marks of his di- vine Prefence in his very Countenance, and whole meek and heavenly Demeanor, breathing an angelical Spirit of divine Love, Humility, Patience, Compuncti* on, and all Virtues, as Mofes delcending from the Mountain on which he had converfed with God, carried on his Forehead Marks of his Glory, but much more bore the divine Image ("by an Imi- tation of his Virtues and Spirit ) ftrongly impreffed on his Soul. This happy in- ward fpiritual Transformation of the Soul is To extraordinary and fenfible after the perfecl: Union of her Powers with God, in the Degrees of PafTive Prayer, efpecially that of Union, as to appear often miraculous. Of this the Life of our holy Servant of God was a wonderful Inftance. Others re- ( H3 ) remarked in her that a new extraordinary Improvement in an angelical Spirit and Temper of Mind, was a vifible Proof to them that Ihe had been favoured with a particular Vifit of the divine Spirit, whole Prefence is the Sanclification of Souls. Thefe Favours, however, had Alternatives. The moll fpiritual Life is chequered from Time to Time with a Subftraclion of fenfible Graces, and with frequent ievere Trials for the Exercife of Patience and other heroick Virtues, by which Heaven is to be purchafed, and God is principally glorified by us in this Mortal Life. If when the Dew of hea- venly Confolations fattens the dry Land of the Heart, Flowers of all Virtues fpring up, by which the Soul is made every Day more acceptable to God, and a Paradife of Delights in which he is plealed to make his Abode-, in the Sea- fon of fpiritual Drynefs all interiour Vir- tues are more heroick, and often more pleafing to God, more Pure, and of fvveeter Odour. The Soul thus in both States continually advances towards God with fuch conftant Fidelity, and in all virtuous Exercifes, that nothing flays her in her Progrefs in a fpiritual Life. In ( *44 ) In perfe<5t Submiflion to God fhe ever offers herfelf an entire Sacrifice to him, in holy inward Peace, and finds every- where particular Occafions of heroick Virtue, and receives fpecial Graces, ail which fhe improves to her more perfect Sanclification. Many are deceived by the fubtle Stracagcms of the Enemy, who perfuades them under Trials of fpirkual Aridity, to lay afide Part of their Exer- cifes of Piety, and out of Indulgence to their Infirmities, to feok Comfort too eagerly in Creatures, or diffipating worldly Amufements. By liftening to iuch dan- gerous Temptations, they have fuffered themfelves to be drawn afide from the Path of an interiour Life, and fometimes forfeited their Crown. Sifter Mary of the Crofs, by her con- flant Fidelity to God, and her fingular Love of the Ways of Humiliation and the Crofs, was fecured from thefe Dan- gers, and made daily Progrefs in Humi- lity and the Contempt of herfelf, and in the Purity and Fervour of her Love, and Intention with which in every Action fhe dedicated herfelf a perpetual Victim to God, in the moft perfect Sacrifice of fidelity, Submiflion, Obedience, and Love. ( H5 ) Love. If ever the Heavens feemed of Brais to her, fo that no Ray of divine Light penetrated her Undemanding, no Dew of heavenly Unction or Comiort fettened her heart , Ihe, nevertheless, looking upon herfelf as a Beail of Bur- den, with the fame conusant Zeai and Exactitude, was the firit, and moit fer- vent in every Duty, efpecially of I'rayer. Thole who at the due Hour think them- felves indifpofed for that heavenly lixer- cife, or who, on other like Pretences, eafily defer it, are fure to find themfelves lefs dilpofed afterward, and fo fall into a State of frightful RemiUhefs and Dilbr- der. Spiritual Sloth foftered and ftrength- ened by fuch a Conduct, entirely ener- vates the Vigour of the Soul in all fpiri- tual Exercifes, difqualifies her for correl- ponding with the divine Graces, and ob- liges God to withdraw his bountiful Hand. Sifter Mary confidered herfelf in every Duty called upon to wait on her Creator, and make him a Tender of the Homages which his Creatures are bound to pay him on io many effentiat Titles. To nc dilatory or backward on fo folemn, fo awful Gccafions, would have feemed a Crime and a Baieneis, of which a Ser- H vant (. 46 ) vant of God on Earth, ought to be as in- capable by voluntary Remifihefs, as an Angel who afTifts before the Throne of God, in Heaven. Our young Religious burning with holy Zeal to glorify Him continually, jfhe could never liften to any Suggestions of pretended Impediments, ib as wilfully to fail in the leaft Moment of Time, or any other Circumftance. Her extraordinary Affiduity and Devotion in the divine Office, recommended her to the Community, and having alfo an excellent and molt agreeable Voice for the Choir, me was chofen JVliftrefs of the Choir, whilft yet very young. This Of- fice me difcharged with the Zeal and Piety of a terreftrial Seraph, and fo en- deavoured to direct and animate the whole Choir, as to make it a Copy or Imitation of that of the heavenly Spirits, who al- ways aflifr. before the Throne of the moft High. An Emulation of their Purity, Zeal, . and Devotion, appeared in the Countenance, Voice, and whole Deport- ment of the Virgin Chorifter. Some Time after fhe was chofen fecond, and afterward firft Portrefs, by which Office fhe was charged with the Difpatch of Bufinefs with Perfons with- out < i47 ) out Doors, with entertaining Strangers, and the Detail of the Accounts, and the Management of the temporal Affairs of the whole Community, as with buying and providing all Neceflaries, paying the Bills of Tradesmen, &c. This Office is of the utmoft Importance for both the temporal and fpiritual Welfare of the whole Houle, and ufually of all others the moll dangerous, by the continual Occafions to which it ex'pofes a religious Perfon, of converging too much at the Grate, and there contracting the Spirit of the Worid, of Vanity and Difllpation, the Poifon and Death of a religious Spi- rit. The conftant Recoi lection of her Soul in God, her Attention to aniwer every Call, as if it had been the Voice of Heaven > her invincible Meeknefs, ten- der Charity and Sweetnefs toward all, her punctual Exactness in every Duty, and her Prudence in dexterouQy avoid inc- all iupernuous or idle Converfation, (hew- ed how deep Root every religious Virtue had taken in her Heart, and how eafy and familiar its mod heroick and perfect Practice was to her. By her Vigilance the Monastery was inaccefiible to the Slanders, Detractions, Jealoufies, Feuds, H 2 and ( H8 ) and all Difcourfe of Pride, Vanity, Ava- rice, and other Pafiions which infect the World, form its Spirit, and chiefly make up its Converfation : and which by idle goflipping Vifitants too eafily penetrate the clofeft Sanctuaries of religious Houfes. Humility, Charity, holy Zeal, Piety, and all Chriftian Virtues, feafoned and animated all the Difcourfe that was held at this Grate, and an heavenly Fire was kindled in the Hearts of thofe who approached it. A decent Liberty, Cheer- fulnefs, and feafonable Facetioufnefs pre- ferred their Rights : Yet were mixed with a religious Gravity, and fuch a Spirit of heavenly Virtue prefided in the Conver- fation, and regulated every one's Words and Behaviour, as could not fail exceed- ingly to edify all that were prefent. Moreover, the pious Words of lnftruc- tion and Advice which were frequently and appofitely thrown out, ftrongly incited many to the ardent Love of God, and perfect Virtue. Her Words were always few, and confined to the neceffary purpoies of Charity, where God was not the Subject ; anti an At- tention to his holy Prefence, and the Practice of frequent Aipirations, made even ( H9 ) even the Speak-houfe a Houfe of Prayer. Such a Virtue recommended the devout Portrefs Lo the whole Community, and notwithstanding her clofe Retirement and Secrefy, became the Admiration of all who frequented the Monastery. God was at length pleafed to call her forth to the Office of Abbefs, or Superiour of the Monaftery, that fhe might minifter Comfort, and be a Means of Sanctifka* tion to many, reftore a perfect religious Spirit and Difcipline, and be a Direclrefs of a numerous Community, in the true Path of Chriftian Perfection. In the Year 1702, Mother She is choftn Giffard, the Abbefs, though a Akbe/s. very virtuous Superiour, was depofed, and Mr. Govey, great Vicar, and ordinary Superiour of the Englijh Monaftery at Rouen, came to the Houfe by an Order of the Archbifhop, on the 2 2d of December, in the Afternoon, to prepare the Nuns to proceed to the Elec- tion of an Abbefs the next Morning, On this Occafion he made them a very in- ftruftive Exhortation. That Night the Bleffed Sacrament was expofed in the Church, and feveral of the Nuns fpent almolt the whole Night in Prayer to re- H 3 commend ( 150 ) commend the Affair to God. The next Morning Mr. Gcvey went again to the Nunnery, and having faid the Conven- tual Mafs, in which he gave the Com- munion to all the Nuns, came up to the Grate of the Choir to open the Election, being attended by two WitnefTes, who were the Confeflarius and Mr. Cary. The Nuns went to the Grate one by one to give their Votes in writing, which they put into a little Dilhj fet for that Purpofe, none of the Nuns being allowed to know the Vote of any of her Sifters ; it is even ftrictly forbid for them ever to mention it to one another, either before or after the Election. Two-thirds of the Voices being required for a Canonical Election of Abbeis ; the great Vicar, after taking out the Votes, and fhewing them to the two WitnefTes, declared Sifter Mary of the Holy Crofs canonically chofen by m forty-two Voices. The late Abbefs had Six, and others fome, but not enough in all to hinder the Election : and it is not to be expreffed what Joy and Satisfaction it gave the whole Community to fee they had a fpiritual- Mother and Superiour, who was of fo fwcet a Character, fo ex- perienced in an Interiour Life, and en- dowed ( S' ) dowed in fo eminent a Degree with Dif- cretion and Sanctity. Only fhe herielf was overwhelmed with Grief and Appre- henfion, from a lively Senfe of the evi- dent Dangers to which Superiority ex- pofes thole who are not qualified for the Charge which they undertake, for which, out of profound Humility, me thought herfelf, of all Perlbns, the moil unfit. She had no fooner heard her Name men- tioned by the great Vicar, but me flipt fecretly out of the Choir, and went with great Speed into a little Hermitage, in the Scholars Garret, where fhe remained hid about half an Hour, weeping moft bitterly. Great Search was made for her all the Houfe over, and me was at lafl found in the abovementioned Place, at her Prayers, but in fuch a Condition, through Fright and Confufion, that fhe feemed rather dead than alive. They defired her inftantly to come down, which fhe refufed to do, allcdging that (he de- fired firit to fpeak to the Vicar in the Con- fedion-houfe : for fh~ always hoped that by laying her Incapacity before him me fhould perfuade him to proceed to another Election. The Vicar lent her Word, that he earneflly defired and intreated her H 4 to ( '5? ) to come , and feeing this did not prevail, he fent her a Command in Virtue of holy- Obedience, to make her Appearance. She was then brought between two Sifters up to the Grate, all bathed in Tears. The great Vicar confirmed her Abbefs, in the Name of my Lord Archbifhop, and commanded all the Nuns to obey her. He could fcarce read the Prayers for Weeping, at the Sight of the excefTive Grief and Affliction with which fhe was opprerTed, though he comforted her in the beft Manner he was able. Then Te Deum was fung ; after which the late Ab- befs cordially embraced her, promifing to arTift her in all fhe was able. Next all the other Nuns with great Joy did the fame, Hie lying all the while in the Arms of the iate Abbefs, all drowned in Tears, and overwhelmed with Grief and Appre- henfion, fo that in the End they were forced to conduct her to her Cell, where fhe was laid upon her Bed. The next Day, which was Chriftmas-Ez'e, fhe offi- ciated at Matins, and feeing it was evi- dently the Will of God, humbly bowed her Shoulders to the heavy Burden, faying, that fhe looked upon it as laid upon her in Punifhment of her Sins. The Arch- bifhop ( '53 ) bifhop of Rcikn wrote her the following Letter foon after her Election. " I am overjoyed, dear Sifter, at your *' Election. It is what I have long de- " fired, from the Knowledge I have of " your Virtue and Prudence : I am en- ** tirely perfuaded that all the Nuns will " be re-united under your Government : " I exhort them to follow your Senti- " ments in all Things, and I defire you *' to tell them fo from me : You may al- " fure yourfelf that I will fupport you in " every Thing you fhall think fit to do " for the good Order and Sanctification " of your Community : Mr. Gov ey ihall " continue to take Care of your Houle " as before. I recommend myfelf to " )'Our good Prayers, and thofe of your " Community, and I am with a very par- " ticular Efteem, " my dear Sifter, " entirely your's, " The Archbifliop of Rouen" The Charge of Abbcis in this Monaf- tery is for Life, unlefs fome extraordinary Accident obliges the Archbifliop to order it otherwifc. But Mother Mary of the Crofs, two Years after her Election, took H 5 Occa- ( *54 ) Occafion from the Election of the other Officers of the Monaftery, to defire ear- neftly to put herfelf again to the Votes of the Community, in hopes the Choice might fall upon fome other Perfon. But the great Vicar would not hear of it. Some Years after fhe attempted, again the fame Thing, in hopes of being releafed from her heavy Charge. But all the Commu- nity unanimoufly intreated the great Vi- car, who was their Superiour, not to give Ear to her Requeft, which he affured them he never would do. Indeed all who knew the Monaftery exceedingly congratulated with it for the Happineis of having fo prudent and holy a Mother Superiour. She gave her whole Attention to the fpiritual Advancement and Perfection of the Community, and that fhe might beat Liberty to employ her Thoughts and Time in this alone, and in labouring to fanctify her own Soul, fhe left the entire Manage- ment ot Temporals to another Sifter. Though fne never failed to afford her Sif- ters all fpiritual Comfort and Direction, yet fhe taught them ftill much more by her Example than by Words. Her Zeal for the moft exact Regularity, made her even under her Infirmities force herfelf be- ( >55 ) beyond her Strength to be always the firft in the Choir, and to take Care that all came before the Beginning of Prayer. If any one (laid a Moment after the firft Tell of the Bell, fhe never let it pais without a fevere Reprimand: the lead Fault could not efcape her Vigilance. Her Reprehenfions were made with the necelTary Authority of a Superiour, but mixed with lb much Sweetnefs, Charity, and Companion for Human Weaknels, as took off every Thing that could feem harfh to Nature, and clearly fhewed that fhe had nothing in View but the Good of Souls, and that no Paflion had the lead Share in what fhe laid or did. All her Corrections were ex- empt from the leaft Shadow of Imptri- oulnefs. So long as fhe lived fhe kept up regular Obfervance and religious Difci- pline in the mod perfect Vigour, by thefe her conftant charitable Admonitions. She. frequently reproved her Sifters for the leaft Sloth or Failure, exhorting them continually to the utmoft Exactitude in all Cuftomsof the Rule, and in all Cere- monies, particularly of the Choir, to which fhe had a conftant Attention. Sir; was of To tender a Conftitution, that whiiit ihc was a young Nun, her Superi- ui.Vs ( >56 ) ours thought proper not to employ her in any very hard Work, as in Warning, and the like. But when fhe came to be Superiour flie mewed the great Love fhe had always had for Humiliations, and the hardeft and moft penitential Labours j for in thefe flie always claimed the great - eft Share for her own Pare. She was al- ways firft at carrying Wood, and fuch like Work, which fhe performed with the created Cheerfulnefs, often faying, " Dear Children, this is our Harvelt ; " let us make our Profit of it." She was moft rigid and auftere to herfelf, and whilft lhe had her Health, would never admit of any Difpenfation or Indulgence, and never allowed herfelf the leaft cor- poral Refrefhment beyond the Rule, fay- ing fometimes, when others importuned he? to ufe fome Mitigation for the Sake of her Health : " There is no Salvation for Superiours, unlefs they have Refo- " lution." Under the moft violent Fits of the Gravel and Stone, with other Dif- tempers, from which fhe fufFered much, with unfpeakable Patience, for feveral Y< 6o ) God was pleafed to prove her, like Gold in the Furnace, that fhe might know how to companionate and inftruct others. Perfect Simplicity of Heart rendered her juft and upright in all her Conduct, without' the lealt Difguife or Duplicity in Words or Action, of which fhe had al- ways the utmofb Abhorrence : for true Virtue infpires a great Love of Sincerity, even in the leaft Things, and God being the fovereign Truth, all Hypocrify or Deceit is an Abomination to him. She had a wonderful Greatnefs of oul above her Sex, joined with a profound Humi- lity, which appeared in all her Actions. By the great Tranquility of Soul, which flie prelcrved in the mod mortifying and unexpected Events, and in the fevtrelt Contradictions, it appeared how perfect an interiour Peace (lie enjoyed, and how much fhe was Miftrefs of her Pafilons, and raifed above all earthly Things, with a ftrong Faith in God, and an entire Re- liance on his Providence for rectifying all Things, when a reafonable Care was taken. On fuch Gccafions fhe always repeated thefe Words , " The Will of God." She was endowed with a noble Generofity, and had a great Love and Efteem for re- ligious ( 161 ) religious Poverty, to which fhe frequently exhorted her fpiritual Daughters, calling it the Badge and Spirit of their holy Order. The Advantages of a total Difengage- ment from, and Privation of, earthly Goods, and worldly Conveniences, fhe often fpokc of with great Feeling : and much more frequently on the Poverty and Nakednefs in which our blefled Redeem- er for our Sakes was born, lived and died. Her Difmtereftednefs was entire, me never refufed to receive a Poltulant for Want of Fortune, or any temporal Con- fideration, when fhe feemed truly called to that State, telling her Community, that divine Providence would never fail them, if they were but faithful in their Duties. Her Efteem for holy Obedience was extraordinary, and this Virtue me in- culcated to all her fpiritual Children, as the Soul of a religious State. Hence, fhe would never fuffer any to affect the leaft Singularity in their Practices. If any fuch Thing came to her Knowledge, fhe gave the Perfon, who had fallen into it, fharp Rebukes, both in Private and Pub- lick, till fuch Time that fhe faw this per- nicious Evil was entirely deftroyed. And fhe would fay to her who had been drawn into ( >2 ) into the Snare, " Child, write down this " Reprimand, that you may remember " it all your Life, to hinder you from *' ever fetting a Step out of the fure 41 Road of holy Obedience." So great a Love Ihe had for the State of a fimple Religious, that ihe was often heard to fay, that me wifhed , fhe could have put it in her Vows, never to have borne any Office. She was very careful that no worldly Cuftoms mould be introduced into the Monaftery j faying, they are the Poifon of a religious State ; for as foon as the Spirit of the World finds any Admittance into a Convent, the Spirit of God for- fakes it. Her great Defire of living fe- queftered, and unknown to the World, made her decline, as much as poflible, all fecular Converfation at the Speak-houfe, never going thither, except on urgent Occafions, when her Prefence was abfo- lutely requifite, and then with great Re- luctance : for it was her only Delight to live in Solitude with her amiable Jefus, She would often repeat to her Sifters : O blefled Solitude ! fole Beatitude ! Retirement was her Paradife, or we may Her holy Zeal rather fay, that in it God end Devotion, made her Soul an interiour Pa- ( >63 ) Paradife, in which flic always enjoyed his divine Prefencc, by the Exercifes of the mod tender and fweet Devotion. For though me excelled in every Virtue more than can be exprefTed, or even be ima- gined by thofe who have not had the Happineis of having been thoroughly ac- quainted with her, nothing was (o admi- rable as her eminent and fublime Spirit of Prayer. She had the higheft Efteem for publick Prayer, and made it her firft Care to endeavour that the Manner in which the divine Office was conftantly performed in her Monaflery, might be as much as pofiible, an Imitation of the heavenly Choir of Angels, and all the blefTed Spirits, Tinging the divine Praifes before the Throne of God, in the Sanc- tuary of his Glory. In a fhort Book which fhe wrote for the Ufe and Direction of her fpiritual Children and put into their Hands, under this Title : Prayers and Confederations upon each Article of the holy Rule of the Poor Clares. Upon the third Article fhe inculcates in the Ilrong- eft and molt pathetick Manner pofiible, the Diligence and Refpect with which every one is to afliit at the divine Office, without ever failing, in the lead Circum- ftance, ( i4 ) ftance, and adds the followingRen'e&ion : This is the principal Service of God, there being nothing on Earth which reprefents more perfectly the State of the Bleflfed in Heaven, than to praife him with Fervour and Cheerfulnefs. For it is written : Happy are they who dzvell in the Houfe of God, to blefs and praife him eternally. It is the perpe- tual Employment of the Angels and religious Perfons, being Angels on Earth, ought as much as poffible, to imitate the Angels of Heaven. O my Soul, praife thy Lord and thy God, to whom belong all Praife and Glory, in Heaven and on Earth. O God of Glory and Majefty, from thy Throne proceedeth a Voice, which fays to all the Inhabitants of the celeftial Jerafa- lem : Give Praife and Benediction to God, all you that are here. O that every Moment of my Life I might praife thee, blefs thee, give thee Thanks for thy great Glory. O mod great, moll glorious, moft bountiful Lord God, I adore thee from the Cen- tre of my Nothing. Give me Grace, that I may always offer to thee the Sa- crifice of Praife with Fervour of Spirit, " that ( '65 ) " that fo it may be acceptable to thee* " Stay, I befeech thee, the Powers of " my Soul, elpecially my wandring Ima- " gination, that in the Beginning, Con- " tinuance, and End of tnis Angelical " Exercife, I always keep myfelf in thy " divine Prefence." In another Place (lie writes : " O my God, I wifh I had all the '* Awe and Refpect with which the An- " gels and twenty-four Elders are pene- tl trated, when they proltrate themlelves " before the Lamb. Strike me with an " holy Fear, and let me be plunged in " Adoration of the Greatnefs of thy fo- " vereign Majefty, and penetrated with " a Senfe of my own Bafenefs, to the " End, that if I cannot, like them, offer " thee, a pure Heart, all burning with " Love, I may at leaft offer thee an hum- " ble tleart, and aflift in thy Prefence '* with as great Reverence, Attention, " Devotion, and Humility, as I am able. " When will it be, O fovereign Majeity, " that I mail praife thee like the Angels ? {i When lliall I love thee perfectly ? 44 Happy are they who praife thee eter- " nally. Make me of this Number by " thine infinite Mercy. O bleffed St. Collet, u who like a celeftial Nightingale, fpent tk all ( x66 ) " all thy Strength in Tinging the Praife* " of thy Creator, whilft here below, and '* art now keeping a Concert with the " Choirs of Angels in the celeftial Jeru- " falem, pray for me, that I may fo Love " and praiie God in this Life, that I may " one Day enter into the Temple of " Glory, to praife andblefs him eternally " in thy happy Company. Amen." In a little Directory of the Nuns, for the regulating well all their Actions, accord- ing to the Spirit of their Rule, which ihe compiled for them under this Title : The Chief Points of our holy Ceremonies^ in which the Sifters muji daily renew them- felves in Spirit, and in their Anions -, fhe begins with laying down Rules for the divine Office, as follows. Point i. "The " Sifters muft be diligent and ready in " going to the Choir at the firft Sound " of the Bell, leaving imperfect the * Work they are about, rather than ftay- " ing to finifli it. The holy Scripture ** fpeaking of the moft pure and elevated " among the celeftial Spirits, maketh an " Abridgment of all their Greatnefs and " Privileges, by faying, that they aflift '* always before the Throne of God. ' Nothing can be greater than fuch an Ho- ( i*7 ) " Honour. The Sifters mull therefore " repair diligently, and witii great Joy " into this Sanctuary, there to adore the " Holy of Holies. What a Coniblation " for a Soul full of Faith and Love, to ' be always prefent before our Lord, to ct proflrate herfelf at the Feet of Jeius tc Chrift, to pour out her Heart in his *' Prefence, whilft the whole World is c< overwhelmed with Affliction and Mi- u fery." 2d. Point. " They muft keep " their Sight under a ftridt Guard in all " Places, but particularly in the Choir, " and at all Prayer. It is an excellent " Means to keep their Thoughts and " Hearts recollected, and to cut off an 14 Infinity of Diftraftions. Happy that " Soul which clofes her Eyes to exteriour " and perifhable Things, that fhe may " never, if pofiible, lofe Sight of her " fovereign and only true Good." 3d. Point. " They muft ftand upright and ct handfomely in the Choir, remember- < c ing that Jefus Chrift beholds them, " alio his holy Angels. Let them con- u fider how thefe blefled Spirits abafe 11 themfelves with Reverence and Refpeft c ' before the infinite Majefty of God ; ci how they tremble in his Prefence. And " ihaU ( '68 ) " mall poor Duft and Afhes dare to Hand w in an irreligious Pofture before her " Lord and Mafter r* The infinite Mer- " cies of Jefus Chrift, and his aftonifh- " ing Humiliation in the holy Eucharift, " far from diminifhing, ought to increafe " our Refpecl. The more his Love *' makes him forget what he is, the more " ought we to bear in Mind what we are, *' and what he is." 4th. Point. "They " muft keep ftricl: Silence in the Church, " and this as well with their Bodies and " Limbs, as with their Tongues. This " has always been efteemed a Thing fo " facred that, as the Scripture tells us, " when the Temple of Solomon was built, " God commanded that there mould not " be heard fo much as the Sound of an '* Hammer, or any other lnflrument. ct Every one muft therefore carefully " avoid making any Noife, both out of " Refpeflto the Pretence of Jefus Chrift; " and alfo not to give the lealt Occafion " of Diftratftion to their Sifters." 5th. Point. " They muft go out of the " Church with great Gravity and Mo- " dcfty. For a religious Perfon, that " comes from cenverfing with God, ought " to appear rather as an Angel, than as " an ( '69 ) M an Angel, than as an human Creature* *' all penetrated with his divine Prefence, *' Sanctity and Modefty ought to fhine M in their Exteriour. Thefe Virtues will " render them accefiible to all, refpe&ed 41 by all, &c." Our venerable Abbefs was the mod perfect Model of thefe Rules, and of perfect Devotion, at the divine OfHce. She never fpared Voice or Strength to have.it upheld, and perform- ed in the beft Manner. On all Solem- nities me began and gave it out with fuch Devotion, as if her Heart was really in Heaven, and enjoyed the happy Vilion of God. During all the Time, by her lively Faith, and the Ardour of her Love and Zeal, fhe feemed, as it were, quite abforpt in God, and her Countenance ap- peared lb Angelical, that to call an Eye upon her was enough to infpire the moft Tepid with Fervour. It was feldom but her Cheeks were all bathed in Tears. Yet notwithstanding her profound Recol- lection, fuch was her Vigilance over the Choir, that no Faults efcaped her, which could be committed by any one in read- ing, or in the lead Circumflance of their Behaviour, which fhe never failed to cor- rect by a fpeedy Reprehenfion and pub- I lick ( 1.7? ) lick Penance, in order to make a Repaid don. Tfre facred Pafilon of our divine Rev deemer, and the adorable Sacrament of the Altar, were two infinitely tender Objects of her Devotion, in which fhe found her fweeteft Delight and Comfort. The- moving and lively Manner in which fhe exprefied herfelf on them, difcovered the burning Sentiments of her Heart, and her fublime enlightened Ideas of of thefe great Myfteries. By many lit- tle Prayers . to honour them, which fhe compiled, and gave to her fpiritual Children, fhe ftudied to ftir up in them the fame Sentiments of Devotion. Her lively Faith and Love made her think all Time fhort, which fhe employed her- felf in the like Exercifes. For me fpent whole Hours, or rather her whole Time, when other Duties did not call her away, in holy Meditation and Prayer, in which the Life and Sufferings of Chrift, and the holy Myftery of the Eucharift made ufually a principal Part. On folemn Fef- tivals, and whenever the blefTed Eucha- rift was expofed, fhe remained very long in the Church, with her Eyes and Heart feed on that adorable Sacrament, as if flic ( '7' ) Pne had been immoveable. Under her moft painful Diftempers, when ihe could not aflift at Matins with the Sifters, after they were retired to Reft, ihe fpent every Night, at leaft, one Hour in i J rayer be- fore the holy Sacrament. In a Com fe of Ihort Exercifes, for the pious Vilits of our Redeemer, in this tremendous Myf- tery, fhe confiders Him in his different Qualities and Attributes on different Days. ift. As the Son of God, adored by the Angels and Saints in Heaven, with whom fhe defired to join her Voice, and fing: Holy, Holy, Holy, the Heavens and the Earth are filled with the Majefty of thy Glory. 2dly. As a confuming Fire, begging Him in profound Love and Ado- ration to coniume in her all terreftrial Affections, and whatever could put an Impediment to her perfect Union with Him, which He defired in this Sacrament. gdiy. As an inacceflible mining Light, though covered with a Veil toward the Eartii, to accommodate Himfelf to our weak Sight, which cannot bear its im- menfe Effulgence : And Ihe begs that the Brightnels of this Sun may enlighten all that is dark in her Soul. 4thly. As the Author of Grace and Sanctity, which I 2 fhe ( J 7 2 ) ihe defires to approach, begging to par- take of His Fullnefs, and drink of the Torrent of Delights which He commu- nicates to Souls, which for His Love contemn all earthly Things, gthiy. As the Gift of God, including all other Gifts, equal to, and really Himfelf , and fhe begs the Grace to praife and thank Him for all his Mercies and Benefits, 6thly. As the Abridgment of all the Works of God ; the Sacrament which gives Grace and Sanctity to the Juft, and Strength to Sinners, excites Admiration in the Angels, and gives Joy to the Saints in Heaven ; and fhe begs to be enabled to frame a true Idea of his Great- nefs, and to be firmly united to Him by the Band of Love. ;thly. As the Myf- tery of Love, and fhe admires how in- finitely Pie delerves all our Love, and begs to correipond to the utmoft of her Abilities. 8thly. As our Head, and begs that He govern all that is in her. 9thly. As our Phyfician, and begs to be healed by Him. iothly, as our Centre, and begs her Heart, which can find no Satisfaction out of Him, may reft in Him alone, nthly. As our only Lover, cry- ing out, Give me thy Heart j and fhe pre- fents ( '73 ^ fents to Him her Heart, all defiled, 2s it is, with disordered Affections, and fays v to him a Million of Times : " Pierce my " Heart with the Dart of thy Love. ** O my God, be the Comfort of my 75 ) the Wdrks of the pious F. Simon Oourda)^ and others, moft pathetick fhort Confi- derations and Devotions on all the Acti- ons and Circumftances of thefacred Life and Sufferings of our divine Saviour, re- corded in the Goipels, adding Acts of Adoration, Praife, and Love for each, begging his Grace by each, and ftudying in every one of them to enter into, and learn His perfect Spirit of Virtue, in or- der to form her Heart upon the Model of His divine Heart. She compiled like Devotions on the chief Attributes of the Divinity, and each of the three divine Perfons, and on all the great Myfteries of our Religion, which are honoured in the principal Fefti vals of the Year. She diver- fified thefe Devotions in fuch a lively Man- ner, and prepared herfelf with fuch admi- rable Fervour, and fuch particular Senti- ments of Piety, for every Solemnity in the Year, that one might juftly have thought each to have been her principal Feftival of Devotion. Indeed one who is accuftomed in a Spirit of Prayer, to live in a conftant amorous Application of her Powers to the Prefence of God, who fills and em- ploys her Heart and Underftanding, (o contemplaies God in each Myftery, as to I 4 be ( 76 ) be animated by it, and filled with its Spi- rit, in a more per feet Manner, by a fhort, even inftantaneous Contemplation, than another would be by long Reflections. Her Devotion to the holy Mother of God was moil remarkable , with lingular Veneration and Confidence fhe ftyled her with the Church, the Refuge of poor Sinners, and the Comfort of the Af- flicted. In all Difficulties fhe had re- courfe to her, and ftrongly recommended the fame to all under her Care. She thought fhe fhould have failed in a prin- cipal Part of her Duty, had fhe not join- ed to this glorious Virgin her blefled Spoufe St. Jqfepb, whom fhe often called her Father and Protector, and the Patron of her Community. She put herfelf and them, in a particular Manner, under his Protection, both in Regard to fpirituals and temporals; before hisFeftival it was her earnefl Endeavour to excite and renew their Devotion to this great Saint, and their Confidence in his Patronage. For in all Neceffities, among ft all the heavenly Intercefibrs, next to the holy Mother of God, fhe had recourfe to St. Jofeph, and frequently found the Effects of his pow- erful Interceflion, by very remarkable Blef- ( *77 ) Blefiings. She had likewife a great De- votion to St. Michael, the Guardian An- gels, and all the Choirs of heavenly Spi- rits, and compiled feveral beautiful Ex- erciies in their Honour, efpecially on their feraphick Love of God, and Ardour in praifing and glorifying his holy Name. One of thefe Exerciies live clofes with the following Prayer. " Obtain for me, ar- dent Seraphims, fome Sparks of your Flames: Blehed Cherubims, fome Ir- radiations of yourLight: holy Thrones, a Participation of your Peace : excel- lent Dominations, a couragious Empire over all my Pafllons : Sacred Virtues, a Share of your Strength againft the Enemies of Jeius Chrift, awful Pow- ers, your Authority over Devils, glo- rious Principalities, your Zeal for the Honour of the moil High God : holy Archangels, your Ardour for the De- fence and Propagation of the Church, and the Sanctity of its Myfteries : blefled Angels, your charitable Care for the Salvation of Men : and you feven Princes, who ftand always be- fore the Throne of God, and the Lamb, make me break with you the fame Bread of Heaven, in the Contempla- I 5 t^pn ( '73 ) " tion of the fame God, and may I be " like yon, all inflamed, and entirely *' transformed into Love. O invincible " Defenders of the Reign of Jefus Chrift, " all penetrated with Zeal for his Glory, " and for the Eitablifhment of his Wor- " fhip, let me breathe nothing but his " Myfteries, his Maxims, his Virtues, " and his divine Spirit. May I fubjec"t to " Him all my Powers, and the veryCen- " tre of my Heart, that having glorified " Him on Earth with an Homage of Ado- " ration and Obedience like yours, I may " contemplate Him one Day in theSplcn- " dours of a blehed Immortality, and " prefentHirn with you eternal Canticles " of Praife and Love. Amen." This her Devotion to the blefTed An- gels and Saints, fprang from the Ardour of her Love of God, whom thefe holy Spirits love with all their Strength, and praife without Interruption. To enter- tain and improve this Love of God, which, as (he obferves, is the only Scope, Aim, and End of all our Exerciles, La- bours, Aufterities, and Works of Piety, (he drew up many Forms of the moil inflamed Acts of that Virtue, by which me ceafed not moil earneftly to afk it of God. ( 79 ) God. " O my mod fwcet Lord Jefus," fays fhe, in her MS. Confutations on the Ruffe, ch. 6. " Give me this Love. Draw to thyfelf all the Powers of my Soul. I auk of thee, O Lord, no earthly Trea- fures, no worldly Goods or Glory. I beg only the Riches of Thy pure Love, that in all Things I may feek Thee alone, prize thee above all, be con- tent with Thee alone, who art to me All in All. OLove of my God, the Life of my Soul, the Crown of my Head, the Centre of all my Affecti- ons. To Thee I confecrate all my Ac- tions ; to Thee I dedicate irrevocably all my Labours and Defires -, all I am or have ; I will not live, my God, but to love Thee ; I will not breathe, but to glorify Thee. O that I could break forth without IntermifTion, into fera- phick Acts of Thy Love, O my mofl amiable Lord ! O that I could conti- nue to repeat them each Moment of my Life ! Particularly, may I die in the higheft Raptures of this Love." Other fuch ardent Breathings occur, ch. 5. ib. and in many other Parts of her Writings. In the fame flic interfperfes frequent warm Afpirations and Sighs to be diflblv- cd ( 8o ) cd and united with her God, and his Chrift in eternal Glory, that me may love and praiieHim without Intermiffion, with all her Powers and Strength. For this Hie compiled Brief Rules for the Pilgrims who Und to the celejlial Jerufalem. The firft /be lays down as follows: " They " mull endeavour to be Deaf, Dumb, " and Blind to all Things that do not " concern them. They muft love Si- " lence, Recollection and Prayer, and " practice thefe as much as their State " and Employments permit." After other Rules for the Direction of the Pil- grim Soul through the Defert of this World, by perfect Charity, Meeknefs, and Patience ; entire Difengagement of the Heart, Mortification of the Senfes, Spirit of Compunction and Penance, Love of Poverty and the Crofs, Humi- lity, and the utmoft Fidelity in directing every Action to fulfill the holy Will of God with the greatefl Fervour, and pu- rity of Intention poflible, fhe is taught to figh without Intermiffion after the hap- py Hour which will finifh her Exile. A long Exercife is fubjoined, confuting of pathetick Confiderations and Afpirations for every Day, during a Courfe of fix Months, ( i8i ) Months, then to be begun again. The/ all expreis the languishing Defires of a Pilgrim Soul to be united to her God, and are chiefly extracted from the Book entitled, Le Chretien etr anger fur la terre y but very much abridged, improved, and preiented in a more pathetick Manner, and much clearer Order. By thofe laid down for the firft Month, the Pilgrim Soul is prepared by Compunction and Penance, to attain to Innocence and Cleannefs of Heart; by holy Fear to looien and break all earthly Attachments, to extinguifh in her Heart all Defire of pleafing Creatures , to watch continually over herfelf againft Vanity and Pride ; to raife herfelf above all human Refpects-, to have before her Eyes, in all that fhe does, only God and his Glory , to be affected, as if there were only God and herfelf in the World, and by all Man- ner of good Works, and the Exercife of all Virtues, to have her Lamp always trimmed in her Hands, ready to go forth to meet her Bridegroom, and fighing continually after him. The Exercifes for the fecond Month are employed on Death, as the Paffage of a Soul to her God, In thofe for the third the World is confi- ( 8 2 ) confidered as an Exile. The fourth is taken up in Contemplations on the Blils of Heaven, and in languifhing Sighs after God. The two laTt Months are confecrated to Exercifes which tend to infpire an ardent Love of God, and Fer- vour in the Practice of His holy Law, the Means by which the Pilgrim Soul advances in the Path of fpotlels Sanctity and Love, to a perfect PoiYeMion of God, who is infinite tremendous Sanctity, and infinite Love. The Zeal of the holy Abbefs for the fpiritual Progrefs of her whole Commu- nity, prompted her to prelcribe to every one little Practices of Devotion, fuitable to each one's fpiritual Necefllties and Difpofitions, which, notwithstanding her Infirmities, me ufed to w r rite with her own Hand : As, to live on Earth, as in a wild vaft Deiert, continually fighing to- ward Heaven , or to live, as if there were only God and them, in conftant Attention to Him, &c. She was ever propofing to them various eafy Means and Methods to help them to practife a continual Attention to the divine Pre- fencc. For this End fhe alio wrote fhort fervent Ejaculations for every Place and Em- ( iS 3 ) Employment. Before Lent and Advent fhe drew up in Writing, for every young Nun, certain Inftructions, according as fhe judged moll fuitable to every one's particular Circumftances and NecefTities, and thele fhe put in the Cell of each one, written with her own Hand. To this her Zeal, Prudence, and unwearied Charity, is her Monaftery indebted for an incredible Number of mort excellent MS. Inftruc- tions, Prayers, and feveral longer Trea- dles, as i . An Exercife of Devotion on the Life of Chrijl for every Day of the Tear. 2. Exercifes for the principal Fefiivals. 3. Exercifes on the holy Angels. 4. Brief Rules for the Pilgrims who tend to the ce- lejlial Jerufalem, with Exercifes for every Day, during a Ccurfe of fix Months. 5. A Colleclicn of little Offices and Litanies on the feveral Myfteries of the Life of cur Saviour : Alfo on the Virgin Mary and St. Jofeph. 6. Entertainment on Chrijl* s glo- rious Life, or on the State of his glorious Immortality. 7. A Book of Devotions to Jefus, on the Myftery of His Incarnation, and others to the Bleffed Virgin and St. Jofeph. 8. Litanies and other Devotions to the holy Solitaries, efpecially St. John the Silent, 9. Devotions to St. Mary Mag- dalen, ( '84 ) dalen, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Thais, and other holy Penitents, especially Solitaries. 10. Exercifes for hearing Mafs, &c. ii. Prayers and Confiderations upon each Ar- ticle of the Rule of the Poor Clares, in which the Spirit in which every Duty ought to be performed, is excellently in- culcated, efpeciallyon Obedience, Silence and Devotion. On this laft fhe ftrongly exhorts the Sifters to be careful never to extinguifh in their Souls the Spirit of Prayer and Devotion, by fuffering their Thoughts to be fo much taken up with, or bent upon their Work, or their cor- poral Strength fo exhaufted with it, or fo much of their Time taken up by it, as to make them neglect, or become unfit for Prayer, holy Meditation, or other Ex- ercifes of Piety. Whence fhe takes Oc- cafion to enlarge on the Excellencies of Incomparable Devotion, which is derived to us from the Father of Lights, to draw Men up from Earth to Heaven. She calls it the Art to make our Souls divine; the fweet and facred Entertainment of all who defire to love God, and the dear and only Darling of our Souls. 12. She wrote, as was mentioned above, a little Directory for her Community, entitled, The ( i8 5 ) The Chief Points of our holy Ceremonies, in which the Sifters muft daily renew them- Jehes in Spirit, and in their Aclions. In this little Treatife fhe gives excellent In- flections, particularly on Prayer, Obe- dience, and Silence, by which we cut off the Source of many Sins, build in our Hearts a Temple for the Holy Ghoft, and pra&ife a Virtue which eafily pro- duces, cultivates, and preferves all other Virtues. On fraternal Charity fhe writes, ch. 7. " We muft have a tender cor- *' dial Love for all, accompanied with ** Refpeft, preventing each other in every " Service, fhunning all Difputes, as the " Seed of Diflention, always ready to 44 leave our own Will and Judgment to *' conform to others, to bear each other's 44 Burdens, fupport each other's Ways c and Humours, never complaining of 44 any one's Behaviour, and behaving 44 toward all with Sweetneis, by which ** we may change Antipathy into Love." On Poverty fhe fays, ch. 9, " To difen- " g a g e our Hearts from the Love of all ** tranfitory Things, we muft take for 44 ourfelves the worft and meaneft Part 14 in every Thing, and defire nothing of 44 this World, that we may fix our Af- 44 fections cc tc ( fi ) fections where our Treafure ought to be." On Humility, ch. 10. " To be poor and proud is abominable before God and Men. We muft therefore have a mean Opinion of ourfelves in all Things, be ready fincerely to take upon ourfelves any Fault, of which " we are accufed, to acknowledge it, tc and make Satisfaction ; bow to each * other, when we pafs by, efteeming " ourfelves happy toferve any one, and " unworthy to be ferved by any one , "- bear a great Refpect and Love to all, " as to the Spoufes of Jeius Chrift." After other Rules me concludes with thefe Words : " Dear Sifters, I leave " you this as my laft Will and Tefta- ** ment, and as a Token of the fmcere " Love and Tendernds I have for you, ** defiring above all Things, your ipiri- " tual Advancement. I therefore beg " you read thefe InftrucT:ions once a " Month, and endeavour to pracliife lc them, which will draw the Blefllng of " God upon you in this Life, and an " eternal Reward in the next. Fray for " me, your unworthy Mother and Ser- " vant, Sifter Mary of the Holy Crofs. " the 8 th of Sept ember ) 1726. This ( i8 7 ) This holy Contemplative was indeed endowed with an excellent Underftand- ing and Judgment, and at the fame Time grounded in the moft ftncere and pro- found Humility, fo as w always to efteem herfelf as the leaft and laft Perfon in the Houie: ail (lie did fhe reputed as Nothing, and bore the fharpeft Trials with invincible Meeknefs and Patience, faying, her Sins deferved much more. In a lively Senfeof the Judgments of God, and of the heavy Weight of her Charge, fhe fighed to the End of her life after the Happinefs of living a private Nun, if it could have been allowed. Her moft humble Opinion, and perfect Contempt of herfelf appeared moft confpicuous amidft die extraordi- nary Refpect and Efteem, which her Vir- tue procured her from all who had the Happinefs of her Acquaintance, efpe- cially of her religious Sifters, of whom flie herfelf received thirty-four to Profef- fion, during the Time fhe was Abbefs, Indeed fhe was the beft of Mothers to all her dear Children, continually going before them, as a bright mining Torch, teaching and exhorting them by Word and Example, what they were to do to pleafe their heavenly Spoufe, and to keep up ( i88 ) np in every Point of their holy Rule to the moft exact Regularity. It was her whole Study to bring them on to Perfec- tion, and to maintain Piety, Peace, and perfect Union amongft them. The fol- lowing Inftructions to her Succeffors were found after her Death, in her own Hand- writing : " I beg of thofe that hold this '* Place after me, that they take great " Care whom they receive, and that ** they never admit any who cannot be * told of a Fault, or who cannot conform in all Things to the Ways, Practices* Cuftoms, and Ceremonies of this holy Religious State, nor give any the little. Habit of Poftulants before they are fixteen complete, nor the great Habit for Habit of the Order J till after a Trial of fix Months. The long Ex- perience I have had, makes me fee the Neceffity of thefe Precautions. Never admit any to religious Vows, who cannot leave their own Will, even in good Things. Never admit any who fhew a Diflike of their MLf- trefs : for infallibly they will afterward take one to their Superiour. Never receive any who come too late to all Duties : they will foon be difgufted " with ( i89 ) " with their Vocation, and come at laft " to nothing, at leaft by their good '* Will. Never take any who are of a M gibing Temper, for they will never * 4 keep Charity with their Sifters, but *' will be always raifing Brawls and " Quarrels. Be very Uriel: upon them " in obferving Silence, in keeping their " Sight under conftant Guard, and in ** walking in a religious Pace, with their " Hands joined, and their Hearts lifted *' up to Heaven. Never fuffcr them to " take Notice of any one's Actions or " Comportment, be they never fo pub- *' lick; nor meddle with the Affairs of * c the Houfe : Thofe that are given to " thefe Faults, are not fit for a religious " State. Thofe who cannot leave them- *' felves in good Things, will at laft be '* obftinate in bad Things, and will be- " come incorrigible. Thofe that con- n this Verfe always fill your Bread Night and Day, at Home and Abroad, in Profperity and Adverfity , repeat it in every Action and every Neceffity: have it in your Mouth when Sleep Heals upon you, and fo afliduoufly, that by Habit you may repeat it, per- " chance, ( 201 ) " chance, even in your Sleep. When " you awake let this anticipate all other " Thoughts, and fill firit your Heart, " and form your firit Words: In rifing " let it bring you on your Knees before " God, afterward begin every Action " of the Day, and attend you to the " End. Sitting, walking, writing, have " it always, as it were, waiting at the " Door of your Heart, and of your " Mouth ; when you kneel to pray, and " when you rife, and when you go to " any Thing elfe, let this be your atten- " tive and perpetual Prayer." Caffian adds (28;, that himfelf and all the Monks of the Defert of Scete, who af- filed at the Difcourfes of the holy Ab- bot Ifeac, admired exceedingly the Pru- dence of this Infl ruction, and were fenfi- ble from Experience, how much more eafy it is to acquire an Habit of ejacula- tory Prayer, by having in the Beginning fome devout Form of Afpiration always at Hand, than in Time of fpiritnal Dry- nefs to be left at a Tofs to call forth one fuitable. Many indeed chufe to make fome other molt familiar. St. Macariits recommended this: '' Lord, as thou ar^ " pleafed [z'i) Col!, x. c . 14. ( 202 ) " pteafed, and feeft beft, have Mercy " on me." St. Thais the Penitent made ufe of this : M Thou who createdeft me, M have Mercy on me." Many have made Choice of fome Petition of the Lord's Prayer, and numberiefs others might be collected from the Practices of the Saints. That of Abbot Ifaac, men- tioned by Cajfian, is ufed by the Church in the Beginning of every Canonical Hour, becaufe we can neither open our Hearts nor our Lips to pray, without the actual Afiiftance of divine Grace, and if we in- voke the divine Succour in every Action, mnch more when we prepare ourfelves to offer to God the Homage of Love and Praife, and to implore his Mercy and BleMings. As often as we begin a new Action, meet with any Succefs or Difap- pointment, any Difficulty or Temptation, as often as we hear the Clock ftrike, or at leaft fo frequently as not to interrupt long the Practice, we ought fervently to renew in our Hearts our accuftomed Af- piration, or fome other which our Devo- tion fhall fuggeft. But in this, and in every Part of Prayer, the capital Point is, that we inwardly feel the Sentiments of the Prayer, be deeply penetrated with them, ( 2o 3 ) them, and bring them forth from the bottom of our Hearts with unutterable Earneftnefs, or Grcatts, and Sighs in De- fire. Rom. viii. 26. Thus will a Soul advance in holy Prayer, and by its Means in all interiour Virtue. For the Holy Ghoft will enlarge daily the Kingdom of his Grace and Love in her Affections, fubduing, enlightening, purifying and fanclifying them more and more by his Prclence. Here he will place His Delight in her Heart, as in His living Temple and Sanctuary, and will not ceafe to dhplay with unbounded Tendcrnefs and Liberality, the Treafures of His Grace, enriching her more and more with all fpiritual feeling Knowledge of his Myfteries and Love, and of her own Nothingnefs andMiferies. Amongft his various Gifts, thofe of the mod per- fect infufed Humility and Charity, and Spirit of Prayer, ever hold the firft Place. In the Diftribution of thefe Graces, which he diverfifies according to his infinite "Wifdom, dividing to every one as he pleafes, he often favours the Soul with the fub- lime paflTve Prayer of Union, which Abbot I/aac, and from him Caftan de- fer i be s ( 204 ) fcnbes in the following Words (29). " So " (/. e. by thefe Steps; the Mind may be " raifed to that Singlenefs of fpiritual " Prayer, which is not only freed from " all Reprefentation of Images, but alfo " is not diftinguifoed by any Uie of *' Voice, Words, or any of the Senfes, " but is poured forth inwardly by a " flaming Ardour andlntenlenefs of Mind, " Cthrough an unutterable Vehemence of " Affection, and an invincible and in- " conceivable Quicknefs and Alacrity of " Spirit^ which the Mind, abitracted " from all Senfes, and material or fenfi- " ble Things, pours forth to God by " Sighs and Groans that cannot be ex- " preffed." In this Manner Penance and Prayer by their progreflive Exerciies, difpole our Souls to become the fpiritual Kingdom of God, in which he is pleafed to reign, governing all their Powers and Affections by his fovereign Love, and omnipotent Grace. Thefe holy Exercifes form the myftical Ladder, by which Chriftian Souls afcend to the Summit of all Vir- tues, and to the City of God, the hea- venly Jerufalem. Amazing is the Height on (29) lb. c. ii, ( 205 ) on which this Ladder is placed, and to which they afpire. The Dignity, Glory, and Happinefs of a Child of God, and an Inhabitant of his Blifs, is altoge- ther incomprehenfible to us. How exalt- ed ibever this State is, we through the divine Grace are capable of it, and crea- ted for it. Yes, mortal and finful Crea- tures, as we are, we are called by God to be cleanied from the Filth of Sin, and all irregular Appetites, to conquer our Palfions and fpiritual Enemies, to be a- dorned with all Virtues, and to be equal- led and affbeiated to the Ang-els in ever- o lading Glory. To be admitted into the Kingdom of God, where he reigns with his Saints, the mod fpotlefs Purity of Soul and Affections is required, together with the Aifemblage of all perfect Vir- tues. The Height of this glorious and happy Srate ought not to dilcourage us, but to animate and fpur us on with Fer- vour. So many Saints have fought and conquered before us ; fo many hold out their Hands, fweetly inviting us to tread in their Steps, and faithfully follow them in this glorious Path, in which they af- fure us we mall find the fovereign Good, with fovereign Comfort and Joy. V I N I S. The Author defigns to add an Appendix concerning Religious Orders in general, and therefore the Purchafers of this Work are defired to wait a few Months before they get it bound. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 4^\}l 2 I987c*v JUL 2 4 1987 Form L9-Series4939 3 158 01189 3566 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 092 951 3