Jane Lead
Jane Lead (March 1624 – August 19, 1704) was an Christian mystic whose calling from God inspired a visionary ministry that shaped the Philadelphian Society, proclaiming divine wisdom and spiritual renewal across the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born Jane Ward in Letheringsett, Norfolk, England, to Hamond Ward, a prosperous gentleman, and Mary Calthorpe, she was the youngest of twelve children in a well-off family, baptized on March 9, 1624. Her education was informal, shaped by a comfortable upbringing and personal spiritual experiences rather than formal theological training, culminating in a transformative moment at age 15 during a 1639 Christmas dance when a heavenly voice declared, “Cease from this, I have another dance to lead thee in.” Lead’s calling from God unfolded after marrying William Lead, a merchant, in 1644, living happily with him and their four daughters in King’s Lynn until his death in 1671 left her penniless in London. That year, a vision of the Virgin Sophia—divine wisdom personified—called her a “Bride of Christ,” igniting her ministry of recording divine revelations. Ordained informally by her mystical experiences, she preached through writings and leadership, joining John Pordage’s Behmenist group in 1668 and assuming its helm after his 1681 death, renaming it the Philadelphian Society in 1694. Her sermons, preserved in works like A Fountain of Gardens (1696–1701) and The Revelation of Revelations (1683), called for a universal restoration through the Inner Light, influencing Quakers and Pietists despite opposition from Anglican authorities. Widowed, with no further marriages, she passed away at age 80 in London, leaving a legacy of mystical preaching that echoed beyond her time.
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Jane Lead preaches about the cry of the soul in distress, questioning the perpetual pain and lack of healing, and feeling abandoned by God in the face of overwhelming challenges. However, she encourages unwavering trust in God's strength and promises, urging the separation of the precious from the vile to be a vessel of God's pure Word. She emphasizes the need to rise above earthly senses and distractions, allowing the pure altar fire of burning love and faith to overcome internal struggles and bring forth joy and rejoicing.
June 23. 1678. Separate the Precious From the Vile: Or, the Altar-Fire.
The Cry of my Soul was this, in the Day of my being distressed, Oh why is my Pain perpetual? And my Wound uncureable? is there no healing for me? And in these Exigences, where is the force of Omnipotency? that it may be raised and exerted forth to bring down the Beast, that insulteth in his Throne Power, having all from the great Prince of Darkness, to scourge and afflict withal. Oh God wilt thou be as a Stranger to me, and not know me in this way, that is Hedged up upon me, where I see no escape out? Wilt thou leave me to languish, for want of thy Arm of Strength going forth? Oh! be not now to me, as the Waters that fail. After this my complaint in the bitterness of my Soul, this Word was applied to me, Be steady and unmoveable in thy trust, give no place to fear or doubt, and thou shall bring to pass the whole desire of thy Heart in Jehovah's Strength: Yea, thou shalt return to the secret of my Pavilion, and stand before me thy God, who hath chosen thee. Therefore, separate the Precious from the Vile, then thou mayest be my Mouth, out of which the pure Word of Life may go out to the joy and rejoicing of them, whose Food it shall be. Now keep up, and let not the Waters of Sense sink thee down: For nothing is so killing to the Plant of renown, those Root is from the inward Ground. Then was shewn me, the pure Altar Fire, that would be only the remedy to dry up the inundation of these Senses, that had made all commotion and disorder in me. But (oh!) this burning Love, and springing Faith, have dispersed those Legions, that would keep me in these Fetters.
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Jane Lead (March 1624 – August 19, 1704) was an Christian mystic whose calling from God inspired a visionary ministry that shaped the Philadelphian Society, proclaiming divine wisdom and spiritual renewal across the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born Jane Ward in Letheringsett, Norfolk, England, to Hamond Ward, a prosperous gentleman, and Mary Calthorpe, she was the youngest of twelve children in a well-off family, baptized on March 9, 1624. Her education was informal, shaped by a comfortable upbringing and personal spiritual experiences rather than formal theological training, culminating in a transformative moment at age 15 during a 1639 Christmas dance when a heavenly voice declared, “Cease from this, I have another dance to lead thee in.” Lead’s calling from God unfolded after marrying William Lead, a merchant, in 1644, living happily with him and their four daughters in King’s Lynn until his death in 1671 left her penniless in London. That year, a vision of the Virgin Sophia—divine wisdom personified—called her a “Bride of Christ,” igniting her ministry of recording divine revelations. Ordained informally by her mystical experiences, she preached through writings and leadership, joining John Pordage’s Behmenist group in 1668 and assuming its helm after his 1681 death, renaming it the Philadelphian Society in 1694. Her sermons, preserved in works like A Fountain of Gardens (1696–1701) and The Revelation of Revelations (1683), called for a universal restoration through the Inner Light, influencing Quakers and Pietists despite opposition from Anglican authorities. Widowed, with no further marriages, she passed away at age 80 in London, leaving a legacy of mystical preaching that echoed beyond her time.