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 shares a vision where she sees herself enclosed in a place with walls covered in trees bearing luscious fruit, guarded by an unknown man. Despite the value and preservation of the fruit, she desires to taste it. The keeper reveals the extraordinary nature of the fruit by transforming a bird into a delicious fruit for her to eat, symbolizing a deeper spiritual meaning awaiting interpretation.
February 14. 1678. Winter Fruit.
In the Night I had this Vision, I saw my Self enclosed in a place with Walls, and upon them there was Trees that had spread themselves, and were tacked to the Wall, as a Vine is. And there was such large pleasant Fruit upon it that I did much admire, because of the present Winter-Season. But they were so Luscious, that I did much desire to taste of them, for it was of such a kind, as I had not formerly seen, nor known. Now there was a Man set to keep this Place and Fruit, and he was unknown to me, so that I could not tell how to entrust my self in him, but walked up and down by the Wall, but could no ask for any. For I did believe they were of great value; and were preserved by a great art, as I understood by him, ever since the Summers growth, and reserved fresh and fresh to be plucked for them, to whom they did belong. But the Keeper seeing me so eye the Fruit, he told me these Fruits were of a strange and wonderful Nature, and were beyond what I could imagine them to be. So he took two Flig Birds, that were Nestled in the Tree, and cut them in the midst, and gave one of them to me, and when I had it, being hot and Bloody, as I had it in my Hand, it changed it self into such a fair Luscious Fruit, as I did see upon the Tree, and I did eat thereof, and it was very pleasant. The other Bird, he told me was reserved for another. But before I did see who it was, I came out of the Vision. [The interpretation of this Vision was given by the Spirit twelve Days after; being very considerable, which see in its Place, February 26.]
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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.