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 deep spiritual journey of internal communion with the Holy Trinity, emphasizing the need to silence fleshly reasonings and vocal speakings to allow the Spirit's pure language to be heard. She describes the ethereal sounds and celestial speech that come from immersing oneself in God's presence, leading to a discourse with God abstractedly and the discovery of the divine elixir that cures mortal life and redeems from sin. Through a process of refining the spirit and body, believers are urged to pursue the Coelestial Stone with great diligence and undivided focus, allowing the Spirit to work miraculously in their lives.
August 28. 1678. the Interpretation of This Magical Stone.
Wisdom's Cry is still, turn into my enclosed Deep, where the Law of Silence is of force. Cease all Fleshly reasonings, for nothing of that is to be heard there: The Holy Trinity will not bear it. For it prevents all Internal Communing in the Spirit's Language, which is so pure and clear, as no other Tongue is permitted to speak there. All Vocal speakings, may be spared, they are too vulgar, too low, where Spirit with Spirit doth only appear. Thus it was give me to know, and hear the AEthereal Sounds from the Eternal nothingness, which forms the true speech, which cannot be understood by any rational Spirit; whose first Essence is all enmity thereunto. But the Superrational Mind is brought up to hear and understand what out-breathed is from the Coelestial Air, which doth come sometimes as a rushing Wind, and then as a soft Oil does run as in a secret mildness. Which I am made now to know is God's way of Speech, in which he does discourse himself from his own immense deep. And when the Spirit can separate from the rational Soul, and immerse it self with the supersensual Light of Life, which is so near; Then we may discourse with God abstractedly, and the Golden Vein will run free from the Fountain-Mystery, that may make knowing in the Coelestial Chymistry, for the pure Elixir that will cure the Mortal Life, and redeem from the evil effects of Sin, and from all That which Corruptibility hath brought in. For the attaining of which Light of discovery, the Holy Breath doth it affirm, that a new course of Living for this attainment is to be taken up, which must be absolutely winnowed from the floor of chaffy Sense: and every property that may be of use, for working in the hidden Ground, where the Sapphir Elixir is extracted, for the use of Eternal Life. Which shall be given as a recompence to those, who are already passed through the first Death, for they thereby shall sound and fathom the excellency of this Magical-Stone. Which will put an end to the finishing Mystery, unto a full refining of both Spirit and the vile Body, as now it is with our Lord Jesus. For herein is the true Philosophy, or diving Chymistry to be learned to Extract, and Sublime, and Spiritualize out pure matter, from that which is course and of a gross earthly Part; that hath hung so fast to the Heavenly Essence. So that the Furnace of everlasting Burnings must be fixed on necessity, and then diligently attended upon, till the dark black Matter become white, clear, and shining, as transparent Silver. For this formation the Spirit hath now convinced me, that great industry is required, and that considering the Rich weightiness of this Coelestial Elixir, all expence of time will be needed here accordingly, for the possession of it. There is a Worldly Furnace, that will bring great benefit to the exteriour Life, which the Wise in this out birth do greatly pursue; to effect their Stone, for Corporeal Fame and Temporal Encrease which could never deliver from Sin or Death: Yet to what strick attendance, have they given themselves over hereunto? Now this outward is a true Figure of the inward; and since we, who, in a Spiritual combination have been driven by the Spirit, to look into the Mystery of this Coelestial Stone, and to find it out in its high Magnitude, much more time must be allowed here for the making of it. As the great Master of this secret hath several times averred, that it is no Work to be slighted over, or carried on in a divided Mind: as it was shewn me by way of Vision. From whence this conclusion was drawn, by the true Inspirator, that whereas I saw the circling Earth-mould so often fall down upon this shining Stone, what quenchings and damping Clouds were brought upon it; So that for a time it could give no Lustre, but was buried as in a dark Body. Whereupon a deep Sense was awakened in me, to plead much in Prayer, that this hovering Earth might be restrained: which I have found by long experience, to be smothering to the flaming-Stone, which to a Body of Light would penetrate, were it not so often choaked, by taking thought for those things, which pertains to the temporal Life. For which I have striven to put off all care and concern upon this account, and so to be as Christ's Lilly, growing and springing up in the midst of a thicket of bushy Cares, and Snares: And where the underminers are ever casting up the Earthly mould, that would Soil the Lilly-Robe that is put on. Being in this divine Sense, expostulating in holy Fear, with my God and Father, least it should never have a stop, or cessation, but still be in hazard of the Earthly mould falling down upon this precious Gem? I was made to propose forcible Arguments to him, from whom my Redemption must come. Who in a soft AEthereal sound did give assurance, that the earthly choaking Cares, should not always and for ever thus molest and trouble us, who were bent in all earnestness, in the process for this Pearl of the Kingdom. For this Word was given me, saying, After suffering a while, ye shall come to posses the Power, which shall fast-bind all this encompassing Earth. And further Querying, how, and when we might expect the effects hereof. It was shewn me, it would be by the strong rising degree, of this pure enkindled burning Sapphir, that would deliver it self, (as it is the first-Born, and Heir of God, and his Almightiness) through all depressing afflictions, which are as so many dropping Clouds for quenching it. Yet as the Spirit of our Souls doth observe and obey the holy Laws, and Institutions, which do conduce for its rising-Glory, there will not fail a Solomon to survive, as the everlasting Seed, who will possess David's Throne, which figures out our Lord Jesus, whith whom the Covenant is established. And as we are found after his Heart, so the Pearl of the Kingdom will break through in Power and Dignity. And will certainly come to possess the Gates of the Enemy, who hath so long envied our peaceable Reign, in the Lord's Sabbatical Day. But it will be brought to pass by the same Wonder-working Arm of JEHOVAH, whose Spirit will do marvelous Things through and by us, as he did by Moses, against Pharoah, and his Egyptian-Host. All which we have Mystically to encounter with, each one in our selves: But the holy One is come, and will redeem by Miraculous Powers, what is in Covenant. And Great and Mighty things will shew forth themselves, because Christ is rising from the dead in his Saints, and will execute the Power that hath been gotten through this Death, which will amount to a high Degree of Soveraignity. Therefore the Spirit doth it often Eccho, and Cry, Blessed are they, who are passed through this Death, that the Spirit may come to Figure out a new quickning Life-form, according to the Spirit's Eternal Generation: That is, to plant the new Creation. Where Christ the Head Principality will appear to us. For as he is, so we in this risen State shall ever behold him in our selves, as the Image of the invisible Power of Perfection. O who would not Love and be reconciled to the most bitter and sharpest stroak of Death, that so Plants of the new Resurrection-Ground, we may be everlastingly rooted in Him; Hasten it, O Lord Jesus, and work Mightily in us, for it.
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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.