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 importance of focusing on our heavenly calling and being good stewards of the gifts and resources entrusted to us by God. She emphasizes the need to resist the temptations and distractions of the world and to exercise our spiritual authority to overcome the schemes of the enemy in our inner lives. Jane Lead also shares a vision of a man representing earthly desires bowing before those who have mastery over them, indicating the power we have to subdue and control our fleshly desires through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
March 16. 1678. the Man of the Earth.
This Morning I had several Advertisements from the Holy Watcher over me. As first this, Be all intent upon your Heavenly Vocation. Give to God, what encrease cometh of his own State-Life entrusted with you. As this World appropriateth to it self, vain Perishing and evil things, so know, your God does expect improvement, and the return of his Principal again. Then great Caution I further had to keep all Rule and Authority over that invisible World within. For it was given me to know, that there was a Head-Power great and mighty in the Soul-Region, to repel and keep down, what the Dragon and Beast would do to make Mutiny and Riot, according to the unregenerated State. And therefore we are to employ our Power, which we have from the Superiour Light (which doth see all of Sin-defect) to suppress and root out, that God's Peace may only be left for a Garrison to keep all Treachery of Spirits out. Then after this, I had a Representation of a Man, that came very near me, in a plain Husband's Garb, and looked very earnestly on me, and Bowed several times to me, but spake no Word. After which disappearing, I enquired into it, and it was spoken unto me in a Powerful Voice, Thus shall the Man of the Earth bow unto thee, as thou dost keep him under. More of which shall be opened, as thy inward Spirit shall dive, where the Treasures hath lain in hidden Darkness.
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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.