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 call to be strong and courageous in the Lord's might, drawing parallels to the deliverance from Egypt and the future shaking of the heavens and earth. She emphasizes the foundation of the Temple being God and the Lamb, pointing to a new Temple-Body that will be raised up by God's power alone, distinguishing the chosen ones. This new body will be formed by the divine breath, free from corruption, leading to the inhabitants of the Eternal Canaan being the glory and strength of it, united under Christ their Head.
July 1. 1678.
This Word came fresh in the Hour of fear, and adversity, saying, Be strong, and go yet forth in the Lord's Might, and Work, for the Lord's Spirit is with you, as in the Day, when he delivered out of Egypt. Consider that the Foundation of the Temple, which is God, and the Lamb is laid, which will shake, and burn the first Heaven and Earth away. Till then God in pure Nature cannot shew his Mighty reign and hereby distinguish, who are his elected Train: who are to be lifted up from this Earth, in this new framed Temple-Body. Which will not be brought forth, by Man's Wisdom, Strength, or Creaturely Might, but from that unknown Oily Breath, that does knit together yet again the dispersed Element, in which is no Corruption to diminish from the Deity: As in a Figurative Body; all is agreeable to what is within the borders of the Eternal Canaan. The Inhabitants of which, will be the Glory and Strength of it. To which the gathering of all Nations, as to their Princedom, and to Christ their Head, will be: where nothing more of Servitude is to be known.
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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.