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 delves into the concept of spiritual rebirth and redemption, emphasizing the need to be born out of the womb of pure spiritual matter in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. She highlights the discrepancy between the fallen, corruptible bodies we possess and the original spiritual bodies intended by God, which are the essence of His divine nature. Lead explains that Christ's manifestation in flesh aims to transform our earthly forms into spiritual matter, restoring the true native birth that existed before sin. She underscores the role of the Word of Life in illuminating these truths and guiding our spirits towards recognizing our spiritual essence over our temporary physical existence.
May 29. 1678. the Angelical Womb.
In the Morning-Watch my Spirit was called upon to hear, and attend, for what was yet further to be known, in order to the deliverance from the Polluted State, of the Natural Birth. I was shewn how greatly it did derogate from God's Creation, as Adam in his first Figure, and the Angels in theirs. I saw the Body and Matter from whence they did proceed, which was as a deep Eternal and bottomless space, all-flaming Breath of Air, which was said to be the pure Matter of Spiritual Bodies, and Genitrix of perfect Nature. Upon which came this Word, Except ye be born out of this Womb, ye cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Then it was cast up in my Mind, that the outward gross Image, which we now have, was not the form that God Created. Neither did he will the Propagation of Generation in such a way, as the effects of the fallen, and lapsed State of Adam did awaken. And therefore these Vile and Corruptible Bodies God doth not own, as his Make. But only that imprisoned Fire-spark of Eternity, that belongeth to the Essential Being of his divine Nature, as was known in Spiritual Matter and Figure before the World was. For the sake of which God became manifested in Flesh, that he might change it into Spiritual Matter, Form, and Power, from the inward Element, as the Fleshly is from the outward. And so produce the true Native Birth again, as was before the Sin, and Fleshly Birth was known. This is verily the great Redemption, that the Lord Christ will bring to pass: As he is born again in Spirit, under the Vail of the Fleshly Form. And therefore the Word of Life, that can pierce through Flesh and Bones, and ask no leave to come in and go out, will be the mighty Operator hereof: And first doth give Light and Knowledge into these Truths, that our Spirits might know, this is not the Body of its Originality; but a vain shew, or shadowy Image, that is to be put off. That so a perfect Figure may naturally and durably act God, to all agreeableness of Spiritual Mindedness.
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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.