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 urgency of redeeming the Spirit's day before the great Tribulation comes, emphasizing the importance of understanding God's work in this day. She highlights the need for a clear mind and a purified heart to discern the secret things revealed by the Lord, with a caution to continually seek and inquire through the Holy Spirit. Lead stresses the necessity for the Heaven-born Spirit to listen attentively to God's words, as it leads to spiritual growth and fulfillment. She compares the daily labor for physical food to the importance of seeking eternal nourishment for our spiritual well-being, warning against neglecting our spiritual calling to avoid being caught unprepared when the Night comes.
April 20. 1678. Redeem the Hour.
This Morning this Word sprang in me, saying, Time's Mystery will shortly be finished: for the half hours Minutes are running swift. Who so then are wise will redeem the Spirit's day, before the Night of great Tribulation come upon them. It is meet to know, and understand, what the Lord is a doing in this day. The blind in Mind, and the gross of Heart can see nothing hereof: but where the Eye of the Mind is clear, and the Heart purified, they will come to know before hand great and secret things, from the Counsel of the Lord. But then the Holy Spirit does give caution fully hereunto, to attend for continual enquiry. Since that is all necessary, for seeing into what lyeth beyond the reach of all Mortal sense. The Heaven-born and Illuminated Spirit is apt alone to lay its Ear to hear, what will still be spoken from the Lord. Because by the out-spoken word into us, we do in Spiritual nature attain to the perfect Measure and Degree thereof. Therefore it is the concern of our Superiour-Life to wait hereupon: as the outward Man is in daily Labour for his food; so we for the getting in this our Eternal Manna, our Life-food. For we well know, our strength will else fail, and then we are fit for no work in our Spiritual calling. Which neglect by no reason is now to be allowed, lest the Night come suddenly upon us.
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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.