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 a holy separated walking with God, despite the interruptions and distractions of worldly needs. She emphasizes the need to spread the hands of faith to reach the sanctuary treasury for redemption from servitude and to live upon God's table in sufficiency. Lead encourages seeking out the eternal inheritance that belongs to believers, allowing them to be delivered from cares and necessities that burden the common world. She highlights the spiritual weapons available in the sanctuary to defend against worldly spirits and invites believers to tabernacle with God's battle-ax forever.
March 15. 1678. the Ransom Out of the Sanctuary.
Being this Morning cast into a deep Consideration upon the Account of a Holy separated walking with God, having had such drivings hereunto by the Spirit. It was the matter of my Objection, why this way so interrupted was, by some one thing or other, still interfearing from the Corporeal Needs, hereinto Plunging, much contrary to the Soul's Supernatural Genius, which would be still imployed in the Altar-Service, and not in Servitude to Tables, for a mortal Morsel-sake. This was much upon my Heart to present to the Lord in complaint, that thus it should hang as a matter of Necessity upon such, who would be free Nazarites. Upon this it was given me, by way of advice, from the spring of Wisdom, that there would be no such way to be redeemed out from all of these Thrals, as to spread the Hands of Faith, thereby to reach to that propriety, which is provided in the Sanctuary-Treasury, as the Ransom from all the Servitude, from which the Waiters upon the Holy things are brought out, to live upon God's Table. Where we shall have all sufficiency free, and be no more subjected to the will of Creatures. O this is that rich income, that we now are called upon to search out, as what of Eternal right does belong to us, There is a Multiplying-Stone, that is burning in the Altar-Furnace, that will us bless in the Heights above, and Depths beneath, whereby we may be delivered from Cares and Necessities. Which are incident to the World's commoners, from which the Spirit would divide our Portion, and have us only abide in Jacob's goodly Tents, where nothing of scarcity shall us perplex in the Worldly Spirit. Which as an Army do often break in to scatter us from our Altar-hold. But what better Weapon can we have, than the Flaming Ax of the Spirit, which is always ready in the Sanctuary for our aid, to Slay and Cut off, what shall adventure here to invade. Therefore it is good for us to Tabernacle here with God's Battle-Ax for ever, saith Wisdom our Mother dear.
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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.