August 14. 1678. Coelestial Nitre: Or, the Antidote in Persecution.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of relying on the power of the Almighty to overcome persecution and finding spiritual strength in the Coelestial Nitre.
Jane Lead preaches about the spiritual battles faced with the rational mind and will trying to shake confidence, but finding strength in the everlasting Arm of God to bear all burdens and overcome the adversary's tactics. She shares a vision of being pursued by fierce men but ultimately escaping unharmed, symbolizing the constant besetments believers will encounter. Jane emphasizes the importance of being watchful, feeding on spiritual nourishment to resist the enemy's venom, and relying on the heavenly antidote to counteract the poison of the evil one.
Text
This Night after some Contest with the rational Mind and Will, which did set hard upon me to shatter, and unfix my Confidence, because the Yoak was strait upon me, and the burthens heavy, and the grand Adversary had every way consider'd, how to add more grinding weights to bow me down: I found the everlasting Arm was under to bear us through all. And it is clearly shewn me, the same Almightiness will ransom me out of the Hand of the Violent, that would take me by force. In which pursuit I saw my self Chased up and down by two Men, that were fierce, striving to have me, and when they did meet together to encompass me, they had no Power to take or hurt me, but I escaped from them.
Whereby I was shewn the hard besetments, which I should still have. For it was said to me, That a set time was given to Satan, to try all ways and means to prevent and make void the Birth, that was Heir to the Blessing. And therefore he is all Vigilant to make use of his time, which hath a period set. And if he can within the limits hereof dispol, kill, or make waste by invading the Holy Place, he hath liberty, and may make great Spoil and Ruin. If not resisted by all the Force and Might, that the Eternal Spirit can call in to make the Heavenly Michael its Friend, else no possibility to hold out such pursuits.
Therefore the Word cryed in me, "Be ever watchful, and feed upon the white Salt-Stone, that may keep from the Serpent's Venom. It is given for a healing Medicine. Thy Life is in it. Therefore attract this Coelestial Nitre, as the only Antidote to keep from the Earthy Poyson, that the evil One hath prepared."
Sermon Outline
- The Persecution and the Eternal Arm
- The Ransom and the Power of the Almighty
- The Set Time for Satan's Pursuit
- The Antidote and the Healing Medicine
- The rational Mind and Will's struggle with confidence
- The weight of persecution and the grand Adversary's efforts
- The ransom from the Hand of the Violent
- The pursuit by fierce men and the escape
- The period set for Satan's time
- The importance of resistance and the call for help
- The importance of being watchful and feeding on the white Salt-Stone
- The attraction of Coelestial Nitre as the antidote
Key Quotes
“The everlasting Arm was under to bear us through all.” — Jane Lead
“It is clearly shewn me, the same Almightiness will ransom me out of the Hand of the Violent, that would take me by force.” — Jane Lead
“Be ever watchful, and feed upon the white Salt-Stone, that may keep from the Serpent's Venom.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- We must be watchful and vigilant in the face of spiritual persecution, relying on the power of the Almighty to protect and deliver us.
- The Coelestial Nitre, or the white Salt-Stone, is a spiritual resource that can keep us from the serpent's venom and the earthy poison prepared by the evil one.
- We must resist the evil one's efforts to make us doubt and lose our confidence, and instead, feed on the spiritual resources that God provides.