February 9. 1678. a Transport.
Jane Lead describes a spiritual experience in which she sees a ship with wings descend from the heavens and fill her with joy and wonder.
Jane Lead shares a mystical experience of being awakened from sleep and finding herself in a spiritual realm, free from her earthly body, surrounded by silent beings. She witnesses a magnificent, engraved, golden ship with wings descending swiftly, causing great joy and dancing within her. Despite others not seeing the vision, she is filled with awe and wonder at the sight before it ascends back to its heavenly origin, leaving her back in her physical body with a sense of having glimpsed something extraordinary.
Text
In the Morning after I was awaked from Sleep, upon a sudden I was insensible of any sensibility as relating to a corporeal Being, and found my self as without the clog of an Earthly Body, being very sprightly and airy in a silent place, where some were beside my self, but I did not know them by their Figures, except one, who went out, and came in again: and there was no speaking one to another, but all did set in great silence, and I my self with my Eye fixed forward.
And I did suddainly see at a pritty distance, where I was, a rich splenderous thing come down all engraven, with Colours, the Ground thereof being all of Gold.
It was in the form of a large Ship with Wings, I cannot say, whether more than four, which spread themselves out, being like varnished Gold, it came down with the greatest swiftness as is imaginable. Upon which amazing sight, I asked some by me, do you not see this wonderful sight? And they said no. But I saw my self, or something like my self, leaping and dancing and greatly rejoycing to meet it. But when I came up to it, then it did as suddainly go up again, withdrawing out of all sight, unto the high Orb from whence it came.
After which I found my self in my Body of sense, as knowing I had been ranging in my Spirit from it for a while, that I might behold this great thing.
Sermon Outline
- The Vision of the Ship
- Description of the Ship
- The Reaction of Jane Lead
- The Withdrawal of the Ship
Key Quotes
“I did suddainly see at a pritty distance, where I was, a rich splenderous thing come down all engraven, with Colours, the Ground thereof being all of Gold.” — Jane Lead
“It was in the form of a large Ship with Wings, I cannot say, whether more than four, which spread themselves out, being like varnished Gold, it came down with the greatest swiftness as is imaginable.” — Jane Lead
“I saw my self, or something like my self, leaping and dancing and greatly rejoycing to meet it.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- We should seek to cultivate a sense of spiritual awareness and connection to the divine.
- We should be open to experiencing the presence of God in our lives, even if it is in unexpected ways.
- We should not be discouraged if others do not see or understand our spiritual experiences.