The reader of these pages is encouraged to keep in mind the fact that Jane Leade speaks from a time when some seals remained unbroken as to His intentions concerning the restoration of all mankind. Therefore her revelation of the restitution of all things, though correct and groundbreaking in her day, will be seen to be somewhat dim and indefinite when compared with what God has in these past 50 to 100 years opened on the subject. Remember, she had no concordance with which to make thorough search, as we do today.

    She deals primarily with Satan as a fallen angel and all the demons under his sway as fallen angels also. How does this reconcile with the understanding we have presently concerning Satan? There are those who teach that Satan is but the carnal mind. Tradition says that Satan was created as one of the arch-angels equal to Michael and Gabriel, and was in charge of worship. The very fact that this comes to us from tradition makes it suspect. Yet, we must be careful not to form our views based merely upon negative reactions, but seek to remain open to the teaching of that Unction from within called the Holy Spirit.

    Can both views (Satan equals the carnal mind and Satan was a created angelic being) be accurate? Perhaps. While we must admit that Satan can do nothing that is not also attributable to the carnal mind, I still do not believe that Satan is the carnal mind per se. As I said, many teach that is the case.

    Preston Eby, P.O. Box 371240, El Paso, TX 79937, has excellent writings on this subject, and after speaking with him while in El Paso on our last trip, and after reading and studying those writings, I agree with his conclusions concerning Satan, that old (ancient) serpent, the Devil. His contention is that, as the Bible states, Satan is a spirit; the spirit which now works in the children of disobedience. But this spirit works through man's carnal mind. That doesn't make it any less a spirit, for we are told that we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph.4:23).

    I believe a key to our understanding of this mystery lies in those few verses of scripture wherein God pronounces the curses (Genesis 3:14 & 19) after man's fall. "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, 'Because thou hast done this, thou are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life . . .'" Now, all of us, I hope, understand that snakes do not eat dirt. So, it is obvious that this serpent is not simply a snake, nor is this dust simply dirt. God is, as He so often does, speaking in symbolism.

    What kind of serpent is this serpent? And what kind of dust is this dust? Well, we know that Satan is that ". . . great dragon, that old (ancient, original) serpent, called the Devil and Satan" -- (Rev. 12:9). These are all one and the same entity. What kind of dust is this dust that Satan is limited to? ". . . for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" --Genesis 3:19. Fallen Adam is the dust spoken of here. The fallen, carnal mind is that vehicle or channel through which Satan must work. He is not omnipresent, but he is present wherever man is present.

    However, while I cannot undertake in this limited space to prove my point at length, I do contend that even though Satan is a spirit, that is, a spiritual entity, he was still of angelic nature, though fallen. (I encourage you to write Preston for his writings on "Scorpio -- The Scorpion.") They are excellent in content and extensive in scope. The reason I say that Satan is angelic, though spirit, is Psalm 104:4. "Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire." Spirit=ruwach (7308 Strong's) mind, wind, spirit.

    My reason for going so far into this is because Jane Leade makes no distinction concerning Satan as being anything other than a fallen angel. That was her revelation and understanding. I am seeking to show that even though Satan is a fallen angel, he is at the same time that spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience, through the fallen, carnal mind of Adam. Regardless, Satan, spirit or angel, being a creation of God, shall finally be restored to his original state and glory.

    Let me here reiterate Jane's caution to those who read these things. "I have only this request, caution and counsel to offer, which is not after the weakness of flesh, but according to the Wisdom and Light of the eternal Spirit. From which Wisdom all are warned to cease from what has been traditionally received against this point, and not to take up any weapons of war against the God of Love in setting bounds for that which is boundless.

    For in so doing, He cannot take it well. Therefore, my counsel is, yet not mine, but from the Lord Himself, that wherein any cannot have clearness of understanding herein, they should remain in the quiet repose of their minds and not stir up any misguided zeal against it, but let this matter rest until the Day break and the shadows of ignorance fly away." -- End Quote

    We must not forget that these things are not for the merely curious or for those merely infatuated with revelation. It is for those who have come to some age and who are initiated into these things by the Spirit of Truth. It is primarily for this reason that we have purposefully not sought to break Jane Leade's writings down to such a degree that even babes might understand them. It is not for babes but for them that are of full age. These things were never meant to read like the newspaper so that even the uncircumcised mind might peer into them. To take such golden, precious things and make them available to all is to cast discretion to the winds and our pearls before swine.

    Therefore, let the reader be led of the Lord as to those with whom he might seek to share these things. They are not for all. While there are those who seek the recognition and admiration of others through their great revelation and understanding of deep things, let us realize that we are called to be stewards of the mysteries of God, and one must be initiated into the mysteries of God.

    -- Larry Hodges