The PREFACE

by Francis Lee, M.D.

 

    To a certain person (Jane Leade), that for many years had been led wonderfully in the ways of God, it came to pass one day, upon a deep contemplation of the Paradisical world, there appeared in the midst of a most bright cloud, a woman of a most sweet and majestic countenance. Her face shone as the sun, and her vesture seemed of transparent gold. She said, "Behold! I am God's Eternal Virgin Wisdom, whom thou hast been enquiring after. I am to unseal the treasures of God's deep wisdom unto thee, and will be, as Rebecca was to Jacob, a true natural Mother.(1) For out of my womb thou shalt be brought forth after the manner of a spirit, being conceived and born again. This thou shalt know by a new motion of Life stirring and giving a restlessness until Wisdom is born within the inmost parts of thy soul. Now consider my sayings until I shall return to thee again." Then, after three days, the same figure appeared in greater luster and glory to this person, bearing a crown on her head and spake to this effect:

    "Behold thy Mother, and know that thou art to enter into covenant(2) with me to obey the Laws of the New Creation which shall be revealed." And upon this, a Golden Book, being sealed with three Seals, was by her presented to this person, declaring that in it were declared the deep mysteries of the divine Wisdom which had been sealed up from the past ages and were now to be opened and manifested to her children that should be found willing to receive and to observe such laws as she should deliver forth in the new heart and in the new spirit.

    After six days, the vision again returned and the Virgin Queen(3) showed herself in most mighty majesty, being attended with a numberless train of Virgin Spirits and with a very great army of angels. And this person (Jane) was called by name to come and view her with her firstborn children and invited to join with them, to which there was a ready and hearty consent given. Then this person was immediately admitted into their number.(4)

    Then said the divine Virgin, "I shall cease to appear in a visible figure to thee, but I will not fail to transfigure myself in thy mind and there open the Spring of Wisdom and Understanding." She also promised that by the opening of this inward Spring(5), there should be revealed great and wonderful things that were to be made public in the appointed Day. And so exhorting to vigilance and obedience to those Counsels and Laws which should be given out from her, she disappeared, having first received such an answer (as the blessed Virgin Mary gave to the message of the angel Gabriel) from this person who was encompassed about with the heavenly Host and made a Spirit of Light.

    And as the Law was given to Moses of old, being taken up to Mount Sinai to converse with God, so in like manner it hath pleased the same God, our Father, to give forth in these last days, the Law of Paradise to this spirit, who was some years after this caught up, on purpose, into Mount Zion to receive it.

    There is no doubt but that these holy commandments so received will carry with them the evidence of their divine origin to many awakened souls. As for those who cannot believe that there either is or can be any true inspiration at this Day in the world because of the many horrid abuses that have been made through pretentions as to the Holy Spirit, I doubt not to convince the sober amongst them and all such as are willing to humble themselves before the truth, of the possibility, expediency and necessity of revelation to be again restored in a particular discourse, which is designed to come forth very shortly.(6) As for any particular objections against either the manner or the matter of these Laws, when they shall be proposed, it will be time then to consider of them. Now, let us who know that the Law is spiritual (Romans 7:14) be altogether spiritually-minded and worship Him who is Spirit, in spirit and truth.

1. Thus indicating a very real birth and experience. It is one thing to know a thing intellectually and quite another for it to have been birthed in you.

2. Lest you think this to be altogether strange and without precedent, the Holy Spirit required a very similar thing of Rees Howell, which he relates in his book, "Rees Howell, Intercessor."

3. Let none be dismayed by such terminology as, "The Virgin Queen." Even though this term has been misappropriated by the cultish Roman Catholic system, this Virgin Wisdom is God's own Wisdom and Spouse. If man was created in the image of God, who created him male and female in one person before he removed the woman from him, then it can only follow that God has the same likeness. You will not progress far in these writings without allowing the Holy Spirit to displace and remove the binding effects of men's earthy traditions.

4. This visitation was in spirit or by vision, not as an ascended, completed spirit whose soul had received the new spiritual body.

5. We are to know that this same inward Spring is resident within us and that upon earnestly seeking it, it shall also open in us for that royal birth of Love and Wisdom. None are admitted to this realm but such as have been partakers of this high and royal birth and are therefore the true heirs with Christ.

6. Once again, Jane Leade does not fail to state unequivocally, in a very forthright manner, her claim to direct inspiration from God, much as John did in Revelation 1:1 and throughout that book. She is very bold to make this claim in all her writings as having come directly from God by inspiration of His Spirit. I know of no other writings, outside of New Testament canonical writings (books of the N.T.), who make such a claim.