ref. #4.0
Philadelphian Society (England)
- INAUGURATION ADDRESS OF THE SOCIETY (1697)
- BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOCIETY (England)
LEAD or LEADE, Mrs. JANE (1623-1704), mystic, was daughter of Schildknap Ward, who belonged to a good Norfolk family (JAEGER). She was educated like other girls, but is said to have heard at a very early age a miraculous voice amidst the Christmas gaieties at her father's house, and thenceforth devoted herself to a religious life. All attempts on the part of her family to divert her mind from its serious bent failed. At twenty-one she married her kinsman, William Lead, who was six years her senior. He died not long after, leaving one daughter, Barbara (Walton). Mrs. Lead appears to have lived after her husband's death in the greatest seclusion in London.
(1st paragraph of 6)
(1st paragraph of 6)
[ Walton's Materials for Biog. of Law, printed privately, 1854 (with manuscript notes; the fullest are in the copy in the Walton Libray, now preserved in Dr. William's Library); Lee's Letters and Last Hours, Walton MSS.; Jaeger's Hist. Eccles. ii. pt. ii. 90-117, Hamburg, 1717, gives the date of her birth wrongly ; Trans. of the Phil. Soc. 1697 ; Rawlinson MS. D. 833; information from Canon Jenkins, and his art. in Brit. Quart. Rev. July 1873, pp. 181-7; Gichtels's Theosophia Practica, Leyden, 1722 ; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. vi. 529.] C.F.S.
(from Dictionary of National Biography, England)
* * * *
Jane Leade (1624-1704) was born and brought up in Norfolk, England in an honorable and esteemed family. Of her early life little is recorded, except for a profound spiritual experience which came to her, aged fifteen, while dancing at a Christmas Eve party. Without any warning she heard a voice from the spiritual world saying to her, "Cease from this, I have another dance to lead thee in, for this is vanity." This sudden experience of the Spirit affected her very deeply and she was plunged into melancholy. In time she began to relate positively to this experience, and undertook to search for a spiritual dimension to her life. She married and brought up a family of four daughters, and outwardly lived an ordinary, tranquil and stable life. This marriage, which lasted for some twenty-seven years until the death of her husband in 1670, gave her a solid inner security and stability that enabled her to relate positively to her inner spiritual voices and visions, so as not to be driven into extreme and distorted perceptions, as is regrettably the case with many people who have received mystical communications. There is a great peace of soul about Jane Leade; she is no tortured mystic.
-by Adam McClean circa 1906.
-by Adam McClean circa 1906.
* * * *
THE TRANSACTIONS
OF THE
PHILADELPHIAN SOCIETY
OF THE
PHILADELPHIAN SOCIETY
(These are the hand-written statements made by Richard Roach, and are contained in a large Folio volume of Roach's writings, bound pages of varying sizes, some folded in so as to be accommodated to the size of the book, being about 12 inches by 8 inches, and nearly 2 inches thick. The front and back covers are still in fair condition, but the spine is now broken, though not parted asunder. The pages are now brown with age, and the writing is of varying quality. Some is very difficult to read, and requires time and concentration to elucidate the actual words being used. Somethings have been transcribed SIC which implies "thus"; in full: sic erat scriptum, "thus was it written")
[ Bodleian Library. Rawlinson Manuscript. D.833, ff.65-66 ]
The following is the inauguration address of the Society, hand copied from the 1697 handwritten original by Richard Roach. There are many handwritten documents in the Bodleian Library, Oxford as well as Dr. William's Library, London which is restricted to hand-copying only.
(Note: They use the word "pretend" as a synonym of "claim"; also the word "Catholick" here is used as stated in the Sixty Propositions to mean "Universal" or "General" as used in the "General Epistles of James, John, Peter," headings etc., and in the text of Heb. 12:23 meaning the Universal or General Church or Assembly. The Vulture's eye is found in Job 28:7,21)
Reasons for the foundation and promotion of a Philadelphian Society
offered to the consideration of all Christians.
Whereas the state of Christendom is at this day miserably torn and rent through of manifold divisions and sects of it, all equally pretending to be the True Church and Spouse of Christ,
Whereas also all that of learning, wisdom and power of man is able to do, has hitherto instead of Healing, served rather to widen the breaches of all Partys,
And whereas likewise there is not a Church anywhere visible, that is so one, as to be without all discord, so holy as to be without Spot or Wrinkle, or so Catholick as to be void of every degree of partiality and particularity,
It hath pleased our God and Father of compassion to stir up powerfully in this day some persons, as well as in other countries as in this Kingdom, deeply sensible of imperfections and corruptions of all churches and congregations whatsoever, but especially in their want of charity for one another and of their want of the faith which our blessed Lord has desired as a grain of Mustard Seed,
And soberly considering the insufficiency of Human Learning with regard to so glorious an attempt, as if the reunion of all the Torn Limbs of Christianity and the folly of its wisdom, as well as the weakness of its power, which is of this world in all that is without or above its sphere,
To which separately and faintly, in obedience to our Dear Lord and Master, with all Humility, Resignation, and Perseverance, for Power from on High,
Whereby the day of his Kingdom may come to be witnessed and proclaimed in all parts of the world, for wisdom from above which sits on the Throne of God and is the Spirit of Revelation which alone can enable any to see into and to govern in all Spiritual Affairs,
And lastly for that Divine Learning concerning which it is prophesied that all should be taught of the Lord and which is the Secret Paths which the Vulters Eye neither has espied or ever can espy,
That so the Church and Bride of Christ may be hereby prepared and adorned to meet her beloved, being made throughout conformable unto him, through the Vital Operation and Resuscitation of his one Holy and Catholick Spirit in her.
Secondly - Wherefore we do not at all pretend to Appropriate or confine this Spirit to ourselves or by consequence hereof to set up for a new Sect or Church, but we do only propose that our Assembling and Convening together may be in order to keep warm that spirit of love which is shed abroad in our hearts toward you all and to strengthen one another in this Holy and Apostolical Faith which (primarily) concerns the Revelation of the Kingdom and Glory of God within the soul,
That so by waiting diligently upon and holding fast which we have already received of it, we may be at length, with others whom God shall call to be the firstfruits of a Virgin Church that may exactly correspond with the Titles whereby her Sovereign Head stiles himself writing to her, being made holy as he is holy, True as he is true, and bearing together with him the Key of David or the seals of the Kingdom, or Anointed with him and consecrated by his Holy Ghost into the Priestly, Prophetical, and Royal Order.
3. This is that perfect Model which we have before our eyes and do press after, but which we acknowledge ourselves very short of arriving to, therefore we look not back, though some of us may say that we have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have trusted in some degree the Living Word of God and the powers of the world to come, or of the future Blessed Age, but as if we had hitherto attained nothing, so do we strive to reach out to the mark of the Philadelphian Prize.
4. At present we are but as the rough hewn stones that are designed to enter into the foundation of a Goodly Structure, in much weakness and imperfection, in much Superfluity and Mixture with great unevenness and some Rubbish (and thus it was in great measure even with the Apostolical Church of Corinth, though so highly gifted), all which must first be done away and the Stones prepared apart for their place in the same, till being fitly cut and polished they be at last (by degrees) all brought together and the Tabernacle of David then finished, before the Personal Glory of the Lord from heaven, the true Son of David in the Power of his Father will descend to fill it.
5. Our practice we would have to be Apostolical, abating from Temporary and Particular Constitutions; conformable to the truth and power of the good Spirit of God, without whose inspiration we can never perfectly love him, nor worthyly magnify him; as he will be magnified and loved, when his Holy Will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, and his Kingdom be also established here as it is there.
6. We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments with the deepest Veneration; and the hope which we have for the full completion of every Promise and Prophecy therein contained can never be moved.
7. Our work is to pursue peace and love towards all men and to submit to every Ordinance of God, the Supreme Governor of the World, to Kings and all that are set in Authority over us, according as he in his wisdom thinks fit, for the good of the same in the old ministration of Secular Affairs.
Whoever would be further satisfied as to our Faith and Practice may find them described in the Spiritual Writers Ancient and Modern, and more particularly by some of our own Society.
Whereas also all that of learning, wisdom and power of man is able to do, has hitherto instead of Healing, served rather to widen the breaches of all Partys,
And whereas likewise there is not a Church anywhere visible, that is so one, as to be without all discord, so holy as to be without Spot or Wrinkle, or so Catholick as to be void of every degree of partiality and particularity,
It hath pleased our God and Father of compassion to stir up powerfully in this day some persons, as well as in other countries as in this Kingdom, deeply sensible of imperfections and corruptions of all churches and congregations whatsoever, but especially in their want of charity for one another and of their want of the faith which our blessed Lord has desired as a grain of Mustard Seed,
And soberly considering the insufficiency of Human Learning with regard to so glorious an attempt, as if the reunion of all the Torn Limbs of Christianity and the folly of its wisdom, as well as the weakness of its power, which is of this world in all that is without or above its sphere,
To which separately and faintly, in obedience to our Dear Lord and Master, with all Humility, Resignation, and Perseverance, for Power from on High,
Whereby the day of his Kingdom may come to be witnessed and proclaimed in all parts of the world, for wisdom from above which sits on the Throne of God and is the Spirit of Revelation which alone can enable any to see into and to govern in all Spiritual Affairs,
And lastly for that Divine Learning concerning which it is prophesied that all should be taught of the Lord and which is the Secret Paths which the Vulters Eye neither has espied or ever can espy,
That so the Church and Bride of Christ may be hereby prepared and adorned to meet her beloved, being made throughout conformable unto him, through the Vital Operation and Resuscitation of his one Holy and Catholick Spirit in her.
Secondly - Wherefore we do not at all pretend to Appropriate or confine this Spirit to ourselves or by consequence hereof to set up for a new Sect or Church, but we do only propose that our Assembling and Convening together may be in order to keep warm that spirit of love which is shed abroad in our hearts toward you all and to strengthen one another in this Holy and Apostolical Faith which (primarily) concerns the Revelation of the Kingdom and Glory of God within the soul,
That so by waiting diligently upon and holding fast which we have already received of it, we may be at length, with others whom God shall call to be the firstfruits of a Virgin Church that may exactly correspond with the Titles whereby her Sovereign Head stiles himself writing to her, being made holy as he is holy, True as he is true, and bearing together with him the Key of David or the seals of the Kingdom, or Anointed with him and consecrated by his Holy Ghost into the Priestly, Prophetical, and Royal Order.
3. This is that perfect Model which we have before our eyes and do press after, but which we acknowledge ourselves very short of arriving to, therefore we look not back, though some of us may say that we have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have trusted in some degree the Living Word of God and the powers of the world to come, or of the future Blessed Age, but as if we had hitherto attained nothing, so do we strive to reach out to the mark of the Philadelphian Prize.
4. At present we are but as the rough hewn stones that are designed to enter into the foundation of a Goodly Structure, in much weakness and imperfection, in much Superfluity and Mixture with great unevenness and some Rubbish (and thus it was in great measure even with the Apostolical Church of Corinth, though so highly gifted), all which must first be done away and the Stones prepared apart for their place in the same, till being fitly cut and polished they be at last (by degrees) all brought together and the Tabernacle of David then finished, before the Personal Glory of the Lord from heaven, the true Son of David in the Power of his Father will descend to fill it.
5. Our practice we would have to be Apostolical, abating from Temporary and Particular Constitutions; conformable to the truth and power of the good Spirit of God, without whose inspiration we can never perfectly love him, nor worthyly magnify him; as he will be magnified and loved, when his Holy Will shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, and his Kingdom be also established here as it is there.
6. We receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments with the deepest Veneration; and the hope which we have for the full completion of every Promise and Prophecy therein contained can never be moved.
7. Our work is to pursue peace and love towards all men and to submit to every Ordinance of God, the Supreme Governor of the World, to Kings and all that are set in Authority over us, according as he in his wisdom thinks fit, for the good of the same in the old ministration of Secular Affairs.
Whoever would be further satisfied as to our Faith and Practice may find them described in the Spiritual Writers Ancient and Modern, and more particularly by some of our own Society.