December 7. 1678. Contraries Reconciled.
The sermon explores the reconciliation of contrary natures through the incorporation of the Spirit of Jesus, resulting in a new spiritual and celestial body.
Jane Lead preaches about the reconciliation of the two contrary natures, offering hope for complete restoration in body and spirit. Through deep contemplation, she likens the transformation to a barren tree in winter, which comes to life in spring with new beauty and fruitfulness. The outward sinful man is compared to the dead tree, while the Spirit life of Jesus incorporates and rejuvenates the old body, uniting divided properties into one spiritual and celestial body.
Text
THE Conjunction of the two Natures, which have been so Contrary to each other, now being upon reconciling did give a refreshing hope, that the restoration would be fully accomplished in the threefold perfect degree, that might both Body and Spirit free. Being cast into a deep Contemplation hereof, the Similitude of a Tree was set before me that was Barren, Dead, and Dry, as we do see in Winter, no covert of Beauty. But in the Spring a fresh Cloathing there is and Fruitfulness, that makes it quite another thing.
That which was as dead, lives again.
So it was applied the outward Sinful Man was as this dead Tree, but the Spirit Life of Jesus was that which did incorporate, and so gave the old withered Body a new fresh cloathing; sending up from the pure inward Ground of the God-head-Springs, that living Water, that was for the uniting the Force and Power of the divided Property, to concenter again in one Spiritual and Coelestial Body.
Sermon Outline
- The Conjunction of Contrary Natures
- The Similitude of a Dead Tree
- The Incorporation of the Spirit of Jesus
- The Spirit giving the old body a new cloathing
- The uniting of the divided property
- 'The result: a new spiritual and celestial body'
Key Quotes
“That which was as dead, lives again.” — Jane Lead
“So it was applied the outward Sinful Man was as this dead Tree, but the Spirit Life of Jesus was that which did incorporate, and so gave the old withered Body a new fresh cloathing;” — Jane Lead
“That living Water, that was for the uniting the Force and Power of the divided Property, to concenter again in one Spiritual and Coelestial Body.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- We can experience transformation and renewal through the Spirit of Jesus.
- Our old sinful nature can be replaced with a new spiritual and celestial body.
- The Spirit of Jesus unites the divided property within us, bringing us closer to God.