January 1. 1678. a Crystalline Figure Descends From the Sea of Glass.
The sermon describes a vision of a new creating power, symbolized by a Crystalline Figure, and the birth of the Holy Ghost, which represents a new creation and the fullness of a Glorified Humanity.
Jane Lead preaches about a vision she had on New Year's Day, where she saw a new creating power symbolized by a figure in transparent glass descending from the Sea of Glass. This figure transformed into a plain, from which water flowed and covered the land, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's work of renewal and transformation. The vision emphasized the sowing of the Holy Ghost in receptive hearts, bringing forth a new creation in spirit and body, pointing to the beginning of a new creation succeeding the old.
Text
On New Years-Day, upon the break thereof, this Figure was presented to me, as the Model of a new Creating power, and opened by an Image of transparent Glass, which descended from the Sea of Glass, and stood as upon a Mountain of Earth, which after a very little season mouldered all away, and became a plain. And then it was said, Now observe, and see what will follow. And out of the Belly of this Clarified Body did flow Water, that became as a great River, that covered all the plain, which soon drunk these Waters in.
And then the Word, said, Spring O Ground, and bring forth another Creation; Then did there rise from the same figurative Body, a pure Light, which sprung within the case of Glass, from the Loyns upwards to the Head, and out of the Mouth a fiery Stream did proceed, which descended where the Waters were drunk in. And it was given immediately by the soft whisper of the Spirit, that this would be the sowing of the Holy Ghost, in a plain and leavened Ground, which would bring forth, after its own kind, as to Spirit and Body; The Lord my God hereby did also signify much to me, which draws the mind to wait attentively, to be made the Subject matter, that may be formed into the like transparency which doth so naturally flow from the fullness of a Glorified Humanity.
Now he is said to be the beginning of that new Creation, which is to succeed the old.
Ah my Lord, who shall enjoy the first Fruits of this pure mingling of the Glassy Sea, from whence the Birth of the Holy Ghost does flow so freely?
Sermon Outline
- The Crystalline Figure and the Sea of Glass
- The Destruction of the Old World
- The Birth of the Holy Ghost
- The Significance of the Vision
- The vision signifies a new creation
- The vision draws the mind to wait attentively
- The vision represents the fullness of a Glorified Humanity
Key Quotes
“Now he is said to be the beginning of that new Creation, which is to succeed the old.” — Jane Lead
“Ah my Lord, who shall enjoy the first Fruits of this pure mingling of the Glassy Sea, from whence the Birth of the Holy Ghost does flow so freely?” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- We should wait attentively for the birth of the Holy Ghost in our lives, just as the vision described.
- We should strive to become the subject matter of this new creation, being transformed into the likeness of a Glorified Humanity.
- We should seek to enjoy the first fruits of this pure mingling of the Glassy Sea, which represents the fullness of the Holy Ghost.