January 12. 1678. a Caution About Preserving the Fire of the Altar.
The sermon cautions against the extinguishing of the altar-fire, or the spiritual flame, by worldly cares and distractions, and encourages the preservation of the fire through cherishing the natural and animal spirits and feeding it with the Word of Life.
Jane Lead delves into the spiritual realm, discussing the hindrances that prevent the rise of the life-flame on the altar of God, attributing it to natural causes, worldly influences, and the opposition of the enemy. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing the spiritual fire within, guarding against distractions and cares of the world that can hinder its manifestation. Lead encourages believers to be vigilant in protecting and nurturing the heavenly fire within them, likening it to a tender plant that needs constant care and nourishment from the Word of Life.
Text
Waiting deeply and internally in my Mind about, and upon a Spiritual case I pleaded with my God, why such cold Floods should happen upon the Altar-Fire to keep the Life-flame from rising, to such who still would make their Offerings by Fire. By earnest inquiring into this Spiritual matter; it was evidently shewn me, that there was something of a natural cause, and somewhat from this World, that had its choking care to throw in, and thirdly the watchful and revengeful Eye of the Dragon, who hath always greatly withstood the going forward and accomplishment of the Kingdom of Power and Love: which the Nazarite mind is pursuing after, and the Spirit strongly moving and pressing thereunto, but the Flaming Wheel meeting with these stops, goeth on but heavily.
Now direction was sought for in this case from him, who does so naturally own his in this afflicted Principle, who are fixed to follow hard after perfection. To whom this Counsel was given, first that Wise Judicious care should be taken to cherish the natural and animal Spirits, for by reason of Age, there would aptly be a declining of the Heart-Vigour, whence that spring of Heavenly Fire did open, and through obstruction from frail weak Nature, the operation of this Coelestial Flame may be hindered from displaying forth itself?
Then if the distractive Cares, and thoughtfulness about these outward Worldly things comes in, they do and will exceedingly press, and bind this Spirit Flame, and will dwell upon the very Mouth of the Central Fire-Life? Then the subtil Serpent finds his inroad made, and augments the weight with great fury and rage. Therefore by all this the Holy One hath given to us this caution, that we should be choice of this Fire-spring to keep all out, all that would extinguish it. It is as a tender Plant, that requireth continual care to nurse it up, and to feed it with the Word of Life, that does go forth from the instilling Breath of the Holy Unction. This only must drive forth its heat again, and thereby raise up that which lies as Dead and Slain.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Problem of Preserving the Altar-Fire
- A. The cold floods of worldly cares and distractions
- B. The watchful eye of the Dragon (Satan)
- C. The natural decline of the heart's vigor with age
- II. The Cause of the Problem
- A. The natural cause of the decline of the heart's vigor
- B. The worldly cares and distractions
- C. The watchful eye of the Satan
- III. The Solution
- A. Cherish the natural and animal spirits
- B. Take wise and judicious care to preserve the altar-fire
- C. Feed the fire with the Word of Life
Key Quotes
“It is as a tender Plant, that requireth continual care to nurse it up, and to feed it with the Word of Life, that does go forth from the instilling Breath of the Holy Unction.” — Jane Lead
“The Holy One hath given to us this caution, that we should be choice of this Fire-spring to keep all out, all that would extinguish it.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- We must take care to preserve the spiritual flame within us by avoiding worldly cares and distractions.
- We must cherish the natural and animal spirits to maintain our spiritual vitality.
- We must feed the fire with the Word of Life to keep it burning brightly.