June 23. 1678. Separate the Precious From the Vile: Or, the Altar-Fire.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of steadfast trust and faith, and the need to separate the precious from the vile in order to become a vessel for God's Word and experience deliverance from spiritual bondage.
Jane Lead preaches about the cry of the soul in distress, questioning the perpetual pain and lack of healing, and feeling abandoned by God in the face of overwhelming challenges. However, she encourages unwavering trust in God's strength and promises, urging the separation of the precious from the vile to be a vessel of God's pure Word. She emphasizes the need to rise above earthly senses and distractions, allowing the pure altar fire of burning love and faith to overcome internal struggles and bring forth joy and rejoicing.
Text
The Cry of my Soul was this, in the Day of my being distressed, Oh why is my Pain perpetual? And my Wound uncureable? is there no healing for me? And in these Exigences, where is the force of Omnipotency? that it may be raised and exerted forth to bring down the Beast, that insulteth in his Throne Power, having all from the great Prince of Darkness, to scourge and afflict withal. Oh God wilt thou be as a Stranger to me, and not know me in this way, that is Hedged up upon me, where I see no escape out? Wilt thou leave me to languish, for want of thy Arm of Strength going forth?
Oh! be not now to me, as the Waters that fail.
After this my complaint in the bitterness of my Soul, this Word was applied to me, Be steady and unmoveable in thy trust, give no place to fear or doubt, and thou shall bring to pass the whole desire of thy Heart in Jehovah's Strength: Yea, thou shalt return to the secret of my Pavilion, and stand before me thy God, who hath chosen thee. Therefore, separate the Precious from the Vile, then thou mayest be my Mouth, out of which the pure Word of Life may go out to the joy and rejoicing of them, whose Food it shall be. Now keep up, and let not the Waters of Sense sink thee down: For nothing is so killing to the Plant of renown, those Root is from the inward Ground.
Then was shewn me, the pure Altar Fire, that would be only the remedy to dry up the inundation of these Senses, that had made all commotion and disorder in me. But (oh!) this burning Love, and springing Faith, have dispersed those Legions, that would keep me in these Fetters.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Cry of the Soul
- A. Distress and pain
- B. Seeking healing and deliverance
- C. Questioning God's presence and power
- II. The Word of Encouragement
- A. Steadfast trust and faith
- B. Separating the precious from the vile
- C. Becoming a vessel for God's Word
- III. The Altar-Fire
- A. A remedy for spiritual dryness
- B. Burning love and springing faith
- C. Deliverance from spiritual bondage
Key Quotes
“Be steady and unmoveable in thy trust, give no place to fear or doubt, and thou shall bring to pass the whole desire of thy Heart in Jehovah's Strength.” — Jane Lead
“Therefore, separate the Precious from the Vile, then thou mayest be my Mouth, out of which the pure Word of Life may go out to the joy and rejoicing of them, whose Food it shall be.” — Jane Lead
“But (oh!) this burning Love, and springing Faith, have dispersed those Legions, that would keep me in these Fetters.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- Cultivate steadfast trust and faith by committing to prayer, scripture, and community.
- Prioritize the pure and holy in your life by separating the precious from the vile.
- Seek the remedy of the pure Altar-Fire to experience deliverance from spiritual dryness and bondage.