June 6. 1678. the Leopard on the Throne.
The speaker receives a vision of a leopard on a throne, which represents a powerful and prideful spirit that must be humbled by God's power.
Jane Lead reflects on the spiritual journey of experiencing highs and lows in one's relationship with God, where moments of deep love and joy are followed by humbling experiences that draw one back to earthly concerns. She questions why it is challenging to maintain a constant state of spiritual elevation and communion with God, leading to a vision that symbolizes the struggle between spiritual exaltation and worldly distractions, ultimately culminating in the triumph of divine intervention over earthly powers.
Text
In the Night my Mind was deeply considering, and making observation of the falling and rising Powers. In what heights of Spiritual Raptures of Love and Joy, sometimes run up to, and then down into the Cloud of sense: Which both affects, and afflicts, and thereby humbles that, which would be rather in a continued Exaltation of Spirit, in super-eminent Communion with God. But I was very busie to enquire out, why there could not be an holding out in such a posture of Spirituality, as to be delivered from that part, that is so readily touched, and drawn down.
Whereupon I had a very suitable Prospect from the high Sphear, opened unto me, as thus, A stately Chair was presented, and a Leopard, which was spotted got up thereupon, and held a Rod in both his fore-feet, which stood upright, and struck at all Beasts, that would not couch to him, and fawn and lie down at his feet. Then came a Fire that formed it self into the Figure of a Man, and threw the Beast down from his Seat, where he lay as dead. But after a while he roused up like a Lyon, and got up again into his Principality, and sway'd his Rod every way, to keep and maintain his Place. But suddainly out of a Cloud came the same Glorious Appearance, and by a Fiery Stream consumed both the Leopard, and his Throne, so that nothing was more of him seen.
This Vision hath its weighty significations, as we are guided in the Spirit of Interpretation.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Spiritual Raptures
- The Desire for a Continued State of Spirituality
- The Vision of the Leopard on the Throne
- The Significance of the Vision
- Guided by the Spirit of Interpretation
- The vision holds weighty significations for the speaker
- The leopard is eventually consumed by a fiery stream
Key Quotes
“A stately Chair was presented, and a Leopard, which was spotted got up thereupon, and held a Rod in both his fore-feet, which stood upright, and struck at all Beasts, that would not couch to him, and fawn and lie down at his feet.” — Jane Lead
“But suddainly out of a Cloud came the same Glorious Appearance, and by a Fiery Stream consumed both the Leopard, and his Throne, so that nothing was more of him seen.” — Jane Lead
Application Points
- Pride must be humbled in order to grow spiritually.
- God's power is greater than any prideful spirit.
- Humility is essential for spiritual growth and understanding.