Another scene appeared; and O how inefficient are all means of communication to reveal to human minds its true character! First I saw that same lovely Being seated, with a company of his friends, around a table, one of whom leaned upon his breast, and in pure love’s tenderest expression looked up into his face while listening to the words that fell from his lips. Mournfully and filled with exceeding sorrow, the group looked upon him as he said, "Verily I say unto you, one of you shall betray me." After which he took bread and blessed it, and break it, and giving it to them said, "Take, eat; this is my body. For you my body shall be broken." He then took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom."

Then I heard a mighty angel whose voice was like the utterance of Nature when her forces contend saying, "The Son of Man goeth as it is written of him; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed: it had been good for that man if he had not been born!"

"Woe to that man; for him it had been good not to have been born. Woe, woe, woe be unto that man!" broke forth in a heavy voice which from many millions in univocal speech, pronounced the woe, and the elements of the interior shook like the leaves of a forest when contending with autumnal tempests.

As the echoings of these awful utterances which rolled along the bosom of the deep interior ceased, the little band arose, and after they had sung a hymn of solemn movement, retired.

Then I saw one of the number, silently and unperceived, withdraw from the band, as they retired slowly and solemnly from the scene of the last supper, and as he’ advanced, his movement changed, his step was quick and excited, his visage manifested an inward commotion that burned with consuming fires, fires kindled in the soul by antagonistic elements. At this I wondered. Nor could I perceive by what means a transition so sudden and so great could be effected. Just before, I had seen him seated with his friends, and those friends were suffering greatly by reason of the predictions of him to whom they looked for counsel and for safety. They mourned, fearing his departure from them. They leaned upon him as a dependent child leans upon a faithful parent. They had hoped, yea, had exalted their hope in him. The extent or exact nature of that hope I could not comprehend. Still I saw that in him they had placed great dependence for future good or great achievements. And when his words, which indicated his departure, had been spoken, they had fallen into despair, and perfect wretchedness possessed them when he declared that one of them should betray him. I heard them in the deepest solicitude inquire, "Lord, is it I? Lord, is it I?" That had been an awful moment in which gloom gathered around them as a mantle of thick darkness.

In their spirits they grieved, when he said, "A little while and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. But because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away. For, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more: but ye see me: because I live ye shall live also. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. And indeed ye now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. These things have I spoken to you in proverbs: but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father."

These words of promise and of consolation, which he spake while predicting his departure, they believed; still they were sad and exceeding sorrowful, because he said, "I go away."

They loved him: he was worthy of all holy affection.

His words were full of goodness; and there was so much of heavenly love, tenderness, and paternal care manifested by him, that my wonder was excited while seeking for a reason sufficient to induce any one of that little company to withdraw from it that he might betray into the hands of enemies, a Being whose presence thus inspired hope, love, reverence, and adoration.

While my spirit pondered, I heard the angels who instructed the infants say, "In what thou seest behold the nature of good and evil contrasted. That little band was the company of the Lord’s disciples who partook of the passover with him, the evening before his betrayal. He who addressed them was the redeemer, who, knowing that his ‘hour’ was at hand, and also who should betray him, prepared their minds for the trial, and predicted the events which were to follow. He who so strangely withdrew, was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed his master for thirty pieces of silver.

"Observe more minutely this scene as it passes, and the two great principles which are operative with man in a fallen state, shall so unfold themselves as to impress thee with its purpose, and ingraft thy being with the solemn truths unfolded."

As he entered the mimic sanctum, the priests arose, and with smiles, such smiles as malice, with a hope of revenge inspires, greeted him. Then the chief priests, addressing him, said, "Welcome, Judas, friend of right, friend of God’s ancient Church, the law of Moses and the people of this ecclesiastical kingdom. He whom the rabble call Jesus, and who by his followers is called the King of the Jews, by his dictum, has long been worthy of death. He has sought the destruction of this beloved city, the city especially favored of God. And the great temple he has prophesied to destroy; to put down the authority of the Church; to change laws and customs; upon the ruin of Jehovah’s kingdom to establish his own. He calleth himself God. He is a blasphemer against high Heaven, and mocks the throne of the Eternal. He presumes to call us hypocrites; even those whom God, by his right hand, hath exalted as teachers in Israel, he calleth blind leaders of the blind. He hath charged us with having the keys of the kingdom, and by our love for sin refusing to enter into life; and by a vile nature and love of power, of keeping those from entering who are willing. Surely he is worthy of death." "Yea, worthy of the most ignominious death," responded in unison all who were present.

"This man is drawing with him the credulous, the ignorant, the visionary, and those who are dissatisfied with the Church," continued the priest; "and by his peculiar nature adapted to work wonders, he hath deceived many who are worthy of a better calling." Then addressing his friends, he continued: "But these will soon become conscious of his false character and well shall it be for him who first discovers to us the true character and resort of this vile deceiver, and shall enable us to bring him before the people. Upon such a one the nation shall bestow great honors, and lasting blessings shall be upon his head." "And lasting blessings shall be upon his head," repeated the associate priests.

This was sufficient to inspire Judas with the desire of being first in the undertaking. Whereupon he proposed, in the presence of them all, to deliver his Master into the hands of any band the priest should then commission for that purpose, upon the condition—which appeared to have been previously considered—of his receiving thirty pieces of silver.

Again the scene changed. The mantle of evening overshadowed that portion of Earth. A little way from the busy multitude I saw him who had counseled his disciples, moving slowly along with three of his chosen. He was sorrowful. I can never forget that scene. Oh! the loveliness that was manifest. Truly I thought him the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogeher lovely. Still he suffered. They paused, and he said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: tarry ye here and watch with me. Pray that ye enter not into temptation." He then left them and went a little farther, and fell upon the ground. And while bowing upon the cold earth, enduring the deepest agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

While observing the Savior in his agony, a cloud descended, resting over the Redeemer, in which were Justice and Mercy. They observed with intense interest the scene below.

At length the Savior prayed, saying: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Then said Mercy to Justice, "Here is the Ransom."

Again he prayed, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." Then there descended a mighty angel, who stood by him, and strengthened him.

Then Mercy said to Justice, "Behold the offering."

The hour of suffering having passed, Jesus arose, and going to his disciples and finding them asleep, said unto them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

"Behold, in Jesus," said my guide, addressing herself to me, "an example of meek submission. From his sympathy with the deranged and dying race, he agonized beneath the burden of human woe. Though just, he suffers, by reason of an adopted affinity with the unjust; and still thou didst hear him say, ‘Not as I will, but as thou wilt; not my will, but thine, O God, be done.’

"This is needful that man may have grace vouchsafed, and by the power of love become united to heavenly spheres, and thus be exalted from degradation to mansions of righteousness and peace, prepared in heaven for the ransomed of the Lord. But, Marietta, thou shalt soon behold the contrast; in what is to pass before thee shall be unfolded the true condition of the perverted heart."

Again my attention was directed to a dark and doleful scene. Below me I beheld a heavy cloud, which was agitated as if burdened with the spirit of wrangling elements. Discordant sounds arose from the midst thereof. They were hard to be understood, and at first the cause was hidden from me. But at length I heard, as from the voice of an excited rabble, the enthusiastic inquiry, "Where shall we find him? Hasten, most worthy guide, to the place of his retreat. Time wasteth, and the leaders of the people demand the ‘outlaw.’ He shall perish." "Yea, he shall perish, and that speedily," clamored a multitude who were, while moving toward Jesus and his disciples, enveloped in a cloud that overhung their pathway. The contrast between the scenes was so great, that I was terrified, and turning to my guide I inquired, "Who are these that disturb the stillness of this solemn hour? And canst thou inform me whence they are, and whither bound? Of whom do they speak in language so excited, and with a determination so destructive?"

"These," she said, "are a band of soldiers from the chief priests and elders of the Jews. The object of their revengeful pursuit is Jesus, who, in the agony of his soul, prayed in the garden."

"What hath he done to excite such envy," I exclaimed.

"He hath preached the year of the Lord, and announced the mission of God’s only Son to the world. He hath given sight to the blind, restored the deaf to hearing, healed the sick, raised the dead, comforted the mourner, instructed the ignorant, and pleaded with the despisers of the mercy of God to regard the Creator of heaven and earth as their Sovereign, Rightful Lawgiver, Heavenly Father, and Redeemer."

"And is this that for which they seek to destroy him?" I inquired. "Hath he never contended with them?"

"Hast thou not read in the Sacred Text that which the prophet spake, when moved by the Holy Ghost, concerning One that should come, ‘Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I am well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him and he shall show judgment unto the Gentiles. He shall not strive nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.’ This Jesus, who in his humility, bowed in prayer, and whom the populace seek to destroy as a vile outlaw—God manifest in the Flesh—is He of whom the prophet spake.

While the angel yet spake, the exasperated throng, armed with swords and staves, approached Jesus and his disciples; and lo! they were led by one of the company who sat with him at the last supper, even Judas Iscariot, the same who had left his Lord and proposed to deliver up Jesus to the chief priests and elders of the people. As they drew near, I saw above Judas a mighty angel of darkness, from whom issued a pale sulphuric flame that encompassed him and burned in his nerves like living fire. With wild determination Judas advanced and hailed Jesus as his friend and, Lord, sealing his mockery and heartless treachery with a kiss. But Jesus appeared fully to comprehend his design, and addressing him said, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" And to the multitude he said, "Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves, to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold upon me. But if ye seek me, let these who believe in me go their way. For this cause I came into the world." Then answered one of the multitude, "Tell us for what cause." "That salvation might be given to the world, and that all, even those who assail me, might, through faith and repentance, enter into rest. Into your hands I submit myself, but these my disciples, no harm shall befall them." Then said the mockers, "Thou art our prisoner, and we bear thee before the tribunals of the people, and no one helpeth thee; how sayest thou then of these thy disciples, ‘No harm shall befall them?"’

At this the disciples fled, every one his own way, and forsook him, save one who followed his Lord even unto the judgment hall.