Then I saw a company of angels descending from a celestial band, far above the scene, and, as if upon some errand of mercy where momentous consequences were pending, they proceeded to a palace in the city and paused above it, and one of them entered a room wherein was a lovely female, whose mind appeared anxious and disturbed, while she was meditating upon the scene which moved the exasperated populace. The angel did not appear to her external vision, but presently began to soothe her nervous form into quietude, and to induce a soft and gentle slumber. How soon, thought I, that weary agitated form has found quiet and repose, beneath the influence of an angelic being; and how free from exciting and disturbing care are the inhabitants of the blissful skies! She rested, and an angel breathed upon her the breath of pure angelic love.

She awoke in the spirit and dreamed (as mortals term it) that she stood by a gentle river, garlanded with the floral beauties of a celestial paradise. The waters of the river were bright and transparent, upon the bosom of which was mirrored transcending beauty of the paradisical landscapes that skirted that living stream, and environed its pathway. The waters echoed the soft notes of the feathered choirs that rested in the branches of the immortal trees and floated in the spiritual ether above the floral plains.

Charmed to ecstatic delight, she lifted her hands as if in adoration, and as she raised her eyes she beheld innumerable companies of the inhabitants of the blissful abode, who had just paused in a song of angelic love, the echoing melody of which, reverberating in the holy skies, in their retiring anthems awoke the hearing of the enraptured dreamer. As she stood beholding the angels above her, she became conscious of the cessation of the harmonious utterance of the immortal inhabitants, and the melody of the myriads of paradisiacal birds, which died upon the ear. A death-like stillness held the whole realm as in the embrace of an awful suspense.

While seeking the cause the scene changed, gloom veiled the beautiful river; the floral inhabitants folded their expanded leaves, and dropped their aroma as tears that fell from the bowed and humbled stamens and folded cups. The forests stood still, not a leaf moved, for even the celestial breezes paused. The angelic hosts above had veiled their faces and a pale light, as if the image of sadness, occupied the place of the bright glory that had illumined the world around her. Her heart grew faint, her hands fell lifelessly by her side, her head dropped upon her breast, and with her face pale and the image of perfected sadness, she looked downward. Her eyes gave up their brilliancy and life seemed departing, when an angel touched her, saying, "Pilgrim, wherefore dost thou wonder? Art thou not of the city of Jerusalem, in the land of shadows and of night?"

The dreamer, startled by the voice of the strange speaker, raised her head, and beheld before her one of the immortal inhabitants clad in mourning. Surprised, she sought at first to escape, when the angel continued, saying, "Fear not; for in this land no harm shall befall thee." I come a messenger from that innumerable company of angels thou didst behold above thee. My errand is one of mercy. Thou bast witnessed the glory, harmony, and melody of this divine abode. Such is the true state of the pure and ever blessed. These rivers, fountains, streams, blossoms, and all animate existence, unite in one expression of ceaseless praise. But thou hast witnessed the change; how vast and how sudden. Thou too, art sad, and would know the cause. For this I come to thee. We suffer with our Lord, who in thy city is this day arraigned before a depraved, vindictive, and mock tribunal. Our Lord, who there suffers, is the manifestation of the Divine Spirit, the Incarnation thereof, God manifest in flesh, in the person of Jesus. Him the Jews seek to crucify. He goeth, as it is written of him, but woe unto those his false accusers, vile blasphemers, and unjust prosecutors. And thou, spirit of the lost world, thou art interested; for, lo! thy husband, though conscious of the innocence of Jesus for the people, bartereth innocent blood. Go thou quickly to thy lord, fall before him, and warn him of his danger. Tell him what thou seest,—how the land where immortality reigns, mourns; yea, that every tree, plant, and flower thereof bows in sorrowful attitude, that the birds of Paradise fold their wings and wait in awful suspense, that the rivers, the transparent waters, wear a heavy gloom that veils their glory, that angels lay down their crowns, and drop their lyres, and are dumb, and fall down in sadness; while Jesus thy Redeemer stands before the heartless tribunal of fiendish men. Go, nor tarry, else a moment lost may doom Pilate, whom thou shalt seek to save." "Awake!" said the angel who had soothed her to silent slumber; and, lo! she arose quickly, startled, yea, terrified with her vision, and hastened to send to Pilate her husband, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him." But Pilate, disregarding her entreaties, yielded to the insane demands of the people, and condemned Jesus to the Cross, and gave him up to be scourged, then crucified.