Before us was now displayed the Jewish Sanhedrin. They were expressing many thanks for the triumph of truth over error, and of sense over fanaticism. They congratulated each other in the hope of peace that must result from the prompt and efficient action taken to put down Jesus, the impostor.

Their general appearance bespoke a proud despotic spirit rather than that of God’s humble servants. There was more of jocular frivolity displayed than religion, more phariseeism than meekness, more lordship than ministry. While they were reveling in the glow of their triumphant feelings, Judas, now the picture of wretchedness, rushed into their midst and wildly exclaimed, "I have sinned in that, I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us. See thou to that," replied the priests.

At this cold and repulsive reply, Judas started; he had expected their sympathy and aid in his trial; and having served them, he had resorted to them for help; and their indignity offered to him upon the occasion but added sorrow to sorrow, disappointment to disappointment, remorse to remorse, and despair to wretchedness. Recovering partially from the shock produced by the unexpected reply, he at length said, "Should I not in this hour of trouble expect sympathy from those who pledged honors, blessings and friendship, to whoever would conduct them to the capture of Jesus? Did I not faithfully fulfil my engagement and give him into the hands of soldiers? Why then this cold and indifferent reply? For you I betrayed my innocent Master; for you I hailed him in my accustomed and confident manner. Yea more, for you I sealed my treachery with a kiss. Shall I not now find you as faithful to your most solemn pledge?"

Then looking down as if in deep and painful thought, he exclaimed, "When I betrayed him, he looked upon me in love. That look I now see. I feel its power. He was just and good. I have betrayed innocent blood." And hastily throwing down the silver for which he had bartered Jesus, he said, "Here is the price of my Lord and my peace for ever."

Then answered a priest, "True, that is the price; for that we purchased thy services; why trouble us? Take it, it is thine. We have no more need of thee. Our object in thee is accomplished. Away, ere thou dost suffer his fate, who goeth without the gate to receive the reward of impious folly.

"In my complaint, thou dost acknowledge Jesus, the outlaw, to be our king. Away, else the guard bear thee also to Calvary."

Then a mighty angel drew near, saying, "Behold the procedures of men revealed in the case of Judas, the chief priests and the rulers of the Jews. They have but followed the native promptings of the depraved heart. May it not then be said that the carnal mind is enmity against God; not subject to his law, neither indeed can be.

"Are not the ways of men the reverse, and too often designed in selfishness and clandestinely prosecuted? Are not the tendencies of man’s proceedings unrighteous? Seeketh he not his own and not another’s welfare? Enquire of earth. Let her ages, buried in the past, relate the history, and thus reveal the nature of the human heart. Let the sage, the philosopher, and the poet, give a faithful answer. Awake from their silent repose those who slumber in the tombs! Let lords, potentates, and Priests, speak from their high positions, and all shall reveal the truth that man is depraved. Let the tears and sorrows of the dependent, the servant and the slave unite, and they shall relate the sad story of human woe, whose source is found alone in the perversion of the heart of man.

"Judas betrayed his Lord, and in that he bartered justice and goodness for Mammon. His procedure has been revealed, but his is only the great degree of that depravity which existeth with unsanctified desires. He sacrificed his greater good, his best friend, for applause and gain. Doth not man often proceed on this wise? Doth he not often barter friendship and forsake his brother, leaving him to struggle amid accumulating sorrows; and though earth’s philosophers fain would conceal the horrid picture, doth not man betray his fellow for present gain? Whose frescoed walls and costly drapery are not tinged with human blood? Whose luxuries may not be traced to the sacrifice of fallen helpless brothers?

Then said another angel, who approached from an opposite direction, "May not these truths be revealed to the infant’s understanding?"

Immediately a scene was before us, in which Earth, with her multiform movements, was displayed.

In this scene were represented brothers betraying brothers for gain, parents their children, husbands their wives, friends exchanging each other as mere commodities, nations in their warrings and piracy, and grievously afflicting the poor and dependent. Multitudes of human beings were seen suffering in lowest degradation, living and dying without hope.

Mothers were convulsively pressing their babes for the last time to their breasts, and imprinting upon their rosy lips the farewell kiss, while the suckling clung with dying hold to its mother’s neck. Husbands were looking in despair upon their maltreated wives and heart-broken children. Poverty, oppression, pain, anguish, rapine, and murder were revealed. In the midst of these mixed multitudes were a few who were striving to unloose the fetters of those bound; to take from the scourger his cruel implements; to provide means for the sufferings of every class; to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bind up the brokenhearted; to change war into peace; to make the battlefield a nursery for the poor and dependent; to cultivate true friendship, and enforce true religion; to enlighten the bigot; to prevent persecution, and establish with men universal liberty and harmony, founded upon justice and mercy. But their encouragement was limited. Still they failed not, but were ever engaged in deeds of benevolence.

Then a light descended, and over each of those who were engaged in the work of rescue, was a guardian angel, who, appointed of Heaven, and full of the Holy Ghost, sought to encourage them in their labors, and impress them with holy and benevolent desires. There was also revealed a light which descended from some invisible source, and which pervaded the heart of each mortal, who, in the name of the holy religion of the Cross, was struggling to lead the forlorn race.

"This," said the angel, "is Holy Inspiration. The Spirit of God, which inspireth all who are born of God, that they may labor continually for man’s restoration from sin and its consequent misery, and for his final exaltation to a state of bliss."

"But," continued the angel, "no means are capable of revealing to human understanding the depth of degradation into which a heart is fallen that can be accessory to such deeds of cruelty as have just been presented. And although angels with wonder behold the acts and unfaithfulness of men, so common are they with man, and so natural to his perverted being, that he not only witnesseth without regret, but may be induced to engage therein for mercenary purposes. To redeem man requires goodness beyond finite comprehension. None but God, who is Love, and who is mighty and able to save, could rescue the fallen race. Angels, while contemplating God’s love bestowed upon man, exalt in thankful praise the name of our heavenly Father."

"Yea, we will adore our God for the manifestation of his love to man who is dead in trespasses and sin," answered the attending angels. "He hath laid help on one who is mighty and able to save. We will praise Him, we will praise Him evermore, amen; ever, evermore, amen." "Surely;" continued the speaker, "He condescendeth to exalt the ruined orb, to harmonize the discordant race, to save the deluded spirit. He permitteth human hearts to reveal their hidden natures. In this, God is just, for heaven witnesseth, and while beholding, pitieth them. Thence angels commissioned delight to seek, as ministering spirits, the souls of men. Yea, they delight to visit earth on errands of mercy." "Angels delight to do the will of God evermore," repeated again the vast assemblage; and the guardian angels waved their hands when the scene changed.

"Rest," said the chief guardian, "ye infant observers, rest, for a season mingle in the social scenes of paradisiacal enjoyment."

Then addressing a company of spirits at the right, the angel said, "Bring ye the flowers gathered upon the holy plains. Let the infant spirit be refreshed. Let the fragrance from the floral mount descend, and let joy possess each spirit. Spirit of holy quiet, pervade them with thy everlasting peace."

The entertainment introduced was wisely adapted to that quietude necessary, after the mind had been excited upon subjects so vast in magnitude, and thrilling in interest.

Then I heard a voice saying, "Who could fail to praise God for existence, for immortality, and for the bliss of paradise?" The infants caught the sound and understood the sentiment; and raising their hands, they replied, "We will adore our heavenly Father, we will ever mention with love and reverence the name of our Redeemer. We will cheerfully be led, conducted by our guardian angels. And when prepared, and our understanding properly enlarged, we will go forth as servants of goodness, whither the Lord our Redeemer shall direct.

Then each guardian moved her hand in token of a change, and all were soon in their former position: