One arose, like unto the Father--a majestic form, meek, yet noble--the
Son; and thus he spoke:
"Father, here am I, send me. Thy will be done, and the glory be thine
forever."
Then another arose. Erect and proud he stood. His eyes flashed, his lip
curled in scorn. Bold in his bearing, brilliant and influential,
Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, spoke:
"Behold I, send me. I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind,
that not one soul shall be lost; and surely I will do it; wherefore,
give me thine honor."
Then spoke one as with authority:
"Lucifer, thy plan would destroy the agency of man--his most priceless
gift. It would take away his means of eternal advancement. Your offer
cannot be accepted."
The Father looked out over the vast throng; then clearly the words rang
out:
"I will send the first!"
But the haughty spirit yielded not. His countenance became fiercer in
its anger, and as he strode from the assembly, many followed after him.
Then went the news abroad throughout heaven of the council and the
Father's proposed plan; of Christ's offer, and Lucifer's rebellious
actions. The whole celestial realm was agitated, and contention and
strife began to wage among the children of God.
Returning from the council chamber of the celestial glance through the
paths of the surrounding gardens, came two sons of God. Apparently, the
late events had affected them greatly. The assembly had dispersed, and,
save now and then a fleeting figure, they were alone. They were engaged
in earnest conversation.
"But, Brother Sardus," said one, "how can you look at it in that light?
Lucifer was surely in the wrong. And then, how haughty and overbearing
he was."
"I cannot agree with you, Homan. We have a right to think and to act as
we please, and I consider Lucifer in the right. Think of this
magnificent offer, to bring back in glory to Father's presence, every
one of His children, and that, too, without condition on their part."
"There! He, and you with him, talk about your rights to think and act as
you please. Have you not that right? Have you not used it freely in
refusing to listen to Father's counsel? Do not I exercise it in that I
listen and agree with Him? But let me tell you, brother, what your
reasoning will lead to."
"I know it--but go on."
"No, you do not; you do not seem to understand."
"Perhaps you will explain," said the other haughtily.
"Brother, be not angry. It is because of my love for you that I speak
thus. It is evident that we, in that future world of experience and
trial, will retain our agencies to choose between the opposites that
will be presented to us. Without that privilege, we should cease to be
intelligences, and become as inanimate things. How could we be proved
without this power? How could we make any progress without it?"
"I grant it all."
"Then, what would Lucifer do? He would save you from the dangers of the
world, whether you would or not. He would take away any need of volition
or choice on our part. Do what we would, sink as deep into sin as we
could, he would save us notwithstanding, without a trial, without a
purging process, with all our sins upon us; and in this condition we are
expected to go on to perfection, and become kings and priests unto God
our Father, exercising power and dominion over our fellow creatures.
Think of it! Evil would reign triumphant. Celestial order would be
changed to chaos."
The other said not a word. He could not answer his brother's array of
arguments.
"Dear brother," continued Homan, "never before have I received such
sorrow as when I saw you follow that rebellious Son of Morning.
Henceforth quit his company. I fear for him and his followers."
"But he has such power over me, Homan. His eloquence seems to hold me,
and his arguments certainly convince me. But I must go--and brother,
come with me to the assembly which we are to hold. Many will be there
from far and near. Will you come?"
"I cannot promise you, Sardus. Perhaps I may call and see what is said
and done."
Then they parted.
Homan went to the gathering of which Sardus had spoken, and as had been
intimated, he met many strange faces. Everywhere in the conversation,
serious topics seemed to be uppermost. The singing was not as usual. The
music, though always sweet, was sadder than ever before, and a discord
seemed to have crept into the even flow of life's sweet strain. Homan
had no desire to talk. He wandered from group to group with a smile for
all. Sardus was in a heated discussion with some kindred spirits; but
Homan did not join them. Under the beautiful spread of the trees and by
the fountains, sat and walked companies of sons and daughters of God.
Ah, they were fair to look upon, and Homan wondered at the creations of
the Father. No two were alike, yet all bore an impress of the Creator,
and each had an individual beauty of his own.
Strolling into an arbor of vines, Homan, did not observe the fair
daughter seated there until he turned to leave; and then he saw her. She
seemed absorbed in thought, and her eyes rested on the shiftings
throngs.
"A sweet face, and a strange one," thought he, as he went up to her and
spoke:
"Sister, what are you thinking about?"
She turned and looked at him, and then a pleased smile overspread her
face.
"Shall I tell you?"
"Do, I beg of you. May I sit here?" He seated himself opposite.
"Yes, brother, sit. My thoughts had such a strange ending that I will
tell you what they were. I have been sitting here looking at these many
faces, both new and old, and studying their varied beauties; but none
seems to me to answer for my ideal. So I have been taking a little from
each face, putting all together to form another. I had just completed
the composition, and was looking admiringly at the new form when you
came and--and--"
"Drove away your picture. That I should not have done."
"No; it was not exactly that. It is so odd." She hesitated and turned
away her head. Then she looked up into his face again and said: "My
dream face seemed to blend with yours."
They looked at each other strangely.
"Do you often make dream pictures?" asked he.
"Yes, of late; but I sometimes think I should not."
"Why?"
"Because of them any great events that are taking place around us daily
which need our careful thought and consideration. I have been trying to
comprehend this great plan of our Father's in regards to us. I have
asked Mother many questions, and she has explained, but I cannot fully
understand--only, it all seems so wonderful, and our Father is so good
and great and wise;--but how could He be otherwise, having Himself come
up through the school of the eternities?"
Her words were music to Homan's ear. Her voice was soft and sweet.
"Yet it is very strange. To think that we shall forget all we know, and
that our memories will fail to recall this world at all."
"Yes, it is all strange to us, but it cannot be otherwise. You see, if
we knew all about what we really are and what our past has been, mortal
experiences would not be the test or the school that Father intends it
to be."
"That is true; but think of being shut out, even in our thoughts, from
this world. And then, I hear that down on earth there will be much sin
and misery, and a power to tempt and lead astray. O, if we can but
resist it, dear brother. What will this power be, do you know?"
"I have only my thoughts about it. I know nothing for a certainty; but
fear not, something will prompt us to the right, and we have this hope
that Father's Spirit will not forsake us. And above all, our Elder
Brother has been accepted as an offering for all the sins we may do. He
will come to us in purity, and with power to loose the bands of death.
He will bring to us Father's law whereby we may overcome the world and
its sin."
"You said the bands of death. What is death?"
"Death is simply the losing of our earthly tabernacles for a time. We
shall be separated from them, but the promise is that our Elder Brother
will be given power to raise them up again. With them again united, we
shall become even as our parents are now, eternal, perfected,
celestialized beings."
As they conversed, both faces shone with a soft, beautiful light. The
joy within was traced on their countenances, and for some time it was
too deep for words. Homan was drawn to this beautiful sister. All were
pleasing to his eye, but he was unusually attracted to one who took such
pleasure in talking about matters nearest his heart.
"I must be going," said she.
"May I go with you?"
"Come."
They wandered silently among the people, then out through the
surrounding gardens, listening to the music. Instinctively, they clung
to each other, nor bestowed more than a smile or a word on passing
brother or sister.
"What do you think of Lucifer and his plan?" asked she.
"The talented Son of the Morning is in danger of being cast out if he
persists in his course. As to his plan, it is this: 'If I cannot rule, I
will ruin.'"
"And if he rule, it will still be ruin, it seems to me."
"True; and he is gaining power over many."
"Yes; he has talked with me. He is a bewitching person; but his
fascination has something strange about it which I do not like."
"I am glad of that."
She looked quickly at him, and then they gazed again into each other's
eyes.
"By what name may I call you?" he asked.
"My name is Delsa."
"Will you tell me where you live? May I come and talk with you again? It
will give me much pleasure."
"Which pleasure will be mutual," said she.
They parted at the junction of two paths.