An island amid the stormy waters

I had a dream which left a sweet impression on my mind. I seemed to see the wide ocean spread out before me. Many were its shoals and breakers, and its stormy waters roared. In the midst there arose an island, lofty and difficult of access where it touched the water; but in the interior, where it rose again to a lofty summit, it was full of beauty. To this I was in some way mysteriously conveyed. They said it was called Lebanon, forests of cedars and all beautiful trees grew there. In the wood there were lodges, where those might enter who chose, and couches of repose were spread for them. Here, in this place of Divine beauty, all things were changed from what we see in the natural world. All was full of purity, innocence, truth. The birds sang and sported among the branches, without fear that insidious foes would watch and destroy them. The lamb and the wolf were there together in peace; so that I was reminded of that beautiful prophecy of Isaiah, ‘ The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.’ As I thus contemplated, who should appear but that beloved One, the Spouse of holy souls, the Saviour of men! He condescended to come near me, to take my hand, and to speak to me. When we had looked round upon this divine work, this new Paradise, He directed my attention to the wide waters which surrounded us, to its rocks and fountains, and pointed out to me here and there one who was struggling onwards with more or less courage and hope to this island and mountain of God. Some appeared to be entirely overwhelmed by the waves, but not yet wholly gone, and the Saviour directed that such in particular should receive from me whatever sympathy and aid I could give them. The sweet impression which this dream left upon my spirit continued many days,