there was a pause in the courts of heaven. seven times had the voice of the eternal resounded through the vast realms of space, and from the very centre of chaotic darkness a world of beauty had sprung forth. thousands of angelic spirits floated round and round the new-born globe, tending the innumerable sources of loveliness and life, which had burst at once into perfected being at the all-creating word. with every new creation, an increased effulgence flashed over the angelic hosts; and richer tones of mighty harmony proclaimed the power, and the glory, and the mercy of their god.
deep in the unfathomable abyss of formless space hung the new-formed world, suspended from its parent heaven by chains of diamond light, visible only to the pure spirits, who on them ascended and descended, in performance of their newly-assigned employments.
myriads of celestial beings stood in dazzling files without the veil, which in unapproachable and indescribable splendour concealed the throne of the creator; whence issued that eternal voice which spake, and creation was! none, not even the highest and the purest, the most etherealized amidst those spiritual ranks, could gaze on the ineffable glory piercing through the effulgent veil; nor dared approach it, without covering his face with his glittering pinions, and falling low in prostrate adoration. in their several ranks they stood, the glorious archangels to whom the ways, clearly as the works of the eternal, were revealed. hierarchs, who had penetrated deeper and deeper the mysteries of infinity, and by longed-tried obedience, and faithfulness, and love had won the glorious privilege of commune with the ineffable majesty of the supreme. even to the young seraph, commencing his heavenly career, satisfied to labour and to love, till he should pass through the intermediate ranks, and rising higher and higher in angelic intellect, and the beatified nature of his tasks at length attain the archangelic goal.
seven times had gone forth the omnific word, and seven times had the eternal pronounced it good; and each time of that approving word, had the resplendent pinions of the hosts of heaven fluttered in irrepressible rejoicing, till space itself seemed lost in one vast flood of glistening and iris-coloured light, and music, soft, spiritual, and thrilling, marked every movement of the radiant wings, and filled up each pause of song.
and then, midst the deep stillness which succeeded, again spake the eternal voice: “let us make man!” and the mandate with the velocity of light rushed through the angelic-peopled courts; and every spirit of every rank, and every host, caught up the omnific word, and, in the full song of adoration, testified their joy. but suddenly a hush sunk on the rejoicing myriads; for, darting at the same instant from their respective ranks nearest the eternal’s throne, three glorious spirits met together before the resplendent veil, and prostrated themselves in supplication.
they were of the highest order of the archangels, each intrusted with an attribute of his creator to uphold its glory and its beauty amidst the celestial and spiritual worlds. and one spake, and his wings of sapphire, his dazzling brow, his radiant eye, before whose single look the mists of error passed; his crystal spear, before whose slightest touch, falsehood fled trembling and self-abhorred; alike proclaimed the gift of which he was the guardian. the spirit of truth implored—
“father, create him not—life will be overshadowed by deceit!” and the spirit bowed his effulgent brow upon his wings in grief.
and then the second spirit spake,—akin to truth, but sterner. his glorious brow was shaded by a glittering helm, and his right hand grasped an unsheathed sword; a raiment, resembling an hauberk of golden light, clothed his graceful limbs, and the rich full voice, in its entreaty, breathed his name.
“father and lord, create him not! he will destroy yon beautiful world by his unrighteousness; and i, unto whom thou hast entrusted thine attribute of justice, will seem to him, in his darkened light, as the avenger. father, create him not!”
and then spake the third archangel,—his pure white pinions fluttered tremulously around him, and the exquisite beauty of his youthful face seemed disturbed by the intense ardour of his supplication; a wreath of amaranths bound back his flowing hair from a brow of such transcendent loveliness, that one look upon it filled the soul with balm; he held a bough of emerald, resembling the olive-leaf, but radiant with a liquid lustre unknown to the plants of earth.
“create him not, oh, father!” implored the spirit, and the brightness of his meekly expressive orbs was dimmed; “create him not! he will chase me from the earth. peace will be but a name amidst the awful scenes of internal and external war, with which man’s passions will devastate yon beautiful world. father, create him not!”
the spirit ceased; and, hushed to a solemn stillness, the listening myriads waited the answering word. the effulgence piercing through the veil, appeared slightly shadowed, as if the almighty presence had withdrawn his immediate glory, and the entreaty of his favoured angels would be granted. but far, far, in the unfathomable distance, a resplendent star seemed floating towards the veil, and faint yet thrilling melody proclaimed the rapid advance of angel wings. on, on—and the semblance of a star gave place to the form of a beatified spirit, whose dazzling loveliness irradiated space itself, and heightened the glory all around; and every rank he passed hailed him, even in that awful hour, with an irrepressible burst of song, and drew closer and closer round; and watched him with such love as only angels feel; and he smiled on them, but paused not in his rapid course, and the smile kindled hope anew, and confidence and joy banished the momentary shade.
it was the spirit of love; the best beloved of the eternal; the guardian essence of the whole angelic hosts; angels and archangels, heirarchs and seraphs, alike acknowledged him, and bowed before his sway, as the representative of the supreme. and on he floated in his indescribable beauty, and every court of heaven sent forth increased effulgence as he passed. he neared the veil, and bowed down before it, and then he spake, and his low soft tone penetrated the farthest limit of that immeasurable space.
“create him, oh, father!” he prayed; “create him to love, and be beloved! what if he err? what if he sin? thou wilt pardon him; for thy love is greater than his sin!”
a burst of bewildering glory flashed through the veil upon him, as he knelt, and darted its dazzling rays through the thousand ranks of heaven at the same moment. it was the assenting sign of the eternal; and again the omnific word went forth: “let us make man!” and millions and millions of voices swelled the glad chorus, that another and yet mightier creation should bear witness to the loving mercy of their god. and truth, and justice, and peace joined in the thrilling strain, for the spirit of love had touched them with his quivering breath, and they felt his words were true. man might still err, but created in love, the immortal spirit breathed into the shell of clay; the angelic hosts gave vent to the full song of rejoicing; for the spirit of love hovered over the new-born world, as over theirs, endowed by the measureless compassion of the eternal to purify and pardon.