As we still continued to sail over the great Proving Shoals, we passed through vast fleets of vessels that had run aground, struggling in their own poor deluded way, yet unconsciously drifting all the while nearer and nearer to the great Whirlpool; while here and there only a few well-appointed barks could be seen briskly sailing on their way, evidently bound to the Port of Paradise.
Busily engaged among these stranded fleets we could see Captain Faithful and several other King’s pilots, striving to afford assistance by directing those mistaken mariners into the right course.
When we had sailed on some distance towards the land we had recently sighted, a bold rocky coast gradually loomed up before us, stretching along the horizon right across our course, with apparently no opening or channel through which we might pass; and the nearer we drew thereto, the darker and more forbidding did this high rocky land appear.
Hesitating for a while as we surveyed the long coast in front of us in search of some opening, we at length deemed it prudent to lay to, rather than run the risk of going on the rocks. While thus standing still in some perplexity, we were much relieved in seeing the Mentor making for us; and soon had the pleasure of hearing the cheery voice of our friend saluting us again.
“Why do you hesitate to proceed?” inquired Captain Faithful.
“Because we see nothing but a high rocky coast before us, with no opening whatever in view.”
“Look again carefully with your glasses, further to windward,” said Captain Faithful, “as you have been making a little too much lee way of late, and you will see a narrow channel between two high cliffs, through which you will have to pass.
“Some parts of that channel you will find very narrow and difficult of navigation, so that you will need to look up continually for help to thread your way through it.”
Thoughts. “What then may this gloomy looking land be, to which we have now come?”
Faithful. “Gloomy looking it certainly is, and many wish to find some way round it, so as to avoid that trying channel, but if you steer carefully you will realize while passing through it a rich store of happy experience and blessing, such as you have never yet known; for it is the King’s appointed way, although it looks so narrow and forbidding.
“That much dreaded land consists of two islands known as Trial and Tribulation, and the narrow channel between them is called Conflict Channel, which lies in the direct course of all voyagers to the Celestial Shores.
“Two pillars mark the entrance, and if you will look up your Directory you will find full particulars of the channel, and how you are to pass through it. But see, yonder comes the Never-sure, now pressing on more steadily than formerly, and improving his navigation wonderfully. Your talk with them the other day seems to have done them much good; for ever since then, their steering has been much better, and their movements not so irregular and uncertain as they used to be. As we passed a while ago, we heard them loudly repeating: ‘He that believeth hath everlasting life and shall never perish’; and the ‘Word of the Lord is sure,’ for ‘God is not a man that He should lie, nor the Son of Man that He should repent’; and Mr. Faint-heart actually told us that they were now thinking of changing their name to that of Humble-confidence.”
We then told them we were delighted to hear it. “But they may get alarmed again at the sight of the dark-looking land ahead, so we will hasten to cheer and direct them, as they approach the narrow channel.”
Now after beating up to windward for some time (for we had somewhat unsuspectingly drifted with the tide), we came at length opposite the channel pointed out to us by Captain Faithful. Two high somber cliffs now stood before us, and we made out the two peculiar pillars that marked the entrance into the channel. “It will be difficult to enter in there,” said our Captain, “and those dark rocks on either side forebode trouble and danger, I fear.”
“I wish,” said Mr. Feelings, “some other way had been presented to us, by which we could have gone round those dreary looking islands. I certainly do not like the look of that intricate channel, fringed as it appears to be with such ugly cliffs;” and in fear we again hesitated to go on.
“Come,” said Mr. Conscience, “let us draw nearer in, the Captain and myself will take the helm, and by steering carefully we may find the channel not so difficult as it appears; moreover, we may be guided as we proceed, for certainly it is the course marked out for us on the Royal charts.”
Then cautiously approaching the two pillars, we saw that they were directing posts, placed there by the King to point out the channel.
The pillar on the right side, which stood on a projecting rock on Trial Island, had inscribed thereon, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you”; and that on the left side on Tribulation island had the words, “We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God:” and “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
“Ah,” said Mr. Heart, with a tremulous voice, “those are indeed words of solemn import; but let us remember that we have neither the power nor the skill to direct our own way; therefore it is that our wise and gracious Father hath appointed our way for us.”
Fixing our eyes on those two pillars and considering attentively the startling words thereon, a silent feeling of awe, not unmixed with fear, came over us all as we slowly advanced towards the dark opening before us.
But before essaying to enter the channel, we endeavored to cheer one another by heartily singing our well-known Mariner’s Hymn:
“Why those fears! Behold ‘tis Jesus
Holds the helm, and guides the ship;
Spread the sails, and catch the breezes
Sent to waft us through the deep,
To the regions
Where the mourners cease to weep.
“Led by faith, we brave the ocean;
Led by faith, the storm defy;
Calm amidst tumultuous motion,
Knowing that the Lord is nigh:
Waves obey Him,
And the storms before Him fly.
“Rendered safe by His protection,
We shall pass the watery waste,
Trusting to His wise direction
We shall gain the port at last;
And with wonder,
Think on toils and dangers past.
“O what pleasures there await us!
There the tempests cease to roar:
There it is that those who hate us
Can molest our peace no more:
Trouble ceases
On that tranquil happy shore.”
Just then the voice of the Holy One was heard very distinctly in the saloon, saying, “When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned.”
“Have you heard that?” exclaimed both Mr. Heart and Mr. Feelings at the same moment. “How delightful!”
“Aye, indeed,” said Mr. Conscience, “they are full to overflowing of consolation.”
“How sweet the music of that voice,
That cheers, and makes us all rejoice.
Gives courage to the fainting heart;
And bids our fears at once depart.”
Fresh life and animation were infused into all on board by these cheering words. All hands now went to their work with alacrity and stood ready to obey the Commander’s orders with the utmost promptness.
Glancing astern for a moment, as we were passing between the two pillars, we beheld a large number of vessels in the offing that had sailed near enough to make out the channel and had then quickly turned back in alarm, to seek some other passage. But we were glad to see the Never-sure venturing forward, under the guidance of Captain Faithful.
Now, as soon as we got fairly into the channel, we saw that it was extremely narrow, as Captain Faithful had told us, and that certain parts were shrouded in darkness, owing to the projection of the high rocky cliffs on either side. Looking forward along the channel, as far as we could see with our telescopes, we also discovered that on the shore of Trial Island to our right, a number of rocky headlands jutted far out, apparently closing the channel altogether in those parts; while on our left, on Tribulation Island, there appeared several formidable-looking forts on the heights above, extending along the whole coast of that dreary island, and fully commanding the channel in every part. These discoveries at first caused some little flutter of excitement among our officers, but when we remembered the cheering words of the Holy Presence we calmly and quietly sailed on our way.
The shades of evening now closing around as we entered the Strait—the heavens above however being all clear and the stars shining brightly—we noticed that strange flaring lights and unearthly forms seemed to be flitting incessantly over those dark cliffs, which, with deep hollow sounds (such as sometimes precedes a catastrophe), had the effect of depressing our spirits not a little, in spite of all our efforts to bear up.
This depression was more especially observable in Mr. Heart and Mr. Feelings, who retired together to the saloon for prayer, where they continued for some time in earnest supplication. Then later on, as we were with solemn silence threading our way through the intricate Strait, we heard as it were voices below in quiet conversation, and on listening attentively we distinguished the clear sweet voice of the Holy Presence replying to Mr. Heart, “Fear thou not for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
Our sad depression, our fears and anxieties, now vanished; the vague terrors that haunted us were gone, and we calmly rested in a quiet state of simple trustfulness.
On the morrow, we sighted on a rugged prominence close to the edge of the channel one of the large forts of Tribulation Island and were soon abreast of its grim-looking battlements. This we found to be the much-dreaded fort and castle of Persecution, in charge of a most cruel and relentless giant, whose name was Intolerance, who had imbrued his hands in the blood of thousands of saints, and was moreover the terror of all those regions. As soon as we had drawn near to the towers of this fort, the giant, surrounded by a troop of retainers, demanded in a gruff voice who we were, whence we came, and then asked us to produce our passports.
Not fully understanding the purport of his demands, we desired to know expressly what was required of us.
“Know you not,” said the giant, in an angry tone, “that all who pass this way are required to show that they have been fully accredited as loyal and true servants of the King, by the duly constituted authorities, whom the King has regularly appointed to see that all the rules of His Majesty’s service are correctly observed?”
“We have,” replied the Pilot, “come hither by the King’s own appointed way, the Strait-of-the-Cross; and there received our commission direct from the King Himself, sealed with his own Royal Seal: and were moreover there and then accredited as the true servants of the ever-blessed Prince Emmanuel: yea, we were even admitted (through the amazing condescension of the King) to the high privilege of being considered not only loyal subjects but members of the King’s household, and thus to be forever known as His children.”
“That may, or may not be true,” said the giant, “but we have only your word for it, and that is no proof of the truth of what you say. You should therefore know that the King has appointed high commissioners and ministers of state as His deputies down here to testify to the truth of all such professions, and to give proper passports, signed by them in the name of the King, to all who desire a passage this way to the Celestial Shores.
“But it is evident from the colors you are now flying that you have neglected to procure the required credentials and passports from the properly constituted authorities, for they are not the true regulation colors.
“You are thus showing your deliberate disobedience of such high authorities, and I must therefore demand of you to haul down your colors forthwith and adopt such as we are authorized to furnish you with.”
“Our colors, as well as our credentials,” replied our Captain, “we received direct from our Prince at the Port of Peace; and I trust we shall never be induced to haul them down or hoist any others in their place: neither do we intend to acknowledge any other authority than that of our chief Captain, Prince Emmanuel.”
On hearing these words, the countenance of the giant changed, and in great wrath he ordered his chief Captain to prepare his forces to attack us. This officer was the well-known Captain Bigotry, a fierce and most unmerciful creature who had grievously maltreated and slain many of the King’s servants on their way through this passage.
But before attacking us, the giant, changing his voice, accosted us again in a milder and more persuasive tone, saying: “If you will but turn aside into this wide and safe creek, and place yourselves under my orders, it shall be well with you. In here you will find many voyagers like yourselves, who have found it both safe and convenient to turn in hither.
“In them you will also find good companionship, and you can together take many delightful excursions to Pleasureland and the isles of the sea, which are not far off; and afterward at your leisure—as others do —journey on to the better land on the other side, by a much easier and safer passage, that leads out of this creek on the further side.”
Looking for a moment in the direction pointed out to us, we saw a long and very crooked creek extending far inland, crowded with vessels of every description at anchor, and flying a variety of strange colors.
Then, turning to proceed on our way and get clear of the fort, as our Captain and Mr. Conscience had resolved not to give any heed to the giant’s enticing words, we were immediately attacked by the forces under Captain Bigotry, and a shower of arrows was rained down upon us, causing much alarm on board. Then, as we still held on our way, they redoubled their efforts to stop our progress and induce us to strike our colors. Though this sudden and unexpected onslaught was very trying to us all, we still kept our colors closely hauled up and flying bravely in the wind: nor did our enemy ever succeed in touching them. Several of the boats which had been anchored in the creek now sallied forth to pursue and attack us also, and did all they could to hinder and annoy us.
Meanwhile, as the fire became hotter and hotter, and some of our officers were trembling with fear at the fierceness of the assault, we began to gain a little courage when we heard Mr. Heart engaged in fervent prayer again.
This was all our defense, and we needed no other, as we were at such times enabled to say, “If God be for us, who can be against us”; and we remembered as well the encouraging words, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Moreover, when our fears were at their highest, and Mr. Heart was saying in his distress, “Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from them that persecute me,” we heard the voice of the Holy Presence comforting him with the words of our Prince, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
This sent a fresh glow of energy through every one, and even Mr. Feelings, who before had been the most distressed, could now say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore will not we fear.”
Having sailed some distance past the great fort, our enemies still continuing to pursue and harass us persistently, we discovered, to our dismay, that we were approaching three other smaller forts or batteries that were in communication with the larger fort or castle of Persecution.
The first of these was Derision battery, to which we now became fully exposed; and as soon as we were under its walls, we were challenged as before, but this time by two diminutive, ill-natured, and very surly looking officers, named Contempt and Scorn, who had charge of the battery.
Seeing we paid no attention whatever to their insolent speeches, but kept straight on our course, they pelted us vigorously with very sharp stones, that fell as thick as hail around us. Though no one was very much hurt by this fresh attack, yet these sharp stones flying so continuously in our midst caused us much pain and annoyance, and we were sadly tried while striving to ward them off with our shields.
Trying however as all this was to everyone on board, it was not without advantage to us, as we now began to learn some of the salutary lessons spoken of by Captain Faithful—such as being patient in tribulation, earnest in prayer, and even taking pleasure in persecution for Christ’s sake; which by heavenly assistance we were enabled to do.
A little further on, just as the fire of sharp stones began to slacken, we came directly in front of the second battery, which was called Fort Slander, commanded by a black-visaged and most villainous-looking officer, who went by the name of Captain Falsehood, a leading chief in the service of Abaddon the great pirate.
This hideous monster was also the commander of a notorious company of desperate ruffians, known as The Black Band of Liars, who had done incalculable mischief over all parts of that ocean, and had caused many heartrending shipwrecks.
As soon as Captain Falsehood caught sight of us, he shouted out, “I know who you are, rebels and impudent imposters, who dare to disregard the legally constituted authorities of these realms.” And, without giving us a moment’s time to reply to his false accusations, he ordered his company to assail us; which they did most furiously, sorely wounding some of our officers with their keen arrows.
They also with their catapults flung much filthy mud and slime upon us, so as to bedaub us therewith, and thus make us, if possible, odious in the sight of all who beheld us.
This was a grievous trial that saddened us all greatly, especially Mr. Heart, who hastened below, much distressed and sickened by the filthy odors of the slime heaped upon us by that cruel band of liars.
The channel, too, was so narrow that we could not escape out of the reach of their diabolical assaults, so that, as we hurried on, they persistently pursued us along the cliffs and in their boats, pressing us sorely on all sides.
Thus they continued to harass us until we got close under the ramparts of the third battery, and then joined their forces with our other enemies there, to persecute us with increased fury. By this time we had come in front of the much-dreaded fort Hatred, in charge of a most bitter enemy of the King, and of all who set out in earnest for the Celestial shores, whose name was Hate-Good.
The sight of our colors, still flying as plainly as ever, greatly excited his ire, for he and all his crew detested everything that bore the marks of the King. He then forthwith ordered his trumpeter to summon all our foes from the other forts and the boats in pursuit, to unite their forces in tormenting us, and crushing us altogether if they could.
As we watched these astounding efforts of our enemies to hurt and annoy us, we could not help wondering at this display of their implacable hatred towards us; and Mr. Feelings, who was almost overwhelmed with fear, exclaimed, “What have we, inoffensive mariners who are peaceably sailing on our way to the heavenly land, done to provoke such cruel hatred and furious wrath against us? For we injure no one, but simply declare ourselves to be the servants of our good and gracious King—the omnipotent Creator and Ruler of the universe—and followers of our adorable Prince Emmanuel.”
“It is indeed marvelous,” said Mr. Understanding, “that we and all the true servants of the King should thus be so bitterly hated and persecuted; but it has ever been so since the day that the wicked Cain killed his own brother. Our blessed Prince Himself—the only perfect Man that ever lived on the earth—endured all this, and much more, when He made His ever-memorable voyage across the Ocean of Time, and through this very channel too.
“The naturally depraved human heart is ever opposed to the King, as well as to all who bear His name, and indeed to everything that bears the stamp of divine goodness and piety; because its own innate wickedness is thereby reproved, by coming in contact with the light.
“Then behind all this—ever prompting and urging on—stands the great adversary of souls, the “god of this world and prince of the power of the air,” who is the avowed enemy of the King.
“He and his legions are the ruling spirits of all our foes at the forts, and of those who have pursued us in this channel.
“All this antagonism is, moreover, but a part of the great conflict between the powers of light and darkness, that was begun (as far as this world was concerned) in the Garden of Eden, some thousands of years ago, and which has been uninterruptedly continued ever since. But we know—and are exceedingly glad to know it—that our blessed Prince shall in the end be completely victorious: for He shall put all foes under His feet.”
While still pondering over this strange opposition to the good King Elohim and His servants, our enemies renewed their attack upon us, surrounding us on all sides to try and stop our progress or turn us back.
Greatly alarmed for the moment, and scarcely knowing what to do, though we still managed to ward off their arrows with our excellent shields, we again listened for the encouraging voice of Mr. Heart in prayer—our only resource in all these times of trouble. For it always came to pass that whenever our eyes were thus “lifted up to the hills from whence came our help,” we could rest in quiet and happy confidence; being perfectly assured that though our foes might even destroy our frail vessel, they never could touch or destroy any one on board.
At this trying time, we not only heard Mr. Heart earnestly asking for help, but soon afterward we heard him as if calmly engaged in discoursing with the Holy Presence, while the storm of persecution was still raging around us. Mr. Heart had been saying, “How long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things; and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.” Then in reply we heard the gracious and reassuring words: “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” “Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the arrow that flieth by day. A thousand shall fall by thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.”
Though we had been much cast down on account of the severity of our persecutions—most of our officers being very faint and depressed through fear—the renewal of strength and animation imparted by these repeated assurances was quickly felt by every one: and our Captain was more than ever resolved to hold on his way with full sails on, and with all our banners flying as heretofore.
By this time, we were drawing near to a high projecting rock that jutted out into the channel, which if we rounded would somewhat screen us from our foes.
So with all speed we drove on to reach this welcome refuge; and with a strong wind blowing, we succeeded in passing quickly round the point, and then found ourselves in a quiet, sheltered cove on the other side.
Now, after resting awhile, we began to look around us, and on the face of the high rock that sheltered us, we discovered, painted in large bright letters, the words: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil things against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.”
Great indeed was our rejoicing that day, as we feasted our eyes upon those precious and charming words of our blessed Prince Emmanuel. We felt now more than amply compensated for the hardships we had endured and began to realize the blessedness of that experience which Captain Faithful had mentioned to us.
Then on that happy and memorable day, we entered this record in our logbook.
“How sweet to mortal ears the sound of praise,
That men to fellow men are wont to raise,
Who seek by numerous plans, this praise to win,
In arts of peace, or in loud battle’s din;
And chase that shadowy phantom night and day,
The breath of man, that flits so soon away.
But richer, nobler far, supremely good,
The honor and the praise that come from God.
‘Tis highest joy on earth to hear His voice,
Which says, ‘Be glad, exceedingly rejoice’;
For great indeed is the reward in heaven,
That shall to suffering saints at last be given.”
This then was our abounding joy in that day of deliverance, as we happily rested for a while beneath the shelter of that high rock.