Now when we had somewhat recovered from the fiery trial through which we had lately passed, and had put ourselves in sailing trim again, we continued our voyage; having still further to go through the difficult and trying Conflict channel.
We had not however proceeded very far, before we observed that the channel appeared to widen before us into two distinct passages; the wider channel on our left slightly diverging from the narrower one straight before us.
At the point where the two channels diverged, there was a small porter’s lodge, by the front door of which stood an aged porter. Hailing him, our Captain desired to know which of the two channels was the right course that led to the Port of Paradise.
“Both,” replied the porter, “lead directly to the Celestial land. But this on the left, as you may perceive, is by far the widest and most pleasant of the two. The other channel is rough and very narrow; and moreover studded with troublesome shoals and rocks, that make it very difficult to navigate. All who attempt it find it extremely trying—even if they ever manage to get through it at all. Indeed, very few ever choose to pass that way, while thousands take the smoother channel, as you may observe by the numerous boats down yonder at the present moment, pleasantly sailing on their way.
“My master too, the lord of the manor, has his beautiful palace only a little way off the shore of that smooth channel, in the midst of the most-lovely scenery. If you will but call in passing at the palace pier, where you may see a number of vessels moored just now, my lord will be glad to receive you as guests at his mansion; as he loveth to entertain strangers, peradventure, as he says, he may thereby ‘entertain angels unawares.’”
Looking down the broader channel, we now perceived that it was skirted on either side by most beautiful landscapes of green fields and woods and mossy banks; while the palace of the lord of the manor stood on a rising ground, embowered in fine shrubberies and flower gardens of the richest hues.
The sweet singing of many birds also seemed to enliven the enchanting scene; and all, except Mr. Conscience, being tempted by the attractiveness of the place, were inclined to proceed at once by that channel.
“If it goes exactly in the same direction as the other channel, as the porter says it does,” remarked Mr. Feelings, “we may as well go by it; for it certainly appears far easier, and more pleasant to navigate than the other.”
“Truly,” said Thoughts, “we need not put ourselves to unnecessary troubles if one channel is as good as the other; and we require to take it somewhat easier now, after all the trials we have lately encountered.”
Most of the officers concurred in the views of the two mates, while all the men of our crew, led by Mr. Desires, were most clamorous for proceeding by the smoother and more inviting channel. “But,” said Mr. Conscience, “let us beware lest we fall into the snare of the enemy again; for it is written, ‘Man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in a snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.’ And are we not strongly admonished to be on our guard, ‘Lest any man should beguile us with enticing words.’ You see moreover we are not yet out of Conflict Channel, for here on our right hand and on our left are the two great islands of Trial and Tribulation between which we have still to pass. Surely this fair enticing channel cannot therefore be our way.”
“But perhaps,” said Thoughts, “our good King has provided this fair and easy channel to give us some rest and quietness after our severe trials.”
“No,” replied Conscience, “it cannot be our holy King’s way, for He provideth rest and quietness by giving us a deeper sense of His own Divine Presence and nearness to us; and not by the beauty of things external and temporal that quickly fade away, and that only minister to the flesh. He would never tempt us to proceed by a way that is contrary to all His own appointments.”
Just then we caught sight of what appeared to be a dilapidated beacon or sign post, standing on the point where the two channels diverged; when Thoughts exclaimed, “Let us draw nearer and see what may be written thereon; perhaps we may find something there to guide us.”
This we did, but on carefully looking at the beacon through our glasses we could not discern any writing whatsoever; and as no words of warning appeared there, it was thought that we might safely go by that way. Mr. Heart was then consulted, who timidly replied that he would leave it all to the good judgment of the Captain; for though it was evident he had his misgivings as to the fair channel being the right one, he secretly wished to go by it, to enjoy for a little while the many beauties that had attracted his attention.
As the Captain and both the Mates were strongly in favor of going that way, and all the crew being in favor of it too, our good Pilot Mr. Conscience was silenced; and then left the deck sadly grieved, saying as he went, “The minding of the flesh is death.”
Immediately as we entered the broad channel, a number of small disreputable looking pilot boats rushed out to meet us to offer their services; and though we declined assistance, several of them persistently went ahead to lead us down the channel.
When we had gone a short distance down, we noticed that the channel appeared to expand into a very wide sea, in which we now saw countless numbers of vessels, sailing hither and thither from one side of the channel to the other, apparently engaged in enjoying the fascinating scenes around them; while none that we could see were proceeding on their voyage.
Whole fleets were also moored round the palace pier, and thousands more seemed to be riding at anchor in the stream.
Forgetting in our excitement and folly that we had renounced all these worldly attractions, we for a while foolishly joined those votaries of pleasure in their vain and reckless pursuits, to the great dishonor of our Lord and Master.
But after a while the whole scene vividly brought to our minds what we had witnessed in the great and dangerous Mirth Harbor of Pleasureland. And we then began to think we had made a sad mistake, and that our faithful Pilot was, as usual, right. In this we were soon confirmed, when we beheld dark, heavy clouds rapidly gathering around us; and when Mr. Heart went below, as he was wont, to join with Mr. Conscience in seeking for guidance from the Holy One, no voice was to be heard, while the darkness of night began to overshadow us. Greatly alarmed, we instantly resolved to retrace our steps. But when we altered our sails and put our helm about in order to do so, we were astonished to find how far we had already run down with the current, which was extremely rapid in that broad channel. And now in attempting to return we found to our sorrow how difficult and trying it was to make any progress against such a strong tide; at the same time our sorrow and perplexity were greatly intensified by the dreadful darkness, and the total silence of the Holy Presence, whom, it was evident, we had sadly grieved.
Yielding in a moment of weakness to temptation cost us now many a weary and sorrowful day of toil in working our way back. And it was not until Mr. Heart, with many tears and a full confession of our transgressions, had entreated for forgiveness that we were happily relieved by hearing again the welcome voice of the Holy Comforter, saying, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for My own sake; and will not remember thy sins.”
The clouds now began to clear away and the sky after a while became serene again, when we found ourselves back at the point where we had seen the dilapidated beacon. Then we discovered that this beacon had been turned completely round, with its face looking down the channel; and it was therefore only the back of it we had previously seen, on which no words of warning appeared.
Now, too, we saw that its face (which we should have seen at the first) was so much battered and smeared as to render the words painted thereon almost illegible; but we found, after some difficulty, that the words it bore were, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind; for the friendship of the world is enmity with God:” and “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
While looking at the beacon, and considering these important words—which, if we had taken the trouble to find out, might have saved us from the sad mistake, as well as the sorrow and shame, of going down the wrong channel—Captain Faithful in the Mentor suddenly met us again.
“Why, where have you been all this time?” inquired the Captain. “I thought you would have been further on your way.”
With shame and much confusion we then confessed our faults to our kind friend. How we had been deceived and enticed by the aged porter at the lodge; and how in spite of the faithful remonstrances of our good Pilot, we had, in much willfulness, sailed down the broad channel, because it appeared so smooth and beautiful. How also we were brought to see our mistake by the darkness and the storm that overtook us, and the silence of the Holy One whom we had so much grieved; and how, after many wearisome days of toil and sorrow, we had been enabled to work our way back.
Faithful. “Like many others, alas! who have come this way, you have, I perceive, yielded to temptation, and turned aside out of the right course, to your hurt. If you had carefully consulted your charts you would have known that here, where the two channels diverge, is Temptation point; where the utmost caution is needed. Besides, did you not see the beacon which the King has ordered to be placed on that point, to caution his servants as to the dangers of that enticing channel?”
Thoughts. “Yes, we certainly did, but when we examined it, we saw no words written thereon. Afterward, on returning, we saw that the beacon had not only been much battered and defaced, but also turned round the wrong way. Then it was we read the words of warning which had been placed there for the guidance of mariners.”
Faithful. “Ah, that old gentleman, the porter at the lodge, has been at his mischievous work again; though no doubt he was very bland and engaging in his manner towards you.”
Thoughts. “He appeared, indeed, remarkably kind and obliging in his manners, and so natural and simple withal; which put us off our guard, and we were therefore deceived by him.”
Faithful. “Truly, it is by that winning manner of his that he deludes so many mariners. But with all that, you should know that old Mr. Flesh—for that is his name—is one of the most deceitful, crafty and dangerous of all the servants of our great adversary, who has led untold multitudes to endless ruin.
“It is this wily and plausible Mr. Flesh who is continually trying to batter and destroy that important Beacon; and because he cannot altogether destroy it—which he would gladly do—he turns and twists it about in all directions to hide and confuse the meaning of the words thereon. And though the King’s messengers have, times without number, repaired and set it right again, yet as soon as their backs are turned, he resumes his old work again, aided by his troop of wicked sons. Perhaps you may have met some of them, for they run pilot boats in that channel.”
Thoughts. “Just as we were entering the channel, a number of ugly disreputable looking boats rushed forward to offer their services as pilots; and then several of them led the way down the channel. Were they the pilots you speak of?”
Faithful. “The very same, and they do all the pilotage of that broad enticing channel.
“There are no less than seventeen brothers of them, and they are every one of them notorious leaders in the service of Abaddon, the prince of pirates. They are, moreover, the most villainous and abominable ruffians that have ever brought disgrace, misery and destruction into the fair domains of our King. For centuries they have been carrying on their diabolical work, and no one could ever compute the vast number of unfortunate voyagers they have sent to destruction.
“The old porter, no doubt, had something also to tell you about his lord—or lord of the manor as he calls him—and his fine palace.”
Thoughts. “Aye, that he had, and said he was a most kind and hospitable gentleman, who would be glad to receive and entertain us at his palace.”
Faithful. “In that statement there was certainly some measure of one-sided truth, inasmuch as his lordship does indeed entertain strangers; but to their utter ruin. Lord of the manor he truly is, exercising unbounded sway over all the regions round about that broad channel; and he likes to be known by the name of my lord Natural-enjoyment, though his real name is Mr. Love-of-the world; and a most plausible and subtle enemy of our King he is withal. He is twin brother of Way-of-the-world, whose charts you once used, and like him is very much looked up to and followed by time-bound mariners.
“That smooth looking channel into which you were beguiled by old Mr. Flesh, on the borders of which Love-of-the-world has his great mansion, is known by the name of Worldly-desires, appearing as you enter only a narrow strip of a channel, but which afterward widens rapidly into a boundless sea. It is about the most treacherous and dangerous of all the channels connected with this Ocean of Time; because it is so fair and beautiful to look upon, while it leads only to certain ruin and death. The delusive charms of enchantment seem to pervade its whole atmosphere, and the seductive songs of the sirens are perpetually heard on every side, in the midst of the most captivating sights and sounds; while, silently and imperceptibly, that fatal tide of human depravity rushes onward with the impetuosity of a torrent directly down to the terrible maelstrom.”
Thoughts. “How fearful in the end! but what were all those fleets we saw sailing to and fro, and at anchor?”
Faithful. “The greater part of those vessels are manned by thoughtless mariners who have gone down there simply to enjoy the pleasures of the place; who never for a moment consider what the end of those things may be, or that a day will come when they must inevitably leave for the other side of the ocean. Others are voyagers who profess to have started on their way to the Celestial Shores, but being only professors, they soon forget, amidst the allurements of the place, all about their voyage, and, indeed, never care to think seriously of it.
“Furthermore, all those mariners are so incessantly occupied and entertained by Mr. Love-of-the-world in various pursuits, and by a perpetual round of amusements, that they have no time to think of anything else (as they say themselves); forgetting even the very purpose of their existence, their destiny in a future world (to which as you know this is but the vestibule) and every thought of preparation for it, during the very short time they have to remain on this ocean. But in the midst of those infatuated fleets there also sails—silently and mysteriously—a grim spectral ship, having on board his dread majesty the ‘King of Terrors.’
“Day by day, and hour by hour, he steals among them unperceived, and they think not of his terrible presence until the moment he draws alongside and delivers his unwelcome summons, ‘Depart hence!’ a summons which none has the slightest power to disregard.
“Sometimes, when in the height of their all-absorbing enjoyments, under the guidance of Love-of-the-world, the spectral ship suddenly and unexpectedly heaves in sight, and his dread majesty delivers his stern and solemn mandate, with an authority that demands instant obedience.
“Oh, the anguish that then follows! who may describe it? when in a moment they must leave—aye, and leave forever!—their friends, their possessions, and all their pleasures, as they are towed down the dark stream by the phantom ship, not knowing what awaits them in the terror of that awful hour of darkness.
“A plunge or two on the swift torrent that bears them downwards, and they are quickly hurried into the vortex of the great maelstrom that carries them down to everlasting destruction.
“Most marvelous it is too, that while not a day passes without some of their number being thus carried away, the rest, who remain for a little while longer, are not moved in the least to mend their ways, or to seek a way of escape from their perilous position, or make any preparation for the future world. But on and on they heedlessly go, with their pursuits and pleasures, as if destined to abide there forever, until each one in his turn is visited by the grim inexorable monarch, and quickly borne away to oblivion and eternal perdition.
“Thus generation after generation of untold millions pass away, and yet those who remain, for the most part, take it not to heart, nor become any the wiser for these repeated warnings.”
“In addition to these mariners,” continued Captain Faithful, “a few servants of our King, I regret to say, may be sometimes seen among those fleets, who, beguiled by old Mr. Flesh and his wicked sons, have turned aside into that most dangerous channel. There they may be seen for a while going with the multitudes in their vain pursuits and pleasures (forgetful of their past deliverance) to the great dishonor of their Lord and Master. But through the never failing mercy of our King, and the gracious warnings of the Holy Presence, they are at length awakened out of their sinful slumber and led to see their great mistake, when they hasten to escape with all speed from the snares of the enemy, as you have done: and so resume their voyage.
“Now, as you have lost much valuable time in wandering out of the way, strive to make up for it by improving your sailing, and by greater vigilance in resisting the wiles of the enemy; always remembering the solemn lessons you have learned by your late experiences. And that you may better remember some of these lessons, enter in your log book this day these precious words, and often repeat them one to another, to strengthen your faith and good resolutions: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.’
“See yonder, the course which you should have taken when you turned aside, is now straight before you; and though you will find it the narrowest passage you have ever been in, with here and there a few trying shoals and rocks, be not afraid; as special provision is made to help and comfort those who pass through it: for it is written, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble:’ and if you steer aright, you will find a further store of valuable experience and blessing awaiting you there.”
Captain Faithful then bidding us Godspeed, said he would go down to the Points and see what could be done in setting that important beacon right again; and wait there a while till the Never-sure and some other vessels—which were near at hand—came on, so as to guard them against the deceptions of the plausible old porter at the lodge, and his wicked sons.
As our kind friend moved off on his noble mission, we resumed our voyage, by making directly for the very narrow passage pointed out to us.