In company then with our much-loved friends, whom we had met at the palace, we started again with greatly increased vigor on our heavenward voyage, with every sail set and our banners flying; all vying with one another in running the glorious race set before us for the “prize of the high calling,” of which we had been reminded by Mr. Experience.
But we were soon outstript in the race by some of our companions, especially Captains Heavenly-minded, Piety, and Devotion; who by their superior seamanship rapidly drew ahead, and left us far behind.
When however we had sailed briskly on for some distance, we very unexpectedly, and to our great surprise, gently grounded upon a soft sandbank, and were thus brought to a standstill again; while all our companions passed lightly over, and were soon out of sight.
Though not in any real danger, for the sea was as smooth as glass, and the heavens as clear as usual since we had left the palace, yet we could not help feeling grieved at being thus retarded in our progress while so earnestly desiring to hasten on; seeing, too, that all our companions had passed quickly onwards without the least difficulty.
Wondering much and being greatly perplexed at this sudden stoppage, Mr. Feelings at length broke the sad silence into which we had been thrown by observing, “What can this mean? Here on this tranquil sea, after the enjoyment of such high and blessed privileges, and when all dangers and trials seemed forever past, that we should be thus stranded again, in full view of the Golden City, whose celestial light now shines so clearly upon us!”
“Strange indeed, though sadly true, nevertheless,” said Mr. Conscience, “we are evidently at fault again. Something has gone amiss with us, and we must diligently search it out forthwith.
“You may remember how the valiant army, the mighty warriors of Israel in the days of Joshua, were lamentably overthrown at the city of Ai by the enemies of the King. And how the Captain of the host fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, to find out, and cut off the one who had taken of the accursed thing, and had thus brought disgrace and disaster upon the people of God. So in like manner we have I fear, transgressed, or have brought on board something offensive in the sight of our King; which must be discovered and thrown overboard, ere we can expect to clear this sandbank and happily continue our voyage.”
Then it was resolved that a further and closer examination should be made in all our officers’ quarters, as it seemed evident that whatever it was that now retarded our progress was closely concealed in those cabins.
But before proceeding to search, we immediately resorted to prayer for help and guidance, (which had now become our constant habit in every emergency) as we had never failed to receive the needed assistance from our Heavenly Father, when we sought it by sincere supplication. Very soon after we had all thus united in earnest prayer, the voice of our Holy Guide was heard again, in very solemn tones, communicating the cause of our stoppage to Mr. Conscience. Our faithful Pilot then informed us that as we had been highly favored of late through the abundance of the revelations and privileges vouchsafed to us at the Palace of Delight, we had become unduly elated thereby; and that in consequence of this, we had brought away more of that odious thing we had previously discovered and known as Spiritual Pride, which had given us so much trouble at the Straits of Affliction.
We were also informed that this fresh supply was acquired and brought on board whilst partaking of the King’s bounties, so liberally provided for us, and by our making a sad misuse of His many gifts and favors.
Thus we found those very blessings were often made the occasion of that pride and vain-glory, so hateful in the sight of heaven, which grievously offended the Holy Presence, brought dishonor on our seamanship, and kept us frequently stranded on the shoals of this dangerous ocean.
“Search again,” said Conscience, “and you will find it in every cabin; and let us put away the evil thing.”
True, indeed, for as we looked again more carefully, we found this mysterious and soul bewitching material closely concealed from view in many dark corners of our cabins, but more abundantly in Mr. Heart’s than any of the others: wondering the meanwhile how it had been brought on board from that holy and delightful palace, where we had enjoyed so many of the King’s favors.
Casting overboard as much as we could discover (though as stated before we never could lay hands upon it all) we instantly floated, and then bracing up our sails again, we soon gained a steady way on, and quickly drew ahead.
When Mr. Heart had fairly recovered from his great surprise at this latest discovery, he quietly remarked, “How lovingly and tenderly our gracious Father shows us our many defects, and gives us to know His holy mind concerning them; that we might be delivered therefrom, and thus become daily more pleasing and acceptable in His sight. Surely it now becomes us more than ever to be, ‘Clothed with humility: for He resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.’”
“How strangely subtle seems the human heart,
With all its curious windings of deceit;
How deeply laid are all its hidden springs,
That work mysteriously beyond our ken;
And baffle every effort of our search,
To find the secret power that works within.
Yea, even Conscience, with his searching lamp,
Doth often fail to find the motive springs
That prompt the actions of the Christian life,
Amidst such divers thoughts of good and ill:
Of zeal for God, vain-glory, and self-praise,
By which e’en saints of God are often swayed.
How little dreams you minister of God,
While holding forth with zeal, on things divine;
Declaiming loud against the sin of pride—
That ‘neath the many folds of his own heart,
There lurks, meanwhile, that very worm of pride,
Prompting vain thoughts of self and human praise—
Which spoils the pious fervor of his soul,
And makes him odious in the sight of heaven.
That pride of holy things, in pious garb
Of humblest form, that hides it from himself:
And turns the very gifts derived from God
Into th’ occasion of that subtle sin.
How numerous, too, the forms ‘neath which it hides,
Of hooded monk, in coarse and humble dress,
Or pensive nun, veiled in her somber robes,
Or lonely hermit in his gloomy cell;
And many others of ascetic mood,
Whose pride is their assumed humility.”
To sail a straight and steady course—turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, so as to bear a true and faithful testimony to all the truth revealed to us and the honored place of privilege and blessing into which we had been brought, and thus glorify our gracious King and Prince Emmanuel—was now our constant concern, though, alas! we often failed to realize all that our hearts desired. Wishing to forget the past, we earnestly pressed forward, availing ourselves of every breath of heaven; and with the eye of the helmsman steadily fixed on his compass (that ever pointed to our risen Chief) we rapidly advanced on our way.
Many were the happy songs of heavenly joy and praise we sang, as we glided onwards over the calm sea of Tranquility, while the glorious light reflected from the Golden City grew brighter and brighter every day, as the prospect of soon being in the presence of our adorable Prince became a more abiding reality to us.
Then, in our happy leisure and freedom from storms, we all—officers and crew—assiduously set ourselves (under the guidance of the Holy Presence) to learn more perfectly the precious lessons set forth in the King’s instructions.
The more we learned, the more we desired to know, and thus to apprehend more fully the glories of our divine Prince, and the “power of His resurrection,” so as practically to realize our holy union with Him; and the excellency of that knowledge of Himself, which was now infinitely more precious to us than everything else.
Several bright little sun-lit islands now lay in our course, where rich orchards had been planted, bearing all manner of pleasant and nourishing fruits, for the refreshment of the numerous voyagers passing that way to the Port of Paradise. Clear crystal fountains also played continually there, in which the voyagers were invited to perform their ablutions, and thus be cleansed from any defilements which they might have gathered while passing through the contaminated atmosphere that ever hung over the Ocean of Time. Here, too, the richest of all perfumes, the exquisite fragrance of the “Rose of Sharon,” filled the whole air with its refreshing effects. It was the characteristic odor of all those islands.
Into the havens of these delightful and convenient isles we often turned for a little while in passing—where we were not only purified and much refreshed, but where we also renewed our strength from time to time.
There, too, we enjoyed the happy company of many dear servants of the King, who, like ourselves, were bound to the Celestial Shores and who were helping and encouraging each other forward in every possible way.