At this critical moment, when our lives seemed to hang as in a balance, the clear voice we had just heard saluted us again in kind and cheering tones, saying: “You have done well in thus turning aside from your downward course to the great Maelstrom, by running here for shelter; though you will find no safe anchorage or resting place anywhere in the turbulent waters around this dark headland.
“It is but the turning point round which you are to find your way to the Strait-of-the-Cross, where you will find rest and perfect security, while passing through on your way to the Port of Paradise on the Celestial Shores.” He then told us that he was a Watcher, placed there by the King to look out for the reckless mariners who were continually rushing down the stream to destruction, to warn them of their danger, and to direct them to the way of deliverance.
Perceiving our inability to see clearly the dangers we were passing through, the Watcher remarked, “Your vision, which was always defective, has been sadly impaired by gazing on the dazzling glare that always surrounds those isles where you have been wandering so long in disobedience.”
Then stepping on board he gently touched our eyes with eye salve, and bade us look around for a moment. With startling clearness we now saw our perilous position, and wondered much how we had escaped destruction—the dark, frowning rock we had rounded, the lightning still darting across it, the black clouds hanging overhead, and the heavy roll of the surf from the ocean breaking on the rocks around us.
And as we thus looked with a clearer vision, we held with a tighter grasp the line that had been thrown out to us. We were also greatly surprised to see how defiled and filthy all on board had become.
Naturally unclean, even from the first, we had become still more so, through contact with the foul and polluting atmosphere of the islands of the world, where we had so long sojourned. Ashamed at the sight of our vile appearance, and writhing under the stinging rebukes of Mr. Conscience, we were completely overcome and could only find utterance in sighs and groans.
Even Captain Will was now silent and more subdued than ever before.
As for Mr. Heart, he was fairly broken down, saying that he had been the chief cause of all this evil: and then in his great distress he breathed again a deep and most fervent prayer to the Almighty and gracious Elohim: “Be merciful to me a sinner.” The cheering voice of the Watcher then told us to lift our eyes and look upward, away from ourselves.
On doing so, we beheld to our surprise close in front of us, and on the side of the rocky point near to where we were holding on, a high and beautiful tower, rising up even to the very heavens: from which a clear, steady light poured down upon us.
Inscribed on the tower in golden letters we read the words, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
“This,” said the Watcher, “is the Tower of Mercy, set up by our gracious Sovereign, to show the way of deliverance to all distressed mariners who run in here for refuge: for the King delights to show mercy, to pardon, and to save all who will turn from their evil ways.
“Here for centuries, the light of that high tower has been streaming forth across the ocean of Time, to attract the thoughtless voyagers, who are rushing down to destruction; to induce them to turn in hither for safety, and to find the way of life. Here as the King’s Watcher, I am ever on the lookout for any who thus turn aside, and the moment they round the point, I hasten forth directly to help them on their way to the Strait-of-the-Cross.
“But of the vast multitudes who pass by, only a few, alas! turn in here for refuge.
“The greater part never see the light of this tower, by reason of the thick darkness that envelopes them, which they prefer to the light, for they deliberately shut their eyes so that they may not see it. The warnings and counsels of the King’s messengers they heed not; that rocky point they greatly dread, on account of its apparent gloominess; nor will they believe that a clear and safe passage to the haven of rest on the other side of the sea has been provided for them by Prince Emmanuel, who is ever entreating them to avail themselves of it.
“By those faint-flickering lights out in the darkness yonder, whole fleets of deluded voyagers may be seen, even at this moment, passing downwards, with loud and merry shouts, for they know not whither they are going in their blind unconcern.
“Once they pass this point, there is no hope of their ever recovering themselves, or finding their way to the channel of safety.
“Some indeed have come thus far, have held on for a little while to the line thrown out to them, and have even desired to be shown the way of escape, but in a moment of unbelief, of temptation and irresolution, have let go, and have fallen back into the stream to perish.”
“Then,” said Mr. Heart, who was by this time becoming very anxious, “what shall we now do to find the way of deliverance you speak of?”
“With every sail set, and without a moment’s delay, direct your course into the Strait-of-the-Cross, which now lies open before you and close at hand, and then you will be safe.
“If you lift your eyes again, and look forward a little space, you will perceive the two great lighthouses, which stand at the entrance to the Strait, one on either side of it. They are the towers of Grace and Truth, placed there by Prince Emmanuel, which not only mark the entrance, but also clearly light up the whole way into the Strait.”
On raising our eyes and looking forward, as we were told, we now beheld right ahead and very near to us, the two grand and very high lighthouses that the Watcher called Grace and Truth, sending forth a beautifully clear and soft light, which brilliantly illuminated the whole passage.
But as we were about to hasten on to enter the Strait, being the meanwhile greatly awed by the brilliancy of those lights that shone down upon us—showing us still more plainly our defiled and miserable condition—we hesitated to proceed.
We feared to enter because of our utter unfitness, now made so manifest by the flood of light from the towers of Grace and Truth. Moreover, Mr. Heart and both our mates had some misgivings as to the channel being so near, and so easy of entrance; because they had supposed that we should have had a long and hard passage before we could reach it, with much tacking against head winds and the strong current: as we had when making for Good Works passage.
They therefore began to question and doubt among themselves if it were, indeed, the right way after all; because it appeared so much nearer and easier of access than they had expected.
“Then,” said the Watcher, “why do you doubt and hesitate? It was expressly for such as you—defiled and unworthy though you may be—that the blessed Prince Emmanuel prepared that bright and open channel, into which you are freely invited.
“Yea, a direct message comes from the Prince himself, entreating you to enter in without delay, that you may find rest and security, and a perfectly free and open passage to Paradise.”
“Well,” said Captain Will, taking the helm himself, while all hands stood ready to help as well as they were able, “let us make the attempt and strive to enter in; for certainly there appears no other way of escape from the perils of this ocean, and the awful maelstrom to which the great gulf stream rushes down.”
Still, with all our best intentions, and with every sail set, we could not move a yard, if the favoring breezes of heaven did not come to our aid.
But it so happened that just at the moment we essayed to go forward, a most propitious gale filled our sails, and quickly wafted us onward between the two light towers, directly into the smooth and tranquil Strait-of-the-Cross. The next moment, after we had entered, every eye was turned to a most wondrous sight. It was a tall cross, which stood out clearly upon a high rock before us, lit up by the brilliant light that shone upon it from the lofty towers of Grace and Truth. We had now mercifully arrived in view of the sacred spot to which the King’s messengers had so often directed us; and delighted we all were to behold it.
Then, immediately drawing near to the place where the cross stood, and fixing our earnest gaze upon it (as we had been directed), we there beheld by faith—amazing sight!—the spotless Lamb of God who had been slain for the sin of the whole world, and who had thus borne “our sins in His own body on the tree.” And as we continued to look in simple, confiding faith on that crimson stream that had flowed from His sacred veins—when full atonement for all sin was made—we were, by the perfect efficacy of that precious blood, cleansed at once, and forever, from all our sin. Whereupon a voice of heavenly sweetness—such as had never fallen upon our ears before—said, “Be of good cheer, your sins are all forgiven.” So perfectly cleansed indeed were we at that happy moment that not one spot remained upon us, for we were as white as snow.
With abounding joy we thereupon burst forth into a song of heart-felt praise:
“Oh, for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break;
And all harmonious human tongues
The Savior’s praises speak.
“Angels assist our mighty joy,
Strike all your harps of gold;
But when you raise your highest notes,
His love can ne’er be told.”
As our little hymn of praise floated upward towards heaven, we seemed to hear the echo of it wafted back from the skies in a rich stream of celestial music that filled us all with still greater wonder and delight.
“The angels above have caught up your song of praise,” said the Herald (who was sent to meet us), “and are now rejoicing over you with great joy.”
All the clouds had now entirely cleared away from the heavens, and the most delightful serenity pervaded everything around us.
For the Almighty One who “stilleth the waves of the sea,” and “gathereth the winds in His fists,” had said, “Peace be still, and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
The channel, too, was as smooth as glass, and, like a bright mirror, reflected the cloudless serenity of the heavens above.
And as we continued to gaze on that marvelous cross—for our eyes were riveted thereon—with wonder, and a deep sense of unspeakable joy and happiness, such as we had never experienced before, Mr. Heart in adoring praise exclaimed:
“O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead—
To bear all ill for me.
A victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there’s no load for me.
“Death and the curse were in our cup—
O Christ, ‘twas full for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
‘Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup—love drank it up;
Left but the love for me.
“Jehovah lifted up His rod—
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast forsaken of Thy God;
No distance now for me.
Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
“The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
O Christ, it broke on Thee;
Thy open bosom was my ward;
It bore the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me.
It was now we began, in some measure, to understand the meaning of those terrible utterings of the thunder in the storm: “It is the blood that maketh atonement for sin,” and such like words. For it was on that cross we now by faith could see the precious life of Prince Emmanuel poured out to make atonement for sin; when all the righteous claims of God’s holiness were fully met, divine justice vindicated, and a way thus opened out for sinful rebels to come into the presence of their Saviour, to be freely pardoned, justified, and blessed with eternal life.
Our eyes were also opened to see the folly of attempting to find a way of deliverance of our own, by Good Works channel, and the reason too we were driven back by the storm, seeing that the gracious Prince, at infinite cost, had provided this, the only way of escape that could have been provided.
Now, as we lingered near the sacred spot where the cross stood, a Royal barge with a special Herald from the King came quickly forth to meet and welcome us, at the sight of which we were much astonished, as we had never expected such a gracious reception.
Both Mr. Heart and Mr. Feelings were wholly overcome at this and could not find words to express their joyful surprise. Then, while we were attempting to express, with stammering tongues, our utter unworthiness of all this gracious condescension and kindness of the King, the Royal Herald saluted us with many words of comfort and encouragement, and presented us with four most precious gifts, which the Prince Emmanuel had sent expressly for us. These priceless gifts were Salvation, Peace, Rest, and Eternal life; and in the presentation of them the Herald told us they were the most costly that could be furnished from the Celestial treasury above; the cost of them being indeed so great that it never could be counted up, even by all the angels of heaven together. “They are,” said he, “the fruit of Infinite Love; and are as enduring as they are priceless, for they are now your possessions to enjoy to the endless ages of eternity.”