With saddened feelings we turned from the contemplation of this painful scene, thanking our gracious Father again and again for delivering us from the dreadful delusions of the Doubting Demon.
A few days later we sighted a couple of curiously rigged barks, going apparently in the same direction as ourselves, but whose motions seemed peculiar and somewhat erratic.
As they progressed but slowly, and appeared to tack about a good deal more than was necessary with the wind then blowing, we soon caught up to them; and when we had approached near enough, we saw that one of them had just run aground. From our charts we then found that we had come to the great shoals which extend thence for many a league, and in a certain direction even to the other side of the ocean, and known as the Proving Shoals. They lay directly in our course, and all voyagers to the Celestial Shores must needs pass over them.
Now as soon as we were perceived by the crew of the stranded boat, they quickly ran up their colors, when we were particularly struck with the profusion of flags that were hoisted, all bearing the symbols of the Christian profession.
Thinking that a brother voyager might be in difficulties, we hastened on to offer any assistance we might be able to render; and as soon as we were within hailing distance, our Captain inquired, “Whither bound, comrade?”
“To the Celestial Shores,” was the prompt reply, “whither we presume you are also bound, judging by your colors.”
“But you are aground, are you not?” said Captain Will.
“Oh yes, but that has often happened to us before, when the tides are low, and the current drives us upon these disagreeable sandbanks.”
We then noticed they were very heavily laden and drawing much water, which was evidently the real cause of their grounding.
To this our Pilot directed their attention and advised them to throw some of their cargo overboard, so as to lighten their vessel.
Stranger. “Oh no indeed, we could never think of doing so, for we are only just properly ballasted; and could not venture to throw anything overboard, lest we become top-heavy, and be capsized in the first stiff breeze.”
Pilot. “But may I ask by what channel you came hither?”
Stranger. “By the well-known channel of Good Works, marked in our charts, and recommended by all good pilots as the nearest and best way.”
Pilot. “But know you not that our gracious King has directed that all who would reach the Celestial Shores must pass through the all-important Strait-of-the-Cross, so very prominently and distinctly pointed out in the Royal charts; and that all who attempt to get into the King’s course by any other passage are presumptuous intruders, who cannot in any wise reach the Port of Paradise?
“Besides, it is plainly recorded in the charts that no one can possibly enter into the Port of Paradise who has not received his proper credentials or passports, prepared expressly by Prince Emmanuel (secured by the efficacy of His atoning work) and given to all believers who enter into the right course by the Strait-of-the-Cross.”
Stranger. “We have often heard people talk a great deal dogmatically about that channel, but never could see why it should be necessary to go by such a strange and out of the way passage, and round that ugly rock which they say leads to it, when we have a much more obvious and nearer way, such as that by which we have come. Besides, are we not clearly told in the King’s Directory that, ‘To fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man’? Are we not also told to, ‘Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling’?”
Pilot. “Truly, those instructive words are given to us by the King, but in your application of them you put them quite out of their proper order, like the man who places the cart before the horse.
“How can those who are dead in trespasses and sins (as all the unconverted are) fear God and keep his commandments? They must first have life, and then it will be their duty and privilege to keep the commandments of God. Furthermore, how can we work out that which we have not?
“We must first possess salvation before we can work or carry it out into our lives: and be it remembered those words are addressed not to sinners but to saints, who are enjoined to exemplify in their daily conduct the salvation already wrought in their hearts by the power of God, and thus be consistent Christians in all things. Our blessed Prince Emmanuel has also told us to ‘Strive to enter at the strait gate and the narrow way that leadeth into life.’ This is the first starting point of the new life; and it is therefore absolutely essential that we should enter in by this channel, (in which alone we can receive our necessary certificates attested and sealed by the King) in order to obtain eternal life, and find our way to the Celestial shores.
“All who thus fairly start by the divinely appointed way do no doubt ever after strive to keep the commandments of God, from a principle of love to their deliverer, which constitutes the second, but certainly not the first part of the Christian’s life.”
Stranger. “Well, but does not that come to the same thing in the end as keeping the commandments and attending to all necessary good works? agreeable to the saying of one of the Apostles, ‘What doth it profit though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? and ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.’”
Pilot. “Very true again, these are indeed the words of Holy Writ, and words of the highest wisdom; in perfect keeping, moreover, with every part of the sacred Word, when rightly understood and put in their proper order, as the Apostle puts them.
“For is it not evident that the Apostle would show us that there may be a kind of faith—such as the devils have, who ‘believe and tremble’—which is mere head knowledge, that affects neither the heart nor the life? And, moreover, that the true or genuine faith by which we are brought into the way of salvation always manifests itself by good works—not that we are saved by those works (which would be impossible), but by faith, which cometh first; then do works follow and show that the faith by which we are saved is the true or genuine kind: as the same Apostle says ‘Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone’; because such a faith as is not followed by works, is clearly not true faith at all, but a dead intellectual belief. Besides, another Apostle tells us very plainly, ‘By grace are ye saved through faith; [that is, the genuine faith that shows itself by works] and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.’
“Furthermore, as a fruit of that true faith, we are brought under the power of God, by which alone we can perform any works that are pleasing in His sight: ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’”
Stranger. “Still, if we do keep all His ordinances and the rules He has given to us, may that not be as good a way as the one you speak of?”
Pilot. Permit me to ask, did you not in passing through Good Works channel encounter a great thunderstorm, and did you not hear the awful words of a great voice saying, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission,” and such like words?
Stranger. Yes, we certainly did meet with a rather severe storm there; the roar of the thunder too was loud and terrible; and if there were utterances in that roar, they were to us like the sounds of a foreign tongue, which we understood not, and so passed on our way.
By this time the officers and crew of the stranger were toiling heavily to get their boat over the shoals, and when they happened at times to float a little, as the tide rose, they seemed to be busily engaged in striving to work on their way by means of paddles, oars, and such like contrivances; while they strangely appeared to pay much less attention to their sails than to the display of their banners.
Seeing we could not be of any service to them, nor induce them to retrace their steps and enter by the right channel, we hastened on our way, leaving them still stranded and vainly striving to move on.
Then, on looking forward, we perceived that the companion vessel had also run aground on the shoals, some distance ahead.
On drawing near we saw that they too had hoisted the Christian colors, but were, like their companion, heavily laden and very deep in the water.
In answer to our inquiry if they had come through the Strait-of-the-Cross, they replied, “We have come by the Eastern passage, the good old way of true religion, known to all the prophets and fathers of old, even from the beginning of all things. That anciently appointed way of the King, through which so many voyagers have found their way to the Port of Paradise, is the first great passage, out of which the narrow channel—the Strait-of-the-Cross—proceedeth, and then runneth parallel to it, for they are in reality but one channel. Then from this most ancient passage, through which we have come, the sacred cross is always full in view, though at some little distance off. We have therefore all the comfort of it, without going out of our way to reach it. In order, however, that we might have the image of that holy cross in remembrance and constantly before us (to look upon in times of trouble or distress) we have brought with us these sacred models of it, which we purchased in the great Sacerdotal mart, established for ages in that holy channel of Religion, through which all good and pious pilgrims pass.
“There, too, we bought our various vestments and other holy things, without which no voyager can hope to make a happy and successful voyage across this perilous ocean.”
Then we observed in the bow of this singular looking craft a huge gilt cross, another near the stern, and many other crosses displayed in rich colors upon their numerous flags.
In addition to these, a great number of curiously wrought utensils of ecclesiastical make were being arranged for some great ceremonial display. Suddenly the sound of tinkling bells was heard, and clouds of perfumed smoke arose, amid the blaze of huge candles and gorgeous lamps, though it was high noon at the time. Apparently to give further effect to all this, loud strains of music and some strange monotonic chants burst forth, and were continued for some time, while all on board seemed in a state of great activity. Standing before their great crosses and gazing intently thereon, they reverently bowed, then turning round they bowed again and again, a number of times, while many words in some foreign tongue were being rapidly muttered or chanted.
Wondering what connection these extraordinary proceedings could have with the navigation of their vessel, as it appeared to us at the time that, instead of all this, they should have been exerting themselves to clear the shoals by lightening their boat and hoisting their sails to catch the favorable wind that was then blowing, we made inquiry. After we had waited awhile until they had finished their performances, one of the officers replied by first expressing his surprise at our ignorance, and then remarked: “Are not these the rites and ordinances of an ornate service appointed by the good King Elohim, to be observed by all mariners who cross this ocean; and is it not by thus keeping the commandments of the King and following all His directions, we are to work our way safely and surely to the Celestial Shores? Is it not further said, that ‘We have an altar’? And have not our forefathers, even all the holy saints and prophets for many centuries, worshipped the great King by presenting costly gifts and sacrifices on their altars, while clad in their beautiful and becoming robes: strictly in accordance with the commands of the King Himself?
“Even the illustrious King Solomon appointed (under divine direction) the courses of the priests; and we are informed that those priests who served in his grand temple ‘were arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, and stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets’; and, furthermore, that ‘when they lifted up their voice, with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord.’ You see, therefore, from these sacred references that we are but following the example of the good and wise King Solomon, who, in all these holy observances, acted according to divine instruction. Besides, it is by these ornate and beautiful services (in which the King has always taken great delight) that we show our submission and allegiance to His Majesty, and thus obtain His blessing, the forgiveness of our sins, and help to pursue our voyage aright; so that we may be sure of a safe landing in the haven of rest on the other side. By having also the holy symbol of the cross on board (which we perceive you have neglected to display) and always before our eyes, we are still more sure of securing the favor and protection of the mighty Prince Emmanuel, in all emergencies, and especially when we come to the end of our voyage.
“For is it not the symbol of His passion and holy work, and the visible sign and proof that we are His followers? And as they said so, they all made rapid and curious passes with their hands across their bodies and foreheads, keeping their eyes intently fixed upon their crosses and images.”
Judging from their statements and strange observances that these unfortunate mariners were laboring under some sad delusion—as not having entered by the right way they could not have found the needful cleansing and deliverance, secured only at the true Cross—we remarked to the officer who had addressed us, “You have surely mistaken the grand purpose of the King and Prince Emmanuel in the great work of redemption, accomplished on Calvary, and consummated in the triumphant resurrection and ascension of the Prince. For by that glorious work all the ancient types and shadows have been fulfilled and no longer needed; the ordinances and services of a former dispensation superseded; and all the modes of worship and approach to the King entirely changed by the appointment of ‘a new and living way.’ Therefore in the book to the Hebrews we are told how all this marvelous change has been accomplished.
“For it is written, ‘The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.’ And again it hath been said of the King, ‘In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.’
“Now the time of this reformation has come; for our adorable Prince by His death and resurrection has brought it to pass: and ‘after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; for by one offering, he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.’”
Scarcely had we concluded these remarks before several of their officers, dressed in richly colored robes, hurried off to the performance of their ceremonies again. Then followed louder strains of music with more incense burning, and many more bowings, crossings, and various singular genuflections.
Meanwhile they were still aground—their sails flapping idly in the wind—while they apparently made no effort to move on their way. So, we addressed them again: “If a storm should arise while you are still aground, you may be wrecked on these dangerous shoals.”
“Aground!” indignantly replied their chief officer. “Why, no we are not; you are quite mistaken. Sometimes indeed we do lightly touch, as all must do at times, in these shallow waters; but with the aid of the full tide, and strict attention to all our holy services (as we are commanded) we are soon off again: and so we work our way onwards slowly but surely to the better land.”
So there we left them, still struggling, and exhibiting immense activity in their own strange deluded way, but without making the slightest progress; and as there seemed very little hope of our being able to help or lead them into the right way, we sailed on our course, with a fresh pleasant breeze that helped us on apace.