Now, after we had proceeded some distance into the Strait, it appeared to grow narrower as we advanced; and the high projecting cliffs on either side that hemmed us in this cavern-like passage presented another gloomy prospect before us. Some of our officers then began to think we had again missed our way, Mr. Heart, too, fancying we were led into this trying channel on account of our late wandering—especially as Mr. Conscience was continually chiding us for our weakness and folly in turning aside into the alluring channel of Worldly-desires, while none of us dared answer him a word.
When we got into the narrowest part, where the high dark cliffs nearly shut out the light of day, we oftentimes struck against the rocks, not seeing how to steer in the midst of such perplexing gloom. Vague terrors also took possession of us, while strange unearthly sounds seemed to reverberate among the rocks and deep caverns around us; and dreary birds of the night flapped their heavy wings in our faces.
Greatly afraid, we began to doubt as to whether we should go forward or turn back, when Mr. Feelings startled us by exclaiming, “Can this be our Father’s way?” and the wild birds in their loud screams seemed to echo back the sounds of his voice, as if in strange mockery.
Our faith being now sorely tried, by reason of the extreme narrowness of the channel, the beetling rocks, the partial gloom, and the murmuring sounds of our own voices echoed back to us, we lay to for a while, afraid to venture further, not seeing our way, or knowing what was before us.
But on consulting our charts and finding that we were now passing through the Narrows of Trouble and Adversity, and, furthermore, that many encouraging promises of divine help and comfort to all that passed that way were also recorded, we began to regain confidence. Happily, we had learned by this time whence help could always be found in every time of need; so we all united our voices with Mr. Heart’s in fervent prayer, “Give us help in trouble, for vain is the help of man.”
No sooner had we thus cried—yea while we were yet speaking—than the voice of the Holy Comforter rose again like sweet music to cheer and comfort us, saying, “I the Lord will hold thy right hand...fear not I will help thee.” Then we calmly passed on through those most trying narrows, gently conducted by the invisible hand of our Almighty Father into a wider space, where light and joy awaited us.
Thus we found again, as on former occasions, that notwithstanding all our weaknesses and failures, and our sad murmurings too, our gracious King made every experience—even our passage through those gloomy narrows—a fruitful source of blessing and joy direct from Himself.
Again it was given us to sing our happy songs of deliverance, saying, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret tabernacles shall He hide me.”
“What though it be a narrow way,
With rocky cliffs on either side,
And foes harass us day by day;
While tossing on that stormy tide.
“What though around us troubles close,
And darkest shadows cloud our way,
When thus our Heavenly Father shows
Himself so near, to give such joy.
“Then welcome trials, coming thus,
Laden with blessings rich and rare;
Fresh from the King in plenteous grace,
With which none other can compare.”
Though now sailing on in happy trustfulness, the presence of the high cliffs of Trial and Tribulation on either side reminded us that we were still in Conflict Channel, and that further trials might be in store for us before we finally got through.
Remembering, however, how we had always been so mercifully helped, and relying on the many faithful promises of our good King and Prince Emmanuel, we kept our sails full to the wind in humble confidence, Mr. Heart repeating to us the meanwhile that most comforting promise which the Holy One had taught him: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” This was our watchword for the day, that inspired us with fresh strength and consolation.
Although the channel was now somewhat wider, it was beset with numerous rocks; and our lookout soon announced some dark breakers ahead. When we had cautiously approached these breakers, that lay directly in our course, we observed several intricate passages between them which, it would seem, led to the same point on the other side.
A number of buoys were also placed along these passages with directions thereon to serve as guides to all who passed that way.
One of these buoys marked an extremely difficult passage, on which we read, Job’s Strait, on the one side, and Patience on the other; in passing through which, an ancient mariner had been most wonderfully preserved from shipwreck. Another buoy had inscribed on it the Sorrows of David, a third the Afflictions of Paul; and several others marked the passages through which eminent saints and servants of the King had passed during their one great Voyage of Life.
We now became aware, according to our charts, that we had come to the trying Straits of Affliction; where many servants of the King, from time immemorial, had been severely tried; being tossed about by overpowering tempests there, and sometimes thrown heavily upon the breakers, and much bruised; as they wearily toiled through those intricate passages.
Fierce storms usually swept over these parts, (coming from the high mountains of pride and disobedience) and the roar of the great waves as they broke on the rocks was enough to alarm and terrify the stoutest hearts, when once they had fairly entered the straits.
When we had been carried by a strong wind into one of the straits, and saw the huge breakers close to us on the right hand and on the left, while the swelling billows dashed against us, and sometimes over us, we began to be much afraid again; and then loudly cried for help. It was indeed a trying moment, and we thought it might prove our last, and that our dissolution was near at hand.
By this time however Mr. Heart was again closely communing with the Holy Presence, and saying, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee,” while both the Captain and our worthy Pilot were in charge of the helm and steering steadily, and all hands were on the watch, ready for any emergency, so that we continued to pass slowly onward, by threading our way most circumspectly.
Still, with all our care, as the channel became so extremely narrow, we could not avoid running aground; and being thus suddenly brought to a stand still, the terrifying waves rolled over us again and again, producing much further distress on board.
“What can we now do,” inquired Mr. Feelings who was greatly depressed.
“Be still,” answered Mr. Conscience, “and wait to hear again what our divine Helper may have to say to us in these fresh trials of affliction; for we have surely learned already that it is our ‘strength to sit still,’ and that the ‘Strength of the Mighty One, is made perfect in weakness.’”
Then, in the midst of our distress, when it seemed as if we should be broken to pieces by the violence of those billows, we heard again that most blessed voice which had so often cheered us in previous trials, saying in more emphatic tones than ever before, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee, surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh thee.”
Thus it came to pass in this our most trying hour of need, while helplessly stranded on those dark breakers, with the heavy billows surging around us, we were enabled to realize a more delightful sense of nearness to the Divine Presence that we had ever experienced during all our previous voyage.
Our thanks, our praises and adoration then ascended up to heaven, as one and all united in saying “Glory to God in the highest”; while Captain Will, now wholly subdued, added in broken accents “Thy will be done.”
The gentle touch of our Father’s hand was upon us, and we all felt its marvelous power; while the quiet rest, and perfect assurance of safety that followed, made us forget for a while the breakers and the billows around us.
“‘Tis when we’re at our lowest,
We find our sweetest rest:
‘Tis then our souls are brightest,
The lowly place is best.
“‘Tis there our Father’s presence,
Is felt so very near;
Diffusing love’s bright radiance,
The stricken heart to cheer.
“When trials are the hardest,
In sad afflictions’ strait,
‘Tis then His voice is softest,
In whispers of delight.”
Being still aground, we began to consider by what means we might be enabled to clear the banks and proceed on our voyage.
Casting our eyes around for a moment, as the waves had now considerably subsided, we were attracted by a very tall pillar standing out clearly against the bright blue sky in the center of the Straits. And from our charts we found that it was Prince Emmanuel’s Column, erected there by the King to commemorate the passage of the Prince through these Straits; and it bore the remarkable words: “In all their afflictions He was afflicted.” “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
The sight of this wonderful column, and those amazing words, had a most happy effect upon us at such a moment; for it further consoled us with the cheering reflection that our blessed Prince could fully sympathize with us in every difficulty we encountered while passing through those trying Straits; because He Himself had passed that way, and had endured all the trials and difficulties connected with the place.
With all these comforting assurances, we could now calmly wait for heavenly assistance.
In the meantime, we took soundings to try the depths of the stream around us, hoping soon, with the help we were waiting for, to float again and proceed onwards.
But we found that the stream was the shallowest we had ever been in.
Thereupon, Mr. Conscience remarked, “It is evident that we must lighten our vessel yet more, so as to pass through these shallow Straits, for I perceive we are still too heavily burdened with the things of earth to pass over in a safe and satisfactory manner.”
Without further ado, our stern Monitor then took his lamp again, and bade us follow him below to help in a still more thorough search than we had made on the Shallows of Humiliation.
After we had carefully examined our hold and found in some of its dark recesses many more things that should not have been there and had them cast overboard, we turned our special attention to our officers’ cabins, where we suspected the chief hindrance to our progress lay. And though a most patient and diligent search was continued for a long while, we failed to discover anything that appeared bulky or heavy enough to weigh us down or hinder our advance. But on consulting our directory, we were led to examine a peculiar material that had hitherto escaped our scrutiny. This was a bright, glittering substance that we had considered a necessary part of our equipment, and which was highly prized by Mr. Heart and our first and second mates. For it was with this material that those officers made their fine polished mirrors, to behold and admire themselves withal; and sundry decorative ornaments to be admired by others. This showy and much esteemed substance was known to all on board by the beautiful name of Spirituality: but it had not the true stamp or quality expressed by that heaven-born word. It was indeed nothing more than a spurious and ingeniously contrived imitation of that holy attribute, known to all saints as True Spirituality, with which we had been amply provided by the presence of the Holy One; though it was often confounded with the spurious, and thus sadly marred. But this was a specious counterfeit that had deceived thousands by its attractive glitter, which could not for a moment bear the light of heaven. So we found it was called in our Directory Spiritual Pride, and described as a most loathsome thing in the eyes of our holy King; and further that it had its origin in the breath of the serpent in Eden, when he said, “Ye shall be as gods.”
We learned, also, that the presence of this hateful thing on board had proved a sad snare and hindrance to many heaven-bound mariners, inducing them to waste their precious time with their sinful self-admiring mirrors and proud ornaments to secure the praise of their fellow voyagers. In this way it had caused vast numbers to be stranded on these and other shallows for many a long day, when they should have been steadfastly holding on their way, and in active service bearing a true and faithful testimony to the praise and glory of our King and Prince Emmanuel. It was on account of this very thing that a noted servant of God was brought here and buffeted on these shoals, that he might be cleared and delivered from it; and fortunately at the end of his trial he could happily say, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Now in striving to rid ourselves of this odious thing called Spiritual Pride, we encountered greater difficulty than with any other of the encumbrances, that had weighed us down and hindered our progress. Because our chief officers, who esteemed it so highly, were very loath to part with it, and who were—in spite of Mr. Conscience’s remonstrances—continually hiding it in the secret corners of their cabins. Consequently, we were detained for many days on these shallows, to our sorrow and the great grief of our good Pilot. At length however we were enabled to throw overboard sufficient to lighten our boat and float again; but we were never able, alas! to dislodge the whole of it.
Having now got under way again, with all our sails unfurled to the freshening breeze, we hopefully passed on our course, winding our way cautiously through the remaining portion of those trying Straits; when the help we were waiting for came at length, and we were borne along safely and quickly through those narrow passages, into a clear and open sea on the farther side.
As we passed the Prince’s tall and remarkable column, (which reflected a soft and mellow glow of light over all those Straits of Affliction), we saw on what now appeared to be its pedestal the marvelous words in bright golden letters: “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
“See,” said Mr. Heart, “in those golden words, the crowning joy and glory that are ever connected with all our trials and afflictions; and the amazing goodness of our gracious King in turning everything we have had to encounter, while passing through the trying Channel of Conflict, (so much feared by us all on entering it) into the richest and most precious of blessings.”
“Aye indeed,” said Mr. Feelings, with much emotion, “turning bitterness into sweetness, sorrow into gladness, fear into courage, trouble into comfort, and changing even weakness itself into strength. Who but the Almighty One could do this?”
“Herein,” remarked Mr. Conscience, who now looked in the best of health and spirits, with sunshine beaming in his countenance, “we have for ourselves proved beyond all doubt the truth of those excellent words of the great Apostle, and can confidently say with him, ‘We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’
“This day let these priceless words be recorded in our logbook, as a memorial of the many happy deliverances we have experienced during our late trials and conflicts.”
“Yes, and to these we might assuredly add,” said Mr. Thoughts, “the saying of God’s people of old, ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us,’” which was also gladly recorded.