The Rocky Island | Page 5

a moment, and the poor child in it drowned.
And now I turned to three or four boats which had kept together from
the time they left the harbour. Few were forwarder than they; few had
smoother water or more prosperous gales. I could see, when I looked
close into their faces, that they were all children of one family; and that
all the voyage through they were helping, cheering, and directing one
another. As I watched their ways, I noticed this, too, which seemed
wonderful. If one of them had got into some trouble with its tackle, and
the others stayed awhile to help it, and to bring it on its way, instead of
losing ground by this their kindness, they seemed all to make the
greater progress, and press on the further in their course.
And now I longed to see the ending of this voyage; and so looking on
to those which were most forward, I resolved to trace them to the end.
Then I found that all, without exception, came into a belt of storms and
darkness before they reached the happy land. True, it was much

rougher and more dark with some than others; but to every one there
was a deep night and a troubled sea. I saw, too, that when they reached
this place, they were always parted one from another. Even those which
had kept most close together all the voyage before, until just upon the
edge of this dark part, they, like the rest, were scattered here, and toiled
on awhile singly and alone.
They seemed to me to fare the best who entered on it with the fullest
sails, and had kept hitherto the straightest course. Indeed, as a common
rule I found this always true--that those who had watched the compass,
and held the rudder, and cheered themselves with the appointed music,
and eaten the master's bread, and steered straight after him, they passed
through this cloud and darkness easily and swiftly.
Next to these were those who sought most earnestly to cheer its gloom
with the sound of their appointed music. The Lord of these seas, indeed,
had many ways of cheering His followers. Even in the thickest of that
darkness His face of beaming love would look out upon them; and He
seemed nearer to them then than He had done heretofore through all
their voyage.
Then, moreover, it was never long; and bright light lay beyond it. For
they passed straight out of it into "the haven where they would be."
Sweet sounds broke upon their glad ears even as they left that darkness.
A great crowd of happy children--parents who had gone before
them--friends whom they had loved, and holy persons whose names
they had long known--these all lined the banks, waiting to receive and
welcome them. Amidst these moved up and down shining forms of
beautiful beings, such as the children's eyes had seen only in some
happy dream; and they, too, were their friends; they, too, waited for
them on the bank; they, too, welcomed them with singing, and bore the
happy new-comer with songs of triumph into the shining presence of
the merciful King. Then, on the throne royal, and with the glorious
crown upon His head, they saw the same kind face of gentle majesty
which had looked upon them when they played on the shores of that far
rocky isle. They heard again the voice which had bid them fly the
burning mountain. They saw Him who had taken them into His convoy;

who had given them their boats; who had been near them in the storm;
who had given them light in the darkness; who had helped them in the
dull calm; who had never left them; but who had kept and guided them
across the ocean; and who now received them to His never- ending rest.
* * * * *
Father. Who are the children playing on the shores of the rocky island?
Child. The fallen children of fallen parents, born into this sinful world.
F. What does the burning mountain, and the lightning, and the
hill-storm, represent?
C. The wrath of God ever burning against sinners.
F. Who is He who warned these thoughtless children?
C. The Lord Jesus, who, by His ministers, warns men to "flee from the
wrath to come."
F. What are the boats by which they are to escape?
C. The "ark of Christ's Church," into which we are admitted by
baptism.
F. Many of the children who embarked in the boats were lost,--what is
shewn by this?
C. That it is not enough to be received into the congregation of Christ's
flock; but that we must always "manfully fight under His banner
against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and continue Christ's