World with more than poetry in her glance, for her heart was now
thrilled with the first touches of true love for him.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE VALLEY OF TEMPTATION.
1. In this valley the two great Highways run almost parallel.
2. The intervening ground is all alive with Satan's schemes to entice,
entrap and discourage Christians.
3. The operation of Christian forces in this valley.
After leaving the Hill of Remorse and the pleasure grounds of Apathy, Mr.
World and Miss Church-Member proceeded on the Broad Highway which now
gradually sloped toward a deep valley.
"What is the name of the valley which we are now entering?" inquired
Miss Church-Member.
"'Tis but the Valley of Temptation," he carelessly answered.
"Ah! I have heard of this valley," she replied. "Whenever I was tempted
or tried on the King's Highway some one would caution: 'Be courageous,
for you must go through the Valley of Temptation.' I am thankful, as
I come to it, that I am on a Broader Way."
"Many call this valley 'Entanglement,'" further continued Mr. World,
"because of the large numbers who are here caught by the devices all
along the way." I saw the whole valley in one view. It was very wide
and more than a thousand experiences long and, from one end to the
other, there were constant scenes of activity. The King's Highway and
the Broad Highway ran almost parallel throughout the whole length of
the valley.
The entire space between the two paths was occupied by the agents of
Satan, and by numerous rescue bands and missionary organizations of
the King's Highway Church.
I was informed that no traveler, who knows the experiences of life,
ever escaped this valley. But the King of Glory gives his children
assurance of no harm if they will heed his words and step not from the
path upon any pretence. He has also placed, in plain view, countless
signs of warning to keep his pilgrims from yielding to temptation, as
it presents itself, with or without mask; and they who pass these
testing-places in triumph are counted stable in their ways.
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