2. The blessed work of Warning as given by rescue bands from the King’s Highway.
3. The heedless throngs passing by.
4. The experiences at this place of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member.
There was a joyful meeting in the reception room of the Hospital when Mr. World, returning from his underground experiences, met his beloved friend Miss Church-Member who had recovered sufficiently to resume the journey.
In joyful spirits they sauntered forth on the wide and pleasant path, away from the Hospital and toward their imaginary Heaven.
Miss Church-Member’s face was more cheerful and her footsteps more buoyant than at any time since she left the Valley of Conviction.
Mr. World, observing her favorable condition, complimented her with these words: “Blessed be the memory of that Hospital, for I can see that your face is no more covered with the cloud of care that once robbed you of so many joys. The unkind intruder has drifted away, and now the light radiates from your every feature. It is also plainly evident that you are no more tormented by a troubled conscience.”
“I am glad that my sufferings have not been in vain,” she modestly declared. “May the new light which you so readily notice in my face add to the pleasantness of our journey and the profit of our lives.” Their conversation grew more and more pleasant as they passed through a long stretch of woodland. They could see beyond, them, and in the rear, the legions that were traveling the same path and in the same direction.
Emerging from the woodland they saw that their path came again in close proximity to the King’s Highway.
The intervening space between the two paths, called the Wicked Valley, was all astir with every form of evil as practiced in the world of sin. In this vale nearly every traveler on the Broad Highway tarries awhile, and many are lured away from the Highway of the King here to mingle with the servants of Mammon.