“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.
I saw in the first part of the valley some of Satan’s shrewdest agents at work. They were stationed along the Narrow Path at close intervals, and were endeavoring, by all kinds of schemes, to attract the attention of Christians as they journeyed through the valley.
From one point they threw a hook baited with wealth over to the edge of the King’s Highway way. I saw an ambitious Christian, contrary to the signs of warning and all advice, eagerly grasp this bait. Then did the agents of Satan pull gently. The man seeing a clue to wealth in his hand would not let it go, and so was drawn slowly and unconsciously over into the territory of the World. He did not see the strand that drew him, for it was invisible, nor was he conscious of being thus drawn, having his mind so fixed upon the object of his earnest pursuit.
Thus do these agents ply their nefarious skill without ceasing, and so have drawn large numbers away from their original faith.
Another agent I saw near-by throwing out a hook baited with fame. An ambitious youth let go all he had and seized the baited hook with singular avidity. It inspired him with inward hope, and he became so engaged in thinking of his golden future that he followed whither the gentle drawing led him, until he also reached the questionable ground of the World. There he became still further entangled until he was utterly under the sway of the tempter.