The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-10

hour of danger is the hour following
the most inspiring experiences The
Valley lies just past the Palace.
The palace precedes the Valley:
there is a special preparation for
every extraordinary experience that is
to tie undergone. God arms his SOL
diers for all approaching battles.
This has been a rare summer to
many Christians. They have been
permitted to attend great conventions
and conferences which have seemed
to them veritable mountains of trans
figuratiOn. Or. to adhere to the
figure of Pilgrims Progress. they have
been Toasted and furnished in the
Palace Beautiful, whence they have
caught visions of the Detachable
Mountains. 1t has seemed as if life
can never again be the same to them.
But let them eware. 1t may be that
the Valley of Humiliation lies just be-
fore them. An the equipment of
their great experience will be needed
to deliver them from peculiar beset-
ments and temptations that await
them. The power of the palace will
be their succori in the valley.
No armor was provided for Chris
tiap's back. There is no provision
made. for the defeat of the Kings sol
diers on the Kings highway.
No amount of emotion or glow. and
no sublime and %ecstatic experience,
can deliver a Christian from the ne
ceSsity of fighting With the powers OF
darkness.
The worlds greatest wars are spirit.
ual. The soul is the bloodiest battle
ground. And in these conflicts there
are no ubiquitous war correspondents,
no spectators. and no glory except the
victory itself and the consciousness OF
the Kings We'll lone" A man may
be fighting for his very life, spiritually
at lifetime when his n~eighbors are adj
miring or envying him.
Talk plainly to the tempter. Don't
bubble and eVade and try to be po-
lite. A victory is almost won when 8
Christian can look the devil in the
face and tell him that he is the dev
Listen to the ring of these words OF
Christian:- 20 thou destroying Apoll-
yon, | like his (my Prince's) service
his wages, his government, his COM
pany, and his country better than
thine"
Evil can rarely stand being called
by its proper name.
Beyond the Valley of Humiliation
lies the Valley of the Shadow of
Death. This is the dread of most
souls. Death has come to be called
: the king of terrOrS.' Before him the
most daring spirits quail. The world
will not soon forget the picture of
the Sultan of Turkey, hen the com
mittee from the Young Turks went to
Yildiz Kiosk to announce his deposi-
ton, as he fell cringing and covering
before them, bidding them take all.
but only spare his life.
Death is most dreadful to the worst
and least fearful to the best. For it
is one of the enemies conquered bv
Christ, SO that Christians nave learned
to cry, with the apostle, 20 death!
where is thy sting?' o grave. where
is thy victory"
Any Christian who has been at close
grip with death, and who has felt all
the physical sensations which death
can inflict, has no fear of it. To such,
death is one of the least Of life's ills.
Frederic Lawrence Knowles sang
wisely of death in the lines:
Nay, Why should I fear Death.
Who gives us life, and in exchange
takes breath
The lordliest of all
Life lends us the only feet, Death gives
US wings!
Q all we frightened folk.
! Whether ye wear a crown or bear q
yoke.
Laid in one equal bed.
When once your coverlet o. grass is
spread.
What daybreak need you fear?
The owe will rule you there which
guides you here.-.
Sc~ythe-bearer, when thy blade
HarvestS my flesh, let me be I'M
afraid 81