Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-12
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

who has never read, and been thrilled
| by, the great duel between Apollyon
and Christian in the Valley Of Humil-
| iation, as John Bunyan has described
| it. Neither the theology nor the I'M
agery of this great allegory Is In all
points perfect, yet 1t Is for youth to
know that whosoever sets out on the
way of righteousness will have hot
foes to face and bitter fighting to un-
dergo. We are so emphasizing the
beauty and dignit..- of human nature
| in these days, that we are in danger
of losing sight Of the fact that char
acter must be fought for. The battles
on the field of Man-soul are the
fiercest heaven witnesses The duel
with evil is one that no person can
escape. and yet win to celestial
heights. Moreover, though the teach
er is not particularly popular nova
days, let 1t not be forgotten that in
this life there are malignant forces
within us and about us that seek tc
destroy all holy aspirations and en-
| deavors.
The devil has gone out Of fashion,
but not out of business.
After the Palace comes the Valley.
Pilgrim had enjoyed the delights and
comforts Of Christian fellowship. lie
| had been newly armed and prepared
for his journey. Never had his choice
seemed SO wise, his way SO desirable.
or his end SO sure, as when the sweet
maidens escorted him forth from the
Palace to renew his pilgrimage. Right
ahead, though, lay the Valley of HUI
initiation, and the foul fiend Apollyon.
The picture is true to nature. Reac-
| ton always follows eXaltation. De.
preston travels close in the train of
elation The hour of danger is the
hour following the most inspiring ex-
periences. The Valley les just past
| the Palace.
The Palace precedes the Valley;
there is a special preparation for
every extraordinary experience that
is to be undergone. God arms his sol
diers for all approaching battles.
/ This has been rare summer to
r,-ny Christians. They have been
| per lifted to attend great conventions
an dconferences which have seemc I
| to them veritable Mountains of Trans
! fguration. Or, to adhere to the figure
of Pilgrims Progress, they have been
| Toasted and furnished in the Palace
Beautiful whence they nave caught
visions of the Detachable Mountains.
1t has seemed as if life can never
again be the same to them. But let
them beware. 1t may be that the Val
| SO ikc i11ct
them. All the equipment of their
great experience will be needed to de
liver them from peculiar besetments
and temptations that await them. The
power of the palace will be their sue
cor in the valley.
No armor was provided for Chris
tians back There is no provision
made for the de1e1 of the Kings
soldiers on the Kings highway.
No amount of emotion or glow, ant
no sublime and ecstatic experience
can deliver a Christian from the ne
cessity of fighting with the powers o
darkness.
The worlds greatest wars are spir
itual. The soul is the bloodiest bat
tleground And in these conflict
there are no ubiquitous war CORES
pondents, no spectators, AMI no glor,
except the victory itself and the cor
seriousness of the Kings well done.
A man may be fighting for his YER
life, spiritually, at the time when hi
neighbors are adrliring or envyin
him.
Talk plainly to The tempter. Don
bubble and evade and try to be polite
4 A victory is almost won when Chri:
tian can look the devil in the, face an
4 tell him that he is the devil. Liste
l to the ring of these words Of Chri'
4 tan: 20 thou destroying Apollyor
like his (my Prince's) service, hi
4 wages, his government, his compan.
4 and his country better than thine.
Evil can rarely stand being CALI
n by its proper name.
8 Beyond the Valley of Humiliatio
q lies the Valley of the Shadow {
q Death. This is the dread of mo:
4 souls. Death has rome, to be Gale
d the king of terrors." Before hi
9 the most daring spirits quail. Tt
=. .