L. , , J mayor, he has set up one Mr. Lustmgs ;

and, for recorder, Mr. Forget-good ; two of the vilest of all the town of Mansoul. This faithful messenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgesses Diabolus had made ; also that he had built several strong forts, towers, and strong holds in Man- soul. He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul into arms, the bet- ter to capacitate them on his behalf, to make resistance against Shaddai their King, should he come to reduce them to their former obedience.
Now the tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of
r, ■ r * ^ * * things in private, but in open court, Grief at court to ,, £. l , . . ' , • , 1 i u- c
hear the tiding. the KinS and lm Son' hl§h lords' chief 5 ' captains, and nobles, being all there
present to hear. But by that they had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that the famous Mansoul was now taken ; only the King and his Son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not every body thereof. Yet because they too would have a share in condoling the misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a rate of the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul. The King said plainly, that " it grieved him at the heart," Gen. vi. 5, 6. and you may be sure that his* Son was not a whit be- hind him. Thus they gave conviction to all about them, that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul.*
* "Known unto God are all things, from the beginning of the world." The fall was foreseen from all eternity, God, in his ur.*
Well when the King and his Son were retired ... privy chamber, they there again consulted about what The secrets of ihe* had desiSned be*ore, to wit, Tbat hisliurfxose as Mansoul should in time be suffered
to be lost ; so as certainly it should be recovered again. Recovered, I say, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this The Son consultation> tlie s°n of Shaddai (a sweet and of God comely Pers°n, and one that had always great affection for those that were in affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus, because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and dignity, Is. xlix. 5. 1 Tim. i. 15. Hos. xiii. 14.); this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken band with his Father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover Mansoul again, stood by his resolu- tion, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, That at a certain time, "1 bra-v* design Prefixcd bY boch> the Ring's Son should
tti on "foot for l*ke a J00™6? int thetoJo/Man- mverse, and there in a way of justice . J and equity, by making amends for the
follies of Mansoul, he should lay the foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus and from his tyranny.*
searchable wisdom permitted it, and provided, in the covenant of grace, for the restoration of his people.
Nothing can more awfully bespeak the extreme sinfulness and misery of man, than the words here referred to. — " It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart/' God's resentment against sin is here expressed after the manner of men, and must not be understood as implying vneasiness or change of nun d in Jehovah, but his just displeasure against sin and sinr.ers, as odious to bis holiness, and obnoxious to his justice. He is spoken of as grieved, like a person whose kindness has been abused — who has fostered a snake in his bosom, which now hisses and stings. " Doth God thus hate sin, and shall not we hate it ? Hath our sin grieved him to the heart, and shall not we be grieved to the heart for it ? O that thie consideration may humble end shame us, and that we may look upon him whom we have thus grieved and mourn." Mr. Henry on Gen. vi. 6.
* How astonishing is tlie divine benignity ! and who can express it so well as in the words of Immanuel himself (John iii. 6.) Ccd SO loved the world — so loved ! How much he loved, no tongue can tell, no heart conceive. It Is love untQii^ht, unparalleled free, and everlasting !
41
Moreover, Immamiel resolved to make, at a time con- iBy the Holy anient, a war upon the giant Diabolus,$ *U I y even while he was possessed or the town
of Mansoul ; and that he would fairly, by strength of hand, drive him out of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself, to be his habitation.
This being now resolved upon, order was given to the Lord Chief Secretary, to draw up a fair record of what Th h 1 was determined, and to cause that it should
€'ht° ^ be published in all the comers of the king- " ' dom of Universe. A short breviat of the
contents thereof, you may, if you please, take here as follows :
* Let all men know, who are concerned, that the Son of
The content* ' Shaddai> the Srcat KinS> is engaged by me contents. t covcnam to his Father,to bring hisMan-
4 soul to him again ; yea, and to put Mansoul too, through 1 his love, into a far better and more happy condition * than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus.'*
These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no little molestation of the tyrant Diabo- lus ; for now, thought he, I shall be molested, and my habitation will be taken from me.
But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King
and his Son, did at first take air at court, who can tell
how the high lords, chief captains, and noble princes that
were there, were taken with the business ! First, they
c * ,. whispered to one another.^ and after that it
\Among the , l _ ., , t 'f v. , .
■ * began to ring tnroughout the King s palace,
se s' aij Wondering at the glorious design that be-
tween the King and his Son was on foot for the misera- ble town of Mansoul : yea, the courtiers could scarcely do any thing, either for the King or kingdom, but they would mix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the King and his Son, that they had for the town of Man- soul. f Nor could these lords, high captains, and prin-
* Early intimation was given to a lost world of God's gracious design in favor of rebel man ; and the Lord designing to make the scriptures, which are inspired by the Holy Spirit, (the secre- tary) the instrument in hi* hands for his recovery, was pleased to publish in them his benevolent purpose.
f Angels desire to pry into the wonders of redemption. They would be astonished at the discovery ; a
D 2
42
ces, be content to keep this news at court ; yea, before
the records thereof were perfected, themselves came
down and told it in Universe.
At last it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his
r>- a„/„, * - no Hide discontent ; for you must think it Diabolus per- . , . , • i .• ,
til xed at the woultJ PerP*ex mm t0 near °* sucn a de- sign against him. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, he concluded upon these
four things :
First, That this news, these good tidings (if possible)
should be kept from the ears of the town of Mansoul ;
„ , , , for, said he, if they should once come
He concluded on '. . , , * . c, , , . . .
I th' &* knowledge, that Shade! ai their
* ' former King, and Immanuel his Son, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can be expected by me, but that Mansoul will revolt from un- der my hand and government, and return again to him.* Now to accomplish this his design, he renews his flat- tery with my Lord Will-be-will, and also gives him strict „. , charge and command, that he should
VlhthTne a k6ep WatCh by day and nig.ht at aU J i\* ne'ws1 the gates of the town, especially Ear- from Mansoul. . & , ^ . r Tu c j
J gate and Eye-gate : for I hear ot a de-
sign, quoth he, a design to make us all traitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first bondage again. I hope they are but flying stories, quoth he ; however, let no such news by any means be let into Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat : I think, my lord, it can be no welcome news to you, I am sure it is none to me i T ... and I think at this time it should be all
16 J0* * t 0UI w^S(^oms aRC* care to nip tae head of ^h^€ af ^z"* a^ such rumours as snaH ter,d to trouble
e g sp . oar pe0pje . wherefore I desire, my
bood-tfiougAt* lord> that y(m win m this maUer do a& must be kept j Lct there be &t ds djd,
eut of Mansoul. ^ ^ eyery gate of ^ fQwn ^
themselves to be, by the chorus they sang* at oar Saviour's birth : — M Glory to God in the highest f on earth, peace ! good-will towards mea !" These benevolent spirits were also sometimes the messen- gers of evangelical tidings to the fathers, previous to the incarna- tion of Immanuel.
* It is the interest of hell to keep men in ignorance of the gos- pel, the proper tendency of which is to induce sinners to return to Ggd, 2 Cor iv. 4.
43
also and examine from whence such come, whom you perceive do come from far hither to trade : nor let them by any means be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that they are favorers of our excellent ... , government. I command moreover,
, ^°° j said Diabolus, that there be spies con-
thougnts ana tinualIy vvaIking up and down the town
T 1/^ Z of Mansoul; and let them have power be sup/iressea. tQ suppress and destroy any that they
shall see plotting against us, or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Immanuel is intended.
This therefore was accordingly done ; my Lord Will- be-will hearkened to his lord and master, went willingly after his commandment, and, with all the diligence he could, kept any that would from going out abroad, or that sought to bring these tidings to Mansoul, from com- ing into the town.
Secondly, This done, in the next place, Diabolus, that „ ., he mie;ht make Mansoul as sure as he
. . could, frames and imposes a new oath and
^ s ' horrible covenant upon the town's folk :
To wit, That they should never desert him, nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seek to alter his laws : but that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledge him for their rightful king, in defiance of any that do, or hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title whatsoever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul, Isa. xxviii. 15. thinking belike that Shaddai had not power Th k to aDS0^ve them from this covenant with , y ° death, and agreement with hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle at all at this most monstrous engagement, but, as if it had been a sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any chewing. Were they troubled at it ? Nay, they rather bragged and boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant their pretended king ; swearing, that they would never be changelings, nor forsake their old lord for a new.*
* Hardened sinners seem to be sworn vassals of satan, and some- times make desperate resolutions never to be religious. " We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agree- ment." Isa. xxviii. 15. Such men " glory in their shame," and d«termine to be more and-more vile.
44
Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast; but jeal- ousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put him, in the next place, upon another exploit, which was, yet more, if possible, to debauch this town of Mansoul ; wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth, an iOdhua atheisti- ^ious, nasty, lascivious piece of beast- cal fiamjihlets, hn^ l0^e drf Wn U£ in ™g' and and filthy ballads **} UP°n the j?ates ; whe^y he grant- and romances f d afnd Save. ,lcf ?ce t0 f » h» "• and full of ribaldry. **** s°ns In Mansoul, to do what- J J v soever their lustful appetites prompt-
ed them to do, and that no man was to let, hinder, or control them, upon pain cf incurring the displeasure of their prince.*
Now this he did for these reasons :
1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weak- Reasonsfcr CF and weaker' and so more unable, his thus doing. **oM tidin"s co.me t^t their redemp-
5 tion was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof: for reason says, * the big- ger the sinner, the less ground or hope of mercy.'
2. The second reason was, If perhaps Immature], the SonofShaddai their King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings of the town of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a covenant of redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption ; for he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that his Son Immanuel was holy ; yea, he knew it by woeful experience : for, for the iniquity and sin of Diabolus was he cast from the highest orbs. Wherefore what more rational than for him to conclude, that thus for sin it might fare with Man- soul ? But fearing lest also this knot should break, he be- thinks himself of another, to wit :
Thirdly, To endeavor to possess all hearts in the town of Mansoul, that Shaddai was raising an army,
* The margin informs us what this means. Would to God there were none of these infidel and obscene pamphlets, pictures, and songs among us ! But they abound; are circulated with diligence, introduced into schools among boys and girls, read with avidity, and they produce the damnable effects which the devil designs ; for the deeper the heart is immersed in sensuality, the less regard will be paid to God and religion ; and, not unfrequently, a secret de- spair possesses the sinner, that there is no hope for him, aud there- fore he may as well enjoy the full pleasures of sin,
45
to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy the town of Mansoul (and this he did to forestal any tidings that might come to their ears, of their deliverance) ,• for, thought he, if I first spread this abroad, the tidings that might come after will be swallowed up of this ; for what else will Mansoul say, when they shall hear that they must be delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai 677 hi f mten(^s to destroy them ? Wherefore he \ . ace / f summons the whole town into the market- hearing, ana 0/ placej$ and there wifh deceitful tongue considering. thu5 he adtlresses himse]f unto them .
" Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul ; you know how, from the first day that I have been with you until now, I have behaved my- self among you, and what liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my government; I hope, to your honor and mine, and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul ; sorry I am therefore for your sakes. For I received but now by the post, from my Lord Lucifer (and he used to have good intelligence) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to come against you, to destroy you root and branch ; and this, O Mansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture is best to be done. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own ease, and to leave my Mansoul in all danger, but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so loth am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befall me. What say you, O my Mansoul ? will you now desert your old friend ; or do you think of standing by mc V
Then as one man, with one mouth, they cried out to- gether, " Let him die the death that will not."
Then said Diabolus again, '* 'Tis in vain for us to hope y l . . for quarter, for this King knows not how ' * to shew it. True, perhaps he, at his anguage. ^^ sitting down before us, will talk of
and pretend to mercy, that thereby with the more ease, and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of Mansoul \ whatever therefore he should say, believe not
46
one syllable or tittle of it, for all such language is but fo overcome us, and to make us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. My mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and not to believe him on any terms ; for in at that door ivill come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives ? I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics, than to suffer yourselves to be so pitifully served.
" But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief of the town, especially you whom I have set up, and whose greatness has been procured by you
^ . lanruaze throuSh y°ur faithful sticking to me ? V S 6 6' ^nd sl]pp0se again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you in- to that bondage under which you were captivated be- fore, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do you ? Shall you with him live in pleasure, as you do now ? No, no, you must be bound by laws that will pinch
„ , r . , - you, and be made to do that which at ne is ajraia oj ent is hateful t0 you
losing Mansoul. ^ [f ^ ^ fop ^ > and h fa bettep
to die valiantly, than to live like pitiful slaves. But I say, the life of a slave will be accounted a life too good for Mansoul now ; blood, blood, nothing but blood, is in every blast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now : pray be concerned, I hear he is coming up, and rr stand to your arms, that now, while you
lie fiuts them haye leisure? j ma„ teach you some feats
u/ion arming of ^ Armour for you I have, and by themselves. me k ^ . yQ^ and h jg suffic;ent for Man.
soul, from top to toe : nor can you be hurt by what his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you: come therefore to my castle and welcome, and harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet, breast-plate, sword, shield, and what not, that you will light like men.
* Carnal men readily believe this lie, and make it one of their apologies for their dislike of religion, that it is destructive of liber- ty and pleasure. But believers assuredly know that " Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light ;" his " service is perfect free- dom," and all " his ways are pleasantness and peace,"
47
" 1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is rT. , j , hope of doing well at last, what lives soever uunamei. youIivejDeutxxix. 19. This is that which
they had, who said, i they should have peace, though they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst :' a piece of approved armour is this ; and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no ar- row, dart, sword, or shield, can hurt him ; this there- fore keep on, and thou wilt ward off many a blow, my Mansoul.
u 2. My breast-plate is a breast-plate of iron, Rev. ix.
/& breatt-filate. f l hf f°reed « '" '?line own coun: 1 try, and all my soldiers are armed
therewith ; in plain language, it is an hard heart, an
heart as hard as iron, and as much past feeling as a stone ;
the which if you get and keep, neither mercy shall win
you, nor judgment fright you. This therefore is a piece
of armcur most necessary for all to put on that hate
Shaddai, and that would fight against him under my
banner.
" 3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, jfr.fl Ps. lvii. 4. lxiv. 3. James iii. 6. and that can bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, his people ; use this, it has been tried a thou- sand times twice told ; whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes use of it as I would have him, can never be con- quered by mine enemy.
" 4. My shield is unbelief, Job. xv. 26. Psalm lxxvi. Hi 1' Id 3* ^ark v*- 5' 6- or calling into question the truth of the word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgment that Shaddai has appointed for wicked men : use this shield ; many attempts he has made upon it, and sometimes, 'tis true, it has been bruis- ed ; but they that have writ of the wars of Immanuel against my servants, have testified, that " he could do no mighty work there, because of their unbelief.,, Now, to handle this weapon of mine aright, is, not to believe things because they are true, of what sort, or by whom- soever asserted : if he speaks of judgment, care not for it ; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it ; if he promises, if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, no hurt, but good : regard not what is said, question the truth of all j for this is to wield the shield of unbelief
48
arighc, and as my servants ought, and do : and he that does otherwise, loves me not, nor do 1 count him but an enemy to me.
"Another part or piece, said Diabolus,of mine excellent , armour, is " a dumb and prayerless spi-
f rmour^6 rit»" a spirit that scorns t0 Cfy for mercy, oj a. mour. jet ^ danger be ever so great ; where- fore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you make use of this. What ! cry for quarter ? Never do that, if you would be mine : I know you stout men ; and am sure that I have clad you with that which is armour proof; wherefore to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from you. Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as will do executien.*
After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he addressed himself to them in suchlike words
H h 1 11 as t'iese : ' Remember, quoth he, that I
' h h a h am J0Ur r^ht^ul king J and tnat vou nave
-ivi a sfieec ta^en an oath, and entered into covenant,
to t em, tQ ^ lrue tQ me an(j tQ m^r cause . j £aVj
remember this, and shew yourselves stout and valiant men of Mansoul. Remember also the kindness that I have always shewed to you, and that without your peti- tion. I have granted to you external things ; wherefore the privileges, grants, immunities, and profits, and hon- ors, wherewith I have endowed you, do call forth at your hands returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul : and what so fit a time to shew it, as when others shall seek to take my dominion over you into their own hands ? One word more, and I have done : Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock or brunt, I doubt not but in a little time all the world will be ours; and when that day comes, my true hearts, I will make you kings, prin- ces, and captains, and what brave days shall we have then.f
* This is a just description of that " whole armour" of the devil, with which mistaken sinners defend themselves against God. Pre- sumption— hardness of heart — a blasphemous tongue — unbelief, and a prayerless spirit. This is satan's armour ; the very reverse of that which God has provided for chiistian soldiers.
-fThus satan deceiveth (almost) the whole world, promising liberty and pleasure, while slavery and destruction are his only aim. ' Nor need we wonder that lie thus assauhs us, for he hid the presumption to attack our divine Lord in the same manner ; " All
49
Diabolus having thus armed and fore-armed his ser- vants and vassals in Mansoul, against their good and lawful King Shaddai, in the next place he doubleth his guards at the gates of the town, and betakes himself to
. -. the castle, which was his strong hold: I hey oj Man- hh yassals als0? to shcw their ^ilJs^
tout shew their ^ supposed (but jgnobie) gallantry,
oya y t( exercise them in their arms every day,
and teach one another feats of war, they
also defied their enemies, and sung up the. praises oi'
their tyrant; they threatened also what men they would
he, if ever things should rise so high as a war between
Shaddai and their king.
CHAP. IV.
Shaddai sends an army of Forty Thousand Men to reduce ^Mansoul, under the command of Boanerges, Conviction, Judgment, and Execution — The Captains address them- selves to the Inhabitants in Speeches of great energy f but to Hi tie purpose, Diabolus, Incredulity, Ill-pause, and others interposing to prevent submission. -—Preju- dice defends Ear- gale with a Guard of Sixty deaf Men.
NOW all this time the good King, the King Shad- dai, was preparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under the tyranny of their Q/ .... pretended king Diabolus : but he
.b/iaaaaipre- thought good, at the first, not to send pareth an army ihem by the h&nd &nd conduct 0f brave
ofManrel7l!Ty Immanuel his Son> but under the hand °J ' of some of his servants, to see first by
them the temper of Mansoul, and whether by them they
would be won to the obedience of their King. The army
these things," said he,—" all the glories and pleasures of the world — " will 1 give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me." None of these things, however seduced his heart ; but alas ! how smal! a portion of worldly good is generally enough to allure us ?
E
50
consisted of above forty thousand, all true men ; for they came from the King's own court, and were those of his own ch using.
They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals, each man being the captain of ten thou- sand men ; and these are their names and their ensigns.
«7v,„ »*,«*„.*« Tne name of the first was Captain Boan- 1 lie contains . r , *, ,,
_ a erges; the name of the second was Cap-
tain Conviction ; the name of the third, Captain Judgment ; and the fourth was Captain Execu- tion. These were the captains that Shaddai sent to re- gain Mansoul.
These four captains (as was said) the King thought fit in the first place to send to Mansoul, to make an at- tempt upon it ; for indeed generally, in all his wars, he did use to place these four captains in the van, for they were very stout and rough-hewn men, Psal. Ix. 4. men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dint of sword, and their men were like themselves.
To each of these captains the King gave a banner, Tf p K. .. that it might be displayed, becau . e tng gwe» ^e goodness of his cause, and because them a banner. of ^ ^^ ^ he had tQ Mansoul.
First, To Captain Boanerges, for he was*the chief, to him, I say, were given ten thousand men : his ensign was Mr. Thunder : he bore the black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, Mark iii. 17.
The second captain was Captain Conviction ; to him were given ten thousand men : his ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow ; he did bear the pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wide open, from whence issued a flame of fire, Deut. xxxiii. 2.
The third captain was Captain Judgment ; to him were given ten thousand men : his ensign's name was Mr. Terror ; he bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace, Matt. xiii. 40, 41.
The fourth captain was Captain Execution ; to him were given ten thousand men : his ensign was one Mr. Justice ; he also bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root there- of, Matt, iii. 10.
These four captains, as I said, had every one of them
... .. ,A . . under his command ten thousand
The four cafitamshavc ^ of Qd fideU tQ tho
each ten thousand men . ftnd ^ ^ their ^ ttwrfifr tf
Well, the captains and their forces, their men and un- der officers, being* had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and there called over by their names, were then and there put into such harness as became their degree, and that service that now they were going about for their King.
Now when the King had mustered his forces, (tor it was he that mustered the host to the battle) he gave un- to the captains their several commissions, with charge and commandment, in the audience of all the soldiers, that they should t'tke heed faithfully and courageously to do and execute the same. Their commissions were, for the substance of them, the same in form, though, as to name, title, place, and degree of the captains, there might be some, but very small variation, and here let me give you an account of the matter and sum contain- ed in their commission.
A Commission from the great King Shaddai. King of ■Mansoul, to his trusty and noble Captain, the Captain Boanerges, for making War upon the Town ofMamouU
1 O Thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering
n . . * captains, over one ten thousand of my
Commission t ^- and f ithful servants Matt, x#
from the vreat . , . T , _ ., .
v w // • ll# Luke x. 5. go thou in my name,
King Madam.
*In all ages of the world, even those previous to the incarnation of Christ, God has sent messages of mercy to his sinful creatures by his servants, whose various gifts are described by the four cap- tains. Boa.7ierges (Mark iii. 17.) signifies the powerful and awak- ening preaching of the word ; Conviction means the awful display of the holy law, as at Sinai, with its proper effect on the con- science, convincing of the transgressions committed against it ; Judgment is designed to shew the'' terror of a sinner, alarmed by the dreadful threat enings of offended justice, and expectation of the great day of accounts ; and Execution may signify the fulfil- ment of those threatenings in the final destruction of impenitent and unbelieving sinners, who reject the overtures of mercy in the gospel. These are the instruments which God is pleased general- ly to employ in convincing and converting sinners, as might be ex- emplified in the case of the jailer, Acts xvi. ; but he sometimes works with equal efficacy by milder means, and at once gently opens the heart to admit Immanuel, as in the instance . of Lydia, mention- ed in the same chapter.
1 town of Mansoul, and when thou comest thither, of-
* fer them first conditions of peace ; and command them, 4 that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Di-
* aboius, they return to me, their rightful prince and ' lord ; command them also, that they cleanse themselves ' from all that is in the town of Mansoul, (and look to
* thyself, that thou have good satisfaction touching the
* truth of their obedience.) Thus when thou hast com- i manded them (if they in truth submit thereto) then do
* thou to the uttermost of thy power, what in thee lies, to
* set up for me a garrison in the famous town of Man-
* soul ; nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or 4 breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me,
* but treat thou such as if they were thy friends or breth- ' ren ; for all such I love, and they shall be dear unto
* me ; and tell them, that I will take a time to come un- { to them, and let them know that I am merciful, 1 Thess* « ii. 7—11.
' But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons, and i the producing of my authority, resist, stand out against
* thee, and rebel ; then I do command thee to make use 1 of all thy cunning, power, might, and force, to bring { them under by strength of hand. Farewell.'
Thus you see the sum of their commissions ; for, as I said bcfoi ■», for the substance of them, they were the same that the rest of the noble captains had.
Wherefore they having received each commander his authority at the hand of their King ; the day being ap- pointed, and the place of their rendezvous being prefix- ed, each commander appearing in such gallantry as his —, . cause and calling required ; so after a
Ihey prepare ngw entertauiment from Shaddai, with fly- for a march. .^ cojours thev set forward to march to- wards the famous town of Mansoul. Captain Boanerges led the van, Captain Conviction and Captain Judgment made up the main body, and Captain Execution brought up the rear. They then having a great way to go (for the town of Mansoul was far off from the court of Shad- dai, Eph. ii. 13, 17.) marched through the regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came. They also lived upon the King's cost, all the way they went.*
• Fallen man is indeed very far from God and righteousness ; but, "in Chri»t Jesu*, they who were sometimes far ofl*, are made
53
Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came within sight of Mansoul ; the which when they saw, the captains could for their hearts do no less for a while than bewail the condition of the town ; for they quickly saw that it was prostrate to the will of Diabolus, and to his ways and designs.
Well, to be short, the captains come up before the town, march up to Ear-gate, and sit down there (for that was the place of hearing). So when they had pitched their tents, and intrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make their assault.
Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a com-
rr,, f , pany so bravely accoutred, and so ex-
The world we * ' _, ,. -V j u • a. •
, , cellently disciplined, having on their
convinced by .... . J r i r 1 • ..
the wllordtred Spring armour, and displaying their If f th dl colours, could not but come outof their ie * ^' houses and gaze. But the cunning fox, Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this sight, should, on a sudden summons, open the gates to the captains, came down with all haste from the castle, and made them retire into the body of the town ; who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivable speech unto them.*
"Gentlemen/' quoth lie, "although you are my trusty
_.. , , ,. and well- beloved friends, yet I cannot
Diabolus alien- . ^ , , • , N , - ■, c J , ^
,, . . . but (a little) chide you for your late ull- ages their minds • v \ • J • ■ f , circumspect action, m going out to gaze from t em. on ^^t great ancj migUly force that byt
yesterday sat down before (and have now intrenched them- selves in order to the maintaining of the siege against) the famous town of Mansoul. Do you know who they are ? whence they came ? and what is their purpose in sitting down before the town of Mansoul ? They are they of whom I have told you long ago, that they would come to destroy this town, and against whom I have been at
nigh by his blood." To effect this, God sends his ministers, who come not on " this warfare at their own charges," but are support- ed by their;divine Master, and whose hearts are affected with the miserable condition of their fellow men.
* There is such a beauty and glory in the holy walk of godly min- isters and sincere christians, that the world cannot help admiring* and commending them ; it is therefore the interest of satan, by all means to prejudice their minds against them, by such abominable lies as those contained in the following speech. E 2
the cost to arm you cap-a-pie for your body, be S tan afraidaof God's Wherefore then did you not rather, minister,, that even " *e first , appearance of them, t/icu will set cry out' Flre lhe beacons' and S1Te the
Mansoul against ?.h°le tow.n an *},™m concerning them, . . ° thai we might all have been in a pos-
ture of defence, and have been ready to have received them with the highest acts of defiance I then had you shewed yourselves men to my liking, whereas by what you have done, you have made me half afraid; I say, half afraid, that when they and we shall come to push a pike, I shall find you want courage to stand it out any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and that you should double your guards at the gates ? Wherefore have I endeavored to make you as
„ . ,, . hard as iron, and your hearts as a piece
He stirs them up, r . A, ' ./. ' , -,r . v. ,
. L-j j £ or the nether millstone i Was it, think to bid defiance . * . . , ,
;. z . , ' you, that you mi^ht snew vourselves
to the ministers J ' 3 , . *» . \\
„' , women; and that you might go out,
nf the word. ... c. v . ^ &
J like a company ol innocents to gaze on
your mortal foe? Fie, fie, put yourselves into a posture of defence, beat up the drum, gather together in warlike manner, that our foes may know, that before they shall conquer this corporation, there are valiant men in Man- soul.
rt I will leave off now to chide, and will not further re* buke you ; but I charge you that henceforwards you let me see no more of such actions. Let not henceforwards a man of you, without order first obtained from me, so anuch as shew his head over the town of Mansoul; you have now heard me : do as I have commanded, and you shall cause me that I dwell securely with you, and that as I take care for myself, so for your safety and honor also. Farewell."*
Now were the townsfolk strangely altered : they were
* It is no uncommon tiling to find persons severely blamed and threatened by their carnal relations for going to hear a single ser- mon from a gospel minister. Upon the very approach of a man of God, satan would have the inhabitants sound the alarm, and treat him as an enemy. With many he obtains his desire ; and they will boast that they never entered a place of worship of any other de- scription than that to which their education attached them.
55
as men stricken with a panic tear : they When sinners ran tQ &nd ff0 in the streets of the toy/n
hearken to satan 0f Mansoul, CiTing out, « help I help! they are set in a th rage against god- down are come hither also/* Nor could any of them be quiet after ; but still, as men bereft of wit, they cried out, ' The destroyers of our peace and people are come/ This went down with Di- abolus : Ah ! quoth he to himself, this I like well, now it is as I would have it, now you shew your obedience to your prince ; hold you but here, and let them take the town if they can.
Well, before the King's forces had set before Mansoul Th „. , three days, Captain Boanerges com-
ie i g (. manded his trumpeter to go down to
trumfiet sounded — , . r • .P r
f jj Ear-gate : and there, in the name of
ir-ga e, ^ great Shaddai, to summon Mansoul
to give audience to the message that he in his master's name was commanded to deliver to them. So the trum- peter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went _,. .,, up as he was commanded to Ear- gate, and
1 K there sounded his trumpet for a hearing : but
there was none that appeared, that gave an- swer or regard,! for so had Diabolus commanded ; so the trumpeter returned to his captain, and tcld him what he had done, and also how he had sped ; whereat the captain was grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his
a . tent. Again Captain Boanerees send-
Ji second sum- , ,. • " , w ^ ,
mens rehulsed eth hls trumPeter to Ear-gate, to sound
1 " as before tor an hearing ; but they again
kept close, came not out, nor would they give him an
answer, so observant were they of the command of Di-
A .. f abolus their king. Then the captains and
"Jwj other field-°fficer& called a council of war,
to consider what further was to be done
for gaining the town of Mansoul : and, after some close
and thorough debate upon the contents of their commis-
* This was the cry of the ignoranc when the apostles preached, and will ever be so, where men are kept by their blind teachers in profound ignorance.
f " Faith coraeth by hearing.'* Ministers are therefore to ad- dress the outward ear, as the gate that leads to the mind and heart ; but ajaj ! too many turn a deaf ear to the messages of heaven.
56
sions, they concluded yet to give the town, by the hand of the aforenamed trumpeter, another summons to hear : but if that shall be refused, say they, and that the town shall stand it out still, Luke xiv. 23. then they determin- ed, and bid the trumpeter tell them so, that they would endeavor by what means they could to compel them by force to the obedience of their King.
So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to A third g° UP t0 Ear-gate again, and, in the name of summons the &reat King Shaddai, to give it a very loud summons to come down without delay to Ear- gate, there to give audience to the King's most noble captains. So the trumpeter went, and did as he was commanded : he went up to Ear-gate, and sounded his trumpet, and gave a third summons to Mansoul, Isa. lviii. I.* He said, moreover, that if this they should still refuse to do, the captains of his Prince would with might come down upon them, and endeavor to reduce them to their obedience by force.
Then stood up my Lord Will-be-will, who was the gov-
r i imt-11 i. ernor of the town (this Will-be- will wa6 Lord Will-be- . c i

nuu ssji l before) and the keeper of the gates of
* * Mansoul. He therefore, with big and
ruffling words, demanded of the trumpeter who he was,
whence he came, and what was the cause of his making
so hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking such un-
sufferable words against the town of Mansoul ?
The trumpeter answered, I am servant to the most no-
rp} t . ble captain. Captain Boanerges, general
J At trumpeter. q{ ^q forces of the gyeat Kh]g Shaddai>
against whom thyself and the whole town of Mansoul
have rebelled, and lift up the heel ; and my master the
captain hath a special message to this town, and to thee
as a member thereof: the which if you of Mansoul shall
peaceably hear, so ; if not, take what follows.
Then said the Lord Will-be-will, I will carry the
t.r-T, L •„ words to my lord, and will know what he WM-be-vdl. wil]sayt
* " Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
t " How wretchedly are poor sinners enslaved to the devil, led
57
But the trumpeter replied, saying, Our message is not T t eter to ^e £*ant Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul ; nor shall we at all re- gard what answer by him is made, nor yet by any for him ; we are sent to this town, to recover it from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade it to submit, as in former times it did, to the most excellent King Shaddai.
arm >. •;; Then said the Lord Will-be- will. I will
Will-be -will. , .■ .. 4 '
do ycur errand to the town.
The trumpeter then replied, Sir, do not deceive us, j, lest, in so doing you deceive yourselves
rumpc er. ^^j-, more> He added moreover, For we are resolved, if in peaceable manner you do not submit yourselves, then to make war upon you, And bring you under by force. And of the truth of what I say, this shall be a sign unto you, you shall see the black flag, with its hot burning thunderbolts, set upon the mount lo-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our resolution to reduce you to our Lord and right- ful King.
So the said Lord Will-be-will returned from off the
rr,, . , wall, and the trumpeter came into the
The trumfieter ' „,, . f
/ , camp. When the trumpeter was come returns to the . , r, .. l. , «*
into the camp, the captains and officers
1 * of the mighty King Shaddai came to-
gether, to know if he had obtained a hearing, and Avhat was the effect of his errand. So the trumpeter told, say- ing, When I had sounded my trumpet, and called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Will-be-will, the gov- ernor of the town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up, when he heard me sound, and, looking over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, and what was the cause of my making this noise ? So I told him my errand, and by whose authority I brought it. Then said he, I will tell it the governor, and to Man- soul : and then I returned to my lord.
Then said the brave Boanerges, let us yet for a while
still lie in our trenches, and see what
Carnal souls these rebels will do. Now when the time
make a wrong drew nigh that audience by Mansoul
u captive by him at his will," and not daring, as it were, to listen to God without his leave. But the ministers of the gospel must persist, "whether they will hear or whether they will forbear."
58
must be given to the brave Boanerges and rf the design his companions, it was commanded, that of a gosfiel all the men of war throughout the whole mfnistru. camp of Shaddai should, as one man,
stand to their arms, and make themselves ready, if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to receive it forthwith to mercy; but if not, to force it to a subjec- tion. So the day being come, the trumpeters sounded, and that through the whole camp, that the men of war might be in readiness for that which then should be the wcrk of the day. But when they that were in the town of Mansoul heard the sound of the trumpet throughout the camp of Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be in order to storming the corporation, they at first were put to great consternation of spirit ; but after they were a little settled again, they made what pre tion they could for a war, if they did storm ; else to secure themselves.
Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved to hear their answer ; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter again to summon Mansoul to a hearing of the message that they had brought from Shaddai : so he went and sounded, and the townsmen came up, but made Ear-gate as sure as they could, Zech. vii. 11. Now when they were come up to the top of the wall, Captain Boanerges desired to see the lord mayor; but my Lord
„ Incredulity was then lord mayor, for h«
Boanerges re- / „ T / ' .
- . i came m the room oi my l^ord Lustmgs :
fuses to make T \ .. J , , , , 9
Jj , . so Incredulity came up and shewed him*
nCJeCUf?ht self over the wall. But when the Captain ju ge oj w a 3oanerg,es jiaci set j^s eves upon hjm he he had to de» . , & . . „,, . . * , A , .
,. ,, y. cried out aloud, Tnis js not he ; where is
liver to the fa- T , „ , ' .. , . ,
J ,. my Lord Lnaerstanding, the ancient lord mous town oj of of Mansoul ? for to him
Mansoul. t u j v *
I would deliver my message. *
Then said the giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the captain : Mr, Captain, you have, by you p:iven to Mansoul at least four summonses, to subject herself to your King : by whose authority, I know not ; Bor will I dispute that now. I ask, therefore, what is
* The ministers of Christ wish to address themselves to the Un- demanding-, but instead of this Unbelief presents himself. Ear- gate is also securw. to prevent a candid attention to the word.
59
the reason of all this ado ? or what would you be at. if you know yourselves ?
Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black co- , lours, and whose escutcheon was thi
tanerg s burning thunderbolts (taking no notice of 1 *' the giant* or of his speech) thus addressed
himself to the town of Mansoul : ' Be it known untoy> O unhappy and rebellious Mansoul I that the most gi cious King, the great King Shaddai, my master, hath sent me unto you, with commission (and so he shewed tq the town his broad seal) to reduce you to his obedi- ence. And he hath commanded me, in case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to you as if you were my friends or brethren ; but he also hath bid, that if, after* summons to submit, you still stand out and rebel, we should endeavor to take you by force.
Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his C h'ain Con ' - were tne PaJe colours, and for an es- ,- i ^ uh ' cutcheon he had the book of the law 1 ' wide open, &c.) * Hear, O Mansoul : Thou, O Mansoul, was once famous for innocency, but cow thou art degenerated into lies and deceit, Rom. iii. 10—19, 23. chap. xvi. 17, 18. Psalm 1. 21, 22. Thou has heard what my brother, the Captain Boanerges, hath just now said, and it is your wisdom, and will be your happiness, to stoop to, and accept of, conditions of peace and mercy, when offered j especially when offered by one against whom thou hast rebelled, and one who is oF power to tear thee in pieces, for so is Shaddai our King; nor, when he is angry, can any thing stand before him. If you say you have not sinned, or acted rebellion against our King, the whole of your doings, since the day you cast off his service (and there was the beginning of your sin) will suinciently testify against you ; what else means your hearkening to the tyrant, and your receiving him for your king ? What means else your rejecting the laws of Shaddai, and your obeying Diabolus ? Yea, what means this your taking up arms against, and the shutting your He invite, them Sates "Pon f ' th? ^*ful servants of
to return to their *"* K'nS ? L!lke X"" 5J'"lJf t^^.r.r ruled, then, and accept oi my brotn-
lauful sovereign. cr*s invitation> ^d OVerstand not the
time of mercyj but agree with thine adverbaiy quickly.
60
Ah, Mansoul ! suffer not thyself to be kept from mercy, and to be run into a thousand miseries, by the flattering wiles of Diaboious : perhaps that piece of deceit may at- tempt to make you believe, that we seek our own profit in this our service : but know, it is obedience to our King, and love to your happiness, that is the cause of this un- dertaking of our's.
Again, I say unto thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazing grace, that Shaddai should so humble him- self as he cloth, 2 Cor. v. 18 — 21. Now he, by us, rea- sons with you, in a way of intreaty and sweet persuasion, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has he that need of you, that we are sure you have of him ? No, no ; # but he is merciful, and will not that Mansoul should die, but turn to him and live.*
Then stood forth Captain Judgment, whose were the Cahtain Judp- red colours, and for an escutcheon had the mint's sfieec/i'. burning fi.ei7 furnace ; and he said, ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, that have lived so long in rebellion and acts of treason against the King Shaddai ; know, that we come not to- day to this place, in this manner, with our message, of our own minds, or to avenge our own quarrel ; it is the King our master that hath sent us to reduce you to your obedience to him; the which if you refuse in a peacea- ble way to yield, we have commission to compel you thereto. And never think of yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade you to think, that our King, by his power, is not able to bring you down, and lay you under his feet ; for he is the Former of all things ; and if he touches the mountains, they smoke. Nor will the gate of the King's clemency stand always open : for the day that shall burn like an oven, is before him ; yea, it hasteth greatly, and slumbereth not, Mai.
* Conviction, whose scutcheon is the book of the law wide open, here addresses Mansoul, declaring their rebellion and transgres- sions, and tracing them to the original apostasy, charging home their sins upon their conscience. Such addresses as these are like- ly, under God, to be very useful, accompanied, as this is, with a declaration of the good will which dictates them, and the conde- scension of grace in sending such messages of mercy.
It is proper to set before sinners " Judgments to come," warning every man against the fearful wrath of God. Thus did the Apostle raul warn and beseech the Ephesians night and day with tears.
61
it. 1. 1 Pet. ii. 3. O Mansoul, is it little in thine that our King does offer thee mercy, and that after so many provocations ? Yea, he still holdeth out his golden" sceptre to thee, and will not suffer his gate to be shut against thee : wilt thou provoke him to do it ? Consider of what I say ; to thee it shall be opened no more for ever, Jobxxxvi. 14, 18. Ps. ix. 7. Isa. lxvi. 15. " If thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him ; therefore trust thou in him. Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke ; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he es- teem thy riches ? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. He hath prepared his throne for judgment; for lie will come with fire, and with his chariots, like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and rebukes with flames of fire." Therefore, O Mansoul, take heed, lest, after thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wick- ed, justice and judgment should take hold of thee.' Now, while Captain Judgment was making this ora-
„ , ,, . tion to the town of Mansoul, it was ob-
On hearing this , , j, . n. ,',
I D b I sei*veu by some, that Diabolus trem- sfieech a ° us D|eci.* But he proceeded in his speech, and said, ' O thou woful town of Man- soul ! wilt thou not yet set open the gate to receive us, the deputies of the King, and those that would rejoice to see thee live ? Ezek. xxii. 14. " Can thine heart en- dure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that he shall deal in judgment with thee ?" I say, canst thou en- dure to be forced to drink, as one would drink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that our King has prepared for Diabolus and his at.gels ? Consider, betimes consider." . Then stood forth the fourth captain, the noble Captain
r . p Execution, and said : " O town of Man-
Lajitain £.xecu- squ^ QncQ fam0USj but now nke thc
Hon s s/ieec/i. fruitless bough ; once the delight of the high ones, but now a den for Diabolus : hearken also to me, and to the words that I shall speak to thee in the name of the great Shaddai. Behold, " the axe is laid to the root of the tree ; every tree, therefore, that bringeth
* So when Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. AJas>! many tremble who never turn.
F
62
not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire," Mat. iii. 7 — 10.
* Thou, O town of Mansoul, has hitherto been this fruitless tree ; thou bearest nought but thorns and bri- ars, Deut. xxxii. 32. Thy evil fruit forespeaks thee not to be a good tree ; thy grapes are grapes of gall, thy clusters are bitter. Thou hast rebelled against thy King ; and lo, we, the power and force of Shaddai, are the axe that is laid to thy roots. What sayest thou ? Wilt thou turn ? I say again, Tell me, before the first blow is given, wilt thou turn ? Our axe must first be laid to thy root, before it be laid at thy root : it must first be laid to thy root in a way of threatening, before it is laid at thy root by way of execution ; and between these two is required thy repentance, and this is all the time thou hast. What wilt thou do ? Wilt thou turn ? or shall I smite ? If I fetch my blow, Mansoul, down you go : for I have commission to lay my axe a/, as well as to, thy root ; nor will any thing, but yielding to our King, prevent doing of execution. What art thou fit for, O Mansoul, if mercy preventeth not, but to be hewn down, and cast into the fire, and burnt ?
*' O Mansoul ! patience and forbearance do not act for ever : a year or two, or three, they may ; but if thou provoke by a three years rebellion (and thou hast already done more than this) then what follows, " but cut it down ?" nay, after that, " thou shalt cut it down," Luke xiii. 8. And dost thou ttfink that these are but threat - enings, or that our King has not power to execute his words ? O Mansoul, thou wilt find in the words of our King, when they are by sinners made little or light of, there is not only threatening, but burning coles of fire.
ii Thou hast been a cumber-ground long already, and wilt thou continue so still ? Thy sin has brought his ar- my to thy walls, and shall it bring in judgment to do ex- ecution to thy town ? Thou hast heard what the captains have said, but as yet thou shuttest thy gates : speak out, Mansoul, will thou do so still ; or wilt thou accept of conditions of peace ?"*
* There is much energy in this speech. In this manner faithful ministers, knowing the terrors of the Lord, should persuade men. These pungent addresses to the conscience are often blessed of God to the conversion of souls. Yet all this, without the power of his
63
These brave speeches of these four noble captains, the town of Mansoul refused to hear ; yet a sound thereof
Mansoul desires ?id bea* aSaifnst ***** th™Sh the time to make an. J°icce thereof coud not break it open.
In fine, the town desired a time to pre- siver •
pare their answer to these demands.
The captains then told them, that if they would throw
out to them one Ill-pause that was in the town, that they
might reward him according to his works, then they
TTj . A would ffive them time to consider ; but
U/ion 10 hat .r. ° , , ... ,,
1 .. . . if they would not cast him to- them over
" ■ ■ . . , the wall of Mansoul, then they would
captains would . c . , '
: , _. eive them none : tor, said they, we
give them time, f . . ' ,, ''
know, that so long as 111- pause draws
breath in Mansoul, all good considerations will be con- founded, and nothing but mischief will come thereon. Then Diabolus, who was there present, being loth to
-.. - , . M lose Ill-pause, because he was his ora- Diabolus inter- r , r ^ , , , , ., ,
. . tor (and yet be sure he had, could the
rufits them, and r. , , • i .* • n , • x
' T ' . captains have laid their fingers on him)
sets Incredulity r , j . ,, . • . ° . . J
. y was resolved at this instant to give them
to answer them. , .. ,f , . aU ° ,
answer by himselt; but then changing
his mind, he commanded the then lord mayor, the Lord
Incredulity, to do it ; saying, My lord, do you give these
renegades an answer, and speak out, that Mansoul may
hear and understand you.
So Incredulity, at Diabolus's command, began and ttjl said> * Gentlemen, you have here, as we do is sfieec , behold to the disturbance of our prince, and molestation of the town of Mansoul, encamped against it : but from whence you come, we will not know ; and what you are, we will not believe. Indeed, you tell us in your terrible speech, that you have this authority from Shaddai ; but by what right he commands you to do it, of that we shall be yet ignorant.
11 You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summon- ed this town to desert her lord, and for protection to
spirit, will not prove effectual. Sinners will consult with flesh and blood, and, though partly convinced, will pause and delay, and de- fer submission to the call of God. The captains therefore require that Ill-pause should be thrown over the wall to them, for indeed, no good will be done in the soul, till this spirit of procrastination be destroyed,
64
yield up herself to the great Shaddai your King : flat- teringly telling her, that if she will do it, he will pass by, and not charge her with her past offences.
" Further, you have also, to the terror of the town of Mansoul, threatened with great and sore destruction to punish this corporation, if she consents not to do as your wills would have her.
4 Now, captains, from whencesoever you come, and The true fiictureXho^hyoxiV designs he ever so right, ef unbelief. ^et know >*e' tnat lieither my lord Di«
abolus, nor I his servant Incredulity, nor yet our brave Mansoul, doth regard either your persons, message, or the King that you say hath sent you : his power, his greatness, his vengeance we fear not ; nor will we yield at all to your summons.
" As for the war that you threaten to make upon us, we must therein defend ourselves as well as we can : and know ye, that we are not without wherewithal to bid defiance to you. And in short, (for I will not be tedious) I tell you, that wTe take you to be some vagabond runa- gate crew, who, having shaken off all obedience to your King, have gotten together in a tumultuous manner, and are ranging from place to place, to see if, through those flatteries you are skilled to make, on the one side, and threats wherewrith you think to fright on the other, you can make some silly town, city, or country, to desert their place, and leave it to you : but Mansoul is none of them.
uTo conclude: we dread you not, we fear you not, nor will w-e obey your summons ; our gates we will keep shut against you, our place we will keep you out of; nor will we long thus suffer you to sit down before us. Our people must live in quiet : your appearance doth disturb them, Luke xi. 21. wherefore, arise with bag and bag- IFl h SaSe> anc* begone, or we will let fly from the ■* * walls§ against you."*
This oration, made by old Incredulity, was seconded by desperate Will-be-will, in words to this effect :
i( Gentlemen, we have heard your demand, and the
* This is the true language of unbelief. We will not know— we v. ill not believe — we will not submit — we must not be disturbed — • -c \
65
. f noise of your threats, and heard the
J'ie *ficec,L?J sound of your summons; but we fear the L.ora mu- nQt yom, forc^ we regard not your
threats, but we will abide as you found us. And we command you, that in three days time you cease to appear in these parts, or you shall know what it is once to dare to offer to rouse the lion Diabolus, when asleep in the town of Mansoul."
The recorder, whose name was Forget-good, he also
The h h f addetn as followeth : " Gentlemen, my te s/ieec oj jordSj ag you seCj haye ^^ mijd and gen.
orge.-goo , tje WQr(js answercc] vour rough and angry- speeches : they have moreover, in my hearing, given you leave quiety to depart, as you came : wherefore take their kindness, and be gone. We might have come out with force upon you, and have caused you to feel the dint of our swords : but as we love ease and ^uiet ourselves, so we love not to hurt or molest others." Then did the town of Mansoul shout for joy ; as if by
„,, ". - • ■ Diabolus and his crew some s:reatadvan- The town re- . , . , . , °,
i * m tasre had been obtained over thecaptains.
solved to with- „,p . . . „ , ,r
, f7 . They also ranor the bells, and made mer- stand the cajx- J . . * . ' ,,
ry, and danced upon the walls.
Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the lord may- or and recorder to their places ; but the Lord Will-be- will took special care that the gates should be secured with double guards, double bolts, and double locks and bars. And that Ear-gate, especially, might be the better looked to, (for that was the gate, in at which the King's forces sought most to enter) the Lord Will-be-will made one old Mr. Prejudice (an angry and ill-conditioned fel-
„. . , r. low) captain of the ward at that eate ; and 1 he band or / 5 ,, . ,, .
, j- . . Put under his power sixty men, called
deaf men set to K c 1 r
keehEar-mte deaf"men 5 men advantageous for that 1 ' service, forasmuch as they mattered no
words of the captains, nor of the soldiers.*
* How often do poor mistaken sinners rejoice in their sins, and glory in their slume : but small cause for joy have '.hey, who re- jectthe counsel of God against themselves. Miserable is the state ofuiutmun, arhosa prejudices shut his ears against the gospel of salvauon, and who is deaf to all the calls of God. F 2
66
CHAP. V.
The Captains attack the Town, and are violently resist- ed— They retire to Winter Quarters — Tradition, Hu- man-wisdom, and Man's -invention taken Prisoners- Hostilities renewed — A Famine in Mansoul — and a Mu- tiny— The Town sounds a Parley — Propositions made and rejected — Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience quarrel with Incredulity— A Skirmish ensues, and Mis- chief is done.
NOW when the captains heard the answer of the great ones, and that they could not get an hearing y,, . . from the old natives of the town, and
, , . . that Mansoul was resolved to eive the resolved to give Tr. , , Ail ,, a ,
them battle King's army battle; they prepared
themselves to receive them, and to try it out by the power of the arm. And, first, they made their force more formidable against Ear-gate ; for they knew, that unless they could penetrate that, no good could be done upon the town. This done, they put the rest of their men in their places. After which, they gave out the word, which was, Ye must he born again.* Then Th b ttl tney sounded tfie trumpet : then they in the , e town made the answer, with shout against
€Sun' shout, charge against charge, and so the bat-
tle began. Now they in the town had planted upon rp Mansoul, over Ear-gate, two great guns,
l wo guns the one caUed High.mind) and the other jdanted upon Heady# Umo these tWQ guns they tnm_ JLar-gate. ed much ; they were cast in the castle by Diabolus's founder, whose name was Mr. Puff-up ; and mischievous pieces they were. But so vigilant and
* The doctrine of the new birth should be much insisted upon. Our Lord himself began with it when teaching Nicodemus, John iii. 3. This great truth is often very startling to a carnal mind, and objected to as of old— " How can these things be ?" Many would get rid of all its force, by referring it to baptism, and others, with equal ignorance, think it means the resurrection. Much opposition may be expected to this leading truth, as long as men are " heady and high-minded;' which is signified by the two guns mounted upon the wall. From this sort of artillery, however, ministers of the gospel have little to fear, their shots may whiz, but cannot wound.
67
watchful were the captains when they saw them, that though sometimes their shot would go by their eais with a whiz, yet they did them no harm. By these two guns, the townsfolk made no question but greatly to annoy the camp of Sliaddai, and well enough to secure the gate ; but they had not much cause to boast of what execution they did, as from what follows will be gathered.
The famous Mansoul had also some other small pieces in it, of the which they made use against the camp of Shaddai.
They from the camp also did as stoutly, and with as much of that as may in truth be called valour, let fly as fast at the town, and at Ear-gate ; for they saw, that unless they could break open Ear-gate, it would be but in vain
The sentence t0 batter the WalL NoW the KipS's caP" and fiower of tains had brouSht with them several slings, . J. orcf aud two or three battering-rams; with
their slings, therefore, they battered the houses and people of the town, and with their rams they sought to break Ear-gate open.
The camp and the town had several skirmishes and brisk encounters ; while the captains, with their engines, made many brave attempts to break open or beat down the tower that was over Ear-gate, and at the said gate to _,, make their entrance : but Mansoul stood
1 he town i(. Qut sQ lustilyj trough the rage of Di-
stoutly stands ^^ the yalour of the Lqvq] wi„.be- out, and the win and the conduct of old Tllcredulity cafitains return ^ mayor? and Mp Forget-good,there- to their winter- cor(]erj lhat lhe charge and expense of (juar en ^at summer's wars (on the King's side)
seemed to be almost entirely lost, and the advantage to return to Mansoul : but when the captains saw how it was, they made a fair retreat, and intrenched themselves in their winter-quarters.*
. , , . Now in this war, you must
Jin account of this war, ^^ th)nk thepe was much ]osg
with reference to the Qn ho{h side£jC)f which be pieased
loss on both side*. touke thisbriefaccountfollowing.
* How long" do sinners, frequently, resist the Holy Ghost in his word. Satan is unwilling' to lose his prey, and unbelief is loth to submit. Ministers of the gospel may almost despair of success, yet must they persevere, whether men will hear, or whether they will fotbear.
68
The King's captains, when they marched from the court to come against Mansoul to -war, as they came T crossing over the country, they happened
I he three tQ ligju u^on t\n,ee young men tnat ^d a new sole ters. mmcj t0 gQ fol, soic|iers . proper men they were, and men of courage (and skill) to appearance. Their names were Mr. Tradition, Mr. Human Wisdom, and Mr. Man's Invention. So they came up to the cap- tains, and proffered their services to Shaddai. The cap- tains then told them of their design, and bid them not to be rash in their offers ; but the young men told them, that they had considered the thing before, and that hear- ing they were upon their march for such a design, came hither on purpose to meet them, that they might be listed under their excellencies. Then Captain Boaner- ges, for that they were men of courage, listed them into his company, and so away they went to the war.
Now when the war was begun, in one of the briskest skirmishes, so it was, that a company of the Lord Will- be-will'smen sallied out of the sally ports, or posterns of the town, and fell in upon the rear of Captain Boaner- ges's men, where these three fellows happened to be, Th so he took them prisoners, and away they
ey a e carried them into the town ; where they
ken prisoners. ., i • , • i i_ * • i
1 had not lam long in durance, but it began
to be noised about the streets of the town, what three no- table prisoners the Lord Will-be-will's men had taken, and brought in prisoners out of the camp of Shaddai. At length tidings thereof were carried to Diabolus to the castle, to wit, what my Lord Will-be-will's men had done, and whom they had taken prisoners.
Then Diabolus called for W:Il-be-will, to know the certainty of this matter. So he asked
i .JTa f him' and he told him- Then did the
n*UF, rf siant send for the prisoners, and, when
Jjiabolusi and s , 4 , J j J. u
' they were come, he demanded of them
are con en o w^o ^gy werej whence they came, and
Jight under his ^h^ ^ did ^ the camp of Sha(]dai ?
banner. and ^ told h[m Then hfi sem them
into ward again. Not many days after, he sent for them to him again, and then asked them, if they would be wil- ling to serve him against their former captains ? They then told him, that they did not so much live by religion,
69
as by the fates of fortune ; and that, since his lordship was willing to entertain them, they should be willing to serve him. Now while things were thus in hand, there An tl'n"- was one ^aPtam Any-thing, a great doer in
1 y~ l b ' the town of Mansoul, and to this Captain Any-thing did Diabolus send these men, with a note un- der his hand, to receive them into his company ; the contents of which letter were these :
" Any-thing, my darling, the three men that are the
7r ,, /• bearers of this letter, have a desire to He therefore ' . T ,
." , . , serve me in the war, nor know I better sends them to , ' . . .
n . ' . d to whose conduct to commit them, than Lafitain any- . . . , ,,
,./ ... * to thine : receive them the.-elore in my f/iincf with a , , . ,. . , J
te£/r name, and as need shall require, make
use of them against Shaddai and his men.
In tJ' tr r Farewell." So they came and he receiv-
-. ,, ." ed them, and he made two ofthemser- ceroesthemin- . ' . , -- «- , .
, . leants ; but he made Mr. Man s Inven-
to his service. i. ..' , * r> . .1 1
tion his armour bearer.* But thus much
for this, and now to return to the camp.
They of the camp did also some execution upon the
Th r f f town 5 f°r t'iey did beat down the roof of
. . T J { the new lord mavor's house, and so laid
old In credit- ,. , ' , . r t-l
,. , ,- him more open than he was before. They
beaten "down. ^.f1.™051. (with. a ,*' to# s'ain m>' LoJ*
Will-be-will outright ; but he made shut
to recover again. But they made a notable slaughter among the aldermen, for with only one shot they cut off o. ,, six of them; to wit, : Mr. Swearing, Mr.
mensllin Whoring, Mr« Fur>'> Mr. Stand-to-lies, Mr. Drunkenness, and Mr, Cheating. t They also dismounted the two great guns that stood
* Tradition, human wisdom, and mail's invention have too often been enlisted into the service of religion, but they never did any good to it. They are not to be depended upon ; and are far more in their element when engaged on the contrary side. Let Captain Any-thing have them and welcome ; the gospel of Jesus needs not their services.
f Here is some good effect of the preached word : unbelief is, in part, unveiled and discovered ; the stubborn will receives a shock, and some gross immoralities are discarded ; the guns are also si- lenced.— '« Heady and High-mind," that is, pride, is somewhat brought down.
70
The two uPon ^ie tower over Ear-gate, and laid them great guns «« in the dirt. I told you before, that the dismounted § n° caPtains had drawn off to their
winter-quarters, and had there intrenched themselves and their carriages, so as with the best ad- vantage to their King:, and the greatest annoyance to the enemy, they might give the seasonable and warm alarms, to the town of Mansoul. And this design of them did so hit, that I may say they did almost what they would to the molestation of the corporation.
For now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, QQnt- J nor could they now go to their debauche"-
alarm v-'ven VltS Wli^ tnat clu^etness as m times past : t h/t , for they had from the camp of Shaddai
to Mansoul* , e * l ,
such frequent warm alarms ; yea, alarms
upon alarms, first at one gale, and then at another, and
again at all the gates at once ; that they were broken as
77 e effects rf t0 ^ormer peace : yea, they had their
convictions a!a,;ms so frequently, and that when the
though common, mf}is were, at the lon^ th,e wcathep if abiding- coldest, and so consequently the season
*' most unseasonable, that the winter was
to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirl the stones into the town. Sometimes ten thousand of the King's soldiers would be running round the walls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting, and lifting
rr, , 7 up their voice for the battle. Some-
The town much .r . f . .. . tr%
, , times again, some of them in the town
would be wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the great molesta- tion of the now languishing town of Mansoul. Yea, so distressed were they with those that laid siege against them, that I dare say Diabolus their king had in these days his rest much broken.
In those days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and ~ - thoughts that began to run counter one to
rnnge oj anotjieri by degrees possessed the minds of thoughts in the men of t])e lown of Mansoui. Some Mansoul. would say> „ Jhere is no living llms „ Qth.
ers would then reply, " This will be over shortly." Then would a third stand up and answer, "Let us turn to King Shaddai, and so put an end to all these troubles."
71
And a fourth would come in with a fair speech, saying, " I doubt he will not receive us."*
The old gentleman loo, the recorder, that was so be-
r . fore Diabolus took Mansoul, he also began
oi sen c tQ ^^ aiQ^ an(j h}s worcis ^ere now to the
town of Mansoul as if they were great claps
of thunder. No noise now so terrible to Mansoul as was
his, with the noise of the soldiers, and shoutings of the
captains.f
Also things began to grow scarce in Mansoul ; now
A r . . the things that her soul lusted after de- A famine in t j r u r 1 * * . * tt
.y . parted trom her, Luke xv. 14, 15. Upon
all her pleasant things there was a blast, and burning instead of beauty. Wrinkles now, and some shews of the shadow of death, were upon the inhabi- tants of Mansoul. And now, O how glad would Man- soul have been to have enjoyed quietness and satisfac- tion of mind, though joined with the meanest condition in the world. J
The captains also, in the deep of winter, did send, by
,„, the mouth of Boanerq-es's trumpeter, a
r/iey are sum- -, . & . , , ' 7 ,c
* . summons to Mansoul, to yield up herselt
?oZiMSam to the KinS' the S>e« King Shaddai. They sent it once, and twice, and thrice ; not knowing but that at some time there might be in Mansoul some willingness to surrender up themselves unto them, might they but have the colour of an invita- tion to do it under. Yea, so far as I could gather, the town had been surrendered up to them before now, had
* Further degrees of success : the false peace, which before pre- vailed, is effectually disturbed by abiding- convictions. Alarm fol- lows alarm ; and some faint inclinations arise towards peace with God ; which, however, the sinner begins to fear may not be prac- ticable.
j- Conscience, which had long- been unfaithful and silent, awakes from his lethargy, and begins to speak, yea, to cry aloud ; and con- science has a dreadful voice, more aw ml than thunder.
+ A famine in Mansoul ; — the pleasures of sin beg-in to fail. The case of the prodigal is here referred to ; he never thought of re- turning to his father till he began to be in want. The dreary sea- son of winter adds to the affliction ; the summer of gaiety is gone; the winter of affliction succeeds. This affords a favorable opportu- nity to the ministers of Christ to renew their message, and press home on the mind the great concerns of salvation. But still satsm retains his power through the influence of unbelief.
it not been tor the opposition of old Incredulity, and the
fickleness of the thoughts of my Lord Will-be-will. Di-
„, . . abolus also began to rave ; wherefore Man-
JMansoiu in , ,, r
,. , . ^ soul, as to yielding, was not as yet all of
one mind, therefore they still lay distressed
under these perplexing- fears.
I told you but now, that they of the King's army had this winter sent three times to Mansoul, to submit her- self.
The first time the trumpeter went he went with words
of peace ; telling them, that the captains, the nob'e cap-
rr, '' . tains of Shaddai, pitied and bewailed the
The contents . - . * ....
ft! fi t ni,sei.V or the now perishing town of Man-
CJ l J1 6oul, and were troubled to see them stand
summons. ... r . . , ..
so much in the way of their own deliver- ance. He said moreover, that the captains bid him tell them, that if now poor Mansoul would humble herself, and turn, her former rebellions and most notorious trea- sons, should, by their merciful King, -be forgiven them, yea, and forgotten too. And having bid them beware that they stood not in their own way, that they opposed not themselves, nor made themselves their own losers ; he returned again into the camp.
The second time the trumpeter went, he treated T them a little more roughly ; for, after sound
r,fC}COn n / °f trumPet» lie told them, that their con- * tinuing in their rebellion did but chafe and
heat the spirits of the captains, and that they were resolved to make a conquest of Mansoul, or lay their bones before the town walls.
He went again the third time, and dealt with them yet
more roughly ; telling them, that now, 1 he contents smce they had been sq horribJy profarje, ne
of the third d^ ^ know summons. t^e cautainswere inclined to mercyor judg- ment ; only, said he, they commanded me to give you a summons to open the gates unto them : so he return- ed, and went into the camp.
These three summons, and especially the two last, so
, distressed the town, that they present-
The town sounds Jy f^M a consuJtatiotlj the result of
for a parley. whkh was thigj that my Lord wm.
be-will should go up to Ear-gate, and there, with sound
40
of trumpet call to the captains of the camp for a parley. Well, the Lord Will-be-will sounded upon the wall ; so the captains came up in their harness, with their ten thousands at their feet. The townsmen then told the captains that they had heard and considered their sum- 77 d mons » ana wou-ld come to an agree-
ley jl oji iTient with them and with their King
conditions of ci i 1 • . • . *-
, J bhaddai, upon such certain terms, arti-
/} p*7* P P 111 /°77 / *
6 cles, and propositions, as, with and by
the order of their prince, they to them were appointed to propound : to wit, they would agree upon these grounds to be one people with them.
1. " If that those of their own company, as the now
First hrohosition. lord ma>r°r> and their Mr. Forget- good, first proposition. ^ ^^ by^Q ^^ will.be.willj
might, under Shaddai, be still the governors of the town, castle, and gates of Mansoul.
2. " Provided that no man, that now served under the ~ , great giant Diabolus, be by Shaddai cast
. . out of house, harbor, or the freedom that
*10 he hath hitherto enjoyed in the famous
town of Mansoul.
3. " That it shall be granted them, that they of the „ . . town of Mansoul enjoy certain of their rights
z . . " and privileges ; to wit, such as have former- 1 °'s ly been granted them, and that they have
long lived in the enjoyment of, under the reign of their king Diabolus, that now is, and long has been, their only lord and great defender.
4. " That no new law, officer, or executioner of law „ . or office, shall have any power over
. . l* them, without their own choice and con-
liosition.
d sent.
" These be our propositions, or conditions of peace ; and upon these terms, said they, we will submit to your King."*
But when the captains had heard this weak and feeble offer of the town of Mansoul, and their high and bold de-
* Sinners, when alarmed by fears of hell, are sometimes willing to become religious externally, provided they may retain their lord- ly lusts ; they are ready to assume the form of godliness, but dis- like its power.
G
mands, they made to them again, by their noble captain,
the Captain Boanerges, this speech following :
" O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I
_ r^p , heard your trumpet sound for a parley
Boanerges ^^ u^ j can tru^ ga^ j wag ^^ _ ^
when you said you were willing to submit yourselves to our Lord and King, then was I yet more glad : but when, by your silly provisoes and foolish ca- vils, you laid the stumbling-block of your iniquity before your faces, then was my gladness turned into sorrow, and my hopeful beginnings of your return into languish- ing and fainting fears.
" I count, that old Ill-pause, the ancient enemy of Mansoul, drew up these proposals that now you present us with, as terms of an agreement ; but they deserve not to be admitted to sound in the ear of any man that pre- tends to have service for Shaddai- 2 Tim. ii. 19. We do therefore jointly, and that with the highest disdain, re- fuse and reject such things, as the greatest of iniquities.
" But, O Mansoul, if you will give yourselves into our hands, or rather into the hands of our King, and will trust him to make such terms with you and for you, as shall seem good in his eyes (and I dare say they will be such as you shall find to be most profitable to you) then we will receive you, and be at peace with you : but if you like not to trust yourselves in the arms of Shaddai our King, then things are but where they were before, and we know also what we have to do.''*
Then cried out old Incredulity, the lord mayor, and
^u r j said, " And who, beino; out of the hands of
Old In credit- . . ' b ...
, , their enemies, as ye see ye are now, will
lity s rep y. ^ &q fool«sn as t0 put the staff om Qf their
own hands, into the hands of they know not who ? I, for
my part, will never yield to so unlimited a proposition.
__ ~ ' ' . Do you know the manner and temper
Unbelief never is of ^ _ ? ,Tis gaid fa somC) that
profitable in talk, ^^ ^ ^ ^ subj if
but always speaks ^ ^ breac£,/of an hair they chance mischievously. tQ ^ QUt of the way . and by oth.
* Terms, like those proposed, can never be admitted by Jesus Christ ; for it is his will, that " every one who names his name must depart from iniquity."
o
Jiat he rcquiieth of them much more than they can perform. Wherefore, it seems, O Mansoul, to be thy wisdom, to take good heed what thou dost in this mat- ter ; for if you once yield, you give up yourselves to another, and so you are no more your own : wherefore to give up yourselves to an unlimited power, is the greatest folly in the world ; for now indeed you may repent, but can never justly complain. But do you indeed know, when you are his, which of you he will kill, and which of you he will save alive ? or whether he will not cut off every one of us, and send out of his country another new people, and cause them to inhabit tins town !"*
This speech of the lord mayor undid all, and threw
77 ' 1 * h f^t to the ground their hopes of an ac-
... ' \* cord; wherefore the captains returned to
their trenches, to their tents, and to their
men, as they were ; and the mayor to the castle, and to
his king.
Now Diabolus had waited for his return, for he had heard that they had been at their points. So when he was come into the chamber of state, Diabolus saluted him with, i Welcome, my lord ; how went matters be- twixt you to-day ?' Then the Lord Incredulity (with a low conge) told him the whole of the matter, saying,
t, _ . . , , thus said the captain of Shaddai, and thus Hut it fileasea , , . , l n,, , . ,
, . .. and thus said I. I he winch as it was
told to Diabolus, he was very glad to hear; and said, * My lord mayor, my faithful Increduli- ty, I have proved thy fidelity above ten times already, but never found thee false. I do promise thee, if we rub over this brunt, to prefer thee to a place of honor, a place far better than to be lord mayor of Mansoul : I will make thee my universal deputy ; and thou shalt, next to me, have all nations under thy hand ; yea, and thou shalt lay hands upon them, that they may not resist thee ; nor shall any of our vassals walk more at liberty, but those that shall be content to walk in thy fetters.'
Now came the lord mayor out from Diabolus, as if he
had obtained a favor indeed ; wherefore
The lord mayor to his habitation he goes in great state,
* Unbelief ever suggests hard thoughts of God, and represents his service as an intolerable burden. T:;is is hateful to God, but pleaseth the devil.
76
in hofies of fir o- and thinks to feed himself well enough motion. with hopes, until the time come that his
greatness should be enlarged. But now, though the lord mayor and Diabolus did thus well agree, yet this repulse to the brave captains put Man- soul into a mutiny; for while old Incredulity went into the castle, to congratulate with his lord on what had pass- ed, the old lord mayor, that was so before Diabolus came Tie anderuand- l°t th.e town' \° ** *?? Lord ^n.ler- bigand cm,ciencesJrat»Z' and thc old »«rder, Mr. bfgin to receive Conscience, getting intelligence of , • , what had passed at Ear-e:ate (for you
canine t ion, and . * , . . ° v, Jw~
. .. , . must know that they mierht not be suf-
. }/ , fercd to be at that debate, lest they
/lUCOUO. 1111 • • i r i
should then have mutinied for the captains) ; but I say, they got intelligence what had passed there, and were much concerned therewith ; wherefore they getting some of the town together, began to possess them with thc reasonableness of the noble cap- tains demands, and with the bad consequences that would follow upon the speech of old Incredulity, the lord may- or ; to wit, how little reverence he shewed therein, ei- ther to the captains, or their King ; also how he impli- citly charged them with unfaithfulness and treachery : for what less, quoth he, could be made of his words, when he said he would not yield to their proposition ? and ad- ded moreover, a supposition that he would destroy us, when before he had sent us word, that he would shew us
, . mercy?' The multitude, beincc now nosses-
ji mutiny m , J. , . . . r , ° .. ,,',.
, -, scd with the conviction ot the evil old Incre-
dulity had done, began to run together by companies in all places, and in every corner of the streets of Mansoul ; and firbt they began to mutter, then to talk openly ; and after that they ran to and fro, and cried as They ran, O the brave captains of Shaddai I Would we were tinder the government of the captains, and of Shad- their King 1* When the lord mayor had intelligence that Mansoul
- When the understanding is somewhat enlightened, and the con, science awakened, unbelief is in danger of destruction. There will then be ■ party in the soul on the Lord's side. This is called a mu- tiny. A blessed mutiny it i>, when unbelief begins to be opposed, and the sweet hope of pardoning mercy cherished: then, as the marsrin says, " Sin find the soul are at odd-
77
was in an uproar, down he comes to appease the people, and thought to have quashed their heat with the bigness and shew of his countenance. But when they saw him, they came running upon him, and had doubtless done him mischief, had he not betaken himself to his house. However, they strongly assaulted the house where he was, to have pulled it down about his ears : but the Incredulity seeks P,!ace was »o strong, so they failed of
to quiet thefieo- that- Theji he, *kin,? s°me f°"raSe'
? J addressed himselt out ot a window to
the people in this manner : "Gentlemen, what is the reason there is such an up- roar here to-day I"
Understanding. Then answered my Lord Understand-
My Lord Under- ** ! " * » even beCa,Uf 'hou,a,nd
* ,. thy master have carried it not nehtly,
standing answers \ , , , . . 9 ''
, . ° and as you should, to the captains of
Shaddai ; for in three things you are faulty : First, In that you would not let Mr. Conscience and myself be at the hearing of your discourse. Se- condly, In that you propounded such terms of peace to the captains which could by no means be granted, unless they had intended that their Shaddai should have been only a titular prince ; and that Mansoul should still have had power, by law, to have lived in all lewdness and van- ity before him, and so by consequence Diabolus should still here be king in power, and the other only King in name. Thirdly, For that thou didst thyself, after the captains had shewed us upon what conditions they would have received to mercy, even undo all again with thy unsavory, unseasonable, and ungodly speech."
Incredulity. When old Incredulity had heard this
Sin and the sPef '"• he cried "ft. " Treason :, 'rea-
soulatodds. s°n 1 o your arms !ro your arms! Oye,
the trusty friends of Diabolus in Mansoul i "
Understanding1. «• Sir, you may put upon my words what meaning you please, but I am sure the captains of such an high Lord as theirs is deserved a better treat- ment at your hands."
Incredulity. Then said old Incredulity, " This is but
TV..,, ,i v7 little better. But Sir," quoth he, * what
1 hey chide on T , T » r - \ , .
both sides 1 spake' 1 Sp my Prmce' for hls
government, and the quieting of the
G 2
78
people, whom, byycur unlawful actions, you have this day bet to mutiny against us."
Conscience. Then replied the old recorder, whose nam* was Mr, Conscience, and said, ;t Sir, you.oughtnol thus to retort upon what my Lord Understanding hath
Mr Conscience said ; il is evident enough that he hath ~w !■,„,./„„ w./ spoken the truth, and that vou are an rejiroach*** old r ,_ , , . ,
In »dulitu enemy to Mansoul ; be convinced, then,
of the evil of your saucy and malapert language, and of the grief that you have put the captains to ; yea, and of the damages that you have done to Man- soul theieby. Had you accepted of the conditions, Un- sound of the tiumpetand the alarm of war had now ceas- ed about the town of Mansoul ; but that dreadful sound abides, and your want of wisdom in your speech has been the cause of it."
Incredulity. Then said old Incredulity, " Sir, if I live, I will do your errand to Diabolus, and there you shall have an answer to your words. Meanwhile we will seek the good of the town, and not ask counsel of you."
Understanding. " Sir, your prince and you are foreign- ers to Mansoul, and not the natives thereof. And who can tell but that when you have brought us into greater straits (when you also shall see that yourselves can be safe by no other means than by flight) you may leave us and shift for yourselves, or set us on fire, and go away in the smoke, or by the light of our burning, and so leave us in our ruins."
Incredulity. " Sir, you forget that you are under a go- vernor, and that you ought to demean yourself like a sub- ject ; and know ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day's work, he will give you but little thanks for your, labor."*
Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding
vr f words, down come from the walls and
Men rj arms g of lhe town the j or(] will-be-wiH,
come doivn. s*. -, . .. . , T11 , ;
Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-pause, and several
of the new-made aldermen and burgesses ; and they ask- ed the reason of the hubbub and tumult. And with that
* What formidable obstacles lie in the way of a sinner's conver- sion to God. The understanding and conscience, are warmly op- posed by unbelief; and, indeed, nothing* less than almighty grace can ever effect the work.
79
man began to tell his own tale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly. Then was silence command- ed, and the old fox, Incredulity, began to speak : k' My lord," quoth he, " here are a couple of peevish gentle- men, that have, as a fruit of their bad dispositions, and, as I fear, through the advice of one Mr. Discontent, tu- multously gathered this company against this day ; and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellion against our prince." i t r Then stood up all the Diabolonians that
* ' * J were present, and affirmed these things
to be true. Now when they that took part with my Lord Under- standing, and with Mr. Conscience, perceived that they were like to come by the worst, for that force and pow- er was on the other side, they came in for their help and relief ; so great a company was on both sides. Then they on Incredulity's side would have had the two old gen- tlemen presently away to prison; but they on the other side said they should not. Then they began to cry up parties again : the Diabolonians cry up old Incredulity, Forget- good, the new aldermen, and their great one Diabolus ; and the other party as fast cried up Shaddai, the cap- tains, his laws, their mercifulness, and applauded their
rr>L s n s conditions and wavs. Thus the bicker- I hey fall from . \ ,.,* . f . -
vv ,, ment went a while: at last they pass-
word tu blows. , c , , , , 1 u
ed irom words to blows, and now there
were knocks on both sides. The good old gentleman,
Mr. Conscience, was knocked down twice by one of the
Diabolonians, whose name was Mr. Benumbing. And
my Lord Understanding had like to have been slain with
an harquebus, but that he that had shot, failed to take
his aim aright. Nor did the other side wholly escape :
for there was cue Mr. Rash-head, a Diabolonian, that had
his brains beaten out by one Mr. Mind, the Lord Will-
A , • . . . , be-wiil's servant : and it made me lauarh A hot skirmish. . , . , ,. „ . ,. .. R
to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kick- ed and tumbled about in the dirt: for though a while since he was made a captain of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town, yet now they had got him under their feet : and I'll assure you, he had, by some of the Lord Understanding's party, his crown cracked to boot. Mr. Any-thing also became a brisk man in the
80
broil ; but both sides were against him, because he was
true to none. Yet he had, for his malapertness, one of
his legs broken ; and he that did it, wished it had been
rr , his neck. Much harm more was done
, ,, . , on both sides : but this must not be for-
ootli sides. • ,
gotten, it was now a wonder to see my
Lord Will-be-will so indifferent as he was ; he did not
seem to take one side more than another, only it was
perceived that he smiled to see how old Prejudice was
tumbled up and down in the dirt ; also when Captain
Any. thing came halting up before him, he seemed to
take but little notice of him.*
CHAP. VI.
Lord Understanding end Mr. Conscience imfirisoned c4 Authors of the Riot — The besieging Officers apply to Shaddai for Relief — Immanuel, the Prince, undertakes to conquer Mansoul— -Marches with a great Army^ and
invests the Town.
NOW when the uproar was over, Diabolus sends for my Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience, and The 7 o old c^aPs them both up in prison, as the ring-
„ 4i ^ . leaders and managers of this most heavy
gentlemen put . . JT. J* c *
... u riotous rout in Mansoul. So now the
m prison, as , , , , ,
the authors of t0Wn be&an t0 be «luiet aSain' and the Pr1' this revel-rout. s0™r* were ^ed hardly ; yea, he thought to have destroyed them, but that the pre- sent juncture did not serve for that purpose, for that war was in all their gates. f But let us return to our story : The captains, when they were gone back from the gate, and were come into the camp again, called a council of
* No small advantage is gained when sinful rashness is destroy- ed, prejudice thrown down into the dirt, and indifference about re- ligion discarded ; while the -will, that before was wholly on the part of satan, begins rather to take the other side.
f The efforts of an eidightened understanding and a renewed conscience cannot but be offensive to satan, as threatening to subvert his authority in the soul, but where the good work of grace is be- gun they cannot be destroyed.
81
j,, . . war, to consult what was further for them call a council, t0 d?' Now some said. Let us go pre-
a«rf consult SQnil? and fal1, U,P°n ?e ^^ ^ ^! . , , . greatest part tho t, rather better twould
be to give them another summons to yield ; and the reason why they thought this to be the best, was, because that, so far as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul was now more inclinable than heretofore. And if said they, while some of them are in a way of inclina- tion, we should by ruggedness give them a distaste, we may set them further from closing with our summons, than we would be willing they should.*
Wherefore to this advice they agreed, and called a j,, , . trumpeter, put words into his mouth, set
,, , ' ' , him his time, and bid him God speed.
they send ano* ,,r „ 7 • 1 i
ther trumfieter Wel1' man>* hours were n0t cxPired> be' 1 .. ' fore the trumpeter addressed himself to summon the ... l .,,. r .
to*vn to vield t0 hls Journe>*- Wherefore, coming up * ' to the wall of the town, he steered his
course to Ear-gate ; and there sounded, as he was com- manded. They then that were within, came out to see what was the matter, and the trumpeter made them this speech following :
" O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul !
The summons h°7 ,on& "Ut £>* loTe ** ™P»ifJ \ itself by the and >'e ools.' deh&ht *" ^ur *corrmnS ? trumf t " f As yet despise you the offers of grace K J Aing onaaaai. the golden ■ offers 0f Shaddai ? and trust
to the lies and falsehood of Diabolus ? Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you, that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him will yield you peace and comfort? or that by ruffling language you can make him afraid as a grasshopper ? Doth he intreat you, for fear of you? Do you think that you arc stronger than he ? Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars, how high are they ? Can you stop the sun from running his course, and hinder the moon from giving her light ? Can you count the number of the stars, or stop the
* Ministers should deal gently with awakened sinners. Their great master " will not break the bruised reed," nor should they. Roughness of treatment may occasion discouragement ; gentleness attracts.
82
bottles of heaven ? Can you call for the waters of the sea, and cause them to cover the face of the ground ? Can you behold every one that is proud, and abase him ; and bend their faces in secret f Yet these are some of the works of our King, in whose name, this day, we come up unto you, that you may be brought under his authori- ty. In his name, therefore, I summon you again to yield up yourselves to his captains."*
At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a The town at stancl> and knew not what answer to a stand ' make : wherefore Diabolus forthwith ap- peared, and took upon him to do it him- self; and thus he begins, but turns his speech to them of Mansoul.
" Gentlemen," quoth he, " and my faithful subjects,
~. , . , if it is true what this siimmoner hath
Diabolus makes . , . . - . .
. _ said, concerning the greatness of their
asfieechto the v. . *. ft ° ... .
, , , King ; by his terror, you will always
towns and endea- . ,° * / , , 7, , , J
' .- . be Kept in bondage, and so be made to
with the meat- Stlt*k' Yea' h°W Can >T°U n0W' thou&h
j>itn tnt great he h ^ a distance endure to think of ness of God. , . , _ ^ , . , .-
J such a mighty One r And if not to
think of him while at a distance, how can you endure to be in his presence ? I your prince am familiar with you, and you may play with me as you would with a grass- hopper. Consider, therefore, what is for your profit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you.
" Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it to pass that the subjects of Shaddai are so en- slaved in all places where they come ? None in the uni- verse so unhappy as they, none so trampled upon as they.
rt Consider, my Manscul ; would thou wert as loth to leave me, as I am loth to leave thee. But consider, I say, the ball is yet at my foot : liberty you have, if you know how to use it : yea, a king you have too, if you can tell how to love and obey him."t
* The irresistable greatness, the inconceivable glory of God, es- pecially when coupled with the astonishing condescensions of his grace, are considerations of a most awakening kind. It may well put a sinner to a stand when he reflects on the wonderful love of Christ in sending his ambassad-ors to beseech us, in his stead, to be reconciled to Cod, 2 Cor. 5.
f By the cruel artifices of sat an Ihe majesty ami greatness of God,
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Upon this speech the town of Mansoul again harden- ed their hearts yet more against the captains of Shaddai.
Tr . ■ ir The thoughts of his holiness sunk them He drive* Man- . • i r r
, . , , . . in despair, wherefore, after a short con- cern/z?^o aesjiavr. . .' ' . , - \ ~. . . . , sultation, they (of the Diabolonians
, . , partv) sent back this word by the trum-
Mansoul grows l ,; TI . r . . . * ,
? peter : i hat, for tneir parts thev were
ivorse ana -verse. v , , '. , , *; ,.
resolved to stick to their king, but ne- ver to yield to Shaddai ; so it was but in vain to give them any further summons, for they had rather die upon the place than to yield. And now things seemed to be gone quite back, and Mansoul to be out of reach or call : yet the captains, who knew what their Lord could do, would not be beat out of heart ; they therefore sent them another summons, more sharp and severe than the last; but the sooner they were sent to reconcile to Shaddai, the farther off they were, Hos. xi. 2. " As they called them, so they went from them," yea, though they called them to the Most High.
So they ceased to deal any more with them in that
~v ■ . wav, and inclined to think of another
I he captains ' ' rp, - . . -. - ,
, ~ way. I he captains, therefore, gather-
, ed themselves together, to have free
summons, and r , * i
, , , ' conierence amon? themselves, to know
betake them- , \ , ' . ,
j . . what was yet to be done to sram the
selves to prayer. , ;, .. . f . bt
v town, and deliver it from the tyranny
of Diabolus. And one said after this manner, another after that. Then stood up the right noble Captain Con- viction, and said, " My brethren, my opinion is this : " First, That we continually play our slings into the
« . . ri . town, and keep themin continual alarm, Lahtain Cojivic- , \. v j i-u.u i
. ; , . molesting them day and night ; by thus
doing, we shall stop the growth of their
rampant spirits : for a lion may be tamed by continual
molestation.
" Secondly, this done, I advise, that, in the next place,
we, with one consent, draw up a petition to our Lord
Shaddai, by which, after we have shewed our King the
condition of Mansoul, and of affairs here, and have beg-
which should induce them to seek his favor, are made an argument to terrify and alienate the soul from him. God is represented as a cruel tyrant, and his free subjects as miserable slaves. O unhappy men, thus cheated by the grand deceiver !
84
gcd his pardon for our do better success, we will ear- nestly implore his Majesty's help ; and that he will please to send us more force and power, and some gallant and well spoken commander to head them, that so his Ma- jesty may not lose the benefit of these his good begin- nings, but may complete his conquest upon the town of Mansoul."*
To this speech of the noble Captain Conviction they as one man consented, and agreed that a petition should forthwith be drawn up, and sent by a fit man away to Shaddai with speed. The contents of the petition were thus :
" Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the 77 h tit' f t>est worl(1> anc* builder of the town of zhec^aZZ Mansoul; behave, dread Sovereign, at
King Shaddai. thy, TT™ P" °Ur h,VCS "* Je°parC!y' and at thy bidding made war upon the
famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it, we did, according to our commission, first offer condi- tions of peace unto it, Matt. xxii. 5. Prov. i. Zech. vii. 10 — 13. But they, great King, set light by our counsel, and would none of our reproof. They were for shutting their gates, and so keeping us out of the town : they al- so mounted their guns, they sallied out upon us, and have done us what damage they could ; but we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, requiting them with such retribution as was meet, and have done some execution upon the town.
" Diabolus, Incredulity, and Will-be-will, are the great doers against us : now we are in our winter-quar- ters, but so as that we do yet with an high hand molest and distress the town.
" Once, as we think, had we had but one substantial friend in the town, such as would have but seconded the sound of our summons as they ought, the people might have yielded themselves: but there were none but ene- mies there, nor any to speak in behalf of our Lord to the
* Preachers of the gospel must he unwearied in their endeavors to save their hearers ; but they must pray as well as preach, for painful experience and repeated disappointments will convince them that Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God alone can give the increase. To him therefore they wisely apply for further assistance.
85
town : wherefore, though we have clone as we could, yet Mansoul abides in a state of rebellion against thee.
" Now, King of kings, let it please thee to pardon the unsuccessfulness of thy servants, who have been no more advantageous in so desirable a work as the conquering of Mansoul is: and send, Lord, as we now desire, more forces to Mansoul, that it may be subdued : and a man to head them, that the town may both love and fear.
" We do not thus speak because we are willing to re- linquish the war (for we are for laying our bones against the place) but that the town of Mansoul may be won for thy Majesty. We also pray thy Majesty, for expedi- tion in this matter, that, after conquest, we may be at liberty to be sent about other thy gracious designs. Amen." ' The petition, thus drawn up, was sent away with haste
Who carried to the KinS> h? the hand of that Sood man> this petition. Mr' L°ve-to-ManSoul.
When this petition was come to the palace of the
m .".., Kino^, who should it be delivered to but To whom it 4. .gji ,, c c u . . • i j
was delivered. the KlnS s Son' So he took U' and read it ; and because the contents of it pleas- ed him well, he mended it, and also in some things ad- ded to the petition himself. So after he had made such amendments and additions as he thought convenient, with his own hands, he carried it unto the King: to whom when he had with obeisance delivered it, he put on au- thority, and spake to it himself.*
Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad ; yy K. but how much more, think you, when it
. . ," was seconded by his Son ! It pleased him ceives it with . . u . A . *
. . also to hear that his servants who encamp-
* ed against Mansoul, were so hearty in the
work, and so steadfast in their resolves, and thai they
had already got some ground upon the famous town of
MansouJ.
Wherefore the King called to him Immanuel his Son,
who said. Here am I my Father. Then
The King calls said the King, Thou knowest. as I do my-
* Jesus Christ is our great advocate above. He receives, amends, and presents ourpriytrs ; and those petitions which have the glo- ry of God for their object, cannot but be acceptable to him.
H
86
i
his Sen, unci self, the condition of Mansoui, and what tells him that thou hast done to redeem it. Come now he shall go to therefore, my Son, and prepare thyself conquer the for the war, for thou shalt go to my camp toivn of Man- at Mansoui; thou shalt also there pros- soul; and he is per and prevail, and conquer the town of Jileased at it. Mansoui.
Then said the King's Son, «« Thy law is within my He solaceth heart : l deliSht t0 do thy will," Heb.x. himself in the This is the day that * have lonSed for>
thoughts of his and tIlC WOrk that I haVe waited for a11 ? J this while. Grant me therefore what
force thou shalt in thy wisdom think meet ; and I will go, and will deliver from Diabolus, and from his power, thy perishing town of Mansoui. My heart has been often pained within me, for the miserable town of Mansoui : but now it is rejoiced, but now it is glad ; and with that he leaped over the mountains for joy, saying, I have not in my heart thought any thing too dear for Mansoui ; the day of vengeance is in mine heart for thee, my Mansoui ; and glad am I that thou, my Fa- ther, has made me the captain of their salvation, Heb. ii. 10. And I will now begin to plague all that have been a plague to my town of Mansoui, and I will deliver it from their hands.*
When the King's Son had said thus to his Father, it Th } srh * presently flew like lightning round about t y e* at court : yea, it there became the only ,. , talk, what Immanuel was to go to do for
kingdom covet ^ famous town of Mansoui'. But you o go on is cannot think how the courtiers too were esign. taken with this design of the Prince ; yea,
so affected were they with this work, and with the just- ness of the war, that the highest lord and greatest peer of the kingdom coveted to have commissions under Im- manuel, to go and help to recover again to Shaddai that miserable town of Mansoul.f
* The salvation of souls is " the pleasure of the Lord," and it shall prosper in his hands. How does this bespeak the infinite value of an immortal spirit, and how should it engage all the people of God to seek, not only their own personal salvation, but that also of their fellow sinners throughout the world.
f Angels are " ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation," and glad they are to be employed in promoting their eternal welfare.
87
Then was it concluded that some should go and car- ry tidings to the camp, that Immanuel was to come to recover Mansoul ; and that he would bring along with him so mighty, so impregnable a force, that he could not be resisted. But oh ! how ready were the high ones at court to run like lacquies to carry these tidings to the camp that was at Mansoul !
Now when the captains perceived that the King would
_, , , send Immanuel his Son, and that it also
The camh shout , ,. , , , 0 . ' ..
. ' h delighted the Son to be sent on this er-
jorjoyi ^ , tne grpeat Shaddai his Father ;
they hear the - , 7 &, , Al ,
," they also, to shew how they were pleas-
ed at the thoughts of his coming, gave a shout that made the earth rend at the sound thereof ; yea, the mountains answered the echo, and Diabolus himself tottered and shook.
Now you must know, that though the town of Man- soul itself was not much, if at all, concerned with the project (for, alas for them ! they were wofully besotted, for they chiefly regarded their pleasure and lusts ;) yet
r^- l i /• ^ Diabolus their governor was, for he had Diabolus afraid . . . . b n , , \ . u^
. J r. hisspies continually abroad, whobrought
a ie news j him intelligence of all things ; and they told him what was doing at court against him, and that Immanuel would certainly come shortly with a power to invade him. Nor was there any man in court, nor peer of the kingdom, that Diabolus so feared, as he feared this Prince : for, if you remember, I shew- ed you before, that Diabolus had felt the weight of his hand already ; so that since it was he that was to come, this made him sore afraijj.
Well, you see how I have told you that the King's Son was engaged to come from the court to save Mansoul,
Th P I rl anc^ tnat n*s Father had made him cap-
1 he rrince act- ^ of lhe forces . the ^m& tnercfore for
folliis oTrne . bis settinS fortn being now expired, he jor ns journey* ^dressed himself for the march ; and taking with him, for his power, five noble captains and their forces.
1. The first was that famous captain, the noble Cap- tain Credence ; his were the red colours, and Mr. Pro- mise bare them, John i. 29. Eph. 1*. 16 : and for an es-
88
cutcheon he had the holy lamb and golden shield ; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.
2. The second was that famous captain, the Captain Good Hope ; his were the blue colours, Heb. vi. 19. His standard-bearer was Mr. Expectation ; and for an escutcheon he had three golden anchors ; and he had ten thousand men at his feet.
3. The third was that valiant captain, the Captain Charity, 1 Cor. xiii. His standard-bearer was Mr. Piti- ful ; his were the green colours, and for his escutcheon he had three naked orphans embraced in the bosom j and he had ten thousand at his feet.
4. The fourth was that gallant commander, the Cap- Tain Innocent, Mat. x. 16. His standard-bearer was Mr. Harmless ; his were the white colours, and for his es- cutcheon he had three golden doves.
5. The fifth was that truly loyal and well-beloved cap- tain, the Captain Patience : his standard-bearer was Mr. Suffer-long ; his were the black colours, and for an es- cutcheon he had three arrows through a golden heart.
These were Immanuel's captains, these their standard-
«, .,, . . bearers, their colours and escutcheons, Faith and ha- , . ' , , , . ,
, ' and these the men under their command,
ork a° Heb* vi" 2K So> as UaS Said' the brave
Prince took his march, to go to the town
of Mansoul. Captain Credence led the van, and Captain Patience brought up the rear. So the other three, with their men, made up the main body. The Prince him- self rode in his chariot at the head of them.*
But when they set cut for their march, oh how the . trumpets sounded, their armour glitter-
J heir inarch ^ &nd how the colours waved in the tovard* Man- ^.^ , The Princc>s armour was all gold, s . and it shone like the sun in the firma-
ment. The captains' armour was of proof, and was in
• When Jesus girds his sword upon his thigh to effect the con- quest of the human soul, he comes gloriously attended with those heavenly graces — faith, hope, love, innocence, and patience. Faith leads the van ; patience brings up the rear. Jesus himself, the captain of our salvation, heads the noble army, and conducts the ho- \y war. "Ride prosperously, gracious Majesty, because of truth, meekness, and righteousness, and thy right hand ehall teach thee terrible things," Ps. xlv. 4.
89
appearance like the glittering stars. There -were also some from the court that rode reformades,* for the love that they had to the King Shaddai, and for the happy de- liverance of the town of Mansoal.
Immanuel also, when he had thus set forwards to go Th 1 I R'- t0 recover tne town °f Mansoul, took hi e U ' ? ■ -«o. w*tn nmi> at the command of his Blther, 66 bok fifty-four battering-rams,and twelve slings
to whirl stones withal. Every one of these was made of pure gold ; and these they carried with them in the heart and body of their army, all along as they went to Mansoul. t
So they marched till they came within less than a league of the town ; and there they lay till the first four captains came thither to acquaint them with matters. Th f Then they took their journey to go to the
' € d th lown °f Mansoul, and unto Mansoul they * . e . came ; but when the old soldiers that were
J lc &• -in tke camp saw that they had new forces
to join with, they again gave such a shout before the walls of Mansoul, that it put Diabolus into another fright. So they sat down before the town, not now as the other four captains did, to wit, against the gates of np , , Mansoul only, but they environed it round
/ anS d.6' on every side, and beset it behind and be- eaguert ^^ . gQ ^^ nQw^ ^ Mansoul look which
way it would, it saw force and power lie
Mounts east in siege aSainst lt' Beside, there were , . . mounts cast up against it ; the Mount / againv z . Qrac^ous was on the one s\^ ancj ]yfount
Justice on the other. Farther, there were several small banks and advance grounds, as Plain-truth-hill, and No- sin-banks, where many of the slings were placed against the town. Upon Mount Gracious were planted four, and upon Mount Justice were placed as many : and the
* Seformadesy an old word signifying volunteers : the angels are intended, because " ministering spirits," who delight to explore the wonders of redemption, and to serve the heirs of salvation.
f The several books of the Old and New Testament, in number 66, are here compared to military engines, such as were formerly used to batter walls and gates. These are the proper weapons of the holy war, and they are, indeed, mighty through God to the pul- ling down the strong holds of the devil.
H 2
90
rest were conveniently placed in several parts round the town. Five of the best battering ranis, that is, of the biggest of them, were placed upon Mount Hearken, a mount cast up hard by Ear-gate, with intent to break that open.
Now when the town of Mansoul saw the multitude, The%cart of and the soldiers that were come up against Mansoul be- the Place> an>d the rams and slings, and the trins to fail. mounts on which they were planted ; to- * J gether with the glittering of the armour,
and the waving of their colours ; they were forced to shift and shift, and again to shift their thoughts ; but they hardly changed for thoughts more stout, but rather for thoughts more faint ; lor though before they thought themselves sufficiently guarded, yet now they began to think that no man knew what would be their hap or lot.*
When the good prince Immanuel had thus beleaguer- The -Mite faS ed Mansoul, in the first place he hangs , t out the white flag, which he caused to be
set up among the golden slings that were planted upon Mount Gracious. And this he did for two reasons : 1. To give notice to Mansoul, that he could and would yet be gracious, if they turned to him. 2. And that he might leave them the more without excuse, should he destroy them, they continuing in their rebel- lion.
So the white flag, with the three golden doves on it, was hung out for two days together, to give them time and space to consider. But they, as was hinted before, as if they were unconcerned, made no reply to the favor- able signal of the Prince.
Then he commanded, and they set the red flag upon „, . n that mount called Justice. It was the
ie re jtag ^^ ^^ ^ Qaptajn Juc]gment, whose es- ung ou . cutcheon was the burning fiery furnace :
* Thus the soul which the Lord designs to save is surrounded on .all sides. Grace and justice, plain truth, and opposition to sin, are visible on every hand. Thus many searchings of heart are excited, men's hearts failing for fear, not knowing what the end of these things will be. But the white flag sufficiently intimates the mer- ciful designs of Immanuel, so, in preaching the gospel, mercy is the prominent object.
91
also this stood waving "before them in the wind for seve- ral days together. But look how they carried it under the white flag, when that was hung out, so did they also when the red one was ! and yet he took no advantage of them.
Then he commanded again that his servants should
The black flat? hang OUt the black fia§ of Defiance against , / them, whose escutcheon was the three
burning thunderbolts. But as unconcern- ed was Mansoul at this, as at those that went before. But when the Prince saw that neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come near the heart of Mansoul, he was touched with much com- punction, and said, Surely this strange carriage of the town of JJansoul doth rather arise from ignorance of the manner and feats of war, than from a secret defiance of Christ make, ?*> ,and ^horre^ce of their own lives ; or, ,, if they know the manner of the war of not war as the . . J . ., .. , *
Id d their own, yet not the rites and ceremo-
nies of the wars in which we are concern- ed, when I make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.
Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what he meant by those signs and ceremo- ny. , nies of the flag ; and also to know of them
kn Se7ifth ™hlch °f thC thhlgS thCy WH1 ChuSC' wheth"
^nuM ' hm>7 er Srace and mercy' or judgment, and the
vouia have execmion of judgment. All this while
mercy or ^^ kept the gates shut ag ^ ^ ^
judgment. cQuJd Their guards were also doubIed)
and their watch made as strong as they could. Diabo- lus also plucked up what heart he could, to encourage the town to make resistance.*
* Neither mercy nor judgment impresses the stony heart of man : even tli e black flag of defiance occasions no concern. O how do poor sinners heap up unto thsmselves wrath against the day of wrath, by thus despising the riches of his patience, forbearance, and long suffering-, Rom. ii. How graciously candid is the allowance made tor their possible ignorance, like that of the suffering Saviour when nailed to the cross : — " Father, forgive them, for they know not xvWk. they do." The meaning therefore of these flags is ex- plained; thus must ministers deal with poor sinners, giving them " line upon line, precept upon precept." Bu^ without divine grace all is in vain, saUn will still foment the Sfmkt of resistance,
92
The townsmen also made answer to the Prince's mes- senger, in substance, according to that which follows :. " Great Sir, as to what, by your messenger, you have
The townsfolk's si^nified t0 US> "*?*'* we wiU. acceP* your mercy, or fall by your justice ; we
are bound, by the law and custom of this place, and can give you no positive answer : for it is against the law, government, and the prerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war without him. But this we will do, we will petition that our prince will come down to the wall, and there give you such a treat- ment as he shall think fit and profitable for us."
When the good Prince Immanuel heard this answer,
T , and saw the slavery and bondage of the
Immanuel gnev- , , , ' . t , ^. &
a ti /* // f people, and how contented They were
\t ul 10 abide in the Chains oi the tyrant Di*
abolus, it grieved him at the heart.
And indeed, when at any time he perceived that any
were contented with the slavery of the giant, he would
be affected with it.*
But to return again to our purpose. After the town
had carried this news to Diabolus, and had told him
moreover, that the Prince, that lay in the leaguer with-
n- l , r j out the wall, waited upon them for an Diabolus afraid. answep . he refused} and huffed ag we]i
as he could, but in heart he was afraid.
Then said he, " I will go down to the gates myself, and give him such an answer as I think fit. So he went down to Mouth-gate, and there addressed himself to speak to Immanuel, (but in such language as the town understood not) the contents whereof were as follow :
" O thou great Immanuel, lord of the world, I know , f thee that thou art the Son of the great Ihe speech oj shaddai i wherefore art thou come to Diabolus to the XQVmtVii me> aml t0 cast me out of my Prince. possession ? This town of Mansoul, as
thou very well knowest, is mine by right of conquest ; I won it in the open field : and * shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive deliver*! V 2. This town of Mansoul is mine also by their subjec-
* Pitiable iflfted is the bondage of sinners :«-»«they are led tiye by him at his will.'*
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tion. They have opened the gates of their town unto me ; they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me to be their king. They have also ' ea ' given their castle§ into my hands ; yea, they have also put the whole strength of Mansoul under me.
M Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee ; yea, they have cast thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behind their back ; and have accept- ed, and set up in their room, my law, my name, my image, and all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains, and they will tell thee, that Mansoul hath, in answer to all their summons, shewn love and loyalty to me ; but al- ways disdain, despite, contempt, and scorn to thee and thine. Now, thou who art the just one and the holy (and shouldst do no iniquity) depart then, I pray thee, from me, and leave me to my just inheritance peacea- bly."
This oration was made in the language of Diabolus himself; for although he can to every man speak in their language (else he could not tempt them as he does) yet he has a language proper to himself, and it is the language of the infernal cave or black pit.
Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts !) un-
y,. . . ., derstood him not: nor did they see how
Viabolus unable , 111 1 . •/ t j
... he crouched and cringed while he stood
to stand in the , r . , A, . t, . «.
„ j before Immanuel their Prince Yea,
1 ■ oe J n- ^ ^ ^. while took him to be one of
manuel. , 3 , r 11
that power and Jorce that by no means
could lie resisted : wherefore, while he was thus intreat- ing that he might have yet his residence there, and tnat Immanuel would not take it from him by force, the in- habitants boasted even of his valor, saying, Who is able to make war with him ?*
Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what he would say, Immanuel the Golden Prince stood up, and spake ; the contents of whose words follow :
" Thou deceiving one, said he. I have in my Father's
r ,, name, in my own name, and on the be-
lmmanuel s i-r 1 r , 1 r 1 • 1
, . r.. halt and tor the ?oouot iniswretchca town
\ , ot Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee.
aooius- m, ' . , . .. . ,
Thou pretendest a right, a lawiui right, to
* Deceived mortals understand not the real designs of the ene- my, who first allures to sin, and then becomes an accuser.
94 %
the deplorable town of Mansoul, when it is most appa- rent to all my Father's court, that the entrance which thou hast obtained in at the gates of Mansoul was through thy lies and falsehood : thou belyedst my Father, thou belyedst his law, and so deceivedst the people of Man- soul Thou pretendest that the people have accepted thee for their king, their captain, and right liege lord, but that also was by the exercise of deceit and guile. Now if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner of horrible hypocrisy, will go, in my Father's court (in Which court thou must be tried) for equity and right ; then will 1 confess unto thee, that thou hast made a law- ful conquest. But alas ! what thief, what tyrant, what de- vil is there, that may not conquer after this sort ? But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy pre- The craft and tenc?s t0 / conquest of Mansoul, hast subtlety of Di- nothlnS of truth to say- Thinkest thou obelus exposed ?is tG be ri*& ?at lhou didst ^ ^ by Immanuel. l£ UP^^X Father, and madest him to * Mansoul) the greatest deluder in the
world ? And what sayest thou to thy perverting, know- ingly, the right purport and intent of the law ? Was ft good also that thou madest a prey of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town of Mansoul ? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul, by promising to them hap- piness in their transgressions against my Father's law, when thou knewest, and couldst not but know*, hadst thou consulted nothing but thy own experience, that that was the way to undo them. Thou hast also thyself (O thou master of enmity !) of spite defaced my Father's jj. . image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in
Sh dd™1 ^ ° *ts Place '» t0 tIie Sreat contempt of my Father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerable damage of the perishing town of Man- soul.
" Thou hast moreover (as if all these were but little things with thee) not only deluded and undone this place, but by thy lies, and fraudulent carriage, has set them against their own deliverance.' flow hast thou stirred them up against my Father's captains, and made them to fight against those that were sent of him to de- liver them from their bondage ! All these things, and very many more, thou hast done against thy light, and
95
in contempt of my Father, and his law : yea, and with de- sign to bring under his displeasure for ever the misera- ble town of Mansoul. I am therefore come to revenge the wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and to deal with thee for the blasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blaspheme his name ; yea, upon thy head, thou prince of the infernal cave, will I require it.
" As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee by lawful power ; and to take, by strength of hands, this town of Mansoul out of thy burning fingers : for this town of Mansoul is mine, O Diabolus, and that by un- doubted right, as all shall see that will diligently search the most ancient and most authentic records, and I will plead my title to it to the confusion of thy face.
" First, For the town of Mansoul, my Father built and
Th f ^shioned it with his hand. The palace
e )wn j also that is in the midst of the town, he
• ht f Sf d °U1^ *°r ms own delight. This town of
r!^. / , l?„ r, Mansoul, therefore, is my Father's, and
dahwho built it. thatby thebest of Utles7. and he that
gainsays the truth of this, must lie against his soul.
" Secondly, O thou master of the lie, this town of Man- soul is mine :
and the only delight of his heart, Heb. i. 2. John xv. 16. I am therefore come up against thee in mine own right, even to recover mine own inheritance out of thine hands.
" 2. But further, as I have a right and title to Mansoul
A. .. . , by beine: my Father's heir, so I have also »4lso the inheri- ,' 5 , ' , , . T . ., «.
-.. c, by my rather s donation, John xvu. His tance of his oon ./ ' , , . / ,
r l ^ was, and he gave it to me j nor have
I at any time offended my Father, that he should take it from me, and give it to thee, Isa. 1. 1. Nor have I been forced, by playing the bankrupt, to sell or set to sale to thee my beloved town of Mansoul. Man- soul is my desire, my delight, and the joy of my heart. But,
" Mansoul is mine by right of purchase. I have bought it, O Diabolus, I have bought it for myself. Now since it was my Father's and mine, as I was his heir, and since also I have made it mine by virtue of a great purchase, it followeth) that by all lawful right the town of Mansoul
96
JDiabolu, an ««r- js mi*e ' *nd *at thou art an usurper,
per and tyrant. t5'ra!,t' and ,ra"or> ™ thy >loldlnS P°s: ■ session thereof. Now the cause of
my purchasing it was this : Mansoul had trespassed against my Father. Now my Father had said, that in the day that they broke his law, they should die : now it is more possible for heaven and earth to pass away, than for my Father to break his word, Matt. v. 18. Where- fore when Mansoul had sinned indeed by hearkening to thy lie, I put in and became a surety to my Father, body for body, and soul for soul, that I would make amends ^ p . for Mansoul's transgressions : and my
8 vee vice pather accepted thereof. Sowhen the I lmmanuel. . . r , T , ,
time appointed was come, I gave body
for body, soul for soul, life for life, blood for blood, and so redeemed by beloved Mansoul.
•' 4. Nor did I this by halves ; my Father's love and justice, that were both concerned in the threatening up- on transgression, are both now satisfied, and very well content that Mansoul should be delivered.
commandment from my Father ; 'twas he that said unto me, Go down, and deliver Mansoul.
" Wherefore be it known unto thee, O thou fountain
7 . of deceit, and be it also known to the
m ° "j f i~ foolish town of Mansoul, that 1 am not missioned by his . . . . ' . ,
P h come against thee this day without my
Father.
" And now, said the golden-headed Prince, I have a j
•word to the town of Mansoul (but so soon as mention was
made, that he had a word to speak to the besotted town
of Mansoul, the gates were double-guarded, and all men
commanded not to give him audience ;) so he proceeded
and said, O unhappy town of Mansoul, I cannot but be
_ „ . touched with pity and compassion for
lmmanuel s ad- ^^ Thou ^ acc J of Diabo,
ofMalloul^71 1US f°r thy kinS>and art bfcCoine a nurse oj ansou . aR(j mjnjsler 0r Diabolonians against
thy sovereign lord. Thy gates thou has opened to him, but hast shut them fast against me ; thou hast given him a hearing, but has stopt thine eais to my cry : he brought to thee thy destruction, and thou didst receive both him and it ; I am come to thee, bringing salvation, but thou
97
regardest me not. Besides, thou hast with sacrilegious hands taken thyself, with all that was mine in thee, and hast given all to my foe, and to the greatest enemy my Father has. You have bowed and subjected yourselves to him, you have vowed and sworn yourselves lo be his. Poor Mansoul 1 what shall I do unto thee ? Shall I save thee ? Shall I destroy thee ? What shall I do unto thee ? Shall I fall upon thee, and grind thee to powder ; or make thee a monument of the richest grace ? What shall I do unto thee ? Hearken therefore, thou town of Mansoul, hearken to my word, and thou shalt live. I am merciful, Mansoul, and thou shalt find me so : shut me not out of thy gates, Cant. v. 2.
" O Mansoul, neither is my commission or inclination at all to do thee hurt : why flyest thou so fast from thy friend, and stickest so close to thine enemy ? Indeed I would have thee, because it becomes thee, to be sorry for thy sin : but do not despair of life : this great force is not to hurt thee, but to deliver thee from thy bondage, and to reduce thee to thy obedience.
" My commission indeed is, to make war upon Di-
r „ abolus, thy kin^, and upon all Diabo-
Immaniiel s com- ' /, ,.& r r . .
. . . . , lonians with him, lor he is the strong:
mission is to make , . . ., , , &
r>. , man armed that keeps the house : but war uwn Diaoo- T ... .. . *\ . .,
: ' .- I will have him out; his spoils I must
lus, and to save ,•.,.. T . r
njr , divide, his armour I must take from
him, his hold I must cast him out of, and must make it an habitation for myself. And this, O Mansoul, shall Diabolus know, when he shall be made to follow me in chains, and when Mansoul shall rejoice to see it too.
u I could, would I now put forth my might, cause that forthwith he should leave you and depart ; but I have it in my heart so to deal with him, as that the justice of the war, that I shall make upon him, may be seen and ac- knowledged by all. He hath taken Mansoul by fraud, and keeps it by violence and deceit ; and I will make
Conclusion .//«- h,im bare and "?ked in th,e eyes of aU tnanuee, tfiicch. fservers- AU my words are true s
1 am mighty to save, and will deliver my Mansoul out of his hand."*
* In this speech of Immanuel, the true character ofsatan is drawn, and he is represented, as in the sacred scriptures, a liar, a deceiver,
I
98
This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoul would not have the hearing of it. They shut up Ear-gate, they barricaded it up, they kept it locked and bolted, they set a guard thereat, and commanded that no Mansoulian should go out to him, nor that any from the camp should be admitted into the town : all this they did, so horribly had Diabolus enchanted them to do, and to seek to do for him, against their rightful Lord and Prince ; wherefore no man, nor voice, nor sound of man that belonged to the glorious host, was to come into the town.*
CHAP. VII.
Immanuel prepares to make War upon Mansoul — Di- abolus sends Air. Loth-to-stoop with Proposals for ac- commodating the Difference His dishonorable Pro- posals are rejected by Immanuel. — Again he proposes to be Immanuel* s Deputy, and turn Reformer ; this Proposal also rejected. — Afesv Preparations for Bat- tie. — A violent Assault upon Ear-gate with the Batter- ing Rams. — The Gate broken to Pieces ; the Troops en- ter the Town ; take Possession of Mr. Conscience's House. — Several Diabolonians are killed.
"^HKTHEN Immanuel saw that Mansoul was thus in- fy volved in sin, he called his army together, (since now all his words were despised) and gave cut a com- mandment throughout all his bests, to be ready against
a blasphemer, an usurper, the malicious enemy of God and man ; while Immanuel claims the human soul as his own, his workman- ship, his delight, his inheritance, his purchase.
That part of the speech which is directed to * ansoul, contains the charming subotar.ee of the gotpel of gi'ace, the merciful design of Christ in his approaches to the soul, which is not to de yy but to save. How well does his gracious address deserve the a >it cor- dial acceptation : but, mark the sequel !
* Infatuated sinners ! rejecting the counsel of God against hero- selves. Reader, is this thy picture ? — Pause and examine. lie- member, "faith cometh by hearing." " Hear, then, and your soul shall live."
99
7 , the time appointed. Now forasmuch as
Jmmanuei pre- lnere was no way lawfully to take the fiares to ?nake c A/r / , . J ,
1 1 M ~ lown °* Mansoul, but to get in by the
\arujion . gates, and at Ear-gate as the chief, there- lore he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams, their slings, and their men, and place them at Eye- gate and Ear- gate, in order to his taking the town.
When Immanuel had put all things in readiness to bid Diabolus battle, lie sent again to know of the town of Mansoul, if in peaceable manner they would yield them- selves ; or whether they were* yet resolved to put him to try the utmost extremity ? They then, together with Diabolus the king, called a council of war, and resolved upon certain propositions that should be offered Imman- uel, if he will accept thereof: so they agreed ; and then the next was, who should be sent on this errand. Now
^. .. , , there was in the town of Mansoul an
Diabolus sends ,, ta- » i • > i«
i , , , r old man, a Diabolonian, and his name
by the hand of ,T 'T , t ' .„.
* t i,T was Mr. Loth-to- stoop ; a stiff man in
his servant, Mr. . . , . / '
T ,;. '. his way, and a srreat doer ior Diabolus ;
Loth-to-stoolu ,• . r i j • x
. , ,. /' him therefore they sent, and put into
ana by him he ^ momh wJ he ghould So he
tiro hounds con- , , J ,
1 ,. . ri. went, and came to the camp to Imman-
( it ion a cj fieace. . j , , r
J * uel ; and when he was come, a time
was appointed to give him audience. So at the time he
came ; and after a Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thus
began, and said, Tit* i. 15. " Great Sir, that it may be
known unto all men, how good-natured a prince my mas-
«...., . , ter is, he hath sent me to tell your Diabolus wishes Lordship, thal he h y wflfing mh.
^ retain the half qy thai/go to waP) m&liver *p into of Mansoul. your hands Qne hatf of the tQwh of Man-
soul. I am therefore to know if your Mightiness will* accept of this proposition ?"
Then said Immanuel, " The whole is mine by gift and purchase, therefore I will never lose one half."
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, u Sir; my master hath
. , ... .. . said, that he will be content that you
And will allow , ,, , . . . , . , T J -.
_ i „ * shall be the nominal and titular Lord
Immanuel to be r ,, .r , . , „
;/ i t i r u ot a"j il he may possess but a part, called Lord of all. Luke'xiil25. " l
Then Immanuel answered, M The whole is mine re-
100
ally, not in name and word only ; wherefore I will be the sole Lord and possessor of all, or of none at all, in Man- soul>
Then Mr. Loth-to-stoop said again, u Sir, behold the M rk tl ' condescensiori of my master ! He says, that he will be content if he may but have assign- ed to him some place in Mansoul, as a place to live pri- vately in, and you shall be Lord of all the rest." Acts v. 1—5.
Then said the Golden Prince, " All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me ; and of all that he hath given me I will lose nothing, no not the least corner in Mansoul to dwell in, I will have all to myself."
Then Loth-to-stoop said again, 4> But, Sir, suppose
tof k th' tnat my *orc^ bnou^ resign the whole town
.. to you only with this proviso, that he some-
times, when he comes into this country, may, for old acquaintance sake, be entertained as a wayfaring man for two days, or ten days, or a month, or so : may not this small matter be granted ?"
Then said Immanuel, " No. He came as a wayfaring man to David, nor did he stay long with him, and yet it like to have cost David his soul, 2 Sam. xii. 1 — 5. I will not consent that he ever should have any harbor more there. "
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, " Sir, you seem to be c.. , very hard. Suppose my master shouldyield
**z . a.nc car~ to all that your Lordship hath said, provid- ed that his friends and kindred in Mansoul may have liberty to trade in the town, and to enjoy their present dwellings ; may not that be granted, Sir V
Then said Immanuel, " No ; that is contrary to my Father's will, Rom. vi. 13. Col. iii. 5. Gal. v. 24. For all, and ali manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives."
Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop again, " But, Sir, may
M k tl '■ not my master anc* great lord, by letters, , a lli" by passengers, by accidental opportunities, and the like, maintain, if he shall deliver up all unto thee, some kind of old friendship with Mansoul ?" John x. 8. Immanuel answered, " No, by no means j forasmuch
101
as any such fellowship, friendship, intimacy, or acquain- tance, in what way, sort or mode soever maintained, will tend to the corrupting of Mansoul, the alienating of their affections from me, and the endangering their peace with my Father."
Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further, saying, " But, M i. »; great Sir, since my master hath many friends, Mark tms. &nd thoge that are deap tQ him in |yiansoul,
Horn. vi. 12, 13, may he not, if he depart from them, even of his bounty and good nature, bestow upon them, p. j. , . as he sees fit, some tokens of his love and iJe \g in j^jnc|ness tjiat ne had for them, to the end *ecQ ec~ j Mansoul, when he is gone, may look tion of f mst , ,7 r i • i
J * upon such tokens ot kindness once receiv- ed from their old friend, and remember him who was once their king, and the merry times that they sometimes enjoyed one with another, while he and they lived in peace together ?"
Then said Immanuel, " No ; for if Mansoul come to be mine, I shall not admit of, nor consent that there should be the least scrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind, as tokens or gifts bestowed upon any in Man- soul, thereby to call to remembrance the horrible com- munion that was betwixt them and him."
•" Well, Sir, said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, I have one thing 1/ rk tl ' more t0 propound, and then I am got to the end of my commission ; 2 Kings i. 3, 6, 7. Suppose that when my master is gone from Mansoul, any that yet shall live in the town, shall have such busi- ness of high concerns to do, that, if they be neglected, ♦he party shall be undone : and suppose, Sir, that nobody can help, in that case, so well as my master and lord ; may not now my master be sent for upon so urgent an occasion as this ? Or if he may not be admitted into the town, may not he and the persons concerned meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, and there lay their heads together, and there consult together I"
This was the last oC those ensnaring propositions that Mr. Loth to-stoop had to ptopound to Im- All the firo' manuel on behalf of his master Diabolus : fiosi'ions of but Immanuel would not grant it ; for he Loth-to-stoop, said. " There can be no case, or thing, or in behalf of matter, fall out in Mansoul, when thy mas-
1 2
103
Diabolus re- ter shall be gone, that may not be solved jected. by my Father, 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. Besides,
it will be a great disparagement to my Fa- ther's wisdom and skill, to admit any irom Mansoul to go out to Diabolus for advice, when they are bid before, in every thing, by prayer and supplication, to let their requests be made known to my Father, 2 Kings i. 2, 3. Further, this, should it be granted, would he to grant that a door should be set open for Diabolonians in Man- soul, to hatch and plot and bring to pass treasonable de- signs, to the grief of my Father and me, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul.*
When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, he T M. . took his leave of Immanuel, and departed;
* saying, that he would carry word to his P^c master concerning this whole affair. So
he departed, and came to Diabolus in Mansoul, and told him the whole of the matter ; and how Immanuel would not admit, no not by any means, that he, when he was once gone out, should ever have any thing more to do either in, or with any that are of, the town of Mansoul. When Mansoul and Diabolus had heard this relation of things, they with one consent concluded to use their best endeavors to keep Immanuel out of Mansoul ; and sent old Ill-pause, of whom you have heard before, to tell the Prince and his captains so. So the old gentleman came
* The proud heart of man is loth to stoop to that absolute and en- tire obedience to Christ which he justly requires. There are ma- £y who would call themselves Christians on some of the conditions here proposed. They would resign half their hearts to Christ, and so serve two masters. Or, they would allow him to be titular lord, a lord in name, but not in authority. Others would serve Jesus, in general, if permitted to enjoy the pleasures of sin occasionally. Others would submit to become religious, yet entertain some darl-* ing- lusts ; or maintain correspondence and friendship with Batan; or take delight in the recollection of their pleasant sins. But all this partial and conditional submission is rejected; Christ will have all the heart or none. To be only " almost a Christian" is to be no Christian at all. The author, wishing to impress these things on the mind of the reader; has repeatedly 6aid in the margin — mark zhi*. They do indeed deserve remark, and let every reader con- sider whether he is offering some of these conditions, or whether be is saying
" Take my whole heart, and let it be
Tor ever closed to all but thee,"
xOo
up to the top of Ear-gate, and called to the camp for a
. f ij hearing; who, when they gave audience,
Tn*° °tJ ne sa^' t; * nave m commandmei!t from JU-fiause to the my ^ ]qv(] iq biJ yQU teU k tQ yQup
ca^' Prince Immanuel, that Mansoul, and
their king, are resolved to stand or fall together, and that it is in vain for your Prince to think of ever having Man- soul in his hand, unless he can take it by force. " So some went and told Immanuel what old 111- pause, a Di- abolonian in Mansoul, had said. Then sair! the Prince, " I mu«t try the power of my sword, Eph. vi. \7 for I will not (for all the rebellions and repulses that Mansoul has made against me) raise my siege and depart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from her enemy. And with that he gave out a commandment, -,. * fi ht tnat Captain Boanerges, Captain Con-
Prehwatiomfor viction' CaPtai" Judgment, and Captain // h itl Execution, should march forthwith up
to Ear-gate, with trumpets sounding, colours flying, with shouting for the battle. Also he would that Captain Credence should join himself in with them : Immanuel moreover gave orders that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity should draw themselves up before Eye-gate. He bid also that the rest of his captains and their men should place themselves to the best of their advantage against the enemy, round about the town ; and all was done as he commanded. Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word was at that time IMMANUEL. Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering rams were played, and the siings whirled stones into the town amain ; and thus the battle began. Now Diabolus himself managed the townsmen in the war, and that at every gate ; wherefore their resistance was the more forcible, hellish, and offen- sive to Immanuel. Thus was the good Prince engaged and entertained by Diabolus and Mansoul for several days together ; and a sight worth seeing it was, to be- hold how the captains of Shaddai behaved themselves in the war.
And first for Captain Boanerges (not to undervalue
n .. the rest) he made three most fierce as-
Boantrgt* filay* ^^ Qne after another> upon Ear.
man* gate, to the shaking of the posts there-
104
of. Captain Conviction also made up as fast with Boan- erges as possibly he could ; and both discerning that the gate began to yield, they commanded that the rams should still be played against it. Now Captain Convic- tion going up very near to the gate, was with conviction great force driven back, and received three wounded. wounds in h\s mouth ; and those that rode e . . reformades.§ went about to encouracre the S ■**''*• captains.
For the valor of the two captains made mention of be- fore, the Prince sent for them to his pavilion ; and com- manded that awhile they should rest themselves, and that with somewhat they should be refreshed. Care was also taken for Captain Conviction, that he should be heal- ed of his wounds ; the Prince also gave them a chain of gold, and bid them yet be of good courage.
Nor did Captain Good-hope nor Captain Charity come r f , behind in this most desperate fight, for they
sfrh • to° so Denavec* themselves at Eye-gate, that and Charity ibey had almost broken ;t quite 0'pen# These jilaytheman h&d ^q & reward from ti,eir Prince, as also at ye-gate ^^ ^ rest Qr the captainS) btcause they did valiantly round about the town.*
In this engagement; several of the officers of Diabolus were slain, and some of the townsmen wounded, for r . among the officers there was one Captain
afitain Boasting slain. This Boasting thought that
oas ing nobody could have shaken the post of Ear- * UlU' gate, nor have shaken the heart of Diabolus.-
r Q Next to him there was one Captain Secure
Lafitainte- ^^ . [hh Secure used to s^ tnat the cure clam. bJ^ £nd bme jfl Wansouj were abIe tc
keep the gates of the town against Immanuel's army, 2 Sam. v. 6. This Captain Secure did Captain Convic- tion cleave down the head with a two-handed sword* when he himself received three wounds in the mouth.
* The scul of man is assaulted by the ear. Boanerges, a faithful preacher oi'the gospel, boldly perseveres in declaring- the truth of God, seconded by Conviction, who is here said to be wounded ; orf in other words — mat conviction which was occasioned by the word of Gt.-d, is resisted and driven back by the reluctant sinner, yet un- willing: to yield to its dictates. Hope and Charity, those amiuble graces, present themselves to the eye of the world in order to al- lure their souls.
105
Besides, there was one Captain Bragman, a very des-
C 1 1 'n Bra«-- Pcrate ^e^owi ana* ne vvas captain over
* , ■ ° a band of those that threw fire-brands, man slain.
arrows, and death ; he also received
by the hand of Captain Good-hope at Eye-gate, a mortal wound in the breast.
There was moreover one Mr. Feeling, but he was no Mr F i c caPtam> but a great stickler to encour- , * age Mansoul to rebellion ; he received a
wound in the eye by the hand of one of Boanerges's soldiers, and had by the captain himself been slain, but that he made a sudden retreat.
But I never saw Will-be-will so daunted in all my
nr-/r i -ii life » ne was not able to do as he was l\ill-be-xuiU , . , ,
. wont ; and some say lie also received a
wound in the leg, and that some of the
men in the Prince's army had certainly seen him limp as
he afterwards walked on the wall.
I shall not give you a particular account of the names of the soldiers that were maimed, wounded, and slain : for when they saw that the posts of Ear-gate shook, and Eye-gate was well nigh broken quite open ; and also that their captains were slain ; this took away the hearts of many of the Diabolonians, so that they fell also by the force of the shot that were sent by the golden slings in- to the midst of the town of Mansoul.
Of the townsmen, there was one Love-no-good ; he
T , was a townsman, but a Diabolonian ; he
L,ove-no-good , , . . . «, , ,,
, ,° also received his mortal wound in Man-
rjounded. , , ^ , ,. ,
soul, but he died not very soon.
Mr. Ill pause also, who came along with Diabolus
when at first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, receiv-
Tn . ed a srrievous wound in the head ; some say
d d brain-pan was cracked : this I have
taken notice of, that he was never after this
able to do that mischief to Mansoul as he had done in
times past. Also old Prejudice and Mr. Any-thing
fled.*
* Success now begins to crown these efforts of the gospel minis- try. The sinner no longer boasts of his fancied virtue, strength, and goodness ; sin is no more bragged of, and gloried in ; the word is now felt as well as heard; and even the stubborn will of man be- gins to bend. These and other enemies of Christ are obliged to
106
Now when the battle was over, the Prince command-
The white fl p ed t,iat ^ et once mcTe tlic wnite flag //wne* owr e* should be set upon Mount Gracious, in g again. sjght-of the town of Mansoul ; to shew that yet Immanuel had grace for the wretched town of Mansoul.
When Diabolus saw the white fiag hung out again,
JDiabolu,'* new &? kn€Tin? that U .wa? .n0t f?r ,him> fcut . Mansoul ; he cast in his mind to play
' another prank, to wit, to see if Immanuel
would raise his siege and begone, upon promise of re- formation. So he went down to the gate one evening, a good while after the sun was gone down, and called to speak with Immanuel ; who presently came down to the gate, and Diabolus ssith unto him :
"Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by the white
Hi, ,fieech to ^' th*' thoTU *rt wl'o)ly S'ven t0 Pe»ce'
JmmanuH. a'ld ci"let ; * tl,ouSh,' »eet t0 ?«£"«' thee, that we are ready to accept thereof
vipon terms which thou mayest admit.
" I know that thou art given to devotion, and that ho- liness pleases thee ; yea, that thy great end in making a war upon Mansoul. is, that it may be an holy habitation. Well, draw off thy forces from the town, and I will bend Manseul to thy bow.
" First, I will lay down all acts of hostility against thee, and will be willing to become thy deputy ; and will, as I have formerly been against thee, now serve thee in the town of Mansoul. And more particularly,
7v , , rj, 4
JJiabolus would . . r *;, . . , , T .
i T ,, ceive thee ior their lord : and I know
be immanuel s . , ..... ' , ,
. , „ ., that they will do it sooner, when thev
1 *' shall understand that I am thy deputy.
" 2. I will shew them wherein they have erred, and that transgression stands in the way to life.
4k 3. I will shew them the holy law unto which they must conform, even that which they have broken.
41 4. I will press upon them the necessity of a refor- mation, according to law.
submit to the victorious weapons of his grace.' In this state of tilings, the display of the white flag", or pardori^ {racy, i« pecu- liarly seasonable. "
1Q7
li 5. And moreover, that none of these things may fail,
.. I. myself, at my own proper cost and
And wouM turn ^.^ wjj| ^ ^ ^ maintain a suffi.
rejorme . cient ministry, besirk-s lectures, in Man-
soul.
u 6. Thou shalt receive as a token of our subjection to thee, continually year by year, what thou shalt think fit to lay and lew upon us, in token of ^uch subjection "*
Then said Immanuel t'» him, "O full of deceit, how
r ., moveable are thv ways 1 How often hast
Immanuel s an- , , - , r . , ., ,
n. . thou cnaneed and recnanured, it so be
swtr to Diabo- . . *» ... . P c
thou mightest still keep possession of
Mansoul ! though, as has been plainly
declared before, I am the right heir thereof. Often hast
thou made thy proposals already, nor is this last a whit
better than they, 2 Cor. xi. 14. And failing to deceive
when thou shewedst thyself in thy black, thou hast now
transformed thyself into an an^el of tfght, and wouldstj
to deceive, be now as a minister of righteousness.
" But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must be
regarded that thou canst propound, for nothing is done
_.. , , , by thee but to deceive ; thou neither
Diabolus has no ,' , . . ^ , " . .
hast conscience to God, nor love to the
conscience to , . , r . , * , ._
* . i town ot Mansoul ; whence then should
God, nor love to . . * . v 4 - . r ,
- , ' , these thy sayings arise, but from sinful
craft and deceit ? He that can list and will propound what he pleases, and that therewith he may destroy them that believe him, is to be abandoned, with all that he shall say. But if righteousness be such a beauty-spot in thine eyes now, how is it that wicked- ness was so closely stuck to by thee before ? But this by the bye.
r* It is by no means uncommon for persons under severe convic- tions of sin, and awful fears o hell, to determine ■> \ reform, tion, or mending ti.eir lives. This is agreeable to the fits covenant, the terms of which are, "do, and live ;" but not according- to \ covenant of grace, which says—" believe, and live." S . Paul speaks with the most poignant giief of his countrymen t » Jews, thut, though they followed ui'ter righteousness, they could not at- tain it, because they sought it by the works of the law, .id that through ignorance of the righteousness of Christ, they weir, about to establish their own righteousness. See Romans 9th an 1 )Oth chapters. Such is the vain attempt of many convinced sinners, who are willing to be reformed, but not to be justified and saved by gTace.
108
* Thou talkest now of a reformation in Mansoul, and that thou thyself, if I please, wilt be at the head of that reformation ; all the while knowing, that the greatest proficiency that man can make in the law, and the right- eousness thereof, will amount to no more, for the taking ftway the curse from Mansoul, than just nothing at all ; for a law being broken by Mansoul, that had before, up- on a supposition of the breach thereof, a curse pronounc- ed against him for it of God, can never, by his obeying
rr . ,, . the law, deliver himself therefrom. (To
He knows that , . c , r ;..
... , say nothing of what a reformation is ike
thai nvill do no . J. «.•■»» i u i t -i
. . , to be set up in Mansoul, when the devil
Food n-'hichyet . , *, r • x t»
* . f is become the conector ot vice.) l hou
he firofiounds , 1.1111, J • ,
j- \i ' 1 1* *■ knovrest that all that thou hast now said for the health of . . . _ t,. . fc ., ,
y,/r . J in this matter is nothing but guile and
deceit ; and as it was the first, so it is the
last card that thou hast to play. Many there be that
discern thee, when thou shew est them thy cloven foot ;
but in thy white, thy light, and in thy transformation,
thou art seen but of a few. But thou shalt not do thus
with my Mansoul, O Diabolus, for I do still love my
Mansoul.
" Besides, I am not come to put Mansoul upon works, to live thereby, should I do so, I should be like unto thee ; but 1 am come, that by me, and by what I have and shall do for Mansoul, they may be reconciled to my Father, though by their sin they have provoked him to anger, and though by the law they cannot obtain mercy.
" Thou talkest of subjecting this town to good, when
none desireth it at thy hands. 1 am sent by my Father
to possess it myself, and to guide it, by the skilfulness
of my hands, into such a conformity to him as shall be
pleating in his sight. I will therefore possess it myself :
I will dispossess and cast thee out ; I will set up my own
standard in the midst of them : 1 will also govern them
... - . by new laws, new officers, new motives,
Ml things must ^ ^ wayg . ^ j ^ puU down
he new in Man- ^ town>and build k aga;n? am) it shaU
be as though it had not been, and it shall be the glory of the whole universe."*
* In this excellent answer of Imrr.anuel we learn, that no self- righteous attempts to justify the soul by us reformation only, will be accepted. To persuade convinced sinners to rest in this,' to the
109
When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that he was
n. , , discovered in all his deceits, he was con-
Diabolus con- r , , , . ' .
f nded founded and utterly put to a nonplus ;
but having in himself the fountain of in- iquity, rage, and malice against both Shaddai and his Son, and the beloved town of Mansoul, what doth he but strengthen himself what he could to give fresh battle to Y ., / 4 • tne no°le Prince Immanuel. So then, . f fi j now we must have another fight before ons j jig i . t^e town Qf ^ianS0ul is taken. Come up then to the mountains, you that love to see military ac- tions, and behold by both sides how the fatal blow is giv- en ; while one seeks to hold, and the other seeks to make himself master of the famous town of Mansoul.
Diabolus therefore withdrew himself from the walls to his fort that was in the heart of the town of Mansoul ; Immanuel also returned to the camp ; and both of them, after their divers ways, put themselves into a posture fit
r>- , , , to give battle one to another. Diabolus, Diabolus des- ^V,, , • , i • c t • • • i •
fh II as ""ec* Wlt" despair of retaining m his
pairs uj 10 - han(js the famous town of Mansoul, re-
, , s, y solved to do what mischief he could (if
and therefore , , , , , , N , iU v ,.
J , indeed he could do any) to the army of
contrives to do .. „ . , . .•~>Jg c
. , the Prince, and to the famous town or
y* mis" Mansoul ; for alas ! it was not the hap- piness of the silly town of Mansoul that was designed by Diabolus, but the utter ruin and over- throw thereof, as now is enough in view, Mark xxvi. 27. Wherefore he commands his officers that they should then, when they saw they could hold the town no longer, do it what harm and mischief they could, rending and tearing men, women, and children ; for, said he, we had
neglect of Christ and his righteousness, is a dangerous artifice of the devil, who thus " transforms himself into an angel of light," 2 Cor. xi. 14. The sinner, having once broken the law, and thereby incurred " the curse of the law," Gal. iii. 10, can derive no help from the law ; but must look to Christ the law-fulfiller, for right- eousness and reconciliation with God. A man may talk much of re- forming his life, and say a great deal about good works, yet remain a subject of satan's kingdom. We are not Christians till we are in Christ, by believing in him for salvation; and when we are so, we become new creatures : our state is new, being justified by grace; and our disposition is new also, being born again of the Spirit.
K
110
better quite demolish the place, and leave it a ruinous heap, than that it should be an habitation for Immanuel.*
Immanuel again, knowing that the next battle would issue in his being made master of the place, gave out a royal commandment to all his officers, high captains, and men of war, to be sure to shew themselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians ; but favora- ble, merciful, and meek to the old inhabitants of Man- soul. Bend therefore, said the noble Prince, the hottest front of the battle against Diabolus and his men.
So the day being come, the command was given, and
,-,, ,' . • . the Prince's men stood bravely to their
The battle join- ,. , , r ,J . . .
, , . z arms ; nor did, as belore, bend their
cd, and they r ' . ' » *
fizht on both forces aSa,nst Ear-gate and Eye-gate.
J 9, £ , The word was then, Mansoul is won : sides fiercely. , , , . ,
J v so they made their assault upon the town.
Diabolus also, as fast as he could, with the main of his
power, made resistance from within, and his high lords
and chief captains for a time fought very cruelly against
the Prince's army.
Bui, after three or four notable charges by the Prince
„ , , and his noble captains, Ear-gate was
Margate broke , , , \. , i . ,
* broke open, and the bars and bolts,
°Jien' wherewith it was used to be fast shut up
against the Prince, were broken into a thousand pieces.
Then did the Prince's trumpets sound,
The Prince's the captains shout, the town shake, and
standard setup, Diabolus retreat to his hold.f Well,
* "When satan can no longer maintain his dominion in the soul, he will endeavor to disturb and distress it, by temptations to de- spair, or to abominable vices, or by stirring up persecution against the struggling sinner ; so, when a poor creature was approaching to Christ for cure — " as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down and tare him," Luke ix. 42.
j Thus was the promise fulfilled, Isa. xxix. 18, " in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book ;" and xxxv. 18, " the ears of the deaf shall be opened." It is a glorious event, when the soul is made sincerely willing to listen to the word of God, when it truly says " speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth ;" for the way is strait, as the author observes, from Ear-gate to the recorder's house, that is, to the conscience; and from thence to the castle, that is, the heart. The importance of opening Ear-gate may be learned from that frequent expression in our Lord's discourses — "he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear." May God bestow the "hear, ing ear" upon every reader !
Ill
and the slings when the Prince's forces had brok^ art played still open the gate, himself came up, and did at the castle. set up his throne in it; also he set his standard near it, upon a mount that hi \ men had before cast up to place the mighty slings thereon. The mount was called Mount Iiearwell ; there there- fore the Prince abode, to wit, hard by the going in at the gate. He commanded also that the golden slings should yet be played upon the town, especially against the cas- tle, because for shelter thither was Diaboius retreated. Now from Ear-gate the street was strait, even to the house of him who was the recorder before Diaboius took the town ; and hard by his house stood the castle, which Diaboius for a long had time made his irksome den. The captains therefore quickly cleared the street by the; use of their slings, so that way was made up to the heart of the town. Then the Prince commanded that Cap: Boanerges, Captain Conviction, and Captain Judgment)
e „ . should forthwith march up the town to
& Conscience. . . , , , , ' ,.,, ,. , ,
5 the old gentleman s gate.§ i hen did the
captains in most warlike manner enter into the town of
Mansoul, and, marching in with flying colours, they
„, . ,. came up to the recorder's house (and
They e-o to the . r, . - . \
* ° ,, that was almost as strong as the castle.)
rf L Battering-rams they took also with them,
/' oils e
to plant against the castle-gates. When
they were come to the hou^e of ?vlr. Conscience, they knocked, and demanded entrance. Now the old gentle- man, not knowing as yet fully their design, kept his gates
? , . shut all the time of this fight. Where-
Theu demand c „ , , '?
fore Boanerges demanded entrance at
his gates; and no man making answer,
he gave it one stroke with the head of a ram, and this
made the old gentleman shake, and his house tremble
and totter. Then came Mr. Recorder down to the gate,
as well as he could, with quivering lips, he asked who
was there ? Boanerges answered, M We are the captains
and commanders of the great Shaddai, and of the blessed
Immanuel his Son, and we demand possession of your
house for the use of our noble Prince." And with that
the battering ram gave the gate another shake : this
made the old gentleman tremble the more, yet durst he
not but open the gate ; then the King's forces marched
112
They zo in, in' namel>r> the three brave capuins men- tioned before. Now the recorder's house, was a place of much convenience for Immanuel, not on- ly because it was near and fronted the castle, the den where new Diabolus was; for he was now afraid to come
They ketfi
out of his hold. As for Mr. Recorde
themselves re- the caPtains carried it very reservedly to tervedly from him : asyet lie knew nothinS of the great the recorder. desi£ns of Immanuel ; so that he did not know what judgment to make, nor what would be the end of such thundering beginnings.* It
rr. , ,. was noised in the town, how the record-
Jiis house the , , \ , .
- er s house was possessed, his rooms taken
iecit of ivar* • , * . > . ~
^ up, and his palace made the seat of war ;
and no sooner was it noised abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave it out to others of his friends ; and as, you know, a snow-ball loses nothing by rolling, so in little time the whole town was possessed, that they must expect nothing from the Prince but destruction ; and the ground of the business was this, the recorder trembled, and the captains carried it strangely to him : so many came to see ; but when they with their own eyes beheld the captains in the palace, and their battering-rams ever played at the castle-gates to beat them down, they were rivetted in their fears, and it made them as in TI & f amaze. And, as I said, the man of the le oj/ice oj house WOuld increase all this ; for whoev- onsaence, ^ came to him, or discoursed with him, when he is nolhin& ,vould he talk 0f, tell them, or awakened. ^^ bm lhat death and destruction now attended Mansoul.
" For (quoth the old gentleman) you are all of you sensible that we have all been traitors to that once de- spised, but now famously victorious and glorious Prince Immanuel ; for he now, as you see, doth not only lie in close siege about us, but hath forced his entrance in at our gates : moreover, Diabolus flies before him ; and he hath, as you behold, made of my house a garrison
* The conscience submits and trembles. When the soul listens to the threatenings of the holy law, conscience cannot" but fear and quake, and till further enlightened with the knowledge of the gos- pel, and the gracious design of God by his gospel, can think and talk of nothing but " death and destruction."
113
against the castle, where he is. I for my part have trans- gressed greatly ; and he that is clean, it is well for him. But, I say, I have transgressed greatly, in keeping si- lence, when I should have spoken ; and in perverting justice, when I should have executed the same. True, I have suffered something at the hands of Diabolus, for taking part with the laws of King Shaddai ; but that, alas ! what will that do ! Will that make compensation for the rebellions and treasons that I have done, and have suffered without gainsaying, to be committed in the town of Mansoul ? O I tremble to think what will be the end of this so dreadful and so ireful a begin- ning !"*
Now while these brave captains were thus busy in the
rjV r house of the old recorder, Captain Ex-
lhe brave ex- . . . ', L ^ c
4 i i* sn 4,+ • ecution was as busy in other parts or
Execution t*ie town> in securing the back streets
and the walls. He also hunted the Lord Will-be-will sorely, and suffered him not to rest in any corner. He pursued so hard, that he drove his men from him, and made him glad to thrust his head in- to a hole. Also this mighty warrior cut three of Lord Will-be-will's officers down to the ground ; one was old
t~M , r> • -• Mr. Prejudice, he that had his crown Old Prejudice . - , J. . . ' . , .
. . ' cracked in the mutiny : this man was
made, by my Lord Will-be-will, keeper of Ear-gate, and fell by the hand of Captain Execution. There was also one Mr. Backward-to-all-but-naught, and he also was one of the Lord Will-be-will's officers, and was the captain of the two guns that once were mounted on the top of Ear- gate ; he also was cut down to the ground by the hands of Captain Execution. Besides these two, there was another, a third, and his name was Captain Treacherous, a vile man this was, but one that Will-be- will put a great deal of confidence in ; but him also did this Captain Execution cut down to the ground with the rest. He also made a very great slaughter among my Lord Will-be-will's soldiers, killing many that were stout and sturdy, and wounding many that for Diabolus were
* Conscience, when awakened, will open his mouth in humble confession of past offences, of rebellion against God, lamenting es- pecially, his having " kept silence when he ought to have spoken."
K2
114
nimble and active. But all these were Diaboloniaaa j there was not a man, a native of Mansoul, hr.it.
Other feats of war were likewise performed by other Captain Good- ^f the captains, as at E>c-gate, where
ho/ie slays Cafi- f^T G°od-hol)e and CaPtaln Chf** tain Blindfold; "y had a charge, was great execution t done; tor Captain Good-hope, with his
own hands, slew one Captain Blindfold, the keeper of that gate : this Blindfold was captain of a thousand men, and they were they that fought with mauls ; he also pur- sued his men,slew many, and wounded more, and made tlie rest hide their heads in coiners.
Ihere was also at that gate, Mr. Ill-pause, of whom
you have heard before ; he was an old man, and had a
beard that reached down to his girdle ; the same was he
4 d hid Til that was orator to Diaboius : he did much
mischief in the town of Mansoul, and fell
pause. ^ tne hands of Captain Good-hope.
What shall I say ? The Diabolonians in these days lay dead in every corner, though too many were yet alive .in Mansoul.*
CHAP. VIII.
A Conference of the principal Inhabitants, ivho agree tt> Jietition the Prince for their Lives — The Castle Gate broke open — Immanuel marches into Mansoul — Diabo- ius is made Prisoner, and bound in Chains — The Inhab- itants greatly distressed, petition again and again — At length a free Pardon is obtained, and universal Joy succeeds,
NOW the old recorder, and my Lord Understand- ing, with some others of the chief of the town to wit, such as new they must stand or fall with the famous
* The work of conversion proceeds. The carnal -will is pursued, and gets no rest. Prejiulice, who once kept Ear-gate barred against Christ, and who was wounded before, is now utterly skin. Aver- sion to good, Treachery, Blindness, .and especially old Ill-pavse, who was for deferring every thing good to an hereafter — all these were destroyed ; but remember, all these were Diaboloniajis, not one na- tive power of the soul wajs injured.
115
T . . , m town of Mansoul, came together upon a
." clay, and, after consultation had, jointly
men meet and ■" . ' , .. J, *
, agreed to draw up a petition, and send
it to Immanuel, now while he sat in the
gate of Mansoul. So they drew up their petition to
^ Immanuel, the contents whereof were
J he townfieli- ^^q . M Tha(. ^^ the oM inhabitants
turn, ana are an- ^ ^ deplorable town of Mansoul, con- - fessed their sin, and were sorry they had
offended his princely Majesty, and pray- ed that he would spare their lives."*
Unto this petition he gave no answer at all, and that troubled them yet so much the more. Now all this while the captains that were in the recorder's house were playing with the battering-rams at the gates of the castle to beat them down. So after some time, labor,
The castle eate and travail> the Sate of the cabtie that broke often? was called ImPr.eSnable was beaten open, and broken into several splinters, and so a way was made to go into the hold in which Di- abolus had hid himself Then were tidings sent down to Ear-gate, for Immanuel still abode there, to let him know that a way was made in at the gates of the castle of Mansoul. But O how the trumpets at the tidings sound- ed throughout the Prince's camp, for that now the war was so near an end, and Mansoul itself of being set free If
Then the Prince arose from the place where he was,
r , , and took with him such of his men of
Immanuel march- r^ .c i ,. "
. . .r . war, as were fittest tor the expedition,
ea into Mansoul- , , , . __ , r **
and marched up the streets of Man- soul to the old recorder's house.
Now the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold,
and so he marched up the town, with
Immanuel march- his standard borne before him ; but he
* No sooner does Christ come to a person by converting grace, than he begin= to pray. " Behold he prayeth !" was Christ's own remark concerning' converted Saul, Acts ix. But the praying soul may fear for a time that the Lord does not hear. He may defer his answer, but the Christian cannot pray in vain.
f At length the castle of the heart is taken. That heart yields to God which was before deemed impregnable, and indeed was so
to any other power than that of invincible grace. Then indeed there is joy in heaven,
116
e* through Man. kept his countenance much reserved souU * all the way he went, so that the peo-
ple could not tell how to gather to themselves love or hatred by his looks. Now as he marched up the street, the townsfolk came out at every door to see, and could not but be taken with his person, and the glory thereof, but wondered at the reservedness of his countenance ; for as yet he spake more to them by his actions and works, than he did by words or smiles. Hov, they inter- But,als0 P°°r Mansoul (as in such cas.
fireled Immanu- es a!! are *& t0 do> .fT*** the
4 „ . carnage oi Immanuel to them, as did
€ s caruage. Joseph's brethren his to them, even
all the quite contrary way : for, thought they, if Imman- uel loved us, he would shew it to us by word and car- riage ; but none of these he does, therefore Immanuel hates us. Now if Immanuel hates us, Mansoul shall be slain, then Mansoul shall become a dunghill. They knew that they had transgressed his law, and that against him they had been in league with Diabolus his enemy. They also knew that Prince Immanuel knew all this; for they were convinced that he was an angel of God, to know all things that are done in the earth. And this made them think that their condition was miserable, and that the good Prince would make them desolate.*
And, thought they, what time so fit to do this in, as now, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand ? And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not, no, they could not, when they saw him march through the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust off his feet : they also wish- ed a thousand times over, that he would become their Prince and Captain, and would become their Protector. They would also talk one to another of the comeliness of his person, and how much for glory and valour he outstript the great ones of the world. But, poor hearts ! as to themselves, their thoughts would change, and go upon ail manner of extremes. Yea, through the work-
* Jesus Christ is truly glorious, the chief among ten thousand, and . 'together lovely ; but converted sinners do not always enjoy great comfort at first. Sense of sin, and fear of his resentment may keep them low : yet they cannot but admire Immanuel, and heartily desire he may be the lord of their hearts.
117
ing of them backward and forward, Mansoul became as
a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before a whirlwind.
Now when he was come to the castle gates, he com-
Tr . #. manded Diabolus to appear, and to sur-
He comes to the , .. .-. ,. rE , v> t u
.. , render himselt into his hands. But, on
castle, and com- , . , . . , ^
j r»- a / how loth was the beast to appear How mands Diabolus . , . ■ . . . , ( , i
, he stuck at it, how he shrunk ! how he
to surrender . ,.v ' , . n .
. . , ,. cringed ! Yet now he came to the Prince.
■'" Then Immanuel commanded, and they
took Diabolus, and bound him fast in chains, the better
to reserve him to the judgment that he had appointed
for him. But Diabolus stood up to intreat for himself,
that Immanuel would not send him into the deep, but
suffer him to depart out of Mansoul in peace.
When Immanuel had taken him and bound him in
Tr . . i j chains, he led him into the market-place,
He is taken and , , , r «. ... , , •
. . , . and there betore Mansoul stripped him bound in chains. .... , . . , , t , ,
ot his armour which he boasted so much
of before. This now was one of the acts of triumph of Immanuel over his enemy : and all the while the giant was stripping, the trumpets of the Golden Prince sound- ed amain j the captains also shouted, and the soldiers
-- . t sane: for joy. Then was Mansoul called
Mansoul must & . ,■ ' ' . , T ,».• u
, , , upon to behola Immanuel s triumph over
him in whom they had so much trusted, and of whom they had so much boasted in the days when he flattered them.
Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Man- soul, and before the commanders of the Prince, in the tt • j j next place he commands that Diabolus
, . ' should be bound with chains to his chariot
to his chariot , . T, , rn, , c
,7 wheels, Lph. iv. Then leaving some ot
his forces, to wit, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, a guard for the castle gates, that re- sistance might be made on his behalf (if any that here- T p . tofore followed Diabolus should make
e nnce an attempt to p0Ssess it) ne rode in tri-
ndes in triumhh , i- •* u u ±u *~,„«
... : umph over him quite through the town over him in the c A \ . . n l»* jk** . +u«.
v / f m °* Mansoul, and so out at and betore the
stgy °J an~ gate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp lay. But you cannot think, unless you had been there (as I was) what a shout there was in Immanuers camp, when
118
they saw the tyrant bound by the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to his chariot wheels. And they said, T/iei/ sin? He hath kd captivity captive, and hath spoiled principalities and powers : Diabolus is subjected to the power of the sword, and made the ob- ject of all derision.
Those also that rode reformades, and that come down The reform- t0 see the battle» shouted with that great- er/^' joy nGSS °f vo*ce'and sung with such melodious notes, that they caused them that dwelt in the highest orbs to open their windows, put out their heads, and look down to see the cause of that glory, Luke xv. 7, 10.
The townsmen also, so many of them as beheld this
fh f s^]t> were as it were astonished, while they
n/r , looked betwixt the earth and the heavens.
, , .,, lrue, they could not tell wnat would be the
taken ninth. . c . . ...•,•
Jmmanuel. ^ .of th,r,'SS as ? them' ,al thlnS? ^nS done in such excellent methods ; and I can- not tell how, but things in the management of them seem- ed to cast a smile towards the town ; so that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they had, were taken and held while they observed Im- mar.uel's order.
So when the brave Prince had finished this part of his
-r.. , , , triumph over Diabolus his foe, he turned
Diabolus cast , . * . T . , c . .
him up in the midst of his contempt and
shame, having given him a charge no more
to be a possessor of Mansoul. Then went he from Im-
manuel, and out of the midst of his camp, to inherit the
parched places in a salt land, seeking rest, but finding
none. Matt. xii. 34.*
Now Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction were
both of them men of very great majes-
The carriage of ty ; their faces were like the faces of
* When the soul submits to Jesus, satan is bound ; he shall not rule in the heart any more. Rebel he may, but not reign. He is a chained enemy, and "God shall bruise satan under our feet short- ly." Now salun is stripped of all that armour in which lie trusted, and the Lord Jesus is evidently triumphant. O what a glorious sea- son was that when he ascended up on liigh, leading captivity cap- tive! Then the angels (here called reformades) rejoiced and shout- ed, and so we are assured they now do; for "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over c-nesinner that repenteth."
119
Boanerges and lions, and their words like the roaring Cafitain Convic- of the seas ; and ihe.y stiM quartered in tion cruxhts the Mr Conscience's In, use. of whom men- sjiirit of Man- tion was made before. Winn, there- sow/, fore, the high and mighty Piince had thus far finished his triumph over Di- abolus, the townsmen had more leisure to view and be- hold the actions of their noble captains But tiie cap- tains carried it with that terror and dread in all they did (and you may be sure they had private instructions so to do) that they kept the town under continual heart-ach- ing, and caused (in their apprehension) the well-being of Mansoul for the future to stand in doubt before them, so that for som considerable time they neither knew what rest- or ease, or peace, or hope meant.
Nor did the Prince himself as yet abide in the town of
rn, r> • Mansoul, but in his royal pavillion in
The Prince com- . , . . . , l .. , . T,
, . the camp, and in the midst ot his ra-
mands, and. the , , c c
. - -„, ther s forces, bo at a time convenient
cafitain s put the . . , , ^- • -r.
7 ;. J. n he sent special orders to Captain Bo-
frlVPf Clllt TH Of
n, ' , j anerees, to summons Mansoul, the
Mansoul i7i ward. , ,& c , . , ,
whole of tne townsmen, into the castle- yard, and then and there, before their faces, to take my Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and that notable one the Lord Will-be-will, and put them all three in ward, and that they should seta strong guard upon them there, until his pleasure concerning them was further known. Which orders, when- the captains had put them ill execution, made no small addition to the fears of the town of Mansoul ; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears of the ruin of Mansoul confirmed. Now ,, . . what death thev should die, and how
T'reled lon? *«* shoUl'd be in d>'inS- was lhat
which most perplexed their heads and
hearts : yea, they were afraid that Immanuel would com- mand them all in the deep, the place that the prince Di- abolus was afraid of ; for they had deserved it. Also to die by the sword in the face of the town, and in the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so good' and so holy a Prince, that, too, troubled them sore : the town was also greatly troubled for the men committed to ward, for that they were their stay and their guide ; and for that they believed, that if those men were cut off, their
120
execution would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoui.*
Wherefore what do they, but together, with the men Thev send a fie- in l)rison> draw UP a petition to the tition to human- J^^' *"d \T l\ *° Immanuel by the uelbv the hand hand of Mr. Would-hve. So he went, of Mr Would- came t0 l Prince s quarters, and
presented the petition ; the sum of which was this :
(* Great and wonderful potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conqueror of the town of Mansoui : we the misera- ble inhabitants of that most woeful corporation, humbly beg that we may find favor in thy sight, and remember not against us our former transgressions, nor yet the sins of the chief of our town, but spare us according to the greatness of thy mercy, and let us not die, but live in tin sight ; so shall we be willing to be thy servants, and, if thou shalt think fit, to gather our meat under thy table. Amen."
So the petitioner went, as was said with his petition
„, to the Prince : and the Prince took it
They are answer- .... . , . * . - • , •
, . , ., at his hand, but sent him away with si-
cd with silence. ^^ T{^ ^ afflicted the tQwn of
Mansoui ; but yet. considering that now they must either petition or die (for now they could not do any thing else) therefore they consulted again, and sent another peti- tion, which was much after the form and method of the former.
When the petition was drawn up, by whom should T . ' they send it, was the next question ; for
r ey *ie l 10n they would not send it by him by whom aSain they sent the first (for they thought that
the Prince had taken some offence at the manner of his deportment before him) so they attempted to make Cap- tain Conviction their messenger with it; They cannot but he said, that he neither durst nor would
* It is no uncommon thing for convinced sinners, before they ob- tain clear views of the gospel, to remain under considerable terror and alarm. They feel themselves continually condemned by the faithful preaching of the word. The understanding-, the conscience, and the will maybe in a state of bondage, and the whole soul be ter- rified with fears of death and damnation. But all this will end well — will issue in fervent prayer and happy peace.
121
tell by whom petition Immanuel for traitors, nor be to to send it. the Prince an advocate for rebels ; yet with- al, said he, our Prince is good, and you may adventure to send it by the hand of one of your town ; provided he went with a rope about his head, and pleaded nothing but mercy.
Well, they made, through fear, their delays as long as they could, and longer than delays were good; but fearing at last the danger of them, they thought, but with many a fainting in their minds, to send their petition by Mr. Desires-awake ; so they sent for Mr. Desires-awake. Now he dwelt in a very mean cottage in Mansoul ; and he came at his neighbors' request. So they told him what they had done, and what they would do concerning peti- tioning, and that they desired of him that he would go therewith to the Prince. Then said Mr. Desires-awake, Why should not I do the best I can to save so famous a M d • * town as Mansoul from destruction ? They ' . " therefore delivered the petition to him, and
. . J . * . told him how he must address himself to . ' / ■- the prmce^ arKi wished him ten thousand good speeds. So he came to the Prince's pavilion, as the first, and asked to spjak with his Ma- jesty ; so word was carried to Immanuel, and the Prince came out to the man. When Mr. Desires-awake saw the Prince, he fell flat with his face to the ground, and cried out, O that Mansoul might live before thee ! and with that he presented the petition. The which when
TJ. . . . the Prince had read, he turned away for a
His entertain- ... , , r • • u- ,r
while, and wept; but, retraining himself,
he turned again to the man (who all this while lay crying at his feet as at first) and said to him, Go thy way to thy place, and I will consider of thy re- quests.*
Now you may think that they of Mansoul that had sent him, what with guilt, and what with fear, lest their peti- tion should be rejected, could not but look with many a longing look, and that too with strange workings of
* We must pray and pray again. We must pray in humility, confessing our desert ot punishment, as it were, with ropes about our necks. The petition is sent by Mr. Desires-awake. The de- sires of an awakened soul are vented in prayer, and these move the compassionate heart of Jesus.
L
122
heart, to see what would become of their petition. At
last they saw their messenger coming back ; so when
rr. ■■ am , ,^j he was come, they asked him how
His return ana ir ,j ,T7 , . , , .
\ . _ he fared r what Immanuel said? and
answer to them , t . r , • :> -r> .
, , what was become or the petition r But
that stiit him. . », . '
he told them, that he would be silent till
he came to the prison to my lord mayor, my Lord Will- be-wiil and Mr. Recorder. So he went forwards towards the prison-house, where the men of Mansoul lay bound. But, O! what a multitude flocked after,- to hear what the messenger said. So when he was come, and had shewed himself at the gate of the prison, my lord mayor himself looked as white as a clout, the recorder also quaked ; but they asked, and said, Come, good sir, what did the great Prince say to you ? Then said Mr. Desires- awake, When I came to my Lord's pavilion, 1 called, and he came forth ; so I fell prostrate at his feet, and delivered to him my petition (for the greatness of his person, and the glory of his countenance, would not suf- fer me to stand upon my legs.) Now as he received the petition, I cried, O that Mansoul might live before thee ! So when for a while he had looked thereon, he turned about, and said to his servant, Go thy way to thy place again, and I will consider of thy requests. The niessen^- ger added moreover, and said, The Prince to whom you sent me, is such a one for beauty and glory, that whoso sees him, must love and fear him : I for my part can do , - , no less ; but I know not what will be the
Mansoul con- end of these thimrs> At this answer they founded at ,, f> , , , , -
J were all at a stand, both they in prison,
the answer, &nd they ^ foll(JWed the mes8enger
thither to hear the news ; nor knew they what, or what
manner of interpretation to put upon what the Prince
had said. New when the prison was cleared of the
throng, the prisoners began to comment among them-
. , selves upon Immanuel's words. My
ine prisoners lord Qr ^ ^ the answep did not
judgment upon look ^ & d ^ . ^ wm.be-
the Winces an. ^ ^ u betoj_ened evil . and the re_
corder thai it v> as a messenger of death. Now they that were left, and that stood behind, and so could not so well hear what the prisoners said, some of them catched hold of one piece of a sentence, and some
123
on a bit of another ; some took hold of what the messen- . ,r ger said, and some of the prisoners' judg-
j hsgiving ment thereon, so none had a right under-
thouphts breed .. ,. . . , _ ° . .
* . . standing ot things ; but you cannot lma-
con fusion in ,* . ., J , , j
M I ^lne wnat wor^ these people made, and
what confusion there was in Mansoul
now. For presently they that had heard what was said, flew about the town, one crying one tiling, and another the quite contrary, and both were sure enough they told truej for they heard, they said, with their ears what was said, and therefore could not be deceived. One would say, " We must all be killed ;" another would say, M We must all be saved ;" and third would say, u That the Prince would not be concerned with Mansoul ;" and a fourth> u That the prisoners must be suddenly put to death ; and as I said, every one stood to it, that he toid his tale the rightest, and that all others but he were out. Where- fore Mansoul had now molestation upon molestation, nor could any man know on what to rest the sole of his foot ; for one would go by now, and, as he went, if he heard his neighbor tell his tale, to be sure he would tell the quite contrary, and both would stand in it that he told the truth. Nay some of them had got this story by the end, " That the Prince intended to put Mansoul to
n/r . . the sword." And now it beo;an to be
Mansoul in . . , r ,- . b . ,
dark ; where lore poor Mansoul was in sad.
** " **• perplexity all that night, until the next
morning.*
But so far as I could gather by the best information I
could get, all this hubbub came through the words that
imt, , -u + the recorder said, when he told them, that What will not • , . . , , , „ . , '
., , in his judgment the Prince s answer was a
8ul °' messenger of death. 'Twas this that fired
the town, and that began the fright in Mansoul ; for Mansoul in former times used to count that Mr. Record- er was a seer, that his sentence was equal to the best of oracles ; and thus was Mansoul a terror to itself.
* How anxious the praying- soul to know whether he shall suc- ceed or not. Perplexity and tear may greatly prevail for a season, till die truths of the gospel be clearly undersiood and cordially be- lieved. But this state of fear discovers what an evil and bitter thing it is to sin against God. Thus sin is embittered, and Christ ren- dered more precious.
124
And now they began to feel the effects of stubborn re- bellion, and unlawful resistance against their Prince. I say, now they began to feel the effects thereof by guilt and fear, that now had swallowed them up ; and who more involved in the one, but they that were most in the other, to wit, the chief of the town of Mansoul ?
To be brief; when the fame of the fright was out of
They resolve to ^ ***** an,d ,lhe P»s°nerf ha" f lit-
petition again. l e recovered themselves they take to
° themselves some heart, and think to pe-
The «r Petition. tition the Prince aSain for life* So they drew up a third petition, the contents
whereof were these :
" Prince Immanuel the Great, Lord of all worlds, and Master of mercy, we thy poor, wretched, miserable, dy- ing town of Mansoul, do confess unto thy great and glo- rious Majesty, that we have sinned against thy Father &nd Thee ; and are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, but rather to be cast into the pit. If thou wilt slay us, we have deserved it. If thou wilt condemn us to the deep, we cannot but say thou art righteous. We cannot complain, whatever thou dost, or however thou earnest it towards us. But Oh I let mercy reign, and let it be extended to us ! O let mercy take hold upon us, and free us from our transgressions, and we will sing ©f thy mercy, and of thy judgments I Amen."
This petition, when drawn up, was designed to be sent p . , to the Prince as the first ; but who
fray er attended shouldcany it> that was the question. with dijiauty. Some said^ let him do u that wenl wkh
the first ; but others thought good not to do that, and
n, i r Old Good-deed ^^ wag an oM man in the town% and
propounded as a ^ ^mQ wag Mr Good.deed . a man
fit person to car- ^^ bare on)y the nam£> but had noth.
ry the petition. -ng of tne namre of the thi%r Some
' , were for sending him ; but the record-
The old recorder er was by n0 means for that : for, said opposes it, and ^ wfi nQW sland in need of> and are
Jie U rejected. pleading for mercy, wheretore, to send our petition by a man of his name, will seem to cross the petition itself, should we make Mr. Good-deed our mes- senger, when our petition cries for mercy.
125
Besides, quoth the old gentleman, should the Prince now, as he receives the petition, ask him, and say, What is thy name ? (and nobody knows but he will) and fie should say, Old Good-deed ; what think you would lm- manuel say but this, Ay, is old Good-deed yet alive in Mansoul ? then let old Good-deed save you from your distresses. And if he says so, I am sure we are lost, nor can a thousand of old Good-deeds save Mansoul.*
After the recorder had given in his reasons, why old Good-deed should not go with this petition to Imman- uel, the rest of the prisoners and chiefs of Mansoul op- posed it also ; and so old Good-deed was laid aside, and they agreed to send Mr. Desires-awake again. Accord- ingly they sent for him, and desired thai he would a se- cond time go with their petition to the Prince ; and ho readily told them he would : but they bid him, that in any wise he should take heed that in no word or car- riage he gave offence to the Prince ; for by doing so, for aught we can tell, said they, you may bring Mansoul into utter destruction.
Now Mr. Desires-awake, when he saw that he must
Mr. Desires-cvake ?° °"lhis errand besought that they . would sjrant that Mr. \v et-eves mmht
eoes ay-am, and . Y , . ^T . . c„ &
takes ore Wet-eyes S° wlth lnm'. ,Vow *£ Wet-eyes
.,, . . * was a near neighbor or Mr. Desires,
with him, 6 . . . . '
a poor man, a man or broken spirit,
yet one that could speak well to a petition. So they
granted that he should go with him. Wherefore they
address themselves to their business : Mr. Desires put
a rope upon his head, and Mr. Wet-eyes went with his
* Still the^spirit of prayer prevails in Mansoul ; for " men ought always to pray and not to faint." And it is observable how these peutions improve from time to time. How much more light and humility appear in the third petition than in the first. It was also wisely determined not to send Mr. Good-deed with it, fur this would contradict the prayer of the petition which was for mercy, not reward ; and yet how absurd is the conduct of some, whose on- ly hope of mercy is on account of their good deeds ; it is a sense of our bad deeds, not our good ones, that will make us seek in earnest for mercy. If we plead good works, may not the Lord say — Let good works save them — what need of my grace, for ir* righteous- ness can be obtained by the law, grace is frustrated, and the death of Christ a needless thing.
L 2
126
hands wringing together. Thus they pent to the Prince's pavillion.*
Now when they went to petition this third time, they were not without thoughts that by often coming they might be a burden to the Prince. Wherefore when they ^ , were come to the door of his pavilion,
Ineir a/wicgy they fim made their apology for them- for their com- , J , c . . l . 0/ „
J. f . selves, and for their coming to trouble
*ng again. Immanuel so often ; and they said, that
they came not hither to-day for that they delighted to hear themselves talk, but for that necessity caused them to come to his Majesty ; they could, they said, have no rest day nor night because of their transgressions against Shaddai and Immanuel his Son. They also thought that some misbehavior of Mr. Desires-awake, the last time, might give some disgust to his Highness, and so cause that he returned from so merciful a Prince empty, and without countenance. So when they had made this apol- ogy, Mr. Desires-awake cast himself prostrate upon the ground, as at the first, at the feet of the mighty Prince, saying, Oh that Mansoul might live before thee ! so he delivered his petition. The Prince, when he had read the petition, turned aside awhile as before ; and, coming tj p • again to the place where the petitioner lay
le 1in
ta -et i nvi ,i wag^ an(| 0f vvjiat esteem in the account of
Mansoul, for that he above all the multitude
in Mansoul, should be sent to him on such an errand ?
Then said the man to the Prince, O let not my Lord be
n ■ » angry 5 an(* why inquires! thou alter the
r. ^ esites nanQe Qf suc'a a dead dog as I am ? Pass free speech by? l p],ay lhee? and take nQ nolice of to his rince. wjlon| j anij because there is, as thou very well kncwest, so great a disproportion between me and thee. Why the townsmen chose to send me on this er- rand to my Lord, is best known to themselves ; but it could not be for that they had thought I had favor with my Lord. For my part, I am out of charity with myself : who then should be in love with me ? Yet live
* Mr. Wet-eyes, the son of Repentance, was a very proper man to accompany Mr. Desires : our desires after mercy should be joined with a broken and a contrite spirit, for to suck persons will the Lord look with a benignant eye.
127
I would, and so would I that my townsmen should ; and because both they and myself are guilty of great trans- gressions, therefore they have sent me, and I am come in their names to beg of my Lord for mercy. Let it please thee therefore to incline to mercy ; but ask not what thy servants are.
Then said the Prince, And what is he that is become thy companion in this so weighty a matter ? So Mr. De- sires told Immanuel, that he was a poor neighbor ol his, and one of his most intimate associates; and his name, said he, may it please your most excellent Majesty, is Wet-eyes, of the town of Mansoul I know that r here are many of that name that are naught : but I hope it will be no offence to my Lord, that I have brought my poor neighbor with me.
Then Mr. Wet-eyes fell on his face to the ground ; and made this apology for coming with his neighbor to his Lord :
" O my Lord,*' quoth he, " what I am, I know not my- -j. __r , self; nor whether my name be feigned
/. e -eyes Dr true, especially when I beein to think atiolovii for com- . . r , J ., , , L ,.
. ,,. . , what some have said, namelv, that this
6 name was given me, because Mr. Re- pentance was my father. Good men have bad children, and the sincere do oftentimes beget hypocrites. My mother also called me by this name from my cradle ; whether because of the moistness of my brain, or the softness of my heart, I cannot tell. I see dirt in my own tears, and filthiness in the bottom of my prayers** But 1 pray thee, (and all this while the gen- tleman wept) that thou wouldst not remember against us our transgressions, nor take offence at the unqualified- ness of thy servants, but mercifully pass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrain from the glorifying of thy grace no longer "
So at his bidding they arose, and both stood trembling before him, and he spake to them to this purpose :
" The town of Manooul hath grievously rebelled against
* Humble souls will acknowledge with good Bishop Beveridge, that "their repentance needs to be repented of, their tears want washing, and the very washing of their tears needs still to be wash- ed over again with the blood of their Redeemer.'*
123
The Prince's m* Father, *n ^at tney navc rejected him from being their King, and chose for them- ansiver. . r , • • ,• i
selves, for their captain, a liar, a murder- er, and a runagate slave. For this Diabolus, your pre-
rr,. • i tended prince, thouirh once so highly ac-
The original . , rr, b , . ... b 3 •
of Di b' lu countecl ol by you, made rebellion against J ■ Sm my Father and me, even in our palace and
highest court there, thinking to become a prince and a king. But being timely discovered and apprehended, and for his wickedness bound in chains, and separated to the pit with those that were his companions, he offer- ed himself to you, and you have received him.
" Now this is, and for a longtime hath been, an high affront to my Father; wherefore my Father sent to you a powerful army to reduce you to your obedience. But you know how those men, their captains and their coun- sels, were esteemed of you, and what they had received at
n/T „ your hand. You rebelled against them,
Mans out s J . ,& .T?
, ... you shut your gates upon them, you bid
them battle ; you fought them, and fought for Diabolus against them. So they went to my Father for more power ; and I, with my men, am come to sub- due you. But as you treated the servants, so you treat- ed their Lord: You stood up in hostile manner against me, you shut up your gates against me, you turned a deaf ear to me, and resisted as long as you could ; but now I have made a conquest of you. Did you cry to me for mercy so long as you had hopes that you might pre- vail against me ? But now I have taken the town, you cry ; but why did you not cry before, when the white flag of my mercy, the red flag of justice, and the black flag that threatened execution, were set up to cite you to it ? Now I have conquered your Diabolus, you come to me for favor; but why did you not help me against the mighty ? Yet I will consider your petition, and will answer it s>o as will be for my glory.
"Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction _, . . . bring the prisoners out to me into the
\efirusone % camp to-morrow ; and say you to Cap- ordered out in- ^ Judgmen( and Captain Execution, to the cam/i. ^^ .^ ^ caslle? and take good heed to
yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansoul until you shall hear further from me." And with that he turn-
129
ed himself from them, and went into his royal pavil- ion.*
So the petitioners having received this answer from the Prince, returned, as at the first, to go to their com- panions again. But they had not gone far but thoughts began to work in their minds, that no mercy as yet was intended by the Prince to Man soul : so they went to the place where the prisoners lay bound ; but these work- ings of mind, about what would become of Mansoul, had such strong power over them, that by that they were come unto them that sent them, they were scarce able to deliver their message.
But they came at length to the gates of the town (now the townsmen were waiting with eagerness for their re- turn) where many met them, to know what answer was given to the petition. Then they cried out to those that were sent, What news from the Prince ? And what hath Immanuel said ? But they Said, that they must (as afore) go up to the prison, and there deliver their - n f . . message. So away they went to the pri-
:» in^uul rve son, with a multitude^ at their heels. 5 Now when they were come to the gates
of the prison, they told the first part of Immanuel's speech to the prisoners ; to wit, how he reflected upon their dis- loyalty to his Father and himself; and how they had chosen and closed with Diabolus and fought for him, hearkened to him, and been ruled by him : but had des- pised him and his men. This made the prisoners look
rr,, pale ; but the messengers proceeded,
The messengers r , . , Tt .i r> • • i
. a ... ,s. and said, He the Pnnce said moreover,
in teilm? their . , , , . , . 7
, , , ., . that yet he would consider your peti-
talefrivhtenihe 3 , , L
l - . - tion, and give such answer thereto as
linsoners. ... V , • , , • , * ,
1 will stand wito his giory. And as these
words were spoken, Mr. Wet-eyes gave a great sigh.
At this they were all of them struck into their dumps,
and could not tell what to say : fear also possessed them
in marvellous manner, and death seemed to sit upon
* This answer of Immanuel was intended to deepen their sense of sin, and make them reflect with pain and shame on their former transgressions, and of their contempt of mercy, until the Lord ar- rested them in the mad career. Thus, the law enters that sin may abound — that it may appear exceeding sinful, and render the grace of God infinitely precious.
130
some of their eyebrows. Now there was in the compa*
ni. T . .,. ny a notable sharp-wilted fellow, a man
Old Inquisitive. i i i • , ,
y ot mean estate, and his name was old
Inquisitive ; this man asked the petitioners if they had told out every whit of what Immanuel said. And they answered, Verily no. Then said Inquisitive, I thought so indeed. Pray what was it more ihat he said unto you ? Then they paused awhile, but at last they brought out all, saying, The Prince ordered us to bid Captain Boan- erges and Captain Conviction bring tin prisoners down to him to-morrow ; and that Captain Judgment and Cap- tain Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they should hear further from him. They said also, that when the Prince had commanded them so to do, he immediately turned his back upon them, and went into his royal pavilion.
But oh ! how this return, and especially this last clause of it, that the prisoners must go out to the Prince into the camp, brake all their loins in pieces ? Wherefore wiih one voice they set up a cry that reached up to the heavens. This done, each of the three prepared him- - r . self to die (and the § recorder said unto
5 conscience. ^^ Thig ^ the lhirig that T feared) for
they concluded, that to-moirow, by that the sun went down, they should be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of no other, but that in their time and order they must all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth, and ashes. The prisoners al- so, when the time was come to go down before the Prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads. The whole town of Mansoul also shewed themselves upon the wall, and clad in mourning weeds, if perhaps the Prince with the sight thereof might be moved with compassion. But oh, how the busy-
■gr . ,. , bodies, that were in the town of Man- Vain thoughts. , , , > ? ni
° soul, now concerned themselves ; iney
ran here and there through the streets of the town by
companies, crying out as they ran in tumultuous wise,
one after one manner, and another the quite contrary, to
the almost utter distraction of Mansoul *
* The godly sorrow that now prevailed in Mansoul, was only a prelude lo joy unspeakable and full of glory. This sort of " weep-
131
Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go
down to the camp, and Appear before the
The prisoners prince And t,Hjs was lhe manner theil. of
had to trial. going down: Captain Boanerges went with a guard before hem, and Capta-n Co; victton came be- hind, and the prisonei s went bound in chains in the midst ; so 1 say, the prisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with flying colours behind and before, but the prison- ers went with drooping spirits. Or more particularly thus: The prisoners went down ail in mourning, they put ropes upon themselves, they went on How ineywent. gmiting themselves on their breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes to heaven. Thus they w«Rt out at the gate of Mansoul, till they came into the midst of the Prince's army, the sight and glory of which great- ly heightened their affliction Nor could they now long- er forbear but cry out aloud, O unhappy men ; O wretch- ed Mansoul ! Their chains still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of the prisoners, made the noise move lamentable.
So when they were come to the door of the Prince's
Thev fell down Pav5^' ^ cast themselves prostrate
i r upon the place : then one went m and
prostrate before "fa ^ ^^ ^ ^ prisoners ^^
comedown. The Prince then ascend- ed a throne of state, and sent for the prisoners in ; who, when they came, trembled before him ; also they cover- ed their faces with shame Now as they drew near the place where he sat, they threw themselves down before him. Then said the Prince to the Captain B merges, Bid the prisoners stand upon theii feet Thenthi y stood trembling before him ; and he said. Are j ou the men rr,1 ' thatheretofore were the servants of Shad-
h rMa' dai? Aml tlle>\sail' Yes> Lord, yes.
Then said the P'ince again, Are you the men that suffered yourselves to bo corrupted and defiled by that abominable one Diabolus? And they said; We did more than suffer it, Lord ; lor we chose n of our ni"id. The Prince asked further, saying, Could you have been content that your slavery should have continued under
ingmay endure for a night, but jo> cometh in the morning"." These poor prisoners :e went Forth weeji-ig, bearing' precious .seed, but were soon to return with joy, bringing their sheaves witii them."
132
his tyranny as long as you had lived ? Then said the prisoners, Yes, Lord, yes j for his ways were pleasing to our fksh, and we were grown aliens to a better state. And divl you. said he, when I came against this town of Mansoui, heartily wish that I might not have the victory over you ? Yes, Lord, yes, said they. Then said the prince, And what punishment is it think you, that you Deserve at iuy hinds, for these and other your high and mighty sins ! And they said, Both death and the deep, Lord ; for we have deserved no less. He asked again, If Ihey had aught to say for themselves, why the sen- tence, which they confessed they had deserved, should
They condemn !£« be Passed uP?n th,em | A"d the-v said' themselves. ? e can TY "othmg. Lord ; thou art just, lor we have sinned. 1 hen said the Prince, And for what are these ropes on your heads ? . ,,. The prisoners answered, The tropes are to
lead us withal to the place of execution, if mer- cy be not pleasing in thy sight, Prov. v. 22. So he iur-
. - n ther asked, If all the men in the town of
1 rowers Q/ tv* , , • r i 3
I, , Mansoui were in this conlession, as they r
the soul. Aii ia,ii a
And they answered, All the natives,:}:
.. „ J ,. Lord : but for the Diabolonians,§ that
$ Corruhiions . . . . 4
* , , came into our town when the tyrant srot
tmd lusts* c i_- r
possession 01 us, we can say nothing tor
them. Then the Prince commanded that an herald should be called ; and that ke should in the midst and throughout
the camp of Immanuei proclaim, and vt or y fir - ^^ ^.^ gouncj Qf trumpet, that the
Prince, the Son of Shaddai, had in his Father's name, and for his Father's glory, gotten a per- fect conquest and victory over Mansoui ; and that the prisoners should follow him, and say, Amen. So this was done as he had commanded.*
• The questions proposed by Immanuei were well formed to bring out that clear and full confession of sin, and die desert ot it, which appears in the answers. Their language is that of truly humbled and penitent souls. Happy is the reader who makes their words really his own. This is the Lord's doing, and a certain token for go d. They who thus " confess and forsake their sin shall find mercy," and in this case, God is faithful .0 his promise, and jus 1 to his Son, to forgive all our sins.
When the soul is brought into this state, the design of God in
153
And presently the music that was in the upper region sounded melodiously. The captains that Joy for t e weie -m tne caTnpS shouted, and the soldiers victory. sung songs of triumph to the Prince, the colours waved in the wind, and great joy was every- where, only it was wanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.
Then the Prince called to the prisoners to come and
^ stand again before him ; and they came
i yfr6}iar/l' and stood trembling. And he said unto
e , w uc - 1 tne ^he sj trespasses, and iniquities,
7 77onitli that y°u> with the *vhole town of Man-
o efiroc a - ^q^ ^^^ ^om -me fcQ ^me commilte(| ed to-morrow . 0 , , _„ T ,
' M 1 1 against mv Father and me, I have power
\n lansou . and comman(jment from my Father to
forgive to the town of Mansoul, and do forgive you ac- cordingly. And having so said, he gave them written in parchment, and sealed with seven seals, a large and general pardon, commanding my lord mayor, Lord Will- be-will, and Mr. Recorder, to proclaim, and cause it to be proclaimed to-morrow, by that the sun is up, through- out the whole town of Mansoul.
Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their
—, . mourning weeds, and gave them beauty for
T"!^* ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the
aJ6 afj garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
from tiiciii* t i • « J Isa. lxi. 3.
Then he gave to each of the three, jewels of gold and
j. precious stones ; and took away their ropes,
.„ ty and put chains of ^old about their necks, alteration. , v , v x, . . 3
and ear-rings in their ears. Isow the pris- oners, when they heard the gracious words of Prince Im- manuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away ; for the grace, the benefit, ' the pardon, was sudden, glorious, and so big, that they •were not able, without staggering, UTstand up under it. Yea, my Lord Will-be-wili swooned outright ; but the Prince stepped up to him, put his everlasting arms un- der him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him be of
those convictions which seemed so terrific is answered, the work is done, and it may be truly said, that ** Jesus hath obtained a perfect conquest and victory over Mansoul." Heaven and earth resound with joy on this event
M
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good cheer, for all should be performed according to his word. He also kissed, embraced, and smiled upon the other two that were Will-be-will's companions, saying-, Take these as further tokens of my love, favor, and compassion to you ; and 1 charge you, that you Mr. Re- corder tell the town of Mansoul what you have heard and seen.
Then were their fetters broken to pieces before their T/eir ruth ^aces> and cast into the air, and their steps * were enlarged under them. Then they
fell at the feet of the Prince, kissed them, and wetted them with tears ; they also cried out with a mighty- strong voice, saying, M Blessed be the glory of the Lord from this place 1" So they were bid rise up, and go to
„. _. the town and tell Mansoul what the
They are sent ^ . . . u it,
j- •,/ jo,* Prince had done. He commanded also,
home with Infie ... ., . , A . . ,j
d t bor one PJPe a t?k°r should go
and play before them all the way into the town of Mansoul. Then was fulfilled, what they never looked for, and they were made to possess what r . r they never dreamt of.* The Prince also
dnr"™ uards Called f°r the n°ble CaPtain Credence, ence gua s ^^ commanded that he and some of his them home. officers should march before the noble- men of Mansoul, with flying colours into the town. He IV) Fi gave also unto Captain Credence a charge, f p . that about the time the recorder read the
and Pardon eneral pardon in the town of Mansoul, ireet together, ^ &t that ye time he should with fly. Judgment and ing colourg mzrch {n ^ Eye.gate> whh Execution de- his.ten thousand at his feet ; and that he part pom the shouW so go Ulltil he came bv the high heart. street of the town, up to the castle-gates ;
and that himself should take possession thereof, against
* What a change is effected ! " "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing : then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glud." " Who is like unto thee, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin V* " Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputcth not ini- quity ^.blessed is the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Rom. iv. 6.
135
his Lord came thither. He commanded moreover, that he should bid captain Judgment and Captain Execution leave the strong. hold to him, and withdraw from Man- soul,* and return into the camp with speed unto the Prince.
And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terror of the first four captains and their men.
CHAP. IX.
The liberated Prisoners return to Mansoul, where they are received with the utmost demonstrations of Joy — At the request ((/the Inhabitants Immanuil canaan?* to re* side in the Town— He makes a public triumphal Entry — The Town is ?iew modelled) and the Image o/Shaddai erected,
WELL, I told you before how the prisoners were en- tertained by the noble Prince Immanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe and tabor going be- fore them. And now you must think that those of the „, r. town, that had all this while waited to
ie j heir of their death, could not but be ex-
Mansoulin sus- . , ., i r • i ^ -,i
ercised with sadness ot mind, and with flense concern- thoughts that pr:cked like t'aorns. Nor ing tnejate oj cou\^ tnejr thoughts be kept to any one tne prisoners. point . the wind blew them all thb
while at great uncertainties, yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been disquieted with a shaking hand. But at last, as they, with many a long look, looked over the wall of Mansoul, they thought they saw some return to the town ; and thought again, who should they be too, who should they be ? At last they discerned that they were the prisoners ; but can you imagine how their
* " There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." The four captains no longer denounce the wrath of God ; the end of their ministry is accomplished ; the town is therefore relieved from the terror that their awful speeches occasioned, or, as it is expressed in the margin, "when faith and pardon meet together, judgment and execution depart from the heart."
13G
hearts were surprised with wonder, especially when they perceived also in what equipage, and with what A strange honor, they were sent home ! They went 'alteration. down to the camp in black, but they came back to the town in white ; they went down to the camp in ropes, they came back in chains of gold ; they went down to the camp with feet in fetters, but came back with their steps enlarged under them ; they went to the camp looking for death, but came back from thence with assurance of life ; they went clown to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again with The prisoners pipe and tabor playing before them. As return to Eye- soon as the>r came to Eye-ga*e, the poor
„„*. ,~w ,,. and tottering town of Mansoul adventur- gate% ana ai c , ° , , , ,
received with a cd t0 Slve a sll0Ut : and the>" gave such , ' a shout as made the captains in the
Prince's army leap at the sound there- of. Alas for them, poor hearts ! who could blame them ?* since their dead friends were come to life again ; for it was to them as life from the dead, to see the ancients of the town of Mansoul shine in such splendor. They looked for nothing but the axe and the block ; but be- hold, joy and gladness, comfort and consolation, and such melodious notes attending them, that was sufficient to make a sick man well, Isa. xxxiii. 24. So when they came up, they saluted each other: Welcome, welcome, and blessed be he that spared you ! They added also, We see it is well with you ; but how must it go with the town of Mansoul \ And will it go well with the town of Monsoul ? said they. Then answered them the record- er and my lord mayor : Oh ! tidings ! glad tidings ! good tidings of good, and of great joy to poor Mansoul ! Then they gave another shout that made the earth ring again. After this, they enquired yet more particularly how things went in the camp, and what message they had from Irnmanuel to the town. So they told them all
* Who, indeed, can blame the holy joy of pardoned souls. When the Philipian jailer believed, "he rejoiced with all his house ;" Mid when Samaria received the gospel, " there was great joy in that city." The author refers tolsa. xxxiii. 24. " The inhabitant ■hall not saylam sick ; the people that dwell therein shall be for- given their iniquity ;"— as if netting could, be complained of; if rardoa be obtained,.
137
passages that had happened to them at the camp, and every thing that the Prince did to them. This made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the Prince Immanuel : then they told them what they had received at his hands for the whole town of Mansoul, and the re- n . , corder delivered it in these words :
V the joy, par- K Pardon> pardon for Mansoul ; and this don jot sin . ghall Mansoul know to-morrow." Then he commanded, and they went and summoned Mansoul to meet together in the market-place to-morrow, there to hear their general pardon read.
But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an alteration this hint of things made in the countenance of the town of Mansoul ! No man of Mansoul could sleep that night for joy ; in every house there was joy and music, singing and making merry : telling and hearing of Immanuel's happiness, was then all that Mansoul had to do : and this was the burden of all their song, Oh more
rr, , ., r. of this at the rising of the sun ! more of Toivn-tatk of . . . » , ,t .
th K' ?' to-morrow I Who thought yesterday,
b one would say, that this day would have
c^' been such a day to us ! And who thought,
that saw our prisoners go down in irons, that they should have returned in chains of gold ! Yea, they that judged themselves, as they went to be judged of their judge, were by his mouth acquitted ; not for that they were in-
d j * ,- c nocent, but of the Prince's mercy, and And of his Son . - ' . , . . . , h .-
T J , sent home with pipe anu tabor. But is
this the common custom ol Princes : Do
they use to shew such kind of favors to traitors ? No !
this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto Immanuel his
Son.*
Now morning drew on apace ; wherefore the lord
mayor, the Lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder came
down to the market-place at the time that the Prince had
appointed, where the townsfolk were waiting for them :
and when they came, they came in that attire and in that
* Pardoned sinners will ever magnify the exceeding riche3 of di- vine grace ; it cannot but appear marvellous beyond expression ; in vain the laboring soul attempts to measure the'breadth, the length, the depth, and the height of the love of Christ, it surpasses knowl- edge. " Is this the manner of man, 0 Lord !" and what more can we say ?
M2
138
glory which the Prince had put them into the day before," and the street was 'lightened with their glory : so the mayor, recorder, and my Lord Will-bt-will, drew down to Mouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the mark- et-place, because that of old time was the place where they used to read public matters : thither therefore they came in their robes, and their tabor went before them. Now the eagerness of the people to know the full mat- ter was great.
Then the recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first Themvnnerof bcckoinS witb his hand for silence, he reading the read out with a loud voice the pardon. . . , ^ Bui when he came to these words, " The
™ Lord, the Lord God is merciful and gra-
cious, pardoning iniquity, transgressions, and sins ;" and to them " all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be for- given," Sec. Exod. xxxiv. Mark iii. they could not for- bear for leaping for joy : for this you must know, that there was conjoined herewith every man's name in Mansoul, also the seals of the pardon made a brave shew.*
,. When the recorder had made an end of reading the Hot* tl d Pardon» tlie townsmen ran upon the walls
/ the Veil °J th.e t0™' lea?ed thereon for ^ a?? J bowing themselves seven times with
their faces towards Immanuel's pavilion, shouted aloud
for joy, and said, " Let Immanuel live for ever I"
Then order was given to the young men in Mansoul,
Y . . d that they should ring the bells for joy ;
Jarin tTouehts SO the bdls rung' the pCOple SUng' and narm thoughts. thfj musk playcd ^ eyery house .
Mansoul. When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners
'* Believers are said to be " sealed to the day of redemption •" — "sealed with the Holy Spirit;" the Spirit is himself the seal. " God's sealing of believers, (saith Br. Owen) is his gracious com- munication ot the Holy Ghost unto them, so to act his divine power in them, as to enable them unto all the duties of their holy calling, evidencing them to be accepted with him, both to themselves and others, and asserting their preservation to eternal salvation. The effects of this sealing, are, gracious operations of the Spirit in and upon believers ; but the sealing itself ig> the communication of the Spirit unto them."
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Thrrarriatte °fMansoul with joy, and pipe and tabor, i/iecamg he commanded his captains, with all the oj the camp. field officers and soldiers throughout his army, to be ready on the morning that the recorder should read the pardon in Mansoul, to do his further pleasure. So the morning, as I have shewed, being come, just as the recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, Immanuel commanded that all the trumpets in the camp should sound, that the colours should be displayed, half of them on Mount Gracious, and half of them upon Mount Justice. He commanded also, that
„ ... ... . all the captains should shew themselves
Faith will not . ,, • * , . , , , ,
, ., , in their complete harness, and that the
be silent when , ,- , ,j 1 *. * • -vt
M . . soldiers should shout ior joy. Nor was
ans u is Captain Credence, though in the castle, silent on such a day, but he from the top of the hold shewed himself with the sound of trumpet to Mansoul, and to the Prince's camp.
Thus have I shewn you the manner and way that Im- manuel took to recover the town of Mansoul fiom under the hand and power of the tyrant Diabolus.
Now when the Prince had completed these outward rp, p . ■• ceremonies of his joy, he again com- ltie rrince ais- manded that his captams and soldiers plays his graces should shew unt0 Mansoul some feats before Mansoul. ofwar Sq they presem,y addressed
themselves to this work. But oh ! with what agility, nimbleness, dexterity, and bravery, did these military men discover their skill in feats of war to the now gazing town of Mansoul !
They marched, they countermarched, they opened to the right and left, they divided and subdivided, they closed, they wheeled, made good their front and rear with their right and left wings, and twenty things more, with that aptness, and then were all as they were again, y,. that they took, yea ravished the hearts
" t'pd A? *V" l^at: were *n Mansoul to behold it. But
* Sj * a^fj!6 add to this, the handling of their arms, si? ht of them. .. . P , . ° c
° J the managing of their weapons ot war,
were marvellous taking to Mansoul and me.*
* " The Prince displays his graces;" — they are shewn the use of them in that warfare which must now begin ; Faith, or Credence, shews himself from the castle, the heart, where he has now taken his residence, that Christ may dwell in the heart by faith.
140
When this action was over, the whole town of Mansoul
came out as one man to the Prince in the camp, to praise
him, and thank him for his abundant favor, and to beg that
it would please his Grace to come unto Mansoul with his
Th h th t men» anc* tnere t0 la^e UP their quarters
the Prince and , , , , . ' , ,
, , humble manner, bowinsr themselves sev-
IT if -t} en times to the ground before him. Then
jvc nvi i sa-(j ^ M ^jj peace De t0 yOU .»' So t^ie
jo . town came nigh, and touched with the
hand the top of his golden sceptre ; and they said, Oh ! that the Prince Immanuel, with his captains and men of war, would dwell in Mansoul for ever ; and that his bat- tering rams and slings might be lodged in her, for the use and service of the Prince, and for the help and strength of Mansoul ! for, said they, we have room for thee, we have room for thy men, we have also room for thy weapons of war, and a place to make a magazine for thy carriages. Do it, Immanuel, and thou shalt be King o , . . , and Captain in Mansoul for ever : yea,
, a^l n* l i govern thou also according to all the de- to its Mansoul, &. r i ^ a i *i
sire of thy soul, and make thou govern- ors and princes under thee of thy captains and men of war, and we will become thy servants, and thy laws shall be our direction.
They added moreover, and prayed his Majesty to con- sider thereof; for, said they, if now, after all this grace bestowed upon us thy miserable town of Mansoul, thou shouldst withdraw, thou and thy captains from us, the town of Mansoul will die. Yea, said they, our blessed Immanuel, if thou shouldst depart from us now, after thou hast done so much good for us, and shewed so much mercy unto us, what will follow, but that, our joy will be as if it had not been, and our enemies will a se- cond time come upon us with more rage than at the first ? Wherefore we beseech thee, O thou the desire of our eyes, and the strength and life of our poor town, accept of this motion that now we have made unto our Lord, and come and dwell in the midst of us, and let us be thy T, . - people. Besides, Lord, we do not know
Jt ' but that to this day many Diabolonians may be yet lurking in the town of Mansoul ; and they will betray us, when thou shalt leave us, into the hands of
141
Diabolus again ; and who knows what designs, plots, anfl contrivances, have passed betwixt them about these things already ? Loth are we to fall again into his horri- ble hands. Wherefore let it please thee to accept of our palace for thy place of residence, and of the houses of the best men in our town for the reception of thy sol- diers, and their furniture.*
Then said the Prince, If I come to your town, will
«-. D . , vou suffer me further to prosecute that 1 he Prince s ■ , ■ , . - F
question to wluch ls ln my heart against mine ene- Mansoul ni*es and your's ? ^ea' W1^ Yon iielP me
in such undertakings ? They answered, We know not what we shall do ; we
m, ■ did not think once that we should have
Their answer. , . , . „. , , . ,
been such traitors to Shaddai as we have
proved to be. What then shall we say to our Lord I
Let him put no trust in his saints ; let the Prince dwell
in our castle, and make of our town a garrison ; let him
set his noble captains and his warlike soldiers over us ;
yea, let him conquer us with his love, and overcome us,
and help us, as he was and did that morning our pardon
was read unto us, we shall comply with this our Lord
and with his ways, and fall in with his word against the
mighty.
One word more, and thy servants have clone, and in
this will trouble our Lord no more. We know not the
depth of the wisdom of thee our Prince. Who could
have thought, that had been ruled by his reason, that so
much sweet as we now enjoy should have come out of
those bitter trials wherewith we were tried at the first !
TJ But, Lord, let light go before, and let love
/ ie? t\b come a^ter : yea' ta^e lls ky tne band, and T , y lead us by thy counsels ; and let this al-
ways abide upon us, that all things shall be for the best for thy servants, and come to our Man- soul, do as it pleaseth thee. Or, Lord, come to our Mansoul, and do what thou wilt, so thou keepest us
* Converted souls will most sincerely and earnestly desire the constant residence of Christ with them as their King and Captain. This is always the language of first love ; but let the caution in the margin be noticed, " Say, and hold to it, Mansoul." Happy are they who continue in this good mind all their days. But the sequel of the story will shew how changeable a creature is man,
>m sinning, and makest us serviceable to thy Majes- ty.*
Then said the Prince to the town of Man soul again,
ITecoH,e»tetAto p0!,™*?™ ?T **"*? ir'. |;eace' d»e« in Man. \ W,.U •^ngto in this comply with your
, , . desires : I will remove my rovai pa-
tcul, and firom- ... T .,. T J c " f
7 , . vilion ; I will divw up my Forces be-
rseth to come tn c „ : ■ l ] . ...
tore kye-qate to-morrow, and so will to-morrow. , }c - , . rn,
march forwards into the town ol Man- soul ; I will possess myself of your castle of Mansoul, and will set my soldiers over you ; yea, I will yet do things in Mansoul that cannot be paralleled in any na- tion, country, or kingdom under heaven.
Then did the men of Mansoul give a shout, and re- turn into their houses in peace ; they also told to their kindred and friends the good that Immanuel had prom- ised to Mansoul. And to-morrow, said they, he will march into our town, and take up his dwelling* he and his men, in Mansoul. f
Then went out the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul
MansouVs lire- with haste t0 the green trees' and t0 the
j.7,. meadows to gather boughs and flowers,
iiarauon for kis A. . , . ° , T/0 .
* ^ . . therewith to strew the streets against
' their Prince the Son of Shaddai should
come ; they also made garlands and other fine works, to betoken how joyful they were and should be to receive their Immanuel into Mansoul ; yea, they strewed the street quite from Eye-gate to Castle-gate, the place where the Prince should be. They also prepared for his coming what music the town of Mansoul could af- ford, that they mighfc play before him to the place of his habitation.
So at the time appointed he makes his approach to Mansoul, and the gates were set open for him ; there also
* Holy jealousy well becomes us. However sincerely we resolve upon obedience to the Lord, we must remember that our hearts are treacherous, and that " without him we can do nothing." To be kept from sin, and made serviceable to Christ, is, however, the pre- vailing desire of every Christian.
f Well may the soul rejoice that Jesus consents and promises to come and dwell within—" If any man love me, he will keep my words ; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto bin1; and make our abode with him," John xiv. 23.
143
the ancients and elders of Mansoul met him, to salute ]1U1, us&nd welcomes Then he arose and en-
tcri i Mansoul ne and all his servants. The eiders of Mansoul also went dancing before him, till he came to the castle gal s And thia was the man- He enters the oer 0f h|s going up thither : he was clad town of Man- m h-,.. goWen arn OUPj he rode jn his roy- touLandhow. al cna;H,t) thc trumpets sounded about him, the colours were displayed, Ms ten thousands went up at his feet, and the elders ci ul danced before
lam. And now were the walls of the famous town of Mansoul filled with the tramplings of the inhabitants thereof, who went up thither to view the approach of the blessed Prince and his royal army. Also the casements, windows, balconies, and tops of the houses, were all fill- ed with persons of all sorts, to behold how their town was to be lilted with good.
Now when he was come so far into the town as the recorder's house, he commanded that one should go to Captain Credence, to know whether the castle of Man- 5 prepared to entertain his royal presence (for the preparation of that was left to that captain) and word was brought that it was, Acts xv. 9. Then was Captain Cre- dence commanded also to come fonh with his power to meet the Prince ; which wa^> done as he had command- ed, and he conducted him into the castle, Eph. iii. 17, This done, the Prince that night lodged in the castle with his mighty captains and men of war, to the joy of the town of Mansoul.*
Now the next care of the townsfolk was, how the cap- tains and soldiers of the Prince's army The townsmen should be quartered among them ; and covet who shall the care was> n(Jt hoy/ they ahould shift have most of the ^^ hgmds Qf ^^ but hQw t| soldiers belonging shouM filithefr houses with them : for to the Prince* eiery man in Mansoul now had that esteem of Immanuel and his men, that nothing grieved them more, than because they were not enlarged enough, every one of them, to receive the whole army of the Prince ; yea, they counted it their glory to be waiting
• * Captain Credence was to prepare the ca9tle for Immanuel ; la scripture words—" purifying their heart by kith," Act3 xv. 9.
144
upon them, and would in those days run at their bidding like lacqueys. At last they came to this result :
1. That Captain Innocency should quarter at Mr. „ Reason's*
lion they were % Tlm c tain patience should quar-
town oj uuan- forn.erly Lord will-be-will's clerk in the * time of the rebellion.
3. It was ordered that Captain Charity should quarter in Mr. Affection's house.
4. That Captain Good-hope should quarter at my lord mayor's. Now for the house of the recorder, himself desired, because ins house was next to the castle, and be- cause from him it was ordered by the Prince, that, if need be, the alarm should be given to Mansoul : it was, J say, desired by him, that Captain Boanerges and Captain Con- viction should take up their quarters with him, even they and all their men.
5f As for Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, my Lord Will-be-will took them and their men to him, because he was to rule under the prince for the good of the town of Mansoul now, as he had done before under the tyrant Diabolus, for the hurt and damage thereof. Rom. vi. 19. Eph. iii. 17.
6. And throughout the rest of the town were quarter- ed the rest of Immanuel's forces j but Captain Credence, with his men, abode still in the castle. So the Prince, his captains, and his soldiers, were lodged in the town of Mansoul.*
Now the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul,
ac .. tho't that they never should have enough
Mansoul in- 1 . „ . 'T , . . ft
„ , ,„ o the Prince Immariuel ; his person, his /tamed with • .. , j i u •
th • p.- actions, his words, and behavior, were
j l ,ce so pleasing, so taking, so desirable to
them. Wherefore they prayed him, that
though the castle of Mansoul was his place of residence
(and they desired that he might dwell there for ever) yet
that he would often visit the streets, houses, and people
of Mansoul ; for, said they, Dread Sovereign I thy pre-
* Much judgment is displayed in this distribution of the soldi- ers, particularly in quartering Boanerges and Conviction in the house of Conscience.
145
sence, thy looks, thy smiles, thy words, are the life, strength* and smews of the town of Mansoul.
Besides this, they craved that they might have, with- out difficulty or interruption, continual access unto him;
so, for that very purpose he commanded They have ac- ^ thg gates should 3tand open> lhat
cess unto him. ^ ^^ ^^ see ^ mannep of his
doings, the fortifications of the place, and the royal man- sion-house of the prince.
When he spake, they all stopped their mouths, and „,, gave audience; and when he walked, it
J hey learn was hej delight to imitate him in his of him. , . °
J doings.
Now upon a time Immanuel made a feast for the town of Mansoul ; and upon the feasting-day, the townsfolk were come to the castle to partake of his banquet. And he feasted them with all manner of outlandish food ; food that grew not in the fields of Mansoul. nor in all tl e whole kingdom of Universe. It was food that came from his p f Father's court, and so there was dish af-
romise aj er ^ ^.^ get kefore tnemi anc| {/liev Were
promise. commanded freely to eat. But still, when
a fresh dish was set before them, they would, whisper-
ingly, say to each other, {i What is it ?" for they wist
„ not what to call it, Exod. xvi. 15. They
Brave enter- , , , r i i /
drank also or the water that was made tainmev.t. . , ■ , , .
wine ; and were very merry with lum.
There was music also all the while at the table, and man did eat angel's food, and had honey given him out of the rock ; so Mansoul did eat the food that was peculiar to the court, yea, they had now thereof to the full. Psalm lxxviii. 24, 25.
I must not forget to tell you, that as at this table there were musicians, so they were not those of the country, nor yet of the town of Mansoul ; but they were the mas- ters of the songs that were sung at the court of Shacl- dai.*
Now after the feast was over Immanuel was for enter-
* This is the gospel-feast — a feast of fat things— meat indeed, d drink indeed! not the produce of nature, but imported from neaven, Tiie music also is heavenly ; not the sang at' frothy vani- ty, but such as saints and angels sing beibre ihe throne ; the word of Christ, in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songi.
anc he
146
„• ,, taining the town with some curious riddles of secrets, drawn up by his father's secretary, by the wisdom and skill of Shaddai j the like to these there are not in any kingdom.
The riddles were made upon King Shaddai himself, y, and upon Immanuel his Son, and upon his
6 ° y wars and doings with Mansoul. Immanuel scrip ures. ^jgQ eXp0undecj unt0 them some of those rid- dles himself; but oh ! how they were lightened 1 They saw what they never saw before ; they could not have thought that such rarities could have been couched in so few and such ordinary words. I told you before, whom these riddles did concern ; and as they were opened, the people evidently saw it was so. Yea, they gathered, that the things themselves were a kind of portraiture, and that of Immanuel himself ; for when they read in the scheme where the riddles were writ, and looked in the face of the Prince, things looked so like one to the other, that Mansoul could not forbear but say, This is the Lamb, this is the sacrifice, this is the rock, this is the red cow, this is the door, and this is the way ; with a great many other things more.*
And thus he dismissed the town of Mansoul. But can 77 d f ^ ou *maSme h°w tne people of the corpo-
. ' , l J ration were taken with his entertainment I that banquet, q^ ^^ were transporte(i w}tn j0y, they
v/ere drowned with wonder, while they saw, and un- derstood, and considered what their Immanuel entertain- ed them withal, and what mysteries he opened to them ; and when they were at home in their houses, and in their most retired places, they could not but sing of him and of his actions. Yea, so taken were the townsmen now with their Prince, that they would sing of him in their sleep.
Now it was in the heart of the Prince Immanuel to
new-model the town of Mansoul, and to
Mansoul must u imo guch a condition as might be
be new-model- mQSt pleasing t0 him, and that might best ied' stand with the profit and security of the
* The riddles seem to refer chiefly to the types of Christ, which abound in the scriptures, which are fall of divine entertainment to gracious and enlightened souls. The very portraiture ot Jesus is seen in them ; meditation on these adds greatly to the delight of the gospel feast.
147
now flourishing town of Mansoul. He provided also against insurrections at home, and invasions abroad: such love had he for the famous town of Mansoul.*
Wherefore he first of all commanded, that the great
_ . slings that were brought from his Father's
I he znstru- court wnen he carae to the town of Man-
eTk S % War S0UU should be mounted] some upon the
battlements of the castle, some upon the
towers ; for there were towers in the town of Mansoul,
towers new built by Immanuel since he came thither.
A . There was also an instrument invented
... . by Immanuel. that was to throw stones
terrible mstru- fmm the castle of Mans0lll out at Mouth-
ment in Man- . ,, , ,, _ , ^ „
, cate ; an instrument that could not be re-
sow/. • i i , i • r
sistecl, nor that could miss ot execution ;
wherefore, for the wonderful exploits that it did when
used, it went without a name ; and it was committed to
the care of,* and to be managed by, that brave captain,
the Captain Credence, in case of war. f This done, Im-
■nr-n z ■,, manuel called the lord Will-be-will to him, nill-be-ivill , ,. , . . ,
. and gave him m commandment to lake care
* 'of the gates, the wall, and towers in Man-
soul : also the Prince gave him the militia into his hand, and a special charge to withstand all insurrections and tumults that might be made in Mansoul against the peace of our Lord the King, and the peace and tranquility of the town of Mansoul. He also gave him in commission, that if he found any of the Diabolonians lurking in any corner of the famous town of Mansoul, he should forth- with apprehend them and slay them, or commit them to safe custody, that they may be proceeded against accord- ing to law.
Then he called unto him the lard Understanding,
nr . . who was the old lord- mayor, he that
My lord-mayor , f . , ,;. , ' .
*J* •„* mi was Put out ot place wnen Diabolus took
put into place. tl / , » , ,. • ,,•/•
the town, and put him into his former
office again, and it became his place for his lifetime. He
* The soul of man, when converted to God, " must be new-mo- delled," " old things must pass away, all things be made new."
f This nameless engine, placed at Mouth -gate, is prayer; its power is wonderful beyond description, and therefore it went with- out a name ; no name can sufficiently describe the use and power of prayer. Matt. xxi. 22.
14S
bid him also build it in fashion like a tower for a defence. He bid him also read in the revelations of mysteries all the days of his life, that he might know how to perform his office aright.
He also made Mr. Knowledge the recorder, not of Mr. Knowledge fomempt to old Mr Conscience, who made recorder. Iiacl been rec°rder before ; but for that it was in his princely mind to confer up- on Mr. Conscience another employ; of which he told the old gentleman he should know more hereafter.
Then he commanded that the image of Diabolus
j,, . - should be taken down from the place
.1 e^"a j where it was setup ; and that they should
the Jrnnce and , , , . v . . } .
&*-»' F th t utterv c^estr°y Jt) beating it into powder,
2 • a*- , and casting it into the wind, without the
vfi in Mansoul. ,.Q , . . lU . r 0, .
1 town-wall ; and that the image of Shad-
dai his Father should be set up again, with his own, upon the castle-gates ; and that it should be more fairly drawn than ever, forasmuch as both his Father and himself were come to Mansoul in more grace and mercy than hereto- fore, Rev. xxii. 4. He would also that his name should be done on the best of gold, for the honor of Mansoul.*
CHAP. X.
The Strong Holds of Diabolus destroyed — Incredulity, Lustings, Forget-good, and other Diabolonians afi- firehended, brought to trial, convicted, and execu- ted, to the great Joy of Mansoul.
AFTER this was done, Immanuel gave out a com- mandment, which was, that those three greatest Diabolonians should be apprehended, namely, the two late lord-mayors, to wit, Mr. Incredulity and Mr. Lus-
* The understanding is re-instated in its proper and original office aa chief magistrate of the town, and for his direction, is ordered to study the scriptures, for it is thus the understanding must be in- formed. Knowledge, the knowledge of God in Christ, is to bear swav, another office being appointed for Mr. Conscience; the im= age 'of satan is now to be 'utterly destroyed, and that of God renew- ed in the soul.
149
tings, and Mr. Forget-good, the recorder. Besides these, there were some of them that Diabolus made burgesses r.. and aldermen in Mansoul, that were
Some Diabolo- committed t0 ward by the hand of the mans committed ^ valiant and now right noble the brave to Prison under ^^ wm.be.wilI.
the hand of Mr. And these were their names . AMer_ Irueman the man Atheismj Alderman Hard-heart, -eefier. and Alderman False-peace. The bur-
gesses were, Mr. No- truth, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Haughty, with the like. These were committed to close custody; and the gaoler's name was Mr. Trueman : this True- man was one of those that Immanuel brought with him from his Father's court, when at first he made a war up- on Diabolus in the town of Mansoul.
After this the Prince gave a charge that the three r\- h I i strong holds, which at the command of h Id ^aaoms the Diabolonians built in Man- t*lldd ~S S0U*' S,10U^ De demolished and utterly **u ; ' pulled down ; of which holds, and their
names, with their captains and governors, you read a little before. But this was long in doing, because of the largeness of the places, and because the stones, the tim- ber, the iron, and all the rubbish, were to be carried without the town.*
When this was done, the Prince gave order that the
* , lord- mayor and aldermen of Mansoul
A court to be , ., ' ., r . ,. r ,
,, , . ,, should call a court ol judicature tor the
called to try the . . . , . r i tv i i •
jj. , , . trial and execution of the Diabolonians
in the corporation, now under the care
of Mr. Trueman the gaoler.
Now when the time was come,- and the court set,
rr, . . commandment was sent to Mr. Trueman
The /iris oners . , . , . , . .
a r l* * ,z. the gaoler, to brins: the prisoners down
brought to the . P . rr, ° l ,
, ° . to the bar. 1 hen were the prisoners
brought down, pinioned and chained to- gether, as the custom of the town of Mansoul was. So when they were presented before the lord mayor, the recorder, and the rest of the honorable bench : first, the
* When grace begins to reign, we must mortify the flesh, with its affections and lims. Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, und to pull down his strong holds. But, truly, this is a work of time and immense labor.
N 2
150
jury was -mpanneled, and then the wit- The jury cm- nesses sworn. The names of the jury fianneled, and were these : Mr. Belief. Mr. True* witnesses sworn, heart, Mr. Upright, Mr Hate bad. Mr. Love-good, Mr. See-truth, Mr Hea- venly-mind, Mr. Moderate, Mr. Thankful, Mr. Good- work, Mr. Zeal-for-God, and Mr. Humble. The names of the witnesses were, Mr. Know-all, Mr. Tell-true, Mr. Hate-lyes, with my Lord Will-be-will, and his man, if need were.*
So the prisoners were set to the bar. Then said Mr.
Dc-r'o-ht tl * ^°"r'8.'nt (f°r *ie was tne town-clerk) set ; ,s Atheism to the bar, gaoler. So he was set
4fl . .. to the bar. Then said the clerk, Atheism,
Atheism set to , ,, iU , , „,, . ' . ,.'
. , hold up thy hand. Thou art here mdict-
TT . .'. ed by the name of Atheism (an intruder
liisindictment. upQn the tQwn of MansouIj for that thou
hast perniciously and doubtishly taught and maintained, that there is no God, and so no heed to be taken to reli- gion. This thou hast done against the being, honor, and glory of the King, and against the peace and safety of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou ? art thou guilty of this indictment, or not ?
Atheism. Not guilty.
Cryer. Call Mr. Know-all, Mr. Tell-true, and Mr. Hate-lyes into the court.
So they were called, and they appeared.
Cle-k. Then said the clerk, You, the witnesses for the King, look upon the prisoner at the bar ; do you know him ?
Know -all. Then said Mr. Know-all, Yes, my lord, we • know him ; his name is Atheism, he has been a very pestilent fellow for many years in the miserable town of Mansoul.
Clerk. You are sure you know him ?
Know all. Know him ! Yes, my lord, I have herelo-
„ .,, fore too often been in his company to
Mr. Anow.au s . ^ tHs time . ,ant of him He is a
evidence against Diaboionian. th% son 0f a Diabolonian ;
Atheism. j knew his grandfather and his father.
Clerk. Well said : he standeth here indicted by the
* A very good jury indeed ! — " honest men and true," who will give a foiujiul verdict for God against sin.
151
name of Atheism, Sec. and is charged, that he hatli maintained and taught that there is no God, and so no heed to be taken to any religion. What say you, the King's witnesses, to this ? is he guilty, or* not ?
Know-all My Lord, I and he were once in Villain's- lane together, and he at that time talked briskly of di- vers opinions ; and then and there I heard him say, that for his part he believed there was no God : but, said he, I can profess one, and be religious too, if the company I am in, and the circumstances of other things shall put me upon it-
Clerk. You are sure you have heard him say thus?
Know-all. Upon mine oath, I heard him say thus.
Mr Tell true Then Said the derk' Mr' TeI1~true> „ . ' what sav you to the King's judges touch-
called. . , • J. . .l i 3
ing the, prisoner at the bar r
Tell-true. My Lord, I formerly was a great compan- ion of his (for the which I now repent me) and I have often heard him say, and that with very great stomach- fulness, that he believed there was neither God, angel,. or spirit.
Clerk. Where did. you hear him say so ?
Tell- true. In Black-mouth-lane, and in Blasphemers- row, and in many other places besides.
Clerk. Have you much knowledge of him ?
Tell-true- I know him to be a Diabolonian, the son cf a Diabolonian, and an horrible man to deny a Deity ; his father's name was Never- be-good, and he had more, children than this Atheism. I have no more to say.
Clerk. Mr Hate-lyes, look upon the prisoner at the bar ; do you know him ?
Hate-lyes. My lord, this Atheism is one of the vilest
rj,, . , wretches that ever I came near, or had to
7 he evidence , ... ..- T . , ' , .
f n/r xj . c'o with in my hie : I have heard him say..
©/ Mr. Hate- . . . J j-,,Ti i . i ■
2U that there is no God ; I have heard him
say that there is no world to come, no sin,
nor punishment hereafter ; and moreover, I have heard
him say, that it was as good to go to a whore-house, as
to hear a sermon.
Clerk. Where did you hear him say these things ?
Hate-lyes. In Drunkard's-row, just at Rascal's-lane- end, at the house in which Mr. Impiety lived.
152
r #. „ Clerk. Set him by, gaoler,* and set Mr.
?U!mf* SCt timings to the bar.
Ji. ie ar' Mr Lustings, thou art here indicted by
Jtumaictment.the name of Lustings (an intruder upon
the town of Mansoul) for that thou hast devilishly and traitorously taught, by practice and filthy word*, that it is lawful and profitable to man, to give way to his carnal desires ; and that thou, for thy part, hast not, nor ever wilt, deny thyself of any sinful delight as long as thy name is Lustings. How sayest thou ? art thou guilty of this indictment or not ?
Lustings. Then said Mr. Lustings, My lord, I am a rj. ., man of high birth, and have been used to plea- sures, and pastimes, and greatness. I have not been wont to be snubbed for my doings, but have been left to follow my will as if it were law And it seems strange to me that I should this day be called in- to question, for what not only I, but almost all men, do either secretly or openlv countenance, love and approve of.
Clerk. Sir, we concern not ourselves with your great- ness (though the higher, the better you should have been) but we are concerned, and so are )ou, about an in- dictment preferred against you. How say you ? are you guilty of it, or not ?
Lustings. Not guilty.
Clerk. Cryer, call upon the witnesses to stand forth
jp. and give their evidence.
„ , . Cryer. Gentlemen, you the witnesses
called against r * v. V •
, . ° lor the Kin^, come and eive in your evi-
s ' dence for our Lord the King, against the
prisoner at the bar.
Clerk. Come, Mr. Know-all, look upon the prisoner at the bar. Do you know him ?
Know-all. Yes. my lord, I know him.
Clerk. What is his name ?
Know-all His name is Lustings : he is the son of one Beastly ; his mother bare him in Flesh-street : she was
* Atheism is fairly tried and justly condemned. Alas ! how much practical atheism is there among- professed christians ! For if men live without prayer, and in opposition to his will, they live " with- out God in the world," and what is this but atheism }
153
one Evil-concupiscence's daughter. I knew all the gen- eration of them.
Clerk. Well said. You have heard his indictment : what say you to it ? is he guilty of the things charged against him, or not ?
Know-all. My lord, he has, as he saith, been a great man indeed ; and greater in wickedness than by pedi- gree, more than a thousand fold
Clerk. But what do you know of his particular actions, and especially with reference to his indictment ?
Know-all. I know him to be a swearer, a lyar, a sab-
bath-breaker ; I know him to be a fornicator,
ttis gui an(j an uncjean person ; I know him to be
prove . guilty of abundance of evils. He has been, to
my knowledge, a very filthy man
Clerk. But where did he use to commit his wicked- ness ? in some private corners, or more openly and shamelessly ? .- Know-all. All the town over, my lord.
Clerk. Come, Mr. Tell-true, what have you to saf for our Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar ?
Tell-true. My lord, all that the first witness has said I know to be true, and a great deal more besides
Clerk. Mr. Lustings, do you hear what these gentle- men say ?
Lustings. I was ever of opinion, that the happiest j . life that a man could live on earth? was,
f)S/iin*d f6 8 to keep himself from nothing that he up it> ejence. desired in the world ; nor have I been false at any time to this opinion of mine, but have lived in the love of my notions all my days : nor was I ever so churlish, having found such sweetness in them myself, as to keep the commendation of them from others.
Court. Then said the court, there hath proceede4
_ , ,., _ enough from his own mouth to lay h'm Jn credulity set ^ , f J
tI u open to condemnation ; wherefore set
him by,* gaoler, and set Mr. lncredu*
lity to the bar.
* Lustings, or the sinful lusts of the flesh, is well described ; he is the son of one beastly, his mother a daughter of Evil-concupi- scence, a swearer, a lyar, a fornicator, &c. &c. He is a true Dia- bolonian ; and as all God's people are to walk, not according to th$ flssh, but according to the spirit, he must die.
154
Clerk. Mr. Incredulity, thou art hers indicted by the
xr, . ... . . name of Incredulity (an intruder upon
Jtiis indictment. .. . f^T ,\ r , , ,*
the town of Mansoul) for that thou hast
feloniously and wickedly, and that when thou wertan offi- cer in the town of Mansoul, made head against the cap- tains of the great Shaddai, when they came, and demand- ed possession of Mansoul ; yea, thou didst bid defiance to the name, forces, and cause of the King ; and didst al- so, as did Diabolus thy captain, stir up and encourage the town of Mansoul to make head against and resist the said force of the King. What sayest thou to this indictment? art thou guilty, or not?
Then said Incredulity, I know not Shaddai : I loved it. .] my old prince ; I thought it my duty to be true ^ ' to my trust, and to do what I could to possess the minds of the men of Mansoul to do their utmost to resist strangers and foreigners, and with might to fight against them. Nor have I, nor shall I, change my opin- ion for fear of trouble, though you at present are possess- ed of place and power.
Court. Then said the court, the man, as you see, is incorrigible; he is for maintaining his villanies by stout- ness of words, and his rebellion with impudent confi- P , dence. And therefore set him by, gao-
; °*£e 'f00. ler;* and set Mr. Forget-good to the *et to the bar. . ' o o
bar.
Clerk. Mr. Forget-good, thou art here indicted by
„. .... the name of Forget- good (an intruder
His indictment. , c%, D ,>r Au „.,i
upon the town ol Mansoul; tor that thou,
when the whole affairs of the town of Mansoul were in
thy hand, didst utterly forget to serve them in what was
good, and didst fall in with the tyrant Diabolus against
Shaddai the King, against his captains, and all his host,
to the dishonor of Shaddai, the breach of his law, and
the endangering of the destruction of the famous town
of Mai. soul. What sayest thou to this indictment ? art
thou guilty, or not guilty ?
Then said Forget-good, gentlemen, and at this time my jr. judges, as to the indictment by which I stand
is /ilea. accusec| of several crimes before you, pray at- tribute my forgetfulness to my age, and not to my wil-
* Unbelief is die great instigator of rebellion against God ; out of his own mouth he is condemned as absolutely incorrigible.
155
fulness ; to the craziness of my brain, and not the care- lessness of my mind ; and then I hope I may by your chanty be excused from great punishment, though I be guilty.
Then said the court, Forget-good, Forget-good, thy forgetfulness of good was not simply of frailty, but of purpose, and for tnat thou didst loathe to keep virtuous things in thy mind. What was bad, thou couldst retain : but what was good, thou couldst not abide to think of: thy age, therefore, and thy pretended craziness, thou makest use of to blind the court withal, and as a cloak to 9mriM cover thy knavery. But let us hear what the
.. , witnesses have to say for the King, against
the prisoner at the bar. Is he guilty of this indictment, or not?
Hate-lies. My lord, I have heard this Forget-good say, that he could never abide to think of goodness, no not for a quarter of an hour.
Clerk. Where didst thou hear him say so ?
Hate-lies. In All-base-lane, at a house next door to the sign of the Conscience-seared-with-a-hot-iron.
Clerk. Mr. Know-all, what can you say for our Lord the King, against the prisoner at the bar ?
Know-all. My lord, I know the man well ; he is a
~ , . Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian, his
General char- c . , ' T , '
~ £, lathers name was Love-naueht ; and tor ccter of Jr or- . •
t , . him, I have often heard him say, that he
* '* ' counted the very thoughts of goodness the
most burdensome thing in the world.
Clerk. W'here have you heard him say these words ?
Know-all. In Flesh-lane, right opposite to the church.
Then said the clerk, Come Mr. Tell-true, give in your evidence concerning the prisoner at the bar, about that for which he stands here, as you see, indicted before this honorable court.
Tell-true. My lord, I have heard him often say, he had rather think of the vilest thing, than of what is con- tained in the holy scriptures.
Clerk. Where did you hear him say such grievous words ?
Tell-true. Where ? in a great many places ; partic- ularly in Nauseous-street, in the house of one Shame-
156
less ; and in Filth-lane, at the sign of the Reprobate, next door to the Descent-into-the-pit.
Court. Gentlemen, you have heard the indictment, his plea, and the testimony of the witnesses.*
Gaoler, set Mr. Hard-heart to the bar.
He is set to the bar.
Clerk. Mr. Hard-heart, thou art here indicted by Hard-heart set the™me °f Hard-heart (an intruder up- to the bar on town Mansoul) for that thou
didst most desperately and wickedly pos- sess the town of Mansoul with impenitei.cy and obdu-
rr. . .. , „, ratentss ; and dicUt keep them from re-
His indictment. , r * . .. ,.
morse and sorrow for their evils all
the time of their apostacy from and rebellion against,
the blessed King Shaddai. What sayest thou to this
indictment ? art thou guilty, or not guilty ?
Hurd-heart. My lord, I never knew what remorse or so; row meant, in all my life : I am impenetrable, I care for no man ; nor can I be pierced with men's grief, their groans will not enter into my heart ; whomsoever I mischief, whomsoever I wrong, to me it is music, when to others mourning.
Court* You see the man is a right Diabolonian, and has convicted hi nself.f Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. False-peace to the bar.
Mr. False- peace, thou art here indicted by the name
„ . of False-peace (an intruder upon the
false-peace set of Mansoulx for lhat thou didst
to the bar. . . ,, J , ,, . .
most wickedly and satanically bring,
hold, and keep the town of Mansoul, br.th in her aposta-
T7. . cy. and in her hellish rebellion, in a false,
Ms indictment. groun(lless> and dangerous peace, and
damnable security, to the dishonor of the King, the trans- gression of his law, and the great damage of the town of Mansoul. What sayest thou ? art thou guilty of this indictment, or not ?
Then said Mr False-peace, gentlemen, and you now
* Forget fulness of good pleads a weak head, but the witnesses prove an avowed hatred of every thing scriptural and religious ; it is therefore tl e fault of the heart rather than that of the head, for who is he that cannot remember what he loves ?
f Hardnes of heart is quite in character; he is impenetrable, and knows not how to relent; he also is selt-condemned.
157
appointed to be my judges, I acknowledge that my name • •/ • . is 3fcfr« Peace ; but that my name is False- He denies nis ^^^ j nt»f!y deny. If your honors should please to send for any that intimate- ly know me, or for the midwife that laid my mother of me, or for the gossips that were at my christening, they will any or all of them prove, that my name is not False- peace, but Peace. Wherefore I cannot plead to this in- dictment, forasmuch as my name is not inserted there- in ; and as is my true name, so also are my condition :. I was always a man that loved to live at quiet ; and w] ,'t I loved myself, that I thought others might love also. Wherefore when I saw that any of my neighbors labored under a disquieted mind, I endeavored to help them what I could ; and I could give many instances of this good temper of mine : As,
1. When at the beginning, our town ofMansoul de-
P , ■ clined the ways of Shaddai, some of
t?Jt?a i I them afterwards beeran to have disqui- tmes his conduct. a . ° . r \
J etmg reflections on themselves lor what
they had done : but I, as one troubled to see them dis- quieted, presently sought out means to get them quiet again.
2. When the ways of the old world, and of Sodom, were in fashion ; if any thing happened to molest those that were for the customs of the present times, I labor- ed to make them quiet again, and to cause them to act without molestation.
3. To come nearer home : when the wars broke out between Shaddai and Diabolus, if at any time I saw any of the town of Mansoul afraid of destruction, I often used, by some way, device, invention or other, to labor to bring them to peace again. Wherefore, since I have been always the man of so virtuous a temper, as some say a peace-maker is, and if a peace-maker be so de- serving a man, as some have been bold to attest he is ; then let me, gentlemen, be accounted by you, who have a great name for justice and equity in Mansoul, for a man that deserveth not this inhuman way of treatment but liberty, and also a licence to seek damage of those that have been my accusers.
Then said the clerk, crier, make proclamation. Crier. " O yes ! Forasmuch as the prisoner at the bar O
158
Proclamation for " !^th denied his name to be that which the witnesses to ls mentioned in the indictment ; the come forth COUrt reciuireth> that lf there be any
" in this place, who can give informa- " tion to the court, of the original and right name of the u prisoner, they would come forth and give in their evi- 3 dence : for the prisoner stands upon his own innocence."
Then came two into the court, and desired that they might have leave to speak what they knew concerning the prisoner at the bar ; the name of the one was Search- truth, and the name of the other Vouch-truth : so the court demanded of these men, if they knew the prisoner, and what they could say concerning him ? for he stands, they said, upon his own vindication.
Then said Mr. Search-truth, My Lord —
Court. Hold ; give him his oath. They then swore him : so he proceeded.
Search-truth. My Lord, I know, and have known this
-,. . , man from a child, and can attest that his
J he evidence . -^ , T , . . r ,
, . , name is False-peace. I knew his father ; &iven by Mr. , . I, r, , , . *
S hftl name was Mr. Flatterer ; and his mo-
ther, before she was married, was called by the name of Mrs. Sooth-up : and these two, when they came together, lived not long without this son ; and when lie was born, they called his name False-peace. I was his playfellow, only I was somewhat older than he ; and when his mother used to call him home from his play, she would say to him, False-peace, False-peace, come home quick, or I will fetch you. Yea, I knew him when he sucked ; and though I was then but little, yet I can remember, that when his mother used to sit at the door with him, or played with him in her arms, she would call him twenty times together, My little False-peace, my pretty False-peace ! and O my sweet rogue, False- peace ! and again, O my little bird, False- peace ! and, How do I love my child ! The gossips also know it is thus, though he has had the face to deny it in open court.
Then Mr. Vouch-truth was called upon to speak what he knew of him. So they sware him.
Then said Mr. Vouch-truth, My Lord, all that the for- mer witness hath said, is true : his name Mr, Vouch- is False-peace, the son of Mr. Flatterer,
159
truth's evi- and Mrs. Sooth-up his mother. And I dene e against have in former times seen him angry with False-fieace* those that called him any thing else but False-peace, for he would say that all such mocked and nicknamed him ; but this was at the time when Mr. False-peace was a great man, and when the Diabolonians were the brave men in Mansoul.
Court. Gentlemen, you have heard what these two men have sworn against the prisoner at the bar. And now, Mr. False-peace, to you : You have denied your name to be False-peace ; yet you see that these honest men have sworn that it is your name. As to your plea, in that you are quite besides the matter of your indict- ment, you are not by it charged for evil doing, because you are a man of peace, or a peace-maker among your neighbors ; but that you did wickedly and
U*J jU satanically bring, keep, and hold the racter of False- ^ c ,-V ? \ . ri .
J. town ot Mansoul both under its apostacy
1 . from, and in its rebellion against its King,
in a false, lying, and damnable peace, con- trary to the law of Shaddai, and to the hazard of the de- struction of the then miserable town of Mansoul. All that you have pleaded for yourself, is, that you have de- nied your name, Sec. but here you see, we have witness- es to prove that you are the man.
For the peace that you so much boast of making among your neighbors, know, that the peace that is not a companion of truth and holiness, but is without this foundation, is grounded upon a lie, and is both deceitful and damnable, as also the great Shaddai hath said : thy plea therefore hath not delivered thee from what by thy indictment thou art charged with, but rather it doth fas- ten all upon thee.
But thou shalt have very fair play : let us call the wit- nesses that are to testify as to the matters of fact, and see what they have to say for our Lord the King, against the prisoner at the bar.
Clerk. Mr. Know-all, what say you for our Lord the King, against the prisoner at the bar ?
Know-all. My Lord, this man hath for a long time
Mr Know-all's made 1U to my knowledSe> his business
evidence. t0 -ke^P the town of Mansoul m a sinful
quietness, in the midst of all her lewd-
160
ness, filthiness, and turmoils; and hath said, and that in my hearing, Come, come, let us fly from all trouble, on What ground soever it comes, and let us be for a quiet and peaceable life, though it wanteth a good foundation.
Clerk. Come, Mr. Hate-lies, what have you to say ?
Hate-lies. My Lord, I have heard him say, that peace, though in a way of unrighteousness, is better than trou- ble with truth.
Clerk. Where did you hear him say this ?
Hate-lies. I heard him say it in Folly-yard, at the house of one Mr. Simple, next door to the sign of the Self-deceiver. Yea, he hath said this to my knowledge, twenty times in that place.*
Court. We may spare further witness ; this evidence Yo truth set is plain and fuIL Set him b>* gaoJer, and
to the bar Set Mr' No'truth t0 the bai*- Mr. No-
truth, ihou arc here indicted by the name of No-truth (an intruder upon the town of Mansoul,) for
rj. . ,. , that thou hast always, to the dishonor
His indictment. rcu ,A • . . JTn . . P
or Shaddai, and to the endangering of
the utter ruin of the famous town of Mansoul, set thy- self to deface and utterly to spoil all the remainders of the law and image of Shaddai, that have been found in Mansoul, after her deep apostacy from her King to Di- abolus, that envious tyrant. What sayest thou ? art thou guilty of this indictment, or not ?
No-truth. Not guilty, my Lord.
Then the witnesses were called ; and Mr. Know-all first gave in his evidence against him.
Knoiu-all. My Lord, this man was at the pulling down „ . of the image of Shaddai ; yea, this is he
,5 J **»* did it 'with his own hands. I myself
y /tiovc . stood by and saw him do it and he did it
at the commandment of Diabolus. Yea, this Mr. No- troth did more than this, he did also set up the horned images of the beast Diabolus, in the same place. This is also he that, at the bidding of Diabolus, rent and tore
* Fal:e-peace denies his name, justifies his conduct, and pleads Lis mild pacific disposition ; but the witnesses, Search-truth, Vouch- rruth, and r thers, prove he is rightly called False-peace, and that lie hud labored to keep the town in a state of sinful quiet, in the midst of all its abominations, and when it ought to have been alarmed; for "there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Bftery gracious soul will unite in its condemnation.
161
and caused to be consumed, all that he could of the re- mainders of the law of the King) even whatever he could lay his hands on in Mansoul.
Clerk. Who saw him do ihis besides yourself?
Hate-lies. I did, my Lord, and so did many others be- side : for this was not done by stealth, or in a corner, but in the open view of all ; yea, he chose himself to do it publicly, for he delighted in doing it.
Clerk. Mr. No-truth, how could you have the face to plead not guilty, when you were so manifestly the do- er of all this wickedness ?
No-truth. Sir, I thought I must say something; and ,«. , j. as my name is, so I speak: I have been
! eJe ' advantaged thereby, before now, and did not know but, by speaking no-truth, 1 might have reap- ed the same benefit now.*
Clerk. Set him by, gaoler, and set Mr. Pitiless to
p the bar. Mr. Pitiless, thou art here in-
t.iessse^ tiicted by the name of Pitiless (an intruder
0 ie upon the town of Mansoul,) for that thou
didst most treacherously and wickedly shut up ail bow-
__. . ,. els of compassion, and wouldst not suf-
His indictment. ^ ?qw Mansoul tQ condole her Qwn
misery, when she had apostatized from her rightful King; but didst evade, and at all times turn her mind away from those thoughts that had in them a tendency to lead her to repentance. What sayest thou to this indictment ; guilty or not guilty ?
Pitiless. Not guilty of pitilessness ; all I did, was, to „. , chear up, according to my name ; for my
i i ess ' e- name js not Pitiless but C hear- up ; and I '* could not abide to see Mansoul inclined to melancholy.
Clerk. How ! do you deny your name, and say it is not Pitiless, but Chear-up ? Call for witness : what say you the witnesses to this plea ?
Know-all. My lord, his name is Pitiless ; so he hath wrote himself in all payors of concern wherein he has
* No-troth, or Falsehood, is a desperate Diabolonian ; it was he who defaced the image of God, hated his law, and endeavored ut- terly to destroy all goodness in the town ; but he that knows all, and who requireth. truth in tlie inward parts, will detect and des- troy him.
O 2
162
had to do. But these Diabolonians love to counterfeit their names. Mr. Covetousness covers himself with the name of Good-husbandry, or the like : Mr. Pride can, when need is, call himself Mr. Neat, Mr. Handsome, or the like, and so of all the rest of them.
Clerk. Mr, Tell- true, what say you ?
Tele true. His name is Pitiless, my lord : I have known him from a child ; and he hath done all that wickedness wherewith he stands charged in the indictment ; but there is a company of them that are. not acquainted with the danger of damning, therefore they cail all those melan- choly, who have serious thoughts how that state should be shunned by them.*
Clerk. Set Mr. Haughty to the bar, gaoler
„ .. m Mr. Haughty, thou art here indicted by Haughty set to . c u i t r - . i
, ? the name ot Haughty (an intruder upon
the town of Mansoul,) for that thou didst
most traitorously and devilishly teach the town of Man-
. soul to carry it loftily and stoutly against
His indictment. the summonses that were given them by
the captains of the King Shaddai. Thou didst also teach the town of Mansoul to speak contemptuously and villify- ingly of their great King Shaddai; and didst moreover en- courage, both by words and example, Mansoul to take up arms both against the King, and his Son Immanuel. How sayest thou ? art thou guilty of this indictment or
not
Haughty. Gentlemen, I have always been a man of courage and valor, and have not used, when under the greatest clouds, to sneak or hang down the head like a bulrush; nor did it at all at any time please me to see men veil their bonnets to those that have opposed them. Yea, though their adversaries seemed to have ten times the advantage of them. I did not use Mr. Haughty tQ consjc|er wh0 was my foe, nor what justifies himself. th(J cause was in which l was engag-
• Pitiless is charged with wickedly evading all those thoughts which should have led to repentance ; but endeavors to exculpate himself under the name of Chear-up; so many sins shelter them- selves under pleasing names:
" With names of virtue she deceives
The aged and the young ; And while the heedless wretch believes, She makes his fetters strong.15
163
cc! ; it was enough for me if I carried it bravely, fought like a man, and came off a victor.
Court. Mr. Haughty, you are not here indicted for that you have been a valiant man, nor for your courage and stoutness in times of distress; but for that you have made use of this your pretended valor to draw the town of Mansoul into acts of rebellion, both against the great King and Immanuel his Son. This is the crime, and the thing wherewith thou art charged in an^by the indict- ment. But he made no answer to that.*
Now when the court had thus far proceeded against the prisoners at the bar, then they put them over to the verdict of their jury, to whom they addressed themselves after this manner :
Court. Gentlemen of the jury, you have been here,
m, , . and have seen these men : you have
The court s ad- . . - . . ., . . \ ,
. . heard their indictments, their pleas,
* ^' and what the witnesses have testified against them : now what remains, is, that you forthwith withdraw yourselves to some place, where without confu- sion you may consider of what verdict, in a way of truth and righteousness, you ought to bring in for the King against them, and bring it in accordingly.
Then the jury, to wit, Mr. Belief, Mr. True-heart, Mr. Upright, Mr. Hate-bad, Mr. Love-good, Mr. See-truth, Mr. Heavenly-mind, Mr. Moderate, Mr. Thankful, Mr. Humble, Mr. Good-work, and Mr. Zeal-for-God. with- drew themselves, in order to their work. Now when they were shut up by themselves, they fell to discourse among themselves, in order to the drawing up of their verdict.
And thus Mr. Belief (for he was the foreman) began : The juru delhxr " Gentlemen," quoth he, "for the men, . ./ . * ..- the prisoners at the bar ; for my part, m their verdict T . \. , , .. , ■ / K, ,,
..,.,. I believe that they all deserve death."
distinctly. .. xr . ,lM ;., M ^ . *:
" Very right, said Mr. True-heart,
u I am wholly of your opinion." " And so am I," said Mr. Upright. " O what a mercy is it," said Mr. Hate- bad, " that such vallains as these are apprehended !" " Ay, ay," said Mr. Love-good, u this is one of the joy- fullest days that ever I saw in my life." Then said Mr. See-truth, " 1 know that if we judge them to death, our
* The haughtiness of man must be brought low, for God abas- eth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
164
verdict shall stand before Shaddai himself." « Nor do I at all question it," said Mr. Heavenly-mind ; he said moreover, " when all such beasts as these are cast out of Mansoul, what a goodly town will it be then I" Then said Mr. Moderate, M It is not my manner to pass my judgment with rashness ; but for these, their crimes are so notorious, and the witness so palpable, that that man must be wilfully blind, who says the prisoners ought not to die." the traitors afe in safe custody." " And I join with you in this, upon my bare knees," said Mr. Humble." " I am glad also," said Mr. Good-work. Then said the warm man, and true-hearted Mr. Zeal-for-God, " Cut them oft*; they have been the plague, and sought the destruction of Mansoul"*
Thus therefore being all agreed in their verdict, they came instantly into the court.
Clerk. Gentlemen of the jury, answer all to your names. Mr. Belief, one : Mr. True-heart, two : Mr. Upright, three : Mr. Hate-bad, four : Mr. Love-good, five : Mr. See-truth, six : Mr. Heavenly-mind, seven : Mr. Moderate, eight: Mr. Thankful, nine : Mr. Hum- ble, ten : Mr. Good-work, eleven : and Mr. Zeal-for- God, twelve : Good men and true, stand together in your verdict ; are you all agreed ?
Jury. Yes, my Lord.
Clerk. Who shall speak for you ?
Jury. Our foreman.
Clerk. You, the gentlemen of the jary, being em- panneled for our Lord the King, to serve here in a mat- ter of life and death, have heard the trials of each of these men, the prisoners at the bar : what say you ? are they guilty of that, and those crimes for which they stand here indicted, or are they not guilty ?
... . Foreman. Guilty, my Lord.
All fironounc- ^,,11 vL i. • • — 1
, y . Clerk. Look to your prisoners, gaoler.
' * l V' This was done in the. morning, and in
* There is, in the renewed soul, a sincere detestation of all sin. As this jury are unanimous in their verdict, so all real christians will most cordially unite in dooming- his lusts to death. " Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,
My heart hath so decreed ; "Nor will I spare the guilty thing's That made mv Saviour bleed."
165
the afternoon they received sentence of death according to the law.
The gaoler, therefore, having received such a charge, put them all in the inward prison, to preserve them there till the day of execution, which was to be the next morn- ing.
But now to see how it happened, one of the prisoners,
- ... Incredulity by name, in the interim betwixt ^
, ' y the sentence and time of execution, broke breaks fir in on. . , 7 ,. , A ,.
• prison, and made his escape, and got him
away quite out of the town of Mansoul, and lay lurking in such places and holes as he might, until he should again have opportunity to do the town of Mansoul a mis- chief for their thus handling of him as they did.
Now when Mr. Trueman the gaoler perceived that he had lost his prisoner, he was in a heavy taking, be- cause be (that prisoner we speak of) was the very worst of ail the gang : wherefore first he goes and acquaints my Lord-mayor,Mr, Recorder, and my Lord Will-be-will, with the matter, and to get of them an order to make search for him throughout the town of Mansoul. So an order he got, and search was made, but no such man could now be found in all the town of Mansoul.
All that could be gathered, was, that he had lurked awhile about the outside of the town, and that here and there one or other had a glimpse of him as he made his escape out of Mansoul; one or two also affirmed, that they saw him without the town, going apace quite over the plain. * Now when he was quite gone, it was af- firmed by one Mr. Did-see, that he ranged all over dry j ... places, till he met with Diabolus his
, r>- / > 6S friend ; and where should they meet one to Diabolus* ^. , Tt ,, {.,,
another but upon Hell-gate-hill.
But oh ? what a lamentable story did the old gentleman tell to Diabolus, concerning what sad alteration Imman- uel had made in Mansoul !
As, first, how Mansoul had, after some delays, receiv-
* Unbelief was apprehended and condemned — but, alas ! he es- capes. This incident is introduced by the author with great skill; he eludes justice, and flies to hell, to meditate new mischiefs. Ah ! where is the believer who is at all times wholly free from the assaults of this arch rebel ? where is the christian who has not oc- casion to say, and that with tears, n Lord ! I believe, help thou mine unbelief?"
166
And tell* him ed a general pardon at the hands of Im- vhat Immanucl ™anU,el ; and tllat ,th,c>' ,had lnvl,ted h"n
U now doing in ,nt0,th5 l°™' and bad flVen ll,lm the ,T , castle tor his possession. He said more-
over, that they called his soldiers into the town, coveted who should quarter the most of them ; they also entertained him with the timbrel, song, and dance. But that, said Incredulity, that is the sorest vex- ation to me, that he hath pulled down, O father, thy im- age, and set up his own ; pulled down thy officers, and set up his own. Yea, and Will-be-will, that rebel, who, one would have thought, should never have turned from us, is now in as great favor with Immanuel as ever he was with thee. But, besides all this, this Will-be-will has received a special commission from his Master, to search for, to apprehend, and to put to death, all, and all manner of Diabolonians that he shall find in Mansoul : yea, and this Will-be-will has taken and committed to prison already eight of my lord's most trusty friends in Mansoul ; nay further, my lord, (with grief I speak it,) they have been all arraigned, condemned, and I doubt, before this, executed in Mansoul. I told my lord of eight ; and myself was the ninth, who should assuredly have drunk of the same cup, but through craft I have made mine escape from them.
When Diabolus had heard this lamentable story, he £. , , ,. yelled, and snuffed up the wind like a
t s ye s cira8.on an(} made the sky look dark with at ihis news. , . & , , J , , , x
his roaring : he also sware he would try
to be revenged of Mansoul for this. So they concluded to enter into great consultation how they might get the town of Mansoul again.*
Now before this time the day was come, in which the prisoners in Mansoul were to be executed, Rom. viii. i3. vi. 12, 13, 14. So they were brought to the cross, and that by Mansoul, in the most solemn manner : for the Prince said, that this should be done by the hand of the town of Mansoul ; that I may see, said he, the for- wardness of my now redeemed Mansoul to keep my word, and to do my commandments ; and that I may- bless Mansoul in doing this deed, Gal. v. 24. Proof of
* As the conversion of sinners occasions joy in heaven, so, pro- bably, it produces vexation and grief in hell.
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sincerity pleases mc well, let Mansoul therefore first lay
their hands upon these Diabolonians to destroy them.
So the town of Mansoul slew them, according to the
_,, M . word of their Prince : but when the pris-
The prisoners , . . .t _ r ,.
1 . oners were brought to the cross to die.
you can hardly believe what troublesome work Mansoul had of it to put the Diabolonians to death ; for the men knowing that they must die, and all of them having implacable enmity in their heart to Mansoul, what did they do but take courage at the cross, and there re- sist the men of the town of Mansoul ! Wherefore the men of Mansoul were forced to cry out for help to the captains and men of war. Now the great Shaddai had a secretary in the town, and he was a great lover of the men ot Mansoul, and he was at the place of execution also : so he hearing the men of Mansoul cry out against the strugglings and unruliness of the prisoners, rose up from his place, and came and put his hands upon the hands of the men of Mansoul. So they crucified the Diabolonians that had been a plague, a grief, and an of- fence to the town of Mansoul, Rom. viii. 13.*
Mr. Experience is made an Officer — The Charier of the Town graciously renewed, and enlarged with special privileges— The Ministry of the Gospel regularly tablished under the Direction of the Secretary — Mr. Conscience ordained a Treacher — Directions how to be- have to the Ministers — The Inhabitants are clad in white — God's peace appointed to rule — The unexam~ pled Felicity of the Town.
NOW when this good work was done, the Prince came down to see, to visit, to speak comfortably to
* The greatest proof of our sincere attachment to Christ is the destruction of our sins ; not suffering them to reign in our mortal bodies, but crucifying the flesh with itj affections and lusts : But indeed our sins struggle much, and die hard, and our own native strength is insufficient for their mortification ; tut Spirit therefore is introduced as helping in this work ; — for, " ii .• • , through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live." Romans viii. 13.
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the men of Mansoul, and to strengthen their hands in
The Prince SUC^ wor'5, ^nd ne sa^ t0 them, that by
,> , this act of their's he had proved them, and
Coynes donvn f . . . * . . ' .
to convratu- louncl them to oe lovers of his person, ob-
ir,f<> ,/7„,, servers of his laws, and such as had also late them* , . . TT
respect to his honor. He said moreover
(to shew them that they by this should not be losers,
nor the town of Mansoul weakened by the loss of them)
u j,~ 4«« * that he would make them another cap- He promises to , . f r . . r,
make them a taln' and that ° °ne of themselves » and . . that this captain should be the ruler of a
thousand, for the good and benefit of the
How flourishing town of Mansoul.
So he called one to him whose name was Waiting, and
said to him, Go quickly up to the castle-gate, and en-
Exherience quire there fo* °nC Mp' ExPerience> that
t h tJ waiteth upon that noble captain, the cap-
. tain Credence, and bid him come hither to
iV ca" ' me. So the messenger that waited upon the good Prince Immanuel, went and said as he was com» manded. Now the young gentleman was waiting to see the captain train and muster his men in the castle-yard. Then said Mr. Waiting to him, sir, the Prince would that you should come down to his highness forthwith. So he brought him down to Immanuel, and he came and made obeisance before him. Now the men of the town knew Mr. Experience well, for he was born and Yj p ,-r. bred in Mansoul ; they also knew him to
le qua ijica- ^ a man o^ conduct, 0f valor, and a per- tions of their , ^ . u ,
J. . son prudent in matters ; he was also a new cantain. , ,» « ,
1 comely person, well spoken, and very suc-
cessful in his undertakings.
Wherefore the hearts of the townsmen were trans- ported with joy when they saw that the Prince himself was so taken with Mr. Experience, that he would needs make him a captain.
So with one consent they bowed the knee before Im- manuel, and with a shout said, Let Immanuel live for ever ! Then said the Prince to the young gentleman, whose name was Mr. Experience, I have thought good to confer upon thee a place of trust and honor in this my town of Mansoul (then the young man bowed his head and worshipped) ; it is, said Immanuel, that thou shouldst
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be a captain, a captain over a thousand men in my be- loved town of Mansoul. Then said the captain, Let the Kins live ! So the Prince gave out orders forthwith to the King's secretary, that he should draw up for Mr. Experience a commission to make him a captain over a thousand men ; and let it be brought to me, said he, that I may set to it my seal. So it was done as commanded. rr. . . The commission was drawn up, brought
His commission tQ Immanuelj and he set fiis seal lhere. sent mm. ^ Jhen by ^ hand of ^ Waitingj
he sent it away to the captain.
Now so soon as the captain had received his commis- sion, he sounded his trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to him apace ; yea, the greatest and chief men in the town sent their sons to be enlisted under his com- mand. Thus Captain Experience came under command jr. , to Immanucl, for the good of the town of tits under- Mansoul He had for his iicutenant one Mr. officers. skilful, and for his cornet one Mr. Memory. His under-officers I need not name ; 1 Sam xvii. 36, 3T. His colours were the white colours, for the town of Mansoul ; and the escutcheon was the dead lion and the dead bear.* So the Prince returned to his royal palace again.
Now when he was returned thither, the elders of the town of Mansoul, to wit, my lord-mayor, the recorder, and the Lord Will-be- will went to congratulate him, and in special way to thank him for his love, care, and the tender compassion which he shewed to his ever-obliged town of Mansoul. So after a while, and some sweet com- munion between them, the townsmen, having solemnly ended their ceremony, returned to their place again.
Immanuel also appointed them a day wherein he would
rr renew their charter, yea wherein he would
*. . f renew and enlarge it, mending several their charter. - . . . . & _ ' ., ° . . faults therein, that Mansoul s yoke might
* Experience in divine things is often of great use to the Chris- tian, especially in seasons of darkness and danger ; a recollection of what God has done for us, encourages us still to hope in him. The author refers to 1 Sam. xvii. 36, 37, where the stripling David boldly undertakes to encounter Goliath the Philistine giant : " Thy servant, (said he to Saul,) slew both the lion and the bear ; — the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine."
P
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be yet more easy, Heb. viii. 13. Matt. xi. and thi3 he did without any desire of their*s, even of his own frank- ness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen their old one, he laid it by, and said, u Now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away." He said moreover, The town of Mansoul shall have another, and a better.*
An epitome whereof take as follows :
" 1 Immanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of
the town of Mansoul, do, in the name of my Father, and
of my own clemency, give, grant, and bequeath to my
beloved town of Mansoul ;
ry,, , _, m " First, Free and full forgiveness of all 1 he charter . , -. ° , ,
■r *«. , wrongs, injuries, and offences, done by them
of the town . *V J -,-, . . . . , ,
f m l aSamst my Father, me, their neighbors, or
oj mansom. thcmselvcSj Heb# viii# John xvii 8) 14#
u Secondly, I do give them the holy law, and my testament, with all therein contained, for their everlast- ing comfort and consolation, 2 Pet. i. 4. 2 Cor. vi. 1. 1 John i. 16.
" Thirdly, I do also give them a portion of the self- same grace and goodness that dwells in my Father's heart and mine,
" Fourthly, I do give, grant, and bestow upon them freely the world, and what is therein, for their good, 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22. And they shall have that power over it, as shall stand with the honor of my Father, my glory, and their comfort, yea, I grant them the benefits of life and death, and of things present and things to come. This privilege, no other city, town, or corporation shall have, but my Mansoul only.
" Fifthly, 1 do give and grant them leave, and free ac- cess to me in my } alace at all seasons, there to make known their wants to me ; and I give them moreover a promise that I will hear and redress all their grievances, Heb x. 19, 20. Matt. vii. 7.
" Sixthly, 1 do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul with full power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroy, all, and all manner of Diabolonians,
* The new charter is the covenant of grace, which is established on better promises than the old dispensation. It contains many great and precious privileges, here judiciously enumerated.
X
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that at any time, from whencesoever, shall be found straggling in or about the town of Mansoul.
" Seventhly, I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul, that they shall have authority not to suffer any foreigner or stranger, or their seed, to be free in and of the blessed town of Mansoul, nor to share in the excel- lent privileges thereof : but that all the grants, privi- leges, and immunities, that I bestow upon the famous town of Mansoul, shall be for those the old natives, and true inhabitants thereof; to them, I say, and to their right seed after them, Eph. iv 22. Col. iii. 5 — 9. But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or king- dom soever, shall be debarred a share therein."
So when the town of Mansoul had received their gra- cious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more large) they carried it to audience, that is, to the market- place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all the people, 2 Cor. iii. 5 Jer. xxxi. 33. Heb. viii. 10. This being done, it was had back to the Iheir c mr er castje.gateS) anci there fairly engraven up- set ufwn the ^ the doQrs thereof> and ,aid in jet- castle-gates. terg of gol(]j t0 the end tha(. the tQWn of
Mansoul, with all the people thereof, might have it al- ways in their view, or might go where they might see what a blessed freedom their Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be increased in themselves, and their love renewed to their great and good Im- manucl.
But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now possess the hearts of the men of Mansoul ! The bells rung, the minstrels played, the people danced, the captains shouted, the colours waved in the wind, the silver trumpets sounded, and all the Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads.*
When this was over, the Prince sent for the elders of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry he
* Well may the Christian exult in the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant, which is "ordered in all things and sure." "The world, life, death, things present, and things to come, all is our's, if we are Christ's." This charter was set' upon the castle- gates ; may it be inscribed, in indelible characters, on our hearts ; while every power of the soul is filled with joy, and sin, abashed, bides its head.
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intended to establish among them ; such a ministry, that might opet) unio them, and instruct them in the things that concerned their present and future state ; for, said he, you, of youi selves, unless you have teachers and guides, will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be sure not to do, the will of my Father, Jer. x. 23. I Cor. ii. 14.
At this news, when the ciders of Mansoul brought it The common to the PeoPie> i,ie whole town came run- good thought*. pinS together (for it pleased them well, as whatever the Prince now did, pleased the people) and all with one consent implored his Ma- jesty, that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them, as might teach them both law and judg- ment, statute and commandment ; that they might be documented in all good and wholesome things. So he told them he would grant their requests ; and would es- tablish two among them, one that was of his Father's court, and one that was a native of Mansoul.
He that is from the court said he, is a person of no
The Holy Spirit. Ics* ?"*"£ a!\d dignity than my Father y y and I, 2 Pet. l. 21. 1 Cor. n. 10. John
i. 1. v. 7. And he is the lord chief secretary of my Fa- ther's house; for he is, and always has been, the chief dictator of all my Father's laws ; a person well skilled in all mysteries, and knowledge of mysteries, as is my Fa- ther, or as myself is. Indeed he is one with us in na- ture, and also as to loving of, and being faithful to, and in the eternal concerns of the town of Mansoul.
And this is he, said the Prince, that must be your chief teacher ; for 'tis he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and supernatural things : he, and he only, it is, that knows the ways and methods of my Father's court; nor can any, like him, shew how the heart of my Father is at all limes, in all things, upon all occasions, towards Mansoul ; for, u as no man knows the things of a man, but the spirit of a man which is in him," John xiv. 26. xvi 13. 1 John ii. 27; so the things of my Father knows no man, but this his high and mighty secretary ; nor can any (as he) tell Mansoul how and what they shall do, to keep themselves in the love of my Father. He also it is, that can bring lost things to youF remembrance, and that can tell you things to come.
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This teacher, therefore, must have the pre-eminence (both in your affections and judgment) before your other teacher ; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also the great dexterity he hath to assist you to make and draw up petitions to my Father for your help and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that you grieve him not, I Thess, i. 5, 6.
This person can put life and vigour into all he says ;
Tf, /r ft }*ea' an(* can a^so Put il *nto vour neart*
Hoi Shirit ActS Xxi* I0' ' ' ' This perS°n Can mak°
0 y "l * seers of you, and can make you tell what
shall be hereafter, Jude 20. Eph. vi. 18. Rom. viii. 16. Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, 29. Eph. iv. 30. Isaiah Ixiii. 10. By this person, you must frame all your petitions to my Fa- ther and me ; and without his advice and counsel first obtained let nothing enter into the town or castle of Man- soul, for that may disgust and grieve this noble person.
Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister ; for if you do he may fight against you ; and should he once be moved by you to set himself against you in bat- tle array, that will distress you more than if twelve le- gions should be sent from my Father's court to make war upon you.
But (as I said) if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him ; if you shall devote yourselves to his teach- ing, and shall seek to have converse, and to maintain communion with him : you shall find him ten times bet- ter than is the whole world to any, 1 Cor. xiii. 14. Rom. v. 5. Yea, he will shed abroad the love of my Father in your hearts, and Mansoul will be the wisest and most blessed of all people.*
Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman,
r *,«>,. ,•.*,,. o ™nri0 who afore had been the recorder of
Conscience made _, , __ _
a minister. Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name,
and told him, that forasmuch as he
* The ministry of the gospel is established in Mansoul, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He is the chief teacher in all divine things : from hirn all spiritual wisdom proceeds ; by him the ordi- nary pastors of the church are instructed, and by ins power alone their ministrations become useful. His gracious offices and influ- ences are here charmingly stated. P 2
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Tvas well skilled in the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well spoken, and could pertinent- ly deliver to them his Master's will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in all the laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul. And thou must, said the Prince, confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to the civil and natural duties ; but thou must not attempt or presume to D'j a revealer of those high and supernatural myste- ries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai my Fa- ther, for those things knoweth no man, nor can any re- veal them but my Father's secretary only. Thou art a native ot the town of Mansoul, but the lord secretary is a native with my Father ; wherefore, as thou hast knowl- edge of the laws and customs of the corporation, so he of the things and will of my Father.
Wherefore, oh Mr Consicence, although I have made thee i!iini&ter and a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which the lord secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there thou must be his scholar, and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul are. Thou must, therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for information ; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration must give him understand- ing, Job. xxviii. 8. Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, be humble, and remember, that the Diabolonians, that kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made prisoners in the pit. Be therefore con- tent with thy station.
I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on eartb,
in such things of which I have matte men- His power in ^ ^^ ^ ^ thou p(mer tQ
Mansoul. teach them tQ Mansouly yea, and to im- pose them with whips and chastisements, if they shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments. And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old and feeble, there- fore I give thee leave and licence to go when thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine, Heb. ix. U. Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thy heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful hu- mours. It will also lighten thine eyes and strengthen
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thy memory for the reception and keeping of all that the King's most noble secretary teacheth.
When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into the place and office of a minister of Mansoul, and the man had thankfully accepted thereof, then did Immanuel address himself to the townsmen themselves.
" Behold (said the Prince to Mansoul) my love and T, p . , care towards you ; I have added to
speechTomn. a11 that ^ P^t this mercy, to appoint
• . you preachers, the most noble secreta-
ry, to teach you in all sublime myste- ries ; and this gentleman (pointing to Mr. Conscience) is to teach you in all things human and domestic, for therein lieth his work. He is not, by what I Jaave said, debarred of telling to Mansoul any thing that he hath heard from the lord high secretary ; only he shall not attempt, or presume to pretend, to be a revealer of those high mysteries himself; for the breaking of them up, and the discovery of them to Mansoul, lieth only in the power, authority) and skill of the lord high secretary
* ,. himself. Talk of them he may, and so may ic nee o ^e rest 0f the town of Mansoul, as they
Mansoul. . *u i
have opportunity, press them upon each
other for the benefit of the whole. These things I would have you observe and do ; for it is for your life, and the lengthening of your days.
" And one thing more to my beloved town of Man- soul : You mim not dwell in, nor stay upon, any thing of that which he hath in commission to teach you as to your trust and expectation of the next world : of the next world, I say ; for I propose to give another to Man- soul when this with them is worn out, but for that you must wholly and solely have recourse to, and make stay upon his doctrine, that is your teacher after the first or- der. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look for life from that which he himself revealeth ; his dependence for that must be founded in the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder also take heed that he re- ceive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine, that is not communicated to him by his superior teacher, nor yet within the precincts of his own formal knowledge.'**
* Admirably judicious is this charge to the Rev. Mr. Conscience,
/O
Now after the Prince had thus settled things in the fa-
He triv t) mous town of Mansoul, he proceeded to
caufion'about &*V
the captain*. cessa7 cau,tlon 5 , » "*■ how tiey f"0"1^ carry it to the noble captains that he had
sent or brought with him, from his Father's court, to the
famous town of Mansoul; " These captains," said he,
" love the town of Mansoul, and they are men picked out
of abundance, as men that best suit, and that will most
faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the Di-
abolonians, for the preservation of the town of Mansoul.
I charge you, therefore, said he, O ye inhabitants of the
now flourishing town of Mansoul, that you carry it not
untowardly to my captains or their men ; since they are
picked and choice men, men chosen out of many for the
good of the town of Mansoul. I say; I charge you, that
,ri ... x you carry it not untowardly to them ; for
1 he citizens of * . ./, ,
,r . \ though they have the hearts and faces of
Mansoul must ,. ° , ■ .. , ,, , ,,
, , ,. ,, lions, when at any time they shall be call-
„ ., . . ed forth to engage and fWht with the to thecahtains. „. , c , , • r u .
King s foes, and the enemies of the town
Mansoul, yet a little discountenance cast upon them
from the town of Mansoul will deject and cast down their
faces, will weaken and take away their courage. Do
not, therefore, carry it unkindly to my valiant captains
and courageous men of war, but love them, nourish
them, succour them, and lay them to your bosoms, and
they will not only fight for you, but cause to fly from you
all those Diabolonians that seek, and will, if possible,
prove your utter destruction.
" If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sick,
or weak, and so not able to perform that office of love
which with all their hearts they are willing to do (and
will do also when wrcll and in health) Heb. xii. 12, Isa.
ordained a preacher in Mansoul. The office of conscience is to compare the heart and walk of the christian with the word of God, and so to judge whether it be good or bad: but conscience is not to decide on the secret decrees of God, nor pretend to reveal new doctrines; conscience is not the legislator, but the minister of the law, and must ever look up to the Holy Spirit for his teaching-. Yet conscience is here armed with great airhority, and permitted to chastise the soul when it offends. But conscience itself needs puri- fying by the blood of Christ, and refreshment also from the same source. Heb. ix. 14.
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xxxv. 3. slight them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthen and encourage them, though weak and ready to die ; for they are your fence and your guard, your walls, gates, locks, and bars, Rev. iii 2. 1 Thess. v 14. And although when they are weak they can do but little, but rather need to be helped by you, and that you should then expect great things from them ; yet when well, you know what exploits and warlike achievements they can do, and will perform for you.
" Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul can- not be strong ; if they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak : your safety therefore doth lie in their health, and in your countenancing them. Remember also, that if they be sick, they catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself.*
U These things I have said unto you, because I love your welfare, and your honor : observe, therefore, oh my Mansoul, to be punctual in all things that I have given in charge unto you, and that not only as a town corpo- rate, and so to your officers and guard and guides in chief, but to you as you are a people whose well-being, as single persons, depends on the observation of the or- ders and commandments of their Lord. Next, oh my Mansoul ! I warn you of that, of which, notwithstand-
a .. , J ing the reformation that is at present A caution about & .. , r .
,, r\- l > ■ wrought among you, you have need to the Diabolomans , & j i
., , .be warned about ; wherefore hearken
that yet remain .... . T
„/ . diligently unto me. I am now sure,
tn Mansoul. j •■■ i i r i .1
and you will know hereafter, that there
are yet some Diabolonians remaining in the town of Mansoul ; Diabolonians that are sturdy and implacable, and that do already while I am yet with you, and that will yet more when I am from you, study, plot, contrive, in- vent, and jointly attempt to bring you to desolation, and so to a state far worse than that of Egyptian bondage ; they are the avowed friends of Diabolus, therefore look about you, Matt. vii. 2 1, 22. They used, therefore, to lodge with their Prince in the castle, when Incredulity
* The instructions given to Mansoul respecting their behavior to the ministers of the gospel is perfectly scriptural. They are to be " esteemed very higly in love for their work's sake ;" "they are to be encouraged and strengthened ; fortius is profitable to the peo- nle, as well as a debt of love due to God and them.
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was lord-mayor of this town ; but since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides and walls, and have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, and strong holds therein, Rom. vii. 18. Wherefore, oh, Mansoul ! thy work as to this will be so much the more difficult and hard ; that is, to take, mortify, and put them to death, according to the will of my Father. Nor can you utter- ly rid youi selves of them, unless you should pull down the walls of your town, the which I am by no means wil- ling you should. Do you ask me, What shall we then do ? Why, be you diiigent, and quit you like men ; ob- serve their holds, find out their haunts, assault them, and make no peace with them : wherever they haunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they of- fer you, abhor ; and all shall be well betwixt you and me. And &at you may the better know them from the natives of Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names of the chief of them ; and they are these y,, f that follow : The Lord Fornication, the
omeonheDU Lord Adulte,T> the Lord Murder, the some oj " Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness,
MansolY thG Lord Deceit' the Lord Evi,-eye> Mr.
Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idol- atry, Mr. Witchcraft, Mr. Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath* Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, and Mr. Heresy. These are some or tlie chief, O Mansoul ! of those that will seek to overthrow thee for ever ; these, I say, are the skulkers in Mansoul ! but look well into the law of thy King, and thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such other characteristical notes of them, whereby they may be known.*
" These, O my Mansoul ! (and I would gladly that you should certainly know it) if they be suffered to run and range about the town as they wish, would quickly, like vipers, eat out your bowels, yea, poison your cap- tains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break the bars and
* It is absolutely necessary for Christians to watch and pray against their remaining corruptions; the sin that dwelleih in them; for though their lusts do not possess the castle of the heart, yet they have their private lurking- places. They are therefore to be dili- gently sought after, and may be known by their physiognomy (the distinguishing cast of the face.) They are truly wise who study this spiritual physiognomy, and so detect the true character of sin.
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bolts of your gates, and turn your now most flourishing
Mansoul into a barren, desolate wilderness and ruinous
heap. Wherefore, that you may take courage to your-
. . selves to apprehend these villains where* A commission ^^ yQu fiml ,hcmi j „ive t0 y0Uj my ,ord-
io destroy t fie mftyor? my Lo,d will-be-will, and Mr. Diaoolomans. Rccorder> ,vUh a]1 the jnhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to seek out, to take, and cause to be put to death by the cross, all manner of Diabolonians, wherever you shai"! fii.d them lurk within or without the walls of the town of Mansoul.