-\ ©bcalogiciil f eminavjj, PRINCETON, X. J. . The Stephen Collins Donation. No. Case, ^^\&^ No. Shelf, c...- y No. Book, Trdrr::7 r yl.^n.y-l? ^C-iAyy .^ ^- << THE MADE BY KING SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS, FOR THE REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD; OB, ^\)t Cosing aixis ^ak'm^ again OF THE TOWN OE MANSOUL. » BY JOHN BUNYAN. }} >> WITE EXPLANATORY, EXPERIMENTAL AND PRACTICAL NOTES, BY THE KEY. GEORGE BURDER, Author of Village Sermons, &c. EMBELLISHED WITH SIXTY-EIGHT ENGRAVINGS. ■•» PHILADELPHIA: PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATIO>f. ^^ " ;;^yyy=yyy^ ^^^^\ Printed by WM. S. MAHTIEN. Stereotyped by S. DOVGLAS WYETH, No. 7 Pear St. Philadelphia. ADVERTISEMENT. The "Holy War" by Bunyan is supposed to hold the same relation to his " Pilgrim's Progress," that the " Odyssey" of Homer does to his "Iliad," or the "Paradise Regained" of Milton to his "Paradise Lost." The inferior works of the great Grecian and English bards, are inferior only to their own more finished and perfect productions ; and so it may be said of the admirable allegory, here presented to the reader, that it would have immortalized its author, had he not already attained the highest meed of fame by his inimitable " Pilgrim." The subject of war, even when a holy one and altogether of an allegorical character, is not so generally pleasing as that of a pilgrimage, and this perhaps may, in a measure, detract from the interest which is felt in this really remarkable book. It merits a more popular reception. As an allegory it is well sustained. The Christian warfare is illustrated by one profoundly conversant with all its vicissi- tudes; and in the conception and portraiture of ill iv ADVERTISEMENT. characters and incidents, Bunyan has displayed the same fertility of invention which imparts such a charm to his master-work. In regard to the present edition, the reader will at once perceive that no expense has been spared in the outward appliances, to entice him to listen to the details of the Holy War from the lips of a veteran soldier. The typography is beautiful, and the pic- torial illustrations fine specimens of the progress made in this country in the art of wood-engraving. Surpassing as it does any American edition of the work, previously published, the reader should, in common with the Presbyterian Board of Publication, feel his obligation to those benevolent individuals, who by their liberal donations, for this express purpose, have rendered it practicable to produce so sumptuous a book, at a cost to the reading public comparatively so moderate. EDITOR OF THE PKESBYTEKIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. LIST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE STKEL PORTRAIT OF BUNYAN To precede the IVlc ORNAMENTAL HEADING-THE HOLY WAR 21 WALLS OF THE TOWN OF MANSOUL 24 THE BLACK PRINCE DIABOLUS 2G DL\BOLUS BEFORE EAR-GATE 35 HOLD OF DEFIANCE 50 THE PEOPLE TAKE AN OATH 66 DIABOLUS'S ARMOUR FOR THE CITIZENS 72 CAPTAIN EXECUTION 78 WILL-BE-WILL'S ORATION 98 THE ARMY OF SHADDAI ATTACKING MANSOUL 103 DIABOLUS ADDRESSING HIS ARMY 109 COMMOTION IN THE TOWN 119 PETITION GIVEN TO MR. LOVE-TO-MANSOUL 128 CAPTAIN CREDENCE 132 SETTING UP OF THE BLACK FLAG 137 THE SPEECH OF THE PRINCE 141 THE PRINCE GIVING THE AVORD OF COMMAND 149 MR. LOTH-TO-STOOP BEFORE THE PRINCE 154 THE ADVANCE TO OPEN THE TOWN 153 CAPTAIN SECURE SLAIN 160 EAR-GATE BROKEN OPEN 168 CASTLE OF DIABOLUS 170 MR. BACKWARD-TO-ALL-BUT-NAUGHT LYING DEAD AT EAR-GATE • 173 CAPTAIN GOOD-HOPE KILLING BLINDFOLD 174 DIABOLUS STRIPPED OF HIS ARMOUR 179 THE PEOPLE OF MANSOUL COME TO MR. DESIRES-AAVAKE - - - 185 DESIRES-AWAKE BEFORE THE PRINCE 187 THE PEOPLE CONSULTING ABOUT THE PETITION - - - - 191 V VI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE THE PETITION TO PRINCE IMMANUEL 193 MR. DESIRES-AWAKE AND MR. WET-EYES RETURN TO THE TOWN - 199 THE PRISONERS PREPARING FOR DEATH 201 THE PRISONERS GOING TO THE CAMP 202 THE TROOPS ENTERING THE CASTLE 207 THE ARMY REVIEWED 215 TOUCHING THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE 216 THE PRINCE ENTERING THE TOWN 220 A FEAST IN THE CASTLE 224 ATHEISM ON TRIAL 231 ESCAPE OF INCREDULITY 251 EXECUTION OF THE DIABOLONIANS 254 MR. EXPERIENCE APPOINTED CAPTAIN 257 CAPTAIN EXPERIENCE - 259 CONSCIENCE MADE MINISTER 269 DIABOLONIANS 275 THE PRINCE CLOTHING THEM WITH WHITE GARMENTS - - • 279 THE PRINCE'S FEAST 283 MR. GOD'S-PEACE 285 MR. CARNAL-SECURITY AND THE TOWN'S-PEOPLE 289 GREAT SICKNESS IN MANSOUL 300 CONSPIRATORS 3(17 HELL-GATE HILL 310 DIABOLONIANS IN THE MARKET 310 CERBERUS AND MR. PROFANE 322 THOSE OF THE BLACK-DEN RIDING REFORMADES 343 SHIELD OF CAPTAIN NO-EASE 348 THE DRUMMER - - 365 THE CAPTAINS WOUNDED 370 DIABOLONIANS IN MANSOUL 376 THE PEOPLE VISIT CAPTAIN CREDENCE 38(i LORD WILL-BE-WILL'S CHARGE 402 TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF IMMANUFiL 406 CAPTAIN SELF-DENIAL 421 MR. EVIL-QUESTIONING 427 MR. DILIGENCE ON THE WATCH 434 SELF-LOVE SLAIN 443 THE TOWN OF MANSOUL 444 TAIL PIECE— "HOLD FAST TILL I COME" 454 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The original beauty and splendour of the town of Mansoul, while under the dominion of Shaddai. Its noble castle described. Its five gates. The perfection of its inhabitants. The origin of Diabolus. His pride and fall. Revenge meditated. A council of war held to deliberate on the best means of seducing the town of IMansoul. Diabolus marches to the town, and sits down before Eye-gate. His oration. Captain Resistance slain. My Lord Imiocence killed. The town taken. - - - - 21 CHAPTER II. Diabolus takes possession of the castle. The Lord-Mayor, Mr. Under- standing, is deposed ; and a wall built before his house to darken it. Mr. Conscience, the recorder, is put out of office, and becomes very obnoxious both to Diabolus and to the inhabitants. My Lord Will-be-will heartily espousing the cause of Diabolus, is made the principal governor of the town. The image of Shaddai defaced, and that of Diabolus set up in its stead. Mr. Lustings is made lord mayor, and Mr. Forget-good, recorder. New aldermen appointed. Three forts built to defend the town against Shaddai. 42 CHAPTER III. Information of the revolution carried to the court of King Shaddai. His great resentment of the rebellion. His gracious intention of restoring Mansoul. Some intimations of this published. Care of Diabolus to sup- vii viii CONTENTS. press them. His artifices to secure the town, and prevent its return to Shaddai. ---.-..-.--59 CHAPTER IV. Shaddai sends an army of 40,000 to reduce Mansoul, under the direction of four captains, Boanerges, Conviction, Judgment and Execution, who address the inhabitants with great energy, but to little purpose ; Diabolus, Incredulity, Ill-pause, and others interposing to prevent submission. Pre- judice defends Ear-gate with a guard of sixty deaf men. - - 76 CHAPTER V. The captains resolve to give them battle. The town resolutely resists, and the captains retire to winter-quarters. Tradition, Human-wisdom, and Man's-invention enlist under Boanerges, but are taken prisoners, and carried to Diabolus: they are admitted soldiers for him under Captain Any-thing. Hostilities are renewed, and the town much molested. A famine and mutiny in Mansoul. They sound a parley. Propositions made and rejected. Understanding and Conscience quarrel with Incredulity. A skirmish ensues, and mischief done on both sides. - - - - 100 CHAPTER VI. Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience imprisoned as authors of the disturbance. A conference of the besieging officers, who agree to petition Shaddai for further assistance. The petition approved at court. Imman- uel the King's Son, is appointed to conquer the town. Marches with a great army, and surrounds Mansoul, which is strongly fortified against him. - 122 CHAPTER VII. Immanuel prepares to make war upon Mansoul. Diabolus sends Mr. Loth-to-stoop with proposals for peace. These proposals being dishonour- able to Immanuel, are all rejected. Again Diabolus proposes to patch up a peace by reformation, offering to become Immanuel's deputy in that CONTENTS. ix business. This proposal also rejected. New preparations made for battle. Biabolus expecting to be obliged to abandon the town, does much mischief. Ear-gate, violently assaulted by the battering-rams, at length gives way, and is broken to pieces. Immanuel's forces enter the town, and take possession of the Recorder's house. Several mischievous Diabolonians are killed. 149 CHAPTER VIII. The principal inhabitants hold a conference, and agree to petition the Prince for their lives. The castle-gate broken open. Immanuel marches into Mansoul. Diabolus is made prisoner and bound in chains. The inhabitants, greatly distressed, petition again and again. At length a free pardon is obtained, and universal joy succeeds. - - - - 176 CHAPTER IX. The liberated prisoners return to Mansoul, where they are received with great joy. The inhabitants request Immanuel to take up his resi- dence among them. He consents. Makes a triumphal entry amidst the shouts of the people. The town is new-modeled, and the image of Shaddai erected. 209 CHAPTER X. The strong-holds of Diabolus destroyed, Incredulity, Forget-good, Lust- ings, and other Diabolonians apprehended, tried, and executed to the great joy of Mansoul. -- 229 CHAPTER XI. Mr. Experience is made an officer. The charter of the town renewed, and enlarged with special privileges. The ministry of the Gospel regularly established under the direction of the secretary. Mr. Conscience ordained a preacher, and his duty particularly specified. Directions how to behave to the ministers. The inhabitants clad in white, and receive many other X CONTENTS. distinguishing- favours from tlie Prince. God's-peace is appointed to rule. Tiie unexampled felicity of the town. ---_>. 256 CHAPTER XII. Carnal-security prevailing in the town, a coolness takes place between the inhabitants and Immanuel, who being greatly offended, privately withdraws. Godly-ffear, who detects the cause of his removal, excites the people to destroy Carnal-security. Measures are then taken to induce Immanuel to return. --------- 287 CHAPTER XIII. The Diaboionians take courage from the departure of Immanuel, and plots are formed in Hell for a counter-revolution in Mansoul. Covetous- ness, Lasciviousness, and Anger, by changing their names, are introduced into respectable families, where they corrupt their masters, and do incredible mischief. An army of twenty thousand Doubters raised to surprise the town. 307 CHAPTER XIV. The plot discovered by Mr. Prywell. Preparations made for defence. More Diaboionians executed. The army of Doubters approach the town. An assault made upon Ear-gate, which is repelled. The Drummer beats a parley, which is disregarded. Diabolus attempts to deceive by flattery, but is answered by the Lord-Mayor. Jolly and Griggish, two young Diaboionians, executed. Gripe and Rake-all hanged. Any-thing and Loose-foot imprisoned. -------- 337 CHAPTER XV. The inhabitants of Mansoul make a rash sortie on the enemy by night, but are repulsed with loss. Diabolus makes a desperate attack upon Feel-gate, which, being weak, he forces, and his army of Doubters possess the town and do incredible mischief The inhabitants sorely aggrieved, determine on a new application to Immanuel, and procure the CONTENTS. xi assistance of the Secretaiy in preparing the petition, which is presented by Captain Credence. He is favourably received, and appointed lord-lieuten- ant over all the forces. ------... sgg CHAPTER XVI. A new plot is laid to ruin the town by riches and prosperity. Im- manuel, according to his promise, appears in the field, to assist the forces of Mansoul, whereby the whole army of Doubters is completely routed. Immanuel enters the town amidst the joyful acclamations of the inhab- itants. 392 CHAPTER XVII. A new army of Blood-men or persecutors attack the town, but are surrounded by the Mansoulians, headed by Faith and Patience. The examination of some of the leaders. Evil-questioning entertains some of the Doubters, but is discovered by Diligence. The principal Doubters tried, convicted, and executed. ----_._ 413 CHAPTER XVIII. More Diabolonians tried and condemned. The work concludes with an admirable speech of Immanuel, reciting his gracious acts, and informing liis people of his intention to rebuild the town with the greatest splendour, and recommending a suitable conduct in the mean time. - - - 440 PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. Mr. Bunyan was a wonderful man. Called by divine grace out of a state of ignorance, vice, and obscurity, he became, without the aid of human culture, a most useful minister of the gospel, and a very eminent writer : — a writer so eminent, that though he has been dead more than a century, his works still live, and are deservedly popular ; particularly his allegor- ical works — the Pilgrim's Progress and the Holy War. Few books have ever been so often printed, or so much admired as the former. In that charming work, the Christian life is represented under the figure of a journey, and the pilgrim is conducted through a thousand remarkable incidents, from his native city of Destruction, to Heaven, the city of God. In the Holy War, the same subject is treated in a military manner. The fall and recovery of man are represented by two remarkable revolutions in the town of Mansoul. The human soul is figuratively considered as a beautiful and prosperous town, seduced from its obedience to Shaddai, its builder and governor, by the stratagems of Diabolus, his inveterate enemy ; but the town, after a tedious war, is again recovered by the victorious arms of Immanuel, the king's son. This military view of the subject is strictly consonant with the sacred Scriptures, which represent the Christian life as a warfare, Christ as a captain, the believer as a soldier of Jesus Christ, the preaching of the gospel as the weapons of the holy war, and the graces of the Spirit as so many parts of the heavenly armour. Mr. Bunyan was better qualified than most ministers to treat this subject with propriety, having himself been a soldier ; and knowing, by experience, the arts xiii xiv PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. and the hardships of war. Indeed, he has conducted the whole work with singular ingenuity and skill. He displays throughout, his accurate knowledge of the Bible, and its distinguishing doctrines; his deep acquaintance with the heart, and its desperate wickedness; his knowledge of the devices of satan, and of the prejudices of the carnal mind against the gospel. He proves himself to have had an exten- sive knowledge of Christian experience, of the power of conscience, of the excellency of faith, of the misery arising from doubts and fears, of the danger of carnal security, and of the necessity of crucifying the flesh, with its affections and lusts. The grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ are sweetly delineated in the character of his Immanuel ; and the powerful influences of the Holy Spirit are finely described in the character of the Secretary. A vast fund of experimental religion is treasured up in this book ; while the instruction is conveyed in the form of entertainment and amusement; and occasionally, a smile excited by the singular propriety of the unusual names assigned to the numerous characters introduced. To render this edition of the Holy War more agreeable than any former one, the work is divided into chapters of, a moderate length, an improvement which this work certainly wanted. Proper pauses are necessary to relieve the attention of the reader, as well as to allow time for reflection, and to assist the memory. A considerable number of explanatory and practical notes are subjoined, intended to render the author's design more conspicuous ; to im- press a useful hint, which might otherwise be passed over too hastily ; and to point out some of those latent beauties, which might else escape a cursory reader. In attempting this, the Editor has availed himself of the author's marginal key, with which he has endeavoured to unlock every division of the curious cabinet, and to expose the valuable contents, GEORGE BURDER. Coventry, Jan. :30, 1803. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE KEADER. Some say the Pilgrim's Progress is not mine, Insinuating as if I would shine In name and fame by the worth of another, Like some made rich by robbing of their brother ; Or, that so fond I am of being sire, I 'II father bastards ; or, if need require, I 'II tell a lie in print to get applause : I SGorn it ; John such dirt-heap never was Since God converted him. Let this suffice To show why I my Pilgrim patronize. It came from mine own heart, so to my head, And thence into my fingers trickled ; Then to my pen, from whence immediately On paper I did dribble it daintily. Manner and matter too were all mine own. Nor was it unto any mortal known. Till I had done it. Nor did any then, By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand, or pen. Add five words to it, or write half a line : Therefore the whole, and every whit is mine. Also for this thine eye is now upon. The matter in this manner came from none But the same heart, and head, fingers, and pen. As did the other. Witness all good men : For none in all the world, without a lie, Can say that this is mine, excepting I. I write not this of any ostentation. Nor 'cause I seek of men their commendation ; I do it to keep them from such surmise. As tempt them will my name to scandalize : Witness my name, if anagrammed to thee, The letters make, Nu hony in a B.* JOHN BUNYAN. *[Xew Honey in a Bee.] XV ADDRESS. 'Tis strange to me, that they that love to tell Things done of old, yea, and that do excel Their equals in Historiology, Speak not of Mansoul's wars, but let them lie Dead, like old fables, or such worthless things, That to the reader no advantage brings ; When men, like them, make what they will their own, Till they know this, are to themselves unknown. Of stories I well know there 's divers sorts. Some foreign, some domestic; and reports Are thereof made, as fancy leads the writers ; (By books a man may guess at the inditers.) Some will again of that which never was, Nor will be, feign (and that without a cause) Such matter, raise such mountains, tell such things Of men, of laws, of countries, and of kings ; And in their story seem to be so sage. And with such gravity clothe every page. That though their frontispiece says all is vain, Yet to their way disciples they obtain. But, readers, I have somewhat else to do, Than with vain stories thus to trouble you: What here I say some men do know so well. They can with tears of joy the story tell. The town of Mansoul is well known to many, Nor are her troubles doubted of by any That are acquainted with those histories. That Mansoul and her wars anatomize. Then lend thine ear to what I do relate Touching the town of Mansoul, and her state ; xvi ADDRESS. xvii How she was lost, took captive, made a slave ; And how against Him set, that should her save ; Yea, how by hostile ways she did oppose Her Lord, and Avith his enemy did close ; For they are true; he that will them deny, Must needs the best of records vilify. For my part, I myself was in the town, Both when 'twas set up, and when pulling down: I saw Diabolus in its possession, And Mansoul also under his oppression. Yea, I was there, when she owned him for lord, And to him did submit with one accord. When Mansoul trampled upon things divine, And wallowed in filth as doth a swine : When she betook herself unto her arms, Fought her Emanuel, and despised his charms: Then I was there, and sorely grieved to see Diabolus and Mansoul so agree. Let no man, then, count me a fable-maker, Nor make my name or credit a partaker Of their derision ; what is here in view, Of mine own knowledge I dare say is true. I saw the Prince's armed men come down By troops, by thousands to besiege the town ; I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound, And how his forces covered all the ground ; Yea, how they set themselves in battle 'ray, I shall remember to my dying day. I saw the colours waving in the wind, And those within to mischief how combined, To ruin Mansoul, and to take away Her Primum Mobile without delay. I saw the mounts cast up against the town, And how the slings were placed to beat it down. I heard the stones fly whizzing by mine ears ; (What 's longer kept in mind, than got in fears ?) I heard them fall, and saw what work they made, And how old Mors did cover with his shade 3 xviii ADDRESS. The face of Mansoul, and I lieard her cry, Woe worth the day, "In dymg I shall die!" I saw the battering-rams, and how they played To beat up Ear-gate : and I was afraid Not only Ear-gate, but the very town Would by these battering-rams be beaten down. I saw the fights, and heard the captains shout, And in each battle saw who faced about : I saw who wounded were, and who were slain. And who, when dead, would come to life again. I heard the cries of those that wounded were, (While others fought like men bereft of fear :) And while the cry, Kill ! kill ! was in mine ears, The gutters ran not so with blood as tears. Indeed the captains did not always fight. But then they would molest us day and night : Their cry, Up, fall on, let us take the town ! Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down. I was there when Ihe gates were broken ope. And saw how Mansoul then was stript of hope. I saw the captains march into the town, How there they fought, and did their foes cut down , I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go Up to the castle, and there seize his foe : And saw him and his fellows bring him down In chains of great contempt quite through the town. I saw Emanuel when he possest His tov/n of Mansoul : and how greatly blest The town, his gallant town of Mansoul was. When she received his pardon, loved his laws. When the Diabolonians were caught, When tried, and when to execution brought. Then I was there : yea, I was standing by When Mansoul did the rebels crucify. I also saw Mansoul clad all in white, And heard her Prince call her his heart's delight; I saw him put upon her chains of gold. And rings and bracelets, goodly to behold. ADDRESS. xix What shall I say? 1 heard tlie people's cries, And saw the Prmce wipe tears from Mansoul's eyes. I heard the groans, and saw the joy of many ; Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I; But by what here I say, you well may see That Mansoul's matchless wars no fables be. Mansoul, the desire of both Princes was. One keep his gain would, t'other gain his loss ; Diabolus would cry, The town is mine ! Emanuel would plead a right divine Unto his Mansoul; then to blows they go, And Mansoul cries, "These wars will me undo!" Mansoul her wars seemed endless in her eyes. She 's lost by one, becomes another's prize ; And he again that lost her last would swear, Have her I will, or her in pieces tear. Mansoul thus was the very seat of war; Wherefore her troubles greater were by far Than only where the noise of war is heard. Or where the shaking of a sword is fear'd ! Or only where small skirmishes are fought, Or where the fancy fighteth with a thought. She saw the swords of fighting men made red, And heard the cries of those with them wounded. Must not her frights, then, be much more by far Than they that to such doings strangers are ? Or theirs that hear the beating of a drum, But need not fly for fear from house and home ? Mansoul not only heard the trumpet's sound. But saw her gallants gasping on the ground , Wherefore we must not think that she could rest, With them whose greatest earnest is but jest ; Or where the blustering threatenings of great wars Do end in parleys, or in wordy jars. Mansoul her mighty wars they do portend Her weal, her woe, and that world without end; Wherefore she must be more concerned than they Whose fears begin and end the self-same day; HX ADDRESS. Or where none other harm doth come to him, That is engaged but loss of hfe and Umb ; As all must needs confess that now do dwell In Universe, and can this story tell. Count me not, then, with them who to amaze The people, set them on the stars to gaze ; Insinuating with much confidence They are the only men that have science Of some brave creatures : yea, a world they will Have in each star, though it be past their skill To make it manifest unto a man That reason hath, or tell his fingers can. But I have too long held thee in the porch. And kept thee from the sunshine with a torch. Well, now go forward, step within the door, And there behold five hundred times much more Of all sorts of such inward rarities As please the mind will, and will feed the eyes With those which if a Christian thou wilt see; Nor do thou go to work without my key, (In mysteries men do often lose their way,) And also turn it right ; if thou wouldst know My riddle, and with my heifer plough. It lies there in the window. Fare thee well. My next may be to ring thy passing bell. JOHN BUN Y AN The original beauty of the town of Mansoul, while under the domin- ion of Shaddai. A dreadful revo- lution effected in it by the subtlety ofDiabolus. Captain Resistance and my Lord Innocency slain. In my travels, as I walked through many regions and countries, it was my chance to arrive at that famous continent of Universe. * A very large and spacious country it is: it lieth be- tween the two poles, and just amidst the four points of the heaven. It is a * Universe. The world ;it l^rtjr is liere intended, displnyinn^ the wisdom, power, and jroodness of the great Creator. 21 22 THE HOLY WAR. place well watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situated; and for the most part (at least where I was) very fruitful: also well peopled, and a very sweet air. The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of one language, mode, or way of religion ; but differ as much (it is said) as do the planets themselves: some are right, and some are wrong, even as it hap- peneth to be in lesser regions.* In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel ; and there travel I did, and that so long, even till I had learned much of their mother-tongue, together with the customs and manners of them among whom I was. And, to speak truth, I was much delighted to see and hear many things which I saw and heard among them : yea, I had, to be sure, even lived and died a native among them (I was so taken with them and their doings,) had not my Master sent for me home to his house, there to do business for him, and to oversee business done.t Now there is, in this gallant country of Universe, a fair and delicate town, a corporation called Mansoul ; a town for its building so curious, for its situation so commodious, for its privileges so advantageous (I mean with reference to its original,) that I may say of it, as was said before of the continent in which it is placed, "There is not its equal under the whole heaven." J * Sin has introduced universal disorder into the world. Its original harmony and beauty are lost. t The author refers to his own experience before his conversion, and his being called by grace to serve the Lord Christ as a minister in his church. \ By the town of Mansoul, as every reader must perceive, is intended THE HOLY WAR. 23 As to the situation of this town, it heth between the two worlds : and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records scriptures. I can gather, was one Shaddai ;* and he built it for his own delight. He made it the mirror and glory of all that he had made, even the top-piece, beyond any thing else that he did in that country. Yea, so goodly a town was Mansoul, when first built, that it is said by some, the gods, at the setting up thereof, created angeu. came down to see it, and sung for joy. And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all the country round about, t Yea, all were commanded to acknowledge Mansoul for their metropolitan, all were enjoined to do homage to it. Aye, the town itself had positive commission, and power from her King, to demand service of all, and also to subdue those that any-ways denied it. There was reared up in the midst of this town, a most famous and stately palace : for strength The heart. it may be called a castle ; for pleasantness, a paradise : for largeness, a place so copious as to contain all the the Soul of Man; figuratively represented, throughout this work, as a town. Just commendation is here given of it ; for the human soul, in its> original state, was truly glorious, bearing the holy and happy image of God himself * Shaddai. This is a name of God often used in the Old Testament, but translated ALMIGHTY. It is a Hebrew word, signifying All-suffi- cient, or Almighty. It is derived from the Hebrew word for the breast, which affords nourishment to young creatures ; and so intimates, that we derive all our support from God, as the helpless infant from the mother's breast. This name is, in this work, applied to God the Father. t And God said. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen. i. 26. 24 THE HOLY WAR. world.* This place, the King Shaddai intended hut for himself alone, and not another with him: partly because of his own delights, and partly because he would not that the terror of strangers should be upon the town. This place Shaddai made also a garrison The rowers o{ ', but hc comiuittcd the keeping of it only ofiuesoui TO the men of the town. The body. The walls of the town were well built . yea, so fast and firm were they knit and compacted together, that, had it not been for the townsmen themselves, they could not have been shaken or broken for ever. For here lay the excellent wisdom * He hatn maae every thing beautiful in his time ; also he hath set the world in their heart. Eccl. iii. 11. THE HOLY WAR. 25 of him that built Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down nor hurt, by the most mighty adverse potentates, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.* This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, at which to come out, and at which to go in ; and these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates are these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate, t Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, which if you adjoin to these, will yet give further demonstration to all, of the glory and strength of the place. It had always a sufficiency of provision within its walls. It had the best, most wholesome and excellent law, that was then extant in the world. There was not a rogue, rascal, or traitorous person then w ithin its walls. They were all true men, and fast joined together ; and this, you know, is a great matter. And to all these, it had always, so long as it had the goodness to keep true to Shaddai, the king, his countenance, his protection, and it was his delight, &C.J Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon the famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his omii habitation. * The powers of the soul are very capacious, and the body itself, before the introduction of sin, was firm and strong. Nothing but sin, vokuitarily admitted, could have injured either. f The five senses are very properly described as so many gates of the city, for these are the doors by whicli good or evil must enter. I God made man upright, and entered into a covenant of life witli him, tiie condition of which was his perfect obedience. I 26 THE HOLY WAR. Devils, the Tlils giciiit was king ol' the Blacks, and a fallen angels. jj^Qg^ ravlng prlncc he was. We A\'ill, if you please, first discourse of the original of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.* * Diabolus is the Greek and Latin name for tlie Devil, and properly signifies the Calumniator or Accuser. The word is used, in Scripture, collectively, for the whole body of fallen spirits, whose original state of holiness and happiness the author describes. THE HOLY WAR. 27 This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and beggarly. As to his original, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, by whom he was made, and raised to a most high and mighty place, yea, and was put into such principalities as belonged to the best of his territories and domi- nions.* This Diabolus was made son of the mominor, and a brave place he had of it : it brought him much glory, and gave him much brightness : an income that might have contented his Luciferian heart, had it not been insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself. Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth he but begin to think with himself, how he might be set up as lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai. t (Now that did the king reserve for his Son, yea, and he had already bestowed it upon him.) Wherefore he first consults with himself what had best to be done ; and then breaks his mind to some others of his companions, to which they also agreed. So, in fine, they came to this issue, that they should make an attempt upon the King's Son, to destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the word given, the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted. * How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! Isa. xiv. 12. f For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2 Pet. ii. 4. And the angels which kept not then- first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved, in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto tlie judgment of the great day. Jude 6. 28 THE HOLY WAR. NoM tlie King and his Son, being all and always eye. could not but discern all passages in his dominions ; and he having always a love for his Son, as for himself", could not, at what he saw, but be greatly provoked and offended : wherefore what does he, but takes them in the very nick, and the first trip that they made towards their design, convicts them of the treason, horrid re- bellion, and conspiracy that they had devised, and now attempted to put into practice, and casts them alto- gether out of all places of trust, benefit, honour and preferment : this done, he banishes them the court, turns them down into horrid pits ; never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judg- ment that he had appointed, and that for ever and ever.* Now they being thus cast out of all places of trust, profit and honour, and also knowing that they had lost their Prince's favour for ever, being banished his court and cast down to the horrible pits, you may be sure they would now add to their former pride what malice * The scripture informs us tliat tlie devils were once angels, and that they sinned, (2 Pet. ii. 4.) We are not expressly told what their sin was, yet it may be presumed (from 1 Tim. iii. 6.) that it was pride ; and it is generally thought that their pride consisted in opposition to the decree of God concerning his Son Jesus Christ, who was to be lord of the whole creation. (Psalm ii. 6, 7.) Of this, however, we are certain, that " they kept not their first estate ;" (Jude ver. 6.) — they did not retam their primitive integrity, but " left their own habitation ;" they relinquished, and were, by the righteous judgment of God, cast down from the mansions of bliss and glory, which would have been their everlasting habitation had they not sinned ; but " God spared them not," for their first sin ; he hurled them down, with righteous indignation, into some unknown place of misery, called the Deep and the Bottomless Pit, and has reserved them in chains of darkness, like condemned prisoners, imto the judgment of the great day, when their torment will be completed, and they shall be forever confined to that fire which is prepared for Diabolus and his associates. Till': HOLY WAR. 29 and rage against Shaddai, and against liis Son, they conld. Wherefore roving and ranging in mucli fury from place to place (if perhaps they might find some- thing that was the King's,) to revenge themselves on him, by spoiling that;* at last they happened into this spacious country of Universe, and steered their course towards the town of Mansoul: and considering tliat the town was one of the chief works and deliohts of King Shaddai, what do they, but after counsel taken, make an assault upon that. I say, they knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai : for they were there when he built, and beautified it for himself, t So when they had found the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it like as a lion on its prey; saying, now we have found the prize, and how to be revenged on King Shaddai for what he hath done to us. So they sat down, and called a council of war; and considered with themselves, what ways and methods they had best engage in, for the winning to themselves this famous town of Mansoul ; and these four things were then propounded to be considered of. First, Whether they had best all of them show themselves in this design to the town of Mansoul. Secondly, Whether they had best go and sit down against Mansoul, in their now ragged and beggarly guise. * Be sober, be vigilant ; because your ad\ers;ary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. v. 8. f It is supposed that the fall of the angels took place after the creation of man, and therefore it seems probable that the angels who fell, as well as those who continued in their integrity, were witnesses of the glory of God in the formation of man. This is thought to be the meaning of Job xxxviii. 7, " the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy;" — the angels rejoiced at the founding of the earth, extolling the divine glory of its Maker. 30 THE HOLY WAR. Thirdl}', Whether they had best show to Mansoul their intentions, and what design they came about ; or whether to assault it with words and ways of deceit. Fourthly, Whether they had not best give out private orders to some of their companions, to take the advantage, if they see one or more of the principal townsmen, to shoot them ; if thereby they shall judge their cause and design will the better be promoted. It was answered, to the first of these proposals, in the negative ; to wit, that it would not be best that all should show themselves before the town, because the appearance of many of them might alarm and frighten the town ; whereas a few, or but one of them, was not so likely to do it. And to cause this advice to take place, it was added further, that if Mansoul was frighted, or did take the alarm, it is impossible, said Diabolus (for he spoke now,) that we should take the town; for none can enter it without its own consent.* Let therefore but a few, or but one, assault Mansoul, and, in my opinion, said Diabolus, let me be he. Wherefore to this they all agreed : and then to the second proposal they came, namely, II. Whether they had best go and sit down before Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly guise. To which it was answered also in the negative, By no means ; and that because, though the town bf Man- soul had been made to know, and to have to do with, before now, things that are invisible; they never did * The will of man, in his original state, was certainly free, which is thus expressed by Milton : God made thee perfect, not immutable ; And good he made thee ; but to persevere He left it in thy power; ordained thy will By nature free Pai-adise Lost. THE HOLY WAR. 31 as yet see any of their fellow-creatures in so bad and rascally a condition as they : and this was the advice of the fierce Alecto. Then said Apollyon, the advice is pertinent ; for even one of us appearing to them as we are now, must needs both beget and multiply such thoughts in them, as will both put them into a con- sternation of spirit, and necessitate them to put them- selves upon their guard : and if so, said he, then, as Diabolus said but now, it is in vain for us to think of taking the town. Then said that mighty giant Beel- zebub, The advice that is already given is safe; for though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once were, yet hitherto they did never behold such things as we now are. And it is best, in my opinion, to come upon them in such a guise as is common to, and most familiar among them. To this, when they had consented ; the next thing to be considered, was, in what shape, hue, or guise, Diabolus had best show himself, when he went about to make Mansoul his own. Then one said one thing, and another the contrary. At last Lucifer* answered, that, in his opinion, it was best that his lordship should assume the body of one of those creatures that they of the town had dominion over: For, quoth he, those are not only familiar to them, but, being under them, they will never imagine that any attempt sliould by them be made upon the town; and, to blind all, let him assume the body of * These names are well chosen: Apollyon signifies the Destroyer: Beelzebub, the Lord of Flies, an idol of the heathen, and a name used by the Jews for the prince of devils : Lucifer, the Morning Star, another name of a fallen angel ; Legion, a name assumed by the Demoniac, (Mark v. 9. 15); — a battallion of the Roman army, consisting of 4000 or 5000 men. Alecto, a feigned being among the heathen, one of the Furies ; described by their poets as having her head covered with snakes, and breathing veno-eance: Tisiphone, another of the Furies. 32 THE HOLY WAR. one of those beasts that Mausoul deems to be wiser than any of the rest."^ This advice was applauded of all; so it was determined that the giant Diabolus should assume the dragon ; for that he was, in those days, as familiar with the town of Mansoul, as now is the bird with the boy; for nothing that was in its primitive state was at all amazing to them. They then proceeded to the third thing, which was, III. Whether they had best show their inclinations, or the design of their coming to Mansoul, or no. This also was answered in the negative, because of the weight that was in their former reasons, to wit, for that Mansoul were a strong people, a strong people in a strong town, whose wall and gates were impregnable (to say nothing of their castles,) nor could they by any means be won but by their own consent. Besides, said Legion, (for he gave answer to this,) a discovery of our intentions may make them send to their King for aid ; and if that be done, I know what time of the day it will be with us : therefore, let us assault them in all pretended fairness, covering our intentions with all manner of lies, flatteries, delusive words, feigning things that will never be, and promising that to them which they shall never find : this is the way to win Mansoul, and to make them willingly open their gates to us ; yea, and desire us also to come in to them. And the reason why I think that this project will do, * Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which tlie Xiord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of tlie garden ? Gen. iii. 1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound liim a thousand years. Rev. XX. 1, 2. THE HOLY WAR. 33 is, because the people of Mansoul are now every one simple and innocent, all honest and true : nor do they as yet know what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They are strangers to lying and dis- sembling lips ; wherefore we cannot, if thus we be disguised, by them at all be discerned ; our lies shall go for true sayings, and our dissimulations, for upright dealings. What vve promise them, they will in that believe us, especially if in all our lies and feigned words we pretend great love to them, and that our design is only their advantage and honour. Now there was not one bit of a reply against this, for it went as current down as doth the water down a steep descent : wherefore they go to consider of the last proposal, which was, IV. Whether they had not best give out orders to some of their company, to shoot some one or more of the principal of the townsmen ; if they judge that their cause might be promoted thereby. This was carried in the affirmative; and the man that was designed by this stratagem to be destroyed, was one Mr. Resistance, otherwise called Captain Resistance, and a great man in Mansoul this Captain Resistance was; and a man that the giant Diabolus, and his band, more feared, than they feared the whole town of Mansoul besides. Now who should be the actor to do the murder ? that was the next : and they appointed one Tisiphone, a fury of the lake, to do it. Thus they having ended the council of war, rose up, and assayed to do as they had determined:* they * The enemies of our souls are, in this council, represented as foil of all subtlety, agreeably to the scripture account; for Satan is called "the Deceiver, who deceiveth the whole world;" believers are said to be 5 34 THE HOLY WAR. marched toward Mansoul, but cill in a manner invisi- ble, save only one ; nor did he approach the town in his own likeness, but under the shape and in the body of the dragon. So they drew up, and sat down before Ear-gate ; for that was the place of hearing for all without the town, as Eye-gate was the place of perception. So, as I said, he came up with his train to the gate, and laid his ambuscade for Captain Resistance, within bow-shot of the town. This done, the giant ascended up close to the gate, and called to the town of Mansoul for audience. Nor took he any with him but one Ill- pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters. Now, as I said, he being come up to the gate (as the manner of those times was,) sounded his trumpet for audience ; at which the chief of the town of Mansoul, such as my Lord Innocent, my Lord Will-be- will,* my Lord-mayor, Mr. Recorder,! and Captain Resistance, came down to the wall, to see who was there, and what was the matter. And my Lord Will-be-will, w"hen he looked over, and saw who stood at the gate, acquainted with his " devices," and are exhorted to " watch and pray, lest they enter into temptation." It was justly observed, " tliat none could enter the soul without its own consent." Satan may tempt, but cannot force the soul to sin : but " every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed," James i. 4. We are therefore commanded to resist the devil, that he may flee from us. To destroy this necessary resistance, therefore, must be a great point with the enemy. * My Lord Will-be-will signifies that power of the mind called the will, by which we determine for or against an action. f The Recorder is Conscience. By this faculty wo judge of an action as good or bad, according to the light we enjoy, whether of the law of nature only, or of the written law, Rom. ii. 15. Conscience records our actions ; and in the great day of judgment, the book of conscience is one of those which shall be opened. \ „\ m ' " ' im\^\ THE HOLY WAR. 37 demanded what lie was, and wherefore he was come, and why he roused the town of Mansoul with so unusual a sound. Diabolus, then, as if he had been a lamb, began his oration, and said, " Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I am, as you may perceive, no far dweller from you, but near, and one that is bound by the King to do you my homage, and what service I can ; where- fore, that I may be faithful to myself and to you, I have somewhat of concern to impart unto you. Wherefore grant me your audience, and hear me patiently. And, first, I will assure you, it is not myself but you, not mine but your advantage, that I seek by what I now do ; as will full well be made manifest, by that I have opened my mind to you. For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come to show you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage that una- wares to yourselves you are captivated and enslaved under." At this the town of Mansoul began to prick up its ears. "And what is it? pray, what is it?" thought they. And he said, " I have something to say to you concerning your King, concerning his law, and also touching yourselves. Touching your King, I know he is great and potent ; but yet, all that he has said to you is neither true, nor yet for your advantage. 1. It is not. true ; for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you, shall not come to pass, though you do the thing he hath forbidden. But if there was danger, what a slavery is it to live always in fear of the greatest of punishments, for doing so small and trivial a thing as eathig a little fruit is ! 2. Touching his laws, this I say, further, they are both unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable. Unreasonable, as was hinted before, for 38 THE HOLY WAR. that the puiiLshiiiciit is not proportioned to the ofiencc : there is a great difterence and disproportion betwixt the hfe, and an apple; yet the one must go for the other, by the law of your Shaddai. But it is also intricate, in that he saith, first, you may eat of a//, and yet, after forbids the eating of one. And then, in the last place, it must needs be intolerable ; forasmuch False reasoning 3,s that fruit, which you arc forbidden to of Diaboius. Q^^ Qf ^jf- y^y ^j,g forbidden any,) is that, and that alone, which is able by your eating, to minister you a good, as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the very name of the tree. It is called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: and have you that knowledge as yet? No, no; nor can you conceive how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desired to make one wise, it is, so long as you stand by your King's commandment. Why should you be holden in ignorance and blindness ! Why should you not be enlarged in knowledge and understanding? And now, O ye inhabitants of the famous town of Mansoul, to speak more particularly to yourselves, He holds out a 1^ arc uot a free people: ye are kept false liberty. \)o\\\ jn boudagc aud slavery, and that by a grievous threat, no reason being annexed, but, So I will have it, So it shall be. And is it not grievous to think on, that the very thing you are forbidden to do, might you but do it, would yield you both wisdom and honour? for then your eyes will be opened, and you shall be as gods. Now, since this is thus, quoth he, can you be kept by any prince in more slavery, and in greater bondage than you are under, this day ? You are made underlings, and are >vrapt up in inconveniences, as I have well made THE HOLY WAR. 39 appear: for what bondage greater than to be kept in bhndness! Will not reason tell you, that it is better to have eyes, than to be without them? and that to be at liberty, is better than to be shut up in a dark and stinking cave.* And just now, while Diabolus was speaking these words to Mansoul, Tisiphone shot at Captain Resist- ance, where he stood on the gate, and mortally wounded him in the head : so that he, to the amaze- ment of the townsmen, and the encoiu-aiyement of Diabolus, fell down dead quite over the wall.t Now when Captain Resistance was dead (and he was the only man of war in the town,) poor Mansoul was wholly left naked of courage, nor had she now any heart to resist: but this was as the devil Mould have it. Then stood forth that Mr. Ill-pause, m hom Diabolus brought with him, who was his orator, and he addressed himself to speak to the town of Mansoul : the tenor of whose speech here follows : Ill-Pause. Gentlemen, quoth he, it is my mas- ter's happhiess, that he has this day a quiet and * This artfiil speech of Diabolus is founded upon the scriptural account of the first temptation, Gen. iii. 1 — 4, "And the serpent said unto tlie woman, yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat," &c. In this passage tlie prohibition is represented as too strict, as intended to abridge their liajv piness, and that disobedience would be attended with no danger, but ratlicr with great advantage. The devil, the father of lies, finding this mctiiod so successful, still persists in it. God says— Sinner, tliou shalt die. Satan says — Thou shalt not die ; which of these ought we to believe 1 f Resistance to the suggestions of Satan failed in our first motlior. She parleyed with the temptation wliich she ought to have resisted and rejected with abhorrence. She paused : and it was an ill-pause. Tlicrc was no occasion to pause or ponder on what the Devil had said, for he had given the lie to the God of truth. Whatever contradicts the word of God sliould be instantly resisted as diabolical. 40 THE EIOLY WAR. teachable auditory; and it is hoped by us, that wc shall prevail with you not to cast off good advice. My master has a very great love for you ; and although he very well knows that he runs the hazard of the anger of King Shaddai, yet love to you will make him do more than that. Nor doth there need that a word more should be spoken to confirm for truth what he hath said. There is not a word but carries with itself evidence in its bowels. The very name of the tree may put an end to all controversy in this matter. I therefore at this time shall only add this advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord: (and with that he made Diabolus a very low congee.) Consider his words; look on the tree, and the promising fruit thereof; remember also, that Strong tempta- J^t you kuow but little, and this is the tion. ^^^y. ^Q know more : and if your reason be not conquered to accept of such good counsel, you are not the men I took you to be. But when the towns-folk saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised — they took and did eat thereof. Now this I should have told you before, that even then, when this Ill-pause was making this speech to the towns- men, my Lord Innocency (whether by a shot from the camp of the giant, or from some qualm that suddenly took him, or whether by the stinking breath of that treacherous villain old Ill-pause, for so I am most apt to think) sunk down in the place where he stood, nor could he be brought to life again.* * Tlie very breath of temptation, received and entertained a single moment, destroyed primitive innocence. When the lies of Satan were THE HOLY WAR. 41 Thus these two brave men died; brave men I call them, for they were the beauty and glory of Mansoul, so long as they hved therein: nor did there now remain any more a noble spirit in Mansoul. They all fell down and yielded obedience to Diabolus, and became his slaves and vassals, as you shall hear. Now these being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk, but as men that had found a fool's paradise, they presently, as afore was hinted, fell to prove the truth of the giant's words: and first, they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked, they con- sidered, they were taken with the forbidden fruit, "they took thereof, and did eat;"* and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith. So they opened the gates, both Ear-gate and Eye-gate, and let in Diabolus with all his bands, quite forgetting their good Shaddai, his law, and the judgment that he had annexed with solemn threatening to the breach thereof. admitted, unbelief entered and innocence died. " Thou shalt surely die," said Jehovah. In a spiritual sense, man did indeed die immediately. He died spiritually, he died to God. " Lust conceived, and brought forth sin, and sin when finished, brought forth death," Jam. i. 5. By this one fatal act of disobedience, the whole world was ruined. " By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." "By one man's disobedience many were made smners." " By the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation." Rom. v. 18, 19. * Milton finely represents the fatal act: " So saying, her rash hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she ate: Earth felt the wound, and nature fi-om her seat. Sighing througli all her works, gave signs of woe, That all was lost." Book IX. I. 780. CHAPTER II. Diabolus takes possession of the Castle. The Lord Mayor, Mr. Undei • standing, is deposed; and a wall built before his house to darken it Mr. Conscience the Recorder, is put out of office, and becomes very obnoxious both to Diabolus and to the inhabitants. My Lord Will-be- will heartily espousing the cause of Diabolus, is made the principal governor of the town. The image of Sliaddai defaced, and that of Dia- bolus set up in its stead. Mr. Lustings is made lord mayor, and Mr. Forget-good, recorder. New aldermen appointed. Three forts buUt to defend the town against Shaddai. Diabolus having now obtained entrance in at the gates of the town, marches up to the middle thereof, to make his conquest as sure as he could ; and finding, by this time, the affections of the people warmly inclining to him, he, thinking it was best to strike while the iron is hot, made this further deceivable speech unto them, saying, Alas, my poor Mansoul ! I have done thee indeed this service, as to promote thee to honour, and to greaten thy liberty ; but alas ! alas ! poor Mansoul, thou wantest now one to defend thee; for assure thyself, when Shaddai shall hear what is done, he will come ; for sorry will he be that thou hast broken his bonds, and cast his cords away from thee. What wilt thou do? Wilt thou, after enlargement, suffer thy privileges to be invaded and taken away ? or what wilt thou resolve with thyself? Then they all with one consent said to this bramble. Do thou reign over us. So he accepted the motion, 42 THE HOLY WAR. 43 and became the king of the town of Mansoul. This being done, the next thing was, to give him possession of the castle, and so of the whole strength of the town. Wherefore into the castle he goes (it was that which Shaddai built in Mansoul, for his own dehght and pleasure:) this was now become a den and hold for the giant Diabolus. Now having got possession of this stately palace or castle, what doth he, but make it a garrison for himself, and strengthens and fortifies it with all sorts of provisions against the kins Shaddai, or those that should endeavour the regaining of it to him and his obedience again.* This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, in the next place he bethinks himself of new modelling the town: and so he does, setting up one and putting down another at pleasure. Wherefore my Lord Mayor, whose name was my Lord Under- standing, and Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, these he put out of place and power. As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an under- standing man, and one too that had complied The under- with the rest of the town of Mansoul, in ^"""^ "s- admitting the giant into the town,t yet Diabolus * The heart of fallen man, signified by the castle, is in the possession of Satan ; " the strong man armed" keepeth this palace, which was erected for the habitation of God. The powers of the soul are perverted, and made " strong holds" against God, 2 Cor. x. 4. Satan is become " the prince of •this world," and powerfully works in the children of disobedience, Eph. ii. Yea, he is called " the god of this world," and is not only obeyed by sinners universally, but, under various forms, is worshipped by many of the hcaliien. f For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but miglity through God to the pulling down of strongholds: casting down imaginations, and every high' thing that exalteth itself against the Icnowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. X. 4, 5. 44 THE HOLY WAR. thought not fit to let him abide in his former lustre and glory, because he was a seeing man,* wherefore he had darkened him not only by taking from him his office and power, but by building of an high and strong tower, just between the sun's reflection and the windows of my lord's palace ; by which means the house, and the whole of his habitation, was made as dark as darkness itself: and thus, being alienated from the light, he became as one that was born blind. To this house my lord was confined, as to a prison; nor might he, upon his parole, go further than within his own bounds. And now, had he had an heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or wherein could he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul was under the power and government of Diabolus (and so long it was under him, as it was obedient to him ; which was even until by a war it was rescued out of his hand ;) so long my Lord Mayor was rather an impediment in, than an advantage to, the famous town of Mansoul. t As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well read in the laws of his king. The Conscience, and also a man of courage and faithfulness to speak truth on every occasion; and he had a tongue as bravely hung, as he had an head filled with * Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Eph. iv. 18, 19. t The understanding-, which was once full of light, is now most miserably darkened by sin and Satan ; so that man is " alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance and blindness of his heart." The understanding, which took the lead in the heart, as chief magistrate, is now deposed and the corrupted will takes his place. THE HOLY WAR. 45 judgment. Now this man, Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave his consent to his coming into the town, yet he could not, by all wdles, trials, stratagems, and devices that he could use, make him his own. True, he was much degene- rated from his former king, and also nmch pleased with the giant's service, and many of his laws. But all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly his ; he would now and then think upon Shaddai, and have a dread of his law upon him, and then he would speak against Diabolus with a voice * _ Conscience some- as great as when a lion roareth : yea, and times speaks for would also at certain times, when his fits ^ ^* "^ were upon him (for you must know, that sometimes he had terrible fits,) make the whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice ; and therefore the new king of Mansoul could not abide him.* Diabolus therefore feared the Recorder more than any that was left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words did shake the whole town; they were like the rattling of thunder, and also like thunder-claps. Since therefore the giant could not make him wholly his own, what doth he do, but studies all that he could to debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy his mind, and more harden his heart in the ways of vanity. And as he attempted so he accomplished ^ r I Conscience is more his design : he debauched the man, and debauched nmn be- '^ , ^ , . . . fore. by little and little so drew him into sin * The office and power of conscience (or the old recorder) is beautifully described. He will sometimes speak, yea, roar aloud, testifying for God, and against sin. But it is the interest of Satan to debauch the conscience, and if possible, to silence it ; and, if this cannot be done, to represent its faithful remonstrances as the ravings of madness. 46 THE HOLY WAR. and wickedness, that at last he was not only de- bauched as at first, and so by consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go. Wherefore he bethinks himself of another project, and that was, to persuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not to be regarded. And for this he urged his fits, and said. If he be himself, why doth he not do thus always? But, quoth he, all mad folks have their fits, and in them raving language ; so hath this old and doating gentleman. Thus by one means or other The town taken ^ ^ '' ^ off from heeding hc quickly got Mausoul to slight, neglect and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. For, besides what you have already heard, Diabolus had a way to make the old gentleman, when he was merry, unsay, and deny what he in his fits had affirmed. And indeed this was the next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that no man H^w conscience shouW regard him. Also now he never becomes so ridi- gp^j^g freclv for kiug Shaddai, but always culous as with r J o ' •/ carnal men it is. by forcc aud coustraiut. Besides, he w ould at one time be hot against that, about which at another he would hold his peace, so uneven was he now in his doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again sometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant's pipe. Wherefore sometimes, when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they did tell Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman said was neither out of love to him, nor pity to them, THE HOLY WAR. 47 but of a foolish fondness that he had to be prating ; and so would hush, still, and put all to quiet again. And that he might leave no argument unurged that might tend to make them secure, he said, and said it often. Oh Mansoul! consider that notwithstanding the old gentleman's rage, and the rattle of satanicai. his high and thundering words, you hear ^I'^'onc. nothing of Shaddai himself, (when, liar and deceiver that he was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was the voice of God in him to them.) But he goes on, and says. You see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of Mansoul; nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoning, for their giving themselves to me. He knows that though you were his, now you are lawfully mine ; so leaving us to one another, he hath now shaken his hands of us. Moreover, O Mansoul! quoth he, consider how I have served you, even to the uttermost of my power ; and that with the best that I have, could get, or procure for you in all the world: besides, I dare say, that the laws and customs that you now are under, and by which you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and content than did the paradise that at first you possessed. Your liberty satan-s flat- also, as yourselves do very well know, has been greatly widened and enlarged by me. Whereas I found you a penned up people, I have not laid any restramt upon you : you have no law, statute, or judgment of mine to fright you ; I call none of you to account for your doings, except the madman, you know whom I mean. I have granted you to conscience 48 THE HOLY WAR. live, each man like a prince in his own palace, even with as little control from me as I have from you. And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when the Recorder that was, did at times molest them ; yea, and with such cursed orations as these would set the whole town Men sometimes angry with their in a lagc aud fury agamst the old gentle- conscience. ^1 n . .• man ; yea, the rascally crew at some times would be for destroying him. They have often wished, in my hearing, that he had lived a thousand miles off from them ; his company, his words, yea, the sight of him, and especially when they remembered how in old times he did use to threaten and condemn them (for all he was now so debauched,) did terrify and afflict them sore.* But all their wishes were vain ; for I do n't know how, unless by the power of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongst them. Besides his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hard by a strong-hold of the town: moreover, if at any 111 thoughts, time any of the crew or rabble attempted ^^*"- to make him away, he could pull up the sluices, and let in such floods as would drown all round about him. But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my TheAviii. Lord Will-be-will, another of the famous town of Mansoul. This Will-be-will was as high- born in Mansoul, and was as much, if not more, * Conscience, in natural men, is very unequal and irregular in his opposition to sin ; yet, by fits and starts he will cry out, and so frighten the sinner, that he wishes him " a thousand miles off," so as to give him no disturbance, nor prevent' his quiet enjoyment of that liberty to sin, which Satan boasts he has granted to Mansoul. Nevertheless the power of conscience cannot be utterly destroyed. THE HOLY WAR. 49 a freeholder, than many of them were : besides, if I remember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul. Now, together with these, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength or what, (but sure it Avas through pride of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul ; and therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might (such a one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in Mansoul ; and (headstrong man that he was) thus he began betimes: for this man, when Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the first that was for consenting to his words, and for accepting of his counsel as wholesome, and that was for opening the gate and letting him into the town: wherefore Diabolus had a kindness for him, and for that reason designed him for a place; and perceiving the valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for one of his great ones, to act and do in matters of the highest concern.* So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter a\ hich lay in his breast ; but there needed not much persuasion in the case ; for as at ^^^ ^ .^^ ^^^^^ first he was willing that Diabolus should be piace u.»der d,- ~ .... abolus. let into the town, so now he was as willmg to serve him there. When the tyrant, therefore, * My Lord Will-be-will.— The author represents the will as a lord, a person of great consequence in the town, and very justly, for the human will is tha^ power of the soul whereby we choose and determine. It is a governing faculty ; and there could be no sin, till the will consented to the temptation. In fallen man, the will is not subject to the law of God, but obstinately opposed to it, and therefore a fit deputy for tiie devil. 7 50 THE HOLY WAR. perceived the willingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stood bending that way, he forth- with made him captain of the castle, governor of the wall, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul : yea, there was a clause in his commission, that nothing without him should be done in all the town of Mansoul : so that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my Lord Will-be-will in all the town of Mansoul ! nor could any thing be now done, but at his will and pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul.* He had also one Mr. Mind for his clerk; a man, to speak on, every way like his master; for he and his lord were in principle one, and in practice not far asunder.! And now was Mansoul brought under to purpose, and made to fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.:|: But it will not be out of my thoughts, what a desperate one this Will-be-will was, when power was put into his hand. First, he flatly denied that he owed any suit or service to his former prince and liege lord. This done, in the next place, he took an oath, swore fidelity to his great master Diabolus, and then being stated and settled in his place, ofiice, advancement, and preferment, oh you cannot think, * Because the carnal mind is enmity against God ; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom. viii. 7. t Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this \vor\d, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience : among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph. ii. 2. 3. X By the mind, the author probably designs the judgment, or that faculty by whicli we distinguish between good and evil, and we are assured by the Scriptures that " the carnal mind is enmity against God." THE HOLY WAR. 51 unless you had seen it, the strange work that this workman made in the town of jVIansoul. First, he mahgned Mr. Recorder to death ; he would neither endure to see him, nor hear The camai win op- the words of his mouth ; he would shut p°*^^ conscience. his eyes when he saw him, and stop his ears when he heard him speak. Also he could not endure that so much as a fragment of the law of Shaddai should be any where seen in the town. For example, his clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old, rent, and torn parchments of the law of good Shaddai in his house : but when Will-be-will saw them, he cast them behind his back.* True, Mr. Recorder had some of the laws in his study; but my lord could by no means come at them : he also thought and said, the windows of my old lord mayor's house were always ^ J ^ •' Corrupt will loves too light for the profit of the town of a dark undersiand- Mansoul. The light of a candle he could not endure. Now nothing at all pleased Will-be-will, but what pleased Diabolus his lord.t There was no other like him to trumpet about the streets the brave nature, the wise conduct, and great glory of the king Diabolus. He would range throuo[hout all the streets of Mansoul, to cry up his * Nevertheless they were disohedient, and rehelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets, which testified against them to turn them to thee ; and they wrought great provocations. Nehem. ix. 26. f Great is the aversion of the carnal mind and will to the Bible. Never was greater hatred to it discovered than in this day! But why do our infidels hate it"! The true reason is, "they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil," Jonn iii. 19. The little remaining lio-ht of conscience they cannot endure, because it condemns their beloved carnality. 52 THE HOLY WAR. illustrious lord ; and would make himself even as an abject, among the base and rascally crew, to cry up Vain thoughts, his Valiant prince. And I say, when and wheresoever he found those vassals, he would even make himself as one of them. In all ill courses, he would act without bidding, and do mischief without commandment. The Lord Will-be-will also had a deputy under him, and his name was Mr. Affection : one that was also greatly debauched in his principles, and answered thereto in his life:* he was wholly given to the flesh, and therefore they called him Vile-afl:ection. Now there was he, and one Carnal-lust, the daughter of Mr. Mind (like to like, quoth the devil to the collier,) that fell in love and made a match, and A match between viie-affect.on and wcrc married ; and, as I take it, they had several children, as Impudence, Black- mouth, and Hate-reproof. These three were black boys. And besides these three, they had three daugh- ters, as Scorn-truth, Slight-God, and the name of the youngest was Revenge ; these were all married in the town, and also begot and yielded many bad brats, too many to be inserted, t But to pass by this. When the giant had thus ingarrisoned himself in the town of Mansoul, and had put down and set up whom he thought good, he betakes himself to defacing. Now there was in the market-place of Mansoul, and also upon the gates of the castle, an image of the blessed king Shaddai ; this image was so exactly * Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Rom. i. 25. f The affections follow the dictates of the will. The offspring of Vile- affection and Carnal-lust are enumerated : a wretched brood ! THE HOLY WAR. r>3 engraven (and it was engraven in gold) tliat it did the most resemble Shaddai himself, of any thing that then was extant in the world. This he basely com- manded to be defaced, and it was basely done by the hand of Mr. No-truth. Now you must know, that as Diabolus had commanded, and that by the hand of Mr. No-truth, the image of Shaddai was defaced ; he likewise gave order that the same Mr. No-truth should set up in its stead, the horrid and formidable image of Diabolus; to the great contempt of the former king, and debasing his town of Mansoul.* Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of all remains of the laws and statutes of Shaddai, that could be found in the town of Mansoul; to wit, such as contained either doctrines or morals, with all civil and natural documents : also relative duties he sought to extin- guish. To be short, there was nothing of the remains of o-ood in Mansoul, which he and Will-be-will sought not to destroy ; for their design was, to turn jMansoul into a brute, and to make it like the sensual sow, by the hands of Mr. No-truth, t When he had destroyed what law and good orders he could, then further to effect his design, namely to alienate Mansoul from Shaddai her king, he commands, and they set up his own vain edicts, statutes, and * God made man in his own holy and beautiful image. Sin has miserably defaced this image of God in the soul, and substituted the liorrid and deformed image of the devil. O what a change ! ■\ Satan would obliterate all the cnmmandments of God, prevent the practice of all duty to him or to our neighbour, and make us merely carnal, and brutish. Awfully hath he succeeded, so that man is become that motley monster, "half beast, half devil," as bisliop llall calls liim ; uniting in himself the sensual appetites of the former, with the diabolical tempers of the latter. 54 THE HOLY WAR. commandments in all places of resort or concourse in Mansoul, to wit, such as gave liberty "to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, which are not of Shaddai, but of the world."* He encouraged, countenanced, and promoted lascivious- ness and all ungodhness there. Yea, much more did Diabolus to encourage wickedness in the town of Mansoul; he promised them peace, content, joy and bliss, in doing his commands, and that they should never be called to account for their not doing the contrary. And let this serve to give a taste to them that love to hear of what is done beyond their knowledge, afar off in other countries. Now Mansoul being wholly at his beck, and brought wholly to his bow, nothing was heard or seen therein but that which tended to set up Diabolus. But now, he having disabled the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder from bearing any office in Mansoul, and seeing that the town, before he came to it, was the most ancient of corporations in the world; and fearing, if he did not maintain greatness, they at any time should object that he had done them an injury ; therefore, I say (that they might see that he did not intend to lessen their grandeur, or to take from them any of their advantageous things) he did choose for them a Lord Mayor and a Recorder to himself; and such as contented them to the heart, and such also as pleased him wondrous well. The name of the Mayor that was of Diabolus' making, was the Lord Lustings. A man that had * For all that is in tlie world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John ii. 16. THE HOLY WAR. 55 neither eyes nor ears; all that he did, Avhcther as a man or an officer, he did it naturally as doth the beast; and that which made him yet more ignoble, though not to Mansoul, yet to them that beheld, and were grieved for its ruin, was, that he could never favour good, but evil.* The Recorder was one whose name was Forget- good ; and a very sorry fellow he was ; he could remember nothing but mischief, and to do it with delight. He was naturally prone to do things that are hurtful ; even hurtful to the town of Mansoul, and to all the dwellers there. These two, therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles upon evil, did much more mischief, and scttkid the common people in hurtful ways ; for who doth not perceive, that when those that sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, they corrupt the whole region and country where they are?t Besides these Diabolus made several burgesses and aldermen in Mansoul ; such as out of whom the town, when it needed, might choose them officers, governors and magistrates; and these are the names of the chief of them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Hard-Heart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Fury, Mr. No-truth, Mr. Stand-to-lies, Mr. False- peace, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating, Mr. Atheism ; ' * Instead of the understanding, which, before the revohition, governed the town, Mr. Lustings is made lord mayor. This wretch "had ncitlier eyes nor ears." So beastly are carnal lusts, that they pay no regard to reason nor danger, but are hurried on by mere appetite to every fleshly indulgence. f The memory has suffered much by the fall. It is wonderfully tenacious of evil, but is sure to forget every thing tluit is good. 56 THE HOLY WAR. thirteen in all. Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr Atheism the youngest of the company. * There was also an election of common-council-men, and others : as bailiffs, Serjeants, constables, &c., but all of them, like those afore-named, being either fathers, brothers, cousins, or nephews, to them, whose names, for brevity's sake, I omit to mention. THE HOLD OF DEKIANCE. * A fit sot of wretches to govern under Diabolns ! It is well observed, that of these vile aldermen, Incredulity (or unbelief j was the eldest, and Atheism, the youngest. Unbelief naturally ends in Atheism. THE HOLY WAR. 57 When the giant had thus far proceeded in his work, in the next place he betook him to build some strongholds in the town; and he built three that seemed to be impregnable. The first he called the hold of Defiance, because it was made to command the whole town, and to keep it from the knowledge of its ancient king. The second he called Midnight- hold, because it was built on purpose to keep Mansoul from the true knowledge of itself. The third was called Sweet-sin-hold, because by that he fortified Mansoul against all desires of good. The first of these holds stood close by Eye-gate, that the light might as much as possible be darkened there. The second was built hard by the old castle, to the end that that might be made more blind, if possible. And the third stood in the market-place. He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these, was one Spite-God, a most blasphemous wretch. He came with the whole rabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and was himself one of them. He that was made the governor of Midnight-hold was one Love-no-light, who was also one of them that came first against the tow^n. And he that was made the governor of the hold called Sweet-sin-hold, was one whose name was Love-flesh ; he was also a very lew^d fellow, but not of that country where the others are bound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he stood sucking a lust, than he did in the paradise of God. And now Diabolus thought himself safe. He had taken Mansoul ; he had ingarrisoned himself therein ; he had put down the old officers, and set up new ones ; he had defaced the nnage of Shaddai, and had set up 58 THE HOLY WAR. his own ; he had spoiled the old law-books, and had promoted his own vain lies; he had made him new magistrates, and set up new aldermen; he had built his new holds and had manned them for himself. And all this he did to make himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or his Son should come to make an incursion upon him.* * The revolution is completed. The understanding is darkened ; the conscience debauched ; the will perverted ; the image of God defaced ; the law of God suppressed ; and beastly lusts triumphant ; while the proud sinner defies God, loves midnight darkness, and wallows in sin. What an awful but accurate picture of apostate man ! God be merciful to us sinners ! CHAPTER III. Information of the revolution carried to the court of King Shaddai. His great resentment of the rebellion. His gracious intention of restoring Mansoul. Some intimations of this published. Care of Diabolus to sup- press them. His artifices to secure the town, and prevent its return to Shaddai. Now you may well think, that, long before this time, word by some or other could not but be carried to the good king Shaddai, how his Mansoul on the continent of Universe was lost; and that the giant Diabolus, once one of his majesty's servants, had, in rebellion against the king, made sure thereof for himself. Yea, tidings were brought to the king thereof, and that to a very circumstance : As first, how Diabolus came upon Mansoul, (they being a simple people and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile : Itcjn, that he had treach- erously slain their right noble and valiant captain, the Captain Resistance, as he stood upon the gate with the rest of the townsmen: Iton, how my brave Lord Innocent fell down dead (witli grief, some say ; or with being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-pause, as say others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince Shaddai so abused by the mouth of so filthy a Diabolonian as that varlet Ill-pause was. The messenger further told, that after this Ill-pause had made a short oration to the towns- men, in behalf of Diabolus his ma.-tcr, the siujple 59 60 THE HOLY WAR. town, believing to be true what was said, with one consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, and did let him with his crew into the possession of the famous town of Mansoul. He further showed how Diabolus had served the Lord Mayor and Mr. Recorder, to wit, that he had put them from all place of power and trust. Item, he showed also, that my Lord Will-be-will was turned a very rebel and runagate, and that so was one Mr. Mind, his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all the town over, and teach the wicked ones their ways. He said moreover, that this Will-be- will was put into great trust, and particularly that Diabolus had put into Will-be-will 's hand all the strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my Lord Will-be-will's deputy, in his most rebellious affairs. Yea, said the messenger, this monster, Lord Will-be-will, has openly disavowed the King Shaddai, and hath given his faith and plighted troth to Diabolus. Also, said the messenger, besides this, the new king, or rather rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishing town of Mansoul, has set up a Lord Mayor and Recorder of his own. For Mayor he has set up one Mr. Lustings; 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 strongholds in Mansoul. He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul into arms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to make resistance THE HOLY WAR. 01 against Shaddai their king, should he come to reduce them to their former obedience. Now the tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in private, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords, chief 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,"* and you may be sure that his Son was not a whit behind him. Thus they gave conviction to all about them, that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul. t * And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil contmually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen. vi. 5, 6. f » Kjiown unto God are all things, from the beginning of the world." The fall was foreseen from all eternity. God, in his unsearchable .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 tlie Ixird 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 uneasiness or change of mind in Jehovah, but his just displeasure against sin and sinners, as odious to 62 THE HOLY WAR. Well, when the King and his Son were retired into the privy chamber, they there again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost. The secret of his SO as ccrtaiuly it should be recovered purpose. 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 The Son of God. thls cousultatiou, the Son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely person, 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,) * this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hand with his Father, and promised that he would be his servant, to recover Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, that at a certain time, prefixed by both, the King's Son should take a journey his 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 liis bosom which now hisses and stings. "Doth God thus hate sm, and shall not we hate if? Hath our sin grieved him to the hearty and shall not we be grieved to the heart for if? O that this considera- tion may humble and shame us, and that we may look upon him whom we have thus grieved, and mourn." Henry. * And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him. Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. Isa. xlix. .5. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; of whom I am chief 1 Tim. i. Ii5. I will ransom them from the power of the grave ; I will redeem them from death : O death, I will be thy plagues ; O grave, I will be thy destruction : repentance shall be liid J'rom mine eyes. IIos. xiii. 14. THE HOLY WAR. (33 into the country of Universe, and there in a way of justice and equity, by making amends for the folhcs of Mansoul, he should lay the foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus, and from his tyranny. * Moreover, Immanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war upon the giant Diabolus, ^y ,,,e i,„,y even while he was possessed of 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 ^ho noiy scrip- fair record of what was determined, and '"""'• to cause that it should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A short breviate of the contents thereof, you may, if you please, take here as follows : *Let all men know, who are concerned, that the Son of Shaddai, the great King, is engaged by covenant to his Father, to bring his Mansoul to him again; yea, and to put Mansoul too, through his love, into a far better and more happy condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus.' t These papers, therefore, were published in several * How astonishing is the divine benignity ! and who can express it so well as in the words of Immanuel himself, ( Jolin iii. G.) God so loved \^ the world— so loved! How much he loved, no tongue can tell, no heart conceive. It is love unsought, unparalleled, free, and everlasting ! f Early intimation was given to a lost world of God's gracious design in favour of rebel man; and the Lord designing to make the Scriptures, which are inspired by the Holy Spirit (the Secretary) the instrument iu his hands for his recovery, was pleased to publish in them iiis benevolent purpose. 64 THE HOLY WAR. places, to the no little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; 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 whispered to one another, and Among the ^ftcr tliEt It bcgan to ring throughout the angels. king's palace, all wondering at the glorious design that between the King and his Son was on foot for the miserable 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 Mansoul.* Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes, 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 no little discontent ; for you must think it would perplex him to hear of such a design 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 to the knowledge that Shaddai, * Angels desire to pry into the wonders of redemption. They would be astonished at the discovery; as, long after they proved themselves to be, by the chorus they sang at our Saviour's birth — "Glory to God in the highest ! on earth, peace ! good will towards men ! " These benevo- lent spirits were also sometimes the messengers of evangelical tidings to the fathers previous to the incarnation of Innnanuel. THE HOLY WAR. G5 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 under my hand and government, and return again to him?* Now to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with my Lord Will-be-will, and also gives him strict charge and command, that he should keep watch by day and night at all the gates of the town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate: For I hear of a design, 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 : and I think, that at ^, The will eiiga- tliis time it should be all our wisdom ged against u.e and care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend to trouble our people ; wherefore 1 desire, my lord, that you will in this matter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at every gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come, who you perceive do come from far hither to trade: nor let them by any means be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly per- ceive that they are favourers of our excellent govern- ment. I command, moreover, said Diabolus, that there be spies continually walking up and ^,, ^^ ^^^^_^^^^ down the town of Mansoul ; and let them an.i words ar.- m be suppressed. have power to suppress and destroy any * It is the interest of hell to keep men in ignorance of the ga^pel, the proper tendency of which is to induce sinners to return to God, 2 Cor. iv. 4. 9 G6 THE HOLY WAR. that they shall see plotting against us, or that shall prate ol ^vhat by Shaddai and Tmmanuel is intended. This, tlierelbre, 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 Man soul, from coming into the town. THE PEOPLE TAKE AN OATH. Secondly, this done, in the next place Diabolus, that he might make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath and horrible covenant upon the town's folk : To wit, that they should never desert him, nor his THE HOLY WAR. Cu government, nor yet betray him, nor seek to alter his laws: but that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledire him for their rightful kinir, in defiance of any that do, or hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title whatsoever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul,* thinking, belike, that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this covenant with 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.t Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast; but jealousy 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 odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beast- liness to be drawn up in writing, and set upon the gates: whereby he granted and gave odioasan.u.he- license to all his true and trusty sons in 's''^'^' paniphie.*, •^_ and filthy b;illaiis Mansoul, to do whatsoever tlieir lustful and romances fuii appetites prompted them to do, and that * Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Isa. xxviii. 15. i Hardened sinners seem to be sworn vassals of Satan, and sometimes make desperate resolutions never to be religious. " We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement." Lsa. xxviii. 15 68 THE HOLY WAR. no man was to let, hinder, or control them, upon pain of incurring the displeasure of their prince.* Now this he did for these reasons : That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker, and so more unable, should tidings come that their redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof: for reason says, ' the bigger the sinner, the less ground or hope of mercy.' The second reason was, if perhaps Immanuel, the Son of Shaddai 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 woful expe- rience : 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 fpr sin it might fare with Mansoul ? But fearing lest also this knot should break, he bethinks himself of another, to w it : Thirdly, to endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of Mansoul, that Shaddai was raising an army. Such men "glory in their shame," and determine to be more and more vile. * The margin informs us what this means. Would to God there were none of these infidel and obscene pamphlets, pictures and song-s 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 reli- gion ; and not unfrequently, a secret despair possesses the sinner, that there is no hope for him, and therefore, he may as well enjoy the full pleasures of sin. THE HOLY WAli. {'>[) to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul. And this he did to forestall any tidings that might come to their ears, of their deliverance; for thought he, If I first spread this abroad, the tidings that shall come after will all 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 intends to destroy them ? Wherefore, he summons the whole town into the market-place, and there with deceitful tongue thus he addresses himself unto them : Gentle- men, 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 myself among you, and what liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my government; I hope, to your honour 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 am I, therefore, for your sakes. For I received but now by the post, from my Lord Lucifer (and he useth to have good intelli- gence) 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 the danger, but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so loath am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall with you, to the utmost 70 THE HOLY WAR. 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 me ? Then as one man, with one mouth, they cried out toirether, Let him die the death that will not. Then said Diabolus again, 'Tis in vain, for us Very deceiving to hopc for quarter, for this king knows language. ^q^ \^q^ ^q show it. Truc, perhaps, he, at his first 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 shall say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it, for all such language is but to 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 w^ill come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives ? I hope you know more of the rudiments of pohtics, 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 to you whom I have set up, and whose greatness has been procured by you, through your faithful sticking Lying language, to mc ? Aud supposc again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which you were captivated before, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do you ? Shall you with THE HOLY WAR. 71 him live in pleasure as you do now! No, no, you must be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that which at present is hateful to you.* I am for you, if you are for me ; and it is better to die valiantly, than to live hke pitiful slaves. But I say, the life of a slave will be accounted a Hfe 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 stand to your arms, that now, while you have leisure, I may teach you some feats of war. Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for Mansoul, 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, breastplate, sword, shield, and what not, that you will fight like men. 1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is hope of doing well at last, what lives soever you hve. This is that which they had, who said that *they should have peace, though they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst.' t A piece of approved armour is this; and * Carnal men readily believe this lie, and make it one of their apolo- gies for their dislike of religion, that it is destructive of liberty and pleasure. But believers assuredly know that " Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light ;" his " service is perfect freedom," and all " his ways are pleasantness and peace." f Lest it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Deul. xxix. 19. 72 THE HOLY WAR. wnoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart, sword, or shield, can hurt him ; this therefore keep on, and thou wilt ward off many a blow, my Mansoul. 2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron.* 1 * And they liad breast pliiles, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound ot their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses 'unninir to battle. Rev. ix. 9. THE HOLY WAR. 73 had it forged in mine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. In plain language, it is a hard heart, a 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 armour 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,* and that can bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his ways, his people. Use this ; it has been tried a thousand times twice told. Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes use of it as I would have him, can never be conquered by mine enemy. 4. My shield is unbelief, t 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 has he made upon it, and sometimes, 'tis true, it has been bruised ; but they that have written of the wars of Immanuel against my servants, have testified, that "he could do no mighty work there, because of their unbelief." * My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even tlie sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Psalm Ivii. 4. Who whet tlieir tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words; Ixiv. 3. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity : so is the tongue among the members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature ; and it is set on fire of hell. James iii. 6. t He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers. Job xv. 26. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. Psalm Ixxvi. 3. And lie could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. Mark vi. 5, 6. 10 74 THE HOLY WAR. Now, to handle this weapon of mine aright, is, not to beheve things because they are true, of what sort, or by whomsoever 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 ; for this is to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and as my ser- vants ought, and do : and he that does otherwise, loves me not, nor do I count him but an enemy unto me. 5. Another part or piece, said Diabolus, of mine excellent armour, is a dumb and prayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns to cry for mercy, let the danger be ever so great; wherefore, 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 are stout men ; and am sure that I have clad you with that which is armour of proof; wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from you. Besides all this, I have a maul, fire-brands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as will do execution.* After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he addressed himself to them in such like words as these : Remember, quoth he, that I am your rightful king : and that you have taken an oath, and entered into covenant, to be true to me and to my cause: I say, remember this, and show your- selves stout and valiant men of Mansoul. Remember * This is a just description of that " whole armour" of the devil, with which mistaken sinners defend themselves against God. Presumption — hardness of heart — a blasphemous tongue — unbelief, and a prayerless .'spirit. This is Satan's armour, tlie very reverse of that which God has provided for Christian soldiers. THE HOLY WAR. 7.j also the kindness tluit I have always showed to you, and that without your petition. I have granted to you external things; wherefore, the privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and honours, 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 show 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, princes, and captains, and what brave days shall we have then !* Diabolus having thus armed and fore-armed his servants and vassals in Mansoul, against their o-ood and lawful king Shaddai, in the next place he doublcth his guards at the gates of the town, and betakes himself to the castle, which was his strong hold : his vassals also, to show their wills, and supposed (but ignoble) gallantry, exercise them in their arms every day, and teach one another feats of war. They also defied their enemies, and sung up the praises of their tyrant. They threatened also Avhat men they would be, if ever things should rise so hitTh as a war between Shaddai and their king. * Thus Satan deceives almost tlie whole world, promising liberty and pleasure, while slavery and destruction are his only aim. Nor need we wonder that he thus assaults us, for he had the presumption to attack our divine Lord in the same manner; "All these things," said he, — all the glories and pleasures of the world — " will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." None of these things, however, .seduced his heart; but alas! how small a portion of worldly good is generally enough to allure us I CHAPTER IV. Shaddai sends an army of forty thousand men to reduce Mansoul, under the direction of four captains, Boanerges, Conviction, Judgment and Execution, who address the inhabitants with great energy, but to little purpose ; Diabolus, Incredulity, Ill-pause, and others interposing to prevent submission. Prejudice defends Ear-gate with a guard of sixty deaf men. Now all this time the good king, the king Shaddai, was preparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under the tyranny of their pretended king Diabolus ; but he thought good, at the first, not to send them by the hand and conduct of brave Immanuel his Son, but under the hand 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 consisted of above forty thousand, all true men : for they came from the king's own court, and were those of his own choosing. They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals, each man being captain of ten thousand men ; and these are their names, and their ensigns. The name of the first was Captain Boan- erges ; the name of the second was Captain Conviction ; the name of the third was Captain Judgment ; and the name of the fourth was Captain Execution. These were the captains that Shaddai sent to regain Mansoul. 76 THE HOLY WAR. 77 These four captains (as was said) the king thought fit in the first place to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt 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, 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,* that it might be displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of the right that he had to Mansoul. First, to Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, were given ten thousand men : his ensign was Mr. Thunder : he bare the black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, t 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. J 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. § * Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, tliat it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. Psalm Ix. 4. f And he sumamed tlicm Boanerges, which is. The sons of thunder. Mark iii. 17. I And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them ; he shined forth fi-om mount Paran, and he came with ten lliou- sands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law for them. DcuU xxxiii. 2. ^ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. 78 THE HOLY WAR. The fourth captain was Captain Execution. To him ^- were given ten thousand men : his ensign was one Mr. Jus- tice; he also bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root thereof.* These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under his command ten thou- sand men, all of good fidelity to the King, and stout at their military actions, t Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under officers, being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and ihere called over by their names, were then and there put into such harness as CAPTAIN EXECUTION. and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matt. xiii. 41, 42. * And now also the axe is laid unto tlie root of the trees ; therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fi];e. Matt. iii. 10. f In all ages of the world, even those previous to the incarnation of Christ, God has sent messages of mercy to his sinflil creatures by his servants, whose various gifts are described by the four captains. Boan- erges (Mark iii. 17,) signifies the powerful and awakening preaching of the word. Conviction means the awful display of the holy law, as at Sinai, with its proper effect on the conscience, convincing of the trans- gressions committed against it. Judgment is designed to show the terror of a sinner, alarmed by the dreadful threatenings of offended justice, and expectation of the great day of accounts. And Execution may signify the fulfilment of those threatenings in the final destruction of impenitent and unbelieving sinners, who reject tiie overtures of mercy in the gospel. These are the instruments which God is pleased generally to employ in convincing and converting sinners, as might be exemplified in the case THE HOLY WAR. 79 became their degree, and that service that now tliey were going about for their King. Now when the King had mustered his forces (for it was he that mustered the host to the battle,) he gave unto the captains their several commissions, with charge and commandment, in the audience of all the soldiers, that they should take 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, bnt very small variation : and here let me give you an account of the matter and sum contained 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 of Mansoul. ' O thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains, over one ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go thou in my name, with this thy force, to the miserable town of Mansoul, and when thou comest thither, offer them first conditions of peace;* and command them, that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus, they return to me, their rightful prince and lord. Command tlicm also, that they cleanse themselves from all that is his in the town of Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou have good satisfaction touching the truth of of the jailer, Acts xvi.; but he sometimes works witli equal efficacy by mUder means, and at once gently opens the heart to admit Iinmunuel, in the instance of Lydia, mentioned in the same chapter. * And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it ,„ worthy : and there abide till ye go thence. Matt. x. 11. And into what^oever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. Luke x. 5. as IS 80 THE HOLY WAR. their obedience. Thus when thou hast commanded them, if tliey in truth submit thereto, then do thou to the uttermost of thy power, what in thee hes, to set up for me a garrison in the famous town of Mansoulj nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they w ere thy friends or brethren ; for all such I love, and they shall be dear unto me; and tell them, that I will take a time to come unto them, and to let them know that I am merciful.* 'But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons, and the producing of my authority, resist, stand out against thee, and rebel; then I do command thee to make use 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 before, for the substance of them, they wfere 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 appointed, and the place of their rendezvous prefixed, each commander appearing in such gallantry as his * But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children : so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail ; for, labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly, and unblamably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know, how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. 1 Thess. ii. 7 — 11. THE HOLY WAR. 81 cause and calling required ; so after a new entertain- ment from Shaddai, with flying colours they sel forward to march towards 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 Shaddai,)* 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.t 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 * But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; havrng abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of command- ments contained in ordinances ; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace ; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ; and came and .preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that are nigh. Eph. ii. 13—17. f Fallen man is indeed very far from God and righteousness ; but, " in Christ Jesus, they who were sometimes far off, are made nigh by his blood." To effect this, God sends his ministers, who come not on "this warfare at their own charges," but are supported by their divine master, and those whose hearts are affected with the miserable condition of their fellow men. 11 82 THE HOLY WAR. had pitched their tents, and intrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make their assault. Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company so bravely accoutred, and so excellently The world are disciphucd, liaviug on their glittering convinced by the ariyjour, aud displaviuD- their colours, well ordered life ' r ./ O ' of the godly. could uot but comc out of their 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 he, although you are my trusty and well-beloved friends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your late uncircumspect Diabolus alien- j ^ i ates their minds actiou, iu goiug out to gaze on that great and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before, and have now intrenched themselves, in order to the maintaining of the siege ao;ainst 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 told you long ago, that they would come to destroy this town, and against whom I have been at the cost to arm you cap-a-pie for your body, besides great fortifications for your mind. * There is such a beauty and glory in tlie 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. THE HOLY WAR. 83 Wherefore, then, did you not rather, even at the first appearance of" them, cry out, fire the beacons, and give the whole town an alarm concernins; them, that we might all have been in a posture C J C 11 I, J X U *^""*" greatly CI deience, and have been ready to have afraid of gcI's received them with the hiirhest acts of f'"^'"^- »•>«» 3 they will set defiance? Then had you showed your- Mansoui against selves 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 com- manded a watch, and that you should double your guards at the gates ? Wherefore have I endeavoured to make you as hard as iron; and your hearts as a piece of the nether millstone? Was it, Hes.irsti.emup think you, that you might show yourselves '^ ^''^ '''='^""" ^ J ' J O •' the ministers of women : and that you might go out, like a nie word. company of 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 the town of Mansoul. I will leave oflf now to chide, and will not further rebuke you: but I charge you, that henceforward you let me see no more such actions. Let not henceforward a man of you, without order first obtained from me, so much as show his head over the wall of 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 rage agai liiiess. 84 THE HOLY WAR. as I take care for myself, so for your safety and honour also. Farewell. * Now were the townsfolk strangely altered; they w^ere as men stricken with a panic fear: they ran When sinners to aud fro iu thc strccts of the town of hearken tosatan, ^ansoul, Crying out, HcId ! help! the they are set in a 'Jo ' I r Mst god- nien that turn the world upside down are come hither, t 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 Diabolus. Ah, quoth he to himself, this I like well ; now it is as I would have it; now you show your obedience to your prince ; hold you but here, and then let them take the town if they can. Well, before the King's forces had sat before Mansoul three days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate; and there, in the name of the 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 trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up as he was commanded to Ear-gate, and there sounded his trumpet for a hearing; but there was none that appeared, that gave answer or * It is no uncommon thing to find persons severely blamed and threatened by their carnal relations for going to hear a single sermon Irom 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 description than that to which their education attached them. t This was the cry of tlie ignorant when the apostles preaclied, and will ever be so, where men are kept by their blind teachers in profound ignorance. THE HOLY WAR. 85 regard,* for so had Diabolus commanded. So llic trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him wliat he had done, and also how he had s})ed ; whereat the captain was grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his tent. Again Captahi Boanerges sendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, to sound as before for 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 Diabolus their king. Then the captains and other field-officers 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 commissions, they concluded yet to give the town, by the hand of the forenamed trumpeter, another summons to hear : but if that shall be refused, say they, and that the town shall stand it out still, t then they determined, and bid the trumpeter tell them so, that they would endeavour by what means they could to compel them by force to the obedience of their king. So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpetei to go up to Ear-gate again, and, in the name of the great 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 w^ent, and did as he was commanded : he went up to Ear-gate, and sounded his trumpet, * "Faith cometh by hearing." Ministers are therefore, to address the outward ear, as the gate that leads to tlie mind and heart ; but alas ! too many turn a deaf ear to the messages of heaven. + And the lord said unto his servant. Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke xiv. 23. 86 THE HOLY WAR. and gave a third summons to Mansoul.* 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 endeavour to reduce them to their obedience by force. Then stood up my Lord Will-be-will, who was the governor of the town (this Will-be-will was the apostate of whom mention was made Lord Will-be- ^ will's speech to bcforc,) aud 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 insufferable words against the town of Mansoul. The trumpeter answered, I am servant to the most noble captain. Captain Boanerges, general of the forces of the great King Shaddai, against whom both thyself and the whole town of Mansoul have rebelled, and lifted 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, you must take what follows. Then said the Lord Will-be-will, I will carry thy words to my lord, and will know what he will say.t But the trumpeter soon replied, saying, Our message is not to the giant Diabolus, but to the miserable * Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob tiieir sin. Isa. Iviii. 1. t How wretchedly are poor sinners enslaved to the devil, "led 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." THE HOLY WAR. 87 town of Mansoul; nor shall we at all regard 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. Then said the Lord Will-be-will, I will do your errand to the town. The trumpeter then replied, Sir, do not deceive us, lest, in so doing you deceive yourselves much 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 to-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our resolution to reduce you to our Lord and rightful Kintj. So the said Lord Will-be-will returned from off the wall, and the trumpeter came into the camp. When the trumpeter was come into the camp, the captains and ofiicers of the mighty King Shaddai came together, to know if he had obtained a hearing, and what was the effect of his errand. So the trumpeter told, saying, When I had sounded my trumpet, and called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Will-be-will, the governor 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 >Ahat was the cause of my making this noise ? So I told him mv errand, and by whose authority I broiiglit it. 88 THE HOLY WAR. Then said he, I will tell it to the governor, and to Mansoul : 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 these rebels will do. Now when the time drew „ , , nigh that audience by Mansoul must be Carnal souls ~ ^ make a wrong giycu to tlic bravc Boaucrgcs and his interpretation of . . i i i n the design of a companious, it was commanded, that all gospel nmnstry. ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ throughout thc wholc 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 subjection. So the day being come, the trumpeters sounded, and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of war might be in readiness for that which then should be the work 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 preparation 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 up and sounded, and the towns- men came up, but made Ear-gate as sure as they could.* Now when they were come up to the top of * But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Zech. vii. 11. THE HOLY WAR. 89 the wall, Captain Boanerges desired to see the lord mayor ; but my Lord Incredulity was then lord mayor, for he came in the room of my Lord Lustings ; so Incredulity came up and showed himself over the wall. But when the captain Boanerges had set his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud, This is not he ; where is my Lord Understanding, the ancient lord mayor of the town of Mansoul ? for to him I would deliver my message.* Then said the Giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the captain : Mr. Captain, you have, by your boldness, given to Mansoul at least four sum- monses, to subject herself to your king : by whose authority, I know not; nor will I dispute that now. I ask, therefore, what is the reason of all this ado ( or what would you be at, if you know yourselves ? Then Captain Boanerges, whose were the black colours, and whose scutcheon was three Boanerges' burning thunderbolts (taking no notice of ^''"'=''- the giant, or of his speech) thus addressed himself to the town of Mansoul: Be it known unto you, O unhappy and rebellious Mansoul ! that the most gracious king, the great King Shaddai, my master, hath sent me unto you, with commission (and so he showed to the town his broad seal) to reduce you to his obedience. And he hath commandetl 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, * The ministers of Christ wisli to address themselves to the under- standing, but instead of this Unbelief presents himself. Ear-gate i.-< also secured to prevent a candid attention to the word. 12 00 THE HOLY WAR. you still stand out and rebel, we should endeavour to take you by force. Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said, (his were the pale colours, and for a scutcheon he had the book of the law wide open, &c.) Hear, Captain Convic- ^ Mansoul I Thou, O Mansoul, wast tion's speech. oucc fauious for innocency, but now thou art deorenerated into lies and deceit.* Thou hast 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 ; 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, * As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable : there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips : whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : their feet are swift to shed blood : destruction and misery are in their ways : and the way of peace have they not known : there is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom. iii. 10 — 19, 23. Now, 1 beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. xvi. 17, 18. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear 3'ou in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Psalm 1. 21, 22. THE HOLY WAR. 91 the whole of your doings, since the day tliat you cast oft' his service, (and there was the beginning of your sin,) will sufficiently 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 your shutting the gates upon us, the faithful servants of your King? Be ruled, then, and accept of my brother's invitation, and overstand not the time of mercy, but agree *' ~ He invites them with thine adversary quickly.* Ah, Man- if return to their 1 , n^ , ,„ - ^ lawful sovereign. soul ! sutler not thy sell to be kept from mercy, and to be run into a thousand miseries, by the flattering wiles of Diabolus. Perhaps that piece of deceit may attempt 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 undertaking of ours. " Again I sav unto thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazing grace, that Shaddai should so humble himself as he doth.f Now he, by us, reasons * When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him ; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, tliou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. Luke xii. 5S, 59. f And all things are of God, who hatli reconciled us to himself by •Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation : To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not im- puting their trespasses unto them ; and hath committod unto us the word of reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambassadors for Clirist, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye re- conciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. V. 18—21. 92 THE HOLY WAR. with you, in a way of entreaty and sweet persuasion, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has he that need of 3^ou, 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 red colours, and for a scutcheon had the burning fiery furnace; and he said; O 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 peaceable 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.t 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 * Conviction, wliose scutclieon is the book of the law wide open, here addresses Mansoul, declaring their rebellion and transgressions, and trac- ing them to the original apostasy, charging home their sins upon their conscience. Such addresses as these are likely, under God, to be very useful, accompanied, as this is, with a declaration of the good will which dictates them, and the condescension of grace in sending such messages of mercy. t It is proper to set before sinners judgment to come, warning every man against the fearful wrath of God. Thus did the apostle Paul warn and beseech the Ephesians night and day with tears. THE HOLY WAR. 1):} 8luiii])cretli not.* O Mansoul, is it little m tliiii(> ('y<'s, that our King docs offer tlice mercy, and that after so many provocations? Yea, he still holdctli 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 what I say ; to thee it shall be opened no more for ever. If thou saycst thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him ; therefore, trust thou in hitn. Yea, because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. He hath prepared his throne for judgment; for he will come with fire, and with his chariots, like a whirlwind, to render his anger M'ith fury, and rebukes with flames of fire. Therefore, O Mansoul, take heed, lest, after thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, justice and judgment should take hold of thee. Job xxxvi. 17 — 19. Psa. ix. 7. Isa. Ixvi. 15. Now, while Captain Judgment was making this oration to the town of Mansoul, it was observed by some that Diabolus trembled.! But he proceeded in his speech, and said, O thou woful town of Mansoul! wilt thou not yet set open the gate to * For, behold, the day cometh that sliall burn as an oven ; and all tlie .proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble : and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Mai. iv. 1. And through covetousness shall tliey with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judg- ment now of a long time lingereth not, and tlieir damnation slumberetli not. 2 Peter ii. 3. t So, when Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, FelLx trembled. Alas! many tremble wlio never Umx. 94 THE HOLY WAR. receive us, the deputies of the King, and those that would rejoice to see thee hve? Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that he shall deal in judgment with thee ? Ezek. xxii. 14.. I say, canst thou endure to be forced to drink, as one would drink sweet wine, the sea of wrath that our King has prepared for Diabolus and his angels ? Consider, betimes consider. Then stood forth the fourth captain, the noble Captain Execution, and said: O town of Mansoul, once famous, but now like the 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 trees ; every tree, therefore, that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matt. iii. 7—10. Thou, O town of Mansoul, hast hitherto been this fruitless tree; thou bearest naught but thorns arid briers.* 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 * For their vine is of" the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomor- rah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter. Deut. xxxii. 32. THE HOLY WAR. 1)5 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 at^ 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 prevent 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. 9. And dost thou think that these are but threateninss, or that our Kin^ has not power to execute his words ? O Mansoul, thou wait find in the words of our King, when they are by sinners made little or light of, there is not only threatening, but burning coals of fire. Thou hast been a cumber-ground long already, and wilt thou continue so still ? Thy sin has brought his army to thy walls, and shall it bring in judgment to do execution to thy town? Thou hast heard what the captains have said, but as yet thou shuttest thy gates : speak out, Mansoul, wilt thou do so still ? or wilt thou accept of conditions of peace?* • * There is mucli 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 con- version of souls. Yet all this, without the power of his Spirit, will not prove effectual. Sinners will consult witii flesh and blood, and, though partly convinced, will pause and delay, and defer submission to the call of God. The captains therefore require that Ill-pause should be thrown over the wall to them, for indeed, no gowl will be done in the soul, till this spirit of prorrastination be destroyed. 96 THE HOLY WAR. These brave speeches of these four noble captains, the town of Mansoul refused to hear; yet a sound thereof did beat against Ear-gate, though the force thereof could not break it open. In fine, the town desired time to prepare their answer to these demands. The captains then told them, that if they would throw out to them one Ill-pause that w^as in the town, that they might reward him according to his works, then they would give them time to consider; but if they would not cast him to them over the wall of Mansoul, then they would give them none: for, said they, we know, that so long as Ill-pause draws breath in Mansoul, all good considerations will be confounded, and nothing but mischief will come thereon. Then Diabolus, who was there present, being loath to lose Ill-pause, because he w as his orator (and yet be sure he had lost him, could the captains have laid their fingers on him,) was resolved at this instant to give them answer by himself; 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 said, " Gentlemen, you have here, as we do behold, to the disturbance of our prince, and molestation of the town of Mansoul, encamped against it : but from whence you come, we wdll 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 yet be ignorant. You have also, by the authority aforesaid, summoned this THE HOLY WAR. 97 town to desert her lord, and for protection to yield up herself to the great Shaddai, your King : flatter- ingly 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 consent not to do as your wills would have her. Now, captains, from whencesoever you come, and though your designs be ever so right, yet ti.c true picure know ye, that neither my lord Diabolus, "i" ""'••^''e'" 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 wc are not without \\ here- Avithal to bid defiance to you. And in short, (for I A\ill not be tedious,) I tell you, that we take you to be some vagabond renegade 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 wherewith you think to fright on the other, you can make some silly town, city, or country, to desert then- place, and leave it to you : but Mansoul is none of them. To conclude: we dread you not, we fear you n<»t, nor will we obey your sunnnons: our gates we v. ill keep shut against you, our place we will keep y<.u out of; nor will we long thus suffrr you to Ml l':-f 98 THE HOLY WAR. down before us. Our people must live in quiet: your appearance doth disturb them,* wherefore, arise with bag and baggage, and be gone, or we will let The Flesh, fly from the walls against you. t This oration, made by old In- credulity, was seconded by despe- rate Will-be-will, in words to this efiect : Gentlemen, we have heard your demand, and the noise of your ¥ threats, and heard the sound of :^3^:-^:^z3Jij your summons; but we fear not wiLL-EEwi^LToRArrl your force, we regard not your threats, but we will abide as you found us. And Me command you, that in three days time you cease to appear in these parts, or you shall know what * When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. Luke xi. 21. + Tliis is the true language of unbelief. We will not know — we will not believe — we will not submit — we must not be disturbed — therefore, yo ministers of Christ, be gone or we will persecute you. THE HOLY WAR. 99 it is once to dare to ofler to rouse the lion I)ifil)olus, when asleep in the town of jVlansoul. The recorder, whose name was Forget-good, he also added as followeth : Gentlemen, my lords, as you see, have with mild and gentle words answered your rough and angry speeches : they have, moreover, in my hearing, given you leave quietly 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 quiet 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 great advantage had been obtained over the captains. They also rang the bells, and made meny, and danced upon the walls. Diabolus also returned to the castle, and the lord- mayor 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 fellow) captain of the ward at that gate ; and put under his power sixty men, called Deaf-men; men advantageous for that service, forasmuch as they mattered no words of the captains, nor of the soldiers.* * How often do poor mistaken smners rejoice in their sins, and glory in their shame ! But small cause for joy have they, who reject the coun- sel of God against themselves. Miserable is the state of that man, whose prejudices shut his ears against the gospel of salvation, and who is deaf to all the calls of God. CHAPTER V. The captains resolve to give them battle. Tlie town resolutely resists, and the captains retire to winter quarters. Tradition, Human-wisdom, and Man's-invention enlist under Boanerges, but are taken prisoners, and carried to Diabolus; tliey are admitted soldiers for him under Captain Any-thing. Hostilities are renewed, and the town much molested. A famine and mutiny m Mansoul. They sound a parley. Propositions made and rejected. Understanding and Conscience quarrel with Incre- dulity. A skirmish ensues, and mischief is done on both sides. Now when the captams saw the answer of the great ones, and that they could not get a hearing from the old natives of the town, and that Mansoul was resolved to give the 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 be BORN AGAIN.* Thcu they souudcd the trumpet: then * 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, thmk 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. 100 THE HOLY WAR. 10 1 they in the town made the answer, with shout airaiiist shout, charge against charge, and so the hattle bi'gau. Now they in the town had planted upon the tower, over Ear-gate, two great guns, the one called High- mind, and the other Heady. Unto these two guns they trusted much; they were cast in the castle by Diabolus' founder, whose name was Mr. Pull-up; and mischievous pieces they were. But so vigilant and watchful were the captains when they saw them, that though sometimes their shot would go by their ears 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 Shaddai, and ^^ell enough to secure the gate ; but they had not much cause to boast of what execution they did, as from what follows w ill be gathered. The famous Mansoul had also some other small pieces in it, of 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 tower, and at Ear-gate; for they saw, that unless they could break open Ear-gate ; it would be but in vain to batter the wall. Now the Kind's captains had brought with them ^^ or o The seiilence several slinirs and two or three batterinc^ ana power of ii ' • I 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 skirmislies 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, 102 THE HOLY WAR. and at the said gate to make their entrance : but Mansoul stood it out so lustily, through the rage of Diabolus, the valour of the Lord Will-be-will, and the conduct of old Incredulity the mayor, and Mr. Forget-good, the recorder, that the charge and expense of that summer's >vars (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 hi their winter quarters.* Now in this war, you must needs think there was much loss on both sides, of which be pleased to take this brief account following. The King's captains, when they marched from the court to come against Mansoul to war, as they came crossing over the country, happened to light upon three young fellows that had a mind to go for soldiers. 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 captains, and proffered their service to Shaddai. The captains 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 hearing they were upon their march for such a design, they came hither on purpose to meet them, that they might be listed under their excel- lencies. Then Captain Boanerges, for that they * How long do sinners, frequently, resist the Holy Ghost in his word. Satan is unwilling to lose his prey, and unbelief is loath to submit. Ministers of the gospel may almost despair of success, yet must tliey persevere, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear." THE HOLY WAR. 105 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's men salUed out of the sally ports, or posterns of the town, and fell in upon the rear of Captain Boanerges' men, where these three fellows happened to be. So he took them prisoners, and away they carried them into the town; where they had not lain lono^ in durance, but it beo-an to be noised about the streets of the town, what three notable 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-wiU's men had done, and whom they had taken prisoners. Then Diabolus called for Will-be-will to know the certainty of this matter. So he asked him, and he told him. Then did the giant send for the prisoners, and when they were come, he demanded of them who they were, whence they came, and what they did in the camp of Shaddai; and they told him. Then he sent them into ward again. Not many days after, he sent for them to him again, and then he asked them if they Avould be willing to serve . him against their former captains ? They then told him, that they did not so mucli live by religion, 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 was one captain Any-thing, a great doer in the town of Mansoul, and to this Captain Any-thing did Diabolus send these men, 14 106 THE HOLY WAR. with a note under bis hand, to receive them into his company ; the contents of which letter were these : " Any-thing, my darhng, the three men that are the bearers of this letter, have a desire to serve me in the war, nor know I better to whose conduct to commit them, than to thine. Receive them therefore in my name, and as need shall require, make use of them against Shaddai and his men. Farewell." So they came, and he received them, and he made two of them sergeants; but he made Mr. Man's- Invention his standard bearer.* But thus much for this, and now to return to the camp. They of the camp did also some execution upon the town ; for they did beat down the roof of the new lord-mayor's house, and so laid him more open than he was before. They had almost (^ith a sling) slain my Lord Will-be-will outright; but he made shift to recover again. But they made a notable slaughter among the aldermen, for with only one shot they cut off six of them ; to wit, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Fury, Mr. Stand-to-lies, Mr. Drunk- enness, and Mr. Cheating, t They also dismounted the two great guns that stood upon the tower over Ear-Gate, and laid them flat in the dirt. I told you before, that the King's * Tradition, Human Wisdom, and Man'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. t 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 silenced. — " Heady and High-mind," that is, pride, is somewhat brought down. THE HOLY WAR. 107 noble captains had drawn off to their winter quarters, and had there intrenched themselves and their car- riages, so as with the best advantage to their Kinir, and the greatest annoyance to the enemy, they miglit 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, nor could they now go to their debaucheries with that quietness as in times past: for they had from the camp of Shaddai such frequent ^^ arm alarms ; yea, alarms upon alarms, first at one gate and then at another, and again at all the gates at once, that they were broken as to former peace : yea, they had their alarms so frequently, and that when the niffhts were at the longest, the weather O ° ' The effects of coldest, and so consequently the season convictions, uiou^rii , . I I . common, if abiding. most unseasonable, that that wniter was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Some- times the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirl the stones into the town. Some- times ten thousand of the King's soldiers would be running round the walls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting, and lifting up their voice for the battle. Sometimes again, some of them in the town would be wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the great molestation of the now lansuishing town of Mansoul. Yea, so distressed were they with those that laid siege against them, that I dare say Diabolus their king had iu these days his rest much broken. In those days, as I was informed, new thoughts, 108 THE HOLY WAR. and thoughts that began to run counter one to another, began to possess the minds of the men of the town of Mansoul. Some would say, "There is no hving thus." Others 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." And a fourth would come in with a fair speech, saying, "I doubt he will not receive us."* The old gentleman too, the recorder, that was Conscience SO bcforc Diabolus took Mansoul, he also speaks. began to talk aloud, and his words were 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, t Also thino;s began to grow scarce in Mansoul. Now the things that her soul lusted after departed from her. J Upon all her pleasant things there was a blast, and burning instead of beauty. Wrinkles now, and some shows of the shadow of death, were upon the inhabitants of Mansoul. And now, O how glad would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed * Further degrees of success ; the false peace, which before prevailed, is effectually disturbed by abiding convictions. Alarm follow^s alarm ; and some faint inclinations arise towards peace with God ; which, how- ever, the sinner begins to fear may not be practicable. t Conscience, which had long been unfaithful and silent, awakes from its lethargy, and begins to speak, yea, to cry aloud ; and conscience has a dreadful voice, more awful than thunder. I And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. Luke XV 14, 1.5. THE HOLY WAR. 109 quietness and satisfaction of mind, though joined with the meanest condition in the world!* The captains also, in the deep of winter, did send, by the mouth of Boanerges' trumpeter, a summons to Mansoul to yield up herself to the King, the great 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 invitation to do it under. Yea, so far as I could gather, the town had been surren- dered up to them before now, had it not been for the opposition of old Incredulity, and the fickleness of the thoughts of my Lord \\'ill-be-will. Diabolus also began to rave ; wherefore Mansoul, as to yielding, * A famine in Mansoul; — tl)e pleasures of sin begrin to fail. The case of tiie prodigal is iiere referred to. lie never thougiit of returning to his 110 THE HOLY WAR. 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 herself. The first time the trumpeter went, he went with words of peace; telling them, that the captains, the noble captains of Shaddai, pitied and bewailed the misery of the now perishing town of Mansoul, and were troubled to see them stand so much in the way of their own deliverance. 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 treasons, 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 them a little more roughly ; for, after sound of trumpet, he told them, that their continuing in their rebellion did but chafe and heat the spirit 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, since they had been so horribly profane, he did not know, father till he began to be in want. The dreary season of winter adds to the affliction : the summer of gaiety is gone ; the winter of affliction succeeds. Tliis affords a favourable opportunity to the ministers of Christ to renew their message, and press home on the mind the great concerns of salvation. But still Satan retains his power through the influence of unbelief TIIK HOLY WAR. Ill not certainly know, whether the captains were inclined to mercy or judgment. Only, said he, they commanded me to give you a summons to open the gates unto them : so he returned, and went into the camp. These three summonses, and especially the two last, so distressed the town, that they presently called a consultation, the result of which was this, that my Lord Will-be-will should go up to Ear-gate, and there, with sound 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 '' Tliey propound summons ; and would come to an agree- tonciinoMs of ment with them and with their Kintr Shaddai, upon such certain terms, articles, and pro- positions, 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 lord-mayor, and their Mr. Forget-good, with their brave Lord Will-be-will, 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, harbour, or the freedom that 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 and privileges; to wit, such as have formerly been 112 THE HOLY WAR. granted them, and that they have long Hved 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 them, without their own choice and consent. 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 demands, they made to them again, by their noble captain, the Captain Boanerges, this speech follow ing : ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, when I heard your trumpet sound for a parley with us, I can truly say, I was glad; but 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 provisos, and foolish cavils, 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 languishino^ and faintinoj fears. 1 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 pretends to have service for * Sinners, when alarmed by fears of hell, are sometimes willing' to become religious externally, provided they may retain their worldly lusts; they are ready to assume the form of godliness, but dislike its power. THE HOLY WAR. 113 Shaddai.* We do, therefore, jointly, and tliat \\\\\\ the highest disdain, refuse, and reject such tilings, 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.t Then cried out old Incredulity, the lord-mayor, and said. And who, being out of the hands of their enemies, as ye see we are now, will be so foolish as to put the staff out of their own hands into the hands of they know not whom ? I, for my part, will never yield to so unlimited a proposition. Do you know^ the manner and temper of their ^^.^,_^,.^^ ^^^^^ Kins ? 'Tis said by some, that he will be '^ profitable i.i O _ _ *' _ talk, but always angry with his subjects, if but the breadth speaks mischiev- of an hair they chance to step out of the way : and by others, that he requireth 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 matter j for if you once yield, you give up yourselves to another, and so * Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, havinsr this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nametli the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim. ii. 19. t Terms, like those proposed, can never be admitted by Jesus Christ; for it is his will, that "every one who nameth his ntiuic must depart from iniquity." 15 114 THE HOLY WAR. 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 Avill not cut off every one of us, and send out of his own country another new people, and cause them to inhabit this town?* This speech of the lord-mayor undid all, and threw flat to the ground their hopes of an accord : 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, Welcome, my Lord ; how went matters betwixt you to day? Then the Lord Incre- dulity (with a low congee) told him the whole of the matter, saying, Thus said the captains of Shaddai, and thus and thus said L The which, as it was told to Diabolus, he was very glad to hear ; and said. My lord-mayor, my faithful Incredulity, I have proved thy fidelity above ten times already, but never found thee false. I do promise thee, if w'e rub over this brunt, to prefer thee to a place of honour, 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 ; * Unbelief ever suggests hard thoughts of God, and represents his service as an intolerable burden. This is hateful to God, but pleaseth the devil. THE HOLY WAR. 115 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 favour, indeed : wherefore, to his habitation he goes in great state, and thinks to feed himself well enough with hopes, until the time came 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 Mansoul into a mutiny ; for while old Incredulity went into the castle, to congratulate with his lord on what had passed, the old lord-mayor, that was so before Diabolus came to the town, to -^,^y, ,. -, ,, The understaiid- wit, my Lord Understandmg, and the old n.gandcon«cii-..ce recorder Mr. Conscience, getting intelli- ''■^'" ,'° """^ ' O O conviction, aim set gence of what had passed at Ear-tjate """ ^°"' '" '^ '•"''- = ^ * bub. (for you must know that they might not be suffered to be at that debate, lest they 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 the reasonableness of the noble captains' demands, and Avith the bad consequences that would follow upon the speech of old Incredulity, the lord-mayor; to wit, how little reverence he showed therein, cither to the captains, or their King ; also how he implicitly charged them w ith 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 added, moreover, a supposition that he would 116 THE HOLY WAR. destroy us, when before he had sent us word that he would show us mercy? The multitude, being now possessed with the conviction of the evil old Incredulity had done, began to run together by com- panies in all places, and in every corner of the streets of Mansoul; and first 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 ! Would we were under the government of the captains, and of Shaddai their King ! * When the lord-mayor had intelligence that Mansoul was in an uproar, down he comes to appease the people, and thought to have quashed their heat with the bigness and show 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 place was too strong, so they failed of that. Then he, taking some courage, addressed himself out of a window to the people in this manner. Gentlemen, what is the reason that there is such an uproar here to day ? Then answered my Lord Understanding. It is even because thou and thy master have carried it not rightly, and as you should, to the captains of Shaddai ; for in three things you are faulty : First, * When tlie understanding is somewhat enlightened, and the con- science awakened, unbelief is in danger of destruction. There will then be a party in the soul on the Lord's side. This is called a mutiny. A blessed mutiny it is, when unbelief begins to be opposed, and the sweet hope of pardoning mercy cherished ; then, as the margin says, " Sin and tlie soul are at odds." THE HOLY WAR. 1 17 in that you would not let Mr. Conscience and nivself be at the hearing of your discourse. Secondly, in that you propounded such terms of peace to the captains Avhich could by no means be granted, unless the^^ 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 vanity before him, and so by conse- quence 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 showed us upon what conditions they would have received us to mercy, even undo all again with thy unsavoury, unseasonable, and ungodly speech. When old Incredulity had heard this speech, he cried out, Treason ! treason ! to your s,,. a,ui the soui arms! to your arms! O ye, the trusty ^""'''*- friends of Diabolus in Mansoul ! Understanding. Sir, you may put upon my words Avhat meaning you please, but I am sure the captains of such an high Lord as theirs is, deserved a better treatment at your hands. Then said old Incredulity, This is but little better. But, sir, quoth he, what I spake, I spake for my prince, for his government, and the quieting of the peoj)Ie, whom, by your unlawful actions, you have this day set to mutiny against us. Then replied the old recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, and said, Sir, you ought not thus to retort upon what my Lord Understanding hath said: it is evident enough that he hath spoken the truth, and that you are an enemy to Mansoul. Be convinced, then, of the evil of your saucy and mahiprrt 118 THE HOLY WAR. language, and of the grief that you have put the captains to ; yea, and of the damages that you have done to Mansoul thereby. Had you accepted of the conditions, the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war had now ceased about the town of Mansoul ; but that dreadful sound abides, and your want of wisdom in your speech has been the cause of it. 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. IncreduUty, Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and that you ought to demean yourself like a subject; and know ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day's work, he Mdll give you but little thanks for your labour.* Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding words, down come from the walls and gates of the town the Lord Will-be-will, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-pause, and several of the new made aldermen and burgesses ; and they asked the reason of the * What formidable obstacles lie in the way of a sinner's conversion to God. The understanding and conscience are warmly opposed by unbelief; and indeed, nothing less than Almighty grace can ever effect the work. THE HOLY WAR. 110 hubbub and tumult. And witli that every man began to tell his own tale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly. Then was silence commanded, ;ind the old fox Incredulity began to speak: My lord, (juoth he, here are a couple of peevish gentlemen, that have, as a fruit of their bad dispositions, and as I fear, through the advice of one Mr. Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against me this day; and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellion against our prince. COMMOTION IN THE TOWN. Then stood up all the Diabolonians that were present, and affirmed these things to be true. Now when they that took part with my Lord Understand- ing, and with Mr. Conscience, perceived that they were like to come bv the worst, for that force and 120 THE HOLY WAR. power was on the other side, they came in for their help and rehef ; so a great company was on both sides. Then they on Increduhty's side would have had the two old gentlemen presently away to prison ; but they on the other side said they should not. Then they began to cry up parties again : The Diabolonians cried up old Incredulity, Forget-good, the new aldermen, and their great one Diabolus : and the other party as fast cried up Shaddai, the captains, his laws, their mercifulness, and applauded their conditions and ways. Thus the bickerment went a while : at last they passed from 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 one Mr. Rash-head, a Diabolonian, that had his brains beaten out by one Mr. Mind, the Lord Will-be-will's servant: and it made me laugh to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled about in the dirt : for though a while since he was made a captain of the Diabolo- nians, 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 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 his neck. Much harm more was done on both sides: Till-: HOLY WAR. 121 but this must not be forootten, it was now a wonder to see my Lord Will-be-will so indill'erent 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.* * No small advantage is gained when sinful Rashness is destroyed, Prejudice thrown down into the dirt, and Indifference about religion discarded, while the Will, that before was wholly on the part of Satan, begins rather to take the other side. 16 CHAPTER VI. Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience imprisoned as authors of the disturbance. A conference of the besieging officers, who agree to peti- tion Shaddai for further assistance. The petition approved at court. Immanuel, the King's Son, is appointed to conquer the town. Marches with a great army, and surrounds Mansoul, which is strongly fortified against him. Now when the uproar was over, Diabolus sends for my Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience, and claps them both up in prison, as the ringleaders and managers of this most heavy and riotous rout in Mansoul. So now the town began to be quiet again, and the prisoners were used hardly; yea, he thought to have destroyed them, but that the present juncture did not serve for that purpose, for that war was in all their gates.* 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 war, to consult what was further for them to do. Now some said. Let us go up presently and fall upon the town But the greatest part thought, rather better 'twould be to give them another summons to yield ; and the reason why they thought this to be best, was, because that, * The efforts of an enlightened understanding and a renewed con- science cannot but be offensive to Satan, as threatening to subvert his authority in the soul ; but where the good work of grace is begun they cannot be destroyed. 122 THE HOLY WAR. 123 so far as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul now was more inclinable than heretofore. And if, said they, while some of them are in a way of incli- nation, we should by ruggedness give them distaste, we may set them further from closing with our sum- mons, than we would be willing they should.* Wherefore, to this advice they agreed, and called a trumpeter, put words into his mouth, set him his time, and bid him God speed. Well, many hours were not expired, before the trumpeter addressed himself to his journey. Wherefore, coming up to the wall of the town, he steered his course to Ear- gate ; and there sounded, as he was commanded. Then they that were within, came out to see w^hat was the matter, and the trumpeter made them this speech following : O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul! how long wilt thou love thy sinful simplicity ; and ye fools, delight in your scorning ? As yet despise you the offers of peace and deliverance ? As yet will ye refuse the golden offers of Shaddai, and trust to the lies and falsehoods of Diabolus ? Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you, that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him w ill yield you peace and comfort ? or that by ruflling language you can make him afraid as a grasshopper ? Doth he intreat you, for fear of you ? Do you think that you are 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 * Ministers should deal gently with awakened sinners. Tlieir great Master " will not break the bruised reed," nor should they. Roughness of treatment may occasion discouragement; gentleness attracts. 124 THE HOLY WAR. hinder the moon from giving her hght? Can you count the number of the stars, or stop the 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 bind their faces in secret? 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 authority. 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 stand, and knew not what answer to make : wherefore Diabolus forthwith appeared, and took upon him to do it himself; 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 summoner hath said, concerning the greatness of their king; by his terror you will always be kept in bondage, and so be made to sneak. Yea, how can you now, though he is at a distance, endure to thirds of such a mighty One? 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 grasshopper. 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, * The irresistible greatness, the inconceivable glory of God, especially when coupled with the astonishing condescensions of his grace, are con- siderations of a most awakening kind. It may well put a sinner to a stand when he reflects on tlie wonderful love of Christ in sending his ambassadors to beseech us in his stead, to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. v. 20. THE HOLY WAR. 125 how comes it to pass tliat the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved in all places where they come? None in the universe so unhappy as they, none so trampled upon as they. Consider, my Mansoul; would thou wert as loath to leave me, as I am loath 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.* Upon this speech, the town of Mansoul again hardened their hearts yet more against the captains of Shaddai. The thoughts of his holiness sunk them in despair; wherefore, after a short consultation, they (of the Diabolonians' party) sent back this word by the trumpeter : That, for their parts they were resolved to stick to their king, but never 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 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 oftener they were sent unto, to reconcile to Shaddai, the farther oiY they were, Hos. xi. 2. "As they called them, so they went from them," yea, though they called them to the Most High. * By the cruel artifices of Satan, tlie majesty and greatness of God, which should induce them to seek his favour, 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 ! 126 THE HOLY WAR. So they ceased to deal any more with them in The captains leave that way, and inchncd to think of another off to summons, ^^v. The caotains, therefore, gathered and betake them- '' ^ ' o selves to prayer, them.selves together, to have free confer- ence among themselves, to know what was yet to be done to gain the 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 Conviction, and said, My brethren, my opinion is this : First, that we continually play our slings into the town, and keep them in a continual alarm, molest- ing them day and night. By thus doing, we shall stop the growth of their rampant spirits : for a lion may be tamed by continual molestations. 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 showed our King the condition of Mansoul, and of affairs here, and have begged his pardon for our no better success, we will earnestly 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 majesty may not lose the benefit of these his good beginnings, 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 * Preachers of the gospel must be unwearied in their endeavours 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 ApoUos water, but God alone can give the increase. To him, therefore, they wisely apply for further assistance. THE HOLY WAR. 127 away to Shaddai with speed. The contents of the petition were thus : Most gracious and glorious King, the Lord of the best world and Builder of the town of Mansoul ; we have, dread Sovereign, at thy commandment, put our lives in jeopardy, 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 conditions of peace unto it.* But they, great King, set light by our counsel, and would none of our reproof. They were for shutting their gates, and for keeping us out of the town : they also 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-quarters, 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 * But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. Matt. xxii. 5. But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. Prov. i. 25. And op- press not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech. vii. 10—13. 128 THE HOLY WAR. "he sound of our summons as they ought, the people might have yielded themselves : but there were none but enemies there, nor any to speak in behalf of our Lord to the town : wherefore, though we have done as we could, yet Mansoul abides in a state of rebellion against thee. THE PETITION GIVEN TO MR. LOVE-TO-MANSOUL. 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 wilhng to THE HOLY WAR. 129 relinquish the war, for \\g arc for la}in<^ our bones against the place; but that the town of Mansonl may be won for thy Majesty. We also pray thy Majesty, for expedition in this matter, that, after conquest, we may be at liberty to be sent about otlier thy gracious designs. Amen. The petition, thus drawn up, was sent away witli haste to the King by the hand of that good man, Mr. Love-to-Mansoul. When this petition was come to the palace of the King, who should it be delivered to, but the King's Son? So he took it and read it; and because the contents of it pleased him well, he mended it, and also in some things added 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 Kino; : to whom when he had with obeisance delivered it, he put on authority, and spake to it himself.* Now the King, at the sight of the petition, was glad ; but how much more think you, when it was seconded by his Son ? It pleased him also to hear that his servants, who encamped against Mansoul, were so hearty in the work, and so steadfast in their resolves, and that they had already got some ground upon the famous town of Mansoul. W^herefore the Kinij called to him Immanucl his Son, who said, Here am I, my Father. Then said the Kink.-tli not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil ; rcjoiceth not in iniipiity, but rcjoiceth in the truth; beareth all thinsrs, believcth all thinirs, hopcth all things, cnduretli all tilings. Charity never fiiileth. 1 Cor. xiii. 4 — .'^. t Beliold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be yc, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt. x. 16. f Tliat ye be not slothful, but followers of them wIkj through fiitli and patience inherit the promises. Ileb. vi. 12. 5 When Jesus girds his sword upon his thigh to effect the ccr..iticst 134 THE HOLY WAR. But when they set out for their march, oh how the trumpets sounded, their armour ghttered, and how the colours waved in the wind ! The Prince's armour was all of gold, and it shone like the sun in the firma- ment. The captain's armour was of proof, and was in 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 deliverance of the town of Mansoul. Immanuel also, when he had thus set forward to go to recover the town of Mansoul, took with him, at the command of his Father, fifty-four The holy Bible _ . . containing sixty- battcriug 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. Then they took their journey to go to the 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 holy war. "Ride prosperously, gracious majesty, because of truth, meekness, and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." Psa. xlv. 4. * Reformades, an old word signifying Volunteers: the angels are in- tended, because "ministering spirits," who delight to explore the won- der? of redemption, and to serve the heirs of salvation. t The several books of the Old and New Testament, in number sixty- six, 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 pulling down the stronofholds of the devil. THE HOLY WAR. i;].") town of Mansou], and unto Mansoul they came. But when the old soldiers that were in the 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 Mansoul only, but they environed it round on every side, and beset it behind and before; so that now let Mansoul look which way it would, it saw force and power lie in siege against it. Besides, there were mounts cast up against it; the Mount Gracious was on the one side, and Mount 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 rest were conve- niently placed in several parts round about the town. Five of the best battering rams, 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 men of the town saw the multitude, and the soldiers that were come up against tiie place, and the rams and slings, and the mounts on which they were planted; together 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; for though before thev thought themselves sufficiently 136 THE HOLY WAR. 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 be- leaguered Mansoul, in the first place he hangs 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, continuing in their rebellion. 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 favourable signal of the prince. Then he commanded and they set the red flag upon that mount called Mount Justice. It was the red flaor of Captain Judgment, whose scutcheon was the burn- ing fiery furnace : also this stood waving before them in the wind for several 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 hanor out the black flasf of Defiance aojainst them, whose scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts. But as unconcerned was Mansoul at this, as at those * 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 falling for fear, not knowing what the end of these things will be. But the white flag sufficiently intimates the merciful designs of Immanuel. So, in preaching tlie gospel, mercy is the prominent object. THE HOLY WAll. 137 that went before. But when the Prinee saw that neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution ol" jucl)ii liow the captains of Shaddai behaved them- selves in the war. And first for Captain Boanerges (not to undervalue the rest,) he made three most fierce assaults, one after another, upon Ear-gate, to the shaking of the THE ADVANCE TO OPEN THE TOWN. posts thereof. Captain Conviction also made up as fast with Boanerges as possibly he could; and both discerning that the gate began to yield, they com- manded that the rams should still be played against it. Now Captain Conviction going up very near to the gate, was with great force driven back, and received three wounds in the mouth; and those thai THE HOLY WAR. 159 rode rcforinades went about to oncourafro ah^-.u. the captains. For the valour of the two captains made mention of before, the Prince sent for them to liis puMlion; and connnanded that awhile they should rest them- selves, and that with somewhat they should be refreshed. Care was also taken for Captain Conviction, that he should be healed of his wounds; the Prince also gave to each of them a chain of gold, and i)id them yet be of good courage. Nor did Captain Good-hope nor Captain Charity come behind in this most desperate fight, for they so well behaved themselves at Eye-gate that they had almost broken it quite open. These had also a reward from their Prince, as also had the rest of the captains, because 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 among the officers there was one Captain Boasting slain. This Boasting thought that nobody could have shaken the posts of Ear-gate, nor have shaken the heart of Diabolus. Next to him there was one Captain Secure slain. This Secure used to say, that the blind and lame in Mansoul were able to keep the gates of the town against Immanuers * The soul of man is assaulted by the ear. Boanerges, a faithful preacher of the gospel, boldly perseveres in declaring the truth of Gorl, seconded by Conviction ; who is here said to be wounded ; or, in other ■words — tliat conviction which was occasioned by the word of God, is resisted and driven back by the reluctant sinner, yet unwilling to yield to its dictates. Hope and charity, those amiable graces, present them- selves to the eye of the world in order to allure their souls. 160 THE HOLY WAR. army.* This Captain Secure did Captain Convictian cleave down the head with a two-handed sword, when he himself received three wounds in the mouth. 'm CAPTAIN SECURE SLAIK. Besides, there was one Captain Bragraan, a very desperate fellow, and he was captain over a bana of those that threw firebrands, 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 captain, but a great stickler to encourage * And the Jting and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the 'blind and the lame thou shall not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 2 Sam. v. 6. Till': IIOLV WAR. 161 Mansoul to rebellion, lie received a wound in the eye by the hand of one of Boanerges' 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 ;ill my life. He was not able to do as he was wont; and some say he 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 slain in the town, for many were maimed, wounded, and slain : f(jr 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. They fell also by the force of the shot that were sent by the ijolden slinjTs into the midst of the town of Mansoul. Of the townsmen, there was one Lovc-no-good ; he was a townsman, but a Diabolonian ; he also received his mortal wound in Mansoul, but he died not very soon. Mr. Ill-pause also, who came along with Diabnius when at first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, received. a grievous wound in the head. Some say that his 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 lied.* * Success now begins to crown these efforts of the gospel ministry. The sinner no longer boasts of his fancied virtue, strenerth and food n ess ; sin is no more bragged of, and gloried in; the word is now felt as well 21 162 THE HOLY WAR. Now when the battle w^as over, the Prince com- manded that yet once more the white flag should be set upon Mount Gracious, in sight of the town of Mansoul; to show that yet Immanuel had grace for the wretched town of Mansoul. When Diabolus saw the white flaor hunor out again, and knowing that it was not for him, but Mansoul, he cast in his mind to play another prank, to wit, to see if Immanuel would raise his siege and be gone, upon promise of reformation. So he comes down to the gate one evening, a good while after the sun was gone down, and calls to speak with Immanuel; who presently came down to the gate, and Diabolus saith unto him : Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flag, that thou art wholly given to peace and quiet, I thought meet to acquaint thee, that we are ready to accept thereof upon terms which thou mayest admit. I know that thou art given to devotion and that holiness pleases thee; yea, tha.t 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 Mansoul 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. as heard; and even the stubborn will of man begins to bend. These and other enemies of Christ are obliged to submit to tlie victorious wea- pons of his grace. In this state of things, the display of the white flag, or pardoning mercy, is peculiarly seasonable. Till': iioLv WAii. I(;:» 1. I will persuade Mansoul to receive thee lor their lord ; and I know that they will do it sooner, when they shall understand that I am thy deputy. 2. 1 will show them wherein they have erred, and that transgression stands in the way to life. 3. I will show them the holy law unto which they must conform, even that which they have broken. 4. I will press upon them the necessity of a refor- mation, according to law. 5. And moreover, that none of these things may fail, I myself, at my own proper cost and charge, will set up and maintain a sufficient ministry, besides lecturers, in Mansoul. 6. Thou shalt receive, as a token of our subjection to thee, continually, year by year, what thou shalt think fit to lay and levy upon us, in token of our subjection to thee.* Then said Immanuel to him, O full of deceit, how movable are thy w ays ! How often hast thou changed and re-changed, if so be thou mightcst still keep possession of my 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. And failing * It is by no means uncommon for persons under severe convictions of sin, and awful foars of hell, to determine on reformation, or mendinw their lives. This is agreeable to the first covenant, the terms of which are, "do, and live;" but not according to the new covenant of grace, which says — "believe, and live." Paul speaks with the most poignant grief of his countrymen the Jews, that, though they followed after right- eousness, they could not attain it, because they sought it by the works of the law, and that through ignorance of the righteousness of Christ, they went about to establish their own rigliteousness. See Romans ix. and X. Such is the vain attempt of many convinced sinners, who are willino- to be refonned, but not to be justified and saved by grace. 1G4 tfip: holy war. to deceive when thou showedst thyself in black, thou hast now transformed thyself into an angel of light, and vvouldst, 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 hast conscience to God, nor love to the town of Mansoul ; whence, then, should these thy sayings arise, but from sinful craft and deceit ? He that can, of list and will, propound ^xhat he pleases, and that therewith he may destroy them that believe him, is to be abandoned, with all that he shall say. But if right- eousness be such a beauty-spot in thine eyes now, how is it that wickedness was so closely stuck to by thee before ? But this by the bye. 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 righteousness thereof, will amount to no more, for the taking away of the curse from Man- soul, than just nothing at all ; for a law being broken by Mansoul, that had before, upon a supposition of the breach thereof, a curse pronounced against him for it of God, he can never, by his obeying the law, deliver himself therefrom. (To say nothing of what a reformation is like to be set up in Mansoul, when the devil is become the corrector of vice.) Thou knowest that all that thou hast now said in this matter is nothing but guile and deceit; and * And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of iight. 2 Cor. xi. 14. THE HOLY WAR. 105 as it was tlic first, so it is the last card that llioii hast to play. Many there he that discern ihec, when thou showest them tiiy cloven foot ; hut 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 I am come, that by me, and by what I have done 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. I am sent by my Father to possess it myself, and to guide it, by the skilfulness of my hands, into such a con- formity to him as shall be pleasing in his sight. I will, therefore, possess it myself; I will dispossess and cast thee out: I will set up mine own standard in the midst of them. I will also govern tlicni by new laws, new officers, new motives, and new ways ; yea, I will pull down this town, and build it again, and it shall be as though it had not been, and Jt shall be the glory of the whole universe.* * In this excellent answer of Immanucl we learn, that no self-righteous attempts to justify the soul by its reformation only, will be accented. To persuade convinced sinners to rest in this, to the neglect of Christ and his risrhteousncss, is a dangerous artifice of the devil, who thus "transforms iiimself uito an angel of light," 2 Cor. xi. 14. The sinner, having once broken the law, and tliereby incurred " the curse of the law,"''Gal. iii. 10, can derive no help from tlie law : but must look to Clir'ist the law fulfiller, for righteousness and reconciliation with (iod. A man may Ulk much of reforming his life, and say a great deal about 166 THE HOLY WAR. When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that he was discovered in all his deceits, he was confounded, and utterly put to a nonplus ; but having in himself the fountain of iniquity, 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 the noble Prince Immanuel. So then, now we must have another fio;ht before the town of Mansoul is taken. Come up then to the mountains, you that love to see military actions, and behold by both sides how the fatal blow is given; 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 to give battle one to another. Diabolus, as filled with despair of retaining in his hands the famous town of Mansoul, resolved to do what mischief he could (if indeed he could do any) to the army of the Prince, and to the famous town of Mansoul ; for alas ! it was not the happiness of the silly town of Mansoul that was designed by Diabolus, but the utter ruin and overthrow thereof, as now is enough in view. Wherefore he commands his officers that they should then, when they saw they could hold the town no longer, do it what 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 jus- tified by grace ; and our disposition is new also, being born again of the Spirit. THE HOLY WAR. 1G7 harm and mischief they could, rending and toariiiir men, women, and children;* for, said lie, wc had heltcr quite demolish the place, and leave it a ruinous heap, than that it should be an habitation for Iiinuanurl.t 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 show themselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians ; but favourable, merciful, and meek to the old inhabitants of Mansonl. 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 arms ; and did, as before, bend their forces against Ear-gate and Eye-gate. The word was then Mansoul is wox : 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. But, after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noble captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and bolts, wherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the Prince, were broken * And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of liiin : and ho was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up ; and he arose. Mark i.\. 2fi, 27. f When Satan can no longer maintiiin liis dominion in the soul, he will endeavour to disturb and distress it by temptations to despair, or to abominable vices, or by stirring up persecution against the striigfrling 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. 168 THE HOLY WAR. into a thousand pieces. Then did the Prince's trum- pets sound, the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat to his hold.* Well, when the Prince's forces had broke open the gate, himself came up, and did set up his throne in it ; also he set KARGATE BROKEN OPEN. his standard near it, upon a mount that his men had before cast up to place the mighty slings thereon. * Thus was the promise fulfilled, Isa. xxix. 18. " In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book ;" and xxx. 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 straight, 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 " hearing ear " U[X)n every reader. THE HOLY WAR. 169 The mount was called Mount Hcarwell ; there tliere- fore the prince abode, to wit, liard by tlie going in at the gate. He commanded also that the golden shngs should yet be played upon the town, especially against the castle, because for shelter thither was Diabolus retreated. Now from Ear-gate the street was straight, even to the house of him who was the recorder before Diabolus took the town ; and hard by his house stood the castle, which Diabolus for a long time had made his irksome den. The captains, therefore, quickly cleared that street by the use of their slings, so that way was made up to the heart of the town. Then the Prince com- manded that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, and Captain Judgment, should forthwith march up the town to the old gentleman's gate, conscience. Then 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 that was almost as strong as the castle.) Batteringrams they took also with them, to plant against the castle gates. When they were come to the house of Mr. Conscience, they knocked and demanded entrance. Now the old gentleman, not knowing as yet fully their design, kept his gates shut all the time of this fight. Wherefore 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, and as well as he could, with quivering lips, he asked who was there. Bo- anerges answered. We are the captains and com- 22 170 THE HOLY WAR. manders 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 liiil CASTLK OF DIABOLUS. shake : this made the old gentleman tremble the more, yet durst he not but open the gate. Then the King's forces marched in, namely the three brave captains mentioned before. Now the recorder's house. THE HOLY WAR. 171 was a place of much convenience for Imnianuel, not only because it was near to the castle and stronjr, but also because it was large and lionted ll»e cnstle, the den where now Diabolus was; for he was now afraid to come out of his hold. As for Mr. Recorder, the captains carried it very reservedly to him : as yet he knew nothing of the great designs of Iminanucl; so that he did not know what judgment to make, nor what would be the end of such thunderino- beirinnin« wi to nr.y other power than that of invincible grace. Then, mdced, Uiere is joy ni heaven. 23 178 THE HOLY WAR. Joseph's brctliren his to thein, even all the quite contrary way : for, thought they, if Inimanuel loved us, he would show it to us by word or carriage ; but none of these he does; therefore Immanuel hates us. Now if Inimanuel 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 as 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, Avhen 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 wished a thousand times over, that he would become their prince and captain, and would become their pro- tector. They would also talk one to another of the comeliness of his person, and how nuich 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 all manner of extremes. Yea, through the working of them * Jesus Christ is truly glorious; tlie chief among' ten tliousand, and altogether lovely, but converted sinners do not always enjoy great com- fort at first. Sense of sin, and fear of his resentment may keep them low : yet tliey cannot but admire Inunanuel, and heartily desire he may be tiie lortl of their hearts. 'J'lll-: IlOl.V WAR. 179 backward and forward, Mansoul bocamo a?- ;i bull tossed, and as a rollinir tliinir before a wbirlwi.id. Now wben he was come to the castle ^^ates, be commanded Diabolus to appear, jiikI to siirrciidcr himself into his hands. But, oh, Ikjw loath was -•■'W'; DIABII1.US sTRiriT-n iir iiis armoir. the beast to appear! ITow be stuck af it. b..w he shrunk! Ibnv he cnu-r«l! Vrl out l.r .Mn.e to the Prince. Then Iiuu.auucl c.unu.au.l.-.l, :m.l they took Diabolus and bouiul buu ta^t ... rbaius, the better to reserve him to tl.r jiKl-nMUt that Ur. had appointed for him. Uut Diabolus stood up to 180 THE HOLY WAR. intreat for himself, that Immanuel would not send him into the deep, but sutler him to depart out of Mansoul in peace. When Immanuel had taken him and bound him in chains, he led him into the market place, and there before Mansoul stripped him of 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 sounded amain ; the captains also shouted, and the soldiers sang for joy. Then was Mansoul called upon to behold the beginning of 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 Mansoul and before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place he commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels, Eph. iv. Then leaving some of his forces, to wit. Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, as a guard for the castle gates, that resistance might be made on his behalf (if any that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an attempt to possess it) he rode in triumph over him quite through the town of Mansoul, and so out at and before the 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 Immanuel's camp, when they saw the tyrant bound by the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to his chariot wheels. And they said, He hath led captivity captive; he hath spoiled principalities and powers: Diabolus TIIK HOLY WAR. 181 is subjected to the |)o\ver of liis sword, and in.idc the object of all derision. Those also that rode reformades, and tliat canw; down to see the battle, shouted with that frreatncss of voice, and sunir with such melodious notes, that they caused them that dwelt in the hint pniy r and ha|)(n' peace. 184 THE HOLY WAR. in thy sight, and remember not against us 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 hve in thy 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 at his hand, but sent him away with silence. This still afflicted the town of Mansoul ; 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 petition, which was much after the form and method of the former. But when the petition was drawn up, by whom should they send it, was the next question; for they would not send it by him by whom 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 Captain Conviction their messenger with it ; but he said, that he neither durst nor would petition Immanuel for traitors, nor be to the Prince an advocate for rebels. Yet withal, 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 THE HOLY WAR. 1«5 they sent for Mr. Desires-awake. Now Iw; du.lt in a very mean cottage in Mansoul ; .•iiul Im; (•.•imc at his neighbours' request. So they t()li». to the gates of the prison, they told the first j)nrt of Immanuel's speech to the j)ris(mers ; to wit, how he reflected upon their disloyalty to his Father .-iikI hhuself, and how they had chosen and closed with 200 THE HOLY WAR. Diabolus and fought for him, hearkened to him, and been ruled by him : but had despised him ana his men. This made the prisoners look pale; but the messengers proceeded, and said. He the Prince said moreover, that yet he would consider your petition, and give such answer thereto as would stand with his glory. 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 some of their eyebrows. Now there was in the company a notable sharp-witted fellow, a man of 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 that he said unto you? Then they paused awhile, but at last they brought out all, saying. The Prince ordered us to bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners down to him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and Captain Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they should hear further from 'him. The3^ said also, that when the Prince had commanded them so to do, he im- mediately 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 with one voice they set up a cry which reached up to the heavens. This done, each of the THE HOLY WAR 201 three prepared himself to die (and the Uccovdrv .aid unto them, This ^vas the thin- that I c„......i..„.. feared) for they concluded, that to-morrow, 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 THE HRlSONtllS I'HKJ'ABING FDH DEATH. all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that niirlit in mourninfr, and sack- cloth and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time Avas come to (fo down before the Prinro, dressrd themselves in niouriiin^- attir.-. \\itli ropc^ upon flicir heads. The whole town of Mansoul also showed themselves upon the wall, all clad in mourning •2ti 202 THE HOLY WAR. weeds, if perhaps the Prince with the sight thereof might be moved with compassion. But, Oh, how the busy-bodies, that were in the town of Mansoul, Van, thoughts. HOW conccmed themselves ! They ran here and there through the streets of the town by com- panies, crying out as they ran in tumultuous wise, one after one manner, and another the quite contrary to the almost utter distraction of Mansoul.* iHE prisom;rs going to the camp. Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go down to the camp, and appear before the Prince. And thus was the manner of their going down: * Tlie godly sorrow that now prevailed in Mansoul, was only a prelude to joy unspeakable and full of glory. This sort of " weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." These poor prisoners went forth weeping, bearing precious seed, but were soon to return with joy, bringing their sheaves with them. THE HOLY WAK. 'Jo;? Captain Boanerges went witli a <,Miard before tlicm, and Captain Conviction came behind, and tlie pris- oners went down bound in chains in tlie midst. So I say, the prisoners went in tlie midst, and tlie ^ruard went with flying colours behind and belore, but the prisoners went with drooping spirits. Or more par- ticularly, thus : The prisoners went down all in mourning: they put ropes upon themselves, they went on smiting themselves on their breasts, but durst not lift uj) their eyes to heaven. Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul till they came into the midst of the Prince's army, the sight and glory of which greatly heightened their affliction. Nor could they now longer forbear but cry out aloud, O unhaj)py men ; O wretched men of Mansoul ! Their chains still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable. So when they were come to the door of the Prince's pavilion, they cast themselves prostrate upon the place : then one went in and told his Lord, that the prisoners were come down. The Prince then ascended a throne of state, and sent for the prisoners in; who, when they came, trembled before him ; also they covered 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 tlic Captain Boanerges, Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet. Then they stood trembling before him ; and he said, Are you the men that heretofore were the servants of Shaddai ! And they said. Yes, I>ord, yes. Then said the Prince again, Are you the men that suflered yourselves to be corrupted and defiled 204 THE HOLY WAR. by that abominable one Diabolus ? And they said, We did more than suffer it, Lord ; for we chose it of our own mind. The Prince asked further, say- ing. Could you have been content that your slavery should have continued under his tyranny as long as you had lived ? Then said the prisoners. Yes, Lord, yes; for his ways were pleasing to our flesh, and we were grown aliens to a better state. And did you, said he, when I came up against this town of Mansoul, 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 my hands, 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 they had aught to say for themselves, why the sentence, which they confessed they had deserved, should not be passed upon them. And they said. We can say nothing. Lord ; thou art just, for we have sinned. Then said the Prince, And for what are these ropes on your heads? The Sins. prisoners answered. These ropes are to bind us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight.* So he further asked If all the men in the town of Mansoul were in this con- fession, as they ? And they answered. All Powers of the , _ _ soul. the natives. Lord : but for the Diabolonians, corrupiions and tjiat camc iuto our town when the tyrant lusts. . "^ got possession of us, we can say nothing for them. Then the Prince commanded that an herald should * His own iniquities sliall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. Prov. v. 22. THE HOLY WAR. oo;, be called; and that he should in the midst and throughout the camp of Imnianuel proclaim, and that with the sound of trumpet, that iho Prince, the Son of Shaddai, had in his Father's name, and f(jr his Father's glory, gotten a perfect conquest and victory over Mansoul; and that the prisoners should follow him, and say, Amen. So this was done as he had commanded.* And presently the music that was in the upper region sounded melodiously. The captains that were in the camp shouted, and the soldiers 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 and stood trembling. And he said unto them. The sins, tres- passes, and iniquities, that you, with the whole town of Mansoul, have from time to time committed ajrainst my Father and me, I have power and commandment from my Father to forgive to the town of Mansoul, and do forgive you accordingly. And having so said, he gave them written in parchment, and sealed ■with seven seals, a large and general pardon, co.n- * The questions proposed by Immanucl were well formed to brin^ out that clear and full confession of sin, and the desert of it, which appears in the answers. Tlieir lanjjfuage is that of truty humbled and penitent souls. Happy is the reader who makes their words really his own. This is the Lord's doin^r and a certain token for good. They who thn.9 "confess and forsake their sin shall find mercy," and in this case. God is faithful to his promise, and just to his Son, to forgive all our sins. When the soul is brought into this st^ite, the design of G.xl in tliose 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 iJiiF event. 206 THE HOLY WAR. manding 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, throughout the whole town of Mansoul. Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourning weeds, and gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.* Then he gave to each of the three, jewels of gold and precious stones; and took away their ropes and put chains of gold about their necks, and ear- rings in their ears. Now the prisoners, when they heard the gracious words of Prince Immanuel, 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, to stand up under it. Yea, my Lord Will-be-will swooned outright, but the Prince stept to him, put his everlasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him b6 of good cheer, for all should be performed ac- cording 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, favour, and compassion to you; and I charge you that you, Mr. Recorder, tell the town of Mansoul, what you have heard and seen. Then were their fetters broken to pieces before tlieir faces, and cast into the air, and their steps * To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy tor mourning-, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: that they might be called trees of righteousness, the plant- ing of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isa. Ixi. 3. THE HOLY WAR. 'JOT were enlarged under them. Then tlicy f.-ll doNvn .-.t the feet of the Prince, kissed them, and wetted tliem with tears; they also cried out ^^ilh ;i minhtv strorijr voice, saying, Blessed be the glory of the f.«,r,l lr.„n this place! So they were hid rise iij), and no to the town and tell Mansoul what the Prince had d.Mie. He commanded also, that one with j)ij)c and tahor should go and play Lefore them all the uay mio -,:> TIIE TROOPS KNTKRIM. THE CA.STI.E. the town of Mansoul. Then was fullilled what they never looked for, and ti.ey were made to possess AN hat they never dreamt of.* The Prince also called * What a chan£>'e is eftrctcd I "W'lioii the I.oiil tiniird n;j-ain the captivity ol' Zion, we were like thcni lliat dream. Then wojs our tnuulh 208 THE HOLY WAR. for the noble Captain Credence, and commanded that he and some of his officers should march before the When faith and noblcmcn of Mansoul, with flying colours pardon meet to-'..i, tt i j. r^ gether judgment ^to thc towu. Hc gavc also uuto Cap- and execution de- ^^\^ Crcdcncc a charoc, that about the part from the _ ^ heart. timc that the Recorder read the general pardon in the town of Mansoul, that at that very time he should with flying colours march in at Eye-gate, with his ten thousand at his feet ; and that he should so go until he came by the high street of the town, up to the castle gates ; and that himself should take possession thereof against his Lord came thither. He commanded moreover, that he should bid Captain Judgment and Captain Execution leave the stronghold to him, and withdraw from Mansoul, 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.* 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 glad." " Who is lilie unto thee, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sinl" "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity; blessed is the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Rom. iv. 6. * "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." CHAPTER IX. The liberated prisoners return to Mansoul, wliere they arc received with great joy. The inhabitants request Immanuel to take up his resi- dence among them. He consents. Makes a triumphal entry amidst tlie shouts of the people. The town is new-modelled, and the image of Shaddai erected. Well, I told you before liow the prisoners were entertained by the noble Prince Immanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe and tal)or going before them. And now you must tliiiik that those of the town, that had all this while waited to hear of their death, could not but be exercised ^vith sadness of mind, and with thoughts that prickcnl like thorns. Nor could their thoughts be kept to any one point; the wind blew with them all this while at great uncertainties, yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been disquieted with a shaking band. But at last, as they, with many a long look, looked over the wall of Mansoul, they thought they saw some returning 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 hearts were surprised with wonder, especially when they perceived also in what equipage, and with what honour they were sent home ! They went down to the camp in black. 27 .i(j'j 210 THE HOLY WAR. 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 their 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 down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again with pipe and tabor playing before them. So as soon as they came to Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansoul adventured to give a shout : and they gave such a shout as made the captains in the Prince's army leap at the sound thereof. 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 splendour. They looked for nothing but the axe and the block; but behold joy and gladness, comfort and consolation, and such melodious notes attending them, that it was sufficient to make a sick man well.* So when they came up, they saluted each other with 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 Mansoul? said they. Then answered them the Recorder and my Lord-mayor : Oh ! tidings ! glad tidings ! good tidings of good, and of great joy to * Who, indeed, can blame the holy joy of pardoned souls ? When the Philippian jailor believed, " he rejoiced with all his house ; " and when Samaria received the gospel, "there was great joy in that city." The author refers to Isa. xxxiii. 24, " The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick ; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity:" — as if nothing could be complained of, if pardon be obtained. THE HOLY WAR. 'JIl DOor Mansoul! Then they gave another .shout that made the earth ring again. After this, they inquired yet more particularly how things went in tlic c.inii), and what message they had from Lnmanuel to tin; town. So they told them all passages tliat had happened to them at the camp, and every thinir that the Prince did to them. This made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the I'rince Immanuel. Then they told them what they had re- ceived at his hands for the whole town of Mansoul, and the Recorder delivered it in these words: Pardon, pardon for Mansoul! and this shall Man- ouiejoyipnr- soul know to-morrow. Then he com- ^°"'^'»'" manded, 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 Mansoul's happiness, was then all that Mansoul had to do: and this was the burden of all their song. Oh more of this at the risincr of the sun! more of this to-morrow! Who thought yesterday, one would say, that this day would have 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 he jndgrd of their judge, were by his mouth acquitted; not for that they were innocent, but of the Prince's mercy, and sent home with pipe and tabor. But is this 212 THE HOLY WAR. the common custom of princes? Do they use to show such kind of favours to traitors ? No ! this is only pecuUar 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 townfolk were waiting for them : and when they came, they came in that attire and in that 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-be-will, drew down to Mouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the market 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 of the matter was great. Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and, first beckoning with his hand for silence, he read out with a loud voice the pardon. But when he came to these words, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, pardoning iniquity, transgres- sions, and sins ; and to them, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven, dec. Exod. xxxiv. Matt, xi. 31, they could not forbear leaping for joy : for this you must know, that there was conjoined herewith * Pardoned sinners will ever magnify the exceeding riches of divine grace. It cannot but appear marvellous beyond expression. In vain the labouring soul attempts to measure the breadth, the length, the depth, and the height of the love of Christ; it surpasses knowledge. "Is this the manner of man, O Lord !" and what more can we say 1 THE HOLY WAR. 213 every man's name in Mansoul; also the seals of the pardon made a brave show.* When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, the townsmen ran npon the walls of the town, leaped and skipped thereon for joy, and bowed them- selves seven times with their faces towards Im- manuel's pavilion, and shouted aloud for joy, and said, Let Immanuel live for ever ! Then order was given to the young men in Man- soul, that they should rinir the bells for , , ^ ~ LjVfly and wurin joy; so the bells rang, the people sung, """'?''"'• and the music played in every house in Mansoul. When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners of Mansoul with joy, and pipe and tabor, he com- manded his captains, with all the field oHicers 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 showed, 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 di-^- played, half of them upon Mount Gracious, and half of them upon Mount Justice. lie connnandcd also, that all the captains should show . . * Failh Will ii„i l.e themselves m then* complete harness, and »iic..t whm Mim- that the soldiers should shout for jov. ^" '**"" * Believers are said to be "sealed to the day of redein|)tion," — "scalcil with the Holy Spirit;" the Spirit is himself the seal. "God's sealing of believers (saith Dr. Owen) is his gracious communication of the Holy Ghost unto them, so to act his divine power in them, as to enable Uiem unto all the duties of their holy calling, evidencing them to be accepted with him, both to them.*elves and others, and asserting their preser\ation to eternal salvation. Tlie effects of this sealing, are gracious operations 214 THE HOLY WAR. Nor was Captain Credence, though in the castle, silent on such a day, but he from the top of the hold showed himself with the sound of trumpet to Mansoul, and to the Prince's camp. Thus have I shown you the manner and way that Immanuel took to recover the town of Mansoul from under the hand and power of the tyrant Diabolus. Now when the Prince had completed these outward ceremonies of his ioy, he again com- The Prince dis- . "^ . plays his graces maudcd that his captams and soldiers should show unto Mansoul some feats of war. So they presently 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 ri-ght and left wings, and twenty things more, and then were all as they were again, with that aptness, that they took, yea ravished, the hearts that were in Mansoul to behold it. But add to this, the handling of their arms, the managing of their weapons of war, were mar- vellous taking to Mansoul and me.* 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 of the Spirit in and upon believers; but the sealing itself is the com- munication of the Spirit unto them." * " The prince displays his graces ;"' — they are shown the use of them in that warfare which must now begin. Faith, or Credence, shows him- self from the castle, the heart, where he has now taken his residence, that Christ may dwell in the heart by faith. TIIH HOLY WAR. 2\'i abundant favour, and to beg that it would pliasd his Grace to couie unto Mansoul with lii • "»"ii. and TlIK AKMV IIEVIKWKO. there to take up tlieir quarters for ever. And tins they did in the most humble manner, bowing them- 216 THE HOLY WAR. selves seven times to the ground before him. Then said he, " All peace be to you." So the 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 battcringrams and TOnCIIING THE GOLDEN SCEPTUE. 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 and captain in Mansoul forever: THE HOLY WAR. 217 yea, govern thou also according to all the f,„y „„,, h,,,,, ,„ desire of thy soul, and make thou gov- ".M""*""' ernors and princes under thee of thy captains .iikI men of war, and we will become thy servants, .iiid thy laws shall be our direction. They added, moreover, and prayed his Majcsiv to consider thereof; for, said they, if now, after :ill 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 Inmianuel, if thou ^^hoiildst depart from us now, after thou hast done so niiich good for us, and showed 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 second 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 people. Besides, Lord, we do not know but that to this day many Diabolonians may be yet lurking in the town of Mansoul ; and tin y will betray us, when thou shalt leave us, into tin; hands of Diabolus again; and who knows >Nliat designs, plots, and contrivances, have passed l»etui\t them about these things already? Loath we are to fall again into his horrible hands. Wherefore let it please thee to accept of our palace for thy place of residence, and of the houses of the best 2b 218 THE HOLY WAR. men in our town for the reception of thy soldiers, and their furniture.* Then said the Prince, If I come to your town, will you suffer me further to prosecute that which is in mine heart against mine enemies and yours? yea, will you help me in such undertakings ? They answered. We know not what we shall do; we did not think once that we should have been such traitors to Shaddai as we have proved to be. What then shall we say to our Lord? 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 warlike soldiers over us; yea, let him conquer us with his love, and overcome us with his grace, and help us, as he 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 done, 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 ! But, Lord, let light go before, and let love come after: yea, take us by the hand, and lead us by thy counsels; and let this always abide upon us, that all things shall be for * 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 show how changeable a creature is man. THE HOLY WAR. 1>I!) the best for thy servants, und come to our Mausoul, do as it pleaseth thee. Or, Lord, conic to tuecn them, the townsmen, having solemnly ended their ceremony, returned to their place again. 1 Sam. xvii. 36, 37, where the stripling David boldly undertakes to en- counter Goliath, the Philistine giant : " Thy servant, (said he to Saul) slew both tlie 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 inij Fhilistine." 260 THE HOLY WAR. Immanuel also appointed them a day wherein he would renew their charter, yea wherein he would renew and enlarije it, mendincj several faults therein, that Mansoul's yoke might be yet more easy.* And this he did without any desire of theirs, even of his own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen their old one, he laid it by, and said, " Now that which decayeth and w axeth 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 : I, 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, First, Free and full forgiveness of all wrongs, injuries, and offences, done by them against my Father, me, their neighbours, or themselves. :|: Secondly, I do give them the holy law, and my testament, with all therein contained, for their ever- lasting comfort and consolation. § * In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away. Heb. viii. 13. Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. xi. 28 — 30. ■f The new charter is the covenant of grace, which is establislied on better promises than the old dispensation. It contains many great and precious privileges here judiciously enumerated. \ For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. viii. 12. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John i. 9. ^ For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me ; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from THE HOLY WAR. 261 Thirdly, I do also give them a portion of the self-same grace and goodness that dwells in my F'ather's heart and mine.* Fourthly, I do give, grant, and bestow upon tiu'in freely the world, and what is therein, for their good.t And they shall have that power over it, as shall stand with the honour 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 Mansoui only. Fifthly, I do give and grant them leave, and free access to me in my palace 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.:]: Sixthly, I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoui with full power and authority to seek out, take, enslave and destroy, all, and all manner thee, and tliey have believed that thou didst send me. I Iiave a^iven them thy word ; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John xvii 8, 14. Having there- fore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 1. * Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises ; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. i. 4. f Therefore let no man glory in men : for all things are yours ; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come ; all are yours. 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22. I Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for UP, through tlie veil, that is to say, his flesh. Heb. x. 19, 20. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek and yc sliali find ; knock, and it sliall be opened unto you. ^latt. vii. 7. 262 THE HOLY WAR. of Diabolonians, 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 excellent privileges thereof: but that all the grants, privileges, 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.* But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country or kingdom soever, shall be debarred a share therein. So when the town of Mansoul had received their gracious charter (which in itself is infinitely more large, than by this lean epitome is set before you,) they carried it to audience, that is, to the market- place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all the people, t This being done, it was had back * That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Eph. iv. 22. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication, unclean- ness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry : For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the chil- dren of disobedience : In the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these ; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to an- other, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Col. iii. 5 — 9. t Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God ; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 2 Cor. iii. 3. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel ; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer. xxxi, 33. For this is the covenant that I THE HOLY WAR. 26:^ to the castle gates, and there fairly engraven uj)on the doors thereof, and laid in letters of gold, to tlie end that the town of Mansoul, with all the pcoj)le thereof, might always have it 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 Immanucl. 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 intended to establish among them ; such a ministry, that might open unto them, and instruct them in the things that concerned their present and future state; For, said he, you, of yourselves, 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, t will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Ix)rd ; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Heb. viii. 10. * Well may tlie Christian exult in the blessings of the new and ever- lasting covenant, which is " ordered in all things and sure." The world, life, death, things present, and things to come, all are ours, if we are Christ's. This charter was set upon the castle-gates; may it be in- scribed, in indelible characters, on our hearts; while every power of the soul is filled with joy, and sin, abashed, hides its head. ■j- O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walkelh to direct his stops. Jer. x. 23. But the natural 264 THE HOLY WAR. At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought The common good it to the pcople, the whole town came thoughts. running together (for it pleased them well, as whatever the Prince now did, pleased the people,) and all with one consent implored his majesty, that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them, as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that they might be doc- umented in all good and wholesome things. So he told them he would grant their requests ; and would estab- lish 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 The Holy Spirit, of uo Icss quallty and dignity than my Father and I.* And he is the lord chief secretary of my Father'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 Father, or as I myself am. Indeed he is one with us in nature, 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 't is he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and supernatural things : he, man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolish- ness unto him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii. 14. * For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man : but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. i. 21. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit ; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep tttngs of God. 1 Cor. ii. 10. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John i. 1. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one. 1 John v. 7. THE IIOLV WAR. 205 and he only it is, that knows the ways and methods of my Father's court; nor can any, like him, sIkjw how the heart of my Father is at all times, in all things, upon all occasions, towards Mansoul ; for, "as no man knows the things of a man, but the spirit of a man which is in him,"* 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 your remembrance, and that can tell you things to come. This teacher, therefore, must have the pre-eminence (both in your aflections and judgment) before your other teacher ; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also the great dexterity that 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.t This person can put life and vigour into all he says ; * But the Comforter, which is tlie Holy Ghost, whom tlie Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John xiv. 26. Ilowbeit, when he, tlie Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall liear, that shall he- speak: and he will shew you tilings to come. Jolm xvi. 13. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you : but as the same anointing teacheth yoa of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John ii. 27. f For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in jKDWcr, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost. 1 Thess. i. 5, 6. 34 2G6 THE HOLY WAR. yea, and can also put it into your hearts.* This The office of the pGrsou Can make seers of you, and can Holy Spirit. malvc you tell what shall be hereafter, t By this person you must frame all your petitions to my Father and me; and without his advice and counsel first obtained, let nothing enter into the town or castle of Mansoul, 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 battle array, that will distress you more than if twelve legions should be sent from my Father's court to make war upon you. * And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain propliet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Acts xxi 10, 11. + But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Jude 20. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perse- verance and supplication for all saints. Eph. vi. IS. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Rom. viii. 16. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; He that overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, 29. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. iv. 30. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit : therefore he was turned to bo tlieir enemy, and he fought against them. Isaiah Ixiii. 10. THE HOLY WAR. 2(>7 But (as I said) if you sliall hearken unto liini, and shall love him; if you shall devote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to have convcrs(', and to maintain communion with him ; you shall find him ten times better than is the whole workl to any. 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 orcntic- man, who afore had been the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him, that forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well spoken, and could pertinently deliver to them his masters 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 be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai my Father, for those things knoweth no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father's secretary only. Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the lord secretary is a native with my Father ; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge of the laws and customs * 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 him all spiritual wisdom proceeds; by him the ordinary pastors of the church are instructed, and by his power alone their ministrations become useful. His gracious offices and influences are here charmingly stated. 268 THE HOLY WAR. of the corporation, so he of the things and will of my Father. Wherefore, oh Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee minister 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 informa- tion ; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration must give him understanding.* 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 content with thy station. I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on earth, in such things of which I have made mention before. And take thou power to teach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and chastise- ments, if they shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments. And Mr. Recorder, because thou art old and feeble, therefore I give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to my fountain, my Christ's Body, couduit, aud there to drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine.t Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thy heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It will also lighten thine eyes and strengthen thy * But there is a spirit in man ; and the inspiration of the Abnighty giveth them understanding. Job xxxii. 8. + How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God. Heb. ix. 14. CONSCIENCE MADE MINISTER 269 THE HOLY WAR. 271 memory for tlie 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 otHcc 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 care towards you. I have added to all that is past this mercy, to appoint you preachers, the most noble secretary, to teach you in all sublime mysteries ; 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 have 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 the rest of the town of Mansoul, and, as they have opportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of the whole. These thino-s I would have you observe and do: f<»r it is for your life, and the lengthening of your days. And one thing more to my beloved town of Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon, anv thing of that which he hath in conHuission to teach you as to your trust and expectation of the next world : of the next world, I say, for I |)urj)osc to o-ive another to Mansoul when this with them is worn out, but for that you must wholly and solely 272 THE HOLY WAR. have recourse to, and make stay upon liis doctrine, that is your teacher after the first order. 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 receive 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.* Now after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town of Mansoul, he proceeded to give the elders of the corporation a necessary caution ; to wit, how they should 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 cap- tains, 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 Diabolonians, for the preserva- tion 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 and their men ; since they are picked and choice men, men chosen out of many for the * Admirably judicious is this charge to the Rev. Mr. Conscience, 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 authority, and permitted to chastise the soul when it offends. But conscience itself needs purifying by the blood of Christ, and refreshment also from the same source. Heb. ix. 14. THE HOLY WAPv. 27?, good of the town of Mansoul. I say, I orace.picke..rr„n. charge you, that you carry it not un- ">■"■""" v'rtu.«. towardly to them ; for thougli they have the hearts and faces of hons, when at any time they shall he called forth to en«rao[e and fijjrht uith the Kintr's foes, and the enemies of the town of Mansoul, yet a httle 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 oHicc of love which with all their hearts they are willing to do (and will do also when well and in health,)* slight them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthen and encourage them, though Aveak and ready to die; for they are your fence and your guard, your walls, gates, locks and bars.t And although, when they are weak they can do but little, but ratlur need to be helped by you, than that you should then expect great things from them; yvt when mcII, * Wherefore lifl up tlie hands wliich hang down, and the feeble knees, Heb. xii. 12. Strengthen ye tlie weak hands, and confirm tlie feeble knees. Isa. xx.xv. 3. t Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die : for I have not found tiiy works perfect botbre God. Rev. iii. 2. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn thern that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all nx-n. 1 Tii<\ ' J Ghost ; but he u not." Then were they more confirmed in grieved, ace. * Carnal-security is such an enemy to the soul, that he should be utterly destroyed. When conscience is roused to oppose this deceitful foe, the business will be done ; and measures will be taken to procure, if possible, the return of forfeited blessings. f I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was pone: my soul failed when he spake; I soufrht him, but I could not find Iiim : I called him, but he gave me no answer. Song v. 6 38 298 THE HOLY WAR. the truth of Mr. Godly-fear's sayings, and began also severely to reflect upon themselves for their vile and ungodly doings ; for they concluded now, that their Prince had left them. Then they agreed and went to my lord Secretary, whom before they refused to hear, and had grieved with their doings, to know of him (for he was a seer, and could tell where Immanuel was) how they might direct a petition to him. But the lord Secretary would not admit them to a conference about this matter, nor would admit them to his royal place of abode, nor come out to them.* Now was it a day gloomy and dark, a day of clouds and of thick darkness with Mansoul. Now they saw that they had been foolish, and began to perceive what the company and prattle of Mr. Carnal- security had done, and what desperate damage his swaggering words had brought poor Mansoul into : but what further it was likely to cost them, that they were ignorant of. Now Mr. Godly-fear began to be in great repute with the men of the town; yea, they were ready to look upon him as a prophet. Well, when the sabbath-day was come, they went to hear their subordinate preacher ; but oh, how did it thunder and lighten this day ! His text was that in the prophet Jonah, " They that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercies," ch. ii. 8. But there was then such power and authority in that sermon, and such a dejection seen in the countenances * But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit : therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Isa. Ixiii. 10. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. iv 30. Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thess. v. 19. THE HOLY WAR. 299 of the people that day, that the hke hath seldom been heard or seen. The people, when sermon was (lone, were scarce able to go to their homes, or to betake themselves to their employs the week after ; they were so sermon-smitten, and also so sermon-sick, that they knew not what to do. He not only showed Mansoul their sin, but trembled before them under the sense of his own, still crying out of himself, as he preached to them. Unhappy man that I am ! that I should do so wicked a thing ! that I, a preacher ! w^hom the Prince did set up to teach Mansoul his law, should myself live senseless and sottishly here, and be one of the first found in transgression ! This transgression also fell within my precincts : I should have cried out against the wickedness ; but I let Mansoul lie wallowing in it, until it had driven Im- manuel from its borders. With these things he also charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul, to the almost distracting of them. Psalm Ixxxviii. About this time also there was a great sickness in the town of Mansoul, and most of the inhabitants were greatly afflicted : yea, the captains also and men of war were brought thereby to a languishing condition, and that for a long time together ; so that in case of an invasion, nothing could to purpose now liave been done, either by the townsmen or field officers.* Oh, how many pale faces, weak hands, * Wherefore lift up the hands wliich hang down, and the feeble knees ; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed. Heb. xii. 12, 13. Be watch- ful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die : for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Rev. iii. 2. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink ; and . instead of a girdle a rent ; and instead of well-set hair baldness ; and 300 THE HOLY WAR. feeble knees, and staor(rerino; men, were Sin causes to be ' OO & ' weak both body, now secn to walk the streets of Mansoul ! soul, and graces. -^^ ,i ^11 Here were groans, there pants, and yonder lay those that were ready to faint. GREAT SICKNESS IN MANSOUL. The garments too, which Immanuel had given them, were but in a sorry case ; some were rent, some were torn, and all in a nasty condition ; some also hung so loosely upon them, that the next bush they came at was ready to pluck them off. After some time spent in this sad and desolate condition, the subordinate preacher called for a day of fasting, and to humble themselves for beincr so instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth ; and burning insteail of beauty. Isa. lii. 24. THE HOLY WAR. 301 wicked against the great Shaddai and his Son : and he desired that Captain Boanerges would preach ; which he consented to do ; and the day being come, his text was this: Cut it down; why cunibereth it the ground?" and a very smart sermon he made upon the text. First, he showed what was the occasion of the words, to wit, " because the fig-tree was barren." Then he showed what was contained in the sentence, to wit, repentance or utter desolation. He next showed by whose authority this sentence was pronounced, and that was by Shaddai himself. And lastly, he showed the reasons of the point : and then concluded his sermon. But he was very pertinent in the application, insomuch that he made poor Mansoul tremble: for this sermon as well as the former, wrought much upon the hearts of the men of Mansoul; yea, it greatly helped to keep awake those that were roused by the preaching that went before ; so that now throughout the whole to\vn there was little or nothing to be heard or seen but sorrow, and mourning, and woe.* Now after sermon they got together, and consulted what was best to be done. But, said the subordinate preacher, I will do nothing of my own head, without advising with my neighbour Mr. Godly-fear. So they called and sent for Mr. Godly-fear, and he forthwith appeared. Then they desired that he would further show his opinion about what they had best to do : whereupon the old gentleman said as followeth ; * Boanerges, who was one of the first messengers to the town, had withdrawn, and milder preachers were introduced, as more suited to the state of Mansoul ; but now they need to be roused from their sloth, and Boanerges preaches again. In times of spiritual declension awakening sermons are very useful- 302 THE HOLY WAR. It is my opinion that this town of Mansoul should, in this day of her distress, draw up and send an humble petition to their offended Prince Immanuel, that he, in his favour and grace, will turn again unto you, and not keep his anger for ever. When the townsmen had heard this speech, they unanimously agreed to his advice ; so they presently drew up their request; and the next question was, But who shall carrj'^ it ? At last they all agreed to send it by my Lord-Mayor, who accepted the service, and addressed himself to his journey ; after which, he came to the court of Shaddai, whither Immanuel the Prince of Mansoul was gone,* but the gate was shut, and a strict watch kept thereat; so that the petitioner was forced to stand without for a great while together. Then he desired that some would go in to the Prince, and tell him who stood at the gate, and also what his business was. Accordingly one went and told Shaddai and Immanuel his Son, that the Lord-Mayor of the town of Mansoul stood 'without at the gate of the King's court, desiring to be admitted into the presence of the Prince, the King's Son. He also told the Lord-Mayor's errand both to the King and his Son Immanuel. But the Prince would not come down, nor admit that the gate should be opened, but sent an answer to this effect, f * Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. Lam. iii. 8, 44. f Saying to a stock. Thou art my father ; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth : for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face ; but in the time of their trouble they will say. Arise and save us. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee 1 let them arise if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble ; for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. Jer. ii. 27, 28. THE HOLY WAR. 303 They have turned their back unto me, and not their face ; but now, in the time of" their trouble, they say unto me. Arise and save us. But can they ^ dreadmi uns- not now go to Mr. Carnal-security, to "'" Avhom they went when they turned from me, and make him their leader, their lord, and their protector ? Why now in their trouble do they visit me, from w hom in their prosperity they went astray ? This answer made my Lord-Mayor look black in the face ; it troubled, it perplexed, it rent him sore. And now he began to see what it was to be familiar with Diabolonians, such as Mr. Carnal security Avas. When he saw that at court (as yet) there was little help to be expected, either for himself or friends in Mansoul; he smote upon his breast and returned weeping, and all the way bewailing the lamentable state of Mansoul. When he was come within sight of the town, the elders and chief of the people of Mansoul went out at the gate to meet him, and to salute him, and to know how he sped at court. But he told them his tale in so doleful a manner, that they all cried out and mourned and wept. Wherefore they threw ashes and dust upon their heads, and put sackcloth upon their loins, and went crying out through the town of Mansoul ; which when the rest of the townsfolk saw, they all mourned and wept. This therefore was a day of rebuke, trouble and anguish to the town of Mansoul, and also of great distress. After some time, when they had somewhat re- frained themselves, they came together to consult again what was yet to be done; and they asked advice, as they did before, of that reverend Mr. Godly- 304 THE HOLY WAR. fear; who told them, that there was no way better than to do as they had done, nor would he that they should be discouraged at all with what they had met with at court ; yea, though several of their petitions should be answered with naught but silence or rebuke ; For, said he, it is the way of the wise Shaddai to make men wait, and to exercise patience ; and it should be the way of them in want to be willing to stay his leisure. Then they took courage, and sent again and again, See now what ^^d agalu aud again; for there was not is the work of a ^ ^^y. j^^j. ^j^ hour, that went over Man- backshdiiig saint •' awakened. soul's hcad, wlicreiu a man might not have met upon the road one or other riding post from Mansoul to the court of King Shaddai, and all with letters petitionary in behalf of, and for the Groaning de- Pfincc's rctum to, Mansoul. The road, ^''^''* I say, was now full of messengers, going and returning, and meeting one another ; some from the court, and some from Mansoul ; and this was the work of the miserable town of Mansoul all that long, that sharp, that cold and tedious winter.* Now you may remember that I told you before A memento, that aftcr Immauucl had taken Mansoul, yea, and after he had new modeled the town, there remained, in several lurking places of the corporation, many of the old Diabolonians, that either came with the tyrant when he invaded and took the town, or that had there (by reason of unlawful mixtures * Prayer, at all times necessary, becomes peculiarly seasonable when a state of backsliding is discovered. Prayer may not immediately re- ceive an answer, nor forfeited comfort return ; but as Godly-fear said, there is no better way than to pray and pray again, and wait the Lord's pleasure. THE HOLY WAR. 305 in their birth, breeding, and bringing up) their holes, dens, and lurking places in, under, or about the walls of the town ; some of their names are, the Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye, the Lord Blas- phemy, and that horrible villain, the old and dangerous Lord Covetousness ; these, with many more, had yet their abode in the town of Mansoul, even after Immanuel had driven Diabolus out of the castle. Against these the good Prince granted a com- mission to the Lord Will-be-will and others, yea, to the whole town of Mansoul, to seek, take, secure, and destroy, any or all that they could lay hands of; for that they were Diabolonians by nature, enemies to the Prince, and those who sought to ruin the blessed town of Mansoul. But Mansoul did not pursue this warrant, but neglected to appre- hend, secure, and destroy those Diabolonians ; where- fore what do these villains, but by degrees take courage to show themselves to the inhabitants of the town ; yea, and as I was told, some of the men of Mansoul grew too familiar with several of tiiem, to the sorrow of the corporation, as you will hear more of in time and place.* * When .Mansoul first received Immanuel, a strict charge was given to discover and destroy the Diabolonians; but tiiis was too much neglected; the. consequence was that they became to Mansoul what the Canaanites were to Israel, according to the prediction, Nmnb. xxxiii. 55. "If ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall it come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell." 39 CHAPTER XIII. The Diabolonians take courage from the departure of Immanuel, and plots are formed in Hell for a counter-revolution in Mansoul. Covetous- ness, Lasciviousness, and anger, by changing their names, are introduced into respectable families, where they corrupt their masters and do in- credible mischief. An army of twenty thousand Doubters raised to surprise the town. When the Diabolonian lords perceived that Mansoul had, through sinning, offended Immanuel their Prince, and that he had withdrawn himself and was gone, what do they but plot the ruin of Mansoul ? Accord- ingly they met together at the hold of one Mr. Mischief, who was a Diabolonian, and there consulted how they might deliver up Mansoul into the hands of Diabolus again. Now some advised one way, and some another, every man according to his own liking. At last my Lord Lasciviousness propounded, that some of the Diabolonians in Mansoul should offer themselves for servants to some of the natives of the town ; For, said he, if they do so, and Mansoul shall accept of them, they may for us, and for Diabolus our lord, make the taking of the town of Mansoul more easy than otherwise it would be. But then stood up the lord Murder, and said. This may not be done at this time, for Mansoul is now in a kind of rage, because, by our friend Mr. Carnal- security she hath been once ensnared already, and 306 THE HOLY WAR. 307 made to offend against her Prince ; and how shall she reconcile herself unto her Lord again, hut hy the heads of these men? Besides, we know that they have in commission to take and slay us wher- ever they shall find us ; let us therefore be wise as CONSPIRATOns. foxes : when we are dead, we can do them no hurt ; but while we live, we may. Thus when they had tossed the matter to and fro, they jointly agreed that a letter should forthwith 308 THE HOLY WAR. be sent away to Diabolus in their name, by which the state of the town of Mansoul should be showed him, and how much it is under the frowns of their Prince. We may also, said some, let him know our intentions, and ask his advice in the case. So a letter was presently framed, the contents of which were these: To our great lord^ the Prince Diabolus, dwelling below in the infernal cave. O great father, and mighty prince Diabolus, we the true Diabolonians, yet remaining in the rebellious town of Mansoul, having received our beings from thee, and our nourishment at thy hands, cannot with content and quiet endure to behold, as we do this day, how thou art dispraised, disgraced and reproached among the inhabitants of this town ; nor is thy long absence at all delightful to us, because greatly to our detriment. The reason of this our writing to our lord is, that we are not altogether without hope that this town may become thy habitation again : for it is greatly declined from its Prince Immanuel, and he is departed from them; yea, and though they send and send after him, to return to them, yet can they not prevail, nor get good words from him. There has been also of late, and is yet remaining, a very great sickness and faintings among them ; and that not only upon the poorer sort of the town, but upon the lords, captains, and chief gentry of the place ; we only, who are Diabolonians by nature, remain well, lively and strong ; so that through their great transgression on one hand, and their dangerous THE HOLY WAR. 309 sickness on the other, we judge they he open to thy hand and power. If therefore it shall stand with thy horrihle cunning, and with the cunning of the rest of the princes with thee, to come and make an attempt to take Mansoul again, send us word, and we shall to our utmost power be ready to deliver it into thy hand. Or if what we have said shall not be thought best and most meet to be done, send us thy mind in a few words, and we are all ready to follow thy counsel, to the hazard of our lives, and what else we have. Given under our hands this day and date above written^ after a close consultation at the house of Mr. Mischief, who is yet alive, and hath his place in our desirable town of Mansoul. When Mr. Profane (for he was the carrier) was come with his letter to Hell-gate-hill, he knocked at the gate for entrance. Then did Cerberus the porter (for he was the keeper of that gate) open to Mr. Profane; to whom he delivered his letter which he had brought from the Diabolonians in Mansoul. So he carried it in, and presented it to Diabolus his lord, and said. Tidings, my lord, from Mansoul; and from our trusty friends in Mansoul. Then came together Beelzebub, Lucifer, Apollyon, with the rest of the rabble there, to hear what news from Mansoul. So the letter was read and Cerberus stood by. When the letter was openly read, and the contents thereof spread into all the corners of the den, command was given, that without let or stop, Deadman's bell should be rung for joy. So 310 THE HOLY WAR. the bell was rung, and the princes rejoiced that Mansonl was like to come to ruin. Now the clapper of the bell went, The town of Mansoul is coming to dwell with us ; make room for Mansoul ! This bell, therefore, they rang, because they hoped that they should have Mansoul again.* HELL-GATE HILL. Now when they had performed this their horrible ceremony, they got together again, to consult what answer to send to their friends in Mansoul ; and some advised one thing, and some another ; but at length. * Wilful departure from God gives courage to our spiritual foes, who rejoice in the hope of making backsliders apostates. Satan will renew his temptations with double force ; while lasciviousness, murder and mis- chief will unite with him in cunning device^! to ruin the soul. THE HOLY WAR. Hll because the business required haste, they left the wliole business to Diabolus, judging him the most proper lord of the place. So he drew up a letter in answer to what Mr. Profane had brouorht, and sent it to the Diabolonians in Mansoul, by the same hand that brought theirs to him; and these were the contents thereof: To our offspring, the high ajid mighty Diabolonians that yet dwell in the town of Mansoul ; Diabolus, the great Prince of Mansoul, wisheth a prosperous issue and conclusion of those many brave enter- prises, conspiracies, and designs, that you, of your love and respect to our honour^ have in your hearts to attempt to do against Mansoul. Beloved children and disciples, my Lord Fornica- tion, Adultery, and the rest; we have here, in our desolate den, received, to our highest joy and content, your welcome letter, by the hand of our trusty Mr. Profane; and to show how acceptable your tidings were, we rang out our bell for gladness ; for we rejoiced as much as we could, when we perceived that yet we had friends in Mansoul, and such as sought our honour and revenge in the ruin of the town of Mansoul. We also rejoiced to hear that they are in a degenerate condition, have offended their Prince, and that he is gone. Their sickness also pleaseth us, as does also your health, might, and strength. Glad also would we be, right horribly beloved, could we get this town into our clutches again. Nor will we be sparing of our wit, cunning, craft, and hellish inventions, to bring to a wished conclusion this vour brave beijinninDr. 312 THE HOLY WAR. And take this for your comfort, our birth and offspring, that if we again surprise and take it, we will attempt to put all your foes to the sword, and make you the great lords and captains of the place. Nor need you fear (if ever we get it again) that we after that shall be cast out any more ; for we will come with more strength, and so take faster hold than we did at first. Besides, it is the law of that Prince, which now they own, that if we get them a second time, they shall be ours for ever. * Do you therefore, our trusty Diabolonians, yet more pry into and endeavour to spy out, the weakness of the town of Mansoul. We would also that you yourselves do attempt to weaken them more and more. Send us word also b3^ what means we had best to attempt the regaining thereof, to wit, whether by persuasion to a vain and loose life; by tempting them to doubt and despair ; or by blowing up the town by the gunpowder of pride and self-conceit, t Do you also, O ye brave Diabolonians, and true sons of the pit, be always in a readiness to make a most horrid assault within, when we shall be ready to storm it without. Now speed you in your project, and we in our desires, to the utmost power of our gates, * When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out ; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and takoth with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there : and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Matt. xii. 43 — 45. t Three means of destruction are proposed in hell : 1. A vicious life. '2. Despair of mercy. 3. Prevailing pride. Either of tliese would prove our ruin ; but grace prevents. THE HOLY WAR. 313 which is the wish of your great Diabolus, Mansoul's enemy, and him tliat trembles when he thinks of judgment to come. All the blessings of the pit be upon you ! and so we close up our letter. Given at the PWs Mouthy by the joint consent of all the princes of darkness^ to be sent to the force and power that we have yet remaining in Mansot/l, by the hand of Mr. Profane. By me, P jJ^B (D£ U 5. This letter was sent to the Diabolonians that yet remained in Mansoul, and that yet in- The riesh. habited the wall, from the dark dungeon of Diabolus, by the hand of Mr. Profane, by whom they also in Mansoul sent theirs to the pit. Now when this Mr. Profane returned to Mansoul, he came, as he was wont, to the house of Mr. Mischief, for that was the place where the contrivers were met. Now when they saw that their messenger was returned safe and sound, they rejoiced at it. Then he presented them his letter; which when they had read and considered, nmch augmented their gladness. They asked him after the welfare of their friends ; as how their Lord Diabolus, Lucifer, and Beelzebub did, with the rest of those in the den. To which this Profane made answer. Well, well, my Lords, they are well, even as well as can be in their place. They also, said he, rang for joy at reading your letter, as you will perceive by this, when you read it. Now, as was said, when they had read their letter, and perceived that it encouraged them in their work, they fell to their way of contriving again, how they might complete their design upon Mansoul; and the first thing they agreed upon, was, to keep 40 314 THE HOLY WAR. all things from Mansoul as close as they could.* Let it not be known ; let not Mansoul be acquainted with what we desio^n a^j^ainst it. The next thinor was, how or by what means they should try to bring to pass the ruin and overthrow of Mansoul ; and one said after this manner, and another said after that. Then stood up Mr. Deceit, and said, My right Diabolonian friends, our lords, and the high ones of the deep dungeon, propound unto us these three ways: 1. Whether we had best to seek its ruin, by making Mansoul loose and vain : 2. Or, by driving them to doubt and despair. 3. Or, by endeavouring to blow them up with the gunpowder of pride and self-conceit. Now I think, if we shall tempt them to pride, that may do something ; and if we tempt them to wanton- ness, that may help. But in my mind, if we could drive them into desperation, that would knock the nail on the head ; for then we should have them, •in the first place, question the truth of the love of the heart of their Prince towards them, and that will disgust him much. This, if it works well, will quickly make them leave off their way of sending petitions to him ; then farewell earnest solicitations for help and supply ; for then this conclusion lies naturally before them; — as good do nothing, as to do to no purpose. So they unanimously approved of Mr. Deceit's advice. Then the next question was. But how shall we do to bring our project to pass ? And it was answered * Were the stratagems of Satan obvious, they would not succeed. Let us not be i«'"shi». ren also were by them dashed in pieces, yea, those that were yet unborn they destroyed in their mothers' wombs; for you must needs think that it could not 376 THE HOLY WAR. now be otherwise ; for what conscience, what pity, what bowels of compassion can any expect at the hands of outlandish Doubters? Many in Mansoul that were women, both young and old, they forced, Holy conceptions mvislicd, and beast-like abused, so that of good. ^j^gy swooned, miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the top of every street, and in all by-places of the town. DIABOI.ONIANS IN MANSOUL. And now did Mansoul seem to be nothing but a den of dragons, an emblem of hell, and a place of total darkness. Now did Mansoul lie almost like the barren wilderness : nothing but nettles, briers, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to cover the face of Mansoul. I told you before, how that THE HOLY WAR. 377 these Diabolonian Doubters turned the men of Man- soul out of their beds; and now I will add, they wounded them, they mauled them, yea, and almost brained many of them. Many, did I say ? yea, most, if not all of them. Mr. Conscience they so wounded, yea, and his wounds so festered, that he could have no ease day nor night, but lay as if continually upon a rack: but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had slain him out-right. My Lord-Mayor they so abused that they almost put out his eyes; my Lord Will-be-will got into the castle ; they intended to have chopped him all to pieces, for they 1 i '^ -' Satan has a parli- looked upon him (as his heart now stood) cuiar spite against , f- 1 1 ^ A - a sanctified will. to be one ot the very worst that w^as m Mansoul against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he showed himself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear of afterwards. Now a man might have walked for many days together in Mansoul, and scarce have seen one in the town that looked like a religious man. Oh the fearful state of Mansoul now ! now every '' The soul full of corner swarmed with outlandish Doubters ; ictie thoughts ana - 1111 11 1 1 blasphemies. red-coats and black-coats walked the town by clusters, and filled up all the houses with hideous noises, vain songs, lying stories and blasphemous language against Shaddai and his Son. Now also those Diabolonians that lurked in the walls, and dens, and holes that were in the town of Mansoul, came forth and showed themselves ; yea, walked with open face in company with the Doubters that were in Mansoul. Yea, they had more boldness now to walk the streets, to haunt houses, and to show themselves abroad than had any of the honest inhabitants of the 48 378 THE HOLY WAR. now woful town of Mansoul. But Diabolus and his outlandish men were not at peace in Mansoul ; for they were not there entertained as were the captains and forces of Imnianuel ; the townsmen browbeat them what they could : nor did they partake or make destruction of any of the necessaries of Mansoul, but that which they seized on against the townsmen's will ; what they could they hid from them, and what they could not they had with an ill-will. They, poor hearts, had rather have had their room than their company, but they were at present their captives, and their captives for the present they were forced to be. Rom. vii. But I say, they discountenanced them as much as they were able, and showed them all the dislike that they could.* The captains also from the castle held them in continual play with their slings, to the chafing and fretting of the minds of the enemies. True, Diabolus made a great many attempts to have broken open the gates of the castle, but Mr. Godly-fear was made the keeper of that, and he was a man of courage, conduct and valour, so that it was in vain, as long as life lasted within him, to think to do that work, though mostly desired; wherefore all the attempts that Diabolus made against him were fruitless. (I have wished sometime that that man had had the whole rule of the town of Mansoul.) Well this was the condition of the town of Mansoul for about two years and a half; the body of the town * This is an awful representation of the state of a soul overwhelmed with distressing doubts of God's love, and fears of eternal destruction; " torment," and " loss of ease," take possession. The understanding is darkened, and the conscience wounded ; while a crowd of idle thoughts, vanities, and blasphemies increase the confusion and dismay. THE HOLY WAR. 379 was the seat of war; the people of the town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoul was laid in the dnst ; what rest then could be to the inhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what sun could shine upon it? Had the enemy lain so long without in the plain against the town, it had been enough to famish them; but now when they shall be within, when the town shall be their tent, their trench, and fort against the castle that was in the town, when the town shall be against the town, and shall serve to be a defence to the enemies of her strength and life ; I say, when they shall make use of the forts and town-holds to secure themselves in, even till they shall take, spoil, and de- Thehean. molish the castle ; this was terrible, and yet this was now the state of the town of Mansoul.* After the town of Mansoul had been in this sad and lamentable condition for so long a time as I have told you, and no petitions that they had pre- sented their Prince with (all this while) could prevail, the inhabitants of the town, to wit, the elders, and chief of Mansoul, gather together, and after some time spent in condoling their miserable state, and this miserable judgment coming upon them, they agreed together to draw up yet another petition, and to send it away to Immanuel for relief. But Mr. Godly-fear stood up, and answered, that he knew his lord the Prince never did, nor never would receive a petition for these matters from the hand of any whoever, unless the lord secretary's hand was to it * In the midst of all this misery, the castle is safe, or in other words, the heart remains right with God, Godly-foar beinfj the keeper of it. In many a soul where distressing doubts prevail, perhaps for years, yet the fear of God is in the heart so that it still cleaves to him, and opposes sin. 380 THE HOLY WAR. (and this, quoth he, is the reason you prevailed not all this while.) Then they said they would draw up one, and get the lord secretary's hand to it. But Mr. Godly-fear answered again, that he knew also that the lord secretary would not set his hand to any petition that himself had not a hand in composing and drawing up; and besides, said he, the Prince doth know my lord secretary's hand from all the hands in the world; wherefore he cannot be deceived by any pretence whatever; wherefore my advice is, that you go to my lord and implore him to lend you his aid. (Now he abode in the castle, where all the captains and men at arms were.) So they heartily thanked Mr. Godly-fear, took his counsel, and did as he had bidden them ; so they departed and came to my lord, and made known the cause of their coming to him ; to wit, that since Mansoul was in so deplorable a condition, his highness would be pleased to undertake to draw up a petition for them to Im- manuel, the son of the mighty Shaddai, and to their •King and his Father by him. Then said the secretary to them. What petition is it that you would have me draw up for you ? But they said. Our lord knows best the state and condition of the town of Mansoul, and how we are backslidden and degenerated from the Prince ; thou also knowest who is come up to war against us, and how Mansoul is now the seat of war. My lord knows, moreover, what barbarous usage our men, women, and children have sufl'ered at their hands, and how our home-bred Diabolonians walk now with more boldness than dare the townsmen in the streets of Mansoul. Let our lord therefore, according to the wisdom of God that THE HOLY WAR. 381 is in him, draw up a petition for his poor servants to our Prince Immanuel. Well (said the lord secretary) I will draw up a petition for you, and will also set my hand thereto. Then said they. But when shall we call for it at the hand of our lord ? He answered. Yourselves nmst be present at the doing of it. Yea, you must put your desires to it. True, the hand and pen shall be mine, but the ink and paper must be yours, else how can you say it is your petition ! Nor have I need to petition for myself, because I have not offended. He also added as followeth. No petition goes from me in my name to the Prince, and so to his Father by him, but when the people, that are chiefly con- cerned therein, join in heart and soul in the matter, for that must be inserted therein.* So they heartily agreed with the sentence of the lord, and a petition was forthwith drawn up for them. But now who shall carry it ? that was the next. But the secretary advised that Captain Credence should carry it, for he was a well-spoken man. They there- fore called for him, and propounded to him the business. Well, said the captain, I gladly accept of the motion ; and though I am lame, I will do this business for you, with as much speed, and as well as I can.t The contents of the petition were to this purpose : * This is an illustration of that text, Rom. viii. 2G. " The Spirit liclpcth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought," &c. The original word " helpeth" signifies helping together, like two per- sons uniting to lift up a weight Thus should we ever implore the assistance of the good Spirit to indite our petitions ; and (blessed be God) it is said, "He will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him." f Credence is a very proper persoa to carry the petition, for we are to pray in faith. 382 TflE tlOLY WAR. O our Lord and sovereign Prince Immanuel, the potent, the long-suffering Prince ! Grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belong mercy and forgive- ness, though we have rebelled against thee. We who are no more worthy to be called thy Mansoul, nor yet fit to partake of common benefits, do beseech thee, and thy Father by thee, to do away our trans- gressions. We confess that thou mightest cast us away for them, but do it not for thy name's sake; let the lord rather take an opportunity, at our mis- erable condition, to let out his bowels of compassion to us. We are compassed on every side, lord; our own backslidings reprove us, our Diabolonians within our town fright us, and the army of the angel of the bottomless pit distresses us. Thy grace can be our salvation, and whither to go but to thee we know not. Furthermore, O gracious Prince, we have weakened our captains, and they are discouraged, sick, and of late some of them grievously worsted, and beaten out of the field by the power and force of the tyrant. Yea, even those of our captains, in whose valour we formerly used to put most of our confidence, they are as wounded men. Besides, lord, our enemies are lively, and they are strong, they vaunt and boast themselves, and threaten to part us among themselves for a booty. They are fallen also upon us, lord, with many thousand Doubters, such as with whom we cannot tell what to do; they are all grim-looked and unmerciful ones, and they bid defiance to us and thee. Our wisdom is gone, our power is gone, because thou art departed from us, nor have we what we may call ours, but sin, shame, and confusion of face THE HOLY WAR. 383 for sin. Take pity upon us, O lord, take pity upon us, thy miserable town of Mansoul, and save us out of the hands of our enemies. Amen.* This petition as was touched afore, was handed by the lord secretary, and carried to the court by the brave and most stout Captain Credence. Now he carried it out at Mouth-gate, for that, as I said, was the sally-port of the town ; and he went, and came to Immanuel with it. Now how it came out I do not know, but for certain it did, and that so far as to reach the ears of Diabolus. Thus I conclude, because that the tyrant had it presently by the end, and charged the town of Mansoul with it ; saying. Thou rebellious and stubborn-hearted Mansoul, I will make thee to leave off petitioning ; art thou gata,, cannot yet for petitioning? I will make thee to ''^■J^ p^ay--^- leave off*. Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carried the petition to the Prince, and it made him both fear and rage. Wherefore he com- manded that his drum should be beat again, a thing that Mansoul could not abide to hear: but when Diabolus w^ould have his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together, t Then said Diabolus, O ye stout Diabolonians, be it known unto you, that there is treachery hatched against us in the rebellious town of Mansoul ; for albeit the town is in our possession, as you see, yet these miserable Mansoulians have attempted to dare, and have been so hardy as yet to send to the court of Immanuel for help. This I give you to understand, * An excellent prayer, full of humility and faith. t When Christians pray, Satan rages ; for he hates the prayer of faith, and dreads its effect. 384 THE HOLY WAR. that ye may yet know how to carry it to the wretched town of Mansouh Wherefore, O my trusty Diabo- lonians, I command, that yet more and more ye distress this town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their women, deflower their virgins, slay their children, brain their ancients, fire their town, and do what other mischief you can; and let this be the reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellion against me. This you see was the charge, but something stepped in betwixt that and execution, for as yet there was but little more done than to rage. Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next day up to the castle gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates should be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him, and his men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly- fear replied (for he it was that had the charge of the gate) that the gate should not be opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him. He said, moreover, that Mansoul, when she had suffered awhile, should be made perfect, strengthened and settled. Then said Diabolus, Deliver me then the men that Satan cannot petitioucd agalnst me, especially Captain abide faith. Crcdcnce that carried it to your Prince ; deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart from the town.* Then up starts a Diabolonian, whose name Avas Mr. Fooling, and said. My lord oflTereth you fair: it is better for you that one man perish, than that your whole Mansoul should be undone. * Could faith be given up, Satan would obtain all his desire. THE HOLY WAR. 385 But Mr. Godly-fear made him this replication: How long will Mansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up her faith to Diabolus? As good lose the town as lose Captain Credence, for if one be gone, the other must follow. But to that Mr. Fooling said nothinir. Then did my Lord-Mayor reply, and said, O thou devouring tyrant, be it known unto thee, we shall hearken to none of thy words. We are resolved to resist thee as long as a captain, a man, a sling, and a stone to throw at thee, shall be found in the town of Mansoul. But Diabolus answered, Do you hope, do you wait, do you look for help and deliverance? You have sent to Immanuel, but your wickedness sticks too close in your skirts to let innocent prayer come out of your lips. Think you, that you shall be prevailers, and prosper in this design? You will fail in your wish, you will fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your Immanuel is against you. Yea it is he that hath sent me against you to subdue you; for what then do you hope, or by what means will you escape ? Then said my Lord-Mayor, We have sinned indeed, but that shall be no help to thee, for our Immanuel hath said it, and that in great faithfulness, 'And him that conieth to me I will in no wise cast out.' He hath also told us (O our enemy) that ' all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to the sons of men.' Therefore we dare not despair, but will look for, and wait for mercy. * * Nothing' like the precious promises as an answer to Satan. With the word of God our Lord himself silenced the devil in tlie wilderness. 49 38() THE HOLY WAR. And now by tins time Captain Credence was come from the court from Immanuel to the castle of Man- sou], and he returned to them with a packet. So my Lord-Mayor, hearing that Captain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of the roaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, or against the gates of the castle. He then came up to the captain's lodgings, and, saluting him, THE raoPl.L VISIT CAPTAIN CSEDEXCE. asked him of his welfare, and what was the best news at court. But when he asked Captain Credence that, the water stood in his eyes. Then said tlie captain. Cheer up, my lord, for all will be well in time. And with that he first produced his packet, and laid it by, but that the Lord-Mayor and the rest of the captains took for a sign of good tidings. (Now a season of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and elders of the town that were here and THE HOLY WAR. 387 there in their lodgings, in tlie castle, and npon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that he had somethinfi- in general, and something in special to comminiicate to them.) So they all came up to him, and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what was the best news at court! And he answered them, as he had done the Lord-Mayor before, that all would be well at last.* Now when the captain had thus saluted them, he opened his packet, and thence drew out of it several notes for those that he had sent for. And the first note was for my Lord-Mayor, wherein was signified : The Prince Immanuel had taken it well that my Lord-Mayor had been so true and trusty in his oflice, and the great concerns that lay upon him for the town and people of Mansoul. Also he bid him to know that he took it well that he had been so bold for his Prince Immanuel, and had engaged so faith- fully in his cause against Diabolus. He also signified at the close of his letter, that he should shortly receive his reward. The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord Will-be- will, wherein there was signified. That his Prince Immanuel did well understand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of his lord, now in his absence, and when his name was under contempt by Diabolus. There was signified also, that his Prince had taken it well that he had been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so strict a hand and eye over, and so strict a rein upon the necks of the Diabolonians that still were * This is the proper language of faith, " All shall be well at the last." 388 THE HOLY WAR. lurkinor in their several holes in the famous town of Man soul. He signified moreover, that he understood that my lord had with his own hand done great execution upon some of the chiefs of the rebels there, to the great discouragement of the adverse party, and to the good example of the whole town of Mansoul, and that shortly his lordship should have his reward. The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein was signified, That his Prince took it well from him, that he had so honestly and so faithfully performed his office, and executed the trust committed to him by his lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul according to the laws of the town. He signified moreover, that he took it well at his hand, that he called to fasting, to sack-cloth, and ashes, when Mansoul was under her revolt : also, that he called for the aid of the Captain Boanerges to help in so mighty a work, and that shortly he also should receive his reward. . The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-fear, wherein his lord thus signified, That his lordship observed, that he was the first of all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-security, as the only one that, through his subtlety and cunning, had ob- tained for Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the blessed town of Mansoul. Moreover, his lord gave him to understand, that he still remembered his tears and mourning for the state of Mansoul. It was also observed by the same note, that his lord took notice of his detecting this Mr. Carnal-security at his table among his guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even while he was THE HOLY WAR. 389 seeking to perfect his villanies against the town of Mansoul. Imnianuel also took notice, that this rev- erend person, Mr. Godly-fear, stood stoutly to it at the gates of the castle against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant, and that he had put the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their Prince, so as that he might accept thereof, and as that they might obtain an answer of peace; and that therefore shortlj^ he should receive his reward. After all this there was yet produced a note which was written to the whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived, that their lord took notice of their so often repeated petitions to him, and that they should see more of the fruits of such their doinos in time to come. Their Prince also therein told them, that he took it well, that their heart and mind now at last abode fixed upon him and his ways, though Diabolus had made such inroads upon them, and that, neither flatteries on the one hand, nor hardships on the other, could make them yield to serve his cruel designs. There was also inserted at the bottom of this note, that his lordship had left the town of Mansoul in the hands of the lord secretary, and under the conduct of Captain Credence; saying. Beware that you yet yield yourselves unto their governance, and in due time you shall receive your reward.* After the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes to those to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my lord secytary's lodgings, and there * In due time believers "shall reap, if they faint not." The Lord observes and approves the works of faith and the labours of love here mentioned, and none of them shall lose its reward. The honest efforts of the understanding, the will, the conscience, and the fear of God, shall, at length, be crowned with success. 390 THE HOLY WAR. spends his time in conversing with him ; for they two were very great one with another, and indeed knew more how things would go with Mansoul than all the townsmen besides. The lord secretary also loved Captain Credence dearly, yea, many a good bit was sent him from my lord's table ; also he might have a show of countenance when the rest of Mansoul lay under the clouds ; so after some time for converse was spent, the captain betook himself to his chamber to rest. But not long after my lord sent for the captain again ; so the captain came to him, and they greeted one another with usual salutations. Then said the captain to the lord secretary. What hath my lord to say to his servant? So the lord secretary took him and had him aside, and, after a sign or two of more favour, he said, I have made thee the lord-lieutenant over all the forces in Mansoul ; so that from this day forward all men in Mansoul shall be at thy word, and thou shalt be he that shall lead in, and that shall lead out Mansoul. Thou shalt .therefore manage, according to thy place, the war for thy Prince, and for the town of Mansoul, against the force and power of Diabolus, and at thy command shall the rest of the captains be. Now the townsmen began to perceive what in- terest the captain had, both with the court and also with the lord secretary in Mansoul; for no man before could speed when sent, nor bring such good news from Immanuel as he. Wherefore what do they (after some lamentation that they made no more use of him in their distress) but send by their sub- ordinate preacher to the lord secretary, to desire him that all that ever they were and had might be put THE HOLY WAR. 391 under the government, care, custody, and conduct of Captain Credence.* So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this answer from the mouth of his lord, that Captain Credence should be the great doer in ail the King's army against the King's enemies, and also for the welfare of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, and thanked his lordship, and returned and told his news to the townsfolk. But all this was done with all imaginable secresy, because the foes had yet great strength in the town. But to return to our story again. * The design of this is, to show that the soul is to live by faith, and not by sense. The Spirit of God puts honour upon faith, and makes him chief captain in the town. This is a token for good, now the Doubters prevail in the town. This is a prelude of victory over them. The in- habitants are, at length, aware of his abilities, and wish to be under his control. Thus Christians learn, but seldom without painful experience, that they are not to live by their feelings, but by their faith. CHAPTER XVI. A new plot is laid to ruin the town by riches and prosperity. Ira- manuel, according to liis promise, appears in the field, to assist the forces of Mansoul, whereby the whole army of Doubters is completely routed. Immanuel enters the town amidst the joyful acclamations of the inhabitants. When Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the Lord-Mayor, and perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godly-fear, he fell into a rage, and forthwith called a council of war, that he might be revenged on Mansoul. So all the princes of the pit came together, and old Incredulity at the head of them, with all the captains of his army. So they consulted what to do. Now the effect and conclusion of the council that day was, how they might take the castle, because they could not conclude themselves masters of the town so long as that was in the possession of their enemies. So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when they could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon the president of the council, stood up, and thus he began : My brotherhood (quoth he) I have some things to propound unto you; and my first is this : Let us withdraw ourselves from the town into the plain again, for our presence here will do us no good, because the castle is yet in our enemies' hands ; nor is it possible that we should take that so long as so many brave captains are in it, 392 tul: holy war. 393 and this bold fellow Godly-fear is made the keeper of the gates of it. Now when we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain, they of their own accord will be glad of some little ease; and it may be of their own accord they again may begin to be remiss, and even their so being will give them a bigger blow than we can possibly give them ourselves. But if that should fail, our going forth out of the town may draw the captains out after us, and you know what it cost them when we fought them in the field before. Besides, can we but draw them out into the fields, we may lay an ambush behind the town, which shall, when they are come forth abroad, rush in, and take possession of the castle. But Beelzebub stood up and replied, saying. It is im- possible to draw them all off from the castle. Some, you may be sure, will lie there to keep that ; wherefore it will be but in vain thus to attempt, unless we were sure that they will all come out. He therefore con- cluded, that what was done must be done by some other means. And the most likely means that the greatest of their heads could invent, was that which Apollyon had advised to before; to wit, to get the townsmen again to sin. For, said he, it is not our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, nor our killing of their men, that can make us the masters of Mansoul ; for so long as one Mansoui cannot in the town is able to lift up his finger -'.t:,.*':!', against us, Immanuel will take their parts, consent to sin. and if he shall take their parts, we know what time of day it will be with us. Wherefore, for my part, quoth he, there is, in my judgment, no way to bring them into bondage to us like inventing a way to make 50 394 THE HOLY WAR. them sin.* Had we, said he, left all our Doubters at home, we had done as well as we have done now, unless we could have made them the masters and governors of the castle; for Doubters at a distance are but hke objections repelled with arguments. In- deed, can we but get them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, the day will be our own. Look to it, Man- Lct US thcrcforc withdraw ourselves into '°"'" the plain (not expecting that the captains in Mansoul should follow us,) but yet, I say, let us do this; and before we do so, let us advise again with our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in the holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray the town to us; for they indeed must do it, or it will be left undone forever. By these sayings of Beelzebub (for I think it was he that gave this counsel,) the whole conclave was forced to be of his opinion ; to wit, that the way to get the castle was to get the town to sin. Then they fell to inventing by what means they might do this thing, t Then Lucifer stood up and said. The counsel of Beelzebub is pertinent; now the way to bring this * For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption : for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of riglit- eousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy com- mandment delivered unto them. 2 Pet. ii. 18 — 21. ■f The great object of temptation is to allure us to sin. Satan cannot hope to possess the heart until it be first brought over to the side of iniquity. THE HOLY WAR: 395 to pass, in my opinion, is this: let us withdraw our force from the town of Mansoul : let us do this, and let us terrify them no more, either with summonses or threats, or with the noise of our drum, or any other awakening means. Only let us lie in the field at a distance, and be as if we regarded them not (for frights I see do but awaken them, and make them stand more to their arms.) I have also another stratagem in my head : you know Mansoul is a market town, a town that delights in commerce ; what there- fore if some of our Diabolonians shall feign themselves far countrymen, and shall go out and bring to the market of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter at what rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half the worth ? Now let those that thus trade in their market be those that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown to pawn, it will do. There are two that are come to my thoughts already, that I think will be arch at this work, and they are, Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, and Mr. Get-i'the-hundred-and-lose-i'the-shire; nor is this man with the long name at all inferior to the other. What also if you join with them Mr. Sweet- world and Mr. Present-good; they are men that are civil and cunning, and our true friends and helpers.* Let these with as many more engage in this business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in Looktoiti much business, and let them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get ground of them. Remember ye not, that thus we prevailed upon Laodicca, and * Because thou say est, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Rev. iii. 17. 396 THE HOLY WAR. how many at present do we hold in this snare ! Now wlien they begin to grow lull they will forget their misery, and, if we shall not affright them, may happen to fall asleep and so be got to neglect their town- watch, their castle-watch as well as their watch at the gates.* Yea, may we not by this means so cumber Mansoul The decehfuiness ^ith abundancc, that they shall be forced of riches. |.Q make of their castle a warehouse, instead of a garrison fortified against us, and a re- ceptacle of men of war. Thus if we get our goods and commodities thither, I reckon that the castle is more than half ours. Besides, could we so order it, that they should be filled with such kind of wares, then, if we made a sudden assault upon them, it would be hard for the captain, to take a shelter there. Do you not know that of the parable ; t " The deceit- fulness of riches chokes the word?" And again, " When the heart is overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life," all mischief .comes upon them unawares, f * "Penny-wise and pound-foolish," &c., are proverbial expressions, de- noting the folly of those who are anxious to obtain small gains, while they neglect large profits. Satan having found that his doubts and fears did not succeed, but had rather kept men alert, now purposes to try the effect of worldly prosperity, as likely to produce carelessness. And in- deed great is the danger, when the castle, (the heart) which should be the temple of the Lord, is turned into a warehouse. t And that which fell among thorns, are they, which, when they liave heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke viii. 14. I And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be over- charged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these THE HOLY WAR. 397 Furthermore, my lords, (quoth he) you very well know that it is not easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to have some of our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services. Where is a Mansoulian that is full of this world, that has not for his servants and waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr. Prodigality, or some other of our Diabolo- nian gang ; as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or the like? Now these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for Immanuel, and any of these will do. Yea, these, for aught I know, may do it for j^^^^ ,„ i,_ Tsun- us sooner than an army of twenty thou- '°"'' sand men. Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietly withdraw ourselves, not oflTering any further force or forcible attempts upon the castle, at least at this time, and let us set on foot our new project, and let us see if that will not make them destro}'^ themselves. * This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was accounted the very master-piece of hell, to wit, to choke Mansoul with a fulness of this world, and to surfeit her heart with the good things thereof. But see how things meet together. Just as this Diabolonian council was broken up. Captain Credence received a letter from Immanuel, the contents of which were these : That upon the third day he would meet him in the field, in the plains about Mansoul. Meet things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke xxi. 31 — 36. * How rarely do men grow rich and prosperous without entertaining those Diabolonians, profusion, prodigality, pride, &c. ! These are Satan's best supporters, and more destructive to the soul than an army of ex- ternal foes. 398 THE HOLY WAR. me in the field! quoth the Captahi. What meaneth my lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in the field. So he took the note in his hand, and carried it to my Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon, for my lord was a seer in all matters concerning the King, and also for the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul. So he showed my lord the note, and desired his opinion thereon. For my part, quoth Captain Credence, I know not the meaning thereof. So my lord took and read it, and after a little pause he said. The Diabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day ; they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the result of their counsel is, to set Mansoul into such a way, which, if taken, will surely make her destroy herself. And to this end they are making ready for their own departure out of the town, intending to betake themselves to field again, and there to lie till they shall see whether this their project will take or no. But be thou ready .with the men of thy Lord (for on the third day they will be in the plain) there to fall upon the Diabolo- nians ; for the Prince will by that time be in the field ; yea, by that it is break of day, sun rising, or before, and that with a mighty force against them. So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be behind them, and betwixt you both their army shall be destroyed. When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of the captains, and tells them what a note he had a while since received from the hand of Immanuel. And, said he, that which was dark therein has my Lord Secretary expounded unto me. He told them moreover, what by himself and by them THE HOLY WAR. 399 must be done to answer the mind of their Lord. Then were the captains glad, and Captain Credence commanded, that all the King's trumpeters should ascend to the battlements of the castle, and there in the audience of Diabolus, and of the whole town of Mansoul, make the best music that heart could invent. The trumpeters then did as they were com- manded: they got themselves up to the top of the castle, and thus they began to sound. Then did Diabolus start, and said. What can be the meaning of this ? they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor Horse- and-away, nor a Charge. What do these madmen mean, that yet they should be so merry and glad ? Then answered him one of themselves, and said. This is for joy that their Prince Immanuel is coming to relieve the town of Mansoul ; that to this end he is at the head of an army, and that this relief is near.* The men of Mansoul also were greatly concerned at this melodious charm of the trumpets ; they said, yea, they answered one another, saying. This can be no harm to us ; surely this can be no harm to us. Then said the Diabolonians, What had we best to do ? And it was answered. It was best to quit the town; and that, said one, ye may do in pursuance of your last counsel, and by so doing also be better able to give the enemy battle, should an army from without come upon us. So on the second day they withdrew themselves from Mansoul, and abode in the plains without ; but they encamped themselves before Eye-gate, in what terrene and terrible manner they * The saints are kept by the power of God. How seasonably is tliis relief promised ! " In the mount it shall be seen." And nothing can so encourage us in our spiritual warfare as the expectation of the Lord's power and presence. 400 THE HOLY WAR. could. The reason why they would not abide in the town (besides the reasons that were debated in their late conclave,) was, for that they were not possessed of the strong-hold, and because, said they, we shall have more convenience to fight, and also to fly, if need be, when we are encamped in the open plain. Besides, the town would have been a pit for them, rather than a place of defence, had the Prince come up and inclosed them fast therein. Therefore they betook themselves to the field, that they might also be out of the reach of the slings by which they were much annoyed all the while they were in the town. Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the Diabolonians being come, they eagerly prepared themselves for action ; for Captain Credence having told the captains over night, that they should meet their Prince in the field to-morrow, was like oil to a flaming fire ; for of a long time they had been at a distance; they therefore were for this the more earnest and desirous of the work. So as I said, the hour being come. Captain Credence, with the rest of the men of war, drew out their forces before it was day by the sally-port of the town. And being all ready. Captain Credence went up to the head of the army, and gave to the rest of the captains the word, and they to the under officers and soldiers, which was, "The sword of the Prince Immanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence !" which is in the Man- soulian tongue, " The word of God and Faith." Then the captains fell on, and began roundly to front and flank and rear Diabolus's camp.* Now they left Captain Experience in the town, * " The word of God, and Faith." These are invincible weapons. THE HOLY WAR. 401 because he was ill of his wounds which the Diabolo- nians had given him in tiie last fight, lint when he perceived that the captains were at it, what does he but, calling for his crutches in haste, gets up and away he goes to the battle, saying. Shall I lie here when my brethren are in the fight, and when Immanuel the Prince will show himself in the field to his servants ? But when the enemy saw the man come with his crutches, they were daunted yet the more, for, thought they, what spirit has possessed these Mansoulians, that they fight us upon their crutches ! Well, the captains, as I said, fell on, and bravely handled their weapons, still crying out, and shouting as they laid on blows, " The sword of the Prince Immanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence !" Now when Diabolus saw that the captains were come out, and that so valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded, that for the present nothing from them w^as to be looked for but blows, and the dints of their two-edged swords. Wherefore he also falls upon the Prince's army with all his deadly force. So the battle was joined. Now who was it that at first Diabolus met with in the fight, but Captain Credence on the one hand, and the Lord Will-be- will on the other! Now W ill-be-will's blows were like the blows of a giant, for that man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon the Election-Doubters, for they were the life-guard of Diabolus, and he kept them in play a good while, cutting and battering shrewdly. Now when Captain Credence saw my lord engaged, he stoutly on the other hand fell upon the same company also, so they put them to great disorder. Now Captain Good-hope had engaged the Vocation- 51 402 THE HOLY WAR. Doubters, and they were sturdy men ; but the captain was a valiant man : Captain Experience also sent him some aid; so he made the Vocation-Doubters retreat.* ^ORD WII.L-BK.WILL'S CHARGE. * There n.ay be long and violent conflicts in the ^f^^Z^^^^ and faith: doubts, whether or not we are chosen, called, &c. but shall at length prevail, and Satan with his doubters, retreat. THE HOLY WAR. 403 The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on every side, and the Diabolonians fought stoutly. Then my Lord Secretary commanded that the slings from the castle should be played ; and his men could throw stones at a hair's breadth. But after a while those that fled before the captains of the Prince began to rally again, and they came up stoutly upon the rear of the Prince's army, wherefore the Prince's army began to faint ; but remembering they should see the face of their Prince by and by, they took courage, and a very fierce battle was fought. Then shouted the captains, saying, " The sword of the Prince Immanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence !" and with that Diabolus gave back, thinking that more aid had been come. But no Immanuel as yet appeared. Moreover the battle hung in doubt ; and they made a little retreat on both sides. Now in the time of respite. Captain Credence bravely encouraged his men to stand to it, and Diabolus did the like, as well as he could. But Captain Credence made a brave speech to his soldiers, the contents whereof here follow : Gentlemen soldiers, and my brethren in this design, it rejoiceth me much to see in the field, for our Prince this day so stout and so valiant an army, and such faith- ful lovers of Mansoul. You have hitherto, as hath be- come you, shown yourselves men of truth and courage against the Diabolonian forces, so that for all their boast, they have not yet much cause to boast of their gettings. Now take to yourselves your wonted courage, and show yourselves men, even this once only ; for in a few minutes after the next engagement, this time, you shall see your Prince show himself 404 THE HOLY WAR. in the field ; for we must make this second assault upon this tyrant Diabolus, and then Immanuel comes. No sooner had the captain made this speech to the soldiers, but one Mr. Speedy came post to the captain from the Prince, to tell him that Immanuel was at hand. This news when the captain had received, he communicated to the other field officers, and they again to their soldiers and men of war. Wherefore like men raised from the dead, so the captains and their men arose, made up to the enemy, and cried as before, " The sword of the Prince Immanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!" / The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves, and ' made resistance as well as they could, but in this last engagement they lost their courage, and many of the Doubters fell down dead to the ground. Now when they had been in the heat of battle about an hour or more. Captain Credence lifted up his eyes, and beheld Immanuel coming, and he came with colours flying, trumpets sounding, and the feet of his men scarce touched the ground, they hasted with that celerity towards the captains that were engaged. Then Captain Credence wheeled his men to the town- ward, and gave to Diabolus the field. So Immanuel came upon him on the one side, and the enemies' wheiuhe enemy is placc was bctwixt thcm both J then again between Christ and ^j^gy fgi| ^^ ^j- afrcsh, aud a Httlc whilc faith, then down *' • they go, to be sure, aftcrwards Immanuel and Captain Cre- dence met, still trampling down the slain as they \ came. But when the captains saw that their Prince was come, and that he fell upon the Diabolonians on the other side, and that Captain Credence and his High- THE HOLY WAR. 405 ness had got them up betwixt them, they shouted (they so shouted, that the ground rent again,) saying, '• The sword of Immanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence!" Now when Diabolus saw that he and his forces were so hard beset by the Prince and his princely army, what does he, and the lords of the pit that were with him, but make their escape, and forsake their army, and leave them to fall by the hand of Immanuel, and of his noble Captain Credence j* so they fell all down slain before them, before the Prince, and before his royal army; there was not left so much as one Doubter alive; they lay spread upon the ground dead men, as one would spread dung upon the land. When the battle was over, all things came into order in the camp. Then the captains and elders of Mansoul came together to salute Immanuel, w4iile without the corporation. So they saluted him, and welcomed him, and that with a thousand welcomes, for that he was come to the borders of Mansoul again. So he smiled upon them, and said. Peace be unto you. Then they addressed themselves to go to the town. They went then to go up to Mansoul, they, the Prince, with all the new forces that now he had brought with him to the war. Also all the gates of the town were set open for his reception, so glad were they of his blessed return. And this was the manner and order of his going into Mansoul. * The presence of the Lord decides the contest. Doubts and fears cannot stand before the gracious manifestation of himself to the soul. " But if Immanuel's face appear, My hope, my joy begins; His name forbids my slavish fear, His grace removes my sins." 40G THE HOLY WAR. First, as I said, all the gates of the town were set open, yea, the gates of the castle; the elders too of the town of Mansoul placed themselves at the gates of the town, to salute him at his entrance thither: and so they did, for as he drew near and TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF IMMANTJEL. approached towards the gates, they said, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be lift up, ye everlast- ing doors, and the King of glory shall come in." And they answered again, "Who is the King of glory ?" And they made return to themselves, " The THE HOLY WAR. 407 Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even hit them up ye everlasting doors," &c. Secondly, It was ordered also by those of Mansoul, that all the way from the town-gates to those of the castle, his blessed Majesty should be entertained with the song, by them that had best skill in music in all the town of Mansoul. Then the elders, and the rest of the men of Mansoul answered one another as Immanuel entered the town, till he came to the castle-gates, with songs and sound of trumpets, saying, " They have seen thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. So tlie singers went before, the players on instruments fol- lowed after, and among them were the damsels playing on timbrels." Thirdly, Then the captains (for I would speak a word of them) in their order waited on the Prince, as he entered into the gates of Mansoul: Captain Credence went before, and Captain Good-hope with him ; Captain Charity came behind, with other of his companions, and Captain Patience followed after all, and the rest of the captains, some on the right hand, and some on the left accompanied Immanuel into Mansoul. And all the while the colours were displayed, the trumpets sounded, and continual shout- ings were among the soldiers. The Prince himself rode into the town in his armour, which was all of beaten gold ; and his chariot, the pillars of it were of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it was of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love for the daughters of the town of Mansoul. Fourthly, M^hen the Prince was come to the en- 408 THE HOLY WAR. trance of Mansoul, he found all the streets strewed with lilies and flowers, curiously decked with boughs Good and joyful ^^^d brauches from the green trees, that ihougius. stood round about the town. Every door also was filled with persons who had adorned every one their forepart against their house with something of variety and singular excellency to entertain him withal as he passed in the streets. They also them- selves, as Immanuel passed by, welcomed him with shouts and acclamations of joy, saying, " Blessed be the Prince that cometh in the name of his Father Shaddai."* Fifthly, At the castle-gates the elders of Mansoul, to wit, my Lord-Mayor, Lord Will-be-will, the subor- dinate preacher, Mr. Knowledge, and Mr. Mind, with other of the gentry of the place, saluted Immanuel again; they bowed before him, they kissed the dust of his feet, they thanked, they blessed and praised his highness for not taking advantage against them for their sins, but rather had pity upon them in their misery, and returned to them with mercies, and to build up their Mansoul for ever. Thus was he had up straightway to the castle; for that was the royal palace, and the place where his honour was to dwell ; which was ready prepared for his highness by the presence of the Lord Secretary, and the work of Captain Credence. So he entered in. Sixthly, Then the people and commonalty of the town of Mansoul came to him into the castle to * How gladly is Jesus received ! how delightful and welcome is his presence to the soul that has long been vexed with an army of doubts. O let Christians beware of sin and unbelief, which caused him to with- draw, and the doubts to enter. Well may the soul be humbled to the dust, in the recollection of its backsliding. THE HOLY WAR. 409 mourn, weep, and lament for their wickedness, by which they had forced him out of the town. So they, when they were come, bowed themselves to the ground seven times. They also wept, they wept aloud, and asked forgiveness of the Prince, and prayed that he would again, as of old, confirm his love to Mansoul. To which the great Prince replied, "Weep not, but go your way, eat the fat and drink tlie sweet, and send portions to them for whom nought is prepared, for " the joy of the Lord is your strength." I am returned to Mansoul with mercies, and my name shall be set up, exalted, and magnified by it. He also took these inhabitants, and kissed them, and laid them in his bosom.* Moreover, he gave to the elders of Mansoul, and to each town-officer, a chain of gold and a signet. He also sent to their wives ear- .p,„ ,„,y ,„,„,^. rinojs and jewels, and bracelets, and other ^'°"' °^ Manso..i. , V'ouiig and tender things. He also bestowed upon the true- hoi y thoughts. born children of Mansoul many precious things. When Immanuel the Prince had done all these things for the famous town of Mansoul, then he said unto them, First, wash your garments, then put on your ornaments, and then come to me into the castle of Mansoul. t So they went to the fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in ; and there they washed, and there they made their garments white, and came again to the Prince into the castle, and thus they stood before him. J * "The joy of the Lord is our strength;" when this is possessed there will be double diligence in searching out and destroying our sins. t Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no oint- ment. Eccles. ix. 8. I Li that day there shall be a fountain opened to (lie house of David, 52 410 THE HOLY WAR. And now there was music and dancing throughout the whole town of Mansoul: and that because their Prince had again granted to them his presence, and the light of his countenance. The bells also rung, and the sun shone comfortably upon them for a great while together. The town of Mansoul also now more thoroughly sought the destruction and ruin of all remaining Dia- bolonians, that abode in the walls and the dens, that they had in the town of Mansoul; for there was of them that had to this day escaped with life and limb from the hand of their suppressors in the famous town of Mansoul. But my Lord Will-be-will was a greater terror to them now than ever he had been before, forasmuch as his heart was yet more fully bent to seek, contrive, and pursue them to the death. He pursued them night and day, and put them now to sore distress, as will afterwards appear. After things were thus far put into order in the famous town of Mansoul, care was taken, and order given by the blessed Prince Tmmanuel, that the towns- men should, without further delay, appoint some to go forth into the plain to bury the dead that were there ; the dead that fell by the sword of Immanuel, and by the shield of Captain Credence, lest the fumes and ill savours that would arise from them, might and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. Zech. xiii. 1. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Rev. vii. 14, 15. THE HOLY WAR. 411 infect the air, and so annoy the famous town of Mansoul. This also was a reason of this order, to wit, that as much as in Mansoul lay, they might cut off the name and being and remembrance of those enemies, from the thought of the famous town of Mansoul and its inhabitants. So order was given out by the Lord-Mayor, that wise and trusty friend of the town of Mansoul, that persons should be employed about this necessary business; and Mr. Godly-fear, and one Mr. Upright were to be overseers about this matter; so persons were put under them to work in the fields, and to bury the slain that lay dead in the plains. And these were their places of employment ; some were to make the graves, some were to bury the dead, and some were to go to and fro in the plains, and also round about the borders of Mansoul, to see if a skull or a bone, or a piece of a bone of a Doubter, was yet to be found above ground any where near the cor- poration; and if any were found, it was ordered that the searchers that searched should set up a mark thereby and a sign, that those that were appointed to bury them might find it, and bury it out of sight, that the name and remembrance of a Diabolonian Doubter might be blotted out from under heaven; and that the children and they that were to be born in Mansoul might not know (if possible) what a skull, what a bone, or a piece of a bone of a Doubter was. So the buriers, and those that were appointed for that purpose, did as they were commanded ; they buried the Doubters, and all skulls and bones, and pieces of bones of Doubters, wherever they found them, and so they cleansed the plains. Now also r 412 THE HOLY WAR. Mr. God's-peace took up his commission, and acted again as in former days. Thus they buried in the plains about Mansoul, the Election-Doubters, the Vocation-Doubters, the Grace- Doubters, the Perseverance-Doubters, the Resurrec- tion-Doubters, the Salvation-Doubters, and the Glory- Doubters, whose captains were Captain Rage, Captain Cruel, Captain Damnation, Captain Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain No-Ease, Cap- tain Sepulchre, and Captain Past-hope : and old Incre- dulity was under Diabolus their general ; there were also the seven heads of their army, and they were the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord Cerberus, and the Lord Belial. But the princes and the captains, with old Incredulity their general, all made their escape ; so their men fell down slain by the power of the Prince's forces, and by the hands of the men of the town of Mansoul. They also were buried, as is before related, to the exceeding great joy of the town of Mansoul : they that buried them, buried also with them their arms, which were cruel instruments of death (their weapons were arrows, darts, mauls, firebrands, and the like ;) they buried also their armour, colours, and banners, with the standard of Diabolus, and what else soever they could find that did but smell of a Diabolonian Doubter.* * Thus was the victory completed. All doubts of God's grace and love were utterly destroyed; and pains were taken that, if possible, the succeeding generation might never be plagued with the name of a Doubter. The design of all this is to show that doubt and distress as to the love of Christ, contrary to the declarations of his word, should be utterly suppressed, as being infinitely dishonourable to our faithful cove- nant with God, and unspeakably pernicious to our own souls. CHAPTER XVII. A new army of Blood-men or persecutors attack the town, but are surrounded by the Mansoulians, headed by Faitli and Patience. The examination of some of the leaders. Evil-questioning entertains some of the Doubters, but is discovered by Diligence. The principal Doubters tried, convicted, and executed. Now when the tyrant was arrived at Hell-gate-hill, with his old friend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den, and having there with their fol- lowers for a while condoled their misfortune, and the great loss they sustained before the town of Mansoul, they fell at length into a passion, and revenged they would be for the loss that they sustained before the town of Mansoul; wherefore they presently call a council to contrive yet further what was to be done against the famous town of Mansoul ; for their yawn- ing paunches could not wait to see the result of their Lord Lucifer's and their Lord Apollyon's counsel that they had given before. Their raging gorge thought every day even as long as a short for-ever, until they were filled with the body and soul, with the flesh and bones, and with all the delicacies of Mansoul. They therefore resolved to make another attempt upon the town of Mansoul, and that by an army mixed, and made up partly of Doubters and partly of Blood- men. A more particular account now take of both.* * By Blood-men (or bloody men, so called. Psalm cxxxix. 19,) the 413 414 THE HOLY WAR. The Doubters are such as have their names from their nature, as well as from the land and kingdom where they were born; their nature is to put a question upon every one of the truths of Immanuel, and their country is the land of Doubting, and that land lieth off, and furthest remote to the north, between the land of Darkness, and that called the Valley of the Shadow of Death. For though the land of Dark- ness, and that called the land of the Shadow of Death, be sometimes called as if they were one and the self-same place; yet indeed they are two, lying but a httle way asunder, and the land of Doubting points in, and lieth between them. This is the land of Doubting, and those that came with Diabolus to ruin the town of Mansoul, are the natives of that country. The Blood-men are a people that have their name derived from the malignity of their nature, and from the fury that is in them to execute it upon the town of Mansoul. Their land lieth under the Dog-star, and by that they are governed as to their intellectuals. The name of their country is the province of Loath- good, the remote parts of it are far distant from the land of Doubting, yet they do both butt and bound upon the hill called Hell-gate-hill. These people are always in league with the Doubters, for they jointly make question of the faith and fidelity of the men of the town of Mansoul, and so are both alike qualified for the service of their Prince. Now of these two countries did Diabolus by the author seems to intend Persecutors ; men under the power of that carnal mind which is enmity against God, and against his image in the soul of man. Here a new set of enemies arise, and may signify that opposition to religion which, more or less, every Christian must expect, for " tliey wlio live godly, in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." THE HOLY WAR. 415 beating of his drum raise another army against the town of Mansoul, of five-and-tvvcnty thousand strong. There were ten thousand Doubters, and fifteen thou- sand Blood-men, and they were were put under several captains for the war, and old Incredulity^ was again made general of the army. As for the Doubters, their captains were five of the seven that were heads of the last Diabolonian army, and these are their names ; Captain Beelzebub, Captain Lucifer, Captain Apollyon, Captain Legion, and Captain Cerberus, and the captains that they had before were some of them made lieutenants and some ensigns of the army. But Diabolus did not count that in this expedition of his, these Doubters would prove his principal men, for their manhood had been tried before; also the Mansoulians had put them to the worst, only he brought them to multiply a number, and to help, if need was, at a pinch; but his trust he put in his Blood-men, for they were all rugged villains, and he knew that they had done feats heretofore. As for the Blood-men, they also were under com- mand, and the names of their captains were. Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod, Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom, Captain Judas, and Captain Pope. I. Captain Cain was over two bands, to wit, the Zealous and the Angry Blood-men ; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was the mur- dering club.* * And Cain talked with Abel his brotlier: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel liis brother, and slew him. Gen. iv. 8. 416 THE HOLY WAR. 2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, to wit, the Tyrannical and Incroaching Blood-men; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was the great blood-hound.* 3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two hands, to wit, over the Mocking and Scorning Blood-men; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was one mocking at Abraham's Isaac, t 4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, to wit, the Blood-men that grudged that another should have the blessing ; also over the Blood-men that are for executing their private revenge upon others: his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was one privately lurking to murder Jacob.:}: 5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, to wit, the Groundlessly Jealous and the Devilishly Furious Blood-men ; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was three bloody darts cast at harmless David. § 6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, to wit, over the Blood-men that will kill a father or a friend, for the glory of this world : also over * And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. Gen. x. 8, 9. t And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out .this bond-woman and her son: for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. Gen. xxi. 9, 10. X And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah : and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him. Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Gen. xxvii. 42. 5 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. 1 Sam. xviii. 11. THE HOLY WAR. 417 those Blood-men that will hold one fair in hand with words, till they shall have pierced him with their swords ; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was the son pursuing the father's blood.* 7. Captain Judas was over two bands, to wit, the Blood-men that will sell a man's life for money, and those also that will betray their friend with a kiss ; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutcheon was thirty pieces of silver, and the halter, t 8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spirits are joined in one under him ; his standard-bearer bore the red colours, and his scutch- eon was the stake, the flame, and the good man in it. J § Now the reason why Diabolus so soon rallied * And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee ; for we shall not else escape from Absalom : make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 2 Sam. xv. 13, 14. Now tlierelbre send quickly and toll David, saying. Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. xvii. 16. I Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you 1 And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Matt. xxvi. 14 — 16. I And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev. xiii. 7, 8. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many ; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Dan xi. 33. 5 The names of some ancient persecutors and oppressors are here mentioned, beginning with Cain, the first blood-man, and ending with his Holiness of Rome, who has been, in these later ages, tlie most bloody scourge of the true church of God. 53 418 THE HOLY WAR. another force after he had been beaten out of the field, was, for that he put mighty confidence in this army of Blood-men, for he put a great deal more trust in them than he did before in his army of Doubters, though they had also often done great service for him in the strengthening of him in his kingdom. But these Blood-men he had often proved, and their swords seldom returned empty. Besides, he knew that these, like mastiffs, would fasten upon any ; upon father, mother, brother, sister, prince, or governor, yea, upon the Prince of princes. And that which encouraged him the more was, for that they once forced Immanuel out of the kingdom of Universe; and why, thought he, may they not also drive him from the town of Mansoul ? * So this army of five-and-twenty thousand strong, was by their general, the great Lord Incredulity, led up against the town of Mansoul. Now Mr. Prywell, the scout-master-general, went out to spy, and he brought Mansoul tidings of their coming. Wherefore they shut up their gates, and put themselves in a posture of defence against these new Diabolonians that came up against the town. So Diabolus brought up his army, and beleaguered the town of Mansoul. The Doubters were placed about Feel-gate, and the Blood-men set down before Eye-gate and Ear-gate. Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, * Diabolus, with no small cause, puts much confidence in bloody perse- cutors, for their rage has seldom been in vain. Though the true disciples of Christ have been enabled to stand their ground ; a great multitude of professors become apostates tJirough fear of death. Satan also well remembers that his Jewish blood-men prevailed (by divine permission) to force Immanuel himself out of tlie world. Incredulity is deservedly put at the head of this army. THE HOLY WAR. 419 Incredulity, in the name of Diabolus, in his own name, and in the name of the Blood-men and the rest that were with him, sent a summons as hot as a red-hot iron to Mansoul, to yield to their demands, threat- ening, that if they still stood it out against them, they would presently burn down Mansoul with fire. For you must know, that as for the Blood-men, they were not so much that Mansoul should be surrendered, as that Mansoul should be destroyed, and cut off out of the land of the living. True, they sent to them to surrender; but should they do so, that would not quench the thirsts of these men : they must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, else they die; and it is from hence that they have their name. Wherefore these Blood-men he reserved till now, that they might, when all his engines proved ineffectual, as his last and sure card, be played against the town of Mansoul.* t Now when the townsmen had received this red-hot summons, it begat in them at present some changing and interchanging thoughts ; but they jointly agreed, in less than half an hour, to carry the summons to the Prince, which they did when they had writ at the bottom of it, Lord save Mansoul from bloody men. J * The Lord sitteth upon the flood ; yea, the Lord sitteth King- for ever. Psa. xxix. 10. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed in- nocent blood ; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity ; wasting and de- struction are in their paths. Isa. lix. 7. Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. Isa. xxii. 17. t Persecution will be satisfied with nothing less than the utter de- struction of the Christian. Even a surrender will not suffice, as some too yielding professors have found to their cost; witness good Archbishop Cranmer, who recanted through fear, and yet was put to death by the bloody papists. I Deliver me from the workers of initiuity, and save me from bloody men. Psalm lix. 2. 420 THE HOLY WAR. So he took it, and looked upon it, and considered it, and took notice also of that short petition that the men of Mansoul had written at the bottom of it, and called to him the noble Captain Credence, and bid him go and take Captain Patience with him, and go and take care of that side of Mansoul that was beleaguered by the Blood-men.* So they went and did as they were commanded. Captain Cre- dence went and took Captain Patience, and they both secured that side of Mansoul that was besieged by the Blood-men. t Then he commanded that Captain Good-hope and Captain Charity, and my Lord Will-be-will should take charge of the other side of the town ; and I, said the Prince, will set my standard upon the battlements of your castle, and do you three watch against the Doubters. This done, he again commanded that the brave Captain Experience should draw up his men in the market-place, and that there also he should exercise them day by day before the people of the town of Mansoul. Now the siege was long, and many a fierce attempt did the enemy, especially those called Blood-men, make upon the town of Mansoul, and many a shrewd brush did some of the townsmen meet with from them ; especially Captain Self-denial ; who, I should have told you before, was commanded to take the care of Ear-gate and Eye-gate now against the Blood-men. This Captain Self-denial was a young * That ye be not slotliful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. And so, after he had patiently en- dured, he obtained the promise. Heb. vi. 12. 15. f It was through faith and patience that the ancient believers inherited tlie promises. These graces therefore are judiciously opposed to the per- secutors, and nothing less will sustain the soul in the time of trial. CAPTAI-T SELF-DENIAL. 421 TFIE HOLY WAR. 423 man, but stout, and a townsman in Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was; and Immanuel, at his second return to Mansoul, made him a captain over a thou- sand of the Mansoulians, for the good of the corpora- tion. This captain, therefore, being a hardy man, a man of great courage, and willing to venture himself for the good of the town of Mansoul, would now and then sally out upon the Blood-men, and give them many notable alarms, and had several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did some execution upon them; yet you must think that this could not easily be done, but he must meet with brushes himself, for he carried several of their marks in his face; yea, and some in other parts of his body.* So after some time spent for the trial of the faith, hope, and love of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Immanuel upon a day calls his captains and men of war together, and divides them into two companies. This done, he commands them at a time appointed, and that in the morning very early, to sally out upon the enemy; saying. Let half of you fall upon the Doubters, and half of you fall upon the Blood-men. Those of you that go out against the Doubters, kill and slay, and cause to perish so many of them as by any means you can lay hands on; but for you that go out against the Blood-men, slay them not, but take them alive. t Accordingly at the time appointed, betimes in the morning, the captains went out as they were com- manded against the enemies: Captain Good-hope, * A time of persecution loudly calls for the exercise of self-denial. When this prevails the terrors of persecution are diminished. f Christianity forbids us to kill our persecutors; on the contrary we are to return good for evil. 424 THE HOLY WAR. Captain Charity, and those that were joined with them, as Captain Innocent, and Captain Experience, went out against the Doubters ; and Captain Credence, and Captain Patience with Captain Self-denial, and the rest that were to join with them, went out against the Blood-men. Now those that went out against the Doubters, drew up in a body before the plain, and marched on to bid them battle : but the Doubters, remembering their last success, made a retreat, not daring to stand the shock, but fled from the Prince's men ; wherefore they pursued them, and in their pursuit slew many ; but they could not catch them all. Now those that escaped went some of them home; and the rest, by fives, nines, and seventeens, like wanderers, went straggling up and down the country, where they showed and exercised many of their Diabolonian actions upon the barbarous people; nor did these people rise up in arms aoainst them, but The unbeliever r f r & ' jiever fights the suffcred thcmselves to be enslaved by them. They would also after this show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, but never to abide it ; for if Captain Credence, Captain Good- hope, or Captain Experience did but show themselves, they fled. Those that went out against the Blood-men, did as they were commanded. They forbore to slay any, but sought to compass them about. But the Blood-men, when they saw that no Immanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Immanuel was in Mansoul; wherefore they looking upon what the captains did, to be, as they called it, a fruit of the extravagancy of their wild and foolish fancies, rather despised than THE HOLY WAR. d25 feared them ; but the captains minding their business, at last compassed them round. They also that had routed the Doubters, came in amain to their aid ; so in fine, after some little struggling (for the Blood-men also would have run for it, only now it was too late ; for though they are mischievous and cruel where they can overcome, yet all Blood-men are chicken- hearted men, when they once come to see themselves matched and equalled,) so, I say, the captains took them, and brought them to the Prince. Now when they were taken, had before the Prince, and examined, he found them to be of three several counties, though they all came outof one land. 1. One sort of them came out of Blindmanshire, and they w^ere such as did ignorantly what they did. 2. Another sort of them came out of Blindzealshire, and they did superstitiously what they did. 3. The third sort of them came out of the town of Malice, in the county of Envy, and they did what they did out of spite and implacableness.* For the first of these, to wit, the^^ that came out of Blindmanshire, when they saw where they were, and against whom they had fought, they trembled, and cried as they stood before him ; and as many of those as asked him mercy, he touched their lips with his golden sceptre. They that came out of Blindzealshire did not as their fellows, for they pleaded that they had a right to do what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diverse * The spirit of persecution will be found to originate, either in a blind understanding or superstitious zeal, or cruel malice and envy. To the two former, Immanuel showed mercy. Saul, who was once a bloody man, obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly. 54 426 THE HOLY WAR. from all that dwelt thereabouts ; very few of these could be brought to see their evil, but those that did, and asked mercy, they also obtained favour. Now they that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of Envy, they neither wept nor disputed, but stood gnawing of their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul. Now these last, with all those of the other two sorts that did not unfeifjned- ly ask pardon for their faults, those he made to enter into sufficient bond to answer for what they had done against Mansoul, and against her King, at the great Thedayofjudg- ^ttd gcnferal assizes to be holden for our '"^"'- lord the King, where he himself should appoint for the country and kingdom of Universe. So they became bound, each man for himself, to come in when called upon, to answer before our lord the King for what they had done before.* And thus much concerning this second army that was sent by Diabolus to overthrow Mansoul. • But there were three of those that came from the land of Doubting, who, after they had w^andered and ranged the country awhile, and perceived that they had escaped, were so hardy as to thrust themselves, knowing that yet there were in the town some who took part with Diabolus; I say, they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. (Three did I say ? I believe there were four.) Now to whose house should these Doubters go, but to the house of an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose * Malicious persecutors are bound over to appear at the great assize, when these ungodly men shall be judged for all their ungodly deeds, and all their hard speeches against Christ in his members. Jude, 15. THE HOLY WAR. 427 name was Evil-questioning : a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a very great doer among the Diabolonians there. Well to this Evil-questioning's house, as was said, did these Diabolonians come (you may be sure that they had their directivms how to find their way thither,) so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best he had in his house. Now after a little acquaini- iii'M III/ i' 'ir ii , I I MR. EVIL QUESTIOJJINn. ance, and it was not long before they had that, this Evil-questioning asked the Doubters if they were all of a town (he knew that they were all of one kingdom,) and they answered, No, nor of one shire neither; for I, said one, am an election-doubter; and I, said another, am a vocation-doubter; then, said the third, I am a salvation-doubter; and the fourth said, he was a grace-doubter. Well, quoth the old gentleman, be of what shire you will, I am persuaded that you 428 THE HOLY WAR. are town-boys, you have the very length of my foot, are one with my heart, and shall be welcome to me. So they thanked him, and were glad that they had found themselves a harbour in Mansoul. Then said Evil-questioning to them. How many of your company might there be that came with you to the siege of Mansoul ? And they answered, There were but ten thousand Doubters in all, for the rest of the army con- sisted of fifteen thousand Blood-men. These blood- men, quoth they, border upon our country ; but, poor men, we hear, they were every one taken by Imman- uel's forces. Ten thousand ! quoth the old gentleman, I' 11 promise you, that' s a round company. But how came it to pass, since you were so mighty a number, that you fainted, and durst not fight your foes ? Our genera], said they, was the first man that ran for it. Pray, quoth their landlord, who was that your cowardly general? He was once the lord-mayor of Mansoul, said they. But pray call him not a cowardly general, for whether any from the east to the west ht^s done more service for our prince Diabolus than has my Lord Incredulity, will be a hard question for you to answer. But had they catched him, they would for certain have hanged him, and we promise you hanging is but a bad business.* Then said the old gentleman, I would that all the ten thousand Doubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and myself at the head of them. I would see what I could do. Ay, said they, tliat would be well, if we could see that : but wishes, alas ! what are they ? * Douhts will return ajvain and again, and while there is such a thing as evil-qncstioniniT in tJie heart, they will find a harbour there. Unbelief, iiuwever, wua obliged to lly THE IJOLY WAR. 42i) And these words were spoken aloud. Well, said old Evil-questioning, take heed that ye talk not too loud ; you must be quiet and close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here, or I will assure you, you will be snapped. Why ? quoth the Doubters. Why ? quoth the old gentleman : why because both the Prince and lord secretary, and their captains and soldiers, are all at present in town; yea, the town is as full of them as it can hold. And besides, there is one whose name is Will-be-will, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the Prince hath made keeper of the gates, and has commanded him, that with all the diligence he can, he should look for, search out, and destroy all manner of Diabolonians. And if he lighteth upon you, down you go, though your heads were made of gold. And now to see how it happened, one of the Lord Will-be-will's faithful soldiers, whose name was Mr. Diligence, stood all the while listening under old Evil- questioning's eaves, and heard all the talk that had been betwixt him and the Doubters that he entertained under his roof. This soldier was a man that my lord had much confidence in, and whom he loved dearly, and that both because he was a man of courage, and also a man that was unwearied in seeking after Diabolonians to apprehend them.* Now this man, as I told you, heard all the talk that was between old Evil-questioning and these Dia- bolonians; wherefore what does he, but goes to his Lord, and tells him what he had heard. And sayest thou so, my trusty ? quoth my lord. Ay, quoth Dili- * Diligence is of special use in detecting sin. 2 Pet. i. 10. 430 THE HOLY WAR. gence, that I do, and if your lordship will be pleased to go with me, you shall find it as I have said. And are they there ? quoth my lord. I know Evil- questioning well, for he and I were great at the time of our apostasy ; but I know not now where he dwells. But I do, said his man, and if your lordship will go, I will lead you the way to his den. Go ! quoth my lord, that I will. Come, my Diligence, let us go find them out. So my lord and his man went together the direct way to his house. Now his man went before, to show him the way, and they went till they came even under old Mr. Evil-questioning's wall. Then said Diligence, Hark, my lord, do you know the old gentleman's tongue when you hear it ? Yes, said my lord, I know it well, but I have not seen him many a day. This I know ; he is cunning. I wish he may not give us the slip. Let me alone for that, said his servant Diligence. But how shall we find the door ? quoth my lord. Let me alone for that too, said his man. So he had my Lord Will-be-will about, and showed him the way to the door. Then my lord without more ado, broke open the door, rushed into the house, and caught them all five together, even as Diligence his man had told him. So my lord apprehended them, and led them away, and committed them to the hand of Mr. Trueman the gaoler, and commanded, and he put them in ward. This done, my lord-mayor was acquainted in the morning with what my Lord Will-be-will had done over night, and his lordship rejoiced much at the news, not only because there were Doubters apprehended, but because that old Evil-questioning was taken; for he had been a very great trouble to Mansoul, and much affliction THE HOLY WAR. 431 to my lord-mayor himself. He had also been sought for often, but no hand could ever be laid upon him till now. Well, the next thing was, to make preparation to try these five that by my lord had been apprehended, and that were in the hands of Mr. Trueman, the gaoler. So the day was set, and the court called and came together, and the prisoners brought ^hey are brought to the bar. My lord Will-be- will had '°"''^'- power to have slain them when at first he took them, and that without any more ado, but he thought it at this time more for the honour of the Prince, the com- fort of Mansoul, and the discouragement of the enemy, to bring them forth to public judgment. But I say, Mr. Trueman brought them in chains to the bar, to the town-hall, for that was the place of judgment. So, to be short, the jury was pannelled, the witnesses sworn, and the prisoners tried for their lives. The jury was the same that tried Mr. No-truth, Pitiless, Haughty, and the rest of their companions. And first, old Evil-questioning himself was set to the bar ; for he was the receiver, the entertainer, and comforter of these Doubters, that by nation were outlandish men. Then he was bid to hearken to his charge, and was told that he had liberty to object, if he had aught to say for himself. So his indictment was read ; the manner and form here follow : Mr. Questioning, thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-questioning, an intruder upon the town of Man- soul, for that thou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the Prince Immanuel, and one that has studied the ruin of Mansoul. Thou art also here indicted, for countenancing the King's enemies, after 432 THE HOLY WAR. wholesome laws made to the contrary: For, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of her doctrine and state. 2. In wishinor that ten thousand Doubters were in her. 3. In receiving, entertaining, and encouraging of her enemies, that came from their army unto thee. What sayest thou to this mdictment? art thou guilty, or not guilty ? My lord, quoth he, I know not the meaning of this indictment, forasmuch as I am not the man concerned in it. The man that standeth by this charge accused before this bench, is called by the name of Evil- questioning, which name I deny to be mine, mine being Honest-Inquiry.* The one indeed sounds like the other, but I trow, your lordships know that between these two there is a wide difference ; for I hope that a man, even in the worst of times, and that too amongst the worst of men, may make an honest-inquiry after things, without running the danger of death. Then spake my Lord Will-be-will, for he was one of the witnesses : My Lord, and you the honourable bench and magistrates of the town of Mansoul, you all have heard with your ears, that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name, and so thinks to shift from the charo-e of the indictment. But I know him to be the man concerned ; and that his proper name is Evil-questioning. I have known him, my Lord, above these thirty years, for he and I (a shame it is for me to speak it) were great acquaintance, when Diabolus, that tyrant, had the government of Mansoul ; * Evil-questioning denies his name, and would fain pass for Honest- Inquiry. So all tlie enemies of truth shelter tliemselves under the pretence of free inquiry and free-thinking. THE HOLY WAR. 433 and I testify, that he is a Diabolonian by nature, an enemy to our Prince, and an hater of the blessed town of Mansoul. He has, in times of rebelhon, been at, and lain in my house, my lord, not so little as twenty nights together, and w^e used to talk then (for the substance of talk) as he and his Doubters have talked of late. True, I have not seen him many a-day. I suppose that the coming of Innnanuel to Mansoul has made him change his lodgings, as this indictment has driven him to change his name; but this is the man, my lord. Then said the court unto him. Hast thou any more to say ? Yes, quoth the old gentleman, that I have ; for all that has yet been said against me is but by the mouth of one witness ; and it is not lawful for the famous town of Mansoul, at the mouth of one witness, to put any man to death. Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said. My lord, as I was upon my watch such a night, at the head of Bad-street, in this town, I chanced to hear a mutter- ing within this gentleman's house. Then thought I, What's to do here? So I went up close, but very softly, to the side of the house to listen, thinking, as indeed it fell out, that there I might light on some Diabolonian conventicle. So, as I said, I drew nearer and nearer, and when I was got up close to the wall, it was but a while before I perceived that there were outlandish men in the house ; but I understood their speech, for I have been a traveller myself. Now. hearinjr such lanoruajre in such a tottering cotta<^e as this old gentleman dwelt in, I clapped mine ear to a hole in the window, and there heard them talk 55 434 THE HOLY WAR. as followeth. This old Mr. Questioning asked these Doubters what they were, whence they came, and what was their business in these parts? And they answered him to all these questions, 3^et he entertained them. He also asked what numbers there were of MB. DILIGENCE ON THE WATCH, them; and they told him, ten thousand men. He then asked them why they made no more manly assault upon Mansoul, and they told him ; so he called their general coward, for marching off when he should have fought for his prince. Further, this old Evil-question- THE HOLY WAR. 435 inof wished, and I heard him wish, Would all the ten thousand Doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself at the head of them ! He bid them also take heed and lie quiet ; for if they were taken they must die, although they had heads of gold. Then said the court, Mr. Evil-questioning, here is now another witness against you, and his testimony is full: 1. He swears that you received these men into your house, and that you nourished them there, though you knew that they were Diabolonians, and the King's enemies. 2. He swears that you wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul. 3. He swears that you gave them advice to be quiet and close, lest they were taken by the King's servants. All which mani- festeth that thou art a Diabolonian ; for hadst thou been a friend to the King, thou wouldst have appre- hended them. Then said Evil-questioning, To the first of these I answer, The men that came into mine house were strangers, and I took them in ; and is it now become a crime in Mansoul for a man to entertain strangers ? That I also nourished them is true ; and why should my charity be blamed? As for the reason why I wished ten thousand of them in Mansoul, I never told it to the witnesses, nor to themselves. I might wish them to be taken, and so my wish might mean well to Mansoul, for aught that any yet knows. I also bid them take heed that they fell not into the captain's hands, but that might be because I am un- willing that any man should be slain, and not because I would have the King's enemies, as such, to escape.* * He answers with much subtlety, and pretends to great charity, but he is a true Diabolonian, and ought to die. 436 THE HOLY WAR. My lord-mayor then replied, that though it was a virtue to entertain strangers, yet it was treason to entertain the King's enemies. And for what else thou hast said, thou dost by words but labour to evade, and defer the execution of judgment. But could there be no more proved against thee but that thou art a Diabolonian, thou nmst for that die the death of the law ; but to be a receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer, and a harbourer of others of them, yea of outlandish Diabolonians ; yea, of them that come from far, on purpose to cut off and destroy our Mansoul ; this must not be borne. Then said Evil-questioning, I see how the game will go. I must die for my name, and for my charity. And so he held his peace. Then they called the outlandish Doubters to the bar, and the first of them that was arraigned was the Election-Doubter. So his indictment was read, and because he was an outlandish man, the substance of it was told to him by an interpreter; to wit, "that he was there charged with being an enemy to Immanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Mansoul, and an opposer of her most wholesome doctrine." Then the judge asked him if he would plead ; but he said only this. That he confessed that he was an Election-Doubter, and that was the religion that he had ever been brought up in. He said moreover, If I must die for my religion, I trow I shall die a martyr, and so I care the less. Then the judge replied. To question election is to overthrow a great doctrine of the gospel; to wit, the omniscience, and power, and will of God, to take away the liberty of God with his creature, to stumble THE HOLY WAR. 437 the faith of the town of Mansoul, and to make salvation to depend upon works, and not upon grace. It also belied the word, and disquieted the minds of the men of Mansoul ; therefore by the best of laws he must die.* Then was the Vocation-Doubter called, and set to the bar; and his indictment for substance was the same with the other, only he was particularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul. The judge asked him also what he had to say for himself. So he replied, that he never believed that there was any such thing as a distinct and powerful call of God to Mansoul, otherwise than by the general voice of the word, nor by that neither, otherwise than as it exhorted them to forbear evil, and to do that which is good, and in so doing a promise of happiness is annexed. Then said the judge. Thou art a Diabolonian, and hast denied a great part of one of the most experi- mental truths of the Prince of the town of Mansoul ; for he has called, and she has heard a most distinct and powerful call of her Immanuel, by which she has been quickened, awakened, and possessed with hea- venly grace to desire to have communion with her Prince, to serve him, and to do his will, and to look for her happiness merely of his good pleasure. And for thine abhorrence of this good doctrine thou must die the death, t * Those who deny election, deny (though perhaps unwittingly) the omniscience and sovereignty of God, and unavoidably assert, (sometimes without perceiving it) that salvation is not of grace, but of works. f The enemies of effectual calling by the influence of the Holy Spirit 438 THE HOLY WAR. Then the Grace-Doubter was called, and his indict- ment was read, and he replied thereto, That though he was of the land of Doubting, his father was the offspring of a Pharisee, and lived in a good fashion among his neighbours, and that he taught him to believe (and believe I do and will) that Mansoul shall never be saved freely by grace. Then said the judge, Why, the law of the Prince is plain, 1. negatively, "not of works:" 2. positively, " By grace ye are saved," Rom. iii. Eph. ii. And thy religion settleth in and upon the works of the flesh ; for the works of the law are the works of the flesh. Besides, in saying, " Thou hast done," thou hast robbed God of his glory, and given it to a sinful man ; thou hast robbed Christ of the necessity of his undertaking, and the sufficiency thereof, and hast given both these to the works of the flesh. Thou hast despised the work of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the will of the flesh, and of the legal mind. Thou art a Diabolonian, the son of a Diabolonian ; and for thy Diabolonian principles thou must die.* The court then having proceeded thus far with them, sent out the jury, who forthwith brought them in guilty of death. Then stood up the recorder, and addressed himself to the prisoners : You, the prisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted, and proved guilty of high crimes against Immanuel our Prince, and asainst the welfare of the famous town of Man- soul: crimes for which you must be put to death; and die ye accordingly. are advocates for salvation by works; that dangerous leaven of the Pharisees. * To insist upon salvation by works is utterly to deny grace: for as THE HOLY WAR. 439 So they were sentenced to the death of the cross : the place assigned them for execution was that where Diabolus drew up his last army against Mansoul ; save only that old Evil-questioning was hanged at the top of Bad-street, over against his own door.* the apostle argues, Gal. ii, 21. " If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain," and thus the grace of God is entirely frustrated. * The author does not mean that persons maintaining these opinions ought to be put to death; he designs only the death or destruction of those pernicious errors, which, even as the lusts of the flesh, must be mortified. CHAPTER XVIII. More Diabolonians tried and condemned. The work concludes with an admirable speech of Immanuel, reciting his gracious acts, and informing his people of his intention to rebuild the town with the greatest splendour, and recommending a suitable conduct in the mean time. When the town of Mansou] had thus far rid them- selves of their enemies, and of the troublers of their peace, in the next place a strict commandment was given out, that yet my Lord Will-be-will should, with Diligence his man, search for, and do his best to apprehend what town-Diabolonians were yet left alive in Mansoul. The names of several of them were, Mr. Fooling, Mr. Let-good-slip, Mr. Slavish-fear, Mr. No-love, Mr. Mistrust, Mr. Flesh, and Mr. Sloth. It was also commanded that he should apprehend Mr. Evil-questioning's children that he left behind him, that they should demolish his house there. Mr. Doubt was his eldest son ; the next to him was Legal-life, Unbelief, Wrong-thoughts-of-Christ, Clip-promise, Car- nal-sense, Live-by-feeling, Self-love. All these he had by one wife, and her name was No-hope, she was the kinswoman of old Incredulity, for he was her uncle, and when her father, old Dark, was dead, he took her and brought her up, and when she was marriageable, he gave her to this old Evil-questioning to wife.* * The names of these gentry will sufficiently show the necessity of destroying them ; they are all enemies to soul-prosperity. ' 440 THK HOLY WAR. 441 Now the Lord Will-be-will put into execution his commission, with Great DiHgence his man. He took Foohng in the streets, and hanged him up in Want- wit-alloy, over against his own house. This Fooling was he that would have had the town of Mansoul deliver up Captain Credence into the hands of Dia- bolus, provided that then he would have withdrawn his force out of the town. He also took Mr. Let-fTood- slip one day as he M^as busy in the market, and executed him according to law. Now there was an honest poor man in Mansoul, and his name was Mr. Meditation, one of no great account in the days of apostasy; but now of repute with the best of the town. This man therefore they were wilUng to prefer. Now Mr. Let-good-slip had a great deal of wealth heretofore in Mansoul, and at Immanuel's coming it was sequestered to the use of the Prince; this therefore was now given to Mr. Meditation to improve for the common good, and after him to his son Mr. Think-well ; this Think-well he had by Mrs. Piety his wife, and she was the daughter of Mr. Recorder, * After this my lord apprehended Clip-promise ; now because he was a notorious villain (for by his doings much of the King's coin was abused,) therefore he was made a public example. He was arraigned, and adjudged to be first set in the pillory, and then to be whipped by all the children and servants in Mansoul, then to be hanged till he was dead. Some may wonder at the severity of this man's punishment, but they that are honest traders in Mansoul, are * Great is the advantage of meditation ; a practice, alas ! in which Christians in general are too backward. And O how much is lost by letting the word slip, which ought to be laid up, and pondered in the heart. This is the way to become spiritually rich. 56 442 THE HOLY WAR, sensible of the great abuse that one clipper of promises in little time may do to the town of Mansoul. And truly my judgment is, that all those of his name and life should be served even as he.* He also apprehended Carnal-sense, and put him in hold ; but how it came about I cannot tell, but he broke prison, and made his escape. Yea, and the bold villain will not yet quit the town, but lurks in the Diabolonian dens a-days, and haunts like a ghost honest men's houses a-nights. Wherefore there was a proclamation set up in the market-place in Mansoul, signifying, that whosoever could discover Carnal-sense, and apprehend him and slay him, should be admitted daily to the Prince's table, and should be made keeper of the treasure of Mansoul. Many therefore bent themselves to do this thinij : but take him and slay him they could not, though he was often discovered. But my Lord took Mr. Wrong-thoughts- of-Christ, and put him in prison, and he died there of a lingering consumption. t Self-love was also taken and committed to custody, but there were many that were allied to him in Man- soul, so his judgment was deferred; but at last Mr. Self-denial stood up and said. If such villains as these may be winked at in Mansoul, I will lay down my commission. He also took him from the crowd, and had him among his soldiers, and there he was brained. * To curtail or diminish the precious promises, which are as valuable to a spiritual life as the sterling coin of the kingdom to commerce, is highly criminal. + Carnality, seated in the corporal senses, is a bitter enemy ; and very difficult to be detected and destroyed. The holiest believer may say, with St. Paul, " I am (comparatively) carnal." But wrong thoughts of Christ, which are also singularly injurious, will gradually declme in the heart of a true believer. THE HOLY WAR. 443 But some in Mansoul muttered at it, thoujrh none durst speak plainly, because Immanuel was in the town. But this brave act of Captain Self-denial came to the Prince's ears, so he sent for him and made him a lord in Mansoul. My Lord Will-be-will also obtained great commendations of Immanuel, for what he had done for the town of Mansoul. SELF-LOVE SLAIN. Then my Lord Self-denial took courage, and set to the pursuing of the Diabolonians with my Lord Will-be-will ; and they took Live-by-feeling, and they took Legal-life, and put them in hold till they died. But Mr. Unbelief was a nimble Jack, him they could never lay hold of, though they attempted to do it often. He therefore, and some few more of the subtlest of the Diabolonian tribe, yet remained in Mansoul, 444 THE HOLY WAR. to the time that Mansoul left off to dwell any longei in the kingdom of Universe. But they kept them to their dens and holes ; if one of them appeared, or happened to be seen in any of the streets of the town of Mansoul, the whole town would be in arms after them, yea, the very children in Mansoul would cry out after them as after a thief, and would wish that they might stone them to death with stones. And now Mansoul arrived to some good degree of peace and THE TOWN OF AUNSOL'L. quiet, her Prince also abode within her borders, her captains also, and her soldiers did their duties, and Mansoul minded her trade that she had with the country afar off; also she was busy in her manu- facture.* t * Thine eyes shall see the King- in his heanty ; they shall behold the land that is very far off! Isa. xxxiii. 17. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. iii. 20. t Self-denial must be opposed to self-love. "If, through the spirit, we THE HOLY WAR. 445 When the town of Mansoul had thus far rid them- selves of so many of tlieir enemies, and the troublers of their peace, the Prince sent to them, and appointed a day wherein he would meet the whole people at the market-place, and there give them in charge con- cerning some further matters, that, if observed, would tend to their further safety and comfort, and to the condenmation and destruction of their home-bred Diabolonians. So the day appointed was come, and the townsmen met together. Immanuel also came down in his chariot, and all his captains in their state attending of him, on the right hand, and on the left. Then was an " O yes" made for silence, and, after some mutual carriages of love, the Prince began, and thus proceeded : You, my Mansoul, and the beloved of mine heart, many and great are the privileges that I have bestowed upon you : I have singled you out from others, and have chosen you to myself, not for your worthiness, but for mine own sake. I have also redeemed you, not only from the dread of my Father's law, but from the hand of Diabolus. This I have done, because I loved you, and because I have set my heart upon you to do you good. I have also, that all things that might hinder thy way to the pleasures of paradise might be taken out of the way, laid down for thee, for th}^ soul, a plenary satisfaction, and bought thee for myself; a price not of corruptible things, as of silver and gold, but a price of blood, mine own blood, which I have freely spilt upon the ground to make mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live," and sliall also happily experi- ence, " thiit to be spiritually minded is life and peace." But after all, that villain Unbelief, tiie worst of all the gang, still lurks secretly in the soul, yet is uniformly opposed whenever he dares to appear. 446 THE HOLY WAR. thee mine. So I have reconciled thee, O my Mansoul, to my Father, and intrusted thee in the mansion- houses that are with my Father in the royal city, where things are, O my Mansoul, that eye hath not seen, nor hath entered into the heart of man to conceive. Besides, O my Mansoul, thou seest what I have done, and how I have taken thee out of the hand of thine enemies ; unto whom thou hadst deeply revolted from my Father, and by whom thou wast content to be possessed, and also to be destroyed. I came to thee first by my law, then by my gospel, to awaken thee and show thee my glory. And thou knowest what thou wast, what thou saidst, what thou didst, and how many times thou rebelledst against my Father and me; yet I left thee not, as thou seest this day, but came to thee, have borne thy manners, have waited upon thee, and, after all, accepted of thee even of my mere grace and favour; and would not suffer thee to be lost, as thou most willingly wouldst have been. I -also compassed thee about, afflicted thee on every side, that I might make thee weary of thy ways, and bring down thy heart with molestation to a willingness to close with thy good and happiness. And when I had gotten a complete conquest over thee, I turned it to thy advantage. Thou seest also what a company of my Father's host I have lodged within thy borders, captains, and rulers, soldiers, men of war, engines, and excellent devices, to subdue and bring down thy foes; thou knowest my meaning, O Mansoul. And they are my servants, and thine too, Mansoul. Yea, my design of possessing of thee with them, and the natural ten- THE HOLY WAR. 447 dency of each of them, is to defend, purge, strengthen, sweeten thee for myself, O Mansoul, and to make thee meet for my Father's presence, blessing, and glory; for thou, my Mansoul, art created to be pre- pared unto these. Thou seest moreover, my Mansoul, how I have passed by thy backslidings, and have healed thee. In- deed I was angry with thee, but I have turned away my anger, because I loved thee still ; and mine indignation is ceased in the destruction of thine enemies, O Man- soul. Nor did thy goodness fetch me again unto thee, after that I for thy transgressions had hid my face, and withdrawn my presence from thee. The way of back- sliding was thine, but the way and means of recovery was mine. I invented the means of thy return ; it was I that made a hedge and a wall, when thou wast beginning to turn to things in which I delighted not. It was I that made thy sweet bitter, thy day night, thy smooth way thorny, and that also confounded all that sought thy destruction. It was I that set Mr. Godly-fear to work in Mansoul. It was I that stirred up thy conscience and understanding, thy will and thy affections, after thy great and woful decay. It was I that put life into thee, O Mansoul, to seek me, that thou mightest find me, and, in thy finding, find thine own health, happiness, and salvation. It was I that fetched the second time the Diabolonians out of Mansoul ; it was I that overcame them, and that destroyed them before thy face. And now, my Mansoul, I am returned to thee in peace, and thy transgressions against me are as if they had not been. Nor shall it be with thee as in former days, but I will do better for thee than 448 THE HOLY WAR. at thy beginning. For yet a little while, O n)y Man soul, even after a few more times are gone over thy head, I will (but be not thou troubled at what I say) The death of the take dowH this famous town of Mansoul, ^°^^- stick and stone, to the ground. And I will carry the stones thereof, and the timber thereof. The resurreciioii ^^^ thc walls thcrcof, aud thc dust thereof, unto life eternal, ^j^j inhabitants thereof, into mine own country, even into the kingdom of my Father: and will there set it up in such strength and glory as it never did see in the kingdom where now it is placed. I will even there set it up for my Father's habitation, because for that purpose it was at first erected in the kingdom of Universe ; and there will I make it a spectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy. There shall the natives of Mansoul see all that of which they have seen nothing here ; there shall they be equal to those unto whom they have been inferior here. And there shalt thou, O my Mansoul, have such com- munion with me, with my Father, and with your Lord Secretary, as is not possible here to be enjoyed, nor ever could be, shouldst thou live in Universe the space of a thousand years. There, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers no more ; of Diabolonians no more. There shall be no more plots, nor contrivances, nor designs against thee, O my Mansoul. There thou shalt no more hear of evil tidings, or the noise of the Diabolo- nian drum. There thou shalt not see the Diabolonian standard-bearers, nor yet behold Diabolus's All shall be peace and happiness in Standard. No Diabolonian mount shall be cast up against thee there, nor shall there the Diabolonian standard be set up to make thee THE HOLY WAR. 449 afraid. There thou shalt meet with no sorrow nor grief, nor shall it be possible that any Diabolonian sliould again (for ever) be able to creep into thy skirts, burrow in thy walls, or be seen within thy borders all the days of eternity. Life shall there last longer than here you are able to desire it should, and yet it shall always be sweet and new, nor shall any impediment attend it for ever. There, O Mansoul, thou shalt meet with many of those that have been hke thee, and that have been partakers of thy sorrows ; even such as I have chosen and redeemed, and set apart, as thou, for my Father's court and city royal. All they will be glad in thee ; and thou, when thou seest them, shalt be glad in thine heart. There are things, O Mansoul, even things of my Father's providing and mine, that never were seen since the beginning of the world, and they are laid up with my Father, and sealed up among his treasures for thee, till thou shalt come thither to them. I told you before that I would remove my Mansoul, and set it up elsewhere; and where I will set it, there are those that love thee, and those that rejoice in thee now, but much more when they see thee exalted to honour. My Father will then send them for you to fetch you ; and their bosoms are chariots to put you in. And thou, O my Mansoul, shalt ride upon the wings of the wind.* They will come to convey, conduct, and bring you to that, when your eyes see more, that will be your desired haven. And thus, O my Mansoul, I have showed unto thee * The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of ang-els ; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Psa. Ixviii. 17. 57 450 THE HOLY WAR. what shall be done to thee hereafter, if thou canst understand ; and now I will tell thee what at present must be thy duty and practice, until I shall come and fetch thee to myself according as is related in the scriptures of truth. First, I charge thee that thou do hereafter keep more white and clean the liveries which I gave thee before my last withdrawing from thee. Do it, I say, for this will be thy wisdom. They are in Fine linen llie "^ *' righteousness of thcmsclves finc linen, but thou must keep them white and clean. This will be your wisdom, your honour: and will be greatly for my glory. When your garments are white, the world will count you mine. Also when your garments are white, then I am delighted in your ways ; for then your goings to and fro will be like a flash of lightning, that those that are present must take notice of; also their eyes will be made to dazzle thereat. Deck thyself therefore according to my bidding, and make thyself by my law straight steps for thy feet ; so shall thy King greatly desire thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him. Now that thou mayest keep them as I have bid thee, I have, as I before told thee, provided for thee an open fountain to wash thy garments in. Look therefore that thou wash often in my fountain, and go not in defiled garments ; for as it is to my dishonour, and my disgrace, so it will be to thy discomfort, when you shall walk in filthy garments.* Let not therefore * Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. Zech. iii. 3, 4. THE HOLY WAR. 451 my garments, your garments, the garments p.^^.y <,,,,-, ,,. that I gave thee, be defiled or spotted by '=°'""'«"deci. the flesh.* Keep thy garments always white, and let thy head lack no ointment. My Man soul, I have oft-times delivered thee from the designs, plots, attempts, and conspiracies of Dia- bolus, and for all this I ask thee nothing, but that thou render not to me evil for good, but that thou bear in mind my love, and the continuation of my kindness to my beloved Mansoul, so as to provoke thee to walk, in thy measure, according to the benefit bestowed on thee. Of old the sacrifices were bound with cords to the horns of the golden altar. Consider what is said to thee, O my blessed Mansoul. O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died. I live, and will die no more for thee ; I live, that thou mayest not die. Because I live, thou shalt live also. I recon- ciled thee to my Father by the blood of my cross, and being reconciled thou shalt live through me. 1 will pray for thee, I will fight for thee, I will yet do thee good. Nothing can hurt thee but sin, nothing can grieve me but sin; nothing can make thee base sin their great before thy foes but sin : take heed of sin, ^"^"'^■• my Mansoul. And dost thou know why I at first, and do still sufllgr Diabolonians to dwell within thy walls, O Man- soul? It is to keep thee w'aiting, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, and to cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, and my mercy. It is also that yet thou mayest be made to remember * And others save witli fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating ever the garment si^otted by the flrph. Jude vei-. 23, 452 THE HOLY WAR. what a deplorable condition thou once wast in ; I mean when, not some, but all did dwell, not in thy wall, but in thy castle, and in thy strong hold, O Mansoul. O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many watciifuiness thcrc bc without that would bring thee into recommended, bottdagc ; for wcrc all these within cut off, those without would find thee sleeping, and then as in a moment they would swallow up my Mansoul. I therefore left them in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which they yet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them,) but to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight against them. Know therefore, that whatever they shall tempt thee to, my design is, that they should drive thee, not further off, but nearer to my Father, to learn thee war, to make petitioning desirable to thee, and to make thee little in thy own eyes. Hearken diligently to this, my Mansoul. Show me then thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that are within thy walls, take thy affection off from him that hath redeemed thy soul. Yea, let the sight of a Diabolonian heighten thy love to me. 1 came once, and twice, and thrice, to save thee from the poison of those arrows that would have wrought thy death ; stand for me, thy Friend, my Mansoul, against the Diabolonians, and I will stand for thee before my Father, and all his court. Love me against temptation ; and I will love thee, notwithstanding thine infirmities. O my Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers, and mine engines have done for thee. They have fought for thee, they have borne much at thy THE HOLY WAR. 453 hands to do thee good, O Mansoul. Hadst thou not had them to help thee, Diabolus had certainly made a hand of thee. Nourish them, therefore, my Mansoul. When thou dost well, they will be well ; when thou dost ill, they will be ill, and sick and weak. Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul ; for if they be sick, thou canst not be well ; if they be weak, thou canst not be strong ; if they be faint, thou canst not be stout and valiant for thy King, O Mansoul. Nor must thou think always to live by sense, thou must _ Mansoul is to live live upon my word. Thou must believe, by the word of O my Mansoul, when I am from thee, that yet I love and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.* Remember therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou art beloved of me : as I have therefore taught thee to watch, to fight, to pray, and to make war against my foes, so now I command thee to believe that my love is constant to thee. O my Mansoul, now have I set * But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden: but that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. Rev. ii. 24, 25. In this sweet and truly evangelical speech, the dear Lord Jesus is represented as making a recapitulation of his gracious dealings with the souls of his people. Salvation is uniformly ascribed to the free mercy of the Father and the precious blood of the Son. Every gracious soul will cordially say, Not unto me, not unto me, O Lord, but to thy name be all the glory. Immanuel then informs them of his intention to take down the present town of Mansoul, and to rebuild it in a more glorious manner; in other w'ords, to remove the believer to glory, and raise up his mortal body to everlasting honour and happiness, when sin, sorrow and temptation shall never more be known. Till this event takes place, he directs his people to keep their garments white and clean — that is, to be holy in all manner of conversation and godliness; to watch carefully against sin, which is the only thing that can hurt them, and to live every day by faith in the word of God. 454 THE HOLY WAR. my heart, my love upon thee, watch : Behold I lay none other burden upon thee, than what thou hast already. Hold fast till I come.* * Thus have we followed the ingenious and judicious author through this truly excellent work, making use of his own marginal key to unlock the curious cabinet, and expose the valuable contents. May every reader be found among those who are restored by grace to the kingdom of Immanuel, and who, having overcome, shall sit down with him on his throne of glory. To Him, even to the Lamb that was slain, who hath redeemed us to God by his blood ; to Him be glory, in all the churchad, world without end. Amen. F s^jat^eLay. ^^^^mmmmmmmmi ■■■■W Date Due 4 "^' , Il«9 '42 1 ^ ^f^ ■^