what tyrant, what devil is there that may not conquer after this sort? But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy pretences to a conquest of Mansoul, hast nothing of truth to say. Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou didst put the lie upon my Father, and madest him, to Mansoul, the greatest deluder in the world. And what sayest thou to thy perverting, knowingly, the right purport and intent of the law? Was it good also that thou madest a prey of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town of Mansoul? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul by promising to them happiness in their transgressions against my Father's law, when thou knewest, and couldest not but know, hadst thou consulted nothing but thine own experience, that that was the way to undo them. Thou hast also thyself-0 thou master of enmity, of despite-defaced my Father's image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in its place, to the great contempt of my Father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerable damage of the perishing town of Mansoul. Thou hast, moreover -as if all these were but little things with theenot only deluded and undone this place, but, by thy lies and fraudulent carriage hast set them against their own deliverance. How hast thou stirred them up against my Father's captains, and made them to fight against those that were sent of him to deliver them from their bondage! All these things and very many more thou hast done against thy light, and in contempt of my Father and of his law; yea, and with design to bring under his displeasure for ever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am therefore come to avenge the wrong that thou hast done to my Father, and to deal with thee for the blasphemies wherewith thou hast made poor Mansoul blaspheme his name. Yea, upon thy head, thou prince of the infernal cave, will I require it. 'As for myself, O Diabolus, I am come against thee by lawful power, and to take, by strength of hand, this town of Mansoul out of thy burning fingers. For this town of Mansoul is mine, O Diabolus, and that by undoubted right, as all shall see that will diligently search the most ancient and most authentic records, and I will plead my title to it, to the confusion of thy face. even to recover mine own inheritance out of thine hand. He. i. 2; Jn. xvi. 15. 2. But further, as I have a right and title to Mansoul, by being my Father's heir, so I have also by my Father's donation. His it was, and he gave it me (Jn. xvii.); nor have I at any time offended my Father, that he should take it from me and give it to thee. Nor have I been forced by playing the bankrupt to sell, or set to sale to thee, my beloved town of Mansoul. Is. 1. 1. Mansoul is my desire, my delight, and the joy of my heart. But, 3. Mansoul is mine by right of purchase. I have bought it, O Diabolus, I have bought it to myself. Now, since it was my Father's and mine, as I was his heir; and since also I have made it mine by virtue of a great purchase, it followeth, that by all lawful right the town of Mansoul is mine, and that thou art an usurper, a tyrant, and traitor, in thy holding possession thereof. Now, the cause of my purchasing of it was this: Mansoul had trespassed against my Father; now my Father had said, that in the day that they broke his law they should die. Now it is more possible for heaven and earth to pass away, than for my Father to break his word. Mat. v. 18. Wherefore, when Mansoul had sinned indeed by hearkening to thy lie, I put in and became a surety to my Father, body for body, and soul for soul, that I would make amends for Mansoul's transgressions; and my Father did accept thereof. So when O sweet Prince, the time appointed was come, I gave body for body, soul for soul, life for life, blood for blood, and so redeemed my beloved Mansoul. Emmanuel. 4. Nor did I do this to the halves; my Father's law and justice that were both concerned in the threatening upon transgression, are both now satisfied, and very well content that Mansoul should be delivered. 5. Nor am I come out this day against thee but by commandment of my Father; it was he that said unto me, Go down and deliver Mansoul. 'Wherefore, be it known unto thee, O thou fountain of deceit, and be it also known to the foolish town of Mansoul, that I am not come against thee this day without my Father. Second. O thou master of the lie, this town of compassion for thee. Thou hast accepted of DiaMansoul is mine. 1. For that I am my Father's heir, his firstborn, and the only delight of his heart. I am therefore come up against thee in mine own right, bolus for thy king, and art become a nurse and minister of Diabolonians against thy Sovereign Lord. Thy gates thou hast opened to him, but hast shut them fast against me; thou hast given him a hearing, but hast stopped thine ears at my | They shut up Eargate, they barricaded it up, cry; he brought to thee thy destruction, and thou they kept it locked and bolted; they set a guard didst receive both him and it: I am come to thee thereat, and commanded that no Mansoulonian bringing salvation, but thou regardest me not. should go out to him, nor that from the camp any Besides, thou hast, as with sacrilegious hands, should be admitted into the town; all this they taken thyself with all that was mine in thee, and did, so horribly had Diabolus enchanted them to hast given all to my foe, and to the greatest enemy do, and seek to do for him, against their rightful my Father has. You have bowed and subjected Lord and Prince; wherefore no man, nor voice, nor yourselves to him; you have vowed and sworn sound of man that belonged to the glorious host, yourselves to be his. Poor Mansoul! what shall was to come into the town.3 I do unto thee? Shall I save thee? shall I destroy thee? What shall I do unto thee? shall I fall upon thee and grind thee to powder, or make thee a monument of the richest grace? What shall I do unto thee? Ilearken, therefore, thou town of Mansoul, hearken to my word, and thou shalt live. I am merciful, Mansoul, and thou shalt find me so; shut me not out of thy gates. Ca. v. 2. O Mansoul, neither is my commission, nor inclination, at all to do thee any hurt; why fliest thou so fast from thy friend, and stickest so close to thine enemy? Indeed, I would have thee, because it becomes thee, to be sorry for thy sin; but do not despair of life, this great force is not to hurt thee, but to deliver thee from thy bondage, and to reduce thee to thy obedience. Lu. ix. 56. Jn. xii. 47. My commission, indeed, is to make a war upon Diabolus thy king, and upon all Diabolonians with him; for he is the strong man armed that keeps the house, and I will have him out; his spoils I must divide,1 his armour I must take from him, his hold I must cast him out of, and must make it an habitation for myself. And this, O Mansoul, shall Diabolus know, when he shall be made to follow me in chains, and when Mansoul shall rejoice to see it so. 'I could, would I now put forth my might, cause that forthwith he should leave you and depart; but I have it in my heart so to deal with him, as that the justice of the war that I shall make upon him may be seen and acknowledged by all. He hath taken Mansoul by fraud, and keeps it by violence and deceit; and I will make him bare and naked in the eyes of all observers. All my words are true, I am mighty to save, and will deliver my Mansoul out of his hand.'2 This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoul would not have the hearing of it. 1 This reference to Is. liii. 12 must not be misunderstood by our youthful readers. It does not mean that Emmanuel would divide the spoil with Diabolus, but that he would take it all from him, and divide it at his (Emmanuel's) pleasure.— (ED.) 2 Here Emmanuel discovers the true character of Satan-a liar, a deceiver, a blasphemer, an usurper, the malicious cuemy of God and man. Emmanuel claims the human soul as his own, his workmanship, his delight, his inheritance, his purchase. How well does this gracious address deserve the most cordial acceptation!—(Burder.) VOL. III. [CHAPTER VII.] [CONTENTS:-Emmanuel prepares to make war upon Mansoul -Diabolus sends Mr. Loth-to-stoop with proposals for peace-These proposals being dishonourable to Emmanuel, are all rejected-Again Diabolus proposes to patch up a peace by reformation, offering to become Emmanuel's deputy in that business-This proposal also rejectedNew preparations made for battle-Diabolus, expecting to be obliged to abandon the town, does much mischief -Eargate, violently assaulted by the battering-rams, at length gives way, and is broken to pieces-Emmanuel's forces enter the town, and take possession of the Recorder's house-Several mischievous Diabolonians are killed.] Emmanuel pre pares to make war upon Mansoul. So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin, he calls his army together, since now also his words were despised, and gave out a commandment throughout all his host to be ready against the time appointed. Now, forasmuch as there was no way lawfully to take the town of Mansoul, but to get in by the gates, and at Eargate as the chief, therefore he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams, their slings, and their men, and place them at Eyegate and Eargate, in order to his taking the town. Diabolus sends by the hand of his servant, Loth-tostoop, and by him he pro When Emmanuel had put all things in readiness to give Diabolus battle, he sent again to know of the town of Mansoul if in peaceable manner they would yield themselves, or whether they were yet resolved to put him to try the utmost extremity. Then they together, with Diabolus their king, called a council of war, and resolved upon certain propositions Mr. that should be offered to Emmanuel, if he will accept thereof, so they agreed; and then the next was who should be sent on this errand. Now there was of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian, and his name was Mr. Loth-to-stoop, a stiff man in his way, and a great doer for Diabolus; him there pounds condi tions of peace. in the town 3 Infatuated sinners! rejecting the counsel of God against themselves. Reader, is this thy case? Pause and examine. Remember 'faith cometh by hearing.' Hear, then, and your soul shall live.—(Burder.) 4 These terms may be found in Grace Abounding, No. 16. Desires to reform my vicious life; to go to church twice a day, and say and sing with the foremost; yet retaining y vicious life.'-(Ed.) 37 Then said Emmanuel, No: that is contrary to my Father's will; for all, and all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives.' Ro. vi. 13. Ga. v. 24. Col. iii. 5. fore they sent, and put into his mouth what he | to enjoy their present dwellings; may not that be should say. So he went, and came to the camp to granted, Sir?' Emmanuel; and when he was come, a time was appointed to give him audience. So at the time he came, and after a Diabolonian ceremony or two, he thus began, and said, 'Great Sir, that it may be known unto all men how good-natured a prince my master is, he hath sent me to tell your Lordship that he is very willing, rather than to go to war, to deliver up into your hands Mark this.1 one-half of the town of Mansoul. Tit. i. 16. I am therefore to know if your Mightiness will accept of this proposition.' Then said Emmanuel, 'The whole is mine by gift and purchase, wherefore I will never lose one-half.' Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, Sir, my master hath said, that he will be content that Mark this. you shall be the nominal and titular Lord of all, if he may possess but a part.' Lu xiii. 25. Then Emmanuel answered, 'The whole is mine really; not in name and word only: wherefore I will be the sole Lord and possessor of all, or of none at all of Mansoul.' Then said the golden Prince, All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and of all that he hath given me I will lose nothing, no, not a hoof, nor a hair. I will not therefore grant him, no, not the least corner in Mansoul to dwell in, I will have all to myself.' Then Loth-to-stoop said again, But, Sir, suppose that my lord should resign the whole town to you, only with this proviso, that he sometimes, when he comes into this country, may, for old acquaintance sake, be entertained as a way-faring man for two days, or ten days, or a month, or so; may not this small matter be granted?' Mark this. Then said Emmanuel, No: he came as a wayfaring man to David, nor did he stay long with him, and yet it had like to have cost David his soul. 2 Sa. xii. 1–5. I will not consent that he ever should have any harbour more there.' Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, Sir, you seem to be very hard. Suppose my master should yield to all that your Lordship hath said, provided that his Sins and carnal friends and kindred in Mansoul may lusts. have liberty to trade in the town, and Mark this. A cold, lifeless profession, without possessing Christ, the hope of glory, is not Christianity; an almost Christian is a very infidel. We cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon. Jesus is worthy of all our love and service; in him are treasured up every needful blessing for time and eternity.-(Mason.) Mark this. Then said Mr. Loth-to-stoop again, But, Sir, may not my master, and great lord, by letters, by passengers, by accidental opportunities, and the like, maintain, if he shall deliver up all unto thee, some kind of old friendship with Mansoul.' Jn. x. 8. Mark this. Emmanuel answered, 'No, by no means; forasmuch as any such fellowship, friendship, intimacy, or acquaintance in what way, sort or mode soever maintained, will tend to the corrupting of Mansoul, the alienating of their affections from me, and the endangering of their peace with my Father.' Mr. Loth-to-stoop yet added further; saying, But, great Sir, since my master hath many friends, and those that are dear to him in Mansoul, may he not, if he shall depart from them, even of his bounty and good nature, bestow upon them, as he sees fit, some tokens of his love and kindness, that he had for them, to the end that Mansoul, when he is gone, may look upon such tokens of kindness once received from their old friend, and remember him who was once their King, and the merry times that they sometimes enjoyed one with another, while he and they lived in peace together.' Then said Emmanuel, 'No; for if Mansoul come to be mine, I shall not admit of, nor consent that there should be the least scrap, shred, or dust of Diabolus left behind, as tokens or gifts bestowed upon any in Mansoul, thereby to call to remembrance the horrible communion that was betwixt them and him.' Ro. vi. 12, 13. Mark this. 'Well Sir,' said Mr. Loth-to-stoop, 'I have one thing more to propound, and then I am got to the end of my commission. Suppose that when my master is gone from Mansoul, any that yet shall live in the town should have such business of high concerns to do, that if they be neglected the party shall be undone; and suppose, Sir, that nobody can help in that case so well as my master and lord; may not now my master be sent for upon so urgent an occasion as this? Or if he may not be admitted into the town, may not he and the person concerned meet in some of the villages near Mansoul, and there lay their heads together, and there consult of matters?"2 2 Ki. i. 3, 6, 7. 2 The proud heart of man is loth to stoop to that absolute submission and entire obedience to Christ which he justly requires. They will allow him to be a lord in name, but not in This was the last of those ensnaring propositions | Captain Judgment, and Captain Execution, should that Mr. Loth-to-stoop had to propound to Em- forthwith march up to Eargate with They must fight. manuel on behalf of his master Diabolus; but trumpets sounding, colours flying, and Emmanuel would not grant it, for he said, 'There with shouting for the battle. Also he would that can be no case, or thing, or matter, fall out in Captain Credence should join himself Preparations to the battle. Mansoul, when thy master shall be gone, that may with them. Emmanuel, moreover, gave not be salved1 by my Father; besides, it will be a order that Captain Goodhope and Captain Charity great disparagement to my Father's wisdom and should draw themselves up before Eyegate. Ho skill to admit any from Mansoul to go out to Dia- bid also that the rest of his Captains, and their bolus for advice, when they are bid before, in every-men, should place themselves for the best of their thing, by prayer and supplication, to let their request be made known to my Father. 1 Sa. xxviii. 15; 2 Ki. i. 2, 3. Further, this, should it be granted, would be to grant that a door should be set open for Diabolus and the Diabolonians in Mansoul, to hatch, and plot, and bring to pass treasonable designs, to the grief of my Father and me, and to the utter destruction of Mansoul.'2 departs. advantage against the enemy, round about the town, and all was done as he had commanded. Then he bid that the word should be given forth, and the word was at that time 'Emmanuel'. Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering-rams were played, and the slings did whirl stones into the town amain, and thus the battle began. Now Diabolus himself did manage the townsmen in the war, and that at every gate; wherefore their resistance was the more forcible, hellish, and offensive to Emmanuel. Thus was the good Prince engaged and entertained by Diabolus and Mansoul for several days together. And a sight worth seeing it was, to behold how the captains of Shaddai behaved themselves in this war. the man. When Mr. Loth-to-stoop had heard this answer, Loth-to-stoop he took his leave of Emmanuel and departed, saying, that he would do word to his master concerning this whole affair. So he departed and came to Diabolus to Mansoul, and told him the whole of the matter, and how Emmanuel would not admit, no, not by any means, that he, when he was once gone out, should for And first for Captain Boanerges, not to underever have anything more to do, either in, or with value the rest, he made three most Boanerges plays any that are of, the town of Mansoul. When fierce assaults, one after another, upon Mansoul and Diabolus had heard this relation of Eargate, to the shaking of the posts thereof. things, they with one consent concluded to use Captain Conviction, he also made up as fast with their best endeavour to keep Emmanuel out of Boanerges as possibly he could, and both discernMansoul, and sent old Illpause, of whom you have ing that the gate began to yield, they commanded heard before, to tell the Prince and his captains so. that the rams should still be played against it. So the old gentleman came up to the top of Ear-Now Captain Conviction going up very near to gate, and called to the camp for a hearing; who, the gate, was with great force driven Conviction when they gave audience, he said, back, and received three wounds in the I have in commandment from my mouth. And those that rode Reforhigh Lord to bid you to tell it to your mades, they went about to encourage Prince Emmanuel, that Mansoul and their King the captains. are resolved to stand and fall together, and that it is in vain for your Prince to think of ever having of Mansoul in his hand, unless he can take it by force.' So some went and told to Emmanuel what old Illpause, a Diabolonian in Mansoul, had said. Then said the Prince, I must try the power of my sword, for I will not, for all the rebellions and repulses that Mansoul has made against me, raise my siege and depart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from the hand of her enemy.' Ep. vi 17. And with that he gave out a commandment that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, A speech of Old pause to the camp. authority. They would serve Jesus in general, if permitted to indulge in sin occasionally; all such partial submission is rejected. To be only almost a Christian' is to be no Christian at all. To show the importance of this, the author repeatedly gives a marginal note, ‘Mark this.'—(Burder.) The word 'salved,' as used in Bunyau's time, means helped, remedied, saved, healed, rescued. Thus, in his Come and Welcome, he says, 'Such questions would have been, but fools' ! wounded. Angels. For the valour of the two captains made mention of before, the Prince sent for them to his pavilion, and commanded that a while they should rest themselves, and that with somewhat they should be refreshed. Care also was 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 bid them yet be of good courage. Nor did Captain Goodhope nor Captain Goodhope and Charity come behind in this most desperate fight, for they so well did behave themselves at Eyegate, that they had Charity play the men at Eyegate. babbles about, instead of a sufficient salve to, so weighty a question.' Now, the word solved would be used. (ED.) * Reader, 'mark' these proposals of Loth-to-stoop. All the unconverted cherish this evil spirit; call to mind, with shame, the time when you felt its influences in keeping your soul from Christ; nor would you ever have overcome your pride and your love of sin, but that the Holy Spirit conquered you by his love and mercy.—(ED.) almost broken it quite open. These also had a reward from their Prince, as also had the rest of the captains, because they did valiantly round about the town.2 ing slain. In this engagement several of the officers of Diabolus were slain, and some of the townsmen wounded. For the officers, there was one Captain Captain Bonst Boasting slain. This Boasting thought that nobody could have shaken the posts of Eargate, nor have shaken the heart of Diabolus. Next to him there was one Captain Captain Secure Secure slain; this Secure used to say slain. that the blind and lame in Mansoul were able to keep the gates of the town against Emmanuel's army. 2 Sa. v. 6. This Captain Secure did Captain Conviction cleave down the head with a two-handed sword, when he received himself three wounds in his mouth. Besides these, there Captain Brag was one Captain Bragman, a very desman slain. perate fellow, and he was captain over a band of those that threw fire-brands, arrows, and death; he also received, by the hand of Captain Goodhope at Eyegate, a mortal wound in the breast. 1 'The serpents that bit the people of old were types of gailt and sin. Now these were fiery serpents, and such as, I think, could fly. Is. xiv. 29. Wherefore, in my judgment, they stung the people about their faces, and so swelled up their eyes, which made it the more difficult for them to look up to the brazen serpent, which was the type of Christ.' Jn. iii 14.-(Bunyan on Justification, vol. i. p. 320.) How fitly are Goodhope and Charity qualified to gain such a post.—(ED.) It is worthy of notice, that, while warnings and convictions attack the ear, hope and love are exhibited to the eye. This was Bunyan's mode of proclaiming the gospel, and it is well worthy of universal imitation by preachers of all denominations-(ED.) 3 The will may be called the fect of the soul; because by the golden slings into the midst of the town of Mansoul.* wounded. Mr. Illpause Of the townsmen there was one Love-no-good, he was a townsman, but a Diabolonian, Lore-no-good he also received his mortal wound in Mansoul, but he died not very soon. also, who was the man that came along with Diabolus when at first he attempted the taking of Mansoul, he also 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. Anything fled.5 Illpause wounded Now when the battle was over, the Prince commanded that yet once more the white The white flag flag should be set upon Mount Gra- hung out again. cious, in sight of the town of Mansoul; to show that yet Emmanuel had grace for the wretched town of Mansoul. When Diabolus saw the white flag hanging out again, and knowing that it was not Diabolus's new prank. for him, but Mansoul, he cast in his mind to play another prank, to wit, to see if Emmanuel would raise his siege and be gone, upon promise of a reformation. So he comes down to the gate one evening, a good while after the sun was gone down, and calls to speak with Emmanuel, who presently came down to the gate, and Diabolus saith unto him: Emmanuel. Forasmuch as thou makest it appear by thy white flag, that thou art wholly given is speech to 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, that thy great end in making a war upon Mansoul is that it may be an holy habitation. Well, draw off thy forces from the town, and I will bend Mansoul to thy bow.. [Thus] 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-1. I will persuade Mansoul to deputy, and he would turn reformer. |