He knows that

that will do no good, which

yet he propounds for the health of Man. soul.

receive thee for their Lord, and I know that they in Mansoul, when the devil is become the corrector will do it the sooner when they shall understand of vice. Thou knowest that all that that I am thy deputy. 2. I will show them where- thou hast now said in this matter is in they have erred, and that transgression stands nothing but guile and deceit; and is, in the way to life. 3. I will show them the holy as it was the first, so is it the last card law unto which they must conform, even that which that thou hast to play. Many there they have broken. 4. I will press upon them the be that do soon discern thee when thou showest necessity of a reformation according to thy law. them thy cloven foot; but in thy white, thy light, 5. And, moreover, that none of these things may and in thy transformation thou art seen but of a few. fail, I myself, at my own proper cost and charge, But thou shalt not do thus with my Mansoul, O will set up and maintain a sufficient ministry, be- Diabolus, for I do still love my Mansoul. sides lecturers, in Mansoul.1 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.' 2 Then said Emmanuel to him, O full of deceit, how movable are thy ways! How often hast thou changed and rechanged, if so be thou mightest still keep possession of my Mansoul, though, as has been plainly declared before, I am the right heir thercof? Often hast thou made thy proposals already, nor is this last a whit better than they. And failing to deceiveness of my hands into such a conformity to him as when thou showedst thyself in thy black, thou hast shall be pleasing in his sight. I will therefore now transformed thyself into an angel of light, and possess it myself, I will dispossess and cast thee wouldest, to deceive, be now as a minister of righ-out: I will set up mine own standard in the midst teousness. 2 Co. xi. 14.

The answer.

God, nor love to 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 and shall do for Mansoul, they may to my Father be reconciled, though by their sin they have provoked him to anger, and though by the law they cannot obtain mercy.

Thou talkest of subjecting of this town to good, when none desireth it at thy hands.

All things must

new in Mansoul.

I am sent by my Father to possess it be
myself, and to guide it by the skilful-

of them: I will also govern them 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 it shall then be the glory of the whole universe.'s

Diabolus con

founded.

⚫ But know thou, O Diabolus, that nothing must be regarded that thou canst propound, for nothing Diabolus has no is done by thee but to deceive; thou conscience to neither hast conscience to God, nor love to the town of Mansoul; whence When Diabolus heard this, and perceived that then should these thy sayings arise, but from sinful he was discovered in all his deceits, craft and deceit? He that can of list and will he was confounded and utterly put propound what he pleases, and that wherewith he to a non-plus; but having in himself the founmay destroy them that believe him, is to be aban-tain of iniquity, rage and malice against both doned with all that he shall say. But if righteous- Shaddai and his Son, and the beloved town of ness be such a beauty-spot in thine eyes now, Mansoul, what doth he but strengthen himself what how is it that wickedness was so closely stuck to he could, to give fresh battle to the noble Prince by thee before. But this is by the by. Thou Emmanuel? So then, now we must have another talkest now of a reformation in Mansoul, and that fight before the town of Mansoul is taken. Come thou thyself, if I will please, will be at the head of up then to the mountains you that love to see milithat reformation, all the while knowing that the tary actions, and behold by both sides how the greatest proficiency that man can make in the law, fatal blow is given: while one seeks to hold, and and the righteousness thereof, will amount to no the other seeks to make himself master of the more for the taking away of the curse from Man- famous town of Mansoul. 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, can never, by his obeying of the law, deliver himself therefrom. To say nothing of what a reformation is like to be set up

1 Reader, the devil offers to set up ministers and lecturers! Take heed what ye hear.-(ED.)

2 How common is it with sinners, under conviction and the fear of hell, to be content with mending their lives; they are willing to be reformed, but not to be justified and saved by grace. (Burder.)

Diabolus, therefore, having withdrawn himself from the wall to his force that was in New preparathe heart of the town of Mansoul, tious for to fight. Emmanuel also returned to the camp; and both of them, after their divers ways, put themselves into a posture fit to bid battle one to another.

3 What a volume of evangelical truth is contained in these words! Old things must pass away, all must become new; we must be buried with Christ in baptism, and rise again to newness of life. No man is a Christian till Christ is formed in him the hope of glory. We must be in Christ, complete in his righteousness, then will love constrain him to good works. In Christ he becomes the glory of the universe.-(Ed.)

Diabolus des

of Mansoul,

contrives to do it what mischief he can.

Diabolus, as filled with despair of retaining in his hands the famous town of Mansoul, pairs of holding resolved to do what mischief he could, and therefore 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 see that they could hold the town no longer, do it what harm and mischief they could; rending and tearing of men, women, and children. Mar. ix. 26, 27. For, said he, we had better quite demolish the place, and leave it like a ruinous heap, than so leave it that it may be an habitation for Emmanuel.1

Emmanuel 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 all the old inhabitants of Mansoul. · Bend, therefore, said the noble Prince, the hottest front of the battle against Diabolus and his men.

*

Conscience.

They go up to

the Recorder's house.

entrance.

that the golden slings should yet be played upon the town, especially against the castle, because for shelter thither was Diabolus retreated. Now from Eargate the street was strait, even to the house of Mr. Recorder that so was 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, did quickly clear that street by the use of their slings, so that way was made up to the heart of the town. Then did the Prince command that Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, and Captain Judgment should forthwith march up the town to the old gentleman's gate. 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 was the castle. Battering rams 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 They demand gates, and no man making answer, he So the day being come, the command was given, gave it one stroke with the head of a ram, and this and the Prince's men did bravely stand to their made the old gentleman shake, and his house to arms; and did, as before, bend their main force tremble and totter. Then came Mr. Recorder against Eargate, and Eyegate. The word was down to the gate, and, as he could, with quiverthen, Mansoul is won,' so they made ing lips, he asked who was there. Boanerges The joined, and their assault upon the town. Diabolus answered, We are the captains and commanders of they fight on both sides also, as fast as he could with the main the great Shaddai, and of the blessed Emmanuel fiercely. of his power, made resistance from his Son, and we demand possession of your house within, and his high lords and chief captains for a for the use of our noble Prince. And with that time fought very cruelly against the Prince's army. the battering-ram gave the gate another shake; this But after three or four notable charges by the made the old gentleman tremble the more, yet Eargate broken Prince, and his noble captains, Ear- durst he not but open the gate. Then They go in. open. gate was broken open, and the bars the King's forces marched in, namely, and bolts wherewith it was used to be fast shut up the three brave captains mentioned before. Now against the Prince, were broken into a thousand the Recorder's house was a place of much con pieces. Then did the Prince's trumpets sound, venience for Emmanuel, not only because it was the captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus near to the castle, and strong, but also because it retreat to his hold. Well, when the Prince's was large, and fronted the castle, the den where forces had broken open the gate, himself came up now Diabolus was: for he was now afraid to come and did set his throne in it; also he set his stand-out of his hold. As for Mr. Recorder, They do keep ard thereby, upon a mount, that before the captains carried it very reservedly red served from standard set by his men was cast up to place the to him; as yet he knew nothing of the Recorder. mighty slings thereon." The mount the great designs of Emmanuel; so that he did not was called Mount Hearwell; there, know what judgment to make, nor what would be therefore, the Prince abode, to wit, hard the end of such thundering beginnings. It was by the going in at the gate. He commanded also

battle

The Prince's

up, and the sings

are

played still at the castle.

themselves re

2 Thus was the promise fulfilled, 'In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book,' Is. xxix. 18; and, "The ears of the deaf shall be unstopped,' xxxv. 5. What a blessing to be able to say, 'Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.' The way is strait from Eargate to Conscience, the house of the Recorder, and to the Heart, the castle. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.' May God bestow 'the hearing ear' upon every reader.-(Burder.)

also presently noised in the town, how the Recor- | der's house was possessed, his rooms taken up, and His house the his palace made the seat of the war; seat of war. and no sooner was it noised abroad, but they took the alarm as warmly, and gave it out to others of his friends, and you know as a snow-ball loses nothing by rolling, so in little time the whole town was possessed that they must expect nothing from the Prince but destruction; and the ground of the business was this. The Recorder was afraid, the Recorder trembled, and the captains carried it strangely to the Recorder, so many came to see; but when they with their own eyes did behold the captains in the palace, and their battering rams ever playing at the castlegates to beat them down, they were riveted in their fears, and it made them as in And, as I said, the man of

The office of con-
science when amaze.

he is awakened. the house would increase all this, for whoever came to him, or discoursed with him, nothing would he talk of, tell them, or hear, but that death and destruction now attended Mapsoul.1

rest in any corner. Ile pursued him so hard, that
he drove his men from him, and made him glad to
thrust his head into a hole. Also, this mighty
warrior did cut three of the Lord Will-be-will's
officers down to the ground; one was Old Prejudice
old Mr. Prejudice, he that had his slain.
crown cracked in the mutiny; this man was made
by Lord Will-be-will keeper of Eargate, and fell
by the hand of Captain Execution.
There was
also one Mr. Backward-to-all-but- Backward-to-
naught, and he also was one of Lord all-but-naught
Will-be-will's officers, and was the
captain of the two guns that once were mounted
on the top of Eargate, he also was cut down to
the ground by the hands of Captain Execution.
Besides these two there was another, a third, and
his name was Captain Treacherous,
a vile man this was, but one that
Will-be-will did put a great deal of confidence in;
but him also did this Captain Execution cut down
to the ground with the rest.2

slain.

Treacherous slain.

He also made a very great slaughter among my Lord Will-be-will's soldiers, killing many that were stout and sturdy, and wounding of many that for Diabolus were nimble and active. But all these were Diabolonians; there was not a man, a native of Mansoul, hurt.3

Other feats of war were also likewise performed by other of the captains, as at Eyegate, whero Captain Goodhope and Captain Charity had a

Captain Goodhope doth slay fold.

Captain Blind

For,' quoth the old gentleman, you are all of you sensible that we all have been traitors to that once despised, but now famously victorious and glorious Prince Emmanuel. For he now, as you see, doth not only lie in close siege about us, but hath forced his entrance in at our gates; moreover, Diabolus flees before him, and he hath, as you behold, made of my house a garrison against the castle, where he is. I, for my part, have trans-charge, was great execution done; for the Captain gressed greatly, and he that is clean it is well for him. But, I say, I have transgressed greatly in keeping of silence when I should have spoken, and in perverting of justice when I should have executed the same. True, I have suffered something at the hand of Diabolus, for taking part with the laws of King Shaddai; but that, alas! what will that do? Will that make compensation for the rebellions and treasons that I have done, and have suffered without gainsaying, to be committed in the town of Mansoul? O, I tremble to think what will be the end of this so dreadful and so ireful a beginning!'

Now, while these brave captains were thus busy in the house of the old Recorder, Captain Execution was as busy in other parts of the ploits of Cap- town, in securing the back streets, tain Execution. and the walls. He also hunted the Lord Will-be-will sorely; he suffered him not to

The brave ex

1 When the soul listens to the threatenings of the holy law, conscience fears and quakes; and till enlightened with the knowledge of the gospel, and the gracious designs of God, it can think and talk of nothing but 'death and destruction.'— (Burder.) See this part of the Holy War, in Bunyan's experience, recorded in Grace Abounding, Nos. 84-88.—(Ed.)

Goodhope, with his own hands, slew
one Captain Blindfold, the keeper of
that gate; this Blindfold was captain
of a thousand men, and they were they that fought
with mauls; he also pursued his men, slew many,
and wounded more, and made the rest hide their
heads in corners.

There was also at that gate Mr. Illpause, of
whom you have heard before; he was an old man,
and had a beard that reached down to his girdle:
the same was he that was orator to
Diabolus; he did much mischief in
the town of Mansoul, and fell by the hand of
Captain Goodhope.

And old Illpause.

What shall I say, the Diabolonians in thesc days lay dead in every corner, though too many yet were alive in Mansoul.5

and his officers; although other fears afterwards terrified him, yet Prejudice was slain. Read the narrative in Grace Abounding, Nos. 89-92.—(Ed.)

3 No faculty or power of the soul can be injured by a death unto sin and a life unto holiness. Peace and happiness increase as we live near to God. My young friends, if Satan tells you that religion is a dull or melancholy thing, call to mind the happiness, nay, ecstacies of Paul and David when living under its holy influences.--(Ed.)

2 Bunyan's relief from a state of intense misery was by an 4 See Grace Abounding, No. 113.-(ED.) assault on Eargate. It was under a sermon upon Christ's Conversion proceeds. The carnal will has no rest; Prelove—'Thou art fair, my love;' then was old Prejudice slain, | judice is slain; Aversion-to-good, Treachery, Blindness, and

The old towns

consult.

How they interel's carriages.

[CHAPTER VIII.] themselves love or hatred by his looks. Now as he marched up the street, the townsfolk came out [CONTENTS: The principal inhabitants hold a conference, and at every door to see, and could not but be taken agree to petition the Prince for their lives-The castle with his person, and the glory thereof, but wondered gates broken open-Emmanuel marches into MansoulDiabolus is made prisoner, and bound in chains-The in- at the reservedness of his countenance; for as yet habitants, greatly distressed, petition again and again he spake more to them by his actions and works, At length a free pardon is obtained, and universal joy than he did by words or smiles. But also poor succeeds.] Mansoul, as in such cases all are apt to do, they Now the old Recorder, and my Lord Understand-interpreted the carriages of Emmanuel ing, with some others of the chief of the to them, as did Joseph's brethren his pret Emmanu men meet and town, to wit, such as knew they must to them, even all the quite contrary stand and fall with the famous town way. For, thought they, if Emmanuel loved us, of Mansoul, came together upon a day, and after he would show it to us by word or carriage; but consultation had, did jointly agree to draw up a none of these he doth, therefore Emmanuel hates petition, and to send it to Emmanuel, now while us. Now if Emmanuel hates us, then Mansoul The town does he sat in the gate of Mansoul. So they shall be slain, then Mansoul shall become a dungpetition, and drew up their petition to Emmanuel, hill. They knew that they had transgressed his the contents whereof were this, That Father's law, and that against him they had been they, the old inhabitants of the now deplorable in with Diabolus his enemy. They also knew that town of Mansoul, confessed their sin, and were the Prince Emmanuel knew all this; for they were sorry that they had offended his princely Majesty, convinced that he was as an Angel of God, to and prayed that he would spare their lives.1 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.

are answered with silence.

broke open.

Upon this petition he gave no answer at all, and that did trouble them yet so much the more. Now all this while the captains that were in the Recorder's house were playing with the batteringrams at the gates of the castle, to beat them down. So after some time, labour, and travail, the gate The castle gates of the castle that was called Impregnable was beaten open, and broken into several splinters; and so a way made to go up to the hold in which Diabolus had hid himself." Then was tidings sent down to Eargate, for Emmanuel still abode there, to let him know that a way was made in at the gates of the castle of Mansoul. But O! how the trumpets at the tidings sounded throughout the Prince's camp, for that now the war was so near an end, and Mansoul itself of being set free.3

Emmanuel

Then the Prince arose from the place where be was, and took with him such of his marches into men of war as were fittest for that Mansoul. expedition, and marched up the street

of Mansoul to the old Recorder's house.

Now the Prince himself was clad all in armour of gold, and so he marched up the town with his standard borne before him; but he kept his coun- | tenance much reserved all the way as he went, so that the people could not tell how to gather to

that most dangerous foe to the soul, old Illpause, with his traditions, antiquity and longbeard, are slain. ALL these were Diabolonians, not one native power of the soul was injured. (Burder.)

Behold he prayeth.' Prayer is the first sign of spiritual life; Emmanuel was in Mansoul; the answer may be deferred, but praying breath was never spent in vain.-(ED.)

2 When the conscience is alarmed, and sends its batteringrams against the heart or affections, the castle, and so the whole soul, will be quickly reduced, and fall into the arms of Divine mercy. (Ed.)

And, thought they, what time so fit to do this in as now, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand. And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not; no, they could not, when they see him march through the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust of his feet. They also wished a thousand times over, that he would become their Prince and Captain, and would become their protection. They would also one to another talk of the comeliness of his person, and how much for glory and valour he outstript the great ones of the world. But, poor hearts, as to themselves their thoughts would change, and go upon all manner of extremes; yea, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Is. xvii. 13; xxii. 18.

Now when he was come to the castle gates, he commanded Diabolus to appear, and He comes up to to surrender himself into his hands. the castle, and commands DiaBut O! how loth was the beast to bolus to surrender himself. appear! How he stuck at it! how he shrunk! aye, how he cringed! came to the prince. Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took Diabolus and bound him fast in

Yet out he

There is joy in heaven over the repenting sinner. The heart, which was deemed impregnable, is taken by invincible grace.-(Burder.)

4 Bunyan was for seven or eight weeks in this painful state. Peace in and out twenty times a day; comfort now, and trouble presently; peace now, and before I could go a furlong as full of fear and guilt as ever heart could hold.-Grace Abounding, No. 205-(ED.)

chains, the better to reserve him to the judgment | this sight, were as it were, while they looked, that he had appointed for him. But Diabolus betwixt the earth and the heavens. True, they stood up to entreat for himself, that Emmanuel could not tell what would be the issue The would not send him into the deep, but suffer him of things as to them, but all things with Emmatto depart out of Mansoul in peace. were done in such excellent methods; and I cannot tell how, but things in the management of them seemed to cast a smile towards the town, so that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they had, were taken and held, while they observed Emmanuel's order.3