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 Mouthgate, for that, as I said, was the sally-port of the town; and he went and came to Emmanuel 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 abide prayer. petitioning; art thou yet for petitioning? I will make thee to leave. Yea, he also knew who the messenger was that carried the petition to the Prince, and it made him both to fear and rage. Satan cannot Wherefore he commanded that his drum should be beat again, a thing that Mansoul could not abide to hear; but when Diabolus will have his drum beat, Mansoul must abide the noise. Well, the drum was beat, and the Diabolonians were gathered together. 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 to Emmanuel for help. This I give you to understand, that ye may yet know how to carry it to the wretched town of Mansoul. Wherefore, O my trusty Diabolonians, I command that yet more and more ye distress Poor Mansoul. 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 what other mischief you can; and let this be the reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellions against me.1 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 way 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 1 When temptations beset, sin invades, lusts rage, evil tempers arise, and we are in danger of falling, then is the time to look up and cry, Lord save, or I perish.-(Mason.) These vexations are the holy thoughts and feelings, which Diabolus and his crew prevent or suppress. This is explained in the margin, p. 350.--(ED.) 2 Alluding to the sufferings of Christian and Hopeful in the dungeon of Giant Despair, in Doubting Castle.-(ED.) 3 When the shield of faith is wanting, the soul is exposed to all the fiery darts of the wicked one. This is the victory, even our faith.'-(Mason.) VOL. III. Diabolus rages. 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 Emmanuel, but your wickedness sticks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayers 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 Emmanuel is against you. Ps. xlii. 10. 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? dence. Then said the Lord Mayor, We have sinned indeed, but that shall be no help to thee, The Lord May. for our Emmunuel hath said it, and or's speech just at the time of that in great faithfulness:‘And him the return of that cometh to me I will in no wise Captain Crecast 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, wait for, and hope for deliverance still.5 Now by this time Captain Credence was returned and come from the court from Emmanuel to the How true is this remark of the enemy of souls! Our holiest services must be sanctified in the name of the Redeemer. Diabolus can tell truth when it is to his purpose, in distressing a saint, or destroying a sinner.-(Ed.) • Portions of Scripture were the weapons with which our Lord conquered Satan, when tempted in the wilderness. Poor tried soul, you may rely with the most perfect confidence on the Scriptures for support in the most trying hour. "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.' Hab. ii. 3. Any other support is but like a broken reed.-(ED.) 45 ness. castle of Mansoul, 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. So he came up to the captain's lodgings, and saluting him, he 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 the captain, Cheer up, my Lord, for all will be well in time; and with that he first produced his packet, and laid A sign of good 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 there in their lodgings in the castle, and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that he had something in general, and something in special to communicate 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 the 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 The packet them, he opened his packet, and opened. thence did draw out his several notes for those that he had sent for. And the first note was for my Lord Mayor, wherein was signified: That the Prince Emmanuel had taken it well that A note for my my Lord Mayor had been so true Lord Mayor. and trusty in his office, 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 Emmanuel, and had engaged so faithfully in his cause against Diabolus. He also signified at the close of his letter, that he should shortly receive his reward. will. The second note that came out was for the noble Lord Will-be-will, wherein there was A note for the Lord Will-be- signified, That his Prince Emmanuel 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 did still lie lurking in their several holes in the famous town of Mansoul. He signified, moreover, how that he understood that my lord had with his own hand done great execution upon some of the chief 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. A note for the subordinate Preacher. 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 fore-warned Mansoul according to the laws of the town. He signified moreover, that he took well at his hand that he called to fasting, to sackcloth and ashes, when Mansoul was under her revolt. Also that he called for the aid of the Captain Boanerges to help in so weighty 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 A note for Mr. his Lordship observed that he was the Godly-fear. first of all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-security, as the only one that through his subtilty and cunning had obtained 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 of this Mr. Carnal security, at his own table among his guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even while he was seeking to perfect his villainies against the town of Mansoul. Emmanuel also took notice that this reverend 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 shortly he should reeeive his reward. A note for the soul. After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written to the whole town of Mansoul, whereby they perceived town of Manthat their Lord took notice of their so often repeating of petitions to him, and that they should see more of the fruits of such their doings in time to come. Their Prince did also therein tell 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. to the Lord So after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes to those to whom Captain Credence retires they belonged, he retired himself to Secretary's my Lord Secretary's lodgings, and lodgings. there spends time in conversing with him; for they two were very great one with another, and did indeed know more how things would go with Mansoul than did all the townsmen besides. The Lord Secretary also loved the 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 chambers to rest. But it was not long after but my Lord did send 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 a-to-side,1 and after a sign or two of more favour, he said, I have made thee the Lord's 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 shalt 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. Captain Credence made the ant over all the forces in Man Lord's lieuten soul. Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest 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 Emmanuel as he. Wherefore what do they, after some lamentation that they made no more use of him in their distresses, but send by their subordinate Preacher to the Lord Secretary, to desire him that all that ever they were and had, might be put under the government, care, custody, and conduct of Captain Credence.2 able secrecy, because the foes had yet great strength in the town. But, to return to our story: again: [CHAPTER XVI.] [CONTENTS:-A new plot is laid to ruin the town by riches and prosperity-Emmanuel, according to his promise, appears in the field, to assist the forces of Mansoul, whereby the whole army of Doubters is completely routed -Emmanuel enters the town amidst the joyful acclamations of the inhabitants.] Diabolus rages. 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 in the head of them, with all the captains of his army. So they consult 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, that president of the council, stood up, and thus he began: My brotherhood, quoth he, I have two 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 enemy's hands; nor is it possible that we should take that so long as so many brave captains are in it, and that 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;3 and even their so being, will give them a bigger Look toit, Manblow than we can possibly give them soul. ourselves. But if that should fail, our going forth 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 field, 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 impossible 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 He therefore concluded that what was done, must be done by some other means. And the most out. 3 A state of spiritual ease and prosperity has its dangers; we must, by the Word and Spirit, in the strength of Jesus, fight every inch of our way to heaven and glory.-(Mason.) soul. Look to it. likely means that the greatest of their heads could | but for half the worth. Now, let those that thus invent, was that which Apollyon had advised to shall trade in their market, be those that are witty Look to it, Man- before, to wit, to get the townsmen and true to us, and I will lay my crown to pawn it again to sin. For, said he, it is not will do. There are two that are come to my our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fight- thoughts already, that I think will be arch at this ing, nor our killing of their men, that can make us work, and they are Mr. Penny-wise-pound-foolish, the masters of Mansoul; for so long as one in the and Mr. Get-i'th'-hundred-and-lose-i'th'-shire;3 town is able to lift up his finger against us, Em- nor is this man with the long name at all inferior manuel will take their parts; and if he shall take to the other. What also if you join with them Mr. their parts, we know what time a-day, it will be Sweet world, and Mr. Present-good; they are men with us.1 Wherefore, for my part, quoth he, there that are civil and cunning, but our true is, in my judgment, no way to bring them into friends and helpers. Let these with bondage to us, like inventing a way to make them as many more engage in this business for us, and sin. 2 Pe, ii. 18-21. Had we, said he, left all our let Mansoul be taken up in much business, and let Doubters at home, we had done as well as we have them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get done now, unless we could have made them the ground of them; remember ye not that thus we masters and governors of the castle; for Doubters prevailed upon Laodicea, and how many at present Look to it, Man- at a distance, are but like objections do we hold in this snare? Re. iii. 17. Now when they soul. refelled with arguments. Indeed can begin to grow full, they will forget their misery, we but get them into the hold, and make them and if we shall not affright them they possessors of that, the day will be our own. Let may happen to fall asleep, and so be us therefore withdraw ourselves into the plain (not got to neglect their town-watch, their castle-watch, expecting that the captains in Mansoul should as well as their watch at the gates. follow us), but yet, I say, let us do this, and before we so do, let us advise again with our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in their 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 for ever. By these sayings of Beelzebub-for I think it was he that gave this counsel-the whole Look to it, conclave was forced to be of his opinion, Mansoul. to wit, that the way to get the castle was to get the town to sin. Then they fell to inventing by what means to do this thing.2 Then Lucifer stood up and said, The counsel of Beelzebub is pertinent; now the way to bring this to pass, in mine 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 summons 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; and a town that delights in commerce; what therefore 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 1 'Satan trembles when he sees The great object of Satan is to allure Mansoul to sin. He can never win the heart, or castle, unless sin opens the gates. (ED.) 3 Penny-wise and pound-foolish' is a well-known proverb, showing the folly of those who lose a pound to gain a penny. 'Get i' th' hundred and lose i' th' shire' is an obsolete proverb, Heart. Yea, may we not by this means so cumber Mansoul with abundance, that they shall be forced to make of their castle a warehouse instead of a garrison fortified against us, and a receptacle for 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 it should be filled with such kind of wares, then if we made a sudden assault upon them, it would be hard for the captains to take shelter there. Do you know that of the parable, The deceitfulness of riches choke the word. Lu. viii. 14. And again, When the heart is overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, all mischief comes upon them at unawares. Lu. xxi. 34–36. 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 Diabolonian gang, as Mr. Voluptuous, Mr. Pragmatical, Mr. Ostentation, or the like? these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for Em- Look to it, Manmanuel; and any of these will do. Yea, these, for aught I know, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand men. soul. Now meaning that as a shire or county contains many divisions called hundreds, it would be foolish to lose a county for the sake of gaining a small part of a county called a hundred.— (ED.) Great is the danger when the heart, here called the castle, which should be the temple of the Lord, is turned into a warehouse.-Burder. Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force, or forcible attempts upon the castle, at least at this time, and let us set on foot our new project, and lets see if that will not make them destroy themselves.1 Captain Cre: dence receives that from his he understand Prince which 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 Emmanuel, the contents of which was this, That upon eth not. the third day he would meet him in the field in the plains about Mansoul. Meet me in the field! quoth the captain, what meaneth my Lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting of me in the field. So he took the note in his hand, and did carry 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 thereof: for my part, quoth Captain Credence, I know not the meaning thereof. So my Lord did take 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 council 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 the 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 Diabolonians; for the Prince will by that time be in the field; The riddle ex- yea, by that it is break of day, sunCaptain Cre- rising, or before, and that with a dence. 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. pounded to 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 The captains are gladded to from the hand of Emmanuel. And, said he, that which was dark therein, has my Lord, the Lord Secretary, expounded unto hear. Well may Bunyan say, 'Look to it, Mansoul!' How rarely do men grow rich and prosperous without entertaining these Diabolonians-profusion, prodigality, pride, &c.! These are more destructive to the soul than an army of external foes. -(Burder.) me. Curious music made by the He told them moreover, what by himself, and by them, 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 trumpeters. 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 commanded. 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 mad men 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 Emmanuel 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. Diabolus with draws from the town, and why. 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 council, 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 Eyegate, in what terrene and terrible2 manner they 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 stronghold, 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 plains. Besides, the town would have been a pit for them rather than a place of defence, had the Prince come up, and enclosed 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 that they were in the town. for the captains to fight them. Well, the time that the captains were to fall upon the Diabolonians being come, The time come they eagerly prepared themselves for action; for Captain Credence had told the captains over night that they should meet their Prince in the field to-morrow. This therefore made them yet far more desirous to be engaging the enemy, for, You shall see the Prince in the 2 Terrene and terrible,' dreadful to mortals.-(ED.) 3 Portions from the Bible, probably meaning the epistles of the New Testament.-(ED.) |