32. [CHAPTER XV.]
[CONTENTS:—The inhabitants of Mansoul make a rash sortie on the enemy by night, but are repulsed with loss—Diabolus makes a desperate attack upon Fezizate, which, being weak, he forces, and his army of Diabolus possess the town, and do incredible mischief—The inhabitants, surely aggrieved, determine on a new application to Kimmate, and procure the assistance of the Secretary in preparing the petition, which is presented by Captain Credence—He is favourably received, and appointed Lord Lieutenant over all the forces.]
Well, a while after the captains and stout ones of the town of Mansoul agreed and resolved upon a time to make a sally out upon the camp of Diabolus, and this must be done in the night,³ and there was the folly of Mansoul, for the night is always the best for the enemy, but the worst for Mansoul to fight in; but yet they would do it, their courage was so high; their last victory also still stuck in their memories.
So the night appointed being come, the Prince's brave captains cast lots who should lead the van in this new and desperate expedition against Diabolus, and against his Diabolonian army, and the lot fell to
¹ Loosefoot may signify a careless walk and conversation—(Hurder.)
² The books, chapters, or verses of holy Writ.—(No.)
³ Night, or a time of desertion, was the best for the enemy; for then self could leave prevailed, the soul depended upon
Captain Credence, to Captain Experience, and to Captain Goodhope to lead the Forlorn Hope. This Captain Experience the Prince created such when himself did reside in the town of Mansoul; so, as I said, they made their sally out upon the army that lay in the siege against them; and their hap was to fall in with the main body of their enemies. Now Diabolus and his men being expertly accustomed to night work, took the alarm presently, and were as ready to give them battle, as if they had sent them word of their coming. Wherefore to it they went anain, and blows were hard on every side; the hell-drum also was beat most furiously, while the trumpets of the Prince most sweetly sounded. And thus the battle was joined, and Captain Insatiable looked to the enemies carriages,⁴ and waited when he should receive some prey.
The Prince's captains fought it stoutly, beyond what indeed could be expected they should; they wounded many; they made the whole army of Diabolus to make a retreat. But I cannot tell how, but the brave Captain Credence, Captain Goodhope, and Captain Experience, as they were upon the pursuit, cutting down, and following hard after the enemy in the rear, Captain Credence stumbled and fell, by which fall he caught so great a hurt that he could not rise till Captain Experience did help him up, at which their men were put in disorder; the captain also was so full of pain that he could not forbear but aloud to cry out; at this the other two captains fainted, supposing that Captain Credence had received his mortal wound: their men also were more disordered, and had no list to fight. Now Diabolus being very observing though at this time as yet he was put to the worst, perceiving that a halt was made among the men that were the pursuers, what does he but taking it for granted that the captains were either wounded or dead; he therefore makes at first a stand, then faces about, and so comes up upon the Prince's army with as much of his fury as hell could help him to, and his hap was to fall in just among the three captains, Captain Credence, Captain Goodhope, and Captain Experience, and did cut, wound, and pierce them so dreadfully, that what through discouragement, what through disorder, and what through the wounds that now they had received, and also the loss of much blood, they scarce were able, though they had for their power the three best bands in Mansoul, to get safe into the hold again.
a fescied inherent strength of its own, which is perfect weakness. In the Lord alone have we righteousness and strength for the battle.—(Mason.)
⁴ Debarr, deportucul.—(No.)
Now, when the body of the Prince's army saw how these three captains were put to the worst, they thought it their wisdom to make as safe and good a retreat as they could, and so returned by the sally-port again, and so there was an end of this present action. But Diabolus was so flushed with this night's work, that he promised himself, in few days, an easy and complete conquest over the town of Mansoul; wherefore, on the day following, he comes up to the sides thereof with great boldness, and demands entrance, and that forth with they deliver themselves up to his government. The Diabolonians too, that were within, they began to be somewhat brisk, as we shall show afterward.
But the valiant Lord Mayor replied that what he got he must get by force, for as long as Emmanuel their Prince was alive, though he at present was not so with them as they wished, they should never consent to yield Mansoul up to another.
And with that the Lord Will-be-will stood up and said, "Diabolus, thou master of the will, and enemy to all that is good, we, poor inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, are too well acquainted with thy rule and government, and with the end of those things that for certain will follow submitting to thee, to do it." Wherefore, though while we were without knowledge we suffered thee to take us, as the bird that saw not the snare fell into the hands of the fowler, yet, since we have been turned from darkness to light, we have also been turned from the power of Satan to God. And though, through thy subtility, and also the subtility of the Diabolonians within, we have sustained much loss, and also plunged ourselves into much perplexity, yet give up ourselves, lay down our arms, and yield to so horrid a tyrant as thou, we shall not, die upon the place we choose rather to do. Besides, we have hopes that in time deliverance will come from court unto us, and therefore we yet will maintain a war against thee.
This brave speech of the Lord Will-be-will, with that also of the Lord Mayor, did somewhat abate the boldness of Diabolus, though it kindled the fury of his rage. It also succoured the townsmen and captains, yea, it was as a plaster to the brave Captain Credence's wound; for you must know, that a brave speech now, when the captains of the town with their men of war came home routed, and when the enemy took courage and boldness at the success that he had obtained, to draw up to the walls and demand entrance as he did, was in season, and also advantageous.
The Lord Will-be-will also did play the man within, for while the captains and soldiers were in the field, he was in arms in the town, and wherever by him there was a Diabolonian found, they were forced to feel the weight of his heavy hand, and also the edge of his penetrating sword; many therefore of the Diabolonians he wounded, as the Lord Cavil, the Lord Brisk, the Lord Pragmatic, and the Lord Marmur, several also of the meaner sort he did sorely maim, though there cannot at this time an account he given you of any that he slew outright. The cause, or rather the advantage, that my Lord Will-be-will had at this time to do thus, was, for that the captains were gone out to fight the enemy in the field. For now, thought the Diabolonians within, is our time to stir and make an uproar in the town; what do they therefore but quickly get themselves into a body, and fall forthwith to hurricaning in Mansoul, as if now nothing but win hand and tempest should be there, wherefore, as I said, he takes this opportunity to fall in among them with his men, cutting and slashing with courage that was undaunted, at which the Diabolonians with all haste dispersed themselves to their holds, and my lord to his place as before.
This brave act of my lord did somewhat revenge the wrong done by Diabolus to the captains, and also did let them know that Mansoul was not to be parted with for the loss of a victory or two; wherefore the wing of the tyrant was clipped again—as to boasting I mean—in comparison of what he would have done if the Diabolonians had put the town to the same plight to which he had put the captains.
Well, Diabolus yet resolves to have the other bout with Mansoul; for, thought he, since I beat them once, I may beat them twice; wherefore he commanded his men to be ready at such an hour of the night, to make a fresh assault upon the town, and he it gave out in special that they should be all their force against Feelgate, and attempt
1 The night of darkness and desertion was not a great season for this effort. It seems intended to show the effects of the prevalence of a self-conceived spirit, which can of those well, for little hope, and experience were wounded—E. 1871.
2 Mincy without remedy, a without aid, carried death, the being cut off from God, the root and fountain of happiness. (Mason)
3 If this word was coined by E. 1871, he could not have named and anything more appropriate. No word in common was found convey an idea of the world's history of the world in such a way. And thoughts are being taken are hurricaning within him; it is a teaneat rushing upon him at once from all quarters, like Bonyau's feelings, as described in
4 Again Diabolus determines to attack Mansoul by Feelgate. The city was necessarily to be the most. He had Ch. 1871, 2000 and upon your name of feelings, but upon to break into the town through that; the word that then he did give to his officers and soldiers, was Hell-fire. And, said he, if we break in upon them, as I wish we do, either with some, or with all our force, let them that break in look to it, that they forget not the word. And let nothing be heard in the town of Mansoul but Hell-fire, Hell-fire, Hell-fire! The drummer was also to beat without ceasing, and the standard-bearers were to display their colours, the soldiers too were to put on what courage they could, and to see that they played manfully their parts against the town.
So the night was come, and all things by the tyrant made ready for the work; he suddenly makes free. But his assault upon Feelgate, and after he had a while strungled there, he throws the gates wide open. For the truth is, those gates were but weak, and so most easily made to yield. When Diabolus had thus far made his attempt, he placed his captains, to wit, Torment and Noease there, so he attempted to press forward, but the Prince's captains came down upon him, and made his entrance more difficult than he desired. And, to speak the truth, they made what resistance they could, but the three of their best and most valiant captains being wounded, and by their wounds made much incapable of doing the town that service they would, and all the rest having more than their hands full of the Doubters, and their captains that did follow Diabolus, they were overpowered with force, nor could they keep them out of the town. Wherefore the Prince's men and their captains betook themselves to the castle, as to the strong hold of the town, and this they did partly for their own security, partly for the security of the town, and partly, or rather chiefly, to preserve to Emmanuel the prerogative-royal of Mansoul, for so was the castle of Mansoul.¹
The captains therefore being fled into the castle, the enemy, without much resistance, possess themselves of the rest of the town, and spreading themselves as they went into every corner, they cried out as they marched, according to the command of the tyrant, Hell-fire, Hell-fire, Hell-fire! so that nothing for a while, throughout the town of Mansoul, could be heard but the direful noise of Hell-fire, together with the roaring of Diabolus's drum.² And now did the clouds hang black over Mansoul, nor to reason did anything but ruin seem to attend it. Diabolus also quartered his soldiers in the houses of the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. Yes, the the immutable and unchargeable Word of God. The terrors of hell will get bold upon him who trusts to his experience, instead of fixing all his hopes in the Lord Johnson — (Lu.)
¹ The heart. It is a blessed passage when God is right with God; then may the soul, in the strength of the Lord, subordinate Preacher's house was as full of these outlandish Doubters as ever it could hold; and so was my Lord Mayor's, and my Lord Will-be-will's also. Yea, where was there a corner, a cottage, a barn, or a hog-stye, that now wore not full of these vermin? yea, they turned the men of the town out of their houses, and would lie in their beds, and sit at their tables themselves. Ah, poor Mansoul! Now thou feelest the fruits of sin, and what venom was in the flattering words of Mr. Carnal-security! They made great havoc of whatever they laid their hands on; yea, they fired the town in several places, many young children also were by them dashed in pieces, yea, those that were yet God and tender unborn they destroyed in their mother's wombs; for you must needs think that it could not 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, ravished, and beast-like abused, so that they swooned, miscarried, and many of them died, and so lay at the top of every street, and in all by-places of the town.
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, briars, thorns, weeds, and stinking things seemed now to cover the face of Mansoul. I told you before how that these Diabolonian Doubters turned the men of Mansoul out of their beds;
and now I will add, they wounded them, they moulded 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 case day nor night, but lay as if continually upon a rack; but that Shaddai rules all, certainly they had slain him outright. My Lord Mayor they so abused that they almost put out his eyes, and had not my Lord Will-be-will got into the castle, they intended to have chopped him all to pieces, for they did look upon him, as his heart now stood, to be one of the very worst that was in Mansoul against Diabolus and his crew. And indeed he hath showed himself a man, and more of his exploits you will hear of afterwards.
could and say, 'Repire not against me, O mine enemy; for what I did, I shall rise again. — (Mansoul)
² I could neither eat my food, stoop for a pin, chop a stick, or cast mine eye to look on this or that, but still the temptation would come, Sell Christ for this, or sell Christ for that; sell him, sell him.'—Grace Abounding, No. 135. None of the ever-missed Christian knows the terror of Diabolus's drum. (En.)
Now a man might have walked for days together in Mansoul, and scarce have seen one in the town that looked like a religious man. O the fearful state of Mansoul now! Now every corner swarmed with out-landish Doubters; The other red-roats and black-roats 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 Diabolous that looked at the walls and dens and holes that were in the town of Mansoul, came forth and showed themselves, yes, walked with open face in company with the Doubters that were in Mansoul. Yes, they had more boldness now to walk the streets, to haunt the houses, and to show themselves abroad, than had any of the honest inhabitants of the now awful town of Mansoul.
But Diabolus and his out-landish men were not at peace in Mansoul, for they were not there entertained as were the captains and forces of Emmanuel; the townsmen did browbeat them what they could; nor did they partake or make stroy 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. But, I say, they dis- countenanced them as much as they were able, and showed them all the dislike that they could.
The captains also from the castle did hold them in continual play with their sings, to the chasing and fretting of the minds of the enemies. True, Mr. Godly-fear 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 that courage, conduct and valour, 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 fretless. I have wished sometimes that that man had had the whole rule of the town of Mansoul.
Well, this was the convalescence of the town of Mansoul for about two years and an half; the body of the town was the seat of Mansoul. The people of the town were driven into holes, and the glory of Mansoul was laid in the dust; what rest then could be to the inhabitants, what peace could Mansoul have, and what saw could show upon it? And the enemy law so long without in the plain against the town, it had been enough to have launched 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 demolish 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 presented their Prince with, all this while, could prevail; the inhabitants of the town, to wit, the chores and chief of Mansoul gathered together, and after some time spent in condolling their miserable state, and this miserable judgment coming upon them, they agreed together to draw up yet another position, and to send it away to Emmanuel for relief. But Mr. Godly-fear stood up, and answered, that he knew that his Lord the Prince never did, nor ever would receive a petition for these matters from the hand of any whoever, unless the Lord Secretary's hand was to it; and this, quoth he, is the reason that 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
1 How hard but just a blow, a rise to the peace in peace both of the military and the civil war? In Bony's time, both their protection were all of us, the time is and to have of Diabolus. I think that is, we do, and do not be
2 Such is the dress of nature of unbelief. It is the minister of confusion, lying, vanity, and blaspheming against the town of Mansoul. (Ed. 1)
3 Inacine a poor harassed soul, a member of a Christian church, in this homestead of the Church. Who was the pastor, there and come in with us. How would some people, the man who was in the church? Yes, I am, he would get rid of the doubters if he could. What the fact of God is in his hand, pray for him, the shaman, but each him not out.—(Ed.)
4 'Stroy,' obsolete, me.
5. See the text above.
It was altered, in 1707, to 'make destruction.'—(Ed.)
6 This is a specific representation of the state of a soul in which I with distressing doubts of it as a law, and in a clear destruction. 'Toward' and 'Nose' take possession of the feelings. The main reasoning is darkened, and the con- sion is a word, with a word of the words, and blasphemous increase the confusion and dismay.—(Ed.)
7 In a most of the men, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and
8 No. 1, now, for two years together, we did with the information and an expectation of information. (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
9 In the night of this day, I was a man, in other words, the heart remains right with God, God's fear being the keeper of it. I am not a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so, but he is a man who is doing so.
10 I have been by the end of the day spent and the understanding of. I think makes it a man, in the name of again, that he knew also that the Lord Secretary would not set his hand to any petition that himself had not a hand in comparing 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 did yet abide 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 hidden them; so they went 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 Emmanuel, the Son of the mighty Shoddai, 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 back-slidden 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 usages our men, women, and children have suffered at their hands, and how our home-bred Diabolonians do 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 is in him, draw up a petition for his peer servants to our Prince Emmanuel. 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 hands of our Lord? but he answered, Yourselves must 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 admits 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 concerned therein do join in heart and soul in the matter, for that must be inserted therein.
Christ. See Bunyan's admirable treatise on 'Praying in the Spirit,' vol. I, p. 1, 1.
The Christian's life is a warfare against the world, the flesh, and the need, but an evil heart of a belief is that spiritual Guilty, which we should constantly instruct the Captain of our salvation to subdue - Mason.
This is an illustration of that text. The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should say for us at night. But we do. And it should be God. He will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. In, at 13 - Paul.
Now he'll re-eth, the dead warn it, and all the world redeveth to do the best they can to bring the sun into bond.
So they did heartily agree with the sentence of the Lord, and a petition was forthwith drawn up for them. But now who should carry it, that was next. But the Secretary advised that Captain Credence should carry it, for he was a well-spoken man. They, therefore, 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.
The contents of the petition were to this purpose—
'O our Lord and Sovereign Prince Emmanuel, the potent, the long-suffering Prince: The contents of grace is poured into thy lips, and to thee belongs mercy and forgiveness, 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 transgressions. 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 miserable condition, to let out his bowels and compassions 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 did formerly use 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 do 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 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.
see and iron. Also, the soul shall not want enemies in its own heart; but—as much as ever, as a country, blasphemy, unbelief, hardness of heart, coldness, ignorance; with an unwarranted company of attendants because of its heals, ready to sink it into the air, will every moment!—But you's love and love, you can be. Who can number his thoughts even his evil thoughts, that, like I guess, war against the soul's peace?—(Eds.)
'When burden should you preserve, that I could neither stand, or so, nor be, either it rest or quiet.'—Grace Abounding, No. 165. - (Eds.)
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 Man-Satan cannot soul, I will make thee to leave off abode 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.
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 Mansoudians 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 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 Mansoudians 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, see, invades, huts rage, evil tempers arise, and we are in danger of failing, then is the time to look up at him, 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 God, Despot, in Door to Cook.—(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, from our faith.'—(Mason.)
charge of that 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, settled, 1 Pe. 10.
Then said Diabolus, Deliver me then the men that have petitioned against me, especially Captain Credence 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 was Mr. Fooling, and said, My lord offereth you fair, it is better for you that one man perish, than that your whole Mansoul should be undone.
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 nothing.
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 prerailers 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. 11. 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?
Then said the Lord Mayor, We have sinned indeed, but that shall be no help to thee, for our Emmanuel hath said it, and that in great faithfulness: 'And him that cometh 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, wait for, and hope for deliverance still.²
Now by this time Captain Credence was returned and come from the court from Emmanuel to the
⁴ How true is this remark of the enemy of souls? Our hellest services must be sanctified in the name of the Redeemer. It shall be a ten to ten, when it is to his purpose, in a thing a saint, or destroying a sinner.—(Ed.)
⁵ Portions of Scripture were the weapons which our Lord conquered Satan, when tempted in the wilderness. Poor trust said, you may rely with the most perfect confidence on the Scriptures for support in the most trying hour. 'Though it fury, wait for it, because it will surely come.' Hab. ii. 3. Any other support is but like a broken reed.—(Ed.)
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 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 them, he opened his packet, and 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 my Lord Mayor had been so true 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.
The second note that came out was for the noble Lord Will-be-will, wherein there was 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
So after the brave Captain Credence had delivered his notes to those to whom they belonged, he retired himself to my Lord Secretary's lodgings, and 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 converso 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.
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
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 all 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 imagin-
¹ 'A-to-side,' obsolete, aside, in private, or out of hearing.—(Ed.)
² The design of this is to show that the soul is to live by faith, and not by reuse. The Spirit of God puts honour upon faith, and makes him chief captain of the town. This is a prelude to victory over the Daubters.—(Barder.)
ablo 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 Daubters is completely routed—Emmanuel enters the town amidst the joyful acclaimations 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 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; 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 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 out. He therefore concluded that what was done, must be done by some other means. And the most
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.)
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 in the town is able to lift up his finger against us, Emmanuel will take their parts; and if he shall take their parts, we know what time a-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 them sin. 2 Pe. ii. 15-21. 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 like objections to it, and were not to be defiled with arguments. Indeed can we but get them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, the day will be our own. Let us therefore 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 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 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 to do this thing.
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 but for half the worth. Now, let those that thus shall 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'th'-hundred-and-lose-i'th'-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, but our true friends and helpers. Let these with as many more engage in this business for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in 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 Laodicea, and how many at present do we hold in this snare? 2 Pe. ii. 17. Now when they begin to grow full, they will forget their misery, and if we shall not affright them they 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 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. 2a. 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. 2a. viii. 24-26.
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? Now these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for Emmanuel; 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.
1 "Satan trembles when he sees
The meanest stand upon his knees."
2 The great object of Satan is to allure Mansoul to sin. He can never win the heart, or castle, unless an opens the gates.—(E.D.)
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' slure" is an obsolete proverb, 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.—(E.D.)
4 Great is the danger when the heart, here called the castle, which should be the temple of the Lord, is turned into a warehouse.—B. order.
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
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 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 radio are yea, by that it is break of day, sunning, 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 Emmanuel. And, said he, that which was dark therein, has my Lord, the Lord Secretary, expounded unto me. 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 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.
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 terrible 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,² by which they were much annoyed all the while that 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 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
¹ Well may Benson say, 'Look to it, Mansoul!' How rarely do men grow rich, and prosperous without entertaining these Diabolonians—prolusion, prodigality, pride, &c. These are more destructive to the soul than an army or external foes.—(Burder.)
² 'Terrene and terrible,' dreadful to mortals.—(Ed.)
³ Portions from the Bible, probably meaning the spirit of the New Testament.—(Ed.)
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 were 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 so they to their under-officers and soldiers. The word was, The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence, which is, in the Massoulian tongue, The word of God and faith. Then the captains fell on, and began roundly to front, and flank, and rear Diabolus's camp.¹
Now they left Captain Experience in the town, because he was yet ill of his wounds which the Diabolonians had given him in the last fight. But when he perceived that the captains were at it, what does he, but, calling for his crutches with haste, gets up, and away he goes to the battle, saying, Shall I lie here when my brethren are in the fight? and when Emmanuel 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 Mansouilians that they fight us upon their crutches! Well, the captains, as I said, fell on, and did bravely handle their weapons, still crying out and shouting, as they laid on blows, The sword of the Prince Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence.²
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 was to be looked for but blows, and the dints³ of their two-edged sword.
Wherefore he also falls on 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 be-will on the other; now Will-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 did stoutly fall on, on the other hand, upon the same company, also; so they put them to great disorder.⁴ Now Captain Goodhope had engaged the Vocation-doubters, and they were sturdy men, but the captain was a valiant man. Captain Experience did also send him some aid, so he made the Vocation-doubters to retreat. The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on every side, and the Diabolonians did fight stoutly. Then did my Lord Secretary command that the slings from the castle should be played, and his men could throw stones at an hair's breadth. But after a while, those that were made to fly before the captains of the Prince did begin 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 that 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 Emmanuel and the shield of Captain Credence, and with that Diabolus gave back, thinking that more aid had been come. But no Emmanuel as yet appeared; moreover, the battle did hang 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 faithful lovers of Mansoul. You have hitherto, as hath become 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 in the field, for we must make this second assault upon this tyrant Diabolus, and then Emmanuel comes.
No sooner had the captain made this speech to his soldiers, but one Mr. Speedy came past to the captain from the Prince, to tell him that Emmanuel was at hand. This news, when the captain had received, he communicated to the other field-officers, and they again to their soldiers and
¹ How heartily, or, as Bursyan says, 'roundly,' can we fight our implacable foes, when thus armed with 'the Word of God, the sword of Emmanuel, and faith'—the shield of Credence? These are invincible weapons when the Holy Spirit enables us to use them.—(Ed.)
² 'Kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation.' 1 Pr. i. 6.—(Ed.)
³ 'Dints,' blots or strokes.—(Ed.)
⁴ Election-doubters are the devil's life-guard. When the will, strengthened by faith, attacks them, they are put into disorder, but not destroyed. These doubts are first attacked, for until they are routed the soul has no peace.—(Ed.)
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 Emmanuel, and the shield of Captain Credence.
The Diabolonians also bestirred themselves and made resistance as well as they could, but in this last engagement the Diabolonians lost their courage, and many of the Doubters fell down dead to the ground. Now when they had been in heat of battle about an hour or more, Captain Credence lift up his eyes and saw, and behold Emmanuel came, 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 did Credence wind with his men to the townward, and gave to Diabolus the field. So Emmanuel came upon him on the one side, and the enemies place was betwixt them both, then again they fell to it afresh, and now it was but a little while more but Emmanuel and Captain Credence met, still trampling down the slain as they came.
But when the captains saw that the Prince was come, and that he fell upon the Diabolonians on the other side, and that Captain Credence and his Highness had got them up betwixt them, they shouted, they so shouted that the ground rent again, saying, The sword of Emmanuel 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 foresake their army, and leave them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel, and of his noble Captain Credence; 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.¹
When the battle was over all things came into order in the camp; then the captains and elders of Mansoul came together to salute Emmanuel, while without the corporation; so they saluted him and welcomed him, and that with a thousand welcomes,
Mansoul salutes the Prince with the soldiers, and the soldiers of Mansoul again; so he smiled upon them and said, Peace be to you, The war. Then they addressed them.
¹ The presence of the Lord decides the conflict. Doctors and fears cannot stand before the gracious manifestation of himself to the soul.
¹ But if Emmanuel's face appears,
He is a man, I do not.
He is a man, I do not.
He is a man, I do not.
selves 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 this going of his into Mansoul.
First, as I said, all the gates of the town were set open, yea the gates of the castle also; 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. The manner of for as he drew near and approached towards the gates, they said, 'Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting 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 Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up ye everlasting doors.' Ps. xiii. 7-9.
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 could best skill in music in all the town of Mansoul; then did the elders and the rest of the men of Mansoul answer one another as Emmanuel entered the town, till he came at 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 'the singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the dansels playing with timbrels.' Ps. lxxii. 25.
Thirdly, Then the captains—for I would speak a word of them—they in their order waited on the Prince as he entered into the gates of Mansoul. Captain Credence went before, and Captain Goodhope 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, some on the left—accompanied Emmanuel into Mansoul. And all the while the colours were displayed, the trumpets sounded, and continual shoatings were among the soldiers. The Prince himself rode into the town in his armour, which was all of beaten gold, and in 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, When the Prince was come to the entrance of Mansoul, he found all the streets strewed with lilies and flowers, curiously decked with boughs and branches from the green trees that stood round about the town. Every door also was filled with persons who had adorned every one their fore-part against their house, with something of variety and singular excellency to entertain him with all as he passed in the streets; they also themselves, as Emmanuel passed by, did welcome him with shouts and acclamations of joy, saying, Blessed be the Prince that cometh in the name of his Father Shaddai.¹
Fifthly, At the castle-gates the elders of Mansoul, to wit, the Lord Mayor, the Lord Will-be-will, the subordinate Preacher, Mr. Knowledge, Mr. Mind, with other of the gentry of the place, saluted Emmanuel 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; the which was ready prepared for his Highness by the presence of the Lord Secretary and the work of Captain Credence.² So he entered in.
Sixthly, Then the people and commonalty of the town of Mansoul came to him into the castle to mourn, and to weep, and to 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 the which the great Prince replied, Weep not, but 'go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nought is prepared - for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' Re. vi. 10. 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, car-rings, and jewels, and bracelets, and other things. He also bestowed upon the true-born children of Mansoul many precious things.
¹ How gladly is Jesus received? None but these who have experienced it can tell how delightful and welcome is his presence to the soul that his long been saved with an army of doubts. O let us beware of sin and unbelief, which caused him to withdraw and the doubts to enter. Well may the soul be humbled in the cast in the production of his love and joy. —(Burder.) Striving the streets with flowers, and decorating the fronts of the houses, was customary, in Bunyan's time, in all royal processions.—(Ed.)
² 'Giving them the Holy Ghost; - purifying their hearts by faith.' Re. xv. 8, 9.—(Ed.)
When Emmanuel 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. Ex. ix. 8. So they went to the fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in, See. xii. 1, 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. Re. vii. 14, 15.
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 did ring, and the sun shone comfortably upon them for a great while together.⁴
The town of Mansoul did also now more thoroughly seek the destruction and ruin of all remaining Diabelonians 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.⁵
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 did 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 Emmanuel, that the townsmen 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 Emmanuel and by the shield of the Captain Credence—lest the fumes and ill savours that would arise from them might 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
⁵ The side notes are Bunyan's key to the text, which, he
⁶ 'Leth there in the window.'
See last lines of his address 'To the Reader.'—(Ed.)
⁷ Though comforts are cherries, let not the believer rest in them, neither be high-minded, but fear; looking to Jesus for strength and grace to persevere.—(Mar. 6.)
⁸ 'The joy of the Lord is our strength.' When this is possessed, there will be a double diligence in searching out and destroying our sins.—(Burder.)
necessary business; and Mr. Godly-foss 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 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 bouncer, or a piece of a bouncer was yet to be seen above ground anywhere near the corporation; 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 the skulls and bones, and pieces of bones of Doubters wherever they found them, and so they cleansed the plains. Now also 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 Resurrection-doubters, the Salvation-doubters, and the Glory-doubters, whose captains were Captain Rage, Captain Cruel, Captain Dammation, Captain Insatiable, Captain Brimstone, Captain Torment, Captain Nocase, Captain Sepulchre, and Captain Pasthope, and old Incredulity 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, did all of them make 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
Thus was the victory completed, and by the we are taught that doubts of the love of Christ, contrary to the declarations of his Word, should be utterly suppressed, as being minutely dishonorable to our faithful covenant God, and unspeakably pernicious to our own souls.—(Burdar.) Still we are not to forget the danger of their rising from the tomb again to distress us, unless we are found constantly watchful and prayerful. When Greatheart and the Pilgrims had killed Despoir, and destroyed Dorset's Castle, and are a joining over the ruins, Bunyan thus warns them—
Though Dorset's Castle be demorated,
And the Great Despoir Sath is on board,
She is a rebel in the castle, make it reward,
And make Despoir, the giant, live again.—(E.)
buried as before related, to the exceeding great joy of the now famous 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, firebrauds, and the like; they buried also their armour, their colours, banners, with the standard of Diabolus, and what else soever they could find that did but smell of a Diabolonian Doubter.¹
[CHAPTER XVII.]
[CONTENTS:—A new army of Bloodmen, or persecutors, attack the town, but are surrounded by the Mansoulans, headed by Faith and Patience—The examination of some of the leaders. Ex-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-gatehill, with his old friend Incredulity, they immediately descended the den, and having there, with their fellows, for a while condolled their misfortune and great loss that they sustained against 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 yawning paunches could not wait to see the result of their Lord Lucifer's and their Lord Apollyon's counsel that they had given before, for 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 resolve to make another attempt upon the town of Mansoul, and that by an army mixed, and made up, partly of Doubters and partly of Bloodmen.² A more particular account now take of both.
The Doubters are such as have their name from their nature, as well as from the lord and kingdom where they are born; their nature is to put a question upon every one of the truths of Emmanuel, and their country is called, The Land of Doubting, and that land lieth off, and furthest remote to the north, between the Land of Darkness and that called the
² Poor Mansoul, having by grace overcome his doubts and fears, having died to sin and ruin again to newness of life, is now fit to comfort his brethren in church fellowship. As the Pilgrim was frightened by the hons before the house Beaufort, to prevent his entering into communion with a church, so here they suffer persecution from these Lons, here called 'Bloodmen,' and an appropriate title it is for all persecutors. All those who enforce human laws to compel our presence at, or support to, any form of worship, are bloodmen. Bless God that they can only scratch us now, but if they had the power, the same spirit that now scratches would devour the masts of God.—(Eo.)
Valley of the Shadow of Death. For though the Land of Darkness, and that called the Land of the Chancery 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 little way asunder, and the Land of Doubting points in, and lieth between them. This is the Land of Doubting, and these that came with Diabolus to ruin the town of Mansoul are the natives of that country.
The Bloodmen 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 intellectun's.
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 but and bound upon the hill called Hell-gate-hill. These people are always in league with the Doubters, for they jointly do 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 beating of his drum, raise another army against the town of Mansoul, of five and twenty thousand strong. There were ten thousand Doubters and fifteen thousand Bloodmen, and they 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 Diaboloman 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 in the army.
But Diabolus did not count that in this expedition of his, these Doubters would prove his principal friend, for their manhood had been tried before, also the Mansoulians had put them to the worst, only he did bring them to multiply a number, and to help, if recd was, at a pinch; but his trust he put in his Bloodmen, for that they were all rugged villains, and he knew that they had done feats buret before.¹
As for the Bloodmen, they also were under
¹ The Bloodmen, or persecutors, are all rugged villains, they are strengthened by new coasts, from persecutors for Christ's sake. From F. S. Morley's Burgan had obtained a good estimate of their character. Persecutors, real your character - a rugged villain, a mastiff who would fasten upon relishes, prince, and even the Prince of princes.—(F. B.)
command, and the names of their captains were, Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod, Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom, Captain Judas, and Captain Pope.
1. Captain Cain was over two bands, to wit, the zealous and the angry Bloodmen; his standard-bearer bear the red colours, and his escutcheon was the murdering club. G. 1. 6.
2. Captain Nimrod was captain over two bands, to wit, the tyrannical and encroaching Bloodmen; his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was the great blood-hound. G. 1. 6.
3. Captain Ishmael was captain over two bands, to wit, over the mocking and scornful Bloodmen; his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was one mocking at Abraham's Isaac. G. 1. 10.
4. Captain Esau was captain over two bands, to wit, the Bloodmen that grudged that another should have the blessing, also over the Bloodmen that are for executing their private revenge upon others; his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was one privately lurking to murder Jacob. G. 1. 10.
5. Captain Saul was captain over two bands, to wit, the groundlessly jealous, and the devilishly furious Bloodmen; his standard-bearer bear the red colours, and his escutcheon was three bloody darts cast at harmless David. G. 1. 10.
6. Captain Absalom was captain over two bands, to wit, over the Bloodmen that will kill a father or a friend for the glory of this world, also over those Bloodmen that will hold one fair in hand with words, till they shall have pierced him with their swords; his standard-bearer did bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was the son a-pursuing his father's blood. 2. 10.
7. Captain Judas was over two bands, to wit, the Bloodmen that will sell a man's life for money, and those also that will betray their friend with a kiss; his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was thirty pieces of silver and the halter. Mat. 1. 11.
8. Captain Pope was captain over one band, for all these spirits are joined in one under him; his standard-bearer bare the red colours, and his escutcheon was the stake, the flame, and the good men in it. R. 1. 7.
Now the reason why Diabolus did so soon rally another force after he had been beaten out of the field was, for that he put mighty confidence in his army of Bloodmen, for he put a great deal of 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 Bloodmen he had proved them often, and their sword did seldom return 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 did force Emmanuel 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 Lord Incredulity, led up against the town of Mansoul. Now Mr. Prywell, the scoutmaster-general, did himself go out to spy, and he did bring 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 Ferligate, and the Bloodmen set down before Eyegate and Eargate.
Now when this army had thus encamped themselves, Incredulity did, in the name of Diabolus, his own name, and in the name of the Bloodmen and the rest that were with him, send a summons as hot as a red hot iron to Mansoul to yield to their demands, threatening 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 Bloodmen, 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 send to them to surrender, but should they so do, that would not stanch or quench the thirats of these men. 1. 2. 3. They must have blood, the blood of Mansoul, else they die; and it is from hence that they have their name. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Wherefore these Bloodmen he reserved while now that they might, when all his engines proved ineffectual, as his last and sure card, be played against the town of Mansoul.
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, the which they did when they had writ at the bottom of it, Lord, save Mansoul from bloody men. 1. 2. 3.
So he took it and looked upon it, and considered
¹ O the foly of the "your Diabolus". He tried his Bloodmen upon Christ. They, by putting him to death, crushed the C. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100.
it, and took also notice 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 Bloodmen, the v. 1. So they went and did as they were commanded, the Captain Credence went and took Captain Patience, and they both secured that side of Mansoul that was besieged by the Bloodmen.
Then he commanded that Captain Goodhope 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 there watch against the Doubters. This done, he again commanded that the brave captain, the Captain Experience, should draw up his men in the marketplace, and that there he should exercise them day by day before the people of the town of Mansoul. Now this siege was long, and many a fierce attempt did the enemy, especially those called the Bloodmen, 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 care of Eargate and Eyegate now against the Bloodmen. This Captain Self-denial was a young man, but stout, and a townsman of Mansoul, as Captain Experience also was. And Emmanuel, at his second return to Mansoul, made him a captain over a thousand of the Mansoulans, for the good of the corporation. This captain, therefore, being a hardy man, and 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 Bloodmen and give them many notable alarms, and entered several brisk skirmishes with them, and also did some execution upon them; but 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; yet, and some in some other parts of his body.
So, after some time spent for the trial of the faith, and hope, and love of the town of Mansoul, the Prince Emmanuel upon a day calls his captains and men of war together, and divides them into two companies; this done, he commands
² Satan's uniform aim is to destroy body and soul in bed for ever. But I should be told, he must not be able to do the forblest knell out of the embraces of everyone's home.—Mason.)
³ Faith, Patience, and Self-denial are all; only pleased to opposition to the Bloodmen, persecutors. How well they behaved in the time of our pilgrim classes is well known, and
THE HOLT WAR.
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 Bloodmen. 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 Bloodmen, slay them not, but take them alive.¹
So, at the time appointed, betimes in the morning the captains went out, as they were commanded, against the enemies; Captain Goodhope, 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 Bloodmen.
Now those that went out against the Doubters drew up into 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 slow many, but they could not catch them all. Now those that escaped went some of them home, and the rest, by fires, nines, and seventeen,² like wanderers, went struggling up and down the country, where they, upon the barbarous people, showed and exercised many of their Diabolism actions; nor did these people rise up in arms against them, but suffered themselves to be enslaved by them.³ They would also after this show themselves in companies before the town of Mansoul, but never to abide it, for if Captain Credence, Captain Goodhope, or Captain Experience did but show themselves, they fled.
Those that went out against the Bloodmen did as they were commanded, they forlorn to slay any, but sought to compass them about. But the Bloodmen, when they saw that no Emmanuel was in the field, concluded also that no Emmanuel 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 them than feared them; but the capin our happier times they are invaluable guards to support us in the loss of friends or property.—(E. D.)
¹ "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despotfully use you, and persecute you." This is the imperative command of Emmanuel to his followers, we forth in his sermon on the mount. Your lusts must be crucified, your doubts destroyed, your persecutors pitied and prayed for.—(E. D.)
² "Fives, nines, and seventeen." Why these odd numbers are given would not be a bad rabble to give our young friends. Five infernal spirits were the leaders of the Satanic army.
tains, minding their business, at last did compass them round, they also that had routed the Doubters came in a main to their aid; so in fine, after some little struggling—for the Bloodmen 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 Bloodmen are chicken-hearted men when they once come to see themselves matched and equalled—so 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 out of one land.
1. One sort of them came out of Blindmanshire, and they were such as did ignorantly what they did. 1 Ti. l. 13-15. Mat. v. 44.
2. Another sort of them came out of Blindzealshire, and they did superstitiously what they did. Lx. vi. 22.
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.⁴ Jn. xvi. 2.
For the first of these, to wit, they 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 these as asked him mercy, he touched their lips with his golden sceptre. A=1x. 5-6
They that came out of Blindzealshire, they did not as their fellows did, for they pleaded that they had a right to do what they did, because Mansoul was a town whose laws and customs were diverse 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. Jn. vii. 40.
They that came out of the town of Malice, that is in the county of Envy, they neither wept nor disputed, nor repented, but stood gnawing of their tongues before him for anguish and madness, because they could not have their will upon Mansoul. Re. ix. 20, vi. Now these last, with all those of the other two sorts that did not unfeignedly ask par-
It consisted of nine companies of Doubters, and eight of Bloodmen, or persecutors. First, five fallen angels; second, nine classes of doubts; and if this was not enough to enslave the soul, they were to be aided by eight classes of persecutors. This may account for the grouping of these dangerous enemies in fires, nines, and seventeen.—(E. D.)
³ Many are led captive by Satan at his will, blinded to their misery and fate by the god of this world, in whose delusive arms many of them sleep till death and judgment awake them to behold their awful and remediless state. Lord, pity them!—(Mason.)
⁴ These are the three grades of Bloodmen, but all are influenced by hatred to Christianity and a love of plunder. God hates robbery for offerings, yet some blind fanatics will seize their neighbour's goods to save their own pockets in adorning their temples. May God in mercy convert them, as he did Saul of Tarsus.—(E. D.)
don for their faults, those he made to enter into
The Bloodmen sufficient bond to answer for what they are bound over had done against Mansoul and against what they have her King, at the great and general to answer for assizes to be holden for our Lord the what they have 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 as before.¹
And thus much concerning this second array that were sent by Diabolus to overthrow Mansoul.
But there were three of those that came from the land of Doubting, who, after they the Daubters had wandered and ranged the country go into Mansoul, awhile, and perceived that they had soul, are enter- escaped, were so hardy as to thrust tamed, and by themselves, knowing that yet there where in the town Diabolonians—I say they were so hardy as to thrust themselves into Mansoul among them. Three, did I say? I think there were four.
Now, to whose house should these Diabolonian
Doubters go, but to the house of an old Diabolonian in Mansoul, whose name was Evil-questioning:
a very great enemy he was to Mansoul, and a 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 directions how to find the way thither;
so he made them welcome, pitied their misfortune, and succoured them with the best that he had in his house. Now, after a little acquaintance, and it was not long before they had that, this old Evilquestioning asked the Doubters if they were all of a town—he knew that they were all of one kingdom. And they answered, no, nor not what sort of of one shire neither; for I, said one,
Doubters they am an Election-doubter; I, said ancre, 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 are down boys;² you have the very length of my foot,³ 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 to be better at the Mansoul.⁴ Then said Evil-questioning
Doubters and to them, How many of your company old Evil-questioning might there be that came with you
¹ Persecutors, who die in impenitence, must appear at the day of judgment, when these ungodly men shall be judged of all their ungodly deeds, and all their hard speeches against
Christ in his members. Jude 15.—(ED.)
² 'Down boys,' deep, knowing, determined fellows; as
'down boot,' a tough battle, a set to at hard drinking. In
1696, it was altered to 'town boys,' an unmeaning name.
This was continued in 1707; but was restored to 'down boys' in 1720.—(ED.)
to the siege of Mansoul? And they answered.
There were but ten thousand Doubters in all, for the rest of the army consisted of fifteen thousand
Bloodmen. These Bloodmen, quoth they, border upon our country; but, poor men, as we hear, they were every one taken by Emmanuel's forces. Ten thousand! quoth the old gentleman, I'll promise you that is 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 general, said they, was the first man that did run 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, has 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 hauged him; and we promise you hanging is but a bad business.⁵ Then, said the old gentleman, I would that all the ten thousand Doubters were now well armed in Mansoul, and myself in the head of them,
I would see what I could do. Ay, said they, that would be well if we could see that; but wishes, alas! what are they? And these words were spoken aloud. Well, said old Evil-questioning, take heed that you talk not too loud; you must be quat⁶ and close, and must take care of yourselves while you are here, or, I'll assure you, you will be snapt.
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 ever it can hold.
And, besides, there is one whose name is Will-bewill, a most cruel enemy of ours, and him the
Prince has 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 and all manner of Diabolonians.
And if he lighteth upon you, down you go, though your heads were made of gold.⁷
And now to see how it happened. One of the
Lord Will-be-will's faithful soldiers. The, we overwhose name was Mr. Diligence, stood heard all this while listening under old Evil-questioning's caves, and heard all the talk that had been betwixt
⁵ 'Length of my foot,' a preverb meaning similarity of disposition.—(ED.)
⁶ In our best estate we are too prone to question the truth of God's Word and his faithfulness, we believe him able, but harbour doubts as to his willingness to save us. Lord, increase our faith!—(Mason.)
⁷ Hanging is a bad business; it does not deter men from crime, but the sight of it has been them in the party.—(ED.)
⁸ Covering, stooping, squat.—(ED.)
⁹ No bribe can save them.—(ED.)
SC6 him and the Doubters that he entertained under his roof.
The soldier was a man that my Lord had much confidence in, and that 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 Diabolonians; wherefore, what does he but go to his Lord, and tells him what he had heard. And sayest thou so, my trusty? quoth my Lord. Ay, quoth Diligence, 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 in 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 lend 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 his way, and they went till they came even under old Mr. Evil-questioning's well. 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 doth 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 jailer, and commanded, and he did 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 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 jailer. So the day was set, and the court called and come together, and they are brought to trial.
man, the jailer. So the day was set, and the court called and come together, and they are brought to trial. The prisoners 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 comfort 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 panelled, the witnesses sworn, and the prisoners tried for their lives. The jury was the same that tried Mr. Notruth, Pityless, Haughty, and the rest of their companions.
And first old 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 ought to say for himself. So his indictment was read; the manner and form here follows—
Mr. Questioning. Thou art here indicted by the name of Evil-questioning, an intruder upon the town of Mansoul, for that thou art a Diabolonian by nature, and also a hater of the Prince Emmanuel, and one that hast studied the ruin of the town of Mansoul. Thou art also here indicted for countenancing the King's enemies, after wholesome laws made to the contrary: For, 1. Thou hast questioned the truth of her doctrine and state. 2. In wishing that ten thousand Doubters were in her. 3. In receiving, in entertaining, and encouraging of her enemies that came from their army unto thee. What sayest thou to this indictment, 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-inquiring. 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.
Will. 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,
1 Thus I believe, by the almighty power of grace, we enabled to take those captives whose captives they were. I. sly. 2, 3.—(Mason.)
2 Enemies to faith, hope, and love. The soul, by reason of its depravity, is subject to many doubts and unbelieving tears, with Adam, before the fall, was a stranger to.—(Mason.) How common it is for you to disguise itself under the you all have heard with your ears, that the prisoner at the bar has denied his name, and so thinks to shift from the charge 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 this 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; and I testify that he is a Diabolonian by nature, and enemy to our Prince, and a hater of the blessed town of Mansoul. He has, in times of rebellion, been at, and been in my house, my Lord, not so little as twenty nights together; and we did use to talk then, for the substance of talk, as he, and his Doubters have talked of late; true I have not seen him many today. I suppose that the coming of Emmanuel to Mansoul has made him to 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?
And Yes, quoth the old gentleman, that I have; for all that as yet has 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.
Dilig. Then stood forth Mr. Diligence, and said, Mr. Diligence. 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 muttering within this gentleman's house; then thought I what is 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 upon 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 out-landish men in the house; but I did well understand their speech, for I have been a traveller myself. Now hearing such language in such a tottering cottage as this old gentleman dwelt in, I clapt mine ear to a hole in the window, and there heard that talk 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 told him to all these questions, yet he did entertain them. He also asked what numbers there were of 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-questioning wished, and I heard him wish. Would all the ten thousand Doubters were now in Mansoul, and himself is the head of them. He bid them also to take heed and be 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 did receive these men into your house, and that you did nourish them there, though you knew that they were Diabolonians, and the King's enemies. 2. He swears that you did wish ten thousand of them in Mansoul. 3. He swears that you did give them advice to be quiet and close lest they were taken by the King's servants. All which manifesteth that thou art a Diabolonian; for had thou been a friend to the King, thou wouldest have apprehended them.
End. 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 did also nourish 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 alright that any yet knows. I did also bid them take heed that they fell not into the captain's hands; but that might be because I am unwilling that any man should be slain; and not because I would have the King's enemies as such escape.
My Lord Mayor then replied, That though it was a virtue to entertain strangers, yet it was reason 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 proceedings, as they but that thou art a Diabolonian, thou must for that die the death by the law; but to be a game of virtue! To understand the difference between Evil-questioning and Diabolonian, we do not know what to do. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man. He said that he is the one who is a very little man.
proved judgment the truth of revelation, whether it is true, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or not, or receiver, a nourisher, a countenancer, and a harb- burer of others of them, yea, of outlandish Dia- bolonians; yea, of them that came 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 him by an interpreter; to wit, That he was there charged with being an enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Mansoul, and an opposer of her most wholesome doctrine.¹
Then the judge asked him if he would plead? But he said only this, That he con- fessed that he was an Election- doubter, and that that was the religion that he had ever been brought up in. And said, moreover, If I must die for my religion, I trow, I shall die a martyr,² and so I care the less.
Judge. Then it was 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 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.³
Then was the Vocation-doubter called, and set to the bar; and his indictment for sub- stance was the same with the other, only he was particularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul.
he 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 experimental 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 Emmanuel, by which she has been quickened, awakened, and possessed with heavenly grace to desire to have communion with her Prince, to serve him, and do his will, and to look for her happiness merely of his good pleasure.⁴ And for thine ab- horrence of this good doctrine, thou must die the death.
Then the Grace-doubter was called, and his in- dictment 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 good fashion among his neighbours, and that he taught him to believe, and believe it 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 you are saved. Re. M. Ep. 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 as 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 Dia- bolonian, 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 Re- corder, and addressed himself to the prisoners: You, the prisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted, and proved guilty of high crimes against Emmanuel our Prince, and against the welfare of the famous town of Man- soul; crimes for which you must be put to death; and die ye accordingly.⁵
¹ Though ignorant persons civil and object, we are bold to affirm, that election by free grace is consonant to the whole issue of Scripture: a comfortable doctrine, existing to elect- cence. 'We love him, because he first loved us.' I Jc. iv. 19. —(Mason.)
² 'A martyr' is a witness, generally applied among Chris- tians to those who seal with their blood a testimony of love to Christ, and are put to death for their attachment to the gos- pel, not like the Jesuits under Elizabeth, they come to prison or destroy her, and to overturn the Government, and were put to death as traitors. But if any Christian was put to death for doubting the doctrine of election, he would be entitled to the crown of martyrdom.—(Ed.)
³ Those who deny election deny, though perhaps unwittingly, the omniscience and sovereignty of God, and unavoidably as- very, sometimes without perceiving it, that salvation is not of grace but of works.—(Baker.)
⁴ The great mass of mankind in Christendom, because they were baptized in infancy, call themselves Christians, and find shelter under these pleas from the necessity of personal prayer- ful investigation. They never knew the pangs of the new birth, nor the cry, 'What must I do to be saved?' or, 'Lord, save, I perish!' It is a most extensive and most fatal error, in which myriads of souls have met their doom.—(Ed.)
⁵ Thus we are, to my cause every weight, and every be- cting sin, Hc. xii. 12—whatsoever does not tend to promote
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, just over against his own door.¹