第5章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"THE HOLY WAR",免费读到尾

  WhenoldIncredulityhadheardthisspeech,hecriedout,’Treason!treason!Toyourarms!toyourarms!Oye,thetrustyfriendsofDiabolusinMansoul。’

  UND。—Sir,youmayputuponmywordswhatmeaningyouplease;butIamsurethatthecaptainsofsuchanhighlordastheirsis,deservedabettertreatmentatyourhands。

  ThensaidoldIncredulity,’Thisisbutlittlebetter。But,Sir,’quothhe,’whatIspakeIspakeformyprince,forhisgovernment,andthequietingofthepeople,whombyyourunlawfulactionsyouhavethisdaysettomutinyagainstus。’

  ThenrepliedtheoldRecorder,whosenamewasMr。Conscience,andsaid,’Sir,yououghtnotthustoretortuponwhatmyLordUnderstandinghathsaid。Itisevidentenoughthathehathspokenthetruth,andthatyouareanenemytoMansoul。

  Beconvinced,then,oftheevilofyoursaucyandmalapertlanguage,andofthegriefthatyouhaveputthecaptainsto;

  yea,andofthedamagesthatyouhavedonetoMansoulthereby。Hadyouacceptedoftheconditions,thesoundofthetrumpetandthealarmofwarhadnowceasedaboutthetownofMansoul;butthatdreadfulsoundabides,andyourwantofwisdominyourspeechhasbeenthecauseofit。’

  ThensaidoldIncredulity,’Sir,ifIlive,IwilldoyourerrandtoDiabolus,andthereyoushallhaveananswertoyourwords。Meanwhilewewillseekthegoodofthetown,andnotaskcounselofyou。’

  UND。—Sir,yourprinceandyouarebothforeignerstoMansoul,andnotthenativesthereof;andwhocantellbutthat,whenyouhavebroughtusintogreaterstraits,(whenyoualsoshallseethatyourselvescanbesafebynoothermeansthanbyflight,)youmayleaveusandshiftforyourselves,orsetusonfire,andgoawayinthesmoke,orbythelightofourburning,andsoleaveusinourruins?

  INCRED。—Sir,youforgetthatyouareunderagovernor,andthatyououghttodemeanyourselflikeasubject;andknowye,whenmylordthekingshallhearofthisday’swork,hewillgiveyoubutlittlethanksforyourlabour。

  Nowwhilethesegentlemenwerethusintheirchidingwords,downcomefromthewallsandgatesofthetowntheLordWillbewill,Mr。Prejudice,oldIll—Pause,andseveralofthenew—madealdermenandburgesses,andtheyaskedthereasonofthehubbubandtumult;andwiththateverymanbegantotellhisowntale,sothatnothingcouldbehearddistinctly。

  Thenwasasilencecommanded,andtheoldfoxIncredulitybegantospeak。’Mylord,’quothhe,’hereareacoupleofpeevishgentlemen,thathave,asafruitoftheirbaddispositions,and,asIfear,throughtheadviceofoneMr。

  Discontent,tumultuouslygatheredthiscompanyagainstmethisday,andalsoattemptedtorunthetownintoactsofrebellionagainstourprince。’

  ThenstoodupalltheDiaboloniansthatwerepresent,andaffirmedthesethingstobetrue。

  NowwhentheythattookpartwithmyLordUnderstandingandwithMr。Conscienceperceivedthattheywereliketocometotheworst,forthatforceandpowerwasontheotherside,theycameinfortheirhelpandrelief;soagreatcompanywasonbothsides。ThentheyonIncredulity’ssidewouldhavehadthetwooldgentlemenpresentlyawaytoprison;buttheyontheothersidesaidtheyshouldnot。Thentheybegantocryuppartiesagain:theDiabolonianscriedupoldIncredulity,Forget—Good,thenewaldermen,andtheirgreatoneDiabolus;andtheotherparty,theyasfastcriedupShaddai,thecaptains,hislaws,theirmercifulness,andapplaudedtheirconditionsandways。Thusthebickermentwentawhile;atlasttheypassedfromwordstoblows,andnowtherewereknocksonbothsides。Thegoodoldgentleman,Mr。

  Conscience,wasknockeddowntwicebyoneoftheDiabolonians,whosenamewasMr。Benumbing;andmyLordUnderstandinghadliketohavebeenslainwithanarquebuse,butthathethatshotdidnottakehisaimaright。Nordidtheothersidewhollyescape;fortherewasoneMr。Rashhead,aDiabolonian,thathadhisbrainsbeatenoutbyMr。Mind,theLordWillbewill’sservant;anditmademelaughtoseehowoldMr。Prejudicewaskickedandtumbledaboutinthedirt;forthough,awhilesince,hewasmadecaptainofacompanyoftheDiabolonians,tothehurtanddamageofthetown,yetnowtheyhadgothimundertheirfeet,and,I’llassureyou,hehad,bysomeoftheLordUnderstanding’sparty,hiscrowncrackedtoboot。Mr。Anythingalso,hebecameabriskmaninthebroil;butbothsideswereagainsthim,becausehewastruetonone。Yethehad,forhismalapertness,oneofhislegsbroken,andhethatdiditwishedithadbeenhisneck。Muchmoreharmwasdoneonbothsides,butthismustnotbeforgotten;itwasnowawondertoseemyLordWillbewillsoindifferentashewas:hedidnotseemtotakeonesidemorethananother,onlyitwasperceivedthathesmiledtoseehowoldPrejudicewastumbledupanddowninthedirt。Also,whenCaptainAnythingcamehaltingupbeforehim,heseemedtotakebutlittlenoticeofhim。

  Now,whentheuproarwasover,DiabolussendsformyLordUnderstandingandMr。Conscience,andclapsthembothupinprisonastheringleadersandmanagersofthismostheavy,riotousroutinMansoul。Sonowthetownbegantobequietagain,andtheprisonerswereusedhardly;yea,hethoughttohavemadethemaway,butthatthepresentjuncturedidnotserveforthatpurpose,forthatwarwasinalltheirgates。

  Butletusreturnagaintoourstory。Thecaptains,whentheyweregonebackfromthegate,andwerecomeintothecampagain,calledacouncilofwar,toconsultwhatwasfurtherforthemtodo。Now,somesaid,’Letusgouppresently,andfalluponthetown;’butthegreatestpartthoughtratherbetteritwouldbetogivethemanothersummonstoyield;andthereasonwhytheythoughtthistobebestwas,becausethat,sofarascouldbeperceived,thetownofMansoulnowwasmoreinclinablethanheretofore。

  ’Andif,’saidthey,’whilesomeofthemareinawayofinclination,weshouldbyruggednessgivethemdistaste,wemaysetthemfurtherfromclosingwithoursummonsthanwewouldbewillingtheyshould。’Whereforetothisadvicetheyagreed,andcalledatrumpeter,putwordsintohismouth,sethimhistime,andbidhimGodspeed。Well,manyhourswerenotexpiredbeforethetrumpeteraddressedhimselftohisjourney。Wherefore,cominguptothewallofthetown,hesteerethhiscoursetoEar—gate,andtheresounded,ashewascommanded。Theythenthatwerewithincameouttoseewhatwasthematter,andthetrumpetermadethemthisspeechfollowing:

  ’Ohard—heartedanddeplorabletownofMansoul,howlongwiltthoulovethysinful,sinfulsimplicity,and,yefools,delightinyourscorning?Asyetdespiseyoutheoffersofpeaceanddeliverance?AsyetwillyerefusethegoldenoffersofShaddai,andtrusttotheliesandfalsehoodsofDiabolus?Thinkyou,whenShaddaishallhaveconqueredyou,thattheremembranceoftheseyourcarriagestowardshimwillyieldyoupeaceandcomfort,orthatbyrufflinglanguageyoucanmakehimafraidasagrasshopper?Dothheentreatyouforfearofyou?Doyouthinkthatyouarestrongerthanhe?

  Looktotheheavens,andbeholdandconsiderthestars,howhigharethey?Canyoustopthesunfromrunninghiscourse,andhinderthemoonfromgivingherlight?Canyoucountthenumberofthestars,orstaythebottlesofheaven?Canyoucallforthewatersofthesea,andcausethemtocoverthefaceoftheground?Canyoubeholdeveryonethatisproud,andabasehim,andbindtheirfacesinsecret?YetthesearesomeoftheworksofourKing,inwhosenamethisdaywecomeupuntoyou,thatyoumaybebroughtunderhisauthority。Inhisname,therefore,Isummonyouagaintoyieldupyourselvestohiscaptains。’

  AtthissummonstheMansouliansseemedtobeatastand,andknewnotwhatanswertomake。WhereforeDiabolusforthwithappeared,andtookuponhimtodoithimself;andthushebegins,butturnshisspeechtothemofMansoul。

  ’Gentlemen,’quothhe,’andmyfaithfulsubjects,ifitistruethatthissummonerhathsaidconcerningthegreatnessoftheirKing,byhisterroryouwillalwaysbekeptinbondage,andsobemadetosneak。Yea,howcanyounow,thoughheisatadistance,enduretothinkofsuchamightyone?Andifnottothinkofhimwhileatadistance,howcanyouenduretobeinhispresence?I,yourprince,amfamiliarwithyou,andyoumayplaywithmeasyouwouldwithagrasshopper。

  Consider,therefore,whatisforyourprofit,andremembertheimmunitiesthatIhavegrantedyou。

  ’Farther,ifallbetruethatthismanhathsaid,howcomesittopassthatthesubjectsofShaddaiaresoenslavedinallplaceswheretheycome?Noneintheuniversesounhappyasthey,nonesotrampleduponasthey。

  ’Consider,myMansoul:wouldthouwertasloathtoleavemeasIamloathtoleavethee。Butconsider,Isay,theballisyetatthyfoot;libertyyouhave,ifyouknowhowtouseit;yea,akingyouhavetoo,ifyoucantellhowtoloveandobeyhim。’

  part3

  Part2

  Uponthisspeech,thetownofMansouldidagainhardentheirheartsyetmoreagainstthecaptainsofShaddai。Thethoughtsofhisgreatnessdidquitequashthem,andthethoughtsofhisholinesssunkthemindespair。Wherefore,afterashortconsult,they(oftheDiabolonianpartytheywere)sentbackthiswordbythetrumpeter,That,fortheirparts,theywereresolvedtosticktotheirking,butnevertoyieldtoShaddai;soitwasbutinvaintogivethemanyfurthersummons,fortheyhadratherdieupontheplacethanyield。Andnowthingsseemedtobegonequiteback,andMansoultobeoutofreachorcall,yetthecaptainswhoknewwhattheirLordcoulddo,wouldnotyetbebeatoutofheart;

  theythereforesentthemanothersummons,moresharpandseverethanthelast;buttheoftenertheyweresentto,toreconciletoShaddai,thefurtherofftheywere。’Astheycalledthem,sotheywentfromthem—yea,thoughtheycalledthemtotheMostHigh。’

  Sotheyceasedthatwaytodealwiththemanymore,andinclinedtothinkofanotherway。Thecaptains,therefore,didgatherthemselvestogether,tohavefreeconferenceamongthemselves,toknowwhatwasyettobedonetogainthetown,andtodeliveritfromthetyrannyofDiabolus;andonesaidafterthismanner,andanotherafterthat。ThenstooduptherightnobletheCaptainConviction,andsaid,’Mybrethren,mineopinionisthis:

  ’First,thatwecontinuallyplayourslingsintothetown,andkeepitinacontinualalarm,molestingthemdayandnight。Bythusdoing,weshallstopthegrowthoftheirrampantspirit;foralionmaybetamedbycontinualmolestation。

  ’Secondly,thisdone,Iadvisethat,inthenextplace,wewithoneconsentdrawupapetitiontoourLordShaddai,bywhich,afterwehaveshowedourKingtheconditionofMansoulandofaffairshere,andhavebeggedhispardonforournobettersuccess,wewillearnestlyimplorehisMajesty’shelp,andthathewillpleasetosendusmoreforceandpower,andsomegallantandwell—spokencommandertoheadthem,thatsohisMajestymaynotlosethebenefitofthesehisgoodbeginnings,butmaycompletehisconquestuponthetownofMansoul。’

  TothisspeechofthenobleCaptainConvictiontheyasonemanconsented,andagreedthatapetitionshouldforthwithbedrawnup,andsentbyafitmanawaytoShaddaiwithspeed。

  Thecontentsofthepetitionwerethus:—

  ’MostgraciousandgloriousKing,theLordofthebestworld,andthebuilderofthetownofMansoul,wehave,dreadSovereign,atthycommandment,putourlivesinjeopardy,andatthybiddingmadeawaruponthefamoustownofMansoul。

  Whenwewentupagainstit,wedid,accordingtoourcommission,firstofferconditionsofpeaceuntoit。Butthey,greatKing,setlightbyourcounsel,andwouldnoneofourreproof。Theywereforshuttingtheirgates,andforkeepingusoutofthetown。Theyalsomountedtheirguns,theysalliedoutuponus,andhavedoneuswhatdamagetheycould;butwepursuedthemwithalarmuponalarm,requitingthemwithsuchretributionaswasmeet,andhavedonesomeexecutionuponthetown。

  ’Diabolus,Incredulity,andWillbewillarethegreatdoersagainstus:nowweareinourwinterquarters,butsoasthatwedoyetwithanhighhandmolestanddistressthetown。

  ’Once,aswethink,hadwehadbutonesubstantialfriendinthetown,suchaswouldbuthavesecondedthesoundofoursummonsastheyought,thepeoplemighthaveyieldedthemselves;buttherewerenonebutenemiesthere,noranytospeakinbehalfofourLordtothetown。Wherefore,thoughwehavedoneaswecould,yetMansoulabidesinastateofrebellionagainstthee。

  ’Now,Kingofkings,letitpleasetheetopardontheunsuccessfulnessofthyservants,whohavebeennomoreadvantageousinsodesirableaworkastheconqueringofMansoulis。Andsend,Lord,aswenowdesire,moreforcestoMansoul,thatitmaybesubdued;andamantoheadthem,thatthetownmaybothloveandfear。

  ’Wedonotthusspeakbecausewearewillingtorelinquishthewars,(forweareforlayingofourbonesagainsttheplace,)butthatthetownofMansoulmaybewonforthyMajesty。WealsopraythyMajesty,forexpeditioninthismatter,that,aftertheirconquest,wemaybeatlibertytobesentaboutotherthygraciousdesigns。Amen。’

  Thepetition,thusdrawnup,wassentawaywithhastetotheKingbythehandofthatgoodman,Mr。Love—to—Mansoul。

  WhenthispetitionwascometothepalaceoftheKing,whoshoulditbedeliveredtobuttotheKing’sSon?Sohetookitandreadit,andbecausethecontentsofitpleasedhimwell,hemended,andalsoinsomethingsaddedtothepetitionhimself。So,afterhehadmadesuchamendmentsandadditionsashethoughtconvenient,withhisownhand,hecarrieditintotheKing;towhom,whenhehadwithobeisancedeliveredit,heputonauthority,andspaketoithimself。

  NowtheKing,atthesightofthepetition,wasglad;buthowmuchmore,thinkyou,whenitwassecondedbyhisSon!ItpleasedhimalsotohearthathisservantswhocampedagainstMansoulweresoheartyinthework,andsosteadfastintheirresolves,andthattheyhadalreadygotsomegrounduponthefamoustownofMansoul。

  WhereforetheKingcalledtohimEmmanuel,hisSon,whosaid,’HereamI,myFather。’ThensaidtheKing,’Thouknowest,asIdomyself,theconditionofthetownofMansoul,andwhatwehavepurposed,andwhatthouhastdonetoredeemit。

  Comenow,therefore,mySon,andpreparethyselfforthewar,forthoushaltgotomycampatMansoul。Thoushaltalsothereprosperandprevail,andconquerthetownofMansoul。’

  ThensaidtheKing’sSon,’Thylawiswithinmyheart:I

  delighttodothywill。ThisisthedaythatIhavelongedfor,andtheworkthatIhavewaitedforallthiswhile。

  Grantme,therefore,whatforcethoushaltinthywisdomthinkmeet;andIwillgoandwilldeliverfromDiabolus,andfromhispower,thyperishingtownofMansoul。MyhearthasbeenoftenpainedwithinmeforthemiserabletownofMansoul;butnowitisrejoiced,butnowitisglad,’

  Andwiththatheleapedoverthemountainsforjoy,saying,’Ihavenot,inmyheart,thoughtanythingtoodearforMansoul:thedayofvengeanceisinmineheartforthee,myMansoul:andgladamIthatthou,myFather,hastmademetheCaptainoftheirsalvation。AndIwillnowbegintoplagueallthosethathavebeenaplaguetomytownofMansoul,andwilldeliveritfromtheirhand。’

  WhentheKing’sSonhadsaidthustohisFather,itpresentlyflewlikelightningroundaboutatcourt;yea,ittherebecametheonlytalkwhatEmmanuelwastogotodoforthefamoustownofMansoul。Butyoucannotthinkhowthecourtiers,too,weretakenwiththisdesignofthePrince;

  yea,soaffectedweretheywiththiswork,andwiththejustnessofthewar,thatthehighestlordandgreatestpeerofthekingdomdidcovettohavecommissionsunderEmmanuel,togotohelptorecoveragaintoShaddaithemiserabletownofMansoul。

  Thenwasitconcludedthatsomeshouldgoandcarrytidingstothecamp,thatEmmanuelwastocometorecoverMansoul,andthathewouldbringalongwithhimsomighty,soimpregnableaforce,thathecouldnotberesisted。But,oh!

  howreadywerethehighonesatcourttorunlikelackeystocarrythesetidingstothecampthatwasatMansoul。Now,whenthecaptainsperceivedthattheKingwouldsendEmmanuelhisSon,andthatitalsodelightedtheSontobesentonthiserrandbythegreatShaddaihisFather,theyalso,toshowhowtheywerepleasedatthethoughtsofhiscominggaveashoutthatmadetheearthrendatthesoundthereof。Yea,themountainsdidansweragainbyecho,andDiabolushimselfdidtotterandshake。

  Foryoumustknow,thatthoughthetownofMansoulitselfwasnotmuch,ifatallconcernedwiththeproject,(for,alasforthem!theywerewofullybesotted,fortheychieflyregardedtheirpleasureandtheirlusts,)yetDiabolustheirgovernorwas;forhehadhisspiescontinuallyabroad,whobroughthimintelligenceofallthings,andtheytoldhimwhatwasdoingatcourtagainsthim,andthatEmmanuelwouldshortlycertainlycomewithapowertoinvadehim。Norwasthereanymanatcourt,norpeerofthekingdom,thatDiabolussofearedashefearedthisPrince;for,ifyouremember,IshowedyoubeforethatDiabolushadfelttheweightofhishandalready;sothat,sinceitwashethatwastocome,thismadehimthemoreafraid。

  Well,youseehowIhavetoldyouthattheKing’sSonwasengagedtocomefromthecourttosaveMansoul,andthathisFatherhadmadehimtheCaptainoftheforces。Thetime,therefore,ofhissettingforthbeingnowexpired,headdressedhimselfforhismarch,andtakethwithhim,forhispower,fivenoblecaptainsandtheirforces。

  1。Thefirstwasthatfamouscaptain,thenobleCaptainCredence。Hisweretheredcolours,andMr。Promisebarethem;andforascutcheonhehadtheholylambandgoldenshield;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。

  2。Thesecondwasthatfamouscaptain,theCaptainGood—Hope。

  Hiswerethebluecolours;hisstandard—bearerwasMr。

  Expectation,andforhisscutcheonhehadthethreegoldenanchors;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。

  3。Thethirdwasthatvaliantcaptain,theCaptainCharity。

  Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Pitiful:hiswerethegreencolours,andforhisscutcheonhehadthreenakedorphansembracedinthebosom;andhehadtenthousandmenathisfeet。

  4。Thefourthwasthatgallantcommander,theCaptainInnocent。Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Harmless:hiswerethewhitecolours,andforhisscutcheonhehadthethreegoldendoves。

  5。Thefifthwasthetrulyloyalandwell—belovedcaptain,theCaptainPatience。Hisstandard—bearerwasMr。Suffer—

  Long:hisweretheblackcolours,andforascutcheonhehadthreearrowsthroughthegoldenheart。

  ThesewereEmmanuel’scaptains;thesetheirstandard—bearers,theircolours,andtheirscutcheons;andthesethemenundertheircommand。So,aswassaid,thebravePrincetookhismarchtogotothetownofMansoul。CaptainCredenceledthevan,andCaptainPatiencebroughtuptherear;sotheotherthree,withtheirmen,madeupthemainbody,thePrincehimselfridinginhischariotattheheadofthem。

  Butwhentheysetoutfortheirmarch,oh,howthetrumpetssounded,theirarmourglittered,andhowthecolourswavedinthewind!ThePrince’sarmourwasallofgold,anditshonelikethesuninthefirmament;thecaptains’armourwasofproof,andwasinappearanceliketheglitteringstars。

  TherewerealsosomefromthecourtthatrodereformadesforthelovethattheyhadtotheKingShaddai,andforthehappydeliveranceofthetownofMansoul。

  Emmanuelalso,whenhehadthussetforwardstogotorecoverthetownofMansoul,tookwithhim,atthecommandmentofhisFather,fifty—fourbattering—rams,andtwelveslingstowhirlstoneswithal。Everyoneofthesewasmadeofpuregold,andthesetheycarriedwiththem,intheheartandbodyoftheirarmy,allalongastheywenttoMansoul。

  Sotheymarchedtilltheycamewithinlessthanaleagueofthetown;theretheylaytillthefirstfourcaptainscamethithertoacquaintthemwithmatters。ThentheytooktheirjourneytogotothetownofMansoul,anduntoMansoultheycame;butwhentheoldsoldiersthatwereinthecampsawthattheyhadnewforcestojoinwith,theyagaingavesuchashoutbeforethewallsofthetownofMansoul,thatitputDiabolusintoanotherfright。Sotheysatdownbeforethetown,notnowastheotherfourcaptainsdid,towit,againstthegatesofMansoulonly;buttheyenvironeditroundoneveryside,andbesetitbehindandbefore;sothatnow,letMansoullookwhichwayitwill,itsawforceandpowerlieinsiegeagainstit。Besides,thereweremountscastupagainstit。TheMountGraciouswasontheoneside,andMountJusticewasontheother。Further,therewereseveralsmallbanksandadvance—grounds,asPlain—TruthHillandNo—SinBanks,wheremanyoftheslingswereplacedagainstthetown。

  UponMountGraciouswereplantedfour,anduponMountJusticewereplacedasmany,andtherestwereconvenientlyplacedinseveralpartsroundaboutthetown。Fiveofthebestbattering—rams,thatis,ofthebiggestofthem,wereplaceduponMountHearken,amountcastuphardbyEar—gate,withintenttobreakthatopen。

  Nowwhenthemenofthetownsawthemultitudeofthesoldiersthatwerecomeupagainsttheplace,andtheramsandslings,andthemountsonwhichtheywereplanted,togetherwiththeglitteringofthearmourandthewavingoftheircolours,theywereforcedtoshift,andshift,andagaintoshifttheirthoughts;buttheyhardlychangedforthoughtsmorestout,butratherforthoughtsmorefaint;forthoughbeforetheythoughtthemselvessufficientlyguarded,yetnowtheybegantothinkthatnomanknewwhatwouldbetheirhaporlot。

  WhenthegoodPrinceEmmanuelhadthusbeleagueredMansoul,inthefirstplacehehangsoutthewhiteflag,whichhecausedtobesetupamongthegoldenslingsthatwereplanteduponMountGracious。Andthishedidfortworeasons:1。TogivenoticetoMansoulthathecouldandwouldyetbegraciousiftheyturnedtohim。2。Andthathemightleavethemthemorewithoutexcuse,shouldhedestroythem,theycontinuingintheirrebellion。

  Sothewhiteflag,withthethreegoldendovesinit,washungoutfortwodaystogether,togivethemtimeandspacetoconsider;butthey,aswashintedbefore,asiftheywereunconcerned,madenoreplytothefavourablesignalofthePrince。

  Thenhecommanded,andtheysettheredflaguponthatmountcalledMountJustice。ItwastheredflagofCaptainJudgment,whosescutcheonwastheburningfieryfurnace;andthisalsostoodwavingbeforetheminthewindforseveraldaystogether。Butlookhowtheycarrieditunderthewhiteflag,whenthatwashungout,sodidtheyalsowhentheredonewas;andyethetooknoadvantageofthem。

  Thenhecommandedagainthathisservantsshouldhangouttheblackflagofdefianceagainstthem,whosescutcheonwasthethreeburningthunderbolts;butasunconcernedwasMansoulatthisasatthosethatwentbefore。ButwhenthePrincesawthatneithermercynorjudgment,norexecutionofjudgment,wouldorcouldcomeneartheheartofMansoul,hewastouchedwithmuchcompunction,andsaid,’SurelythisstrangecarriageofthetownofMansouldothratherarisefromignoranceofthemannerandfeatsofwar,thanfromasecretdefianceofus,andabhorrenceoftheirownlives;oriftheyknowthemannerofthewaroftheirown,yetnottheritesandceremoniesofthewarsinwhichweareconcerned,whenI

  makewarsuponmineenemyDiabolus。’

  ThereforehesenttothetownofMansoul,toletthemknowwhathemeantbythosesignsandceremoniesoftheflag;andalsotoknowofthemwhichofthethingstheywouldchoose,whethergraceandmercy,orjudgmentandtheexecutionofjudgment。Allthiswhiletheykepttheirgatesshutwithlocks,bolts,andbars,asfastastheycould。Theirguardsalsoweredoubled,andtheirwatchmadeasstrongastheycould。Diabolusalsodidpluckupwhathearthecould,toencouragethetowntomakeresistance。

  ThetownsmenalsomadeanswertothePrince’smessenger,insubstanceaccordingtothatwhichfollows:—

  ’GreatSir,—Astowhat,byyourmessenger,youhavesignifiedtous,whetherwewillacceptofyourmercy,orfallbyyourjustice,weareboundbythelawandcustomofthisplace,andcangiveyounopositiveanswer;foritisagainstthelaw,government,andtheprerogativeroyalofourking,tomakeeitherpeaceorwarwithouthim。Butthiswewilldo,—wewillpetitionthatourprincewillcomedowntothewall,andtheregiveyousuchtreatmentasheshallthinkfitandprofitableforus。’

  WhenthegoodPrinceEmmanuelheardthisanswer,andsawtheslaveryandbondageofthepeople,andhowmuchcontenttheyweretoabideinthechainsofthetyrantDiabolus,itgrievedhimattheheart;and,indeed,whenatanytimeheperceivedthatanywerecontentedundertheslaveryofthegiant,hewouldbeaffectedwithit。

  Buttoreturnagaintoourpurpose。AfterthetownhadcarriedthisnewstoDiabolus,andhadtoldhim,moreover,thatthePrince,thatlayintheleaguerwithoutthewall,waiteduponthemforananswer,herefused,andhuffedaswellashecould;butinhearthewasafraid。

  Thensaidhe,’Iwillgodowntothegatesmyself,andgivehimsuchananswerasIthinkfit。’SohewentdowntoMouth—gate,andthereaddressedhimselftospeaktoEmmanuel,(butinsuchlanguageasthetownunderstoodnot,)thecontentswhereofwereasfollows:—

  ’OthougreatEmmanuel,Lordofalltheworld,Iknowthee,thatthouarttheSonofthegreatShaddai!Whereforeartthoucometotormentme,andtocastmeoutofmypossession?

  ThistownofMansoul,asthouverywellknowest,ismine,andthatbyatwofoldright。1。Itisminebyrightofconquest;

  Iwonitintheopenfield;andshallthepreybetakenfromthemighty,orthelawfulcaptivebedelivered?2。ThistownofMansoulisminealsobytheirsubjection。Theyhaveopenedthegatesoftheirtownuntome;theyhaveswornfidelitytome,andhaveopenlychosenmetobetheirking;

  theyhavealsogiventheircastleintomyhands;yea,theyhaveputthewholestrengthofMansoulunderme。

  ’Moreover,thistownofMansoulhathdisavowedthee,yea,theyhavecastthylaw,thyname,thyimage,andallthatisthine,behindtheirback,andhaveacceptedandsetupintheirroommylaw,myname,myimage,andallthateverismine。Askelsethycaptains,andtheywilltelltheethatMansoulhath,inanswertoalltheirsummonses,shownloveandloyaltytome,butalwaysdisdain,despite,contempt,andscorntotheeandthine。Now,thouarttheJustOneandtheHoly,andshouldestdonoiniquity。Depart,then,Ipraythee,therefore,fromme,andleavemetomyjustinheritancepeaceably。’

  ThisorationwasmadeinthelanguageofDiabolushimself;

  foralthoughhecan,toeveryman,speakintheirownlanguage,(elsehecouldnottemptthemallashedoes,)yethehasalanguagepropertohimself,anditisthelanguageoftheinfernalcave,orblackpit。

  WhereforethetownofMansoul(poorhearts!)understoodhimnot;nordidtheyseehowhecrouchedandcringedwhilehestoodbeforeEmmanuel,theirPrince。

  Yea,theyallthiswhiletookhimtobeoneofthatpowerandforcethatbynomeanscouldberesisted。Wherefore,whilehewasthusentreatingthathemighthaveyethisresidencethere,andthatEmmanuelwouldnottakeitfromhimbyforce,theinhabitantsboastedevenofhisvalour,saying,’Whoisabletomakewarwithhim?’

  Well,whenthispretendedkinghadmadeanendofwhathewouldsay,Emmanuel,thegoldenPrince,stoodupandspake;

  thecontentsofwhosewordsfollow:—

  ’Thoudeceivingone,’saidhe,’Ihave,inmyFather’sname,inmineownname,andonthebehalfandforthegoodofthiswretchedtownofMansoul,somewhattosayuntothee。Thoupretendestaright,alawfulright,tothedeplorabletownofMansoul,whenitismostapparenttoallmyFather’scourtthattheentrancewhichthouhastobtainedinatthegatesofMansoulwasthroughthylieandfalsehood;thoubeliedstmyFather,thoubeliedsthislaw,andsodeceivedstthepeopleofMansoul。Thoupretendestthatthepeoplehaveacceptedtheefortheirking,theircaptain,andrightliegelord;butthatalsowasbytheexerciseofdeceitandguile。Now,iflying,wiliness,sinfulcraft,andallmannerofhorriblehypocrisy,willgoinmyFather’scourt(inwhichcourtthoumustbetried)forequityandright,thenwillIconfessuntotheethatthouhastmadealawfulconquest。But,alas!whatthief,whattyrant,whatdevilistherethatmaynotconquerafterthissort?ButIcanmakeitappear,ODiabolus,thatthou,inallthypretencestoaconquestofMansoul,hastnothingoftruthtosay。Thinkestthouthistoberight,thatthatdidstputthelieuponmyFather,andmadesthim(toMansoul)thegreatestdeluderintheworld?Andwhatsayestthoutothypervertingknowinglytherightpurportandintentofthelaw?WasitgoodalsothatthoumadestapreyoftheinnocencyandsimplicityofthenowmiserabletownofMansoul?Yea,thoudidstovercomeMansoulbypromisingtothemhappinessintheirtransgressionsagainstmyFather’slaw,whenthouknewest,andcouldestnotbutknow,hadstthouconsultednothingbutthineownexperience,thatthatwasthewaytoundothem。Thouhastalsothyself,Othoumasterofenmity,ofspitedefacedmyFather’simageinMansoul,andsetupthyowninitsplace,tothegreatcontemptofmyFather,theheighteningofthysin,andtotheintolerabledamageoftheperishingtownofMansoul。

  ’Thouhast,moreover,(asifallthesewerebutlittlethingswiththee,)notonlydeludedandundonethisplace,but,bythyliesandfradulentcarriage,hastsetthemagainsttheirowndeliverance。HowhastthoustirredthemupagainstmyFather’scaptains,andmadethemtofightagainstthosethatweresentofhimtodeliverthemfromtheirbondage!Allthesethings,andverymanymore,thouhastdoneagainstthylight,andincontemptofmyFatherandofhislaw,yea,andwithdesigntobringunderhisdispleasureforeverthemiserabletownofMansoul。IamthereforecometoavengethewrongthatthouhastdonetomyFather,andtodealwiththeefortheblasphemieswherewiththouhastmadepoorMansoulblasphemehisname。Yea,uponthyhead,thouprinceoftheinfernalcave,willIrequiteit。

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