1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and
weaker, and so more unable, should tidings come that their
redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the
truth thereof; for reason says, The bigger the sinner, the
less grounds of hopes of mercy.
2. The second reason was, if perhaps Emmanuel, the Son of
Shaddai their King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings
of the town of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a
covenant of redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of
their redemption; for he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that
his Son Emmanuel was holy; yea, he knew it by woeful
experience, for for his iniquity and sin was Diabolus cast
from the highest orbs. Wherefore what more rational than for
him to conclude that thus, for sin, it might fare with
Mansoul? But fearing also lest this knot should break, he
bethinks himself of another, to wit:-
Fourthly. To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of
Mansoul that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to
overthrow and utterly to destroy this town of Mansoul. And
this he did to forestall any tidings that might come to their
ears of their deliverance: 'For,' thought he, 'if I first
bruit this, the tidings that shall come after will all be
swallowed up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when
they shall hear that they must be delivered, but that the
true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroy them? Wherefore
he summons the whole town into the market-place, and there,
with deceitful tongue, thus he addressed himself unto them:-
'Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you
know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town of
Mansoul. You know how, from the first day that I have been
with you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and what
liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my
government, I hope to your honour and mine, and also to your
content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of
trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul;
sorry I am thereof for your sakes: for I received but now by
the post from my Lord Lucifer, (and he useth to have good
intelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army
to come against you, to destroy you root and branch; and
this, O Mansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have
called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture
is best to be done. For my part, I am but one, and can with
ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own case, and to
leave my Mansoul in all the danger; but my heart is so firmly
united to you, and so unwilling am I to leave you, that I am
willing to stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that
shall befall me. What say you, O my Mansoul? Will you now
desert your old friend, or do you think of standing by me?'
Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together,
'Let him die the death that will not.'
Then said Diabolus again, 'It is in vain for us to hope for
quarter, for this King knows not how to show it. True,
perhaps, he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk
of and pretend to mercy, that thereby, with the more ease,
and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of
Mansoul. Whatever, therefore, he shall say, believe not one
syllable or tittle of it; for all such language is but to
overcome us, and to make us, while we wallow in our blood,
the trophies of his merciless victory. My mind is,
therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and
not to believe him upon any terms, for in at that door will
come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives?
I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to
suffer yourselves so pitifully to be served.
'But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of
our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings
in Mansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief
of the town, especially you whom I have set up and whose
greatness has been procured by you through your faithful
sticking to me? And suppose, again, that he should give
quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into
that bondage under which you were captivated before, or a
worse, and then what good will your lives do you? Shall you
with him live in pleasure as you do now? No, no; you must be
bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that
which at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are
for me; and it is better to die valiantly than to live like
pitiful slaves. But, I say, the life of a slave will be
counted a life too good for Mansoul now. Blood, blood,
nothing but blood is in every blast of Shaddai's trumpet
against poor Mansoul now. Pray, be concerned; I hear he is
coming. Up, and stand to your arms that now, while you have
any leisure, I may learn you some feats of war. Armour for
you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for
Mansoul from top to toe; nor can you be hurt by what his
force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened
about you. Come, therefore, to my castle, and welcome, and
harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet,
breastplate, sword, and shield, and what not, that will make
you fight like men.
'1. My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is in hope of
doing well at last, what lives soever you live. This is that
which they had who said, that they should have peace, though
they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add
drunkenness to thirst. A piece of approved armour this is,
and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart,
sword, or shield can hurt him. This, therefore, keep on, and
thou wilt keep off many a blow, my Mansoul.
'2. My breastplate is a breastplate of iron. I had it forged
in mine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith.
In plain language, it is a hard heart, a heart as hard as
iron, and as much past feeling as a stone; the which if you
get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment
fright you. This therefore, is a piece of armour most
necessary for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that would
fight against him under my banner.
'3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, and
that can bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his Son, his
ways, and people. Use this; it has been tried a thousand
times twice told. Whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes that
use of it as I would have him, can never be conquered by mine
enemy.
'4. My, shield is unbelief, or calling into question the
truth of the word, or all the sayings that speak of the
judgment that Shaddai has appointed for wicked men. Use this
shield; many attempts he has made upon it, and sometimes, it
is true, it has been bruised; but they that have writ of the
wars of Emmanuel against my servants, have testified that he
could do no mighty work there because of their unbelief.
Now, to handle this weapon of mine aright, it is not to
believe things because they are true, of what sort or by
whomsoever asserted. If he speaks of judgment, care not for
it; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it; if he promises,
if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, no
hurt, but good, regard not what is said, question the truth
of all, for it is to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and
as my servants ought and do; and he that doth otherwise loves
me not, nor do I count him but an enemy to me.
'5. Another part or piece,' said Diabolus, 'of mine excellent
armour is a dumb and prayerless spirit, a spirit that scorns
to cry for mercy: wherefore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you
make use of this. What! cry for quarter! Never do that, if
you would be mine. I know you are stout men, and am sure
that I have clad you with that which is armour of proof.
Wherefore, to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from
you. Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows,
and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as will do
execution.'
After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he
addressed himself to them in such like words as these:
'Remember,' quoth he, 'that I am your rightful king, and that
you have taken an oath and entered into covenant to be true
to me and my cause: I say, remember this, and show yourselves
stout and valiant men of Mansoul. Remember also the kindness
that I have always showed to you, and that without your
petition I have granted to you external things; wherefore the
privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and honours
wherewith I have endowed you do call for, at your hands,
returns of loyalty, my lion-like men of Mansoul: and when so
fit a time to show it as when another shall seek to take my
dominion over you into his own hands? One word more, and I
have done. Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock or
brunt, I doubt not but in little time all the world will be
ours; and when that day comes, my true hearts, I will make
you kings, princes, and captains, and what brave days shall
we have then!'
Diabolus having thus armed and forearmed his servants and
vassals in Mansoul against their good and lawful King
Shaddai, in the next place, he doubleth his guards at the
gates of the town, and he takes himself to the castle, which
was his stronghold. His vassals also, to show their wills,
and supposed (but ignoble) gallantry, exercise themselves in
their arms every day, and teach one another feats of war;
they also defied their enemies, and sang up the praises of
their tyrant; they threatened also what men they would be if
ever things should rise so high as a war between Shaddai and
their king.
Now all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was
preparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul
again from under the tyranny of their pretended king
Diabolus; but he thought good, at first, not to send them by
the hand and conduct of brave Emmanuel his Son, but under the
hand of some of his servants, to see first by them the temper
of Mansoul, and whether by them they would be won to the
obedience of their King. The army consisted of above forty
thousand, all true men, for they came from the King's own
court, and were those of his own choosing.
They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout
generals, each man being a captain of ten thousand men, and
these are their names and their ensigns. The name of the
first was Boanerges, the name of the second was Captain
Conviction, the name of the third was Captain Judgment, and
the name of the fourth was Captain Execution. These were the
captains that Shaddai sent to regain Mansoul.
These four captains, as was said, the King thought fit, in
the first place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon
it; for indeed generally in all his wars he did use to send
these four captains in the van, for they were very stout and
rough-hewn men, men that were fit to break the ice, and to
make their way by dint of sword, and their men were like
themselves.
To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that it
might be displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and
because of the right that he had to Mansoul.
First, to Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I
say, were given ten thousand men. His ensign was Mr.
Thunder; he bare the black colours, and his scutcheon was the
three burning thunderbolts.
The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him also were
given ten thousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow; he
did bear the pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of
the law wide open, from whence issued a flame of fire.
The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten
thousand men. His ensign's name was Mr. Terror; he bare the
red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace.
The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given
ten thousand men. His ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also
bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree,
with an axe lying at the root thereof.
These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under
his command ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the
King, and stout at their military actions.
Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under
officers, being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and
there called all over by their names, were then and there put
into such harness as became their degree and that service
which now they were going about for their King.
Now, when the King had mustered his forces, (for it is he
that mustereth the host to the battle,) he gave unto the
captains their several commissions, with charge and
commandment in the audience of all the soldiers, that they
should take heed faithfully and courageously to do and
execute the same. Their commissions were, for the substance
of them, the same in form, though, as to name, title, place
and degree of the captains, there might be some, but very
small variation. And here let me give you an account of the
matter and sum contained in their commission.
A COMMISSION FROM THE GREAT SHADDAI, KING OF MANSOUL, TO HIS
TRUSTY AND NOBLE CAPTAIN, THE CAPTAIN BOANERGES, FOR HIS
MAKING WAR UPON THE TOWN OF MANSOUL.
'O, thou Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains
over one ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, go
thou in my name, with this thy force, to the miserable town
of Mansoul; and when thou comest thither, offer them first
conditions of peace; and command them that, casting off the
yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus, they return to me,
their rightful Prince and Lord. Command them also that they
cleanse themselves from all that is his in the town of
Mansoul, and look to thyself, that thou hast good
satisfaction touching the truth of their obedience. Thus
when thou hast commanded them, (if they in truth submit
thereto,) then do thou, to the uttermost of thy power, what
in thee lies to set up for me a garrison in the famous town
of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or
breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me, but
treat thou such as if they were thy friend or brother; for
all such I love, and they shall be dear unto me, and tell
them that I will take a time to come unto them, and to let
them know that I am merciful.
'But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons and the
producing of thy authority, resist, stand out against thee,
and rebel, then do I command thee to make use of all thy
cunning, power, might, and force, to bring them under by
strength of hand. Farewell.'
Thus you see the sum of their commissions; for, as I said
before, for the substance of them, they were the same that
the rest of the noble captains had.
Wherefore they, having received each commander his authority
at the hand of their King, the day being appointed, and the
place of their rendezvous prefixed, each commander appeared
in such gallantry as became his cause and calling. So, after
a new entertainment from Shaddai, with flying colours they
set forward to march towards the famous town of Mansoul.
Captain Boanerges led the van, Captain Conviction and Captain
Judgment made up the main body, and Captain Execution brought
up the rear. They then, having a great way to go, (for the
town of Mansoul was far off from the court of Shaddai,)
marched through the regions and countries of many people, not
hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came.
They also lived upon the King's cost in all the way they
went.
Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came within
sight of Mansoul; the which when they saw, the captains could
for their hearts do no less than for a while bewail the
condition of the town; for they quickly saw how that it was
prostrate to the will of Diabolus, and to his ways and
designs.
Well, to be short, the captains came up before the town,
march up to Ear-gate, sit down there (for that was the place
of hearing). So, when they had pitched their tents and
entrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make
their assault.
Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company,
so bravely accoutred, and so excellently disciplined, having
on their glittering armour, and displaying of their flying
colours, could not but come out of their houses and gaze.
But the cunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the people, after
this sight, should, on a sudden summons, open the gates to
the captains, came down with all haste from the castle, and
made them retire into the body of the town, who, when he had
them there, made this lying and deceivable speech unto them:
'Gentlemen,' quoth he, 'although you are my trusty and well-
beloved friends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your
late uncircumspect action, in going out to gaze on that great
and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before, and have
now entrenched themselves in order to the maintaining of a
siege against the famous town of Mansoul. Do you know who
they are, whence they come, and what is their purpose in
sitting down before the town of Mansoul? They are they of
whom I have told you long ago, that they would come to
destroy this town, and against whom I have been at the cost
to arm you with CAP-A-PIE for your body, besides great
fortifications for your mind. Wherefore, then, did you not
rather, even at the first appearance of them, cry out, "Fire
the beacons!" and give the whole town an alarm concerning
them, that we might all have been in a posture of defence,
and been ready to have received them with the highest acts of
defiance? Then had you showed yourselves men to my liking;
whereas, by what you have done, you have made me half afraid
- I say, half afraid - that when they and we shall come to
push a pike, I shall find you want courage to stand it out
any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and that you
should double your guards at the gates? Wherefore have I
endeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your hearts as a
piece of the nether millstone? Was it, think you, that you
might show yourselves women, and that you might go out like a
company of innocents to gaze on your mortal foes? Fie, fie!
put yourselves into a posture of defence, beat up the drum,
gather together in warlike manner, that our foes may know
that, before they shall conquer this corporation, there are
valiant men in the town of Mansoul.
'I will leave off now to chide, and will not further rebuke
you; but I charge you, that henceforwards you let me see no
more such actions. Let not henceforward a man of you,
without order first obtained from me, so much as show his
head over the wall of the town of Mansoul. You have now
heard me; do as I have commanded, and you shall cause me that
I dwell securely with you, and that I take care, as for
myself, so for your safety and honour also. Farewell."
Now were the townsmen strangely altered; they were as men
stricken with a panic fear; they ran to and fro through the
streets of the town of Mansoul, crying out, 'Help, help! the
men that turn the world upside down are come hither also.'
Nor could any of them be quiet after; but still, as men
bereft of wit, they cried out, 'The destroyers of our peace
and people are come.' This went down with Diabolus. 'Ah,'
quoth he to himself, 'this I like well: now it is as I would
have it; now you show your obedience to your prince. Hold
you but here, and then let them take the town if they can.'
Well, before the King's forces had sat before Mansoul three
days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to
Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the great Shaddai, to
summon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in
his Master's name, was to them commanded to deliver. So the
trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up,
as he was commanded, to Ear-gate, and there sounded his
trumpet for a hearing; but there was none that appeared that
gave answer or regard, for so had Diabolus commanded. So the
trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him what he had
done, and also how he had sped; whereat the captain was
grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his tent.
Again Captain Boanerges sendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, to
sound as before for a hearing; but they again kept close,
came not out, nor would they give him an answer, so observant
were they of the command of Diabolus their king.
Then the captains and other field officers called a council
of war, to consider what further was to be done for the
gaining of the town of Mansoul; and, after some close and
thorough debate upon the contents of their commissions, they
concluded yet to give to the town, by the hand of the fore-
named trumpeter, another summons to hear; but if that shall
be refused, said they, and that the town shall stand it out
still, then they determined, and bid the trumpeter tell them
so, that they would endeavour, by what means they could, to
compel them by force to the obedience of their King.
So Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up to Ear-
gate again, and, in the name of the great King Shaddai, to
give it a very loud summons to come down without delay to
Ear-gate, there to give audience to the King's most noble
captains. So the trumpeter went, and did as he was
commanded: he went up to Ear-gate, and sounded his trumpet,
and gave a third summons to Mansoul. He said, moreover, that
if this they should still refuse to do, the captains of his
prince would with might come down upon them, and endeavour to
reduce them to their obedience by force.
Then stood up my Lord Willbewill, who was the governor of the
town, (this Willbewill was that apostate of whom mention was
made before,) and the keeper of the gates of Mansoul. He
therefore, with big and ruffling words, demanded of the
trumpeter who he was, whence he came, and what was the cause
of his making so hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking
such insufferable words against the town of Mansoul.
The trumpeter answered, 'I am servant to the most noble
captain, Captain Boanerges, general of the forces of the
great King Shaddai, against whom both thyself, with the whole
town of Mansoul, have rebelled, and lift up the heel; and my
master, the captain, hath a special message to this town, and
to thee, as a member thereof; the which if you of Mansoul
shall peaceably hear, so; and if not, you must take what
follows.'
Then said the Lord Willbewill, 'I will carry thy words to my
lord, and will know what he will say.'
But the trumpeter soon replied, saying. 'Our message is not
to the giant Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul;
nor shall we at all regard what answer by him is made, nor
yet by any for him. We are sent to this town to recover it
from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade it to submit,
as in former times it did, to the most excellent King
Shaddai.'
Then said the Lord Willbewill, 'I will do your errand to the
town.'
The trumpeter then replied, 'Sir, do not deceive us, lest, in
so doing, you deceive yourselves much more.' He added,
moreover, 'For we are resolved, if in peaceable manner you do
not submit yourselves, then to make a war upon you, and to
bring you under by force. And of the truth of what I now
say, this shall be a sign unto you, - you shall see the black
flag, with its hot, burning thunder-bolts, set upon the mount
to-morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of
our resolutions to reduce you to your Lord and rightful
King.'
So the said Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and
the trumpeter came into the camp. When the trumpeter was
come into the camp, the captains and officers of the mighty
King Shaddai came together to know if he had obtained a
hearing, and what was the effect of his errand. So the
trumpeter told, saying, 'When I had sounded my trumpet, and
had called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord
Willbewill, the governor of the town, and he that hath charge
of the gates, came up when he heard me sound, and, looking
over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, and
what was the cause of my making this noise. So I told him my
errand, and by whose authority I brought it. "Then," said
he, "I will tell it to the governor and to Mansoul;" and then
I returned to my lords.'
Then said the brave Boanerges, 'Let us yet for a while lie
still in our trenches, and see what these rebels will do.'
Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul must be
given to the brave Boanerges and his companions, it was
commanded that all the men of war throughout the whole camp
of Shaddai should as one man stand to their arms, and make
themselves ready, if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to
receive it forthwith to mercy; but if not, to force a
subjection. So the day being come, the trumpeters sounded,
and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of war might
be in a readiness for that which then should be the work of
the day. But when they that were in the town of Mansoul
heard the sound of the trumpets throughout the camp of
Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be in order
to storm the corporation, they at first were put to great
consternation of spirit; but after they a little were settled
again, they also made what preparation they could for a war,
if they did storm; else, to secure themselves.
Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved
to hear their answer; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter
again to summon Mansoul to a hearing of the message that they
had brought from Shaddai.
