they at any time should object that he had done them an injury; therefore, I say (that they might see that he did not intend to lessen their grandeur, or to take from them any of their advantageous things) he did choose for them a lord mayor and a recorder to himself; and such as contented them to the heart, and such also as pleased him wondrous well.

The name of the mayor that was of Diabolus' making, The new mayor. neither eyes nor ears; all that he did, whewas the Lord Lustings. A man that had ther as a man or an officer, he did it naturally as doth the beast; and that which made him yet more ignoble, though not to Mansoul, yet to them that beheld, and were grieved for its ruin, was that he could never favour good, but evil.* The recorder was one whose name was Forget-good; and a very sorry fellow he was; he could rememThe new ber nothing but mischief, and to do it with derecorder. light. He was naturally prone to do things that are hurtful; even hurtful to the town of Mansoul, and to all the dwellers there. These two, therefore, by their power and practice, examples, and smiles upon evil, did much more mischief, and settled the common people in hurtful ways; for who doth not perceive, that when those who sit aloft are vile and corrupt themselves, they corrupt the whole region and country where they are.t

men.

Besides these Diabolus made several burgesses and alderHe doth make men in Mansoul, such as out of whom the town them new alder- when it needed, might choose them officers, governors and magistrates; and these are the names of the chief of them: Mr. Incredulity, Mr. Haughty, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Hardheart, Mr. Pitiless, Mr. Fury, Mr. No-truth, Mr. Stand-to-lies, Mr. False-face, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Cheating, Mr. Atheism; thirteen in all. Mr. Incredulity is the eldest, and Mr. Átheism the youngest of the company.‡

There was also an election of common-council-men, and others as bailiffs, sergeants, constables, &c. but all of them, like those afore-named, being either fathers, brothers, cousins or nephews, to them, whose names, for brevity-sake, I omit to mention,

* Instead of the understanding, which, before the revolution, governed the town, Mr. Lustings is made lord Mayor. This wretch "had neither eyes nor ears." So beastly are carnal lusts, that they pay no regard to reason nor danger, but are hurried on by mere appetite to every fleshly indulgence.

The memory has suffered much by the fall. It is wonderfully tenacious of evil, but is sure to forget every thing that is good.

A fit set of wretches to govern under Diabolus! It is well observed, that of their vile aldermen, Incredulity (or unbelief) was the eldest, and Atheism, the youngest. Unbelief naturally ends in Atheism,

He buildeth

When the giant had thus far proceeded in his work, in the next place he betook him to build some strong holds in the town; and he built three three strong that seemed to be impregnable. The first he holds. called the hold of Defiance, because it was made to command the whole town, and to keep it from the knowledge of its ancient king. The second he called Midnight hold, because it was built on purpose to keep Mansoul from the true knowledge of itself. The third was called sweet-sinhold, because by that he fortified Mansoul against all desires of good. The first of these holds stood close to Eyegate, that the light might as much as possible be darkened there. The second was built hard by the old castle, to the end that that might be made more blind if possible. And the third stood in the market-place.

He that Diabolus made governor over the first of these, was one Spite-God, a most blasphemous wretch. He came with the whole rabble of them that came against Mansoul at first, and was himself one of themselves. He that was made the governor of Midnight-hold was one Love-nolight, he was also one of them that came first against the town. And he that was made the governor of the hold called Sweet-sin-hold, was one whose name was Loveflesh; he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of that country from whence the others are bound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he was sucking a lust, than he did in the Paradise of God.

And now Diabolus thought himself safe; he had taken Mansoul; he had ingarrisoned himself therein; Diabolus he had put down the old officers, and set up new has made ones; he had defaced the image of Shaddai, and his nest. had set up his own; he had spoiled the old law-books, and had promoted his own vain lies; he had made him new magistrates, and set up new aldermen; he had built his new holds and had manned them for himself. And all this he did to make himself secure, in case the good Shaddai, or his son should come to make an incursion upon him.*

*The revolution is completed. The understanding is darkened; the con science debauched; the will perverted; the image of God defaced; the law of God suppressed; and beastly lusts triumphant. While the proud sinner defies God, loves midnight darkness, and wallows in sin. What an awful but accurate picture of apostate man! God be merciful to us sinners!

CHAPTER III.

Information of the revolution carried to Shaddai. His great resentment on the occasion. His graciuos intentions of restoring Mansoul. Some intimation of this published. Care of Diabolus to suppress this information. His stratagems to secure the possession of the town, and prevent its return to Shaddai.

Now you may well think, that, long before this time, word by some or other could not but be carried to the good Tidings carri- king Shaddai, how his Mansoul on the contied to the court, nent of Universe was lost; and that the giant of what had hap- Diabolus, once one of his majesty's servants, pened in Man- had, in rebellion against the king, made sure thereof for himself, and that to a very cir

soul.

cumstance.

At first, How Diabolus came upon Mansoul, (they being a simple people and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile: Ifem, That he had treacherously slain their right noble and valiant captain, the Captain Resistance, as he stood upon the gate with the rest of the townsmen: Item, How my brave Lord Innocent fell down dead (with grief, some say; or with being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-pause, as say others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince Shaddai so abused by the mouth of so filthy a Diabolonian as that varlet Ill-pause was. The messenger further told, that after this Ill-pause had made a short oration to the townsmen, in behalf of Diabolus his master, the simple town, believing to be true what was said, with one consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, and did let him with his crew into the possession of the famous town of Mansoul. He further showed how Diabolus had served the Lord-Mayor and Mr. Recorder, to wit, that he had put them from all place of power and trust. Item, He showed also, that my Lord Will-be-will was turned a very rebel and runnagate, and that so was one Mr. Mind, his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all the town over, and teach the wicked ones their ways. He said moreover, that this Will-be-will was put into great trust, and particularly that Diabolus had put into Will-be-will's hand all the strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my Lord Will-bewill's deputy, in his most rebellious affairs. Yea, said the messenger, this monster, Lord Will-be-will, has openly dis

avowed the King Shaddai, and hath given his faith and plighted troth to Diabolus.

Also, said the messenger, besides this, the new king, or rather rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishing town of Mansoul, has set up a lord

New officers

mayor and recorder of his own. For mayor appointed by he has set up one Mr. Lustings; and for re- Diabolus. corder, Mr. Forget-good; two of the vilest of all the town of Mansoul. This faithful messenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgesses Diabolus had made; also that he had built several strong forts, towers, and strong-holds in Mansoul. He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul into arms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to make resistance against Shaddai their king, should he come to reduce them to their former obedience.

at

Now the tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in private, but in open court, the king Grief and his son, high lords, chief captains, and no- court to hear bles, being all there present to hear. But by the tidings. that they had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that the famous Mansoul was now taken; only the king and his son foresaw all this long before; yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not every body thereof. Yet because they too would have a share in condoling the misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a rate of the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul. The king said plainly, that "it grieved him at the heart," Gen. vi. 5, 6; and you may be sure that his son was not a whit behind him. Thus they gave conviction to all about them, that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul.*

"Known unto God are all things, from the beginning of the world." The fall was foreseen from all eternity. God, in his unsearchable wisdom permitted it, and provided, in the covenant of grace, for the restoration of his people

Nothing can more awfully bespeak the extreme sinfulness and misery of man, than the words here referred to-" It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." God's resentment against sin is here expressed after the manner of men, and must not be understood as implying uneasiness or change of mind in Jehovah, but his just displeasure against sin and sinners, as odious to his holiness, and obnoxious to his justice. He is spoken of as grieved, like a person whose kindness has been abused-who has fostered a snake in his bosom which now hisses and stings. "Doth God thus hate sin, and shall not we hate it? Hath our sin grieved him to the heart, and shall not we be grieved to the heart for it? O

Well, when the king and his son were retired into the privy chamber, they there again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, That as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost; so as certainly The secrets it should be recovered again. Recovered, I of his purpose. say, in such a way, as that both the king and his son would get themselves eternal fame and glory The Son of God. thereby. Wherefore, after this consultation, the Son of Shaddai, (a sweet and comely person, and one that had always great affection for those that were in affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus, because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and dignity, Isaiah xlix. 5; 1 Tim. i. 15; Hos. xiii. 14;) this son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hand with his father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same.

Mansoul

The

A brave de- purport of which agreement was this, to wit, sign set on foot That at a certain time, prefixed by both, the for the town of king's son should take a journey into the country of Universe, and there in a way of justice and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay the foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus, and from his tyranny.*

Moreover, Immanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war upon the giant Diabolus, (a) even (a) By the while he was possessed of the town of Mansoul; Holy Ghost. and that he would fairly, by strength of hand, drive him out of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself, to be his habitation.

This being now resolved upon, order was given to the Lord Chief Secretary, to draw up a fair record The Holy of what was determined, and to cause that it Scriptures. should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A short breviat of the contents thereof, you may, if you please, take here as follows:

Let all men know, who are concerned, that the son of Shaddai, the great king, is engaged by covenant The contents. to his father, to bring his Mansoul to him again; yea, and to put Mansoul too, through his love, into a far better and more happy condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus.'†

that this consideration may humble and shame us, and that we may look upon him whom we have thus grieved and mourn." Henry.

*How astonishing is the divine benignity! and who can express it so well as in the words of Immanuel himself (John iii. 6.) God SO loved the worldso loved! How much he loved, no tongue can tell, no heart conceive. It is love unsought, unparralleled, free, and everlasting!

Early intimation was given to a lost world of God's gracious design in