in an uproar, down he comes to appease the people, and thought to have quashed their heat with the bigness and show of his countenance. But when they saw him, they came running upon him, and had doubtless done him mischief, had he not betaken himself to his house. However, they strongly assaulted the house where he was, to have pulled it down about his ears: but the place was too strong, so they failed of that. Then he, taking some Incredulity courage, addressed himself out of a window to seeks to quiet the people in this manner. the people.

“Gentlemen, what is the reason that there is such an uproar here to day?"

Understanding. Then answered my Lord Understanding. "It is even because thou and thy master My Lord Unhave carried it not rightly, and as you should, derstanding anto the captains of Shaddai; for in three things swers him. you are faulty: First, in that you would not let Mr. Conscience and myself be at the hearing of your discourse. Secondly, in that you propounded such terms of peace to the captains which could by no means be granted, unless they had intended that their Shaddai should have been only a títular prince; and that Mansoul should still have had power, by law, to have lived in all lewdness and vanity before him, and so by consequence Diabolus should still here be king in power, and the other only king in name. Thirdly, for that thou didst thyself, after the captains had showed us upon what conditions they would have received to mercy, even undo all again with thy unsavoury, unseasonable, and ungodly speech."

Incredulity. When old Incredulity had heard this speech, he cried out, "Treason! treason! to your arms! Sin and the to your arms! O ye, the trusty friends of Diabo- soul at odds. lus in Mansoul!"

Understanding. "Sir, you may put upon my words what meaning you please, but I am sure the captains of such an high Lord as theirs is, deserved a better treatment at your hands."

Incredulity. Then said old Incredulity, "This is but little better. But sir," quoth he, "what I spake, They chide on I spake for my prince, for his government, both sides. and the quieting of the people, whom, by your unlawful actions, you have this day set to mutiny against us."

Conscience. Then replied the old recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, and said, “Sir, you ought not thus to retort upon what my Lord Understanding Mr. Conscience hath said: it is evident enough that he hath reproaches old spoken the truth, and that you are an enemy Incredulity. to Mansoul; be convinced, then of the evil of your saucy

and malapert language, and of the grief that you have put the captains to; yea, and of the damages that you have done to Mansoul thereby. Had you accepted of the conditions, the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war had now ceased about the town of Mansoul; but that dreadful sound abides, and your want of wisdom in your speech has been the cause of it."

Incredulity. Then said old Incredulity, "Sir, if I live, I will do your errand to Diabolus, and there you shall have an answer to your words. Meanwhile we will seek the good of the town, and not ask counsel of you."

Understanding. "Sir, your prince and you are foreigners to Mansoul, and not the natives thereof. And who can tell but that when you have brought us into greater straits (when you also shall see that yourselves can be safe by no other means than by flight,) you may leave us, and shift for yourselves, or set us on fire, and go away in the smoke, or by the light of our burning, and so leave us in our ruins." Incredulity. Sir, you forget that you are under a governor, and that you ought to demean yourself like a subject; and know ye, when my lord the king shall hear of this day's work, he will give you but little thanks for your labour."*

Now while these gentlemen were thus in their chiding Men of arms words, down come from the walls and gates of come down. the town the Lord Will-be-will, Mr. Prejudice, old Ill-pause, and several of the new made aldermen and burgesses; and they asked the reason of the hubbub and tumult. And with that every man began to tell his own tale, so that nothing could be heard distinctly. Then was silence commanded, and the old fox Incredulity began to speak: "My lord," quoth he, "here are a couple of peevish gentlemen, that have, as a fruit of their bad dispositions, and as I fear, through the advice of one Mr. Discontent, tumultuously gathered this company against this day; and also attempted to run the town into acts of rebellion against our prince."

Then stood up all the Diabolonians that were A great conpresent, and affirmed these things to be true. fusion. Now when they that took part with my Lord Understanding, and with Mr. Conscience, perceived that they were like to come by the worst, for that force and power was on the other side, they came in for their help and relief; so a great company was on both sides. Then they on Incredulity's side would have had the two old gentlemen presently

* What formidable obstacles lie in the way of a sinner's conversion to God. The understanding and conscience are warmly opposed by unbelief; and indeed, nothing less than almighty grace can ever effect the work,

A hot skirmish.

away to prison; but they on the other side said they should not. Then they began to cry up parties again: The Diabolonians cry up old Incredulity, Forget-good, the new aldermen, and their great one Diabolus: and the other party as fast cried up Shaddai, the captains, his laws, their mercifulness, and applauded their conditions and They fall from ways. Thus the bickerment went awhile: at words to blows. last they passed from words to blows and now there were knocks on both sides. The good old gentleman Mr. Conscience was knocked down twice by one of the Diabolonians, whose name was Mr. Benumbing. And my Lord Understanding had like to have been slain with an harquebus,• but that he that had shot, failed to take his aim aright. Nor did the other side wholly escape: for there was one Mr. Rash-head, a Diabolonian, that had his brains beaten out by one Mr. Mind, the Lord Will-be-will's servant: and it made me laugh to see how old Mr. Prejudice was kicked and tumbled about in the dirt: for though a while since he was made a captain of the Diabolonians, to the hurt and damage of the town, yet now they had got him under their feet: and I'll assure you, he had, by some of the Lord Understanding's party, his crown cracked to boot. Mr. Any-thing also became a brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against him, because he was true to none. Yet he had, for his malapertness, one of his legs broken; and he that did it, wished it had been his neck. Much harm more was done on both Harm done on sides: but this must not be forgotten, it was both sides. now a wonder to see my Lord Will-be-will so indifferent as he was; he did not seem to take one side more than another, only it was perceived that he smiled to see how old Prejudice was tumbled up and down in the dirt; also when Captain Any-thing came halting up before him, he seemed to take but little notice of him.*

* No small advantage is gained when sinful Rashness is destroyed, Preju dice thrown down into the dirt, and Indifference about religion discarded, while the Will, that before was wholly on the part of Satan, begins rather to take the other side

CHAPTER VI.

Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience imprisoned as authors of the riot. The besieging officers apply to Shaddai for relief. Immanuel, the prince, undertakes to conquer Mansoul. Marches with a great army, and invests the town

Now when the uproar was over, Diabolus sends for my Lord Understanding, and Mr. Conscience, and claps them 'both up in prison, as the ringleaders and managers of this

The two old most heavy riotous rout in Mansoul. So now gentlemen put the town began to be quiet again, and the in prison, as the prisoners were used hardly; yea, he thought authors of the to have destroyed them, but that the present revel-rout. juncture did not serve for that purpose, for that war was in all their gates.* But let us return to our story: The captains, when they were gone back from the gate, and were come into the camp again, called a council of The captains war, to consult what was further for them to do. call a council, Now some said, Let us go presently and fall upand consult on the town, but the greatest part thought, rathwhat to do. er better 'twould be to give them another summons to yield; and the reason why they thought this to be best, was, because that, so far as could be perceived, the town of Mansoul now was more inclinable than heretofore. And if, said they, while some of them are in a way of inclination, we should by ruggedness give them distaste, we may set them further from closing with our summons, than we would be willing they should.†

ther

Wherefore to this advice they agreed, and called a trumThe result is, peter, put words into his mouth, set him his they send ano. time, and bid him God speed. Well, many trumpeter hours were not expired, before the trumpeter to summon the addressed himself to his journey. Wherefore town to yield. coming up to the wall of the town, he steered his course to Ear-gate; and there sounded, as he was commanded. They then that were within, came out to see what was the matter, and the trumpeter made them this speech following:

*The efforts of an enlightened understanding and a renewed conscience cannot but be offensive to Satan, as threatening to subvert his authority in the soul, but where the good work of grace is begun they cannot be destroyed.

+ Ministers should deal gently with awakened sinners. Their great master" will not break the bruised reed," nor should they. Roughness of treatment may occasion discouragement; gentleness attracts.

แ

"O hard-hearted and deplorable town of Mansoul! how long wilt thou love thy simplicity: and ye fools The summons delight in your scorning? As yet despise you itself by the the offers of grace and deliverance? As yet will trumpeter of ye refuse the golden offers of Shaddai? and king Shaddai. trust to the lies and falsehood of Diabolus? Think you, when Shaddai shall have conquered you, that the remembrance of these your carriages towards him will yield you peace and comfort? or that by ruffling language you can make him afraid as a grasshopper? Doth he intreat you, for fear of you? Do you think that you are stronger than he? Look to the heavens, and behold and consider the stars, how high are they? Can you stop the sun from running his course, and hinder the moon from giving her light? Can you count the number of the stars, or stop the bottles of heaven? Can you call for the waters of the sea, and cause them to cover the face of the ground? Can you behold every one that is proud, and abase him; and bend their faces in secret? Yet these are some of the works of our king, in whose name, this day, we come up unto you, that you may be brought under his authority. In his name, therefore, I summon you again to yield up yourselves to his captains.'

At this summons the Mansoulians seemed to be at a stand, and knew not what answer to make: The town at wherefore Diabolus forthwith appeared, and a stand. took upon him to do it himself; and thus he begins, but turns his speech to them of Mansoul.

Diabolus makes

greatness

of

"Gentlemen," quoth he, "and my faithful subjects, if it is true, what this summoner a speech to the hath said, concerning the greatness of their town, and enking; by his terror you will always be kept deavours to ter in bondage, and so be made to sneak. Yea, rify it with the how can you now, though he is at a distance, God. endure to think of such a mighty One? And if not to think of him while at a distance, how can you endure to be in his presence? I your princé am familiar with you, and you may play with me as you would with a grasshopper. Consider, therefore, what is for your profit, and remember the immunities that I have granted you.

"Farther, if all be true that this man hath said, how comes it to pass that the subjects of Shaddai are so enslaved

The irresistible greatness, the inconceivable glory of God, especially when coupled with the astonishing condescensions of his grace, are considerations of a most awakening kind. It may well put a sinner to a stand when he reflects on the wonderful love of Christ in sending his ambassadors to beseech us in his stead, to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.