this, as at those that went before. But when the prince saw that neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come near the heart of Mansoul, he was touched with much compunction, and said, Surely this strange carriage of the town of Mansoul doth rather arise from ignorance of the manner and feats of war, than from a secret defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives; or, if they know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the rites and ceremonies of the wars in which we are concerned, when I make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.

Christ makes not war as the world does.

Therefore he sent to the town of Mansoul, to let them know what he meant by those signs and ceremonies of the flag; and also to know of them

He sends to know if they would have

mercy or judg

ment.

which of the things they will chuse, whether grace and mercy, or judgment, and the execution of judgment. All this while they kept the gates shut as fast as they could. Their guards were also doubled, and their watch made as strong as they could. Diabolus also plucked up what heart he could, to encourage the town to make resistance

13

The townsmen also made answer to the prince's

13 Neither mercy nor judgment impresses the stony heart of man: even the black flag of defiance occasions no concern. O how do poor sinners heap up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath, by thus despising the riches of his patience, forbearance, and long suffering, Rom. ii. How graciously candid is the allowance made for their possible ignorance, like that of the suffering Saviour when nailed to the cross:-"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The meaning therefore of these flags is explained; thus must ministers deal with poor sinners, giving them" line upon line, precept upon precept." But without divine grace all is in vain, Satan will still foment the spirit of resistance.

messenger, in substance, according to that which follows:

answer.

"Great Sir, as to what, by your messenger, you have signified to us, whether we The townsfolk's will accept your mercy, or fall by your justice; we are bound, by the law and custom of this place, and can give you no positive answer: for it is against the law, government, and the prerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war without him. But this we will do, we will petition that our prince will come down to the wall, and there give you such a treatment as he shall think fit and profitable for

us."

of Mansoul.

When the good Prince Immanuel heard this and saw the slavery and bonImmanuel griev. answer, ed at the folly dage of the people, and how contented they were to abide in the chains of the tyrant Diabolus, it grieved him at the heart. And indeed, when at any time he perceived that any were contented with the slavery of the giant, he would be affected with it 11.

14

But to return again to our purpose. After the town had carried this news to Diabolus, and had told him moreover, that the prince, that lay in the leaguer without the wall, waited upon them for an answer; he refused, and huffed as Diabolus afraid. well as he could, but in heart he was

afraid.

Then said he, "I will go down to the gates myself, and give him such an answer as I think fit. So he went down to Mouth-gate, and there addressed himself to speak to Immanuel (but in

14 Pitiable indeed is the bondage of sinners:-" they are led captive by him at his will,”

such language as the town understood not), the contents whereof were as follow:

"O thou great Immanuel, lord of the world, I know thee that thou art the son of The speech of Diabolus to the the great Shaddai! Wherefore art prince. thou come to torment me, and to cast me out of my possession? This town of Mansoul, as thou very well knowest, is mine by right of conquest; I won it in the open field: and shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?' 2. This town of Mansoul is mine also by their subjection. They have opened the gates of their town unto me, they have sworn fidelity to me, and have openly chosen me to be their king. They have also given * Heart. their castle into my hands; yea, they have also put the whole strength of Mansoul under me.

"Moreover, this town of Mansoul hath disavowed thee: yea, they have cast thy law, thy name, thy image, and all that is thine, behind their back; and have accepted, and set up in their room, my law, my name, my image, and all that ever is mine. Ask else thy captains, and they will tell thee, that Mansoul hath, in answer to all their summons, shewn love and loyalty to me; but always disdain, despite, contempt, and scorn to thee and thine. Now, thou who art the just one and the holy (and shouldst do no iniquity), depart then, I pray thee, from me, and leave me to my just inheritance peaceably."

This oration was made in the language of Diabolus himself; for although he can to every man speak in their language (else he could not tempt them as he does), yet he has a language proper to himself, and it is the language of the infernal cave or black pit.

Diabolus unable to stand in the presence of Immanuel.

Wherefore the town of Mansoul (poor hearts!) understood him not: nor did they see how he crouched and cringed while he stood before Immanuel their prince. Yea, they all this while took him to be one of that power and force that by no means could be resisted: wherefore, while he was thus intreating that he might have yet his residence there, and that Immanuel would not take it from him by force, the inhabitants boasted even of his valour, saying, Who is able to make war with him 15?

Well, when this pretended king had made an end of what he would say, Immanuel the golden prince stood up, and spake; the contents of whose words follow:

Immanuel's speech to Diabolus.

"Thou deceiving one, said he, I have in my father's name, in my own name, and on the behalf and for the good of this wretched town of Mansoul, somewhat to say unto thee. Thou pretendest a right, a lawful right, to the deplorable town of Mansoul, when it is most apparent to all my father's court, that the entrance which thou hast obtained in at the gates of Mansoul was through thy lies and falsehood: thou belyedst my father, thou belyedst his law, and so deceivedst the people of Mansoul. Thou pretendest that the people have accepted thee for their king, their captain, and right liege lord, but that also was by the exercise of deceit and guile. Now if lying, wiliness, sinful craft, and all manner of horrible hypocrisy, will go, in my father's court (in which court thou must be tried), for equity and right; then will I confess

15 Deceived mortals understand not the real designs of the enemy, who first allures to sin, and then becomes an accuser.

The craft and

unto thee, that thou hast made a lawful conquest. But alas! what thief, what tyrant, what devil is there, that may not conquer after this sort? But I can make it appear, O Diabolus, that thou, in all thy pretences to a conquest of Mansubtlety of Di- soul, hast nothing of truth to say. abolus exposed Thinkest thou this to be right, that by Immanuel. thou didst put the lie upon my father, and madest him (to Mansoul) the greatest deluder in the world? And what sayest thou to thy perverting, knowingly, the right purport and intent of the law? Was it good also that thou madest a prey of the innocency and simplicity of the now miserable town of Mansoul? Yea, thou didst overcome Mansoul, by promising to them happiness in their transgressions against my father's law, when thou knewest, and couldst not but know, hadst thou consulted nothing but thy own experience, that that was the way to undo them. Thou hast also thyself (O thou master of enmity!) of spite defaced my father's image in Mansoul, and set up thy own in its place; to the His enmity to Shaddai. great contempt of my father, the heightening of thy sin, and to the intolerable damage of the perishing town of Mansoul. "Thou hast moreover (as if all these were but little things with thee) not only deluded and -undone this place, but by thy lies, and fraudulent carriage, hast set them against their own deliverHow hast thon stirred them up against my father's captains, and made them to fight against those that were sent of him to deliver them from their bondage! All these things, and very many more, thou hast done against thy light, and in contempt of my father, and his law: yea, and with design to bring under his displeasure for ever the miserable town of Mansoul. I am therefore

ance.