How they in

terpreted Im

manuel's car

riage.

works, than he did by words or smiles. But also poor Mansoul (as in such cases all are apt to do) interpreted the carriage of Immanuel to them, as did Joseph's brethren bis to them, even all the quite contrary way: for, thought they, if Immanuel loved us, he would shew it to us by word and carriage; but none of these he does, therefore Immanuel hates us. Now if Immanuel hates us, Mansoul shall be slain, then Mansoul shall become a dunghill. They knew that they had transgressed his law, and that against him they had been in league with Diabolus his enemy. They also knew that Prince Immanuel knew all this; for they were convinced that he was an angel of God, to know all things that are done in the earth. And this made them think that their condition was miserable, and that the good prince would make them desolate3.

And, thought they, what time so fit to do this in, as now, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand? And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could not, no, they could not, when they saw him march through the town, but cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust off his feet: they also wished a thousand times over, that he would. become their prince and captain, and would become their protector, They would also talk one to another of the comeliness of his person, and how

3 Jesus Christ is truly glorious, the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely; but converted sinners do not always enjoy great comfort at first. Sense of sin, and fear of his resentment may keep them low: yet they cannot but admire Immanuel, and heartily desire he may be the lord of their hearts.

much for glory and valour he outstript the great ones of the world. But, poor hearts! as to themselves, their thoughts would change, and go upon all manner of extremes. Yea, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul became as a ball tossed, and as a rolling thing before a whirlwind.

He comes to the castle, and commands Diabolus

to surrender himself.

Now when he was come to the castle gates, he commanded Diabolus to appear, and to surrender himself into his hands. But, oh how loth was the beast to appear! How he stuck at it, how he shrunk how he cringed! Yet now he came to the prince. Then Immanuel commanded, and they took Diabolus, and bound him fast in chains, the better to reserve him to the judgment that he had appointed for him. But Diabolus stood up to intreat for himself, that Immanuel would not send him into the deep, but suffer him to depart out of Mansoul in peace, When Immanuel had taken him and bound him in chains, he led him into the market-place, and there before Mansoul stript him of his armour which he boasted so much of before. This now was one of the acts of triumph of Immanuel over his enemy: and all the while the giant was stripping, the trumpets of the Golden Prince sounded amain; the captains also shouted, and the soldiers sang for joy. Then was Mansoul called up, Mansoul must on to behold Immanuel's triumph over him in whom they had so much trusted, and of whom they had so much boasted in the days when he flattered them.

He is taken and bound in chains.

behold it.

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the commanders of the

He is bound

to his chariot wheels.

prince, in the next place he commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot-wheels, Eph. iv. Then leaving some of his forces, to wit, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, a guard for the castle gates, that resistance might be made on his behalf (if any that heretofore followed Diabolus should make an attempt to possess it) he rode in triumph over him umph over him quite through the town of Mansoul, and so out at and before the gate called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp lay.

The prince rides in tri

in the sight of Mansoul.

But you cannot think, unless you had been there (as I was) what a shout there was in Immanuel's camp, when they saw the tyrant bound by the hand of their noble prince, and tied to his chariot-wheels. And they said, He hath led captivity captive, and hath spoiled principalities They sing. and powers: Diabolus is subjected to the power of the sword, and made the object of all derision.

The reformades' joy.

Those also that rode reformades, and that came down to see the battle, shouted with that greatness of voice, and sung with such melodious notes, that they caused them that dwelt in the highest orbs to open their windows, put out their heads, and look down to see the cause of that glory, Luke xv. 7, 10. The townsmen also, so many of them as beheld this sight, were as it were astonished, while they looked betwixt the earth and taken with the heavens. True, they could not tell Immanuel. what would be the issue of things as to them, all things being done in such excellent methods; and I cannot tell how, but things in the management of them seemed to cast a smile to

The men of

Mansoul

wards the town; so that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they had, were taken and held while they observed Immanuel's order.

So when the brave prince had finished this part of his triumph over Diabolus his Diabolus cast out. foe, he turned him up in the midst of his contempt and shame, having given him a charge no more to be a possessor of Mansoul. Then went he from Immanuel, and out of the midst of his camp, to inherit the parched places in a salt land, seeking rest, but finding none. Matt xii. 341.

Now Captain Boanerges and Captain ConvicThe carriage of tion were both of them men of very Boanerges and great majesty; their faces were like Captain Convicthe faces of lions, and their words tion crushes the spirit of Man- like the roaring of the seas; and soul. they still quartered in Mr. Conscience's house, of whom mention was made before. When, therefore, the high and mighty prince had thus far finished his triumph over Diabolus, the townsmen had more leisure to view and behold the 'actions of their noble captains. But the captains carried it with that terror and dread in all they did (and you may be sure they had private instructions so to do), that they kept

4 When the soul submits to Jesus, Satan is bound; he shall not rule in the heart any more. Rebel he may, but not reign. He is a chained enemy, and "God shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly." Now Satan is stripped of all that armour in which he trusted, and the Lord Jesus is evidently triumphant. O what a glorious season was that when he ascended up on high, leading captivity captive! Then the angels (here called reformades) rejoiced and shouted, and so we are assured they now do; for "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

The prince commands, and the captains put the three chief of

Mansoul in ward.

the town under continual heart-aching, and caused (in their apprehension) the well-being of Mansoul for the future to stand in doubt before them, so that for some considerable time they neither knew what rest, or ease, or peace, or hope meant. Nor did the prince himself as yet abide in the town of Mansoul, but in his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midst of his father's forces. So at a time convenient he sent special orders to Captain Boanerges, to summons Mansoul, the whole of the townsmen, into the castle-yard, and then and there, before their faces, to take my Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and that notable one the Lord Will-bewill, and put them all three in ward, and that they should set a strong guard upon them there, until his pleasure concerning them was further known. Which orders, when the captains had put them in execution, made no small addition to the fears of the town of Mansoul; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears of the ruin of Mansoul confirmed. Now what death they should die, and how long they should Mansoul greatly be in dying, was that which most distressed. perplexed their heads and hearts: yea, they were afraid that Immanuel would command them all into the deep, the place that the prince Diabolus was afraid of; for they had deserved it. Also to die by the sword in the face of the town, and in the open way of disgrace, from the hand of so good and so holy a prince, that, too, troubled them sore: the town was also greatly troubled for the men committed to ward, for that they were their stay and their guide; and for that they believed, that if those men were cut off, their