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qualifiedness of thy servants, but mercifully pass by the sin of Mansoul, and refrain from the glorifying of thy grace no longer."

So at his bidding they arose, and both stood trembling before him, and he spake to them to this purpose:

answer.

"The town of Mansoul hath grievously rebelled against my father, in that they have The prince's rejected him from being their king, and chose for themselves, for their captain, a liar, a murderer, and a runnagate slave. For this Diabolus, your pretended prince, though once so highly accounted of by you, made The original rebellion against my father and me, of Diabolus. even in our palace and highest court there, thinking to become a prince and a king. But being timely discovered and apprehended, and for his wickedness bound in chains, and separated to the pit with those that were his companions, he offered himself to you, and you have received him.

"Now this is, and for a long time hath been, an high affront to my father; wherefore my father sent to you a powerful army to reduce you to your obedience. But you know how those men, their captains and their counsels, were esteemed of you, and what they received at your hand. You rebelled against them, you shut your gates upon them, you bid them battle; rebellion. you fought them, and fought for Dia

Mansoul's

bolus against them. So they went to my father for more power; and I, with my men, am come to subdue you. But as you treated the servants, so you treated their lord: You stood up in hostile manner against me, you shut up your gates against me, you turned a deaf ear to me, and re

sisted as long as you could; but now I have made a conquest of you. Did you cry to me for mercy so long as you had hopes that you might prevail against me? But now I have taken the town, you cry; but why did you not cry before, when the white flag of my mercy, the red flag of justice, and the black flag that threatened execution, were set up to cite you to it? Now I have conquered your Diabolus, you come to me for favour; but why did you not help me against the mighty? Yet I will consider your petition, and will answer it so as will be for my glory.

The prisoners

the camp.

"Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners out to me ordered out into into the camp to-morrow; and say you to Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, Stay in the castle, and take good heed to yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansoul until you shall hear further from me." And with that he turned himself from them, and went into his royal pavilion ".

So the petitioners, having received this answer from the prince, returned, as at the first, to go to their companions again. But they had not gone far but thoughts began to work in their minds, that no mercy as yet was intended by the prince to Mansoul: so they went to the place where the prisoners lay bound; but these workings of mind, about what would become of Mansoul, had such strong power over them, that by that they were

"This answer of Immanuel was intended to deepen their sense of sin, and make them reflect with pain and shame on their former transgressions, and of their contempt of mercy, until the Lord arrested them in the mad career. Thus, the law enters that sin may abound-that it may appear exceeding sinful, and render the grace of God infinitely precious.

come unto them that sent them, they were scarce able to deliver their message.

But they came at length to the gates of the town (now the townsmen were waiting with eagerness for their return), where many met them, to know what answer was given to the petition. Then they cried out to those that were sent, What news from the prince? And what hath Immanuel said? But they said, that they must (as afore) go up to the prison, and there deliver their message. So away they went to the prison, with a multitude* at their heels. Now when they were come to the gates of the prison, they told the first part of Immanuel's speech to the prisoners; to wit, how he reflected upon their disloyalty to his father and himself; and how they had chosen and closed with Diabolus and fought for him, hearkened to him, and been ruled by him: but had despised him and his men. This made the

* Of inquisitive thoughts.

The messengers in telling their

tale frighten the prisoners.

prisoners look pale; but the messengers proceeded, and said, He the prince said moreover, that yet he would consider your petition, and give such answer thereto as will stand with his glory. And as these words were spoken, Mr. Wet-eyes gave a great sigh. At this they were all of them struck into their dumps, and could not tell what to say: fear also possessed them in marvellous manner, and death seemed to sit upon some of their eyebrows. Now there was in the company a notable sharp-witted felOld Inquisitive. low, a man of mean estate, and his was old Inquisitive; this man asked the petitioners if they had told out every whit of what Immanuel said. And they answered, Verily no.

Then said Inquisitive, I thought so indeed. Pray what was it more that he said unto you? Then they paused awhile, but at last they brought out all, saying, The prince ordered us to bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners down to him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and Captain Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they should hear further from him. They said also, that when the prince had commanded them so to do, he immediately turned his back upon them, and went into his royal pavilion.

But oh! how this return, and especially this last clause of it, that the prisoners must go out to the prince into the camp, brake all their loins in pieces! Wherefore with one voice they set up a cry that reached up to the heavens. This done, each of the three prepared himself to die (and the Recorder said unto them, This *Conscience. was the thing that I feared) for they concluded, that to-morrow, by that the sun went down, they should be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of no other, but that in their time and order they must all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth, and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time was come to go down before the prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads. The whole town of Mansoul also shewed themselves upon the wall, and clad in mourning weeds, if perhaps the prince with the sight thereof might be moved with compassion. But oh, how the busy-bodies, that were in the town of Vain thoughts. Mansoul, now concerned themselves! They ran here and there through the streets of the town by companies, crying out as they ran in

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tumultuous wise, one after one manner,

and ano

ther the quite contrary, to the almost utter distraction of Mansoul 12.

had to trial.

go

Well, the time is come that the prisoners must down to the camp, and appear beThe prisoners fore the prince. And thus was the manner of their going down: Captain Boanerges went with a guard before them, and Captain Conviction came behind, and the prisoners went bound in chains in the midst; so I say, the prisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with flying colours behind and before, but the prisoners went with drooping spirits. Or more particularly, thus:

Thus

The prisoners went down all in mourning they put ropes upon themselves, they went How they went. on smiting themselves on their breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes to heaven. they went out at the gate of Mansoul, till they came into the midst of the prince's army, the sight and glory of which greatly heightened their affliction. Nor could they now longer forbear but cry out aloud, O unhappy men; O wretched Mansoul! Their chains still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable.

So when they were come to the door of the They fell down prince's pavilion, they cast themprostrate before selves prostrate upon the place: then one went in and told the Lord, that the prisoners were come down. The prince then

him.

12 The godly sorrow that now prevailed in Mansoul, was only a prelude to joy unspeakable and full of glory. This sort of " weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." These poor prisoners "went forth weeping, bearing precious seed, but were soon to return with joy, bringing their sheaves with them."

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