their trial.

ascended a throne of state, and sent for the prisoners in; who, when they came, trembled before him; also they covered their faces with shame. Now as they drew near the place where he sat, they threw themselves down before him. Then said the prince to the Captain Boanerges, Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet. Then they stood trembling before him; and he said, Are you the men that heretofore were the servants They are upon of Shaddai? And they said, Yes, Lord, yes. Then said the Prince again, Are you the men that suffered yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by that abominable one Diabolus? And they said, We did more than suffer it, Lord; for we chose it of our mind. The prince asked further, saying, Could you have been content that your slavery should have continued under his tyranny as long as you had lived? Then said the prisoners, Yes, Lord, yes; for his ways were pleasing to our flesh, and we were grown aliens to a better state. And did you, said he, when I came against this town of Mansoul, heartily wish that I might not have the victory over you? Yes, Lord, yes, said they. Then said the prince, And what punishment is it, think you, that you deserve at my hands, for these and other your high and mighty sins? And they said, Both death and the deep, Lord; for we have deserved no less. He asked again, If they had aught to say for themselves, why the sentence, which they confessed they had deserved, should not be passed upon them? And they said, We can say nothing, Lord; thou art just, for we have sinned. Then said the prince, And for what are these ropes on your heads? The prisoners answered, The * ropes are to lead us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight, Prov. v. 22.

They condemn themselves.

*Sins.

So

+ Powers of the soul.

he further asked, If all the men in the town of Mansoul were in this confession, as they? And they answered, All the natives, Lord: but for the Diabolonians, ‡ that came into our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can say nothing for them.

+ Corruptions

and lusts.

A victory proclaimed.

Then the prince commanded that an herald should be called; and that he should in the midst and throughout the camp of Immanuel proclaim, and that with sound of trumpet, that the prince, the son of Shaddai, had in his father's name, and for his father's glory, gotten a perfect conquest and victory over Mansoul; and that the prisoners should follow him, and say Amen. So this was done as he had commanded 13.

Joy for the victory.

And presently the music that was in the upper region sounded melodiously. The captains that were in the camp shouted, and the soldiers sung songs of triumph to the prince, the colours waved in the wind, and great joy was every-where, only it was wanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.

Then the prince called to the prisoners to come

13 The questions proposed by Immanuel were well formed to bring out that clear and full confession of sin, and the desert of it, which appears in the answers. Their language is that of truly humbled and penitent souls. Happy is the reader who makes their words really his own. This is the Lord's doing, and a certain token for good. They who thus "confess and forsake their sin shall find mercy," and in this case, God is faithful to his promise, and just to his Son, to forgive all our sins.

When the soul is brought into this state, the design of God in those convictions which seemed so terrific is answered, the work is done, and it may be truly said, that "Jesus hath obtained a perfect conquest and victory over Mansoul." Heaven and earth resound with joy on this event.

They are par doned, which

is commanded to be proclaimed

to-morrow in Mansoul.

taken from

them.

and stand again before him; and they came and stood trembling. And he said unto them, The sins, trespasses, and iniquities, that you, with the whole town of Mansoul, have from time to time committed against my father and me, I have power and commandment from my father to forgive to the town of Mansoul, and do forgive you accordingly. And having so said, he gave them written in parchment, and sealed with seven seals, a large and general pardon, commanding my lord-mayor, Lord Will-bewill, and Mr. Recorder, to proclaim, and cause it to be proclaimed to-morrow, by that the sun is sup, throughout the whole town of Mansoul. Moreover, the prince stripped the prisoners of Their rags are their mourning weeds, and gave them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, Isa. Ixi. 3. Then he gave to each of the three, jewels of gold and precious stones; and took away their ropes, and put chains of gold about their necks, and ear-rings Now the prisoners, when they heard the gracious words of Prince Immanuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away; for the grace, the benefit, the pardon, was sudden, glorious, and so big, that they were not able, without staggering, to stand up under it. Yea, my Lord Will-be-will swooned outright; but the prince stept to him, put his everJasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him be of good cheer, for all should be performed according to his word. He also kissed, embraced, and smiled upon the other two that were Will-be-will's companions, saying, Take

A strange al

teration.

in their ears.

these as further tokens of my love, favour, and compassion to you; and I charge you, that you Mr. Recorder tell the town of Mansoul what you have heard and seen.

Then were their fetters broken to pieces before their faces, and cast into the air, and Their guilt. their steps were enlarged under them. Then they fell at the feet of the Prince, kissed them, and wetted them with tears; they also cried out with a mighty strong voice, saying, "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from this place!" So they were bid rise up, and go to the town and tell Mansoul what the prince had done. They are sent home with pipe He commanded also, that one with pipe and tabor should go and play before them all the way into the town of Mansoul. Then was fulfilled what they never looked for, and they were made to possess what they never dreamt of1. The prince also called Captain Credence guards for the noble Captain Credence, and them home. commanded that he and some of his officers should march before the noblemen of Mansoul, with flying colours into the town. He gave

and tabor.

When Faith and Pardon meet together, Judgment and Execution depart from the heart.

also unto Captain Credence a charge, that about the time that the recorder read the general pardon in the town of Mansoul, that at that very time he should with flying colours march in at Eye-gate, with his ten thousand at his feet; and that he should so go until he came

14 What a change is effected! "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad." "Who is like unto thee, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin?" "Blessed is he

by the high street of the town, up to the castlegates; and that himself should take possession thereof, against his Lord came thither. He commanded moreover, that he should bid Captain Judgment and Captain Execution leave the strong-hold to him, and withdraw from Mansoul, and return into the camp with speed unto the prince.

And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terror of the first four captains and their men.

whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity; blessed is the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Rom. iv. 6.

15 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." The four captains no longer denounce the wrath of God; the end of their ministry is accomplished; the town is therefore relieved from the terror that their awful speeches occasioned, or, as it is expressed in the margin," when faith and pardon meet together, judgment and execution depart from the heart."

M