"Fifthly, I do give and grant them leave, and free access to me in my palace at all seasons, there to make known their wants to me; and I give them moreover a promise, that I will hear and redress all their grievances, Heb. x. 19, 20.

Matt. vii. 7.

"Sixthly, I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul with full power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroy, all, and all manner of Diabolonians, that at any time, from whencesoever, shall be found straggling in or about the town of Mansoul.

"Seventhly, I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul, that they shall have authority not to suffer any foreigner or stranger, or their seed, to be free in and of the blessed town of Mansoul, nor to share in the excellent privileges thereof: but that all the grants, privileges, and immunities, that I bestow upon the famous town of Mansoul, shall be for those the old natives, and true inhabitants thereof; to them, I say, and to their right seed after them, Eph. iv. 22. Col. iii. 5-9. But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom soever, shall be debarred a share therein."

Jer.

So when the town of Mansoul had received their gracious charter (which in itself is infinitely more large,) they carried it to Audience, that is, to the market-place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all the people, 2 Cor. iii. 5. xxxi. 33. Heb. viii. 10. This being done, it was had back to the castle-gates, and there set upon the fairly engraven upon the doors therecastle-gates. of, and laid in letters of gold, to the end that the town of Mansoul, with all the people thereof, might have it always in their view, or might go where they might see what a blessed

Their charter

freedom their prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be increased in themselves, and their love renewed to their great and good Immanuel.

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did the hearts of the men now possess of Mansoul! The bells rung, the minstrels played, the people danced, the captains shouted, the colours waved in the wind, the silver trumpets sounded, and all the Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads 3.

When this was over, the prince sent for the elders of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry he intended to establish among them; such a ministry, that might open unto them, and instruct them in the things that concerned their present and future state; for, said he, you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers and guides, will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be sure not to do, the will of my father, Jer. x. 23. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

The common

At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to the people, the whole town came running together (for it good thoughts. pleased them well, as whatever the prince now did, pleased the people,) and all with one consent implored his majesty, that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them, as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that they might be do

3 Well may the Christian exult in the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant, which is "ordered in all things and sure." "The world, life, death, things present, and things to come, all is our's, if we are Christ's."" This charter was set upon the castle-gates; may it be inscribed, in indelible characters, on our hearts; while every power of the soul is filled with joy, and sin, abashed, hides its head.

Р

cumented in all good and wholesome things. So. he told them he would grant their requests; and would establish two among them, one that was of his father's court, and one that was a native of Mansoul.

He that is from the court, said he, is a person of no less quality and dignity than my The Holy Spirit. father and I, 2 Pet. i. 21. 1 Cor. ii. 10. John i. 1. v. 7. And he is the lord chief secretary of my father's house; for he is, and always has been, the chief dictator of all my father's. laws; a person well skilled in all mysteries, and knowledge of mysteries, as is my father, or as myself is. Indeed he is one with us in nature, and also as to loving of, and being faithful to, and in the eternal concerns of, the town of Mansoul.

And this is he, said the prince, that must be your chief teacher; for 'tis he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and supernatural things: he, and he only, it is, that knows the ways and methods of my father's court; nor can any, like him, shew how the heart of my father is at all times, in all things, upon all occasions, towards Mansoul; for, "as no man knows the things of a man, but the spirit of a man which is in him," John xiv. 26. xvi. 13. 1 John ii. 27; so the things of my father knows no man, but this his high and mighty secretary; nor can any (as he) tell Mansoul how and what they shall do, to keep themselves in the love of my father. He also it is that can bring lost things to your remembrance, and that can tell you things to come. This teacher, therefore, must have the pre-eminence (both in your affections and judgment) before your other teacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also the great dexterity that he hath to assist you to make and draw up petitions to my

father for your help, and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that you grieve him not, I Thess. i. 5, 6.

This person can put life and vigour into all he The office of the says; yea, and can also put it into *Holy Spirit. your heart, Acts xxi. 10, 11. This person can make seers of you, and can make you tell what shall be hereafter, Jude 20. Eph. vi. 18. Rom. viii. 16. Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, 29. Eph. iv. 30. Isaiah lxiii. 10. By this person, you must frame all your petitions to my father and me; and without his advice and counsel first obtained let nothing enter into the town or castle of Mansoul, for that may disgust and grieve this noble

person.

Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister; for if you do he may fight against you; and should he once be moved by you to set himself against you in battle array, that will distress you more than if twelve legions should be sent from my father's court to make war upon you.

But (as I said) if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him; if you shall devote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to have converse, and to maintain communion with him; you shall find him ten times better than is the whole world to any, 1 Cor. xiii. 14. Rom. v. 5. Yea, he will shed abroad the love of my father in your hearts, and Mansoul will be the wisest and most blessed of all people *.

The ministry of the gospel is established in Mansoul, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He is the chief teacher in all divine things: from him all spiritual wisdom proceeds; by him the ordinary pastors of the church are instructed, and by his power alone their ministrations become useful. His gracious offices and influences are here charmingly stated.

Then did the prince call unto him the old Conscience gentleman, who afore had been the remade a mi- corder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by nister. name, and told him, that forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well spoken,* and could pertinently deliver to them his master's will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in all the laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul. And thou must, said the prince, confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to the civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt or presume to be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai my father, for those things knoweth no man, nor can any reveal them but my father's secretary only. Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the lord secretary is a native with my father; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge of the laws and customs of the corporation, so he of the things and will of my father.

Wherefore, oh Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee minister and a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which the lord secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there thou must be his scholar, and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul are. Thou must, therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for information; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration must give him understanding, Job xxviii. 8. Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, be humble, and remember, that the Diabolonians, that kept not their first charge, but left their own standing,