building of an high and strong tower, just between the sun's reflections and the windows of my lord's palace; by which means the house, and the whole of his habitation, was made as dark as darkness itself: and thus, being alienated from the light, he became as one that was born blind. To this house my lord was confined, as to a prison; nor might he, upon his parole, go further than within his own bounds. And now, had he had an heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or wherein could he be profitable to her? So then, so long as Mansoul was under the power and government of Diabolus (and so long it was under him, as it was obedient to him; which was even until by a war it was rescued out of his hand); so long my Lord Mayor was rather an impediment in, than an advantage to, the famous town of Mansoul.

The recorder

put out of place.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well read in the laws of his king, and also a man of courage and faithfulness to speak truth on every occasion; and he had a tongue as bravely hung, as he had an head filled with judgment. Now this man, Diabolus could by no means abide, because, though he gave his consent to his coming into the town, yet he could not, by all wiles, trials, stratagems, and devices that he could use, make him his own. True, he was much degenerated from his former king, and also much pleased with the giant's service, and many of his laws. But this would not do, forasmuch as he was not

2 The understanding, which was once full of light, is now most miserably darkened by sin and Satan; so that man is "alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance and blindness of his heart." The understanding, which took the lead in the heart, as chief magistrate, is now deposed, and the corrupted will takes his place.

wholly his; he would now and then think upon He sometimes Shaddai, and have a dread of his law speaks for the upon him, and then he would speak first king. against Diabolus with a voice as great as when a lion roareth: yea, and would also at certain times, when his fits were upon him (for you must know, that sometimes he had terrible fits), make the whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice; and therefore the new king of Mansoul could not abide him3.

Diabolus therefore feared the Recorder more than any that was left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words did shake the whole town; they were like the rattling of thunder, and also like thunder-claps. Since therefore the giant could not make him wholly his own, what doth he do, but studies all that he could to debauch the old gentleman, and by debauchery, to stupify his mind, and more harden his heart in the ways of vanity. And as he attempted, so he accomplished his design: he debauched the man, and by little and little so drew him into sin and wickedness, that at last he was not only debauched as at first, and so by consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go. Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that was, to persuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not to be regarded. And for this he urged his fits, and said,

He is more debauched than before.

3 The office and power of conscience (or the old recorder) is beautifully described. He will sometimes speak, yea, roar aloud, testifying for God, and against sin. But it is the interest of Satan to debauch the conscience, and, if possible, to silence it; and, if this cannot be done, to represent its faithful remonstrances as the ravings of madness.

If he be himself, why doth he not do thus always? But, quoth he, all mad folk have their fits, and in them raving language; so hath this old and doatThe town taken ing gentleman. Thus by one means off from heeding or other he quickly got Mansoul to slight, neglect, and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. For, besides what you have already heard, Diabolus had a way to make the old gentleman, when he was merry, unsay and deny what he in his fits had affirmed.

him.

How conscience becomes so ridiculous as with carnal men it is.

And indeed this was the next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that no man should regard him. Also now he never spake freely for king Shaddai, but always by force and constraint. Besides, he would at one time be hot against that, about which at another he would hold his peace, so uneven was he now in his doings. Sometimes he would be as if fast asleep, and again sometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant's pipe.

Wherefore sometimes, when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the thundering voice of the Recorder that was, and when they did tell Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman said was neither out of love to him, nor pity to them, but of a foolish fondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, and put all to quiet again. And that he might leave no argument unurged that might tend to make them secure, he said, and said it often, Oh Mansoul! consider, that notwithstanding the old gentleman's rage, and the rattle of his high and thundering words, you hear nothing of Shaddai himself, (when, liar and deceiver that

Satanical rhetoric.

he was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul was the voice of God in him to them). But he goes on, and says, you see that he values not the loss nor rebellion of the town of Mansoul; nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoning, for their giving themselves to me. He knows, that though ye were his, now you are lawfully mine; so leaving us to one another, he hath now shaken his hands of us.

Satan's flatteries.

Moreover, O Mansoul! quoth he, consider how I have served you, even to the uttermost of my power; and that with the best that I have, could get, or procure for you in all the world: besides, I dare say, that the laws and customs that you now are under, and by which you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and content than did the paradise that at first you possessed. Your liberty also, as yourselves do very well know, has been Conscience. greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas I found you a penned up people, I have not laid any restraint upon you: : you have no law, statute, or judgment of mine to fright you; I call none of you to account for your doings, except the madman, you know who I mean: I have granted you to live, each man like a prince in his own palace, even with as little controul from me as I have from you.

Men sometimes

angry with their

conscience.

And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when the Recorder that was, did at times molest them; yea, and with such cursed orations as these would set the whole town in a rage and fury against the old gentleman; yea, the rascally crew at some times would be for destroying him. They have often wished, in my hearing, that he had lived a thousand miles off from them;

his company, his words, yea, the sight of him, and especially when they remembered how in old times he did use to threaten and condemn them (for all he was now so debauched), did terrify and afflict them sore1.

* Of fears.

The will.

But all their wishes were vain; for I don't know how, unless by the power of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongst them. Besides his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hard by a strong-hold of the town: moreIll-thoughts. Over, if at any time any of the crew or rabble attempted to make him away, he could pull up the sluices,* and let in such floods as would drown all round about him. But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Will-be-will, another of the famous town of Mansoul. This Will-bewill was as high-born in Mansoul, and was as much, if not more, a freeholder, than many of them were: besides, if I remember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul. Now, together with. these, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength, or what (but sure it was through pride of something), he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul; and therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might (such a one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in

Conscience, in natural men, is very unequal and irregular in his opposition to sin; yet, by fits and starts he will cry out, and so frighten the sinner, that he wishes him "a thousand miles off," so as to give him no disturbance, or prevent his quiet enjoyment of that liberty to sin, which Satan boasts he has granted to Mansoul. Nevertheless the power of conscience cannot be utterly destroyed.