How Mr. Car of Mansoul. their might and their glory; wherefore he begin neth his tale with the power and nal-security be- strength of Mansoul, and affirmeth, gins the misery that it was impregnable; now magnifying the captains, and their slings, and their rams; then crying up their fortifications and strong holds; and, lastly, the assurance that they had from their prince, that Mansoul should be happy for ever. But when he saw that some of the men of the town were tickled and taken with this discourse, he makes it his business, and, walking from street to street, house to house, and man to man, he brought also Mansoul to dance after his pipe, and to grow almost as carnally-secure as himself; so from talking they went to feasting, and from feasting to sporting, and so to some other matters (now Immanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul, and he wisely observed their doings): my Lord-mayor, my Lord Will-bewill, and Mr. Recorder, were also taken with the words of this tattling diabolonian gentleman; forgetting that their prince had given them warning before, to take heed that they were not beguiled with any diabolonian sleight; he had further told them, that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul did not so much lie in her present fortifications and force, as in her so using of what she had, as might oblige her Immanuel to abide within her castle. For the right doctrine of Immanuel was, that the town of Mansoul should take heed that they forget not his father's love and his; also that they should so demean themselves as to continue to keep themselves therein. Now this was not the way to do it, namely, to fall in love with one of the Diabolonians, and with such an one too as Mr. Carnal-security was, and to be led up and down by the nose The heads of Mansoul seduced. by him they should have heard their prince, feared their prince, loved their prince, and have stoned this naughty pack to death, and taken care to have walked in the ways of their prince's prescribing; for then should their peace have been as a river, when their righteousness had been like the waves of the sea1. Now when Immanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr. Carnal-security the hearts of the men of Mansoul were chilled and abated in their practical love to him; Immanuel be First, he bemoans them, and bewails their state with the secretary, saying, "O that moans Mansoul, my people had hearkened unto me, and that Mansoul had walked in my ways! I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I have sustained them." This done, he said in his heart, I will return to the court, and go to my place, till Mansoul shall consider and acknowledge their offence. And he did so, and the cause and manner of his going away from them was thus, for that Mansoul declined him, as is manifest in these particulars: 1 Carnal-security is well described, as it is the offspring of Self-conceit and Fear-nothing. This is one of those evils into which the professors of religion may be unwarily drawn; and it proceeds from an abuse of the doctrines of grace. The true doctrine of God, as the author observes, is, that believers should not forget the love of the father and of the son, but so demean themselves as to continue therein; but carnal-security makes men trust to their fortifications, their privileges, rather than to the Lord; and while they boast of perseverance take no care to persevere, but grow careless about prayer, communion with God, and coming to his table; while pride, sloth, and conformity to the world prevail. This spirit has been much encouraged lately by some preachers, and many have been "tickled and taken with their discourse." 1. They left off their former way of visiting him, they came not to his royal palace as afore. 2. They did not regard, nor yet take notice, that he came, or came not to visit them. 3. The love-feasts that had wont to be between their prince and them, though he made them still, and called them to them, yet they neglected to come to them, or to be delighted with them. 4. They waited not for his counsel, but began to be headstrong and confident in themselves, concluding that now they were strong and invincible, and that Mansoul was secure, and beyond all reach of the foe, and that her state must needs be unalterable for ever. He endeavours to reclaim them. Now, as was said, Immanuel, perceiving, that, by the craft of Mr. Carnal-security, the town of Mansoul was taken off from their dependence upon him, and upon his father by him, and set upon what by them was bestowed upon it; he first, as I said, bemoaned their state; then he used means to make them understand that the way they went on in was dangerous: for he sent my lord high secretary to them, to forbid them such ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr. Carnal-security's parlour; and perceiving also that They grieve the they were not willing to reason about Holy Ghost and matters concerning their good, het took grief and went his way. The which when he had told to the prince Immanuel, he was grieved also, and returned to his father's Christ. court. Christ with Now the methods of his withdrawdraws not all at ing, as I was saying before, were once. thus: 1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kept himself close, and more retired than formerly. 2. His speech was not now, if he came into their company, so pleasant and familiar as formerly. 3. Nor did he, as in times past, send to Mansoul from his table those dainty bits which he was wont to do. The working 4. Nor, when they came to visit him, as now and then they would, would he be so easily spoken with, as they found him in times past. of their affec- They might now knock once, yea twice, but he would seem not at all to regard them; whereas formerly he would run and meet them half way, and take them too and lay tions. them in his bosom 2. Thus Immanuel carried it now; and by this his carriage he thought to make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But alas! they did not consider, they did not know his ways, they regarded not, they were not touched with these, nor with the true remembrance of former favours, Ezek. xi. 21. Hosea, v. 15. Lev. xxvi. 21-24. Wherefore what does he but in private manner withdraw himself, first from his palace, then to the gate of the town, and so away from Mansoul he goes, till they should acknowledge their offence, and more earnestly seek his face. Mr. God'speace also laid down his commission, and would for the present act no longer. Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of retaliation, walked contrary to them, Jer. ii. 32. But alas! by this time they were so hardened in their way, and had so drunk in the doctrine of Mr. Carnal-security, that the departing of their prince 2 Carnal-security, however pleasing to the flesh, grieves the holy spirit, destroys spiritual comfort, and causes the Lord to withdraw from the soul. Miserable is this condition, and yet it is often little observed or lamented, such is the hardness of the heart, touched them not, nor was he remembered by them when gone; and so of consequence his absence was not bewailed by them. A trick put up. fear. Now there was a day wherein this old gentleman, Mr. Carnal-security, again made a on Mr. Godly feast for the town of Mansoul, and there was at that time in the town one Mr. Godly-fear; one now but little set by, though formerly one of great request. This man, old Carnal-security had a mind, if possible, to gull and abuse as he did the rest, and therefore he now bids him to the feast with his neighbours. So the day being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears with the rest of the guests; and being all set at the Stranger. table, they ate and drank, and were merry, even all but this one man (for Mr. Godlyfear sat like a stranger, and neither ate nor was merry); which when Mr. Carnal-security perceived, he addressed himself in a speech thus to him: He goes to the feast, and sits there like a Talk between "Mr. Godly-fear, are you not well? you seem to be of ill body or mind, or both. I have a cordial of Mr. Forget-good's making, which, Sir, if you will take, I hope it may make you bonny and blithe, and so make you more fit for us feasting companions." curity and Mr. Godly-fear. Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied: "Sir, I thank you for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial, I have no list thereto. But a word to the natives of Mansoul: You the elders and chief of Mansoul, to me it is strange to see you so jocund and merry, when the town of Mansoul is in such woful case. Then said Mr. Carnal-security, "You want sleep, good Sir, I doubt. If you please, lie down |