Now after they had read and considered the letter, they consulted what answer to return, and the first that spake to it was Lucifer.

Lucifer's speech.

Lucifer. Then said he, The first project of the Diabolonians in Mansoul is like to be They consult what answer to lucky, and to take; to wit, that they give to the letter. will, by all the means they can, make Mansoul yet more vile; no way to destroy a soul like this; our old friend Balaam went this way, and prospered many years ago, Numb. xxxi. 16. Rev. ii. 14. Let this therefore stand with us for a maxim, and be to Diabolonians for a general rule in all ages; for nothing can make this to fail but grace, in which I would hope that this town has no share. But whether to fall upon them on a market-day, because of their cumber in business, that I would should be under debate. And there is more reason why this head should be debated, than why some other should; because upon this will turn the whole of what we shall attempt. If we time not our business well our whole project may fail. friends the Diabolonians say, that a market-day is best, for then will Mansoul be most busy, and have fewest thoughts of a surprize. But what if they shall double their guards on those days (and methinks nature and reason should teach them to do it?) and what if they should keep such a watch on those days, as the necessity of their present case requires? Yea, what if their men should be always in arms on those days? Then you may, my lords, be disappointed in your attempts, and may bring our friends in the town to utter danger of unavoidable ruin ".

Our

11 Learn wisdom from the devil. Nature and reason should teach men to be doubly on their guard when much engaged in

Beelzebub. Then said the great Beelzebub, There is something in what my lord Beelzebub's hath said, but his conjecture may or speech, may not fall out. Nor hath my lord laid it down as that which must not be receded from: for I know that he said it only to provoke a warm debate thereabout. Therefore we must understand, if we can, whether the town of Mansoul has such sense and knowledge of her decayed state, and of the designs that we have on foot against her, as to set watch and ward at her gates, and to double them on market-days. But if, after inquiry made, it shall be found that they are asleep, then any day will do, but a market-day is best; and this is my judgment.

Diabolus. Then quoth Diabolus, How should we know this ? And it was answered, Inquire about it at the mouth of Mr. Profane. So Profane was called in, and asked the question, and he made his answer as follows;

Profane's de

scription of the

Profane. My lords, so far as I can gather, this is at present the condition of the town of Mansoul: they are decayed present state of in their faith and love; Immanuel, their prince, has given them the back; they send often by petition to fetch him again, but he makes no haste to answer their request; nor is there much reformation among them.

Mansoul.

Diabolus. I am glad that they are backward to a reformation, but yet I am afraid of their petitioning. However, their looseness of life is a sign that there is not much heart in what they do, and

the world-on market days: "Men should be always in arms on those days." Would to God this hint were duly regarded in the country on market-days, and in London always, where every day in the week is market-day!

without the heart things are little worth 12. But, go on my masters, I will divert you, my lords, no longer.

Beelzebub. If the case be so with Mansoul, as Mr. Profane has described it to be, it will be no great matter what day we assault it; not their prayers nor their power will do them much ser

vice.

Dreadful advice against Mansoul.

go

When Beelzebub had ended his oration, then Apollyon began. My opinion, said he, concerning this matter is, that we on fair and softly, not doing things in a hurry. Let our friends in Mansoul go on still to pollute and defile it, by seeking to draw it yet more into sin (for there is nothing like sin to devour Mansoul.) If this be done, and takes effect, Mansoul itself will leave off to watch, petition, or any thing else, that should tend to her security and safety; for she will forget her Immanuel, she will not desire his company; and can she be gotten thus to live, her prince will not come to her in haste. Our trusty friend, Mr. Carnal-security, with one of his tricks, drove him out of the town, and why may not my Lord Covetousness, and my Lord Lasciviousness, by what they may do, keep him out of the town 13? And this I will tell you (not because you know it not, but) that two or three Diabolonians, if entertained and countenanced by the town of Mansoul, will do more to the keeping Immanuel from them, and towards making the town our own, than an army or a

12 Good reasoning. Looseness of life is a proof that, whatever of religion men may profess, there is not much heart in it; and if not, it is of little worth, and will do them little service.

13 Very true, though said by the father of lies. Sin will do more to hurt the soul than a legion of devils.

legion that should be sent out from us to withstand him.

Let, therefore, this first project that our friends in Mansoul have set on foot, be strong

his advice that they should carry on the war with craft and guile.

Apollyon gives ly and diligently carried on with all cunning and craft imaginable; and let them send continually under one guise or other, more and other of their men to play with the people of Mansoul; and then perhaps we shall not need to be at the charge of making a war upon them; or if that must of necessity be done, yet the more sinful they are, the less able they will be to resist us, and then the more easily we shall overcome them. And besides, suppose (and that is the worst that can be supposed) that Immanuel should come to them again, why may not the same means (or the like) drive him from them once more? Yea, why may he not, by their lapse into that sin again, be driven from them for ever, for the sake of which he was at the first driven from them for a season? And if this should happen, then away will go with him his rams, his slings, his captains, his soldiers, and he leaveth Mansoul naked and bare. Yea, will not this town, when she sees herself utterly forsaken of her prince, of her own accord open her gates again unto you? But this must be done by time, a few days will not effect so great a work as this 14.

Diabolus can

When Apollyon had made an end of speaking, Diabolus began to blow out his own malice, and plead his own cause; and he said, My lords and powers of the cave, my true and trusty friends, I have with much impatience, as becomes me, given ear to your long and tedious

brook no delay,

but is determined to retake the town immediately.

14

Apostacy is often a gradual affair, a sure poison, but slow.

orations. But my furious gorge and empty paunch so lusteth after a repossession of my famous town of Mansoul, that whatever comes on it, I can wait no longer to see the events of lingering projects. I must, and that without further delay, seek by all means I can, to fill my unsatiable gulf with the soul and body of the town of Mansoul. Therefore lend me your heads, your hearts, and your helps, now I am going to recover my town of Mansoul.

When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire that was in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul, they left off to raise any more objections, but consented to lend him what strength they could: though, had Apollyon's advice been taken, they had far more fearfully distressed the town of Mansoul. But I say, they were willing to lend him what strength they could, not knowing what need they might have of him, when they should engage for themselves, as he. Wherefore they fell to devising about the next thing propounded; to wit, what soldiers they were, and also how many, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of Mansoul, to take it; and, after some debate, it was concluded, according as in the letter the Diabolonians had suggested, that none was more fit for that expedition, than an army of terrible doubters. They therefore concluded to send against Mansoul an army of sturdy doubters. The number thought fit to be employed in that service was between twenty and thirty thousand 15. So then the result of that great council of those high and mighty

15 When the enemy has so far prevailed by temptation, that şin has been entertained in the soul, as lasciviousness and covetousness, then is the time to pour into the soul a crowd of distressing doubts respecting our own salvation; and this is the natural and usual consequence of sin indulged.