the town of Mansoul. to send to the court of Immanuel for help. This I give you to understand, that ye may yet know how to carry it to the wretched town of Mansoul. Diabolus is en- Wherefore, O my trusty Diaboloniraged against ans, I command, that yet more and more ye distress this town of Mansoul, and vex it with your wiles, ravish their women, deflower their virgins, slay their children, brain their ancients, fire their town, and do what other mischief you can; and let this be the reward of the Mansoulians from me, for their desperate rebellion against me." This you see was the charge, but something stepped in betwixt that and execution, for as yet there was but little more done than to rage. Moreover, when Diabolus had done thus, he went the next day up to the castle-gates, and demanded that, upon pain of death, the gates should be opened to him, and that entrance should be given him and his men that followed after. To whom Mr. Godly-fear replied (for he it was that had the charge of that gate) "That the gate should not be opened unto him, nor to the men that followed after him." He said, moreover, "That Mansoul, when she had suf fered awhile, should be made perfect, strengthened, and settled." Then said Diabolus, "Deliver me then the men that petitioned against me, especially Captain Credence that carried it to your prince; deliver that varlet into my hands, and I will depart from the Satan cannot abide faith. 10 Could faith be given up, Satan would obtain all his desire. Then upstarts a Diabolonian, whose name was Mr. Fooling, and said, "My lord offereth you fair, it is better for you that one man perish, than that your whole Mansoul should be undone." But Mr. Godly-fear made him this replication: "How long will Mansoul be kept out of the dungeon, when she hath given up her faith to Diabolus? As good lose the town as lose Captain Credence; for if one be gone, the other must follow." But to that Mr. Fooling said nothing. Then did my lord-mayor reply, and said, "O thou devouring tyrant, be it known unto thee, we shall hearken to none of thy words; we are resolved to resist thee as long as a captain, a man, a sling, and a stone to throw at thee, shall be found in the town of Mansoul." But Diabolus answered, "Do you hope, do Diabolus rages. you wait, do you look for help and deliverance? You have sent to Immanuel, but your wickedness sticks too close in your skirts, to let innocent prayer come out of your lips. Think you, that you shall be prevailers, and prosper in this design? You will fail in your wish, you will fail in your attempts; for it is not only I, but your Immanuel is against you. Yea, it is he that hath sent me against you to subdue you; for what then do you hope, or by what means will you escape? or's speech Then said my lord-mayor, "We have sinned indeed, but that shall be no help to The Lord-may- thee, for our Immanuel hath said it, just at the time and that in great faithfulness, And of the return of him that cometh to me I will in no Captain Crewise cast out.' He hath also told us dence. (O our enemy) that all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to the sons of men.' Therefore we dare not despair, but will look for, and wait for mercy "." And now by this time Captain Credence was come from the court from Immanuel to the castle of Mansoul, and he returned to them with a packet. So my lord-mayor, hearing that Captain Credence was come, withdrew himself from the noise of the roaring of the tyrant, and left him to yell at the wall of the town, or against the gates of the castle. He then came up to the captain's lodgings, and, saluting him, asked him of his welfare, and what was the best news at court? But when he asked Captain Credence that, the water stood in his eyes. Then said the captain, Cheer up, my lord, for all will be well in time. And with that he first produced his packet, and laid it by, but that the ford-mayor and the rest of the captains took for a sign of good tidings. (Now a season of grace being come, he sent for all the captains and elders of the town that were here and there in, their lodgings, in the castle, and upon their guard, to let them know that Captain Credence was returned from the court, and that he had something in general, and something in special to communicate to them.) So they all came up to him, and saluted him, and asked him concerning his journey, and what was the best news at court? And he answered them, as he had done the lord-mayor before, that all would be well at last 12. Now when the captain had thus saluted them, The packet he opened his packet, and thence opened. drew out of it several notes for those "Nothing like the precious promises as an answer to Satan. With the word of God our Lord himself silenced the devil in the wilderness. 18 This is the proper language of faith, "All shall be well at the last." that he had sent for. And the first note was for my lord-mayor, wherein was signified: "The prince Immanuel had taken it well A note for my that my lord-mayor had been so true lord-mayor. and trusty in his office, and the great concerns that lay upon him for the town and people of Mansoul. Also he bid him to know that he took it well that he had been so bold for his prince Immanuel, and had engaged so faithfully in his cause against Diabolus. He also signified at the close of his letter, that he should shortly receive his reward." A note for my Lord Will-be will. The second note that came out, was for the noble Lord Will-be-will, wherein there was signified, "That his prince Immanuel did well understand how valiant and courageous he had been for the honour of his lord, now in his absence, and when his name was under contempt by Diabolus. There was signified also, that his prince had taken it well that he had been so faithful to the town of Mansoul, in his keeping of so strict a hand and eye over, and so strict a rein upon the necks of the Diabolonians that still were lurking in their several holes in the famous town of Mansoul." He signified moreover, "that he understood that my lord had with his own hand done great execution upon some of the chief of the rebels there, to the great discouragement of the adverse party, and to the good example of the whole town of Mansoul, and that shortly his lordship should have his reward." The third note came out for the subordinate preacher, wherein was signified, "That his prince took it well from him, that he had so honestly and so faithfully performed his office, and A note for the subordinate preacher. A note for Mr. executed the trust committed to him by his lord, while he exhorted, rebuked, and forewarned Mansoul according to the laws of the town." He signified moreover, " that he took it well at his hand, that he called to fasting, to sack-cloth, and ashes, when Mansoul was under her revolt. Also, that he called for the aid of the Captain Boanerges to help in so mighty a work, and that shortly he also should receive his reward." The fourth note came out for Mr. Godly-fear, wherein his lord thus signified: "That his lordship observed, that he was the first of all the men in Mansoul that detected Mr. Carnal-security, as the only one that, through his subtlety and cunning, had obtained for Diabolus a defection and decay of goodness in the blessed town of Mansoul. Moreover, his lord gave him to understand, that he still remembered his tears and mourning for the state of Mansoul." It was also observed by the same note, "that his lord took notice of his detecting this Mr. Carnal-security at his table among his guests, in his own house, and that in the midst of his jolliness, even while he was seeking to perfect his villanies against the town of Mansoul. Immanuel also took notice, that this reverend person, Mr. Godly-fear, stood stoutly to it at the gates of the castle against all the threats and attempts of the tyrant, and that he had put the townsmen in a way to make their petition to their prince, so as that he might accept thereof, and as that they might obtain an answer of peace; and that therefore shortly he should receive his re ward." A note for the After all this, there was yet produced a note which was written to the whole town town of Man- of Mansoul, whereby they perceived, "That their lord took notice of their soul. |