Now the tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in private, but in open

Grief at court to hear the tidings.

court, the king and his son, high lords, chief captains, and nobles, being all there present to hear. But by that they had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that the famous Mansoul was now taken: only the king and his son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not every body thereof. Yet because they too would have a share in condoling the misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a rate of the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul. The king said plainly, that it grieved him at the heart," Gen vi. 5, 6. and you may be sure that his son was not a whit behind him. Thus they gave conviction to all about them, that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul'.

1 "Known unto God are all things, from the beginning of the world". The fall was foreseen from all eternity. God, in his unsearchable wisdom permitted it, and provided, in the covenant of grace, for the restoration of his people.

Nothing can more awfully bespeak the extreme sinfulness and misery of man, than the words here referred to." It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." God's resentment against sin is here expressed after the manner of men, and must not be understood as implying uneasiness, or change of mind in Jehovah, but his just displeasure against sin and sinners, as odious to his holiness, and obnoxious to his justice. He is spoken of as grieved, like a person whose kindness has been abused-who has fostered a snake in his bosom which now hisses and stings. "Doth God thus hate sin, and shall not we hate it? Hath our sin grieved him to the heart, and shall not we be grieved to the

Well, when the king and his son were retired into the privy chamber, they there again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, That as Mansoul should in time be The secrets of suffered to be lost; so as certainly it should be recovered again. Recovered, I say, in such a way, as that both the king and his son would get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this consultation, the son of Shaddai (a sweet and comely

his purpose.

The Son of God.

person, and one that had always great

affection for those that were in affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus, because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and dignity, Is. xlix. 5. 1 Tim. i. 15, Hos. xiii. 14.); this son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hand with his father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, That at a certain time, A brave design prefixed by both, the king's son should take a journey into the country of Universe, and there in a way of justice and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay the foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus, and from his tyranny2,

set on foot for

the town of Mansoul.

heart for it? O that this consideration may humble and shame us, and that we may look upon him whom we have thus grieved and mourn." Mr. Henry on Gen. vi. 6.

2 How astonishing is the divine benignity ! and who can express it so well as in the words of Immanuel himself (John iii. 6.) God SO loved the world—so loved! How much he loved, no tongue can tell, no heart conceive. It is love unsought, unparalleled, free, and everlasting!

Moreover, Immanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war upon the giant * By the Holy Diabolus,* even while he was pos

Ghost.

sessed of the town of Mansoul; and that he would fairly, by strength of hand, drive him out of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself, to be his habitation.

This being now resolved upon, order was given to the Lord Chief Secretary, to draw up a fair record of what was determined, and to

The holy scriptures.

cause that it should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A short breviat of the contents thereof, you may, if you please, take here as follows:

Let all men know, who are concerned, that the son of Shaddai, the great king, The contents. is engaged by covenant to his father, to bring his Mansoul to him again; yea, and to put Mansoul too, through his love, into a 'far better and more happy condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus3.

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no little molestation of the tyrant Diabolus; for now, thought he, I shall be molested, and my habitation will be taken from me.

But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the king and his son, did at first take air at court, who can tell how the high lords, chief captains, and noble princes that were there, were taken

3 Early intimation was given to a lost world of God's gra cious design in favour of rebel man; and the Lord, designing to make the Scriptures, which are inspired by the Holy Spirit, (the Secretary) the instrument in his hands for his recovery, was pleased to publish in them his benevolent purpose,

Among the angels.

with the business! First, They whispered to one another, and after that it began to ring throughout the king's palace, all wondering at the glorious design that between the king and his son was on foot for the miserable town of Mansoul: yea, the cour tiers could scarcely do any thing, either for the king or kingdom, but they would mix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the king and his son, that they had for the town of Mansoul. Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes, be content to keep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof were perfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe.

At last it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his no little discontent; for you must Diabolus perthink it would perplex him to hear of plexed at the such a design against him. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, he con cluded upon these four things:

news.

He concluded

on several things.

First, That this news, these good tidings (if possible) should be kept from the ears of the town of Mansoul; for, said he, if they should once come to the knowledge, that Shaddai their former king, and Imma❤ nuel his son, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can be expected by me, but that Mansoul will revolt from under my hand and government, and return again to him3.

Angels desire to pry into the wonders of redemption. They would be astonished at the discovery; as, long after they proved themselves to be, by the chorus they sang at our Savi our's birth: Glory to God in the highest! on earth, peace! good-will towards men!" These benevolent spirits were also sometimes the messengers of evangelical tidings to the fathers, previous to the incarnation of Immanuel.

5 It is the interest of hell to keep men in ignorance of the gospel, the proper tendency of which is to induce sinners to return to God, 2 Cor. iv. 4.

First, how to keep the news

from Mansoul.

Now to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with my Lord Will be-will, and also gives him strict charge and com. mand, that he should keep watch by day and night at all the gates of the town, especially Ear-gate and Eye-gate: for I hear of a design, quoth he, a design to make us all traitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first bondage again. I hope they are but flying stories, quoth he; however, let no such news by any means be let into Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat: I think, my lord, it can be no welcome news to you, I am sure it is none to me:

The will engaged against the gospel.

must be kept

out of Mansoul.

and I think, that at this time it should be all our wisdoms and care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall Good thoughts tend to trouble our people; wherefore I desire, my lord, that you will in this matter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at every gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come, whom you perceive do come from far hither to trade: nor let them by any means be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that they are favourers of our excellent All good government, I command moreover, thoughts and said Diabolus, that there be spies conwords are to tinually walking up and down the be suppressed. town of Mansoul; and let them have power to suppress and destroy any that they shall see plotting against us, or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Immanuel is intended,

This therefore was accordingly done; my Lord Will-be-will hearkened to his lord and master, went willingly after his commandment, and, with all the diligence he could, kept any that would from going out abroad, or that sought to bring