these tidings to Mansoul, from coming into the

town.

Secondly, This done, in the next place, Diabo

A new oath imposed.

lus, that he might make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath and horrible covenant upon the

town's folk:

To wit, That they should never desert him, nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seek to alter his laws: but that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledge him for their rightful king, in defiance of any that do, or hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title whatsoever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul, Isa. xxviii. 15. thinking belike that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this covenant with death, and agreement with hell. Nor did the silly the oath. Mansoul stick or boggle at all at this most monstrous engagement, but, as if it had been a sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any chewing. Were they troubled at it? Nay, they rather bragged and boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant their pretended king; swearing, that they would never be changelings, nor forsake their old lord for a new".

They take'

Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast; but jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put him, in the next place, upon another exploit, which was, yet more, if possible, to debauch this town of Mansoul; wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth, an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beastliness to be drawn up in writing, and set upon the gates: whereby he granted and gave licence to all his true and trusty sons in Mansoul, to do what

*Odious atheisti-
cal pamphlets,
and filthy ballads
and romances
full of ribaldry.

*

6 Hardened sinners seem to be sworn vassals of Satan, and sometimes make desperate resolutions never to be religious.

soever their lustful appetites prompted them to do, and that no man was to let, hinder, or controuł them, upon pain of incurring the displeasure of their prince'.

Now this he did for these reasons:

Reasons for his

1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker, and so more unable, should tidings come thus doing. that their redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof: for reason says, 'the bigger the sinner, the less ground or hope of mercy'.

2. The second reason was, If perhaps Immanuel, the son of Shaddai their king, by seeing the horrible and profane doings of the town of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a covenant of redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption; for he knew that Shaddai was holy, and that his son Immanuel was holy; yea, he knew it by woeful experience: for, for the iniquity and sin of Diabolus was he cast from the highest orbs. Wherefore what more rational than for him to conclude, that thus for sin it might fare with Mansoul? But fearing lest also this knot should break, he bethinks himself of another, to wit:

"We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are

we at agreement." Isa. xxviii. 15. Such men " glory in their shame," and determine to be more and more vile.

Would to God

7 The margin informs us what this means. there were none of these infidel and obscene pamphlets, pictures, and songs among us! But they abound; are circulated with diligence, introduced into schools among boys and girls, read with avidity, and they produce the damnable effects which the Devil designs; for the deeper the heart is immersed in sensuality, the less regard will be paid to God and religion; and, not unfrequently, a secret despair possesses the sinner, that there is no hope for him, and therefore he may as well enjoy the full pleasures of sin.

Thirdly, To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of Mansoul, that Shaddai was raising an army, to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy the town of Mansoul (and this he did to forestal any tidings that might come to their ears, of their deliverance); for, thought he, if I first spread this abroad, the tidings that might come after will be swallowed up of this; for what else will Mansoul say, when they shall hear that they must be delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroy them? Wherefore he *The place of summons the whole town into the hearing, and of market-place, and there with deconsidering. ceitful tongue thus he addresses him

self unto them;

"Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul; you know how, from the first day that I have been with you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and what liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my government; I hope, to your honour and mine, and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul; sorry I am therefore for your sakes. For I received but now by the post, from my Lord Lucifer (and he used to have good intelligence) that your old king Shaddai is raising an army to come against you, to destroy you root and branch; and this, O Mansoul, is now the cause that at this time I have called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture is best to be done. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own ease, and to leave my Mansoul in all danger, but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so

loth am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befal me. What say you, O my Mansoul? will you now desert your old friend; or do you think of standing by me?

Then as one man, with one mouth, they cried out together, "Let him die the death that will not."

language.

Then said Diabolus again, ""Tis in vain for us to hope for quarter, for this King knows Very deceiving not how to shew it. True, perhaps he, at his first sitting down before us, will talk of and pretend to mercy, that thereby with the more ease, and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of Mansoul; whatever therefore he should say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it, for all such language is but to overcome us, and to make us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. My mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and not to believe him on any terms; for in at that door will come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives? I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics, than to suffer yourselves to be so pitifully served,

"But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief of the town, especially you whom I have set up, and whose greatness has been procured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And supLying language. pose again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which you were captivated before, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do you? Shall you with him live.

losing Mansoul.

in pleasure, as you do now? No, no, you must be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that which at present is He is afraid of hateful to you". I am for you, if you are for me; and it is better to die valiantly, than to live like pitiful slaves. But I say, the life of a slave will be accounted a life too good for Mansoul now; blood, blood, nothing but blood, is in every blast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now: pray be concerned, I hear he is coming up, and stand to your arms, that now, while you have leisure, I may teach He puts them you some feats of war. Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for Mansoul, from top to toe. nor can you be hurt by what his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you: come therefore to my castle and welcome, and harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet, breast-plate, sword, shield, and what not, that you will fight like men.

upon arming themselves.

"1. My helmet, otherwise called an headpiece, is hope of doing well at last, His helmet. what lives soever you live, Deut. xxix. 19. This is that which they had, who said, that 'they should have peace, though they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:' a piece of approved armour is this; and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart, sword, or shield, can hurt him; this therefore keep on, and thou wilt ward off many a blow, my Mansoul.

8 Carnal men readily believe this lie, and make it one of their apologies for their dislike of religion, that it is destructive of liberty and pleasure. But believers assuredly know that "Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light;" his "service is perfect freedom," and all "his ways are pleasantness and peace."