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النشر الإلكتروني

"2. My breast-plate is a breast-plate of iron, Rev. ix. 9. I had it forged in mine

His breast-plate. own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith; in plain language, it is an hard heart, an heart as hard as iron, and as much past feeling as a stone; the which if you get and keep, neither mercy shall win you, nor judgment fright you. This therefore is a piece of armour most necessary for all to put on that hate Shaddai, and that would fight against him under my banner.

His shield.

"3. My sword is a tongue that is set on fire of hell, Ps. lvii. 4. Ixiv. 3. James iii. 6. His sword. and that can bend itself to speak evil of Shaddai, his son, his ways, his people; use this, it has been tried a thousand times twice told; whoever hath it, keeps it, and makes use of it as I would have him, can never be conquered by mine enemy; "4. My shield is unbelief,, Job xv. 26. Psalm Ixxvi. 3. Mark vi. 5, 6. or calling into question the truth of the word, or all the sayings that speak of the judgment that Shaddai has appointed for wicked men: use this shield; many attempts he has made upon it, and sometimes. 'tis true, it has been bruised; but they that have writ of the wars of Immanuel against my servants, have testified, that "he could do no mighty work there, because of their unbelief." Now, to handle this weapon of mine aright, is, not to believe things because they are true, of what sort, or by whomsoever asserted: if he speaks of judgment, care not for it; if he speaks of mercy, care not for it; if he promises, if he swears that he would do to Mansoul, if it turns, no hurt, but good: regard not what is said, question the truth of all; for this is to wield the shield of unbelief aright, and as my servants ought, and

do: and he that does otherwise, loves me not, nor do I count him but an enemy to mc.

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"5. Another part or piece, said Diabolus, of Another piece mine excellent armour, is "a dumb of armour. and prayerless spirit,' a spirit that scorns to cry for mercy, let the danger be ever so great; wherefore be you, my Mansoul, sure that you make use of this. What! cry for quarter? Never do that, if you would be mine: I know you stout men; and am sure that I have clad you with that which is armour proof; wherefore to cry to Shaddai for mercy, let that be far from you. Besides all this, I have a maul, firebrands, arrows, and death, all good hand-weapons, and such as will do execution".

He backs all

to them.

After he had thus furnished his men with armour and arms, he addressed himself to them in such like words as these: 'Rememwith a speech ber, quoth he, that I am your rightful king; and that you have taken an oath, and entered into covenant, to be true to me and to my cause: I say, remember this, and shew yourselves stout and valiant men of Mansoul. Remember also the kindness that I have always shewed to you, and that without your petition. I have granted to you external things; wherefore the privileges, grants, immunities, profits, and honours, wherewith I have endowed you, do call forth at your hands returns of loyalty, my lionlike men of Mansoul: and what so fit a time to shew it, as when others shall seek to take my do

9 This is a just description of that "whole armour" of the devil, with which mistaken sinners defend themselves against God. Presumption-hardness of heart-a_blasphemous tongue-unbelief, and a prayerless spirit. This is Satan's armour; the very reverse of that which God has provided for christian soldiers.

minion over you into their own hands? One word more, and I have done: Can we but stand, and overcome this one shock or brunt, I doubt not but in a little time all the world will be ours; and when that day comes, my true hearts, I will make you kings, princes, and captains, and what brave days shall we have then ".

10

Diabolus having thus armed and fore-armed his servants and vassals in Mansoul, against their good and lawful king Shaddai, in the next place he doubleth his guards at the gates of the town, and betakes himself to the castle, which They of Man- was his strong hold: his vassals also, soul shew their to shew their wills, and supposed (but loyalty to the ignoble) gallantry, exercise them in their arms every day, and teach one another feats of war, they also defied their enemies, and sung up the praises of their tyrant; they threatened also what men they would be, if ever things should rise so high as a war between Shaddai and their king.

giant.

10 Thus Satan deceiveth (almost) the whole world, promising liberty and pleasure, while slavery and destruction are his only aim. Nor need we wonder that he thus assaults us, for he had the presumption to attack our divine Lord in the same manner; "All these things," said he,-all the glories and pleasures of the world-"will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me." None of these things, however, seduced his heart; but alas! how small a portion of worldly good is generally enough to allure us?

CHAP. IV.

Shaddai sends an Army of Forty Thousand Men to reduce Mansoul, under the Command of Boanerges, Conviction, Judgment, and Execution.... The Captains address themselves to the Inhabi tants in Speeches of great Energy, but to little Purpose, Diabolus, Incredulity, Ill-pause, and others interposing to prevent Submission....Preju dice defends Ear-gate with a Guard of Sixty deaf Men.

NOW

OW all this time the good King, the King Shaddai, was preparing to send an army to recover the town of Mansoul again from under the tyranny of their pretended king Shaddai prepareth an army Diabolus: but he thought good, at for the recovery the first, not to send them by the of Mansoul. hand and conduct of brave Immanuel his Son, but under the hand of some of his servants, to see first by them the temper of Mansoul, and whether by them they would be won to the obedience of their king. The army consisted of above forty thousand, all true men; for they came from the king's own court, and were those of his own chusing.

They came up to Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals, each man being captain of ten thousand men; and these are their names, and their ensigns. The name of the first was Captain Boanerges; the name of the second was Captain Conviction; the name of the third, Captain Judgment; and the name of the fourth was Captain Execution. These

The captains

names.

E

were the captains that Shaddai sent to regain Mansoul.

These four captains (as was said) the king thought fit in the first place to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it; for indeed generally, in all his wars, he did use to place these four captains in the van, for they were very stout and rough-hewn men, Psal. lx. 4. men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dint of sword, and their men were like themselves. To each of these captains the king gave a banner, that it might be displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of the right that he had

The King gives them a banner.

to Mansoul.

1

First, To Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I say, were given ten thousand men : his ensign was Mr. Thunder: he bore the black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, Mark iii. 17.

The second captain was Captain Conviction; to him were given ten thousand men: his ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow; he did bear the pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wide open, from whence issued a flame of fire, Deut. xxxiii. 2.

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten thousand men: his ensign's name was Mr. Terror; he bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace, Matt. xiii. 40, 41.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him were given ten thousand men: his ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root thereof, Matt. iii. 10.

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