Books: The Holy War
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John Bunyan >> The Holy War
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Now as soon as the captain had received his commission, he sounded
his trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to him apace; yea,
the greatest and chief men in the town sent their sons, to be
listed under his command. Thus Captain Experience came under
command to Emmanuel, for the good of the town of Mansoul. He had
for his lieutenant one Mr. Skilful, and for his cornet one Mr.
Memory. His under officers I need not name. His colours were the
white colours for the town of Mansoul; and his scutcheon was the
dead lion and dead bear. So the Prince returned to his royal
palace again.
Now when he was returned thither, the elders of the town of
Mansoul, to wit, the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the Lord
Willbewill, went to congratulate him, and in special way to thank
him for his love, care, and the tender compassion which he showed
to his ever-obliged town of Mansoul. So after a while, and some
sweet communion between them, the townsmen having solemnly ended
their ceremony, returned to their place again.
Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he would
renew their charter, yea, wherein he would renew and enlarge it,
mending several faults therein, that Mansoul's yoke might be yet
more easy. And this he did without any desire of theirs, even of
his own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen
their old one, he laid it by, and said, 'Now that which decayeth
and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.' He said, moreover, 'The
town of Mansoul shall have another, a better, a new one, more
steady and firm by far.' An epitome hereof take as follows:-
'Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of the town of
Mansoul, I do in the name of my Father, and of mine own clemency,
give, grant, and bequeath to my beloved town of Mansoul.
'First. Free, full, and everlasting forgiveness of all wrongs,
injuries, and offences done by them against my Father, me, their
neighbour, or themselves.
'Second. I do give them the holy law and my testament, with all
that therein is contained, for their everlasting comfort and
consolation.
'Third. I do also give them a portion of the self-same grace and
goodness that dwells in my Father's heart and mine.
'Fourth. I do give, grant, and bestow upon them freely, the world
and what is therein, for their good; and they shall have that power
over them, as shall stand with the honour of my Father, my glory,
and their comfort: yea, I grant them the benefits of life and
death, and of things present, and things to come. This privilege
no other city, town, or corporation, shall have, but my Mansoul
only.
'Fifth. I do give and grant them leave, and free access to me in
my palace at all seasons--to my palace above or below--there to
make known their wants to me, and I give them, moreover, a promise
that I will hear and redress all their grievances.
'Sixth. I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul with
full power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroy
all, and all manner of Diabolonians that at any time, from
whencesoever, shall be found straggling in or about the town of
Mansoul.
'Seventh. I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul, that
they shall have authority not to suffer any foreigner, or stranger,
or their seed, to be free in, and of the blessed town of Mansoul,
nor to share in the excellent privileges thereof. But that all the
grants, privileges, and immunities that I bestow upon the famous
town of Mansoul, shall be for those the old natives, and true
inhabitants thereof; to them, I say, and to their right seed after
them.
'But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom
soever, shall be debarred a share therein.'
So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of Emmanuel
their gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more large
than by this lean epitome is set before you,) they carried it to
audience, that is, to the market place, and there Mr. Recorder read
it in the presence of all the people. This being done, it was had
back to the castle gates, and there fairly engraven upon the doors
thereof, and laid in letters of gold, to the end that the town of
Mansoul, with all the people thereof, might have it always in their
view, or might go where they might see what a blessed freedom their
Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be increased in
themselves, and their love renewed to their great and good
Emmanuel.
But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now
possess the hearts of the men of Mansoul! The bells rung, the
minstrels played, the people danced, the captains shouted, the
colours waved in the wind, and the silver trumpets sounded; and the
Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads, for they looked
like them that had been long dead.
When this was over, the Prince sent again for the elders of the
town of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry that he
intended to establish among them; such a ministry that might open
unto them, and that might instruct them in the things that did
concern their present and future state.
'For,' said he, 'you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers and
guides, will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be sure
not to do the will of my Father.'
At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to the people,
the whole town came running together, (for it pleased them well, as
whatever the Prince now did pleased the people,) and all with one
consent implored his Majesty that he would forthwith establish such
a ministry among them as might teach them both law and judgment,
statute and commandment; that they might be documented in all good
and wholesome things. So he told them that he would grant them
their requests, and would establish two among them; one that was of
his Father's court, and one that was a native of Mansoul.
'He that is from the court,' said he, 'is a person of no less
quality and dignity than my Father and I; and he is the Lord Chief
Secretary of my Father's house: for he is, and always has been,
the chief dictator of all my Father's laws, a person altogether
well skilled in all mysteries, and knowledge of mysteries, as is my
Father, or as myself is. Indeed he is one with us in nature, and
also as to loving of, and being faithful to, and in the eternal
concerns of the town of Mansoul.
'And this is he,' said the Prince, 'that must be your chief
teacher; for it is he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in
all high and supernatural things. He, and he only, it is that
knows the ways and methods of my Father at court, nor can any like
him show how the heart of my Father is at all times, in all things,
upon all occasions, towards Mansoul; for as no man knows the things
of a man but that spirit of a man which is in him, so the things of
my Father knows no man but this his high and mighty Secretary. Nor
can any, as he, tell Mansoul how and what they shall do to keep
themselves in the love of my Father. He also it is that can bring
lost things to your remembrance, and that can tell you things to
come. This teacher, therefore, must of necessity have the pre-
eminence, both in your affections and judgment, before your other
teacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also
the great dexterity that he hath to help you to make and draw up
petitions to my Father for your help, and to his pleasing, must lay
obligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that
you grieve him not.
'This person can put life and vigour into all he says; yea, and can
also put it into your heart. This person can make seers of you,
and can make you tell what shall be hereafter. By this person you
must frame all your petitions to my Father and me; and without his
advice and counsel first obtained, let nothing enter into the town
or castle of Mansoul, for that may disgust and grieve this noble
person.
'Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister; for if you
do, he may fight against you; and should he once be moved by you to
set himself against you in battle array, that will distress you
more than if twelve legions should from my Father's court be sent
to make war upon you.
'But, as I said, if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him;
if you shall devote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to
have converse, and to maintain communion with him, you shall find
him ten times better than is the whole world to any; yea, he will
shed abroad the love of my Father in your hearts, and Mansoul will
be the wisest, and most blessed of all people.'
Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, who before had
been the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him,
That, forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of
the town of Mansoul, and was also well-spoken, and could
pertinently deliver to them his Master's will in all terrene and
domestic matters, therefore he would also make him a minister for,
in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in all the laws, statutes,
and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul. 'And thou must,' said
the Prince, 'confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to
civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to presume to
be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that are
kept close in the bosom of Shaddai, my Father: for those things
knows no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father's Secretary
only.
'Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the Lord Secretary
is a native with my Father; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge of
the laws and customs of the corporation, so he of the things and
will of my Father.
'Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee a minister
and a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which
the Lord Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there
thou must be his scholar and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul
are.
'Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to
him for information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit in
man, this person's inspiration must give him understanding.
Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low and be humble, and
remember that the Diabolonians that kept not their first charge,
but left their own standing, are now made prisoners in the pit. Be
therefore content with thy station.
'I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on earth, in such things
of which I have made mention before: and thou, take thou power to
teach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and
chastisements, if they shall not willingly hearken to do thy
commandments.
'And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abuses
made feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license to go when
thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of
the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thus
doing, thou shalt drive from thine heart and stomach all foul,
gross, and hurtful humours. It will also lighten thine eyes, and
will strengthen thy memory for the reception and keeping of all
that the King's most noble Secretary teacheth.'
When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into
the place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the man had
thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself in a
particular speech to the townsmen themselves.
'Behold,' said the Prince to Mansoul, 'my love and care towards
you; I have added to all that is past, this mercy, to appoint you
preachers; the most noble Secretary to teach you in all high and
sublime mysteries; and this gentleman,' pointing to Mr. Conscience,
'is to teach you in all things human and domestic, for therein
lieth his work. He is not, by what I have said, debarred of
telling to Mansoul anything that he hath heard and received at the
mouth of the lord high Secretary; only he shall not attempt to
presume to pretend to be a revealer of those high mysteries
himself; for the breaking of them up, and the discovery of them to
Mansoul lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord
high Secretary himself. Talk of them he may, and so may the rest
of the town of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives them
opportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of the
whole. These things, therefore, I would have you observe and do,
for it is for your life, and the lengthening of your days.
'And one thing more to my beloved Mr. Recorder, and to all the town
of Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon, anything of that
which he hath in commission to teach you, as to your trust and
expectation of the next world; (of the next world, I say, for I
purpose to give another to Mansoul, when this with them is worn
out;) but for that you must wholly and solely have recourse to, and
make stay upon his doctrine that is your Teacher after the first
order. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look for life from that
which he himself revealeth; his dependence for that must be founded
in the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder also take
heed that he receive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine, that
is not communicated to him by his Superior Teacher, nor yet within
the precincts of his own formal knowledge.'
Now, after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town of
Mansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of the corporation a
necessary caution, to wit, how they should carry it to the high and
noble captains that he had, from his Father's court, sent or
brought with him, to the famous town of Mansoul.
'These captains,' said he, 'do love the town of Mansoul, and they
are picked men, picked out of abundance, as men that best suit, and
that will most faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the
Diabolonians, for the preservation of the town of Mansoul. 'I
charge you therefore,' said he, 'O ye inhabitants of the now
flourishing town of Mansoul, that you carry it not ruggedly or
untowardly to my captains, or their men; since, as I said, they are
picked and choice men--men chosen out of many for the good of the
town of Mansoul. I say, I charge you, that you carry it not
untowardly to them: for though they have the hearts and faces of
lions, when at any time they shall be called forth to engage and
fight with the King's foes, and the enemies of the town of Mansoul;
yet a little discountenance cast upon them from the town of Mansoul
will deject and cast down their faces, will weaken and take away
their courage. Do not, therefore, O my beloved, carry it unkindly
to my valiant captains and courageous men of war, but love them,
nourish them, succour them, and lay them in your bosoms; and they
will not only fight for you, but cause to fly from you all those
the Diabolonians that seek, and will, if possible, be, your utter
destruction.
'If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sick or weak, and
so not able to perform that office of love, which, with all their
hearts, they are willing to do (and will do also when well and in
health), slight them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthen
them and encourage them, though weak and ready to die, for they are
your fence, and your guard, your wall, your gates, your locks, and
your bars. And although, when they are weak, they can do but
little, but rather need to be helped by you, than that you should
then expect great things from them, yet, when well, you know what
exploits, what feats and warlike achievements they are able to do,
and will perform for you.
'Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be strong; if
they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety,
therefore, doth lie in their health, and in your countenancing
them. Remember, also, that if they be sick, they catch that
disease of the town of Mansoul itself.
'These things I have said unto you because I love your welfare and
your honour: observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to be punctual in
all things that I have given in charge unto you, and that not only
as a town corporate, and so to your officers and guard, and guides
in chief, but to you as you are a people whose well-being, as
single persons, depends on the observation of the orders and
commandments of their Lord.
'Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that, of which,
notwithstanding that reformation that at present is wrought among
you, you have need to be warned about: wherefore hearken
diligently unto me. I am now sure, and you will know hereafter,
that there are yet of the Diabolonians remaining in the town of
Mansoul, Diabolonians that are sturdy and implacable, and that do
already while I am with you, and that will yet more when I am from
you, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointly attempt to bring
you to desolation, and so to a state far worse than that of the
Egyptian bondage; they are the avowed friends of Diabolus,
therefore look about you. They used heretofore to lodge with their
Prince in the Castle, when Incredulity was the Lord Mayor of this
town; but since my coming hither, they lie more in the outsides and
walls, and have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, and
strongholds therein. Wherefore, O Mansoul! thy work, as to this,
will be so much the more difficult and hard; that is, to take,
mortify, and put them to death according to the will of my Father.
Nor can you utterly rid yourselves of them, unless you should pull
down the walls of your town, the which I am by no means willing you
should. Do you ask me, What shall we do then? Why, be you
diligent, and quit you like men; observe their holes; find out
their haunts; assault them, and make no peace with them. Wherever
they haunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they
offer you, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me. And
that you may the better know them from those that are the natives
of Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names of the
chief of them; and they are these that follow:- The Lord
Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger,
the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-Eye, Mr.
Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witch-craft, Mr.
Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, and
Mr. Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul! of those that
will seek to overthrow thee for ever. These, I say, are the
skulkers in Mansoul; but look thou well into the law of thy King,
and there thou shalt find their physiognomy, and such other
characteristical notes of them, by which they certainly may be
known.
'These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that you should certainly
know it,) if they be suffered to run and range about the town as
they would, will quickly, like vipers, eat out your bowels; yea,
poison your captains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break the
bars and bolts of your gates, and turn your now most flourishing
Mansoul into a barren and desolate wilderness, and ruinous heap.
Wherefore, that you may take courage to yourselves to apprehend
these villains wherever you find them, I give to you, my Lord
Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr. Recorder, with all the
inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to
seek out, to take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross,
all, and all manner of Diabolonians, when and wherever you shall
find them to lurk within, or to range without the walls of the town
of Mansoul.
'I told you before that I had placed a standing ministry among you;
not that you have but these with you, for my first four captains
who came against the master and lord of the Diabolonians that was
in Mansoul, they can, and if need be, and if they be required, will
not only privately inform, but publicly preach to the corporation
both good and wholesome doctrine, and such as shall lead you in the
way. Yea, they will set up a weekly, yea, if need be, a daily
lecture in thee, O Mansoul! and will instruct thee in such
profitable lessons, that, if heeded, will do thee good at the end.
And take good heed that you spare not the men that you have a
commission to take and crucify.
'Now, as I have set before your eyes the vagrants and runagates by
name, so I will tell you, that among yourselves, some of them shall
creep in to beguile you, even such as would seem, and that in
appearance are, very rife and hot for religion. And they, if you
watch not, will do you a mischief, such an one as at present you
cannot think of.
'These, as I said, will show themselves to you in another hue than
those under description before. Wherefore, Mansoul, watch and be
sober, and suffer not thyself to be betrayed.'
When the Prince had thus far new modelled the town of Mansoul, and
had instructed them in such matters as were profitable for them to
know, then he appointed another day in which he intended, when the
townsfolk came together, to bestow a further badge of honour upon
the town of Mansoul,--a badge that should distinguish them from all
the people, kindreds, and tongues that dwell in the kingdom of
Universe. Now it was not long before the day appointed was come,
and the Prince and his people met in the King's palace, where first
Emmanuel made a short speech unto them, and then did for them as he
had said, and unto them as he had promised.
'My Mansoul,' said he, 'that which I now am about to do, is to make
you known to the world to be mine, and to distinguish you also in
your own eyes, from all false traitors that may creep in among
you.'
Then he commanded that those that waited upon him should go and
bring forth out of his treasury those white and glistening robes
'that I,' said he, 'have provided and laid up in store for my
Mansoul.' So the white garments were fetched out of his treasury,
and laid forth to the eyes of the people. Moreover, it was granted
to them that they should take them and put them on, 'according,'
said he, 'to your size and stature.' So the people were put into
white, into fine linen, white and clean.
Then said the Prince unto them, 'This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and
the badge by which mine are known from the servants of others.
Yea, it is that which I grant to all that are mine, and without
which no man is permitted to see my face. Wear them, therefore,
for my sake, who gave them unto you; and also if you would be known
by the world to be mine.'
But now! can you think how Mansoul shone? It was fair as the sun,
clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners.
The Prince added further, and said, 'No prince, potentate, or
mighty one of Universe, giveth this livery but myself: behold,
therefore, as I said before, you shall be known by it to be mine.
'And now,' said he, 'I have given you my livery, let me give you
also in commandment concerning them; and be sure that you take good
heed to my words.
'First. Wear them daily, day by day, lest you should at sometimes
appear to others as if you were none of mine.
'Second. Keep them always white; for if they be soiled, it is
dishonour to me.
'Third. Wherefore gird them up from the ground, and let them not
lag with dust and dirt.
'Fourth. Take heed that you lose them not, lest you walk naked,
and they see your shame.
'Fifth. But if you should sully them, if you should defile them,
the which I am greatly unwilling you should, and the prince
Diabolus will be glad if you would, then speed you to do that which
is written in my law, that yet you may stand, and befall before me,
and before my throne. Also, this is the way to cause that I may
not leave you, nor forsake you while here, but may dwell in this
town of Mansoul for ever.'
And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet upon
Emmanuel's right hand. Where was there now a town, a city, a
corporation, that could compare with Mansoul! a town redeemed from
the hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a town that the King
Shaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Prince
of the infernal cave; yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in,
and that he chose for his royal habitation; a town that he
fortified for himself, and made strong by the force of his army.
What shall I say, Mansoul has now a most excellent Prince, golden
captains and men of war, weapons proved, and garments as white as
snow. Nor are these benefits to be counted little, but great; can
the town of Mansoul esteem them so, and improve them to that end
and purpose for which they are bestowed upon them?
When the Prince had thus completed the modelling of the town, to
show that he had great delight in the work of his hands and took
pleasure in the good that he had wrought for the famous and
flourishing Mansoul, he commanded, and they set his standard upon
the battlements of the castle. And then,
First. He gave them frequent visits; not a day now but the elders
of Mansoul must come to him, or he to them, into his palace. Now
they must walk and talk together of all the great things that he
had done, and yet further promised to do, for the town of Mansoul.
Thus would he often do with the Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and
the honest subordinate preacher Mr. Conscience, and Mr. Recorder.
But oh, how graciously, how lovingly, how courteously, and tenderly
did this blessed Prince now carry it towards the town of Mansoul!
In all the streets, gardens, orchards, and other places where he
came, to be sure the poor should have his blessing and benediction;
yea, he would kiss them, and if they were ill he would lay hands on
them, and make them well. The captains, also, he would daily, yea,
sometimes hourly, encourage with his presence and goodly words.
For you must know that a smile from him upon them would put more
vigour, more life, and stoutness into them, than would anything
else under heaven.
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