under his cruel tyranny, and to perfuade it to fubmit, as in former times it did, to the most excellent King Shaddai."

Then faid the Lord Willbewill, “I will do your errand to the Town."

99

Willbewill.

peter.

The trumpeter then replied, "Sir, do not The trumdeceive us, left in fo doing, you deceive yourfelves much more. He added, moreover, " for we are refolved, if in peaceable manner you do not fubmit your felves, then to make a war upon you, and bring you under by force. And of the truth of what I fay, this shall be a sign unto you, you shall fee the black flag, with its bot burning thunder-bolts, fet upon the mount tomorrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our refolutions to reduce you to our Lord and rightful King."

So the faid Lord Willbewill returned from off the wall, and the trumpeter came into the camp. The trumpeWhen the trumpeter was come into the camp, ter returns to the captains and officers of the mighty King the camp. Shaddai came together to know if he had obtained a hearing, and what was the effect of his errand. So the trumpeter told, faying, "When I had founded my trumpet, and had called aloud to the Town for a hearing, my Lord Willbewill, the governor of the Town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up when he heard me found; and, looking over the wall, he afked me, what I was? whence I came? and what was the cause of my making this noife? So I told him my errand, and by whose authority I brought it. Then, said he, I will tell it to the governor and to Manfoul. And then I returned to my Lords." Then faid the brave Boanerges, "Let us yet for a while lie ftill Carnal fouls in our trenches, and fee what these rebels will make a wrong

do."

interpretation do."

of the defign

niftry.

Now, when the time drew nigh that of a gofpel mi- audience by Manfoul must be given to the brave Boanerges and his companions, it was commanded that all the men of war throughout the whole camp of Shaddai fhould as one man ftand to their arms, and make themselves ready, if the town of Mansoul shall hear, to receive it forthwith to mercy; but, if not, to force a fubjection. So, the day being come, the trumpeters founded, and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of war might be in readiness for that which then fhould be the work of the day. But when they that were in the town of Manfoul heard the found of the trumpets throughout the camp of Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be in order to ftorming the Corporation, they at first were put to great confternation of spirit, but, after they a little were fettled again, they alfo made what preparations they could for a war, if they did ftorm; elfe to fecure themselves. Well, when the utmoft time was come, Boanerges was refolved to hear their answer: wherefore he fent out his trumpeter again to fummon Manfoul to a hearing of the meffage that they had brought from Shaddai. So he went and founded, and the townsmen came up, but made Ear-gate as fure as they could. Now, when they were come up to the top of the wall, Captain Boanerges defired to fee the Lord Boanerges refufes to make Mayor; but my Lord Incredulity was then Incredulity a Lord Mayor, for he came in the room of he had to de- my Lord Luftings. So Incredulity came mous town of up and fhewed himself over the wall; but Manfoul. when the Captain Boanerges had fet his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud, "This is not he; where Lord Understanding, the ancient Lord Mayor of

Zech. vii. 1I.

judge of what

liver to the fa

is

my

the

the town of Manfoul? for to him I would deliver my meffage."

Then faid the Giant (for Diabolus was alfo come down) to the captain, "Mr Captain, you have, by your boldness, given to Manfoul at least four fummonfes to fubject herself to your King; by whofe authority I know not, nor will I difpute that now. I afk, therefore, what is the reafon of all this ado, or what would

you be at if you knew yourselves?"

ing.

Then Captain Boanerges (whofe was the black Colours, and whofe 'scutcheon was three burning Boanerges ob Thunder-bolts) taking no notice of the Giant, tainetha hearor of his fpeech, thus addreffed himself to the town of Manfoul; "Be it known unto you, O unhapру and rebellious Manfoul, that the most graHis fpeech. cious King, the great King Shaddai, my Mafter, hath fent me unto you with commiffion (and fo he fhewed to the Town his broad feal) to reduce you to his obedience. And he hath commanded me, in cafe you yield upon my fummons, to carry it to you as if were my friends or brethren; but he alfo hath bid, that if, after fummons to fubmit, you ftill ftand out and rebel, we fhould endeavour to take you by force."

you

iii. 10.---199

Then ftood forth Captain Conviction, and faid, (his was the pale Colours, and for a 'fcutcheon he The fpeech of had the Book of the Law wide open, &c.) captain Con"Hear, O Manfoul! Thou, O Manfoul, waft viction. Rom. once famous for innocency, but now thou art 23. Chap. xvi. degenerated into lies and deceit: thou haft 17, 18. Pf. 1. heard what my brother the Captain Boanerges hath faid, and it is your wifdom, and will be your happiness to stoop to, and accept of, conditions of peace and mercy when offered; efpecially when offered by

H

21, 22.

one

one against whom thou haft rebelled, and one who is of power to tear thee in pieces, for fo is Shaddai our King; nor, when he is angry can any thing ftand before him. If you fay, you have not finned, or acted rebellion against our King, the whole of your doings, fince the day that you caft off his fervice, (and there was the beginning of your fin) will fufficiently teftify against you. What else means your hearkening to the tyrant, and your receiving him for your king? What means else your rejecting the laws of Shaddai, and your obeying of Diabolus? Yea, what means thus your taking up of arms against, and the fhutting of your gates upon us, the faithful fervants of your King? Be ruled, then, and accept of my brother's invitation, and overftand not the time of mercy, but agree with thine adversary 58,59. quickly. Ah, Manfoul! fuffer not thyself to be kept from mercy, and to be run into a thousand miferies, by the flattering wiles of Diabolus. Perhaps that Piece of Deceit may attempt to make you believe that we feek our own profit in this our fervice; but know, it is obedience to our King, and love to your happiness, that is the cause of this undertaking of ours.

Luke xii.

66

'Again, I fay to thee, O Manfoul, confider if it be 2 Cor. v. 18, not amazing grace that Shaddai, fhould fo -.-21. humble himself as he doth. Now he by us reasons with you in a way of entreaty and sweet perfuafion, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has he that need of you that we are fure you have of him? No, no; but he is merciful, and would not that Manfoul fhould die, but turn to him and live." Then ftood forth Captain Judgment, (whofe was the red Colours, and for a 'fcutcheon he had the burning fiery Furnace) and he said, "O ye the inhabitants of the town of Manfoul, that have lived fo long in rebelion and acts of treason

Captain Judg

ment, his fpeech to Manfoul.

59

against the King Shaddai, know, that we come not today to this place, in this manner, with our meffage of our own minds, or to revenge our own quarrel; it is the King my mafter that hath fent us to reduce you to your obedience to him, the which if you refufe in a peaceable way to yield, we have commiffion to compel you there

to.

And never think of yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to perfuade you to think, that our King by his power is not able to bring you down, and to lay you under his feet; for he is the Former of all things, and "if he touches the mountains they fmoke." Nor will the gate of the King's clemency ftand always open; for the day that shall burn as an oven is be- Mal. iv. I. fore him, yea, it hafteth greatly, it flumber- 2 Pet. ii. 3. eth not.

"O Manfoul, is it little in thine eyes that our King doth offer thee mercy, and that after fo many provocations? Yea, he still holdeth out his golden fceptre to thee, and will not yet fuffer his gate to be shut against thee; wilt thou provoke him to do it? If so, confider what I fay, "To thee it is opened no more for ever. Job xxxvi. "If thou fayeft thou shalt not fee him, yet 14, 18.

judgment is before him; therefore truft thou in him: 66 yea, because there is wrath, beware left he take thee cc away with his ftroke; then a great ransom cannot de"liver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces of ftrength. He hath prepared his "throne for judgment: for he will come Pfal. ix. 7. "with fire, and with his chariots like a whirl- Ifa. lxvi. 15. "wind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebules "with flames of fire." Therefore, O Manfoul, take heed left, after thou haft fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, that judgment fhould take hold of thee." Now while Captain Judgment was making of this