THE

HOLY WAR,

MADE BY

SHADDAI

UPON

DIABOLUS,

For the Regaining of the

METROPOLIS of the WORLD;

Or, the lofing and taking again of the

TOWN

OF

MANSOU L.

BY

JOHN BUN Y A N,

AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

I have ufed Similitudes. HOSEA xii. 10.

NEWCASTLE:

PRINTED BY M. BROWN, AT THE BIBLE, IN THE FLESH-MARKET.

M.DCC.XCII.

B

TO THE

RE A D E R.

IS ftrange to me, that they that love to tell
Things done of old, yea, and that do excel
Their equals in hiftoriology,

Speak not of Manfoul's wars; but let them lie
Dead, like old fables, or fuch worthless things,

That to the reader no advantage brings:

"When men, like them, make what they will their own,
"Till they know this, are to themselves unknown."
Of Stories I well know there's diverfe forts,

Some foreign, fome domeftic; and reports
Are thereof made, as Fancy leads the writers:
(By books a man may guess at the inditers.)
Some will again of that which never was,
Nor will be, feign (and that without a caufe)
Such matter, raife fuch mountains, tell fuch things,
Of men, of laws, of countries, and of kings;
And in their story feem to be fo fage,
And with fuch gravity clothe ev'ry page,
That though their frontispiece fays, All is vain,
Yet to their way difciples they obtain.

1

But, Readers,* I have fomewhat else to do

Than with vain ftories thus to trouble you;
What here I fay, fome men do know so well,
They can with tears and joy the story tell.

The town of Manjoul is well known to many;
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any

A 2

*The Chriftians,

That

That are acquainted with thofe* Hiftories
That Manfoul and her wars anatomize.

Then lend thine Ear to what I do relate
Touching the town of Manfoul, and her ftate,
How fhe was loft, took captive, made a slave;
And how against him fet that should her fave :
Yea, how by hoftile ways she did oppose
Her Lord, and with his enemy did clofe,
For they are true, he that will them deny,
Muft needs the best of Records vilify.
For my part, I myself was in the Town,
Both when 'twas fet up and when pulling down ;
I faw Diabolus in his poffeffion,

And Manfoul alfo under his oppreffion;

Yea, I was there, when she own'd him for Lord,
And to him did fubmit with one accord.

When Manfoul trampled upon things divine,
And wallowed in filth as doth a fwine;
When fhe betook herself unto her arms,
Fought her Emmanuel, defpis'd his charms ;
Then I was there, and did rejoice to fee
Diabolus and Manfoul fo agree.

Let no man, then, count me a fable-maker,
Nor make my name or credit a partaker.
Of their derifion: what is here in view,
Of mine own knowledge, I dare fay, is true.

I faw the Prince's armed men come down
By troops, by thousands, to befiege the Town:
I faw the captains, heard the trumpet's found,
And how his forces cover'd all the ground;
Yea, how they fet themselves in battle-ray,
1 fhall remember to my dying day.

Ifaw the colours waving in the wind,
And they within to mischief how combin'd
To ruin Manfoul, and to make away
Her primum mobile without delay.

I faw the mounts caft up against the Town,
And how the flings were plac'd to beat it down.

*The Scriptures. + His counfel.

Her foul.

I heard