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THE HOLY WAR.

IN

N my travels, as I walked through many regions and countries, it was my chance to happen into that famous continent of Universe: a very large and spacious country it is. It lieth between the two Poles, and just amidst the four points of the heavens. It is a place well watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situated; and for the most part (at least where I was) very fruitful, also well peopled, and a very

sweet air.

The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of one language, mode, or way of religion; but differ as much as, ('tis said) do the planets themselves. Some are right and some are wrong, even as it happeneth to be in lesser regions.

In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel, and there travel I did, and that so long, even till I had learned much of their mother tongue, together with the customs and manners of them among whom I was. And to speak the truth, I was much delighted to see and hear many things which I saw and heard among them. Yea, I had, to be sure, even lived and died a native among them, I was so taken with them and their doings, had not my master sent for me home to his house, there to do business for him, and to oversee business done.

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe, a fair and delicate town, a corporation called Mansoul, a town for its building so curious, for its situation so commodious, for its privileges so advantageous, (I mean with reference to its original) that I may say of it, as

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was said before of the continent in which it is placed, there is not its equal under the whole heaven.

As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the two worlds, and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; and he built it for his own delight; Gen. i. 26. He made.it the mirror and glory of a that he made, even the top-piece, beyond any thing else that he did in that country: Yea, so goodly a town was Mansoul, when first built, that it is said by some, the gods at the setting up thereof, came down to see it, and sung for joy, And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all the country round about, Yea, all was commanded to acknowledge Mansoul for their Metropolitan, all was enjoined to do homage to it. Ay, the town itself had positive commission, and power from her King to deand service of all, and also to subdue any, that anywise denied to do it.

There was reared up in the midst of this town, a most famous and stately palace; for strength it may be called a castle; for pleasantness, à paradise; for largeness; a place so copious as to contain all the world; Eccles. iii. 11. This place, the King Shaddai intended but for himself alone, and not another with him: partly because of his own delights, and partly because he would not that the terror of strangers should be upon the town. This place Shaddai made also a garrison of, but committed the keeping of it, only to the men of the town.

The wall of the town was well built, yea, so fast and firm was it knit and compacted together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, they could not have been shaken, or broken for ever..

For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that built Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down

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nor hart, by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless. the townsmen gave consent thereto.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, at which to come out, and at which to go in, and these were likewise made answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these, Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Fecl-gate.

Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, which if you adjoin to these, will yet give further demonstration to all, of the glory and strength of the place. It had always a sufficiency of provision within its walls: it,had the best, most wholesome, and excellent laws that was then extant in the world. There was not a rascal, rogue, or traiterous person then within its walls: They were all true men, and fast joined together, and this you know is a great matter. And to all these, it had always, so long as it had the goodness to keep true to Shaddai the King, his countenance, his protection, and it was his delight, &c.

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Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own habitation. This giant was king of the Blacks or Negroes, and a most raying prince he was.

We will, if you please, first discourse of the original of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and beggarly. As to his original, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, made, taken, and put by him into a most high and mighty place, yea, and was put into such principalities as belonged to the best of his territories and dominions; Isaiah xiv. 12. This Diabolus was made Son of the

Morning,

Morning, and a brave place he had of it: It brought him much glory, and gave him much brightness, an income that might have contented his Luciferian heart, had it not been insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself.

Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth he, but begins to think with himself, how he might be set up as Lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai; 2 Peter ii. 4. Jude vi. (Now that did the King reserve for his Son, yea, and had already bestowed it upon him). Wherefore he first consults with himself what had best to be done, and then breaks his mind to some other of his companions, to which they also agreed. So in fine, they came to this issue, that they should make an attempt upon the King's Son to destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the word given, the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted. Now the King and his Son being all, and always eye, could not but discern all passages in his dominions; and he having always a love for his Son, as for himself, could not, at what he saw, but be greatly provoked and offended: Wherefore what does he, but takes them in the very nick, and first trip that they made towards their design, convicts them of the treason, horrid rebellion and conspiracy that they had devised, and now attempted to put into practice, and casts them altogether out of all place of trust, benefit, honour, and preferment; this done, he banishes them the court, turns them down into the horrid pit, and as fast bound in chains; never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment that he had appointed, and that for ever and ever.

Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honour, and also knowing that they had lost

their Prince's favour for ever, being banished his court, and cast down to the horrible pit, you may be sure they would now add to their former pride, what malice and rage against Shaddai, and against his Son they could, 1 Pet. v. 8. Wherefore roving and ranging in much fury from place to place, if, perhaps, they might find something that was the king's, to revenge (by spoiling of that,) themselves on him. At last they happened into this spacious country of Universe, and steer their course towards the town of Mansoul, and considering that that town was one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai; what do they, but after council taken, make an assault upon that. I say they knew that Mansoul belonged unto Shaddai, for they were there when he built it, and beautified it for himself. So when they had found the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared on it like as a lion upon the prey; saying, Now we have found the prize, and how to be revenged on King Shaddai, for what he hath done to us. So they sat down and called a council of war, and considered with themselves what ways and methods they had best to engage in, for the winning to themselves this famous town of Mansoul; and these four things were then propounded to be considered of.

First, Whether they had best all of them to shew themselves in this design to the town of Mansoul?

Secondly, Whether they had best to go and sit down against Mansoul, in their now ragged and beggarly guise?

Thirdly, Whether they had best shew to Mansoul their intentions, and what design they came about, or whether to assault it with words and ways of deceit?

Fourthly, Whether they had not best, by some of their companions, to give out private orders to take the advantage, if they see one or more of the principal

towns

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