out still, Luke xiv. 23. then they determined, and bid the trumpeter tell them so, that they would endeavour by what means they could, to compel them by force to the obedience of their King.

So Capt. Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go up to Ear-gate again, and in the name of the great King Shaddai, to give it a very loud summons to come down without delay to Ear-gate, there to give audience to the King's most noble Captains. So the trumpeter went, and did as he was commanded: He went up to Ear-gate and sounded his trumpet, and gave a third summons to Mansoul, Isa. lviii. 1. He said moreover, that if this they should still refuse to do, the Captains of his Prince would with might come down upon them, and endeavour to reduce them to their obedience by force.

Then stood up my Lord Will-be-will, who was the governor of the town (this Will-be-will was the apostate of whom mention was made before) and the keeper of the gates of Mansoul. He therefore with big and ruffling words, demanded of the trumpeter who he was, whence he came, and what was the cause of his making so hideous a noise at the gate, and speaking such insufferable words against the town of Mansoul.

The trumpeter answered, I am servant to the most noble Captain, Capt. Boanerges, general of the forces of the great King Shaddai, against whom both thyself, and the whole town of Mansoul, have rebelled, and lift up the heel; and my master the Captain, hath a special message to this town, and to thee, as a member thereof: The which if you of Mansoul shall peaceably hear, so; if not, take what follows.

Then said the Lord Will-be-will, I will carry the words to my Lord, and will know what he will say. But the trumpeter replied, saying, Our message is not to the Giant Diabolus, but to the miserable town of Mansoul: Nor shall we at all regard what answer by No. 2.

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him

him is made; nor yet by any for him; we are sent to this town, to recover it from under his cruel tyranny, and to persuade it to submit, as in former times it did, to the most excellent King Shaddai.

Then said the Lord Will-be-will, I will do your errand to the town. The trumpeter then replied, Sir, do not deceive us, lest in so doing you deceive yourselves much more. He added moreover, For we are resolved, if in peaceable manner you do not submit yourselves, then to make war upon you, and bring you under by force. And of the truth of what I say, this shall be a sign unto you, you shall see the black flag, with its hot burning thunder-bolts, set upon the mount to morrow, as a token of defiance against your prince, and of our resolution to reduce you to our Lord and rightful King.

So the Lord Will-be-will returned from off the wall, and the trumpeter came into the camp. When the trumpeter was come into the camp, the captains and officers of the mighty King Shaddai, came together to know if he had obtained a hearing, and what was the effect of his errand: So the trumpeter told, saying, When I had sounded my trumpet, and called aloud to the town for a hearing, my Lord Will-be-will, the governor of the town, and he that hath charge of the gates, came up, when he heard me sound, and looking over the wall, he asked me what I was, whence I came, and what was the cause of my making this noise? So I told him my errand, and by whose authority I brought it. Then said he, I will tell it the governor, and to Mansoul; and then I returned to my Lords. Then said the brave Boanerges, Let us yet for a while lie still in our trenches, and see what these rebels will do.

Now when the time drew nigh that audience by Mansoul 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, should as one

man

man stand 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 it to a subjection. So the day being come, the trumpeters sounded, and that throughout the whole camp, that the men of war might be in readiness, for that which then should be the work of the day. But when they that were in the town of Mansoul heard the sound of the trumpet throughout the camp of Shaddai, and thinking no other but that it must be in order to storming the corporation, they at first were put to great consternation of spirit; but after they a little were settled again, they made what preparations they could for a war, if they did storm; else to secure themselves.

Well, when the utmost time was come, Boanerges was resolved to hear their answer; wherefore he sent out his trumpeter again to summon Mansoul to a hearing of the message that they had brought from Shaddai, Zach. vii. 11. So he went and sounded, and the townsmen came up, but made Ear-gate as sure as they' could. Now, when they were come up to the top of the wall, Captain Boanerges desired to see the Lord Mayor; but my Lord Incredulity was then the Lord Mayor, for he came in the room of my Lord Lustings.

So Incredulity, he came up and shewed himself over the wall; but when the Captain Boanerges had set his eyes upon him, he cried out aloud, This is not he; where is my Lord Understanding, the ancient Lord Mayor of the town of Mansoul, for to him would I deliver my message. Then said the Giant (for Diabolus was also come down) to the captain, Mr. Captain, you have by your boldness given to Mansoul at least four summonses. to subject herself to your King; by whose authority I know not, nor will I dispute that now. I ask therefore what is the reason of all this ado? or what would you be at if you knew yourselves?

Then

Then Captain Boanerges (whose was the black colours, and whose 'scutcheon was three burning thunder bolts), taking no notice of the giant or of his speech, thus addressed himself to the town of Mansoul: Be it known unto you, O unhappy and rebellious Mansoul, that the Most Gracious King, the great King Shaddai, my master, hath sent me unto you, with commission (and so he shewed to the town his broad seal) to reduce you to his obedience. And he hath commanded me, in case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to you as if you were my friends or brethren; but he also hath bid, that if after summons to submit, you still stand out and rebel, we should endeavour to take you by force.

Then stood forth Captain Conviction, and said (his was the pale colours, and for a 'scutcheon he had the book of the law wide open, &c.) Hear, O Mansoul! Thou, O Mansoul, was once famous for innocency, but now thou art degenerated into lies and deceit; Rom. iii. 10 to 23. ch. xvi. 17, 18. Psa. 1. 21, 22. Thou hast heard what my brother, the Capt. Boanerges, hath said, and it is your wisdom, and will be your happiness, to stoop to, and accept of conditions of peace and mercy when offered; especially when offered by one, against whom thou hast rebelled, and one who is of power to tear thee in pieces, for so is Shaddai our King, nor when he is angry can any thing stand before him. If you say you have not sinned or acted rebellion against our King, the whole of your doings, since the day that you cast off his service (and there was the beginning of your sin) will sufficiently testify 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 this of your taking up arms against, and the shutting of your gates upon us, the faithful servants of

your

Be ruled then, and ac

your King Luke xii. 58, 59. cept of my brother's invitation, and overstand not the time of mercy, but agree with thine adversary quickly. Ah, Mansoul! suffer not thyself to be kept from mercy, and be run into a thousand miseries, by the flattering wiles of Diabolus: Perhaps that piece of deceit may attempt to make you believe that we seek our own profit in this our service: But know, it is obedience to our King and love to your happiness that is the cause of this undertaking of ours. Again, I say unto thee, O Mansoul, consider if it be not amazing grace, that Shaddai, should so humble himself as he doth, 2 Cor. v. 18 to 21. Now he by us reasons with you, in a way of intreaty and sweet persuasions, that you would subject yourselves to him. Has he that need of you, that we are sure you have of him? No, no; but he is merciful, and will not that Mansoul should die, but turn to him and live.

Then stood forth Capt. Judgment, whose was the red colours, and for a 'scutcheon had the burning fiery furnace, and he said, O ye inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, that have lived so long in rebellion and acts of treason against the King Shaddai: Know, that we come not to-day to this place in this manner, with our message of our own minds, or to revenge our own quarrel ; it is the King our master that hath sent us to reduce you to your obedience to him, the which if you refuse, in a peaceable way to yield, we have commission to compel you thereto. And never think of yourselves, nor yet suffer the tyrant Diabolus to persuade you to think that our King by his power, is not able to bring you -down, and lay you under his feet, for he is the former of all things, and if he touches the mountains they smoke. Nor will the gate of the King's clemency stand. always open, for the day that shall burn like an oven, is before him; yea, it hasted greatly, and slumbereth not; Mal. iv. 1. 1 Pet. ii. 3. O Mansoul! is it little