tion brought up the rear. They then having a great way to go (for the town of Manfoul was far off from the court of SHADDAI, (a) Eph. ii. 13, 17.) marched through the regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abufing any, but bleffing wherever they came. They allo lived upon the King's coft, all the way they went. Having travelled thus for many days, at laft they came within fight of Manfoul; the which when they faw, the captains could for their hearts do no lefs than for a while bewail the condition of the town; for they quickly faw that it was proftrate to the will of Diabolus, and to his ways and defigns. Well, to be fhort, the captains come up before the town, march up to Ear-gate, and fit down there (for that was the place of hearing). So when they had pitched their tents, and intrenched themfelves, they addreffed themfelves to make their affault. The world are convinced by the well-order ed life of the godly. Now the townsfolk at firft, beholding fo gallant a company, fo bravely accoutred, and fo excellently disciplined, (b) having on their glittering armour, and displaying their colours, could not but come out of their houses (a) The immenfe diftance of the foul from God, by original fin, is very juftly fet forth in the church homily on Christ's nativity: "Inftead of the image of God, he was now become the image of the devil; instead of the citizen of heaven, he was now become the bond-flave of hell; having in himself no one part of his former purity and cleanness, but being altogether fpotted and defiled; infomuch that he now feemed to be nothing elfe but a lump of fin, and therefore, by the juft judgment of God, was condemned to everlasting death." A pride-humbling picture! which Intirely demolithes the towering fabric of the dignity of human nature, fo much boasted of and extolled. (6) Though the world approve of and commend the godly conversation of fincere chriftians, yet their rebellious nature revolts against the way, nor can they be prevailed on to chufe it, till almighty and irresistible grace removes the enmity, and makes them willing in the day of God's power. houses and gaze. But the cunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this fight, fhould, on a fudden fummons, open the gates to the captains, came down with all hafte from the caftle, and made them retire into the body of the town; who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivable fpeech unto them. (a) Diabolus alien- Gentlemen, quoth he, although you ates their minds are my trusty and well-beloved friends, yet from them. I cannot but (a little) chide you for your late uncircumfpect action, in going out to gaze on that great and mighty force that but yesterday fat down before and have now intrenched themselves, in order to the maintaining of the fiege againft) the famous town of Manfoul. Do you know who they are? whence they came? and what is their purpose in fitting down before the town of Manfoul? They are they of whom I have told you long ago, that they would come to deftroy this town, (b) and against whom I have been at the coft to arm you cap-a-pié for your body, befides great fortifications for Satan greatly afraid of God's minifters, that they will fet Manfoul againft your mind. Wherefore then did you not rather, even at the first appearance of them, cry out, Fire the beacons, and give the whole town an alarm concerning them, that we might all have been in a pofture of defence, and have been ready to have received them with the highest acts of defiance? then had you fhewed yourfelves him. (a) As "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Rom. x. 17. fo the enemy of fouls, aware of the danger his kingdom is in by the conviction of finners, through the ministry of the word, ftrives by every stratagem his art and cunning can fuggeft, to divert them from the ufe of these means of falvation, by caufing them to be defpifed and neglected; while riches, honours, and fading joys, are preferred to heavenly wifdom and eternal good.-But, in Ipite of his utmost efforts to prevent it, God will work, and none fhall let it; and the innumerable company of the elect fhall be accomplished, to glorify him for ever. (b) That's falfe, Satan. 1 felves men to my liking, whereas by what you have done, you have made me half afraid; I fay, half afraid, that when they and we shall come to puth a pike, I shall find you want courage to stand it out any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and that you should double your guards at the gates? Wherefore have I endeavoured to make you as hard as iron, and your hearts as a piece of the nether millftone? Was it, think you, that you might fhew yourselves women; and that you might go out, like a company of innocents, to gaze on your mortal foe? Fie, fie, put yourselves into a pofture of defence, beat up the drum, gather together in warlike manner, that our foes may know, that, before they thall conquer this corporation, there are valiant men in Mansoul. (a) He ftirs them up to bid def ance to the mi nifters of the word. I will leave off now to chide, and will not further rebuke you: but I charge you, that henceforwards you let me fee no more of fuch actions. Let not henceforwards a man of you, without order first obtained from me, so much as fhew his head over the wall of the town of Manfoul: you have now heard me; do as I have commanded, and you fhall cause me that I dwell fecurely with you, and that as I take care for myself, so for your fafety and honour alfo. Farewel.' When finners hearken to Satan, they are fet in a rage against godliness. Now were the townsfolk ftrangely altered; they were as men ftricken with a panic fear: they ran to and fro in the streets of the town of Manfoul, crying out, "Help! help! the men that turn the world upfide down, (a) It is melancholy to reflect, that fo great an afcendancy have the ignorance and enmity contracted by fin gained in the foul, that thofe minifters of the gofpel, who defcribe man's mifery and total departure from God by the fall, and exalt Christ as a suitable and complete Saviour, have in all ages been defpifed, reviled, and perfecuted. But, "as in the beginning, they that were born after the flesh perfecuted them that were born after the Spirit, even fo it is now," Gal. iv. 29. and, we may add, will be to the end of time. No. 2. H down, are come hither alfo." Nor could any of them be quiet after; but still, as men bereft of wit, they cried out, The destroyers of our peace and people are come." This went down with Diabolus: Ah! quoth he to himfelf, this I like well, now it is as I would have it, now you fhew your obedience to your prince; hold you but here, and then let them take the town if they can. The King's Well, before the King's forces had fet trumpet found before Manfoul three days, captain Boanered at Ear-gate, ges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate; and there, in the name of the great SHADDAI, to fummon Mansoul to give audience to the metfage that he in his Master's name was commanded to deliver to them. So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heedwhat-you-hear, went up as he was commanded to Eargate, and there founded his trumpet for a They will not hearing; but there was none that appeared, that gave answer or regard, (a) for so had Diabolus commanded; fo the trumpeter returned to his captain, and told him what he had done, and alfo how he had fped; whereat the captain was grieved, but bid the trumpeter go to his tent. Again captain Boanerges fendeth his trumpeter to Ear-gate, to found as before for an hearing, but they hear. A fecond fummons repulled. again (a) The heart of the natural man fpurns at God's commands; fee Jer. xliv. 16, &c. Repeated calls from God, who is love, we may ever obferve, make no impreffion on the hearts of finners, who, tho' preffingly invited by their infinitely wife Creator to embrace life and happiness, yet, like the deaf adder, refuse to hear the voice of the charmer: fo totally has the god of this world blinded their eyes, and his delufive offers enfnared them! Surely of every fuch felf-deceiver we may justly remark: "Thou happy wretch! by blindness art thou bleft, war held. again kept close, came not out, nor would they give him an answer, so obfervant were they of the command of Diabolus their king. Then the captains and A council of other field-officers called a council of war, to confider what further was to be done for gaining the town of Manfoul: and, after fome close and thorough debate upon the contents of their commiffions, they concluded yet to give the town, by the hand of the forenamed trumpeter, another fummons to hear: but if that shall be refufed, fay they, and that the town shall ftand it out ftill, Luke xiv. 23. then they determined, and bid the trumpeter tell them fo, that they would endeavour by what means they could to compel them by force to the obedience of their King. mons. So captain Boanerges commanded his A third fum- trumpeter to go up to Ear-gate again, (a) and, in the name of the great King SHAD DAI, to give it a very loud fummons 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 founded his trumpet, and gave a third fummons to Manfoul, Ifa. lviii. 1. He faid moreover, that if this they should still refufe 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 (a) Behold the long-fuffering and forbearance of a merciful God! O that it may lead finners to repentance and amendment! He waits to be gracious; and knocks continually at the hearts of finners by judgments, afflictions, provi dences, &c. if by any means they may be brought to the knowledge of the truth, and be faved from mifery. Who can count the many earnest invitations in fcripture! "O that there were fuch an heart in them, that they would fear me,that it might be well with them! O that they were wife, that they would confider their latter-end!" faith the divine Philanthropist, Deut. v. 29. xxxii. 29. May the Lord the Spirit give this heart, and incline finners to feek, fo as to find a precious Jefus! |