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Page 103.

TheWhite Flag with the 3 Golden Doves set up as a

a favourable Signal before the Town of Mansoul by order of Emanuel:

placed as many and the reft were conveniently placed in feveral parts round about the town. Five of the best battering rams; that is, of the biggest of them, were placed upon mount Hearken, a mount caft up hard by Ear-gate, with intent to break that open. (a)

to fail.

Now when the town of Manfoul faw the The heart of multitude, and the foldiers that were come Manfoul begins up against the place, and the rams and flings, and the mounts on which they were planted; together with the glittering of the armour, and the waving of their colours; they were forced to fhift and fhift, and again to fhift their thoughts; but they hardly changed for thoughts more ftout, but rather for thoughts more faint; for though before they thought themfelves fufficiently guarded, yet now they began to think that no man knew what would be their hap or lot.

When the good prince EMANUEL had The white flag thus beleaguered Manfoul, in the first place hung out. he hangs out the white flag, which he caused

to be fet up among the golden flings that were planted upon mount Gracious. And this he did for two reafons: 1. To give notice to Manfoul, that he could and would yet be gracious, if they turned to him. 2. And that he might leave them the more without excufe, fhould he detroy them, they continuing in their rebellion.

So the white, flag, with the Three Golden Doves on it, was hung out for two days together, to give them time and space to confider. But they, as was hinted before, as if they were unconcerned, made no reply to the favourble fignal of the Prince.

Then

(a) The Lord, the eternal Spirit, muft firft give the hearing ear, and the understanding heart, ere any faving work can be begun; but, after that happy period, the foul will readily hearken to the voice of God, in his word, will become fenfible of it's ruinous ftate, and flee to Chrift for pardon and peace, thro' his atoning blood, and justifying righteousness.

hung out.

Then he commanded, and they set the The red at red flag upon that mount called Juftice. It was the red flag of captain Judgment, whofe efcutcheon was the Burning Fiery Furnace: alfo this stood waving before them in the wind for feveral days together. But-look how they carried it under the white flag, when that was hung out, fo did they alfo when the red one was: and yet he took no advantage of them. (a)

hung out.

Then he commanded again that his ferThe black flag vants fhould hang out the black flag of Defrance against them, whofe éfcutcheon was the Three Burning Thunderbolts. But as unconcerned was Manfoul at this, as at thofe that went before. But when the Prince faw that neither mercy nor judgment, nor execution of judgment, would or could come near the heart of Manfoul, he was touched with much compunction, and faid, Surely this ftrange carriage of the town of Manfoul doth rather arife from ignorance of the manner and feats of war, than from a fecret defiance of us, and abhorrence of their own lives; or, if they know the manner of the war of their own, yet not the rites and ceremonies of the wars in which we are concerned, when I make wars upon mine enemy Diabolus.

Chrift makes

not war as the world does.

He fends to!

Therefore he fent to the town of Manfoul, to let them know what he meant by those figns and ceremonies of the flag; and alfo to know of them which of know if they the things they will chufe, whether grace and mercy, or judgment, and the execution mercy or judg- of judgment. All this while they kept the gates fhut as fast as they could. Their guards

would have

ment.

were

(a) This, and the preceding part, exhibit a glorious dif play of the goodness, long fuffering, and forbearance of God! Judgment and mercy, life and good, death and evil, are fet before finners, for their choice.-And though election be intirely of free grace, yet at the great day the whole world of the ungodly and unjuftified will be guilty and felfcondemned at the bar of a holy God, the righteous judge of quick and dead. See Deut. xxx. 15. 19. John iii. 19. Let obftinate finners hear and tremble.

were alfo doubled, and their watch made us ftrong as they could. Diabolus alfo plucked up what heart he could, to encourage the town to make refiftance. (a)

folk's anfwer.

The townfmen alfo made answer to the prince's meffenger, in fubftance, according to that which follows: Great Sir, as to what, by your mesfenger, you have fignified to us, whether The townfwe will accept your mercy, or fall by your juftice; we are bound, by the law and cuftom of this place, and can give you no pofitive answer: for it is against the law, government, and the prerogative royal of our king, to make either peace or war without him. But this we will do, we will petition that our prince will come down to the wall, and there give you fuch a treatment as he shall think fit and profitable for us.'

When the good Prince EMANUEL heard Emanuel griev➡ this anfwer, and faw the flavery and bondage ed at the folly of the people, and how contented they were

of Manfoul.

to abide in the chains of the tyrant Diabolus, it grieved him at the heart. And indeed, when at any time he perceived that any were contented with the flavery of the giant, he would be affected with it.

After the town

But to return again to our purpose. had carried this news to Diabolus, and had told him moreover, that the Prince, that lay in the leaguer without the wall, waited upon them for an anfwer; he refused, and huffed as well as he could, but in heart he was afraid.

Diabolus afraid.

Then faid he, I will go down to the gates myself, and give him fuch an answer as I think fit. So he went down to Mouth-gate, and there addreffed himself to Speak

(a) This is a true, but awful picture of all natural men; they harden their hearts, ftop their ears against the truth, and refift the counfel of God against themselves; and the enemy, by various devices and temptations, keeps them under the power of fpiritual blindness and unbelief.

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