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Manfoul must
behold it.

for joy. Then was Manfoul called upon to behold EMANUEL'S triumph over him in whom they had fo much trusted, and of whom they had so much boasted in the days when he flattered them.

He is bound to
his chariot
wheels.

Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Manfoul, and before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place he commands that Diabolus fhould be bound with chains to his chariot-wheels, Eph. iv. Then leaving fome of his forces, to wit, captain Boanerges and captain Conviction, a guard for the caftle gates, that refiftance might be made on his behalf (if any that heretofore followed Diabolus fhould make an attempt to poffefs it) he rode in triumph over him quite through the town of Manfoul, and so out at and before the gate in the fight of called Eye-gate, to the plain where his camp lay.

The prince vides in tri

umph over him

Manfoul.

But you cannot think, unless you had been there (as I was) what a fhout there was in EMANUEL'S camp, when they faw the tyrant bound by the hand of their noble Prince, and tied to his chariot-wheels. And they said, He hath led captivity captive, and hath Ipoiled They fing. principalities and powers: Diabolus is fubjected to the power of the sword, and made the object of all derifion. (a) Thofe alfo that rode reformades, and that came down to fee the battle, fhouted with that greatnefs of voice, and fung with fuch melodious notes, that they caused them that dwelt in the highest orbs to open their windows, put out their heads, and look down to fee the cause of that glory, Luke xv. 7, 10.

The refor
mades' joy.

The men of

The townfmen alfo, fo of them as bemany Manfoul taken held this fight, were as it were astonished, with EMANU while they looked betwixt the earth and the heavens.

(a) This was at our Lord's afcenfion, when he triumphed over all the force of death and hell, obtained eternal redemption for us, and received of his Father all power in heaven and earth for his elect, till their number is accomplished, Then faints and angels will unite in finging the glories of the new creation, and the everlasting praises of the Redeemer.

heavens. True, they could not tell what would be the iffue of things as to them, all things being done in fuch excellent methods; and I cannot tell how, but things in the management of them feemed to cafte a fmile towards the town; fo that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they had, were taken and held while they obferved EMANUEL's order.

Diabolus caft

out.

So when the brave Prince had finished this part of his triumph over Diabolus his foe, he turned him up in the midst of his contempt and fhame, having given him a charge no more to be a poffeffor of Manfoul. Then went he from EMANUEL, and out of the midst of his camp, to inherit the parched places in a falt land, feeking rest, but finding none, Matt. xii. 34.

foul.

Now captain Boanerges and captain ConThe carriage of viction were both of them men of very great Boanerges and majesty; their faces where like the faces of captain Conviclions, and their words like the roaring of the tion crushes the feas; and they ftill quartered in Mr. Con- fpirit of Man cience's houfe, of whom mention was made before. When therefore the high and mighty Prince had thus far finished his triumph over Diabolus, the townf men had more leifure to view and behold the actions of their noble captains. But the captains carried it with that >terror and dread in all they did (and you may be sure they had private inftructions fo to do), that they kept the town under continual heart-aching, and caufed (in their apprehenfion) the well-being of Manfoul for the future to stand in doubt before them, fo that for fome confiderable time they neither knew what rest or ease or peace or hope meant. (a)

Nor

(a) The terrifying alarms of fome awakened finners are intended, by the holy Spirit, to bring them to a fight of their misery and danger thro' fin, that they may flee to Christ for refuge from the avenger. Sin-fick fouls may be affured they will find him an all-fufficient Phyfician, if they follow his advice, and the efficacious preferiptions written in his word. See Hosea vi, 3.

Nor did the prince himself as yet abide in the town of Manfoul, but in his royal pavilion in the camp, and in the midft of his Father's forces. So at a time

The Prince

commands, and the captains put the three chief of Manfoul in

ward.

convenient he sent special orders to captain Boanerges, to fummons Manfoul, the whole of the townfmen, into the caftle-yard, and then and there, before their faces, to take my lord Understanding, Mr. Confcience, and that notable one the lord Will-be-will, and put them all three in ward, and that they fhould fet a strong guard upon them there, until his pleasure concerning them was further known. Which orders, when the captains had put them in execution, made no small addition to the fears of the town of Manfoul; for now, to their thinking, were their former fears of the ruin of Manfoul confirmed. Now what death they fhould die, and how long Manfoul greatly they should be in dying, was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts: yea, they were afraid that EMANUEL would command them all into the deep, the place that the prince Diabolus was afraid of; for they had deferved it. Alfo to die by the fword in the face of the town, and in the open way of difgrace, from the hand of fo good and fo holy a prince, that, too, troubled them fore: the town was alfo greatly troubled for the men committed to ward, for that they were their ftay and their guide; and for that they believed, that if those men were cut off, their execution would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Manfoul. Where

diftreffed.

They fend a petition to EMANUEL by the hand of Mr. Would-live.

fore what do they, but together, with the men in prison, draw up a petition (a) to the Prince, and fent it to EMANUEL by the hand of Mr. Would-live. So he went, and came to the Prince's quarters, and presented the petition; the fum of which was this:

• Great

(a) Humble prayer opens the gates of heaven, and derives fhowers of bleffings from the loving heart and bountiful hand of our Redeemer, who delights in fhewing mercy. "Pray without ceafing," 1 Theff. v. 17.

'Great and wonderful Potentate, victor over Diabolus, and conqueror of the town of Manfoul: we the miferable inhabitants of that moft woful corporation, humbly beg that we may find favour in thy fight, and remember not against us our former tranfgreffions, nor yet the fins of the chief of our town, but fpare us according to the greatnefs of thy mercy, and let us not die, but live in thy fight; fo fhall we be willing to be thy fervants, and, if thou fhalt think fit, to gather our meat under thy table. Amen.'

an

So the petitioner went, as was faid, with They are his petition to the Prince; and the Prince fwered with took it at his hand, but fent him away with filence. filence. This ftill afflicted the town of Manfoul; but yet confidering that now they muft either petition or die (for now they could not do any thing elfe), therefore they confulted again, and fent another petition, which was much after the form and method of the former.

They petition

again.

When the petition was drawn up, by whom thould they fend it, was the next queftion; for they would not fend it by him by whom they fent the firft (for they thought that the Prince had taken fome offence at the manner of his deportment before him), fo they attempted to make captain Conviction their meffenger with it; but he They cannot faid, that he neither durft nor would petition tell by whom to Emanuel for traitors, nor be to the Prince an fend it. advocate for rebels: yet withal, faid he, our Prince is good, and you may adventure to send it by the hand of one of your town; provided he went with a rope about his head, and pleaded nothing but mercy. (a)

Well,

(a) What can miferable, condemned malefactors want or plead but mercy! Though called, juftified, and fanctified, yet "God be merciful to me a finner!" may be the dying language of every believer. But it is good, in the darkest feafons, ftill to wait upon the Lord, who will fuddenly come to his temple, Mal. iii, 1,

Well, they made, through fear, their delays as long as they could, and longer than delays were good; but fearing at laft the danger of them, they thought, but with many a fainting in their minds, to fend, their petition by Mr. Defires-awake; fo they fent for Mr. Defires-awake. Now he dwelt in a very mean cottage in Manfoul; and he came at his neighbour's request. So they told him what they had done, and what they would do concerning petitioning, and that they defired of him that he would go therewith to the Prince. Then faid Mr. Defires-awake, Why fhould not I do the best I can to fave fo famous a Mr. Defires- town as Manfoul from destruction? They awake goes with therefore delivered the petition to him, and the petition. told him how he muft address himself to the Prince, and wifhed him ten thoufand good speeds. So he came to the Prince's pavilion, as the firft, and asked to fpeak with his Majefty: fo word was carried to EMANUEL, and the Prince came out to the man. When Mr. Defiresawake faw the Prince, he fell flat with his face to the ground, and cried out, O that Manfoul might live before thee! and with that he prefented the petition. The which when the Prince had read, he turned

ment.

away for a while, and wept; but, refrain- His entertain ing himself, he turned again to the man (who all this while lay crying at his feet as at first), and faid to him, Go thy way to thy place, and I will confider of thy requests. (a)

Now you may think that they of Manfoul that had fent him, what with guilt, and what with fear, left their petition fhould be rejected, could not but look with many a longing look, and that too with strange workings

of

(a) The Lord feems to turn a deaf ear to the prayers of his dear people, not that they should be filent, but rather more importunate; bearing in mind this comforting truth and declaration, I faid not unto the feed of Jacob [namely, my people], Seek ye me in vain," Ifa. xlv. 19.

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