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Page 77.

The New Soldiers (Tradition, Human Wisdom, and Man's Invention) taken prisoners from the Camp of Shaddai, brought before the Giant Diabolus in his Castle.

They are

brought before Diabolus, and are content to fight under his

banner.

ried them into the town; where they had not lain long in durance, but it began to be noised about the streets of the town, what three notable prifoners the lord Will-be-will's men had taken, and brought in prifoners out of the camp of SHADDAI. At length tidings thereof were carried to Diabolus to the caftle, to wit, what my lord Will-be-will's men had done, and whom they had taken prisoners. Then Diabolus called for Will-be-will,, to know the certainty of this matter. So he afked him, and he told him. Then did the giant fend for the prifoners, and, when they were come, he demanded of them who they were, whence they came, and what they did in the camp of SHADDAI? and they told him. Then he fent them into ward again. Not many days after, he sent for them to him again, and then asked them, if they would be willing to ferve him against their former captains? They then told him, that they did not so much live by religion, as by the fates of fortune; and that, fince his lordship was willing to entertain them, they fhould be willing to ferve him. Now while things were thus in hand, there was one captain Any-thing, a Any-thing. great doer in the town of Manfoul, and to this captain Any-thing did Diabolus fend thefe men, (a) with a note under his hand, to receive them into his company; the contents of which letter were these : Any-thing, my darling, the three men

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that are the bearers of this letter, have a defire to serve me in the war: nor know I bet

He therefore fends them to captain Anything with a letter.

ter

(a) Tradition, human reason, and man's invention, have ever opposed the religion of Chrift. When the only true religion is difcarded, profeffors of this clafs will be ready to take up with that most in fashion, how contrary foever to the word, mind, and will of God. But, though men may deceive themselves, to the utter ruin of their fouis, yet God is not mocked; for "whatsoever a man foweth, that fhall he also reap," &c, Gal, vi. 7. 8,

ter to whose conduct to commit them, than to thine: receive them therefore in my name, and, as need fhall require, make use of them against SHADDAI and his men. Farewel.' So they came, and he received them, and he made two of them ferjeants; but he made Mr. Man's Invention his Ancient Bearer. But thus much for this, and now to return to the camp. They of the

Any-thing receives them into his fervice,

The roof, of old Incredulity's house

beaten down.

camp did alfo fome execution upon the town ; for they did beat down the roof of the new lord mayor's houfe, and fo laid him more open than he was before. They had almost (with a fling) flain my lord Will-be-will outright; but he made fhift to recover again. But they made a notable flaughter among the aldermen, for with only one fhot they cut off fix of them; to wit, Mr. Swearing, Mr. Whoring, Mr. Fury, Mr. Stand-to-lyes, Mr. Drunkenness, and

Six aldermen flain.

Mr. Cheating. (a)

The two great guns dif

mounted.

gate, and

They alfo difmounted the two great guns that stood upon the tower over Ear laid them flat in the dirt. I told you before, that the King's noble captains had drawn off to their winter-quarters, and had there intrenched themselves and their carriages, fo as with the belt advantage to their King, and the greateft annoyance to the enemy, they might give the feasonable and warm alarms to the town of Mansoul. And this defign of them did fo hit, that I may fay they did. almoft what they would to the moleftation of the corpora

tion.

Continual alarms given to Manfoul.

For now could not Manfoul fleep fecurely as before, nor could they now go to their dabaucheries with that quietnefs as in times paft:

(a) Grofs fins may be broken off, without godly forrow for fin: an outward reformation, and an inward change of heart, are widely different. True converfion is the fole work of the Spirit; it is both effectual in promoting true halinels, and faving in it's fruits and effects.

paft: for they had from the camp of SHADDAI fuch frequent, warm alarms; yea, alarms upon alarms, first at one gate, and then at another, and again at all the gates at once; that they were broken as to former peace: yea, they had their alarms fo frequently, and that The effects of when the nights were at the longeft, the convictions weather coldeit, and fo confequently the fea- though comfon most unfeasonable, that that winter was mon, if abiding. to the town of Manfoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the trumpets would found, and fometimes the flings would whirl the ftones into the town. (a) Sometimes ten thoufand of the King's foldiers would be running round the walls of Manfoul at midnight, fhouting, and lifting up their voice for the battle. Sometimes again, fome

molested.

of them in the town would be wounded, and The town much their cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the great moleftation of the now languishing town of Manfoul. Yea, fo diftreffed were they with thofe that laid fiege against them, that I dare fay Diabolus their king had in thefe days his reft much broken.

In those days, as I was informed, new Change of thoughts, and thoughts that began to run coun- thoughts in ter one to another, by degrees poffeffed the

Manfoul.

minds of the men of the town of Manfoul. Some would

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fay, There is no living thus.' Others would then reply, This will be over fhortly.' Then would a third stand up and answer, Let us turn to King SHADDAI, and fo put an end to all these troubles.' And a fourth would

come

(a) Happy for those, who, when in a measure reached by the preaching of the gofpel, have recourfe to prayer, reading the fcriptures, and attendance on public worship these are means, in the hand of the Spirit, to forward the good work begun. But many, alas! when their confciences begin to be alarmed and uneafy, betake themselves to the pleasure and vanities of the world for a cure; thus they choke the good feed, and too often turn their backs on God and happiness for ever. Their cafe is truly deplorable,

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