Chief Secretary, to draw up a fair record of what was determined, and to cause that it should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A short breviate of the contents thereof you may, if you please,

take here as follows:

"Let all men know, who are concerned, that the son of Shaddai, the great King, is engaged, by covenant to his Father, to bring his Mansoul to him again yea, and to put Mansoul, too, through his love, into a far better and more happy condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus."

These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no little molestation of the tyrant, Diabolus: "for now," thought he, "I shall be molested, and my habitation will be taken from me."

Among the angels.

But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King and his Son, did at first take air at court, who can tell how the high lords, chief captains, and noble princes that were there, were taken with the business! First, they whispered to one another, and after that it began to ring throughout the King's palace, all wondering at the glorious design that, between the King and his Son, was on foot for the miserable town of Mansoul; yea, the courtiers could scarcely do anything, either for the King or kingdom, but they would mix, with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the King and his Son that they had for the town of Mansoul.

Nor could these lords, high captains, and princes be content to keep this news at court; yea, before the records thereof were perfected, themselves came down and told it in Universe. At last it came to the ears, as I said, of Diabolus, to his no little discontent; for you must think it would perplex him to hear of such a design against him. Well, but after a few casts in his mind, he concluded upon these four things:

First, that this news, these good tidings, (if possible,) should be kept from the ears of the town of Mansoul: "for," said he, "if they should once come to the knowledge that Shaddai, their former King, and Emanuel, his Son, are contriving good for the town of Mansoul, what can be expected by me, but that Mansoul will revolt from under my hand and government, and return again to him?"

Now, to accomplish this his design, he renews his flattery with my Lord Will-be-Will, and also gives him strict charge and command that he should keep watch by day and night at all the gates of the town, especially Ear

E

gate and Eye-gate; "for I hear of a design," quoth he, "a design to make us all traitors, and that Mansoul must be reduced to its first. bondage again. I hope they are but flying stories," quoth he; "however, let no such news by any means be let into Mansoul, lest the people be dejected thereat: I think my lord, it can be no welcome news to you-I am sure

The will engaged against the gospel.

:

it is none to me and I think, that at this time it should be all our wisdoms and care to nip the head of all such rumours as shall tend to trouble our people; wherefore, I desire, my lord, that you will in this matter do as I say. Let there be strong guards daily kept at every gate of the town. Stop also and examine from whence such come, whom you perceive do come from far hither to trade: nor let them by any means be admitted into Mansoul, unless you shall plainly perceive that they are favourers of our excellent government. I command, moreover," said Diabolus, "that there be spies continually walking up and down suppressed. the town of Mansoul; and let them have power to suppress and destroy any they shall see to be plotting against us, or that shall prate of what by Shaddai and Emanuel is intended.".

All good thoughts and words in the

town are to be

This, therefore, was accordingly done: my Lord Will-be-Will hearkened to his lord and master, went willingly after his commandment, and, with all the diligence he could, kept any that would from going out abroad, or that sought to bring these tidings to Mansoul, from coming into the

town.

Secondly, This done, in the next place, Diabolus, that he might make Mansoul as sure as he could, frames and imposes a new oath and horrible covenant upon the town's-folk:

To wit, That they should never desert him, nor his government, nor yet betray him, nor seek to alter his laws: but that they should own, confess, stand by, and acknowledge him for their rightful king, in defiance of any that do, or hereafter shall, by any pretence, law, or title

whatsoever, lay claim to the town of Mansoul,* thinking belike that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this covenant with death, and agreement with hell. Nor did the silly Mansoul stick or boggle at all at this most monstrous engagement, but, as if it had been a sprat in the mouth of a whale, they swallowed it without any chewing. Were they troubled at it? Nay, they rather bragged and boasted of their so brave fidelity to the tyrant, their pretended king; swearing, that they would never be changelings, nor forsake their old lord for a new.

Odious atheistical pamphlets,

Thus did Diabolus tie poor Mansoul fast; but jealousy, that never thinks itself strong enough, put him in the next place upon another exploit, which was, yet more, if possible, to debauch this town of Mansoul: wherefore he caused, by the hand of one Mr. Filth, an odious, nasty, lascivious piece of beastliness, to be drawn up in writing, and set and filthy ballads upon the gates: whereby he granted and gave license to all his true and trusty sons in Mansoul to do whatsoever their lustful appetites prompted them to do, and that no man was to let, hinder, or control them, upon pain of incurring the displeasure of their prince.

Now this he did for these reasons:

and romances.

1. That the town of Mansoul might be yet made weaker and weaker, and so more unable, should tidings come that their redemption was designed, to believe, hope, or consent to the truth thereof; for Reason says, "The bigger the sinner, the less ground, or hope of mercy.

2. The second reason was, If perhaps Emanuel, the Son of Shaddai their King, by seeing the horrible and profane doings of the town of Mansoul, might repent, though entered into a covenant of redeeming them, of pursuing that covenant of their redemption; for he knew that Shaddai was holy; and that his Son, Emanuel, was holy; yea, he knew it by woeful experience for, for the iniquity and sin of Diabolus was he cast from the highest orbs. Wherefore, what more rational than for him to conclude, that thus for sin it might fare with Mansoul! But, fearing lest also this knot should break, he bethinks himself of another, to wit:

Thirdly, To endeavour to possess all hearts in the town of Mansoul, that Shaddai was raising an army to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy

* Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Isa. xxviii. 15.

:

hearing and of

the town of Mansoul; (and this he did to forestal any tidings that might come to their ears of their deliverance ;) "for," thought he, "if I first spread this abroad the tidings that might come after will be swallowed up of this for what else will Mansoul say when they shall hear that they must be delivered, but that the true meaning is, Shaddai intends to destroy them ?" The place of Wherefore he summons the whole town into the market-place, and considering. there, with deceitful tongue, thus he addresses himself unto them : Gentlemen, and my very good friends, you are all, as you know, my legal subjects, and men of the famous town of Mansoul; you know how, from the first day that I have been with you until now, I have behaved myself among you, and what liberty and great privileges you have enjoyed under my government; I hope to your honour and mine, and also to your content and delight. Now, my famous Mansoul, a noise of trouble there is abroad, of trouble to the town of Mansoul; sorry I am, therefore, for your sakes. For I received but now, by the post, from my Lord Lucifer, (and he used to have good intelligence,) that your old King Shaddai is raising an army to come against you, to destroy you root and branch: and this, O Mansoul! is now the cause that at this time I have called you together, namely, to advise what in this juncture is best to be done. For my part, I am but one, and can with ease shift for myself, did I list to seek my own ease, and to leave my Mansoul in all danger: but my heart is so firmly united to you, and so loth am I to leave you, that I am willing to stand and fall with you, to the utmost hazard that shall befall me. What say you, O Mansoul ! will you now desert your old friend; or do you think of standing by me?"

Then, as one man, with one mouth, they cried together, “Let him die the death that will not."

Very deceivable

Then, said Diabolus again, ""Tis in vain for us to hope for quarter, for this King knows not how to show it. True, perhaps, he, at his language. first sitting down before us, will talk of, and pretend to, mercy, that thereby, with the more ease, and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of Mansoul; whatever, therefore, he should say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it, for all such language is but to overcome us; and to make us, while we wallow in our blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. My mind is, therefore, that we resolve to the last man to resist him, and not to believe him on any terms; for in at that door will come our danger. But shall we be flattered out of our lives? I hope you know

more of the rudiments of politics, than to suffer yourselves to be so pitifully served.

Lying language.

"But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will that be to you that are the chief of the town, especially you whom I have set up, and whose greatness has been procured by you through your faithful sticking to me? And suppose, again, that he should give quarter to every one of you, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which you were captivated before, or a worse, and then what good will your lives do you? Shall you, with him, live in pleasure, as you do now? No, no. You must be bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that which at present is hateful to you. I am for you, if you are for me; and it is better to die valiantly, than to live like pitiful slaves. But, I say, the life of a slave will be accounted a life too good for Mansoul now: Blood, blood, nothing but blood, soul. is in every blast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now. Pray be concerned; I hear he is coming. Up, and stand to your arms! that now, while you have leisure, I may teach you some feats of war. Armour for you I have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for Mansoul, from top to toe: nor can you be hurt by what his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt and fastened about you. Come, therefore, to my castle and welcome, and harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet, breast-plate,

shield, and what not, that will make you fight like men.

He is afraid of losing of Man

1. "My helmet, otherwise called an head-piece, is hope of doing well at last what lives soever you live. This is that which they had, who said, that they should have peace though they walked in the wickedness of their heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:* a piece of approved armour is this; and whoever has it, and can hold it, so long no arrow, dart, sword, or shield, can hurt him; this, therefore, keep on, and thou wilt ward off many a blow, my Mansoul.

2. "My breast-plate is a breast-plate of iron. I had it forged in mine own country, and all my soldiers are armed therewith. In plain language,

• And it came to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. Deut. xxix. 19.

† And they had breast-plates, as it were breast-plates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. Rev. ix. 9.