CHAPTER XII.

Carnal security prevailing in the town, a coolness takes place between Immanuel and the inhabitants. He is offended, and privately withdraws. Godly-fear publicly detects the cause, and excites the people to destroy Carnal-security. Measures taken to procure the return of Immanuel.

WHEN Diabolus at first took possession of, the town of Mansoul, he brought thither with himself a great number of Diabolonians, men of his own conditions. Now among these there was one whose name was Mr. The story of Mr Self-Conceit; and a notable brisk man he Carnal-Security. was, as any that in those days possessed the town of Mansoul. Diabolus, then, perceiving this man Mr. Self-Conceit. to be active and bold, sent him upon many

desperate designs: the which he managed better, and more to the pleasing of his lord, than most that came with him from the dens could do. Wherefore finding him so fit for his purpose, he preferred him, and made him next to the great Lord Will-be-will, of whom we have spoken so much before. Now the Lord Will-be-will, being in those days very well pleased with him and with his achievements, gave him his daughter, the Lady Fear-Nothing, to wife. Now of my Lady Fear-Nothing did this Mr. Self- Carnal-Secuconceit beget this gentleman, Mr. Carnal-se- rity's original. curity. Wherefore there being then in Mansoul those strange kind of mixtures, it was hard for them, in some cases, to find out who were natives, who not; for Mr. Carnal-security sprang from my Lord Will-be-will by his mother's side, though he had for his father a Diabolonian by

nature.

Well, this Carnal-security took much after his father and

mother; he was self-conceited, he feared no- His qualities. thing, he was also a very busy man: nothing of

news, nothing of doctrine, nothing of alteration or talk of alteration, could at any time be on foot in Mansoul, but Mr. Carnal-security would be at the head or tail of it. But to be sure he would decline those that he deemed the weakest, and stood always with them (in his way of standing) that he supposed was the strongest side.

Now when Shaddai to the mighty, and Immanuel his son, Tade war upon Mansoul to take it, this Mr. Carnal-security was then in the town, and was a great doer among the

in the exercise of faith. Happy is the heart where God's peace takes the lead. It is the Christian's first and daily business to maintain this peace with in, and then all goes well.

people, encouraging them in their rebellion, and putting them upon hardening themselves in their resisting the king's forces: but when he saw that the town of Mansoul was taken and converted to the use of the glorious prince Immanuel; and when he also saw what was become of Diabolus, and how he was unroosted, and made to quit the castle in the greatest contempt and scorn; and that the town of Mansoul was well lined with captains, engines of war, and men, and also provisions; what doth he but wheel about also, and as he had served Diabolus against the good prince, so he feigned that he would serve the prince against his foes; and, having got some little smattering of Immanuel's things by the end (being bold) he ventures himself into the company of the townsmen, and attempts also to chat among them. Now he knew that the power and strength of the town of Mansoul was great, and that it could not but be pleasing to the people, if he cried up their might and their glory; wherefore he beginneth his tale with the power and strength of Mansoul, and affirmeth, How Mr. Car. that it was impregnable; now magnifying the nal-security be. captains, and their slings and their rams; then gins the misery crying up their fortifications and strong holds; of Mansoul. and lastly, the assurance that they had from their prince, that Mansoul should be happy for ever. But when he saw that some of the men of the town were tickled and taken with this discourse, he makes it his business, and, walking from street to street, house to house, and man to man, he brought also Mansoul to dance after his pipe, and to grow almost as carnally secure as himself; so from talking they went to feasting, and from feasting to sporting, and so to some other matters (now Immanuel was yet in the town of Mansoul, and he wisely observed their doings) my Lord-mayor, my Lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder, were also taken with the words of this tattling

The heads of Diabolonian gentleman; forgetting that their Mansoul seduced. prince had given them warning before, to take heed that they were not beguiled with any Diabolonian sleight; he had further told them, that the security of the now flourishing town of Mansoul did not so much lie in her present fortifications and force, as in her so using of what she had, as might oblige her Immanuel to abide within her castle. For the right doctrine of Immanuel was, that the town of Mansoul should take heed that they forget not his father's love and his; also, that they should so demean themselves as to continue to keep themselves therein. Now this was not the way to do it, namely, to fall in love with one of the Diabolonians, and with such an one too as Mr. Carnal-security was, and to be led up and down by

the nose by him: they should have heard their prince, feared their prince, loved their prince, and have stoned this naughty pack to death, and taken care to have walked in the ways of their prince's prescribing; for then should their peace have been as a river; when their righteousness had been like the waves of the sea.* *

Now when Immanuel perceived that through the policy of Mr. Carnal-security the hearts of the men of Mansoul were chilled and abated in their practical love to him;

First, he bemoans them, and bewails their state with the secretary, saying, "O that my people had hear- Immanuel beked unto me, and that Mansoul had walked moans Mansoul. in my ways! I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I have sustained them." This done, he said in his heart, I will return to the court, and go to my place, till Mansoul shall consider and acknowledge their offence. And he did so, and the cause and manner of his going away from them was thus, for that Mansoul declined him, as is manifest in these particulars:

1. They left off their former way of visiting him, they came not to his royal palace as afore.

2. They did not regard, nor yet take notice, that he came, or came not to visit them.

3. The love feasts that had wont to be between their prince and them, though he made them still, and called them to them, yet they neglected to come to them, or to be delighted with them.

4. They waited not for his counsel, but began to be headstrong and confident in themselves, concluding that now they were strong and invincible, and that Mansoul was secure, and beyond all reach of the foe, and that her state must needs be unalterable for ever.

Now, as was said, Immanuel, perceiving that, by the craft of Mr. Carnal-security, the town of Mansoul was taken off from their dependence upon him, and upon his father by him, and set upon what by then was bestowed upon it;

*Carnal-security is well described, as it is the offspring of Self-conceit and Fear-nothing. This is one of those evils into which the professors of religion may be unwarily drawn; and it proceeds from an abuse of the doctrines of grace. The true doctrine of God, as the author observes, is, that believers should not forget the love of the father and of the son, but so demean themselves as to continue therein; but carnal-security make men trust to their fortifications, their privileges, rather than to the Lord; and while they boast of perseverance take no care to persevere, but grow careless about prayer, communion with God, and coming to his table; while pride, sloth, and conformity to the world prevail. The spirit has been nruch encouraged lately by some preachers, and many have been "tickled and taken with their discourse."

He endeavours he first, as I said, bemoaned their state; then to reclaim them. he used means to make them understand that the way they went on in was dangerous: for he sent my lord high secretary to them, to forbid them such ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr. Carnal-security's parlour; and perceiving also that They grieve they were not willing to reason about matters the Holy Ghost concerning their good, he took grief and went and Christ. his way. The which when he had told to the prince Immanuel, he was grieved also, and returned to his father's court.

Christ withdraws Now the methods of his withdrawing, as not all at once. I was saying before, were thus:

1. Even while he was yet with them in Mansoul, he kept himself close, and more retired than formerly.

2. His speech was not now, if he came into their com pany, so pleasant and familiar as formerly.

3. Nor did he, as in times past, send to Mansoul from his table those dainty bits which he was wont to do.

4. Nor, when they came to visit him, as now and then they would, would he be so easily spoken with, as they found him in times past. They might now knock once,

The workings of yea twice, but he would seem not at all to their affections. regard them; whereas formerly he would run and meet them half way, and take them too and lay them in his bosom.*

Thus Immanuel carried it now; and by this his carriage he thought to make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But alas! they did not consider, they did not know his ways, they regarded not, they were not touched with these, nor with the true remembrance of former favours, Ezek. xi. 21; Hosea, v. 15; Lev. xxvi. 21-24. Wherefore what does he but in private manner withdraw himself, first from his palace, then to the gate of the town, and so away from Mansoul he goes, till they should acknowledge their offence, and more earnestly seek his face. Mr. God's-peace also laid down his commission, and would for the present act no longer. Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of retaliation, walked contrary to them, Jer. ii. 32. But alas! by this time they were so hardened in their way, and had so drunk in the doctrine of Mr. Carnalsecurity, that the departing of their prince touched them not, nor was he remembered by them when gone; and so of consequence his absence was not bewailed by them.

* Carnal-security, however pleasing to the flesh, grieves the Holy Spirit, destroys spiritual comfort, and causes the Lord to withdraw from the soul. Miserable is this condition, and yet it is often little observed or lamented, such is the hardness of the heart.

Now there was a day wherein this old gentleman. Mr. Carnal-security, again made a feast for the A trick put upon town of Mansoul, and there was at that Mr. Godly-fear. time in the town one Mr. Godly-fear; one

now but little set by, though formerly one of great request. This man, old Carnal-security had a mind if possible, to gull and abuse as he did the rest, and therefore he now bids him to the feast with his neighbours. So the day being come, they prepared, and he goes and ap- He goes to the feast, pears with the rest of the guests; and and sits there like a being all set at the table, they ate and stranger.

drank, and were merry, even all but this one man (for Mr. Godly-fear set like a stranger, and neither ate nor was merry;) which when Mr. Carnal-security perceived, he addressed himself in a speech thus to him:

"Mr. Godly-fear are you not well? you Talk between Mr. seem to be of ill body, or mind, or both. Carnal-security and I have a cordial of Mr. Forget-good's ma- Mr. Godly-fear.' king, which, Sir, if you will take, I hope it may make you bonny and blithe, and so make you more fit for us feasting companions."

Unto whom the good old gentleman discreetly replied: "Sir, I thank you for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial, I have no list thereto. But a word to the natives of Mansoul: You the elders and chief of Mansoul, to me it is strange to see you so jocund and merry, when the town of Mansoul is in such woful case."

Then said Mr. Carnal-security, "You want sleep, good Sir, I doubt. If you please, lie down and take a nap, and we the mean while will be merry."

Then said Mr. Godly-fear as follows: "Sir, if you were not destitute of an honest heart, you could not do as you have done, and do."

It is true,

Then said Mr. Carnal-security, "Why?" Godly-fear. "Nay, pray interrupt me not. the town of Mansoul was strong and (with a proviso) impregnable; but you have weakened it, and it now lies obnoxious to its foes; nor is it a time to be silent; it is you, Mr. Carnal-security, that have stripped Mansoul, and driven her glory from her; you have pulled down her towers; you have broken down her gates, you have spoiled her locks and bars.

"And now to explain myself: From that time that my lords of Mansoul, and you, Sir, grew so

great, from that time the strength of Mr. Godly-fear exMansoul has been offended; and now he

plains himself.

is risen and is gone. If any shall question the truth of my words, I will answer him by this and such like questions: