be at thy word, and thou shalt be he that shall lead in, and that shall lead out Mansoul. Thou shalt therefore manage, according to thy place, the war for thy prince, and for the town of Mansoul, against the force and power of Diabolus, and at thy command shall the rest of the captains be." Now the townsmen began to perceive what interest the captain had, both with the court and also The townsmen dewith the lord secretary in Mausoul; for no sire to be put under man before could speed when sent, nor the government of bring such good news from Immanuel as Captain Credence. he. Wherefore what do they (after some lamentation that they made no more use of him in their distress) but send by their subordinate preacher to the lord secretary, to desire him that all that ever they were and had might be put under the government, care, custody, and conduct of Captain Credence."*

So their preacher went and did his errand, and received this answer from the mouth of his lord, That Captain Credence should be the great doer in all the king's army against the king's enemies, and also for the welfare of Mansoul. So he bowed to the ground, and thanked his lordship, and returned and told his news to the townsfolk. But all this was done with all imaginable secrecy, because the foes had yet great strength in the town. But to return to our story again.

CHAPTER XVI.

A new plot is laid to ruin the town by Riches and Prosperity. Immanuel appears in the Field to assist the forces of Mansoul, whereby the whole ar. my of Doubters is completely routed. Immanuel enters the town amidst the most joyful acclamations of the inhabitants.

WHEN Diabolus saw himself thus boldly confronted by the lord-mayor, and perceived the stoutness of Mr. Godlyfear, he fell into a rage, and forthwith called a council of war, that he might be revenged on Mansoul. So all the princes of the pit came together, and old Incredulity at the head of them, with all the captains of his army. So they consulted what to do. Now the effect and conclusion of the council that day was, how they might take the castle, because they could not conclude themselves masters of the town so

* The design of this is, to show that the soul is to live by faith, and not by sense. The spirit of God puts honour upon faith, and makes him chief captain in the town. This is a token for good, now the Doubters prevail in the town. This is a prelude of victory over them. The inhabitants are, at length, aware of his abilities, and wish to be under his control. Thus Christians learn, but seldom without painful experience, that they are not to live by their feelings, but by their faith.

war.

long as that was in the possession of their enemies. So one advised this way, and another advised that; but when they Different judg. Could not agree in their verdict, Apollyon, ments in Diabo- the president of the council, stood up, and lus's council of thus he began: My brotherhood (quoth he) I have some things to propound unto you; and my first is this: Let us withdraw ourselves from the town into the plain again, for our presence here will do us no good, because the castle is yet in our enemies' hands; nor is it possible that we should take that, so long as so many brave captains are in it, and this bold fellow Godly-fear is made the keeper of the gates of it.

"Now when we have withdrawn ourselves into the plain, they of their own accord will be glad of some little ease, and it may be of their own accord they again may begin to be remiss, and even their so being will give them a bigger blow than we can possibly give them ourselves. But if that should fail, our going forth out of the town may draw the captains out after us, and you know what it cost them when we fought them in the field before. Besides, can we but draw them out into the fields, we may lay an ambush behind the town, which shall, when they are come forth abroad, rush in, and take possession of the castle." But Beelzebub ha- Beelzebub stood up and replied; saying, it is rangues. impossible to draw them all off from the castle; some, you may be sure, will lie there to keep that; wherefore it will be but in vain thus to attempt, unless we were sure that they will all come out. He therefore concluded, that what was done must be done by some other means. And the most likely means that the greatest of their heads could invent, was that which Apollyon had advised to before; to wit, to get the townsmen again to sin. For, said he, it is not our being in the town, nor in the field, nor our fighting, nor Mansoul cannot our killing of their men, that can make us be taken while the the masters of Mansoul; for so long as one inhabitants do not in the town is able to lift up his finger against consent to sin. us, Immanuel will take their parts, and if he shall take their parts, we know what a time a day it will be with us. Wherefore, for my part, quoth he, there is in my judgment, no way to bring them into bondage to us like inventing a way to make them sin, 2 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20, 21, Had we, said he, left all our Doubters at home, we had done as well as we have done now, unless we could have made them the masters and governors of the castle; for Doubters at a distance are but like objections repelled with arguments. Indeed, can we but get them into the hold, and make them possessors of that, the day will be our own, Let us therefore withdraw ourselves into the plain (not ex

pecting that the captains in Mansoul should follow us,) but yet, I say, let us do this; and before we do so, let us advise again with our trusty Diabolonians that are yet in the holds of Mansoul, and set them to work to betray the town to us; for they indeed must do it, or it will be left undone forever. By these sayings of Beelzebub (for I think it was he that gave this counsel,) the whole conclave was forced to be of his opinion; to wit, that the way to get the castle was to get the town to sin. Then they fell to inventing by what means they might do this thing.*

Then Lucifer stood up and said, "The counsel of Beelzebub is pertinent; now the way to bring this to pass, in my opinion, is this: Let us withdraw our force from the town of Mansoul: let us do this: and let us terrify them no more, either with summonses or threats, or with the noise of our drum, or any other awakening means. Only let us lie in the field at a distance, and be as if we regarded them not (for frights I see do but awaken them, and make them stand more to their arms.) I have also anothLucifer propoer stratagem in my head: you know Mansoul ses another stra is a market town, a town that delights in com- tagem for the tamerce; what therefore if some of our Diabo- king of Mansoul lonians shall feign themselves far countrymen, and shall go out and bring to the market of Mansoul some of our wares to sell; and what matter at what rates they sell their wares, though it be but for half the worth? Now let those that thus trade in their market be those that are witty and true to us, and I will lay my crown to pawn, it will do. There are two that are come to my thoughts already, that I think will be arch at this work, and they are Mr. Pennywise-pound-foolish, and Mr Get-i'th-hundred-and-lose-i'thshire; nor is this man with the long name at all inferior to the other. What also if you join with them Mr. Sweetworld and Mr Present-good, they are men that are civil and cunning, and our true friends and helpers, Rev. iii. 17. Let these, with as many more engage in this business, for us, and let Mansoul be taken up in much business and let them grow full and rich, and this is the way to get ground of them; remember ye not, that thus we prevailed upon Laodicea, and how many at present do we hold in this snare! Now when they begin to grow full they will forget their misery, and, if we shall not affright them may happen to fall asleep and so be got to neglect their townwatch, their castle-watch as well as their watch at the gates.

The great object of temptation is to allure us to sin. Satan cannot hope to possess the heart until it be first brought over to the side of iniquity. "Penny-wise and pound foolish," &c. are proverbial expressions, de. noting the folly of those who are anxious to obtain small gains, while they

"Yea, may we not by these means so cum- The deceitfulber Mansoul with abundance, that they shall ness of riches. be forced to make of their castle a warehouse, instead of a garrison fortified against us, and a receptacle of men of war? Thus if we get our goods and commodities thither, I reckon that the castle is more than half ours. Besides, could we so order it, that they should be filled with such kind of wares, then, if we made a sudden assault upon them, it would be hard for the captain to take a shelter there. Do you know that of the parable, Luke viii. 14. "The deceitfulness of riches chokes the work." And again, "When the heart is overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, all mischief comes upon them unawares." Chap. xxi. 34, 35, 36.

"Futhermore, my lords, (quoth he) you very well know that it is not easy for a people to be filled with our things, and not to have some of our Diabolonians as retainers to their houses and services. Where is a Mansolian that is full of this world, that has not for his servants and waiting-men, Mr. Profuse, or Mr Prodigality, or some other of our Diabolonian gang; as Mr Voluptuousness, Mr Pragmatical, Mr Ostentation, or the like? Now these can take the castle of Mansoul, or blow it up, or make it unfit for a garrison for Immanuel, and any of these will do. Yea these, for aught I know, may do it for us sooner than an army of twenty thousand men. Wherefore, to end as I began, my advice is, that we quietly withdraw ourselves, not offering any further force or forcible attempt upon the castle, at least at this time, and let us set on foot our new project, and let us see if that will not make them destroy themselves.*

This advice was highly applauded by them all, and was Lucifer's advice accounted the very master-piece of hell, to is applauded by all. wit, to choke Mansoul with a fulness of this world, and to surfeit her heart with the good things thereof. But see how things meet together. Just as this Diabolonian council was broken up, Captain Credence received a letter from Immanuel, the contents of which were these: "That upon the third day he would meet him in the field, in the plains about Mansoul." Meet me in the field! quoth neglect large profits. Satan having found that his doubts and fears did not succeed, but had rather kept men alert, now proposes to try the effect of worldly prosperity, as likely to produce carelessness. And indeed great is the danger, when the castle, (the heart) which should be the temple of the Lord, is turned into a warehouse.

How rarely do men grow rich and prosperous without entertertaining those Diabolonians, profusion, prodigality, pride, &c. These are Satan's best supporters, and more destructive to the soul than an army of external foes,

the Captain. What meaneth my lord by this? I know not what he meaneth by meeting me in the field. A note from So he took the note in his hand, and carried it Immanuel. to my Lord Secretary, to ask his thoughts thereupon for my lord was a seer in all matters concerning the king, and also for the good and comfort of the town of Mansoul. So, he showed my lord the note, and desired his opinion thereon: for my part, quoth Captain Credence, I know not the meaning thereof. So my lord read it, and after a little pause he said, "The Diabolonians have had against Mansoul a great consultation to-day; they have, I say, this day been contriving the utter ruin of the town; and the result of their counsel is, to set Mansoul into such a way, which, if taken will surely make her destroy herself. And to this end they are making ready for their own departure out of the town, intending to betake themselves to field again, and there to lie till they shall see whether this their project will take or no. But be thou ready with the men of thy Lord (for on the third day they will be in the plain) there to fall upon the Diabolonians; for the prince will by that time be in the field; yea, by that it is break of day, sun rising or before, and that with a mighty force against them. So he shall be before them, and thou shalt be behind them, and betwixt you both, their army shall be destroyed."

When Captain Credence heard this, away goes he to the rest of the captains, and tells them what a note he had a while since received from the hand of Immanuel. And, said he, that which was dark therein has my Lord secretary expounded unto me. He told them moreover, what by himself and by them must be done to answer the mind of their Lord. Then were the captains glad, and Captain Credence commanded, that all the king's trumpeters should ascend on the battlements of the castle, and The king's trumthere in the audience of Diabolus: and of peters commanded the whole town of Mansoul, make the to sound from the best music that heart could invent. The castle.

trumpeters then did as they were commanded: they got themselves up to the top of the castle, and thus they began to sound. Then did Diabolus start, and said, What can be the meaning of this? they neither sound Boot-and-saddle, nor Horse-and-away, nor a Charge. What do these madmen mean, that yet they should be so merry and glad? Then answered him one of themselves, and said, This is for joy that their prince Immanuel is coming to relieve the town of Mansoul; that to this end he is at the head of an army, and that this relief is near.*

*The saints are kept by the power of God. How seasonably is this relief promised!" In the mount it shall be seen." And nothing can so encour.