London Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Armes. and Benj: Alfop at the Angell and Bible in the Poultrey

BLA KIE & 21 31 A. EDINBURGH XDN

Man.

A town for its building so curious, for its situation so commodious, for its with reference to its original—that I may say privileges so advantageous-I mean it, as was said before of the continent in which it is placed, There is not its equal under the whole

[CONTENTS:-The original beauty and splendour of the town of
Mansoul, while under the dominion of Shaddai-Its noble
castle described-Its five gates-The perfection of its in-
habitants—The origin of Diabolus-His pride and fall
Revenge meditated-A council of war held to deliberate
on the best means of seducing the town of Mansoul-heaven.2
Diabolus marches to the town, and sits down before Eye-
gate-His oration-Captain Resistance slain-My Lord
Innocence killed-The town taken.]

In my travels, as I walked through many regions
and countries, it was my chance to happen into
that famous continent of Universe; a very large
and spacious country it is. It licth between the
two poles, and just amidst the four points of the
heavens. It is a place well-watered, and richly
adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate;
and for the most part (at least where I was) very
fruitful, also well peopled, and a very sweet air.
The people are not all of one complexion, nor
yet of one language, mode, or way of religion; but
differ as much as, it is said, do the planets them-
selves. Some are right, and some are wrong,
even as it happeneth to be in lesser regions.

A natural state

Besh.

In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel, and there travel I did; and that so long, even till I learned much of their mother-tongue, together with the customs and manners of them among whom I was. And to speak pleasing to the truth, I was much delighted to see and hear many things which I saw and heard among them. Yea, I had (to be sure) even lived and died a native among them, so was I taken with them and their doings, had not my Master sent for me home to his house, there to do business for him, and to over-see business done.1

Christ

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair and delicate town, a corporation, called

With what Christian simplicity is this most important history introduced. The author, a traveller in the world, delighted with its customs, would have perished in his sins, but that God called him to his service and salvation.-(ED.)

2 Mansoul, or, as the margin reads, man, so fearfully and wonderfully made, was glorious in his original sinless state, but will be infinitely more glorious if saved to eternal bliss, by union with Christ.-(ED.)

of

As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the two worlds, and the first founder, and buikler of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; and he built it for

3

Scriptures.

Created angels.

his own delight. He made it the The Almighty.
mirror and glory of all that he made,
even the top-picce, beyond anything else that he
did in that country. Ge. 1. 26. Yea, so goodly a
town was Mansoul, when first built, that, it is said
by some, the gods, at the setting up
thereof, came down to see it, and sang
for joy. And as he made it goodly to behold, so
also mighty to have dominion over all the country
round about. Yea, all was commanded to ac-
knowledge Mansoul for their metropolitan, all was
enjoined to do homage to it. Aye, the town itself
had positive commission and power from her King
to demand service of all, and also to subdue any
that any ways denied to do it.

The heart.

There was reared up in the midst of this town a most famous and stately palace. For strength, it might be called a castle; for pleasantness, a paradise; for largeness, a place so copious as to contain all the world. Ec. iii. 11. This palace the King Shaddai intended but for himself alone, and not another with him; * partly because of his own delights, and partly because he would not that the terror of strangers

should be upon the town. This place The powers of Shaddai made also a garrison of, but

the soul.

3 The name, Shaddai, one of the names of God, means 'the pourer forth,' the source of existence, the all-bountiful, the all-mighty, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. If he withhold his blessings, the universe must perish. Lord, what is man, that thou shouldst be mindful of him?'-(ED.)

Professor, if thy heart be idolatrous, or devoted to the world and thy lusts, thy religion is vain, thou deceivest thine own soul. God says to all, My son, give me thine heart.' Pr. xxiii. 26.-(Mason.)

committed the keeping of it only to the men of best of his territories and dominions. This Diathe town. bolus was made son of the morning, and a brave place he had of it. Is. xiv. 12. It brought him much glory, and gave him much brightness, an income that might have contented his Luciferian heart, had it not been insatiable, and enlarged as hell itself.

The wall of the town was well built, yea, so fast and firm was it knit and compact together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, they could not have been shaken or broken for ever. For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that built Mansoul, that the walls could The Body. never be broken down, nor hurt, by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates in at which to come, out at which to go, and these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these, Ear-gate, Eye-gate, MouthThe five senses. gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.1

Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mind for higher state and degree, what doth he but begins to think with himself how he might be set up as Lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai! Now that did the King reserve for his Son, yea, and had already bestowed it upon him. Wherefore he first consults with himself what had best to be done, and then breaks his mind to some other of his companions, to the which they also agreed. So, in fine, they came to this issue, that they should make an attempt upon the King's Son to destroy him, that the inheritance might be Other things there were that belonged to the theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, town of Mansoul, which, if you adjoin to these, was concluded, the time appointed, the word given, will yet give further demonstration to all of the the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted.' The state of glory and strength of the place. It Now the King and his Son being ALL and always Mansoul at had always a sufficiency of provision EYE, could not but discern all passages in his dowithin its walls; it had the best, most minions; and he having always love for his Son as wholesome, and excellent law that then was extant for himself, could not, at what he saw, but be in the world. There was not a rascal, rogue, or greatly provoked and offended; wherefore, what traitorous person then within its walls. They were does he, but takes them in the very nick; and, first all true men, and fast joined together; and this, trip that they made towards their design, convicts you know, is a great matter. And to all these, them of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspir. it was always so long as it had the goodness to acy that they had devised, and now attempted to keep true to Shaddai the king—his countenance, put into practice; and casts them altogether out his protection, and it was his delight, &c. of all place of trust, benefit, honour, and preferment. This done, he banishes them the court; turns them down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judgment that he had appointed, and that for ever. 2 Pe. ii. 4;

first.

The Devil.

2

3

Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own habitation. This giant was king of the blacks or negroes, and a most raving prince he was. We will, if you please, first discourse of the original of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.

Sinners, the fallen angels.

The original of
Diabolus.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and beggarly. As to his original, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, made, and taken, and put by him into most high and mighty place, yea, was put into such principalities as belonged to the

1 The five senses (see the margin) are the gates to Mansoul. While they were guarded, no enemy could injure the town; now they require a double watch. (ED.)

2 AaBoros (Diabolus) is frequently used in the New Testament. It is translated 'a slanderer,' 'an accuser,' and 'adversary; and, in Mat. iv. 1; Re. xii. 9; xx 2, 'The prince of devils.' It is the same as (Satan), in Hebrew.-(ED.)

It must not be supposed that this is a reflection upon the unhappy sons of Africa who had been sold into slavery. The margin is the key to the meaning of the words; 'blacks or

Jude 6.

And yet, now, they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honour, and also knowing that they had lost their prince's favour for ever, being banished his courts, and cast down to the horrible pits, you may be sure they would now add to their former pride what malice and rage against Shaddai, and against his Son, they could.

negrocs' mean 'sinners, the fallen angels.' Negro slaves were believed to be convicted criminals sold to the whites for transportation. English convicts were, at that time, sold as slaves to the planters in the West Indies. A man, for merely being a Quaker, was thus sold as a slave in New England. The horrors that were disclosed in this diabolical traffic stamps a demon character upon every slave-dealer or holder. The prin cipal of these are negroes, who steal their fellows; and, like black devils, sell them to the white devils, who hold these poor creatures in slavery.-(ED.)

4And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.' Re. xii. 7, 8.