1

Now when he was come fo far into the town as to the Recorder's houfe, he commanded that one fhould go to captain Credence, to know whether the caftle of Manfoul was prepared to entertain his royal prefence (for the preparation of that was left to that captain), and word was brought that it was, Acts xv. 9. Then was captain Credence commanded alfo to come forth with his power to meet the Prince; which was done as he had commanded, and he conducted him into the caftle, Eph. iii. 17. This done, the Prince that night lodged in the caftle with his mighty captains and men of war, to the joy of the town of Manfoul.

The townfmen covet who fhall

have most of the foldiers belong ing to the

Prince.

Now the next care of the townsfolk was, how the captains and foldiers of the Prince's army fhould be quartered among them; and the care was, not how they fhould fhift their hands of them, but how they fhould fill their houses with them: for every man in Mansoul now had that esteem of EMANUEL and his men, that nothing grieved them more, than because they were not enlarged enough, every one of them, to receive the whole army of the Prince; yea, they counted it their glory to be waiting upon them, and would in thofe days run at their bidding like lacqueys. (a) At laft they came to this refult:

1. That captain Innocency fhould quarter at Mr. Reason's.

How they were

quartered in the

town of Man

foul.

2. That captain Patience fhould quarter at Mr. Mind's. This Mr. Mind was formerly the lord Will-be-will's clerk in the time of the rebellion.

3. It was ordered that captain Charity should quarter in Mr. Affection's house,

4. That

(a) O the wonderful change grace produces! When the Lord dwells in the heart by faith, love to Chrift evidences itself in ftriving to live to his glory: the foul then delights in the Lord, his ways and people. May this be our lot!

4. That captain Good-hope fhould quarter at my lordmayor's. Now for the houfe of the recorder, himself defired, because his house was next to the castle, and because from him it was ordered by the Prince, that if need be, the alarm should be given to Manfoul: it was, I fay, defired by him, that captain Boanerges and captain Conviction fhould take up their quarters with him, even they and all their men.

5. As for captain Judgment and captain Execution, my lord Will-be-will took them and their men to him, because he was to rule under the Prince for the good of the town of Manfoul now, as he had done before under the tyrant Diabolus for the hurt and damage thereof, Rom. vi, 19. Eph. iii. 17.

6. And throughout the reft of the town were quartered the reft of EMANUEL'S forces; but captain Credence, with his men, abode still in the caftle. So the Prince, his captains and his foldiers, were lodged in the town of Manfoul. (a)

Manfoul in

Now the ancients and elders of the town of flamed with Manfoul thought that they never fhould have their prince enough of the prince EMANUEL; his perfon, EMANUEL. his actions, his words and behaviour, were fo pleafing, fo taking, fo defireable to them. Wherefore they prayed him, that though the caftle of Manfoul was his place of refidence (and they defired that he might dwell there for ever), yet that he would often vifit the streets, houfes, and people of Manfoul; for, faid they, dread Sovereign, thy prefence, thy looks, thy fmiles, thy words, are the life, ftrength, and finews of the town of Man

foul.

Befides this, they craved that they might have, without difficulty or interruption, continual accefs unto hïm;

fo

(a) Thus when the enlivening gales of the Spirit blow on the foul, the fpices thereof flow forth; fin becomes hateful, holiness delightful, and Jefus precious, who, by his grace, enables us both to fuffer and to do his will.

They have ac

cefs unto him.

fo for that very purpose he commanded that the gates should stand open, that they might there fee the manner of his doings, the fortifications of the place, and the royal mansion-house of the Prince.

him.

Promife after

When he fpake, they all stopped their They learn of mouths, and gave audience; and when he walked, it was their delight to imitate him in his goings. Now upon a time EMANUEL made a feast for the town of Manfoul; and upon the feafting-day, the townsfolk were come to the caftle to partake of his banquet. And he feasted them with all manner of outlandish food; food that grew not in the fields of Manfoul, nor in all the whole kingdom of Universe. It was food that came from his Father's court, and fo there was difh after difh fet before them, and they were commanded freely to eat. But ftill, when a fresh difh was fet before them, they would whisperingly fay to each other, "What is it?" for they wift not what to call it, Exod. xvi. 15. They drank also of the water that was made wine; and were very merry with him. There was mufic also all the while at the table, and man did eat angels food, and had honey given him out of the rock; fo Manfoul did eat the food that was peculiar to the court, yea, they had now thereof to the full, (a) Pf. lxxviii. 24, 25.

promife.

Brave enter

tainment.

I muft not forget to tell you, that as at this table there were musicians, fo they were not thofe of the country, nor yet of the town of Manfoul; but they were the mafters of the fongs that were fung at the court of SHADDAI.

Now after the feaft was over, EMANUEL was for entertaining the town with fome curious Riddles.

riddles

(a) These sweet views of Christ, and the comforts of his Spirit, are not uncommon at the foul's efpoufals to him after converfion. when he brings her into his banqueting-house, and his banner over her is love, Song ii. 4.

riddles of fecrets drawn up by his Father's fecretary, by the wisdom and fkill of SHADDAI; the like to these there are not in any kingdom.

tures.

The riddles were made upon king SHADThe holy fcrip DA1 himself, and upon EMANUEL his Son, and upon his wars and doings with Manfoul. EMANUEL alfo expounded unto them fome of those riddles himself; but Oh how they were lightened! They faw what they never faw before; they could not have thought that fuch rarities could have been couched in fo few and fuch ordinary words. I told you before, whom thefe riddles did concern; and as they were opened, the people evidently faw it was fo. (a) Yea, they gathered that the things themselves were a kind of portraiture, and that of EMANUEL himself; for when they read in the scheme where the riddles were writ, and looked in the face of the Prince, things looked fo like one to the other, that Manfoul could not forbear but say, This is the Lamb, this is the Sacrifice, this is the Rock, this is the Red Cow, this is the Door, and this is the Way; with a great many other things more.

The end of that banquet.

And thus he difmiffed the town of Manfoul. But can you imagine how the people of the corporation, were taken with his entertainment? Oh they were tranfported with joy, they were drowned with wonder, while they faw and understood and confidered what their EMANUEL entertained them withal, and what myfteries he opened to them; and when they were at home in their houfes, and in their most retired places, they could not but fing of him and of his actions. Yea, fo taken were the townfmen now with their Prince, that they would fing of him in their fleep.

(a) The word teftifies, to the enlightened mind, of the wonderful incarnation, finlefs life, expiatory death, glorious refurrection, afcenfion, &c. of Jefuş.