deemed the weakeft, and ftood always with them (in his way of ftanding) that he fuppofed was the ftrongest fide. Now when SHADDAI the mighty, and EMANUEL his Son, made war upon Manfoul to take it, this Mr. Carnal-fecurity was then in the town, and was a great doer among the people, encouraging them in their rebellion, and putting them upon hardening themselves in their refifting the King's forces: but when he faw that the town of Manfoul was taken and converted to the ufe of the glori ous Prince EMANUEL; and when he also faw what was become of Diabolus, and how he was unroofted, and made to quit the castle in the greateft contempt and fcorn; and that the town of Manfoul was well lined with captains, engines of war, and men, and alfo provifion; what doth he but wheel about alfo, and, as he had ferved Diabolus against the good Prince, fo he feigned that he would ferve the Prince against his foes; and, having got fome little fmattering of EMANUEL's things by the end (being bold), he ventures himfelf into the company of the townfmen, and attempts alfo to chat among them. Now he knew that the power and ftrength of the town of Mansoul was great, and that it could not but be pleafing to the people, if he cried up their might and their glory; wherefore he beginneth his tale with the power and ftrength of Manfoul, and affirmeth, that it was impregnable; (a) now magnifying the captains, and their flings, and their rams; then crying up their fortifications and ftrong holds; and, laftly, the affurarce that they had from their Prince, that Manfoul fhould be happy for ever. But when he faw that fome of the men of the town were tickled and taken with this difcourfe, he makes it his bufinefs, and, walking from ftreet to ftreet, houfe to houfe, How Mr. Carnal-fecurity begins the mifery of Manfoul. and (a) Beware, as a pardoned finner, of pride and felf fufficiency. 2 The heads of duced. and man to man, he brought alfo Manfoul to dance after his pipe, and to grow almost as carnally-fecure as himself; fo from talking they went to feafting, and from feafting to fporting, and fo to fome other matters (now EMANUEL was yet in the town of Manfoul, and he wifely obferved their doings) my lord mayor, my lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder, were also taken with the words of this tattling Diabolenian gentleman; forgetting that their Prince had given them warning before, to take heed that they were not beguiled with any Diabolonian fleight; he had further told them, that the fecurity of the now flourishing town of Manfoul did not fo much lie in her prefent fortifications and force, (a) as in her fo uling of what the had, as might oblige her EMANUEL to abide within her caftle. For the right doctrine of EMANUEL was, that the town of Manfoul fhould take heed that they forget not his Father's love and his; also that they fhould fo demean themfelves 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 fuch an one too as Mr. Carnalfecurity was, and to be led up and down by the nose by him they thould have heard their Prince, feared their Prince, loved their Prince, and have ftoned this naughty pack to death, and taken care to have walked in the ways of their Prince's prefcribing; for then should their peace have been as a river, when their righteousness had been like the waves of the fea. Now when EMANUEL perceived that thro' the policy of Mr. Carnal-fecurity the hearts of the men of Manfoul were chilled and abated in their practical love to him; First, (a) We must not truft in ourselves, but derive all help from Jefus. EMANUEL fou!. Firft, he bemoans them, and bewails their bemoans Man- ftate with the Secretary, faying, "O that my people had harkened unto me, and that Manfoul had walked in my ways! I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I have fuftained them." This done, he faid in his heart, I will return to the court, and go to my place, till Manfoul fhall confider and acknowledge their offence. (a) And he did fo, and the caufe and manner of his going away from them was thus, for that Manfoul declined him, as is manifeft in these particulars: 1. They left off their former way of vifiting him, they came not to his royal palace as afore. 1 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, tho' he made them ftill, and called them to them, yet they neglected to come to them, or to be de lighted with them. 4. They waited not for his counsel, but began to be headstrong and confident in themselves, concluding that now they were ftrong and invincible, and that Manfoul was fecure, and beyond all reach of the foe, and that her ftate muft needs be unalterable for ever.. Now, as was faid, EMANUEL, perceiving, that, by the craft of Mr. Carnal-fecurity, the town of Manfoul was taken off from their dependence upon him, and upon his Father by him, and fet upon what by them was bestowed He endeavours upon it; he first, as I faid, bemoaned their ftate; then he used means to make them understand that the way they went on in was dangerous for he fent my lord high Secretary to them, to forbid them fuch ways; but twice when he came to them, he found them at dinner in Mr. Carnal-fecurity's parlour; to reclaim them. (a) A carelefs, felf-confident walk brings darkness and defertion of foul. parlour; and perceiving alfo that they were They grieve hot willing to reafon about matters con- the Holy cerning their good, he took grief and went his way. The which when he had told to Ghoft and Chrift. the Prince EMANUEL, he was grieved alfo, and returned to his Father's court. draws not all Now the methods of his withdrawing, Chrift withas I was laying before, were thus: at once. 1. Even while he was yet with them in Manfoul, he kept himself clofe, and more retired than formerly. 2. His fpeech was not now, if he came into their company, To pleasant and familiar as formerly. 3. Nor did he, as in times paft, fend to Manfoul from his table those dainty bits which he was wont to do. 4. Nor, when they came to vifit him, as now-and-then they would, would he be fo eafily fpoken with, as they found him in times paft. They might now The working knock once, yea twice, but he would feem of their affec not at all to regard them; whereas formerly tions. he would run and meet them half way, and take them too and lay them in his bofom. Thus EMANUEL carried it now; and by this his carriage he thought to make them bethink themselves, and return to him. But alas! they did not confider, they did not know his ways, they regarded not, they were not touched with thefe, nor with the true remembrance of former favours, Ezek. xi. 21. Hofea v. 15. Lev. xxvi. 21-24. Wherefore what does he but in private manner withdraw himself, firft from his palace, then to the gate of the town, and fo away from Manfoul he goes, till they fhould acknowledge their offence, and more earnestly seek his face. Mr. God's-peace alfo laid down his commiffion, and would for the prefent act no longer. (a) Thus they walked contrary to him, and he again, by way of (a) Chrift, the Spirit, and peace, withdraw from the carnally-fecure. of retaliation, walked contrary to them, Jer. ii. 32. But alas! by this time they were fo hardened in their way, and had fo drunk in the doctrine of Mr. Carnal-fecurity, that the departing of their Prince touched them not, nor was he remembered by them when gone; and fo of confequence his abfence was not bewailed by them. A trick put upon Mr. God Now there was a day wherein this old gentleman, Mr. Carnal-fecurity, again made ly-fear. a feal for the town of Manfoul, and there was at that time in the town one Mr. Godly-fear; one now but little fet by, tho' formerly one of great request. This man, old Carnal-fecurity had a mind, if poffible, to gull and abuse as he did the reft, and therefore he now bids He goes to the him to the feaft with his neighbours. So the feaft, and fits day being come, they prepare, and he goes and appears with the reft of the guests; and being all fet at the table, they ate and drank, and were merry, even all but this one man (for Mr. Godlyfear fat like a stranger, and neither ate nor was merry); (a) which when Mr. Carnal-fecurity perceived, he addreffed himself in a speech thus to him: there like stranger. Talk between Mr. Carnalfecurity and Mr. Godlyfear. Mr. Godly-fear, are you not well? you feem to be of ill body or mind, or both. I have a cordial of Mr. Forget-good's making, 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 difcreetly replied: Sir, I thank you for all things courteous and civil; but for your cordial, I have no lift thereto. But a word to the natives of Manfoul: You the elders and chief of Manfoul, to me it is ftrange to fee you fo jocund and merry, when the town of Manfoul is in fuch woful cafe.' Then faid Mr. Carnal-fecurity, You want fleep, good Sir, I doubt. If you pleafe, lie down and take a nap, and we the mean while will be merry.' Then (a) The fear of the lord is pure;-a fovereign prefervative from fin. |