The Holy War, Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World; Or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of MansoulBunyan, John
ReligionChristian
The Holy War, Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World; Or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul
Bunyan, John
Christian fiction; Soul; Spiritual warfare -- Fiction
‘But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom soever,
shall be debarred a share therein.’
So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of Emmanuel their
gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more large than by this
lean epitome is set before you,) they carried it to audience, that is, to
the market place, and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all
the people. This being done, it was had back to the castle gates, and
there fairly engraven upon the doors thereof, and laid in letters of
gold, to the end that the town of Mansoul, with all the people thereof,
might have it always in their view, or might go where they might see what
a blessed freedom their Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy
might be increased in themselves, and their love renewed to their great
and good Emmanuel.
But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now possess
the hearts of the men of Mansoul! The bells rung, the minstrels played,
the people danced, the captains shouted, the colours waved in the wind,
and the silver trumpets sounded; and the Diabolonians now were glad to
hide their heads, for they looked like them that had been long dead.
When this was over, the Prince sent again for the elders of the town of
Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry that he intended to
establish among them; such a ministry that might open unto them, and that
might instruct them in the things that did concern their present and
future state.
‘For,’ said he, ‘you, of yourselves, unless you have teachers and guides,
will not be able to know, and, if not to know, to be sure not to do the
will of my Father.’
At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to the people, the
whole town came running together, (for it pleased them well, as whatever
the Prince now did pleased the people,) and all with one consent implored
his Majesty that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them
as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment; that
they might be documented in all good and wholesome things. So he told
them that he would grant them their requests, and would establish two
among them; one that was of his Father’s court, and one that was a native
of Mansoul.
‘He that is from the court,’ said he, ‘is a person of no less quality and
dignity than my Father and I; and he is the Lord Chief Secretary of my
Father’s house: for he is, and always has been, the chief dictator of all
my Father’s laws, a person altogether well skilled in all mysteries, and
knowledge of mysteries, as is my Father, or as myself is. Indeed he is
one with us in nature, and also as to loving of, and being faithful to,
and in the eternal concerns of the town of Mansoul.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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