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
Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman, who before had been
the Recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him, That,
forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of the town of
Mansoul, and was also well-spoken, and could pertinently deliver to them
his Master’s will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would
also make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul, in
all the laws, statutes, and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul.
‘And thou must,’ said the Prince, ‘confine thyself to the teaching of
moral virtues, to civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt to
presume to be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that
are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai, my Father: for those things knows
no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father’s Secretary only.
‘Thou art a native of the town of Mansoul, but the Lord Secretary is a
native with my Father; wherefore, as thou hast knowledge of the laws and
customs of the corporation, so he of the things and will of my Father.
‘Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee a minister and a
preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which the Lord
Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there thou must be his
scholar and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul are.
‘Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for
information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit in man, this
person’s inspiration must give him understanding. Wherefore, O thou Mr.
Recorder, keep low and be humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that
kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made
prisoners in the pit. Be therefore content with thy station.
‘I have made thee my Father’s vicegerent on earth, in such things of
which I have made mention before: and thou, take thou power to teach them
to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and chastisements, if they
shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments.
‘And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abuses made
feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to
my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of the blood of my
grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thus doing, thou shalt drive
from thine heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It
will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for the
reception and keeping of all that the King’s most noble Secretary
teacheth.’
When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into the
place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the man had thankfully
accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself in a particular
speech to the townsmen themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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