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 he commanded that those that waited upon him should go and bring
forth out of his treasury those white and glistening robes ‘that I,’ said
he, ‘have provided and laid up in store for my Mansoul.’ So the white
garments were fetched out of his treasury, and laid forth to the eyes of
the people. Moreover, it was granted to them that they should take them
and put them on, ‘according,’ said he, ‘to your size and stature.’ So
the people were put into white, into fine linen, white and clean.
Then said the Prince unto them, ‘This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and the
badge by which mine are known from the servants of others. Yea, it is
that which I grant to all that are mine, and without which no man is
permitted to see my face. Wear them, therefore, for my sake, who gave
them unto you; and also if you would be known by the world to be mine.’
But now! can you think how Mansoul shone? It was fair as the sun, clear
as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners.
The Prince added further, and said, ‘No prince, potentate, or mighty one
of Universe, giveth this livery but myself: behold, therefore, as I said
before, you shall be known by it to be mine.
‘And now,’ said he, ‘I have given you my livery, let me give you also in
commandment concerning them; and be sure that you take good heed to my
words.
‘First. Wear them daily, day by day, lest you should at sometimes appear
to others as if you were none of mine.
‘Second. Keep them always white; for if they be soiled, it is dishonour
to me.
‘Third. Wherefore gird them up from the ground, and let them not lag
with dust and dirt.
‘Fourth. Take heed that you lose them not, lest you walk naked, and they
see your shame.
‘Fifth. But if you should sully them, if you should defile them, the
which I am greatly unwilling you should, and the prince Diabolus will be
glad if you would, then speed you to do that which is written in my law,
that yet you may stand, and befall before me, and before my throne.
Also, this is the way to cause that I may not leave you, nor forsake you
while here, but may dwell in this town of Mansoul for ever.’
And now was Mansoul, and the inhabitants of it, as the signet upon
Emmanuel’s right hand. Where was there now a town, a city, a
corporation, that could compare with Mansoul! a town redeemed from the
hand, and from the power of Diabolus! a town that the King Shaddai loved,
and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Prince of the infernal cave;
yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his
royal habitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and made strong
by the force of his army. What shall I say, Mansoul has now a most
excellent Prince, golden captains and men of war, weapons proved, and
garments as white as snow. Nor are these benefits to be counted little,
but great; can the town of Mansoul esteem them so, and improve them to
that end and purpose for which they are bestowed upon them?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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