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 to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my Lord Willbewill, another of
the gentry of the famous town of Mansoul. This Willbewill was as
high-born as any man in Mansoul, and was as much, if not more, a
freeholder than many of them were; besides, if I remember my tale aright,
he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul.
Now, together with these, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and
courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether
he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it
was through pride of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul;
and therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might (such
an one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in Mansoul. And,
headstrong man that he was! thus he began betimes; for this man, when
Diabolus did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the first that was
for consenting to his words, and for accepting his counsel at wholesome,
and that was for the opening of the gate, and for letting him into the
town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness for him, and therefore he
designed for him a place. And perceiving the valour and stoutness of the
man, he coveted to have him for one of his great ones, to act and do in
matters of the highest concern.
So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter that lay in
his breast, but there needed not much persuasion in the case. For as at
first he was willing that Diabolus should be let into the town, so now he
was as willing to serve him there. When the tyrant, therefore, perceived
the willingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stood bending
that way, he forthwith made him the captain of the castle, governor of
the wall, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in
his commission, that nothing without him should be done in all the town
of Mansoul. So that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my Lord
Willbewill in all the town of Mansoul! nor could anything now be done,
but at his will and pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul. He had
also one Mr. Mind for his clerk, a man to speak on every way like his
master: for he and his lord were in principle one, and in practice not
far asunder. And now was Mansoul brought under to purpose, and made to
fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.
But it will not out of my thoughts what a desperate one this Willbewill
was when power was put into his hand. First, he flatly denied that he
owed any suit or service to his former prince and liege lord. This done,
in the next place he took an oath, and swore fidelity to his great master
Diabolus, and then, being stated and settled in his places, offices,
advancements, and preferments, oh! you cannot think, unless you had seen
it, the strange work that this workman made in the town of Mansoul.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account