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
‘Go, bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction bring the prisoners out
to me into the camp to-morrow, and say you to Captain Judgment and
Captain Execution, “Stay you in the castle, and take good heed to
yourselves that you keep all quiet in Mansoul until you shall hear
further from me.”’ And with that he turned himself from them, and went
into his royal pavilion again.
So the petitioners, having received this answer from the Prince,
returned, as at the first, to go to their companions again. But they had
not gone far, but thoughts began to work in their minds that no mercy as
yet was intended by the Prince to Mansoul. So they went to the place
where the prisoners lay bound; but these workings of mind about what
would become of Mansoul had such strong power over them, that by that
they were come unto them that sent them, they were scarce able to deliver
their message.
But they came at length to the gates of the town, (now the townsmen with
earnestness were waiting for their return,) where many met them, to know
what answer was made to the petition. Then they cried out to those that
were sent, ‘What news from the Prince? and what hath Emmanuel said?’ But
they said that they must, as afore, go up to the prison, and there
deliver their message. So away they went to the prison, with a multitude
at their heels. Now, when they were come to the gates of the prison,
they told the first part of Emmanuel’s speech to the prisoners, to wit,
how he reflected upon their disloyalty to his Father and himself, and how
they had chosen and closed with Diabolus, had fought for him, hearkened
to him, and been ruled by him; but had despised him and his men. This
made the prisoners look pale; but the messengers proceeded and said, ‘He,
the Prince, said, moreover, that yet he would consider your petition, and
give such answer thereto as would stand with his glory.’ And as these
words were spoken, Mr. Wet-Eyes gave a great sigh. At this they were all
of them struck into their dumps, and could not tell what to say: fear
also possessed them in a marvellous manner, and death seemed to sit upon
some of their eyebrows. Now, there was in the company a notable,
sharp-witted fellow, a mean man of estate, and his name was old
Inquisitive. This man asked the petitioners if they had told out every
whit of what Emmanuel said, and they answered, ‘Verily, no.’ Then said
Inquisitive, ‘I thought so, indeed. Pray, what was it more that he said
unto you?’ Then they paused awhile; but at last they brought out all,
saying, ‘The Prince bade us bid Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction
bring the prisoners down to him to-morrow; and that Captain Judgment and
Captain Execution should take charge of the castle and town till they
should hear further from him. They said also that when the Prince had
commanded them thus to do, he immediately turned his back upon them, and
went into his royal pavilion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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