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
The Prince also called for the noble Captain Credence, and commanded that
he and some of his officers should march before the noble men of Mansoul
with flying colours into the town. He gave also unto Captain Credence a
charge, that about that time that the Recorder did read the general
pardon in the town of Mansoul, that at that very time he should with
flying colours march in at Eye-gate with his ten thousands at his feet
and that he should so go until he came by the high street of the town, up
to the castle gates, and that himself should take possession thereof
against his Lord came thither. He commanded, moreover, that he should
bid Captain Judgment and Captain Execution to leave the stronghold to
him, and to withdraw from Mansoul, and to return into the camp with speed
unto the Prince.
And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terror of the
first four captains and their men.
Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained by the noble
Prince Emmanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he
sent them away to their home with pipe and tabor going before them. And
now you must think that those of the town that had all this while waited
to hear of their death, could not but be exercised with sadness of mind,
and with thoughts that pricked like thorns. Nor could their thoughts be
kept to any one point; the wind blew with them all this while at great
uncertainties; yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been
disquieted with a shaking hand. But at last, as they with many a long
look looked over the wall of Mansoul, they thought that they saw some
returning to the town; and thought again, Who should they be, too? Who
should they be? At last they discerned that they were the prisoners: but
can you imagine how their hearts were surprised with wonder, specially
when they perceived also in what equipage and with what honour they were
sent home. They went down to the camp in black, but they came back to
the town in white; they went down to the camp in ropes, they came back in
chains of gold; they went down to the camp with their feet in fetters,
but came back with their steps enlarged under them; they went also to the
camp looking for death, but they came back from thence with assurance of
life; they went down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again
with pipe and tabor playing before them. So as soon as they were come to
Eye-gate, the poor and tottering town of Mansoul adventured to give a
shout; and they gave such a shout as made the captains in the Prince’s
army leap at the sound thereof. Alas! for them, poor hearts! who could
blame them? since their dead friends were come to life again; for it was
to them as life from the dead to see the ancients of the town of Mansoul
shine in such splendour. They looked for nothing but the axe and the
block; but, behold, joy and gladness, comfort and consolation, and such
melodious notes attending them that was sufficient to make a sick man
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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