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
5. As for Captain Judgment and Captain Execution, my Lord Willbewill took
them and their men to him, because he was to rule under the Prince for
the good of the town of Mansoul now, as he had before under the tyrant
Diabolus for the hurt and damage thereof.
6. And throughout the rest of the town were quartered Emmanuel’s forces;
but Captain Credence, with his men, abode still in the castle. So the
Prince, his captains, and his soldiers, were lodged in the town of
Mansoul.
Now, the ancients and elders of the town of Mansoul thought that they
never should have enough of the Prince Emmanuel; his person, his actions,
his words, and behaviour, were so pleasing, so taking, so desirable to
them. Wherefore they prayed him, that though the castle of Mansoul was
his place of residence, (and they desired that he might dwell there for
ever,) yet that he would often visit the streets, houses, and people of
Mansoul. ‘For,’ said they, ‘dread Sovereign, thy presence, thy looks,
thy smiles, thy words, are the life, and strength, and sinews of the town
of Mansoul.’
Besides this, they craved that they might have, without difficulty or
interruption, continual access unto him, (so for that very purpose he
commanded that the gates should stand open,) that they might there see
the manner of his doings, the fortifications of the place, and the royal
mansion-house of the Prince.
When he spake, they all stopped their mouths and gave audience; and when
he walked, it was their delight to imitate him in his goings.
Now, upon a time, Emmanuel made a feast for the town of Mansoul; and upon
the feasting-day the townsfolk were come to the castle to partake of his
banquet; and he feasted them with all manner of outlandish food;—food
that grew not in the fields of Mansoul; nor in all the whole Kingdom of
Universe; it was food that came from his Father’s court. And so there
was dish after dish set before them, and they were commanded freely to
eat. But still, when a fresh dish was set before them, they would
whisperingly say to each other, ‘What is it?’ for they wist not what to
call it. They drank also of the water that was made wine, and were very
merry with him. There was music also all the while at the table; and man
did eat angels’ food, and had honey given him out of the rock. So
Mansoul did eat the food that was peculiar to the court; yea, they had
now thereof to the full.
I must not forget to tell you, that as at this table there were
musicians, so they were not those of the country, nor yet of the town of
Mansoul; but they were the masters of the songs that were sung at the
court of Shaddai.
Now, after the feast was over, Emmanuel was for entertaining the town of
Mansoul with some curious riddles of secrets drawn up by his Father’s
secretary, by the skill and wisdom of Shaddai; the like to these there is
not in any kingdom. These riddles were made upon the King Shaddai
himself, and upon Emmanuel his Son, and upon his wars and doings with
Mansoul.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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