made the governor of the hold called Sweet-sin-hold. was one whose name was Love-flesh; he was also a very lewd fellow, but not of that country from whence the others are bound. This fellow could find more sweetness when he was sucking a lust, than he did in the Paradise of God.* And now Diabolus thought himself safe; he had taken Mansoul; he had ingarrisoned himself therein; he had put down the old officers, and set up new ones; he had defaced the image of Shaddai, and had set up his own he had spoiled the old law-books, and had promoted his own vain lies: he had made him new magistrates, and set up new aldermen: he had built his new holds and manned them for himself. And all this he did to make himself secure, in case the goodShaddai, or his Son, should come to make an incursion upon him. Now you may well think, that, long before this time, word by some or other could not but be carried to the good king Shaddai, how his Mansoul on the continent of Universe was lost; and that the giant Diabolus, once one of his majesty's servants, had in rebellion against the King, made sure thereof for himself, and that to a very circumstance. At The language of the wretched worldling's heart is, "Depart from me, O God, I desire not the knowledge of thy ways: let others take Christ and heaven; pleasures and hell shall be my portion.— Evil, be thou my good." MILTON, + God foresaw the fall, and knew it's fatal consequences: -" for what can 'scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient?" MILT. Par. Lost. But, eternal praises to redeeming love! a remedy was provided in Christ Jesus, for repairing the breach sin had made; whereby God's darling attribute, mercy, might be for ever glorified in his creatures salvation, reinstatement in the divine favour, and delivery from all evil. At first, How Diabolus came upon Mansoul (they being a simple people and innocent) with craft, subtlety, lies, and guile: Item, That he had treacherously slain their right noble and valiant captain, the capt. Resistance, as he stood upon the gate with the rest of the townsmen: Item, How my brave lord Innocent fell down dead (with grief, some say; or with being poisoned with the stinking breath of one Ill-pause, as say others) at the hearing of his just lord and rightful prince Shaddai so abused by the mouth of so filthy a Diabolonian varlet as Ill-pause was. The messenger further told, that after this Ill-pause had made a short oration to the townsmen, in behalf of Diabolus his master, the simple town, believing to be true what was said, with one consent did open Ear-gate, the chief gate of the corporation, and did let him with his crew into the possession of the famous town of Mansoul. He further shewed how Diabolus had served the lord-mayor, and Mr. Recorder, to wit, that he had put them from all place of power and trust. Item, He shewed also, that my lord Will-be-will was turned a very rebel and runnagate, and that so was one Mr. Mind, his clerk; and that they two did range and revel it all the town over, and teach the wicked ones their ways. He said moreover, that this Will-be-will was put into great trust, and particularly that Diabolus had put into Will-be-will's hand all the strong places in Mansoul; and that Mr. Affection was made my lord Will-be-will's deputy, in his most rebellious affairs. Yea, said the messenger, this monster, lord Will-be-will, has openly disavowed the king Shaddai, and hath given his faith and plighted troth to Diabolus. Also, said the messenger, besides this, the king, or rebellious tyrant, over the once famous, but now perishing town of Mansoul, has set up a lord mayor and Recorder of his own. For mayor, he has set up one Mr. Lustings; and for recorder, Mr. Forget-good; two of the vilest of all the town of Mansoul. This faithful messenger also proceeded, and told what a sort of new burgesses Diabolus had made; also that he had built several strong forts, towers, and strong-holds in Mansoul. He told too, the which I had almost forgot, how Diabolus had put the town of Mansoul into arms, the better to capacitate them, on his behalf, to make resistance against Shaddai their king, should he come to reduce them to their former obedience. Now the tidings-teller did not deliver his relation of things in private, but in open court, the King and his Son, high lords, chief captains, and nobles, being all there present to hear. But by that they heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit, there was among all sorts, to think that the famous Mansoul was now taken: only the King and his Son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not every body thereof. Yet, because they too would have a share in condoling the misery of Mansoul, therefore they also did, and that at a rate of the highest degree, bewail the losing of Mansoul.The King said plainly, that "it grieved him at the heart," Gen. vi. 5, 6. and you may be sure that his Son was not a whit behind him. Thus they gave conviction to all about them, that they had love and compassion for the famous town of Mansoul.* Well, when the * Inexorable justice might have left all mankind in their ruined state, to reap in eternal misery the fruit of their apostacy; yet in his mercy he found a glorious ransom for the heirs of salvation, through the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ! We may well say, "What tongue can speak thy comprehensive grace! When awful justice claim'd her righteous pay! BOYSE. What abundant reason has every object of this mercy to adopt the words of the apostle, "Verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham," Heb. ii. 16. the King and his Son were retired into his privy chamber, they there again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, That Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost; so as certainly it should be recovered again. Recovered, I say, in such a way, as that both the King and his Son would get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this consultation, the Son of Shaddai (o) (a sweet and comely person, and one that had always great affection for those that were in affliction, but one that had mortal enmity in his heart against Diabolus, because he was designed for it, and because he sought his crown and dignity, Isaiah xlix. 5. 1 Tim. i. 15. Hos. xiii. 14.): this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hand with his Father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, That at a certain time, prefixed by both, the King's Son should take a journey into the country of Universe, and there in a way of justice and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay the foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus, and from his tyranny. Moreover, Emanuel resolved to make, at a time convenient, a war upon the giant Diabolus, even while he was possessed of the town of Mansoul; and that he would fairly by strength of hand, drive him out of his hold, his nest, and take it to himself, to be his habitation.* (0) The Son of God. This *This glorious display of God's mercy is beautifully delineated in the following lines: "Yes, from my bosom my Belov'd I give, That my lost creatures may return, and live: BROOKE'S Redemption; This being now resolved upon, order was given to the lord chief Secretary, to draw up a fair record (p) of what was determined, and to cause that it should be published in all the corners of the kingdom of Universe. A short breviat of the contents thereof, you may, if you please, take here as follows: Let all men know, who are concerned, that the Son of Shaddai, the great King, is engaged by covenant to his Father, to bring his Mansoul to him again; * yea, and to put Mansoul too, through his love into a far better and more happy condition than it was in before it was taken by Diabolus.' These papers, therefore, were published in several places, to the no little molestation of the Tyrant Diabolus; for now, thought he, I shall be molested, and habitation will be taken from me. my But when this matter, I mean this purpose of the King and his Son, did at first take air at court, who can tell how the high lords, chief captains, and noble princes that were there, were taken with the business! First, They whispered to one another, (q) and after that it began to ring throughout the King's palace, all wondering at the glorious design* that between the King and his Son was on foot for the miserable town of Mansoul: yea, the courtiers could scarcely do any thing, either for the King or kingdom, but they would 2'0 .mix * If angels, on this joyful occasion, this new creation, could pro*claim, Glory be to God in the highest; and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!" (Luke ii. 4.) how much greater cause have the redeemed, who were thus snatched from eternal misery to be made partakers of his salvation, to begin their triumphant song, and, with humble adoration, bless God for his free, unmerited, and inestimable gift of a precious Saviour! "O wond'rous grace, unask'd, divine, and free, GILES. |