首页 >出版文学> THE HOLY WAR>第18章

第18章

  Thenthegracedoubterwascalled,andhisindictmentwasreadandherepliedthereto:’Thatthoughhewasofthelandofdoubting,hisfatherwastheoffspringofaPharisee,andlivedingoodfashionamonghisneighbours,andthathetaughthimtobelieve,andbelieveitIdo,andwill,thatMansoulshallneverbesavedfreelybygrace。’
  Thensaidthejudge:’Why,thelawofthePrinceisplain:1。
  Negatively,"notofworks:"2。Positively,"bygraceyouaresaved。"Andthyreligionsettlethinandupontheworksoftheflesh;fortheworksofthelawaretheworksoftheflesh。Besides,insayingasthouhastdone,thouhastrobbedGodofHisglory,andgivenittoasinfulman;thouhastrobbedChristofthenecessityofHisundertaking,andthesufficiencythereof,andhastgivenboththesetotheworksoftheflesh。ThouhastdespisedtheworkoftheHolyGhost,andhastmagnifiedthewilloftheflesh,andofthelegalmind。ThouartaDiabolonian,thesonofaDiabolonian;andforthyDiabolonianprinciplesthoumustdie。’
  Thecourtthen,havingproceededthusfarwiththem,sentoutthejury,whoforthwithbroughttheminguiltyofdeath。
  ThenstooduptheRecorder,andaddressedhimselftotheprisoners:’You,theprisonersatthebar,youhavebeenhereindicted,andprovedguiltyofhighcrimesagainstEmmanuelourPrince,andagainstthewelfareofthefamoustownofMansoul,crimesforwhichyoumustbeputtodeath,anddieyeaccordingly。’Sotheyweresentencedtothedeathofthecross。Theplaceassignedthemforexecution,wasthatwhereDiabolusdrewuphislastarmyagainstMansoul;saveonlythatoldEvil—QuestioningwashangedatthetopofBadStreet,justoveragainsthisowndoor。
  WhenthetownofMansoulhadthusfarridthemselvesoftheirenemies,andofthetroublersoftheirpeace,inthenextplaceastrictcommandmentwasgivenout,thatyetmyLordWillbewillshould,withDiligencehisman,searchfor,anddohisbesttoapprehendwhattownDiabolonianswereyetleftaliveinMansoul。Thenamesofseveralofthemwere,Mr。
  Fooling,Mr。Let—Good—Slip,Mr。Slavish—Fear,Mr。No—Love,Mr。Mistrust,Mr。Flesh,andMr。Sloth。Itwasalsocommanded,thatheshouldapprehendMr。Evil—Questioning’schildren,thatheleftbehindhim,andthattheyshoulddemolishhishouse。Thechildrenthatheleftbehindhimwerethese:Mr。Doubt,andhewashiseldestson;thenexttohimwasLegal—Life,Unbelief,Wrong—Thoughts—of—Christ,Clip—
  Promise,Carnal—Sense,Live—by—Feeling,Self—Love。Allthesehehadbyonewife,andhernamewasNo—Hope;shewasthekinswomanofoldIncredulity,forhewasheruncle;andwhenherfather,oldDark,wasdead,hetookherandbroughtherup,andwhenshewasmarriageable,hegavehertothisoldEvil—Questioningtowife。
  NowtheLordWillbewilldidputintoexecutionhiscommission,withgreatDiligence,hisman。HetookFoolinginthestreets,andhangedhimupinWant—wit—Alley,overagainsthisownhouse。ThisFoolingwashethatwouldhavehadthetownofMansouldeliverupCaptainCredenceintothehandsofDiabolus,providedthatthenhewouldhavewithdrawnhisforceoutofthetown。HealsotookMr。Let—Good—Sliponedayashewasbusyinthemarket,andexecutedhimaccordingtolaw。NowtherewasanhonestpoormaninMansoul,andhisnamewasMr。Meditation,oneofnogreataccountinthedaysofapostasy,butnowofreputewiththebestofthetown。Thisman,therefore,theywerewillingtoprefer。NowMr。Let—Good—SliphadagreatdealofwealthheretoforeinMansoul,and,atEmmanuel’scoming,itwassequesteredtotheuseofthePrince:this,therefore,wasnowgiventoMr。Meditation,toimproveforthecommongood,andafterhimtohisson,Mr。Think—Well;thisThink—WellhehadbyMrs。Pietyhiswife,andshewasthedaughterofMr。
  Recorder。
  Afterthis,mylordapprehendedClip—Promise:nowbecausehewasanotoriousvillain,forbyhisdoingsmuchoftheKing’scoinwasabused,thereforehewasmadeapublicexample。Hewasarraignedandjudgedtobefirstsetinthepillory,thentobewhippedbyallthechildrenandservantsinMansoul,andthentobehangedtillhewasdead。Somemaywonderattheseverityofthisman’spunishment;butthosethatarehonesttradersinMansoul,aresensibleofthegreatabusethatoneclipperofpromisesinlittletimemaydotothetownofMansoul。Andtrulymyjudgmentis,thatallthoseofhisnameandlifeshouldbeservedevenashe。
  HealsoapprehendedCarnal—Sense,andputhiminhold;buthowitcameabout,Icannottell,buthebrakeprison,andmadehisescape:yea,andtheboldvillainwillnotyetquitthetown,butlurksintheDiaboloniandensadays,andhauntslikeaghosthonestmen’shousesanights。Wherefore,therewasaproclamationsetupinthemarket—placeinMansoul,signifyingthatwhosoevercoulddiscoverCarnal—
  Sense,andapprehendhimandslayhim,shouldbeadmitteddailytothePrince’stable,andshouldbemadekeeperofthetreasureofMansoul。Many,therefore,didbendthemselvestodothisthing,buttakehimandslayhimtheycouldnot,thoughoftenhewasdiscovered。
  ButmylordtookMr。Wrong—Thoughts—of—Christ,andputhiminprison,andhediedthere;thoughitwaslongfirst,forhediedofalingeringconsumption。
  Self—Lovewasalsotakenandcommittedtocustody;butthereweremanythatwerealliedtohiminMansoul,sohisjudgmentwasdeferred。ButatlastMr。Self—Denialstoodup,andsaid:’IfsuchvillainsasthesemaybewinkedatinMansoul,Iwilllaydownmycommission。’Healsotookhimfromthecrowd,andhadhimamonghissoldiers,andtherehewasbrained。ButsomeinMansoulmutteredatit,thoughnonedurstspeakplainly,becauseEmmanuelwasintown。ButthisbraveactofCaptainSelf—DenialcametothePrince’sears;
  sohesentforhim,andmadehimalordinMansoul。MyLordWillbewillalsoobtainedgreatcommendationsofEmmanuel,forwhathehaddoneforthetownofMansoul。
  ThenmyLordSelf—Denialtookcourage,andsettothepursuingoftheDiabolonians,withmyLordWillbewill;andtheytookLive—by—Feeling,andtheytookLegal—Life,andputtheminholdtilltheydied。ButMr。UnbeliefwasanimbleJack:himtheycouldneverlayholdof,thoughtheyattemptedtodoitoften。Hetherefore,andsomefewmoreofthesubtlestoftheDiaboloniantribe,didyetremaininMansoul,tothetimethatMansoulleftofftodwellanylongerinthekingdomofUniverse。Buttheykeptthemtotheirdensandholes:ifoneofthemdidappear,orhappentobeseeninanyofthestreetsofthetownofMansoul,thewholetownwouldbeupinarmsafterthem;yea,theverychildreninMansoulwouldcryoutafterthemasafterathief,andwouldwishthattheymightstonethemtodeathwithstones。AndnowdidMansoularrivetosomegooddegreeofpeaceandquiet;herPrincealsodidabidewithinherborders;hercaptains,also,andhersoldiersdidtheirduties;andMansoulmindedhertradethatshehadwiththecountrythatwasafaroff;alsoshewasbusyinhermanufacture。
  WhenthetownofMansoulhadthusfarridthemselvesofsomanyoftheirenemies,andthetroublersoftheirpeace,thePrincesenttothem,andappointedadaywhereinhewould,atthemarket—place,meetthewholepeople,andtheregivetheminchargeconcerningsomefurthermatters,that,ifobserved,wouldtendtotheirfurthersafetyandcomfort,andtothecondemnationanddestructionoftheirhome—bredDiabolonians。
  Sothedayappointedwascome,andthetownsmenmettogether;
  Emmanuelalsocamedowninhischariot,andallhiscaptainsintheirstateattendinghim,ontherighthandandontheleft。Thenwasanoyesmadeforsilence,and,aftersomemutualcarriagesoflove,thePrincebegan,andthusproceeded:—
  ’You,myMansoul,andthebelovedofmineheart,manyandgreataretheprivilegesthatIhavebestoweduponyou;I
  havesingledyououtfromothers,andhavechosenyoutomyself,notforyourworthiness,butformineownsake。I
  havealsoredeemedyou,notonlyfromthedreadofmyFather’slaw,butfromthehandofDiabolus。ThisIhavedonebecauseIlovedyou,andbecauseIhavesetmyheartuponyoutodoyougood。Ihavealso,thatallthings,thatmighthinderthywaytothepleasuresofparadisemightbetakenoutoftheway,laiddownfortheeforthysoulaplenarysatisfaction,andhaveboughttheetomyself;apricenotofcorruptiblethings,asofsilverandgold,butapriceofblood,mineownblood,whichIhavefreelyspilleduponthegroundtomaketheemine。SoIhavereconciledthee,O
  myMansoul,tomyFather,andentrustedtheeinthemansionhousesthatarewithmyFatherintheroyalcity,wherethingsare,OmyMansoul,thateyehathnotseen,norhathenteredintotheheartofmantoconceive。
  ’Besides,OmyMansoul,thouseestwhatIhavedone,andhowIhavetakentheeoutofthehandsofthineenemies:untowhomthouhadstdeeplyrevoltedfrommyFather,andbywhomthouwastcontenttobepossessed,andalsotobedestroyed。
  Icametotheefirstbymylaw,thenbymygospel,toawakenthee,andshowtheemyglory。Andthouknowestwhatthouwast,whatthousaidst,whatthoudidst,andhowmanytimesthourebelledstagainstmyFatherandme;yetIlefttheenotasthouseestthisday,butcametothee,havebornethymanners,havewaiteduponthee,and,afterall,acceptedofthee,evenofmymeregraceandfavour;andwouldnotsuffertheetobelost,asthoumostwillinglywouldsthavebeen。I
  alsocompassedtheeabout,andafflictedtheeoneveryside,thatImightmaketheewearyofthyways,andbringdownthyheartwithmolestationtoawillingnesstoclosewiththygoodandhappiness。AndwhenIhadgottenacompleteconquestoverthee,Iturnedittothyadvantage。
  ’Thouseest,also,whatacompanyofmyFather’shostIhavelodgedwithinthyborders:captainsandrulers,soldiersandmenofwar,enginesandexcellentdevicestosubdueandbringdownthyfoes;thouknowestmymeaning,OMansoul。Andtheyaremyservants,andthine,too,Mansoul。Yea,mydesignofpossessingoftheewiththem,andthenaturaltendencyofeachofthemistodefend,purge,strengthen,andsweetentheeformyself,OMansoul,andtomaketheemeetformyFather’spresence,blessing,andglory;forthou,myMansoul,artcreatedtobeprepareduntothese。
  ’Thouseest,moreover,myMansoul,howIhavepassedbythybackslidings,andhavehealedthee。IndeedIwasangrywiththee,butIhaveturnedmineangerawayfromthee,becauseI
  lovedtheestill,andmineangerandmineindignationisceasedinthedestructionofthineenemies,OMansoul。Nordidthygoodnessfetchmeagainuntothee,afterthatIforthytransgressionshavehidmyface,andwithdrawnmypresencefromthee。Thewayofbackslidingwasthine,butthewayandmeansofthyrecoverywasmine。Iinventedthemeansofthyreturn;itwasIthatmadeanhedgeandawall,whenthouwastbeginningtoturntothingsinwhichI
  delightednot。ItwasIthatmadethysweetbitter,thydaynight,thysmoothwaythorny,andthatalsoconfoundedallthatsoughtthydestruction。ItwasIthatsetMr。Godly—
  FeartoworkinMansoul。ItwasIthatstirredupthyconscienceandunderstanding,thywillandthyaffections,afterthygreatandwofuldecay。ItwasIthatputlifeintothee,OMansoul,toseekme,thatthoumightestfindme,andinthyfindingfindthineownhealth,happiness,andsalvation。ItwasIthatfetchedthesecondtimetheDiaboloniansoutofMansoul;anditwasIthatovercamethem,andthatdestroyedthembeforethyface。
  ’Andnow,myMansoul,Iamreturnedtotheeinpeace,andthytransgressionsagainstmeareasiftheyhadnotbeen。Norshallitbewiththeeasinformerdays,butIwilldobetterfortheethanatthybeginning。
  Foryetalittlewhile,OmyMansoul,evenafterafewmoretimesaregoneoverthyhead,Iwill(butbenotthoutroubledatwhatIsay)takedownthisfamoustownofMansoul,stickandstone,totheground。AndIwillcarrythestonesthereof,andthetimberthereof,andthewallsthereof,andthedustthereof,andtheinhabitantsthereof,intomineowncountry,evenintoakingdomofmyFather;andwilltheresetitupinsuchstrengthandglory,asitneverdidseeinthekingdomwherenowitisplaced。IwilleventheresetitupformyFather’shabitation;forforthatpurposeitwasatfirsterectedinthekingdomofUniverse;
  andtherewillImakeitaspectacleofwonder,amonumentofmercy,andtheadmirerofitsownmercy。ThereshallthenativesofMansoulseeallthat,ofwhichtheyhaveseennothinghere:thereshalltheybeequaltothoseuntowhomtheyhavebeeninferiorhere。Andthereshaltthou,OmyMansoul,havesuchcommunionwithme,withmyFather,andwithyourLordSecretary,asitisnotpossibleheretobeenjoyed,norevercouldbe,shouldestthouliveinUniversethespaceofathousandyears。
  ’Andthere,OmyMansoul,thoushaltbeafraidofmurderersnomore;ofDiabolonians,andtheirthreats,nomore。There,thereshallbenomoreplots,norcontrivances,nordesignsagainstthee,OmyMansoul。Therethoushaltnomoreheartheevil—tidings,orthenoiseoftheDiaboloniandrum。
  TherethoushaltnotseetheDiabolonianstandard—bearers,noryetbeholdDiabolus’sstandard。NoDiabolonianmountshallbecastupagainsttheethere;norshalltheretheDiabolonianstandardbesetuptomaketheeafraid。Therethoushaltnotneedcaptains,engines,soldiers,andmenofwar。Therethoushaltmeetwithnosorrow,norgrief,norshallitbepossiblethatanyDiabolonianshouldagain,forever,beabletocreepintothyskirts,burrowinthywalls,orbeseenagainwithinthybordersallthedaysofeternity。
  Lifeshalltherelastlongerthanhereyouareabletodesireitshould;andyetitshallalwaysbesweetandnew,norshallanyimpedimentattenditforever。
  ’There,OMansoul,thoushaltmeetwithmanyofthosethathavebeenlikethee,andthathavebeenpartakersofthysorrows;evensuchasIhavechosen,andredeemed,andsetapart,asthou,formyFather’scourtandcity—royal。Alltheywillbegladinthee,andthou,whenthouseestthem,shaltbegladinthineheart。
  ’Therearethings,OMansoul,eventhingsofmyFather’sproviding,andmine,thatneverwereseensincethebeginningoftheworld;andtheyarelaidupwithmyFather,andsealedupamonghistreasuresforthee,tillthoushaltcomethithertoenjoythem。Itoldyoubefore,thatIwouldremovemyMansoul,andsetitupelsewhere;andwhereIwillsetit,therearethosethatlovethee,andthosethatrejoiceintheenow;buthowmuchmore,whentheyshallseetheeexaltedtohonour!MyFatherwillthensendthemforyoutofetchyou;andtheirbosomsarechariotstoputyouin。Andyou,O
  myMansoul,shallrideuponthewingsofthewind。Theywillcometoconvey,conduct,andbringyoutothat,whenyoureyesseemore,thatwillbeyourdesiredhaven。
  ’Andthus,OmyMansoul,Ihaveshoweduntotheewhatshallbedonetotheehereafter,ifthoucansthear,ifthoucanstunderstand;andnowIwilltelltheewhatatpresentmustbethydutyandpractice,untilIcomeandfetchtheetomyself,accordingasisrelatedintheScripturesoftruth。
  ’First,IchargetheethatthoudosthereafterkeepmorewhiteandcleantheliverieswhichIgavetheebeforemylastwithdrawingfromthee。Doit,Isay,forthiswillbethywisdom。Theyareinthemselvesfinelinen,butthoumustkeepthemwhiteandclean。Thiswillbeyourwisdom,yourhonour,andwillbegreatlyformyglory。Whenyourgarmentsarewhite,theworldwillcountyoumine。Also,whenyourgarmentsarewhite,thenIamdelightedinyourways;forthenyourgoingstoandfrowillbelikeaflashoflightning,thatthosethatarepresentmusttakenoticeof;
  alsotheireyeswillbemadetodazzlethereat。Deckthyself,therefore,accordingtomybidding,andmakethyselfbymylawstraightstepsforthyfeet;soshallthyKinggreatlydesirethybeauty,forheisthyLord,andworshipthouhim。
  ’Now,thatthoumayestkeepthemasIbidthee,Ihave,asI
  beforedidtellthee,providedfortheeanopenfountaintowashthygarmentsin。Look,therefore,thatthouwashofteninmyfountain,andgonotindefiledgarments;forasitistomydishonourandmydisgrace,soitwillbetothydiscomfort,whenyoushallwalkinfilthygarments。Letnot,therefore,mygarments,yourgarments,thegarmentsthatI
  gavethee,bedefiledorspottedbytheflesh。Keepthygarmentsalwayswhite,andletthyheadlacknoointment。
  ’MyMansoul,Ihaveofttimesdeliveredtheefromthedesigns,plots,attempts,andconspiraciesofDiabolus;andforallthisIasktheenothing,butthatthourendernottomeevilformygood;butthatthoubearinmindmylove,andthecontinuationofmykindnesstomybelovedMansoul,soastoprovoketheetowalkinthymeasureaccordingtothebenefitbestowedonthee。Ofold,thesacrificeswereboundwithcoordstothehornsofthealtar。Considerwhatissaidtothee,OmyblessedMansoul。
  ’OmyMansoul,Ihavelived,Ihavedied,Ilive,andwilldienomoreforthee。Ilive,thatthoumayestnotdie。
  BecauseIlive,thoushaltlivealso。IreconciledtheetomyFatherbythebloodofmycross;andbeingreconciled,thoushaltlivethroughme。Iwillprayforthee;Iwillfightforthee;Iwillyetdotheegood。
  ’Nothingcanhurttheebutsin;nothingcangrievemebutsin;nothingcanmaketheebasebeforethyfoesbutsin:takeheedofsin,myMansoul。
  ’AnddostthouknowwhyIatfirst,anddostill,sufferDiabolonianstodwellinthywalls,OMansoul?Itistokeeptheewakening,totrythylove,tomaketheewatchful,andtocausetheeyettoprizemynoblecaptains,theirsoldiers,andmymercy。
  ’Itisalso,thatyetthoumayestbemadetorememberwhatadeplorableconditionthouoncewastin。Imeanwhen,notsome,butalldiddwell,notinthywalls,butinthycastle,andinthystronghold,OMansoul。
  ’OmyMansoul,shouldIslayallthemwithin,manytherebewithout,thatwouldbringtheeintobondage;forwereallthesewithincutoff,thosewithoutwouldfindtheesleeping;
  andthen,asinamoment,theywouldswallowupmyMansoul。
  Ithereforelefttheminthee,nottodotheehurt(thewhichtheyyetwill,ifthouhearkentothem,andservethem,)buttodotheegood,thewhichtheymust,ifthouwatchandfightagainstthem。Know,therefore,thatwhatevertheyshalltempttheeto,mydesignis,thattheyshoulddrivethee,notfurtheroff,butnearertomyfather,tolearntheewar,tomakepetitioningdesirabletothee,andtomaketheelittleinthineowneyes。Hearkendiligentlytothis,myMansoul。
  ’Showme,then,thylove,myMansoul,andletnotthosethatarewithinthywalls,takethyaffectionsofffromhimthathathredeemedthysoul。Yea,letthesightofaDiabolonianheightenthylovetome。Icameonce,andtwice,andthrice,tosavetheefromthepoisonofthosearrowsthatwouldhavewroughtthydeath:standforme,thyFriend,myMansoul,againsttheDiabolonians,andIwillstandfortheebeforemyFather,andallhiscourt。Lovemeagainsttemptation,andI
  willlovetheenotwithstandingthineinfirmities。
  ’OmyMansoul,rememberwhatmycaptains,mysoldiers,andmineengineshavedoneforthee。Theyhavefoughtforthee,theyhavesufferedbythee,theyhavebornemuchatthyhandstodotheegood,OMansoul。Hadstthounothadthemtohelpthee,Diabolushadcertainlymadeahandofthee。Nourishthem,therefore,myMansoul。Whenthoudostwell,theywillbewell;whenthoudostill,theywillbeill,andsick,andweak。Makenotmycaptainssick,OMansoul;foriftheybesick,thoucanstnotbewell;iftheybeweak,thoucanstnotbestrong;iftheybefaint,thoucanstnotbestoutandvaliantforthyKing,OMansoul。Normustthouthinkalwaystolivebysense:thoumustliveuponmyword。Thoumustbelieve,OmyMansoul,whenIamfromthee,thatyetIlovethee,andbeartheeuponmineheartforever。
  ’Remember,therefore,OmyMansoul,thatthouartbelovedofme:asIhave,therefore,taughttheetowatch,tofight,topray,andtomakewaragainstmyfoes;sonowIcommandtheetobelievethatmyloveisconstanttothee。OmyMansoul,howhaveIsetmyheart,myloveuponthee!Watch。Behold,Ilaynoneotherburdenuponthee,thanwhatthouhastalready。Holdfast,tillIcome。’