over a thousand men, and let it be brought to me, said he, that I may set to it my seal. So it was done as it was commanded: the commission was drawn up, brought to Emmanuel, and he set his seal thereto; then by the hand of Mr. Waiting he sent it away to the captain.

Now as soon as the captain had received his commission he sounded his trumpet for volunteers, and young men came to him apace; yea, the greatest and chiefest men in the town sent their sons to be listed under his command. Thus Captain Experience came under command to Emmanuel for the good of the town of Mansoul. He had for his lieutenant one Mr. Skilful, and for his cornet one Mr. Memvry. His under-officers I need not name. His colours were the white colours for the town of Mansoul, and his escutcheon was the dead lion and the dead bear. So the Prince returned to his royal palace again.

Now, when he was returned thither the elders of the town of Mansoul-to wit, my lord mayor, the recorder, and the Lord Will-bewill-went to congratulate him, and in special way to thank him for his love, care, and tender compassion which he showed to his everobliged town of Mansoul. So after a while, and some sweet communion between them, the townsmen, having solemnly ended their ceremony, returned to their place again.

Emmanuel also at this time appointed them a day wherein he would renew their charter, yea, wherein he would renew and enlarge it, mending several faults therein, that Mansoul's yoke might be yet more easy. And this he did without any desire of theirs, even of his own frankness and noble mind. So when he had sent for and seen their old one, he laid it by and said, "Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." He said moreover, "The town of Mansoul shall have another, a better, a new one, more steady and firm by far." An epitome whereof take as follows:

"I, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, and a great lover of the town of Mansoul, do in the name of my Father and of mine own clemency, give, grant, and bequeath to my beloved town of Mansoul

"1. Free, full, and everlasting forgiveness of all wrongs, injuries, and offences done by them against my Father, me, their neighbours, or themselves.

"2. I do give them the holy law and my testament, with all that therein is contained, for their everlasting comfort and consolation.

"3. I do also give them a portion of the selfsame grace and goodness that dwells in my Father's heart and mine.

"4. I do give, grant, and bestow upon them freely the world, and what is therein for their good; and they shall have that power over it as shall stand with the honour of my Father, my glory, and their comfort; yea, I grant them the benefits of life and death, and of things present and things to come. This privilege no other city, town, or corporation shall have, but my Mansoul only.

"5. I do give and grant them leave and free access to me in my palace, at all seasons, there to make known their wants to me. And I give them moreover a promise that I will hear and redress all their grievances.

"6. I do give, grant to, and invest the town of Mansoul with full power and authority to seek out, take, enslave, and destroy all and all manner of Diabolonians that at any time, from whencesoever, shall be found straggling in or about the town of Mansoul.

"7. I do further grant to my beloved town of Mansoul that they shall have authority not to suffer any foreigner or stranger, or their seed, to be free in and of the blessed town of Mansoul, nor to share in the excellent privileges thereof. But that all the grants, privileges, and immunities that I bestow upon the famous town of Mansoul shall be for those the old natives and true inhabitants thereof; to them, I say, and to their right seed after them.

"But all Diabolonians, of what sort, birth, country, or kingdom soever, shall be debarred a share therein."

So when the town of Mansoul had received at the hand of Emmanuel their gracious charter, (which in itself is infinitely more large than by this lean epitome is set before you,) they carried it to audience—that is, to the marketplace and there Mr. Recorder read it in the presence of all the people. This being done, it was had back to the castle-gates, and there fairly engraven upon the doors thereof and laid in letters of gold, to the end that the town of Mansoul, with all the people thereof, might have it always in their view, or might go where they might see what a blessed freedom their Prince had bestowed upon them, that their joy might be increased in themselves and their love renewed to their great and good Emmanuel.

But what joy, what comfort, what consolation, think you, did now possess the hearts of

the men of Mansoul! The bells rang, the minstrels played, the captains shouted, the colours waved in the wind, and the silver trumpets sounded, and all the Diabolonians now were glad to hide their heads.

When this was over the Prince sent again for the elders of the town of Mansoul, and communed with them about a ministry that he intended to establish among them-such a ministry that might open unto them and instruct them in the things that did concern their present and future state.

For, said he, you of yourselves, without you have teachers and guides, will not be able to know, and if not to know to be sure not to do, the will of my Father.

At this news, when the elders of Mansoul brought it to the people, the whole town came running together, (for it pleased them well, as whatever the Prince now did pleased the people,) and all with one consent implored his Majesty that he would forthwith establish such a ministry among them as might teach them both law and judgment, statute and commandment, that they might be documented in all good and wholesome things. So he told them that he would grant them their request, and would establish two among them-one that was of his Father's court, and one that was a native of Mansoul.

He that is from the court, said he, is a person of no less quality and dignity than is my Father and I, and he is the lord chief secretary of my Father's house; for he is and always has been the chief dictator of all my Father's laws a person altogether well skilled in all mysteries and knowledge of mysteries, as is my Father or as myself is. Indeed he is one with us in nature, and also as to loving of and being faithful to and in the eternal concerns of the town of Mansoul.

And this is he, said the Prince, that must be your chief teacher; for it is he, and he only, that can teach you clearly in all high and supernatural things. He, and he only, it is that krows the ways and methods of my Father at court; nor can any like him show how the heart of my Father is at all times, in all things, upon all occasions, towards Mansoul, for as no man knows the things of a man but the spirit of a man which is in him, so the things of my Father knows no man but this his high and mighty secretary. any as he tell Mansoul how and what they shall do to keep themselves in the love of my Father. He also it is that can bring lost

Nor can

things to your remembrance, and that can tell you things to come. This teacher therefore must of necessity have pre-eminence (both in your affections and judgment) before your other teacher; his personal dignity, the excellency of his teaching, also the great dexterity that he hath to assist you to make and draw up petitions to my Father for your help and to his pleasing, must lay obligations upon you to love him, fear him, and to take heed that you grieve him not.

This person can put life and vigour into all he says; yea, and can also put it into your hearts. This person can make seers of you, and can make you tell what shall be hereafter. By this person you must frame all your petitions to my Father and me; and without his advice and counsel first obtained let nothing enter into the town or castle of Mansoul, for that may disgust and grieve this noble person.

Take heed, I say, that you do not grieve this minister, for if you do he may fight against you; and should he once be moved by you to set himself against you in battle array, that will distress you more than if twelve legions should from my Father's court be sent to make war upon you.

But, as I said, if you shall hearken unto him, and shall love him, if you shall devote yourselves to his teaching, and shall seek to have converse and to maintain communion with him, you shall find him ten times better than is the whole world to any; yea, he will shed abroad the love of my Father in your hearts, and Mansoul will be the wisest and most blessed of all people.

Then did the Prince call unto him the old gentleman who before had been the recorder of Mansoul, Mr. Conscience by name, and told him that forasmuch as he was well skilled in the law and government of the town of Mansoul, and was also well sp ken, and could pertinently deliver to them his Master's will in all terrene and domestic matters, therefore he would make him a minister for, in, and to the goodly town of Mansoul all the laws, statutes and judgments of the famous town of Mansoul. And thou must, said the Prince, confine thyself to the teaching of moral virtues, to civil and natural duties; but thou must not attempt or presume to be a revealer of those high and supernatural mysteries that are kept close in the bosom of Shaddai my Father; for those things knoweth no man, nor can any reveal them but my Father's secretary only.

soul, lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord high secretary himself. Talk of them he may; and so may the rest of the town of Mansoul, as they have opportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of the whole. These things, therefore, I would have you observe and do, for it is for your life and lengthening of your days.

Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration must give him understanding. Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low and be humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made prisoners in the pit; be therefore content with thy station.

I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on earth in such things of which I have made mention before; and take thou power to teach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and chastisements if they shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments.

And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old and feeble, therefore I give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to my, fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thy heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for the reception and keeping of all that the King's most noble secretary teacheth.

When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was) into the place and office of a minister of Mansoul, and the man had thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself to the townsmen themselves.

"Behold (said the Prince to Mansoul) my love and care towards you. I have added to all that is past this mercy to appoint you preachers-the most noble secretary to teach you in all high and sublime mysteries, and this gentleman (pointing to Mr. Conscience) is to teach you in all things human and domestic, for herein lieth his work. He is not, by what I have said, debarred of telling to Mansoul anyhing that he hath heard and received at the mouth of the lord high secretary; only he shall not attempt or presume to be a revealer of hose high mysteries himself; for the breaking

"And one thing more to my beloved town of Mansoul: You must not dwell in nor stay upon anything of that which he hath in commission to teach you as to your trust and expectation of the next world; of the next world, I say, for I purpose to give another to Mansoul when this with them is worn out; but for that you must wholly and solely have recourse to and make stay upon this doctrine, which is your teacher after the first order. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look for life from that which he himself revealeth; his dependence for that must be founded in the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder also take heed that he receive not any doctrine or point of doctrine that is not communicated to him by his superior teacher, nor yet within the precincts of his own formal knowledge."

Now after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town of Mansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of the corporation a necessary caution to wit, how they should carry it to the high and noble captains that he had from nis Father's court sent or brought with him to the famous town of Mansoul.

"These captains (said he) do love the town of Mansoul, and they are picked men, picked out of abundance as men that best suit, and that will most faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the Diabolonians for the preservation of the town of Mansoul. I charge you, therefore, (said he,) O ye inhabitants of the now flourishing town of Mansoul, that you carry it not ruggedly or untowardly to my captains or their men, since, as I said, they are picked and choice men, men chosen out of many for the good of the town of Mansoul. I say, I charge you that you carry it not ruggedly or untowardly to them; for though they have the hearts and faces of lions when at any time they shall be called forth to engage and fight with the King's foes and the enemies of the town of Mansoul, yet a little discountenance cast upon them from the town of Mansoul will deject and cast down their faces, will weaken and take away their courage. Do not.

therefore, O my beloved, carry it unkindly to my valiant captains and courageous men of war, but love them, nourish them, succour them, and lay them in your bosoms, and they will not caly fight for you, but cause to fly from you all those the Diabolonians that seek and will, if possible, be your utter destruction. "If therefore any of them should, at any time, be sick or weak, and so not able to perform that office of love which with all their hearts they are willing to do, (and will do also when well and in health,) slight them not nor despise them, but rather strengthen them and encourage them, though weak and ready to die; for they are your fence and your guard, your walls, gates, locks and bars. And although when they are weak they can do but little, but rather need to be helped by you than that you should then expect great things from them, yet when well you know what exploits, what feats and warlike achievements they are able to do and will perform for you.

"Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be strong; if they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety therefore doth lie in their health and in your countenancing of them. Remember also that if they be sick, they catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself.

"These things I have said unto you because I love your welfare and your honour. Observe, therefore, O my Mansoul, to be punctual in all things that I have given in charge unto you, and that not only as a town corporate, and so to your officers and guard and guides in chief, but to you as a people, whose well-being as single persons depends on the observation of the orders and commandments of their Lord. "Next, O my Mansoul, I do warn you of that of which, notwithstanding the reformation which that at present is wrought among you, you have need to be warned about; wherefore hearken diligently unto me. I am now sure, and you will know hereafter, that there are yet some of the Diabolonians remaining in the town of Mansoul-Diabolonians that are sturdy and implacable, and that do, already, while I am yet with you, and that will yet more when I am from you, study, plot, contrive, invent, and jointly attempt to bring you to desolation, so to a state far worse than that of Egyptian bondage. They are the avowed friends of Diabolus, therefore look about you; they used therefore to lodge with their prince in the castle when Incredulity was lord mayor of this town, but since my coming hither, they

| lie more in the outsides and walls, and have made themselves dens, and caves, and holes, and strongholds therein. Wherefore, O Mansoul, thy work as to this will be so much the more difficult and hard-that is, to take, mortify, and put them to death, according to the will of my Father. Nor can you utterly id yourselves of them unless you should pull down the walls of your town, the which I am by no means willing you should. Do you ask me, What shall we do then? Why, be you diigent, and quit you like men; observe their holds, find out their haunts, assault them, and make no peace with them. Wherever they haunt, lurk, or abide, and what terms of peace soever they offer you, abhor, and all shall be well betwixt you and me. And, that you may the better know them from those that are the natives of the town of Mansoul, I will give you this brief schedule of the names of the chief of them; and they are these that follow: The Lord Fornication, the Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evileye, Mr. Drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witchcraft, Mr. Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, and Mr. Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul, of those that will seek to overthrow thee for ever. These, I say, are the shucklers in Mansoul, but look thou well into the law of thy King, and there thou shalt find their physiognomy and such other characteristical notes of them by which they certainly may be known.

"These, O my Mansoul, (and I would gladly that you should know it,) if they are suffered to run and range about the town at will, will quickly, like vipers, eat out your bowels, yea, poison your captains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break the bars and bolts of your gates. and turn your now most flourishing Mansoul into a barren and desolate wilderness, a ruin. ous heap. Wherefore, that you may take courage to yourselves to apprehend these vil. lains wherever you find them, I give to you. my lord mayor, my Lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder, with all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to seek out, to take, and cause to be put to death by the cross, all manner of Diabolonians, wherever you shall find them to lurk within or to range without the walls of the town of Mansoul.

"I told you before that I had placed a standing ministry among you; not that you have

but these with you, for my four first captains who came against the master and lord of the Diabolonians that was in Mansoul, they can, and if need be will, not only privately inform but publicly preach to the corporation both good and wholesome doctrine, and such as shall lead you in the way. Yea, they will set up a weekly, yea, if need be a daily, lecture in thee, O Mansoul! and will instruct thee in such profitable lessons that if heeded will do thee good at the end. And take good heed that you spare not the men that you have a tommission to take and crucify.

"Now, as I have set before your eyes the vagrants and runagates by name, so I will tell you that among yourselves some of them shall creep in to beguile you, even such as would seem, and that in appearance, are very ripe and hot for religion. And they, if you watch not, will do you a mischief-such an one as at present you do not think of.

"These, as I said, will show themselves to you in another hue than those under description before. Wherefore, Mansoul, watch and be sober, and suffer not thyself to be betrayed."

When the Prince had thus far new-modelled the town of Mansoul, and had instructed them in such matters as were profitable for them to know, then he appointed another day, in which he intended, when the townsfolk came together, to bestow a further badge of honour upon the town of Mansoul-a badge that should distinguish them from all people, kindreds and tongues that dwell in the kingdom of Universe. Now it was not long before the day appointed was come, and the Prince and his people met in the King's palace, where first Emmanuel made a short speech unto them, and then did for them as he had said, and unto them as he had promised.

"My Mansoul," said he, "that which I now am about to do is to make you known to the world to be mine, and to distinguish you also in your own eyes from all false traitors that may creep in among you."

Then he commanded that those that waited upon him should go and bring forth out of his treasury those white glittering robes that I, said he, have provided and laid up in store for my Mansoul. So the white garments were fetched out of his treasury, and laid forth to the eyes of the people. Moreover it was granted to them that they should take them and put them on. So the people were put into white, into fine linen, white and clean.

Then said the Prince unto them, "This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and the badge by which mine are known from the servants of others Yea, it is that which I grant to all that are mine, and without which no man is permitted to see my face. Wear them, therefore, for my sake, who gave them unto you, and also if you would be known by the world to be mine."

But now can you think how Mansoul shone! It was fair as the sun, clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners. The Prin e added further, and said, "No prince, potentate, or mighty one of the Universe giveth this livery but myself. Behold, therefore, as I said before, you shall be known by it to be mine.

"And now," said he, "I have given you my livery, let me give you also in commandment concerning them; and be sure that you take good heed to my words:

"1. Wear them daily, day by day, lest you should at sometimes appear to others as if you were none of mine.

"2. Keep them always white, for it is, if they be soiled, dishonour to me.

"3. Wherefore gird them up from the ground, and let them not be soiled with dust and dirt.

"4. Take heed that you lose them not, lest you walk naked and they see your shame.

"5. But if you should sully them, if you should defile them, (the which I am greatly unwilling you should, and the prince Diabolus would be glad if you would,) then speed you to do that which is written in my law, that yet you may stand, and not fall before me and before my throne. Also this is the way to cause that I may not leave you nor forsake you while here, but may dwell in this town of Mansoul for ever."

And now was Mansoul and the inhabitants of it as the signet upon Emmanuel's right hand. Where was there now a town, a city, a corporation that could compare with Mansoul? -a town redeemed from the hand and from the power of Diabolus; a town that the King Shaddai loved, and that he sent Emmanuel to regain from the Prince of the infernal cave; yea, a town that Emmanuel loved to dwell in, and that he chose for his royal habitation; a town that he fortified for himself, and made strong by the force of his army. What shall I say?

Mansoul has now a most excellent Prince, golden captains and men of war, weapons proved, and garments white as snow, Nor are these benefits to be counted little, but