The Holy War | Page 4

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copious as to contain all the world. This place the King Shaddai intended but for himself
alone, and not another with him; partly because of his own delights, and partly because
he would not that the terror of strangers should be upon the town. This place Shaddai
made also a garrison of, but committed the keeping of it only to the men of the town.
The walls of the town were well built, yea, so fast and firm were they knit and compact
together, that, had it not been for the townsmen themselves, they could not have been
shaken or broken for ever. For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul,
that the walls could never be broken down nor hurt by the most mighty adverse potentate,
unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.
This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go; and
these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could
never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the
gates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.
Other things there were that belonged to the town of Mansoul, which if you adjoin to
these, will yet give farther demonstration to all, of the glory and strength of the place. It
had always a sufficiency of provision within its walls; it had the best, most wholesome,
and excellent law that then was extant in the world. There was not a rascal, rogue, or
traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true men, and fast joined together;
and this, you know, is a great matter. And to all these, it had always (so long as it had the
goodness to keep true to Shaddai the King) his countenance, his protection, and it was his
delight, etc.
Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon this
famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own habitation. This giant was king
of the blacks, and a most raving prince he was. We will, if you please, first discourse of
the origin of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.
This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, and yet both poor and beggarly. As to
his origin, he was at first one of the servants of King Shaddai, made, and taken, and put
by him into most high and mighty place; yea, was put into such principalities as belonged
to the best of his territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made 'son of the morning,'
and a brave place he had of it: it brought him much glory, and gave him much brightness,
an income that might have contented his Luciferian heart, had it not been insatiable, and
enlarged as hell itself.
Well, he seeing himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mind for
higher state and degree, what doth he but begins to think with himself how he might be
set up as lord over all, and have the sole power under Shaddai. (Now that did the King
reserve for his Son, yea, and had already bestowed it upon him.) Wherefore he first
consults with himself what had best to be done; and then breaks his mind to some other
of his companions, to the which they also agreed. So, in fine, they came to this issue that
they should make an attempt upon the King's Son to destroy him, that the inheritance
might be theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, was concluded, the time
appointed, the word given, the rebels rendezvoused, and the assault attempted. Now the
King and his Son being all and always eye, could not but discern all passages in his
dominions; and he, having always love for his Son as for himself, could not at what he
saw but be greatly provoked and offended: wherefore what does he, but takes them in the

very nick and first trip that they made towards their design, convicts them of the treason,
horrid rebellion, and conspiracy that they had devised, and now attempted to put into
practice, and casts them altogether out of all place of trust, benefit, honour, and
preferment. This done, he banishes them the court, turns them down into the horrible pits,
as fast bound in chains, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide
the judgment that he had appointed, and that for ever.
Now they being thus cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honour, and also knowing
that they had lost their prince's favour for ever, (being banished his court, and