The Holy War – John Bunyan

'I could, would I now put forth my might, cause that forthwith he should
leave you and depart; but I have it in my heart so to deal with him, as that the
justice of the war that I shall make upon him may be seen and acknowledged
by all. He hath taken Mansoul by fraud, and keeps it by violence and deceit;
and I will make him bare and naked in the eyes of all observers. All my
words are true, I am mighty to save, and will deliver my Mansoul out of his
hand.'[21]
This speech was intended chiefly for Mansoul, but Mansoul would not
have the hearing of it. They shut up Ear-gate, they barricaded it up, they kept
it locked and bolted; they set a guard thereat, and commanded that no
Mansoulonian should go out to him, nor that any from the camp should be
admitted into the town; all this they did, so horribly had Diabolus enchanted
them to do, and seek to do for him, against their rightful Lord and Prince;
wherefore no man, nor voice, nor sound of man that belonged to the glorious
host, was to come into the town.[22]
Notes:
1. The efforts of an enlightened understanding and a renewed conscience
are offensive to Satan, as threatening to subvert his authority in the soul,
and he would kill them if he could, but where the good work of grace is
begun, they cannot be destroyed.--Burder.
2. Ministers should deal gently with awakened sinners. Their great Master
'will not break the bruised reed,' nor should they. Roughness
discourages-- gentleness attracts.--Burder.
3. Most of this language is from the book of Job.--Ed.
4. This old slander of the father of lies was well answered by the poor boy,
while sweeping a chimney, who sung-- 'The sorrow of the mind, Be
banish'd from this place, Religion never was designed, To make our
pleasures less.'
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