The Holy War – John Bunyan

the place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight. So he further
asked, if all the men in the town of Mansoul were in this confession as they?
And they answered, All the natives*, Lord; but for the Diabolonians
[corruptions and lusts] that came into our town when the tyrant got
possession of us, we can say nothing for them.[27]
Then the Prince commanded that a herald should be called, and that he
should, in the midst, and throughout the camp of Emmanuel, proclaim, and
that with sound of trumpet, that the Prince, the Son of Shaddai, had, in his
Father's name, and for his Father's glory, gotten a perfect conquest and
victory over Mansoul, and that the prisoners should follow him, and say,
Amen. So this was done as he had commanded. And presently the music that
was in the upper region sounded melodiously. The captains that were in the
camp shouted, and the soldiers did sing songs of triumph to the Prince, the
colours waved in the wind, and great joy was everywhere, only it was
wanting as yet in the hearts of the men of Mansoul.[28]
Then the Prince called for the prisoners to come and to stand again
before him, and they came and stood trembling. And he said unto them, The
sins, trespasses, iniquities, that you, with the whole town of Mansoul, have
from time to time committed against my Father and me, I have power and
commandment from my Father to forgive to the town of Mansoul; and do
forgive you accordingly. And having so said, he gave them written in
parchment, and sealed with seven seals, a large and general pardon,
commanding both my Lord Mayor, my Lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder,
to proclaim, and cause it to be proclaimed tomorrow by that the sun is up,
throughout the whole town of Mansoul.
Moreover, the Prince stripped the prisoners of their mourning weeds,
and gave them 'beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness' (Isa 61:3) precious stones, and took away
their ropes, and put chains of gold about their necks, and earrings in their
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