The Holy War – John Bunyan

looked for nothing but the axe and the block; but behold, joy and gladness,
comfort and consolation, and such melodious notes attending of them that
was sufficient to make a sick man well. So when they came up, they saluted
each other with Welcome! welcome! and blessed be he that has spared you
(Isa 33:24). They added also, We see it is well with you, but how must it go
with the town of Mansoul? and, Will it go well with the town of Mansoul?
said they. Then answered them the Recorder and my Lord Mayor, Oh
tidings! glad tidings! good tidings of good and of great joy to poor Mansoul!
Then they gave another shout that made the earth to ring again. After this
they inquired yet more particularly how things went in the camp, and what
message they had from Emmanuel to the town, So they told them all
passages that had happened to them at the camp, and everything that the
Prince did to them. This made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of
the Prince Emmanuel. Then they told them what they had received at his
hands for the whole town of Mansoul; and the Recorder delivered it in these
words-- PARDON, PARDON, PARDON for Mansoul; and this shall
Mansoul know tomorrow. Then he commanded, and they went and
summoned Mansoul to meet together in the market-place to-morrow, there to
hear their general pardon read.
But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an alteration this
hint of things did make in the countenance of the town of Mansoul! No man
of Mansoul could sleep that night for joy;[1] in every house there was joy
and music, singing and making merry, telling and hearing of Mansoul's
happiness, was then all that Mansoul had to do; and this was the Mansoul
had to do; and this was the burden of all their song--Oh, more of this at the
rising of the sun! more of this to-morrow! Who thought yesterday, would
one say, that this day would have been such a day to us? And who thought,
that saw our prisoners go down in irons, that they would have returned in
chains of gold! yea, they that judged themselves as they went to be judged of
their judge, were by his mouth acquitted, not for that they were innocent, but
of the Prince's mercy, and sent home with pipe and tabor. But is this the
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