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The Holy War – John Bunyan

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<strong>John</strong> Davies. Where could <strong>Bunyan</strong> have picked up this very expressive<br />

but rare word?--Ed.<br />

19. To back a friend, is to support him. To turn the back upon him, or give<br />

him the back, is to desert him.--Ed.<br />

20. Although Satan is the father of lies, he certainly speaks truth here. Sin<br />

will do more hurt to the soul than a legion of devils.--Burder.<br />

21. Here again we have Satan telling truth.--Ed. Apostacy is generally a<br />

gradual affair; a sure poison, but slow.--Burder.<br />

22. Satan's malice is like a throat and stomach-- 'insatiable.' He seeks to fill<br />

it with the souls and bodies of men; but his torment is, that it is a gulf<br />

bottomless and for ever insatiable.--Ed.<br />

23. Doubts are dangerous and potent, as well as numberless enemies; they<br />

are dishonourable to God's free, sovereign, unasked, unmerited, and<br />

everlasting love and mercy in Christ Jesus.--Mason.<br />

24. At the season when the affairs of the world fill the heart, beware of<br />

being 'overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this<br />

world.' Be sober, be vigilant, O my soul; attend to the author's repeated<br />

warning, 'Take heed, Mansoul!'--Ed.<br />

25. Some may imagine this to be an incredible number of doubts, but when<br />

the nine divisions of this army are presently enumerated, it will be<br />

readily acknowledge that our doubts are innumerable.--Ed.<br />

26. According to Milton, Cerberus was the parent of Melancholy, a fit<br />

leader of Doubters. 'Hence, loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus and<br />

blackest Midnight born, In Stygian caves forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes,<br />

and shrieks, and sights unholy!'--L'Allegro.--Ed.<br />

27. To 'gather up the heels,' or 'take to the heels,' implies great haste.--Ed.<br />

28. This is an awful state, when we encourage evil thoughts and propensities<br />

in the heart, and pray to God against them. 'If I regard iniquity in my<br />

heart, the Lord will not hear me' (Psa 66:18).--Ed.<br />

29. Hand-to-hand combat; wrestling.--Ed.<br />

30. Awful is the state of that soul, when it is difficult, by the conduct, to<br />

know whether it is a professor or one of the profane. Alas, how common<br />

243

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