The Holy War – John Bunyan

ease, and less trouble, he may again make himself the master of Mansoul.
Whatever therefore he shall say, believe not one syllable or tittle of it, for all
such language is but to overcome us, and to make us, while we wallow in our
blood, the trophies of his merciless victory. My mind is, therefore, that we
resolve, to the last man, to resist him, and not to believe him upon any terms;
for in at that door will come our danger.[14] But shall we be flattered out of
our lives? I hope you know more of the rudiments of politics than to suffer
yourselves so pitifully to be served.
'But suppose he should, if he get us to yield, save some of our lives, or
the lives of some of them that are underlings in Mansoul, what help will that
be to you that are the chief of the town; especially of you whom I have set
up, and whose greatness has been procured by you through your faithful
sticking to me? And suppose again, that he should give quarter to every one
of you, be sure he will bring you into that bondage under which you were
captivated before, or a worse; and then what good will your lives do you?
Shall you with him live in pleasure as you do now? No, no, you must be
bound by laws that will pinch you, and be made to do that which at present is
hateful to you; I am for you, if you are for me, and it is better to die valiantly,
than to live like pitiful slaves.[15] But I say, the life of a slave will be
counted a life too good for Mansoul now; blood, blood, nothing but blood is
in every blast of Shaddai's trumpet against poor Mansoul now.[16] Pray, be
concerned, I hear he is coming up; and stand to your arms, that now while
you have any leisure, I may learn you some feats of war. Armour for you I
have, and by me it is; yea, and it is sufficient for Mansoul from top to toe;
nor can you be hurt by what his force can do, if you shall keep it well girt
and fastened about you. Come therefore to my castle, and welcome, and
harness yourselves for the war. There is helmet, breastplate, sword, and
shield, and what not, that will make you fight like men.
1. 'My helmet, otherwise called an headpiece, is hope of doing well at
last, what lives soever you live. This is that which they had, who said, that
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