The Holy War – John Bunyan

“After that thou shalt cut it down” (Luke 13:9). And dost thou think that
these are but threatenings, or that our King has not power to execute his
words? O Mansoul! thou wilt find that in the words of our King, when they
are by sinners made little or light of, there is not only threatening, but
burning coals of fire. Thou hast been a cumber-ground[18] long already, and
wilt thou continue so still? Thy sin has brought this army to thy walls, and
shall it bring it in judgment to do execution into thy town? Thou hast heard
what the captains have said, but as yet thou shuttest thy gates; speak out,
Mansoul, wilt thou do so still, or wilt thou accept of conditions of
peace?'[19]
These brave speeches of these four noble captains the town of Mansoul
refused to hear, yet a sound thereof did beat against Ear-gate, though the
force thereof could not break it open. In fine, the town desired a time to
prepare their answer to these demands. The captains then told them, 'that if
they would throw out to them one Ill-pause, that was in the town, that they
might reward him according to his works, then they would give them time to
consider; but if they would not cast him to them over the wall of Mansoul,
then they would give them none; for,' said they, 'we know that so long as Illpause
draws breath in Mansoul, all good consideration will be confounded,
and nothing but mischief will come thereon.'
Then Diabolus, who was there present, being loth to lose his Ill-pause,
because he was his orator, (and yet be sure he had, could the captains have
laid their fingers on him,) was resolved at this instant to give them answer by
himself; but then, changing his mind, he commanded the then Lord Mayor,
the Lord Incredulity, to do it, saying, 'My Lord, do you give these runagates
an answer; and speak out, that Mansoul may hear, and understand you.'
So Incredulity, at Diabolus' command, began and said: 'Gentlemen, you
have here, as we do behold, to the disturbance of our prince, and the
molestation of the town of Mansoul, camped against it: but from whence you
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