The Holy War – John Bunyan

In these days, as I was informed, new thoughts, and thoughts that began
to run counter one to another, began to possess the minds of the men of the
town of Mansoul. Some would say, 'There is no living thus'; others would
then reply, 'This will be over shortly.' Then would a third stand up and
answer, 'Let us turn to the King Shaddai, and so put an end to these troubles.'
And a fourth would come in with a fear, saying, 'I doubt he will not receive
us.'[8] The old gentleman too, the Recorder, that was so before Diabolus
took Mansoul, he also began to talk aloud; and his words were now to the
town of Mansoul as if they were great claps of thunder. No noise now so
terrible to Mansoul as was his, with the noise of the soldiers, and shoutings
of the captains.
Also, things began to grow scarce in Mansoul; now the things that her
soul lusted after were departing from her. Upon all her pleasant things there
was a blast, and burning instead of beauty. Wrinkles now, and some shows
of the shadow of death, were upon the inhabitants of Mansoul.[9] And now,
O how glad would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed quietness and
satisfaction of mind, though joined with the meanest condition in the
world![10]
The captains also, in the deep of this winter, did send, by the mouth of
Boanerges' trumpeter, a summons to Mansoul to yield up herself to the King,
the great King Shaddai. They said it once, and twice, and thrice; not knowing
but that at some times there might be in Mansoul some willingness to
surrender up themselves unto them, might they but have the colour of an
invitation to do it under. Yea, so far as I could gather, the town had been
surrendered up to them before now, had it not been for the opposition of old
Incredulity, and the fickleness of the thoughts of my Lord Willbe- will.
Diabolus also began to rave, wherefore Mansoul, as to yielding, was not yet
all of one mind, therefore, they still lay distressed under these perplexing
fears.[11]
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