first, and so by consequence defiled, but was almost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin. And this was the farthest Diabolus could go. Wherefore he bethinks him of another project, and that was, to presuade the men of the town that Mr. Recorder was mad, and so not to be regarded. And for thus he urged his fits, and said, If he be himself, why doth he not do thus always? But, quoth he, all mad folks have their fits, and in them raving language; so hath this old and doating gentleman. Thus by one means or other he quickly got Mansoul to slight, neglect, and despise whatever Mr. Recorder could say. For, besides what you have already heard, Diabolus had a way to make the old gentleman, when he was merry, unsay and deny what he in his fits had affirmed. And indeed this was the next way to make himself ridiculous, and to cause that no man should regard him. Also how he never spake freely for king Shaddai, but always by force and constraint. Besides he would at one time be hot against that, about which at another he would hold his peace, so be as if fast asleep, and again sometimes as dead, even then when the whole town of Mansoul was in her career after vanity, and in her dance after the giant's pipe.

Wherefore sometimes, when Mansoul did use to be frighted with the thundering voice of the Recorder that was, that when they tell Diabolus of it, he would answer, that what the old gentleman said was neither out of love to him, nor pity to them, but of a foolish fondness that he had to be prating; and so would hush, still, and put all to quiet again. And that he might leave no argument unurged that might tend to make secure, he said, and said it often, Oh, Mansoul! consider, that notwithstanding the old gentleman's rage, and the rattle of his high and thundering words, you hear nothing of Shaddai himself (when, liar and de

ceiver

ceiver that he was, every outcry of Mr. Recorder against the sin of Mansoul, was the voice of God in him to them.) But he goes on, and says, You see that he values not the loss and rebellion of the town of Mansoul; nor will he trouble himself with calling his town to a reckoning, for their giving themselves to me. He knows, that though ye were his, now you are lawfully mine; so leaving us to one another, he hath now shaken his hands of us.

Moreover, O Mansoul! quoth he, consider how I have served you, even to the uttermost of my power; and that with the best that I have, could get, or procure for you in all the world: besides, I dare say, that the laws and customs that you are now under, and by which you do homage to me, do yield you more solace and content, than did the paradise that at first you possessed.* Your liberty also, as yourselves do very well know, has been greatly widened and enlarged by me; whereas I found you a penn'd up people, I have not laid any restraint upon you: you have no law, statute, or judgment of mine to fright you; I call none of you to account for your doings, except the madman, you know who I mean: I have granted you to live, each man like a prince in his own palace, even with as little controul from me, as I have from you.

And thus would Diabolus hush up and quiet the town of Mansoul, when the Recorder that was, did at times molest them; yea, and with such cursed orations as these would set the whole town in a rage and fury against the old gentleman; yea, the rascally crew at some times would be for destroying him. They have often wished,

in

* Thus a worldly delight in sin, and an enmity to God and holiness, are the wretched inheritance of every unconverted person; who prefer sinful, fleeting pleasures to eternal life: a phantom of happiness to the fountain of life; notwithstanding these vain pursuits, death and judgment are at the door, the fear of which minkes them all their life-time subject to bondage,

in my hearing, that he had lived a thousand miles off them; his company, his words, yea, the sight of him, and especially when they remembered how in old times he did use to threaten and condemn them (for all he was now so debauched,) did terrify and afflict them sore.

But all their wishes were vain; for I don't know how, unless by the power of Shaddai, and his wisdom, he was preserved in being amongst them. Besides, his house was as strong as a castle, and stood hard by a stronghold of the town: moreover, if at any time any of the crew or rabble(k) attempted to make him away, he could pull up the sluices, () and let in such floods as would drown all round about him.

But to leave Mr. Recorder, and to come to my lord Will-be-will,(m) another of the famous town of Mansoul. This Will-be-will was as high born in Mansoul, and was as much, if not more, a freeholder, than many of them were: besides, if I remember my tale aright, he had some privileges peculiar to himself in the famous town of Mansoul, Now, together with these, he was a man of great strength, resolution, and courage, nor in his occasion could any turn him away. But I say, whether he was proud of his estate, privileges, strength, or what, (but sure it was through pride of something,) he scorns now to be a slave in Mansoul;* and therefore resolves to bear office under Diabolus, that he might (such a one as he was) be a petty ruler and governor in Mansoul; and (headstrong man that he was) thus he began betimes; for this man, when Diabolus

(k) Ill thoughts. (1) of fears.

(m) The will.

did

*The wickedness of human nature arises from the rebellion of the will against God's righteous word and way. Man lost every good by following his own will, and in order to regain it, he must deny himself. Our will is naturally sinful, corrupt, and perverse. Jesus, for our sakes, came not to do his own will, John vi. 38. May the same mind be in us! that so we may be disposed, by divine grace, to do and suffer the whole will of God; and "no longer live in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God," 1 Pet. iv. 2.

did make his oration at Ear-gate, was one of the first that was for consenting to his words, and for accepting of his counsel as wholesome, and that was for opening the gate, and letting him into the town; wherefore Diabolus had a kindness for him, and for that reason designed him for a place; and, perceiving the valour and stoutness of the man, he coveted to have him for one of his great ones, to act and do in matters of the highest concern.

So he sent for him, and talked with him of that secret matter which lay in his breast; but there needed not much persuasion in the case: for as at first he was willing that Diabolus should be let into the town, so now he was as willing to serve him there. When the tyrant, therefore perceived the willingness of my lord to serve him, and that his mind stood bending that way, he forthwith made him captain of the castle,* governor of the wall, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul: yea, there was a clause in his commission, that nothing without him should be done in all the town of Mansoul: so that now, next to Diabolus himself, who but my lord Will-be-will, in all the town of Mansoul! nor could any thing be now done, but at his will and pleasure, throughout the town of Mansoul, Rom. viii. 7. He had also one Mr. Mind for his clerk; a man, to speak on, every way like his master; for he and his lord were in principle one, and in practice not far asunder, Eph. ii. 2, 3, 4. And now was Mansoul brought under the purpose, and made to fulfil the lusts of the will, and of the mind.

But

By this, and the two following places, we are to understand, the heart, the flesh, and the senses.

+ The judgment, whereby we distinguish between good and evil; it is the source of ideas, sensation, and recollection: it is also that faculty which acts in subordination to the will, and determines on the mode of conduct to be pursued. This arbitrary principle may not improperly be termed the eye of the soul.

But it will not be out of thy thoughts, what a dea perate one Will-be-will was, when power was put into his hands. First, he flatly denied that he owed any suit or service to his former prince and liege lord. This done, in the next place he took an oath, swore fidelity to his great master Diabolus, and then being stated and settled in his place, office, advancement, and preferment, oh, you cannot think, unless you had seen it, the strange work that this workman made in the town of Mansoul.

First, he maligned Mr. Recorder to death; he would neither endure to see him, nor hear the words of his mouth: he would shut his eyes when he saw him, and stop his ears when he heard him speak. Also he could not endure that so much as a fragment of the law of Shaddai should be any where seen in the town. For example, his clerk, Mr. Mind, had some old rents, Neh. ix. 26. and torn parchments of the law of good Shaddai în his house: but when Will-be-will saw them, he cast them behind his back.* True, Mr Recorder had some of the laws in his study, but my lord could by no means come at them: he also thought, and said, the windows of my old lord mayor's house were always too light for the profit of the town of Mansoul. The light of a candle he could not endure. Now nothing at all pleased Will-be-will, but what pleased Diabolus his lord.

There was no other like him to trumpet about the streets the brave nature, the wise conduct, and great glory

Evil minded men have a rooted antipathy and hatred to the scriptures, and though there may be perceived in the minds and consciences of such people, some faint traces of the law of God, yet, owing to the corruption and depravity of the will, their conceptions of divine things are erroneous and unscriptural: they call good evil, and evil good. Until the Lord the Spirit rectify the will and affections, ungodly sinners desire not the knowledge of God, but reject his word with contempt.