Now these two great nobles being dead, the rest of the townsfolk were like men who found a fool’s paradise. As was hinted before, they shortly fell to prove the truth of the giant’s words. First, they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked— that is, they were captivated with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and ate the fruit; and having eaten, they shook, because the fruit made them immediately drunk. So, they opened both the Ear-gate and Eye-gate and let Diabolus enter with all his troops; and the townsfolk had quite forgotten their good Shaddai, His law, and the judgment with solemn threatening He had attached to the tree if its command was broken.

Diabolus entered the gates and marched up the road to the middle of the town to make his conquest as sure as he could. Finding, by this time, the affections of the people warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking it was best striking while the iron is hot, made this further deceivable speech unto them, saying, “Alas, my poor Mansoul! I have indeed done you this service and promoted you to honor with increased liberty. But alas! alas! poor Mansoul, you now lack someone to defend you. For, know this most assuredly, when Shaddai hears what was done, He will come. He’ll be sorry you have broken His bonds and cast away His cords from you. What will you do? Will you, after having broadened your mind, allow your privileges to be invaded and taken away? How will you clear yourself of this difficulty?”

Then they all, with one consent, said to this bramble, “You reign over us.”

So Diabolus accepted the motion and became the king of the town of Mansoul. This accomplished, the next thing was for him to take possession of the castle; and the castle was the whole strength of the town. So, into the castle he went. Shaddai built the castle in Mansoul for His own delight and pleasure; but the castle had now become a den and stronghold for the giant, Diabolus.

Now, having taken possession of this stately palace or castle, he turned it into a garrison for himself. Diabolus strengthened and fortified it with all sorts of provisions he could use against King Shaddai, or against those who should endeavor to regain the castle and his obedience again.

This done, but not thinking himself yet secure enough, he thought of remodeling the town. He did so by setting up one and putting down another at his own pleasure. Therefore, my Lord Mayor, whose name was Lord Understanding, and Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience, these Diabolus removed from their positions of power.

As for my Lord Mayor, though he was an understanding man, and one too who had complied with the rest of the town of Mansoul in admitting the giant into the town, yet Diabolus thought it unfit to let him live in his former luster and glory, because he was a seeing man. For this reason, Diabolus darkened him, not only by taking from him his office and power, but by building a high and strong tower, just between the sun’s reflections and the windows of my lord’s palace (2 Cor 10:4-5); by which his house, and all of his dwelling place, were made as dark as darkness itself (Eph 4:18-19). And thus, being alienated from the light, he became like one who was born blind. My lord was confined to his dark house, which was his prison; and moreover, boundaries were established so that, if he were ever paroled, he must remain within his confines. And now, had he had a heart to do for Mansoul, what could he do for it, or how could he be profitable to her? So then, as long as Mansoul was under the power and government of Diabolus (and as long as it was under him, since it was obedient to him, which was even until by a war it was rescued out of his hand), as long as my Lord Mayor was more a liability to the famous town of Mansoul rather than an asset or advantage to them.

As for Mr. Recorder, before the town was taken, he was a man well-read in the laws of his King. Moreover, he was a man of courage and faithfulness, speaking truth on every occasion; and he had a tongue as bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment. Diabolus could not stand this man. Although he gave his consent to his coming into the town, nevertheless, he could not control him, not even by all the wiles, trials, strategies, and devices he could use. Diabolus could not make Mr. Recorder wholly his own. True, he was quite fallen and had degenerated from his relationship to his former King; and was quite pleased with many of the giant’s laws and service; but all this would not do, forasmuch as he was not wholly his. He would now and then think upon Shaddai and have the dread of His law upon him; and then he would speak against Diabolus with a voice as great as when a lion roared. Yes, when his fits were upon him (for you must know that sometimes he had terrible fits), he would also at certain times make the whole town of Mansoul shake with his voice: and therefore, the now king of Mansoul, Diabolus, could not stand him.

Diabolus, therefore, feared the Recorder more than anyone who was left alive in the town of Mansoul, because, as I said, his words shook the whole town; they were like the rattling thunder, and also like thunderclaps. Since the giant could not make him wholly his own, he had no other choice but to study all he could to corrupt the old gentleman, and by debauchery to stupefy his mind, and harden his heart more and more in the ways of vanity. And as he attempted, he accomplished his plan: he corrupted the man, and little by little, drew him into sin and wickedness, that, at last, he was not only corrupt, as at first, and so by consequence, defiled— and was almost (at last, I say) past all conscience of sin. Yet, this was the farthest Diabolus could go.

To be continued…

At the trumpet sound, the chiefs of the town of Mansoul came down to the wall to see who was there, and what was the matter. These chief townfolk were Lord Innocent, Lord Willbewill, Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and Captain Resistance. Lord Willbewill, seeing who stood at the gate, demanded to know what he was, the reason he had come, and why he roused the town of Mansoul with so unusual a sound.

Diabolus began his oration, speaking as if he was a lamb, and said: “Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I am, as you may perceive, your neighbor, living nearby. I am bound by the King to pay my respects to you and do what service I can for you. Being faithful to myself and to you, I have a small concern to communicate to you. Please kindly listen and hear me patiently. And first of all, let me assure you, I seek your benefit in this, not mine; and once I’ve revealed all my mind to you, your advantage will be fully manifested to you. For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) here to show you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage which has enslaved you, a captivity to which you are completely unaware.”

At this, the town of Mansoul began to prick up its ears. “What is it? For goodness sakes, what is it?” they thought. 

Diabolus spoke again, saying, “I have something to say to you about your King, concerning His law, and also touching yourselves. Your King, I know, He is great and powerful. Yet, not all He has said to you is true; neither is it for your advantage:

“1. It is not true, this command to which He has dazzled you, for it shall not come to pass nor be fulfilled if you do the thing He has forbidden. If there really was any danger, it would be slavery to always live in fear of the greatest punishments for doing such a small and trivial thing as eating a little fruit.

“2. Touching His laws, this I say further, they are altogether unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable. Unreasonable, as was hinted before, because the punishment is not equal to the offence. There is great difference and disproportion between life and a fruit; yet the one must go for the other by the law of your Shaddai. But it is also intricate, in that He says, first, you may eat of all; and then afterwards, forbids the eating of one. Finally, it is intolerable, forasmuch as that fruit which you are forbidden to eat (if you are forbidden any) is that, and that alone, which is able, by your eating, to minister to you a blessing as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the very name of the tree; it is called the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Is this knowledge yours yet? No, no; nor can you conceive how good, how pleasant, and how much to be desired to make one wise it is, so long as you stand by your King’s commandment. Why should you be held in ignorance and blindness? Why should you not be enlarged in knowledge and understanding? And now, O ye inhabitants of the famous town of Mansoul, to speak more particularly to yourselves you are not a free people! You are kept both in bondage and slavery, and that by a grievous threat; no reason being connected to it except, “So I will have it; so it shall be.” And is it not grievous to think about, that that very thing which you are forbidden to do, would yield you both wisdom and honor if you could do it? For then your eyes will be opened and you shall be as gods. Now, since this is so, can you be kept by any prince in more slavery and in greater bondage than you are under this day? You are made underlings, and are wrapped up in inconveniences, as I have well made apparent. For what bondage is greater than to be kept in blindness? Will not reason tell you that it is better to have eyes than to be without them? Is it not better to be at liberty than to be shut up in a dark and stinking cave?”

And while Diabolus spoke these words to Mansoul, Tisiphone shot at Captain Resistance, where he stood on the gate, and mortally wounded him in the head. To the amazement of the townsmen, and the encouragement of Diabolus, the Captain fell down quite dead over the wall. Now, when Captain Resistance was dead (and he was the only man of war in the town), poor Mansoul was wholly left naked of courage, nor had she now any heart to resist. But this was as the devil would have it.

Then Mr. Ill-pause stood forth, whom Diabolus brought as his orator. Ill-pause prepared to speak to the town of Mansoul— the tenor of his speech was as follows:

“Gentlemen,” he said, “it is my master’s happiness that he has this day a quiet and teachable assembly. We hope we shall convince you not to cast off good advice. My master has a very great love for you; and although, as he very well knows, he runs the risk of angering King Shaddai, yet love for you will make him do more than that. Nor does there need that a word more should be spoken to confirm for truth what he has said, there is not a word that carries with it self-evidence in its bowels; the very name of the tree may put an end to all controversy in this matter. I, therefore, at this time, shall only add this advice to you, under and by the leave of my lord.” Mr. Ill-pause bowed most courtly and courteously to his master, Diabolus, and continued: “Consider his words, look on the tree and the promising fruit thereof; remember also how little you know right now, and that this is the way to know more: and if your reasons are not conquered to accept of such good counsel, you are not the men that I took you to be.”

But when the townsfolk saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eye, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, they did as old Ill-pause advised; they took and did eat thereof.

To be continued…

• First. Was it the best strategy for all of them to appear before the town of Mansoul?

• Secondly. Was it best for them to go and sit down against Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly appearance?

• Thirdly. Was it best to show Mansoul their intentions and purpose, or was it best to assault it with words and ways of deceit?

• Fourthly. Was it advantageous in their plan of war to give private orders to some of their companions in order to target one or more of the principal townsfolk; to shoot them in order to more easily make their assault?

1. The answer to the first proposal was negative. If they all showed themselves before the town, the appearance of so many of them might alarm and frighten the town; whereas a few, or perhaps only one of them, was not so likely to do so. 

Diabolus spoke up and endorsed the advice not to alarm or frighten Mansoul. “It is impossible,” he said, “that we should take the town by force of numbers: because none can enter into it without its own consent. Let, therefore, only a few, or just one, assault Mansoul. Moreover,” Diabolus continued, “I should do it myself.” 

To this, they all agreed.

2. To the second proposal, “Was it best for them to go and sit down against Mansoul in their now ragged and beggarly appearance?” the answer also came in the negative. “By no means,” said the fierce Alecto, “because, though the town of Mansoul has been given wisdom to know and respond to invisible things, they have never yet seen any of their fellow-creatures in so sad and rascally condition as we have become.”

Then said Apollyon, “The advice is pertinent; for even one of us appearing to them as we are now, will stir their minds and imaginations to both alarm them and cause them to be on their guard. And if so,” said he, “then, as my Lord Diabolus said just now, it would be vain for us to think of taking the town.”

Then said that mighty giant, Beelzebub, “The advice already given is safe; for though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once were, yet they have never beheld such things as we are now; and it is best, in my opinion, to come upon them in such a disguise as is common to and most familiar among them.”

To this, when they had consented, the next thing to be considered was, in what shape, hue, or disguise would be best for Diabolus to show himself when he went about to make Mansoul his own. Then one said one thing. Another spoke the contrary.

At last, Lucifer answered. “In my opinion, it would be best for his lordship, Diabolus, to assume the body of one of those creatures the townsfolk had dominion over. Because,” he continued, “these are not only familiar to them, but, being subject to them, they will never imagine one of these subordinate creatures attempting to capture the town. In fact, to blind everyone, let Diabolus assume the body of one of those beasts Mansoul deems to be wiser than any of the rest (Gen 3:1; Rev 20:1-2).”

This advice was applauded by all. So, they determined the giant Diabolus should assume the form of a dragon, for in those days, he was as familiar with the town of Mansoul as now is the bird with the boy; for nothing in its primitive state was at all amazing to them. Then they proceeded to the third thing, being:

3. “Was it best to show Mansoul their intentions and purpose, or was it best to assault it with words and ways of deceit?” The first part of the proposal was also answered in the negative. The people of Mansoul were a strong people who lived in a strong town. The wall and gates were impregnable (to say nothing of their castle); and again, it could not be won except by their own consent.

 “Besides,” said Legion, who offered his advice with regard to this third proposal, “if they discover of our intentions, it may cause them to send for their King for help; and if that happens, I know quickly what time of day it will be for us. Therefore, let us assault them in all pretended fairness, covering our intentions with all kinds of lies, flatteries, delusive words; inventing things that will never be, and promising things to them that they shall never find. This is the way to win Mansoul and cause them to freely open their gates to us; yes! and to desire us too to come into them. And the reason why I think this plan will work is because the people of Mansoul are now, every single one of them, simple and innocent; every one of them, honest and true; nor do they as yet know what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They’re strangers to lying and dissembling lips. If we’re disguised, they will be unable to discern our intent. Our lies will be received as true sayings, and our falsehoods for upright dealings. They’ll believe whatever we promise them, especially if, in all our lies and feigned words, we pretend to love them greatly, and that our purpose is only for their advantage and honor.”

Now there was not one bit of a reply against this. It went down as smoothly as water in a thirsty throat. Finally, they considered the last proposal, being:

4. “Was it advantageous in their plan of war to give private orders to some of their companions in order to target one or more of the principal townsfolk; to shoot them in order to more easily make their assault?” This was carried in the affirmative; and the man who must be targeted for destruction in this strategy was one Mr. Resistance, also called Captain Resistance. The Captain was a great man in Mansoul, and a man who the giant Diabolus and his associates feared more than they feared the whole town of Mansoul besides. Now, who should be the agent to perform the murder? They appointed one Tisiphone, a fury of the lake, to do it.

Thus, having ended their council of war, they rose up, and attempted to do as they had determined. They marched towards Mansoul, but all in a manner invisible, except one, only one; nor did he approach the town in his own likeness, but under the shade and in the body of the dragon.

To be continued…

The people have different ethnic backgrounds. They speak different languages and practice different religions. They differ as much, it is said, as the planets do themselves. Some are right and some are wrong, even as it is in lesser regions.

It was my opportunity, as I said, to travel in this country; and my journey was so long there, I even learned much of their mother tongue, that is, their main language, as well as their customs and manners. And, to tell the truth, I was very delighted to see and hear many things which I saw and heard among them. Yes, I surely even lived and died as a native among them (since I was so captured by their behavior). If my Master had not called me to come home to His house, to serve Him, I would have stayed longer.

Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a beautiful, yet fragile town, a community called Mansoul; a town built quite curiously— situated as vast as eternity itself and privileged with blessings because of its origin— and like the continent which I mentioned before, there is not its equal under all of heaven.

This town is situated just between the two worlds; and the first Founder and Builder of it, as far as I understand, has been written in the best and most authentic records, was one Shaddai; and He built it for His own delight. He made it the reflection and glory of all He made. It was the crowning achievement beyond anything else He did in that country. Yes, so excellent a town was Mansoul when first built, it is said by some, the angels came down to see it after it had been set up and they sang for joy. And as He made it so good to behold, Shaddai gave the town dominion over all the country round about. Ineed, all were commanded to acknowledge Mansoul for their metropolitan and all were instructed to honor it. Truly, the town itself had positive commission and power from her King to demand service of all, and also to subdue any who neglected that responsibility.

A famous and majestic palace was raised in the middle of this town; for strength, it might be called a castle; for joy, a paradise; for space and location, a place so abundant as to contain all the world. King Shaddai intended this place for Himself alone and no one else; partly because of His own delights, and partly because He didn’t want the terror of strangers to come upon the town. Shaddai also made this place a fortress, but only commanded the men of the town to protect it.

The walls of the town were well built so firm and steadfast, and were knit so close together, had it not been for the townsmen themselves, the walls could not have been shaken or broken at all. For here is the excellent wisdom of Him who built Mansoul— that the walls could never be broken down nor hurt by the strongest wicked king unless the townsmen consented to it.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates for entry and exit. These gates were made just like the walls. They were impregnable; that is, they could not be opened by force except by the will and approval of the townsmen within. The names of the gates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.

There were other things belonging to the town of Mansoul; and if you connect to them, it will be a testimony to all of the glory and strength of the place. There was always sufficient provision within its walls. It had the best, most wholesome, and excellent law existing in the world. In the beginning, there was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person within its walls. They were all true men who joined together faithfully; and this, you know, is a great matter. And to all these who had the goodness to remain true and loyal to King Shaddai, Mansoul was always blessed with His countenance, His protection, and it was His delight, etc.

Well, once upon a time, there was a mighty giant named Diabolus. He made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own home. This giant was king of evil and father of lies; a most insane prince he was. We will, if you please, first talk about the origin of this Diabolus, and then of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul.

This Diabolus is indeed a great and mighty prince, but at the same time, both poor and beggarly. When he was born, at first, he was one of King Shaddai’s servants. The King put him into the most high and mighty place; yes, was put into a position overseeing the best of His territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made “son of the morning,” and a brave place he made of it (Isa 14:12). It brought him much glory and gave him much brightness. This should have made Diabolus content and joyful, but because his Luciferian heart was so greedy, his lust was as wide and wicked as Hades itself.

Well, seeing himself so exalted to greatness and honor, and raging in his mind for even greater glory, he begins to think about how he might be set up as lord over everything, having sole power under Shaddai. (Now, you see, the King reserved this position for His Son; and yes, had already bestowed it upon Him.) For this reason, Diabolus started talking to himself in his insanity about what was the best way to take this high position; and then shared his thoughts to some of his other companions, who also agreed. So, finally, they came to conclusion that they should attempt to destroy the King’s Son so the inheritance might be theirs. Well, to be short, the treason, as I said, was concluded, the time appointed, the word given, the rebels met, and the assault attempted. Now the King and His Son being ALL and always EYE, could not but discern all passages in His dominions; and He, having eternal love for His Son as for Himself, was greatly provoked and offended at what was done: therefore, the King arrested them in their first attempt to overthrow the kingdom, convicted them of treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy they had devised and attempted. The King then cast them altogether out of all place of trust, benefit, honor, and favor. This done, He banished them from the court, threw them into the horrible pits, bound them securely in chains, never more to expect the least favor from His hands. The rebels must await the final and everlasting judgment King Shaddai appointed them (2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6).

Now, having been cast out of all place of trust, profit, and honor, and also knowing they had lost their Prince’s favor forever (being banished from His court, and cast down to the horrible pits), you can be sure they added to their former pride hatred and anger against Shaddai, and against His Son, with every ounce of their beings. Therefore, they sought revenge. They furiously wandered in ranks like an army from place to place, hoping to find something, anything, belonging to the King so they could take the King’s possessions by force and keep it for themselves (1 Pet 5:8). Finally, they came to the vast country of Universe and they set their course toward the town of Mansoul; and considering that that town was one of the chief works and delights of King Shaddai, once they took counsel together, they made their assault upon it. I must say, they knew Mansoul belonged to Shaddai; for they were there when He built it and made it beautiful for Himself. So, when they had found the place, they shouted horribly for joy, and roared against it like a lion upon its prey, saying, “Now we have found the prize! Now we will take revenge on King Shaddai for what He’s done to us!” So, they sat down and called a council of war. They considered amongst themselves what ways and methods they could best engage this war to win for themselves this famous town of Mansoul— and these four things were proposed for their consideration….

To be continued…