To each of these captains the King gave a banner, that it might by displayed, because of the goodness of his cause, and because of the right that he had to Mansoul.

First, to captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I say, were given ten thousand men: his ensign was Mr. Thunder: he bore the black colours, and his scutcheon was the three burning thunderbolts, Mark iii. 17.

The second captain was captain Conviction; to him. were given ten thousand men: his ensign's name was Mr. Sorrow; he did bear the pale colours, and his scutcheon was the book of the law wide open, from whence issued a flame of fire, Deut. xxxiii. 2.

The third captain was captain Judgment; to him were given ten thousand men: his ensign's name was Mr. Terror; he bare the red colours, and his scutcheon was a burning fiery furnace, Matt. xiii. 40. 41.

The fourth captain was captain Execution; to him were given ten thousand men: his ensign was one Mr. Justice; he also bore the red colours and his scutcheon was a fruitless tree, with an axe lying at the root thereof, Matt. iii. 10.

These four captains, as I said, had every one of them under his command ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King, and stout at their military actions.*

Well, the captains and their forces, their men and under officers, being had upon a day by Shaddai into the field, and there called over by their names, were then and there put into such harness as became their de gree, and that service that now they were going about for their king.

Now

* Though the above-recited are the common means by which the Lord works upon the hearts of sinners, yet he is by no means not confined to these, but can make the most trifling incident instrumental to the accomplishing of his blessed purposes: in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction," &c. Job xxxiii. 15, 16.

Now when the King had mustered his forces (for it was he that mustered the host to the battle,) he gave unto the captains their several commissions, with charge and commandment, in the audience of all the soldiers, that they should take heed faithfully and courageously to do and execute the same.

Their commissions were, for the substance of them, the same in form, though as to name, title, place, and degree of the captains, there might be some, but very small variation: and here let me give you an account of the matter and sum contained in their commissions.

"A COMMISSION from the great King SHADDAI,* King of Mansoul, to his trusty and noble Captain, the Captain BOANERGES,† for making War upon the Town of Mansoul.

"O THOU Boanerges, one of my stout and thundering captains, over one ten thousand of my valiant and faithful servants, Matthew x. 11. Luke x. 5. go thou in my name, with this thy force, to the miserable town of Mansoul; and when thou comest thither, offer them first conditions of peace; and com

mand

* Shall love and mercy sue to the miserable to accept deliverance from their wretchedness, and they not listen? Shall goodness itself invite the hopeless and helpless to substantial and permanent happi ness, and they not embrace the offer? Nay, rather, thou prisoner of hope,

"Turn thou thine eyes on wisdom's fairer plan,
To frailty suited, and design'd for man:
To teach him wisdom, and, in that, to know
His fall how great, his wretchedness how low!
To save from ruin, as she makes him wise,
And hide destruction from the stranger's eyes."

This, in a literal sense, means sons of thunder, it also signifies the powerful preaching of the gospel, made effectual in the heart by the operation of the Holy Ghost, by which it becomes the power of God to salvation. Figuratively, it may mean the quickening influences of the Spirit of God. The two sons of Zebedee are thus surnamed by Christ, Mark iii, 17.

command them, that, casting off the yoke and tyranny of the wicked Diabolus, they return to me, their rightful prince and lord; command them also, that they cleanse themselves from all that is in the town of Mansoul.: (and look to thyself, that thou have given good satisfaction touching the truth of their obedience.) Thus when thou hast commanded them (if they in truth submit thereto,) then do thou to the uttermost of they power, what in thee lies, to set up for me a garrison in the famous town of Mansoul; nor do thou hurt the least native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thy friends or brethern; for all such I love, and they shall be dear unto me; and tell them, that I will take a time to come unto them, and to let them know that I am merciful,* 1 Thess. ii. 7—11.

But if they shall, notwithstanding thy summons, and the producing of my authority, resist, stand out against thee, and rebel; then I do command thee to make use of all thy cunning, power, might, and force, to bring them under by strength of hand. Farewel."

Thus you see the sum of their commission; for, as I said before, for the substance of them, they were the same that the rest of the noble captains had.

Wherefore they having received each commander his authority at the hand of their King; the day being appointed, and the place of their rendezvous prefixed, each commander appearing in such gallantry as his cause

..and

May the consideration of such unmerited goodness ever produce the liveliest emotions of gratitude in the hearts of those whom the Lord hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy! Struck with a consciousness of our demerits, who can refrain from saying.

"Ah, Father, author, God of boundless grace,
What, what is man, with all his recreant race,
That he with thine own Jesus should be weigh'd:
And, for their ransom, such a price he paid!"

H

BROOKE.

and calling required; so after a new entertainment from Shaddai, with flying colours they set forward to march towards the famous town of Mansoul. Captain Boanérges led the van, captain Conviction and captain' Judgment made up the main body, and captain Execution brought up the rear. They then having a great way to go (for the town of Mansoul was far off from the court of Shaddai,* Eph. ii. 13. 17.) marched: through the regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abusing any, but blessing wherever they came. They also lived upon the King's cost, all the way they went.

Having travelled thus for many days, at last they came within sight of Mansoul; the which when they saw, the captains could for their hearts do no less than for a while bewail the condition of the town; for they quickly saw that it was prostrate to the will of Diabolus and to his ways and designs.

Well, to be short, the captains come up before the town, march up to Ear-gate, and sit down there (for that was the place of hearing.) So when they had pitched their tents, and intrenched themselves, they addressed themselves to make their assault.

Now the townsfolk at first, beholding so gallant a company, so bravely accoutred, and so excellently disciplined,

* The immense distance of the soul was thrown from God, by original sin, is clearly set forth in the church homily on Christ's nativity: "Instead of the image of God, he was now become the image of the devil; instead of the citizen of heaven, he was now become the bond-slave of hell; having in himself no one part of his former purity and cleanness, but being altogether spotted and defiled; insomuch that he now seemed to be nothing else but a lump of siu, and therefore, by the just judgment of God, was condemned to everlasting death." A pride-humbling pieture! and thus intirely demolishes the towering fabrick of the dignity of human nature, so much boasted of and extolled.

disciplined, having on their glittering armour, and displaying their colours, could not but come out of their houses and gaze.* But the cunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this sight, should, on a sudden summons, open the gates to the captains, came down with all haste from the castle, and made them retire into the body of the town; who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivable speech unto them.

'Gentlemen,' quoth he, although you are my trusty and well-beloved friends, yet I cannot but a little chide you for your late uncircumspect action, in going out to gaze on that great and mighty force that but yesterday sat down before (and have now intrenched themselves, in order to the maintaining of the siege against) the famous town of Mansoul. Do you know who they are? whence they came? and what is their purpose in sitting down before the town of Mansoul? They are they of whom I have told you long ago, that they would come to destroy this town, and against whom I have been at the cost to arm you cap-a pie for your body, besides great fortifications for your mind. Wherefore then did you not rather, even at the first appearance of them, cry out, Fire the beacons, and give the whole town an alarm concerning them, that we

might

Though the world approve of and commend the godly conversation of sincere christians, yet their rebellious nature revolts against the way, so prone is the nature of man to wretchedness; nor can they be prevailed on to chuse it, till almighty and irresistible grace remove the enmity.

+ The enemy of souls, aware of the danger his kingdom is in by the conviction of sinners, strives by every stratagem his art and cunning can suggest, to divert them from the means of salvation, by causing them to be despised and neglected; he endeavours to make the riches, honours, and fading joys of this world, preferred to heavenly wisdom and eternal good. But, in spite of his utmost efforts to prevent it, God will prevail; and the innumerable company of the elect shall be accomplished, to glorify him for ever.