Find a good MLJ sermon for us to read. Are we on? Okay, I'm just telling everybody that on, so it'll be the Sunday before Thanksgiving that we are gonna do a Thanksgiving-themed service. So I'll find a Lloyd-Jones sermon that's appropriate for that Sunday. And turkeys are on sale for 99 cents. I just saw that down there. That's about as cheap. How come nobody buys turkeys except at Thanksgiving and Christmas? They're like, just like, maybe I guess so, yeah. So anyway, we'll be doing that. And yeah, so we have a lot to give thanks for in this country now after the election and so forth. My son told me in California that the gas already dropped 50 cents now. Yeah, gas, yeah, things are going down and so, yep, yep, deep corruption here. So, I think I just... Mac, I forgot. Yeah, I think the article I wrote for today's America Out Loud thing was on corruption in Washington, right? Yeah. And how I always try to, well, I don't try to, I do, every time I apply scripture to the situation. So it's like we've had this evil deep state going on probably who knows how long, right? And they think they're doing all this stuff in secret, which a lot of it is, humanly speaking. But then I applied that passage where the Lord tells Ezekiel to dig through the wall and peek inside and see what's going on. And here's these leaders of Israel bowing down to Tammuz and all these idols and so forth. Anyway, and I've got, I won't read it today, but I've got, probably, I might read it in Sunday School next week. I'll make copies of it for everybody, and it's actually online, too. I'll send out the link to everybody that is watching online, but Lloyd-Jones preached an Old Testament sermon called When the Gods Fall. God and Dagon, remember how the Philistines captured the ark and then they took the ark into the temple of their God, Dagon. And then they'd come in the next morning and he's like falling over and all that stuff keeps going on. And anyway, he's got a great sermon on this in 1 Samuel 5. does a really good job of applying it to our day, his day, but our day as well. One of the applications that he makes is that the Philistines, I mean, they were mocking the God of Israel is what they were doing when they, you know, Our God has allowed us to capture this art. It's going to come back and backfire on a big time, you know, before that, but before it's over. But also Lloyd-Jones noted that it was like kind of a good luck trinket to them. Right? So because they saw that the Israelites had been blessed by this ark and so forth, they thought it was kind of a magical trinket. And so they stored it away, might need to use that sometime. And the way that he applied it in that situation is he said, you know, that's what the modern church is doing. And of course, in his mind, a lot of it was the Church of England at the time. And he said, you know, you have these people who they're not Christian, they don't believe God's word, you know, but they They retain a smattering of Christianity just for kind of a good luck charm. And one example that he used is, you know, in England, He says, anytime we decide to crown a new king or somebody, well, we've got to have it done. Here comes the archbishop, and we've got to have a religious service, you know, and so forth. So they just use it. Anyway, he does a great job. And I plan, I think, reading that next Sunday. And as I said to the people online, I'll send out the link so you can listen to it as well. I can't live stream it because of the copyright on the book and so on. Okay, here's another thing. Well, let's pray and we'll start. Father, we ask your blessing upon us now as we're gathered together in your church. We pray that you would watch over those members that are away today. You'd keep Kali safe and bring her back safely from Seattle and watch over Aaron as well. and keep him safe. We thank you for those that are not able to travel here and not able to be physically with us but follow online due to health reasons and so forth. for all those people that live all around the country and really are part of our church. We ask your blessing upon them. And we thank you for your word and we pray that you would increase our faith today. We thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. And we thank you for the great blessings you've given to us in our nation. And we pray that you would protect the new president and all of his staff, keep him safe. We know that the enemy would kill him if they had a chance. And we know you've protected him. So we ask your blessing upon him and his family. And we pray this in Christ's name, amen. OK, what I wanted to, you can look in your Bible in Jeremiah 23, just a couple of notes here and then we'll get into the Holy War. That'll be on page 209 of this Anecho Press edition of the Holy War, 209. But in Jeremiah 23, it's a classic chapter on false prophets. And they, Jeremiah, there's other passages in Jeremiah that That where Jeremiah rebukes the false prophets and so forth, but chapter 23 is a classic one on this and so Jeremiah 23 and so here we go verse 1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture declares the Lord Therefore thus says the Lord the God of Israel concerning the shepherds who care for my people. I You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you've not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. So a lot of the people that are following us online, they can identify with that. They've been scattered, right, by false shepherds. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I've driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply." Notice the remnant there, right? I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. Then he goes on, a messianic prophecy there in verse 5 and following, and then back again to the lying prophets in verse 9. concerning the prophets. My heart is broken within me, Jeremiah, all my bones shake. I'm like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine because of the Lord and because of His holy words for the land is full of adulterers. because of the curse the land mourns and pastors of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil and their might is not right. Both prophet and priest are ungodly. Even in my house I have found their evil, declares the Lord. Therefore, their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, declares the Lord." And then he goes on to talk more about these false prophets. Well, I actually sent this to a couple of you, but Edward Young. Edward Young is the guy whose commentary on Daniel is what I'm using as we go through the new series on Daniel. He was at Westminster years ago. He's with the Lord now. He's got a book here on the prophets. It's called My Servants the Prophets. And listen to just these few paragraphs on this. The study of Old Testament prophecy is rendered more difficult and complicated by the fact that in ancient Israel there were different kinds of prophets. Thus Jeremiah declares, Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I did not send them, neither have I commanded them. They prophesy to you a false vision and divination. and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart." That's in Jeremiah 14. So, from this verse, certain conclusions may be drawn. First, there were prophets with whom Jeremiah would not associate himself. See, I mean, this is like so easy to flip over to our day, right? Okay, so here's one thing we see. Jeremiah, he stood alone for the Lord. And he would not associate himself with those false prophets. Okay? So I've told you guys before how when Verla and I first moved here and came to this church, you know, one of the first things is I, word gets out and I get invited to attend the local ministerial association meeting, right? So I go down there and I should have known right from the beginning, but they're meeting at the Catholic Church building. All right. So anyway, you go in there. That was the first and last meeting of those guys that I ever went. And there was a whole mix of pastors from different denominations in there. And they were arrogant in their ecumenicity, you know, look at us, you know, boy, we are so inclusive. There were prophets with whom Jeremiah would not associate themselves. So if we have pressure, not just on me, but on you as a church, well, you guys need to affiliate with another, you know, you're too standoffish and so forth, too separatistic. Well, okay. So show us a true church around here somewhere and a true pastor and we'll be happy to have fellowship, but otherwise we're not going to. Oh yeah, he says, there were prophets with whom Jeremiah would not associate himself. He belonged to one class, namely those who had truly received the word of the Lord, and they belonged to another class, those who had not received his word. Secondly, according to Jeremiah, certain prophets, these false prophets, claimed to have received divine revelation. They, you know, they said, thus says the Lord, right? They looked to God and appealed to the Lord's name as an accreditation of their message. Whereas, as a matter of fact, the Lord had not sent them. I've not sent them. Here they go and they preach, but I didn't send them. Third, these prophets whom Jeremiah denounced looked for the source of their message, not in the Lord, but to their own deceitful heart. So a false pastor in a church today is going to be preaching message, and it'll all be dolled up with some occasional scripture reference and Bible talk and so forth. But the essence of his message comes from himself, his own deceitful heart, not from the Word of God. So the message then, according to Jeremiah, was of purely human origin. It wasn't divine. It was human. And fourth, lastly, the message of these prophets was one of vanity and deceit, and consequently one that was not to be trusted. In the eyes of Jeremiah, such prophets were men who had no right to the prophetic office. What, on the other hand, would have been the opinion of these men concerning Jeremiah? So how did these false prophets look at Jeremiah, right? And you read the book of Jeremiah and you find out. Would not they have considered themselves legitimate prophets of Israel and have regarded Jeremiah as, this is great, a dangerous and harmful disturber of the peace? Right? So that's what happened. You are a disturber of the peace. So when I noticed this back in the days when I was going to seminary, that there was a certain program, and we've seen it. We also saw it when we joined a denomination one time, right? There's an unspoken climate. and culture there that you go along with the program. Here's these guys that are eminent. They hold position over the denomination and so forth. And you look to them, and you go along with them, and you go along with the program. And if you don't, if you question anything, you will be regarded as a dangerous and harmful disturber of the peace. And for example, when I was in seminary, we had to take a course on worship, okay? That would be fine if it was what the Bible said about worship, but it wasn't. And we were assigned to read a book by some well-known author. I don't remember who he is, but on worship. And so I read it, and it was obvious. It was a plain as day that this guy was trying to institute the some of the things from Rome. What do I want to say? In the liturgy, he liked processions. You should have some kind of a procession in your services. I don't know what that all, marching in something. And there was other stuff like that. So then you come to class, And the professor, who was an adjunct professor, he was actually a pastor of a so-called Bible-believing large Baptist church in Southeast Portland. But so he's saying, well, we're going to discuss the book. What are your insights in the book and so forth? And he looked at me and he asked me. And I said, well. I think this is a really bad book. This guy is trying to introduce man's traditions and Rome. He's trying to move us back to Roman Catholicism. And the guy was like totally offended. I mean, he's like, I've used this book before in other classes and nobody's ever said that about it. And from then on, you could just tell that he didn't like me. And so that's just one example. But we should be wise to this kind of a thing. And if we're ever in a place, be it in a church or if your church is a member of a denomination and so forth, if there's a climate developing there where the leadership and so on is not to be questioned and you're to go along with the program, you better you better speak out all the more and uh... uh... so anyway but jeremiah is speaking the word of god and the false prophets regarded him as a dangerous and harmful disturber of the peace we're not entirely ignorant of the manner in which such men would have acted toward jeremiah nor of the attitude which they would have entertained with respect to him In the 26th chapter of Jeremiah, he himself relates how the prophets and others declared that because of his denunciations of Jerusalem, he must die. And I think, was it Jeremiah they threw into a pit or something? They did a bunch of other stuff then to him and trying to kill him and so forth. And so, I mean, so we need to be, aware of that and now certainly people that right now, okay, we've got leaders in our nation now and our president-elect and so forth. Don't, if there's any fake news out there, don't misquote me here. I'm not saying that Donald Trump is a prophet of God or that he's a Jeremiah or something. But he does speak up against wickedness in high places. What is the reason? See, and why is he hated? It's because If you got elected to Congress and you went to Washington the way it's been, you're expected to go along with the program and not confront evil or anything. And if you don't, well, they're going to be on you. And that's what's been going on in our country. But it's also been going on in the church for a long time. And we need to be wise to it, and we shouldn't We shouldn't quickly criticize somebody. See, because what evil leadership does is they try to get everybody else on their side and then go after Jeremiah. All of us go after Jeremiah when it's like, well, wait a minute here. Jeremiah might, in fact, be talking truth to us here. Maybe we ought to listen. Same thing happened to us as a church when we were in Arbka, remember? Association of Reformed Baptists, supposedly. And all of the corruption there got exposed, and tons of churches left there. But we confronted, I confronted them, and they were just, Those guys that were in leadership, now they were just nasty, nasty. And so, anyway, but there's wisdom there. That's what happened to Jeremiah. That's, you can be expected, happened to you and your own family among unsaved people. If you take a stand for the Lord, you're a troublemaker, you know. Why don't you just, why don't you just go along with the programs there? Well, we can't do that. All right, where are we here? The Holy War, then. Now, so you remember then, Emmanuel has been, he established a new agreement, terms, contract, you might say, with Mansoul, now that he's come back in. And it's pretty clear that what Bunyan is talking about here is he is, Yeah, and this is going to be page 209, by the way. So, he's in an allegory. He's describing for us what Christ has done for his church in the New Covenant. Okay, that's what this is about. And everything's going to go along smooth for a while. But, well, you'll see how the story develops then. But, all right. I'll just start at the top of the page. Fix your eyes and attention on my love and care towards you. He's talking to Mansell. He said to, To all that's in the past, I have added this mercy with the most noble secretary." The secretary is the Holy Spirit, okay? He will teach you in all exalted and heavenly mysteries. He glanced at all those standing before him. I now appoint you preachers." He gestured toward the recorder, Mr. Conscience, and said, This gentleman is to teach you all things human and domestic, for this is his work, and he is not prohibited from telling Mansoul anything he has heard and received from the mouth of the Lord High Secretary. However, He should not attempt to pretend to be one who makes known those exalted mysteries himself. For the revealing and the discovery of them to and by man so lies only in the power, authority, and skill of the Lord High Secretary himself." The preachers are only supposed to preach God's Word. That's what he's saying. However, Mr. Conscience may talk of them, and so may the rest of man's soul, and you may impress these truths upon each other for the benefit of the whole body. Therefore, observe and do these things throughout your life, and you will enjoy a long life blessed with peace. Proverbs 3. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. For links of days and years of life and peace they will add to you And now one more thing Emanuel said to his beloved. Mr. Recorder and to all the town of Mansoul Regarding things in which the high secretary has authority to teach You must not dwell upon such things using your own reasoning in regard to your trust and what you expect in the next world, which I intend to give to Mansoul when they and this world are worn out, you must hold to his doctrine. He is your teacher after the first order." So, we believe the promises and word of God by faith. You don't say, well, that's not reasonable to me, that kind of thing, okay? And Mr. Conscience mustn't look for direction on how to live based on that which he discovers himself. His dependence must be in the doctrine of the other teacher, the Holy Spirit through the Word. For even the recorder must pay close attention so he doesn't receive any doctrine based on the confines of his own formal knowledge. The only acceptable doctrine or point of doctrine is that communicated by his superior teacher. After the prince settled things within the town of Mansoul, he proceeded to give the elders of the town a necessary caution about how they should carry this message to the high and noble captains whom he had brought with him from his father's court to the town of Mansoul. These captains loved the town of Mansoul. They were hand-picked men, chosen from an abundance of the best-suited men, who would faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the Diabolians for the salvation of the town of Mansoul. I'm not sure who these captains are. Could they be apostles? Could they be angels? Maybe we'll find out. Emmanuel said, I now charge you, the inhabitants of the currently flourishing town of Mansoul, not to bring this message in a rough or reluctant manner to my captains or their men, since they're hand-picked and chosen men, men chosen for many of the best for the good of the town of Mansoul. I command you, therefore, to deliver it willingly to them. For though they have the hearts and faces of lions, a little discouragement flung in their direction from the town of Mansoul will depress their spirits and diminish their courage." It doesn't sound like the apostles, does it? Yeah, it could be. This will affect their ability when they call to engage and fight with the king's foes and the enemies of the town of Mansoul, which can happen at any time. For this reason, my beloved, do not bring my message in an unkind manner to my valiant captains and courageous men of war. Instead, love and nourish them. run to support them and place them next to your heart. Romans 13, every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there's no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God, Romans 13. Now, I'm not sure I forgot whether Was it Bunyan that put these scriptures in here, or is it the editors here? I'm not sure. But Romans 13 is about the civil authorities, so I'm not sure who these captains are. But they will not only fight for you, but will also cause all those Diabolians who seek your utter destruction to flee from you. If any of them should fall sick or weak at any time and not be able to perform that office of love which they're willing to carry out with all their hearts, don't slight them or despise them. Instead, strengthen and encourage them because though they may feel weak and ready to die, they are your fence, your guard, your wall, your gates, your locks, and your bars of defense. When they're weak, they can do little. They need to be helped by you, and when you do help, you can expect great things from them. And again, Romans 13, for because of this, you also pay taxes for rulers or servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them. And when they're well, you know what heroic acts and feats of war they're able to achieve and will perform for you. If they're weak, the town of Mansoul can't be strong. If they're strong, Mansoul can't be weak. For this reason, your safety depends on their health and in your encouraging them. Remember, if they're sick, they will catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself. These things I have said to you because I care about your welfare and honor. Therefore, Mansoul, observe these principles. Be punctual in all things I charge you to do. I am not only talking about what you do as a town corporately, in which you depend on your officers, guards, and guides. I am also speaking to you as individuals whose well-being depends on following the orders and commandments of your Lord. Next, my dear Mansoul, in spite of the present reformation taking place among you, I warn you to listen to me. So he's really, he's talking to the church, okay? This is what it represents. I'm now sure, and you will know for yourselves after this, that Diabolians are still within the town of Mansoul, right? Diabolians who are foolishly obstinate and harbor irreconcilable enmity and anger. While I'm with you, and even more when I'm no longer with you, the Diabolians will study, plot, contrive, invent, and attempt to bring you to ruin and to a state far worse than the Egyptian bondage. They are declared friends of Diabolus. Therefore, be aware of who is around you. When Incredulity was the lord mayor of this town, they lived with their prince in the castle. Since my arrival here, they stay more to the outskirts. and along the walls where they've made dens, caves, holes, and strongholds for themselves. Because of their presence, man's soul, your work will be much more difficult. When you find them, take hold of them, subdue them, put them to death according to the will of my Father. You will not be able to rid yourselves of them completely unless you tear down the walls of your town, but I by no means want you to do this. Do not ask, what shall we do then? I tell you, be diligent and carry through to the end. Joshua 1, have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Observe their holes and search out any place where they hang about, lurk, or live. Overtake them. Make no peace with them, and whatever terms of peace they try to offer you, detest and reject it. If you do this, all will be well between you and me." Now there you see an example of a false peace, right? And how you see that so often among professing Christians. Well, we just need to love, you know, they, well, they're Christians too, aren't they? You know, and so you have all of that kind of an idea. But as Bunyan puts it here, make no peace with them. Whatever terms of peace they try to offer you, detest and reject it. So you think of, who was it? Well, unfortunately, J.I. Packer and then, who was the guy that was in jail because Colson, Charles Colson, you know. So here they were pushing this evangelicals and Catholics together thing. And R.C. Sproul nailed them for it. But they went, come on, let's make peace with Rome. You know, that's what they, come on. Why, they say that they believe the same thing about justification that we do and so forth. So that's an example of what's talking about here. Nothing new. picture there, the Diabolians are hiding themselves in caves and holes, plotting. To help you identify them from those who are natives of Mansoul, I'll give you this brief list, which includes the names of the topmost Diabolians. They're all Lords. Lord Fornication, Lord Adultery, Lord Murder, Anger, Lasciviousness, Deceit, evil eye, drunkenness, Mr. Revelling, Mr. Idolatry, Mr. Witchcraft, Mr. Variance, Mr. Emulation, Mr. Wrath, Mr. Strife, Mr. Sedition, and Mr. Heresy. These are some of the primary Diabolians who will seek to overthrow you forever. They lurk within man's soul. Now, so what is he saying about these evil ones in relation to the church right here? What's he mean? Yeah, they'll try to creep into the church. And how do you know who they are? Well, you test their fruit, right? If somebody that says they're a Christian, but in fact, you see this wickedness in their life, and so they can be very deceitful, but they lurk within man's soul. The solution is found within the law of your king. Look into it and study it, the Bible. you will learn about the character of their minds and other specific explanations regarding them by which you will be able to recognize them. These Diabolians, my dear Mansoul, if allowed to run free and roam about the town unhindered wherever they like, will eat out your bowels like vipers. Yes, they shall poison your captains." Heresy spreads, right? They shall poison your captains, cut the sinews of your soldiers, break the bars and bolts of your gates, and turn your now flourishing mansoul into a barren and desolate wilderness in a ruinous heat. That's what the liberal church is today, right? For this reason, I give you Lord Mayor, Lord Will Be Will, Mr. Recorder, and all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, I give to you, they will have full power and command to seek out, take hold of all manner of Diaboleans and cause them to be put to death by the cross, when and wherever you find them lurking inside or outside of the town of Mansoul. So take courage. and apprehend these villains wherever you find them. And obviously, by his allegory, Bunyan's not telling us to kill people, right? But we certainly, by the spirit and by the word of God and exposing them, and I suppose what he would have in mind is by putting them to death, excommunication, put them out from among yourselves. Psalm 21, though they intended evil against you and devised a plot, they will not succeed. For you will make them turn their back. You will aim with your bowstrings at their faces. I told you before that I had placed an established ministry among you. You don't only have these with you as emotion toward the captains and troops. But you also have my first four captains who came against the Master and Lord of the Diaboleans when he was in Mansoul. If they're needed, they can carry the message and preach the good and wholesome doctrine to the entire town, both privately and publicly. They will help lead you in the way you should go and will set up a weekly and if need be daily lecture in Mansoul. So he's talking about the Lord's Day there. and the preaching of the word. They will instruct you in useful lessons that, if followed, will do you good in the end. Just be sure you don't release the men whom you have ordered to be crucified. Now, I have listed the names of these vagrants and apostates to warn you. Some of them shall creep in among you to deceive you. They may even give the appearance of someone predominant and passionate for religion. But if you don't watch out, they will do to you unthinkable harm. Now, probably most of you have similar background to mine, maybe not identical. Maybe you've been more fortunate when you're a kid or something to be in a true church. But this is not something that was taught in the churches, the Baptist churches and stuff that I grew up in, this was not taught. You didn't hear a pastor, or of course then again I can't hardly remember any of the sermons anyway, but generally you didn't hear a pastor standing in the pulpit saying that some shall creep in among you and deceive you. And if you don't watch out, they will deceive you. church culture I was raised in was you shouldn't think that about anybody in the church. If they say they're a Christian, well, you need to receive them like that so everybody's a Christian. And I think this is an example of where that fine line is that so many pastors and church members will not cross. It's subtle. But they will avoid things like this. The enemy's typical tactic is to send false Christians into the church to deceive God's people and lead them astray. And they can be very, very subtle and deceptive. And if we're not on guard, we'll be taken in by them. That kind of a warning I don't remember it even being given in seminary. I don't ever remember a teacher, professor saying, now men, here's the deal. Here's what's going to happen in your churches. Many of you are going to go off to pastor a church, and chances are pretty good that some of these creeps are already in there, right? So you need to preach God's Word faithfully and not skip over. passages then like this, you see. So, a church that never hears a challenge from the pulpit that something like, you know, and that's why I appreciate R.C. Sproul especially in his later years, is he actually, he would come out and say things like this, you know, in this group, it is very probable that some of you are not Christians, that you're not on the narrow way. You're on Broadway, and you need to examine yourselves. And so, anyway, this is the kind of thing that Bunyan's talking about here. They will even give the appearance of someone predominant and passionate for religion. You see, these kind of guys, they crave to be exalted and they're just the kind of guys that get put into office in the church so often and in denominations. As I said, these Diaboleans will show themselves in another light than what I've described, 2 Corinthians. For such men are false apostles. deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Therefore, Mansoul, watch and be sober-minded. Don't permit yourself to be betrayed. One of the ways that these kind will be exposed is if challenges are issued to the church. Some of you may well not be saved. Some of you can easily be deceived. In a congregation this size, say you've got 100 people out there, it doesn't have to be a very big church, but in a congregation this size, it is very probable that some of you have been deceived and you think you're saved, but you're not, you see. Now, a person's reaction to a challenge like that will evidence and expose who they are. If they get mad, how dare you say such a thing? Well, there you go. You've got a Diabolean then right there, you see. When we were in our church up in Anchorage, which, you know, that one, we were just there for a little under three years. But I remember one Sunday, I've told you this before, I think, but I was preaching a sermon on 1 Corinthians 10. And Paul was, Paul there is talking about how among the Israelites that they hardened their hearts and they perished in the wilderness and they never made it into the promised land. How many made it? Maybe two, right? They didn't make, and then He applies this to the church, to the Corinthians, and he's saying, beware. Take care. Hebrews does this too. Take care. Beware that there not be a hardened heart in you. You know, those people, they experience crossing the sea with Moses. They ate manna in the wilderness. They saw the pillar of fire and cloud and so forth. They saw that, and yet they perished in the wilderness. Why? Because they had hardened, unbelieving hearts. Take care, brethren, that that not be found in you, right? That was the sermon that I preached. And I got, naturally, an anonymous note later on that said, how dare you challenge our Christianity, right? How dare, whereas a real Christian will take that to heart and examine themselves, you see. You know, Bev? That's really loving people. Yeah, that's loving people, exactly. Because if you don't challenge us, then one of us could think we're saved and just go off and die. Yeah, because we can be deceived. That's right. Exactly. And so anybody that... I mean, that was the problem in this church 30 years ago. There was all kinds of people like that because they obviously hadn't been challenged like that because the pastors were cowards. They were. They were either ignorant of these things, or they were cowards, or both, or else you wouldn't have had a church filled with people who were Diaboleans, who were unsaved, you see. All right, here we go, last paragraph. When the prince fashioned the town of Mansoul to this point and instructed them in these useful matters, he scheduled another day for the townsfolk to come together. He desired to bestow upon the town of Mansoul an additional badge of honor, a badge that would distinguish them from all people and languages that dwell in the kingdom of universe in the whole world. Not long before the appointed day arrived, the prince and his people met in the king's palace where Emmanuel first made a short speech to them. Here, he did for them as he promised. My man's soul, he said, I am about to let the world know you are mine and grant you the ability to distinguish those who are mine from all false traitors who may creep in among you. He then commanded those who waited upon him. No wonder the Church of England didn't want Bunyan preaching, right? He then commanded those who waited upon him to go and bring white glistening robes from out of his treasury. Bring the white garments I've provided and laid up in store for my mansoul. The garments were carried from his treasury and laid out for all the people to see. He told them to put them on according to your size and stature. So the people dressed in fine white linen which was bright and clean. It's kind of sounding like Righteousness, right? And justification. This, my man, so is my attire given to you as the badge by which those who belong to me can be recognized from the servants of others. I grant this to all who are mine. Without wearing it, no one is permitted to see my face. So this is the righteousness of Christ, which he clothes his people in. Therefore, wear them for my sake, for I am the one who gave them to you, so the world would know you are mine. So be who you are. Walk in holiness. Can you imagine how Mansoul shone? She was as bright as the sun. As clear as the moon and as impressive as an army flying banners. Revelation 21. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it and its lamp is the lamb. The prince said, no prince, monarch, or mighty one of universe gives this form of dress except me. And you shall be acknowledged as mine by this attire. And now that I've dressed you in my fine linens, white and clean, let me command you concerning them. First, wear them daily so you won't at times appear to others as if you are not mine. Walk in righteousness. Second, always keep them white. If they become soiled, it dishonors me. Third, gird them up and don't let them drag in the dust and dirt of the ground. Fourth, take care you don't misplace them lest you walk about naked and they see your shame. If you soil or defile them, which I am unwilling for you to do because it will make the Prince Diabolus glad, then follow what's written in my law to restore your standing before me in my throne. For I will never leave or forsake you, but will dwell in this town of Mansoul." So, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John. Mansoul and its inhabitants became like the signet ring upon Immanuel's right hand. Nowhere was there a town, city, or other establishment that could compare with Mansoul, a town redeemed from the hand and power of Diabolus, a town which King Shaddai loved and to which he sent Emmanuel to regain from the prince of the infernal cave. Yes, a town which Emmanuel loved to dwell in and which he chose for his royal residence, a town which he fortified for himself and made strong by the force of his army. What shall I say, now, let's see, we'll finish this chapter. By the way, you know, this is like, great, he's cleanses, then we're gonna come to just a kind of a spoiler alert. The next chapter's title, Deceived by Carnal Security. So, we'll see what happens there. What shall I say except that Mansoul now has an excellent prince, golden captains, men of war, proven weapons, and garments as white as snow. These benefits should not be considered insignificant, but great, for the town of Mansoul can consider them valuable and work to improve them for the very purpose for which they're freely given to them. When the prince completed fashioning the town to show he delighted in the work of his hands and took pleasure in the good which he had stirred into action for the famous and flourishing Mansoul, he commanded that they set his flag upon the battlements of the castle, and they did so. Their obedience garnered benefits, first of which was that he frequently visited. Not a day passed that the elders of Mansoul did not come to him in his palace or he to them. This sounds like prayer and coming before the throne with boldness. They walked and talked together about all the great things he had done, the things he promised to do in the future for the town of Mansoul. These talks were often held with the Lord Mayor, Lord Willbewill, the honest secondary preacher, Mr. Conscience, the recorder. Oh, how graciously, lovingly, courteously, and tenderly this blessed prince conveyed his love towards the town of Mansoul. He visited all the streets, gardens, orchards, and other places to be sure the poor received his blessing and approval. He kissed them, and if they were ill, he laid hands on them and made them well. Matthew 9. Jesus was going through all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. He spent time with the captains daily, sometimes hourly, to encourage them with his presence and graceful words. For you must know that a smile from him filled them with more vigor, life, and bravery than anything else under heaven did. The prince also feasted with them. Hardly a week passed without a banquet shared between him and them. If you remember, I mentioned some pages back that they had feasted together. But now it was a more common event. Every day with Mansoul was a feast day now. And the prince didn't send them away empty. For when they returned to their residence, they had a ring, a gold chain, a bracelet, a white stone, or something else that he had given them. Mansoul was dear to him now and lovely in his eyes. Secondly, if the elders and townsmen didn't come to him, he sent plenty of provisions to them, including meat from Shaddai's court. wine, and bread prepared for his father's table, and such delicacies as to cover their table. Whoever saw this bounty confessed that nothing like it had ever been seen in any kingdom. A lot of that imagery is coming out of the Old Testament. prophecies of the kingdom. Thirdly, if Mansoul didn't visit him as often as he desired, he walked out to them, knocked at their doors and asked to come in so a friendship of goodwill could be maintained between them and him. They calmly opened the door and invited him in. If they were home with the time spent together, he renewed his love and confirmed it with new tokens and signs of continued favor. It was truly an amazing sight to see. in the very place where Diabolus had once made his home, that's us, and entertained his Diabolians, almost to the total destruction of Mansoul, the Prince of Princes was now sitting, eating, and drinking with them. And while he did so, his mighty captains, men of war, trumpeters, and the singing men and singing women of his father, all stood round to wait upon them. Mansoul's cup was filled to overflowing with conduits of sweet wine. She ate the finest wheat and drank milk and honey out of the rock, Psalm 23. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. And now, Mansoul said, how great is his goodness. For since I found favor in his eyes, how honorable have I been. The Blessed Prince also ordained a new officer in the town, a pleasant person, by the name of Mr. God's Peace. He set this man over Lord Willbewill, Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, the secondary preacher, Mr. Mind, and over all the native Mansoulians. But Mr. God's peace was not a native of Mansoul, for he came with Prince Emmanuel from Shaddai's court and was a well-known acquaintance of Captain Credence and Captain Goodhope. Some said they were related, and I admit I hold this opinion too. This man was made governor of the town in general, especially over the castle, and Captain Credence was to help him. I couldn't help but notice that as long as all things in Mansoul went as this sweet-natured gentleman directed, the town remained most prosperous. and had a secure possession of good. They had no quarrels, no angry scolding, no meddling or unfaithful goings on in all the town of Mansoul. Every man in Mansoul paid close attention to his own service. The nobility, officers, and soldiers all observed their order. The women and children of the town followed their duties joyfully and sang as they worked from morning until night. Throughout the town of Mansoul, nothing was found but harmony, quietness, joy, and health in this last and all that summer. The end, everything's good, right? Well, we'll see. Like I said, the next chapter, deceived by carnal security. So here we are. Father, we thank you for this book by Bunyan that you led him to write and for these truths. We pray that we would be wise concerning the tactics of the enemy. His emissaries that he's always trying to send to creep in among us and that you would you would So fill us all in this church with your spirit That evil will not be ever be comfortable here. We pray father that each one of us would individually walk in the holiness and righteousness of that you've clothed us with and give you thanks for these things in Christ's name. Amen.