The Holy War, episode 38. Well, the recorder, Mr. Conscience, spoke fearfully to Mansoul's inhabitants of his sins against King Shaddai, which caused the town of Mansoul to confess their sins, praying that Prince Emmanuel would spare their lives. That was from last time. Now the prince himself, clad all in gold armor, marched up the town with his standard born before him. But he kept his countenance quite reserved all the way as he went, so the people could not figure out by his expression whether he came in love or hatred. As he marched up the street, the townsfolk came out of every door to see, and could not help but be taken with the glory of his person. Moreover, they wondered about the aloofness of his countenance, for thus far he spoke more to them by his actions and works than he did by words or smiles. But also poor Mansoul, as in such cases all are apt to do, they interpreted Emmanuel's personal conduct toward them in the same way Joseph's brothers did to them, even all the quite contrary way, for, they thought, if Emmanuel loved us, he would show it to us by word or conduct, but he doesn't do either. Therefore, Emmanuel must hate us. Now, if Emmanuel hates us, then Mansoul will be slain and then Mansoul will become a dunghill. You see, they knew they had transgressed his father's law and that they had partnered with Diabolus, the king's enemy. They also realized that Prince Emmanuel knew all of this, for they were convinced he was an angel of God, knowing all things done in the earth. This made them believe their condition to be miserable, and that the good prince would make them desolate. And, they thought, what better time than now to do this, when he has the bridle of Mansoul in his hand? And this I took special notice of, that the inhabitants, notwithstanding all this, could only cringe, bow, bend, and were ready to lick the dust of his feet when they saw him march through the town. They also wished a thousand times over that he would become their prince and captain and would become their protection. They also spoke with one another of the beauty of his person and of how his glory and valor far surpassed the great ones of the world. Those poor hearts, however, did not realize that their thoughts would change and follow all manner of extremes. Yes, through the working of them backward and forward, Mansoul became like a ball thrown and like a whirling dust before the storm. Now, when he had come to the castle gates, he commanded Diabolus to appear and to surrender himself into his hands. But oh, how reluctant was the beast to appear! How he hesitated! How he recoiled in fear! Truly, how he cringed! Yet out he came to the prince. Then Emmanuel commanded, and they took Diabolus and bound him securely in chains, the better to reserve him until the judgment he had appointed for him. But Diabolus stood up to plead for himself, that Emmanuel would not send him into the deep, but allow him to depart out of Mansoul in peace. When Emmanuel had taken him and bound him in chains, he led him into the marketplace, and there, before Mansoul, stripped him of his armor in which he boasted so much before. This now was one of the acts of Emmanuel's triumph over his enemy. And all the while the giant was being stripped, the trumpets of the golden prince sounded forcefully. The captains also shouted, and the soldiers sang for joy. Then Mansoul was called upon to behold the beginning of Emmanuel's triumph over him in whom they had trusted so much, and of whom they had boasted so many times in the days when he flattered them. Thus, having made Diabolus naked in Mansoul's eyes, and before the commanders of the prince, he then commanded that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels. then leaving some of his forces, namely Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction, as a guard for the castle gates, so resistance may be made on his behalf, if any who had formerly followed Diabolus should attempt to possess it, he rode in triumph over him, quite through the town of Mansoul, and then through and before the gate called Eye Gate, out to the plain where his camp was established. But you cannot think, unless you had been there as I was, what a shout there was in Emmanuel's camp when they saw the tyrant bound by the hand of their noble prince and tied to his chariot wheels. And they said, he has led captivity captive. He has spoiled principalities and powers. Diabolus is subjected to the power of his sword and is made the object of all derision. Those also who rode Reformates and who came down to see the battle, they shouted with the greatness of voice and sung with such melodious tones, they caused them who lived in the highest orbs to open their windows, put out their heads and look to see the cause of such glory. The townsmen also, as many of them who saw this sight, seemed to them as if they viewed the event betwixt the earth and the heavens. True, they could not tell how these things would affect them, but all things were done in such excellent methods, and I cannot tell how, but by the way things were managed, it seemed to cast a smile towards the town. so that their eyes, their heads, their hearts, and their minds, and all that they had were taken and held while they observed Emmanuel's order. So when the brave prince finished this part of his triumph over Diabolus' foe, he faced the fiend in the midst of his contempt for him and shame of him, charging him that he can no longer be the possessor of Mansoul. Then he left the presence of Emmanuel, departing from the midst of his camp to inherit the waterless places in a salt land, seeking rest, but finding none. Now, Captain Boanerges and Captain Conviction were both of them men of very great majesty. Their faces were like the faces of lions, and their words like the growling of the sea. And they still lodged in Mr. Conscience's house, of whom was mentioned before, when therefore The high and mighty prince had finished his triumph over Diabolus to this point. The townsmen had greater liberty to view and to behold the actions of these noble captains. But the captains behaved with a terror and dread in all they did, and you may be sure that they had private instructions to do so. that they kept the town under constant heartache and caused, in their apprehension, the well-being of Mansoul's future to hang in doubt before them, so that for some considerable time they neither knew what rest or ease or peace or hope meant. To be continued.