The Holy War

John Bunyan was born at Elstow, near Bedford, England, in

1628. After receiving a scanty education at the village

school, he worked hard at the forge with his father. In his

sixteenth year he lost his mother, and soon after he joined

the army, then engaged in the Civil War; but his military

experience lasted only a few months. Returning to Elstow, he

again worked at the forge, and married. After various

alternating religious experiences, in 1655 he became a member

of the Baptist congregation at Bedford, of which he was ere

long chosen pastor. His success was extraordinary; but after

five years his ministry was prohibited, and he was

incarcerated in Bedford Gaol, his imprisonment lasting for

twelve years. There he wrote his immortal "Pilgrim's

Progress." Released under the Act of Indulgence, he resumed

his ministry, and ultimately his pastoral charge in Bedford.

He took fever when on a visit to London, and died on August

31, 1688. The "Holy War" is considered by critics even

superior to the "Pilgrim," inasmuch as it betrays a finer

literary workmanship. It was written in 1682, after

molestation of Bunyan as a preacher had ceased, and when he

was known widely as the author of the first part of the

"Pilgrim's Progress," the second part of which was published

two years later. Macaulay held that if there had been no

"Pilgrim's Progress," "Holy War" would have been the first of

religious allegories. No doubt its popularity has been due in

some degree to its kinship to that work; but the vigour of its

style overcomes the minute elaboration of an almost impossible

theme, and the book lives, alike as literature and theology,

by its own vitality. An elaborate analysis of it may be found

in Froude's volume on Bunyan. He said of it: "'The Holy War'

would have entitled Bunyan to a place among the masters of

English Literature."

_I.--The Founding of Mansoul_

In the gallant country of Universe there is a fair and delicate town, a

corporation called Mansoul, a town for its building so curious, for its

situation so commodious, for its privileges so advantageous, that there

is not its equal under the whole heaven.

As to the situation of the town, it lieth between two worlds, and the

first founder and builder of it was one Shaddai, who built it for his

own delight. And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have

dominion over all the country round about.

There was reared up in the midst of this town a most famous and stately

place--for strength it may be called a castle; for pleasantness, a

paradise. This place King Shaddai intended for himself alone, and not

another with him; and of it he made a garrison, but committed the

keeping of it only to the men of the town.

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates--Eargate, Eyegate, Mouthgate,

Nosegate, and Feelgate. It had always a sufficiency of provisions within

its walls, and it had the best, most wholesome and excellent law that

was then extant in the world. There was not a rogue, rascal, or

traitorous person within its walls; they were all true men, and fast

joined together.

_II.--The Plot and Capture_

Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an

assault upon the famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own

habitation. This Diabolus was first one of the servants of King Shaddai,

by whom he was raised to a most high and mighty place. But he, seeing

himself thus exalted to greatness and honour, and raging in his mind for

higher state and degree, what doth he but begin to think with himself

how he might set up as lord over all, and have the sole power under

Shaddai--but that the king had reserved for his son. Wherefore Diabolus

first consults with himself what had best to be done, and then breaks

his mind to some others of his companions, to which they also agreed. So

they came to the issue that they should make an attempt upon the king's

son to destroy him, that the inheritance might be theirs.

Now, the king and his son, being all and always eye, could not but

discern all passages in his dominions; wherefore, what does he but takes

them in the very nick, and the first trip that they made towards their

design, convicts them of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy

that they had devised, and casts them altogether out of all place of

trust, benefit, honours, and preferment; and this done, he banishes them

the court, turns them down into horrid pits, never more to expect the

least favour at his hands.

Banished from his court, you may be sure they would now add to their

former pride, malice and rage against Shaddai. Wherefore, roving and

ranging in much fury from place to place, if perhaps they might find

something that was the king's, they happened into this spacious country

of Universe, and steered their course to Mansoul. So when they found the

place, they shouted horribly on it for joy, saying: "Now have we found

the prize, and how to be revenged on King Shaddai!" So they sat down and

called a council of war.

Now, with Diabolus was, among others, the fierce Alecto, and Apollyon,

and the mighty giant Beelzebub, and Lucifer, and Legion. And Legion it

was whose advice was taken that they should assault the town in all

pretended fairness, covering their intentions with lies, flatteries, and

delusive words; feigning things that will never be, and promising that

to them which they shall never find. It was designed also that, by a

stratagem, they should destroy one Mr. Resistance, otherwise called

Captain Resistance--a man that the giant Diabolus and his band more

feared than they feared the whole town of Mansoul besides. And they

appointed one Tisiphone to do it.

Thus, having ended the council of war, they rose up and marched towards

Mansoul; but all in a manner invisible, save only Diabolus, who

approached the town in the shape and body of a dragon. So they drew up

and sat down before Eargate, and laid their ambuscade for Mr. Resistance

within a bow shot of the town. Then Diabolus, being come to the gate,

sounded his trumpet for audience, at which the chiefs of the town, such

as my lord Innocent, my lord Will-be-will, Mr. Recorder, and Captain

Resistance, came down to the wall to see who was there and what was the

matter.

Diabolus then began his oration.

"Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, I have somewhat of concern to

impart unto you. And first I will assure you it is not my own but your

advantage that I seek. I am come to show you how you may obtain ample

deliverance from a bondage that, unawares to yourselves, you are

captivated and enslaved under."

At this the town of Mansoul began to prick up its ears.

"And what is it, pray? What is it?" thought they.

Then Diabolus spoke on.

"Touching your king, I know he is great and potent; but his laws are

unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable. There is a great difference

and disproportion betwixt the life and an apple, yet one must go for the

other by the law of your Shaddai. Why should you be holden in ignorance

and blindness? O ye inhabitants of Mansoul, ye are not a free people!

And is it not grievous to think on, that the very thing you are

forbidden to do, might you but do it would yield you both wisdom and

honour?"

And just now, while Diabolus was speaking these words to Mansoul,

Tisiphone shot at Captain Resistance, where he stood on the gate, and

mortally wounded him in the head, so that he, to the amazement of the

townsmen, 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 left wholly naked of courage. Then stood forth Mr.

Ill-pause, that Diabolus brought with him as his orator, and persuaded

the townsfolk to take of the tree which King Shaddai had forbidden; and

when they 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 took and did

eat. Now even while this Ill-pause was making his speech, my lord

Innocent--whether by a shot from the camp of the giant, or from some

qualm that suddenly took him, or whether by the stinking breath of that

treacherous villain, old Ill-pause, for so I am most apt to think--sunk

down in the place where he stood still, nor could he be brought to life

again.

Now, these brave men being dead, what do the rest of the townsfolk but

fall down and yield obedience to Diabolus, and having eaten of the

forbidden fruit, they become drunk therewith, and so opened both Eargate

and Eyegate, and let in Diabolus and all his band, quite forgetting

their good Shaddai and his law.

Diabolus now bethinks himself of remodelling the town for his greater

security, setting up one and putting down another at pleasure. Wherefore

he put out of power and place my lord mayor, whose name was my lord

Understanding, and Mr. Recorder, whose name was Mr. Conscience. But my

lord Will-be-will, a man of great strength, resolution, and courage,

resolved to bear office under Diabolus, who, perceiving the willingness

of my lord to serve him forthwith, made him captain of the castle,

governor of the walls, and keeper of the gates of Mansoul. He also had

Mr. Mind for his clerk.

When the giant had thus engarrisoned himself in the town of Mansoul, he

betakes himself to defacing. Now, there was in the market-place, and

also in the gates of the castle, an image of the blessed King Shaddai.

This he commanded to be defaced, and it was basely done by the hand of

Mr. No-truth. Moreover, Diabolus made havoc of the remains of the laws

and statutes of Shaddai, and set up his own vain edicts, such as gave

liberty to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride

of life.

_III.--The Re-Taking of Mansoul_

Now, as you may well think, long before this time, word was carried to

the good King Shaddai that Mansoul was lost, and it would have amazed

one to have seen what sorrow and compunction of spirit there was among

all sorts at the king's court to think that the place was taken. But the

king and his son foresaw all this before, yea, had sufficiently provided

for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not everybody thereof.

Wherefore, after consultation, the son of Shaddai--a sweet and comely

person, and one that always had great affection for those that were in

affliction--having striven hard with his father, promised that he would

be his servant to recover Mansoul. The purport of this agreement was

that at a certain time, prefixed by both, the king's son should take a

journey into the country of Universe, and there, in a way of justice and

equity, make amends for the follies of Mansoul, and lay the foundation

of her perfect deliverance.

Now King Shaddai thought good at the first not to send his army by the

hand and conduct of brave Emmanuel, his son, but under the hand of some

of his servants, to see first by them the temper of Mansoul, and whether

they would be won to the obedience of their king. So they came up to

Mansoul under the conduct of four stout generals, each man being captain

of ten thousand men, and having his standard-bearer.

Having travelled for many days, at the king's cost, not hurting or

abusing any, they came within sight of Mansoul, the which, when they

saw, the captains could for their hearts do no less than bewail the

condition of the town, for they quickly perceived it was prostrate to

the will of Diabolus.

Well, before the king's forces had set before Mansoul three days,

Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Eargate to

summon Mansoul to give audience to the message he was commanded to

deliver, but there was none that appeared to give answer or regard.

Again and again was the summons sounded, till at last the townsmen came

up--having first made Eargate as sure as they could. So my lord

Incredulity, came up and showed himself over the wall. But when the

captain had set eyes on him he cried out aloud, "This is not he; where

is my lord Understanding, the ancient mayor of the town of Mansoul?"

Then stood forth the four captains, and, taking no notice of the giant

Diabolus, each addressed himself to the town of Mansoul; but their brave

speeches the town refused to hear, yet the sound thereof beat against

Eargate, though the force thereof could not break it open.

Then Diabolus commanded the lord mayor Incredulity to give answer, and

his oration was seconded by desperate Will-be-will, while the recorder,

whose name was Forget-good, followed with threats. Then did the town of

Mansoul shout for joy, as if by Diabolus and his crew some great

advantage had been obtained over the captains. They also rang the bells,

and sang and made merry, and danced for joy upon the walls. Now, when

the captains heard the answer of the great ones, and they could not get

a hearing from the old natives of the town, they resolved to try it out

by the power of the arm; so with their slings they battered the houses,

and with rams they sought to break Eargate open, but Mansoul stood it

out so lustily that after several skirmishes and brisk encounters they

made a fair retreat and entrenched themselves in their winter quarters.

But now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, nor could they go to

their debaucheries with quietness, as in times past, for they had from

the camp of Shaddai such frequent warm alarms, yea, alarms upon alarms,

first at one gate and then at another, and again at all the gates at

once, that they were broken as to former peace; yea, so distressed were

they that I daresay Diabolus, their king, had in these days his rest

much broken. And by degrees new thoughts possessed the minds of the men

of the town. Some would say, "There is no living thus." Others would

then reply, "This will be over shortly." Then a third would answer, "Let

us turn to King Shaddai, and so put an end to all these troubles." The

old gentlemen, too, Mr. Conscience, the recorder that was so before

Diabolus took Mansoul, began to talk aloud, and his words were now like

great claps of thunder. Yea, so far as I could gather, the town had been

surrendered before now had it not been for the opposition of old

Incredulity and the fickleness of my lord Will-be-will.

They of the king's army this winter sent three times to Mansoul to

submit herself, and these summonses, especially the two last, so

distressed the town that presently they called a consultation for a

parley, and offered to come to an agreement on certain terms, but they

were such that the captains, jointly and with the highest disdain,

rejected, and returned to their trenches.

The captains then gathered themselves together for a conference, and

agreed that a petition should forthwith be drawn up and forwarded by a

fit man to Shaddai, with speed, that more forces be sent to Mansoul.

Now, the king at sight of the petition was glad; but how much more,

think you, when it was seconded by his son. Wherefore, the king called

to him Emmanuel, his son, and said, "Come now, therefore, my son, and

prepare thyself for war, for thou shalt go to my camp at Mansoul; thou

shalt also there prosper and prevail."

The time for the setting forth being expired, the king's son addresses

himself for the march and taketh with him five noble captains and their

forces. So they sat down before the town, not now against the gates

only, but environed it round on every side. But first, for two days

together, they hung out the white flag to give the townsfolk time to

consider; but they, as if they were unconcerned, made no reply to this

favourable signal, so they then set the red flag upon the mount called

Mount Justice.

When Emmanuel had put all things in readiness to bid Diabolus battle, he

sent again to know of the town of Mansoul if in peaceable manner they

would yield themselves. They then, together with Diabolus, their king,

called a council of war, and resolved on certain propositions that

should be offered to Emmanuel.

Now, there was in the town of Mansoul an old man, a Diabolonian, and his

name was Mr. Loath-to-Stoop, a stiff man in his way, and a great doer

for Diabolus; him, therefore, they sent, and put into his mouth what he

should say. But none of his proposals would Emmanuel grant--all his

ensnaring propositions were rejected, and Mr. Loath-to-Stoop departed.

Then was an alarm sounded, and the battering-rams were played, and the

slings whirled stones into the town amain, and thus the battle began.

And the word was at that time "Emmanuel." First Captain Boanerges made

three assaults, most fierce, one after another, upon Eargate, to the

shaking of the posts thereof. Captain Conviction also made up fast with

Boanerges, and both discovering that the gate began to yield, they

commanded that the rams should still be played against it. But Captain

Conviction, going up very near to the gate, was with great force driven

back, and received three wounds in the mouth. Nor did Captain Good-hope

nor Captain Charity come behind in this most desperate fight, for they

too so behaved at Eyegate that they had almost broken it quite open. And

this took away the hearts of many of the Diabolonians. As for Will-be-

will, I never saw him so daunted in my life, and some say he got a wound

in the leg.

When the battle was over Diabolus again attempted to make terms by

proposing a surrender on the condition that he should remain in the town

as Emmanuel's deputy, and press upon the people a reformation according

to law; but Emmanuel replied that nothing would be regarded that he

could propose, for he had neither conscience to God nor love to the town

of Mansoul. Diabolus therefore withdrew himself from the walls to the

fort in the heart of the town, and, filled with despair of retaining the

town in his hands, resolved to do it what mischief he could; for, said

he, "Better demolish the place and leave it a heap of ruins than that it

should be a habitation for Emmanuel."

Knowing the next battle would issue in his being master of the place,

Emmanuel gave out a royal commandment to all his men of war to show

themselves men of war against Diabolus and all Diabolonians, but

favourable and meek to the old inhabitants of Mansoul. Then, after three

or four notable charges, Eargate was burst open, and the bolts and bars

broken into a thousand pieces. Then did the prince's trumpets sound, the

captains shout, the town shake, and Diabolus retreat to his hold. And

there was a great slaughter till the Diabolonians lay dead in every

corner--though too many were yet alive in Mansoul. Now, the old recorder

and my lord Understanding, with some others of the chief of the town,

came together, and jointly agreed to draw up a petition, and send it to

Emmanuel while he sat in the gate of Mansoul. The contents of the

petition were these: "That they--the old inhabitants of the deplorable

town of Mansoul--confessed their sin, and were sorry that they had

offended his princely majesty, and prayed that he would spare their

lives." Unto this petition he gave no answer. After some time and

travail the gate of the castle was beaten open, and so a way was made to

go into the hold where Diabolus had hid himself.

Now, when he was come to the castle gates he commanded Diabolus to

surrender himself into his hands. But, oh, how loath was the beast to

appear! How he stuck at it! How he shrunk! How he cringed! Then Emmanuel

commanded, and they took Diabolus, and bound him first in chains, and

led him to the market-place, and stripped him of his armour. Thus having

made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, the prince commands that he

shall be bound with chains to his chariot-wheels, and he rode in triumph

over him quite through the town. And, having finished this part of his

triumph over Diabolus, he turned him up in the midst of his contempt and

shame. Then went he from Emmanuel, and out of his camp to inherit

parched places in a salt land, seeking rest but finding none.

Now, the prince, having by special orders put my lord Understanding, Mr.

Conscience, and my lord Will-be-will in ward, they again drew up a

petition and sent it to Emmanuel by the hand of Mr. Would-Live, and this

being unanswered, they used as their messenger Mr. Desires-Awake, and

with him went Mr. Wet-Eyes, a near neighbour. Then the prisoners were

ordered to go down to the camp and appear before the prince. This they

did with drooping spirits and ropes round their necks. But the prince

gave them their pardon, embraced them, took away their ropes, and put

chains of gold round their necks. He also sent by the recorder a pardon

for all the people of Mansoul.

Then the prince commanded that the image of Diabolus should be taken

down from the place where it was set up, and that they should utterly

destroy it without the town wall; and that the image of Shaddai, his

father, should be set up again with his own. Moreover, he renewed the

charter of the city, and brought forth out of his treasury white

glittering robes and granted to the people that they should put them on,

so that they were put into fine linen, white and clean. Then said the

prince unto them, "This, O Mansoul, is my livery, and the badge by which

mine are known from the servants of others. Wear them if you would be

known by the world to be mine."

_IV.--The Downfall_

But there was a man in the town named Mr. Carnal-Security, and he

brought this corporation into great, grievous bondage. When Emmanuel

perceived that through the policy of Mr. Carnal-Security the hearts of

men were chilled and abated in their practical love for him, he in

private manner withdrew himself first from his palace, then to the gate

of the town, and so away from Mansoul till they should more earnestly

seek his face.

Then the Diabolonians who yet dwelt in Mansoul sent letters to Diabolus,

who promised to come to their assistance for the ruin of the town with

twenty thousand Doubters. Diabolus suddenly making an assault on

Feelgate, the gate was forced and the prince's men were compelled to

betake themselves to the castle as the stronghold of the town, leaving

the townsmen open to the ravages of the Doubters. Still the castle held

out, and more urgent petitions to Emmanuel, carried by Captain Credence,

brought at last the assurance that he would come presently to the relief

of the town.

Indeed, before that time Diabolus had thought it wise to withdraw his

men from the town to the plain; but here the Doubters, being caught

between the defenders of the city and the rescuing army of Emmanuel,

were slain to the last man, and buried in the plains.

Even yet Diabolus was not satisfied with his defeat, but determined on a

last attempt upon the town, his army being made up of ten thousand

Doubters and fifteen thousand Blood-men, all rugged villains. But Mr.

Prywell discovered their coming, and they were put to route by the

prince's captains, the Blood-men being surrounded and captured.

And so Mansoul arrived at some degree of peace and quiet, and her prince

also abode within her borders. Then the prince appointed a day when he

should meet the whole of the townsmen in the market-place, and they

being come together, he said, "Now, my Mansoul, I have returned to thee

in peace, and thy transgressions against me are as if they had not been.

Nor shall it be with thee as in former days, but I will do better, for

thee than at the beginning.

"Yet a little while, and I will take down this famous town of Mansoul,

street and stone, to the ground, and will set it up in such strength and

glory in mine own country as it never did see in the kingdom where now

it is placed. There, O my Mansoul, thou shalt be afraid of murderers no

more, of Diabolonians no more. There shall be no more plots, nor

contrivances, nor designs against thee. But first I charge thee that

thou dost hereafter keep more white and clean the liveries which I gave

thee. When thy garments are white, the world will count thee mine. And

now that thou mayest keep them white I have provided for thee an open

fountain to wash thy garments in. I have oft-times delivered thee, and

for all this I ask thee nothing but that thou bear in mind my love.

Nothing can hurt thee but sin, nothing can grieve me but sin, nothing

make thee pause before thy foes but sin. Watch! Behold, I lay none other

burden upon thee--hold fast till I come!"

* * * * *