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They came up to Manfoul under the conduct of four. ftout generals, each man being a captain of ten thousand men; and these are their names and their The captains' figns. The name of the firft was Boanerges, names.

the name of the fecond was Captain Conviction, the name of the third was Captain Judgment, and the name of the fourth was Captain Execution: thefe were the captains that Shaddai fent to regain Manfoul.

These four captains (as was faid) the King thought fit, in the first place, to send to Mansoul, to make an attempt upon it: for indeed, generally, in all his wars he did ufe to fend thefe four captains in the van, for they were very ftout and rough-hewn men, men that were fit to break the ice, and to make their way by dint of the fword, and their men were like themselves.

Pfal. Ix. 4.

To each of thefe captains the King gave a banner, that it might be difplayed, because of the goodness of his caufe, and because of the right he had to Manfoul.

Firft, To Captain Boanerges, for he was the chief, to him, I fay, were given ten thousand men ; Mark iii. 17. his enfign was Mr Thunder; he bare the

black Colours, and his 'fcutcheon was the three burning Thunder-bolts.

The second captain was Captain Conviction, to him were given ten thousand men; his enfign's name was Mr Sorrow; he bare the pale Colours, and his 'scutcheon was the Book of the Law wide open, from whence iffued a flame of fire.

Deut. xxxii.z.

The third captain was Captain Judgment; to him were given ten thousand men; his enfign's name was Mr Terror; he bare the red Colours, and his 'fcutcheon was a burning fiery Furnace.

The fourth captain was Captain Execution; to him

were

Mat. xiii.

40, 41. Mat. iii. 10.

were given ten thousand men; his enfign was one Mr Juftice; he alfo bare the red Colours, and his 'fcutcheon was a fruitless Tree, with an axe lying at the root thereof.

These four captains, as I faid, had every one of them under his command ten thousand men, all of good fidelity to the King, and ftout 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 all over by their names, were then and there put into fuch harnefs as became their degree, and that service that now they were going about for their King.

Now, when the King had muftered his forces, (for it is he that muftereth the hoft to the battle) he gave unto the captains their feveral commiffions, with charge and commandment, in the audience of all the foldiers, that they should take heed faithfully and courageously. to do and execute the fame. Their commiffions were, for the fubftance of them, the fame in form, though, as to name, title, place, and degree, of the captains, there might be fome, but very small variation. And here let me give you an account of the matter and fum contain ed in their commiflion:

A Commiffion from the great Shaddai, King of Manfoult, to his trufty and noble Captain, the Captain Boanerges, for making war upon the town of Manfoul.

"THOU, Boanerges, one of my ftout

my

Their com

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and thundering captains, over one ten million, Mat. thousand of X. valiant and faithful fervants, *. 11. Luke go thou in my name, with this thy force, to the miferable town of Manfoul; and, when thou comeft thither, offer them, firft, conditions of peace; and command them, that cafting 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 his in the town of Manfoul; and to look to thyfelf, that thou haft good fatisfaction touching the truth of their obedience. Thus, when thou haft commanded them, (if they in truth fubmit thereto) then do thou to the uttermoft of thy power, what in thee lies, to fet up for me a garrifon in the famous town of Manfoul: nor do thou hurt the leaft native that moveth or breatheth therein, if they will submit themselves to me, but treat thou such as if they were thy friend or brother; for all fuch I love, Theff. ii. 7, and they hall be dear unto me: and tell them, 8, 9, 10, 11. that I will take a time to come unto them, and to let them know that I am merciful.

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"But if they fhall, notwithstanding thy fummons, and the producing of thy authority, refift, ftand out against thee, and rebel; then do I command thee to make use of all thy cunning, power, might, and force, to bring them under by ftrength of hand. Farewell.' Thus you fee the fum of their commiffions; for, as

I faid before, for the fubftance of them, they were the fame that the rest of the noble captains had.

Wherefore, each commander, having received his They prepare authority at the hand of his King, the day for a march. being appointed, and the place of their rendezvous prefixed, the commanders appeared in fuch gallantry as their cause and calling required. So, after a new entertainment from Shaddai, with flying colours they set forward, to march towards the famous town of Manfoul. Captain Boanerges 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 Ephef. ii. 13, Manfoul was far off from the court of Shaddai) they marched through the regions and countries of many people, not hurting or abufing any, but bleffing wherever they came: they alfo lived upon the King's coft in all the way they went.

~ 17.

Having travelled thus for many days, at laft they came within fight of Manfoul; the which when they faw, the captains could for their hearts do no less than for a while bewail the condition of the town; for they quickly faw how that it was proftrate to the will of Diabolus, and to his ways and defigns.

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

The world

Now, the townsfolk at firft, beholding fo gallant a company, fo bravely accoutred, and fo exare convinced cellently difciplined, having on their glitordered life of tering armour, and difplaying of their flying colours, could not but come out of their

by the well

the godly.

houfes

houses and gaze. But the cunning fox Diabolus, fearing that the people, after this fight, fhould, on a fudden fummons, open the gates to the captains, came down with all hafte from the Caftle, and made them retire into the body of the Town, who, when he had them there, made this lying and deceivable fpeech unto them.

your

enates their

Gentlemen," quoth he," although you are my truly and well-beloved friends, yet I cannot but (a Diabolus alilittle) chide you for late uncircumfpect minds from action, in going out to gaze on that great and them. mighty force that but yesterday fat down before (and have now intrenched themselves, in order to the maintaining of a fiege against) the famous town of Manfoul. Do you know who they are, whence they come, and what is their purpose in fitting down before the Town of Manfoul? They are they of whom I have That's false told you long ago that they would come to Satan. deftroy this Town, and against whom I have been at the coft to arm you with cap-a-pee for your body, befides great fortifications for your mind; wherefore then did you not rather, even at the firft appearance of them, cry out, Fire the beacons, and give the whole Town an alarm concerning them, that we might all have been in a pofture of defence, and have been ready to have received them with the highest acts of defiance? then had you fhewed yourselves men to my liking; whereas, by what you have done, afraid of God's you have made me half afraid. I fay, half- minifters, that afraid, that, when they and we shall come to Manfoul push a pike, I shall find you want courage to ftand it out any longer. Wherefore have I commanded a watch, and that you should double your guards at the gates? Wherefore have I endeavoured to

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Satan greatly

they will fet

against him.

make

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