John Bunyan vividly portrays the conversion of a soul in this week’s reading of The Holy War. Mansoul, under siege for months, is finally breached. Diabolus retreats to When Emmanuel’s soldiers in the camp see their enemy in chains being led away, they give a great shout and sing melodious songs so that even the angels in Heaven take notice. However, all was not joyful among the townspeople at first. They were afraid for their lives because they had taken sides with Emmanuel’s enemy and had tried to shut out the Prince. Now they fervently wanted Emmanuel to be their Lord. But they could not tell from His countenance or His words what it was he was thinking about them. He seemed distant to them, and to top it off He didn’t stay in the town with them, but returned to His camp outside the city.
The feelings of Mansoul ran the gamut from hopefulness to cold fear. The Prince was so majestic they couldn’t help but admire Him and want Him to stay. They even dared to hope for a pardon. After all, hadn’t He delivered Mansoul from the tyrant? But when the Prince ordered the arrest of Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and Lord Willbewill, their worst fears were confirmed. Or so they thought.
Before Diabolus was evicted from the castle, the leaders of Mansoul had begun to petition Emmanuel to spare their lives, but He didn’t answer that petition. Now with their leaders in prison, the town petitions Emmanuel again and sends the letter by the hand of Mr. Would-live. The petition acknowledges the peoples’ sins, requests mercy, and promises the peoples’ service. Emmanuel reads the petition and sends Mr. Would-live away in silence.
Though the town is worried they send another petition, not knowing what else to do. But they send it by Mr. Desires-awake, a humble man. Mr. Desires-awake prostrated himself before Emmanuel and presented the petition. When He read it, the Prince turned away and wept. Having composed Himself, Emmanuel sent Mr. Desires-awake back with a promise to consider his request. The town’s leaders in prison, along with the people, couldn’t agree as to Emmanuel’s probable meaning, so the rumors were flying. The answer didn’t seem too bad. Yes, it is bad. The prisoners will be put to death, as will the rest of the town. The prevailing mood was gloomy.
When Mansoul had calmed down and taken new courage, they decided to send another petition. Mr. Desires-awake was again chosen for the job. This time he took with him his neighbor, Mr. Wet-eyes, a man of broken and contrite spirit. This petition was the most humble of all. It acknowledged the greatness of the Prince and His Father, the heinousness of the town’s sins, and the rightness of His actions should Emmanuel choose to condemn them. They forsake all notions of self-righteousness and plead only for His mercy and to be freed from their transgressions.
Emmanuel responded as before, turning away and weeping when he read the petition and saw the humility and repentance of the messengers. Having reminded the messengers of the town’s rebellion and collaboration with Diabolus, He commanded them to bring the prisoners to Him the next day. Mansoul believes this is it for their leaders…and for them, too.
The next morning, Captains Boanerges and Conviction escort Lord Understanding, Mr. Conscience, and Lord Willbewill to the Prince. The people, dressed in sackcloth, watch from the city wall. Upon interrogation Emmanuel finds that these trembling men are completely humbled and ready for execution if that is His will. The whole town feels the same way. Then the Prince does something unexpected; He forgives them according to the authority received from His Father, Shaddai.
Music from heaven and great rejoicing accompanied the announcement of Emmanuel’s perfect victory and free pardon of Mansoul. Only the joy didn’t extend to the townspeople, who didn’t know about the Prince’s decision yet. Emmanuel then took the mourning clothes from the former prisoners and gave them beauty for ashes. He kissed each one and spoke kindly to them. They could hardly believe it!
The Prince told Understanding, Conscience, and Willbewill to proclaim pardon throughout Mansoul by morning and sent Captain Credence with some officers to accompany the noble leaders. When the proclamation was read to the town, Captain Credence was to take possession of the castle from Captains Judgment and Execution, whom Emmanuel had left in charge of the stronghold until being recalled to the camp. “In this way the town of Mansoul was to be delivered from the terror of the King’s first four captains and their men” (The Holy War, Whitaker House edition, p. 141).
One thing Bunyan does in this section of The Holy War is to show Christ’s complete victory over His enemy, Satan. It may seem ironic, but this victory was accomplished on the Cross. Just before He died, the Lord Jesus shouted, “It is finished!” This sounded the death-knell for Satan and his kingdom. This is the Bible’s proclamation of pardon to the believer in Christ:
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
—Colossians 2:13-15 NASB
This is such good news that it causes rejoicing in Heaven. Satan is defeated. Christ is risen, victorious, and glorified! God’s people are freed from sin’s bondage. But the rejoicing may be delayed for a while for the sinner just coming out of darkness. He has been in sin and rebellion to God. It might take time for godly sorrow to mature into real repentance. He may need to continue humbling himself and beseeching the Lord before experiencing assurance.
Bunyan isn’t saying that everyone who experiences conversion to Christ will have the same degree of struggle. But the feelings of guilt and uncertainty are biblical. Scripture knows nothing of casually accepting Christ with no acknowledgement of real need. The one coming to Christ must learn to put no confidence in himself and trust only in Christ and His mercy.
Believer, has Christ worked His way into your heart and conquered you? Has He evicted the devil from his former stronghold? Then take courage. Whether or not you are experiencing the joy of the Lord at this moment, Heaven is singing!
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