The Holy War—Provision for Mansoul’s Continued Blessing

The town of Mansoul has undergone a massive transformation. Diabolus had conquered the town, strengthened his position, and prepared the townspeople to resist King Shaddai. Now Shaddai’s Son Emmanuel has conquered and expelled Diabolus, strengthened His own position in the town, and is preparing the townspeople to resist Diabolus and his followers in their expected attempts to bring the people back under the enemy’s control.

A fundamental difference in method and motive surfaces between Diabolus and Emmanuel. Each one had taken over Mansoul and set up a certain order in the town. But Diabolus did everything by deceit and for his own gratification because he hated Shaddai and wanted revenge. Emmanuel defeated Diabolus and now establishes His own order in Mansoul for the glory of His Father Shaddai and for the benefit of the town.

Emmanuel appoints new leaders in Mansoul and renews the town’s charter. This new order is to provide for the maintenance of Mansoul that the town might continue to flourish. The Prince promoted Mr. Experience, a young gentleman of Mansoul, as captain over a thousand men. After announcing a new covenant with the happy town, Emmanuel establishes a regular ministry to teach the people the will of His Father. The town gladly agrees to this.

The teaching ministry was to be carried out by two instructors, one from Shaddai’s court and one from Mansoul. The teacher from the King’s court is the Lord High Secretary, “a person of no less quality and dignity” than the Father and the Son and who is one with them in nature. He is to be the chief teacher, without whom the people cannot know the will and ways of Shaddai. The people should submit to His teaching and do nothing to grieve Him. Obedience in this will ensure that the Secretary will shed abroad Shaddai’s love in their hearts and make them wise.

Emmanuel then promoted old Mr. Conscience, the former town recorder, as the teacher from Mansoul. He must submit himself to the teaching of the Secretary and not presume to be a revealer of those mysteries that Shaddai has not seen fit to disclose. Following the teaching of the Lord High Secretary, Mr. Conscience and all the townspeople will know the things that Shaddai has revealed about Himself, and they can revel in His teaching.

Next, the people of Mansoul are to guard against certain dangers. They should not neglect or resist Emmanuel’s captains, who had fought for them against Diabolus, but should nourish and encourage them. The captains cannot continue to perform their duties without the people’s support. Then Emmanuel warns them to remain vigilant in their fight against the Diabolonians hiding in the city. They are loyal to their old master and will seek the town’s harm. They will continue to be a threat as long as the city’s walls remain standing. So the Prince warns the people to familiarize themselves with the King’s laws so they can recognize, apprehend, and execute these villains whenever they are found.

The Prince then gives Mansoul a badge of honor to distinguish them as His people. He clothes each one of them with a shining white robe, which they are to keep clean for Emmanuel’s honor. He also makes Himself accessible to everyone in the town, visiting them and allowing them to come see Him in the castle. If any townspeople didn’t see Him for a while, He would knock at their door and visit them. If He found any sick, He laid hands on them and healed them.

Emmanuel finally appointed a new governor in the town, not a native of Mansoul, but one from Shaddai’s court, Mr. God’s-Peace. He was to rule over the whole town, especially the castle. As long as the people followed Emmanuel’s new order, the whole town was peaceful and happy. In fact, they had never known such harmony and peace and joy before. This happy condition lasted the whole summer.

In this section of The Holy War, John Bunyan is still showing the believer in his first love. The feeling of God’s forgiveness is fresh upon his heart. But there must be regular maintenance in the Christian life to keep things pure, peaceful, and joyful. So the Lord has established His order in the life of His people, the Church.

A Scripture passage showing this order and the results it produces is Ephesians 4:11-16 (NASB)—

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Bunyan pictures the regular ministry of the gospel, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, giving us knowledge of God and His ways and strengthening us to live holy lives unto the Lord. The minister is an undershepherd, submissive to the teachings of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the meaning of God’s Word. The Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, and God’s people must follow His teaching and be careful not to grieve Him through disobedience. The gospel minister must be careful to speak only what the Spirit has spoken in the Word and not try to be a revealer of those mysteries that God has kept closed to us. The minister must carefully and faithfully apply the words of God to himself and the people that we may truly know God and be pleasing to Him.

God’s people may revel in the teachings of the Word and speak of these things among themselves. It is for equipping the saints for the work of service that God has given these gifts to the church. And this glad service builds up the whole Body of Christ until we reach full maturity.

In this day of “Jesus, yes; the church, no,” when everyone is doing what’s right in his own eyes, we need to see this order of worship as established by God for our benefit. Before Mansoul experiences trouble from the remaining Diabolonians, Emmanuel gives the town ministers and services that will enable them to maintain their devotion and joy. We face wilting opposition from the unbelieving world and even from within ourselves. Without God’s provision for our continued maintenance and blessing, we stand no chance of pleasing Him and distinguishing ourselves as His people. But all these gifts the Lord will use to help us keep our robes clean and white and maintain that first love, that joy in the Lord, along with His peace that passes understanding.

The Holy War—Provision for Mansoul’s Continued Blessing

The Holy War—Mansoul Mortifies Wicked Influences

The adult Sunday School classes at my church are halfway through our series of studies based on John Bunyan’s Christian allegory, The Holy War. We are getting a theological education from Bunyan as we read his book and search the Scriptures to see whether these things are so. Bunyan presents a reformed, biblical soteriology, and I hope to put the main teachings of his story together into a separate post sometime in the near future. Though he had but little formal education, Bunyan was able to combine a thorough knowledge of the Bible with a fertile imagination to produce in story-form a comprehensive doctrine of salvation.

In our reading for today Bunyan portrays the redeemed town of Mansoul, under the direction of Emmanuel, as executing its enemies, the followers of Diabolus, because of their crimes against the town and because of their continued corrupting influence. This clearly refers to the scriptural teaching of mortifying the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13), or, putting off the old man with his deeds (Ephesians 4:17-32). According to Bunyan (and the Bible) obedience in this pursuit shows our love for our Savior and advances our growth in holiness.

In this part of the story Emmanuel continues His remaking of Mansoul into something that will glorify His Father, King Shaddai, and benefit the town itself. Diabolus had introduced so many ungodly, harmful things that Emmanuel has to pull down these strongholds of His enemy. The next order of business in Mansoul’s cleansing from sin is to arrest, try, and execute the remaining followers of Diabolus, known as Diabolonians. Emmanuel orders the arrest of the three greatest troublemakers: Mr. Unbelief (Mr. Incredulity in Bunyan’s original text), Mr. Lustings, and Mr. Forget-Good. These had exercised the most leadership and had caused the greatest harm when Diabolus ruled the city. In the round-up Lord Willbewill also arrested other influential Diabolonians: Mr. Atheism, Mr. Hard-heart, Mr. False-peace, and several others. All these renegades were brought to trial.

The trial was conducted with utmost righteousness, consistent with the nature of Emmanuel and King Shaddai. One by one, the prisoners answered the charges against them. With every one of them the plea was “not guilty.” The witnesses testified against them truthfully; thus the Diabolonians were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to execution. Bunyan spends time with each of the defendants, but especially with Mr. False-peace, because during Diabolus’ sinful reign he had lulled the town into a false sense of security so that they thought they would suffer no penalty for their sins against Shaddai, their rightful king.

Emmanuel commanded that the people of Mansoul execute the Diabolonians. In this way they would show their love for Him and the sincerity of their commitment. This would please Him, and He would bless them.

A twist in the story comes here. When the prisoners were returned to the jail to await execution the next morning, Unbelief escaped. He fled the city and met his old master Diabolus on Hell-gate Hill. Unbelief informed Diabolus of the things that had happened in the city under Emmanuel. This sent the monster into a rage, and he swore to get vengeance on Mansoul.

But for now, no Unbelief was to be found anywhere in Mansoul.

The city brought the condemned to be executed. Much to the surprise of the people, they were hard pressed to put these criminals to death. The Diabolonians struggled so hard that Mansoul had to appeal to the captains and men of war for help. Shaddai’s secretary, who was in town and who loved Mansoul, came forward and put His hands on the people to strengthen them for the work. Thus Mansoul crucified these Diabolonians, much to the joy of the city.

Bunyan, here, is teaching that the redeemed follower of Jesus Christ must “put off concerning the former [lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22). This is done through mortifying the deeds of the flesh. It involves a struggle since mortification goes against our nature. But the Christian must show his love for Christ by his obedience to Him (John 14:23-24). The Puritan preacher Thomas Watson put it this way: “The exercises of the worship of God are contrary to nature; therefore there must be a provoking of ourselves to them. The movement of the soul towards sin is natural, but its movement towards heaven is violent” (Heaven Taken by Storm, Soli Deo Gloria Publications, p. 11).

There were still Diabolonians lurking within Mansoul, who would cause trouble again. We may get victory over some evil one day only to have another appear afterward. Or we may have to deal with the same evil again. This is the process known as sanctification. When we feel discouraged over our apparent lack of progress in mortifying our lusts, we can take a long look back at ourselves and see that, though we are not what we ought to be, by the grace of God we are not what we once were. There has been some progress. Though we must struggle against our inner traitor for life, the Lord is honored if we stay in the fight, trusting in Him for power.

Just as Mr. Unbelief avoided execution by escaping, so we will never be permanently rid of unbelief in our hearts until the Lord takes His people home. God gives us blessed seasons when no unbelief can be found in us and we enjoy communion with Christ. But “the troubler makes his appearance again quite soon enough” (George Offor, ed., The Works of John Bunyan vol. 3. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1991. p. 316). When that besetting sin returns and we feel doubt gripping us, we don’t have to despair; “where is the believer who is at all times wholly free from the assaults of this arch-rebel? Where is the Christian who has not occasion to say, and that with tears, ‘Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief’?” (The Holy War, Illustrated with notes by George Burder. Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1976. p. 252).

Take courage, Christian! “If by the Spirit [we] are putting to death the deeds of the body, [we] will live” (Romans 8:13). May the Lord enable His believing people to exercise “holy violence” in prosecuting those enemies within that seek to undo us. May the Holy Spirit enable us to put these harmful lusts to death. And may God grant us mercy when we fail, and grace for future battles, as He has done so with many other “holy warriors” before us.

The Holy War—Mansoul Mortifies Wicked Influences

The Holy War—All Things Becoming New for Mansoul

In his allegory of the Christian life The Holy War, John Bunyan portrays the happy changes that take place in the soul of the sinner who turns to Jesus Christ in true faith. Having openly defeated His enemy Diabolus and completely won Mansoul’s surrender, King Shaddai’s Son Emmanuel makes His peace and pardon known to all the people of the town. The townspeople, who had prepared to accept Emmanuel’s wrath, rejoice to see their imprisoned leaders returning from the Prince’s camp as restored free men and to hear the proclamation of the Prince’s pardon. There is so much joy over the good news of divine pardon that no one in the town can talk about anything else…or even go to sleep! It was a grand celebration, the captains and soldiers of Emmanuel joining in the celebration with a parade through town featuring precision demonstrations of their military skills.

When all this was over, the town came together to Emmanuel’s camp to thank the Prince for His favor and to humbly plead that He would take up His residence with them in Mansoul. They desire the Prince and all His men to dwell with them so that He might receive their praise and protect them from the Diabolonians lurking in the city. To this the Prince agrees, provided that the people join with Him in prosecuting His enemies that remain in Mansoul. The town agrees wholeheartedly and promises their complete submission to Him, requesting that He lead them by the hand and keep them from sinning.

It was a grand day when Prince Emmanuel made His triumphant entrance into Mansoul with His army. This time no battering rams were needed. The people opened to Him willingly and lined the streets with boughs and flowers to show how glad they were of His arrival to take up His residence with them. The whole town turned out to welcome their glorious Prince with music and dancing. So Emmanuel moved into Heart Castle, and His captains and soldiers were housed in judicious places throughout the happy town.

Upon a certain day Emmanuel made a feast for Mansoul. The town came to the banquet and enjoyed food that they had never tasted before, food that didn’t grow in Mansoul but came from King Shaddai’s court. The meal was accompanied by music and singing, also from Shaddai’s court. After the meal, Emmanuel entertained the people with some riddles drawn up by His Father’s Secretary (The Holy Spirit). These riddles were things the people could not have figured out by themselves apart from the teaching of Emmanuel. In this way the Prince taught the people about Shaddai and about Himself. Mansoul was amazed; they saw things they had never seen or even thought of before. The town was so taken with Him that they went back to their houses filled with wonder and talking of Emmanuel, even in their sleep!

Despite the rapturous joy of Mansoul, there was much work to do to make the town more pleasing to the Prince and more secure from its enemies. So a great remodeling was in order. First, Emmanuel ordered His catapults to be mounted at strategic points around the city. Then He introduced a new weapon, which He invented, that could throw great stones from the castle out at Mouth-gate, a weapon that would not miss and could not be resisted.

The remodeling included jobs for the city’s leaders. Emmanuel put Lord Willbewill in charge of the city’s gates, walls, towers, and militia, with orders to arrest any Diabolonians he found. He reinstated Lord Understanding as mayor for life and made Mr. Knowledge the new recorder. Mr. Conscience, the old recorder, was to have a new job of which he would be told later.

Last, but certainly not least in the remodeling of Mansoul, Emmanuel commanded that the image of Diabolus be destroyed, ground to powder, and cast to the wind outside the city’s walls. Then the image of Shaddai was set up again more beautifully than before, since He and Emmanuel have come to Mansoul with more grace and mercy than before. Emmanuel’s name engraved in gold and placed at the front of the town rounds out the remodeling. Mansoul has experienced a merciful and radical makeover from the inside out.

As I read this section of The Holy War I repeatedly thought of the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (NASB). The people have a completely different attitude toward Emmanuel. Gone is the old animosity and rebellion; they are completely open to Him and His ministry, and they love Him with all their heart. They want Him close to them, so He dwells in Heart Castle, which is held by Captain Credence (belief, faith—Ephesians 3:17).

This is exactly what happens when a soul turns to the Lord. The heart becomes a habitation of Christ through faith, and He renews and redirects the happy, obedient believer. Bunyan is depicting a new believer in his or her first love. Everything is becoming new. The Christian responds with faith and obedience to the Lord where before there was only unbelief and rebellion. The Christian experiences joy and peace in place of the darker emotions associated with our natural rebellion to God. The Christian is ready to read God’s Word and cooperate with Christ in putting to death the things that remain in us that will dishonor Him and be harmful to the soul.

If you’re reading The Holy War using my church’s reading schedule, you’ll notice that we have reached a climax of sorts, but we are only halfway through the book. To our way of thinking it would be great if the story ended right after this point with all the Mansoulians taken straight to Heaven. But God has willed that His people glorify Him by remaining and serving Him faithfully until summoned. Bunyan recognizes this and gives us the second half of the book to illustrate the duties, dangers, and defenses of believers in a fallen world.

With the unbridled joy in this section of the book Bunyan gives us a subtle warning of approaching dangers. Where Bunyan tells of the people’s request for Emmanuel and His men to move into the space they’ve prepared, Bunyan writes a marginal note: “Say, and hold to it, Mansoul.” He means to exhort Christians to keep the same mindset of “first love” toward Christ always and not ever leave their first love (see Revelation 2:1-5). “Happy are they who continue in this good mind all their days. But the sequel of the story will show how changeable a creature is man” (The Holy War, Illustrated with notes by George Burder, Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1976, p. 218).

Another indication of danger ahead is the fact that Diabolonians are referred to as still lurking in the city. These hidden followers of Diabolus represent the sometimes subtle sins of the flesh that remain in the Christian and hinder his walk with the Lord (Romans 8:7). These must be dealt with. To that end we have spiritual weapons given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. We have His Word, the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, the public ministry of the Church, and prayer (probably the unnamed, irresistible weapon in the story). We should also keep firmly in mind that by God’s grace we have His image restored in us through Christ.

So, may His blessed people continue on in first love, enjoying the newness of life in Christ, confident of ultimate victory because “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

The Holy War—All Things Becoming New for Mansoul

The Holy War—Joy Over Emmanuel’s Perfect Victory

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 Heart Castle, and now Emmanuel sits in Ear-gate while His soldiers work to break open the Castle gate and force Diabolus out. With the news that the castle gate has been breached, Emmanuel marches to the center of town and commands His enemy to show himself. Diabolus reluctantly comes out and surrenders to the Prince, who chains him, takes him to the marketplace, and strips him of his vaunted armor in sight of the whole city. Emmanuel then binds the giant to the wheels of His chariot and leads him out of the city to a desert place, where the Prince charges him to go and never attempt another takeover of Mansoul.

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!

The Holy War—Joy Over Emmanuel’s Perfect Victory

The Holy War—Emmanuel Exposes Diabolus’ Deceit

Satan desires to have what belongs to God alone—supremacy and worship. Though he knows he is defeated and doomed he exercises all the power and employs all the tricks he can in order to ruin God’s greatest creation, mankind. He would rather see humanity destroyed than see it happily in submission to its Creator and Redeemer. In this section of John Bunyan’s The Holy War Satan, represented by Diabolus, is exposed for the fraud he is. As Emmanuel draws near to battle with His ancient enemy, the contrast becomes ever clearer between the character of Emmanuel (Jesus Christ) and the character of Diabolus.

Under the enchantment of Diabolus the people of Mansoul barricaded Ear-gate so they couldn’t hear the words of mercy Emmanuel spoke to them. So the Prince prepares for war. Having His machinery in place, Emmanuel sends a messenger with an offer of peace one last time before combat. Diabolus and the people respond with a messenger of their own, Mr. Loathe-to-Stoop, who presents the enemy’s terms for surrender. These terms being unacceptable, Emmanuel gives the order to attack. After more unacceptable proposals of peace from Diabolus, Ear-gate is finally breached, and Diabolus flees to his stronghold in the castle as Emmanuel’s troops pour into the city.

The contrast between the respective characters of Emmanuel and Diabolus becomes sharp during the times of negotiation. Emmanuel is open and honest about His intentions and His love for Mansoul. Diabolus, however, is deceitful and conniving, seeking only to stay in power no matter what it takes. When he realizes his reign is at an end, he determines to do as much harm as he can to the people rather than see them become a habitation for Emmanuel. And Emmanuel determines to save His people from their enemy…and from their sins.

The terms for surrender proposed by Mr. Loathe-to-Stoop are nothing more than compromises designed to leave Diabolus some kind of foothold in the city. One by one Emmanuel rejects these compromises… Diabolus will turn over half of the city with each one ruling his half. Diabolus turns over more than half the city and rules a smaller portion. Emmanuel can rule the entire city while Diabolus retains only a small part for personal use, and so forth. All these proposals are unacceptable because Emmanuel is Lord of ALL the city. His enemy has no place in Mansoul.

The compromises suggested are frequently used by people under conviction of sin so they can have Christ as Savior and still hold on to the world. John Bunyan writes from his own experience in this part of the story. He tried this dodge before realizing that Christ is Lord of all and demands absolute surrender. We simply cannot serve two opposing masters. The one trying to hold on to his sins is choosing allegiance to Satan rather than trusting Christ for salvation. Leaving the devil a foothold in the heart will ruin the sinner. Christ will have no part with Satan.

Bunyan also writes from experience when he portrays Diabolus offering to reform Mansoul for Emmanuel and be his deputy. Diabolus claims that the town will more easily accept a life of holiness if they know the reforms come from him. He will even hold weekly lectures in the town for Emmanuel! The Prince rejects these offers as well and exposes Diabolus for the liar he is. If holiness is so important to Diabolus now, why was wickedness his method of operation before? When Bunyan was under conviction of sin, he finally decided to give up his wicked ways and start living a life of holiness. But that is impossible for sinners, and Christ didn’t come to put people under the Law.

“In this excellent answer of Immanuel we learn, that no self-righteous attempts to justify the soul by its reformation only, will be accepted. To persuade convinced sinners to rest in this, to the neglect of Christ and His righteousness, is a dangerous artifice of the devil, who thus ‘transforms himself into an angel of light,’ (2 Cor. 11:14). The sinner, having once broken the law, and thereby incurred ‘the curse of the law’ (Gal. 3:10), can derive no help from the law; but must look to Christ the law fulfiller, for righteousness and reconciliation with God. A man may talk much of reforming his life, and say a great deal about good works, yet remain a subject of Satan’s kingdom. We are not Christians till we are in Christ, by believing in Him for salvation; and when we are so, we become new creatures: our state is new, being justified by grace; and our disposition is new also, being born again of the Spirit” (The Holy War, Illustrated with notes by George Burder, Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1976, pp. 165-66).

In this part of the story we see the unmixed hatred that Satan feels for Christ and His people. He is frustrated and will do whatever he can to avoid being thrown out of the stronghold of human hearts. When a soul turns to the Lord Jesus, Satan must leave. But he tries to do what harm he can rather than see that person joyful and Christ glorified.

But we also see Christ’s purity, His uprightness, His love for His people, and His power to save them. We have nothing to fear from the enemy if we trust in Jesus for salvation from sin. Christ is Victor! He breaches Ear-gate regardless of the fortifications. He opens the deaf ear to hear the Words of Life. If He has done so with you, it is a great mercy. If you are under conviction of sin, seek the Lord while He may be found. You will find Him gracious and ready to forgive.

As soldiers in Christ’s army we need to make sure people understand that the Lord will brook no compromise. He is merciful, but He will not share His glory with another. He refuses to take residence in a heart that hangs onto the old sins and the old master. He also rejects mere reformation of life. He will save and He will sanctify.

Though the world under Satan rages against the Lord, don’t fear to trust Him and preach Him as He is. We don't need to change or water down Christ's message to get a hearing from the world. The Lord needs no help from the devil to gain His own inheritance. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

(From “How Firm a Foundation”)

The Holy War—Emmanuel Exposes Diabolus’ Deceit

The Holy War—Emmanuel Sent to Conquer Mansoul

In John Bunyan’s allegory of the Christian life, The Holy War, the enemy Diabolus finally quells the riot that broke out in the city of Mansoul over King Shaddai’s army’s bombardment. Then he imprisons Lord Understanding and Mr. Conscience as the instigators of the unrest. He wanted to execute them, but the war was on again. “The efforts of an enlightened understanding and a renewed conscience cannot but be offensive to Satan, as threatening to subvert his authority in the soul; but where the good work of grace is begun they cannot be destroyed” (The Holy War, illustrated with notes by George Burder, Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1976, p. 122).

Seeing the town still resistant to them, Shaddai’s captains return to camp to hold a council of war. Some wanted to attack again, but the majority thought it best to give Mansoul another summons to yield to King Shaddai. The town seemed to have softened a little, so they determine to treat them more gently, hoping not to drive them further away from their King. In their patience and gentle persistence they are exemplifying the Lord Jesus Christ, who would not “break the bruised reed” or “quench the smoking flax” (Matthew 12:20).

The army’s trumpeter returns to Ear-gate and delivers his impassioned plea for Mansoul to submit to their rightful King, Shaddai. When the town hesitates, not knowing how to answer, Diabolus addresses the townspeople and convinces them that Shaddai will overpower them and enslave them just like all His people are (supposedly) enslaved. His unsubstantiated claim is that “no people in Universe are as unhappy or trampled upon as they” (Whitaker edition, p. 83). Upon hearing this, the people hardened their hearts and refused further appeals from Shaddai’s servants. “And now things seemed to be gone quite back, and Mansoul to be out of reach or call; yet the captains, who knew what their Lord could do, would not yet be beat out of heart.”

While the army continues its bombardment to hinder the town’s rebellious spirit, the captains send a petition to King Shaddai requesting reinforcements and a commander that the town can both love and fear. This commander is none other than Emmanuel Himself. Though it may seem ironic, these two responses to God are not mutually exclusive. He is to be loved and feared. Having a scripturally rounded view of God will deliver us from fallible human conclusions that are nothing short of idolatry—creating a god in our own image. Such a god will not save us from the wrath to come.

The letter first reached the King’s Son, who carried it to His Father after adding petitions of His own to it. Both are pleased with these petitions and with the fact that Shaddai’s servants had been so faithful in their work and had made some progress. We may feel discouraged sometimes because of the apparent lack of response from people we are trying to win, but what God values is faithfulness. He will give the increase in His own time; we are to stay at the work the Lord has given us, knowing what He is able to do in spite of appearances.

Shaddai commissions His Son Emmanuel to take an army and deliver Mansoul from Diabolus’ tyranny. Emmanuel replies, “Thy law is within my heart: I delight to do Thy will” (Psalm 40:8; Hebrews 10:7). The news of Emmanuel’s mission energized everyone in the King’s court, and His servants were jumping at the chance to go with Emmanuel to this great work. So Emmanuel leads an army of 50,000 under five valiant captains to the town of Mansoul. When they arrive, the army already there gave such a great shout that it made Diabolus tremble. He feared no one in all the universe like he did Emmanuel, whose displeasure he had faced before.

Emmanuel sets His army in array: they surround the town, build mounds on which to place their weapons, and then offer the town the chance to submit. The leaders of the town give Emmanuel’s message to Diabolus, who reluctantly goes to the wall to face his arch enemy. Diabolus speaks to Emmanuel in a language that the people did not understand to keep them from detecting how fearful this usurper is. In his speech he lays claim to Mansoul on the basis that he had won the town fair and square and that they had forsaken Shaddai.

Emmanuel responds directly to Diabolus—the only one in the army to do so—and charges him with lying and deception. He lays His own rightful claim to the town and then addresses the people. When Emmanuel speaks to the people, they fortify Ear-gate so His words could not be heard. Diabolus enchanted the townspeople to do these things and to shut out the words of Life. But Emmanuel isn’t through yet.

In this section of The Holy War John Bunyan is emphasizing the motivation for staying in a difficult ministry—the work is so great, the cause is so right, and the Lord is so powerful to accomplish what He has promised. Do we look at our Lord and His work this way? Opposition and lack of results can be disheartening. But do we realize what Jesus can do? Do we remember His great joy in coming to this Earth to do His Father’s will? Do we realize that our Savior has a people in the world that need to hear the Gospel? Just as Shaddai gave the town of Mansoul to Emmanuel, God the Father has given a people to His Son (see John 17).

The petition of Emmanuel to His Father represents Christ’s ongoing intercessory ministry for His people. And He doesn’t pray only for those who already believe; He also prays for those who will believe (John 17:20). So, how will they believe unless they hear, and how will they hear without a preacher? When we faithfully join our Sovereign Redeemer in the work His Father called Him to do, we are on the winning side despite appearances, and our faithfulness pleases God. So stay with the stuff and leave the results to God. Even Christ Himself faced rejection during His earthly ministry, but He explains even that in John chapter six. Gain encouragement from that Scripture; then go out and preach the Gospel with patience, with persistence, and with confidence that “all that the Father has given Him will come to Him.”

The Holy War—Emmanuel Sent to Conquer Mansoul

The Holy War—Shaddai Besieges Mansoul

In his classic allegory The Holy War John Bunyan illustrates the Scriptural process by which God brings a lost soul from the darkness and damnation of sin to the light and life of redemption. This concept is reflected in the full title of Bunyan’s book: The Holy War, Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World; or, the Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul. The portion I read this past week deals with the city of Mansoul’s rejection of King Shaddai’s gracious offer of terms of peace. Under the influence of the usurper Diabolus, they resolve to resist the true King. This pictures the first response that Christians often get from the children of disobedience. They may be affected to some degree by our Gospel, but the desire to hang on to the old life wins the day…for now.

Shaddai’s four captains, Boanerges, Conviction, Judgment, and Execution, prepare for their attack on the city to try to gain entrance through Ear-gate. That gate is the key to entering Mansoul. When their men are in place, they give out the battle cry: “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!” This shows that there can never be peace with God until the sinner experiences an inner change, which the Bible calls regeneration. Mere outward conformity will not be sufficient; a new birth that comes through hearing and believing the Word of God is necessary. This must be stressed in evangelism.

The townspeople answer with two large guns on the wall, named Highmind and Heady. Being watchful and vigilant, the captains avoid harm from these usually trusty guns. Mansoul continues resisting with smaller guns while Shaddai’s army attacks with catapults and battering rams. The captains succeed in dismantling the two large guns, and they did serious damage to Mayor Unbelief’s house. In fact, they almost killed Lord Willbewill, but he recovered. Several of the town’s most corrupt rebels were put out of action; however, Mansoul was determined to resist, urged on by the rage of Diabolus.

Bunyan is drawing from his experience as a soldier in combat to illustrate the thrusts of the Gospel and the counterattacks of the unbelieving world. Pride and vanity are useful weapons the world employs against the Gospel, but they will not prevail against God’s servants who are watchful and humble. Opposition from the devil and from people’s own inbred lusts can be discouraging to Christians giving out the Gospel. May we remember that our Lord Jesus said, “I am with you always,” and, “All that the Father giveth me SHALL come to me” (Matthew 28:20 & John 6:37). God will use faithful preaching of the Gospel to begin to break the stranglehold of unbelief and self-will.

Seeing the town’s continued resistance, the captains retreat to their winter camp, where they continue to frequently assault the town. Mansoul was in sad shape. They could not enjoy their sins with the same gusto as in times past. They were even running short on food since no one could go in and out of the town because of the siege. They were continually distressed, and they longed for peace of mind. Some of the citizens wanted to return to Shaddai and hope for mercy. At this time Mr. Conscience, who used to be the town’s recorder until Diabolus came, began thundering out against the town and terrifying them from the inside while the army did so from the outside.

Even in the dead of winter the captains sent many summons to Mansoul to surrender. The town, distressed and wearied from the assaults, called the captains for a meeting where Lord Willbewill presented Diabolus’ terms for the town’s surrender. These terms were compromises that would make Shaddai king in name only while Diabolus remained in control. This being unacceptable, Captain Boanerges thundered his rejection of the terms and once again appealed to the town to submit to Shaddai. Then the mayor, Lord Unbelief, rose up and convinced Mansoul to continue the resistance. So…no peace. The captains return to their camp, and Unbelief returns to Diabolus, who commends him for resisting. However, there is much bickering and violence in the town because of the damage that old Unbelief is doing to the people. The town’s former mayor, Lord Understanding, along with Mr. Conscience, attempts to overthrow Unbelief until Diabolus has the two men thrown into prison. He would have executed them, but Shaddai’s captains attack again.

This imagery represents the different levels of intensity of Gospel preaching. By Gospel preaching, I don’t mean just by ordained preachers in the pulpit, but by ALL of God’s blood-bought people everywhere. Sometimes we have more opportunities for giving the Gospel than at other times. We may have to strike camp for the winter, but that doesn’t mean we’ve given up. It means we’re staying where the Lord has put us. We’ll continue to preach the pure Gospel and reject any terms that will compromise the message. It’s that important. God demands the unconditional surrender of those in rebellion to Him. We should accept no less.

Outward appearances suggest that we have much against us in this Gospel fight. But things aren’t always as they seem. While Shaddai’s army attacked outside the walls, the city was fighting among themselves within. Christian soldier, keep up the siege; keep giving out the Gospel. You never know what might be going on in the heart of a person who is presently resisting your message. He might be beginning to break.

The Holy War—Shaddai Besieges Mansoul

The Holy War—Shaddai Appeals to Mansoul

How should a king respond to rebellious subjects? In this week’s reading of John Bunyan’s The Holy War Shaddai responds to the people of Mansoul, who had openly defied Him and had allowed a usurper named Diabolus to rule over them. Shaddai’s first response is a gentle, but firm offer of mercy. He could have destroyed Mansoul or taken them by force, but He offers terms of peace if they will forsake Diabolus and return to their rightful king.

Four valiant captains with their 40,000-man army approach Mansoul, having been commissioned by the king to deliver the message. Shaddai thought it best to send them before sending His Son, Emmanuel, so that He might discern the disposition of the town toward Him. Perhaps they may be won back without a battle. The four captains are Captain Boanerges (Captain Thunder in the updated edition), Captain Conviction, Captain Judgment, and Captain Execution. These leaders represent different aspects of the same Gospel message. The Gospel is meant to awaken sinners out of their false security. The open Book of the Law exposes sin and works conviction in the heart. The Gospel also warns of the bad news of judgment to come and drives home the imminence of that judgment. The ax could fall at any time.

The townspeople are initially impressed with the orderliness of such a mighty army. They gather on top of the city’s wall to observe the well-ordered ranks with their flying banners. Diabolus, however, knows the threat this poses and chides the people with a deceptive speech lest they open the gates to these commanders. He warns that this army has come to destroy them and they should do everything in their power to resist. Diabolus achieves his purpose and causes a panic among the people. The unbelieving world is sometimes impressed with the orderly living of God’s people. Unbelievers may even seem more receptive to the Gospel. But it won’t be long until the devil raises “concerns” over these Christians. They can be bad news. Watch them! They will turn the world upside down. They’ll ruin everything.

Captain Boanerges’ trumpeter approaches Ear-gate and sounds a summons for Mansoul to gather and give heed to the king’s message. No one responds. The second summons is likewise ignored because of Diabolus’ orders. The third summons, louder and more insistent, was answered by the governor, Lord Willbewill. “He demanded that the trumpeter tell who he was, from where he came, and the reason he was making noise at the gate and speaking such insufferable words against the town of Mansoul” (Whitaker House edition, p. 53). The trumpeter identifies himself and gives the message. Willbewill replies that he will take the message to Diabolus, to which the trumpeter says that the message is not for him but for the town. The king’s forces will not even regard Diabolus, but will ignore him. Willbewill agrees to relay the message to the town.

When the town gathered on the wall to hear the message, the new mayor, Lord Unbelief, addressed Captain Boanerges while the people made Ear-gate as secure as they could. Diabolus tries to interrupt, but he is completely ignored as though he didn’t even matter. Then the four captains address the town.

Captain Boanerges goes first. He reminds the town of King Shaddai and His claim on them and warns that they will not simply go on in their rebellion. Something will be done. Captain Conviction steps up and reminds Mansoul of their glorious beginning and from where they had fallen. He then urges them to accept the gracious terms of peace, pointing out how Shaddai is humbling himself to appeal to them, though He didn’t need them like they need Him.

Captain Judgment is next, and he warns them of the sure judgment to come and that nothing will save them if they reject Shaddai’s offer of mercy. While Judgment speaks, some noticed that Diabolus was trembling. Then Captain Execution warns Mansoul that the judgment is imminent and that Shaddai’s patience and offer of mercy won’t last forever.

When the people ask for time to consider their answer, the captains agree to give them time if they will throw Mr. Ill-Pause over the wall to them. Ill-Pause was Diabolus’ orator, and Diabolus was unwilling to lose him. So he commands Lord Unbelief to give them an answer.

Lord Unbelief, followed by Willbewill and Mr. Forget-good, the town’s recorder, refuse the message of Shaddai and threaten to resist the captains and their soldiers with all their might. Everyone went back to his house and Diabolus returned to the castle as though all were well. But they knew all wasn’t well, so they reinforced Ear-gate and put Mr. Prejudice in charge of keeping it secure, along with sixty guards called Deafmen, who could not hear the words coming from the other side of the wall.

This section of The Holy War illustrates the preaching of the Gospel. More specifically, it illustrates the use of the Law in evangelism. Much modern-day preaching devalues the Old Testament Law or ignores it altogether. Some people do it through a fear of teaching works for salvation, thinking that Law has no place in a message of grace. Others seem to dismiss God’s Law from an almost complete disregard for any kind of authority. But Bunyan uses these four captains to illustrate the lawful use of the law—producing conviction in the hearts of sinners (See 1 Timothy 1:5-11). The Scripture passage in 1 Timothy seems to couple the right use of the law with the Gospel ministry.

Bunyan shows that there are obstacles and encouragements to victory in Gospel preaching. The unregenerate human heart is occupied by Satan, the understanding is darkened, and the conscience unreliable at best. The senses are well fortified against any penetration of the Gospel. But on the plus side, we have a proclamation from the King! The message needs no embellishment or watering down to be made palatable. So threatened is Satan by the thoughts of faithful Gospel preaching that he has to work overtime to secure his clueless subjects. But God’s grace is invincible when He is pleased to draw those whom He Himself is calling through our faithful preaching.

God would be justified had He destroyed all mankind for our rebellion and collaboration with Satan. He is very gracious in that He condescends to deal with us and save some. He doesn’t do this because He needs us, but because He is gracious and we need Him. God is not only gracious; He is also longsuffering with us. But His patience won’t last forever. Don’t put off trusting in Christ until old age when you’ve first done all the things you want to do; you might not get that chance to turn. There were two thieves crucified along side our Lord. One turned to Christ and was saved, that none may despair; but only one, that none may presume. Count on His grace, but don’t presume upon it. Eleventh-hour conversions are possible, but the Bible command is, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.”

Two small books for help in giving the Gospel:

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2007)

This recent book explains what the Gospel is and what it is not. It gives much encouragement for those of us who aren’t extroverts and think that we can’t persuade people. See Jason’s comments for more information on this good book.

Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? By Walter Chantry (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1970)

This is an older book that expounds Jesus’ dealings with the rich young ruler and clearly shows from Scripture the proper use of the Law in evangelism.

The Holy War—Shaddai Appeals to Mansoul

The Holy War—Good News for Mansoul

Our people at church are in the third week of reading through John Bunyan’s great allegory The Holy War. In this classic work Bunyan portrays salvation through the recovery of the town of Mansoul, which had been created by good King Shaddai but was taken over through the deceit of an enemy called Diabolus. So far in the story it has seemed that Diabolus was successful in completely alienating the town from Shaddai. He had bragged to the townspeople that they were living the way they want to live, and the fact that they had heard nothing from Shaddai was proof that He had given up on them. Does it seem that because God has not yet stricken you down with judgment, He doesn’t notice your sin, or doesn’t care?

In this week’s reading a faithful messenger delivers the news to Shaddai and his court that Mansoul has fallen to Diabolus. He recounts all the details of the city’s rebellion against their rightful King and lists the ways in which Diabolus has fortified the city against godly influence. This news causes much grief in the king’s court. The King and His Son, Emmanuel, had foreseen this and had already provided for Mansoul’s redemption, yet they still grieved at Mansoul’s defection. It’s an amazing aspect of God’s character that, though He knows all from the beginning, He doesn’t react stoically to our sin; He grieves. If we can feel the sting of a friend’s treachery, how much more can God feel the rebellion of those He made in His image, made for His fellowship and pleasure?

How would you expect Shaddai to respond to the news of Mansoul’s defection and corruption? In anger? In judgment? In total annihilation of Mansoul? Retiring to their private chamber the King and His Son resolve that Emmanuel should go to the country of Universe at an appointed time to make restitution for the sins of Mansoul, thus laying a foundation for her perfect deliverance from Diabolus and his tyranny. He will also make war on Diabolus, drive him out, and retake the city so that it is happier than ever before. This reveals God’s attitude toward His fallen creation. He is grieved; He is angry with sinners and cannot merely let our sin go as if it were a simple slip-up. Sin must be dealt with and paid for to satisfy God’s justice and holiness. But it is God Himself who sends His own Son to pay the price for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Shaddai gives this order of salvation to the Lord Chief Secretary to make into a document to be published in all corners of the country of Universe. This represents the Holy Spirit inspiring the Holy Scriptures and directing its publication in all parts of the world. This, in a nutshell, is the message of the Bible: God gains for Himself greater glory through the perfect obedience of His Son Jesus Christ, and mankind receives salvation and greater joy than ever before through faith in our Righteous Substitute.

This grand proclamation wasn’t well received by Diabolus. It meant he was finished, and he knew it. But he isn’t giving up so easily. He immediately begins making preparations for war. His first order of business is to keep this good news from the ears of the people. Keep them in ignorance. He calls a meeting with Mr. Willbewill and tricks him with flattery into keeping strict watch over the gates of the city, especially Ear-gate. Diabolus also gives Willbewill authority over spies that will suppress and destroy anyone thought to be siding with Shaddai and Emmanuel. The usurper then makes the town swear to never forsake him as their king. This not being good enough for him, he further corrupts the town, thinking that Emmanuel will see the peoples’ rottenness and decide to condemn them rather than redeem them. After all, Diabolus had fallen and had been condemned; the town’s fate would be the same as his.

One more stratagem the enemy used on the people to prepare them to resist Shaddai. He tells them that Shaddai is raising an army to completely destroy them and that they must be prepared with armor supplied by Diabolus. While the enemy fortifies himself in the castle (the human heart) the deluded people take their new armor and prepare to fight.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ really is such good news that, to a redeemed soul, it’s a wonder anyone could reject it. But Satan has his war machine in place. He seduces people with the temporary pleasures of sin and inoculates them against thinking that God cares, or that God will judge, or that God is ready to receive and pardon the one who trusts in His Son. He does all he can to keep people from hearing the good news. His emissaries frequently pose as trusted religious leaders, but they teach the precepts of men and they hide or distort the Word of God. Those who hear the Word have been trained to think that God wants to destroy them, that is, that the Christian life is dull and boring and will rob them of all joy in life.

But Satan is a frightened usurper, not an invincible warrior. “We tremble not for him” (Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”). The devil is battening down the hatches in the hearts of mankind, but he can be resisted in the strength of the Lord, and only in His strength.

God’s design is not to harm us but to bless us by turning us away from our iniquities and toward His Son, whose death on the Cross paid the full price for our sins and satisfied His justice. He has withheld His judgment so long because He desires that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Rather than being robbed of the joy that life has to offer, the believer in Christ discovers that “in [His] presence is fullness of joy; at [His] right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

If you have heard His voice in the Gospel, harden not your heart. Open up to Him, and the Lifegiver, the King of glory, will come in.

The Holy War—Good News for Mansoul

The Holy War—Diabolus Strengthens his Position

I’m not nearly as familiar with The Holy War as I am with Pilgrim’s Progress, but I’m beginning to get a feel for what Bunyan is doing in this great story. He begins with a picture of mankind’s creation and fall. Then he portrays mankind sinking deeper into sin and becoming absolutely debauched. Just like the fall, this also comes about at the hands of Diabolus, who continues to lie to Mansoul in order to completely alienate the town from good King Shaddai. Bunyan seems to be forming something of a systematic theology with a Gospel application.

In this week’s reading (pp. 19-31 in the Whitaker edition) Diabolus has taken the city but still does not feel secure. He knows Shaddai will respond to his treachery despite the dragon’s assurance to the people that the king didn’t care about their disobedience and would not call them into account. So Diabolus strengthens his position by building new fortifications and installing a new government.

Having entered the city Diabolus warns the people that Shaddai will come and that He will try to take away their new-found “liberties” and enslave them again. Diabolus is there to defend them from such tyranny. Having heard these lies the deluded people proclaim Diabolus king of Mansoul. This bramble then takes possession of the castle that Shaddai had built for Himself and fortifies it against its Maker. The castle in the center of town represents the human heart. So, how does Satan (whom Diabolus represents) fortify the heart against God its Maker? Through corruption.

Diabolus removed the town’s mayor, Lord Understanding and the recorder, Mr. Conscience, secluding them as best he could. He confined Lord Understanding to his house and built a tower by it to block out the sunlight, thus darkening Understanding. Mr. Conscience was perceived to be a great threat to Diabolus, so he concocted a plan to discredit the poor man since he was unable to utterly destroy Conscience. The giant drew Mr. Conscience into sin and corrupted him until his conscience was seared and unable to feel any conviction. Diabolus also encouraged Mr. Conscience’s occasional fits of anger toward the city’s sins so that he appeared to be crazy. Diabolus then advised the townspeople to ignore this madman, especially since they had heard nothing from Shaddai himself. What he didn’t tell them was that Conscience crying out against sin was the voice of God to them.

The new king found an ally in the city’s largest landowner, an aristocrat named Lord Willbewill. He was among the first to consent to Diabolus’ entrance into Mansoul. He was a strong-willed character whom Diabolus won over to his side. Much to Willbewill’s delight the dragon made him second in command and gave him an agreeable clerk named Mr. Mind. “Mansoul was now brought under control and made to fulfill the lusts of the will and of the mind” (Whitaker House edition, p. 26).

The town thus secured, Diabolus orders his servants to deface every image of Shaddai in the town and replace them with his own image. The real king’s laws and values are destroyed and replaced with those of the usurper. A new mayor is appointed—Lord Lustings, whose sole rationale in decision-making is his own evil craving. The new recorder is a sorry fellow named Forget-Good. These two did much to make sensuality the settled character of Mansoul. Diabolus cemented this decay with new strongholds, built to deflect any influence that might come from Shaddai. For all his bravado, Diabolus seems to really fear Shaddai’s invasion and Mansoul’s defection.

As I read this section I was reminded of several Scripture passages. Ephesians chapters 2 and 4 came to mind. The Apostle Paul describes mankind in his natural state as dead, sons of disobedience, children of wrath, living “in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Eph. 2:1-3). In chapter 4 he commands believers not to walk like the rest of the world,

in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness (Eph. 4:17-19).

And in 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3 the Apostle Paul warns that people will depart from the faith and pay heed to “doctrines of demons.”

Man and woman were made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). That image hasn’t been totally obliterated, but it has been marred, defaced. Remnants of God’s laws and values occasionally break through to our uncomprehending minds, and our dormant consciences will suddenly cry out against our sin and condemn us. As a race we put forth much effort and spend big money to silence that nagging, unwelcome voice. It is at such times that Satan turns up the music to drown out the dreary warning of judgment to come.

If this description of humanity seems impossible and draws an intense reaction of disbelief from us, it is because our own understanding has been darkened and our consciences seared by the pervasive sin and sensuality of our culture. The Lord forewarned that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). We see this debauchery of the human race in the early chapters of Genesis. After the fall in chapter 3, men continue to get worse until God declares His intention to destroy them in chapter 6.

So, is there no hope for man? Is his plight as dark and seemingly hopeless as the story thus far in The Holy War? Dark perhaps, but not hopeless! Immediately after God’s declaration of His purpose to destroy man from the earth, we read these words: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). How do we find grace that will soften our hearts and save us from God’s righteous wrath? By believing the message about the Deliverer God sent, the Seed of the woman, who would crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). This victory of deliverance was accomplished by Jesus Christ when He died on the Cross. Satan’s stranglehold on the human race was broken at Calvary for all who truly believe on Christ. The promise of Genesis 3:15 is the Bible’s first mention of the good news, the Gospel. And it is good news of great joy to all people (Luke 2:10), but not for the serpent, as Diabolus is about to find out.

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The Holy War (Whitaker House Publishers, paperback, 2001).

The Holy War: A Modern English Version (Evangelical Press, 2nd edition, 1976). This is an updated language edition, divided into chapters with appropriate chapter headings. Very easy to read. Also available from CBD.

It seems to be getting more difficult to find an edition of The Holy War in the author’s original words. You will definitely get it if you invest in the 3-volume Works of John Bunyan. Volume 3 contains his allegorical works, along with copious notes from his editor and quotes from other Puritan writers. A worthy investment for the die-hard Bunyan fan.

If you would like a quick summary of The Holy War, here is a “squashed” version that can be read in 30 minutes or less. It provides a very good introduction and overview. Caution: This version may cause you to want to read the whole thing!

Here is the reading schedule our church is following for the Whitaker edition and a couple of other editions if you’d like to read The Holy War along with us.

The Holy War—Diabolus Strengthens his Position

The Holy War—Mansoul Falls to Diabolus

In 1682 John Bunyan published his other famous allegory, The Holy War. The book’s full title is The Holy War, made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World: or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul. Though not as well known as The Pilgrim’s Progress, The Holy War is still in print over 325 years later and is as epic as Bunyan’s earlier work.

This morning the adult Sunday School classes at my church began having lessons based on this great book. We read a portion at home during the week, and in class we ask questions and have discussion and a lesson about that week’s reading. Bunyan leads us to the Scriptures on every page of his book and illustrates timeless truth concerning spiritual warfare.

Like Pilgrim’s Progress, this story also pictures the salvation of mankind, but from a different perspective. Rather than using a journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City to picture the Christian life, Bunyan keeps us in one city, Mansoul, which pictures each one of us, the citizens of the city representing the different aspects of man’s character. Bunyan draws from his military experience in the parliamentary army during England’s Civil War to picture the spiritual warfare between God (Shaddai) and Satan (Diabolus) with mankind caught in between. This story shows that Satan, through wicked deception, seeks our ruin to satisfy his hatred for God. God, however, is the One who really loves his creation and is working to restore us. So this is the story of mankind’s redemption by Shaddai’s Son, Emmanuel (Jesus Christ), which brings God glory.

The book starts with a description of Mansoul, its creation, its advantages, its innocence, and its enjoyment by King Shaddai. This represents the creation recorded in the first two chapters of Genesis. As Mansoul is Shaddai’s chief delight, mankind, made in the image of God, is the pinnacle of His creation. The castle in the middle of the town represents the human heart, made for God alone to dwell in. God sees His creation and pronounces everything good.

Then we see Diabolus, who was once known as Lucifer when he was the head of the angelic order but was expelled for leading a rebellion against Shaddai. Diabolus and his followers seek revenge on Shaddai, so they concoct a plan to take Shaddai’s greatest creation, Mansoul. In this description Bunyan is weaving together Scripture teaching to give background to the serpent in Genesis 3. Rather than trying a frontal assault on the town like he had tried against Shaddai, Diabolus devises a more subtle attack. Since the town is impregnable unless the citizens allow someone in, Diabolus uses deceit to convince the townspeople to open the gates and let him in as their new king.

The enemy approaches the town in the form of a common dragon, with which the people were familiar and so did not fear. He stands in front of Ear Gate and addresses the leaders of the city, who are standing on the city’s wall. He claims to have only their best interests at heart and then maligns their king, Shaddai, telling them he is withholding good things from them, being too restrictive with them, and so doesn’t really love them. He promises to give them complete freedom and joy and assures them that Shaddai will not care if they transgress His law and will not punish them. While Diabolus is speaking to them, his accomplice Tisiphone shoots an arrow and hits Captain Resistance in the head, who falls from the wall to his death. As the townspeople are amazed at the sudden death of their only man of war, Diabolus continues his speech, convincing the people to eat of the forbidden tree. Suddenly another city leader dies, Mr. Innocence. The town becomes drunk with the nectar of the fruit from the tree and opens Ear Gate and Eye Gate to allow their new king entrance to the city.

In this part of the story Bunyan illustrates what happened to the original creation and why things are the way they are today. He also displays the subtlety and method of the tempter and the great necessity for God’s people to guard their hearts with all diligence by obeying His holy Word.

Satan spoiled Adam and Eve’s obedience and their innocence, and he continues to wreak havoc among mankind. But God is far from being through with man, and Satan will never get the ultimate victory he desires. He is doomed because God’s Son Jesus Christ paid the full price of our disobedience when He offered Himself to God in our place. Because of the perfect sacrifice of His Son on the cross, God now offers to mankind the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life with Him if we put our trust in Jesus, the risen Redeemer and Lord.

There is much more to say about The Holy War and our great salvation. If the Lord wills, I would like to share more from this great book in the coming weeks. If you’ve read the book, or if you decide to read along with us, please leave a comment and let us know what insights you’ve gained from this book.

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The Holy War (Whitaker House Publishers, paperback, 2001).

The Holy War: A Modern English Version (Evangelical Press, 2nd edition, 1976). This is an updated language edition, divided into chapters with appropriate chapter headings. Very easy to read. Also available from CBD.

It seems to be getting more difficult to find an edition of The Holy War in the author’s original words. You will definitely get it if you invest in the 3-volume Works of John Bunyan. Volume 3 contains his allegorical works, along with copious notes from his editor and quotes from other Puritan writers. A worthy investment for the die-hard Bunyan fan.

If you would like a quick summary of The Holy War, here is a “squashed” version that can be read in 30 minutes or less. It provides a very good introduction and overview. Caution: This version may cause you to want to read the whole thing!

Here is the reading schedule our church is following for the Whitaker edition and a couple of other editions if you’d like to read The Holy War along with us.

The Holy War—Mansoul Falls to Diabolus