The Holy War: Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, to Regain the Metropolis of the World, Or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul
by John Bunyan, published in 1682 (review by Robert L. Franck)
John Bunyan’s works should be favorites for readers of this journal based on his theological perspective alone. He was a Puritan and a Baptist. But he provides much more than good theology for lovers of the written word.
He teaches not only through the reason gate—to borrow a Bunyanesque metaphor—to enter the mind but also through the imagination gate to enter the heart. Both destinations are essential if biblical truth is to take root in our lives. To illustrate, let’s consider Acts 14:22:
[Paul and Barnabas were] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
This verse is a remarkably concise summary of Bunyan’s two greatest works: Pilgrim’s Progress and Holy War. So why spend time reading these tomes now that you understand the point that Christians must struggle and face difficulties in this life? Because understanding a principle in abstract, general terms is not enough. You must chew up the truth and digest it. You must consider its implications in relation to your own life. Christ has given gifted men to the Church to help you do just that. John Bunyan is one that is especially needed today.
Unfortunately, we most often define ourselves by our work. We maintain this perspective when we think about living for God. Our single metric of success is: “What good works have I produced for Him?” Anything that detracts from our labor for God is a distraction from what is most important in this life, our spiritual struggles included. They are worthless inefficiencies. But Bunyan’s perspective is different. He understands the importance of God’s working in us through our struggles. He addresses external trials in Pilgrim’s Progress. He focuses on our internal struggle with sin in Holy War. We need to see through Bunyan’s eyes.
Holy War begins with the creation of man, or as Bunyan allegorizes, the town of Mansoul. Then comes the attack and fall of Mansoul to Diabolus. The last half of the book examines the rescue of Mansoul by Emmanuel and the continuing struggle with the Diabolonians. You will observe the officials of Mansoul—Understanding, Conscience, Lord Willbewill—through each of these stages. For example, during Diabolus’ reign over Mansoul, Conscience alternately forgets Shaddai’s law and becomes a raving lunatic when it is violated. (Chew on that for a moment.) Emmanuel’s forces include: Captain Conviction, Captain Credence, and Captain Good Hope. The nefarious characters are led by Diabolus and include: Lusting, Forget-Good, and Carnal-Security. The scheming of these Diabolonians rivals that of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape, although they preceded Screwtape by nearly three centuries.
This is just a glimpse of what Bunyan sees. There is much more gold here, but you will have to dig it out yourself.
Read Bunyan. Read well.
Excerpts:
Now there is in this gallant country of Universe 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, (I mean with reference to its origin,) that I may say of it, as was said before of the continent in which it is placed, there is not its equal under the whole heaven. As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the two worlds; and the first founder and builder of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records I can gather, was one Shaddai; and he built it for his own delight. He made it the mirror and glory of all that he made, even the top-piece, beyond anything else that he did in that country. Yea, so goodly a town was Mansoul when first built, that it is said by some, the gods, at the setting up thereof, came down to see it, and sang for joy. And as he made it goodly to behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all the country round about.
…the walls could never be broken down nor hurt by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto. This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go; and these were made likewise answerable to the walls, to wit, impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these: Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.
Well, upon a time, there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant, made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul, to take it, and make it his own habitation.
…[Emmanuel] this Son of Shaddai, I say, having stricken hands with his Father and promised that he would be his servant to recover his Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this: to wit, 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, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation of perfect deliverance from Diabolus and from his tyranny.
[Emmanuel says] “Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve me but sin; nothing can make thee base before thy foes but sin: take heed of sin, my Mansoul. 'And dost thou know why I at first, and do still, suffer Diabolonians to dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul? It is to keep thee wakening, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, and to cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, and my mercy. 'It is also, that yet thou mayest be made to remember what a deplorable condition thou once wast in. I mean when, not some, but all did dwell, not in thy walls, but in thy castle, and in thy stronghold, O Mansoul. 'O my Mansoul, should I slay all them within, many there be without, that would bring thee into bondage; for were all these within cut off, those without would find thee sleeping; and then, as in a moment, they would swallow up my Mansoul. I therefore left them in thee, not to do thee hurt (the which they yet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them,) but to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight against them.”