The Holy War (Updated, Modern English): Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World

Preface

In the year 1682, Dorman Newman published a volume at the King’s Arms in the Poultry, and Benjamin Alsop published the same manuscript at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry. This book was entitled The Holy War Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, to Regain the Metropolis of the World , or The Losing and Taking A gain of the Town of Mansoul . It was the work of John Bunyan, who had published the story of his own spiritual struggle sixteen years before, under the title of Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners , and had produced The Pilgrim’s Progress (Part 1) four years before. Bunyan quickly followed The Pilgrim’s Progress with the Life and Death of Mr. Badman , a grimly factual picture of English life and character as seen through his eyes.

In The Holy War, Bunyan returned to allegory, and as a piece of literature, the book is in no way inferior to The Pilgrim’s Progress. If Bunyan had written nothing else, The Holy War would have established his place among the masters of English prose. In its appeal to the conscience, it is no less effective than The Pilgrim’s Progress; however, it is not as successful at holding the reader’s attention. Nevertheless, Macaulay suggests that if there had been no Pilgrim’s Progress, then The Holy War would have been the first of religious allegories.

In working out the details of The Holy War, Bunyan seems to have kept in mind his own experience. The fortifications of the city, the movements of opposing forces, and the changes in the municipal offices of Mansoul were reproductions of scenes and events he had recently witnessed. He adapted these real-life experiences with extraordinary success and used them to present the doctrine of grace and the temptations present in the Christian life.

The characters and the incidents are, in effect, the characters and incidents of every age. This element gives the story of Mansoul an undying freshness, which suits the needs of men throughout the world. The Holy War has been translated into many languages, including some with very little literature. (As the 1907 edition was being prepared for the press, the Religious Tract Society helped with the printing of The Holy War in Kongo.)

– A. R. Buckland

To the Reader

’Tis strange to me, that they who love to tell

Things done of old, yes, and who do excel

Their equals in the knowledge of history,

Do not speak of Mansoul’s wars, but let them lie

Dead, like old fables, like such worthless things,

Knowledge of which no advantage brings.

Let men make what they will their own,

But till they know this, to themselves are unknown.

Of stories, I well know there are various sorts,

Some foreign, some domestic, and some reports

Created and written as thought leads the writers:

(By books a man may speculate about the composers)

Some will repeat that which never was,

Nor will be, to tear it down (and that without a cause)

Such subjects raise mountains from things small, tell such things

Of men, of laws, of countries, and kings.

While their story seems to be quite sage,

Such gravity clothes every page,

Though their front illustration says all is vain,

Yet, in this way, disciples they obtain.

But, readers, I have other important things to do,

Than to write worthless stories to thus trouble you.

What I say here, some men know so well,

They can with tears of joy the story tell.

The town of Mansoul is well known to many,

Her troubles are not doubted by any

Be familiar with those histories and reflect

That Mansoul and her wars dissect.

Then lend your ear to hear what I relate,

Regarding the town of Mansoul and her state.

How she was lost, took captive, made a slave,

And set against Him who would her save;

How by hostile ways she did oppose

Her Lord, and with his enemy arose.

For it is true: he that will them deny

Must then the best of records vilify.

For my part, I myself was in the town,

Both when ‘twas set up, and falling down.

I saw Diabolus take Mansoul into his possession,

And cause her to live under his oppression.

Yes, I was there when she avowed him as Lord,

And to him did submit with one accord.

When Mansoul trampled upon things divine,

And wallowed in filth as does a swine;

Then she actually resorted to arms,

Fought Emmanuel; abhorred His charms.

I admit I was there, and rejoiced to see

Diabolus and Mansoul so agree.

Let no men, then, deem me a fable-maker,

Nor mark my name or credit me a partaker.

Of their derision: what is here in view,

From my own knowledge, I dare say is true.

I saw the Prince’s armed men come down

By troops, by thousands, to besiege the town;

I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound,

And how his forces covered all the ground.

Yes, how they set themselves in battle array,

I shall remember it to my dying day.

I saw the colored flags waving in the wind,

And the intent on harm from those within

To ruin Mansoul and to take away

Her very soul without delay.

I saw the mounts cast up against the town,

And how the slings were placed to beat it down.

I heard the stones whizz by my ears,

A sound I won’t forget; filled me with fears.

I heard them fall, and saw what work they made

And how old Mors did cover with his shade

The face of Mansoul; and I heard her cry,

Woe be the day, in dying I shall die!

I saw the battering rams in the great raid

Beat open Ear-gate; and I was much afraid.

Not only Ear-gate, but the very town

Would by those battering rams be beaten down.

I saw the fights, heard the captains shout,

And in each battle saw who faced about.

I saw those wounded and who were slain;

And who, when dead, would come to life again.

I heard the cries of those wounded call out,

While others like men deprived of fear, fought about.

And while the cry, ‘Kill, kill,’ was in my ears,

The gutters ran, not so much with blood as tears.

Indeed, the captains did not always fight,

But then they still troubled us day and night;

Their cry, Up, fall on, let us take the town,

Kept us from sleeping or from lying down.

I was there when the gates were broken ope,

And saw how Mansoul was stripped of hope;

I saw the captains march into the town,

How they fought and their foes cut down.

I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go

Up to the castle and there seize his foe;

And saw him and his fellows bring him down,

In chains of great contempt through the town.

I saw Emmanuel, when He possessed

His town of Mansoul; and how greatly blest.

Oh, how splendid His town of Mansoul was,

When she received His pardon and loved His laws.

When the Diabolians were caught,

When tried, and when to execution brought,

Then I was there; yes, I was standing by

When Mansoul the rebels did crucify.

I also saw Mansoul clad all in white,

I heard her Prince call her His heart’s delight.

I saw Him put upon her chains of gold,

Rings, and bracelets, pleasant to behold.

What shall I say? I heard the people’s cries,

Saw the Prince wipe tears from Mansoul’s eyes.

I heard the groans but saw the joy of many,

Tell you about it all, neither will nor can I.

But by what I say here, you well may see

That Mansoul’s matchless wars no fables be.

With Mansoul, the desire of both princes was:

One would keep his gain, t’other gain his loss.

Diabolus would cry, The town is mine!

Emmanuel would plead a right divine

Unto His Mansoul then to blows they go,

And Mansoul cries, These wars will me undo.

Mansoul, her wars seemed endless in her eyes,

She’s lost by one, becomes another’s prize.

And he again who lost her last would swear,

Have her I will or into pieces I’ll tear.

Mansoul, it was the very seat of war;

Therefore, her troubles greater were by far

Than only where the noise of war is heard,

Or where the shaking of a sword is feared;

Or only where small skirmishes are fought,

Or where the false notion fights with a thought.

She saw the swords of fighting men made red,

And heard cries of those wounded and bled.

Must not her frights, then, be much more by far

Than theirs who to such doings strangers are?

Or theirs who hear the beating of a drum,

But, for fear, do not flee from house and home?

Mansoul not only heard the trumpet’s sound,

But saw her brave gasping on the ground.

Therefore, we must not think that she could rest,

With them, whose greatest longing is but jest.

Or where the blustering threatening of great fights,

End in discussions of mutual concern or debates.

Mansoul, her mighty wars, they did portend

Her strength or grief and that world without end.

Therefore, she must be more concerned than they

Whose fears begin and end the selfsame day.

Or where no other harm comes to him

Who is engaged but loss of life or limb.

As all need to confess who now do dwell

In heaven and earth and can this story tell.

Do not count me with them who to amaze

Set the people’s eyes on the stars to gaze,

Insinuating with much confidence,

That each of them is now the residence

Of some brave creatures as if for a world they will

Have in each a star, though it be past their skill.

To make it clearly visible to man in any case,

Either by reason or that his fingers can embrace.

But I have too long held you in the porch,

And kept you from the sunshine with a torch.

Well, go forward now; step within the door,

And there behold five hundred times much more.

Of all such rarities seated in the mind and soul

That will both please the mind and feed the eyes.

With those, which, if a Christian, you will see

Not small but things of greatest value be.

Nor should you go to work without my key;

For in mysteries men soon lose their way;

For it can help turn it right if you would know

My riddle, and would with my heifer plough;

It lies there in the window. Fare thee well,

My next may be to ring thy passing bell.

– John Bunyan

Chapter 1

Mansoul: Its Origin

In my travels, as I walked through many regions and countries, I happened upon that famous continent of Universe. This very large and spacious country lies between the two poles, amid the four points of the heavens, and is well watered, richly adorned with hills and valleys, and splendidly located. For the most part, at least where I was, this country was fruitful, well populated, and blessed with clean, sweet air.

The people are diverse with different skin colors, languages, customs, and ways of religion. They differ as much as the planets differ one from another. Some are right and some are wrong, even as it happens to be in lesser regions.

I had the fortune to travel in this country, for my Master sent me there to do business for Him and oversee business done. I spent enough time there that I learned much of the people’s mother tongue and their customs and manners. And, to tell the truth, it delighted me very much to see and hear many things among them. I even lived and died a native among them, for I was so enamored with them and their ways.

Now in this fine and noble country of Universe, an honest town is regulated by the close observance of a proprietor, a united people called Mansoul. This town is known for its buildings, which are artfully crafted with care, and its location, which is convenient and easily adapted to meet the wants and needs of those who live there. Mansoul is also recognized for its privileges and profitable origin. Just like the continent on which it is placed, this town has no equal under the whole heaven.

The location of this town is between the two worlds and, according to the best and most authentic records, its founder and builder was one Shaddai. He built it for His own delight, and the pattern and splendor were beyond anything else He did in that country. (Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. – Revelation 4:11) Mansoul was such a pleasant town that when He first built it, some said the gods came down to see it and sang for joy. As much as He made it enjoyable to look at, He also made it mighty – to have dominion over all the country around it. All were commanded to acknowledge Mansoul as their capital and were commanded to do homage to it. Yes, the town itself had a direct mandate and power from her King to demand service of all and subdue any who in any way denied the command.

Diabolus Cast Out of Heaven

In the midst of this town stood a most famous and stately palace. For its strength, it might be called a castle; for its pleasantness, a paradise; for largeness, a place so copious as to contain all the world. King Shaddai intended this place for Himself alone, partly because of His own delights and partly because He didn’t want the terror of strangers to fall upon the town. Shaddai also made a stronghold of this place but gave charge of its keeping to the men of the town.

The walls of the town were well built, fixed and solid and compactly knit together. Had it not been for the townsmen themselves, these walls would have remained forever and could not have been shaken or broken. For He who built Mansoul, in His excellent wisdom, fashioned the walls so they could never be broken down or damaged by even the mightiest adversarial potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent. (Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35, 37-39)

This famous town of Mansoul had five gates used to enter and exit. These were built in conformity with the walls; that is to say, they were impregnable. They could not be opened or forced by any outsider but only by the will and permission of those within. The names of the gates were Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.

Other things found in the town of Mansoul will give you an even clearer picture of the glory and strength of the place. The town always had sufficient means of provision within its walls. It had the best, most wholesome, and excellent Law that existed in the whole world. Not a mean fellow, dishonest rogue, or faithless person could be found within its walls. All were honest, faithful men and tightly united; and this is an important matter. (How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. – Psalm 119:1) As long as Mansoul had the goodness to keep true to Shaddai the King, these men enjoyed His favor, His protection, and they were His delight.

After a time, a mighty giant by the name of Diabolus made an assault upon this famous town of Mansoul to overtake it and make it his own. This giant was king of the dark world and a raving, mad prince. Before we talk of his taking of this famous town of Mansoul, if you please, we will first discuss the origin of this Diabolus.

While Diabolus was a great and mighty prince, he was also both poor and beggarly. As to his origin, he was once one of the servants of King Shaddai, created and placed by Him in a high and mighty position. Yes, Diabolus was granted superiority and power such as belonged to the best of Shaddai’s territories and dominions. This Diabolus was made son of the morning, and granted a dignified place, which brought him much glory and gave him much brightness. (You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. – Ezekiel 28:13)

His position also presented him with an income that might have contented his Luciferian heart had it not been insatiable and as enlarged as hell itself. He saw himself exalted to this degree of greatness and honor, and he desired more.

His mind raged for a higher rank of honor and distinction. He began to think about how he might gain the position of lord over all and have sole power under Shaddai. (But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ – Isaiah 14:13-14)

However, the King reserved that position for His Son and had already bestowed it upon Him. (For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11)

Before Diabolus made a move, he considered how best to accomplish his goal and then shared his thoughts with some of his companions. They agreed with him, and together they discussed this issue with cunning. They planned how they could attempt to destroy the King’s Son, so the inheritance might become theirs. (But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ – Matthew 21:38)

To keep it short, they determined to commit treason and decided on the appointed time. Then together they vowed to accomplish it. The rebels assembled in a predetermined place and attempted the assault.

Now the King and His Son, being all-seeing, could not help but perceive every incident that occurred in their dominions. The King always loved His Son and was greatly provoked and offended by what He saw. Therefore, He took out the rebels at the very time they made their first trip to carry out their plan. He convicted them of the treason, horrid rebellion, and conspiracy they had devised and were attempting to put into practice. As a group, He cast them out of all places of trust, benefit, honor, and higher office. With this done, He banished them from the King’s residence, turned them upside down, and dropped them into the horrible pit where He bound them firmly in chains, never again to expect the least favor from His hands. There they would abide the judgment He had appointed forever. (And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. – Jude 1:6)

After they had been cast out and banished from His residence and thrown into the horrible pit, they knew they had lost their Prince’s favor forever, being removed from all places of trust, profit, and honor. You can rest assured they now added malice and rage against Shaddai and against His Son to their former pride. Therefore, they walked about in much fury from place to place, methodically looking for something belonging to the King and, to retaliate against Him, render it useless.

At last, without knowing where they were going, the rebels came into this spacious country of Universe and directed their course towards the town of Mansoul. They knew that town to be one of the significant works and delights of King Shaddai, so they devised a plan and made an assault against it.

The reason they knew Mansoul belonged to Shaddai was that they were there when He built it and adorned it for Himself. So when they found the place, they shouted horribly for joy and roared like a lion upon its prey: Now we have found the prize, the way to attain revenge on King Shaddai for what He has done to us! (Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8) They called a council of war and sat down to discuss what ways and methods were best to engage Mansoul in order to win this famous town for themselves. These four ideas were offered for consideration:

First, they questioned whether all of them should show themselves in this scheme to take the town of Mansoul.

Secondly, they talked about whether they should go and sit down before Mansoul, dressed in the ragged and beggarly guise they now wore.

Thirdly, they discussed whether it would be prudent to reveal their intentions to Mansoul and the plan they had designed or whether they should attack it with words and deceitful means.

Fourthly, they deliberated over whether it would be better if some among them were given secret orders to shoot the principal townsmen, if they saw them. For in this way, they decided their cause and plan would advance more effectively.

The first of these proposals they decided against, for they determined it would not be best if they all revealed themselves before the town, because the appearance of so many might alarm and frighten the town. They determined a few or perhaps only one of them should show themselves so as not to frighten or alarm Mansoul in this way. However, Diabolus said, It is impossible for us to take the town, for no one can enter it without its owner’s consent. Therefore, let there be but a few – or only one – who assaults Mansoul. Diabolus gauged his companions’ reactions and said, And in my opinion, it should be me. They all offered hearty nods and agreed to this plan.

To the second proposal, they discussed whether they should sit down before Mansoul in their ragged and beggarly appearance. Certainly not, the fierce Alecto said. For though Mansoul knew about them and had even dealt with things invisible, they had never been seen in such a sad and vile condition as theirs.

Then Apollyon said, The advice is pertinent. He smeared his bony fingers across the chest of his beggarly rags. For even one of us appearing to them as we are now would generate and multiply anxious thoughts within them, which will make them worry and cause them to be cautious and watchful on all sides. And if that happens, then, as my Lord Diabolus said just now, there is no reason for us to think of taking the town.

The Advice of Apollyon

Then the mighty giant Beelzebub ignored the flies attracted to his stench as they crawled along his neck and head. The advice already given is safe, for though the men of Mansoul have seen such things as we once were, until now they’ve never beheld such things as we have become. It is best, in my opinion, to come upon them in such a guise as is common and more familiar among them.

When they had all consented to this, the next thing to be determined was what shape, color, or guise Diabolus should take to show himself when he went about to make Mansoul his own. One said one thing and another suggested something else. At last, Lucifer answered that he thought it was best that his lordship, Diabolus, assume the body of a creature that the town had dominion over. (For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. – James 3:7)

These aren’t just familiar to people of the town of Mansoul, but being under their authority, they will never suspect an attempt upon the town would be made by such creatures. To dim their understanding, let him assume the body of one of those beasts Mansoul deems wiser than any of the rest.

Every one of the ghoulish rebels applauded this advice. So it was determined the giant Diabolus should assume the form of a dragon, for dragons in those days were as familiar to the town of Mansoul as a bird is to a boy now. (Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox. Behold now, his strength in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly. He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword. – Job 40:15-16, 19)

When they came to the third proposal of whether they should make their intentions known or adhere to the method Diabolus intended to use, the rebels quickly decided to do neither. For the previous discussion reminded them that the inhabitants of Mansoul were a strong people in a strong town, whose wall and gates were impregnable (to say nothing of their castle). It also reminded them of the fact that these people could not be won by any means other than their own consent.

Besides, Legion said, "if they discover our intentions, they may send to their King for aid. If they do that, I know very well what it will mean for us. For this reason, let us assault them with the false appearance of fairness, covering our true intentions with all manner of lies, flatteries, and deceptive words; feigning things that never will be, and promising that which they shall never find. This is the way to win Mansoul and make them open their gates to us and even make them desire us to come in to them.

The reason I think this approach will be best is that the people of Mansoul are all simple and innocent. Every one of them is honest and true, and they don’t even know what it is to be assaulted with deception, cunning, and hypocrisy. They are strangers to lying and misleading lips. Therefore, we won’t be detected by them at all, if disguised in this way. Our lies shall be accepted as true sayings, and our counterfeit transactions as upright dealings. What we promise them, they will believe, especially if we pretend to have great love for them and that our intention is only for their benefit and honor, as we deliver all our lies and contrived words. (For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

For a moment, the rebels sat in silence. Not one offered a reply against this advice, and its acceptance moved things along like a current of water flowing down a steep descent. They went on to consider the last proposal, which was whether it was best to give orders to various members of their company to shoot some of the principal townsmen, if they judged that it would promote their cause.

This proposal carried with unanimous agreement, and the townsman designated to be destroyed by this stratagem was Captain Resistance. He was a great man in Mansoul and one whom the giant Diabolus and his band feared more than they feared the whole town.

That brought them to the next question: Who should perform the murder? They appointed one Tisiphone, a fury of the lake, to do the deed. Thus, they ended their council of war, rose up, and attempted to do as they had determined. They all marched towards Mansoul in an invisible form – except for one and only one. And that one did not approach the town in his own likeness but rather under the guise and in the body of the dragon.

They drew up and sat before Ear-gate, the place of hearing from all outside the town, as Eye-gate was the place for viewing objects outside the gate. So, as I said, he came up to the gate to trick the people of Mansoul and to put in place his secret attack on Captain Resistance. With all in place, the giant in dragon form ascended close to the gate and called to the town of Mansoul for an audience in order to lure Captain Resistance within bowshot of the town. The only one he took with him was one Ill-Pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters.

Diabolus and His Companions Seek Mansoul

Chapter 2

The Fall of Mansoul

Now, as I said, Diabolus, in dragon form, arrived at the gate in the manner of those times and sounded his trumpet for an audience. This brought the leaders of the town of Mansoul, including Lord Innocent, Lord Willbewill, Lord Mayor Understanding, Mr. Recorder, and Captain Resistance, down to the wall to see who was there and what they wanted. Lord Willbewill, when he looked and saw who stood at the gate, demanded to know what he was, for what reason he had come, and why he aroused the town of Mansoul with such an unusual sound.

Diabolus, as if a lamb, began his speech and said, Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, as you can see, I am not one who lives far from you but near. I am one who is bound by the King to do homage and what service I can for you. In order that I may be faithful to myself and to you, I have somewhat of a concern to report to you. I’m asking you to grant me the opportunity to appear before you and to hear me patiently. And before I say anything, let me assure you, it is not for myself but for you – not for my benefit but yours – that I seek to speak with you. This will be made very clear once I share what’s on my mind. For, gentlemen, to tell you the truth, I have come to show you how you may obtain great deliverance from a bondage which holds you captive and which you are enslaved under, and yet you are unaware of.

At this, the town of Mansoul began to prick up their ears. And what is it? Pray what is it? they thought.

And Diabolus said, "I have something to say to you concerning your King, concerning His Law, and also relating to yourselves. Regarding your King, I know He is great and powerful; yet all He has said to you is neither true nor to your advantage.

"First of all, what He has said is not true. For He has struck you with fear, saying certain consequences shall happen if you do such a thing as He has forbidden, but in fact, it shall not come to pass nor be fulfilled. However, if there is a danger, it is the living in constant slavery of the fear of the greatest of punishments just for doing so small and trivial a thing as eating a little fruit. (The LORD God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. – Genesis 2:16-17)