Bunyan's Holy War (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 8.
Now the castle gates are broken and Diabolus is taken prisoner, lead out before the people and stripped of his armour.
Then the rest of chapter 8 consists of petitions sent to Emmanuel for mercy. These are met with silence and harsh words from Emmanuel which places the town in great distress. Finally Emmanuel orders the people to meet him with his captains and he will give them their answer. The people expect to be condemned to death but Emmanuel gives them pardon and generously provides them with riches.
Great reaction of the people to Jesus' pardon: 'Now, the prisoners, when they did hear the gracious words of Prince Emmanuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away; for the race, the benefit, the pardon, was sudden, glorious, and so big, that they were not able, without staggering, to stand up under it. Yea, my Lord Willbewill swooned outright; but the Prince stepped to him, put his everlasting arms under him, embraced him, kissed him, and bid him be of good cheer, for all should be performed according to his word. He also did kiss, and embrace, and smile upon the other two that were Willbewill's companions, saying, 'Take these as further tokens of my love, favour, and compassions to you; and I charge you that you, Mr. Recorder, tell in the town of Mansoul what you have heard and seen.''
I love that Lord Willbewill fainted at the news. If we really understood what it meant for Jesus to grant life instead of death to sinners, we would be swooning on a regular basis.
Read Chapters 9 and 10.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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