登陆注册
15460600000053

第53章 Part 5(7)

'Wherefore, O Mr. Conscience, although I have made thee a minister and a preacher to the town of Mansoul, yet as to the things which the Lord Secretary knoweth, and shall teach to this people, there thou must be his scholar and a learner, even as the rest of Mansoul are.

'Thou must therefore, in all high and supernatural things, go to him for information and knowledge; for though there be a spirit in man, this person's inspiration must give him understanding. Wherefore, O thou Mr. Recorder, keep low and be humble, and remember that the Diabolonians that kept not their first charge, but left their own standing, are now made prisoners in the pit. Be therefore content with thy station.

'I have made thee my Father's vicegerent on earth, in such things of which I have made mention before: and thou, take thou power to teach them to Mansoul, yea, and to impose them with whips and chastisements, if they shall not willingly hearken to do thy commandments.

'And, Mr. Recorder, because thou art old, and through many abuses made feeble; therefore I give thee leave and license to go when thou wilt to my fountain, my conduit, and there to drink freely of the blood of my grape, for my conduit doth always run wine. Thus doing, thou shalt drive from thine heart and stomach all foul, gross, and hurtful humours. It will also lighten thine eyes, and will strengthen thy memory for the reception and keeping of all that the King's most noble Secretary teacheth.'

When the Prince had thus put Mr. Recorder (that once so was)into the place and office of a minister to Mansoul, and the man had thankfully accepted thereof, then did Emmanuel address himself in a particular speech to the townsmen themselves.

'Behold,' said the Prince to Mansoul, 'my love and care towards you; I have added to all that is past, this mercy, to appoint you preachers; the most noble Secretary to teach you in all high and sublime mysteries; and this gentleman,' pointing to Mr. Conscience, 'is to teach you in all things human and domestic, for therein lieth his work. He is not, by what I have said, debarred of telling to Mansoul anything that he hath heard and received at the mouth of the lord high Secretary; only he shall not attempt to presume to pretend to be a revealer of those high mysteries himself; for the breaking of them up, and the discovery of them to Mansoul lieth only in the power, authority, and skill of the lord high Secretary himself. Talk of them he may, and so may the rest of the town of Mansoul; yea, and may, as occasion gives them opportunity, press them upon each other for the benefit of the whole. These things, therefore, I would have you observe and do, for it is for your life, and the lengthening of your days.

'And one thing more to my beloved Mr. Recorder, and to all the town of Mansoul: You must not dwell in, nor stay upon, anything of that which he hath in commission to teach you, as to your trust and expectation of the next world; (of the next world, I say, for I purpose to give another to Mansoul, when this with them is worn out;) but for that you must wholly and solely have recourse to, and make stay upon his doctrine that is your Teacher after the first order. Yea, Mr. Recorder himself must not look for life from that which he himself revealeth; his dependence for that must be founded in the doctrine of the other preacher. Let Mr. Recorder also take heed that he receive not any doctrine, or point of doctrine, that is not communicated to him by his Superior Teacher, nor yet within the precincts of his own formal knowledge.'

Now, after the Prince had thus settled things in the famous town of Mansoul, he proceeded to give to the elders of the corporation a necessary caution, to wit, how they should carry it to the high and noble captains that he had, from his Father's court, sent or brought with him, to the famous town of Mansoul.

'These captains,' said he, 'do love the town of Mansoul, and they are picked men, picked out of abundance, as men that best suit, and that will most faithfully serve in the wars of Shaddai against the Diabolonians, for the preservation of the town of Mansoul. 'I charge you therefore,' said he, 'O ye inhabitants of the now flourishing town of Mansoul, that you carry it not ruggedly or untowardly to my captains, or their men; since, as I said, they are picked and choice men - men chosen out of many for the good of the town of Mansoul. Isay, I charge you, that you carry it not untowardly to them: for though they have the hearts and faces of lions, when at any time they shall be called forth to engage and fight with the King's foes, and the enemies of the town of Mansoul; yet a little discountenance cast upon them from the town of Mansoul will deject and cast down their faces, will weaken and take away their courage. Do not, therefore, O my beloved, carry it unkindly to my valiant captains and courageous men of war, but love them, nourish them, succour them, and lay them in your bosoms; and they will not only fight for you, but cause to fly from you all those the Diabolonians that seek, and will, if possible, be, your utter destruction.

'If, therefore, any of them should at any time be sick or weak, and so not able to perform that office of love, which, with all their hearts, they are willing to do (and will do also when well and in health), slight them not, nor despise them, but rather strengthen them and encourage them, though weak and ready to die, for they are your fence, and your guard, your wall, your gates, your locks, and your bars. And although, when they are weak, they can do but little, but rather need to be helped by you, than that you should then expect great things from them, yet, when well, you know what exploits, what feats and warlike achievements they are able to do, and will perform for you.

'Besides, if they be weak, the town of Mansoul cannot be strong; if they be strong, then Mansoul cannot be weak; your safety, therefore, doth lie in their health, and in your countenancing them. Remember, also, that if they be sick, they catch that disease of the town of Mansoul itself.

同类推荐
  • 白石道人诗说

    白石道人诗说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 焰罗王供行法次第

    焰罗王供行法次第

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • A Dissertation on the Poor Laws

    A Dissertation on the Poor Laws

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 斫琴术

    斫琴术

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 野处类稿

    野处类稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 守护甜心之蓝色的蔷薇物语

    守护甜心之蓝色的蔷薇物语

    【人物自编!以守护甜心为基础的文章!】圣卡洛蒂斯学院是一所特别的学院。同样,它也是一所贵族学院。故事讲述了主人公北铭星茉由于家族原因不得不“隐姓埋名”,在特殊的圣卡兰蒂斯学院学习有关守护甜心的理论知识。她一直在追寻自己的守护甜心,同时各种各样的故事也在发生着。当她终于找到自己的甜心后却有了属于自己的使命,为了自己的使命,身边的人都不得不受到伤害,最后的一颗属于她的守护蛋,究竟能不能改变一切呢?
  • 最狂教师

    最狂教师

    超级兵王,强势回归。为了照顾战友的妹妹,兵王莫寒选择重回都市,成了一所中学名不见经传的小教师。本想低调生活,奈何各种麻烦接踵而至,既然不让低调,那他便化身狂龙,搅动一方风云。
  • 许愿的心瓶

    许愿的心瓶

    我知道你不爱我,可是,我爱你!一次次的错过,终究铸成大错,可是,我们有一个共同的心愿lovevish!
  • 我的完美女校长

    我的完美女校长

    绝世高手遭遇冷淡校长未婚妻?“美女,我只想做一个安静的教师!””帅哥,我们去吃麻辣烫吧!““美女,我是有未婚妻的人!”
  • 都市之传奇小道士

    都市之传奇小道士

    一个与世隔绝的小道士,无意中被改变了大脑,看小道士在灯红酒绿的现代都市中如何成就属于他的传奇之路。
  • 凌家兄妹

    凌家兄妹

    依旧是一万多字的短篇书生侥幸成仙,数百年后天道降劫,破劫那人当无生路,受劫自己的去路又在何方。
  • 夙筱居笔录

    夙筱居笔录

    她叫笙祭,一个活了几百年的织梦师。都说织梦师是没有情感的,但是她却为情所困。她爱上了他的师兄,那个男人却心有所属,为了帮他,她甚至被卷进时间空隙,从二十一世纪来到沽城。她甚至没有在历史上听过它的名字。只知道这里是一个好比盛唐的繁华古都。迫于生计,她凭着自己的一技之长,开了一家小医馆。为人织梦还愿,于是,她做了一位聆听者,倾听那个时代,别人刻骨的爱情。本以为就这样孤独的再过一世,却发现心爱之人也来到这里。她是否能成为他心中的羁绊。
  • 丢失的千金

    丢失的千金

    十八年前,小千金被后妈丢弃,被一对家庭普通的夫妇捡到,夫妇看她相貌甜美可爱,看似冰雪聪明,于是收养了她。谁知竟是名门千金,故事由此展开。
  • 玄衍大陆

    玄衍大陆

    神眸天降,时光回溯。少年出身卑微,以无上之资重归太古,主宰时空。
  • 安徒生童话

    安徒生童话

    汉斯·克里斯蒂安·安徒生丹麦作家,诗人,因其童话作品而世界闻名。他最著名的童话故事有《小锡兵》、《冰雪女王》、《拇指姑娘》、《卖火柴的小女孩》、《丑小鸭》和《红鞋》等。安徒生生前曾得到皇家的致敬,并被高度赞扬为给全欧洲的一代孩子带来了欢乐。他的作品已经被译为150多种语言,成千上万册童话书在全球陆续发行出版。