The captains therefore gathered themselves together to have free conference among themselves, to know what must be done to gain the town and to deliver it from the tyranny of Diabolus. And one said after this manner and another after that. Then the right noble captain conviction stood up and said, my brethren, my opinion is this. First, that we continually play our slings and arrows into the town and keep it in a state of constant alarm, assaulting them day and night. By doing this, we shall stop the growth of the rampant spirit, for a lion may be tamed by continual annoyance. Second, This done, I advise that in the next place, and with one consent, we draw up a petition to our Lord Shaddai, by which after we have shown our king the condition of mansoul and of affairs here, and have begged his pardon for our failures, we will earnestly implore his majesty's help that he would please send us more force and power. and some gallant and well-spoken commander to lead them, so that his majesty might not lose the benefit of his good beginnings, but may complete his conquest upon the town of Mansoul. They all consented with one mind to this speech of the noble captain conviction, and agreed that a petition should be immediately drawn up and sent by a fit man away to Shaddai with speed. The contents of the petition were this. Most gracious and glorious king, the lord of the best world and the builder of the town of Mansoul, we have, dread sovereign, at your commandment put our lives in jeopardy and at your bidding made war upon the famous town of Mansoul. When we went up against it, according to our commission, we first offered conditions of peace unto it. But they, great king, treated our counsel lightly and would receive none of our reproof. They shut their gates to keep us out of the town. They also mounted their guns and fired upon us to hurt us as much as they could. But we pursued them with alarm upon alarm, retaliating with such justice as was appropriate and have executed such upon the town. Diabolus, Incredulity, and Willbewill are the great doers against us. Now we are in our winter quarters, but even so, as that we do yet with a high hand, assault and distress the town. Once, as we think, If we had only one substantial friend in the town, such as would have merely seconded the sound of our summons as they ought, the people might have yielded themselves to us. But there were only enemies there, neither any to speak on behalf of our Lord to the town. Therefore, though we have done as we could, Mansoul still abides in a state of rebellion against you. Now, King of Kings, please pardon the failures of your servants who have been unsuccessful in so desirable a work as the conquering of Mansoul is. Send, O Lord, as we now desire, more forces to Mansoul that it may be subdued, and a man to lead them that the town may both love and fear. We do not speak like this because we are willing to surrender, for we are willing to lay our bones down against the place. But the town of Mansoul may be won for your majesty. We also pray, your majesty, for this matter to be expedited, that after their conquest, we may be at liberty to be sent to serve in other gracious plans of yours. Amen. The petition thus drawn up was sent away with haste to the king by the hand of that good man, Mr. Love to Man's Soul. When this petition had come to the place of the king, it was delivered to none other than the king's son. So he took it and read it, and because the contents of it pleased him well, he commended its contents and also added some things to the petition himself. So after he had made such amendments and additions as he thought convenient, with his own hand he carried it in to the king, to whom, when he had with obeisance delivered it, he put on authority and spoke of it himself. Now the king, seeing the petition, was glad. But how much more do you think when it was seconded by his son? It pleased him also to hear that his servants, who camped against Mansoul, were so hardy in the work, were so steadfast in their resolves, and that they had already gained some ground upon the famous town of Mansoul. Therefore the king called to himself Immanuel, his son, who said, here I am, my father. The king then said, you know, as I do myself, the condition of the town of Mansoul and what we have purposed and what you have done to redeem it. Come now, therefore, my son, and prepare yourself for the war, for you will go to my camp at Mansoul. You shall also prosper there and prevail and conquer the town of Mansoul. Then the king's son said, to be continued. I have a few questions for you from today's episode. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, from John 16 and verse 8. Why was Captain Conviction's plan to send a message to King Shaddai for help? Read John 16 verses nine through 11 and John 16 verses 13 to 14 to assist you in answering. For more assistance, look also at the first sentence of today's episode and the last two, excuse me. For more assistance, look at the first sentence of the second to the last paragraph and the last two words in that sentence especially, and I'll give you a hint of it. The second to the last. paragraph was this, then the king said, then said, you know as I do myself the condition of the town of Mansoul and what we have purposed and what you have done to redeem it. That's a hint. In the body of the captain's petition to King Shaddai, they specifically noted that the town of Mansoul treated our counsel lightly and would receive none of our reproof. What did this mean? Read the references Mr. Bunyan provided in the allegory for this statement, Matthew 22, verse 5, Proverbs 1, verses 25 through 30, and Zechariah 10, verses 11 and 12, and discuss with your parents the impact of these verses and their application to sinful men. And finally, when the captain's petition arrived at King Shaddai's palace, it was delivered to none other than the king's son. Why did the king's son receive the petition first? To assist you in answering, read 1 Timothy 2 verse 5, which is up there on the wall. Hebrews 7 verse 25 and 1 John chapter 2 verse 1. In these three verses, what two names are given to the Lord Jesus to describe why he receives our petitions and requests first? And also there's some things that we read in the Gospel of John just recently about that, where Jesus said, if you pray in my name. So there's the episode 27 for today.