Things began to grow scarce in Mansoul. Now the things her soul lusted after were departing from her. Upon all her pleasant things were a blast and a blight, and burning instead of beauty. The inhabitants of Mansoul had wrinkles now, and some evidence of the shadow of death. Oh, how glad would Mansoul have been to have enjoyed quietness and satisfaction of mind, though now joined with the most contemptible condition in the world. The captain's also, in the deep of this winter, sent by the mouth of Boanerges' trumpeter a summons to Mansoul to yield up herself to the king, the great king Shaddai. They sent it once and twice and three times, not knowing whether or not at any of those times there might be in Mansoul some willingness to surrender themselves unto them, giving the townsfolk an opportunity by way of invitation. Yes, as far as I could gather, the town would have surrendered to them before now, had it not been for the opposition of old incredulity and the fickleness of the thoughts of my Lord Willbewill. Diabolus also began to rave. And for these reasons, all of Mansoul was not yet of one mind as to yielding. Therefore, they still lay distressed under these perplexing fears." Now, I've just told you that the king's army had sent three times for Mansoul to submit herself this winter. Here's how. The first time the trumpeter went, he went with words of peace, telling them, The captains, the noble captains of Shaddai, pitied and wept over the misery of the now perishing town of Mansoul. And they were troubled to see you stand so much in the way of your own deliverance. He said, moreover, the captains commanded me to tell you that if now you, poor Mansoul, would humble yourself and turn, your former rebellions and most notorious treasons should be forgiven and forgotten too by your merciful king. And having bid them beware that they stand not in their own way, that they should not oppose themselves, nor make themselves their own losers, he returned again into the camp. The second time the trumpeter went, he treated them a little more roughly. For after he sounded his trumpet, he told them, your continuing in your rebellion only irritated and angered the spirit of the captains, and that they were resolved to make a conquest of Mansoul, or to lay your bones before the town's walls. He went again the third time and dealt with them yet more roughly, telling them, now, since you had been so horribly profane, I do not know, not certainly know, whether the captains were inclined to mercy or judgment. Only, the trumpeter continued, they commanded me to give you a summons to open the gates unto them. So he returned and went into the camp. Now these three summons, and especially the last two, so distressed the town that they called for an immediate consultation. The result of which was this, that my lord Willbewill should go up to Ear Gate, and there with the sound of trumpet, call to the captains of the camp for a parley. Well, the Lord will be well sounded upon the wall, so the captains, dressed in all their armor, came up with their 10,000s at their feet. The townsmen then told the captains that they had heard and considered their summons and would come to an agreement with them and with their king Shaddai upon such certain terms, articles, and propositions as, with and by the order of their prince, they were appointed to propound to them, to wit, they would agree upon these grounds to be one people with them. These were their terms. Number one, if those of their own company, as the now Lord Mayor and their Mr. Forget-Good, with them, brave Lord Willbewill, might under Shaddai still be the governors of the town, castle, and gates of Mansoul. 2. Provided that no man who now serves under the great giant Diabolus be cast out of his house or harbor by Shaddai, neither be refused the freedom he has since enjoyed in the famous town of Mansoul. 3. that it shall be granted them that they of the town of Mansoul shall enjoy certain of their rights and privileges to it, such as those formerly granted them, and those they have long lived in the enjoyment of under the reign of their king Diabolus, that now is and long has been their only lord and great defender. And number four, that no new law, officer or executioner of law or office, shall have any power over them without their own choice and consent. These are the propositions or conditions of peace, and upon these terms, they said, we will submit to your king. But when the captains had heard this weak and feeble offer from the town of Mansoul and their high and bold demands, Shaddai's noble captain, the captain Boanerges, gave to them the following speech. To be continued. My favorite part. Now the questions that we have for this week's episode. The first paragraph today was the last paragraph we ended with last time. What did it mean that, quote, things began to grow scarce in man's soul? And the second, The second set of questions is, why do you suppose Mr. Bunyan chose to mark the invitation for man's soul's repentance by three trumpet calls and accompanying words? Read 2 Corinthians 12 verses eight through nine. And how does Paul's pleading for mercy help us to understand God's gracious invitation in terms of a soul's salvation? Next questions. The town of Mansoul responded to the invitations of grace with four conditions of terms. In your own words, what was Mansoul asking the four captains to agree to? And lastly, although we won't get to it until next week, how do you think Captain Boanerges will respond? Why do you think that? And so that's the Holy War, episode 22.