The Holy War
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Author | John Bunyan |
---|---|
Country | England |
Language | English |
Genre | Novel |
Publication date | 1682 |
Media type | |
Pages | 191 |
The Holy War Made by King Shaddai Upon Diabolus, to Regain the Metropolis of the World, Or, The Losing and Taking Again of the Town of Mansoul is a 1682
Premise
In the city Mansoul, there are three esteemed men, who have lost their authority due to admitting Diabolus into the city. The mayor's understanding is hidden from the light. The recorder has become a madman, sinning at times and condemning the sin of the city. But worst of all is "Lord Willbewill," who no longer desires to serve his true Lord, but desires to serve Diabolus instead. With the fall of these three men, Mansoul will need to turn back to Shaddai of his own free will, which seems impossible. Salvation can only come if Emmanuel is victorious.
Official novel blurb, [1]
The city named as Mansoul has been regarded as perfect under the rule of Shaddai for a long time. One day, three esteemed men, Lord Willbewill, Understanding, and Conscience, welcome Diabolus into the city. Diabolus with his charisma, eventually convinces Mansoul's citizens to overthrow Shaddai and name him as the ruler of Mansoul. While Understanding and Conscience regretting their actions, Lord Willbewill shifts his allegiance to Diabolus instead. Having concerns over his former citizens, Shaddai sends his son, Emmanuel, to Mansoul as an attempt to reclaim his rule over Mansoul.
Characters
Main Characters:[4]
- Boanerges: One of the four first Captains Shaddai sent to Mansoul
- Carnal-Security: An entrapping Diabolian, who convinces Mansoul to break their fellowship with Emmanuel after He saved the city
- Charity: Seventh Captain
- Conscience: The Recorder of Mansoul, who forgets Shaddai's law due to sin, at times, and other times laments the sin of the city
- Conviction: Second Captain
- Credence: Fifth Captain
- Diabolus: The deceiver who prompts the fall of Mansoul with lies, and fights against Emmanuel's conquest
- Emmanuel: Son of Shaddai and leader of the campaign to reclaim the city Mansoul
- Execution: Fourth Captain.
- Forget-Good: The recorder who works for Diabolus and despises the laws of Shaddai
- Good-Hope: Sixth Captain.
- Ill-Pause: A servant of Diabolus who slays Lord Innocency with foulness
- Incredulity: Friend of Diabolus and one of the two mayors during his rule. Incredulity escapes execution after the recapture of Mansoul and leads the army of Doubters against it.
- Innocence: Eighth Captain.
- Judgement: Third Captain.
- Lord Wilbewill: Servant of Shaddai at first but shifts allegiances to Diabolus when the city is captured
- Lusting: A Diabolian Mayor during the rule of Diabolus
- Patience: Ninth Captain
- Shaddai: The Sovereign of the Universe, as well as the creator and builder of Mansoul (El Shaddai, is one of the Judaic names of God)
- The Secretary: A Mansoul resident after Emmanuel's conquest who is deemed as "qual" to Shaddai and Emmanuel
- Understanding: Mayor of Mansoul who is unable to see the light because of treachery to Shaddai
Locations
Some of the main places of The Holy War are listed below.[citation needed]
- Mansoul: The town, built for the glory and enjoyment of Shaddai, who in its wickedness forsakes their King for Diabolus.
- Eye-Gate: One of the most significant of the five gates entering into Mansoul.
- Ear-Gate: Also one of the most significant gates entering into Mansoul, it is the one which is first assaulted by Diabolus.
- Mouth-Gate: The Gate where proclamations are read and petitions sent.
- Feel-Gate: A weakly guarded gate where Diabolus sends the Doubters to attack after Emmanuel had reclaimed the city.
- Nose-Gate: The least of the five gates of Mansoul.
- Hell-Gate Hill: The place where Diabolus initially flees after losing possession of Mansoul.
Reception
Critical reception to The Holy War has been mixed. Only two editions were published during Bunyan's lifetime,
References
- ^ "Holy War | Christian Focus | 9781845503949". www.rainbowresource.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ Jones, Malcolm, "The English Print", in Hattaway, Michael, A Companion to English Renaissance Literature and Culture, John Wiley & Sons, 2008, p.360.
- ^ Zinck, Arlette, "Dating The Spiritual Warfare Broadsheet", The Recorder: Newsletter of the International John Bunyan Society, 2007, pp.3-4.
- ^ "The Holy War (eBook) | Monergism". www.monergism.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ISBN 0-19-811887-2.
- ^ ProQuest 216723117.
- ISBN 978-0-19-958130-6.
- ISBN 978-3-647-56939-0.
- ^ Macaulay, Thomas Babington (1860). The Miscellaneous Writings of Lord Macaulay. Vol. 2. Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts. p. 239.
External links
- Online text of The Holy War:
- The Holy War public domain audiobook at LibriVox