§ 3. The miseries of hell.

But all things contrary to the happiness and glory of the righteous will befall the wicked and impious who shall die in their sins. For their souls will he cast before the Judgment into eternal fire and horrible darkness, and will be vexed with intolerable torments. They will, indeed, resume their bodies at the last day; but these will be black, deformed, fetid, and heavier than lead. After the Judgment, hell will receive within itself all these, and whatever foulness and filth there is in the world; and from thence neither man nor demon will ever again issue forth. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, and everlasting lamentation. There will misery, pain, envy, anger, hatred, and despair never have an end. There will the lost, 204amid incomprehensible torments, ever see, hear and feel, all that is horrible and abominable.

Do thou, O beloved friend, weighing within thyself both the happiness of the good, and the misery of the wicked who end their days in their sins; abhor the one, and aspire to the other with all the love and desire of which thou art capable. It is only with the eye of faith that thou canst now discern God and thy heavenly country; but do thou believe in what thou seest not plainly, so that when what thou believest in shall have been made manifest, thou mayest perfectly rejoice, the clear vision of it being shown thee.

Look frequently into the spiritual mirror, which I, being already fifty years old, have written for myself and for thee. Contemplate thyself diligently in it, that thou mayest easily discover thy defects, and having discovered them, correct them with all thy strength. It is clearly expedient that he who desires to make spiritual progress, should have some certain written precepts and advice by which he may carefully regulate his whole life. Although for many it is abundantly sufficient to contemplate attentively the Life of Jesus Christ, who is the most glorious Mirror of all Christians. To Him be glory for ever and ever, Amen.