Page:The New View of Hell.djvu/38

 Human Nature in its Fourfold State, treating of this same subject, says: "They will be universal torments, every part of the creature being tormented in that flame. When one is cast into a fiery furnace, the fire makes its way into the very bowels, and leaves no member untouched: what part then can have ease when the damned swim in a lake of fire burning with brimstone?" (p. 458.) And Rev. Thomas Halyburton, in his Great Concern of Salvation, says: "Consider, Who is the contriver of these torments. There have been some very exquisite torments contrived by the wit of men, the naming of which, if ye understood their nature, were enough to fill your hearts with horror but all these fall as far short of the torments ye are to endure, as the wisdom of man falls short of that of God." (p. 154. Edinburgh edit., 1722.)

Such was the generally accepted doctrine concerning hell in all the Christian churches at the time Swedenborg wrote. Such, too, had been the doctrine for centuries previous, as we learn from Christian writers and Christian artists. These latter aimed to embody or represent upon canvas the prevalent Christian thought of the period in which they lived. Thus Michael Angelo, in his picture of the tells us more plainly than words could tell, what idea Christians of his day had of the future punishment of the wicked. Truly did Mr. Beecher say in one of his sermons not long ago:

"If you will take this picture, you will better understand what was the real feeling of the age in which he