Page:The Other Life.djvu/216

 And now comes what seems to the mind trained in the current theology the strangest assertion of all. This hell is the heaven of evil spirits. These direful surroundings to them are beautiful; these horrible associations to them are pleasant; this awful life is the one they have chosen for themselves. They would not, if they could, exchange their lot for the light of heaven and the bowers of bliss. When let alone, when they let others alone, when they are not engaged in torturing each other, they are happy. It is, however, the happiness of the beast in his lair, of the bat in his cave, of the serpent in his slime. Such is the lot of those who make their bed in hell.

These are not punishments. God does not punish the sinner. The sun never goes down on his wrath. He forgives every sin as soon as it is committed. The punishment of sin lies in the organic law that in sinning you become evil. The wages of sin is death—spiritual death. After that, no love to God and the neighbor, no knowledge of truth, no yearnings for good, no possibility of heaven.

These evil spirits are not tortured by remorse of conscience. Conscience implies faith in God, respect for his laws, pain at their violation, retro-