The Moving-springs of Hell

The Moving-springs of Hell

There is, in hell, not only a certain natural succession of time but also something of social and political order. Families herd together and souls of one and the same century like to congregate. And there is a kind of progressive development. The most recent arrivals take the lowest place, advancing to make room for fresh troops appearing. Those who, in the world, were of one way of thinking or alike in manner of acting soon meet here though of a different nationality or separate centuries. Thus there is here, a town of injustice called also the town of politicians; there is a town of the Holy Inquisition; a gigantic city of Jews, of Mormons; a town of Antediluvians, and many others.

I begin to understand the moving-springs of hell. It is an insatiate desire on the one hand and remorse on the other—I had almost said sorrow, but that is too sweet a grace, admitting of sorrow for sin, for opportunity wasted, and that is unknown here; it is a dull, flinty grief, a mere wailing for pain. 

Hubble Sees Red Giant Blow a Bubble | ESA/NASA

The punishment of hell is twofold, but it is the self-same retribution. Some are driven continuously to brood over the same evil passions they indulged in on earth, satisfaction alone being absent, or, with horror and loathing, are obliged again and again to commit, in the spirit, the self-same crimes that polluted their days in the flesh. The miser forever is dreaming of riches, the voluptuary of uncleanness, the glutton of feasting, the murderer of his bloody deed. Others are pursuing the very things they neglected on earth; they know it is hopeless, but pursue them they must. Thus men of unjust dealing are anxiously trying to right the wrong, the unmerciful to do deeds of charity, the unnatural parent to live for her children, the suicide to prolong his days.

But whatever we suffer, our torment is not to be viewed in the light of the final punishment that is coming, and they await the day of doom—no; it is merely the natural consequence of their life on earth. 

Oh; men and women yet walking on earth, consider this! that all sin—great or small—has its own irretrievable consequence, which—ay; think of it—extends far beyond the limits of life even into hell. And if mere consequence may be so terrible, what must be the punishment to come?

L. W. J. S., Letters from Hell, 1889, Richard Bentley & Son, London

Cassiopeia—a supernova | NASA/DOE/Fermi LAT Collaboration, CXC/SAO/JPL-Caltech/Steward/O. Krause et al. and NRAO/AUI