Seventh Meditation.--On Hell.
PREPARATION.
_1. Place yourself in the presence of God._
_2. Humble yourself, and ask Him for His assistance._
_3. Imagine a dark city, all burning with sulphur and pitch, and full of citizens who cannot leave it._
CONSIDERATIONS.
1. The damned are in the infernal abyss as in an accursed city, where they suffer inexpressible torments in all their senses and all their limbs; for, since they have made all their senses and all their limbs serve sin, it is just that they should also endure in all their senses and all their limbs the punishments due to sin: their eyes, for having allowed themselves evil looks, shall suffer the horrific sight of demons and hell; their ears, for having taken pleasure in evil speech, shall hear nothing henceforth but weeping, lamentation, and despair, and so on with the rest.
2. Besides all these torments, there is yet a greater one, which is the deprivation and loss of the glory of God, Whom the damned shall never see. Truly, if Absalom found himself more wretched for not seeing his father David than for all the other sufferings of his exile, O God! what shall it be to be forever deprived of seeing Thy sweet and gracious face?
3. Consider above all the eternity of these punishments, which alone makes hell unbearable. Alas! if the sting of an insect, if the heat of a slight fever, makes a short night seem so long and wearisome to us, how dreadful shall be the night of eternity, with so many torments! From this eternity spring eternal despair, blasphemy, and endless rage.
PREPARATION.
_1. Place yourself in the presence of God._
_2. Humble yourself, and ask Him for His assistance._
_3. Imagine a dark city, all burning with sulphur and pitch, and full of citizens who cannot leave it._
CONSIDERATIONS.
1. The damned are in the infernal abyss as in an accursed city, where they suffer inexpressible torments in all their senses and all their limbs; for, since they have made all their senses and all their limbs serve sin, it is just that they should also endure in all their senses and all their limbs the punishments due to sin: their eyes, for having allowed themselves evil looks, shall suffer the horrific sight of demons and hell; their ears, for having taken pleasure in evil speech, shall hear nothing henceforth but weeping, lamentation, and despair, and so on with the rest.
2. Besides all these torments, there is yet a greater one, which is the deprivation and loss of the glory of God, Whom the damned shall never see. Truly, if Absalom found himself more wretched for not seeing his father David than for all the other sufferings of his exile, O God! what shall it be to be forever deprived of seeing Thy sweet and gracious face?
3. Consider above all the eternity of these punishments, which alone makes hell unbearable. Alas! if the sting of an insect, if the heat of a slight fever, makes a short night seem so long and wearisome to us, how dreadful shall be the night of eternity, with so many torments! From this eternity spring eternal despair, blasphemy, and endless rage.
_Affections and Resolutions._
Instil fear in your soul by these words of Isaiah: O my soul! couldst thou indeed live for ever amid these perpetual flames, and dwell in the midst of this devouring fire? Wilt thou then leave thy God for ever?
Acknowledge that thou hast deserved this punishment; and how often, too! Henceforth, then, I will follow a wholly contrary path; for why should I cast myself into this abyss?
Thus, I will make this and that effort to avoid sin, which alone can bring me this eternal death.
Give thanks, offer, pray.
Instil fear in your soul by these words of Isaiah: O my soul! couldst thou indeed live for ever amid these perpetual flames, and dwell in the midst of this devouring fire? Wilt thou then leave thy God for ever?
Acknowledge that thou hast deserved this punishment; and how often, too! Henceforth, then, I will follow a wholly contrary path; for why should I cast myself into this abyss?
Thus, I will make this and that effort to avoid sin, which alone can bring me this eternal death.
Give thanks, offer, pray.