Creatures Take Vengeance on Sinners.
1961.
Yet this also I would have you know, that upon such souls God does not take vengeance directly,
yet His whole creation rises up and inflicts punishments upon the impious;
1962.
and although in the present world the goodness of God bestows the light of the world and the services of the earth alike upon the pious and the impious, yet not without grief does the sun afford his light, and the other elements perform their service, to the impious.
1963.
And, in short, sometimes even in opposition to the goodness of the Creator,
the elements are wearied out by the crimes of the wicked;
and thence it is that either the fruit of the earth is blighted, or the composition of the air is vitiated,
or the heat of the sun is increased beyond measure, or there is an excessive amount of rain or of cold.
1964.
Thence pestilence, and famine, and death in various forms stalk forth,
for the creature hastens to take vengeance on the wicked;
yet the goodness of God restrains it, and bridles its indignation against the wicked,
and compels it to be obedient to His mercy, rather than to be inflamed by the sins and the crimes of men.
1965.
For the patience of God waits for the conversion of men, as long as they are in this body.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT
Divisions 1966-200
Book 5
RECOGNITIONS 5
Eternity of Punishments.
1966.
Yet if any persist in impiety till the end of life, then as soon as the soul, which is immortal, departs, it shall pay the penalty of its persistence in impiety.
1968.
For even the souls of the impious are immortal, though perhaps they themselves would wish them to end with their bodies.
1969.
Yet it is not so; for they endure without end the torments of eternal fire,
and to their destruction they have not the quality of mortality.
1970.
Yet perhaps you will say to me, You terrify us, O Peter.
1971.
And how shall we speak to you the things which are in reality?
1972.
Can we declare to you the truth by keeping silence?
1973.
We cannot state the things which are, otherwise than as they are.
1974.
Yet if we were silent, we should make ourselves the cause of the ignorance that is ruinous to you,
and should satisfy the serpent that lurks within you, and blocks up your senses,
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who cunningly suggests these things to you, that he may make you always the enemies of God.
1975.
Yet we are sent for this end, that we may betray his disguises to you;
and melting your enmities, may reconcile you to God, that you may be converted to Him, and may please Him by good works.
1976.
For man is at enmity with God, and is in an unreasonable and impious state of mind and wicked disposition towards Him, especially when he thinks that he knows something, and is in ignorance.
1977.
Yet when you lay aside these, and begin to be pleased and displeased with the same things which please and displease God, and to will what God wills then you shall truly be called His friends.
God's Care of Human Things.
1978.
Yet perhaps some of you will say, God has no care of human things;
and if we cannot even attain to the knowledge of Him, how shall we attain to His friendship?
1979.
That God does concern Himself with the affairs of men,
His government of the world bears witness:
for the sun daily waits upon it, the showers minister to it;
the fountains, rivers, winds, and all elements, attend upon it;
and the more these things become known to men, the more do they indicate God's care over men.
1980.
For unless by the power of the Most High, the more powerful would never minister to the inferior;
and by this God is shown to have not only a care over men,
yet some great affection, since He has deputed such noble elements to their service.
1981.
Yet that men may also attain to the friendship of God,
is proved to us by the example of those to whose prayers He has been so favourable,
that He has withheld the heaven from rain when they wished, and has again opened it when they prayed.
1982.
And many other things He has bestowed upon those who does His will,
which could not be bestowed but upon His friends.
1983.
Yet you will say,
What harm is done to God if these things also are worshipped by us?
1984.
If any one of you should pay to another the honour that is due to his father, from whom he has received innumerable benefits, and should reverence a stranger and foreigner as his father, should you not think that he was undutiful towards his father, and most deserving to be disinherited?
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