contrary, that of Hell, even while it burns the damned, produces on them an effect directly oppofite; and caufes them fometimes to experience fo fevere a cold as often makes them fhudder, and gnafh their teeth together, like perfons in the cold fit of an ague, or the inhabitants of the frozen regions of the north. All these truths, which are indeed attefted to us in the holy writings, have also been repeated by that great and celebrated African Doctor, whom the Romish church has placed amongst the number of her faints and fathers, and looks upon as one of her oracles. "The Almighty," fays he, " foreseeing what "would happen, created at the beginning of the "world the fire of Hell very different from ours, in "that, being once kindled, it never fhall go out. There is no need that men, or angels, or the de"vils themselves, fhould ftir it up, or add fresh wood, "or any other combuftible, to keep it up. It burns without confuming, or cafting the fmalleft light: "in fhort, it is wonderful, and worthy of the wrath "of God, who kindled it for to exercife and fatisfy "his juftice." But let us continue to run over all the other miracles of this abode. CHAP. CHAP. XV. The impoffibility of getting out of Hell. HE famous labyrinth in the island of Crete is THE much fpoken of in ancient hiftory, which we not long fince gave you fome idea of from the defcription left us by one of the moft elegant poets of antiquity. It was, as we have seen, a large and magnificent building, conftructed in such a manner, that when a perfon once entered it, there was no manner of difficulty in the going thro' every part of it. But if he wanted to get out of it, and was for that purpose defirous of re-treading his steps again, instead of being able to get to the door he came in at, he only wandered about more and more, deceived by the near resemblance of the windings, avenues, and buildings, fo that it was not poffible for him. ever to find again the way he came in. So it is with the infernal habitation. Nothing is easier that to get into it. An hundred and an hundred gates, always open, are ready at all seasons to receive whoever present themselves. Without having any need for a guide, you may run through every nook and corner of it without any obftacle; but if the persons once got in fhould defire to get out again, as often happens, it it proves a real labyrinth to them, from which it is impoffible to escape. For, as the prince of Latin poets fays, Smooth lies the road to Pluto's gloomy fhade, To climb to these etherial realms again. Virg. Æneid, Lib. 4. To no purpose may we make all imaginary attempts for that; in vain tread over all our steps again. The more we advance, the more we go aftray: in vain try to mark veftiges of those who have gone before us in this vaft habitation. Like the road to the lion's den in the fable, we fee the footsteps of those who have come in, but not a fingle one of any There fhall you perfon, who ever has got out again. not meet one charitable foul to put you on your way; no mistress, no Ariadne * procuring for her Thefeus the means of getting out of this dark dwelling. Not Lucifer himself, though you should promise him to facrifice E * A daughter of Minos, king of Crete, who, falling in love with Thefeus, gave him a clue of thread, by the means of which, he found his way out of the labyrinth, after having killed the Minotaur. In return, he carried off this princefs, whom he afterwards abandoned in the island of Naxos. facrifice every day three hundred bulls, would lend you even the least of his imps to assist you to get out. IN vain may it be alledged, to weaken this truth, that Hercules found means to get out of this gloomy place, and even carry Cerberus along with him; that Eneas, with the affistance of the golden branch, and led by the old Cumæan fybil, took the fame journey to fee his father. That Orpheus made his way to it whilft living, to go and feek his dear and fair Euridice +, who was restored to him, thanks to the charms of his voice, and the fweet harmony of his lyre; a favour which, however, his violent excefs of love occafioned him to reap no benefit from. To this I anfwer, that all the world now know, that these pretended miracles are nothing but fables, with which the poets for two thousand years amused mankind; and which for a long time past have had no other ufe amongst us, but to amufe the lads in fchools and colleges. IT †The ancient poets have said, that he was the son of Apollo that the rivers ceased to run; trees and rocks were animated to go to liften to him; and the wildeft animals became tame at the sound of his voice. His grief for the lofing his wife the fecond time, made him grow an enemy to all women, which exafperated those of Thrace where he lived, to fuch a rage against him, that they tore him to pieces. Ir is true, that it has also been related (for at no period of the world have there been wanting talemakers and enthufiafts) that a certain emperor § a very good man, and a certain woman, whom they have named Falconilla, although they both died in paganism, did, after having continued fome time with Lucifer, obtain permiffion to leave his kingdom at the interceffion of a certain faint, and to go, as it is faid, into the celeftial glory. It is alfo true that according to the belief of the church of Rome, not only the popes, cardinals, archbishops and bishops, but also every little prieft or monk, boafts of the right of releafing as many fouls as he chufes out of Purgatory, which, as we have fhewn, is the antichamber of Hell an antichamber, which, by the account they give of E 2 ; it, f M. Ulpius Trajanus, one of the best princes that the Roman empire ever had. He fucceeded Nerva, reigned twenty years, and died lamented by the whole empire. It is faid, that St. Gregory the pope, who lived above four hundred and fifty years after the death of the emperor, feeing one day a ftatue, which represented him, alighting from on horseback, although in very great hafte to depart on a military expedition, to do juftice to a woman who demanded it of him, was so affected with this act of equity, that he begged of God to release the foul of this prince out of Hell; which was granted him, but upon condition, that he should make no more fuch requefts. |