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burning fire. Just as the stone sinks into the sea
when it is thrown there and never returns to the surface,
so the souls sink to the bottom, which, though
continually burning and melting, never lessens or ends. In this way
they expiate their folly day and night and so will continue
perpetually and without end. For whatever is spiritual
cannot ever die such that it be entirely dead, but death
constantly strengthens it. (see note) The soul can never die
once it is outside a body, but must languish forever.
Nor will it have anything but pain so long as it is in hell.
It is the country and the land of oblivion. For those
who are there are forgotten, just as in this world they
forgot their Creator, Who is full of pity and compassion.
For this reason He put them into oblivion so that they
will never have mercy or compassion. This land is so
dark, hideous, and full of stench, pain,
suffering, sadness, hunger and thirst, that never will
any creature have happiness or joy there. These are
the terrible stinking Gehennas. And there is in that place