Hell - Page 2

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Those who go to Hell, therefore, are they who hate God or have no use for him.  They are those who commit the supreme and unforgivable blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of saying, “Evil, be thou my good”. (1) Purity, charitableness, honesty, self-control and a readiness to forgive are despised.  The sins and vices, which are the opposite of these virtues, are desired and freely followed.  Hell is not for those who would like to be with God in Heaven only he insists on shutting them out; rather it is for those who have no inclination for the life of Heaven and would be completely miserable if they were obliged to share it.  Heaven would have no more appeal to them in the next life than holiness does in this.  They go to Hell because they prefer Hell.  In the words of Holy Scripture, “They say to God, ‘Leave us alone!  We do not desire to know your ways’ “ (NRSV, Job 21:14).