The pleasures in heaven, on the other hand, are the pleasure in loving
our neighbor and the pleasure in loving God.
[ 2 ] Since hell’s pleasures are opposite to heaven’s, there is a huge gap
between them. The pleasures of heaven flow down into this gap from
above and the pleasures of hell flow up into it from below. While we are
alive in the world we are in the middle of this gap so that we can stay in
balance and in a state of freedom to turn ourselves toward heaven or
toward hell. This gap is what is meant by the great gulf fixed between the
people in heaven and those in hell (Luke 16 : 26 ).
[ 3 ] These points show us the nature of the bond of love between evil
people. In their outer selves, evil people simulate morality in order to
expand their social network and explore where a potential exists for
enjoying the pleasures that they love and that set their inner selves on
fire. The only thing holding them back and limiting their actions is fear
of the law and fear for their reputation and their life. Their friendship
then is like a spider in a sugar bowl, a viper in a loaf of bread, a baby
crocodile in a honey-cake, or a worm in spices.
[ 4 ] This is the nature of the friendship that evil people extend to any-
one. The friendship between blatantly evil people, such as thieves, rob-
bers, and pirates, is like family, as long as their minds have come together
to target something to steal. During that time they kiss each other like
kin and enjoy each other’s company with dining, singing, dancing, and
plotting someone else’s ruin.
But in fact, deep inside themselves they all regard their companions
as their enemies. Clever thieves see this enmity in their companions and
are afraid of it. Clearly, then, there is no friendship between them; there
is instead a deep hatred.
There are people who have not openly associated with evildoers or 455 b
practiced a life of thievery, and who have instead lived a moral and civic
life to gain various benefits; yet they have not bridled the cravings that
dwell in their inner self. Such people are capable of believing that their
own friendships are not like those I have been describing.
Nevertheless, I know for a certainty that evil people have this type of
friendship, because of the many examples I have observed in the spiritual
world. It can be found to one degree or another in all people who reject
faith and who scorn the church’s holy practices as having no value for
themselves, however much value they believe those practices may have
for the general public. In some of these cases the enjoyment of hellish
§455b goodwill & good actions 537