true. It is even supposed by many, that the love of self is the only principle on which social organizations can be maintained. Combinations of such men are held together, and some degree of external social order is observed, not because there is any real affection for each other's welfare, but because each regards the others as necessary to the attainment of the evil ends which he loves. When a band of robbers unite together, and mutually defend and assist each other, no one supposes that they have any real regard for the welfare of their associates. If such were the case, each would advise the others to a mutual abandonment of their wicked course of life. But each sees that combining with the others, his wicked purposes can be more effectually accomplished; and on this selfish principle the union is sustained. Let the death of one of the party become necessary, in order to save the others from exposure, and the same selfish principle that had hitherto preserved his life, will now lead to the destruction of it. It is thus that by the operation of self love, a spiritual affiinity is created, which draws together those who are in the love of similar evils, even while there is internally cherished the infernal fire of a deadly hatred. We can conceive of no reason why the selfish principles which thus draw wicked men together and form them into various societies in the natural world, should not continue to produce similar effects in the spiritual world. It would even seem to be a just and necessary inference, that the operation of these principles will be much more perfectly and fully manifested when men are released from the external restraints to which they are subjected in the natural world.
But as hell is in all respects the exact opposite of heaven, the inference will necessarily follow, that the most intense and bitter hatred must always prevail among the various societies in that world. Each looks upon the others as its rival aspirants after power and selfish gratification, and hence as its most bitter enemies, whom it would gladly crush and
