regard to
these idols, and the souls of the poor pagans cast themselves at the
feet of Jesus, and adored him with inexpressible joy: here, likewise,
the demons were bound with chains and dragged away. I saw our Saviour
perform many other actions; but I suffered so intensely at the same
time, that I cannot recount them as I should have wished.

Finally, I beheld him approach to the centre of the great abyss,
that is to say, to Hell itself; and the expression of his countenance
was most severe.

The exterior of Hell was appalling and frightful; it was an immense,
heavy-looking building, and the granite of which it was formed,
although black, was of metallic brightness; and the dark and ponderous
doors were secured with such terrible bolts that no one could behold
them without trembling. Deep groans and cries of despair might be
plainly distinguished even while the doors were tightly closed; but, O,
who can describe the dreadful yells and shrieks which burst upon the
ear when the bolts were unfastened and the doors flung open; and, O,
who can depict the melancholy appearance of the inhabitants of this
wretched place!

The form under which the Heavenly Jerusalem is generally represented
in my visions is that of a beautiful and well-regulated city, and the
different degrees of glory to which the elect are raised are
demonstrated by the magnificence of their palaces, or the wonderful
fruit and flowers with which the gardens are embellished. Hell is shown
to me under the same form, but all within it is, on the contrary,
close, confused, and crowded; every object tends to fill the mind with
sensations of pain and grief; the marks of the wreath and vengeance of
God are visible everywhere; despair, like a vulture, gnaws every heart,
and discord and misery reign around. In the Heavenly Jerusalem all is
peace and eternal harmony, the beginning, fulfilment, and end of
everything being pure and perfect happiness; the city is filled with
splendid buildings, decorated in such a manner as to charm every eye
and enrapture every sense; the inhabitants of this delightful abode are
overflowing with rapture and exultation, the gardens gay with lovely
flowers, and the trees covered with delicious fruits which give eternal
life. In the city of Hell nothing is to be seen but dismal dungeons,
dark caverns, frightful deserts, fetid swamps filled with every
imaginable species of poisonous and disgusting reptile. In Heaven you
behold the happi