VERS. XXVI.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
A great gulf fixed.
IT is well known from the Poets, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Greek, and Inferi among the La∣tines comprehend the seat both of the Blessed and the Damned, denoting in general▪ the state of the dead: be they according to the quality of their persons allotted either to joys or punishments. On this hand, Elysium for the good; on that hand, Tartarus for the wicked, the River Cocytus, or Acheron or some such great gulph fixed betwixt them. The Jews seem not to have been very distant from this apprehension of things. o 1.1 God hath set the one against the other [Eccles. VII. 14.] that is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hell, and Paradise. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 How far are they distant? an handbreadth. R. Johanan saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a wall is between. But the Rabbins say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they are so even with one another, that you may see out of one into the other.
That of seeing out of the one into the other, agrees with the passage before us; nor is it very dissonant that it is said, they are so even with one another: That is, they are so even, that they have a plain view one from the other, nothing being interposed to hinder it, and yet so great a gulf between, that it is impssible to pass the one to the other. That is worth noting, Revel. XIV. 10. shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.