The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
And first for the tormenters, we have their nature and properties,
exactly and properly delivered by the names of, _the Enemy_, or _Satan_;
_the Accuser_, or _Diabolus_; _the Destroyer_, or _Abaddon_. Which
significant names, _Satan_, _Devil_, _Abaddon_, set not forth to us any
individual person, as proper names use to do; but only an office, or
quality; and are therefore appellatives; which ought not to have been
left untranslated, as they are in the Latin and modern Bibles; because
thereby they seem to be proper names of _demons_; and men are the more
easily seduced to believe the doctrine of devils; which at that time was
the religion of the Gentiles, and contrary to that of Moses and of
Christ.
And because by the _Enemy_, the _Accuser_, and _Destroyer_, is meant the
enemy of them that shall be in the kingdom of God; therefore if the
kingdom of God after the resurrection, be upon the earth, as in the
former chapter I have shown by Scripture it seems to be, the Enemy and
his kingdom must be on earth also. For so also was it, in the time
before the Jews had deposed God. For God’s kingdom was in Palestine; and
the nations round about, were the kingdoms of the Enemy; and
consequently by _Satan_, is meant any earthly enemy of the Church.
[Sidenote: Torments of hell.]
The torments of hell, are expressed sometimes, by _weeping_, and
_gnashing of teeth_, as _Matth._ viii. 12. Sometimes by _the worm of
conscience_; as _Isaiah_ lxvi. 24, and _Mark_ ix. 44, 46, 48: sometimes,
by fire, as in the place now quoted, _where the worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched_, and many places beside: sometimes by _shame and
contempt_, as _Dan._ xii. 2, _And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth, shall awake; some to everlasting life; and some to shame, and
everlasting contempt_. All which places design metaphorically a grief
and discontent of mind, from the sight of that eternal felicity in
others, which they themselves through their own incredulity and
disobedience have lost. And because such felicity in others, is not
sensible but by comparison with their own actual miseries; it followeth
that they are to suffer such bodily pains, and calamities, as are
incident to those, who not only live under evil and cruel governors, but
have also for enemy the eternal king of the saints, God Almighty. And
amongst these bodily pains, is to be reckoned also to every one of the
wicked a second death. For though the Scripture be clear for an
universal resurrection; yet we do not read, that to any of the reprobate
is promised an eternal life. For whereas St. Paul (_1 Cor._ xv. 42, 43)
to the question concerning what bodies men shall rise with again, saith,
that _The body is sown in corruption, and is raised in incorruption; it
is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it
is raised in power_. Glory and power cannot be applied to the bodies of
the wicked: nor can the name of _second death_ be applied to those that