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Objection 1: It would seem that in hell the damned would not wish
others were damned who are not damned. For it is said (Lk.
16:27, 28) of the rich man that he prayed for his brethren,
lest they should come "into the place of torments." Therefore in
like manner the other damned would not wish, at least their friends in
the flesh to be damned in hell.
Objection 2: Further, the damned are not deprived of their
inordinate affections. Now some of the damned loved inordinately some
who are not damned. Therefore they would not desire their evil,
i.e. that they should be damned.
Objection 3: Further, the damned do not desire the increase of
their punishment. Now if more were damned, their punishment would be
greater, even as the joy of the blessed is increased by an increase in
their number. Therefore the damned desire not the damnation of those
who are saved.
On the contrary, A gloss on Is. 14:9, "are risen up from
their thrones," says: "The wicked are comforted by having many
companions in their punishment."
Further, envy reigns supreme in the damned. Therefore they grieve
for the happiness of the blessed, and desire their damnation.
I answer that Even as in the blessed in heaven there will be most
perfect charity, so in the damned there will be the most perfect hate.
Wherefore as the saints will rejoice in all goods, so will the damned
grieve for all goods. Consequently the sight of the happiness of the
saints will give them very great pain; hence it is written (Is.
26:11): "Let the envious people see and be confounded, and let
fire devour Thy enemies." Therefore they will wish all the good were
damned.
Reply to Objection 1: So great will be the envy of the damned that
they will envy the glory even of their kindred, since they themselves
are supremely unhappy, for this happens even in this life, when envy
increases. Nevertheless they will envy their kindred less than
others, and their punishment would be greater if all their kindred were
damned, and others saved, than if some of their kindred were saved.
For this reason the rich man prayed that his brethren might be warded
from damnation: for he knew that some are guarded therefrom. Yet he
would rather that his brethren were damned as well as all the rest.
Reply to Objection 2: Love that is not based on virtue is easily
voided, especially in evil men as the Philosopher says (Ethic. ix,
4). Hence the damned will not preserve their friendship for those
whom they loved inordinately. Yet the will of them will remain
perverse, because they will continue to love the cause of their
inordinate loving.
Reply to Objection 3: Although an increase in the number of the
damned results in an increase of each one's punishment, so much the
more will their hatred and envy increase that they will prefer to be
more tormented with many rather than less tormented alone.
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