All punishment in the other life is given with a view to the spirit's betterment. The punishments are of such a nature that they almost take away evils, or furnish the ability to do good. So all punishments are intrinsically purgings, because they purge away evils by imparting the powers to speak truth and do good. But that ability is something supplementary-a gift of the Lord. For if evils were simply taken away, without the gift of abilities to do good, nothing would be left of the person, because there is nothing but evil in man.