There are numerous punishments, heavier and more prolonged according to the nature of each one's character acquired during bodily life. But punishments have the effect over a period of time of instilling them with fears, shames, horrors, for the things that their nature has fed upon and drunk in. So when they are associated with those who are better and those things come up that agree with their nature, they are warned by those fears, shames, and horrors that they have been struck with and are thereby apt to be led away from them. But still, they do not alter or change their nature, which remains as developed in the life of the body to eternity, but the punishments add on the means whereby they can be led away from their evils. 1748, 11 Aug.