2579. That sphere, or the evil who are in that sphere of intentions, are not vastated like those who are evil in externals; for the more interiorly evil a man is, so much the more grievous and prolonged the punishment. This, there remains [to] them a most grievous and prolonged hell and vastation, till almost nothing remains with them, who are contrary to mercy, as already described, and who are contrary to innocence, all of whom are deceitful, and more interiorly evil than others. - 1748, July 9.