AC 1857 - Every Evil

AC 1857 [2-3]

Every evil has its limit
that varies in each individual case,
beyond which it is not allowable to pass.
When an evil person passes beyond this limit
he precipitates himself into the penalty,
and this is so in every particular. 

It is the same in general,
the wicked thrust themselves down into hell,
not in a moment, but successively.
This has its origin in the universal law of order
established by the Lord,
that the Lord never casts anyone down into hell;
but that evil casts itself down,
or that the evil person casts himself down,
and this successively,
until the evil has been consummated,
and nothing of good any longer appears.
So long as there is any good,
he is uplifted above hell;
but when there is nothing but evil,
of himself
he is thrust down into it.
Good and evil must first be separated from each other,
for they are opposites;
and no one is allowed to incline both ways.
This is what is signified
by the iniquity of the Amorites having to be consummated.
But with the good the case is otherwise;
they are continually uplifted by the Lord toward heaven,
and their evil is successively wiped away.