allNatureisagainstit；itwillandcandonothingbutmischiefwheresoeveritshowsitselfinNature：andsuchLawslienowlikeanincubusoverthisEarth，soinnumerablearethey。Howlong，OLord，howlong！——OyeEternities，DivineSilences，doyoudwellnomore，then，intheheartsofthenobleandthetrue；andistherenoinspirationoftheAlmightyanymorevouchsafedus？
　　TheinspirationoftheMorningNewspapers——alas，wehavehadenoughofthat，andarearrivedatthegatesofdeathbymeansofthat！
　　“Really，oneofthemostdifficultquestionsthiswehaveinthesetimes，Whattodowithourcriminals？“blandlyobservedacertainLaw-dignitary，inmyhearingonce，takingthecigarfromhismouth，andpensivelysmilingoveragroupofusunderthesummerbeech-tree，asFavoniuscarriedoffthetobacco-smoke；andthegroupsaidnothing，onlysmiledandnodded，answeringbynewtobacco-clouds。“Whattodowithourcriminals？“askedtheofficialLaw-dignitaryagain，asifentirelyataloss——“I
　　suppose，“saidoneancientfigurenotengagedinsmoking，“theplanwouldbetotreatthemaccordingtothereallawofthecase；tomaketheLawofEngland，inrespectofthem，correspondtotheLawoftheUniverse。Criminals，Isuppose，wouldprovemanageableinthatway：ifwecoulddoapproximatelyasGodAlmightydoestowardsthem；inaword，ifwecouldtrytodoJusticetowardsthem。“——“I’llthankyouforadefinitionofJustice？“sneeredtheofficialpersoninacheerilyscornfulandtriumphantmanner，backedbyaslightlaughfromthehonorablecompany；whichirritatedtheotherspeaker——“Well，IhavenopocketdefinitionofJustice，“saidhe，“togiveyourLordship。
　　Ithasnotquitebeenmytradetolookforsuchadefinition；I
　　couldratherfancyithadbeenyourLordship’strade，sittingonyourhighplacethislongwhile。ButonethingIcantellyou：
　　Justicealwaysis，whetherwedefineitornot。Everythingdone，sufferedorproposed，inParliamentoroutofit，iseitherjustorelseunjust；eitherisacceptedbythegodsandeternalfacts，orisrejectedbythem。YourLordshipandI，withorwithoutdefinition，doalittleknowJustice，Iwillhope；ifwedon’tbothknowitanddoit，wearehourlytravellingdowntowards——Heavens，mustInamesuchaplace！Thatistheplaceweareboundto，withallourtrading-pack，andthesmallorextensivebudgetsofhumanbusinesslaidonus；andthere，ifwe_don’tknow_Justice，we，andallourbudgetsandActsofParliament，shallfindlodgingwhenthedayisdone！“——Theofficialperson，apolitemanotherwise，grinnedashebestcouldsomesemblanceofalaugh，mirthfulasthatoftheasseatingthistles，andendedin“Hah，oh，ah！“——
　　Indeed，itiswonderfultohearwhataccountweatpresentgiveourselvesofthepunishmentofcriminals。No“revenge“——O
　　Heavens，no；allpreachersonSundaystrictlyforbidthat；andevenatleastonSundaysprescribethecontraryofthat。Itisforthesakeof“example，“thatyoupunish；to“protectsociety“
　　anditspurseandskin；todetertheinnocentfromfallingintocrime；andespeciallywithal，forthepurposeofimprovingthepoorcriminalhimself，——oratlowest，ofhangingandendinghim，thathemaynotgrowworse。Forthepoorcriminalis，tobe“improved“ifpossible：againsthimno“revenge“evenonweek-days；nothingbutloveforhim，andpityandhelp；poorfellow，ishenotmiserableenough？Verymiserable，——thoughmuchlesssothantheMasterofhim，calledSatan，isunderstoodonSundaystohavelongdeservedlybeen！
　　Myfriends，willyoupermitmetosaythatallthis，toonepoorjudgmentamongyournumber，isthemournfulesttwaddlethathumantonguescouldshakefromthem；thatithasnosolidfoundationinthenatureofthings；andtoahealthyhumanheartnocredibilitywhatever。Permitmetosay，onlytoheartslongdrownedindeadTradition，andforthemselvesneitherbelievingnordisbelieving，couldthisseemcredible。Think，andaskyourselves，inspiteofallthispreachingandperoratingfromtheteethoutward！HeartsthatarequitestrangerstoeternalFact，andacquaintedonlyatallhourswithtemporarySemblancesparadingaboutinaprosperousandpersuasivecondition；heartsthatfromtheirfirstappearanceinthisworldhavebreathedsincebirth，inallspiritualmatters，whichmeansinallmattersnotpecuniary，thepoisonousatmosphereofuniversalCant，couldbelievesuchathing。Cantmoral，Cantreligious，Cantpolitical；anatmospherewhichenvelopsallthingsforusunfortunates，andhaslongdone；
　　whichgoesbeyondtheZenithandbelowtheNadirforus，andhasasgoodaschokedthespirituallifeoutofallofus，——Godpitysuchwretches，withlittleornothing_real_aboutthembuttheirpurseandtheirabdominaldepartment！Hearts，alas，whicheverywhereexceptinthemetallurgicandcotton-spinningprovinces，havecommunedwithnoReality，orawfulPresenceofaFact，godlikeordiabolic，inthisUniverseorthisunfathomableLifeatall。Hunger-strickenasphyxiedhearts，whichhavenourishedthemselvesonwhattheycallreligions，Christianreligions。GoodHeaven，oncemorefancytheChristianreligionofOliverCromwell；orofsomenobleChristianman，whomyouyourselfmayhavebeenblessedenough，once，longsince，inyourlife，toknow！Thesearenot_untrue_religions；theyaretheputrescencesandfoulresiduesofreligionsthatareextinct，thathaveplainlytoeveryhonestnostrilbeendeadsometime，andtheremainsofwhich——OyeeternalHeavens，willthenostrilneverbedeliveredfromthem！——Suchhearts，whentheygetuponplatforms，andintoquestionsnotinvolvingmoney，can“believe“
　　manythings！——
　　Itakethelibertyofassertingthatthereisonevalidreason，andonlyone，foreitherpunishingamanorrewardinghiminthisworld；onereason，whichancientpietycouldwelldefine：ThatyoumaydothewillandcommandmentofGodwithregardtohim；
　　thatyoumaydojusticetohim。Thisisyouronetrueaiminrespectofhim；aimthitherward，withallyourheartandallyourstrengthandallyoursoul，thitherward，andnotelsewhitheratall！Thisaimistrue，andwillcarryyoutoallearthlyheightsandbenefits，andbeyondthestarsandHeavens。Allotheraimsarepurblind，illegitimate，untrue；andwillnevercarryyoubeyondtheshop-counter，nayverysoonwillprovethemselvesincapableofmaintainingyoueventhere。FindoutwhattheLawofGodiswithregardtoaman；makethatyourhumanlaw，orI
　　sayitwillbeillwithyou，andnotwell！Ifyouloveyourthieformurderer，ifNatureandeternalFactlovehim，thendoasyouarenowdoing。ButifNatureandFactdo_not_lovehim？
　　Iftheyhavesetinexorablepenaltiesuponhim，andplantednaturalwrathagainsthimineverygod-createdhumanheart，——thenIadviseyou，cease，andchangeyourhand。
　　Rewardandpunishment？Alas，alas，Imustsayyourewardandpunishprettymuchalike！Yourdignities，peerages，promotions，yourkingships，yourbrazenstatueserectedincapitalandcountytownstoourselectdemigodsofyourselecting，testifyloudlyenoughwhatkindofheroesandhero-worshippersyouare。WoetothePeoplethatnolongervenerates，astheemblemofGodhimself，theaspectofHumanWorth；thatnolongerknowswhathumanworthandunworthis！SureastheDecreesoftheEternal，thatPeoplecannotcometogood。Byacoursetooclear，byanecessitytooevident，thatPeoplewillcomeintothehandsoftheunworthy；andeitherturnonitsbadcareer，orstaggerdownwardstoruinandabolition。DoestheHebrewPeoplepropheticallysing“Ou’clo’！“inallthoroughfares，theseeighteenhundredyearsinvain？
　　Torewardmenaccordingtotheirworth：alas，theperfectionofthis，weknow，amountstothemillennium！Neitherisperfectpunishment，accordingtothelikerule，tobeattained，——noreven，byalegislatorofthesechaoticdays，tobetoozealouslyattempted。Butwhenhedoesattemptit，——yes，whenhesummonsouttheSocietytositdeliberativeonthismatter，andconsulttheoraclesuponit，andsolemnlysettleitinthenameofGod；
　　then，ifneverbefore，heshouldtrytobealittleintherightinsettlingit！——Inregardtorewardofmerit，Idonotbethinkmeofanyattemptwhatever，worthcallinganattempt，onthepartofmodernGovernments；whichsurelyisanimmenseoversightontheirpart，andwillonedaybeseentohavebeenanaltogetherfatalone。Butastothepunishmentofcrime，happilythiscannotbequiteneglected。Whenmenhaveapurseandaskin，theyseeksalvationatleastforthese；andtheFourPleasoftheCrownareathingthatmustandwillbeattendedto。Bypunishment，capitalorother，bytreadmillingandblindrigor，orbywhitewashingandblindlaxity，theextremelydisagreeableoffencesoftheftandmurdermustbekeptdownwithinlimits。
　　Andsoyoutakecriminalcaitiffs，murderers，andthelike，andhangthemongibbets“foranexampletodeterothers。“Whereuponarisefriendsofhumanity，andobject。Withverygreatreason，asIconsider，ifyourhypothesisbecorrect。Whatrighthaveyoutohanganypoorcreature“foranexample“？Hecanturnrounduponyouandsay，“Whymakean’example’ofme，amerelyill-situated，pitiableman？Haveyounomorerespectformisfortune？Misfortune，Ihavebeentold，issacred。Andyetyouhangme，nowIamfallenintoyourhands；chokethelifeoutofme，foranexample！AgainIask，Whymakeanexampleofme，foryourownconveniencealone？“——All“revenge“beingoutofthequestion，itseemstomethecaitiffisunanswerable；andheandthephilanthropicplatformshavethelogicallontheirside。
　　Theoneanswertohimis：“Caitiff，wehatethee；anddiscernforsomesixthousandyearsnow，thatwearecalleduponbythewholeUniversetodoit。Notwithadiabolicbutwithadivinehatred。Godhimself，wehavealwaysunderstood，’hatessin，’
　　withamostauthentic，celestial，andeternalhatred。Ahatred，ahostilityinexorable，unappeasable，whichblaststhescoundrel，andallscoundrelsultimately，intoblackannihilationanddisappearancefromthesumofthings。Thepathofitasthepathofaflamingsword：hethathaseyesmayseeit，walkinginexorable，divinelybeautifulanddivinelyterrible，throughthechaoticgulfofHumanHistory，andeverywhereburning，aswithunquenchablefire，thefalseanddeath-worthyfromthetrueandlife-worthy；makingallHumanHistory，andtheBiographyofeveryman，aGod’sCosmosinplaceofaDevil’sChaos。Soisit，intheend；evenso，toeverymanwhoisaman，andnotamutinousbeast，andhaseyestosee。Tothee，caitiff，thesethingswereandare，quiteincredible；toustheyaretooawfullycertain，——theEternalLawofthisUniverse，whetherthouandotherswillbelieveitordisbelieve。We，nottobepartakersinthydestructiveadventureofdefyingGodandalltheUniverse，darenotallowtheetocontinuelongeramongus。Asapalpabledeserterfromtherankswhereallmen，attheireternalperil，areboundtobe：palpabledeserter，takenwiththeredbandfightingthusagainstthewholeUniverseanditsLaws，we——sendtheebackintothewholeUniverse，solemnlyexpeltheefromourcommunity；andwill，inthenameofGod，notwithjoyandexultation，butwithsorrowsternasthyown，hangtheeonWednesdaynext，andsoend。“
　　Othergroundonwhichtodeliberatelyslayadisarmedfellow-manIcanseenone。Example，effectsuponthepublicmind，effectsuponthisanduponthat：allthisismereappendageandaccident；ofallthisImakenoattempttokeepaccount，——sensiblethatnoarithmeticwillorcankeepaccountofit；thatits“effects，“onthishandandonthat，transcendallcalculation。Onething，ifIcancalculateit，willincludeall，andproducebeneficialeffectsbeyondcalculation，andnoilleffectatall，anywhereoratanytime：WhattheLawoftheUniverse，orLawofGod，iswithregardtothiscaitiff？That，byallsacredresearchandconsideration，Iwilltrytofindout；
　　tothatIwillcomeasnearashumanmeansadmit；thatshallbemyexemplarand“example；“allmenshallthroughmeseethat，andbeprofited_beyond_calculationbyseeingit。
　　WhatthisLawoftheUniverse，orLawmadebyGod，is？MenatonetimereaditintheirBible。InmanyBibles，Books，andauthenticsymbolsandmonitionsofNatureandtheWorldofFact，thatis，andofHumanSpeech，orWiseInterpretationofFact，therearestillclearindicationstowardsit。Mostimportantitis，forthisandforsomeotherreasons，thatmendo，insomeway，gettoseeitalittle！AndifnomancouldnowseeitbyanyBible，thereiswrittenintheheartofeverymananauthenticcopyofitdirectfromHeavenitself：there，ifhehavelearnttodecipherHeaven’swriting，andcanreadthesacredoraclesasadcaseforhimifhealtogethercannot，everybornmanmaystillfindsomecopyofit。
　　“Revenge，“myfriends！revenge，andthenaturalhatredofscoundrels，andtheineradicabletendencyto_revancher_oneselfuponthem，andpaythemwhattheyhavemerited：thisisforevermoreintrinsicallyacorrect，andevenadivinefeelinginthemindofeveryman。Onlytheexcessofitisdiabolic；theessenceIsayismanlike，andevengodlike，——amonitionsenttopoormanbytheMakerhimself。Thou，poorreader，inspiteofallthismelancholytwaddle，andblottingoutofHeaven’ssunlightbymountainsofhorsehairandofficiality，haststillahumanheart。If，inreturningtothypoorpeaceabledwelling-place，afteranhonesthardday’swork，thouwerttofind，forexample，abrutalscoundrelwhoforlucreorotherobjectofhis，hadslaughteredthelifethatwasdearesttothee；