Thesecondpainwhichwillafflictthesoulsofthedamnedinhellisthepainofconscience。Justasindeadbodieswormsareengenderedbyputrefaction，sointhesoulsofthelosttherearisesaperpetualremorsefromtheputrefactionofsin，thestingofconscience，theworm，asPopeInnocenttheThirdcallsit，ofthetriplesting。Thefirststinginflictedbythiscruelwormwillbethememoryofpastpleasures。Owhatadreadfulmemorywillthatbe!Inthelakeofall-devouringflametheproudkingwillrememberthepompsofhiscourt，thewisebutwickedmanhislibrariesandinstrumentsofresearch，theloverofartisticpleasureshismarblesandpicturesandotherarttreasures，hewhodelightedinthepleasuresofthetablehisgorgeousfeasts，hisdishespreparedwithsuchdelicacy，hischoicewines；themiserwillrememberhishoardofgold，therobberhisill-gottenwealth，theangryandrevengefulandmercilessmurdererstheirdeedsofbloodandviolenceinwhichtheyrevelled，theimpureandadulteroustheunspeakableandfilthypleasuresinwhichtheydelighted。
Theywillrememberallthisandloathethemselvesandtheirsins。Forhowmiserablewillallthosepleasuresseemtothesoulcondemnedtosufferinhellfireforagesandages。Howtheywillrageandfumetothinkthattheyhavelosttheblissofheavenforthedrossofearth，forafewpiecesofmetal，forvainhonours，forbodilycomforts，foratinglingofthenerves。Theywillrepentindeed:andthisisthesecondstingofthewormofconscience，alateandfruitlesssorrowforsinscommitted。Divinejusticeinsiststhattheunderstandingofthosemiserablewretchesbefixedcontinuallyonthesinsofwhichtheywereguilty，andmoreover，assaintAugustinepointsout，GodwillimparttothemHisownknowledgeofsin，sothatsinwillappeartotheminallitshideousmaliceasitappearstotheeyesofGodHimself。Theywillbeholdtheirsinsinalltheirfoulnessandrepentbutitwillbetoolateandthentheywillbewailthegoodoccasionswhichtheyneglected。Thisisthelastanddeepestandmostcruelstingofthewormofconscience。Theconsciencewillsay:Youhadtimeandopportunitytorepentandwouldnot。Youwerebroughtupreligiouslybyyourparents。
Youhadthesacramentsandgraceandindulgencesofthechurchtoaidyou。
YouhadtheministerofGodtopreachtoyou，tocallyoubackwhenyouhadstrayed，toforgiveyouyoursins，nomatterhowmany，howabominable，ifonlyyouhadconfessedandrepented。No。Youwouldnot。Youfloutedtheministersofholyreligion，youturnedyourbackontheconfessional，youwalloweddeeperanddeeperinthemireofsin。Godappealedtoyou，threatenedyou，entreatedyoutoreturntoHim。O，whatshame，whatmisery!
TheRuleroftheuniverseentreatedyou，acreatureofclay，toloveHimWhomadeyouandtokeepHislaw。No。Youwouldnot。Andnow，thoughyouweretofloodallhellwithyourtearsifyoucouldstillweep，allthatseaofrepentancewouldnotgainforyouwhatasingletearoftruerepentanceshedduringyourmortallifewouldhavegainedforyou。Youimplorenowamomentofearthlylifewhereintorepent:Invain。Thattimeisgone: