62. It must be understood that there is a difference between perceiving opposites and contrasts. Opposites are outside and contrary to what is inside. An opposite comes about when one thing totally ceases to exist, and another arises which acts in the contrary direction to the former, like one wheel rotating in the contrary direction to another, or two streams flowing in opposite directions. Contrasts, however, are concerned with the arrangement of numerous and complex elements into such an order that they agree and harmonise, such as precious stones of different colours in a sash worn on a queen's breast, or flowers of various colours arranged in a garland to make a pretty sight. Contrasts therefore exist in both opposites, in both good and evil, and truth and falsity, heaven as well as hell. But the things that are contrasting in hell are all the opposites of those in heaven. Now since God perceives and sees and thus knows everything contrasting in heaven as a result of the order in which He is present, and also as a result perceives, sees and knows all the opposite contrasts in hell, as follows from what was said above, it is plain that God is omniscient in hell just as He is in heaven, and equally among men on earth. Thus God perceives, sees and knows men's evils and falsities by the good and truth in which He Himself is, and which in their essence are God. For He says:
If I go up into the heavens, there you are; if I cast myself down in hell, behold, you are there. Ps. 139:8.
and elsewhere:
If they dig down into hell, from there my hand will rescue them. Amos 9:2, 3.