Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 4
Hebelievedthisallthemore,andwithtrepidation,becauseofthedivinegloomandsilencewhereindwelttheunseenParaclete,Whosesymbolswereadoveandamightywind,tosinagainstWhomwasasinbeyondforgiveness,theeternalmysterioussecretBeingtoWhom,asGod,thepriestsofferedupmassonceayear,robedinthescarletofthetonguesoffire.
TheimagerythroughwhichthenatureandkinshipoftheThreePersonsoftheTrinityweredarklyshadowedforthinthebooksofdevotionwhichheread—theFathercontemplatingfromalleternityasinamirrorHisDivinePerfectionsandtherebybegettingeternallytheEternalSonandtheHolySpiritproceedingoutofFatherandSonfromalleternity—wereeasierofacceptancebyhismindbyreasonoftheiraugustincomprehensibilitythanwasthesimplefactthatGodhadlovedhissoulfromalleternity,foragesbeforehehadbeenbornintotheworld,foragesbeforetheworlditselfhadexisted.
Hehadheardthenamesofthepassionsofloveandhatepronouncedsolemnlyonthestageandinthepulpit,hadfoundthemsetforthsolemnlyinbooksandhadwonderedwhyhissoulwasunabletoharbourthemforanytimeortoforcehislipstouttertheirnameswithconviction.Abriefangerhadofteninvestedhimbuthehadneverbeenabletomakeitanabidingpassionandhadalwaysfelthimselfpassingoutofitasifhisverybodywerebeingdivestedwitheaseofsomeouterskinorpeel.
