Портрет художника в юності

           God,remember,isabeinginfinitelygood,andthereforethelossofsuchabeingmustbealossinfinitelypainful.Inthislifewehavenotaveryclearideaofwhatsuchalossmustbe,butthedamnedinhell,fortheirgreatertorment,haveafullunderstandingofthatwhichtheyhavelost,andunderstandthattheyhavelostitthroughtheirownsinsandhavelostitforever.AttheveryinstantofdeaththebondsoftheflesharebrokenasunderandthesoulatoncefliestowardsGodastowardsthecentreofherexistence.Remember,mydearlittleboys,oursoulslongtobewithGod.WecomefromGod,welivebyGod,webelongtoGod:weareHis,inalienablyHis.Godloveswithadivineloveeveryhumansoul,andeveryhumansoullivesinthatlove.Howcoulditbeotherwise?Everybreaththatwedraw,everythoughtofourbrain,everyinstantoflifeproceedsfromGod’sinexhaustiblegoodness.Andifitbepainforamothertobepartedfromherchild,foramantobeexiledfromhearthandhome,forfriendtobesunderedfromfriend,Othinkwhatpain,whatanguishitmustbeforthepoorsoultobespurnedfromthepresenceofthesupremelygoodandlovingCreatorWhohascalledthatsoulintoexistencefromnothingnessandsustaineditinlifeandloveditwithanimmeasurablelove.This,then,tobeseparatedforeverfromitsgreatestgood,fromGod,andtofeeltheanguishofthatseparation,knowingfullwellthatitisunchangeable:thisisthegreatesttormentwhichthecreatedsouliscapableofbearing,POENADAMNI,thepainofloss.