Портрет художника в юності

           Butinhellthetormentscannotbeovercomebyhabit,forwhiletheyareofterribleintensitytheyareatthesametimeofcontinualvariety,eachpain,sotospeak,takingfirefromanotherandre-endowingthatwhichhasenkindleditwithastillfiercerflame.Norcannatureescapefromtheseintenseandvarioustorturesbysuccumbingtothemforthesoulissustainedandmaintainedinevilsothatitssufferingmaybethegreater.Boundlessextensionoftorment,incredibleintensityofsuffering,unceasingvarietyoftorture—thisiswhatthedivinemajesty,sooutragedbysinners,demands;thisiswhattheholinessofheaven,slightedandsetasideforthelustfulandlowpleasuresofthecorruptflesh,requires;thisiswhatthebloodoftheinnocentLambofGod,shedfortheredemptionofsinners,trampleduponbythevilestofthevile,insistsupon.

           —Lastandcrowningtortureofallthetorturesofthatawfulplaceistheeternityofhell.Eternity!O,dreadanddireword.Eternity!Whatmindofmancanunderstandit?Andremember,itisaneternityofpain.Eventhoughthepainsofhellwerenotsoterribleastheyare,yettheywouldbecomeinfinite,astheyaredestinedtolastforever.Butwhiletheyareeverlastingtheyareatthesametime,asyouknow,intolerablyintense,unbearablyextensive.Tobeareventhestingofaninsectforalleternitywouldbeadreadfultorment.Whatmustitbe,then,tobearthemanifoldtorturesofhellforever?Forever!Foralleternity!Notforayearorforanagebutforever.