Портрет художника в юності

           —O,mydearlittlebrethreninChristJesus,willwethenoffendthatgoodRedeemerandprovokeHisanger?Willwetrampleagainuponthattornandmangledcorpse?Willwespituponthatfacesofullofsorrowandlove?Willwetoo,likethecrueljewsandthebrutalsoldiers,mockthatgentleandcompassionateSaviourWhotrodaloneforoursaketheawfulwine-pressofsorrow?EverywordofsinisawoundinHistenderside.EverysinfulactisathornpiercingHishead.Everyimpurethought,deliberatelyyieldedto,isakeenlancetransfixingthatsacredandlovingheart.No,no.Itisimpossibleforanyhumanbeingtodothatwhichoffendssodeeplythedivinemajesty,thatwhichispunishedbyaneternityofagony,thatwhichcrucifiesagaintheSonofGodandmakesamockeryofHim.

           —IpraytoGodthatmypoorwordsmayhaveavailedtodaytoconfirminholinessthosewhoareinastateofgrace,tostrengthenthewavering,toleadbacktothestateofgracethepoorsoulthathasstrayedifanysuchbeamongyou.IpraytoGod,anddoyoupraywithme,thatwemayrepentofoursins.Iwillaskyounow,allofyou,torepeataftermetheactofcontrition,kneelinghereinthishumblechapelinthepresenceofGod.Heisthereinthetabernacleburningwithloveformankind,readytocomforttheafflicted.Benotafraid.Nomatterhowmanyorhowfoulthesinsifyouonlyrepentofthemtheywillbeforgivenyou.Letnoworldlyshameholdyouback.