deepundergroundpoetry.com
Sermon on the Destruction of Images
first written and shared in 2015
"... for five hundred years, during which religion was in a more prosperous condition, and a purer doctrine flourished, Christian churches were completely free from visible representations" - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
From Eve in vines about her legs
Like fetters forged in Paradise,
To saintly men in grief reposed,
We see the brass bull teem with lice.
The Christ Himself a sack of rice,
Held in his mother's drooping arms,
Will grease your eyes in Roman homes.
God is not blind to ancient charms.
These are the idols John warned us
might damn our poor flock's naive hearts.
If hammers be the rage of Christ
We all must break these pagan arts.
The elders preached in rooms of stone,
Down aisles built for yearning sheep.
The rocks that make their tombs will say:
A soul of Rome will find no sleep.
"... for five hundred years, during which religion was in a more prosperous condition, and a purer doctrine flourished, Christian churches were completely free from visible representations" - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
From Eve in vines about her legs
Like fetters forged in Paradise,
To saintly men in grief reposed,
We see the brass bull teem with lice.
The Christ Himself a sack of rice,
Held in his mother's drooping arms,
Will grease your eyes in Roman homes.
God is not blind to ancient charms.
These are the idols John warned us
might damn our poor flock's naive hearts.
If hammers be the rage of Christ
We all must break these pagan arts.
The elders preached in rooms of stone,
Down aisles built for yearning sheep.
The rocks that make their tombs will say:
A soul of Rome will find no sleep.
Published 14th Jun 2020
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 5
reading list entries 2
comments 4
reads 332
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
14th Jun 2020 7:40pm
Where have I read this before? Was it here or on the FB group? I know I remember this from somewhere, and I still love it today.
14th Jun 2020 7:43pm
Thanks! I suspect it was the FB group, though it was published here. As I recall you were one of the few who “got” it. I spoke with other people who thought that I was writing from my own perspective!
14th Jun 2020 7:46pm
Right. As a matter of fact, this may have been one of the first pieces I read from you and thought, I must know this man!
