SECOND EDIT: Sermon on the Destruction of Icons

[Leah S.]

SECOND EDIT:
"... 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. Still disturbed by the brazen bovine and his cooties. But maybe I'm nitpicking. (Snort!)
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. Short by half hoof. Try "down aisles twice built for yearning sheep" Why twice?Duality of intent. Leah interjects: I think "aisles" is supposed to be read as "aiyuls," which gives it the requisite number of syllabubbles.
The rocks that make their tombs will say:
A heart of Rome will find no sleep.
FIRST EDIT:
"... 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 snort with life.
These are the idols John warned us
Would curse our flocks with wicked hearts.
If hammers be the rage of Christ
We all must break these Pagan arts.
From this meek house of stone I preach,
This pulpit fit for cloistered sheep,
And these bleak bricks will tell you now:I like 'bleak bricks' as it evokes a clear image of the absence of paintings or other art.
That Papist hearts will find no sleep.
ORIGINAL:
"... 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,
And God Himself a sack of rice,
Slid limply in His mother's arms.
These are the idols John told us
Would bring to folly naive hearts.
If hammers be the rage of Christ,
Let men destroy these morbid arts.
I speak to thee from place of stone,
A pulpit fit for cloistered sheep,
And this dark stone will teach thee well:
That Papist hearts will find no sleep.

Hi hes,
Cleaner without being clinical. There is enough clarity to
Carry me through
Your thinking even though I
Find it impossible to comment
With clarity on myths. Well
Done.
Best,
Tectak