The Essential Sentinel
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Essential Sentinel
Scripture Reference:
- 1 Peter 5 (further images / scripture text)
Description: A person dressed like a Roman soldier is standing in the dark next to a torch. He anticipates the attack from a lion (with a long tail in the form of a serpent) that prowls around him. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712), whose initials are at the lower right, was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant scripture text is 1 Peter 5:8-9.
Poem:
O Man! threatened with great betrayal,
Consider, that thou during thine entire life
Dost stand as if on lost sentry,
Continually surrounded by danger.
Therefore dost not doze in this night,
But with quick eyes and ears,
Keepest, without succumbing, thine watch,
So that thou dost not get lost.
With thine spear in hand,
The spear of divine love
With which thou dost banish evil from thee,
And causest the lurking violence to flee.
Never sitest down on the ground to rest,
Lest thou, overcome by sleep,
Dost fall into the mouth of the Lion;
Remainst standing, even if time seems long.
Because this sentry-duty which thou doest,
Not only keeps thee alive,
But wonderful are the things,
That the king of Life wishes to give thee!
Therefore dost endure the short time,
That is given thee to keep watch,
Armored with piety,
So thou wilt reach that Salvation;
It’s done with only one night;
The night of the present life,
Then one will release thee from sentry,
And give thee eternal Rest and Peace.
Oh Man! dost keep watch, for this reason,
While thine life’s torch burns.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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