The Pan
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Pan
Scripture Reference:
- John 6 (further images / scripture text)
Description: While the kitchen pots are essential to the preparation of meals and slaking of the body’s hunger, if the soul is not fed, this will be an occasion for much regret at the end of life (John 6:27). 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 wrote the accompanying poem.
Motto: Often too much.
Poem:
The Pot, is daily not forgotten,
But hangs over the fire, and cooks the food,
So that the body can Eat,
And hunger is satisfied.
But if the spiritual life,
Of the poor Soul languishes completely,
No one cares much about that,
And it’s also, almost, ignored.
To cook and roast for It,
That would be too much trouble,
It can satisfy itself for now,
With the weak solace of false pretense.
Who would set the Table for It?
That work is not worth the trouble,
The World would ridicule that Service.
So the body becomes burdened.
If it only is seated at the table,
And has, with respect and comfort,
Something to drink and eat,
Then the old Maggot-bag rests;
Until it runs down at an End,
And Death shows his fists,
Then come Despair and Misery,
And life wishes to be cleansed,
Because now it feels bitten,
By regret, as the most needed is forgotten.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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