Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
CII: The Wrath to Come explained
The narrator reflects on his initial encounter with the Church's teachings, which he found clear and reasonable except for the doctrine of hell.
What happens
The narrator reflects on his initial encounter with the Church's teachings, which he found clear and reasonable except for the doctrine of hell. His doubt is resolved when his mother (the Church) directs him to Scripture, where he discovers that Christ Himself proclaimed the reality of hell. The poem concludes by affirming that Christ, the Fount of Love, both sends messengers to proclaim love and Himself reveals the punishment for sin.
Themes in this chapter
Sin and Redemption
The poem confronts the doctrine of hell as a consequence of sin, while also pointing to Christ as the Fount of Love who reveals both judgment and mercy.
Faith and Doubt
The narrator experiences doubt regarding the harshness of the doctrine of hell, but finds resolution through faith in Scripture and the Church's teaching.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator recounts his personal struggle with the doctrine of hell and his eventual acceptance through Scripture.
- Christ
Christ is identified as the one who Himself uttered the doctrine of hell, taking upon Himself the fearful sound of judgment.
- Mother
The narrator's mother, representing the Church, opens the holy Book and points to Christ's own words to resolve his doubt.
Key passages
“When first God stirr’d me, and the Church’s word Came as a theme of reverent search and fear, It little cost to own the lustre clear Of truths she taught, and rite and rule she stored; For conscience craved, and reason did accord.”
When God first moved me and I began to reverently examine the Church's teachings, I found it easy to accept the clear truths, rites, and rules she preserved, since my conscience and reason both agreed.
The narrator describes his initial ease in accepting most Church doctrines.
“Yet one there was that wore a mien austere, And I did doubt, and, startled, ask’d to hear Whose mouth had force to edge so sharp a sword.”
But there was one teaching that seemed severe, and I doubted it, startled, and asked who had the authority to proclaim such a sharp doctrine.
The narrator expresses his doubt about the doctrine of hell.
“My mother oped her trust, the holy Book; And heal’d my pang. She pointed, and I found Christ on Himself, considerate Master, took The utterance of that doctrine’s fearful sound.”
My mother (the Church) opened the holy Scripture and healed my distress. She showed me that Christ Himself, as a thoughtful Master, spoke that fearful doctrine.
The narrator's doubt is resolved by Scripture, which reveals that Christ Himself taught about hell.
“The Fount of Love His servants sends to tell Love’s deeds; Himself reveals the sinner’s hell.”
God, the source of love, sends His servants to proclaim His loving acts, but He Himself reveals the reality of hell for sinners.
The poem concludes by affirming that the same God who is love also reveals judgment.