All Hallows' Eve 1517

With five blows of a hammer,

The Western Church was torn,

And all across five hundred years,

The argument was born.

Bam!

No prophet spoke as Caesar,

Indeed, nor did our Lord,

So let our God speak in our tongue,

That we may read His Word.

Bam!

For naught we do can save us,

And all the world is broken,

By works we are not justified,

As sainted Paul has spoken.

Bam!

God’s grace alone may save our souls,

And make us pure as snow,

Had not the Church accepted this,

Some thousand years ago?

Bam!

There’s only one may bridge the gap;

But one may make us bright,

’Tis not the clergy robed in dark,

But a carpenter in light.

Bam!

“I do this not for me,” they said,

“I preach this not for fame,

I only speak the truth of God—

And gloried be His Name!”

With five blows of a hammer,

The Western Church was torn,

And all across five hundred years,

The argument was born.