THE LILY 49 



His left hand the Hly which emphasizes the 

 mystical character of the divine nuptials. 



It may be noticed in this connection that 

 modern, and more particularly Protestant, 

 ecclesiastical art takes its subjects largely from 

 the parables of Christ, a usage unknown to the 

 Roman Catholic Church during the period when 

 the great masters of art were in her service. 



Northern mediaeval art, that is, the art of the 

 Flemish and German schools, introduced the 

 lily into representations of the Last Judgment, 

 placing the sword and stalk of lilies, ray-wise, 

 behind the head of the judging Christ. In the 

 very early representations of this subject Christ 

 is depicted with a two-edged sword issuing from 

 His mouth, in illustration of the text of the 

 Revelation of Saint John: 



' And out of his mouth went a sharp two- 

 edged sword.' 



And again : 



* Which sword proceeded out of his mouth.' 



But pictorially it was ugly and theologically it 

 was harsh, suggesting wrath rather than mercy as 

 the determining impulse at the final doom. Then 

 men remembered the promise to the righteous : 



D 



