With faggot and the prison's loathsome cell, They've done their worst to stifle human thought And stop research amid the fields of lore, Their plea that it is impious to explore The realms of Nature's secrets, or to tell Aught to the mass of men by priests not taught. Hell to the world holds up a God of wrath-- Omniscient tyrant, sitting on a throne, Wearing a royal diadem of gold, While fawn around and praise him throngs untold In numbers, who by adoration hath Secured his special favors as their own! All who refuse this homage are cast out From Heaven and happiness forevermore, Their souls to burn in torments without end Or hope that they can ever make amend For harboring on earth an honest doubt, And failing their "creator" to adore! And the offense is in the disbelief, For no good thoughts or deeds can help the soul; Nor good intentions, or most honest aims Can save it from the everlasting flames; But blind consent alone can banish grief From one submissive to the priest's control! This God is arbitrary, full of freaks, Damns without reason, without worth rewards; An upright life with him no favor finds; He fettered sinners with delight unbinds, And sets them free, but on the upright wreaks His vengeance--them his special hate accords! To those who ask for bread he giveth stone, Or empty promises he may fulfill In realms of future life--sometime, somewhere, And thus the soul feeds on deceit and air As long as flesh hangs to the aching bone-- Till all is sacrificed that earth can kill. This is no teaching of the Nazarene; It is a scheme of hell to chain the mind And keep mankind subjected to its sway, And to its priests and tools an easy prey-- A plot the souls of men to make unclean And toward perdition willingly inclined. Who cannot see that hell set up this God For purpose foul, and crowned him King of All?-- A model of the human lord and king Who rule below and make their subjects bring Homage and pelf to buy approving nod, While in their train the meaner creatures crawl. His favorites, the meanest of mankind, Are quite content the people should believe That they will win a crown beyond the grave, If they will only be content to slave And bow to robber rule, nor seek to find The light which might their faith here undeceive.