To make the picture more like earth and real, As kings on earth have rivals to the throne, So God must have a rival dark and proud Who, like himself, can never fill a shroud; But, fiercely overthrown in the ideal, This rival has no mercy to him shown. 'Tis all infernal--a delusive spell Thrown o'er the minds of men to keep them down; In fear the Nazarene, with teachings pure, The mental blindness of the world should cure, And break the hoary reign of brutal hell, It mockingly presented him a crown. True, 'twas a crown of thorns; but, mocking still, It gave a spirit crown, and made him Son And equal of the tyrant it had made, And in fantastic glory had arrayed, To rule the saints submissive to the will Of those who church and state in secret run. Priests granted to him supernatural powers, And then assumed to wield those powers themselves; By treachery, and trick, and sophistry, They made the multitude believe that he Claimed worship for himself in gilded towers Or churches; so the mass submits and delves. The world is told that men should bear the cross Of robbery, oppression, want and woe, On earth, that they a crown above may wear, And ease their souls in everlasting prayer Unto a God who shall repay all loss By special gifts to those who bow most low! The church has always taught submission here, Not to the laws of being, but of state; Hell calls for "stronger governments" to rob And hold in terror the uprising mob Which it provokes and seeks to rule thro' fear-- A horrid rule of wrong, and force, and hate. As Christ's pure teachings were so true and plain That reason must accept them, to obscure Their meaning hell and earth conspired And made confusion, while their minions fired With mad ambition and the love of gain All hearts that Mammon's bribes could buy or lure. And with success they carried out their scheme, And made the world do homage unto hell; With God to threaten vengeance unto all, And Devil to affright them at their call, With blood of God's own Son--a horrid stream-- To wash men's souls, they have succeeded well! To further aid their scheme, the "Holy Ghost" Came down to work with its mysterious spell, And fill with frenzy every heart and brain That thoughtlessly would join Delusion's train, Until the fire of zeal was hot to roast The sinner here and endlessly in hell!