THE
PSONGS
OF
NICHOLAS THE SENIOR
Nicholas is despised as a heretic
Psong 10
O Money, I have endured much abuse on your behalf: Men have called me venal, and mercenary, and say that I do not understand matters of the spirit.
2aThey say that I look at you like a God: They despise me as if I were a heretic, and tell me that bI should ask forgiveness from Jesus Christ, whose mercy extends to all men except those who have lots of money.
3But it is easy to care nothing for money when you are the son of God: Then you do not cneed to work for a living, and no one ever sends you a bill.
4In fact, people give you money every Sunday, heaping plates full of bills and coins and checks; they build houses for you everywhere, and dnice houses at that, with lots of brass and velvet and stained-glass windows that cost more than an average person makes in a year.
5Who on earth is richer than Jesus Christ? And what ehypocrisy is it that makes Him tell poor people to be glad about their poverty?
6fWe have heard a lot of talk about the sayings of the savior: Has he not said, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
7gSo I ask you, what would happen if I asked the church to give me money every Sunday, and a great big house full of stained-glass windows: Would they give me what I ask, in the name of the Christ and his golden rule?
8hNo, I will remain true to the power of money, which offers more forgiveness to people like me than any religion: Which God has not showered more blessings on the rich than the poor, iand which God has never worn the robes of hypocrisy when money is on the table?
9jO Money, you alone are honest about the things that count: kOf the things that can be counted which count for something, coins have the most value in a world of deceitful men.
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Psong 10 / 66