NOTHING can be more unreasonable than to admit, for a moment, that the Almighty Power which governs the vast unbounded universe, should be the author, either directly or indirectly, of a system which has produced so much cruelty, carnage, and bloodshed, as the Christian Religion—a very large portion of which has been brought about by the discordant doctrines attributed to the preaching of Christ. If God is its author, (which is more than doubtful,) if, in addition to the evils with which human nature is afflicted, he had intended to make man’s misery complete, the Christian religion seems well adapted to secure that end, for it is the key-stone of human wretchedness. A great amount of evil has resulted from the different sects that have arisen from the New Testament. A few particulars will suffice to show that the various doctrines, all gathered from and founded on the sayings of Christ, have created discord and persecution among the followers of Jesus, the pretended pacificator of the human race. One of the most destructive sayings of Jesus—one which has entailed on the human race a system of continual evil, and which bids fair to last for ages to come, is the delegated power given to the Apostle Peter, and which is, to the present day, claimed by his successors. Peter, being asked by Christ as to what the Jews thought of him, answered that “some thought that one of the old prophets had returned from the dead, while others thought differently.” But, says Jesus to Peter, “_Whom do you say that I am?_” Give me your opinion. Peter replied, “_Thou art the Christ, the Son of God._” This answer was responded to by Jesus, and to Peter he said, “_Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven;” and Jesus added, “Thou art Peter, and on this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven._” (Matthew xvi., 19.) After appearing to give Peter unlimited power, he tells him that “_the chief priest and scribes will put him to death, and that he should be raised the third day._” Peter, not understanding this sad reverse, and out of regard for his master, rebuked him, but very mildly, by saying, “_Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall not be unto thee._” At this, Jesus seemed to lose his temper, and said, “_Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence to me._” Jesus then tells Peter that “_The son of man should come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, to reward every man according to his works,_” Jesus then adds, “_Verily, I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom._”