These men, whose ideas are not raised above sensible things, have a simplicity and timidity of character which they themselves do not even dissemble. They continually mistake the sense of their master's discourse; and when he is laid hold on, they fled. The most zealous of them all denies him three times, and swears he knows him not; and that ignominious act of cowardice is most particularly mentioned in four of the principal narratives of the witnesses.

I cannot doubt, one single instant, but that they were fully persuaded of the reality of the miracles wrought by their master. I have examined their reasons. They appear to me of the greatest weight.* Nor can I doubt that their adherence to their master was owing to the ideas they had formed as to the design of his mission. The attachment of man has always some foundation; and surely the men of whom I am speaking must have lived in the expectation of some benefit from him, whose disciples they were become. They hoped, therefore, at least, that he would redeem their nation from a foreign yoke. But this mas* Vide Part ii. chap. ii. iii. and v.

ter, from whom they expected this great deliverance, is betrayed, given up, forsaken, condemned, crucified, and buried, and with him all their temporal hopes vanishHe who saved others cannot save himself. His enemies triumph, and his disciples are humbled, mortified, and confounded.

In such desperate circumstances, would the witnesses form the wild project of carrying off the body of their master? Can one be easily persuaded, that so timorous, so artless a set of people, so unfit for stratagems and intrigues, will enter into so daring a conspiracy? What! those very disciples who, in so pusillanimous a manner deserted their master, will they on a sudden contrive so strange a plot, as to carry off his body from the secular power? They must evidently expose themeselves to the greatest perils! they must provoke a certain and a cruel death! And what can be their views in this project? They either are, or are not, persuaded that their master will rise from the dead; if the first, it is obvious, they will resign his body to the Divine power; if the last, all their temporal hopes must vanish. What then can be

their plan in carrying off his body? to pub lish that he is risen from the dead? But such men as these, men without interest, without fortune, having no authority, can they flatter themselves with the most distant hopes, that so monstrous an imposture will gain credit? But, even were this an easy matter, still the sepulchre is sealed; guards are placed on every side; and these guards have been selected and set by those whose chief concern it was to prevent the imposture. Such preventive measures surely are sufficient to deter those timorous fishermen from any plan of carrying off the body. Men who have neither silver or gold, will they attempt to bribe the watch? Men who, on the first appearance of danger, forsook their master, will they attack these guards? Men hated and despised by government, will they so easily find others bold enough to assist them? Can they flat-. ter themselves that these men would not. betray them? &c. &c.

But is it a fact, that the sepulchre was sealed, and a watch placed or set over it? is this a fact, I say, well ascertained ? for

I find this decisive and important circumstance is mentioned only by one* of the evangelists. This rather surprizes me. I therefore diligently inquire, whether this very essential circumstance has not been contradicted by those whom it so nearly concerned to clear up this fact? and I come to an absolute certainty that it never has. I must then necessarily allow, that the recital of this evangelist remains in its full force; and that the mere silence of the other evangelists does not in the least invalidate the testimony given to this fact.

Independent of this very express testimony, is it not probable that the magistrates, who might justly suspect such an imposture, and who were invested with authority sufficient to prevent it; is it not likely that they would employ every means possible to prevent it? And if they have not employed these means, what reason can I assign for their conduct?

But if I can prove that these magistrates had considered before hand by what means. they might prevent such an imposture, then

*St. Matthew, xxvii. 66

who can doubt but that they had employed these means time enough to prevent it? Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again: Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people he is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first. * If then the chiefs of the people have taken the most efficacious means possible to prevent the fact, and every precaution which the case required, have they not thereby deprived themselves of the possibility of supposing that the body was carried off? And yet they endeavour to support the supposition. They gave large money to the soldiers, who, instigated by them, spread the report, that, bis disciples came by night and stole him away whilst they slept.† I shall not dwell on the singular absurdity of this report suggested to the soldiers. It is too obvious. How could these soldiers presume to de

* Matt. xxvii. 63, 64.

Matt. xxviii. 12, 13.