slighted such a vain prognostication of a known imposter." But they
had warning to be watchful. It was not long before, that the people
"had like to have been fatally deluded and imposed on by him in the
pretended resuscitation of Lazarus." They had fully discovered the
cheat in the case of Lazarus, and had narrowly escaped the dangerous
consequences of it. And though Jesus was dead, yet he had many
disciples and followers alive, who were ready enough to combine in any
fraud, to verify the prediction of their master. Should they succeed,
the rulers foresaw, the consequences in this case would be more fatal
than those which before they had narrowly escaped. Upon this account
they addressed themselves to the Roman governor, told him how the case
was, and desired that he would grant them a guard to watch the
sepulchre; that the service would not be long, for the prediction
limited the resurrection to the third day; and when that was over, the
soldiers might be released from the duty. Pilate granted the request;
and a guard was set to watch the sepulchre.

This was not all. The chief priests took another method to
prevent all frauds, and it was the best that could possibly be taken;
which was, to seal up the door of the sepulchre. To understand to what
purpose this caution was used, you need only consider what is intended
by sealing up doors, and boxes, or writings. Is it not for the
satisfaction of all parties concerned, that they may be sure things are
in the state they left them, when they come and find their seals not
injured? This was the method used by Darius, when Daniel was cast into
the lions den; he sealed the door of the den. And for what purpose?
Was it not to satisfy himself and his court, that no art had been used
to preserve Daniel? And when he came and saw Daniel safe, and his seal
untouched, he was satisfied. And indeed if we consider the thing
rightly, a seal thus used imports a covenant. If you deliver writings