disciples fled, out of a just apprehension that they should, if
apprehended, be sacrificed with their master. Peter indeed followed
him; but his courage soon failed, and it is well known in what manner
he denied him. After the death of Christ, his disciples were so far
from being ready to engage for his resurrection, or to enter into terms
and agreements for the manner in which it should be done, that they
themselves did not believe it ever would be; they gave over all hopes
and thoughts of it; and far from entering into engagements with the
chief priests, their whole concern was, to keep themselves concealed
from them. This is a well known case, and I will not trouble you with
particular authorities to prove this truth. Can any man now in his
right senses think, that the disciples under these circumstances
entered into this covenant with the Jews? I believe the Gentleman
don't think it, and for that reason says, that seals so used import a
covenant without a special agreement. Be it so; and it must then be
allowed, that the apostles were no more concerned in these seals, than
every other man in the country, and no more answerable for them; for
the covenant reached to every body as well as to them, since they were
under no special contract.

But I beg pardon for spending your time unnecessarily, when the
simple plain account of this matter will best answer all these
jealousies and suspicions. The Jews, it is plain, were exceedingly
solicitous about this event; for this reason they obtained a guard
from Pilate; and when they had, they were still suspicious lest their
guards should deceive them, and enter into combination against them.
To secure this point, they sealed the door, and required of the guards
to deliver up the sepulchre to them sealed as it was. This is the
natural and true account of the matter. Do but consider it in a
parallel case. Suppose a prince should set a guard at the door of his