The Gentleman thinks, that the detection in the case of Lazarus
ought to have made the Jews quite unconcerned in the case of Jesus, and
secure as to the event of his own resurrection. He says very true,
supposing their care had been for themselves: but governors have
another care upon their hands, the care of their people; and 'tis not
enough for them to guard against being imposed on themselves, they must
be watchful to guard the multitude against frauds and deceits. The
chief priests were satisfied indeed of the fraud in the case of
Lazarus, yet they saw the people deceived by it; and for this reason,
and not for their own satisfaction, they used the caution in the case
of the resurrection of Jesus, which I before laid before you. In so
doing, they are well justified; and the inconsistency charged on the
other side, between their opinion of Jesus, and their fear of being
imposed on by his pretended resurrection, is fully answered.

The next observation relates to the seal of the sepulchre. The
Gentleman thinks the seal was used as a check upon the Roman soldiers.
But what reason had the Jews to suspect them? They were not disciples
of Jesus; they were servants of the Roman governor, and employed in the
service of the Jews: and I leave it to the court to judge, whether the
Jews set the seal to guard against their friends, or their enemies?
But if the seals were really used against the guards, then the breaking
of the seals is a proof that the guards were corrupted: and if so,
'tis easy to conceive how the body was removed.

As to the disciples, the Gentleman observes, that the part
allotted them in the management of the resurrection supposes an
unaccountable change in their character. It will not be long before
the Gentleman will have occasion for as great a change in their