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ferve the difficulties and contradictions thofe perfons fall into, who deviate from the path of truth.

It is impoffible to conceive any thing more glaringly abfurd, than the ftory invented upon this occafion: indeed, it would seem, that fear, added to their malice, had deprived them of their reasoning faculties. In the first place, had the foldiers been asleep, how could they tell what happened during that period? But, fuppofing they were fo, can it be conceived that they would publish their own guilt, in a point fo highly criminal by military discipline that they muft put themselves

into the power of every one to whom they related it, except they were affured of pardon and fecurity from those who had fet them to watch the fepulchre? And no ftronger evidence can be wanted of the falsehood of the whole tale, and that it was invented to answer the purposes of the priests and elders, than that they should fuffer those men to go unpunifhed, who by fo fcandalous a breach of duty had de

feated

feated their purpose (as declared to Pilate) of proving Jefus an impoftor by the failure of his prophecy That he would arise from the dead on the third day. God appears to have confounded the reafon both of the priests and foldiers; that all fucceeding ages might be convinced of the malice of the former, and the falsehood of the latter.But to return to our text:

It is plain that the women had not the least idea of their Lord's being risen from the dead, by their informing the disciples That he had been taken out of the fepulchre, and that they knew not where he had been laid.

3. Peter, therefore, went forth, and "that other difciple, and came to the fepulchre.

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4. So they ran both together: and "the other difciple did out-run Peter, and came first to the fepulchre.

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5. And he, ftooping down, and looking in, faw the linen clothes lying; yet 66 went he not in.

"6. Then

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"6. Then cometh Simon-Peter follow“ing him, and went into the fepulchre; "and feeth the linen clothes lie,

"7. And the napkin that was about "his head, not lying with the linen "clothes, but wrapped together in a place "by itself.

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"8. Then went in also that other dif

ciple which came first to the fepulchre, " and he saw, and believed.

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66 9. For as yet they knew not the

Scripture, that he must rise again from "the dead.

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"10. Then the difciples went away again unto their own home."

The two difciples to whom Mary Magdalene had communicated what she had observed, repaired immediately to the sepulchre, to fatisfy themfelves of the fact; but he who arrived firft did not venture in till Peter, whofe courage feldom failed him, led the way. They found that the body was not there, and formed the fame judgment as Mary had done-that somebody

had

had stolen it away: for, as yet, they did not understand the meaning of our Lord's discourses refpecting his refurrection. They therefore returned home, wondering, no doubt, that, as they had not attempted so dangerous an undertaking, any one elfe fhould have done it. The circumstance, too, of the burial-clothes being left behind, must have added to their furprize; fince it is not probable that a person coming to steal away the body would stay to ftrip it, and to lay the clothes in exact order; as every moment they stayed must have added to the danger of detection. The utmost expedition would, most asfaredly, have been used in the performance of so hazardous an attempt: but, even supposing there had been time, the thing was in itself impracticable; as the spices used by Nicodemus and Joseph, in the preparation for his burial, would have made the linen flick so close to the body after it had lain any time in that state, that it must have been next to impoffible to se

parate them. The napkin being wrapt

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together, and laid by itself, ferves to prove that there was not the least hurry or confufion when our Lord left the fepulchre; which would undoubtedly have sen the cafe, had he been ftolen from thence. These minute circumftances are of much more importance than many people may be aware of; as, when seriously and properly confidered, they add to the many other convincing proofs of Chrift's refurrection. That this was the opinion of St. John, there can be no doubt; otherwise he would not have detailed them fo particularly. Every circumstance refpecting our Lord's burial appears to have been fo ordered, by an over-ruling Power, as to leave no fhadow of doubt of the reality of his refurrection, or that it was effected by his own power and authority. Thus, he was buried in a new tomb, where yet never man was laid:' had it been otherwife, the Jews might have fainted fome one of the bodies before laid there, and have attributed his arifing from the dead to a circumstance fimilar to that related

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