Mr. B. My Lord, I desire to know, whether the Gentleman charges any fraud upon this part of the history.  Perhaps he may be of the opinion by and by, that there was a sleight of hand in the crucifixion, and that Christ only counterfeited death.

Mr. A. No, no; have no such fears; he was not crucified by his disciples; but by the Romans and the Jews; and they were in very good earnest.  I will prove beyond contradiction, that the dead body was fairly laid in the tomb; and it will be well for you if you can get it as fairly out again.

        Judge.  Go on with your evidence.

Mr. A. My Lord, the crucifixion being over, the dead body was conveyed to a sepulchre; and in the general opinion there seemed to be an end of the whole design.  But the governors of the Jews, watchful for the safety of the people, called to mind that Jesus in his lifetime had said, that he would rise again on the third day.  It may at first sight seem strange that they should give any attention to such a prophecy; a prophecy big with confidence and presumption, and which to the common sense of mankind carried its confutation along with it:  and “there is no other nation in the world which would not have 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?