made; but, at this fecond vifit, be faw no angels; he only looked in, and faw the linen cloths lying as they were before. Either with Peter or foon after, fome others of the eleven went thither and found the fepulchre in the fame fituation; but they faw not the angels," nor their rifen Lord.

About this time, Cleopas and another of the difciples departed from the city to go to Emmaus ; in which journey they had an interview with Jefus, which completely fatisfied them that he was rifen from the dead. The defign: of this appearance of Jefus was to im-prefs on the minds of thefe two difciples, an argument for the truth of hisbeing the Meffiah which had not been confidered by any of them as it ought to have been, I mean the argument from prophecy. That they might underftand this argument properly and exer cife their reafon in judging of it, he did! not discover himself at once; but dif guised himself in the habit of a traveller and entered into familiar converfation

Having

with them, on the fubject. thus in a rational way prepared thein minds for the belief of his refurrection, of which they had heard fome report; but were in doubt and fadnefs on account of it, he prefented himself before them as their rifen Lord, and gave them fenfible evidence of the truth of what the women had reported.

On their return to the city, they found that the evidence of this great event had gained ground during their abfence, by: an appearance of the Lord to Simon, the particulars of which are not recorded; but neither the report of this appearance nor of his being feen of them at Emmaus was fatisfactory to the eleven, until Jefus himself came into the midst of them, and did eat and drink before them; and made them handle him and judge on the most sensible and demonftrative proof, that, the fame body which had been crucified, dead and buried was alive again. The fame kind of demonftration was given: to. Thomas at their next meeting, and

thus the whole number were fully fatisfied by the most infallible evidence.

It is now proper to turn our attention to the enemies of Jefus, and fee what effect this extraordinary event had on them. It is faid by Matthew, that "fome of the watch came into the city, and told the chief priests all things that were done," as far as they were acquainted with them. Thefe foldiers doubtlefs told the truth, and probably others of them might tell the same truth to other people. Such an event was an occafi on of surprise and concern to the Jewish priests, whofe intereft it was to ruin the eredit of the miracle. When they had affembled and confulted among themfelves, they found no other means in their power to do this, but to bribe the foldiers with a large fum of money, to tell this lie," that the difciples of Jefus had come by night and stolen him' away, whilft they flept," and when the foldiers objected, that they fhould be punished for breach of duty, they gave them this affurance, "if it come to the Governor's

ears, we will perfuade him, and fecure you." This argument prevailed; they took the money, and did as they were commanded. This report became current among the Jews, and continued fo till the time when the gospel of Matthew was written, in which their artifice was detected, and expofed.

Such were the circumftances attending the refurrection of Jefus Chrift; and from the whole, we may fairly deduce this obfervation; that if there had been fuch a pre-concerted plan among the disciples, as the Jews pretended, we fhould have found them watching for the event, and feizing the first report as incontrovertible evidence. But in fact, it was a matter of prophecy, which none of them understood or expected. The news was received by them with furprife; and it was a long time before they could overcome their prejudices. Their incredulity in fuch a cafe, is the ftrongest evidence, that there was no fraud, no design, no artifice. Nothing but the most demonstrative proof.could

convince them; and when this was of fered, they finally yielded themfelves to its force, and believed, that they had seen not a spectre as at first they imagined; but the real rifen body of their beloved master.

Differtation VII.

ON THE QUESTION, WHY THE EVIDENCE OF
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

RESTS ENTIRELY ON THE TESTIMONY OF
HIS OWN DISCIPLES.

AMONG the objections which

the wisdom of this world hath made to the fyftem of christianity, it hath been alledged that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was witneffed by none but his own. difciples; and the credibility of the fact hath been supposed to be greatly injured by this circumstance. It is faid, that" the refurrection, fuppofing it to have taken place, admitted of public and ocular de