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that if he would but come down they would believe in him;3 ;30 which Jesus might as well have done at once, if he could, as to take such a round-about way of convincing them as he did, which after all proved fruitless! For who believed him besides his own immediate followers? Besides where was Jairus, and Nicodemus, and Joseph, and Gamaliel, all rulers and honourable counsellers? Did they also agree in bribing the watch to tell such a lie? or did they receive a bribe themselves to wink at the proceedings? No, surely, they were honourable men. Instead therefore of the chief priests and elders taking counsel together to bribe the watch, we may be well assured that at least they would have remained silent, and waited the issue of this awful event, lest haply they should be found fighting against God. 31

Should you say that miracles produce no effect upon the mind of an unbeliever, or as Jesus said, though one rise from the dead, yet they will not believe ;3 2 then for what purpose were those miracles wrought? Or what utility could there be in Jesus rising from the dead, if he knew none would believe it? Those who did believe in him needed no such miracles. Indeed he seems to signify that those are more blessed who believe without seeing anything. 33 Whence it appears that these miracles were wrought in vain; consequently discover a want of knowledge and foresight in their author or operator.

In my next I intend to examine the evidence of those who are said to have been eye witnesses of the appearance of Jesus after he was risen, and judge, from their several reports, whether they are deserving of credit. Till then, I remain,

Your humble Servant,

JOHN CLARKE.

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LETTER XVI.

TO DR. ADAM CLARKE.

SIR,

We next come to criticise the accounts given us of the appearance and ascension of Jesus Christ, after his resurrection; but before we enter fully upon the consideration of that question, let us re-examine the manner of his death, in order to ascertain, if possible, whether he was most assuredly dead, irrecoverably dead, when taken down from the cross; or whether it were not possible for him to deceive with a pretended death, in order to frame a pretended resurrection?

We are informed by John, that Jesus was on his trial before the judgment seat of Pilate, on Friday, about the sixth hour, or twelve o'clock according to our computation of the day: whence he had to carry his cross to the place of execution, which was up a mount to the westward of the town, as described in the map of the holy land. This journey, together with the ceremony of fixing the apparatus and nailing him to the cross, must have occupied one hour at least; so that before he could have been raised it must have been one o'clock. Then the Jews, being so remarkably precise in observing their sabbath, which commenced at six o'clock, would not defer the taking of him down, breaking of legs, and clearing all away to the last minute. This we may reasonably conclude occupied them another hour; after which it appears there was time enough for Joseph to go to Pilate, and wait until the centurion came to corroborate his report of the death of Jesus: and if he had not to go and purchase, he had to lug an hundred weight of spices to the mount which, with the spicing of his body and the laying it in the tomb, must have occupied another hour, all which being done before the sabbath

commenced, at six o'clock, leaves but three hours for the time which Jesus was suspended on the cross.

Crucifixion is a lingering and starving death; invented purposely for the lengthening the time of the unfortunate culprit's sufferings; there being a bracket or block fixed to the cross for him to stand upon, which bears up the body and to which the two feet are nailed; the arms only being extended to the extremities of the crossboard, to which the hands are nailed through the palm. This, then, being the amount of suffering that Jesus endured, it is not reasonable to suppose that such would cause his death in the short space of three hours; especially when we read of persons remaining alive under such circumstances for several days. We have ourselves known many instances of men suffering much more than Jesus did, and for a greater length of time, and yet afterwards survive. Besides the thieves who were crucified with him, were not dead in this short time; for that reason their legs were broken although they had undergone the same suffering as Jesus. These things being considered, we have no just reason to believe that Jesus, a strong healthy young man, was actually dead when taken down from the cross; especially as we find that he was able to converse with those that were standing by him, and to cry out at the ninth hour, or three o'clock, with such a loud voice. Neither can we imagine that this short time would starve a hearty young man to death; although he might not have had any food since the preceeding evening; for we are told, that at other times he could fast for forty days together! It is then more probable that he had only fainted away, or pretended death, by hanging down his head and remaining silent, after he had spoken with a loud voice; he well knowing into whose hands he would be placed; and this might have been all agreed upon before he surrendered himself; by which deception he preserved his legs from being broken. As to the story of a soldier piercing him in the side it is self-evidently false. The Roman soldiers being under such strict discipline, dare not attempt such a wanton thing without the command of the centurion; and he, we may be as

sured, would not give such an order, he being the friend of Jesus. Neither dare he give that order if so inclined; for if Jesus had been pronounced not dead, like the two thieves, he must have acted agreeably to their law, which was to break his legs: and no other means dare he or his soldiers use than those prescribed by the law, any more than the sheriff of London dare give orders to cut a man's throat while he is hanging.

We find also that as soon as Jesus was taken down, he was immediately placed in the hands of his friends: among whom was Joseph, who, with Nicodemus, wrapped the body in linen, so that no signs of life might be discerned. We do not read of any one feeling his pulse or endeavouring by any other means to ascertain whether he was really dead; though we are told that the report of his death, in that short time, was even a matter of astonishment to Pilate.1 There were none but chosen friends around him; who seemingly took care that strangers should not come too near his body; and he was immediately deposited in a tomb belonging to his friend Joseph, who rolled a stone to its mouth, (mind! a rolling stone which could easily be moved or rolled away.) When, therefore, the mob was dispersed, and all things quiet in the evening, after dark might he not be safely conveyed away? and, with proper care and attention, he might soon recover; even admitting that his side had been pierced by the spear of the soldier. Many a man, you know, has been run through the body and afterwards recovered.

What certainty, then, can we have of his death when such a probable scheme as this might have been laid and so easily performed? I do not say that such was the case; but where there is a bare possibility of its being so, it cannot be accounted incredible.

I come now to speak of his appearances after his supposed or pretended death, as they are related by the inspired historians: and to save you the trouble of turning over the leaves of your Testament, I will quote their precise words as reported by them severally; shewing. by a blank space, what one or other have omitted; and calling your attention to their discrepances.

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