evidence, or no?

Two sorts of objections, or accusations, are brought against
them. One charges fraud and deceit on the transaction itself; the
other charges the evidence as forged, and insufficient to support the
credit of so extraordinary an event.

There are also three periods of time to be considered.

The first takes in the ministry of Christ, and ends at his death.
During this period the fraud is supposed to be contrived.

The second reaches from his death to his resurrection. During
this period the fraud is supposed to be executed.

The third begins from the resurrection, and takes in the whole
ministry of the apostles. And here the evidence they gave the world
for this fact is the main consideration.

As to the first period of time, and the fraud charged upon Jesus,
I must observe to you, that this charge had no evidence to support it;
all the facts reported of Jesus stand in full contradiction to it. To
suppose, as the council did, that this fraud might possibly appear, if
we had any Jewish books written at the time, is not to bring proof, but
to wish for proof: for, as it was rightly observed on the other side,
how does Mr. A. know there were any such books? And since they are
lost, how does he know what was in them? Were such books extant, they
might probably prove beyond dispute the facts recorded in the gospels.

You were told, that the Jews were a very superstitious people,