it, and thereby put all men on their guard; especially considering
there were only a few women, and twelve men, of low fortunes, and mean
education, to conduct the plot, and the whole power of the Jews and
Romans to oppose it.

Mr. A. seemed sensible of these difficulties, and therefore
would have varied the charge, and have made Christ an enthusiast, and
his disciples only cheats. This was not properly moved, and therefore
not debated; for which reason I shall pass it over with this short
observation; that enthusiasm is as contrary to the whole character and
conduct of Christ, as even fraud is. Besides, this imagination, if
allowed, goes only to Christ's own part; and leaves the charge of
fraud, in its full extent, upon the management from the time of his
death; and therefore is of no use, unless the fraud afterwards be
apparent. For if there really was a resurrection, it will sufficiently
answer the charge of enthusiasm.

I pass on to the second period, to consider what happened between
the death and resurrection of Christ. And here it agreed that Christ
died, and was buried. So far then there was no fraud.

For the better understanding the charge here, we must recollect a
material circumstance reported by one of the evangelists; which is
this: After Christ was buried, the chief priests and Pharisees came to
Pilate, the Roman governor, and informed him, that this deceiver
(meaning Jesus) had in his lifetime foretold, that he would rise again
after three days; that they suspected his disciples would steal away
the body, and pretend a resurrection; and then the last error would be
worse than the first. They therefore desire a guard to watch the
sepulchre, to prevent all fraud. They had one granted; accordingly