obliged, as his apprehensions were, to prevent?

The next circumstance insisted on as a proof of the fraud, is,
that Jesus rose from the dead before the time he had appointed. Mr. A.
supposes that the disciples hastened the plot, for fear of falling in
with multitudes, who waited only for the appointed time to be at the
sepulchre, and to see with their own eyes. He was answered, That the
disciples were not, could not be concerned, or be present at moving the
body; that they were dispersed, and lay concealed for fear of the
Jews: that hastening the plot, was of no use; for the resurrection
happened whilst the guards were at the sepulchre; who were probably
enow to prevent violence; certainly enow to discover it, if any were
used.

This difficulty then rests merely upon the reckoning of the time.
Christ died on Friday, rose early on Sunday. The question is, Whether
this was rising the third day, according to the prediction? I will
refer the authorities made use of in this case to your memory, and add
only one observation, to shew that it was indeed the third day,
according as the people of the country reckoned. When Christ talked
with the two disciples who knew him not, they gave him an account of
his own crucifixion, and their disappointment; and tell him, Today is
the third day since these things were done [Luke24:21]. Now, this
conversation was on the very day of the resurrection. And the
disciples thought of nothing less than answering an objection against
the resurrection, which as yet they did not believe. They recount only
a matter of fact, and reckon the time according to the usage of their
country, and call the day of the resurrection the third day from the
crucifixion; which is a plain evidence, in what manner the Jews
reckoned in this and like cases.