The order I conceive to be as follows:

Very early on the first day of the week (the day immediately following the Sabbath, and the third from the death of Chrift), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, in purfuance of the defign of embalming the Lord's body, which they had concerted with the other women, who attended him from Galilee to Jerufalem, and for the performing of which they had prepared unguents and fpices, fet out in order to take a view of the fepulchre, juft as the day began to break: and about the time of their fetting out, "there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord defcended from heaven, and "came and refled back the ftone from the door of the fepulchre, "and fat upon it: his countenance was like lightning, and his "raiment white as fnow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake, "and became as dead men," during whofe amazement and terror Christ came out of the fepulchre; and the keepers, being now recovered out of their trance, and fled, the angel, who till then fat upon the ftone, quitted his ftation on the outside, and entered into the fepulchre, and probably difpofed the linen clothes and napkin in that order in which they were afterwards found and obferved by John and Peter. Mary Magdalene, in the mean while, and the other Mary, were ftill on their way to the fepulchre, where, togethes with Salome (whom they had either called upon, or met as they were going), they arrived at the rifing of the fan. And as they drew near, difcourfing about the method of putting their intent of embalming the body of their mafter in execution, they faid among themfelves, Who fhall roll us away the ftone from the "door of the fepulchre? for it was very great;" and they themfelves (the two Marys at leaft) had feen it placed there two days before, and feen with what difficulty it was done. But in the midst of their deliberation about removing this great and fole obftacle to their defign (for it does not appear that they knew any thing of the guard), lifting up their eyes," while they were yet at fome diftance, they perceived it was already rolled away. Alarmed at for extraordinary and fo unexpected a circumftance, Mary Magdalene concluding, that, as the ftone could not be moved without a great number of hands, fo it was not rolled away without fome defign; and that they who rolled it away, could have no other defign but to remove the Lord's body; and being convinced by appearances that they had done fo, ran immediately to acquaint Peter and John with what fhe had feen, and what the fufpected, leaving Mary and Salome there, that, if Joanna and the other women fhould come in the mean time, they might acquaint them with their furprise at finding the ftone removed, and the body gone, and of Mary Magdalene's running to inform the two above-mentioned apoftles with it. While the was going on this errand, Mary and Salome went on, and entered into the fepulchre," and there faw an angel fitting on the right fide, clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted. And he faith unto them, Be not affrighted: ye feek Jefus, "of Nazareth, which was crucified he is rifen, he is not here:

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"behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his "difciples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee; there "fhall ye fee him, as he faid unto you. And they went out "quickly, and fled from the fepulchre; for they trembled and were "amazed; neither faid they any thing to any man; for they were "afraid." After the departure of Mary and Salome, came John and Peter; who, having been informed by Mary Magdalene, that the body of the Lord was taken away out of the fepulchre, and that she knew not where they had laid him," ran both together to the "fepulchre; and the other difciple [John] out-ran Peter, and came first to the fepulchre; and he ftooping down, and looking "in, faw the linen clothes lying, yet went he not in. Then "cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the fepulchre, "and feeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about "his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together "in a place by itfelf. Then went in alfo that other difciple, which << came firft to the fepulchre, and he faw and believed; for as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rife again from the "dead. Then the difciples went away again unto their own home: but Mary food without at the fepulchre weeping; and as the "wept, fhe flooped down, and looked into the fepulchre, and feeth "two angels in white, fitting, the one at the head, and the other "at the feet, where the body of Jefus had lain; and they fay unto "her, Woman, why weepeft thou? She faith unto him, Because "they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have "laid him. And when fhe had thus faid, fhe turned herself back, "and faw Jefus standing, and knew not that it was Jefus. Jefus "faith unto her, Woman, why weepeft thou? Whom feekeft thou?

She, fuppofing him to be the gardener, faith unto him, Sir, if thou "haft borne him hence, tell me where thou haft laid him, and I "will take him away. Jefus faith unto her, Mary! She turned "herself, and faith unto him, Rabboni! which is to fay, Mafter! "Jefus faith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet afcended unto my Father: but 'go to my brethren, and fay unto them, I "afcend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your "God." After this appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene, to

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Believed.] Commentators have generally agreed to understand by this word no more than that St. John believed what Mary Magdalene fuggefted, viz. That they had taken away the Lord's body; and they feem to have been led into this opinion by the words immediately fubjoined, " for as yet they knew not the Scripture that he muft rife again from "the dead;" which words contain a fort of an excufe for their not believing that he was rifen. It is, however, certain, that by the word believe, when it is put abfolutely, the facred writers moft commonly mean to have, what is called, Faith; and in this fenfe it is ufed no lefs than three times in the latter part of this chapter. To obviate this objection, retain the ufual fignification of this verb, and yet reconcile this verfe with the following, it is pretended that Beza's old Greek manufcript fays he did not believe, i. e. instead of exiguo, it has ἐκ ἐπίςευσεν, οι ἠπίσευσεν. Inftead of entering into an examination which of thefe tra readings is to be preferred, I fhall only obferve, that Beza himself, in his Comments upon this paffage, takes no notice of the various reading above mentioned; on the contrary, he contends, that St. John did believe the refurrection. Thefe are his words: "Et credidit,

Eπiçeusev, Chriftum videlicet refurrexiffe, quanquam tenuis adbuc foret hæc fides, & aliis "teftimoniis egeret, quibus confirmaretur. Joannes igitur folus jam tum hoc credidit, &c." See his Greek Teftament in Folio, printed at Geneva, A. D. 1598. And I own I am most iaclined to his opinion, for reasons which will appear in the course of this work.

whom St. Mark fays exprefsly he appeared firft, the other Mary and Salome, who had fled from the fepulchre in fuch terror and amazement that "they faid not any thing to any man," (that is, as I underftand, had not told the meffage of the angel to fome* whom they met, and to whom they were directed to deliver it) were met on their way by Jefus Chrift himself, who faid unto them, "All "hail and they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped "him. Then faid Jefus unto them, Be not afraid; go, tell my "brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they fhall fee me." Thefe feveral women and the two apoftles being now gone from the fepulchre, Joanna, with the other Galilean women, and "others with them, came bringing the fpices which they had pre"pared for the embalming the body of Jefus, and finding the ftone "rolled away from the fepulchre, they entered in; but not finding "the body of the Lord Jefus, they were much perplexed there"about, and behold two men ftood by them in fhining garments; "and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the "earth, they faid unto them, "Why feek ye the living among the "dead? He is not here, but is rifen. Remember how he fpake "unto you, when he was yet in Galilee, faying, The fon of man "must be delivered into the hands of finful men, and be crucified, " and the third day rife again. And they remembered his words, "and returned from the fepulchre, and told all these things unto "the eleven, and to all the reft. And their words feemed to them "as idle tales, and they believed them not." But Peter, who, upon the report of Mary Magdalene, had been at the fepulchre, had entered into it, and with a curiofity that befpoke an expectation of fomething extraordinary, and a defire of being fatisfied, had obferved that the linen-clothes, in which Chrift was buried, and the napkin that was about his head," were not only left in the fepulchre, but carefully wrapped up, and laid in feveral places; and who from thence might begin to fufpect, what his companion St. John, from thofe very circumstances, feems to have believed: Peter, I fay, hearing from Joanna, that he had seen a vifion of angels at the fepulchre, who had affured her that Chrift was risen, starting up, ran thither immediately, and knowing that the angels, if they were within the fepulchre, might be difcovered without his going in, he did not as before enter in, but ftooping down looked fo far in as to fee the linen clothes, and departed, wondering in himself at "that which was come to pafs." And either with Peter, or about that time, went fome other difciples, who were prefent when Joanna and the other woman made their report, "and found it even fo as "the women had faid. The fame day two of the difciples went to "a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerufalem about three"fcore furlongs. And they talked together of all those things that VOL. V.

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Probably John and Peter, who were running with Mary Magdalene to the fepulchre about the time that these women were flying from it, might have been difcerned by them at a diftance, though the terror they were in might occafion their not recollecting them immediately. -But of this I fhall hereafter say something more.

had happened. And it came to pafs that while they communed "together, and reafoned, Jefus himself drew near, and went with "them; but their eyes were holden, that thay fhould not know him. "And he faid unto them, What manner of communications" [arguments] are thefe that ye have one to another, as ye walk and "are fad? And one of them, whofe name was Cleopas, anfwering,

faid unto him, Art thou only a ftranger in Jerufalem, and haft 66 not known the things which have come to pafs there in these days? "And he faid unto them, What things? And they faid unto him, "Concerning Jefus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in "deed and word before God, and all the people; and how the "chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to "death, and have crucified him. But we trufted that it had been he which fhould have redeemed Ifrael: and, befide all this, to-day "is the third day fince these things were done. Yea, and certain women alfo of our company made us aftonifhed, which were "early at the fepulchre: and when they found not his body, they came, faying, that they had alfo feen a vifion of angels, which "faid that he was alive: and certain of them which were with us, "went to the fepulchre, and found it even fo as the women had "faid: but him they faw not. Then he faid unto them, O fools, "and flow of heart to believe all that the prophets have fpoken "ought not Chrift to have fuffered thefe things, and to enter into "his glory? And beginning at Mofes and all the prophets, he ex"pounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning "himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they "went, and he made as though he would have gone farther. But "they conftrained him, faying, Abide with us, for it is towards " evening, and the day is far fpent. And he went in, to tarry with "them. And it came to pafs, as he fat at meat with them, he took "bread, and bleffed it, and brake and gave to them. And their eyes 66 were opened, and they knew him; and he vanifhed out of their "fight. And they faid one to another, Did not our hearts burn "within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he "opened to us the Scriptures? And they rofe up the fame hour,

and returned to Jerufalem, and found the eleven gathered toge"ther, and them that were with them, faying, The Lord is rifen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in break❝ing of bread."

This is the order in which the feveral incidents above related appear to have arifen; the conformity of which with the words of the Evangelifts, interpreted in their obvious and most natural fenfe, I have fhewn in my remarks upon the paffages wherein they are contained and although the reafons there given are, I apprehend, fufficient of themselves to justify the expofition I contend for, yet, for the better confirmation of what has been advanced, I beg leave to lay before you an obfervation or two, fuggefted by this very order itself, from whence its aptnefs and tendency to the great end

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to which it was in all its parts directed and difpofed by the hand of Providence, viz. the proof of the refurrection of Chrift, will manifeitly appear.

§ 10. First, then, by this order, in which all the different events naturally and easily follow, and as it were rife out of one another, the narration of the Evangelifts is cleared from all confufion and inconfiftencies. And, 2dly, the proof of the refurrection is better established by thus feparating the women into two or more divifions, than upon the contrary fuppofition, which brings them all together to the fepulchre; for, in the laft cafe, inftead of three different appearances of angels to the women, and two of Jefus Chrift, we should have but one of each; whereas, in the former, there is a train of witneffes, a fucceffion of miraculous events, mutually ftrengthening and illuftrating each other, and equally and jointly concurring to prove one and the fame fact; a fact, which, as it was in its own nature moft aftonishing, and in its confequences of the utmost importance to mankind, required the fulleft and most unexceptionable evidence. And I will venture to fay, never was a fact more fully proved; as I doubt not to make appear to any one, who with me will confider, ift, The manner; 2dly, The matter of the evidence; and, 3dly, The characters and difpofitions of the perfons whom it was intended to convince. By thefe I chiefly mean the apoftles and difciples of Jefus, who were to be the witneffes of the refurrection to all the world. By the manner, I understand the method and order in which the feveral proofs were laid before them; and by the matter, the feveral facts of which the evidence confifted.

I fhall begin with the apostles and difciples, for whofe conviction the miraculous appearances of the angels, and of Chrift himself, to the women, were principally defigned; and the knowledge of whofe general characters, as well as of the particular difpofitions of their minds at that time, will throw a light upon the other points propofed to be confidered.

The greateft part, if not all, of the apoftles and difciples of Jefus, thofe at least who openly and avowedly followed him, were men of low birth and mean occupations, illiterate, and unaccustomed to deep inquiries and abftracted reafonings; men of grofs minds, contracted notions, and ftrongly poffeffed with the felfifh, carnal, and national prejudices of the Jewish religion, as it was then taught by the Scribes and Pharifees. And hence, although it is evident from feveral paffages in the gospel- hiftory, that, convinced by the many miracles, performed by Jefus of Nazareth, and the accomplishments of many prophecies in him, they believed him to be the Meffiah; yet their idea of the Meffiah was the fame with that of their brethren the Jews, who, by not rightly understanding the true meaning of fome prophecies, expected to find in the Meffiah a temporal prince, a redeemer and ruler of Ifrael, who fhould never, die. And fo deeply was this prejudice rooted in the minds of the apoftles, as well as the reft of the Jews, that although our Saviour conftantly difclaimed the

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