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them to tell the news to Peter in particular; for which cause, when they understood that he was gone to the sepulchre with John, it is natural to think they would return with the disciples in quest of him. About the time that these disciples and the women set out for the sepulchre, Peter and John seem to have reached the city. But coming in by a different street they did not meet their brethren. The disciples being eager to get to the sepulchre, soon left the women behind, and just as they arrived, Mary Magdalene, having seen the Lord, was coming away. But they did not meet with her, perhaps because they entered the garden at one door, while she was coming out by another. When they came to the sepulchre they saw the angels, and receiv ed from them the news of Christ's resurrection; for, Luke xxiv. 24. they found it even as the women had said. Highly elated therefore with their success, they departed and ran back to the city so quickly, that they had given an account of what had happened to them in the hearing of the two disciples who were going to Emmaus, before Mary Magdalene arrived. Nor will their speed appear incredible, if Mary Magdalene came up with her companions after their interview with Jesus; for in that case it is natural to think, that they would all stand still a little, and relate to one another what they had seen. Or though Mary Magdalene did not overtake the women, yet considering the nature of the tidings which the male disciples had to carry, we may believe that they would exert their utmost speed in running; and that, neglecting the high road, they would take the nearest way through the fields. Besides, it ought to be remembered that Mary Magdalene, however eager she might be to carry the joyful news, was, by reason of her sex, not so fit for running as the male disciples, and that her dress might retard her; not to mention that she was tired, having watched all night, and been at the sepulchre once before.

"In the mean time, the company of women who followed the disciples happening not to meet Peter and John, who were now on the road home, went forward in quest of them. But the women did not go on to the sepulchre, for somewhere on the road Jesus himself met them. Matt. xxviii. 9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. This favour of embracing his knees Jesus had refused to Mary Magdalene, (p. 807.) because it was not necessary; but he granted it to the women, because the angels' words having strongly im pressed their minds with the notion of his resurrection, they might have taken his appearing for an illusion of their own imagination, had he not permitted them to handle him, and convince themselves by the united reports of their senses. Besides, if our Lord intended that Mary Magdalene should go away as fast as possible,

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and publish the news, he might hinder her from embracing his knees, to prevent her losing time, as was observed above. 10. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.' See on Matt. xxviii. 7. § 150. and on John xx. 17. § 151.

That the company of women were returning from the city to the sepulchre when Jesus met them, is highly probable, for the following reasons: 1. On supposition that he met them as they went into the city to give an account of the vision of angels, it is inconceivable how they came to omit telling that they had seen the Lord himself *. For that they did not speak a word of this is evident from Luke xxiv. 9,-11. compared with verse 23. 2. That Mary and Salome, with their companies, were returning to the sepulchre when Jesus met them, is probable, not only because

* This difficulty appeared so important to the ingenious Mr West, that to remove it he formed his scheme of two companies of women that went to the sepulchre at different times; one under the direction of Mary Mag dalene, and the other of Joanna. He supposes that Mary Magdalene's company, whom she left at the sepulchre, having seen the one angel of whom Matthew and Mark speak, departed, and met Jesus as they went into the city. But that Joanna and her company who came to the sepul chre after they were gone, having seen the vision of two angels whereof Luke speaks, made such haste into the town, that two of the disciples, in whose hearing they rehearsed the story, had time to set out for Emmaus, before the other company, who had heen first at the sepulchre, arrived with the news of their having seen Jesus. But this scheme is encumbered with great difficulties. For, first, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are said, Luke xxiv. 10. to have concurred in the report concerning the vision of angels; directly contrary to Mr West, who is obliged to suppose that that report was made by Joanna and her company, without Mary and Salome. The reason is, Mary and Salome were the women to whom our Lord himself appeared, as they went to tell the disciples concerning the vision of angels; and therefore they cannot be supposed to have concurred with Joanna in her report concerning that vision, because having seen the Lord, they would much rather have told that fact than any thing else. In the second place, Mr West is obliged to suppose that Mary and Salome, though first at the sepulchre, lingered so long on the road, that Joanna and her company got to the city before them; which is very improbable, as no reason can be assigned which could occasion this delay, and many may be mentioned which ought to have prevented it. Mr West indeed mentions their fear as the cause of it. But this is a most improbable reason, being confuted both by Matthew and Mark. Matthew says, xxviii. 8. "They departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word." Their fear, as it is natural to think, added to their speed, and their desire to communicate the news, would hinder them from tarrying by the way; not to mention that the angel had ordered them to make all the haste they could into the city. Mark says, xvi. 8. "They went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed; neither said they any thing to any man, for they were afraid." They were now in such haste, that they did not wait to give the common salutation to those they met on the road and in the streets. Wherefore, it is not at all credible that these women lingered on the road such a space of time as Mr West on his scheme is obliged to suppose.

because the supposition of this circumstance entirely removes all the difficulties which arise upon comparing the several accounts that are given of our Lord's resurrection; but also because the Greek word wherewith his appearance unto them is introduced implies it. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, aNYTHTEY KUTAIS. I imagine the evangelist could not have expressed himself in this manner with any propriety, had our Lord, after shewing himself to Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, followed the women, and overtaken them as they were going into the town. The words made use of by Luke, xxiv. 15. to express his overtaking the disciples on the road to Emmaus, would in that case have been much more proper; εγγίσας συνεπορεύετο. 3. That the women were returning to the sepulchre when Jesus met them, will appear highly probable, if the things that happened between their leaving the sepulchre and Christ's appearing to them are considered. In that period John first came to the sepulchre and looked in, but did not go down; then Peter came, and descending, examined the rollers; upon this John likewise went down and viewed them. The two having thus satisfied their curiosity, departed, leaving Mary Magdalene there weeping. After the apostles were gone, she saw first two angels who conversed with her, and then Jesus himself who gave her a message to his disciples. But as such a variety of incidents must have taken up some considerable time *, it is reasonable to suppose that the women spent it all in going part of the road between the sepulchre and the city, notwithstanding the angel ordered them to go quickly, and they are said to have run to bring his disciples word? The improbability of such a supposition is heightened by the circumstance taken notice of, John xix. 20. that the sepulchre was nigh to the city. It seems they had but a little way to travel. Wherefore it is much more natural to believe, that the women had delivered the angel's message before Jesus appeared to them, and were going to the sepulchre a second time when he met them. The words, Matt. xxviii. 9. (Ns di swogevasło swα[yeshaι Tois μabntais) As they went to tell his disciples, are not in the least contrary to this supposition; for the women were still in quest of Peter and John to give them the news, consequently the evangelist might very properly say that Jesus met them as they went to tell his disciples, notwithstanding they had spoken of the vision before to such of them as they found in the town +.

• Mr West's scheme gives still greater strength to this argument, by the addition of another visit performed within the period under consideration. For, according to him, after Mary Magdalene was departed, Joanna came with her company of women, and having seen and conversed with the angels mentioned by Luke, arrived at the apostles lodging, a considerable time before the first company came thither.

† To the scheme of harmony offered above, it may be objected that the

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space of time in which the transactions relating to our Lord's resurrection must have happened, will not admit of so many journies to the sepulchre as I have supposed. But the answer is, that upon examination these transactions will be found to have taken up a greater space of time than is commonly imagined; and that the history has furnished us with two marks by which we can form some judgment of its length. 1. The first is Matt. xxviii. 11. where we are told, that while the women were returning from their interview with Jesus, "some of the watch came into the city, and shewed all the things that were done unto the chief priests," that is, to a number of the chief priests gathered together. No doubt the soldiers went first to the high-priest, and told him what had happened. But it is not this which the evangelist speaks of. It seems the high-priest, after having given the watch a private audience, sent for such of the chief priests as he could most confide in, and made the soldiers relate their story before them. Perhaps he hoped, with their assistance, to convict the men of telling a falsehood; or he might propose to deliberate with his friends concerning the measures proper to be taken on this emergency. Since, therefore, the women returned from their interview with Jesus about the time that the watch shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done, the day must have been then pretty far advanced; for it is not to be supposed that the servants at the palace would suffer the soldiers to disturb the high-priest very early, or though they did, some hours must have passed before such a number of the chief priests could be brought together as the high-priest would judge necessary to assist him in an affair of this importance. 2. We have a second mark of time in the history of the two disciples who travelled to Emmaus. For we are told, Luke xxiv. 29. that when they arrived at the village whither they went, they constrained their Master to abide with them, because it was towards evening, and the day was far spent. But Emmaus was only threescore furlongs, (ver. 15.) or about seven miles and an half from Jerusalem. If so, it must have been late in the morning when the disciples set out; and yet we know that they had left Jerusalem before any of the women arrived from their interview with Jesus. Wherefore it is extremely probable that when our Lord shewed himself to the women, the day was advanced; as all the other circumstances likewise of the history lead us to suppose.

CLIII. The guards inform the priests of Christ's resurrrection. Matt. xxviii. 11,-15.

"THE women thus ordered by Jesus himself to carry the tidings of his resurrection into the city, went no farther in quest of Peter; but being now charged with a more important message, turned back immediately to publish the glad tidings of their having seen the Lord. Matt. xxviii. 11. Now when they were going, behold some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done: that is, gave them an account of the earthquake, the vision, the rolling away of the stone. Moreover, they assured them that Jesus was actually risen from the dead. The chief priests having received this report, called the whole senate together, and consulted among themselves what they were to do. The deliberations, however, of the meeting were not kept secret. They were reported to the disciples, perhaps by Joseph and Nicodemus, two members of the council, who were our Lord's friends. That the soldiers in

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formed the priests of Christ's resurrection, cannot be doubted by any one who considers the measure which they took after deliberating upon the affair. 12. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money (i. e. a great bribe) unto the soldiers, 13. Saying, say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. It is true, Mark xvi. 9. is generally interpreted in such a manner as to make us think the soldiers did not see Jesus arise. Yet, if I mistake not, that interpretation is without foundation. Mark's words are, Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Our Lord's first appearance, therefore, after his resurrection, was to Mary. This might be said consistently enough with the soldiers seeing him arise; for that was no appearance after his resurrection; it was his resurrection itself. In the mean time, though the soldiers did not see him rise, they were able to bear witness unto his resurrection. The storm, the earthquake, and the vision that accompanied this astonishing event, had driven them away from the se pulchre. Impelled, therefore, by their fears and the weather, they would take shelter in the first house they could find. And as they fled away about the time that Jesus arose, they would probably sleep till morning. Or, though the terror they were in hindered them from sleeping, they would stay nevertheless, having no inclination to go out in such a stormy night, especially as they knew that the gates of the city were shut, and that they could not have access to the chief priests at so unseasonable an hour. When the day advanced, and their fears were a little abated, we may suppose they began to deliberate among themselves what they were to do. They had been placed at the sepulchre, to see if Jesus would arise according to his prediction, and to prevent any fraud by which his resurrection might be imposed upon the world. Wherefore, if they did not see him arise, they could not but be curious to know whether he was really risen, as the terrible things they had been witnesses to the preceding evening seemed to presage; and for this purpose they might go straightway to the sepulchre in the morning, but not finding the body, they concluded with reason that Jesus was risen, and went to tell the priests the strange news. Thus the soldiers were qualified to bear witness unto the resurrection of Jesus, although they did not see him arise; and their testimony is unquestionable, being the testimony of enemies. Accordingly, the priests did not offer to contradict them, as they would certainly have done had it been in their power. But by an obstinacy almost incredible, rooted in their pride, they stiffly resisted what their own mind told them was true; and to save their reputation bribed the soldiers to tell every where, that while they slept in the night his disciples came and stole him away. The priests certainly

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