The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-12-24
JESUS. GRAVE GuAKolD.

Plate said unto them, Ye have watch; go
your way. make ii as snre as you can. So they
went, and made The sepulchre sure, scaling
the stone, and setting II wateh.-Matt XVI:
Is, 6i.
The ancient Romans We're particularly
careful to preserve the memory Of ali re-
markable events which happened in the
city; and this was done either in their Acts
of the Senate (Acta Senatus), or in the
Daily Acts of the People. (Acta Diuuna
PopulD, which were diligently made aud
kept at Rome. In like manner, it was
customary fer the governors of provinces
to send to the Emperor an account of re-
markable transactions that occurred in the
places where they resided, which were
preserved as the Acts Of their respective
governments. In conformity with this
usage, PLATE kept memoirs of the Jewish
affairs during his Procuratorship, which
were called Acta PLAT. Referring to this
usage, EusebiGs says: ''Our Sayiour's res
direction being much talked of through
out Palestine. PLATE informed the En-
peror of it, as likewise OF his miracles, of
which lie had heard; and that, being
raised up after lie had been put to death,
he was already believed by many to be
God" These accounts were never pub
lished for general perusal, but were
deposited among the archives os The En-
pire, where they served as a fund OF infor-
nation TO historians. Hence We find long
before the time of Eusebius that the prim-
tive Christians, in their disputes with the
Gentiles, appealed to these Acts of PLATE
as to most undoubted testimony. Thus,
Justin Martyr, in his first apology for the
Christians, which was presented to the
Emperor Antoninus Plus and the Senate of
Rome, about the year 40, having mentioned
the crucfixOn Of Jesus Christ, and some
of its attendant circumstances, adds: "And
that these things were so done, you may
know from the Acts made in the time of
Pontus Plate Afterwards, in the same
apology, having noticed some of our
Lords miracles, such as healing diseases
and raising the dead, he says: ''And that
these things were done by him, you may
know from the Acts made in the time of
Pontius Plate" The learned Tertullian,
in his apology for Christianity, about the
year 200 after speaking of our Saviour's
crucifixion and resurrection, and his APP
pearance to the disciples, and ascension into
heaven in the sight of the disciples, who
! were ordained by him TO publish the Cos
pei over the world thus proceeds: "0f all
these things relating 10 Christ, PLATE him.
self in his conscience already christian,
sent an account to Tiberius the Emperor"
And again, in another connection, he says:
''Search yonr own public documents, and
YOU will there find that Nero was the first
who ragged with the imperial sword against
this sect, when rising most at Rome. +"
| These testimonies of Justin and Tertullian
are taken from public Apologies for the
christian religion, which were presented
either TO the Emperor and Senate of Rene,
| or to magistrates of public authority and
| great distinction in the Roman Empire.
Now IT is incredible that such writers
would have made such appeals, especially
to the very persons in whose custody these
documents were, had they not been fully
satisfied Of their existence and contents. =
! Horne's Introduction.
Now there was about this time Jesus, a
wise man, if it be lawful TO call him mar;
for he was doer of wonderful works, a
teacher Of such men as receive the truth
with pleasure. He drew over to him both
many of the Jews. ard many Of the Gen
tiles. lie was (the) Christ. And when
PLATE, at the suggestion of the principal
men ameng us, had condemned him TO the
cross, those that loved him at the first die
not forsake him; for he appeared to them
alive again the third day; as the divine
prophets had foretold these and ten thou
sand other wonderful things concerning
him. Hospitals IL Antiquifies