The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-04-10
FEAST OF THE RESURRECTION.
(Continued from page u

this present and some fallen asleep" 1t is,
then conclusive that whilst there are many strong
reasons for accepting the testimony of the apos-
ties there is for rejecting it. 1t could not be
to their interest III any way.
We have next the testimony of those who were
opposed to the propagation of Christianity. They
are numerous. The of those whose testi-
mony is still eXtant will be sufficient here They
arc CELSIUS, Porphyrius Hierocles and Julian the
Apostate All these admitted the resurrection. but
tried to explain it. by saying that Christ had truly
risen. but did SO by magic art, explanation of
fered of his miracles whilst tabernacled in the flesh
The weight of testimony from friend and foe is so
strong that its denial is the last wall of incredulty
and skepticism
Now comes the testimony of the Jews. They adj
nit there such person Jesus, that He
was put to death. His body was placed in the tomb.
and that the third day after his death the tomb
tcnantlcss. the body being stolen by his Apostles.
They were all aware, that Christ during his life
predicted He would rise the third day. 1t was
for them who rejected Him as the Messiah, to pre-
vent this prediction from being carried into effect
by fraud conspiracy with his Apostles. and if he
failed to carry his prediction into effect then it
certain that he was not the Messiah Did they take
all necessary precautions? They saw his lifcless
body taken down from the on Friday. 1t is
Saturday morning and the prophecy if fulfilled at
all must needs be fulfilled the following day. What
did they dol Read St Matt. xvii. ,66. From
these texts of Scriptures it be learned that Pr
late. though reluctantly, complied with their re-
quest by sending armed soldiers to guard the tomb
Though convinced of the innocence of Christ. as
he before his crucifXion declared he was, he is
forced by the same moral force that was before
brought to bear him to yield by giving the chief
priest a guard of Roman soldiers. They with the
soldiers go to the Sepuchre on Saturday morning.
The sepulchre being opened they there behold the
lifeless body of Jesus and having closed it the sol
diers receive their orders to keep vigilant watch
till the following day. Death was to be the pun
ishment of any who dared to remove the stone
from that sepulchre. But what if those soldiers
receive large sum of money for allowing the body
to be taken away2 There is no to offer bribe.
and they are all poor yet to prevent even the pos
sibility of bribe the chief priests place on the
four corners of the tomb four government seals.
After this they leave and those brave soldiers re-
main at their post. But the morning sun shall
appear in the heavens that door shall be thrown
open those seals shall be broken that tomb shall
be enantless end those guards will see that their
vigilance and bravery are fruitless when directed
against the Deity. What happened NAV be found
in ST. Mathews gospel. xviii. /. II. The evidence
so clear, that after the resurrection thousands
embraced Christianity, and thew, like the Apostles.
died in its defence either in the rack or through
some other instrument of torture. The objections
to the resurrection will be next answered T. D.