Consider, besides, that when the soldiers gave the coup de grace to the two robbers, that they did not break the legs of Jews.

This, the author of the Gospel according to John says, they did, in order to fulfill a prophecy; but I leave it to my reader, whether it is not more likely that they did so in order to fulfill secret orders?
But to make up for that omission, the author adds, that they pierced Jesus with a spear.

Now, besides that this is not mentioned by the other Evangelists, the very manner in which this circumstance is mentioned, and eagerly affirmed by him, looks as if the author was aware of the likelihood of a suspicion of the fact we are trying to prove probable, and that he wrote this in order to obviate it.

And after all, the gospel according to John was certainly not written by him, and, therefore, what the author of it observes, may be true, or not.

You will observe also, reader, that the body of Jesus was given by Pilate to his friends immediately; a favour never vouchsafed by the Romans in such a case, except "speciali gratia." You will observe also, that the body was taken down by his friends, no doubt with great care; probably was washed from the blood, and rubbed perfectly dry; and was deposited in the cave or sepulchre, with a large quantity of spices, and aromatics.