The genuineness of the present site of the Holy Sepul-

chre has been long denied by many competent judges.

To the question what objection there is to the spot, the

answer must be, Much every way. First of all, its situa-

tion answers in no wise to the conditions of the Scripture

narrative. It could not have been without the gate.

Adjacent is the large pool of Hezekiah, which certainly

would not be left outside for the advantage of the enemy

when he came to besiege the city; but if that reservoir

was included, so likewise must have been the site of the

present church. Of course it is possible to draw the line

of wall in such a fashion as to make one of its angles

leave this church outside; but one has only to see the

strange zigzag which is necessarily produced, to be per-

suaded of its glaring improbability. Dr. Robinson has

clearly stated the objections to the present site, to which

I further refer the reader, but it must have been deeper

within the city than he supposes. The wall started from

a great tower called Hippicus, Whose dimensions Josephus

gives. It is a mistake to identify it with the existing

tower at the Jafl'a. Gate, for this reason, among others,

that the dimensions of the latter are about half as large

again as those of Hippicus, and Josephus would not

have fallen into the error of so diminishing it. At the

northern corner of the present city was the site of the

famous tower, and the wall starting thence took its pre-

sent direction (for remains of it are found at the Damas-

cus Gate) ; therefore the present site of the Holy Sepulchre

was far within the city at the time of the crucifixion.