Second advent library

cmuss-'s sscoxm comma. 191I. Attempt to show what the Bible calls the two witnesses.lL What we may understand by their being clothedin sackcloth.III. Their history, prophecy, and time specified.I. fVhat is the Bible account of the two witnesses?I answer, A witness is sAnd, first, What is a witness ?person, or legal instrument, testifying to the truth, thewhole truth, and nothing but the truth, on matters of factwhich aresupposed tobe known no way but through testimony,either oral or written. Oral testimony is 'venby a person who is sworn to tell the whole truth, as ailove,and relate what he actually knows, by the medium of hisown senses, and no more nor less. The apostles _weresuch witnesses; for they testified to the things whichChrist did in public. And when Judas fell by transgres~sion, Peter informed his brethren that one must be chosen," of these men which have companied with us all thetime that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginningat the baptism of John, unto -the same day thate was taken up tiom us, must one be ordained to be awitness with us of his resurrection." But these could notbe the "two witnesses;" for here were twelve. But welearn by this history what a. witness must be. He must0 in and out; he~must know by actual observation,he orcould not any thing concerning Christ. Thatwas the manner o oral testimony in that day, and so it isat the present. This, then, precludes the idea. at onceof any men, or set of men, being Christ's witnesses at thepresent day, or since the days of the apostles. But, saysthe objector, does not the word of God call all Christianswitnesses for Christ? I do not know of any scripturewhore Christians are called witnesses, except the prophsuandapostles, or inspired writers, that is, concerningChrist. hey may witness a good profession, ortheyma. witness for themselves, that they believe in Christgg Kisarord; but further they cannot go. Theyare notwitness either to the person of Christ, to his works, death,miracles, or resurrection and ascension; and if there waswe should be no better oil'no other testimony but oral,gpg the darkest Hindoo or most ignorant Hottentota