LET us not forget while recording the simple annals of the Vaudois, that their story derives its interest not merely as the history of a people, but because we see in that history, the purposes of God being fulfilled. It is as we regard them in this light, as a people chosen to be the depository of God's truth, and as forming part of that beautiful silver thread of testimony, which, no matter how dark the age, God has always preserved, that our interest is not only awakened but quickened. Yes, although outwardly but poor and lowly mountaineers, the Waldenses were God's chosen witnesses-His representatives in this world. And yet, as we think of their humble estate, are we not reminded that it has seldom been the great or the noble of the earth whom God has used to fulfill His purposes? Was not David but a humble shepherd boy? Peter only a poor Galilean fisherman? and Martin Luther an obscure miner's son? Yet were these called to be a king, an apostle, and a reformer!
No doubt much of the natural strength of character we discover in the Vaudois-their endurance, their courage, their zeal-was derived from the wild and rugged nature of the region in which they dwelt. Certain it is they were naturally a noble-minded and high-spirited people, though persecuted and despised. Like almost all dwellers in the mountains they lived a simple pastoral life. On the higher ranges of the mountains they tended their flocks, while in the valleys, and on the lower slopes, they cultivated the soil.
A remarkable purity of life, as well as simplicity of manners, characterized the Vaudois. However their enemies might denounce them as heretics, concerning the faith they held, the blamelessness of their lives was not to be disputed. So unquestionable was this that their morality even passed into a proverb" Any one more than ordinarily exempt from the vices of his time was sure to be suspected of being a Vandes." The following account from the pen of a Romish writer, who, we may be sure, would not willingly say one word too favorable, affords a good idea of the life and manners of the Waldenses. " These heretics," he says, " are known by their manners and ways, for they are orderly and modest in their manners and behavior; they avoid all pride in their habits. To avoid lies, they do not follow trades, but live by the labor of their own hands as handicraftsmen and day-laborers. They do not heap up riches, but are content with necessaries. They are also very chaste. They are also very sparing in eating and drinking; they do not frequent taverns and ale houses, neither do they go to balls and other vanities. They abstain from anger. Their women are very modest, avoiding back-biting, foolish jesting and levity of words; and especially they abstain from lies and swearing, not so much as making use of the common asseverations, in truth,' for certain,' because they look upon them as oaths. They kneel down upon the ground, before a bench, or such like, and pray in silence as long as it might take to repeat the paternoster thirty or forty times, concluding their prayers by repeating the word Amen several times."
One who visited the valleys writes: " Nowhere will you meet with kindlier manners, or more gentle breeding. Be it on the highest mountain, or in the most sequestered vale, the traveler is sure of safety and welcome. Should he be inclined for further acquaintanceship, he will meet all alike, ready to welcome him into their homes, or to guide him on his way."
But interesting and instructive as are these glimpses of Waldensian life, it is rather more with the Christian side of their character-how they testified for Christ-that concerns us here.
The motto they adopted, " LUX LUCET IN TENEBRIS "-a light shining in darkness clearly indicates that the Vaudois were fully aware that God had called them for a special purpose, even to maintain His light and truth in the midst of increasing darkness and error.
The Word of God was the basis of this testimony. It has been said truly of the Vaudois that the Bible was their earliest inheritance, and that they clung to it with a holy pertinacity. They could say with the Psalmist, " Thy word is a light to my feet, and a lamp to my paths " (Psa. 119:105105NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)).
By the light of this divine lamp they discovered the way of truth, and sough diligently to follow in it. They rejected every doctrine which could not be verified by Scripture; for the same light of the Word that revealed the truth, exposed the error and superstition that surrounded them. As they studied the Scriptures they could not but discover the amazing contrast between the simple apostolic church as set up in early days, and that which then professed to represent it-the Church of Rome. Hence we find the Waldenses in no measured terms denouncing the evil doctrines and practices of the Papacy.
The Pope they regarded as Antichrist. They held also " that temporal offices and dignities were not meet for preachers of the gospel; that the Pope's pardons were a cheat; that purgatory was a fable; that relics were simply rotten bones which had belonged to one knew not whom; that to go on pilgrimage served no other end, save to empty one's purse; that flesh might be eaten any day if one's appetite served him; that holy water was not a whit more efficacious than rain-water; and that prayer in a barn was just as effectual as if offered in a church."
Not a few writings at various times appeared amongst the Waldenses. The most famous of these was a curious poem called the " Noble Lesson," written about the twelfth century. There was a belief amongst the early Christians that after the gospel had been preached for a thousand years, Satan was to be loosed, wickedness would increase, and the end of the world be at hand. Thii belief seems to have taken a strong hold of the Vaudois, and to have occasioned the writing of the " Noble Lesson," as appears from the opening lines of this quaint poem.
" Oh! brethren, hear a noble lesson,
We ought always to watch and pray,
For we see this world is near its end.
We ought to be earnest in doing good works,
For we see this world is coining to an end.
Eleven hundred years are fully completed Since it was written, The end of all things is at hand,'
We daily see the signs of this accomplishment, In the increase of evil and the decrease of good; These are the perils that the Scripture mentions, Which the evangelists have recounted, and St. Paul has written, That no man living knows when the end will come."
Another passage in the " Noble Lesson " is very interesting as showing how early the Vaudois were subjected to persecution for continuing in the simple faith of Christ.
"After the Apostles, there were certain teachers who showed the way of Jesus Christ our Savior. And some of these are found even at the present time, but they are known to very few.
They greatly desire to point out the way of Jesus Christ But are so persecuted, that they can do but little.
So blinded by error are the false Christians, and especially the pastors, For they persecute and kill those who are better than themselves.
Nevertheless the Scripture says, and we may see it, That if a person loves those who tore good, he will wish to love God, and to fear Jesus Christ: And that he will neither curse, nor swear, nor lie, nor kill, nor defraud his neighbor, Neither will he take revenge on his enemies, Now such an one they say is a VAUDES, and deserves to be put to death."
The conclusion of the " Noble Lesson " is very striking:‒
We have only to imitate Jesus Christ, and to do His pleasure And to keep firmly that which he has commanded, And to be well advised when Antichrist shall come That we may give no credence to his doings or to his sayings, But according to Scripture, there are many Antichrists, For all who are contrary to Christ are Antichrist, Many signs and great wonders shall be from this time for- ward to the day of judgment.
The heaven and the earth shall burn, and all the living shall die, Then shall He say to the wicked, Depart from me yea cursed, &c.
May it please the Lord who formed the world, that we my be of the number of His elect to stand in His courts.
We have quoted at this length from the " Noble Lesson" because it presents, as no words of ours could, the simple faith, and earnest spirit of the Vaudois. It also breathes a beautiful piety-a longing to walk well pleasing to God, and a deep desire `to point out the way of Jesus Christ ' to others. Truly they did not hide their light under a bushel, but were as a city set on a hill, that could not be hid.
Very simple and very real were their gatherings for worship, preaching, &c. These were presided over by their barbe or pastor, without any form or ceremony; and frequently in some secluded spot in the valleys, with no other covering save the blue vault of heaven. The barbes were true and faithful shepherds to their flocks. In the hour of persecution and danger they were ever present to comfort and encourage, and to direct the drooping heart to trust in God. It is needless to say how dearly they were loved and valued in return. But beside these pastoral labors, their barbes had in charge the education of the youth. Not a few, as we have seen, were trained to become missionaries; but all without exception were taught in the Scriptures. It is well known what large portions they committed to memory. One poor peasant could repeat the whole book of Job by heart, without missing a word; others, it is said, had the whole of the New Testament at their fingers' ends.
We shall conclude this sketch by a beautiful picture illustrative of Waldensian life, from the pen of one who was interested, not only in their past history, but in their present welfare " The sun now bursting out illuminates the mouth of a deep cavern, within whose recess we discern a circle of mountain youths, their eyes earnestly fixed. on the countenance of a white-haired man, who looks on them with a father's interest as they eagerly drink in the instruction he imparts. And soon the glorious sun has climbed high above the clear horizon, and the circle is broken up. Some of the students seek the shelter of the forest to con their sacred tasks, and some climb the heights, or search the margin of the stream for healing herbs; but when the dew falls on the herbage and the labor of the vine-dresser is ended, and the goat-herd has driven home his flock, we see them all cross the green hollow, and stand reverently around the holy man as he reads and explains to them God's sacred Word. The voice of prayer, sweet and solemn, is then heard in this vast wilderness -the voice of one interpreter of the wants and woes of the kneeling mountaineers; and then the full burst of praise mingles with the roar of the descending torrent; and again all is hushed but its brawling waters, as the Christians steal, in silence and secrecy, to their homes, trembling lest even the stars that light them on their way should betray them to their lurking foes."