EVERY student, whether of Biblical or of Church history, must have been struck with this remarkable fact, that God has never, at any period of His dealings with man, left Himself without at least an adequate witness on this earth. Abel, Enoch, Noah, and the patriarchs and prophets were all so many links in one great golden chain of testimony which we see stretching right across the world's history, from the creation to the birth of Christ. Just as truly existing, though not perhaps always so easily traced, is the taver thread of witnesses for Christ, from the days of the apostles, even unto the present time. Feeble indeed was the glimmer of heavenly light that shone out during the long period of the Middle Ages; but the light w there though it did seem at times to have expired. A divine hand kept it burning until such time as it pleased Him to let it burst forth again in night-dispelling radiance, flooding great part of the world with its soul-reviving beams.
There can be but little doubt that the Waldenses were in a very remarkable way preserved to bear testimony to the simple truths of the Gospel during the very darkest period of these ages. Their origin dates so far back as to be almost lost in obscurity. Whether, as some writers allege, they originally seceded from the Church of Rome, or, as others affirm, they were never at any period associated with it need not be discussed here. Certain it is that when first the Vaudois appear prominently in history, it is as antagonistic to that great world-system. Enduring opposition and persecution unparalleled in the history of the Church, they nevertheless clung with unflinching tenacity to the truths which they maintained their fathers had handed down even from primitive times. Secluded within their valleys of Piedmont, they remained a standing witness against the heresies, and flagrant evils of Rome. Nor did they hesitate to expose and condemn by every means in their power, those evils; and Rome rightly judged that she had no more formidable opponents against her worldly power, and spiritual pride, than the poor herdsmen of the Alps. The lamp of divine truth shining there, only too surely revealed the dense darkness in which the Papacy had become enshrouded, and consequently no effort was left untried to crush. and stamp out this testimony in the mountains. But the light of God's truth could not be thus extinguished—brighter and brighter it shone until the glorious day-dawn of the Reformation. How much indeed are we indebted, even at the present day, to the undaunted fidelity of these humble witnesses for Christ and Ws truth How far the Waldenses were justified in appealing to the sword, even in defense of life and liberty, is a point hard to determine. II is easier to condemn than to enter adequately into the terrible provocations to which they were subjected. The Vaudois too, were naturally highly courageous and patriotic, and doubtless this trait impelled them to resist with vigor the cruel and cowardly attacks of their enemies. Still thitt inexorable law, " They that take the sword shall perish with the sword," remains true, and the Vaudois fully experienced it. It is not improbable, however, that God overruled this lack of patience and confidence in His power, for in some of the terrible reverses inflicted by the Waldenses on their enemies, we can plainly see that they were undoubtedly used as instruments in accomplishing God's righteous judgments.