VARIOUS TESTIMONIES RESPECTING THE WALDENSES.
By John Nevins Andrews
Of their origin we have some facts of interest from various authors. Thus Benedict says: "The word [Waldenses] simply signifies valleys—inhabitants of valleys—and no more. It happened that the inhabitants of the valleys of the Pyrenees did not profess the Catholic faith; it fell out also that the inhabitants of the valleys about the Alps did not embrace it; it happened, moreover, in the ninth century, that one Valdo, a friend and counsellor of Berengarius, and a man of eminence, who had many followers, did not approve of the Papal discipline and doctrine; and it came to pass about a hundred and thirty years after, that a rich merchant of Lyons, who was called Valdus, or Waldo, openly disavowed the Roman Catholic religion, supported many to teach the doctrines believed in the valleys, and became the instrument of the conversion of great numbers;—all these people were called Waldenses. . . . Because they would not observe saints' days, they were falsely supposed to neglect the Sabbath also, and called Inzabbati, or Insabbatists. . . . Their enemies confirm their great antiquity. Reinerius Saccho, an inquisitor, and one of their most implacable enemies, who lived only eighty years after Waldo, admits that the Waldenses flourished five hundred years before that preacher. Gretzer, the Jesuit, who also wrote against the Waldenses, and had examined the subject fully, not only admits their great antiquity, but declares his firm belief that the Toulousians, and Albigenses condemned in the years 1177 and 1178, were no other than the Waldenses.—History of the Baptist Denomination. pp. 21, 22. Benedict says also: "We have already observed from Claudius Seyssel, the popish archbishop, that one Leo was charged with originating the Waldensian heresy in the valleys, in the days of Constantine the Great. When those severe measures emanated from the emperor Honorius against re-baptizers, the Baptists left the seat of opulence and power, and sought retreats in the country, and in the valleys of Piedmont; which last place in particular became their retreat from imperial oppression." Again he says: "Theodore Belvedre, a popish monk, says that the heresy had always been in the valleys. In the preface to the French Bible, the translators say, that they (the Waldenses) have always had the full enjoyment of the heavenly truth contained in the Holy Scriptures ever since they were enriched with the same by the apostles; having in fair MSS. preserved the entire Bible in their native tongue from generation to generation." Id. p. 33. President Edwards says that some of the popish writers themselves own that that people never submitted to the church of Rome. One of the popish writers, speaking of the Waldenses, says the heresy of the Waldenses165is the oldest heresy in the world. It is supposed that this people first betook themselves to this desert, secret place among the mountains to hide themselves from the severity of the heathen persecutions which were before Constantine the Great, and thus the woman fled into the wilderness from the face of the serpent. Rev. xii, 6, 14. And the people being settled there, their prosperity continued there from age to age afterwards; and being, as it were, by natural walls as well as God's grace separated from the rest of the world, never partook of the overflowing corruption.—Hist. Redemption, pp. 293, 294. (Cited by Benedict, Hist. Bap. Dem.) Jortin writes thus: A. D. 601. "In the seventh century, Christianity was propagated in China by the Nestorians; and the Valdenses, who abhorred the Papal usurpations, are supposed to have settled themselves in the valleys of Piedmont. Monkery flourished prodigiously, and the monks and popes were in the firmest union."—Eccl. Hist. Vol. ii, Sect. xxxviii. Waddington quotes the following from a popish writer respecting them: Rainer Saccho, a Dominican says of the Waldenses: "There is no sect so dangerous as the Leonists, for three reasons: first, it is the most ancient,—some say it is as old as Sylvester, [pope in Constantine's time,] others as the apostles themselves. Secondly, it is very generally disseminated: there is no country where it has not gained some footing. Thirdly, while other sects are profane and blasphemous, this retains the utmost show of piety; they live justly before men, and believe nothing respecting God which is not good.—Hist. of the Church, Chap. xxii, Sect. i. Of their doctrines and their worship Jones bears the following testimony: "'Because they would not observe saints' days, they were falsely supposed to neglect the Sabbath also, and called 'Inzabbatati or Insabbatists.'"—Church History, Chap. v, Sect. i. Again he says: "'Louis XII, king of France, being informed by the enemies of the Waldenses, inhabiting a part of the province of Provence, that several heinous crimes were laid to their account, sent the Master of Requests, and a certain doctor of the Sarbonne, who was confessor to his majesty, to make inquiry into this matter. On their return, they reported that they had visited all the parishes where they dwelt, had inspected their places of worship, but that they had found there no images, nor signs of the ornaments belonging to the mass, nor any of the ceremonies of the Romish church; much less could they discover any traces of those crimes with which they were charged. On the contrary, they kept the Sabbath day, observed the ordinance of baptism, according to the primitive church, instructed their children in the articles of the Christian faith, and the commandments of God. The king having heard the report of his commissioners, said with an oath that they were better men than himself or his people.'"—Id. Chap. v, Section iv. It may not be generally known that the entire body of the Waldenses about two centuries ago were compelled to leave their country, yet such was the case. Benedict says that "In 1686, by a most oppressive edict of Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, the total extirpation of the Waldenses from the valleys of Piedmont was effected, and after incredible hardship and sufferings, the whole body of this people were compelled to leave their native homes in a state of great destitution and misery. Multitudes of them died on the road, and the remnant sought shelter in Switzerland and other Protestant countries."—Hist. Bap. Denomination, p. 41. Of those now called Waldenses Mr. Benedict says: "Abundant testimony was produced to show that the company who returned and settled in the valleys of Piedmont in 1689, three years after the expulsion of the whole fraternity, and from whom the present race of Waldenses descended, fought their way back, sword in hand, were guilty of acts of the most revolting barbarity and outrage, and pursued in all respects a course entirely different from the ancient Waldenses."—Id. p. 41.