as in the locality we would describe, the aspect of nature is so illustrative of the events with which it is associated.
Few travellers can explore these Alpine mountains, or thread the narrow defiles of their struggling torrents, with out perceiving how wonderfully the magnificent theatre is adapted to the scenes of heroism and suffering which have been acted on it. Surely, all who visit this country must acknowledge with its native historian,[1] that “the Eternal, our God who has destined it as the theatre of His wonders, and the asylum of His ark, has astonishingly and naturally fortified it,” and that no other could offer such facilities for defence and retreat—or, alas, for cruelty and outrage; and what else for centuries was the lot of this faithful and persecuted people!
But let it not occasion surprise to our young or less informed readers, to learn that this land of faithful witnesses and high destiny, occupies no political position, amid the nations of Europe that it has no navigable rivers, no golden mines, no commerce or wealth; since it is the will of the Almighty thus to choose “the weak things of the world to confound the wise.” What unassisted eye, even in the clearest night of frosty winter, can discern, amid the thousand suns that burn on high, such inferior planets as that on which man has his habitation? Yet to redeem one of the least of these, the Son of God expired on the cross.
And thus, in her lowliness and her sufferings, has He ever owned and supported His little Church in the valleys of Piedmont and thus, if her people fall not away from the faith so long maintained by their forefathers, He will continue to uphold her until He exchanges her martyr palm for a crown of imperishable glory.
- ↑ Léger.
