forms another proof, to add to those already brought forward, of the antecedence of the Vaudois Church to the birth of Peter Waldo.
“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 coming to an end.
Eleven hundred years are already accomplished
Since it was written. For we are in the last time.”
The poem is too long for copying, but we will add a few lines, taken from another part, to prove how early the Vaudois Christians were exposed to persecution, as well as in evidence of the morality of their lives.
“If there be any one who loves and fears Jesus Christ,
Who will not curse, nor swear, nor lie,
Nor be unchaste, nor kill, nor take what is another’s,
Nor take vengeance on his enemies,
They say that he is a Vaudès, and worthy of punishment.”
It should be noticed that the word Vaudès means, in the Romaic, a sorcerer; and some authors[1] refer the appellation of the men of the valleys (Vaudois) to this opprobrious epithet, bestowed on the early Christians by their Popish as well as pagan adversaries.
We must now endeavour to give a brief summary of the belief of the Vaudois Church, as it was and is (which in all essential tenets harmonizes with that of other evangelical Christians), as extracted from their ancient documents, and quoted by their ablest historians. They believed in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Christ is Life, Truth, Peace, Righteousness, Shepherd and Advocate, Sacrifice and Priest; that He died for the salvation of all believers, and
- ↑ See Monastier, chap. vii.
