THE HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 286, 2 December 1889, Page 3

THE HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES.

Ths Rev. p>.. Sommerville lectured last evening in St Peter's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hill=, from the words " Esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake," 1 Thess., 5, 13. He took occasion to refer to the history of the Waldenses. They derived their name from Peter Waldo, a merchant of Lyons, who had gome trans lations made of the books of the Now Testament. His followers increased rapidly in numbers. They did not, however, wish separation from the Church,, but rather to bo a transforming power within it. They abjured the Pope's supremacy, indulgences, confession to a priest, and prayers for the dead. Pope Alexander 111. anathematised them,, but their doctrines spread through France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Several persecutions were raised against, them. In August last the bi-ceutenary of their return to their home was celebrated in their native valleys. The leading Protestant Churches of the World sent deputations to their gathering, and King Humbert of Italy sent a very kindly'letter together with a gift of £200 to assist to defray the expenses. In 1655, Charles Emmanuel 11. abolished their liberties, destroyed their churches, and suppressed their meetings. A cruel edict was passed that every child must bo baptised by a Roman Catholic priest on pain of the mothor being scourged and the father being imprisoned for five year?. Twenty thousand of them resisted, but through lying assurances laid down their arms. They were massacred, and three thousand survivors were cast into prison. Their boys and girls were given to Roman Catholic families in order that their children might be brought up in a faith that their parents detested. Cromwell intervened with the Duke of Savoy, and Milton wrote his passionate sonnet beginning : — Avenge. O Lord, thy slaughtered saints whose bones Lio scattered on the Alpine mountains cold. Another persecution followed at the insbanceof Louis XIV., butachange came over political affairs, and tho exiles in Geneva determined .to return. Eight _ hundred assembled in a wood fifteen miles from Geneva. They crossed the Alps and forced their way through a French division, taking all their provisions and baggage from the enemy. ' They arrived at their native valleys, wad celebrated the mercies of God by srnging the 74th and 129 th psalms. In 184S, Charles Emmanuel put them on the same level with his other subjects, and now e they' are actively carrying on the work of evangelisation amongst their fellow-countrymen. To euch as them we are indebted for our liberties. Their history reproves our apathy, and we are stimulated by it to be faithful unto death, in Order that we may obtain the crown of life.