stronghold；　to　listen　to　the　words　of　truth　from　the　servants　of　Christ。　The
  pastors　not　only　preached　the　gospel；　but　they　visited　the　sick；　catechized
  the　children；　admonished　the　erring；　and　labored　to　settle　disputes　and
  promote　harmony　and　brotherly　love。　In　times　of　peace　they　were　sustained　by
  the　freewill　offerings　of　the　people；　but；　like　Paul　the　tentmaker；　each
  learned　some　trade　or　profession　by　which；　if　necessary；　to　provide　for　his
  own　support。
  From　their　pastors　the　youth　received　instruction。　While　attention　was　given
  to　branches　of　general　learning；　the　Bible　was　made　the　chief　study。　The
  Gospels　of　Matthew　and　John　were　committed　to　memory；　with　many　of　the
  Epistles。　They　were　employed　also　in　copying　the　Scriptures。　Some
  manuscripts　contained　the　whole　Bible；　others　only　brief　selections；　to
  which　some　simple　explanations　of　the　text　were　added　by　those　who　were　able
  to　expound　the　Scriptures。　Thus　were　brought　forth　the　treasures　of　truth　so
  long
  69
  concealed　by　those　who　sought　to　exalt　themselves　above　God。
  By　patient；　untiring　labor；　sometimes　in　the　deep；　dark　caverns　of　the
  earth；　by　the　light　of　torches；　the　Sacred　Scriptures　were　written　out；
  verse　by　verse；　chapter　by　chapter。　Thus　the　work　went　on；　the　revealed　will
  of　God　shining　out　like　pure　gold；　how　much　brighter；　clearer；　and　more
  powerful　because　of　the　trials　undergone　for　its　sake　only　those　could
  realize　who　were　engaged　in　the　work。　Angels　from　heaven　surrounded　these
  faithful　workers。
  Satan　had　urged　on　the　papal　priests　and　prelates　to　bury　the　word　of　truth
  beneath　the　rubbish　of　error；　heresy；　and　superstition；　but　in　a　most
  wonderful　manner　it　was　preserved　uncorrupted　through　all　the　ages　of
  darkness。　It　bore　not　the　stamp　of　man；　but　the　impress　of　God。　Men　have
  been　unwearied　in　their　efforts　to　obscure　the　plain；　simple　meaning　of　the
  Scriptures；　and　to　make　them　contradict　their　own　testimony；　but　like　the
  ark　upon　the　billowy　deep；　the　word　of　God　outrides　the　storms　that　threaten
  it　with　destruction。　As　the　mine　has　rich　veins　of　gold　and　silver　hidden
  beneath　the　surface；　so　that　all　must　dig　who　would　discover　its　precious
  stores；　so　the　Holy　Scriptures　have　treasures　of　truth　that　are　revealed
  only　to　the　earnest；　humble；　prayerful　seeker。　God　designed　the　Bible　to　be
  a　lessonbook　to　all　mankind；　in　childhood；　youth；　and　manhood；　and　to　be
  studied　through　all　time。　He　gave　His　word　to　men　as　a　revelation　of
  Himself。　Every　new　truth　discerned　is　a　fresh　disclosure　of　the　character　of
  its　Author。　The　study　of　the　Scriptures　is　the　means　divinely　ordained　to
  bring　men　into　closer　connection　with　their　Creator　and　to　give　them　a
  clearer　knowledge　of　His　will。　It　is　the　medium　of　communication　between　God
  and　man。
  While　the　Waldenses　regarded　the　fear　of　the　Lord　as　the　beginning　of
  wisdom；　they　were　not　blind　to　the　importance　of　a　contact　with　the　world；　a
  knowledge　of　men　and　of
  70
  active　life；　in　expanding　the　mind　and　quickening　the　perceptions。　From
  their　schools　in　the　mountains　some　of　the　youth　were　sent　to　institutions
  of　learning　in　the　cities　of　France　or　Italy；　where　was　a　more　extended
  field　for　study；　thought；　and　observation　than　in　their　native　Alps。　The
  youth　thus　sent　forth　were　exposed　to　temptation；　they　witnessed　vice；　they
  encountered　Satan's　wily　agents；　who　urged　upon　them　the　most　subtle
  heresies　and　the　most　dangerous　deceptions。　But　their　education　from
  childhood　had　been　of　a　character　to　prepare　them　for　all　this。
  In　the　schools　whither　they　went；　they　were　not　to　make　confidants　of　any。
  Their　garments　were　so　prepared　as　to　conceal　their　greatest　treasurethe
  precious　manuscripts　of　the　Scriptures。　These；　the　fruit　of　months　and　years
  of　toil；　they　carried　with　them；　and　whenever　they　could　do　so　without
  exciting　suspicion；　they　cautiously　placed　some　portion　in　the　way　of　those
  whose　hearts　seemed　open　to　receive　the　truth。　From　their　mother's　knee　the
  Waldensian　youth　had　been　trained　with　this　purpose　in　view；　they　understood
  their　work　and　faithfully　performed　it。　Converts　to　the　true　faith　were　won
  in　these　institutions　of　learning；　and　frequently　its　principles　were　found
  to　be　permeating　the　entire　school；　yet　the　papal　leaders　could　not；　by　the
  closest　inquiry；　trace　the　so…called　corrupting　heresy　to　its　source。
  The　spirit　of　Christ　is　a　missionary　spirit。　The　very　first　impulse　of　the
  renewed　heart　is　to　bring　others　also　to　the　Saviour。　Such　was　the　spirit　of
  the　Vaudois　Christians。　They　felt　that　God　required　more　of　them　than　merely
  to　preserve　the　truth　in　its　purity　in　their　own　churches；　that　a　solemn
  responsibility　rested　upon　them　to　let　their　light　shine　forth　to　those　who
  were　in　darkness；　by　the　mighty　power　of　God's　word　they　sought　to　break　the
  bondage　which　Rome　had　imposed。　The　Vaudois　ministers　were　trained　as
  missionaries；　everyone　who　expected　to　enter　the　ministry　being　required
  first　to　gain　an　experience　as　an　evangelist。　Each
  71
  was　to　serve　three　years　in　some　mission　field　before　taking　charge　of　a
  church　at　home。　This　service；　requiring　at　the　outset　self…denial　and
  sacrifice；　was　a　fitting　introduction　to　the　pastor's　life　in　those　times
  that　tried　men's　souls。　The　youth　who　received　ordination　to　the　sacred
  office　saw　before　them；　not　the　prospect　of　earthly　wealth　and　glory；　but　a
  life　of　toil　and　danger；　and　possibly　a　martyr's　fate。　The　missionaries　went
  out　two　and　two；　as　Jesus　sent　forth　His　disciples。　With　each　young　man　was
  usually　associated　a　man　of　age　and　experience；　the　youth　being　under　the
  guidance　of　his　companion；　who　was　held　responsible　for　his　training；　and
  whose　instruction　he　was　required　to　heed。　These　colaborers　were　not　always
  together；　but　often　met　for　prayer　and　counsel；　thus　strengthening　each
  other　in　the　faith。
  To　have　made　known　the　object　of　their　mission　would　have　ensured　its
  defeat；　therefore　they　carefully　concealed　their　real　character。　Every
  minister　possessed　a　knowledge　of　some　trade　or　profession；　and　the
  missionaries　prosecuted　their　work　under　cover　of　a　secular　calling。　Usually
  they　chose　that　of　merchant　or　peddler。　〃They　carried　silks；　jewelry；　and
  other　articles；　at　that　time　not　easily　purchasable　save　at　distant　marts；
  and　they　were　welcomed　as　merchants　where　they　would　have　been　spurned　as
  missionaries。〃　Wylie；　b。　1；　ch。　7。　All　the　while　their　hearts　were
  uplifted　to　God　for　wisdom　to　present　a　treasure　more　precious　than　gold　or
  gems。　They　secretly　carried　about　with　them　copies　of　the　Bible；　in　whole　or
  in　part；　and　whenever　an　opportunity　was　presented；　they　called　the
  attention　of　their　customers　to　these　manuscripts。　Often　an　interest　to　read
  God's　word　was　thus　awakened；　and　some　portion　was　gladly　left　with　those
  who　desired　to　receive　it。
  The　work　of　these　missionaries　began　in　the　plains　and　valleys　at　the　foot
  of　their　own　mountains；　but　it　extended　far　beyond　these　limits。　With　naked
  feet　and　in　garments　coarse　and　travel…stained　as　were　those　of　their
  Master；
  72
  they　passed　through　great　cities　and　penetrated　to　distant　lands。　Everywhere
  they　scattered　the　precious　seed。　Churches　sprang　up　in　their　path；　and　the
  blood　of　martyrs　witnessed　for　the　truth。　The　day　of　God　will　reveal　a　rich
  harvest　of　souls　garnered　by　the　labors　of　these　faithful　men。　Veiled　and
  silent；　the　word　of　God　was　making　its　way　through　Christendom　and　meeting　a
  glad　reception　in　the　homes　and　hearts　of　men。
  To　the　Waldenses　the　Scriptures　were　not　merely　a　record　of　God's　dealings
  with　men　in　the　past；　and　a　revelation　of　the　responsibilities　and　duties　of
  the　present；　but　an　unfolding　of　the　perils　and　glories　of　the　future。　They
  believed　that　the　end　of　all　things　was　not　far　distant；　and　as　they　studied
  the　Bible　with　prayer　and　tears　they　were　the　more　deeply　impressed　with　its
  precious　utterances　and　with　their　duty　to　make　known　to　others　its　saving
  truths。　They　saw　the　plan　of　salvation　clearly　revealed　in　the　sacred　pages；
  and　they　found　comfort；　hope；　and　peace　in　believing　in　Jesus。　As　the　light
  illuminated　their　understanding　and　made　glad　their　hearts；　they　longed　to
  shed　its　beams　upon　those　who　were　in　the　darkness　of　papal　error。
  They　saw　that　under　the　guidance　of　pope　and　priest；　multitudes　were　vainly
  endeavoring　to　obtain　pardon　by　afflicting　their　bodies　for　the　sin　of　their
  souls。　Taught　to　trust　to　their　good　works　to　save　them；　they　were　ever
  looking　to　themselves；　their　minds　dwelling　upon　their　sinful　condition；
  seeing　themselves　exposed　to　the　wrath　of　God；　afflicting　soul　and　body；　yet
  finding　no　relief。　Thus　conscientious　souls　were　bound　by　the　doctrines　of
  Rome。　Thousands　abandoned　friends　and　kindred；　and　spent　their　lives　in
  convent　cells。　By　oft…repeated　fasts　and　cruel　scourgings；　by　midnight
  vigils；　by　prostration　for　weary　hours　upon　the　cold；　damp　stones　of　their
  dreary　abode；　by　long　pilgrimages；　by　humiliating　penance　and　fearful
  torture；　thousands　vainly　sought　to　obtain　peace　of　conscience。　Opp