dreary　abode；　by　long　pilgrimages；　by　humiliating　penance　and　fearful
  torture；　thousands　vainly　sought　to　obtain　peace　of　conscience。　Oppressed
  with　a　sense　of　sin；　and　haunted　with　the　fear　of　God's　avenging
  73
  wrath；　many　suffered　on；　until　exhausted　nature　gave　way；　and　without　one
  ray　of　light　or　hope　they　sank　into　the　tomb。
  The　Waldenses　longed　to　break　to　these　starving　souls　the　bread　of　life；　to
  open　to　them　the　messages　of　peace　in　the　promises　of　God；　and　to　point　them
  to　Christ　as　their　only　hope　of　salvation。　The　doctrine　that　good　works　can
  atone　for　the　transgression　of　God's　law　they　held　to　be　based　upon
  falsehood。　Reliance　upon　human　merit　intercepts　the　view　of　Christ's
  infinite　love。　Jesus　died　as　a　sacrifice　for　man　because　the　fallen　race　can
  do　nothing　to　recommend　themselves　to　God。　The　merits　of　a　crucified　and
  risen　Saviour　are　the　foundation　of　the　Christian's　faith。　The　dependence　of
  the　soul　upon　Christ　is　as　real；　and　its　connection　with　Him　must　be　as
  close；　as　that　of　a　limb　to　the　body；　or　of　a　branch　to　the　vine。
  The　teachings　of　popes　and　priests　had　led　men　to　look　upon　the　character　of
  God；　and　even　of　Christ；　as　stern；　gloomy；　and　forbidding。　The　Saviour　was
  represented　as　so　far　devoid　of　sympathy　with　man　in　his　fallen　state　that
  the　mediation　of　priests　and　saints　must　be　invoked。　Those　whose　minds　had
  been　enlightened　by　the　word　of　God　longed　to　point　these　souls　to　Jesus　as
  their　compassionate；　loving　Saviour；　standing　with　outstretched　arms；
  inviting　all　to　come　to　Him　with　their　burden　of　sin；　their　care　and
  weariness。　They　longed　to　clear　away　the　obstructions　which　Satan　had　piled
  up　that　men　might　not　see　the　promises；　and　come　directly　to　God；　confessing
  their　sins；　and　obtaining　pardon　and　peace。
  Eagerly　did　the　Vaudois　missionary　unfold　to　the　inquiring　mind　the　precious
  truths　of　the　gospel。　Cautiously　he　produced　the　carefully　written　portions
  of　the　Holy　Scriptures。　It　was　his　greatest　joy　to　give　hope　to　the
  conscientious；　sin…stricken　soul；　who　could　see　only　a　God　of　vengeance；
  waiting　to　execute　justice。　With　quivering　lip　and　tearful　eye　did　he；　often
  on　bended　knees；　open　to　his　brethren　the
  74
  precious　promises　that　reveal　the　sinner's　only　hope。　Thus　the　light　of
  truth　penetrated　many　a　darkened　mind；　rolling　back　the　cloud　of　gloom；
  until　the　Sun　of　Righteousness　shone　into　the　heart　with　healing　in　His
  beams。　It　was　often　the　case　that　some　portion　of　Scripture　was　read　again
  and　again；　the　hearer　desiring　it　to　be　repeated；　as　if　he　would　assure
  himself　that　he　had　heard　aright。　Especially　was　the　repetition　of　these
  words　eagerly　desired：　〃The　blood　of　Jesus　Christ　His　Son　cleanseth　us　from
  all　sin。〃　1　John　1：7。　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；
  even　so　must　the　Son　of　man　be　lifted　up：　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him
  should　not　perish；　but　have　eternal　life。〃　John　3：14；　15。
  Many　were　undeceived　in　regard　to　the　claims　of　Rome。　They　saw　how　vain　is
  the　mediation　of　men　or　angels　in　behalf　of　the　sinner。　As　the　true　light
  dawned　upon　their　minds　they　exclaimed　with　rejoicing：　〃Christ　is　my　priest；
  His　blood　is　my　sacrifice；　His　altar　is　my　confessional。〃　They　cast
  themselves　wholly　upon　the　merits　of　Jesus；　repeating　the　words；　〃Without
  faith　it　is　impossible　to　please　Him。〃　Hebrews　11：6。　〃There　is　none　other
  name　under　heaven　given　among　men；　whereby　we　must　be　saved。〃　Acts　4：12。
  The　assurance　of　a　Saviour's　love　seemed　too　much　for　some　of　these　poor
  tempest…tossed　souls　to　realize。　So　great　was　the　relief　which　it　brought；
  such　a　flood　of　light　was　shed　upon　them；　that　they　seemed　transported　to
  heaven。　Their　hands　were　laid　confidingly　in　the　hand　of　Christ；　their　feet
  were　planted　upon　the　Rock　of　Ages。　All　fear　of　death　was　banished。　They
  could　now　covet　the　prison　and　the　fagot　if　they　might　thereby　honor　the
  name　of　their　Redeemer。
  In　secret　places　the　word　of　God　was　thus　brought　forth　and　read；　sometimes
  to　a　single　soul；　sometimes　to　a　little　company　who　were　longing　for　light
  and　truth。　Often　the　entire　night　was　spent　in　this　manner。　So　great　would
  be　the　wonder　and　admiration　of　the　listeners　that　the　messenger　of　mercy
  was　not　infrequently　compelled　to　cease　his　reading
  75
  until　the　understanding　could　grasp　the　tidings　of　salvation。　Often　would
  words　like　these　be　uttered：　〃Will　God　indeed　accept　my　offering？　Will　He
  smile　upon　me？　Will　He　pardon　me？〃　The　answer　was　read：　〃Come　unto　Me；　all
  ye　that　labor　and　are　heavy…laden；　and　I　will　give　your　rest。〃　Matthew
  11：28。
  Faith　grasped　the　promise；　and　the　glad　response　was　heard：　〃No　more　long
  pilgrimages　to　make；　no　more　painful　journeys　to　holy　shrines。　I　may　come　to
  Jesus　just　as　I　am；　sinful　and　unholy；　and　He　will　not　spurn　the　penitential
  prayer。　'Thy　sins　be　forgiven　thee。'　Mine；　even　mine；　may　be　forgiven！〃
  A　tide　of　sacred　joy　would　fill　the　heart；　and　the　name　of　Jesus　would　be
  magnified　by　praise　and　thanksgiving。　Those　happy　souls　returned　to　their
  homes　to　diffuse　light；　to　repeat　to　others；　as　well　as　they　could；　their
  new　experience；　that　they　had　found　the　true　and　living　Way。　There　was　a
  strange　and　solemn　power　in　the　words　of　Scripture　that　spoke　directly　to
  the　hearts　of　those　who　were　longing　for　the　truth。　It　was　the　voice　of　God；
  and　it　carried　conviction　to　those　who　heard。
  The　messenger　of　truth　went　on　his　way；　but　his　appearance　of　humility；　his
  sincerity；　his　earnestness　and　deep　fervor；　were　subjects　of　frequent
  remark。　In　many　instances　his　hearers　had　not　asked　him　whence　he　came　or
  whither　he　went。　They　had　been　so　overwhelmed；　at　first　with　surprise；　and
  afterward　with　gratitude　and　joy；　that　they　had　not　thought　to　question　him。
  When　they　had　urged　him　to　accompany　them　to　their　homes；　he　had　replied
  that　he　must　visit　the　lost　sheep　of　the　flock。　Could　he　have　been　an　angel
  from　heaven？　they　queried。
  In　many　cases　the　messenger　of　truth　was　seen　no　more。　He　had　made　his　way
  to　other　lands；　or　he　was　wearing　out　his　life　in　some　unknown　dungeon；　or
  perhaps　his　bones　were　whitening　on　the　spot　where　he　had　witnessed　for　the
  76
  truth。　But　the　words　he　had　left　behind　could　not　be　destroyed。　They　were
  doing　their　work　in　the　hearts　of　men；　the　blessed　results　will　be　fully
  known　only　in　the　judgment。
  The　Waldensian　missionaries　were　invading　the　kingdom　of　Satan；　and　the
  powers　of　darkness　aroused　to　greater　vigilance。　Every　effort　to　advance　the
  truth　was　watched　by　the　prince　of　evil；　and　he　excited　the　fears　of　his
  agents。　The　papal　leaders　saw　a　portent　of　danger　to　their　cause　from　the
  labors　of　these　humble　itinerants。　If　the　light　of　truth　were　allowed　to
  shine　unobstructed；　it　would　sweep　away　the　heavy　clouds　of　error　that
  enveloped　the　people。　It　would　direct　the　minds　of　men　to　God　alone　and
  would　eventually　destroy　the　supremacy　of　Rome。
  The　very　existence　of　this　people；　holding　the　faith　of　the　ancient　church；
  was　a　constant　testimony　to　Rome's　apostasy；　and　therefore　excited　the　most
  bitter　hatred　and　persecution。　Their　refusal　to　surrender　the　Scriptures　was
  also　an　offense　that　Rome　could　not　tolerate。　She　determined　to　blot　them
  from　the　earth。　Now　began　the　most　terrible　crusades　against　God's　people　in
  their　mountain　homes。　Inquisitors　were　put　upon　their　track；　and　the　scene
  of　innocent　Abel　falling　before　the　murderous　Cain　was　often　repeated。
  Again　and　again　were　their　fertile　lands　laid　waste；　their　dwellings　and
  chapels　swept　away；　so　that　where　once　were　flourishing　fields　and　the　homes
  of　an　innocent；　industrious　people；　there　remained　only　a　desert。　As　the
  ravenous　beast　is　rendered　more　furious　by　the　taste　of　blood；　so　the　rage
  of　the　papists　was　kindled　to　greater　intensity　by　the　sufferings　of　their
  victims。　Many　of　these　witnesses　for　a　pure　faith　were　pursued　across　the
  mountains　and　hunted　down　in　the　valleys　where　they　were　hidden；　shut　in　by
  mighty　forests　and　pinnacles　of　rock。
  No　charge　could　be　brought　against　the　moral　character　of　this　proscribed
  class。　Even　their　enemies　declared　them　to　be　a　peaceable；　quiet；　pious
  people。　Their　grand　offense　was　that　they　would　not　worship　God　according　to
  the　will
  77
  of　the　pope。　For　this　crime　every　humiliation；　insult；　and　torture　that　men
  or　devils　could　invent　was　heaped　upon　them。
  When　Rome　at　one　time　determined　to　exterminate　the　hated　sect；　a　bull　was
  issued　by　the　pope；　condemning　them　as　heretics；　and　delivering　them　to
  slaughter。　（See　Appendix。）　They　were　not　accused　as　idlers；　or　dishonest；　or
  disorderly；　but　it　was　declared　that　they　had　an　appearance　of　piety　and
  sanctity　that　seduced　〃the　sheep　of　the　true　fold。〃　Therefore　the　pope
  ordered　〃that　malicious　and　abominable　sect　of　malignants；〃　if　they　〃refuse
  to　abjure；　to　be　crushed　like　venomous　snakes。〃Wylie；　b。　16；　ch。　1。　Did
  this　haughty　potentate　expect　to　meet　those　words　again？　Did　he　know　that
  they　were　registered　in　the　books　of　h