Baptism, History

Baptism · History

p. 1THE Hiſtory of Chriſtianity AMONGST The Ancient Britains and Waldenſes; Diſcovering the Antiquity, Purity and Progreſs thereof; With their great Sufferings for the ſame by Popiſh Antichriſtian Tyranny and Cruelty.

THe Antient Britains and Waldenſes, having born ſo early and large a part among the Eminent and Faithful Witneſſes that have ſtood up for Chriſt and his Truths, againſt Antichriſt and his Abominations. I conceive, it may neither be unſeaſonable, nor altogether unacceptable to give you a brief Hiſtorical account of their Chriſtianity, from our beſt and moſt approved Authors, whereby it may be manifeſted, That p. 2the Goſpel, and the Truths thereof, did flouriſh in Power and Purity in theſe Weſtern parts of the World, as received from the pureſt Times, and were ſo far from being beholden to the Romiſh Harlot for Goſpel Light and Truth, as ſhe lyingly and vain gloriouſly boaſteth, ſaying, Where was your Religion, Miniſtry, Churches, Ordinances before Luther? That ſhe hath all along not only been the abominable Corrupter and Contaminater of the Goſpel, and all the parts thereof; But the malicious and murderous Perſecutor of all that have ſincerely embraced and profeſſed the ſame: A Conſideration not unworthy the preſent juncture, wherein ſo much of her poyſonous Infection is ſo afreſh caſt about: And which you'l find is no ſmall Antidote and Preſervative the worthy Uſher preſcribes againſt it, in his excellent Piece called, The Succeſſion and State of the Church: Renouncing any the leaſt Succeſſion from whoriſh Rome, but from theſe faithful Churches.

The filthineſs of whoſe Fornications, ſhall in due time be more and more detected: p. 3& that however ſhe may dream of fitting ſtill as a Queen and as the Lady and Miſtreſs of the Nations, yet muſt ſhe certainly fall both Mother and Daughter, thoſe that help, and thoſe that are holpen, yea, as a Mill-ſtone into the Sea…: for ſtrong is the Lord God that will judg her. When that Doxology, Rev. 19.1, 2. muſt be ſung by all the Servants of God, that fear his Name, both ſmall and great, Allelujah; Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power unto the Lord our God. For true and righteous are his Judgments, for he hath …udged the great Whore, who did c…rupt …he Earth with her Fornications, and hath avenged the Blood of his S…ants at her hand, Amen. Allelujah.

The Firſt we begin with is our Country-men, the Antient Britains, Of the Britains.concerning whom little is to be found from their own Writers, either before, or ſome Ages after Chriſt, who either through Ignorance or Sloth, writ nothing; or if they did, were by the Revolutions of Time devoured.

The moſt we find is from Strangers, eſpecially the Romans, their firſt Conquerors: p. 4Whoſe Writings tell us what a Barbarous, Salvage People they found them, with their Naked Bodies, and Painted Skins (from whence as Speed ſaith,Why called Brita…ns. their name of Britains came, viz. from Brit, Paint; and Tain, a Region.) And ſo inhumane, that they offered Mans Fleſh in their Sacrifices, and kept their Women in Common: But afterwards as the Gospel came and prevailed amongſt them, they caſt away their Heatheniſh Abominations; and which was ſo ſincerely embraced by them, and took ſuch deep Rooting amongſt them, that they became Inſtrumental, in ſeveral Ages, to Convert, and Conquer their Conquerors to it; viz. Both Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans.

Of the Gospels firſt Entrance and Progreſs, we have the follo…ing account from the beſt Authors we meet with; viz. The Firſt I ſhall mention, giving any account hereof, is our Countreyman Gildas, called by Balaeus, Bodonjcus, or Sapiens, the beſt and mo…t Authentick of all the Antient-Brit…in Hiſtorians, who (in his Book called, De p. 5Victoriâ Aurelii Ambroſii) affirmeth, That Britain received the Goſpel under Tiberius the Emperour, under whom Chriſt ſuffered, and that many Evangeliſts were ſent from the Apoſtles themſelves into this Nation, and that they came firſt out of France, about the Year 63. and who were the firſt Planters of the Goſpel in this Nation. And again in his Book called De Excidio Britaniae, ſaith, That the Precepts of Chriſt, though they were received but lukewarmly of the Inhabitants in general, yet they remained entirely with ſome, leſs ſincerely with others, until the ninth year of the Perſecution under Diocleſian the Emperour, which was abou 290. in the third Century.

Out of an Antient Book of the Antiquities of England, as Mr. Fox, p. 139.Elutherius Epiſtle to King Lucius. Part. 1. tells us, we find the Epiſtle of Eleutherius written to Lucius, the King of Britaine, Anno 169. [in anſwer to his] recorded; By which we underſtand, that Lucius had embraced the Faith of Chriſt, who wrote it ſeems to Elutherius, f r the Roman Laws to govern by, who in his ſaid Epiſtle, as you may read at large, you have to this purpoſe; viz. p. 6You have received, through Gods Mercy, in the Realm of Britany, the Law and Faith of Chriſt you have with you within the Realm, both the parts of the Scriptures; out of them, by Gods Grace, with the Council of your Realm, take ye a Law, and by that Law, through Gods ſufferance, rule your Kingdome of Britain, &c.

Tertul.Tertullian in his Book contra Judaeos, There are places of the Britains (ſaith he) which were unacceſſible to the Romans, but yet ſubdued to Chriſt.

Origen Origen.in his fourth Hom. on Ezek. ſaith, The power of God our Saviour, is even with them which in Britain are divided from the World.

Magdib.Magdiburg. Cent. 3. Cap. 2. p. 6. We doubt not to affirm, That the Churches of the Iſland of Britain, did alſo remain in this Age.

BalaeusBalaeus. Cent 1. fol. 37. ſaith, That the Britiſh Churches received the Nicen Confeſſion of Faith againſt the Arians, whence it was that Baſil, Chryſoſtome, and others of the Greek Fathers make ſuch frequent and great mention of the Britiſh Iſles, their reception of the Goſpel, p. 7and the Divine ſenſe they had of the Power thereof, ☜that their Churches alſo were exactly conſtituted according to Chriſts pattern.

Jeffry of Monmouth in his Book,Jeffr. of Monmou. de Britanorum Geſtis, Lib. 8. c. 4. tells us, That in the Countrey of the Britains, Chriſtianity flouriſhed, which never decayed, even from the Apoſtles Time; amongſt whom, ſaith he, was the preaching of the Goſpel, ſincere Doctrine, and living Faith, and ſuch Form of Worſhip, as was delivered to the Chriſtian Churches by the Apoſtles themſelves; and that they, even to Death it ſelf, withſtood the Romiſh R…tes and Ceremonies, and that about the Year 448 the Engliſh Saxons began to poſſeſs Britany, and that about 593, they having made a compleat Conqueſt of the Britains, began to ſettle their Heptarchy; That in 596 Gregory, Biſhop of Rome, ſent Auſtin the Monck into England, to bring the Saxons into a Conformity to the Church of Rome: For as long as the Britiſh Churches poſſeſſed the Countrey, they kept themſelves ſound in the Faith, and pure in the Worſhip, Order, and Diſcipline p. 8of Chriſt, as it was delivered to them from the Apoſtles, or their Evangeliſts.

That they were great Oppoſers of the Church of Rome, the antient Barde Talieſſyence Talieſſyence.in his Welſh Verſes, recorded by Bede, and tranſlated by Fuller in his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, 1. Book, doth teſtifie, viz.

Wo be to the Prieſt yborne,

That will not cleanly weed his Corne,

And preach his Flock among.

Wo be to that Shepherd, I ſay,

That will not watch his Fold alway,

As to his Office doth belong.

Wo be to him that doth not keep

From Romiſh Wolves his Sheep

With Staff and Weapon ſtrong.

That about the begining of the Seventh Century, Auſtin endeavoured to reduce the Britains, as well as the Saxons, to a Conformity with the Church of Rome; at which time the old Britains were principally in Wales, where Bangor on the North, and Care-Leon on the South were the two principal Seats, both for Learning and Religion; In Bangor was a Colledg containing 2100 Chriſtians, who dedicated p. 9themſelves to the Lord, to ſerve him in the Miniſtry, as they became capable; To whom was attributed the Name of the Monks of Bangor. Yet did they no waies accord with the Popiſh Monks of that, or the following Age: For they were not reduced to any Eccleſiaſtical Order, but were for the moſt part Lay-men, who laboured with their Hands, married and followed their Callings; only ſome of them, whoſe Spirits the Lord fi…ted and inclined to his more immediate Service, devoted themſelves to the ſtudy of the Scriptures, and other holy Exerciſes, in order to the work of the Miniſtry: Who ſent forth many uſeful Inſtruments, Fuller, Lib. 1. p. 40. Balaeus, Cent. 1. c. 70. Many of whom Auſtin got to a Councel he kept about Worceſter-ſhire, where he propounded to them the embracing the Romiſh Rites, and to join with him in Preaching and Adminiſtring in their way, which they refuſed. Then (as Rob. Fabian Fabian.in his 5th Part, c. 119. fol. 125. tells us, He ſaid to them, Since you will not aſſent to my Heſts generally, aſſent you to me ſpecially in three things. The Firſt in your keeping Eaſter-D… … p. 10Form and Time as it is ordered. The Second, That you give Chriſtendome to Children. And the Third, That you Preach to the Saxons, as I have exhorted you. And all the other debate, I ſhall ſuffer you to amend and reform amongst your ſelves. But, ſaith he, they would not thereof. To whom then Auſtin ſaid, That if they would not take peace with their Brethren, They ſhould receive war with their Enemies; And if they diſdained to preach with them the way of Life to the Engliſh Nation, they ſhould ſuffer by their hands the revenge of Death: And which Auſtin accompliſhod accorddingly, by bringing the Saxons upon them, to their utter ruine. And thereupon, ſaith Fabian, that Faith that had endured in Britain for near 400 Years, became near extinct throughout the Land.

An account of the Deſtruction of that famous Monaſtery of Bangor and thoſe worthy Chriſtians inhabiting the ſame, you have thus briefly from Humphrey Lloyd, Humph. Lloyd.the learned Welch Antiquary, in his Breviary of Britain, p. 70, 71. as followeth;

In Denby-Shire, ſaith he, near the Caſtle of Holt, is ſeen the Rubbiſh and Reliques of the Monaſtery of Bangor, p. 11while the glory of the Britains flouriſhed; In the ſame were 2100 Monks, very well ordered and learned, divided into ſeven parts, dayly ſerving God, amongſt whom thoſe that were ſimple and unlearned, by their handy labour, provided Meat, and Drink, and Apparel for the Learned, and ſuch as applied themſelves to their ſtudies, and if any thing was remaining, they divided it unto the Poor. That place ſent forth (ſaith he) many hundred of excellently well-learned Men, amongst whom it alſo vomited forth to the World, Pelagius. And afterwards, by the Envy and Malice of Auſtin, that arrogant Monck, and the moſt cruel execution of his Miniſter Ethelfred. Thoſe worthy Men were deſtroyed, the whole Houſe, from the very Foundation, together with their Library (more precious than Gold) was razed down, and demoliſhed by fire and ſword.

And hence it is manifeſt, that this bloody Maſſacres of thoſe glorioas Witneſſes of Chriſt did ariſe from their Chriſtian Courage and Zeal againſt thoſe Antichriſtian impoſitions of the Romiſh Church.

p. 12The Hiſtory of Christianity amongst the Antient Waldenſes.

Of the W…ſes.THe other Hiſtorical Account we are to give you, is that of the Waldenſes, that eminent and famous Chriſtian People, who have not only given ſo large a Teſtimony to the truth before treated; but by the Learned Ʋſher, and many of our Proteſtant-Writers, are owned to have been the true Church, and from whom the Proteſtants do derive, in Oppoſition to the Papacy: Concerning whom, the better to preſerve the ſavour of their precious Memory,

We ſhall obſerve in their Story, this following Method, viz.

1. Give you an account of their ſeveral Names they are known by in Hiſtory. 2. Their Original and Antiquity. 3. Their excellent and worthy Converſations; as teſtified by their greateſt Enemies. 4. The Progreſs and Succeſs of the Goſpel in their hands a…d the Methods thereof. 5. Their … it … W tneſs againſt, and great p. 13Sufferings under Antichriſt, as I have collected them out of the beſt Hiſtorians, both of their own and others. Though as to their own Records (as Perin and Morland inform us) the Papiſts have uſed no ſmall induſtry to raze and obliterate, as they have had the opportunity; though in ſpite of their utmoſt malice of that kind, Providence hath preſerved ſomething from themſelves.

Firſt, As to the Names,Their Names in Story. by which they are known and diſtinguiſhed in Hiſtory, you will find to be various; viz. Sometimes from the Places and Countries of their abode; Sometimes from their Men of Name; ſometimes from Reproach and Slander.

1. From the Places of their abode,1. From the places of abode. therefore called Lyoniſts, or the poor People of Lyons, from that City or County of Lyons in France.

Albigenſes, from the City Albi in Languedoc; Tholouzions, from the City Tholous in the ſame Province; Arletenſes, from the City Arles, the chief Seat of the Kings of Burgundy in Province; Picards, from Picardy; Lumbards, from Lumbardy in Italy; Gazars, either from a City, ſo calle, p. 14in Languedock, or from the word of diſgrace, ſignifying Execrable.

2. From their principal Leaders.Sometimes by ſome of their Principal Leaders; as Waldenſes, as many ſuppoſe from one Waldo a Citizen of Lyons; though others ſuppoſe upon another account, becauſe they were ſo called long before his time, as appears by the Book of Claudius Seiſcelius a Councellor to Charles the Great, in the 8th Century, who mentions them by that Name, in his Book Adverſ. Waldenſes, who though a good man, and in many things holding with them, yet in ſome things againſt them, which was 260 Years before Waldo's time.

Beringarians.Sometimes they are called Beringarians, from the famous Beringarius, one of their Barbs, or Elders; ſometimes Petro Bruſians, from that worthy Martyr Peter Bruis; ſometimes Arnoldiſts, from Arnold, another eminent Barb. and Martyr; ſometimes Henericans, from Henericus; ſometimes Ioſepleſts, from Joſeph; Lolarde, from Lolard another of their eminent Barbs.

3. From Nicknames.Sometimes by Nick-names, or terms of Diſgrace, viz. The Apoſtolici, or p. 15Apoſtolick men, The Cathart, or Puritans, the old name of reproach, by which the Novatians and Donatiſts were called in the 4^th Cent. Perfectioniſts, becauſe they preſt after Holineſs. Publicanos, becauſe they ſaid, they were ſent to publiſh the Goſpel. The Fratracili, or the little Brethren; and Fraticelli, viz. Shifting Companions. Paſſagenes, from their Itinerat Preachings. Credentes, the Believers. The Humiliati, the humble Men. The Bon-homes, the good Men. Siccars, Cut-purſes. Gazars, Execrable.

Turlupins, becauſe like Wolves they inhabited. Woods, Caves, and Mountains.

Sometimes from ſlanderous, lying Reflections.

As the Paterines, as though they only worſhipped the Father, but refuſed to adore the Son; becauſe they would not fall down to the Host, nor give reverence to their Breaden God. And from like reaſon alſo Arians, as denying thereby the Divinity of Chriſt. Manichées, becauſe they denied the Civil Magiſtrates Authority to depend upon the Popes, as men aſſerting therefore p. 16two Principles. Deuyers of Baptiſme, becauſe they denied that of Bapt. of Infants, and their Inventions to be Chriſt's Ordinance. Denyers of Marriage, becauſe they diſowned that to be one of the Sacraments, and that many of their Barbs lived ſingle Lives.

Secondly, As to their Original and Antiquity which you will find to be very Antient.

The Antiquity of their Chriſtianity.Euſebius tells us in his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, Lib. 5. p. 74. That there were Churches of them in thoſe parts of France, under Antonius Verus the Emperour, An. 179. recording there a large Epiſtle written by them, and as a Preamble thereto, he makes this following Inſcription, Of the Martyrdom of Saints, and cruel Perſecution in France, under Anton. Verus the Emperour.

It was the Country of France, wherein the Theater of this Wreſtling, before-mentioned lay, whoſe chief Cities and moſt frequented, in respect of the reſt in the ſame Region, are Lyons and Viena, by both which Cities the River Rhodonus doth run, compaſſing that whole Countrey: The holy Churches there ſent p. 17their Letter touching their Martyrs, unto the Churches throughout Aſia and Phrygia, making relation of their affairs, after this manner: The Servants of Chriſt inhabiting Vienna and Lyons, Cities of France, unto the Brethren throughout Aſia and Phrygia, having with us the ſame Faith and Hope of Redemption; Peace, and Grace, and Glory from God the Father, and Chriſt Jeſus our Lord be multiplied.

Which excellent Epiſtle they mention at large, and which alſo you may read in the Book of Martyrs.

In the Preface to the French Bible,Morland. and the firſt that ever was Prnted, they ſay, That they have alwaies had the full enjoyment of that Heavenly truth, contained in the Holy Scriptures, ever ſince they were enriched with the ſame by the Apoſtles themſelves, having in fair Manuſcripts preſerved the entire Bible in their Native Tongue, from Generation to Generation, Morland Hiſt. p. 14.

Rainerius, Raineriusone of their grand Perſecutors, and chief Inquiſitor, in the time of Pope Innocent the Third, in the thirteenth Century, gives this account of their Antiquity. Among all the p. 18Sects which are, or ever were, thereis none more pernicious to the Church of God than that of the Poor People of Lyons.

Firſt, Becauſe it is of a longer duration, ſome ſay it hath remained from the time of Pope Sylveſter, ſome from the times of the Apoſtles.

Theodore Belvedre, Balvedre.another of the Popiſh Miſſionaries, ſaith, that That Religion (which he calls Hereſie) hath been alwaies in the Valleys of Angrogna, in his Book De Pro. Fide, p 37.

Beza Beza.affirms in his Book, Hiſtorie des Homes illuſtres, That the Waldenſes were ſo called from their abode in the Valleis and ſtraiter parts of the Alpes, where they had from a long time retired themſelves, and one may ſay, they were the Reliques of the Pure, Primitive, Chriſtian Churches; Some of them were called, The Poor Men of Lyons, who as ſome men have judged had for their Head a Merchant of Lyons named John, and ſirnamed Waldo; but herein they abuſe themſelves, becauſe on the contrary this John was ſo named, being one of the Waldenſes.

Scultetus.The Waldenſes in their Letter to Ocolampadius affirm, That their Churches had continued down in conſtant p. 19Succeſſion from the Apoſtles times, ſo Scultetus Anal. in Anno 1530. p. 295.

Beza, Bezaas Peter Perin, c. 6. tells us, That the Seed of the moſt Antient Chriſtian Church, That was and hath been moſt miraculouſly preſerved in the midſt of the Darkneſs and Errors which have been hatcht by Satan in theſe later times. And farther tells us, That Conſtance upon the Revelations ſheweth, that the Reformation of the Church in the Weſt parts of the World, began in France, and that from their ſource it ſpread it ſelf through the reſt of Europe.

In the next place you have ſome account of their Converſation,Of their Converſation. given by their Enemies themſelves.

Rainerius,Reinerius the Inquiſitor aforeſaid, ſaith thus of them, That whereas all others procure horror by their blasphemies againſt God, this of the Lyoniſts, hath a greater appearance of Piety, in as much as they live uprightly before men, and put their truſt in God in all things, and obſerve all the Articles of the Creed; only they blaſpheme the Church of God, and hold it in contempt, and therein they are eaſily believed of the People.

p. 20And again Jacob de Riberia Secretary to the King of France, in his Collections of Tholouſe, hath theſe words, viz. The Waldenſes, or Lugdenſes, have continued a long time; the firſt place they lived in was in Narbone in France, and in the Dioceſs of Albie, &c. who disputed of Religion more ſubtilly than all others: were after admitted by the Prieſts to Teach publickly, not for that they approved their Opinion, but becauſe they were not comparable to them in Wit. In ſo great honour was the Sect of theſe men, that they were both exempted from all Charges and Impoſitions, and obtained more benefit by the Wills and Teſtaments of the Dead, than the Prieſts: A man would not hurt his enemy, if he ſhould meet him upon the way, accompanied with one of theſe Hereticks; in ſo much that the ſafety of all men ſeemed to conſiſt in their protection. Du Pleſſis Myſt. Iniquit. p. 331.

Amongſt the Rules and Directions Reinerius gives to diſcover theſe Hereticks by (as he calls them) theſe are written by him, as you will find them in the Bib. Pat. printed at Paris, 1624.

Reinerius.Hereticks, ſaith he, are known by Words and Manners; They are in p. 21Manners compoſed and modeſt, no pride in Apparel, becauſe they are therein neither coſtly nor ſordid. They tranſact their affairs without lying, fraud, and ſwearing, being moſt upon Handicrafts Trades: Yea their Doctors, or Teachers are Weavers and Shoomakers, who do not multiply Riches, but content themſelves with neceſſary things: Theſe Lyoniſts are very chaſte and temperate both in Meats and Drinks, who neither haunt Taverns or Stews; They …o much curb their Paſſians, they are alwaies either working, teaching, or learning, &c. very frequent in their Aſſemblies and Worſhips, &c. They are very modeſt and preciſe in their words, avoiding Scurrility, Detraction, Levity and Falſhood. Neither will they ſay ſo much as Verily, Truly, nor ſuch like, as bordering too much upon Swearing, as they conceive; but they uſually ſay, Yea and Nay.

Claudius, Claudius.Archbiſhop of Turin, in his Treatiſe againſt the Waldenſes, gives this Teſtimony of them, That as touching their Lives and Manners they have been alwaies ſound, and unreproveable, without reproach or ſcandal amongst men, giving themſelves, to their power, p. 22to the obſervation of the Commandments of God, Perins H…ſt. p 40.

The Cardinal BaroniusBaronius. attributeth to the Waldenſes of Tholouſe, the Title of good men, and that they were a peaceable People, Baron. Tom. 12. An. 1176. 835. However, he elſewhere (ſaith Perin) imputeth unto them ſundry Crimes, and that very falſly.

The Lord Hailon.Bernard de Girard, Lord of Haillon, ſaith in his Hiſtor. of France, Lib. 10. The Waldenſes have been charged with wicked things they are not guilty of becauſe, ſaith he, they ſtirred the Popes and great Men of the World to hate them for the Liberty of their Speech, which they uſed in condemning the Vices and diſſolute Behaviour of Princes and Eccleſiaſtical perſons.

Viret, Viret.Lib. 4. c. 13. p. 249. ſpeaks of the Waldenſes as followeth,

The Papiſts, ſaith he, have impoſed great Crimes, and that very wrongfully, upon thoſe Antient, Faithful People, commonly called Waldenſes, or the poor People of Lyons, whoſe Doctrine makes appear, That the Pope is Antichriſt, and that his Doctrine is nothing elſe but Humane Traditions, contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt Jeſus; For which p. 23cauſe they have dealt againſt them, as the Antient Panims did againſt the Chriſtians, accuſing them that they killed their own Children in their Aſſemblies.

Many more Evidences might be brought from their Enemies, who have been enforced, by the force of Truth it ſelf, to give moſt honourable reports of them; But let this ſuffice.

The next thing we ſhall acquaint you with,The Progreſs of the Goſpel amongſt them. is the great Progreſs and Succeſs of their Doctrine.

Bullinger tells us, That not only throughout France, but Italy, Germany, Poland, Bohemia, and other Countries and Kingdoms of the World, the Waldenſes have made profeſſion of the Gospel of Chriſt Jeſus. Bullin. in the Preface to his Sermons.

Rainerius Raineriusſaith, That another thing that makes this Sect more conſiderable than all others, is becauſe it is more general; For there is not any Countrey almoſt, whereinto this Sect hath not crept.

Math. Paris M. Paris.ſaith, in his Hiſtory of the Life of Henry the 3^d in the year 1223. That the Waldenſes had goodly p. 24Churches in Bulgaria, Croatia, Dalmatia and Hungaria.

George Mrel in his Memorials, p. 54. aſſerts, That notwithſtanding al the bloody Perſecutions, that attended the Waldenſes, That in the Year 1160. There was in thoſe days above eight hundred thouſand Perſons, that made profeſſion of the Faith of the Waldenſes.

The Sea of HiſtoriesSea of Hiſtory. tells us, That in the Year. 1315. there was in the County of Paſſau, and about Bohemia, to the number of fourſcore Thouſand Perſons, that made Profeſſion of the Faith of the Waldenſes.

Le Sieur de Popeliniere Popleniere.hath ſet down in his Hiſtory, That the Religion of th… Waldenſes hath spread it ſelf almoſt in all parts of Europe, even amongſt the Polonians, &c. And that after the Year 1100 they have alwaies ſowed their Doctrine, little differing from that of the Modern Proteſtant, and maugre all the Powers and Potentates that have oppoſed t…emſelves againſt them, they have defended it to this day.

Rainer.Rainerius ſaith, That in his time there were Churches of them in Conſtantinople, Philadelphia, Sclavonia, Bulgaria, and Digonicia, and in Albania, Lombardy, Milain, and in Romagnia, Venice, Florence, &c.

Vignier Vignie….ſaith, That after the Perſecution of Picardy, that they were diſperſed abroad in Livonia and S…rmatia.

Trithemius Trith…mrecounts, That they confeſſed in thoſe times, that the number of the Waldenſes was ſo great, that they could go from Cologne to Milan, and lodg themſelves with Hoſts of their own Profeſſion, and that they had Signs upon their Houſes and Gates, whereby they might know them.

In the Year 1200. they were in ſuch a manner multiplied, that they poſſeſt at home the Cities of Tholouſe, Apamies, Montauban, Vill…mur, St. Antoin, Puech Laurence, Caſtres, Lambes, Carcaſonen, Beziers, Narbonne, Beaucaire, Avignion, Taraſcon, the Count Venicin, in Dauphine, Creſt Arnaud, and Monteil Amar. And had many great Lords who took part with them, as Ea…l Raimiand of Tholouſe, and the Earle of Foix, the Vicount Beziers, Gaſton Lord of Berne, Earl of Carmaine, and Earl of Brigor; The Kings alſo of Arragon and England too, d…d many times defend their Cauſe, by reaſon of their Alliance with Earl Ra…miand, p. 26Hologary in the Hiſtory of Foix.

The means they uſed to propagate the Goſpel.The means by which Truth came to be ſo propagated by them, were principally theſe; Firſt, By the diligent care they had to inſtruct their Youth in the knowledg of the Scriptures, and to train them up in the Nurtriture, Fear and Admonition of the Lord, as the Nurſeries, Seminaries, and Seed-plots of Grace and Truth.

Secondly, The induſtrious Care and Pains they took, not only to beget Miniſterial Abilities, but the due improvement made thereof, by thoſe engaged therein, in all parts and places whither they were ſent.

And Thirdly, By the violent Perſecutions of them, whereby they came to be diſperſed into moſt parts of the World, that old way, That Knowledg and Truth was propagated in the Primitive Times.

1. By diligently inſtructing the Youth.The Firſt means bleſt for the encreaſe of Knowledge, was the Care and Pains they took in the Catechiſing of their Youth, inſtructing them in the Knowledg of the Scriptures.P. Perrin. Perrin in his Second Book, p. 16. And in this it p. 27was, ſaith he,P. Perrin. that they have been bleſt of God, above all Chriſtian People throughout Europe, inſomuch that their Infants were hardly weaned from their Mothers Breaſts, but their Parents took a ſingular Care and Diligence to inſtruct them in the Chriſtian Faith and Doctrine, until they were able to confound the Antient and the Learned. And of which you have a very pregnant Inſtance out of Veſſember, Veſſember.in his Oration touching the Waldenſes, who tells us, The Biſhop of Cavaillon, in the time of the great Perſecution againſt the Waldenſes of Merindal in Provence, firſt ſent a Monck among them, to convert them; who returned ſo convinced himſelf, that he confeſſed, he had not ſo much profited in his whole life in the Scriptures, as he had done in thoſe few days of Conference with them. The Biſhop not being ſatisfied with this trial, ſent a Company of young Doctors that came lately from Sorbonne, to confound them by the Subtilty of their Queſtion; But one there was among the reſt, that ſaid at his return, with a loud voice, That he had learned more touching the Doctrine neceſſary to Salvation, in attending to the Anſwers of the little Children p. 28of the Waldenſes in their Catechiſings, than in all the Diſputations of Divinity which he had ever heard in Paris. Then the Biſhop ſent for the Children themſelves, and cauſed them in the face of a great Aſſembly to be interrogated, and to Queſtion one with another, and which was done with that Grace, and Gravity, and Ʋnderſtanding, that it was marvelous to hear: to the confounding the Doctors and Learned Men then preſent. The Story whereof you may read at large in Fox Martyrol. 2 Book, p. 194.

And thus it was that every Family was as it were a Colledge, to inſtruct into the true Learning, that maketh wiſe to Salvation, and furniſheth to every good Word and Work, and which was the Seed-plot to their Miniſtry.

Rainarius Rainariustells us, That they had the Old and New-Teſtament in the Vulgar Tongue, and that they Teach and Learn it ſo well, That he had ſeen and heard, he ſaid, a Country Clown recount all Job, word for word; and divers others, that could perfectly deliver all the New Teſtament; And that Men and Women, little and great, day and p. 29night ceaſe not to Learn and to Teach.

Secondly, 2. By improving their Miniſtry.As to the way of their Miniſtry, That ſpecial means appointed by God to beget Faith, and encreaſe Knowledge, you have it briefly ſet forth by P. Perrin, as he had extracted it out of their antient Manuſcripts, viz. All thoſe who are to be received as Paſtors amongſt us, while they remain with their Brethren, are to entreat our People to receive them into the Miniſtry, as likewiſe that they would pleaſe to pray to God for them, that they may be made worthy of ſo great a Charge; and this they are to do, to give a Proof, or Evidence of their Humility. We alſo appoint them their Lectures, and ſet them their Tasks, that they may get by heart, not only all the New Teſtament, but a great part of the Old, viz. The Writings of Solomon, David, and the Prophets; And afterwards having a good Teſtimonial, and being well approved of, they are received with Impoſition (or laying on of Hands) and Preaching. He that is received the laſt, ought to do nothing without the permiſſion of him that was received before him; and in like ſort, the former ought to do nothing without the conſent of his Aſſociate. Our daily p. 30Food, and that Raiment wherewith we are covered, we have miniſtred and given to us freely, ſufficient for us, by the good people whom we Teach and Inſtruct.

Their Miniſters were called Barbes or Unkles, as Fox, 186. Or as ſome ſuppoſe, becauſe bearded Men, Elders or Fathers.Vignier. Of theſe ſome were married, to manifeſt thereby their approbation of the ſtate of Matrimony; others kept themſelves ſingle for conveniences ſake, foraſmuch as they were oft…times obliged to remove and ſhift their Habitations and Abodes; and as occaſion required, to undertake long and tedious Voyages, for the propagating of the Gospel, in remote and far Countries, with whom they had a particular and conſtant Correspondence; namely into Bohemia, Germany, Calabria and Lumbardy, whither the aboveſaid Barbes went by turns as Iteneraries, to viſit their Brethren there, and to preach the Goſpel of Chriſt amongst them, having not only Houſes of their own to entertain their Barbes, but Schools alſo in divers Countries. Vign. Mem. p. 15.

Morland.Thoſe Barbes who remained at home in the Valleys (beſides their officiating and labouring in the work of the Miniſtry) p. 31took upon them the diſciplining and inſtructing of the Youth, eſpecially thoſe who were appointed for the Miniſtry, in Grammar, Logick, Moral Philoſophy and Divinity. Moreover the greateſt part of them gave themſelves to the ſtudy of Phyſick and Chirurgery, and herein they excelled (as their Hiſtories tell us) to admiration, thereby rendering themſelves moſt able and skilful Phyſitians, both of Soul and Body. Others of them deale in divers Mechanick Arts, in imitating of Paul, who was a Tent-maker, and Chriſt himſelf, who was a Carpenter. Once in the Year they uſe to have a general Meeting in the Month of September, to treat of their affairs. Taken out of an Antient Italian Manuſcript, as you have it, Morlands Hiſt. 1 Book, 8. c. p. 183.

Bucer, Bucer.p. 159. ſaith, Beſides Miniſters of the Word and Sacraments, they have a certain Colledg of Men excelling in Prudence and Gravity of Spirit, whoſe office it is to admoniſh and correct offending Brethren, to compoſe ſuch as diſagreed, and judge in their Cauſes.

And again in Morlands Morland.Hiſt. p. 179. Their Miniſtry were through Gods grace endued with excellent Spirits, and were for the moſt part, a Generation of humble, holy, and harmleſs Men, of meek, peaceable and quiet Tempers, exceeding painful in their Calling, and carefully watching over their Flock committed to their charge. Labouring faithfully in the Lords Vineyard, and imploying their whole Time and Talents for turning Souls unto Righteouſneſs, which they did with much Labour, Watchings, and Faſtings; by ſuffering many Buffetings, Stripes, and Impriſonments, yea and many times by Death it ſelf; Sealing … Truths they Preached to others with …ir own Blood: In ſum, they were men …ortified to all the Pomp, Glories, and Riches, to all the Pleaſures, Honors, and Preferments that this World could afford them; having their Converſations as Strangers, Pilgrims, and Sojourners here bilow, conforming themſelves, as near as they could, to the Scripture-pattern and Example of the Apoſtles, and proportionable thereto were their Labours bleſt, and ſucceeded to admiration in all places where they came.

Perin H…ſt. p. 16. Their Paſtors, ſaith he, did not only content themſelves to exhort them on the Sabbath-days, but went all the Week to inſtruct them in p. 33their Villages, Preaching alſo in the Fields to the keepers of the flocks.

The other way whereby the Goſpel was thus promoted and ſpread,3. By their great Sufferings. was by the great Sufferings and Perſecutions that attended them, eſpecially from the 12th Century downwards; For till then, as obſerved by Fox, Uſher, and others, there was more Calmneſs and Serenity, Satan being as it were bound, as they conceived; and the Reaſon thereof a Learned Pen obſerves to be, That Antichriſt till about this time was not arrived to his foreign, or perfect ſtature, having now attained as well a Temporal as Spiritual Soveraignty; his temporal Advantages accrued moſt to him by the Donation of Pipin and Charles the Great, &c. And his Spiritual not only by the Eſtabliſhment of the ſeveral Orders of the Regular Monks and Friars, viz. The Benedictines, Franciſcans, and Dominicans, which much advanced and ſtrengthned the Popiſh Uſurpations; But the Ratification of the Canon Law about this time collected by Gratian, as alſo the Sophiſtical School Divinity now begun by Lombard, Aquinas, and Albertus p. 34Magnus that gave no ſmall addition thereto. Now it was they durſt cope with Kings and Emperors for Soveraignty, and aſſert their Bloody Idolatrous Maſſes, Images, Breaden God, with all Force, Cruelty, and Violence imaginable.

Againſt whoſe Pride, Pomp, Idolatry, and Antichriſtian Uſurpation, doth the Lord raiſe up theſe his Witneſſes, even theſe poor, mean, contemptible People, who by aſſerting and maintaining Chriſts Miniſtry and Ordinances, according to the Simplicity and Plaineſs of the Scriptures, faithfully do oppoſe, impugn and confront all the Popiſh Traditions, Uſurpations, and Inventions, in all their Grandeur. And ſo it may be ſaid, That againſt the Beaſt and his Armies doth the Lamb and his Army oppoſe themſelves.

The Waldenſes now ſtanding up with a loud Voice, do call upon all to come out of Babylon, to have no Fellowſhip or Communion with her; detecting her to be that Abomination that was to ſit in the Temple of God, and that ſhould corrupt the Earth with her Filthineſs; And about this time it was p. 35that that moſt excellent Piece touching Antichriſt was brought forth by them, which deſerves to be written in Letters of Gold, ſuppoſed to be written by Peter Bruis, the famous French Martyr, and which hath been preſerved in all Ages ſince, by the Waldenſes in the Alpes, whence Perin tells us he received it, and which he hath Printed at large, Par. 3. Lib. 3. c. 1.An Extra…t of their Treatiſe of Antichriſt. In which Treatiſe we have Antichriſt deſcribed to be the Myſtery of Iniquity, or a Lye under the cloak of Truth.

2. It is ſaid, That this Antichriſt is not one ſingle Perſon, but a Confederacy of Iniquity, in oppoſition to Chriſt, &c.

3. This Contrariety of Antichriſt to Chriſt, conſiſts, (1.) In his Wordly Wiſdom. (2.) His Phariſaical Religion. (3.) Managing Spiritual Power by Secular Tyranny, Riches, Dignity, &c. (4.) By filling up the Churches of Chriſt with carnal Worldlings.

4. That the perfection of Antichriſt conſiſts in a full Uſurpation of the Authority of Chriſt, according to 2 Theſ. 2.4.

5. That the work of Antichriſt is to change Truth into Error, and Error into Truth. (2.) To rob Chriſt of his Merits, &c. (3.) Placing Sanctification p. 36of the Spirit in externals, and Grace and Salvation in the work done. (4.) Neglecting Diſcipline. (5.) By maintaining Unity by Tyranny.

6. The Subterfuges of Antichriſt are laid open, and its Cauſes.

7. The moving Cauſes and Scriptures loudly calling to come out from, and not to touch her, &c.

By ſuch like Exaſperations did the Popes, whoſe Intereſt & Grandeur was thus ſtruck at, come forth now with all the Subtilty, Malice, and Revenge, that Hell and their Deviliſh Natures could invent, and that by ſeveral Methods and Stratagems to cruſh and ſuppreſs Truth; which the more they endeavoured, the more it throve and got ground, and encreaſt in the Nations; The Blood of the Martyrs proving the Seed of the Church.

Whoſe cunning, murderous Deſigns were much after this ſort;the ſeve…al ways of their perſe…utions Firſt, The …he better to diſcover their Perſons and Principles, they ſent forth Miſſionaries in all points to imitate them, in a plain, humble way to go up and down afoot amongſt them, to diſpute with them, to preach to them, to gain upon them; of this ſort was Francis, Dominick, p. 37and Benedict, for whoſe excellent Service then, they have ſince Sainted, and ſet up Orders in their Names, in imitation of the poor People of Lyons, or as they would be thought, in an Apoſtolick guiſe: But when that would not do, when they could neither flatter, diſpute, nor preach them out of the Truth, then they.

2Secondly came forth with Synodical Cenſures, Condemnations, Anathema's and Curſes, Popes Bulls and Decretals, with Emperors Statutes, Decrees, and Injunctions. But they nothing prevailing,

3In the next place, Thirdly, They ſent our their Inquiſitors, impowred and commiſſioned to Examine, Cenſure and Condemn, and to deliver up to the Secular Powers to all manner of Tortures and cruel Deaths, which they exerciſed with great Severity, but all in vain.

4Fourthly, They betook themſelves to Surprizes and Maſſacres, and to ſtir up Kings and Princes to raiſe Armies, to ſuppreſs, and root up this Generation, and by Fire and Sword to lay waſte their Cities and Countries; which they did with great Devaſtation, p. 38eſpecially in Province, Daulphine, Languedoc; But the effect was, as they drove them out of one Countrey and Place, they went into others; and where ever they came, they ſtill met with the ſame meaſure from that ſpirit: But God carried them through wonderfully, ſo that they could rejoice and glory in their Tribulations, that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for Chriſt's ſake, and whoſe titles of Honour, as they ſay in the Preface of their Bible, were Injured, Reproached, Fugitives, Forſaken, Deſpiſed, Abandoned, Excommunicated, Anathematized, Confiſcated, Impriſoned, Tortured, Baniſhed, publickly diſgraced, wearing Miters in Deriſion, ſpit upon, ſhewn upon Scaffolds, their Ears cut off, their Fleſh pluckt off with Pincers, drawn with Horſes, drag'd up and down, broyled, roaſted, ſtoned to Death, burnt, drowned, beheaded, diſmembred, and other like glorious and honourable Titles, they ſay, of the Kingdom of Heaven.

But the more they deſigned to ſuppreſs Truth by theſe means, the more it thrive; Theſe worthy Confeſſors being found Overcomers by the Blood p. 39of the Lamb, and word of their Teſtimony, not loving their Lives unto the Death; as it was experienced in the ſeveral Countries, in the ſeveral Ages hereafter mentioned, as at large is given you in P. Perrins Hiſt. Viz.

The Sufferings of the Waldenſes Churches in Dauphine, in the 12, 13, 14, and 15 Cent. Chap. 3.

Their Sufferings in Pi…dmont in the 14, 15, 16 Cent. ch. 4.

Their Sufferings in the Marquiſate de Saluces, 16, 17 Cent. c. 5.

Their Sufferings in the New Lands, 16 Cent. c. 6.

Their Sufferings in Calabria, 14. and 16. Cent. c. 7.

Their Sufferings in Province, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Cent. c. 8.

Their Sufferings in Bohemia, 15 Cent. c. 9.

Their Sufferings in Auſtria, 14, and 15. Cent. c. 10.

Their Sufferings in Germany, 13, 14, 15. Cent. c. 11.

Their Sufferings in England, 12, 13 Cent. c. 12.

Their Sufferings in Flaunders, 13 Cent. … 13.

p. 40Their Sufferings in Poland, 12, 14. Cent. Chap. 14.

Their Sufferings in Paris, 13, 14. Cent. c. 15.

Their Sufferings in Italy, 13, 14, 15. Cent. Chap. 16.

Their Sufferings in Dalmatia, Croatia, Sclavonia, Conſtantinople, Greece, Philadelphia, Digonicia, Livonia, Sarmatia, Bulgaria, in the 13. Cent. c. 17.

Their Sufferings in Spain. 13. C. c. 18.

Their Sufferings by the cruel Wars managed againſt them by Pope Innocent the Third for eighteen Years together, in conjunction with many Kings and Princes, in the 13 Cent. together with other Wars carried on by other Popes and Kings of France and Spain in the 13 and 14 Cent. with the wonderful detriment that accrued alſo to the Enemy, who loſt ſomtimes an Hundred Thouſand Men at a Siege, you have largely ſet forth in Perrin's Hiſt. of the Albigenſes, in 2 Books. Their Sufferings at Merindal & Cabriers by Fox, p. 201. vol. 2. Their late Sufferings in our time by the Duke of Savoy, in the Valleys of Piedmont, 1655. is largely ſet forth by Sir Samuel Morland, who was the Agent ſent with the Engliſh Contribution.

p. 41Having thus finiſhed the Hiſtorical Account of theſe Eminent Worthies, I cannot but again remember you, That this was the People that bore ſo great a witneſs for Believers, and ſo firmly oppoſed Infants Baptiſm, as by ſo many Arguments in the Seventh Chapter is made good to you.