the great controversy-第16章

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the　Reformation　they　possessed　the　Bible　in　manuscript　in　their　native
tongue。　They　had　the　truth　unadulterated；　and　this　rendered　them　the　special
objects　of　hatred　and　persecution。　They　declared　the　Church　of　Rome　to　be
the　apostate　Babylon　of　the　Apocalypse；　and　at　the　peril　of　their　lives　they
stood　up　to　resist　her　corruptions。　While；　under　the　pressure　of
long…continued　persecution；　some　compromised　their　faith；　little　by　little
yielding　its　distinctive　principles；　others　held　fast　the　truth。　Through
ages　of　darkness　and　apostasy　there　were　Waldenses　who　denied　the　supremacy
of　Rome；　who　rejected　image　worship　as　idolatry；　and　who　kept　the　true
Sabbath。　Under　the　fiercest　tempests　of　opposition　they　maintained　their
faith。　Though　gashed　by　the　Savoyard　spear；　and　scorched　by　the　Romish
fagot；　they　stood　unflinchingly　for　God's　word　and　His　honor。

Behind　the　lofty　bulwarks　of　the　mountainsin　all　ages　the　refuge　of　the
persecuted　and　oppressedthe　Waldenses

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found　a　hiding　place。　Here　the　light　of　truth　was　kept　burning　amid　the
darkness　of　the　Middle　Ages。　Here；　for　a　thousand　years；　witnesses　for　the
truth　maintained　the　ancient　faith。

God　had　provided　for　His　people　a　sanctuary　of　awful　grandeur；　befitting　the
mighty　truths　committed　to　their　trust。　To　those　faithful　exiles　the
mountains　were　an　emblem　of　the　immutable　righteousness　of　Jehovah。　They
pointed　their　children　to　the　heights　towering　above　them　in　unchanging
majesty；　and　spoke　to　them　of　Him　with　whom　there　is　no　variableness　nor
shadow　of　turning；　whose　word　is　as　enduring　as　the　everlasting　hills。　God
had　set　fast　the　mountains　and　girded　them　with　strength；　no　arm　but　that　of
Infinite　Power　could　move　them　out　of　their　place。　In　like　manner　He　had
established　His　law；　the　foundation　of　His　government　in　heaven　and　upon
earth。　The　arm　of　man　might　reach　his　fellow　men　and　destroy　their　lives；
but　that　arm　could　as　readily　uproot　the　mountains　from　their　foundations；
and　hurl　them　into　the　sea；　as　it　could　change　one　precept　of　the　law　of
Jehovah；　or　blot　out　one　of　His　promises　to　those　who　do　His　will。　In　their
fidelity　to　His　law；　God's　servants　should　be　as　firm　as　the　unchanging
hills。

The　mountains　that　girded　their　lowly　valleys　were　a　constant　witness　to
God's　creative　power；　and　a　never…failing　assurance　of　His　protecting　care。
Those　pilgrims　learned　to　love　the　silent　symbols　of　Jehovah's　presence。
They　indulged　no　repining　because　of　the　hardships　of　their　lot；　they　were
never　lonely　amid　the　mountain　solitudes。　They　thanked　God　that　He　had
provided　for　them　an　asylum　from　the　wrath　and　cruelty　of　men。　They　rejoiced
in　their　freedom　to　worship　before　Him。　Often　when　pursued　by　their　enemies；
the　strength　of　the　hills　proved　a　sure　defense。　From　many　a　lofty　cliff
they　chanted　the　praise　of　God；　and　the　armies　of　Rome　could　not　silence
their　songs　of　thanksgiving。

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Pure；　simple；　and　fervent　was　the　piety　of　these　followers　of　Christ。　The
principles　of　truth　they　valued　above　houses　and　lands；　friends；　kindred；
even　life　itself。　These　principles　they　earnestly　sought　to　impress　upon　the
hearts　of　the　young。　From　earliest　childhood　the　youth　were　instructed　in
the　Scriptures　and　taught　to　regard　sacredly　the　claims　of　the　law　of　God。
Copies　of　the　Bible　were　rare；　therefore　its　precious　words　were　committed
to　memory。　Many　were　able　to　repeat　large　portions　of　both　the　Old　and　the
New　Testament。　Thoughts　of　God　were　associated　alike　with　the　sublime
scenery　of　nature　and　with　the　humble　blessings　of　daily　life。　Little
children　learned　to　look　with　gratitude　to　God　as　the　giver　of　every　favor
and　every　comfort。

Parents；　tender　and　affectionate　as　they　were；　loved　their　children　too
wisely　to　accustom　them　to　self…indulgence。　Before　them　was　a　life　of　trial
and　hardship；　perhaps　a　martyr's　death。　They　were　educated　from　childhood　to
endure　hardness；　to　submit　to　control；　and　yet　to　think　and　act　for
themselves。　Very　early　they　were　taught　to　bear　responsibilities；　to　be
guarded　in　speech；　and　to　understand　the　wisdom　of　silence。　One　indiscreet
word　let　fall　in　the　hearing　of　their　enemies　might　imperil　not　only　the
life　of　the　speaker；　but　the　lives　of　hundreds　of　his　brethren；　for　as
wolves　hunting　their　prey　did　the　enemies　of　truth　pursue　those　who　dared　to
claim　freedom　of　religious　faith。

The　Waldenses　had　sacrificed　their　worldly　prosperity　for　the　truth's　sake；
and　with　persevering　patience　they　toiled　for　their　bread。　Every　spot　of
tillable　land　among　the　mountains　was　carefully　improved；　the　valleys　and
the　less　fertile　hillsides　were　made　to　yield　their　increase。　Economy　and
severe　self…denial　formed　a　part　of　the　education　which　the　children
received　as　their　only　legacy。　They　were　taught　that　God　designs　life　to　be
a　discipline；　and　that　their　wants　could　be　supplied　only　by　personal　labor；
by　forethought；　care；　and　faith。　The　process　was　laborious　and　wearisome；
but　it　was

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wholesome；　just　what　man　needs　in　his　fallen　state；　the　school　which　God　has
provided　for　his　training　and　development。　While　the　youth　were　inured　to
toil　and　hardship；　the　culture　of　the　intellect　was　not　neglected。　They　were
taught　that　all　their　powers　belonged　to　God；　and　that　all　were　to　be
improved　and　developed　for　His　service。

The　Vaudois　churches；　in　their　purity　and　simplicity；　resembled　the　church
of　apostolic　times。　Rejecting　the　supremacy　of　the　pope　and　prelate；　they
held　the　Bible　as　the　only　supreme；　infallible　authority。　Their　pastors；
unlike　the　lordly　priests　of　Rome；　followed　the　example　of　their　Master；　who
〃came　not　to　be　ministered　unto；　but　to　minister。〃　They　fed　the　flock　of
God；　leading　them　to　the　green　pastures　and　living　fountains　of　His　holy
word。　Far　from　the　monuments　of　human　pomp　and　pride　the　people　assembled；
not　in　magnificent　churches　or　grand　cathedrals；　but　beneath　the　shadow　of
the　mountains；　in　the　Alpine　valleys；　or；　in　time　of　danger；　in　some　rocky
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

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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　des