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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 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
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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
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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；
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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