A Brief Sketch of the History and Present Situation of the Valdenses in Piemont, Commonly Called Vaudois (Classic Reprint)

History and present Situation midst of darkness ,a green spot in the sandy desert; and as they are entitled to our gratitude and veneration, for having preserved, to our benefit, the pure doctrine of the Apostles t, so they are entitled to our active benevolence, as they are still pursued for the same holy cause by the same spirit of persecution, displayed, indeed, no longer in fire and sword, but in their modern substitute, a systematic and vexatious oppression. But let the reader judge for himself. Their circumstances, past and present, will surely interest him as a man; but as a christian, they will do more, especially if he is trusted with the means of affording relief. The Vaudoisare confined by an oppressive law to a small tract-of mountain country, between the valley of the Po on the south (which river rises at the foot of Mont Viso) and the valley of Fenestrelle or of the Clusone on the north, through which passes the great road from These valleys have had arms from time out of mind, viz. a torch and seven stars, environed by darkness, and the motto, Lux lucet in tenebris. f Ifany persons, accustomed to consider that every channel of religion was denied previously to the reformation, should think that the idea of a primitive Christianity, uncontaminated from the time of the A postles, is too enthusiastic, let them turn their attention to the Syriac Church, now a little removed from the coast of Malabar, comprising fifty thousand Christians as yet undivided by sect. These, undoubtedly, received the first glad tidings of the Gospel from St. Thomas himself, and their number,. before the. establishment of the Inquisition by the Portuguese, was nearly four times as great. Buchanan.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Fol