alone, was forgotten in that age; so that alarmed, but deluded sinners, being turned from the living God, sought for peace of conscience in human inventions, and in the worship of idols. Sinners, when brought under a concern for their souls, must have something to rest upon for pardon and peace; and when the doctrine of Christ's atonement is set aside or obscured, they will naturally flee to some human inventions, or superstitious observances, for relief of conscience. How strongly does this point out the necessity of "preaching peace by Jesus Christ," through faith in his atoning blood! for, wherever this is not preached, sinners will surely flee for refuge to some false ground of hope, by which they will procure a false peace, and perhaps confirm themselves in a destructive error.

In such delusions the church appears to have been sunk from the seventh century, till the period of the Reformation, during which time the various errors of Popery seem to have been introduced. For, "while men slept, the enemy sowed tares." Nor is it surprising that darkness overspread the church, and gross darkness the people, during that interval, when we consider that copies of the Scriptures were very scarce, and consequently little known or read. The Bible was in fact become a sealed book to the generality of Christians; the Latin Vulgate being the only edition of the Bible then in Europe,

was accessible to those alone who were acquainted with the Latin tongue. The clergy made no effort to circulate the Scriptures among the people, nor was it their interest at that time to do so, their church having become so corrupt in practice, and erroneous in doctrine, that it could not bear the light of Scripture truth. How very different the character of the Church of England! She has no reason to dread any inquiry into her principles or doctrines-she can bear the light, and she challenges inquiry. Her chief danger would arise from her true principles being concealed, or not sufficiently known or understood. Note (f).

But even during these dark times, God left not himself without witness, but raised up some individuals, who protested against these errors, “and contended," at least in part, "for the faith once delivered to the saints." Among these were Claudius, Bishop of Turin, Anselm, and Bernard. To the latter, William, Abbot of St. Thierry, wrote in the twelfth century, being alarmed at the progress of the Popish doctrines maintained by Abelard :-"When I see," said he, "the faith of our common hope, grievously and dangerously corrupted, without resistance, and without contradiction; that faith which Christ hath consecrated for us with his blood; for which Apostles and Martyrs contended even to death; which holy teachers defended with

much labour and fatigue, and transmitted entire and corrupt to these dregs of time; I feel a distress which constrains me to speak. I could wish, if it were necessary, even to lay down my life for it. They are no small objects which I lay before you the faith of the Holy Trinity, the person of the Mediator, the Holy Spirit, the grace of God, the Sacrament of our common redemption, are the subjects which engage my attention." (See Milner's Church History, Vol. III. p. 352.)

But the principal instrument that appears to have been made use of, to hold up the light of Divine truth in the midst of a benighted church, was Peter Waldo, a man who by applying himself to the study of the Scriptures discovered that the general practice of nominal Christians was very different indeed from the doctrine of the New Testament; and that the superstitious customs which were so much reverenced and depended on in that day, had no foundation in the Scriptures, and were plainly and strongly condemned in the Word of God. Full of zeal for the truth, and love for the souls of men, he boldly condemned the reigning vices of the day, and the arrogance of the Pope; he taught his neighbours the principles of practical religion, and encouraged them to seek salvation by Jesus Christ. But in such an age he could not escape persecution for the truth's sake: he was obliged

to flee from Lyons, and his followers were dispersed; many of them settled in the vallies of Piedmont, whose inhabitants had long before professed the same truths, and becoming incorporated with them, were afterwards denominated Waldenses. These people, wherever they were scattered, continued to teach their doctrines, and thus" earnestly contended for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." But they were a persecuted people, and may be literally said to have prophesied in sackcloth; all the old calumnies of the Pagans against the Christians were propagated against them; and they were designated by various opprobrious names in the different countries of Europe. But it has been the custom in every age, thus to slander true Christians, and endeavour to deprive them of all respectability in society. "But by patient continuance in well doing, they must, and ever will, put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ;" who, notwithstanding all their opposition to their doctrines, are obliged to bear testimony to the purity of their lives. Note (g).

Thus it was with the enemies and opposers of the Waldenses. One of them stated, " “ that, heresy excepted, they generally lived purer lives than other Christians." A Dominican, speaking of those in Bohemia, says, "I say, that in morals and life they are good, true in words, unanimous in brotherly love." A monk who was sent by

his bishop to argue with them, owned, that he had never known in his whole life so much of the Scriptures, as he had learned during those few days in which he had held conferences with the heretics; and one of the Doctors of the Sorbonne, the very centre of theological subtlety at Paris; openly confessed, that he had understood more of the doctrines of salvation from the answers of the little children in their catechism, than by all the disputations which he had ever heard. (See Milner's Church History, Vol. III. p. 454.) Had this learned Doctor known any thing of Divine truth, surely he would on such an occasion have felt himself constrained to declare, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." And will not every humble reader of this fact, feel himself inclined to say, “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." Among this interesting and persecuted people, it appears to have pleased God to preserve the light and life of Divine truth on the continent till the days of Luther; and it has been supposed by some who wrote against Wickliff, that he had received the doctrines of Waldo from France; but the circumstance of this Reformer's agreeing with the Waldenses in doctrine, only proves, that Divine truth is the same in every part of the world, for "faith comes by hearing,