Note H

Many learned writers, and among these Faber, Bishop Lloyd, Boyer, and Whiston, have considered the prophecy regarding the “two Witnesses’” in Revelation, as referring to the Waldensian and Albigensian churches, and their slaughter and restoration to life there predicted, having received its accomplishment in the persecution we have described. The passage in the Apocalypse, it will be remembered, is as follows: “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves; and they that dwell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another: because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth; and after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”

The most striking coincidence between the prophecy and its alleged fulfilment in this persecution, is the period of duration, three prophetical days and a half, i. e. three years and a half, during which the “dead bodies11 of the Witnesses were to lie unburied “in the street,1’ being the exact space of time which elapsed between the expatriation of the Vaudois by the edict of Amadeus in 1686, and their return and re-establishment in 1690. And certainly the slaughter and sudden infusion of life described in the verses above, are no inappropriate emblems of the political extinction and sudden resuscitation of these faithful” witnesses for the truth.11

Bishop Newton, after making some observations on the opinions of those who support such an interpretation, remarks,” that Bishop Lloyd not only understood the prophecy in this manner, but what is very remarkable, made the application even before the event took place, and upon this ground, encouraged a refugee minister of the Vaudois, whose name was Jordan, to return home, and returning-) lie heard the joyful news of the deliverance and restitution of his country T

Writers, however, of equal authority, consider that there are discrepancies which render this interpretation inadmissible. We shall not attempt to lay before the reader the various arguments that have been advanced on both sides of this controverted subject; far less, venture an opinion of our own. It is more than probable, that in this persecution, the prophecy obtained a partial, though incomplete fulfilment, and that, in the words of Newton, “it may please an overruling providence so to dispose and order events, that the calamities and afflictions of the Church may in some measure run parallel one to another, and ;all the former efforts of that tyrannical and persecuting power called the beast, may be the types and figures of his last and greatest effort against the Witnesses.” — Dissertations on the Prophecies, p. 567.

Since the period of the persecution which we have attempted to illustrate in the preceding narrative, the Vaudois Church has continued to enjoy for upwards of a century and a half, a season of comparative outward tranquillity. Arnaud was not suffered long to taste the sweets of that domestic bliss, whose visions had animated and consoled him in the midst of his arduous struggles. That providence would grant a peaceful termination to his declining years, was the earnest prayer of the grateful people who regarded him, under providence, as their deliverer: — and had his royal master been actuated by principles of gratitude or of honour, he would gratefully have responded to their wishes, and made honourable provision for one whose prowess had so materially contributed in restoring him to his hereditary dominions. But he was not permitted to close his eyes in “the land of promise;” — his paternal anxiety to adjust some unhappy differences that had arisen among his brethren, relative to the division of their old possessions, was construed by the invidious enemies of his faith into an attempt to form an independent republic; — a price was set upon his head — and in 1709, at the advanced age of seventy, he fled in disguise, never again to return to his native valleys.

Notwithstanding pressing invitations from William III., Queen Anne, and Prince Eugene, to reside at their Courts, and the most flattering promises of honourable provision, he preferred the humble task of pastor, to all that courts or princes could offer; and as soon as he had settled the affairs of the Wirtemberg colonies, he took up his abode in the midst of them, in the village of Schonberg, where he fulfilled the duties of his office for the remaining twelve years of his life: in this seclusion he wrote “La Eentree Glorieuse,” and some other memoirs which have never been printed.

The great destitution to which the Waldenses were reduced upon their return to the valleys, excited a spirit of universal sympathy among the Protestant states of Europe; and William and Mary generously contributed L.500 per annum, for the relief and support of their clergy. This munificent benefaction continued till the year 1797, when the triumphs of Napoleon appended Piedmont to the French dominions, and the annuity from England was withdrawn. Their new master ordered them to be enrolled with the national clergy of France, and lands were allotted for their maintenance, which yielded to each of the pastors a yearly income of 1000 francs.

At the termination of the war in 1814, Wilberforce found in the cause of this oppressed people, an object worthy of his enlarged philanthropy; and devoted his influence to obtain a renewal of the grant. His efforts, however, proved unsuccessful, but by the exertions of Dr Gilly, the unwearied friend of the Alpine Protestants, whose name is now a household word in the remotest hamlets of their secluded glens — it was restored in 1827; and they are now in the receipt of L.277 annually from the British Government, one third of which is appropriated for the relief of widows and superannuated pastors, and the remainder is divided among the thirteen regular ministers of the valleys. Besides this, L.292 from the English Society for Propagating the Gospel, is annually transmitted to them, being the interest of L.I 0,000, collected under the patronage of George III.

Although the storm of open persecution, however, has for a long period been hushed, they are still a suffering people — cruelly burdened with civil and religious disabilities. The spirit of Victor Amadeus still haunts the royal palace at Turin; and the age when confessors, not monarch s, were wont to sway the imperial sceptre, seems not yet to have passed away. They are interdicted from holding offices of public trust — from practising as physicians, advocates, or notaries; formerly they were allowed the privilege of purchasing land beyond the limits of their valleys; now, however, not only is this denied them, but a heavier impost on property within the valleys is levied from a Protestant, than from a Roman Catholic purchaser. The land, for which the latter pays a tax of seventy francs, is burdened to the former with a tax of a hundred. The consequence is evident. The Protestants being unable to contend with so heavy a disadvantage, are ‘yearly suffering a diminution in the extent of their territories, so much so, indeed, that in a short time it is to be feared their scanty limits will prove insufficient for the maintenance of an overcrowded population. They are disqualified from holding any situation in the army above the rank of a Serjeant: — they are compelled to abstain from all work on Roman Catholic fete days: and even their ancient innocent pastimes and recreations, if not strictly prohibited, are at least so burdened with expensive regulations, as to render their performance next to impossible. Their pastors are not permitted to vindicate their own religious opinions, though these be openly attacked and misrepresented. A volume was lately issuecj from the press at Turin, from the pen of a Roman Catholic dignitary, in the shape of a challenge to the pastors of the valleys, to refute the errors of Romanism. The book remains unanswered — and why? Is it because these pious men want the power or inclination to cope with an adversary they feel to be too formidable I There is not a pastor from Rora to Rodoretto who is not ready to take up the gauntlet — ay, and able too, to demolish the flimsy sophistry of the polemic. How comes it then, that if provided with ammunition, they permit the stores of their arsenal to remain unemployed? Let bigotry answer: — they dare not! The price of a controversial triumph, however easily won, would be persecution, imprisonment, or expatriation. On the other hand, the natural conclusion drawn by the Catholic population, from their silence in allowing this volume to remain unanswered, is that it is unanswerable. The eldest son of M. Muston, pastor of Bobbio, was driven from his father’s roof and his native valleys, for the heinous crime of publishing at Strasburg, a history of his suffering forefathers I

So strict and galling is the system of espionage adopted by their enemies, that even their private correspondence is not unfrequently subjected to official scrutiny. A proposal was lately made to institute a correspondence between one of our home missionary societies, and the pastors of the valleys: — cheering as the sympathy of distant Christians would be to these secluded people, in the midst of their trials, they were obliged to express their serious apprehensions as to the safety of entertaining the proposition — every suspicious communication being seized and opened at the post-office of Turin, and a heavy penalty annexed to the crime of holding parley with heretics!

But what appears to a stranger the most intolerant act of oppression, is their being compelled to render an external homage to the popish ceremonies. A striking instance of this was witnessed last autumn in one of their communes. At the conclusion of the Sabbath-morning service, the clergyman happened to be in his garden, with some of his anciens (elders,) when a Catholic procession approached. As it passed along, they all stood uncovered, and it was mentioned by the pastor, that the failure to comply with this exacted homage, had, on one occasion, subjected his uncle to no less than twenty-four journeys to Turin, besides the forfeiture of a large sum of money.

A few years ago, a lofty barricade was erected in front of the Protestant church at St Giovanni, in order to prevent the impious services of its congregation, from disturbing the devotions of the worshippers in the adjoining Romish sanctuary! The effects of time and weather, — not any abatement of their intolerance, — has now so far effected its demolition; and the Catholics have been contented with the erection of an enormous screen in the interior of the” temple,’1 to drown the unhallowed melody! Often is the Protestant pastor obliged to pause in the middle of the services, in consequence of interruption by popish ceremonies, which seem to be carefully contrived on such principles as may most conduce to the annoyance of the neighbouring worshippers. And strange ebullitions of piety, certainly, they are! a burlesque on the very name of devotion! Not to refer to sundry other of their accompaniments, it may be mentioned, that a most sacred part consists in the discharge, at stated intervals, of some pieces of cannon, which are inserted in the ground with their muzzles pointing to heaven. And this within a few yards of the Protestant church!

Amid great outward oppression, however, and many heavy disabilities, there is much that is cheering in the present condition of the Waldensian valleys. Within these few years, the blessings of education have been widely extended. This is to be attributed not a little to the munificence of Colonel B, an Englishman, resident

on the spot, who, in addition to the interest he has exhibited in many other schemes of local benevolence, has provided more particularly for the wants of the rising generation, — there being scarcely a commune but contains, in its village school, a monument of his Christian philanthropy.

It was formerly necessary for the young men who were preparing for the ministry, to receive their education at the colleges of Geneva or Lausanne. Besides the other untoward influences to which the removal from their native valleys subjected these youthful mountaineers, it was scarcely to be expected that they could escape altogether uncontaminated by the rationalism and Socinianism, which are so fearfully withering the Christianity of Switzerland. The establishment of a native college, however, where they receive their elementary education, has added another to the many noble exertions of Dr Gilly in behalf of the Vaudois; and they may consider themselves fortunate in having such an individual as M. Revel, the professor, to superintend the training of their future pastors.

It may be mentioned, as a proof that the martyrs spirit still slumbers in the bosoms of the Waldenses, that, when an attempt was made, some years ago, by one of their pastors, to amalgamate the corrupted doctrines of the Geneva church with the “purity of the faith delivered to the saints,” the attempt produced an instant recoil on the part of the humble peasantry, who refused to “touch the unclean thing,” and many of whom, amid cruel mockings and domestic persecution, held meetings for religious worship, like their forefathers, among their dens and caverns. But now that passing cloud has vanished, and has been succeeded by a cheering sunshine. In the parish of St Giovanni, where the differences originated, — since a memorable Sabbath when its pulpit was filled by Felix Neff, “the Apostle of the Alps,’ - a revival has been steadily progressing, not unworthy of being numbered among those, with which the Great Husbandman has of late been refreshing desolate spots in his vineyard throughout Christendom. M. Meille, the former pastor, who, sinking under a load of years, has been obliged to resign his more active duties to a younger disciple of the cross, is watching with paternal interest these cheering symptoms of spiritual life; and to the heavenly mind of this devoted saint, there seems to be “no greater joy than to see his children walking in the truth.” No spectacle can be more delightful than to witness the aged patriarch seated on Sabbath morning among those to whom for long he dealt out the bread of life, and in whom he now beholds all his fondest hopes and ardent prayers fulfilled.

This very awakening, however, has been the signal for heaping fresh disabilities on the pious mountaineers. Since the day to which we have referred, an edict has been issued, prohibiting any stranger from preaching within the limits of the valleys; and expatriation hangs suspended over the head of the pastor, who would dare thus to throw open his pulpit!

On the whole, the Waldenses possess claims on the sympathies and interest of the Christian world, not less on account of their past than of their present condition; and their little fairy land still nurses within its bosom those, who have not forgotten the cost at which their Protestantism was secured to them, and who are as ready as ever, if need be, to assert their spiritual liberties. We are not prepared, indeed, to subscribe to the glowing panegyrics of some enthusiastic travellers, who have attributed to them a perfection which never can belong to humanity, as if theirs were some isolated spot to which fabled virtue, when she left mankind, bequeathed her mantle. They are the mistaken, not the real friends of that primitive people, who would arrogate for them a purity which is not mortal, exciting expectations which, when they come to be tested by actual observation, will be sure to disappoint. That there are blemishes in their character, lights and shadows in the picture, no one who has had an opportunity of mingling in their society will be disposed to deny. But when we take into consideration the disadvantages under which they labour, the privileges of which they are deprived, the contagious influences to which they are exposed, we cannot fail to regard this simple-minded race as still continuing, what for ages they have been, — one of the living wonders of the world; and their valleys a little oasis, which appears all the brighter and lovelier from its contrast with the dreary wilderness around it.