FIRST, I fhall furvey the TESTIMONY of the Waldenfes and Bohemian brethren. The origin of the former has been involved in much obfcurity among ecclefiaftic hiftorians: And a variety of circumftances have precluded me from investigating it with that care which the fubject demands. I fhall follow the narrative of Archbishop USHER, who understood the fubject as well as any man in his own, or our age; along with the account of F. Spanheim, F. F. and fuch authors as the reader fhall find referred to in the notes. The moft certain monuments

refpecting them, find them, in the twelfth century, affociated under PETER WALDO, a wealthy merchant of Lyons, who gave up his fecular employment and commenced Divine, who tranflated, or caufed to be tranflated, the holy Scriptures into the vulgar language; that is, both the Old and New Teftament. This is a fufficient refutation of the Popish calumny, by which they are accufed of the errors of the Manichees, in reprobating the Old Teftament: Yea, a certain inquifitor acknowlegeth, that "the vulgar among them had the greater part of the Old and New Testaments by heart *.” I find two fummaries of their faith preferved by USHER: One of them directed against the Church of Rome, and the other against the abominations of the Maniche es, as in favour of the whole Chriftian fyftem. According to

REINERUS De Harefi Waldenfium, cap. iii.

the

the history of Eneas Sylvius, in USHER *, the doctrines of this church are,

"THE Pope of Rome is on a level with every other bithop.

THERE is no difference among Priests; and Prefbyters are not of different degrees, on account of dignity in office; but only of ufefulnefs and purity of life.

ン

WHEN fouls depart out of their bodies, they go immediately, either into eternal punishment or eternal joy.

THERE is no fuch thing as the fire of Purgatory.

PRAYER for the dead is vanity; and the mere invention of facerdotal avarice.

IMAGES of God and Saints are to be demolifhed.

THE benedictions of Water and Palm-trees. are mere folly.

THE Devils invented the Religion of the Mendicants.

PRIESTS fhould not be rich; but content with the contributions of the people.

EVERY perfon fhould have access to the free preaching of the Gofpel.

No Sin ought to be tolerated, though for avoiding greater evil.

HE who is guilty of any capital offence

ENEAS SYLVIUS, De Rebus Bohem. cap. xxxv.

ought

ought to enjoy neither Secular nor Ecclefiaftic Dignity, neither ought he to be obeyed.

POPISH Confirmation, Chrism, Extrenie Unction, are by no means facraments.

AURICULAR CONFESSION is mere trifling: It is enough for perfons to confefs their fins to God, in their clofets.

BAPTISM to be received by water, without the mixture of oil.

CONSECRATED Burial-places are vain; being invented merely for the fake of gain: And it is of no importance what kind of duft cover the human body after it is dead.

THE Temple of the Omniprefent God is the whole world; and they limit his Majefty, who confine his prefence to confecrated churches, monafteries, and oratories, which they build unto him; as if the divine goodness may be found more propitious in them than any where else.

SACERDOTAL Veftments and Veffels are of no ufe.

A PRIEST may confecrate the facrament of Chrift's Body at any time, and in any place; and it is fuflicient to fay the words of inftitution.

THE Prayers of fuch Saints as are reigning with Chrift in heaven are fought in vain; neither can they help, in any cafe.

IT is mere fpending of time to chant Prayers in certain canonical hours, and at other times to neglect that duty.

THERE

THERE is no day in which perfons fhould ceafe from labour, but the Lord's Day.

THE Feafts of the Saints are to be rejected. THE Fafts appointed by the Church have no merit *.»

THE ancient monuments, collected by the Centuriators Madeburgienfes, add to the above,

"THE highest authority, in Articles of Faith, is in the holy Scriptures; for which cause they are to be the rule of judgment, and whatever does not agree with them muft be rejected.

FATHERS and Councils are to be approved of only as far as they agree with the word of

God.

THE Reading and Knowledge of the holy Scriptures belong unto all men, whether pricft or people; and it is not only free, but neceffafy; yea, they ought rather to read the Apostles and Prophets than the commentaries of men on them.

THERE are only two Sacraments in the Church of Chrift; namely, Baptifm and the Lord's Supper: Chrift inftituted both kinds (both the bread and wine) for the use of both prieft and people.

* USHER De Succeffione Chriftianaruin Eccl. p. 189.

i

Gggg

MASSES

MASSES are impious; and it is madness to fay Mafs for the Dead.

PURGATORY is a figment of men: For believers go immediately into eternal life; and

unbelievers into eternal damnation.

It is idolatrous worship to Pray unto Saints. THE Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon..

THE Pope and his Clergy are not to be obeyed; as they are wolves to the Church of Chrift.

THE Pope is not Head of every Church, neither hath he the power of both fwords.

THE Church of Chrift is wherever perfons hear the fincere word of Chrift; and ufe fuch Sacraments as he hath appointed, whatever be the place in which the exifts.

Vows of Perpetual Celibacy are hunan figments, and nurferics of Sodomy.

As many Orders, fo many characters of the Beaft.

MONKERY is a Fetid Carcafe.

THE many fuperftitious dedications of Temples, the inemorials of the Dead, the benedictions of Creatures, Peregrinations, the multitude of forced Fafts, fuperftitious Feafts, perpetual roaring of Unlearned Men, the obfervation of the rest of the Ceremonies, manifeftly hindering the Doctrines and Inftitutions of the Word, are the inventions of the Devil. THE Marriage of Priests is lawful and neceffary"

* USHER ut Supra, p. 190, 191.

THE