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God had provided for his people a sanctuary of awful grandeur,
befitting the mighty truths committed to their trust. To those faithful
exiles the mountains were an emblem of the immutable righteous-
ness of Jehovah. They pointed their children to the heights towering
above them in unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him with
whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, whose word
is as enduring as the everlasting hills. God had set fast the moun-
tains, and girded them with strength; no arm but that of infinite
power could move them out of their place. In like ma
established his law, the foundation of his government in Heaven and
upon earth. The arm of man might reach his fellow-men and destroy
their lives; but that arm could as readily uproot the mountains from
their foundations, and hurl them into the sea, as it could change one
precept of the law of Jehovah, or blot out one of his promises to
those who do his will. In their fidelity to his law, God’s servants
should be as firm as the unchanging hills.
The mountains that girded their lowly valleys were a constant
witness of God’s creative power, and a never-failing assurance of his
protecting care. Those pilgrims learned to love the silent symbols
of Jehovah’s presence. They indulged no repining because of the
hardships of their lot; they were never lonely amid the mountain soli-
tudes. They thanked God that he had provided for them an asylum
from the wrath and cruelty of men. They rejoiced in their freedom
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to worship before him. Often when pursued by their enemies, the
strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From many a lofty cliff
they chanted the praise of God, and the armies of Rome could not
silence their songs of thanksgiving.
Pure, simple, and fervent was the piety of these followers of
Christ. The principles of truth they valued above houses and lands,
friends, kindred, even life itself. These principles they earnestly
sought to impress upon the hearts of the young. From earliest
childhood the youth were instructed in the Scriptures, and taught to
sacredly regard the claims of the law of God. Copies of the Bible
were rare; therefore its precious words were committed to memory.
Many were able to repeat large portions of both the Old and the New
Testament. Thoughts of God were associated alike with the sublime
scenery of nature and with the humble blessings of daily life. Little
children learned to look with gratitude to God as the giver of every
favor and every comfort.
Parents, tender and affectionate as they were, loved their children
too wisely to accustom them to self-indulgence. Before them was
a life of trial and hardship, perhaps a martyr’s death. They were
educated from childhood to endure hardness, to submit to control,
and yet to think and act for themselves. Very early they were taught
to bear responsibilities, to be guarded in speech, and to understand
the wisdom of silence. One indiscreet word let fall in the hearing of
their enemies, might imperil not only the life of the speaker, but the
lives of hundreds of his brethren; for as wolves hunting their prey
did the enemies of truth pursue those who dared to claim freedom
of religious faith.
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The Waldenses had sacrificed their worldly prosperity for the
truth’s sake, and with persevering patience they toiled for their bread.
Every spot of tillable land among the mountains was carefully im-
proved; the valleys and the less fertile hillsides were made to yield
their increase. Economy and severe self-denial formed a part of the
education which the children received as their only legacy. They
were taught that God designs life to be a discipline, and that their
wants could be supplied only by personal labor, by forethought,
care, and faith. The process was laborious and wearisome, but it
was wholesome, just what man needs in his fallen state, the school
which God has provided for his training and development.
Waldenses
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While the youth were inured to toil and hardship, the culture of
the intellect was not neglected. They were taught that all their powers
belonged to God, and that all were to be improved and developed
for his service.
The church of the Alps, in its purity and simplicity, resembled
the church in the first centuries. The shepherds of the flock led their
charge to the fountain of living waters,—the word of God. On the
grassy slopes of the valleys, or in some sheltered glen among the
hills, the people gathered about the servants of Christ to listen to the
words of truth.
Here the youth received instruction. The Bible was their text-
book. They studied and committed to memory the words of Holy
Writ. A considerable portion of their time was spent, also, in re-
producing copies of the Scriptures. Some manuscripts contained
the whole Bible, others only brief selections, to which some simple
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explanations of the text were added by those who were able to ex-
pound the Scriptures. Thus were brought forth the treasures of truth
so long 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, were the Sacred Scriptures
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 bishops and prelates to bury the
word of truth beneath the rubbish of error, heresy, and supersti-
tion; but in a most wonderful ma
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 bil-
lowy 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 unfolded only to the earnest, humble, prayerful seeker. God
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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
designed the Bible to be a lesson-book to all mankind, in childhood,
youth, and manhood, and to be studied through all time. He gave his
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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