An Inquiry into the History and Theology of the Ancient Vallenses and Albigenses

not been accomplished in the great General Body of professed Christians—to which collectively they systematically refuse the name of the Catholic Church—but that they have been fulfilled in their own Communion alone, upon which alone they would confer the title of the Church Catholic.

Therefore, on their own avowed and cherished principles, no valid objection can be raised to the bare abstract production of a single Church, which, still on their own principles, may be alleged as the true depository of Christ’s promises.

In reality, all parties are agreed that those pro-

most sensible? Give glory to God once more: and, by admitting that you have never heard anything of the kind, confess that you are in the same cause as the Socinians A sect denying the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. and all the heretics that have ever existed." original: "plus sensible? Donnez gloire à Dieu encore un coup : et, en avouant que jamais vous n’avez rien ouï dire de semblable, confessez, que vous êtes dans la même cause que les Sociniens, et que tout ce qu’il y a jamais eu d’hérétiques." Troisième Avertiss. sur les Lettres de M. Jurieu. § 30.

An answer to this question is promptly afforded by the address of the Vallensic Clergy The clergy of the Waldenses, a Christian movement from the 12th century. to the leading Reformers in the year 1530:

"We are, whatever we are, teachers of a certain unworthy and small flock. Nevertheless, in all things, we agree with you; and from the time of the Apostles, always feeling as you do about the faith, we have been in harmony, differing in this alone: that through our own fault, and the laziness of our intellect, we by no means understand the writers as correctly as you do." original: "Sumus qualescunque doctores cujusdam plebis indignæ et pusillæ.—In omnibus tamen vosbiscum convenimus : et, a tempore Apostolorum, semper de fidé, sicut vos, sentientes, concordavimus : in hoc solo differentes; quod, culpa nostra, ingenique nostri pigritia, scriptores, tam rectè quam vos, neutiquam intelligimus." Scultet. Annal. Evangel. Renovat. in A. D. 1530. p. 161, 163.