The Waldenses were simple Christian folk who lived among the Vaudois valleys of the Alps in those times known as “the dark ages,” before the dawn of the reformation. Though poor, they were content, living in rude stone dwellings; yet most of them could read and write. One could scarcely find a boy among them who could not give an intelligent account of the faith they possessed.
They were cruelly persecuted for their faith, hiding in caves when hunted by their enemies.
The Waldenses were more remarkable than any other people on the face of the earth for the large portions of Scripture which they committed to memory. The Word was precious to them, and they laid up in their hearts rich portions alike from the Old and New Testaments, so that they could not be taken from them. In training to become a pastor a young Christian had to learn by heart the Gospels of Matthew and John, all the Epistles, besides much of the writings of David, Solomon, and the prophets.
In those days a copy of the Bible would have cost more than $300 in our money, and a skillful scribe could not complete one in less than ten months. Very precious, therefore, was every single portion. As their enemies seized and burned every copy they could find, groups of young people were formed in the Vaudois valleys, every member being trusted to preserve in his memory a certain number of chapters. When assembled for worship in some hidden mountain retreat, they would recite. one after another, the chapters of the priceless Book, for which they often paid with their lives. One could repeat the whole book of Job by heart, and many repeated nearly the whole of the New Testament.
One who had been sent to try and convince the Vaudois of their errors returned saying he had never in all his life known so much of the Scriptures as in those few days he had held meetings in the valleys.
Even the little children were well taught. A learned doctor, sent from Paris among the Vaudois, confessed he had understood more of the doctrines of salvation from the answers of the little children than by all the sermons and debates he had ever heard.
We honor these dear persecuted people of God. May their faith and zeal stir our hearts afresh to love and cherish His precious Word more than we do — we who enjoy such freedom and can all own a Bible and read it. May we read it often and prayerfully, and seek to commit more of its sacred Passages to memory. Surely the Lord will bless those that do.
We are thankful for all who have answered the Bible Questions over the past year, and whose names appear in this issue.
Rewards should reach you in a few days. If you live far away and the papers have been late in arriving, so that your answers are not complete, it is not to late to send them in; you will still get your reward.
We trust, the Lord willing, to make some interesting changes in the Bible Questions in the future, so we hope you will all continue with us this year already begun; we hope too that many more will join us in searching the Scriptures in this way. May the Lord’s richest blessing rest upon all who read His blessed Word and watch for His soon return.
ML-06/14/1970