continuationacts

The Continuation Acts Of The Itinerant Apostolic Ministry Through The Centuries

In (Matthew 24:14) Jesus said, "And THIS Gospel of the kingdom shall be Preached in ALL the world for a Witness unto ALL nations; and then shall the end comes." In (Matthew 16:13-20) Jesus said to his disciples, "...And I say unto you, that thou art Peter, and upon this ROCK I will build MY church; and the gates of HELL shall NOT prevail against it." After His resurrection from the dead Jesus said to the disciples in (Matthew 28:16-20), "..All Power is given unto me heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and Teach ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the End of the world."

Tradition in the early church included of the teaching handed over by the apostles to their successors and to the people of God. This apostolic tradition consisted of the central facts, beliefs and observances of the early church.

(II Timothy 2:1-2) Paul wrote to Timothy: Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast Heard of me among many Witnesses, the same entrust thou to Reliable men, who also be qualified to teacher others also.

Paul wrote what he had received and what he had delivered or transmitted in the manner, a disciple passed on what he received from his rabbinic master. The expression "the saying is sure" was meant to reassure its readers that they were the tradition as received from the apostles, who in turn had received it by Revelation and Directly from Christ.

The apostles were the "Living Witnesses" of the origins of the New Testament ministry and church; they were the transmitters of the "sayings of Jesus". In a sense they created the tradition of the church, they expound and published it.

Luke, the companion of Paul. In the description of the happenings in Acts, certain passages made use of the word "WE." At this point the author includes himself as a companion of Paul in his travels (Acts 16:10-17;20:5-21;27:1;28:16). Eusebius, the early church Apostolic Father who explicit statement is made Luke was the author of both the "gospel of Luke" and "Acts of the apostles." (Ecclesiastical History, 3.4).

(Acts 1:8) Reveals one of the purposes Luke had in writing his history, and that this purpose influenced the way the book ended. Luke wanted to "SHOW" how the Church penetrated the world of his day in ever-widening circles (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth) until it reached Rome, the world's political and culture center.

The Book of Acts provides a bridge for the writing of the New Testament. As a second volume to Luke's Gospel, it joins what Jesus

"began to do and teach" (Acts 1:1), as told in the Gospels with what he

(Jesus) continued to do and teach through the apostles' preaching and the establishment of the church.

Luke summarized his first volume in (Acts 1:1-3) the theme of his second volume is presented in the words of Jesus to his disciples: "YOU, will be my Witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ENDS of the earth." The significance of Acts as a historical account of Christian origins. It tells of the founding of the church, the spread of the gospel, the beginnings of congregations, and evangelistic efforts in the apostolic pattern. The life and teaching of Jesus Christ are established in the four Gospel narratives, and the Book of Acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning of the church.

Luke had no way of knowing how long the Church would continue on this earth, but as long as it pursues its course, the Book of Acts will be ONE of its major guides. The success of the Roman Empire demonstrated that Christianity was NOT a mere work of man. God was in it.

There "HAS BEEN" a chain of Witnesses of the apostolic doctrine and fellowship throughout the centuries. Christianity spread, at first, over the communication and trade networks of the Roman Empire and its borderlands. The 2x2 apostolic itinerant ministry and believer movements have spread from the Eastern Empire to the West, either through the Balkans or by the way of the sea routes to Italy and France.

The river routes and valleys of the Danube, Rhine and Rhone were instrumental in the spread of these teachings, but it was the mountain regions of the Alps, Pyrenees, Vosges and Carpathian that afforted isolation and refuge in times of severe persecution. Italy, France, and Low countries were the principals from whence these ideas spread eastward into Central Europe, southward into Spain.

From the low countries and France, Germany, England received teachings that quickly spread from the southeastern countries northward. It was eventually in northern England and Wales. The itinerary apostolic ministry and believers are centered in Ireland, Scotland, America, Asia, South America, etc..

The Apostolic itinerant ministry may have taken place beyond Western Europe. The Paulicans spread northward into Ukrainian, Russian and the Georgians regions. Early and then later to the Mongol lands and China. Early Christian apostolic missionaries took the gospel to Iraq, Iran and South India, from the 1st centuries of era upper Egypt and the highland of Ethiopia.

According to Church tradition, most of the 12 apostles died as martyrs, and in foreign lands preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matthew) preached in Palestine for some years, and then traveled to foreign countries. (John the Apostle), for a number of years seems to have been his chief residence. According to well-established tradition, his later years were spent preaching in Ephesus. (Peter) was crucified in Rome A.D. 68.

(Andrew) of Bethsaida. He and John were Jesus' first converts. He brought his brother Peter to Christ. Tradition says he preached in Asia Minor, Greece, Scythia or Russia today. (Philip) of Bethsaida. Fellow-townsman of Peter and Andrew. Brought Nathaniel to Christ. According to tradition, he preached in Phrygia, and in Hierapolis.

(Bartholomew) surname of Nathaniel, who was Cana. Tradition says he preached in Parthia.

(Thomas) tradition says he preached in Syria, Parthia, Persia, and India. (James) the Son of Alphaeus tradition had him preach in Palestine and Egypt. (Thaddeus) Tradition says he was sent to Abgarus, King of Edessa; and to Syria, Arabia and Mesopotania. (Paul Apostle). Tradition says he preached in Spain and died in Rome in 68 A.D.

Peter, James Simon Zealots preached in the British isles

http://www.beth/cog.org/IsrChap1.htm

http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/files/magazines/novdec2002/article021102

htm.

Professor H.L. Martensen as cited in Einar Molland, "Irenaeus of Lugdunum and the Apostolic succession" on February 1854. From the man whose precious remembrance fills our hearts, our thoughts go back to that whole series of Witnesses of truth which, like a holy chain, stretches through times from the days of the Apostles to our days. But, ALL of them are Unanimous in this testimony. The times change and vary, but Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, ye and Forever; the wisdom of this world, and the realms of this world are changing and grow old, but the wisdom of Christ and Realm of Christ remain Forever.

The times change and vary, but Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever. This consciousness: the teachers, the Witnesses of truth in the Church of Christ, change and vary from Generation to Generation. BUT, the Gospel of Christ is the Same Yesterday, and Today, albeit it is preached with various tongues; and the Spirit of Christ is the same Yesterday, and Today, although it fulfils its functions through various instruments.

The Pilgrim Church by E.H. Broadbent and "Praticia official Inquisitions heretic Pravitatis (A.D. 1323-1424). Benard Gui: Manuel de l'Inquisiteur (Paris: Champison, 1926), Vol I, pp, 35-37,51-53,59

Who Was Peter Waldo? Was he the founder of Waldenses? The answer is NO! Peter Waldo (A.D. 1130?) of Lyons (France), a successful merchant banker, was aroused to see his need of Salvation by the sudden death of one of his guests at a feast he had given. He became so much interested in the scriptures that in (1160) he employed clerks to translate of the four gospels from Latin into French. A theologian directed Peter Waldo to the Lord's words in (Matthew 19:21) Jesus said, "If thou will be "Perfect" GO and SELL that thou has, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasures in Heaven: Come and Follow me!"

(Matthew 19:27-30) Peter said unto Jesus, "Behold, we (12 apostles) have forsaken ALL, and follow thee; what shall we have therefore?" Jesus said unto them, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, that ye which have Follow Me, in the generation when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon the 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And Every One of you that has forsaken houses, brethren, sisters, father or mother, WIFE, or Children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive 100 fold, and shall inherit Everlasting Life."

Peter Waldo, therefore (1173) gave up his property to his Wife, sold the remainder and distributed it among the poor. He determined to observe poverty and evangelical perfection, in imitation of the apostles.

For a time he devoted himself to the study of the Scriptures and then

(1180) gave himself to Traveling and Preaching, taking as a guide of the Lord Jesus words, before sending out the 70 apostles in (Luke 10:1-2) "He sent His disciples 2 and 2 before his face into every city and place whither He Himself would come. Therefore Jesus said unto them, "The harvest truly is Great! but the Laborers are few: PRAY! Ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would SEND forth Laborers into his harvest."

Companions joined him, and Traveling and Preaching in THIS way, came to be known as the "Poor men of Lyons". They hold the office of the Apostles, and presumed to preach the Gospel in the Streets and Public places. The Waldes or Waldo converted many people both men and women, and sent them out to Preach as his disciples.

Also, after they have been received into the Ministry which they call "a Fellowship", and have promised obedience before their Superior, and that they will observe evangelical poverty, property, but they SELL all that they possess and give the price into a common Fund, and live on Offerings which are given them by their "Believers" and those who sympathizers with them. And, the Superior distributes these among them, and give each one according to his needs.

They were divided into TWO classes, the "Perfect" and the "Friends" or "Believers" among the Perfect, bound by vow of poverty, wandered about from place to place preaching. The Perfect, claim they possess NOTHING of their own, neither houses nor possession. Moreover, if they HAD Wives before, they give them up when they received into the ministry.

(Romans 1:1,7) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God... to ALL that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints.

Some among the brethren devoted themselves entirely to Traveling and Ministering the Word and were Called "the Perfect", and in accordance with the Lord's words in (Matthew 19:21) "If thou will be "Perfect", Go and Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow ME!" They possessed nothing, had no home, and literally ACTED upon this command.

It was recognized that ALL are NOT called to such a path, and that the Majority of believers, while acknowledging that they ALL have belong to Christ, should serve Him while remaining in their families and continuing in their occupations.

Those whom they called "Apostles" played an important part in their testimony. While the "elders" remained in their homes and churches, the

"Apostles" traveled continually, visiting the churches. A distinction was made between those called to be "Perfect," and other followers of Christ, based on the fact that in the gospel SOME were called to "Sell All" that they had and follow Christ, while others of His disciples were equally called to serve HIM in the surroundings in which HE found them.

Married Itinerant Preachers

Such an itinerant life was ill-suited for "Married State", and to the profession of poverty they added the vow of chastity. Very FEW of them were "Married" in the ministry. Their perpetual missions, poverty, missionary tours, always spent amid warfare and danger, make it easy to understand the reason of the celibacy.

They acknowledge the holy scripture as their sole faith, and rejected all that was NOT taught of the New Testament from the day of emperor Constantine in A.D. 312 to the present day.

Also, each year they held or celebrated one or two general conventions in some important town, as secretly as possible, assembling as if they were merchants, in a house hired before by one or more of the believers. And, in those assemblies, the superior orders the disposes matters concerning the presbyters and deacons, and concerning those sent to different Parts and Regions to their believers and collect offerings.

They say they are the Successors of the Apostles, and are the directors and Confessors of the others. They travel throughout the country, visiting and confirming their disciples. Their disciples and "Believers" Supply them with their necessities. Whenever the "Perfect" go, the "Believers" spread the NEWS of their arrival, and many come to the "HOUSE" where they are admitted are brought to them, and their preaching is heard in assemblies which gather chiefly at night, when others are sleeping or resting.

The "Perfect", moreover, do NOT immediately, in the beginning, reveal the secrets of the listeners their error. First they say what the disciples of Christ should be like, according to the words of the Gospel and of the Apostles. Only those, they say, should be the successors of the apostles who IMITATE and hold to the example of their life. On this basis they argue and conclude that the Pope, the bishops and prelates, and clergy, who possess the riches of this world and DO NOT imitate the righteousness of the apostles, are NOT true shepherds, and guides of the Church of God, but ravening and devouring wolves, to whom Christ did not Entrust his Bride the Church, and so they should NOT obey.

The Waldes or Waldo and his companions appeal their expulsion from the diocese of Lyons, France by the bishop for violating a ban on Preaching. His preaching at this time was directed against the worldliness of the Catholic Clergy. Their appeal for recognition (1179) to the Third Lateran Council, under Pope Alexander III had already been scornfully refused. They were driven out of Lyons, France by Imperial edict and (1184)

Excommunicated. Scattered over the surrounding countries, their Preaching proved very effectual and "Poor men of Lyons" became one of the many names attached to those who followed Christ and His teaching.

An old article tells how as the year (1177) "disciples of Peter Waldo came from Lyons, France to Germany and began to preach in Frankfurt and in Nuremberg, but because of the Council in Nuremberg was warned that they should Seize and burn them, they disappeared into Bohemia."

Peter Waldo continued his travels and eventually reached Bohemia, where he died (1217), having labored there for years and sown much seed, the fruit of which was seen in the spiritual harvest in that country. The accession of Peter Waldo and his band of preachers gave an extraordinary impetus to the missionary activities of the Waldenses, who until this time had been somewhat isolated in their remote valleys but NOW went everywhere preaching the word.

The ministry of Peter Waldo of Lyons, France, whose followers first obtained the name of "Leonists" and who, when persecuted in France, fled to Piedmont, incorporating themselves with the "Vaudois or Vallenses". The relations of Peter Waldo, with the Waldenses, were so intimate, that many call him the Founder of a sect, of that name, though others derive the name from the Alpine Valleys, Vallenses, in which so many of those believers lived.

It is TRUE that Peter Waldo was highly esteemed among them

(Waldenses), but NOT POSSIBLE that he would have been Their FOUNDER, since they (Waldenses) founded their Faith and Practice on the scriptures, and were followers of those who, from the earliest times, had DONE the same. For outsiders to give them the name of a man Prominent among them, was only to follow the usual habit of their opponents, who did NOT like to admit their right to call themselves, as they did, "Christians" or

"Brethren".

History of the Ancient Churches of Piedmont: Peter Allix, Page 176-182. The bishop of Meaux rightly charge Beza for saying that the Waldenses, time out of mind, had stiffly opposed the abuses of the Roman Church, and they (Waldenses) held their doctrine from Father to Son, ever since the (120 A.D.), as they heard and received it from their elders and ancestors...

These believers of the valley could NOT be so called from Valdo (Peter Waldo) of Lyons, France, because he did NOT flourish at the soonest till the year (1160 A.D.), according to Roger Hoveden, whereas the people of the Valleys of Lucerne and Angrogne had the name of Waldenses from the beginning of the 12th Century. I have made it appear, that they separated themselves from the Church of Rome long before, the place their abode, which the inhabitants called les vaux de Lucerne et Angrogne, that is to say, the Valleys of Lucerne and afterwards changed to Valdenses, when the design was laid to make men "BELIEVE" Valdo (Peter Waldo in 1160) was their FIRST Founder.

So that all can be said with any authority in this matter is, that some of Waldo's disciples did join themselves with the churches of the Valleys of Piedmont, being constrained there to by the persecution of the Catholic Church which dispersed them far and near.

"Who were the Waldenses?"

The Vaudois are, in fact, descendant from those refugees from Italy who, after Paul the Apostle (A.D. 67), had preached the Gospel, abandoned their beautiful country and fled, like the Woman (The Bride/True Church) in

(Revelation chapter 12), to these wild mountains (the Alps in Switzerland), where they have to this day, handed down the Gospel, from Father to Son, in the same purity and simplicity as it was preached by Paul the Apostle.

The Waldenses believed the Apostolic itinerant ministry Succession. "The Church without a name or a Founder." A.D. 33-1800. In the Alpine Valleys of Piedmon, there had been, for Centuries, congregation of believers calling themselves brethren, who came later to be widely known as Waldenses, or Vaudois, though they did NOT, themselves, accept the name. They traced their origin in those parts back to the apostolic time. Like many of the so-called Cathars, Paulicans, Albigenses, and other churches, these were NOT "reformed", as the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and some others, but the Waldenses having always maintained, in varying degree of Apostolic tradition.

From the time of Emporer Constantine (A.D 312) there had been, or Continued to be, a Succession of those who preached the Gospel and Founded churches, uninfluenced by the relations between Church and State. This accounts for the large bodies of Christians, well established in the scriptures, and free from Idolatry, and other evils prevailing in the dominant Catholic Church, to be found in the Taurus mountains and the Alpine Valleys.

According to the Waldenses apostolic itinerant church history, Chapter IV http://www.ccel.org/b/bevan/friends/friends.htm. They were known as "Poor men of Lyons" or "Leonists" and very commonly they were called the Waldenses. They had their own history of themselves, which was handed down from father to son. It was this, that they said that about the year A.D.320 after Christ, that the Roman Catholic church had fallen into "Worldliness" and was "Corrupted" through evil teaching under Pope Sylvester (A.D.320).

For the Roman Emperor Constantine, instead persecuting the Christians, had begun to honor them, and to give them worldly power and riches, and the bishops became lords and princes, and the things of God were judged by worldly judges, and NOT by the word of the Lord.

And, because their fathers had "HELD FAST" to the ancient teaching of the apostles of the Lord, they had been persecuted and killed. And, many of them fled to the mountains of Italy, and Switzerland, and France, and some of the other countries, and God had kept them as the "Apple of His eyes", and they could "NEVER" be Destroyed, though they had to suffer hardship, persecution, and death, from generation to generation.

And, so, as time went on, they were to be found in many races, and in many lands, and wherever they went, they brought the Word of God, as they believed the apostles taught it.

It was said of the Waldenses, that their whole manner of thought and action was an endeavor to HOLD FAST the character of original Christianity. The brethren in the Valleys Never Lost the knowledge and conscious of their origin and Unbroken history there.

The Brethren from Bosnia and other Balkan countries making their way through Italy, came to the South of France, finding Everywhere ,those who shared their faith. The Roman Catholic clergy called them "Bulgarians, Cathars, Patarenes, and other names, and following the habit of centuries in Asia Minor and in the Balkan countries affirmed that they were Manichians."

An Inquisitor (Catholic church) Reinerius Saccho (a former Waldense), who died in 1259, has left it on record: "Concerning the sects of ancient heretics, observe that there have been more than 70 the sect of the Manichaeans, Arians, and Runcarians and the Leonists (Peter Waldo) which have infected Germany, have through the favor of God, had been destroyed. Among all these sects which still Exists or which have formerly existed. For some say that it has lasted from the time of the Pope Sylvester (A.D.300), others from the time of the Apostles. For there is scarily any land, in which this sect does not Exist."

Reinerius Saccho, a Former Waldesian himself who later became a Roman Catholic Inquisitor wrote "Of the Sect of Modern Heretics" (1254) in S.R. Maitland, trans, History of the Waldeneses and Albigenses (London C.J.G and F. Rivington, 1832), pp. 407-413

1. First they (Waldenses) say that the Roman Catholic Church, is NOT the Church of Christ, but a church of malignants and that is "Apostatized" under Pope Sylvester (A.D. 314-335). They (Waldenses) are the Church of Christ, because they observe both in word, deed, the doctrine of Christ gospel and of the Apostles.

2. Their (Waldenses) second error is that all vices and sins are in the church, and they ALONE live righteously. Scarily anyone in the Roman Church, but themselves, preserve the evangelical doctrine. They

(Waldenses) are the Church of Jesus Christ. They are the true poor in spirit, and suffer persecution for righteousness and faith.

3. The Church of Rome is the Harlot in the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation). They (Waldenses) despise all the statutes of the Church, because they are heavy and numerous. The Pope is the head of ALL errors. The Pope and all Bishops are homicides on account of wars.

4. The Catholic clergy ought NOT to have possessions; that no ONE ought to bow the knee before a priest. Where the angel says to John the Apostle, "See thou do it not". That no one is greater than another in the Church. That it is a BAD thing to found and invest churches and monasteries. That the Bishops and Abbots ought NOT to have royal rights. They reprobate titles of dignity such as Pope, Bishops etc.. also that no one is to be forced into believe also. They say those monastic rules are the traditions of the Pharisees.

Reinerius says, "The Waldenses first error is a contempt of ecclesiastical power, and from whence they have been delivered up to Satan of the heretics of with their own inventions. And being persecuted by the Catholic Church, the Waldenses affirmed that "They Alone are the Church of Christ and his disciples."

The Waldenses say that the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is sufficient for Salvation without the statutes of the Catholic Church. The tradition of the Roman Catholic church is the tradition of the Pharisees, and that there is more made of transgression of a human tradition than of a divine law.

In Strassburg in A.D.1212, the Dominicans had already arrested 500 persons who belonged to churches of the Waldenses. They were of all classes, nobles, priests, rich and poor, men and women. The prisoners said that there were many like them in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Bohemia, etc.. 80 of them, including 12 priests, and 23 women were given over to the flames. The goods of those executed were divided between church and civil authority, which placed its power at the disposition of the Catholic Church.

A decretal of Pope Gregory IX, in (1263), declared "We excommunicate and anathematize all heretics Waldenses, Albigenese, Cathars, Patarenes, Poor men of Lyons, Passagini, Josepini, Arnaldistae, Speronistae, and others, by whatever names they may be known, having indeed different faces, but being UNITED by their tails, and meeting in the same point through their vanity."

The Catholic church, in the 11th and 12th century, did NOT comprehend the significance of these apostolic preachers and their followers. They assumed the itinerants were merely ignorant, lacking theological preparation and doctrinal instruction. By the 13th century the Catholic church hierarchy still believe the apostolic itinerant ministry gained widespread success because of the pastoral deficiencies of the clergy. The response typical of an authoritarian institution was to resort to "Force" to "Destroy" heresy with the aid of the state power.

Waldenses Had Women Preachers!!

The Waldenses still went further in shocking old-time customs and claimed the RIGHT to Preach for "WOMEN" as well as for MEN. The Waldenses Preachers/Pastors or Barbes, were first condemned by the Pope because they were private people and laymen, NOT learned clergy. Women Preachers were NOT uncommon and they played a considerable role in Piedmont as the 14th century.

New Testament Women Preachers/pastors.

http://sites.hsprofessional.com/hobarker/WomenMinisters.html

Waldensians' activity was NOT limited to the Alps-maritime region. John Bale in his catalogue mentioned some Waldensians who had begun to teach in England in (1164). Then in the summer of (1199), the bishop of Metz informed Rome that Waldensians were holding secret meetings in his diocese in which MEN and WOMEN Preached, using a French translation of the Bible.

Pope Innocent III declared that secret home assemblies, unlicensed preaching, and disobedience to the command of bishops were NOT to be tolerated. By 1270, the Waldensian Preachers were gathering out disciples in various German states, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Hungary, and Poland.

The danger for the Catholic Church was that the Bible text conveyed to the general population, by Waldeneses preachers Untrained in theology, appeared to contradict MANY of the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church, whose clergy was NOT always highly respected.

A later writer. Pilichdorf, also a bitter opponent of Waldenses, says they existed from the time of the Pope Sylvester (A.D. 335-390) were the Waldenses. Some have suggested that Claudis, of Turin (A.D. 817) was the

"Founder" of the Waldenses in the mountains of Piedmont. He and they had much in common, and must have strengthen and encouraged one another, but the "Brethren" called Waldenses, were of MUCH older origin.

Marco Aurelio Rorenco was ordered in (A.D 1630), to write an account of the history and opinions of the Waldenses. He wrote that the Waldenses are so Ancient as to afford no absolute certainly in regard to the precise time of their origin, but that all events in the 9th and 10th Century they were NOT a New Sect.

The Waldenses Believe In Apostolic Succession

The Brethren in the Piedmont Valley Never LOST the knowledge and consciousness of their origin and Unbroken history there. When from the 14th Century onward, the valleys were invaded and the people had to negotiate with surrounding rulers, they always emphasized this. To the Prince of Savoy, who had the longest dealing with them, they could Always assert without fear of contradiction, the uniformity of their faith from Father to son, through time Immemorial, even to the very age of the Apostles.

(Dr. Allix the Waldenses upon the church of Piedmont Page 188-191)

They (Waldenses) declared themselves to apostles successors, to have authority and Keys of bindings and loosing. They hold the church of Rome to be the Whore of Babylon (Revelation 17) and that ALL obey her are Damned, especially the clergy that subject to her since the time of Pope Sylvester (A.D.335-395).

To Francis I Of France they said, in 1544. "This confession is that which we received from our Ancestors, even from Hand to Hand, according as their predecessesors in ALL time in EVERY Age have Taught and Delivered. Let your Highness consider, that this religion of the present Day, or a religion discovered for the FIRST time, only a few years ago, as our Enemies falsely pretend, but it is religion of our fathers and of our grandfathers, yea, of our forefathers and of our predecessors still more remote. It is the religion of the Saints and of the Martyrs, of the Confessors and of the Apostles."

When they came into contact with the 16th century they said: "Our ancestors have often recounted to us that we HAVE existed from the time of the Apostles. In all matters nevertheless we agree with you, and thinking as you think, from the Very Day of the Apostles themselves, we have ever been consistent respecting the faith."

On the return of the Vaudois to their valleys, their leader, Henri Arnold, in 1689 said: "That their religion is as primitive as their name is venerable, and is attested even by their adversaries. Henri Arnold, continues "It would NOT be difficult to prove that this poor band of faithful were in the valleys of Piedmont more than 400 years before the appearance of Martine Luther or Calvin and subsequent lights of the Reformation."

The Waldenses believe there is ONE holy Church, compromising the whole assembly of the "Elect and Faithful", that have existed from the beginning of the world, or that shall be to the "END" thereof. Of their church ,the Lord is the head. It is governed by his Word and Guided by the Holy Spirit. In the Church, it behooved "ALL Christians" to have fellowship. For Her (the Church) He (Christ) prays incessantly, and his prayer for it is most acceptable to God, without which there could be "NO Salvation".

In (John 14:6) Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father but through me." (Galatians 1:8-9) Paul wrote: but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than which we PREACHED unto you let him be accursed (eternal condemned)...If any man preach any other gospel unto you than ye have received, let him be accursed.

(Ephesians 4:1-14) Paul wrote Endeavoring to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. There is One Body, and One Spirit, even as ye are called One hope of your calling. One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father...