Page:The Waldensian Church in the valleys of Piedmont.djvu/29



Origin and early history of the Waldensian Church - Biography of Claude, Archbishop of Turin.

ALTHOUGH the origin of the Waldensian Church has long occupied the attention of the learned, like all distant objects, it still remains in partial obscurity, and consequently gives rise to some difference of opinion. But where writers of equal power and respectability disagree, deference and notice are due to the opinions of each; and as neither controversy nor criticism comes within the limits of this little work, instead of presuming to guide by any opinions of our own, we will endeavour to lay before our readers a sketch of the leading views respecting the origin of the Vaudois or Waldensian Church, put forth in the writings of authors of unquestioned eminence and authority.

But to do even this clearly and with the requisite conciseness, demanded much previous investigation and careful