Page:The Waldensian Church in the valleys of Piedmont.djvu/38

 he bids them "adore the cradle, the manger, the ship," etc., etc., adding, "But ah! this is ridiculous, and we would much rather lament it than write it; but we are obliged to answer fools according to their folly, and to hurl against hearts of stone, not the darts and missiles of the word, but darts of steel. ... God commands one thing, these men another. God commands to bear the cross, not to adore it. These persons would adore it, while they bear it neither corporeally nor spiritually. To serve God in this manner is to forsake Him."

This excellent man continued his written attacks on the growing errors of the Church until 823, and his courage and integrity knew no abatement until his death sixteen years after. Although his doctrines were attacked, nothing could lessen the honour and esteem in which he was held. He had a large party at the court who lived in separation from the Church of Rome; whilst the decision of the Council of Frankfort against the worship of images, A.D. 794, when the great Charlemagne was present, as well as that of Paris, A.D. 826, to the same effect, prove that at that period both the presence of images in their worship, and the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome, met with decided opposition.

After the death of the intrepid Claude, about the year 839, we still read of protestations made for some time by the Italian bishops against the assumptions and corruptions of the Papacy. But the voice of remonstrance grew fainter and fainter until it was entirely hushed. Ambition and luxury seduced the great ones of the earth, and the lonely Church of the Valleys became the sole witness of the West - the enduring, not seceding Church of Christ.

In addition to the authorities already quoted, we may bring forward the valuable testimony of a modern Piedmon-