Chapter 13—In the Netherlands and Scandinavia
In the Netherlands the papal tyranny very early called forth resolute
protest. Seven hundred years before Luther’s time, the Roman pontiff
was thus fearlessly impeached by two bishops, who, having been
sent on an embassy to Rome, had learned the true character of the
“holy see:” “God has made his queen and spouse, the church, a noble
and everlasting provision for her family, with a dowry that is neither
fading nor corruptible, and given her an eternal crown and scepter; all
which benefits, you, like a thief, intercept. You set up yourself in the
temple as God; instead of a shepherd, you have become as a wolf to
the sheep. You would have us believe you supreme bishop; you are
rather a tyrant... Whereas you ought to be a servant of servants, as you
call yourself, you intrigue to become lord of lords.... You bring the
commands of God into contempt.... The Holy Ghost is the builder of
all churches as far as the earth extends. The city of our God, of which
we are citizens, reaches to all parts of the heavens; and it is greater
than the city, by the holy prophets named Babylon, which pretends
to be divine, equals herself to Heaven, and boasts that her wisdom is
immortal; and finally, though without reason, that she never did err,
nor ever can.”
Others arose from century to century to echo this protest. And
those early teachers, who, traversing different lands, and known by
various names, bore the character of the Vaudois missionaries, and
spread everywhere the knowledge of the gospel, penetrated to the
Netherlands. Their doctrines spread rapidly. The Waldensian Bible
they translated in verse into the Dutch language. “There is,” they said,
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“great advantage in it; no jests, no fables, no trifles, no deceits, naught
but words of truth. There is, indeed, here and there a hard crust, but
even in this the marrow and sweetness of what is good and holy may
easily be discovered.” Thus wrote the friends of the ancient faith, in
the twelfth century.
Now began the Romish persecutions, but in the midst of fagots and
torture the believers continued to multiply, steadfastly declaring that
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