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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
to worship before him. Often when pursued by their enemies, the
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strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From many a lofty cliff
they chanted the praise of God, and the armies of Rome could not
silence their songs of thanksgiving.
Pure, simple, and fervent was the piety of these followers of
Christ. The principles of truth they valued above houses and lands,
friends, kindred, even life itself. These principles they earnestly
sought to impress upon the hearts of the young. From earliest
childhood the youth were instructed in the Scriptures, and taught to
sacredly regard the claims of the law of God. Copies of the Bible
were rare; therefore its precious words were committed to memory.
Many were able to repeat large portions of both the Old and the New
Testament. Thoughts of God were associated alike with the sublime
scenery of nature and with the humble blessings of daily life. Little
children learned to look with gratitude to God as the giver of every
favor and every comfort.
Parents, tender and affectionate as they were, loved their children
too wisely to accustom them to self-indulgence. Before them was
a life of trial and hardship, perhaps a martyr’s death. They were
educated from childhood to endure hardness, to submit to control,
and yet to think and act for themselves. Very early they were taught
to bear responsibilities, to be guarded in speech, and to understand
the wisdom of silence. One indiscreet word let fall in the hearing of
their enemies, might imperil not only the life of the speaker, but the
lives of hundreds of his brethren; for as wolves hunting their prey
did the enemies of truth pursue those who dared to claim freedom
of religious faith.
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The Waldenses had sacrificed their worldly prosperity for the
truth’s sake, and with persevering patience they toiled for their bread.
Every spot of tillable land among the mountains was carefully im-
proved; the valleys and the less fertile hillsides were made to yield
their increase. Economy and severe self-denial formed a part of the
education which the children received as their only legacy. They
were taught that God designs life to be a discipline, and that their
wants could be supplied only by personal labor, by forethought,
care, and faith. The process was laborious and wearisome, but it
was wholesome, just what man needs in his fallen state, the school
which God has provided for his training and development.