Matchlesse crueltie declared at large in the ensuing history of the Waldenses apparently manifesting unto the world the horrible persecutions which they have suffered by the papists, for the space of four hundred and fifty years : wherein is related their original and beginning, their piety and purity in religion, both for doctrine and discipline : likewise hereunto is added an exact narrative of the late bloody and barbarous massacres, murders and other unheard of cruelties committed on many thousands of the Protestants dwelling in the valleys of Piedmont, &c. by the Duke of Savoy's forces, joyned with the French army and several bloody Irish regiments / published by command of His Highness the Lord Protector.

CHAP. XI.

An Epistle of the Paster Barthelmew Tertian, written to the Waldensian Churches of Pragela.

Iesus be with you. To all our faithfull and welbeloued brethren in Christ Ie∣sus. Health and saluation be with you all. Amen.

THese are to aduertise and to aduise your brotherhood (hereby acquitting my selfe of that dutie which I owe vnto you all in the behalfe of God, principally touching the care of the saluation of your soules, according to that light of the truth which the most high God hath bestowed on vs) that it would please euery one of you to maintaine, increase, and nourish to the vt∣most of your power, without diminution, those good beginnings and customes which haue bene left vnto vs by our ancestors, whereof we are no way worthy. For it would little profit vs to haue bene renewed by the father∣ly instance, and the light which hath bene giuen vs of God, if we giue our selues to worldly, diabolicall, and car∣nall conuersations, abandoning the principall, which is God, and the saluation of our soules, for this short and temporall life. For the Lord saith in his Gospell, What doth it profit a man to gaine the whole world, and to lose his owne soule? For it should be better for vs neuer to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse, then hauing knowne it to do the contrary. For we shall be inexcusable, and our condemnation the greater: for there are greater and more grieuous torments prouided for those that haue most knowledge. Let me therefore intreate you by the loue of God, that you decrease not, but rather increase that charitie, feare and obedience which is due vnto God, and to your selues amongst your selues, and keepe all those good customes which you haue heard and vn∣derstood of God, by our meanes: and that you would re∣moue

from amongst you all defaults and wants, troubling the peace, the loue, the concord, and whatsoeuer taketh from you the seruice of God, your owne saluation, and the administration of the truth, if you desire that God should be mercifull vnto you in your goods temporall and spirituall. For you can do nothing without him; and if you desire to be heires of his glorie, do that which he commandeth: If you will enter into life keepe my com∣mandements. Likewise be carefull that there be not nou∣rished amongst you any sports, gluttony, whoredome, dancings, nor any leudnesse or riot, nor questions, nor de∣ceits, nor vsury, nor discords; neither support or enter∣taine any persons that are of a wicked conuersation, or that giue any scandall or ill example amongst you, but let charitie and fidelitie reigne amongst you, & all good ex∣ample; doing to one another as euery one desires should be done vnto himselfe. For otherwise it is not possible that any man should be saued, or can ••aue the grace either of God or man in this world, or glorie in another. And it is necessarie that the conductors principally should haue a hand herein, and such as rule and gouerne. For when the head is sicke all the members are likewise ill affected. And therefore if you hope and desire to possesse eternall life, to liue in good esteeme and credit, and to prosper in this world in your goods temporall and spirituall, purge your selues from all disorderly waies, to the end that God may be alwayes with you, who neuer forsaketh those that trust in him. But know this for a certaine, that God heareth not nor dwelleth with sinners, nor in the soule that is giuen vnto wickednesse, nor in the man that is subiect vnto sin. And therfore let euery one cleanse the wayes of his heart, and flie the danger if he would not perish therein. I haue no other thing to write at this present, but that you would

put in practise these things: And the God of peace be with you all, and accompanie vs in our true, deuout, and humble prayers, that he will be pleased to saue all those his faithfull that trust in Christ Iesus.

Wholly yours Barthelmew Tertian, readie to do you ser∣uice in all things possible according vnto the will of God.

This Epistle of the Pastor Tertian giues vs assurance of that holy affection which they had to leade the people of God; but the Confession of the faith of the Waldenses found in the bookes of those Pastors aboue mentioned, shall shew vs more clearely how pure their beliefe hath bene, and how farre from those heresies and errors that haue bene imputed vnto them. And that therefore they haue bene very vniustly persecuted.