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. XII.

The Confession of the faith of the Waldenses.

WE beleeue & do firmely hold all that which is contained in the twelue Articles of the Simbole which is called the Apostles creed: * 1.1 and we account all that for heresie which a∣greeth not with the said twelue Articles.

We beleeue that there is one God, the Father, Sonne, [Art. 2] and holy Ghost.

We acknowledge for holy & Canonicall Scripture the books of the Bible, that is to say, the fiue books of Moses. [Art. 3]

• Genesis. The booke of Ioshua.
• Exodus. The Iudges.
• Leuiticus. Ruth.
• Numbers. 1. of Samuel.
• Deuteronomie. 2. of Samuel.

• 1. of Kings. The Lamentat. of Ieremie.
• 2. of Kings. Ezechiel.
• 1. of the Chronicles. Daniel.
• 2. of the Chronicles. Hosea.
• 1. Esdras. Ioel.
• Nehemiah. Amos.
• Ester. Obadiah.
• Iob. Ionah.
• The booke of Psalmes. Micah.
• The Prouerbes of Salo∣mon. Nahum. Habakuk.
• Ecclesiastes. Zephaniah.
• The song of Salomon. Haggai.
• The Prophesie of Isaiah. Zachariah.
• The Pophesie of Ieremie. Malachi.

The Apocryphall bookes are these that follow, which are not receiued of the Hebrewes, but we reade them (saith S. Hierome in his prologue to the Prouerbs, for the instruction of the people, not to confirme the authoritie of Ecclesiasticall doctrines: that is to say,

• The third booke of Esdras. Ester after the 10. chap. to the end.
• The fourth of Esdras.
• Tobiah. The song of the 3. children.
• Iudith. The historie of Susanna.
• Wisedome. The historie of the Dragon.
• Ecclesiasticus. 1. Maccabees.
• Baruch, with the Epistle of Ieremiah. 2. Maccabees.
• 3. Maccabees.

Here follow the bookes of the new Testament.

• The Gospell ac∣cording to S. Matthew.
• The Gospell ac∣cording to S. Marke.
• The Gospell ac∣cording to S. Luke.
• The Gospell ac∣cording to S. Iohn.

• The Acts of the Apostles. The first to Timothie.
• The Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans. The second to Timothie.
• To Titus.
• The first to the Corinth. To Philemon.
• The 2. to the Corinthians. To the Hebrewes.
• The Epistle to the Galat. The Epistle of S. Iames.
• The Epist. to the Ephesians The 1. Epistle of S. Peter.
• The Epistle to the Philip∣pians. The second of S. Peter.
• The 1. Epistle of S. Iohn.
• The Epistle to the Colos. The second of S. Iohn.
• The first to the Thessal. The third of S. Iohn.
• The second to the Thessa∣lonians. The Epistle of S. Iude.
• The Reuelation of S. Iohn.

The bookes aboue named teach thus much, [Art. 4] that there is one God almightie, wholly wise and wholly good, who hath made all things by his goodnesse. For he created A∣dam according to his owne image and similitude: but by the malice of the diuell, and the disobedience of Adam, sinne entred into the world, and we are made sinners in Adam, and by Adam.

That Christ was promised to our forefathers, [Art. 5] who re∣ceiued the Law, to the end that knowing their sin by the Law, and their vnrighteousnesse and insufficiencie, they might desire the coming of Christ, to the end he might satisfie for their sins, and accomplish the Law by himselfe.

[Art. 6] That Christ was borne at the time appointed by God his Father, that is to say, at a time when all iniquitie a∣bounded, and not for our good workes sake onely: for all were sinners; but to the end he might offer his grace and mercie vnto vs.

That Christ is our life, and truth, and peace, [Art. 7] and iu∣stice, and Aduocate, and Pastor, and sacrifice, and sacrifi∣cer, who died for the saluation of all those that beleeue,

and is raised againe for our iustification.

We do also firmly hold, [Art. 8] that there is no other media∣tor and aduocate with God the Father but onely Iesus Christ. And as touching the Virgine Marie, that she is holy, humble, and full of grace; and so do we beleeue of all the other Saints, that they attend in heauen the resurre∣ction of their bodies at the day of iudgement.

We do also beleeue that after this life, [Art. 9] there are onely two places: the one for those that shall be saued, the o∣ther for the damned, which we call Paradise and Hell, de∣nying altogether Purgatory, as being a dreame of Ante∣christ, and inuented against the truth.

We haue also alwayes beleeued, [Art. 10] that the inuentions of men are an vnspeakable abomination before God, as the feasts and the vigils of Saints, holy water, the abstaining vpon certaine dayes from flesh, and such like, but prin∣cipally the Masses.

We do abhorre all humane inuentions, [Art. 11] as coming from Antechrist, all which bring troubles with them, and are preiudiciall to the libertie of the spirit.

[Art. 12] We beleeue that the Sacraments are outward signes of holy things, or visible formes of inuisible grace; and are of opinion that it is good that the faithfull do some∣times vse those signes and visible formes, if it may be done: But neuerthelesse we beleeue and do hold, that the aforesaid faithfull may be saued, not receiuing the said signes, when they want place or power to vse them.

[Art. 13] We do not acknowledge any other Sacrament but Baptisme and the Eucharist.

We do honour the secular power, [Art. 14] with all subiection, obedience, promptitude and payment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Article 1. Taken out of the booke inti∣tuled the Spiri∣tuall Almanackk, and from the Memorials of George Morel.