# Of The Views Of The Waldenses Against Nearly All Articles Of The Roman Church. 12th century (source section) · Historical source Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: OF THE VIEWS OF THE WALDENSES AGAINST NEARLY ALL ARTICLES OF THE ROMAN CHURCH. Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned Reinerius, who has written against the Waldenses, gives the following testimony respecting them, as the Jesuits confess in their own print. Cap. 2, Ingolstadt edition, page 54. “Among all the sects that ever were and still are, there is none more pernicious for the church than the sect of the Lyonists (thus he calls the Waldenses), and this for three reasons. “Firstly, because it is the most ancient; for, some say that it has existed from the time of Sylvester; others say, from the time of the apostles. “Secondly, because it is more general (that is, more widely diffused) than other sects; for there is no country where this sect is not found. “Thirdly, because, whereas all other sects, by their abominable blasphemies against God, cause those who hear them, to loathe their belief, this sect, on the other hand, has a great semblance of godliness, because they lead a godly life before men, have a true belief in all things concerning God, and hold correct views in regard to all the twelve articles of the faith; only they condemn the Roman church and the clergy, in which the unlearned too readily credit them.” In the fifth chapter he says that their doctrine can be brought under these three heads: 1. Invectives against the Roman church and her institutions. 2. Errors against the sacraments and the saints. 3. Rejection of all church usages. He then specifies their doctrine in the following manner: 1. That the Roman church is not the church of Christ, but the church of malediction; and that she decayed in the time of Sylvester, when the poison of temporal riches insinuated itself. 2. That all sins and defects are in the Roman church, and that they (the Waldenses) alone live holily. 3. That almost no one observes the doctrine of the holy Gospel, except they (the Waldenses). 4. That they, in truth, are poor in spirit, and suffer persecution for righteousness and faith’s sake. 5. That they are the church of Jesus Christ. 6. That the Roman church is the whore described in John’s Revelation. 7. That they contemn all the statutes of the (Roman) church, because of their multiplicity and laboriousness. 8. That the Pope is the head of all errors. 9. That the prelates are scribes, and the religions, or members of orders, Pharisees. 273 10. That the popes and bishops, with respect to the wars they carry on, are murderers. (This article is treated of in another place.) 11. That God alone is to be obeyed, and not the prelates. 12. That one is not greater than another (before the Lord), but that all are brethren. Matt. 23. 13. That no one may bow his knees before the priests; because the angel said to John, “See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant.” Rev. 22:9. 14. That men should not give tithes (to the papistic clergy), because it was not customary formerly to give tithes to the church. 15. That the clergy ought not to have property of their own; because it is written, “The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel . . . the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.” Deut. 18. 16. That the inmates of monasteries ought not to have prebends. 17. That bishops are not entitled to the regalia; these being things which are the prerogative of kings and rulers. 18. That no churches and monasteries ought to be founded and endowed. 19. That wills ought not to be drawn up by ecclesiastical persons. 20. They reject the clergy, on account of their idleness, and because they do not labor with their hands, as the apostles did. 21. They reject the names, pope and bishop. 22. They will not admit that any one should be compelled to the faith. 23. They reject all ecclesiastical (papistic) offices, and pay little regard to ecclesiastical privileges. 24. They do not admit, that churches and ecclesiastical persons should be exempt from the power and punishment of the secular authorities, for, under that cover of liberty the clergy used to do as they pleased. 25. They hold in contempt councils, synods, and all (papistic) ecclesiastical assemblies. 26. They say, that all human rules respecting persons in orders, are Pharisaical institutions. These and various other articles respecting the belief of the Waldenses, all directed against the Pope, the clergy, and the whole Roman church, were found in an old parchment written three hundred years ago, and ascribed to Reinerius. It was afterwards followed by various authors. See Balth. Lyd. 3, Tract of the Waldens., page 84, col. 1, and page 85, cols. 1, 2. A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 430, col. 4, fol. 431, cols. 1–4. Bapt. Hist., pages 616, 617, 618. P. J. Twisck, Chron., page 451, col. 2. Also, Nicol. Eymeric., printed at Rome, A. D. 1585. --- Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-of-the-views-of-the-waldenses-against-nearly-all-articles-of-the-roman-church/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Of+The+Views+Of+The+Waldenses+Against+Nearly+All+Articles+Of+The+Roman+Church.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AOf+The+Views+Of+The+Waldenses+Against+Nearly+All+Articles+Of+The+Roman+Church.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-of-the-views-of-the-waldenses-against-nearly-all-articles-of-the-roman-church%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-of-the-views-of-the-waldenses-against-nearly-all-articles-of-the-roman-church%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+12th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)