Waldensian Persecution, AD 1212 (Armitage; Curry, intro., A history of the Baptists, 1887)

Text: "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;" Daniel 7:21; "And he shall ... wear out the saints of the most High, and ... they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Daniel 7:25

Quote:

   In 1212 a congregation of five hundred Waldensians was discovered at Strasburg. At first the bishop of that city sought to reason them out of their position against the Catholic faith; but such was their ready use of Scripture that disputations always inured to their advantage. Then he proclaimed that all of them who would not forsake their errors should be put to death by fire without delay. Many recanted, surrendered their books, and reported to him that they had three chief centers and three leaders—in Milan, in Bohemia, and on the ground in Strasburg. These leaders, they said, were not clothed with authority like the pope, but owed their influence to the personal confidence reposed in them by their brethren. One of their chief duties was to collect money for the poor. Eighty persons in all, amongst whom were twenty-three women and twelve preachers, would not surrender their faith. John, the Strasburg leader, answered in the name of all. His appeal to Scripture could not be overthrown, and when his persecutors would apply the test of red-hot iron to see if he were sent of God, he replied: 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' 'Ah, he does not want to burn his fingers,' scornfully cried the monks. 'I have the word of God,' he answered, 'and for that I would not only burn my fingers but my whole body.' All who stood with him were put to death. Before their execution they were charged with all sorts of heresy, to which John replied from the Scriptures, moving the by-standers to tears. And when the final demand was made: 'Will you maintain your belief?' he replied, 'Yes, we will.' They were then led, amid the cries of kindred and friends, to the church-yard, where a broad and deep ditch had been dug. Into this they were driven, wood was piled around them and they perished in the flames. To this day men tremble when the 'Heretics' Ditch' is pointed out in Strasburg.

Armitage, Thomas; Curry, Jabez Lamar Monroe, intro., A history of the Baptists: traced by their vital principles and practices, from the time of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the year 1886, New York: Bryan, Taylor, & Co., 1887, p. 300.

Online Source: archive.org/details/historyofbaptist00armi

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