Some Moral Precepts Left by the Waldenses to the Churches

We turn again to Jean Paul Perrin, whose testimony about matters of the faith of the Waldenses has from ancient times been held in very high esteem. Among other things, he gives an account of the precepts which they left for the building up of a virtuous life; and of these, the following is meant to promote virtuous and God-fearing conduct toward those who are without. In the History of the Waldenses and Albigenses, part 3, book 1, chapter 10, page 153, we read word for word, in the Waldensian and in the English (the original says Dutch) tongue, as follows:

En qual modo le noble se de aver a aquilli guar son de fora? [n390-1]

"How shall our dealings be with those who are without?"

1. Non amar lo mond.

We must not love the world.

2. Fugir la mala consortia.

We must shun evil company.

3. Si es possible aver paz cum fruit.

We must, if possible, live in peace with all men.

4. Non contendre en judici.

We must not go to law.

5. Non veniar si meseine.

We must not avenge ourselves.

6. Amar li ennemic.

We must love our enemies.

7. Voler sustenir trabails, calomnias, menasas, reprovance, vergognas, eriurias, & totas generations de tormens per la verita,

We must willingly bear labor, slander, threats, rejection, shame, injuries, and every kind of torment, for the sake of the truth.

8. Possessir las armas in patientia.

We must possess our souls in patience.

9. Non amenar joug cum li non fidel.

We must not be yoked together with unbelievers.

10. Non communicar a las malas obras, & totalment a las, sabent idolatria, & del service sentent so meseine, & enaimi de las autes.

We must have no fellowship with evil works, especially with those that savor of idolatry, and with all services that tend in that direction; and we are to judge of like matters in the same way.

In that same tenth chapter some further rules of these people are found, which have to do with the believers themselves, and how they must rightly govern their own lives and bodies. They read as follows:

Encar en qual maniera li fidel debian regir li for

corps.

"Also, how believers are to govern their own

bodies, or themselves."

1. Non servir a li desirier mortal de la carn.

They shall not serve the deadly lusts of the flesh.

2. Gardar li for membres quilli non sian armas d'iniquitas.

They shall keep their members, so that they do not become instruments of wickedness.

3. Regir li for sentiment.

They shall govern their thoughts well.

4. Sot mettre la corps a l'spirit.

They shall keep the body in subjection to the spirit.

5. Mortificar li membres.

They shall mortify their members.

6. Fugir la ocioseta.

They shall shun idleness.

7. Gardar sobrieta & mesura en maniar & beavre, & en parolas & en las curas del mond.

They shall observe temperance and sobriety in eating and drinking, as well as in their words and in the cares of this world.

8. Far obras de misericordia.

They shall practice works of mercy.

9. More per fe, & per vita moral.

They shall live in faith and morality.

10. Combatre contra li desirier.

They shall fight against lusts.

11. Mortificar las obras de la carn.

They shall mortify the works of the flesh.

12. Istar en temp debit a la Religion.

They shall attend divine worship at the proper time.

13. Ensemp recordar la divina volunta.

They shall speak to one another of the will of God.

14. Examinar diligentament la conscientia.

They shall diligently examine their consciences.

15. Mundar & esmendar, & pacifecar l'spirit.

They shall purify, improve, and compose the spirit, or mind.

These and like precepts the Waldenses set before their fellow believers, so that they might know how to lead a virtuous and godly life, toward God, as well as toward their neighbor and toward themselves.